Was just subjected to 45 minutes of CNN while at the dentist. It was brutal.

[Populist_Prole]

Just a cleaning/check-up, so at least there was no additional trauma beyond watching CNN ( Fox Lite ). Since I rarely watch TV, and NEVER watch TV news life is better and I've forgotten, or just never realized just how bad the state of journalism/reporting in televised news is these days...which just goes to steel my resolve to get my info from the net.

What was most apparent to me; what was obvious at first, was how "slick" and banal it all is. The annoying cadence and lilt of the anchorwomen as they basically spoon-fed the audience with not so much news ( as in "what happened" and all the Who What Where Why and When ethic of yore ) but more on how various people react to what somebody said. If they did show a person of note's speaking, it was but for 30 or 40 seconds and then the anchor's sudden voice-over to move on to the next tidbit, or worse yet, a flurry of crassly obvious come-ons for what lies next after the commercials. They themselves were brutal as well. Most seem to be either hawking some sort of medical elixir, or of the finance/business services where yuppie maggots of the vilest sort recite their lines with the characteristic smug measured tones that seem to be all the rage in the "business" world. Blecch! And, what's with the scrolling headlines at the bottom of the screen? Some of them were actually of interest to me but alas the anchor never even hinted at them for even some future coverage; No it's, let's look at the Philadelphia wedding brawl video yet again!!!

I'm demoralized. If this is how a majority of the voting public gets their information, this democracy of ours doesn't have a chance in hell. The movie 'Idiocracy' will be but a precursor to our nation scarcely a generation from now because at this rate, we're generating low-information voters at a propagation rate that would make crabgrass envious.

Rant over. Ahhh to be home viewing DU and my other "comfort websites" with some good whiskey and awaiting a tasty dinner. On balance, I guess it was a good day.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. I get them to turn off the TV while I'm in the chair.

But, yes, Corporate Media sucks.

[Fumesucker]

2. I wouldn't worry, that's too intellectual for most Americans..

The cable news networks only get that small fraction of the audience that's interested in news and politics.

[GoneOffShore]

3. The dentist and TV news??? Merde that's double torture.

[Populist_Prole]

5. I'm glad it was just a cleaning and check-up.

And with good results and accolades from them as to my diligent hygiene. If I was getting some serious work done, coupled with that CNN torture, I might have croaked right there.

Funny thing though: The hygienist took my blood pressure. Mine is normally real good ( 110/70 ) and I wanted to continue and so I did the usual relaxed state of mind and body thing during it, plus slow deep breaths; and then I hear from the TV: "........but presidential candidate Mitt Romney counters......." and I'm like ( to myself ) "take it easy....deep breath....exhale....ahhhh. Screwed up the BP numbers but only slightly: 114/74. I'm not going to let Rmoney get my goat.

[Control-Z]

4. RATINGS!!

Just remember that it takes drama and conflict to keep CNN's ratings up!!

[Populist_Prole]

6. You're right. Their much coveted horse-race

Reminded me of when I was about 10 or 11 years old and a bunch of instigators somehow managed to get me and my best friend to have a fist-fight based on their egging on based from an old argument/smack-talk session we had of who could lick who, and was long forgotten till the instigators brought it up in such a way that there was no way me or my friend could walk away with honor without having a fist fight.

Freaking vultures.

[chille1]

7. I feel your pain Media sucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am Boycotting all Corporate Media outlets ,I only watch T.V now for pure entertainment. The 3% of reporting and 97% of what we think about the report drives me Crazy I cant do it No more ,But on A scale at which the ratings whores go to too spin storys should be criminal, I know its unethical ,And Lastly I would trully be in support of a veiwer black out of all the Major outlets I believe that would bring back Journalism,at least it will show them we are not sheep!!!!!!!!!

[Cali_Democrat]

8. "Most seem to be either hawking some sort of medical elixir"

OMG so true.

Those drug commercials need to be banned from TV. Nobody should be telling their doctor what kind of drugs should be prescribed. The doctor should be the one identifying which drugs need to be prescribed based on an examination.