respublica

Media Tipping Point?

If any group is being tipped this election year it may just be the traditional media. Dan Rather notwithstanding, our national newsgivers continue to use their pulpits to influence their readers, listeners, viewers. Commentators are one thing, they are expected to argue with bias, news reporters and reporting are not.

Most ridiculous headline offering news (and bias): CNN's poll results on Tuesday showing Bush leading Kerry 52-44. Headline: Bush apparently leads Kerry in pre-debate poll.

From INDC Journal an interview with CBS' Richard Schlesinger, who reported on the possibility of reviving the military draft. The problem with this story is its taking as truth, or at least a strong possibility, that the Bush administration plans to bring back the draft. This "story" was emailed to college students across the country. The fact is there is no truth in this. So why did CBS decide to make this part of their nightly news? INDC asks. You decide.

Debates-The tipping point?

Judging by newspaper headlines tonight's debate is gearing up to be the most singular event in American history. Samples below.

Bush-Kerry Debates could defy history
Looking for the knockout punch
Bush, Kerry reach crucial confrontation
Showdown is here
2 camps gird for tonight's big debate

Since Christmas the conventional wisdom has been that the primaries would inform the electorate. Then it was party's national conventions, now it is the debates. I get the feeling many many media folks keeping peering over every new hill in hopes that this will be the one which puts Kerry over the top. The debates are supposed to finally give voters the opportunity to "know" Kerry. The voters do know Kerry, repeat, voters and non voters, do know Kerry. He doesn't have to be introduced.

And this business about convincing undecided voters is pretty much bunk. What they have to do, really is convince people who are undecided about voting to go to the polls.

Maag part 2

Well, that didn't take long. After tv and radio commercials promoting Maag's candidacy to the Illinois Supreme Court began airing Monday, complaints from Shriner's Hospital officials caused him to withdraw the ads. Hospital officials feared the ads look like an endorsement from them which would violate IRS rules prohibiting charitable organizations from endorsing candidates. More than that, however, was the impression given that Maag (D Glen Carbon) somehow was all for doctors and not for trial lawyers. Something new everyday to try and swallow. Give him credit, though, for pulling the ads.

Funny thing. It may be better for Maag without the ads as he has neither a voice for radio or a face for tv.

Best and Worst of Congress part 2

At last, the Washingtonian magazine has their survey results online of the best and worst of Congress. As was said a few weeks ago, the only Illinois rep mentioned was Dick Durbin, who took third place in the C-SPAN Ham category. Oh, and the capital hill staffers were the ones who made the picks.

Maag ads

Gordon Maag, candidate for the Illinois Supreme Court, has begun running radio and tv ads promoting his candidacy. Ironically, what he touts is his concern for "health care of children" and concern over frivolous lawsuits. Heh, this from someone whose commercials are being paid for by the Illinois Democratic party, a party which received many thousands of dollars from Madison County trial lawyers. The same Maag who is part of a firm of personal injury lawyers. Wonder if all those contributers are having second thoughts.

News alert-hurricanes hit the Bush counties

So it seems the internet trick begun by the bloggers who discovered the Dan Rather forgeries of laying one document on top of the other to how they match up has been taken a step further. Now, a young man in Wheaton, Illinois, has found this trick useful to prove God is punishing the Florida counties which voted for Bush in 2000. He tracked the 4 hurricanes and laid their tracks over the state....oh, forget it. Here's his map, read his explanation for yourself.

Seeing Iraq

If you want a view of Iraq from a soldier rather than news pundits, this is a must read. Not only is the writing elegant, the words mean something. Words mean something... If you know someone with a child or spouse stationed there, pass this along.

Cnn could use a laugh track

Wizband sure doesn't. Today's piece on CNN's report on polling numbers is one of the reasons I read this blog everyday. Oh, and this piece as well.

Giving it the old county try

Thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of St. Clair county board member Steve Reeb, the board approved a resolution last night supporting a constitutional amendment to limit pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice cases. They also unanimously approved a second resolution which asks for a special legislative session to address insurance costs and protection for doctor's assets.

The board action is all the more interesting because the republican Reeb is running against democrat Mark Kern for board chairman in a county controlled by democrats. The loss of so many doctors, 161 at last count, appears to mean more than party affiliation at the moment. Madison county should pay attention to this. And if the loss of doctors is really important to the voters of these two large Metro-East counties, they should also choose a Supreme Court candidate with this in mind as well.

Borders

About a month ago I wondered into the local Border's bookstore planning to tap into a new gift card. After ten minutes or so of looking around the display shelves in the front and down the center aisle one of those forehead slapping moments hit. There just seemed to be way more anti George Bush books than pro Bush books on prominent display. So I turned around and started at the beginning and took a count. At that time there were 19 books about Bush. 17 were anti. Of the 2 that could be considered pro Bush, one was a large coffee table book of photographs of the Bush family. None of the 17 anti's were pro Kerry, just anti Bush. None were in the category shelves, all were out on display.

All of which made me pay more attention to this story a couple weeks later from Little Green Footballs. Seems many Borders employees were letting their political feelings be known in email discussions on the Borders site. (Scroll down a paragraph or so to find the article) I had no plans to ever buy the Swift Boat Vets book, political ads are enough for me, heh, but this story did give added emphasis to what I saw at the end of August. Haven't been back since.