The Fox Juggernaut: Why It's No. 1 Posted: 01/21/10Filed Under:Media 148 Comments + Join the discussion »TEXT SIZE:AAAPRINT SHARE Those who like to bury their heads in the sand won't want to read this. This is about Fox News and its march over the nation's news media, knocking off and steam-rolling other news channels while cementing its stranglehold at the top.
Most of us who live in the blessedly enlightened Washington-New York-Boston corridor like to brush off Fox News as the home of the intellectually challenged. We mock its slogan, "First, Fair and Balanced," and laugh off its rabble-rousing commentators as neanderthal, bigoted, biased right-wingers.
Fox's millions of viewers -- those little people in nowhere towns and backwater cities who don't read books or watch "Mad Men" -- are ridiculed and caricatured as dumb and dumber. They are the hollering, red-faced crowds in the rowdy protests at town hall meetings last August. They are the social and political throwbacks of the Tea Party movement. They are the unfashionable, middle-America, small-town folks who queue up for hours to get a glimpse of their action hero, Sarah Palin.
So why is Fox News No. 1?
Stack its lineup of stars -- Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity -- against the liberal MSNBC's lineup of Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, and you've got a pretty good picture of why Fox comes out on top. Get the new PD toolbar! It's simple. Beck, O'Reilly and Hannity -- as disagreeable as they might be to someone with my political leanings -- seem in varying degrees more in touch with centrist-to-conservative America, which is, like it or not, the heart of the country. They speak the language -- simple, straightforward. Who can't understand O'Reilly's pinheads and patriots? Who can resist Glenn Beck's boyish persona and oversimplified view of the world? And how about Sean Hannity, who proudly wears his biases on his sleeve?
Controversy is their bread and butter. They stoke the fires and stir the ashes and hold court with the low and the high. They don't dine and party with insiders. They are anti-establishment. They are suburbanites (none lives in Washington or Manhattan). They are outliers.
And now they've got Sarah Palin, the Wasilla beauty queen. When she made her debut on "The O'Reilly Factor" last week as a Fox News political analyst -- however much we enjoy chuckling at that -- the ratings went through the roof. Her appearance drew 3.9 million viewers, more than anything else on other cable news shows combined in the 8 p.m. hour.
At the same time, MSNBC, which employs brand-name anchors such as Andrea Mitchell and Chris Matthews, has wrapped itself in the liberal flag. It goes back to the 2008 campaign. Who can forget Matthews' revelation on national TV that he felt a tingling up his leg upon hearing Barack Obama speak?
During the campaign, MSNBC discovered what Fox News had discovered years ago -- politically biased reporting and analysis are a winning combination. But Matthews and Maddow, with their overwrought liberalism, and Olbermann, with his professorial sarcasm, can't possibly match Beck, O'Reilly and Hannity in head-to-head competition for the vast center of America. The MSNBC crowd speaks to the Eastern elite; the Fox boys speak to the middle between East and West.
"The public is not only shifting from left to right," the liberals' favorite conservative columnist, David Brooks, wrote recently. "Every single idea associated with the educated class has grown more unpopular over the past year." He went on: "A year ago, the Obama supporters were the passionate ones. Now the Tea Party brigades have all the intensity."
While most of us were ignoring the Tea Party crowds as fringe, right-wing crazies, Fox News was there. Some might say that Fox actually promoted and gave life to the Tea Party movement. That's reaching too far. What Fox did is what Fox does with such success. It found the beginning of a populist wave and now it's riding its crest.
Perhaps if Washington and the liberal media had paid more attention and listened to the rising political winds, the Democrats would not have lost Massachusetts and with it, perhaps health care reform.
-------------- accept the Bible just as it is, for exactly what it claims to be. dont worry about the theories of the critics. the ingenious and impudent effort of modern criticism to undermine the historical reliability of the Bible will pass; and THE BIBLE itself will stand as the Light of the human race..
This is about Fox News and its march over the nation's news media, knocking off and steam-rolling other news channels while cementing its stranglehold at the top.
Why would you compare FOX to "other news channels"? I'm pretty sure everyone agrees Fox isn't news anymore than the 700 club is news.
-------------- The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government"
The people are masters of both Congress and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it!
CABLE NEWS RACE TUES. JAN. 19, 2010 ELECTION NIGHT
FOXNEWS HANNITY 6,809,000 FOXNEWS GRETA 6,399,000 FOXNEWS O'REILLY 5,228,000 FOXNEWS BECK 3,446,000 FOXNEWS BAIER 3,338,000 FOXNEWS SHEP 3,241,000 CNN KING 1,681,000 CNN COOPER 1,508,000 CNN BROWN 1,308,000 MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,274,000 MSNBC MADDOW 1,236,000 CNN BLITZER 1,135,000 CNNHN BEHAR 845,000 MSNBC HARDBALL 798,000
-------------- In a civil society, the individual is recognized and accepted as more than an abstract statistic or faceless member of some group: rather, he is a unique, spiritual being with a soul and a conscience.
In a civil society, private property and liberty are inseparable.
This is about Fox News and its march over the nation's news media, knocking off and steam-rolling other news channels while cementing its stranglehold at the top.
Why would you compare FOX to "other news channels"? I'm pretty sure everyone agrees Fox isn't news anymore than the 700 club is news.
Depends on which time slot you're watching.
-------------- In a civil society, the individual is recognized and accepted as more than an abstract statistic or faceless member of some group: rather, he is a unique, spiritual being with a soul and a conscience.
In a civil society, private property and liberty are inseparable.
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Posted on: Feb. 02 2010,8:58 am
(the breeze @ Jan. 21 2010,10:40 am)
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Fox's millions of viewers -- those little people in nowhere towns and backwater cities who don't read books
Fox viewers don't like books. They don't like to read at all unless it comes on easy to follow tickers or tea party memos that tell them what to think, say, and believe.
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They are the hollering, red-faced crowds in the rowdy protests at town hall meetings last August. They are the social and political throwbacks of the Tea Party movement.
You mean the astroturf group funded by corporate funds? The masses of empty headed people with signs like, "keep your government hands off my Medicare?"
A recent interview by one of the people who started the tea party was on NPR. Oddly enough when asked where they should meet her for the interview, she immediately mentioned republican happy-hour. I say that's odd since she then went into detail about how the teabaggers aren't necessarily republicans. It was just a coincidence that their rallies against government spending started just weeks after Obama was sworn into office. Guess excessive spending is okay, as long as it's by a conservative...
The same "non-republican" group who's biggest spokespeople are far right republicans like Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin.
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They are anti-establishment.
You mean except for republican establishment. They're having a love-fest with the same people who are responsible for most of our national debt.
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The MSNBC crowd speaks to the Eastern elite; the Fox boys speak to the middle between East and West.
So, like you said earlier, you're suggesting Fox commentators are a big winner with the crowd that isn't into all that fancy book learning and intellectual thinking.
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While most of us were ignoring the Tea Party crowds as fringe, right-wing crazies, Fox News was there. Some might say that Fox actually promoted and gave life to the Tea Party movement. That's reaching too far. What Fox did is what Fox does with such success. It found the beginning of a populist wave and now it's riding its crest.
So Fox News, being the PR wing of the republican party, gave lots of coverage to a republican sponsored and orchestrated organization. I fail to see how this is a surprise.
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Perhaps if Washington and the liberal media had paid more attention and listened to the rising political winds, the Democrats would not have lost Massachusetts and with it, perhaps health care reform.
And if republicans had paid attention to the rising political winds, maybe the democrats would not have majority control of the House, Senate, the White House, and control of most state legislatures.
We're sick of the rich getting richer, starting wars we can't finish, and putting it all on a credit card with China so we can cut taxes to the people who need it the least.
-------------- You know it's going to be a bad day when you cross thread the cap on the toothpaste.
You mean the astroturf group funded by corporate funds? The masses of empty headed people with signs like, "keep your government hands off my Medicare?"
Or like the masses of purple shirts from the SEIU who came to counter the "rowdy" crowd who didn't agree with the healthcare initiative. Let's bring in the Union and start a ruckus and then try to lay the blame on the other side cause we all know Unions would never bring in thugs to counter dissenters. The dissenting crowd was not the only one guilty of astroturfing this past summer.
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And if republicans had paid attention to the rising political winds, maybe the democrats would not have majority control of the House, Senate, the White House, and control of most state legislatures.
Yeah and some Democrats will probably find this out later this year. Massachusetts was a warning to those same people (Reid,Pelosi etc) to wake up and not make the same mistake that the Republicans did. Unfortunately my money is on them NOT heeding that warning.
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We're sick of the rich getting richer
It's called capitalism for a reason and I sometimes wish I had their money. Most of the people who are in that category worked their a$$es off to get where they are. Warren Buffet sure wasn't born with those billions. Dave Thomas (Wendys Hamburgers Founder) was an adopted child who busted his butt in a kitchen for someone else before he became one of the first franchisees for KFC. He turned around and sold his KFC stores back to the Colonel and thats how he made his first million. The list goes on but not all of those who fit into the rich category have a last name that is Hilton or were born with that golden spoon.
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starting wars we can't finish, and putting it all on a credit card with China so we can cut taxes to the people who need it the least.
I agree with the war statement and Iraq could have and should have waited but remember the Republicans were not the only ones who went down that road. The Republicans didn't have the super majority of congress like the Dems did until the Massachusetts special election took it away so it required some Democrats to go along with the push for war.
The richest people pay the most in taxes. It is only because they are in the minority when compared to the rest of the country's taxpayers that it seems like they don't pay as much.
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Posted on: Feb. 05 2010,1:37 pm
(Wareagle11B @ Feb. 02 2010,11:30 am)
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Yeah and some Democrats will probably find this out later this year. Massachusetts was a warning to those same people (Reid,Pelosi etc) to wake up and not make the same mistake that the Republicans did. Unfortunately my money is on them NOT heeding that warning.
A warning of what? The only thing I learned was that entertainers with low IQ's have a lot more effect on politics in this country than people who are actually trying to solve the upcoming crisis in health care.
What exactly was it that these politicians did wrong anyway? America has been telling them for decades that health care reform is very important to us. When they actually try to make due on their campaign promises, masses of empty headed people are ready to tar and feather them for it.
Republicans are giving us what we've come to expect from them. Solutions that won't help Americans, unless you're a wealthy doctor trying to avoid a lawsuit for negligence, or an insurance company trying to lower the amount of things they'll actually cover. Now, there's simply no proof that any of this will lower cost for THE CONSUMER. Hell, I've been waiting for months for the conservatives on this board to backup their claims, but whenever I ask for proof the thread dies.
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We're sick of the rich getting richer
It's called capitalism for a reason and I sometimes wish I had their money. Most of the people who are in that category worked their a$$es off to get where they are. Warren Buffet sure wasn't born with those billions.
Sure, we've always been a nation with capitalism. But we've also consistently been driving down wages for blue collar jobs so the guys at the top can keep making more. Our already low labor regulations are being ignored because the Dept of Labor has been gutted and privatized. Illegal immigrants are a large part of what manufacturing hasn't been outsourced already. Why is that? Because management doesn't want to pay enough to keep the jobs filled by legal workers. Many of our biggest employers seem exempt from the regulatory agencies that are supposed to police them, like ICE or USDA. The owners have too many politicians in their pocket.
Capitalism is one thing, I would call this the golden rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules.
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starting wars we can't finish, and putting it all on a credit card with China so we can cut taxes to the people who need it the least.
I agree with the war statement and Iraq could have and should have waited but remember the Republicans were not the only ones who went down that road. The Republicans didn't have the super majority of congress like the Dems did until the Massachusetts special election took it away so it required some Democrats to go along with the push for war.
Of course, after 9-11 we wanted war. The democrats that voted for Iraq are still feeling the heat over that at times. Frankly I don't agree with many democrat politicians on this. They're talking timetables, and I agree more with Ron Paul on this one. We need to get out. Not in 2012 or 2016, finish it this year. It's been almost 7 years we've been there, and we're not any closer to getting out than the day we went in.
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The richest people pay the most in taxes. It is only because they are in the minority when compared to the rest of the country's taxpayers that it seems like they don't pay as much.
I'm well aware of that. The richest people are really the ones who pay for the vast majority of federal taxes. It kinda reminds me of driving on the freeway next to a semi. The semi is the one who's really paying for that road and it's maintenance. The taxes on fuel I pay don't make a dent in it.
That doesn't mean that I think the rich shouldn't pay more though. We're not even close to a balanced budget, and the money is going to have to come from somewhere. You can raise taxes on the poor also if it will make the rich feel better. We're not going to balance the budget without tax increases though, that's crazy talk. We're paying about $300 billion right now just on interest, and we need to get ourselves out of this mess if we still can.
-------------- You know it's going to be a bad day when you cross thread the cap on the toothpaste.
Unfortunately my money is on them NOT heeding that warning.
Perhaps I should have clarified this statement. Personally I hope the more die hard left winger liberals like Reid and Pelosi are voted out. Vote in more "blue-dog" Democrats and I think we might restore some sanity to the Senate and House.
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A warning of what? The only thing I learned was that entertainers with low IQ's have a lot more effect on politics in this country than people who are actually trying to solve the upcoming crisis in health care.
A warning that just as with the Republicans getting beat senseless at election time the same can be had for the Dems. I truly think that some Americans are getting fed up with both parties and this is why we are seeing election outcomes like Massachusetts. The Democrats candidate thought she would most likely be a shoo in for that election based on history and she ran a pathetic campaign because of it. I agree with you on the entertainer comment. Hollyweird types need to either STFU and do what they do best or do like Clint Eastwood and Sonny Bono and Fred Grandy and run for elective office and try making the changes they want that way.
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What exactly was it that these politicians did wrong anyway? America has been telling them for decades that health care reform is very important to us. When they actually try to make due on their campaign promises, masses of empty headed people are ready to tar and feather them for it.
Your second sentence answers your first my friend. We try telling them what is good for us. Since when do we have the unmitigated gall to tell our elected Congress critters what is good for us. Don't you know that it is THEIR job to tell us what is good for us. As for that last one about trying to keep a campaign promise...well you don't really believe that at all do you? They mouth the words to us and as soon as they are out of sight it becomes business as usual.
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Sure, we've always been a nation with capitalism. But we've also consistently been driving down wages for blue collar jobs so the guys at the top can keep making more. Our already low labor regulations are being ignored because the Dept of Labor has been gutted and privatized. Illegal immigrants are a large part of what manufacturing hasn't been outsourced already. Why is that? Because management doesn't want to pay enough to keep the jobs filled by legal workers. Many of our biggest employers seem exempt from the regulatory agencies that are supposed to police them, like ICE or USDA. The owners have too many politicians in their pocket.
Capitalism is one thing, I would call this the golden rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules.
100% in agreement. D.C. has stopped listening to the people who actually give them the majority votes at election time and instead listen to those who's money lines their pockets. I agree that ICE and USDA are the biggest toothless tigers that the government has. Enforce the laws and punish those who fail to follow them no matter if they are Hormel or Joe Snuffy's construction company that only employs 12 people.
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That doesn't mean that I think the rich shouldn't pay more though. We're not even close to a balanced budget, and the money is going to have to come from somewhere. You can raise taxes on the poor also if it will make the rich feel better. We're not going to balance the budget without tax increases though, that's crazy talk. We're paying about $300 billion right now just on interest, and we need to get ourselves out of this mess if we still can.
Remove the mess that we have called the tax code and install a flat tax that everyone will pay. Don't allow for all the loopholes and deductions for the rich or the poor. Review them and keep those that would be deemed important enough to truly matter and do away with the rest of the garbage. Again balance them for both the rich and those below that level. A flat tax would mean everyone is paying their share but not everyone is paying more and removing the loopholes and deductions should level the field even more.
-------------- I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!
The dissenting crowd was not the only one guilty of astroturfing this past summer.
Most of the people who are in that category worked their a$$es off to get where they are. Warren Buffet sure wasn't born with those billions. Dave Thomas (Wendys Hamburgers Founder) was an adopted child who busted his butt in a kitchen for someone else before he became one of the first franchisees for KFC. He turned around and sold his KFC stores back to the Colonel and thats how he made his first million. The list goes on but not all of those who fit into the rich category have a last name that is Hilton or were born with that golden spoon.