Rich right-wing people have controlled most of the nation’s affairs for most of its history. From the Depression to the end of the 1960s there was a period when these rich elitists found themselves temporarily unable to control things. And now that’s over, and I’m not at all sure that we will ever “return” to a period where they aren’t in control again — at least not for decades and decades.

I hope he retires in ‘10, but I fear Republican governor Linda Lingle will run for, and be elected to his seat.

Hawaii, how on EARTH can you have a Republican governor???

seems PW missed a little something called the 1996 Tele-Communications Act, which did much to create the consolidated, monopolized media landscape we endure today.

But wait, 1996? that was President Bill Clinton, of the magical (D) Party, those who must be supported, no matter what.

According to Jeff Chester in his book Digital Destiny deregulation of the media was part of the plan early on with Clinton, who stated “we will support removal of judicial and legislative restrictions on all types of telecommunications companies: cable, telephone, utilities, television and satellite. Market forces replace regulations and judicial models that are no longer appropriate.” This was not just rhetoric for Clinton, but a mandate that was embodied with the passing of the 1996 Tele-Communications Act. Media Scholar Bob McChesney calls the 1996 Tele-Com Act one of the most anti-democratic pieces of legislation passed in the 20th century.

http://www.mediamouse.org/features/061407bill_.php

check out the report from high-status, impeccable left policy-wonks at Common Cause:

http://www.commoncause.org/atf…..5-9-05.PDF

Re your ignorant magazine cover page
Wow, you guys are really edgy! Really on top of the hip scene in America, these days! You guys are the kind of guys who lean against the wall at the country club, smoking, and making snide remarks about everyone, looking for a cheap laugh.
The country is a train wreck, the earth is becoming inhospitable, one guy is trying to rally the electorate to turn things around, and it was easier for you guys to side with the bullies and make fun.
You helped a lot. thanks.

IS ANYBODY PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS?????

A couple of years ago Sirius Satellite Radio dumped Air America.

Sirius will soon buy XM – and the outcome is all right wing talk no progressive anything on the Satellite airwaves.

Since Clear Channel (right wing) now dominates our airwaves (at least where I live), this is a frightening loss for broadcasting intelligent issue-oriented “progressive” talk in our area – not to mention most of the country.

I believe that cleansing the airwaves of informative and factual Democratic issue-oriented material before our elections is not an accident.

We can fight this – it worked once before. Please email a complaint to XM Radio at:

http://xmradio.com/help/emailus.xmc

and demand that “Air America Radio” programming be immediately reinstated on channel 167 and replace their new substandard so-called progressive talk.

the only rule is that there are no rules

Karl Rove’s early teacher was also Donald Segretti … the dirty trickster artist who was nailed during Watergate reckoning. Your comment… so well expressed. And sad. And don’t forget the assault on “language” itself … the crazymaking power of titles that belied the evil gutting that was being done for the benign sounding programs.

The right also mastered the art of faux-defensiveness for every left challenge. That filled great sound bytes. The best offense is a great outraged defense? Faux-sentimentalism and patriotism and genuine anti-intellectualism.

The media talking heads also got seduced by the cult of celebrity. They too often saw themselves as important to the story. Along with the leverage of “access”. Info-tainment. Politics not news. And why are the ones who got it all so wrong re Iraq and the economy … still honored pundits to give serious commentary? Okay.. that was rhetorical.

Private equity’s asset-stripping rates of return became the norm, decimating traditional newspapers, like the Tribune and LA Times and their many, smaller cousins. Combined with unprecedented media consolidation, that allowed message management — because of its ability to shill in exchange for regulatory approvals for mergers, takeovers and entry into new fields on anti-competitive terms — to overtake news distribution in the news room.

Going forward, we’ll have to work with the media we have, including its vain, hammy news readers who masquerade as trend-setting reporters. Thank goodness we have the Net.