http://www.bloggernews.net/112737
Reminds me of when Nader was excluded, not a good sign for democracy.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
AOL, "Straw Poll: Hillary leading Democrat and Paul leading Republican" 12/24/07
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*National
*Hillary is the leading Democrat followed by Obama
*Paul is the leading Republican followed by Romney
Quote(s):
"In New Hampshire Paul has 30% Romney 23% McCain 20%, Giuliani 15%, Huckabee 8%, Thompson 3%, and Hunter 1%. Once again, aside from Paul the candidates mirror media polls regarding strength nationally and regionally.
Paul supporters have maintained that media generated polls have been under representing his support. Paul leads GOP candidates in 4rth quarter fund raising. He has received donations from an astounding 123,000 donors this quarter."
My thoughts:
I thought Paul would actually be second, this is a good surprise for me. Also, for the detractors, AOL has claimed that their straw hat poll is "spam" proof.
*New Media
*National
Content:
*Straw poll results from AOL
Tone:
*Neutral
*Hillary is the leading Democrat followed by Obama
*Paul is the leading Republican followed by Romney
Quote(s):
"In New Hampshire Paul has 30% Romney 23% McCain 20%, Giuliani 15%, Huckabee 8%, Thompson 3%, and Hunter 1%. Once again, aside from Paul the candidates mirror media polls regarding strength nationally and regionally.
Paul supporters have maintained that media generated polls have been under representing his support. Paul leads GOP candidates in 4rth quarter fund raising. He has received donations from an astounding 123,000 donors this quarter."
My thoughts:
I thought Paul would actually be second, this is a good surprise for me. Also, for the detractors, AOL has claimed that their straw hat poll is "spam" proof.
Concord Monitor, "Supporter quits job to rally grassroots effort" 12/23/07
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071223/NEWS01/712230415
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local
*Just reporting on grassroots supporters in NH, no real claims
Quote(s):
"He came back because he said that he hopes Paul can win, and he trusts that as president, he would faithfully protect the Constitution.
About the people supporting Ron Paul on the grassroots level
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local
Content:
*Vijay Boyapati quits his job, becomes a full time Paul supporter
*About "Operation Live Free or Die"
*freeatlast2008.com (2008 MLK money bomb)
Tone:
*Writer is neutral
*Topic is Ron Paul positive
*Just reporting on grassroots supporters in NH, no real claims
Quote(s):
"He came back because he said that he hopes Paul can win, and he trusts that as president, he would faithfully protect the Constitution.
"They stole my country from me, and I want it back. I want to be able to return to this country, and experience this country the way that document says it ought to be," Harrison said, touching one of the many Constitutions lying around.
My thoughts:About the people supporting Ron Paul on the grassroots level
Sacramento Bee, "Why's media ignoring Ron Paul?" 12/23/07
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/585647.html
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local
*CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds speaking with different people supporting Paul
Quote(s):
"For all the hoopla the talking heads and reporters give about democracy, they don't mean it. When a lot of the people really do want something, as is obviously the case with Paul, the elitist media show their true disdain for the general public. Who are you stupid peasants to like someone that the media hasn't told you to support?!"
My thoughts:
Sums up my feelings towards most media personalities ignoring Paul.
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local
Content:
*Opinion, Feedback
Tone:
*Positive to the Ron Paul
*Disdain towards media
*CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds speaking with different people supporting Paul
Quote(s):
"For all the hoopla the talking heads and reporters give about democracy, they don't mean it. When a lot of the people really do want something, as is obviously the case with Paul, the elitist media show their true disdain for the general public. Who are you stupid peasants to like someone that the media hasn't told you to support?!"
My thoughts:
Sums up my feelings towards most media personalities ignoring Paul.
CBS News, "Surprising Ron Paul Sparks A Movement" 12/23/07
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/21/eveningnews/main3640041.shtml
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
*CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds speaking with different people supporting Paul
Quote(s):
"Unlike other candidates consigned to the periphery, Paul has refused to go away. He is now in a tie for third in Iowa with supposed top-tier hopefuls.
And in live-free-or-die New Hampshire, he believes his anti-Iraq war, anti-tax, pro-freedom message with its libertarian tinge may resonate.
"People are flocking to the campaign," says Paul. "Maybe they've been starved for a campaign like this.""
My thoughts:
I'm surprised at the tone, especially from CBS, it's overwhelmingly positive and optimistic towards Paul.
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
Content:
*Paul refuses to go away
*Paul is currently tied for third in Iowa
Tone:
*Very positive
*CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds speaking with different people supporting Paul
Quote(s):
"Unlike other candidates consigned to the periphery, Paul has refused to go away. He is now in a tie for third in Iowa with supposed top-tier hopefuls.
And in live-free-or-die New Hampshire, he believes his anti-Iraq war, anti-tax, pro-freedom message with its libertarian tinge may resonate.
"People are flocking to the campaign," says Paul. "Maybe they've been starved for a campaign like this.""
My thoughts:
I'm surprised at the tone, especially from CBS, it's overwhelmingly positive and optimistic towards Paul.
Meet The Press, "Text of Russert interviewing Paul" 12/23/07
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22342301/
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
*Q&A, an aggressive one
Quote(s):
*"MR. RUSSERT: Let me ask you about drugs and go back again to your '90--'88 campaign and see where you stand today. "All drugs should be decriminalized. Drugs should be distributed by any adult to other adults. There should be no controls on production, supply or purchase for adults." Is that still your position?
My thoughts:
This is a case where I think it's best for you everyone to read the text and formulate their own ideas. Ardent Paul supporters will most likely say that they agree with Paul's points but that Russert prodded on a lot of topics that would be a turn off to "middle America." However, Russert gets stumped a couple times which is amusing to say the least. When Russert says income tax repeal would lower government spending by one trillion, Paul simply says that's good (and it is).
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
Content:
*Interview
*Question and Answer
*Russert grilling Paul
Tone:
*Interview, but negative
*Q&A, an aggressive one
Quote(s):
*"MR. RUSSERT: Let me ask you about drugs and go back again to your '90--'88 campaign and see where you stand today. "All drugs should be decriminalized. Drugs should be distributed by any adult to other adults. There should be no controls on production, supply or purchase for adults." Is that still your position?
REP. PAUL: Yeah. It's sort of like alcohol. Alcohol's a deadly drug, kills more people than anything else. And today the absurdity on this war on drugs, Tim, has just been horrible. We now, the federal government, takes over and rules--overrules state laws where state laws permit medicinal marijuana for people dying of cancer. The federal government goes in and arrests these people, put them in prison with mandatory, sometimes life sentences. This war on drugs is totally out of control. If you want to regulate cigarettes and alcohol and drugs, it should be at the state level. That's been my position, and that's where I stand on it. But the federal government has no, no prerogatives on this. They--when they wanted to outlaw alcohol, they had enough respect for the Constitution to amend the Constitution. Today we have all these laws and abuse, and they don't even care about the Constitution. I'm defending the Constitution on this issue. I think drugs are horrible. I teach my kids not to use them, my grandchildren, in my medical practice. Prescription drugs are a greater danger than, than hard drugs."
"MR. RUSSERT: But let me go back to this ad. You do not believe that Mike Huckabee, that ad commercial represents the potential of fascism in the form of a cross.REP. PAUL: No. But I think this country, a movement in the last 100 years, is moving toward fascism. Fascism today, the softer term, because people have different definition of fascism, is corporatism when the military industrial complex runs the show, when the--in the name of security pay--pass the Patriot Act. You don't vote for it, you know, you're not patriotic America. If you don't support the troops and you don't support--if you don't support the war you don't support the troops. It's that kind of antagonism. But we have more corporatism and more abuse of our civil liberties, more loss of our privacy, national ID cards, all this stuff coming has a fascist tone to it. And the country's moving in that direction. That's what I'm thinking about. This was not personalized. I never even used my opponents names if you, if you notice."
My thoughts:
This is a case where I think it's best for you everyone to read the text and formulate their own ideas. Ardent Paul supporters will most likely say that they agree with Paul's points but that Russert prodded on a lot of topics that would be a turn off to "middle America." However, Russert gets stumped a couple times which is amusing to say the least. When Russert says income tax repeal would lower government spending by one trillion, Paul simply says that's good (and it is).
The New Republic, "Pimp by Ride by Tucker Carlson" 12/23/07
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=83665295-1de6-4571-af9c-0a90f6d1fde0
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
*I'll just put a quote here out of place "Either the Ron Paul movement is more sophisticated than most journalists understand, or a lot of Paul supporters are eccentric bordering on bonkers."
Quote(s):
"Stylistically, a Paul speech is about as colorful as a tax return. He is the only politician I've ever seen who doesn't draw energy from the audience; his tone is as flat at the conclusion as it was at the beginning. There are no jokes. There's no warm-up, no shout-out to local luminaries in the room, no inspiring vignettes about ordinary Americans doing their best in the face of this or that bad thing. In fact, there are virtually none of the usual political clichés in a Paul speech. Children may be our future, but Ron Paul isn't admitting it in public."
"Paul never outshines his message, which is unchanging: Let adults make their own choices; liberty works. For a unified theory of everything, it's pretty simple. And Paul sincerely believes it.Most Republicans, of course, profess to believe it too. But only Paul has introduced a bill to legalize unpasteurized milk. Give yourself five minutes and see if you can think of a more countercultural idea than that. Most people assume that the whole reason we have a government is to make sure the milk gets pasteurized. It takes some stones to argue otherwise, especially if nobody's paying you to do it. "
My thoughts:
A must read. Tucker's writes surprisingly well. As a television commentator I don't know like him much, what kind of ass wears a bow tie? Seriously. But like Paul, there's more to him then meets the eye. Tucker's tone about Paul gradually changes from skeptical to almost being a Paul supporter. Go read this, like now.
However, just as I have my biases, so does Tucker. It's difficult to imagine Tucker calling a whorehouse out of the blue, just to ask the owner to bring some prostitutes over to Paul's campaign to be anything more than an amateur attempt at sabotage.
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
Content:
*Tucker follows around Ron Paul to see why people support Paul
*Paul's viewpoints
Tone:
*Starts off with a lot of negative assumptions about Paul, gradually grows a little more positive
*I'll just put a quote here out of place "Either the Ron Paul movement is more sophisticated than most journalists understand, or a lot of Paul supporters are eccentric bordering on bonkers."
Quote(s):
"Stylistically, a Paul speech is about as colorful as a tax return. He is the only politician I've ever seen who doesn't draw energy from the audience; his tone is as flat at the conclusion as it was at the beginning. There are no jokes. There's no warm-up, no shout-out to local luminaries in the room, no inspiring vignettes about ordinary Americans doing their best in the face of this or that bad thing. In fact, there are virtually none of the usual political clichés in a Paul speech. Children may be our future, but Ron Paul isn't admitting it in public."
"Paul never outshines his message, which is unchanging: Let adults make their own choices; liberty works. For a unified theory of everything, it's pretty simple. And Paul sincerely believes it.Most Republicans, of course, profess to believe it too. But only Paul has introduced a bill to legalize unpasteurized milk. Give yourself five minutes and see if you can think of a more countercultural idea than that. Most people assume that the whole reason we have a government is to make sure the milk gets pasteurized. It takes some stones to argue otherwise, especially if nobody's paying you to do it. "
My thoughts:
A must read. Tucker's writes surprisingly well. As a television commentator I don't know like him much, what kind of ass wears a bow tie? Seriously. But like Paul, there's more to him then meets the eye. Tucker's tone about Paul gradually changes from skeptical to almost being a Paul supporter. Go read this, like now.
However, just as I have my biases, so does Tucker. It's difficult to imagine Tucker calling a whorehouse out of the blue, just to ask the owner to bring some prostitutes over to Paul's campaign to be anything more than an amateur attempt at sabotage.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Financial Post, "He unites activists who think Washington is out of control" 12/21/07
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=188154
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*Canadian (limited reader base)
*I couldn't get a sense of any slant by this writer, more inquisitive than anything else
Quote(s):
"Despite that, he has won more than half of all straw polls held locally across the country. Soft-spoken and an obstetrician by trade, he is inspiring a devotion worthy of a rock star. His supporters have an overwhelming presence on the Internet and seem intent on proving the Hayekian notion that a decentralized, spontaneously emerging order is more efficient than any type of top-down organization."
"Most mainstream commentators still dismiss him as an oddity with no chance to win the nomination, let alone the presidency.Despite that, he has won more than half of all straw polls held locally across the country."
My thoughts:
A very thoughtful and insightful piece by Martin Masse. I read many things (positive and negative) and this piece stands out.
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*Canadian (limited reader base)
Content:
*Ron Paul's Beliefs
*De-centralized organization by Ron Paul supporters
*Implications of Ron Paul's Free trade ideas with respect to Canada
Tone:
*Somewhere between Neutral and Positive
*I couldn't get a sense of any slant by this writer, more inquisitive than anything else
Quote(s):
"Despite that, he has won more than half of all straw polls held locally across the country. Soft-spoken and an obstetrician by trade, he is inspiring a devotion worthy of a rock star. His supporters have an overwhelming presence on the Internet and seem intent on proving the Hayekian notion that a decentralized, spontaneously emerging order is more efficient than any type of top-down organization."
"Most mainstream commentators still dismiss him as an oddity with no chance to win the nomination, let alone the presidency.Despite that, he has won more than half of all straw polls held locally across the country."
My thoughts:
A very thoughtful and insightful piece by Martin Masse. I read many things (positive and negative) and this piece stands out.
OpEd News, "Confessions of a Defecting Democrat -- Why Ron Paul is the Perfect Candidate, and How Left Media Will be USED to Attack" 12/21/07
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_bill_dou_071218_confessions_of_a_def.htm
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*Limited national reader base
*None, just reader responses
Quote(s):
"However, the “liberal” or “left” media will fight tooth and nail to damage Ron Paul in any way they can. They’ve already began smear campaigns. They’ve tried to character assassinate him with pathetic guilt by association campaigns, such as “white supremacists support Ron Paul,” or “Ron Paul will outlaw abortion."
My thoughts:
I agree with his thoughts, the smear campaigns have already begun. It's all that's mentioned by the major news outlets (nothing about Ron Paul's beliefs or why people actually support him).
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*Limited national reader base
Content:
*A democrat talks about donating to a Republican candidate for the first time (Ron Paul)
*Descriptions of how the media is/will attempt to smear Ron Paul
Tone:
*Postitive towards Ron Paul
*Negative towards Mainstream Media
*None, just reader responses
Quote(s):
"However, the “liberal” or “left” media will fight tooth and nail to damage Ron Paul in any way they can. They’ve already began smear campaigns. They’ve tried to character assassinate him with pathetic guilt by association campaigns, such as “white supremacists support Ron Paul,” or “Ron Paul will outlaw abortion."
My thoughts:
I agree with his thoughts, the smear campaigns have already begun. It's all that's mentioned by the major news outlets (nothing about Ron Paul's beliefs or why people actually support him).
Washington Post Blog, Responses to Ron Paul 12/21/07
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/12/wag_the_blog_redux_ron_pauls_m.html?hpid=sec-politics
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
*None, just reader responses
Quote(s):
".. there are a lot of people out there who are very upset with the status quo. I get the feeling that Paul's donors don't usually participate in politics; they weren't out campaigning for Bush or Kerry in 2004. They're the people who disagree with the entire system, and want a major change.
Posted by: Blarg"
My thoughts:
You get a broad array of responses, solid read, neutral writer
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
Content:
*Sarah Lovenheim selections of different responses to Ron Paul (why people like/dislike him)
Tone:
*Neutral
*None, just reader responses
Quote(s):
".. there are a lot of people out there who are very upset with the status quo. I get the feeling that Paul's donors don't usually participate in politics; they weren't out campaigning for Bush or Kerry in 2004. They're the people who disagree with the entire system, and want a major change.
Posted by: Blarg"
My thoughts:
You get a broad array of responses, solid read, neutral writer
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wall Street Journal, "Republican Race is Wide Open" 12/20/07
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119810092342540425.html.html?mod=hpp_us_inside_today
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
*Republican Race is wide open
Quote(s):
"Defining itself as Ronald Reagan's party no longer works," says Mr. Reichley, a onetime White House aide to Republican President Gerald Ford. "There's got to be some new definition of what it means to be a Republican."
My thoughts:
It's amazing that the WSJ can state that the republican race is wide open and completely neglect any mention of Ron Paul.
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*National
Content:
*Republican Race is Wide Open
*Many mentions of Huckabee
*Many mentions of Hillary Clinton and Obama out of the blue
*Apparently, people view Hillary Clinton as impersonal, seriously, wow, that's amazing insight
Tone:
*Neutral
*Republican Race is wide open
Quote(s):
"Defining itself as Ronald Reagan's party no longer works," says Mr. Reichley, a onetime White House aide to Republican President Gerald Ford. "There's got to be some new definition of what it means to be a Republican."
My thoughts:
It's amazing that the WSJ can state that the republican race is wide open and completely neglect any mention of Ron Paul.
Kansas City Star (Local) - "Rich Guys are Hot" 12/20/07
http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/409602.html
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local Media Outlet
*Other congressmen are friendlier to Ron Paul after his money bombs
Quote(s):
"Ron Paul says he’s treated differently by fellow members of Congress since setting online fundraising records.
Cute headline by Scott Canon. Does this mean more Republicans will go back to their libertarian roots and away from SocCon ways? We will see...
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local Media Outlet
Content:
*Sound bites
*Multiple Republican Canidates
Tone:
*Neutral
*Other congressmen are friendlier to Ron Paul after his money bombs
Quote(s):
"Ron Paul says he’s treated differently by fellow members of Congress since setting online fundraising records.
“There’s a better rapport now with other Republicans,” he said. “They respect fundraising. And their antennas are up!”
My thoughts:Cute headline by Scott Canon. Does this mean more Republicans will go back to their libertarian roots and away from SocCon ways? We will see...
Video Diversion: Ron Paul interview at Random college dorm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQi7PaYKqTU&feature=related
Interview at a random kid's dorm.
Interview at a random kid's dorm.
Video Diversion: Random Caller blasts Iowa Party Chairs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHDJo61mSoM&feature=related
Because I needed a diversion and watching these two guys answer the caller was semi-amusing :p
Because I needed a diversion and watching these two guys answer the caller was semi-amusing :p
Arizona Republic, December 20, 2007 (Local newsprint)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/1220thurlets204.html
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local Media Outlet
*Ron Paul has won every televised debate
Quote(s):
" The "polls" say he is at about 4 percent. Whose polls? AP? Gallup? Fox News? Certainly not us.
These so-called polls are as biased and abusive as their sponsors.
The ugly and awful truth of the matter is that Ron Paul has actually won each and every televised GOP debate to date, and the GOP establishment is too embarrassed to admit it or even back him against the Democrat hopefuls."
My thoughts:
I generally agree with the writer (William Gaillard).
Media Outlet:
*Old Media
*Local Media Outlet
Content:
*Polls Critique
*Mainstream Media Critique (AP, Gallup, Fox)
Tone:
*Positive
*Revolution Connotations
*Ron Paul has won every televised debate
Quote(s):
" The "polls" say he is at about 4 percent. Whose polls? AP? Gallup? Fox News? Certainly not us.
These so-called polls are as biased and abusive as their sponsors.
The ugly and awful truth of the matter is that Ron Paul has actually won each and every televised GOP debate to date, and the GOP establishment is too embarrassed to admit it or even back him against the Democrat hopefuls."
My thoughts:
I generally agree with the writer (William Gaillard).
San Angelo Live!, December 20, 2007 (Local Initiatives)
http://www.sanangelolive.com/node/2641
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*Local Media Outlet
*Ron Paul has an active group of delegates
*Ron Paul supporters are acting independently (examples: full page ad in USA Today, the blimp)
Quote(s):
"How is this happening? And with Ron Paul not even listed in some polls?
"Of the recently Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul, pundits from CNN to Fox News have been asking, “Who the hell is in charge?” They want to unveil the wiley wonk force behind the $6 million-plus fundraising record set last weekend on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party...
It captures the interest revolving around Ron Paul well (localized, actions out of personal initiative, without a central directive).
Media Outlet:
*New Media
*Local Media Outlet
Content:
*Boston Tea Party
*Grassroots Supporters
Tone:
*Positive
*Upbeat
*Ron Paul has an active group of delegates
*Ron Paul supporters are acting independently (examples: full page ad in USA Today, the blimp)
Quote(s):
"How is this happening? And with Ron Paul not even listed in some polls?
Are people quitting their day jobs to prosthelize for Paul; middle classers throwing their money at a cause for which they’re actually not jaded?
They really are. And they’re doing it in
"Of the recently Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul, pundits from CNN to Fox News have been asking, “Who the hell is in charge?” They want to unveil the wiley wonk force behind the $6 million-plus fundraising record set last weekend on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party...
“We don’t even coordinate,” Chi says. “We just come up with ideas, and push it out there.”
“You won’t hear about it in the news,” Chi says of his Web site. “It’s now the No. 1 delegate site in world. And I get thousands of hits. Any time you [type in a search engine], ‘become a delegate,’ it’s the No. 1 link. Word is getting out in chat rooms, social networking sites, blogs. It’s more like an underground kind of thing.”"
My thoughts:.It captures the interest revolving around Ron Paul well (localized, actions out of personal initiative, without a central directive).
Los Angeles Times, December 20, 2007
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/12/ron-paulites-do.html
Media Outlet:
*Main Stream Media
*Blog
Content:
*Ranting
*Polls
Tone:
*Sarcastic
*Pseudo intellectual
*Dismissive
*Immature
Claims:
*Ron Paul supporters dismissing polling
Quote:
"Yet these Paulites have always dismissed polls, hated them, even despised them. They have many reasons besides the fact that no polls have given Paul much chance of winning anything. Polls, some suggest, are fictitious summaries of the mainstream media designed to suppress the Ron Paul Revolution. Polls are fake because no Paulite can remember ever being phoned for a survey. Many Paul supporters are new to the political process, so not on voter rolls to be polled. And they mostly use cellphones, not landlines. So they'd be somehow under-represented."
My thoughts:
The writer resembles that annoying kid in class that would use sarcasm, often raise their hand a lot in class but yet at the same time was completely uninformed. The fact that Ron Paul generates more support in the early phases from people who do not use landlines phones is not an opinion, it's fact. With writers like this, it's no wonder that traditional newspapers having declining subscribers.
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