I watched this weekend as CNN had John Edwards on for an interview. What happened next dropped my jaw. I knew that CNN did not like Edwards (why would they…he is a trial lawyer and they are a corporation..it’s not like they are best friends if you know what I mean). But what they did in their round table discussion should piss off every Democrat. After the Edwards interview they held a scripted “roundtable” discussion that attacked Edwards from every angle. This scripted “hit” on Edwards should worry every Democrat because everytime they get away with this shit it makes it that much easier for them to do it to another Dem. candidate.

Now I know I will never talk the other candidates supporters into helping Edwards (it ain’t gonna happen) but just remember it will happen to your candidate too. And if we allow more media consolidation it will happen to Democrats in every election.

Kevin Martin also worked for Wiley, Rein & Fielding. I recognized this name from my past life in radio engineering.

Wiley, Rein & Fielding is Clear Channel’s Washington law firm.

Conflict of interest, anyone?

Time to launch a campaign to oust his ass?

where could this mysterious consolidation have come from?

oh yeah:

The telecommunications deregulation of 1996 under the Clinton administration has led to a concentration of media in the hands of a few corporate marketeers such as Clear Channel. Before 1996, a media corporation could only own two radio stations in any one market, and no more than 28 stations nationwide.

but nothing matters when the Axiom of the Least Worst still holds – a nominee by the name of Clinton will still be supported by most who claim to oppose such retrograde policies.

So, did Murdoch give Hillary a lavish fundraiser as a thnak you to Bill for the 96 bill or as insurance to make sure the Fairness Doctrine isn’t reinstated?

Kevin Martin …. married to Cathie Martin, Cheney’s chief of staff. One begins to wonder, just how deep….

Holy $%^&*(
I never put it together!

small caveat-Mr. Dorgan is from ND not from SD. But if I can trade I’ll gladly take Dorgan and ND can have Thune! SD needs all the democratic help we can get. About the only thing SD’ans read is the Rethuglican play book. Oh well, just thought you’d like to know about the typo. :)

I think we will keep Dorgan. He is usually the GOOD guy.

Release: Senate Committee Votes to Expand Low Power FM Radio!

October 30th, 2007

Contact: Hannah Sassaman, 215.727.9620 x 501, 267.970.4007,

hannahjs(at)prometheusradio.org

The United States Senate Commerce Committee voted this afternoon to substantially expand the number of community media outlets in the United States. In a consensus vote, the Committee moved to report Senate Bill 1675, the Local Community Radio Act of 2007, to the full Senate — and opened the door for thousands of new community radio stations to be built in America’s largest cities, and smaller communities across the nation.

Read more…

cinnamonape @ 40 says:

True, in theory. But the reality is that the big money is able to usually find a conservative Republican minority to take the reins. Skin Color =Political Orientation. At least not any more than Local Ownership relates to local content. You might get that if it was run by a city government…but not if it’s controlled by a local multi-millionaire.

Well, then let’s force them to find those conservative Republican local minorities and I betcha they ain’t that easy to find after all.

Local ownership went out decades ago. Minority and female ownership rules are still in…but with consolidation they are going to be people like A. Jerrold Perenchio who owns Univision, the largest Spanish Language Broadcaster in the country.

The rules have been allowing increasing consolidation ever since the 1970’s, some of it came in 1974, and again in 1984 when the station number was increased to 14. And again about 10 years later (when the allowed more affiliates and also newspaper/TV stations in the same community. The grab seems to run in 10 year cycles, and also relates to technological changes in the spectrum value.