29 Comments

The work you do is really important to me but more to the point - is the press listening?

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It's nauseating to see issues of national importance - like the 2009 Stimulus and now the Covid Relief bill - reduced to a partisan zero sum game. Even more nauseating is witnessing the media's failure to frame the issue as a matter of the government trying to perform a core duty (providing for the general welfare), and the Dems' maddening inability to speak with one voice. Republicans wreck the economy, and when Dems are elected to clean up the mess, Republicans do their best to make the clean up as hard as possible. The American people get screwed and the media focus is on the the GOP's admirable "hardball politics."

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Yes, the GOP is certainly eating itself. The Beltway press keeps looking for voters to turn on Biden, it's unbelievable. Biden is literally keeping his head down and staying focused on the tasks at hand. Obviously Covid relief, vaccinations, etc..but also repairing international relations that Trump left a mess. It isn't anything new for the GOP to ignore their own voters, in fact, they perpetuate it by creating a cultural and social hegemony that is bought by the base using religion race, and fear to name a few.

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It's absolutely stunning just how much the press has failed us. Like this is a homerun for them if they jumped on this story. Expose the GOP in congress for their stupidity. The claim to be the party of pro life yet won't help save a life by voting in favor of this bill. They are a bunch of jokes yet they are all over the story about TJ who didn't want his relationship w/ a reporter out on front street. smh Get your priorities straight so called journalists!!

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One change to your post I would make is "fueled by obstructionist Republicans" to fueled by obstructionist and insurrectionist Republicans. We have here, a party that has a high percentage of members in congress that are siding with insurrectionist thugs who put their very own lives in danger. In addition to pointing out how much Americans support the Covid relief bill, the headlines daily should also focus on why Republicans are so in bed with these animals who stormed the capital, killed a police officer and caused the deaths and injury of so many others. Regarding the Covid bill, the Republicans plan is so transparent. Stop any Democratic win, regardless of what it means to the well being of the American people. If they do that then they run in two years on how the Democrats didn't accomplish anything. The Dems need to pass this bill regardless of the Republican vote and they also need to convince moderate Dems that the filibuster must be blown up.

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Great piece this morning, Eric! Thank you.

You know, I realize we want the press to stop paying attention to the Trump voters and "how they're doing and feeling," etc. and to pay more attention to Biden voters and the relief they're feeling. However ... given this morning's Morning Consult poll giving Biden a 62% approval rating, I wouldn't mind a piece or two or three from NYT, WaPo, et al, covering Trump voters who are saying things along the lines of, "Oh! Wait! You know, maybe I did make a mistake. Biden is doing a fantastic job and NOW I get the difference between him and Trump and, even though I didn't vote for Joe, I am SO glad and so relieved he's our President."

Well, one can always hope.

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Mr. Boehlert:

The Republican Voters you cite as in favor of President Biden’s Covid bill & opposed to Trumps tax cut; are the very 74 million voters who voted for Trump & down ballot Republicans in even greater number.

Suggest issues don’t matter. It’s the D or R that’s determinative of the vote.

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Our failed political press always misses the story, which is that *elected Republicans* do not represent their constituents. And of course the other great missed story of our generation is that one of our two political parties has gone completely off the rails.

There’s probably a journalism prize waiting for whoever writes that story. (That was a hint, Eric!)

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What this tells me is that Republicans are confident in their power to regroup come election time. Until then R's are gonna R.

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Yes many do support the covid-19 relief package/STIMULUS PACKAGE But are caught up in mindless and endless culture wars and will never vote for a democrat cause u know they're coming' fer dere guns & our children.

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Yesterday, Jen Psaki, who may end up the best White House press secretary since Jim Brady, made short work of a "reporter" who asked her about this issue. It won't help, because it would require the members of the DC political media brothel--99.99 percent of those employed there "covering" politics--actually to do their jobs.

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Great piece, Eric.

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Time to steamroll right over them and don't look back. The people will be with him.

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Yes many do support the covid-19 relief package/STIMULUS PACKAGE But are caught up in mindless and endless culture wars and will never vote for a democrat cause u know they're coming' fer dere guns & our children.

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Reading this brought back this memory: https://www.upworthy.com/20-years-of-data-reveals-that-congress-doesnt-care-what-you-think.

Were I so inclined, it might be interesting to see how (if?) the Beltway press influences this outcome.

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