Why we are behind the curve, but catching up...

[HardWorkingDem]

Electronic media.....no kidding.

Think of it - Dems and liberalism flourished when the print word was king. We are not quite ready for the electronic media age yet. THe internet is getting us there though.

Whether people will believe it or not, there is a huge difference when it comes to processing the meaning and context found in the written word versus that of the electronic information age. We progressives learn to embrace this and refine it, our side will overwhelm the conservatives. We just need to get there quicker.

I am optimistic at this time because of what has happened the last few years. Like his old man, Bush II looked unstoppable a short time ago (in relative terms). But look now. Slowly (too slowly) he is eroding and I think when it is all said and done, he will go down as the absolute worst president in American history.

Luckily the Dems are learning and the internet is a huge reason for that. I just hope we get there quickly.

[wake.up.america]

1. It seems the biggest obstacle is the job of educate the masses on

how to analyze the media.

Bush and his gang are experts at pulling the wool over people's eyes.

[JeffR]

2. Interesting premise

Can you be more specific about Dem readiness for electronic media, or lack of it?

[HardWorkingDem]

4. A concept that has grown on me...just being reported and studied..

I sincerely believe that the minds of liberals and conservatives process information differently. Last year there was even a study that suggested that people are born with liberal and conservative leanings. And not to claim one group is smarter than the other, both sides seem to gather information from different types of sources in different ways. For example, liberals apparently are more willing to use the written word versus that of the electronic media, while conservatives seem more apt to grasp he electronic part, both visually and audible. Seriously, look at content of most of the big stories today - you can't watch nightly news or brief radio spots to understand it all and get a full examination of these stories - you have to read and study to capture the entire story.

Now, I think the Dems are finally seeing this angle. And just acknowledging this difference is the first step of battling. Also, the current generation that involves the internet is also marching the Dems forward. This group DOES understand this difference and is acting accordingly. Look at the political bloggers and their use of imagery and collection of video to show the other side is full of liars and hypocrites.

One thing that is going to change sooner or later is how the internet and internet news delivery is going to change the electronic news, but we have to recall that a different generation is running the electronic media at this time. Slowly that will change and when it does, many will realize the importance of Howard Dean, Joe Trippi and all the Kos's and Americablog's of the world.

Someone asked me the other day how I became a liberal (I work in a pre-dominantly conservative occupation) and I told him I read a lot, hopefully the internet content will change this for others as well.

[rogerashton]

3. Kennedy won via television,

not print -- and Roosevelt and Huey Long (and Adolph Hitler) were pioneers in the political use of radio.

Print? when was that?

[HardWorkingDem]

5. And what have we learned from these examples?

Apparently not a great deal.

One other angle to consider is that the most often used and popular source of information delivery benefits those who can use it the most effectively, especially during certain times, i.e., the immediate period after 9/11 and the Bushies.