Pic of The Moment: The Media-Trump Complex

[EarlG]

Trump's Brazen Campaign Strategy Is a Page Out of His 1987 Memoir 'Art of the Deal'

CBS Chief Cheers Trump: "Go Donald! Keep Getting Out There!"

Follow @demunderground

[Buzz Clik]

1. And as consumers of this nonsense...

... how much responsibility do we bear?

[HoosierCowboy]

2. Refer to the Chicken or the Egg problem first...

...is Trump all over the Media because he is popular, or is Trump popular because he is all over the Media? My fellow Americans this might require some objective thinking rather the stuff down in the brain stem.

[chapdrum]

3. "The more they spend, the better it is for us..."

If we had a civilized country, ALL of the networks would be required to run (a set percentage of) political advertising for free, as a condition of their ongoing corporate charter and, not so parenthetically, as proof of their interest in the integrity of the political process (which, of course, is always someone else's job).

[Heinz_Golderian]

5. only problem

is _I_ want to be the person who determines which people get to do their 'political' advertising 'for free'.

You trust me, right?

[chapdrum]

9. There was a quaint "Fairness Doctrine"

that pro-democracy Ronnie eliminated.

Perhaps pertinent portions of that might be applied.

"For free" is simply that.

Networks must run all parties/candidates, or they run none.

It probably doesn't need to be more complicated.

[WillyT]

4. K & R !!!

[d_legendary1]

6. One big dog and pony show that pays well all around

unless you're the spectator.

[MADem]

8. The spectator, though, has the remote! CLICK!!! nt

[d_legendary1]

10. Sadly not everyone uses it

[MADem]

11. They need to take charge of their own experience!

I remember when you had to get up off the couch, walk across the room, and turn a dial to change the channel!! And if there was a commercial going on (and they used to be long, up to a minute), you'd WAIT until it ended to see what was on--assuming you didn't have the handy, dandy TV GUIDE (a luxury item in some homes) to give you a clue as to where to go, if you didn't like the program on offer!!

[MADem]

7. Those networks need to do something to stay relevant. The way we get our information--and even our

entertainment--is morphing. So many people just don't watch anymore, on the one hand, while those on the margins of society rely solely on that low - end flatscreen with a cheap antennae to get a window on the world.

The networks, finally are working hard to carve out a presence on the web and to try to make their content easier to access--they're still behind the curve, though. They need money to make that "great leap forward" and this is a boon year for them.

Here's my attitude--if they're spending it in the primaries, that's less to spend in the general. So spend, ya basstids, spend. Spend it ALL. Hoist yerselves on yer own Citizens United petard.