I think regardless of the outcome, we are about to see violence in this country to rival the 1960s. And it's all because of this malignant narcissist who sits in the White House. This nightmare could not have happened if it were not enabled by Republicans in the House and Senate who have put party before country and sadly, the press who has had their thumb on the scale favoring Republicans for decades now. To assume that the media will do the right thing is hoping for a miracle. They've had plenty of opportunity over the last four years to push this administration back starting with the biggest inauguration crowd in history to Covid that will go away very soon with only 15 cases. A tiger doesn't change its stripes. The only thing that can stop this march to autocracy is the people but it's going to have to be a landslide victory to ward off the legal shenanigans and of course another Electoral College win. The election can't be close.
Trump is right, the system is rigged. However, the master of projection gets it wrong because it's rigged for him and all Republicans through voter suppression, gerrymandering, and inviting the interference of foreign adversaries. Add to that, as I fear now, simply declaring he won with no evidence to support it whatsoever.
The Founders put in place three branches of government to check one another. They also promoted a free press to keep all the branches on the level. What they didn't count on was a slow moving coup, an apathetic electorate, and perhaps most importantly, a lazy press fearing the loss of access, to see it all evaporate.
Of course I hope the press does come through but the last four years have made me so cynical that it's hard to believe they will do the right thing. Ben Franklin said we have "a republic if we can keep it". Can we? We'll see in the coming days.
We know they haven't learned anything, Eric. If they had, your newsletters would be nothing but "good stuff" and "fun stuff".
It would be nice if the lower third of every news outlet tonight explained what you just did - unprecedented numbers of absentee ballots, explain how, for example, PA counts theirs differently than FL, no election has ever had all of the votes counted on election day (despite what moron Kavanaugh said), etc. Many people need to see that over and over again for it to finally sink in.
I would change “a shot at redemption” to “a step towards redemption”. In my opinion the media has a long way to go redeem themselves. They must stop allowing themselves to be manipulated by the right into regurgitating their lies and talking points, stop focusing on style over competence; stop prioritizing conflict rather than substance, failure over what works both here and abroad: stop chasing the latest shiny object that is trending and keep the focus on the long run.....
Just this morning I read this quote from Mark Hertsgaard:
“The American press is less an independent truth seeker than a transmission belt for the opinions of movers and shakers in Washington”.
The media will never be redeemed in my eyes until they start acting like an independent truth seeker whose goal is to protect our democracy by giving the public the substantive information we need to be informed, effective citizens.
My request would have everyone refer to "Absentee Ballots" as opposed to "Mail-in Ballots". The comfort of the old term, don't you know. "Trump Tries to Stop Count of Absentee Ballots" would make a good headline.
We've had the discussion before; but when the President of the United States says something it is "news". It may be a lie. It may be absurd. With this President it is certainly self-serving. But it's news. Legitimate media doesn't get to just ignore it.
There have been several elections within my memory that have not been decided midnight. That is Pacific Time isn't it? Demanding the election be over by midnight Eastern/9:00 Pacific is absurd. And it hoses the people in Alaska and Hawaii who have to end the count as the polls close.
Also, am I the only one who thinks that massive wall Trump erected around the White House is alarming and weird and completely over the top? I mean, this is next level fascist-type paranoia on steroids and the media barely blinked. And more than that, I can’t get a handle on why they did it. What’s the angle?
I really want Biden to win the in-person vote. If Dixville Notch is any indication, we may be spared from Trump’s bullshit and get a good night’s sleep tonight. And this nightmare will finally be over.
I am much more concerned about the press and their role in protecting the integrity of the election. I am not listening to projects based upon a particular network’s opinion. I want all networks to declare a winner when the a winner can be declared by all networks, regardless of what hour on what day
I think regardless of the outcome, we are about to see violence in this country to rival the 1960s. And it's all because of this malignant narcissist who sits in the White House. This nightmare could not have happened if it were not enabled by Republicans in the House and Senate who have put party before country and sadly, the press who has had their thumb on the scale favoring Republicans for decades now. To assume that the media will do the right thing is hoping for a miracle. They've had plenty of opportunity over the last four years to push this administration back starting with the biggest inauguration crowd in history to Covid that will go away very soon with only 15 cases. A tiger doesn't change its stripes. The only thing that can stop this march to autocracy is the people but it's going to have to be a landslide victory to ward off the legal shenanigans and of course another Electoral College win. The election can't be close.
Trump is right, the system is rigged. However, the master of projection gets it wrong because it's rigged for him and all Republicans through voter suppression, gerrymandering, and inviting the interference of foreign adversaries. Add to that, as I fear now, simply declaring he won with no evidence to support it whatsoever.
The Founders put in place three branches of government to check one another. They also promoted a free press to keep all the branches on the level. What they didn't count on was a slow moving coup, an apathetic electorate, and perhaps most importantly, a lazy press fearing the loss of access, to see it all evaporate.
Of course I hope the press does come through but the last four years have made me so cynical that it's hard to believe they will do the right thing. Ben Franklin said we have "a republic if we can keep it". Can we? We'll see in the coming days.
We know they haven't learned anything, Eric. If they had, your newsletters would be nothing but "good stuff" and "fun stuff".
It would be nice if the lower third of every news outlet tonight explained what you just did - unprecedented numbers of absentee ballots, explain how, for example, PA counts theirs differently than FL, no election has ever had all of the votes counted on election day (despite what moron Kavanaugh said), etc. Many people need to see that over and over again for it to finally sink in.
🙏
I would change “a shot at redemption” to “a step towards redemption”. In my opinion the media has a long way to go redeem themselves. They must stop allowing themselves to be manipulated by the right into regurgitating their lies and talking points, stop focusing on style over competence; stop prioritizing conflict rather than substance, failure over what works both here and abroad: stop chasing the latest shiny object that is trending and keep the focus on the long run.....
Just this morning I read this quote from Mark Hertsgaard:
“The American press is less an independent truth seeker than a transmission belt for the opinions of movers and shakers in Washington”.
https://www.motherjones.com/media/2005/11/recounting-ohio/
The media will never be redeemed in my eyes until they start acting like an independent truth seeker whose goal is to protect our democracy by giving the public the substantive information we need to be informed, effective citizens.
My request would have everyone refer to "Absentee Ballots" as opposed to "Mail-in Ballots". The comfort of the old term, don't you know. "Trump Tries to Stop Count of Absentee Ballots" would make a good headline.
We've had the discussion before; but when the President of the United States says something it is "news". It may be a lie. It may be absurd. With this President it is certainly self-serving. But it's news. Legitimate media doesn't get to just ignore it.
There have been several elections within my memory that have not been decided midnight. That is Pacific Time isn't it? Demanding the election be over by midnight Eastern/9:00 Pacific is absurd. And it hoses the people in Alaska and Hawaii who have to end the count as the polls close.
I hope CNN can get the overly-anxious Wolf Blitzer under control tonight. That man has a Breaking News addiction like no other person.
Also, am I the only one who thinks that massive wall Trump erected around the White House is alarming and weird and completely over the top? I mean, this is next level fascist-type paranoia on steroids and the media barely blinked. And more than that, I can’t get a handle on why they did it. What’s the angle?
I really want Biden to win the in-person vote. If Dixville Notch is any indication, we may be spared from Trump’s bullshit and get a good night’s sleep tonight. And this nightmare will finally be over.
I am scared at 3:00 am on Nov 4th that we are getting Trump 2.0!
Media is not doing a great job so far.
I am much more concerned about the press and their role in protecting the integrity of the election. I am not listening to projects based upon a particular network’s opinion. I want all networks to declare a winner when the a winner can be declared by all networks, regardless of what hour on what day