The big networks keep asking why they are losing ratings on the Sunday "news" shows...

[Archae]

Can you blame most of us, since they keep picking the same old same old commentators and politicians?

Today on ABC's Sunday show they had Ann Coulter. WHY??!!??

[The Magistrate]

1. Because They Keep Putting On Dip--Shits, Sir

And anybody can find more entertaining dip-shits on their own out among the inter-tubes....

"Romney loves American like a tick loves a dog."

[lonestarnot]

3. Romney is to America as are ticks to dogs.

[DevonRex]

21. Romney is a tick.

[Lasher]

29. Mitt the Tick

[DevonRex]

55. Heh

Look, it's Mitt!!! [url=http://www.cosgan.de/smilie.php][img][/img][/url]

[kenfrequed]

72. Agreed

Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting did a study on the people on the Sunday shows and they were overwhelmingly predominantly conservative.

[Whovian]

2. I gave up on them a couple of years ago

after watching religiously for decades before. They went SOS too often.

[SoapBox]

41. Ditto

[riverbendviewgal]

4. Her and Kaye Buchanan

Yuk!!!!!

MSNBC is good Sat and Sun mornings. after that forget it. except for CNN Fareed Zakaria.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. She was so loud and obnoxious, claiming that MSM was paraphrasing the video

of Romney talking to his rich donors, rather than letting Americans hear the tape. omg.... that tape was played over and over.

[BOG PERSON]

6. they keep inviting

the same think-tank technocrats

[Lasher]

65. Even worse, they are afraid and/or unwilling to fact check

for fear of losing access to the pack of liars with whom they have so much in common. But the Sunday talk show pundits lost access to me a couple of years ago FWIW.

[Rex]

7. It is sad really, they know why they are losing ratings

yet still stick with the same old garbage that made millions flee to the Internet for news in the first place. I say FUCK THEM.

[socialist_n_TN]

64. They stick with the same old garbage because......

That same old garbage is what their owners WANT them to broadcast. It doesn't matter if they make money or not or tell the truth or not, they'll stay on the air because the capitalist WANT them on the air.

[Rex]

75. I am impressed that you still call them capitalists.

To me we live in nothing more then a plutocracy and therefore the 'ownership society' are all plutocrats.

[ananda]

8. Boycotting appears to be having an effect!

..

[Egnever]

9. Cause they are afraid of real confrontation.

When they stop letting people get away with BS talking points it might be worth watching but as it stand now it just a form mfor people to come on and spew the talking points you have heard all week with no one willing to stop them.

[nolabear]

10. They're old style week old commentary. By the time they get to it, it's over.

I'm not sure what it is that keeps the networks behind them except that there are still folks who don't follow closely and there is respect in those quarters for the old style of political punditry.

But Ann Coulter...OY FREAKING VEY. She's useless.

[TransitJohn]

11. If it's Sunday, it's conservative

http://mediamatters.org/research/2006/02/14/if-its-sunday-its-conservative-an-analysis-of-t/134868

Executive Summary

The Sunday-morning talk shows on ABC, CBS, and NBC are where the prevailing opinions are aired and tested, policymakers state their cases, and the left and right in American politics debate the pressing issues of the day on equal ground. Both sides have their say and face probing questions. Or so you would think.

In fact, as this study reveals, conservative voices significantly outnumber progressive voices on the Sunday talk shows. Media Matters for America conducted a content analysis of ABC's This Week, CBS' Face the Nation, and NBC's Meet the Press, classifying each one of the nearly 7,000 guest appearances during President Bill Clinton's second term, President George W. Bush's first term, and the year 2005 as either Democrat, Republican, conservative, progressive, or neutral. The conclusion is clear: Republicans and conservatives have been offered more opportunities to appear on the Sunday shows - in some cases, dramatically so.

Among the study's key findings:

The balance between Democrats/progressives and Republicans/conservatives was roughly equal during Clinton's second term, with a slight edge toward Republicans/conservatives: 52 percent of the ideologically identifiable guests were from the right, and 48 percent were from the left. But in Bush's first term, Republicans/ conservatives held a dramatic advantage, outnumbering Democrats/progressives by 58 percent to 42 percent. In 2005, the figures were an identical 58 percent to 42 percent.

Counting only elected officials and administration representatives, Democrats had a small advantage during Clinton's second term: 53 percent to 45 percent. In Bush's first term, however, the Republican advantage was 61 percent to 39 percent -- nearly three times as large.

In both the Clinton and Bush administrations, conservative journalists were far more likely to appear on the Sunday shows than were progressive journalists. In Clinton's second term, 61 percent of the ideologically identifiable journalists were conservative; in Bush's first term, that figure rose to 69 percent.

In 1997 and 1998, the shows conducted more solo interviews with Democrats/progressives than with Republicans/conservatives. But in every year since, there have been more solo interviews with Republicans/conservatives.

The most frequent Sunday show guest during this nine-year period is Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who has appeared 124 times. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) has been the most frequent guest since 2003.

In every year examined by the study -- 1997 - 2005 -- more panels tilted right (a greater number of Republicans/conservatives than Democrats/progressives) than tilted left. In some years, there were two, three, or even four times as many right-titled panels as left-tilted panels.

Congressional opponents of the Iraq war were largely absent from the Sunday shows, particularly during the period just before the war began.

In short, the Sunday talk shows on ABC, CBS, and NBC are dominated by conservative voices, from newsmakers to commentators. The data from the Clinton years indicate that the disparity cannot be explained simply by the fact that Republicans currently control the government.

Full report here (pdf): http://mediamatters.org/static/pdf/MMFA_Sunday_Show_Report.pdf

[Aeroette]

44. Great article! Thanks. n/t

[kathman-duzi]

45. And all the Anns complain that the media is

biased toward the democratic/progressive base. These repubs really hate math, numbers and percentages especially when they loose the argument when the numbers show up.

Thank you for the link and the exec summary I have always felt the news was far to biased toward the conservative/gop bases.

[sendero]

61. Not ojnly that...

... but the folks they choose from the "left", are barely left at all, or are stupid and/or spineless.

[genxlib]

63. Here's a thought

If you keep putting on so many Conservatives that scream about how this is a Christian nation, eventually your audience may start going to church instead of watching.

[Auntie Bush]

70. And Conservatives still call it the LIBERAL Media!

[sandyshoes17]

12. Because they spend every Sunday

Trying to legitimize these whackos. Instead of having real intelligent conversations

[Archae]

13. "Crooks and Liars" has a great term for the Sunday bobbleheads...

"Villagers."

The Washington DC lobbyist and cocktail party "journalists."

They have zero clue as to the reality outside the DC bubble, so they keep bringing on the same old has-been commentators.

[LovingA2andMI]

49. EXACTLY ^^^^

[jillan]

14. I used to be hooked on the Sunday shows. Had them all set up on my dvr. Now the only time I will

watch is if the President or Vice President is on - along with a couple of other pols.

The Sunday shows SUCK - and MTP is as bad as faux sunday. If any one channel should have a progressive leaning Sunday morning it should be msnbc.

[Archae]

15. Rachel Maddow can make MTP watchable...

If she doesn't get talked all over and interrupted constantly.

[TeamPooka]

25. like that has ever happened. The GOP reps know how dangerous she is and that's all they do to her

[Chipper Chat]

52. Rachel should be HOSTING Meet the Press.

[Mponti]

16. Ann Coulter made a total ass of herself

[Archae]

17. What else is new?

[calimary]

58. Welcome to DU! So what else is new? ann coulter can't do anything BUT make an ass out of herself.

Glad you're here! We need you! Help us win this thing because it isn't nailed down yet.





Now get to work.

[mick063]

18. Putting Ann Coulter on a Sunday News program

Is no different than using the managing editor of the National Enquirer as an expert analyst.

Of course they will lose ratings.

[kathman-duzi]

47. Good one! LOL n/t

[uponit7771]

19. Mostly they pick white male conservatives overwhemingly...same ol ish

[Arugula Latte]

20. But, but, their range of guests is so broad and informative!

Usually it ranges from old rightwing ghost-white Republican men to old rightwing ivory-white Republican men. What other perspective is there, really?

[Lint Head]

22. It's almost Halloween so it's time to have skeleton political pundits.

[spanone]

23. as long as assholes like ms coulter are treated as legitimate they deserve NO viewers

[YvonneCa]

35. Exactly. n/t

[Initech]

24. Because they keep putting on the same assholes and they're on before most of us get up on weekends?

[jonesgirl]

26. Blah blah blah. Why don't they get off their lazy azzes and go find out for themselves.

[SunSeeker]

27. If people wanted to watch conservative blowhards, they'd watch Fox. nt

[Jamaal510]

28. I used to watch Press The Meat until

I found out how phony David Gregory is. He presents himself as independent and neutral, yet he seldom calls the Reds out when they lie, while giving all the hardball questions to the Democrats. Now I spend my Sunday mornings either watching video game walkthroughs on YouTube or reading blogs on Media Matters.

[kathman-duzi]

48. Tim Russert rest his soul gave me the same feeling and I had to turn him off also. n/t

[Archae]

53. Tim Russert in the 90's wouldn't shut up about Clinton's dick.

[barbtries]

30. that's a damn good question

i would never watch any show with her on it. she gives me the creeps.

[hobbit709]

31. Maybe because there is no "News" there.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

38. Exactly. I can't think of when I last tuned in to Sunday morning opinion...

probably around 2004.

[Aerows]

32. I watched my dad flip to a "Romney vs. Obama" poll while I opened the door

He's an old time Republican. I was taking in the groceries and had my hands full. I didn't say a word, and he flipped to Sport's Center.

[DinahMoeHum]

33. Because the Sunday shows are little more than circle-jerking. . .

. . .and social incest in that golden ghetto called "The Beltway"

The network bosses' heads are stuck up their asses.

[tularetom]

34. They're kidding, right?

If the producers of these shows are so dense that they don't realize that even the dum dum demogrpahic in the US gets tired of seeing the same tired old pantomimes with the same washed up actors week after godawful boring week there's no hope for them.

As of March 18 of this year angry little gremlin John McCain had appeared on Meet the Press 64 times. WTF could he possibly add that he hadn't said the first 63 times?

Before the death of Tim Russert the James Carville/Mary Matalin freakshow were almost regulars, dragging the same sorry tired routine in front of viewers on the average of once every six weeks.

Of course anybody with a functioning cerebral cortex is going to figure out rather quickly that there is nothing to be gleaned from watching this crap. If they don't clean up their act and start deaing with real issues instead of inside-the-beltway gossip, they'll go the way of the dinosaurs pretty fucking quick.

[pwb]

36. Not asking follow up questions and tolerance of pure talking points keep me away.

That and John MCcain on every week. Stale worn out opinions and questioners with no balls to interrupt and say you are full of shit..

[Pakid]

37. I rather be pecked to death by chickens

Than watch Sunday's so called news shows

[Jennicut]

39. The only stuff on the weekend I enjoy is Up with Chris Hayes

and Melissa Harris Perry. Anything else grates my nerves. I love both of them.

[kooljerk666]

51. agree I just stared DVRing both..

cause my pals from Current TV ain't around & there is virtually no other news shows on worth watching.

They all remind me of Judith Miller........................

[LittleGirl]

40. I already know what Republicans say, how about

having a few Dem only guests for once. I would rather watch Up With Chris or Melissa instead. That is, when I turn on the tv on Sunday morning.

[skeewee08]

42. They have the same old tired a** on all the time

[Spitfire of ATJ]

43. The Sunday shows aren't "news" they're right wing propaganda...

Back when Republicans were in office they stacked the panel with Conservatives claiming they needed to because they were in power. When Liberals were in power they stacked the panel with Conservatives claiming they were keeping the administration accountable.

When Phil Donahue had his show on MSNBC he was told he had to have at least two Conservatives to each Liberal and when he wanted to have Noam Chomsky on he was told he would need at least five Conservatives on to counter him.

The constant Conservative crap has turned off America. A lot of people are now thinking the whole Conservative movement hasn't had an original idea since the last century. Do they REALLY believe America wants to hear what is effectively the same 20 year old rerun forever?

Not to mention the fact that you can't get a Conservative to admit they are wrong. They STILL arrogantly claim Iraq was behind 9/11 and had WMDs and it's all Obama's fault that the economy isn't making everybody rich.

[LovingA2andMI]

46. Because they RECYCLE the SAME TALKING HEADS

Talking the same tired lines about the same spin each mainstream political parties have "stamped" approved as the talking point of the week.

How about bringing a Unemployed 99er on to talk about what's the REAL PROBLEM with America's High Unemployment Rate?

What about a family that are either underwater or are on the verge of losing their home, to discuss why banks got bailed out but, the American people got sold out?

Let's have a couple of students (who are in debt via student loans) discuss why the cost of higher education in this nation is too darn high and what must be done to reform this?

Until one of more of these things occur, I'm frankly sick and tired of seeing the SAME TALKING HEADS giving the SAME TALKING POINTS on Sunday Shows about issues impacting AMERICA'S Middle, Working and Lower classes....when really, they have NO IDEA because they're in a entirely different tax bracket than I.

[sabrina 1]

54. They did bring ONE out of work (at the time) member of the 99% on to one of those

shows, ONCE. See what happens when Jesse LaGreca from OWS told Christiane Amanpour and her guests, which included the usual pundits, George Will and Peggy Noonan, that he was the first and probably would be the last, actual working class person ever to make it onto one of these shows!

He nailed what should be obvious. That they do not have working class people on this shows.


I don't think he was invited back, despite Christiane Amanpour's defensive response to his statement, that 'we are trying to fix that'.

If there was ever a good spokes person for the 99% it is Jesse LaGreca. But how many more times was he invited back versus how many more times were George Will and Noonan eg, on that show since then?

So I guess the answer is that the last thing the Corporate Media wants is allow such clear, honest conversation as seen on this show, get the coverage it deserves.

So we turn them off, and go to more credible news sources.

[LovingA2andMI]

59. Jesse is AWESOME~~

I met Jesse L. at Netroots Nation 2012 and was able to take a picture of him. Sabrina I totally agree, Jesse did a wonderful job in describing what are the real issues facing Middle, Working and Lower class Americans. Also, you're right....Jesse was SO right on point that our Corporate Brought and Owned Mainstream Media (and I know this is going to not make nice with some folks) at CNN, MSNBC and Lord Knows Fox News, will never allow individuals like Jesse L. to discuss on a REGULAR basis real issues impacting the 95%.

[sabrina 1]

62. I had been reading his diaries at DK for a long time but did not realize he was

the guy at OWS who could slap down Fox so beautifully. When I found out who he was, I was not surprised though.

Did you see where in that video, he mentioned that he was probably the first and most likely the last working class person who would appear on that type of show? He is so completely honest, they do not know how to relate to him. And he was so good at honestly without hesitation, answering Wills' questions.

I would like to meet him too and I think he should run for Congress, but then I think he can do more good outside the system. Seems when they get to DC no matter how good they are, they are basically marginalized if they really want to work for the people.

I'm disappointed in Amanpour, who I met btw and found her to be very real and down to earth, for not making him as regular a guest on her show as the rest of the boring pundits who do get regular spots.

[ReasonableToo]

66. Agree nt

[citizen blues]

50. One reason she was there - to promote her book

Even when the rest were talking about other topics, she was talking about her book.

Yeah, she's a real Cash Cow! <sarcasm>

[ruffburr]

56. Just a thought

I really believe that fact checkers should be employed on each and every sunday political round table , That is if they want to keep an audience.

[mitchtv]

57. my dream panel

Rachel,Bill Maher, K Olbermann, and John Stewart

[Oilwellian]

60. Where do you see them asking this question?

We should go there and answer them directly.

[OnionPatch]

67. I hear enough conservative propaganda throughout the week.

Why would I tune in to a giant, right-wing propaganda-fest on Sunday morning?

[jsr]

68. RW propagandists have taken over long ago

Those shows are now boring and worthless.

[lame54]

69. John McCain has a cot in the back

[SalviaBlue]

71. I gave up on network "news" during the Bush years. nt

[MindPilot]

73. Perhaps they should consider some of us working folk

have better things to do with a Sunday morning than sit in front of the TV. And if I wanted to listen to people who think their opinions are so important that they have to share them with everyone else, I'll go to church.

[Uncle Joe]

74. Because watching their Sunday Morning "News" programs are as living

through Groundhog Day without the upside.

Same old conservative, Republican stroking, corporate loving shit every Sunday morning.

The corporate media in general is in the business of marginalizing itself, and Sunday Morning tripe is leading the way.

Thanks for the thread, Archae.

[Larkspur]

76. I enjoy watching Chris Hayes and Melissa Harris-Perry on Sat & Sun mornings

Both have excellent discussions. And MHP was great when she slammed her hand down on the table in response to a ring winger guest's inane view that only small business owners suffer. MHP gave her a short lecture about poverty that you'd never hear from the The Villagers hosting the MSM Sunday talking shows.

[ikl]

77. Sunday news

I believe the reason why they are falling is because of their overwhelming male chauvinist leaning and almost full conservative leaning and too much God and religion.