Priebus - Press Briefings May Become Unnecessary

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but, that is not the point. The shear proliferation of 'news for your entertainment' situation has created a sensationalist norm that leaves people with no one to trust. Yes, the folks I mentioned were more singular in their exposure to the public then the thousands of "just read what was written for you" reporters (word used loosely) of today. But, they were trusted and that is why they had the affect and let me tell you that except for the topics, our current Pres. elect and Joe McCarthy were cut from exactly the same mold. However, back then we had someone, or more then one, that we could trust to tell us the truth and not slant it to fill some other agenda. No matter how much people thought that news was slanted in either liberal or conservative directions. We do not have that anymore! If we cannot see the danger that this presents for us then we are not deserving of the freedoms that so many fought so hard to get and preserve.

Just a small example of what I am trying to say here. We heard constantly for the last 8 years how Obama was going to take away our right to own guns. Yet, he made no such effort to do so and the way the constitution is written he couldn't have if he wanted too. Then by party association that same story was placed on Clinton. People tried to explain that this was nothing but BS and why it was, Yet, no one listened. There minds had been made up by the loudest of the groups and no facts were going to alter that thought. No one, no matter who it was could convince anyone of the utter foolishness of the entire subject. Since it worked so well for them, what happens now if the current incoming group, the group that are super sensitive to criticism and already are speaking of limiting access to the press about government things, decide that the only way it is safe for them is to gather up the guns. No one is going to believe it until it's to late. I know that is extreme, but, it is possible and it has happened countless times in history. We are not exempt from bad things, god isn't watching over us and if he is he is having a fit of laughter right about now and figures we should wipe ourselves out so he can start over.

If you wonder what one of the things he/she might be laughing about, the radio wingnut Rush Limbaugh, was just quoted as defending Russia on the tampering with the election stuff. Imagine what is happening here Limbaugh defending the communist. Against our own intelligence agencies, like they would have any reason to give out false information. If it wasn't so serious, this entire situation would be completely hilarious.

 

Yep, that is correct, that is exactly what would have happened were he around today, because that is the way that the media operates. It operates on sensationalism and attempting to one up everyone else. The chance are about the same that the articles come from nowhere except the vivid imagination of the writers of today. That is what makes the entire system fouled and dirty. Not everyone is, but, they are all grouped together so they all have the same reputation. Calling out a person after they have died and can not refute the accusations is exactly the way the current press operates. Makes them seem smart and angelic and the target gets wrongly accused of something that he can no longer defend. That is real courageous journalism.

 

I couldn't agree w/ you more. I think you summed that point up succinctly. News to me isn't supposed to be entertainment. I'm looking for facts, and they are getting more and more difficult to find.

 

I dunno man. I had a running joke with my Japanese clients that went like this: "I'll bet you if I click on a random news site on my phone right now, we'll find Trump either as a banner headline or one of the lead pieces" all through the past year - and I was almost never wrong. Interestingly when I did the same exercise with Hillary she didn't come up half as much, even after the primary season was over.

In fairness, I was focusing on U.S. news sites, but all of 'em were just like that. Can you recommend some that aren't?

I rarely read HuffPo, but so what? Because my opinion on this matter agrees with what the left wing media is saying, I must be brainwashed into believing it? Hell, I've been bitching about the infotainment media for well over a decade now (at least!), and you can see that track record right here on LP. So the fact that their greed has shifted to using Trump is no surprise, and certainly not something I needed to learn from HuffPo.

Did I? I don't *ever* recall complaining that Trump didn't get enough coverage.

I think I'm going with option 3, which is to soon begin ignoring media entirely like I did after the big one hit Japan (that, too, was a shameful display of infotainment "disaster porn" that stressed not only ME out, but millions of the folks I live with over here). I'll probably check in from time to time during the transition to see just how foolish Trump can get, but once he takes the reigns and gets some real power, I'm not particularly interested in watching him and his wrecking crew ruin democracy. I'll just sit here in my socialist utopia and hope he only lasts 4 years (or less!).

 

And yet people complain when some of us bring up every little thing to point out how loathsome the man really is ("Save it for the big stuff!" they say. "People will get sick of it!").

One thing that eerily parallel's 1984 these days is that big old memory hole. Man does it do a nice job of getting rid of messy truths some folks would rather go away. I kinda wish it worked that way in real life!

p.s. if I honestly thought that Trump figured this out for himself and did it all on purpose, I'd have to admit the guy is secretly a genius.

 

And why do you think Walter Cronkite would be any different? THIS IS NOT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA'S FAULT. THEY CAN'T FIX THIS FOR YOU.

Cronkite wasn't the media? He'd be in the middle of this mess if he were around today.

No, "it" doesn't. Change the damn channel if it's operating that way. CNN, MSNBC and Fox News are not the entire media. You've got PBS. NPR, CBS, NBC, ABC (remember them?), and dozens of newspapers and websites.

If you had read those articles a teensy bit closer, like seeing what they said instead of finding something to pick a fight over, you would've seen that they were based on an authorized biography written with the full cooperation and endorsement of the Cronkite family.

Oh, so sorry. I sent you some verified truth that conflicts with your headcanon. I must be in cahoots with the other tribe then. #WASS.

Did you want them reporting on how bad Trump is or not? Make up your mind!

If it's in LOCK STEP with whatever a particular group is saying, then yes. You're allowing someone else to form your opinions for you.

Do you think you're immune to brainwashing? You're not.

Germany says "hi".

Well ... he had a lot of help from his pals in Moscow.

 

Duplicate.

 

"If it's in LOCK STEP with whatever a particular group is saying, then yes. You're allowing someone else to form your opinions for you."

Well I've felt the same about our 24/7 infotainment culture for a long time, so I must've been brainwashed a long time ago. Either way, that's the way I see it. I find most reporting these days to be slipshod, ratings-driven, and inaccurate. Perhaps someone brainwashed me into thinking that, but if they did they did a hell of a job 'cause I see it all the time (even if it is, in fact, quite excellent and I just can't process that fact).

By the way, the stuff about me complaining about them not reporting about Trump's failings? I never said that. Not once. Perhaps you were brainwashed?

 

Well I've felt the same about our 24/7 infotainment culture for a long time, so I must've been brainwashed a long time ago. Either way, that's the way I see it. I find most reporting these days to be slipshod, ratings-driven, and inaccurate. Perhaps someone brainwashed me into believing that, but if they did they did a hell of a job 'cause I see it all the time (even if it is, in fact, quite excellent and I just can't process that fact).

By the way, that stuff about me complaining about them not reporting about Trump's failings? I don't believe I ever said that. Perhaps you were brainwashed?

 

<No, "it" doesn't. Change the damn channel if it's operating that way. CNN, MSNBC and Fox News are not the entire media. You've got PBS. NPR, CBS, NBC, ABC (remember them?), and dozens of newspapers and websites.>

I'll just add that often BBC America does a better job reporting about us than we do ourselves.

 

After decades of mergers and acquisitions, a large amount of media entities are owned by relatively few hands. And because of changes in the business model, cutbacks have far fewer boots on the ground and far more wire service shared stories. And then there is the unique factor that is Trump. He drew an audience with his outrageousness, and his stump speeches were allowed to run endlessly, without commentary, for free. Just like helicopter footage of a high speed chase.

And before we assemble the circular firing squad here, let's do keep in mind that Hillary in fact got 3 million more votes than The Orange One. Hindsight is 20/20, and it's obvious NOW that some key rural counties were either ignored -- or simply unwinnable no matter what -- and the math worked out for Trump this time. Trump arrives in office with historically "unpresidented" low approval/trust numbers. And since the election, he has done little to calm the fears and concerns of the MAJORITY of Americans.

Sure, Trumpeteers love his "burn it all down, man" schtick. But he has made a boatload of promises to fix things that any president can do very little about. In his favor is that he has blathered on about so very many things, for so long, so randomly, that most people who like him just like his general DGAblank attitude and don't even expect him to come through on things like a giant wall paid for by Mexico. The people who voted for him are angry and they want to inflict chaos on "Washington" without understanding the true harm in that. But there are an awful lot, a majority, of Americans who are sickened at the thought of this obvious third rate con man sitting in the oval office. And we are not going to sit quietly and be rolled over. Yesterday's nonsense with the attempt to kill the ethics panel is a good example.

If we can make it through this political zombie apocalypse, we can make it through anything.

 

<He drew an audience with his outrageousness, and his stump speeches were allowed to run endlessly, without commentary, for free. Just like helicopter footage of a high speed chase.>

Best analogy I've read this year.

 

Yes ... on CNN, Fox News, and (to a lesser extent) MSNBC. The same three networks that for some reason everyone all of a sudden thinks are the entire media.

We are SO screwed ...

 

Me, for one.

 

If Trump proved anything, it's that the masses hear the loudest voices, not the most eloquent.

 

It also shows that the masses have an IQ slightly below a rock.

 

^^This is the only reason I can come up with for how this
travesty happened in the first place.
I am still working hard to process it. It still does not seem real to me.

 

Against my own better judgement....I'm going to type this anyway. So much for Disney fun...I've only read a few of the comments here. If we could all just cut the crap for two seconds, stop spreading your party's propaganda, talking points, insults, and ridiculousness, our country would be in great order. There is a football mentality that exists in politics, party vs party, and it has grown to mammoth proportions thanks to the media, our politicians (fighting for their party's power), and social media. We all have our thoughts and feelings, but somewhere along the line we've lost the ability to listen and reason with each other. It always always always turns into head bashing and name calling. Who can insult the other one and cause the greatest injury? We are, in fact, acting as enemies against our own countrymen. But, I am here to tell you that I have been married for 23 years to someone who has generally had a different political opinion than my own. We still get along and we still love each other. I don't think of her as having an "IQ less than a rock" or look at her and think "libtard" simply because her political ideology differs from mine. She's one of the most loving and intelligent people I have ever met in my life. We just have different opinions, sometimes. (Although, this past election, she changed parties, we both agreed for once, and voted for Trump. Yes, you can hate me now.) But, if you show me respect, I will respect you. If you insult the hell out of me, I'll either box your ears or walk away. It's that simple. So, I don't understand why, other than the need to vent your frustration, you post insult after insult and argue, fuss, and fight....It really gets you nowhere. You're actually causing harm to your own conviction.

 

I'd also like to add that I don't think anyone walks the line. I don't believe, or agree with, everything that my party says. I don't disagree with everything that the other party says. It don't have to be black OR white, it can actually be a little of both sometimes. Balance is the key to a successful life. Life is balance, so why not.

 

Sorry. Nope. If you and your wife voted for Trump, you've lost all claim to my respect. You are either staggeringly idiotic, or you are the enemy. Basic reality doesn't allow any other choice.

You sided with the Nazis. And now you think I should respect that, or care about the reasons? Sorry. Nope.