Cenk's Rant Was So Wrong | 32 comments (32 topical, 0 hidden)
I agree to a point... (none / 0)
I agree that we need Ben (or Wes or Jill) back to counter Cenk. He's a great host, but balance is not his strong suit...

Ive already commented on the last thread about why the media is talking about the Iraq "Flip Flop", but I would like to take the time to maybe hypothesize on both Cenks motivation and the overall picture of Obama's character...

1. Cenk is a radio host - he is looking for 2 things - advertisers and audience. I am so glad that TYT is back on XM coming next week, but please do not be alarmed if the tone and the direction of the show makes some changes. Now Producer Dave and I disagreed on the live chat about this today, but Cenk will have to modify the content/sway of the show to suit a more centrist audience on XM. Granted, plenty of the regulars and members here on the website are looking forward to the XM show (as am I), but please do not be fooled as to what is going to happen - the show, just like senator Obama, is gonna start shifting to attract advertisers and broader audiences. This is not a bad thing!!! Its gonna piss off some of the true Lefties, but the true lefties dont hold the real power in radio, do they?

2. Senator Obama is just now discovering what the words "Character Assassination" really mean. It started of with the ridiculous accusations such as "Hes a Muslim" and "He wont say the Pledge" Stupid. Yes. Correct. NO. Does it matter - not really, and here is why -

Obama came to this race as a nobody - his character and essence has not truly been defined to the general electorate - now, with the willing corporate accomplices in the media, a broader picture of Obama is being constructed - Untrustworthy, liar, flip flopper, has no foundation or core beliefs, Liberal etc. etc.
Now I am not going to argue the merits of these arguments about his individual character (especially not here with this crowd), but the ball has begun to roll - The template has been set and now all there is to do is to complete the picture...

Its not right, its not fair, but quite frankly neither is life in politics. Obama is not immune like McCain is to these unfounded attacks because he doesnt have the track record or the fallback that McCain has. Plus, Obama is going to cost corporate America a fortune, and they are not real happy with that prospect!


Add in to the mix that hes a minority, and you have now introduced a whole new aspect to this game. That shoe has yet to really drop, but its coming, you can count on it...

So Cenk today had reason today to rant about this issue. Obama's lack of leadership on the FISA bill has opened up this whole can of worms about "untrustworthy and inexperienced" up to the MSM, and they're baiting their hooks with them...

Thanks for your comments...

:)

by bobo1 on 07/09/2008 01:49:46 AM EST

cenk (none / 1)

Cenk is going to move to the center?  I can't really imagine Cenk changing his personality to attract advertisers.  Say it ain't so! 

Bobo, you are making some sense tonight.  I think you would like Lakoff's article I linked to in the other thread, because what Lakoff talks about is the perception of Obama's shifts, whether they are real or not, and how that affects the voters.  

by desertpear on 07/09/2008 02:06:42 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Thank you, desertpear... (none / 0)
I dont think Cenk himself ideologically will move more to the right/center (I honestly think he's more centrist than he lets on to be), but the show will almost have to in order to compete on mainstream radio -"Kool Aid" drinking Cenk is gonna go bye bye for a few months... Advertisers wont support 100% Leftist Radio, i dont care which channle its on! As for Lakoff, I did venture into the reading from his last appearance on the show, he does make sense, but he thinks and speaks at a level that most people dont bother trying to understand - His point was correct, but he's too damn brainy to benefit anyone else! Like i said - the Truth doesn't matter, and 70-80% of bloggers here want to argue truth... Politics is perception and distortion and advertising - skills that on the surface are below "studious academic" discussions... Thanks again for your kind words... :)

by bobo1 on 07/09/2008 02:13:35 AM EST

[ Parent ]
well (none / 1)

I agree Lakoff's last appearance was a little "out there," because it is hard to really explain state-of-the-art neuroscience in an interview, but this particular column of his was very approachable and lucid.

I see your point about bloggers wanting to argue the truth.  But I do honestly think there is some benefit to it, even if it doesn't change anything in the near term.  Inching the debate forward and finding common ground with the people who are most unlike us is difficult work, but don't you think it has a little value?  And yet your average voter votes on who they would most like to have a beer with. 

Most retarded headline of the day?  Dog owners prefer McCain.  That is what the general public wants I guess.  Obama could probably make a big bump in the polls if he adopted a dog for his kids now instead of when he gets in the White House.  

by desertpear on 07/09/2008 02:37:11 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Aye aye aye (none / 0)

It's a good thing tomorrow is Bensday.

On your point about XM:  Complete and utter bullshit.  Cenk didn't change his opinion to a more moderate one at all.  He feels like Obama changed his so he was ranting accordingly.  Also, Hartmann, Maddow, Randi, Schultz, Miller, etc. are all MORE liberal than Cenk, yet they're all on XM (and terrestrial) and appeal to pretty large audiences (at least for liberal radio as it is now), so why would he feel like he even needed to change?

by Spencer on 07/09/2008 02:08:48 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Bobo no listen when on Sirius (none / 0)

 

...or he would realize the silliness of his words. The show is so much tamer now than then, I'd like to see it gain some of it's bodaciousness back.

 I can't wait to hear Cenk do a Tahiti Village commercial with Rosanne or Tanya Roberts! If they get a GM account, they'll give him free cars to drive.

The XM slot will be what the Turks want ot to be - not what some consultant thinks would skew better. 

by MedfordTim on 07/09/2008 03:55:37 AM EST

[ Parent ]
You're right... (none / 0)
I wasn't here for the Sirius show, but you cannot deny the shift from the AAR show to the internet only version. What I am suggesting is that we are going to see a similar shift back to more of what the shows tone was back on AAR. Whether that's good or not is up to the listener. BTW - if Cenk does Tahiti Village or GM commercials I am gone - "Rebel Headquarters" my ass... I think the new "commercials" they play now are forced and contrived! But hey, if it means good things overall for the show, more power to them!!! :)

by bobo1 on 07/09/2008 10:37:12 AM EST

[ Parent ]
shift (none / 0)
Frankly I thought the show shifted fairly far to the left when the went to AAR, so a slight shift back towards the center where they were on Sirius when I first started listening would not be unexpected or disapointing. 

by alphasigmookie on 07/09/2008 03:00:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Perhaps... (none / 0)
I started listening right before they went to AAR (via the website recommended by a friend). It was one of my first forays into Left-Radio. I think the show had shifted dramtically left after they went internet only, so naturally it should probably shift back a little more center as the participant numbers grow. Cenk might not have shifted personally, but the tone and blogs/chat definitely has gone way left. Maybe this shifting now is one of those "refinement" periods! :)

by bobo1 on 07/09/2008 03:09:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Shift of the message board (none / 0)
Is almost certainly due to the increased interest of the left as they look to be doing well in the impending election.

by ProfRich on 07/09/2008 03:49:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Cenk's Rant Was So Wrong | 32 comments (32 topical, 0 hidden)