What's going On? Can it really be true?

[rgbecker]

The MSM would have us believe that 10-20% of the workers of America are unemployed or underemployed. That they are upset and will be voting for Republicans instead of Democrats. That many "Independent" voters who voted for Obama and democratic candidates in 2008 are now going to vote for Republicans because they are upset with the present economy. Have they forgotten that just a couple of months ago the Republicans voted against the Democrat supported extension of unemployment benefits? Do they think the Republicans are going to be regulating the banks and other financial companies when the GOP won't even vote to pass a financial regulation bill?
What do these who are shifting their support to Republican candidates think the Republicans stand for that will make the economy do any better than with the Democrats? Do they think the Government is standing between them and financial success? Do they think the economy would be doing better if all the banks and auto companies had gone bankrupt? Isn't it enough that their pension plans have lost billions of dollars and their houses have declined in value? Do they think that if the Government shuts down, it would be boost to the economy? Do they want what Republicans want, or do they not know what Republicans want and are just wanting someone new? Do they think it would be "Fun" to put idiots in government just to see what will happen?
Please explain what is going on. Is it just a case of racial and religious bigotry? Is the whole country deluded because of right-wing hate radio? Can these corporations be buying off the entire MSM and all the polling businesses? Can Americans really be this stupid?
Have aliens taken over the minds of our neighbors?
I'm very hopeful that people will show up and vote like they did in 2008, but when I read and listen to the news, I am thinking something weird is going on in America.

[rurallib]

1. thank a media that gives billions in free propaganda to the Republicans.

starting with their own propaganda channel - FUX NEWS.

[txlibdem]

3. Hey, I live in Texas. They're all FUX NEWS here... I only half-way trust MSNBC

When even CNN is a right wing haven you know the country is screwed!!!

[Scuba]

4. +1

[mod mom]

17. All thanks to the Telecom Act of "96 which enabled the media control. Now who signed that into law?

:mad:

[donco6]

2. Nazis were able to convince Germans the Jews were the source of their economic woes.

Don't think it can't happen here.

[Hannah Bell]

15. it is happening here.

[nannah]

5. i feel the same sense of cognitive dissonance

why would people support the folks who blocked all the programs they wanted, instead of those who tried to push them through.

[CoffeeCat]

6. I don't believe for one second...

...that the Republicans and Independents who voted for Obama--are now swinging
back to Republicans.

Those people wanted CHANGE. They HATED George Bush and they hated what the Republican
party had become. These Republicans are not following Beck and they aren't tea partiers.
These are Republicans who want their old party back.

Not for a second do I believe that they're jumping back on the bandwagon. They were running
from the bandwagon when Bush screwed up and went neocon psycho. Things have only become more
extreme and psycho with the Republicans.

If anything, I believe that most of those people feel punched in the gut, and like they have
no home. I think many are disaffected. I think many Democrats feel the same.

It is very unfortunate that the media continues with this "Republican landslide a comin!" meme.

But please remember. This is so important. Who owns the media? The big corporations who are
in bed with the politicians. They want this election to turn a certain way. They want
the Republicans to gain majorities in the House and Senate. I believe the corporate Dems
and the Corporate Republicans (95 percent of Congressional members) want gridlock and chaos
when it comes to legislation so they can use that gridlock as an excuse for doing NOTHING
that "We The People" want.

Look at what happened with the healthcare bill. Dems had majorities in both houses. It was
a bit too uncomfortable to try and explain why they couldn't get a decent healthcare bill through.
It was obvious, with our Dem majorities--that the problem was the health-insurance companies.
Gridlock and chaos takes the onus off the politicians and hides corporate influence. Now, they
can claim, "Oh my gosh, the President would love to do this and that--but the Republicans will
have none of it. Legislating is so hard!"

The fix is in.

And yes, it is bizarre that the media is playing up the Republican "enthusiasm" and a bunch
of baloney about the Dems not voting. It is weird. They're pushing the memes that they've
been told to push. It actually makes sense. The media is a tool of the corporatist politicians
and they're doing exactly what has been directed--help to secure Republican wins in November and
make the Democrats feel like no matter what they do--they still lose.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Cheerful tonight, aren't you?

Too goddam bad for my serotonin levels that I agree entirely with your analysis and have been saying just about exactly the same thing for a long time now.

[CoffeeCat]

12. I wouldn't say I'm cheerful...

...but I do feel like I have both feet firmly planted in reality.

I know what they're doing.

I'm not in the dark. In my opinion, it's much better to know what's
going on and to understand what is happening around me--even if that
reality isn't sunshine and roses. Denial really isn't my thing.

I suppose growing up in a dysfunctional family--where denial was
required--had left me with a distaste for it.

The sooner that this country comes out of denial and faces the truth--that
we have no democracy and that both parties are dead--the sooner we can
do something about it.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. Why can't you believe it?

A lot of Republicans voted for Obama just because they didn't like McCain and/or Palin. But they're still Republicans, and they're not voting for President this time around.

[muffin1]

18. The stupid ass voters in my state (Virginia)

voted for Bob (Shithead) McDonnell for Governor ONE YEAR after voting for Obama, and turning our state blue for the first time in about 40 years. x(

[unkachuck]

7. K&R....n/t

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. That independent voter...

....got a story to vote for in ‘08—a helluva story. People voted for Obama to show that we’re a big country, not just a strong one or a rich one. To show that we’re making progress. To show their kids they’re not old-fart bigot sellouts, and they can still stick it to the Man. Just because for once… And the independent voter is the hero.

Now Obama’s not on the ticket, the economy sucks, and this time the Right has a better story. It's darker in tone, but it's a helluva story. And the independent voter is the victim -- but still has a role in the story.

Is it just a case of racial and religious bigotry? Is the whole country deluded because of right-wing hate radio? Can these corporations be buying off the entire MSM and all the polling businesses? Can Americans really be this stupid?

Yes. They always have been. Nothing special going on this time, is what's special this time.

2008 was an anomaly -- we're reverting to the norm.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. Republicans are better with economy and national defense interests

that's teh meme you're fighting against. They have been hammering that meme through the media for decades. And for a lot of people, it's believed to be true. After all, the media also always ensure that the Democratics are cast in a poor light at the same time. So many people will fall for that meme over the actuality, which is that the "Borrow and Steal" Republicans are raping the country.

[doc03]

11. Americans have very short memories and think there

is a quick fix for everything. I was talking to a one of my co-workers that has been laid off for over 1 1/2 years. He said November 1st his unemployment runs out unless there is another extension. I said if the Republicans take Congress you won't be getting anymore extensions. He said I don't want any more extensions I want to go back to work. So there you go although our plant was shut down before Obama became President he is now blaming the Democrats for being laid off and thinks the republicans will start our plant back up. I think what you hear from the MSM is true about the Republicans being energized.

[rgbecker]

13. Yikes!

The replies make me even more nervous.

[Bitwit1234]

16. Several years ago an article ran that said there were eight

media corporations in this country and that corporate republican companies owned seven of them. Now that was during Bush's regime. The other corporation could have been bought by republicans by now. So how do you think we can get unbiased news. The republicans keep yelling it is a liberal media, that's to try to influence you into thinking it is. But who in their right mind, would believe, that a company owned by republicans would publish or say things on TV to support Democrats.

I think the Democrats should start listing the media empires and telling who owns them, and I mean OWN.

[ms liberty]

21. It's 6 now, according to freepress.org:

Ownership Chart: The Big Six
The U.S. media landscape is dominated by massive corporations that, through a history of mergers and acquisitions, have concentrated their control over what we see, hear and read. In many cases, these giant companies are vertically integrated, controlling everything from initial production to final distribution. Here is information about the largest U.S. media firms.

http://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart/main

They've got interactive charts with lots of details. A great site for info on this subject.

[Lesleymo]

19. Yes, it's alien brain invasion.

That's the only way I can explain my otherwise-rational friends and family members who are convinced that Obama is a secret Muslim, on a crusade to destroy our country.

One family member, who is a pastor, posted a long note on Facebook yesterday about Executive Orders in times of emergency, and how "afraid" he is that Obama will (1) create an emergency and (2) use it as an excuse to undermine the constitution. I wanted SO badly to respond, "Gee, you must have been REALLY afraid when Bush was in office." He got all kinds of encouraging atta-boy's from other friends.

People are totally nuts.

[WinkyDink]

20. Your key question: "Can Americans really be this stupid?" Yes. And it has nothing to do with public

schools.

Americans have NO IDEA of who owns the media.

Americans have NO IDEA of how wealthy the wealthy truly are: the mega-yachts; the purchases of tons of gold (literally); the homes in the 7-digit price range; the ownership of islands; etc. No IDEA of how little to nothing these oligarchs pay in taxes, percentage-wise, compared to themselves.

Americans have NO IDEA of how the US helps corporations despoil foreign lands and eradicate, enslave, or impoverish the indigenous peoples. This involves every continent (including Antarctica, minus the people), and "wars on terrorism". This includes GM seeds and foods (salmon coming to a store near you). This includes gold, diamonds, and other precious riches of the earth, besides the obvious oil and natural gas. and it includes water.

Americans have NO IDEA of anything essential to their lives---economy, health, safety---because we Liberals who taught in public schools must teach to the textbook, and we all know it needs to be Texas-approved.

And, apparently, Americans have NO IDEA of how Christ preached against the rich and greedy. Republican propaganda in the Right-Wing media has convinced STUPID AMERICANS that "morality" refers only to sexual behaviors, and not to coveting, bearing false witness, or not honoring the elderly.

[old mark]

22. rec. First, the 'publican party is using vast amounts of money from foreign contributers -

international corporations related to many other international corporations. Most of the money right now comes from India, where many US based corporations relocated and outsourced. Much comes from Switzerland, home of the big money banks and offshore tax shelters for the US very rich who hate America - they just want to live here without paying taxes.
Some of the money comes from Dubai and a few other Islamic countries - oil corporations.

the American media has been bought and paid for by this gang of super rich sociopath anti American Americans through their foreign corporate interests.

The media-almost ALL US media-is telling lies to us all for money.

This election is about the super rich versus the rest of us in America - we must win this one.

mark