ABC lets the cat out of the bag...

[returnable]

"For those readers who don't work in politics or political journalism directly, allow us to let you in on the biggest dirty little secret in our world right now: There is extraordinary pressure to begin covering the Bush v. Kerry general election matchup immediately.

This pressure comes from many quarters and on many fronts."

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

So, no, those of us who support someone other than John Kerry AREN'T paranoid :hi:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. this is not qualified

it means nothing.

[Cuban_Liberal]

4. Not 'qualified'?

What does that mean, exactly?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Are there directives from on high?

This is the official policy? I doubt it.
I'd say there are more than enough stories in the Edwards/Dean/Clark vs. Kerry department

[maddezmom]

15. it wouldn't surprise me at all

speaking as the daughter of a person in the media....it's all about the bottom line. Sending out journalists/reporters and crew(camera men, satellite trucks, etc) to cover campaigns ain't cheap. And if they aren't making it in the polls, they aren't going to continue to get covered by the media.

Not saying is the right thing, but it's logical.

[chocolateeater]

9. So the people at ABC News aren't qualified

to talk about the Media?

[Tinoire]

16. No

Only the people at DU ;)

[RetroLounge]

27. of course not

nothing to see here.

Move on.

[Skip Intro]

2. But, I thougt it was all just some silly conspiracy theory n/t

[DontBlameMe]

6. Oh, stop.

Didn't you hear? Kerry saved a man's life by performing the Heimlich? He's leading in the polls.

You silly person. :P

[Mairead]

3. Just as there was all sorts of pressure to anoint Dean, earlier

The underlying message is: it doesn't matter, there is no democracy, it's all theater, let's get it out of the way.

[BootinUp]

13. Congratulations...

ITS ALL THEATRE!

There's no business like Show business.....

[Gin]

14. The word "THEATER" is used by the military too.....it is all smoke and

mirrors..

[maxr4clark]

17. a military theater

is a place where some kind of action happens--or more usually, doesn't. It is specifically a "large" place, like Europe or the Middle East. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think there is any battle going on in the Korean theater right now.

What word would you suggest they use instead? Calling Korea or Europe or Middle East a "battlefield" is likely to upset someone.

[TacticalPeek]

19. Like sweeping up after the Republican Circus Elephants.

Its show biz.

[MoonRiver]

21. I just hate having elephants so defamed by that vile GOP!

Paciderms are the most marvelous of beings, and the absolute antithesis of puking wingnuts. x(

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Love this quote

"Another Kerry adviser was more blunt. 'This is not the Dukakis campaign,' the adviser said. 'We're not going to take it. And if they're going to come at us with stuff, whatever that stuff may be, if it goes to a place where the '88 campaign did, then everything is on the table. Everything.'"

[Jim Sagle]

8. I like that. It means that if he's the nom, he intends to win.

[ProfessorPlum]

18. I'll believe it when I see it.

Everything ought to be on the table NOW, regardless of what * does.

[oasis]

7. The media often anticipates the outcome of elections and matchups.

They're constantly in competition to get the "scoop" on the story.

[AP]

11. Dukasize it!

That's what they're doing.

[redqueen]

12. Key words: 'extraordinary pressure'

This is not business as usual.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[Meldread]

20. Kick

:kick:

[texasmom]

22. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[hippiechick]

23. When in an election not an election ?

When the nominees/outcomes are pre-determined.

For example, when you take a survey or multiple choice exam, you're given a range of 'choices' but not the free space to actually choose what you really think/feel/know.

That's what the media and the corporate interests have done to 'freedom of choice' in this country.

Democracy ? I'm beginnin' to think she ain't no more.

:hippie:

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

24. Oh. My. God. It is the MEDIA!

Damn. I wish that the MEDIA bastards would let me think for myself.

But I just can't.

Hopefully the MEDIA will shut up that barking dog next door so I can get some sleep.

[texasmom]

26. Not just the MEDIA--as you say

"...This pressure comes from many quarters and on many fronts."

This tells me it's not just the media, and I don't think it's just the RNC after Terry Mac's appearance on "This Week with George" last Sunday.

The message comes via the media.

[edzontar]

31. This is DNC dirty tricks, IMHO.

Kerry may even not get my VOTE if this is true.

[TacticalPeek]

25. kick

[edzontar]

28. The "other" pressure is also coming from the DNC, I'd bet my hat...

Voters are irrelevant. We have managed to promote our boy to the front---we are safe now, and all those uncontrollable werido reform candidates have been marginalized.


It is time to proceed with the predetermined outcome.

Nothing to see here, move on......

[texasmom]

33. I'm pretty sure of it, too, and

it is pretty disillusioning. I heard, again, Terry MacAuliffe from last Sunday's "This Week.." on NPR this afternoon. It's unmistakeable. He could have said his statement so many different ways so as to not leave any candidates out. Instead he clearly painted the picture of a Kerry v. Bush debate. Very clearly laid it out visually. What is particularly frustrating is that the visual he laid out is the very one which Michael Moore has painted Of Clark debating Bush. MacAuliffe lifted it from Michael Moore substituting the chosen one's name for Clark's.

Ultimately the people are the ones who vote, though, so you never know....unless you're Gephardt, Lieberman, Graham, or Mosely-Braun supporters.

[CWebster]

29. No question the fix was in

Kerry scraping the bottom, due to his own unappealing campaign of carping continually about Dean wasn't propelled to frontrunner without a little help from his friends.

[edzontar]

30. KICK!!!!!

nt

[returnable]

32. Kickin' for the hell of it...

:kick:

[janx]

34. Look what I found when I followed the link.

(Does the Note change daily using the same link?)

The reality is that Kerry is having a pretty easy time of things -- easier, as has been pointed out, than any frontrunner EVER after Iowa and New Hampshire.

There has been no negative paid media against him; the free media coverage nationally and state-by-state is boffo; the candidate attacks on him are mild; and he is getting to take relatively free shots at the President in a lot of general election battleground states.

In terms of keeping things going and making sure he doesn't stub his toe or worse, the best thing for John Kerry is for there to be multiple, relatively weak opponents in the race through Wisconsin and Super Tuesday.

If too many people drop out too fast, Kerry faces a potential one-on-one matchup and possible buyer's-remorse-fueled losses. With a field of this size, however, Kerry can rack up "big" wins with 35-45 percent of the vote.

[NashVegas]

36. I Saw That

I guess the Note only updates its archive once per month, too.

Grr.

[knight_of_the_star]

35. Interesting

That's VERY interesting. Sounds to me like the media is trying to rig our democracy on us.

At least myself and all the other Clark people stand vindicated on saying the media is against Wes!