General Discussion

JoePhilly

(27,787 posts)

138. I've been explaining this for about 6 years now.

Sun Jun 7, 2015, 11:42 AM

Jun 2015

The media pushes two lines ...

The first is designed to ANGER the right wing, to energize them to vote.

The second is designed to DISCOURAGE the left wing, and get them to give up.

Watch almost any political show ... a republican pundit will attack the democrats. The democratic pundit will basically agree, and then say almost nothing of value.

It takes ENERGY to vote.

The GOP, with media help, works to suppress the vote via laws, and disinformation designed to anger the right, and discourage the left.

And too frequently, DU ends up being little more than an echo chamber for the latter.

I suspect that some of this on DU is actual trolling.

But I've also found that some on the left are miserable no matter what the situation happens to actually be. As such, they can be very susceptible to this.

On edit: Some examples ....

DU has been enraged and discouraged because Obama was going to ...

Never end DADT
Never support ending DOMA
Definitely going to GUT Social Security
Definitely make the Bush tax cuts for the top 1% permanent.
Definitely going to pass Keystone
Definitely going to kill Net Neutrality
Definitely stay in Iraq
Definitely invade Syria
Definitely invade Libya
Definitely invade Egypt

Each of these created a great deal of anger towards Obama and democrats ... becoming DU's common wisdom.

And every one was wrong.

The left, screaming bloody murder, Dems SUCK. Obama SUCKS. Dems Suck.

So what if it was all wrong. As long as Dems feel discouraged by this nonsense. The goal is achieved.

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If I believed that democracy were in its death throes, [View all] MineralMan Jun 2015 OP

I stand with you, my dear MineralMan... CaliforniaPeggy Jun 2015 #1

Exactly! MineralMan Jun 2015 #3

Raging against the dying of the light is hardly defeatism. nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2015 #5

I stand by my statement, because MineralMan Jun 2015 #6

lol and honest you just happened to miss my saying that in the op cali Jun 2015 #116

+1000 nt Mojorabbit Jun 2015 #21

'No retreat, baby. . .no surrender. . ." DinahMoeHum Jun 2015 #2

We only lose if we defeat ourselves. MineralMan Jun 2015 #4

testify! youre absolutley correct democracy dies when we give up Romeo.lima333 Jun 2015 #7

Such exaggerated doom and gloom treestar Jun 2015 #8

Yes. Overstatement MineralMan Jun 2015 #10

Nothing gets recced to high heaven here like a we're-all-going-to-hell thread BeyondGeography Jun 2015 #9

Misery loves company. MineralMan Jun 2015 #12

Yep, if a tenth of the crap spewed... joshcryer Jun 2015 #27

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2015 #11

Yes, well, thanks for your reply. MineralMan Jun 2015 #14

OFFS L0oniX Jun 2015 #46

Too funny! truebluegreen Jun 2015 #60

LOL. Rex Jun 2015 #13

Thanks for taking the time to reply. MineralMan Jun 2015 #15

I am an eternal optimizer, the glass isn't half empty it is half full. Thinkingabout Jun 2015 #16

Thank you. Truly. MineralMan Jun 2015 #17

The glass is twice as big as it needs to be awoke_in_2003 Jun 2015 #53

No, always prepared to take more. Thinkingabout Jun 2015 #58

yep. Phlem Jun 2015 #59

True. okasha Jun 2015 #18

Absolutely. MineralMan Jun 2015 #19

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2015 #23

Unfounded? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2015 #48

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2015 #63

Cool! I loves me some Lloyd Blankfein! RufusTFirefly Jun 2015 #71

Yep. joshcryer Jun 2015 #20

Thanks! MineralMan Jun 2015 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jun 2015 #24

Or pushin' up the daisies! truebluegreen Jun 2015 #61

I'm with you, MineralMan. Paladin Jun 2015 #25

President Obama's eulogy was a fine thing. MineralMan Jun 2015 #28

Same here. Thanks for this thread---we were in need of it. (nt) Paladin Jun 2015 #30

My pleasure. MineralMan Jun 2015 #31

KnR. Just saw the subject line of the last gasp post. You are providing oxygen.... Hekate Jun 2015 #26

Thanks! MineralMan Jun 2015 #29

Bubbles that form in a pot on the stove... yuiyoshida Jun 2015 #32

That's great as long as it is not delusional. zeemike Jun 2015 #33

It's not delusional at all. MineralMan Jun 2015 #35

elections are coming and those with the most money will win. duh cali Jun 2015 #92

And? joshcryer Jun 2015 #93

Indeed, one dollar one vote is just as democratic as one man one vote Fumesucker Jun 2015 #96

It sucks ass but that's Citizens and Oligarchy United. joshcryer Jun 2015 #97

It was that way long before Citizens United Fumesucker Jun 2015 #98

No it wasn't. joshcryer Jun 2015 #100

Rise in spending don't mean shit JonLP24 Jun 2015 #103

I'm not going to disagree on that. joshcryer Jun 2015 #104

I think that was the point the poster you replied to was making JonLP24 Jun 2015 #107

The OP is right about one thing. joshcryer Jun 2015 #109

I like the Democrats chance for future Presidential contests JonLP24 Jun 2015 #113

When I said "one dollar one vote" I meant those who hold the most dollars have the most influence Fumesucker Jun 2015 #105

Would you have said this about FDR? JFK? joshcryer Jun 2015 #110

Bernie Sanders is shocking the status quo precisely because he's listening to ordinary people Fumesucker Jun 2015 #112

No one is forced to vote for the candidate who spent the most money treestar Jun 2015 #140

I'm sorry, but that is just so ridiculous and irrelevant cali Jun 2015 #142

It's just as ridiculous to claim that it's only about treestar Jun 2015 #143

If that were so then the money would be unimportant Fumesucker Jun 2015 #148

It's a problem treestar Jun 2015 #149

WTF.... quickesst Jun 2015 #64

And you stepped right in it. zeemike Jun 2015 #68

See.... quickesst Jun 2015 #76

It seems like you want to fight. zeemike Jun 2015 #81

Made perfect sense to me. /nt Marr Jun 2015 #78

Made perfect sense to me nt nadinbrzezinski Jun 2015 #83

of course... quickesst Jun 2015 #108

I agree and consider all the support from Hillary Clinton supporters JonLP24 Jun 2015 #102

I won't give up because sarge43 Jun 2015 #34

Precisely! MineralMan Jun 2015 #36

You might want to tell this to the folks nadinbrzezinski Jun 2015 #37

Whatever you say... MineralMan Jun 2015 #39

Yup nadinbrzezinski Jun 2015 #42

this newthinking Jun 2015 #74

+1, yep. Marr Jun 2015 #79

Was this a media event, or a political event: joshcryer Jun 2015 #94

So true, a show fueled by advertising and big money, in short, politics is about RKP5637 Jun 2015 #114

Easy to be an optimist when you are not seeing your children doing worse than you did at their age Fumesucker Jun 2015 #38

All the more reason to keep working to make things better, neh? MineralMan Jun 2015 #40

I'm reminded of this cartoon... Fumesucker Jun 2015 #44

Sadly, I have to leave for tonight. MineralMan Jun 2015 #41

I've gotten to like banging my head into a concrete wall too. L0oniX Jun 2015 #43

Just for that special occasion. :) Phlem Jun 2015 #62

It may or may not be... 99Forever Jun 2015 #45

Being a woman of a "certain age" ... NanceGreggs Jun 2015 #47

+1,000,000 MADem Jun 2015 #77

I love all who continue to struggle for more democracy. lovemydog Jun 2015 #111

Democracy dates back to, at least, 510 BCE Agnosticsherbet Jun 2015 #49

DU is,by far, the most pessimistic forum I post on. sufrommich Jun 2015 #50

Oddly enough as a whole DU is the best informed forum about politics I post on Fumesucker Jun 2015 #54

I've heard them before, too Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #133

Conspiratorial nonsense depends on the conspiracy JonLP24 Jun 2015 #106

Ahh, Professor Pangloss. moondust Jun 2015 #51

perfect response cali Jun 2015 #118

If it is really democracy the people are already participating. Selling them on democracy, jtuck004 Jun 2015 #52

That's an excellent point, thank you for sharing it Fumesucker Jun 2015 #56

+1,000! The very fact that people need to be convinced to vote should be a huge warning sign. n/t RufusTFirefly Jun 2015 #73

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;" canoeist52 Jun 2015 #55

If we make it about raising the most money, we will lose RufusTFirefly Jun 2015 #57

One has to face facts though, MM sadoldgirl Jun 2015 #65

exactly... quickesst Jun 2015 #66

Preach iandhr Jun 2015 #67

I'm more optimistic now than ever before because now the anti-democratic forces are open about it. betsuni Jun 2015 #69

This must connect to something else on DU. However independent of context, you are right. n/t xocet Jun 2015 #70

DU is many things. Bonobo Jun 2015 #72

If I believed that fear and terror were the only means to control a population Jack Rabbit Jun 2015 #75

Ahhh...dueling banjos! Here is the link to the other DU OP playing the different tune. Enjoy. Purveyor Jun 2015 #80

The OP isn't known for his originality. n/t. SixString Jun 2015 #85

{{{chuckle}}} indeed. eom Purveyor Jun 2015 #90

I believe I'm part of a struggle lovemydog Jun 2015 #82

Perfectly put 6chars Jun 2015 #121

Being part of that struggle is a good thing. MineralMan Jun 2015 #122

Oh, US democracy is in its death throes. The fact that you don't recognize this tell us a lot. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #84

agree Katashi_itto Jun 2015 #115

I think prudence requires that all here consider very carefully what the election of a Republican KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #86

Well said Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2015 #87

One does have to wonder MFrohike Jun 2015 #88

Freedom is the ability to say 2+2=4. PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #89

good grief. how many times are you going to riff off one of my ops? cali Jun 2015 #91

As often as I find reason to do so. MineralMan Jun 2015 #120

sure. it does demonstrate a mimicking mentality though. on the old du cali Jun 2015 #123

This is not a copycat thread, cali. MineralMan Jun 2015 #124

Democracy never was. F4lconF16 Jun 2015 #95

Remain calm, ALL IS WELL!!! bluesbassman Jun 2015 #99

I'm not going to jump out of a window or dive in front of The Sunset Limited JonLP24 Jun 2015 #101

If you believed that democracy was alive and well... MattSh Jun 2015 #117

I would give your final sentence a caveat. Exilednight Jun 2015 #119

The goal is to get Dems to give up and stay home. JoePhilly Jun 2015 #125

I think that belongs in creative speculation. nt Bonobo Jun 2015 #126

Then thinking might not be for you. nt JoePhilly Jun 2015 #127

If you think that a DU'er that has been here for over a decade is part of a shadowy Bonobo Jun 2015 #128

Wow, you have a vivid imagination. JoePhilly Jun 2015 #129

LOL. You said "The goal is to get Dems to give up and stay home." Bonobo Jun 2015 #130

I've been explaining this for about 6 years now. JoePhilly Jun 2015 #138

I've noticed those most susceptible to influence frequently project that fault onto others whatchamacallit Jun 2015 #141

Maybe not dying, but certainly diseased whatchamacallit Jun 2015 #131

Did you see Hillary Clinton's statement about universal, automatic MineralMan Jun 2015 #132

Sorry, while a good step toward ensuring fair and wide participation in the process whatchamacallit Jun 2015 #134

I see. Oh, well... MineralMan Jun 2015 #135

"He who casts a ballot decides nothing. He who counts the ballots decides KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #136

Or he who judges whether you can count the ballots, see 2000. n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #151

You're 100% correct rock Jun 2015 #137

I will not quit being a peace activist because G_j Jun 2015 #139

What do you think of the Princton Study that says we no longer have a rhett o rick Jun 2015 #144

More reasons to vote, but not just vote. Get involved in the primary process and L. Coyote Jun 2015 #145

I will fight forever, but I will not buy the propaganda that we live in a democracy. rhett o rick Jun 2015 #146

The first step to things like the Princeton study nadinbrzezinski Jun 2015 #150

Another MM slam dunk. Number23 Jun 2015 #147