Step 4: Suppression of a Free Press

[Soph0571]

Indeed. But what are they are going to do about it. Steve Schmidt can highlight this, but he and his ilk helped build this... they broke it - they should fix it, but they do not know how to. Trump was always going to be the end result of republican strategy over the last 40 years.

[procon]

1. Do Republicans really want fix it?

They all benefit from the Fox News business model. The pundits get to look like top tier journalist who have a special conduit directly to Trump. Politicians love the free press coverage, the softball interviews and a 24/7 platform to lie, mislead and deceive. The rank and file voters are made to feel right at home with all their confirmation bias validated and their favorite conspiracy theories get top billing.

Some old school Republicans might finally be getting nervous about the tiger they're riding, and if they're starting to mewl about the future oh their party it's too little and too late.

The only way Fox News can stay relevant and make money is to keep pushing farther and farther into the rightwing fringe, and they will take the politicians down with them. Now the GOP is synonymous with the KKK, neo Nazis and believers of wacko conspiracies. They are the new fascist order, the torturers of children and masters of womenkind, they are the zealots of some bastardized religious cult that worships money and greed.

They can't put any of that back in the tube. That's who they are now.

[eShirl]

2. He says Fox is "no longer" a news organization.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. That was my first thought also. nt

[Kaiserguy]

5. Was fox ever a news organization ?

From what I've seen the answer is NO!

[Hortensis]

4. Step 1: Realize you have a problem. 2: Identify it.

Pointing out publicly that the Republican leadership's tactics have become increasingly fascistic and that they show every sign of establishing a fascist state if not stopped is new and huge.

It not only can happen here, it is.

Extremely valuable post. Thanks.

[Farmer-Rick]

6. Remember when Obama called Fox out on their propaganda?

I was hoping it would lead to a discussion about a requirement to define what news really is.

But no, no discussion. Just a bunch of talking heads from CNN to MSNBC screaming censorship. All the other reporters and media outlets stood up for them because they honestly believed Fox was a "news" organization. Would we allow an organization that puts out a newsletter on all things GOP, and RepubliCON, no matter how crazy to attend major press functions? That's all Fox is - a poorly written newsletter for the GOP.

But because they are a cable program we allow them to pretend to be reporters. Because Murdoch is a crazy right wing foreigner with a lot of stolen wealth we let the prig shape our political discussions. Go back to Australia Murdoch and take your bribes with you....along with your Saudi Prince co-investors.

This is how capitalism destroys democracy. It buys up all the markets, floods the information pipelines with crap and feeds the public shit.

[Skidmore]

7. And yet,

Schmidt and the Republican machine helped create this autocracy, beginning with Gingrich's propaganda instructions and pairing those with Rove's permanent majority. What did they think the final outcome would be?