NEWYORK: THE MORNING AFTER

There was grousing on the cable nets this morning. Carol Costello and company on CNN were licking their lips at the prospect of the dirty campaign to come just a few hours after Kerry called for taking the high road Q. “Has the Bush Bashing begin again? A: It never went away.

Don Imus on MSNBC was pouring his unfunny commentary on Maureen Dowd of the NY Times and just about everything else. Fox was leading with president Bush’s campaign stops today and reporting that ex NY Mayor Giuliani was denouncing Michael Moore (without a comment from Moore of course.) He also admitted he hadn’ts seen his film which he denounced, natch, as “propaganda” on a network that knows about propaganda?Their big story was the capture of a wanted terrorist with one Fox expressing the hope that the Pakistanis ” interrogate” (code word for torture) him first.

The Washington Post characterized the speech as “A Challenge To the GOP On Values, Security”?The NY Times analysis played it straight: “In a speech that used some variation of the word “strength”17 times, John Kerry portrayed himself as a vastlypreferable commander in chief to President Bush?.Editorially, the paper cheered him into attack mode: “John Kerry was really at hisbest when he was on the attack.” Paul Krugman blasts the network coverage: “Somewhere along the line, TV news stopped reporting oncandidates’ policies, and turned instead to trivia.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/30/opinion/30krugman.html?th

PALAST POURS IT ON

Critical voices are being heard that go beyond my real time play by play of Kerry’s talk last night. Greg Palast was contemptuous:

“The millionaires are dancing now. The balloons are falling on John Kerry, John Edwards and their nuclear families.

“They’re playing “Johnnie B. Goode” over the loudspeakers. Democrats are hopping up and down like JFK never went to Dallas; like Bill Clinton didn’t blow it for us; like there’s a chance to bring the boys home alive; like America can crawl out of Dick Cheney’s bunker and look at the sun again.

“But has Johnnie Kerry been good so far?” He then goes on to say no, ?.” my absolute favorite of the night was when Kerry told us, “Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn’t make it so. As President, I will ask hard questions and demand hard evidence.”

But, as Senator, you didn’t. No questions asked: you just closed your eyes and voted for the lie. I know it, and you sure as hell know it. ”

AMY ASKS TED: SHOULD YOU APOLOGIZE (via Alternet)

AMY GOODMAN: Do you think that the ABC and the other networks should apologize for providing an uncritical forum for the administration to lay out their unsubstantiated claims of weapons of mass destruction?

I am glad you phrased your question so nicely. No, I don’t think an apology is due if what you are saying is could we all have been more critical? I think the answer is yes. I must tell you, I am going to be responsive in behalf of Nightline over which I do have some control. We did do a 90-minute town hall meeting, the title of which was Why Now? and the essence of which was: Where is the evidence that there’s an immediate danger to the United States? Did we do enough programs like that? I concede we did not. But that’s a function of perhaps incompetence on my part, but certainly not ill will and I will try and do better the next time, but I don’t think I need to apologize for it.”

AS OF LAST NIGHT

REPORTING FOR DUTY

THE SPEECH

THE TV RESPONSE (AS OF ll:25 PM

The speech. The speech. That’s all anyone talked about yesterday? Would our new JFK do the job? Or would be blow it? (How many convention speeches do you remember or were memorable? Ok, there was Jesse in 84, maybe Obama this year? ) But all day yesterday, the press went on and on about the speech, speculating on its content even as John Kerry strode into the Fleet Center to stand on the rostrum to get ready for what was being billed as a do or die moment.

I decided not to watch it in the hall even tough I have had some fun wandering between the delegations and feeling the energy and the vibe on the inside.

Early yesterday, I decided to go back to dissector land, back to my living room, in New York, to water the plants and watch the tube the way I always do. I wanted to see it as a viewer, armed with a remote that will allow me to hopscotch the dials.

Now that I had been in Boston and done that I am back to my reality. After all. Kerry was not really talking to the people in the hall but to the rest of us?

TALKING OVER THE ACTION

No sooner did I turn on the TV than I regretted I did so. The blather on CNN was so superficial as to make one wonder how they move their mouths and say so little One sweet moment was their decisiom to go to entertainment producer Don Mishner who is running the show like an orchestra conductor. “Lets listen to him,” says Wolf Blizer and, on cue, the cameras push in to Mishner’s Control Room. We, see him but he’s quiet, saying nothing. Nothing

That is until a mistake was made and he takes charge?.as Willie Nelson goes to the stage and sings about living in the promised land. Willie had sung for Kucinich and opposed the war early on?..and as he sung every one in the hall starts waving American flags as if to insure that he is perceived as patriot. Good move Don?.And then I cut to the News Hour where Jim Lehrer is on with Walter Mondale. Walter Mondale? Talking about l984!?.Boring. Bland. Irrelevant, That’s PBS??

Oy.

KERRY TIME

Kerry’s daughter’s were first up to introduce him with the right mixture of personal storytelling and family tales. Allie was especially effective in telling a story about how dad rescued her hamster. This showed how important the narrative the Democrats are weaving about John is…. Again and again in anecdote, and image, in testimony and tenacity, the narrative was reinforced. His anti-war passions were put in the context of a war that was wrong — not, as he said then, criminal. And then the narrative moved on?..

This was Spielberg, at his most skillful with a mix of stills, soundbytes, and a sountrack to drive it al home, and it worked..The excitement built slowly?.with a drunbeat of applause segueing into a story of a fire in Worcester .And how John Got down with the fireman,,,,,and their families. ?From domestic tragedy to Vietnam reuion as the vets who fough with him were introduced?..His band of brothers?..with a special appearance by Max Cleland in his wheel chair This is the Hollywood formula and is there to touch hearts.And it did.

I PROMISED TO REMEMBER?.

With Bruce singing “No retreat No Surrender” he walked through the hall?the way he drove that motorcycle on to the Jay Show. ? He couldn’t have done it better?.it was hokey and at l0:09 he was still saying Thank you but the cheers went on and on??And then he said with half a smile:

“I am John Kerry and I am reporting for duty,” he began with a sal;ue, and then slid back into yet more personal story, telling. He hit the message points — pro woman, pro-America, pro-service, pro activism?”we believed we could change the world and we did,.,..the march isn’t over?.tell the truth,,,,,that’s his first pledge..,..and on and on — defining his difference with the Bush Administration

HE IS WINDING UP

As he winds up, he speaks of 2004 as the “most important election in our life time” ..and hits the theme—American can do better.” He talks about “the new birth of freedom,,,,” He is forceful, well rehearsed, speaking to the idle of the party but giving the left flank and the right flank something to hang on to,,., a phrase, a sentiment, a symbol,

And then he went on the attack—challenging the Bush Administration’s logic in Iraq — with tough talk — and some bluster — was he really “defending America” in Vietnam, but I will let that go,,,,The point is that he is a man fighting a different war — a political war,,,,He is on the attack to night with every phrase, every declaration and, yes every clich酮He is hitting evry chord and appropriating the Republican ideology with its redwhite and blue fidelity to flag and family values?.

Wednesday night, hope was on the way; tonight help replaced it—help is on the way — simple slogans that resonate…I am sure it was all market tested,,,,but it is was as smart as it is vague,.,,,

He plugs his JohnKerry.com web site and calls for a campaign that takes the high road?How long will that’s last? How will the Republicans respond?It won’t be long for us to find out?

AND THE ENVELOPE PLEASE

The Verdict Positive–?.He united the networks,,?Brokaw— a strong speech,?Rather—”he worked his way into a high state of persperation,” …. united in a way the democratic partyney has been in 50 years — Bob Shiefer-the best speech he has ever given.. J ennings?.”They Drew blood from Republicans” ..George S: — “a blistering attack?its going to be tough for the republicans to defeat this”

?.What was also nteresting was George’s revelation that the Republican spinmeisters were calling all the networks to pick his speech apart while it was on,,,, Brokaw revealed that campaign pro Bob Schrum wrote the speech with Kerry….

Over at Fox: even Mort Kondracke was positive… The GOP’s Ed Gillespie said he had some “good riffs”?Chris Matthews said the speech was better than Edwards appeal last night… Right wing groups are claiming his film was fudged, including re-enactments—But over at the Comedy Channel, John Stewart ran his own bio film — the theme — “John Kerry is not George W Bush” ..”He was born not George Bush” etc?.It was an ABB speech suggesting that most of the support he had before tonight was ANY ONE BUT BUSH? That may have changed tonight?

THE BLOG PATROL

While I was filing the blog, in Boston, I was forced to seek out the caffeine rich warmth of Starburcks because of its wirless connections. Alison Teal was there was blogging away and was kind enough to help me get on line. She sent me the link to her blog. Called Hot Flashes?.Here’s her take on Wed night:

“Were others as annoyed with Al Sharpton as I was? He was scheduled for six minutes and took twenty. He certainly did not keep to the speech that was vetted. Our daughter, Willa, was sitting on the podium last night, so she could see the teleprompter. From the first line on, he abandoned the script. The people running the teleprompter were going crazy. And he wasn’t even funny, so what’s the point? There definitely was some good speechifying — and Willa, by the way, thought the change of tone was a relief ? but the arrogance was unconscionable. He went through the halls afterwards with a phalanx of bodyguards who almost knocked me down.

“Kucinich on the other hand was fired up and had everyone on his feet. He said we didn’t see any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but as the mayor of Cleveland he saw the real weapons of mass destruction on the streets: poverty, ignorance and crime. These are the weapons John Kerry will fight to eradicate. Good stuff”

http://fromthecampaigntrail.blogspot.com/

WANT TO HEAR THOSE SPEECHES AGAIN?

If you want to read (and/or listen to, on RealAudio) a few of the better speeches so far at the Democratic Convention, here are some URL’s you can use.

Bill Clinton

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/demconvention/speeches/clinton_bill.html

Barack Obama

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/demconvention/speeches/obama.html

Teresa Heinz Kerry

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/demconvention/speeches/heinz-kerry.html

WHILE THE DEMS MEET: SOUTH AFRICA IS DYING

The Mail and Guardian reports: About 1,5-million people have died of Aids in South Africa, according to Statistics SA. According to its 2004 mid-year statistical update pub! lished in Pretoria, about 3,8-million people were HIV-positive — which related to an HIV-prevalence rate of 15% of the adult population.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?a=11&o=133695

BBC strikes threaten Olympic coverage

EJC reports: “A strike threatened by BBC technicians for this Friday and Saturday hasbeen called off. But a further strike planned for 13 and 14 August hasnot yet been called off, and could threaten the BBC’s coverage of theOlympics opening ceremony in Athens. Members of technology union BECTUwere planning to strike over plans to privatise their division. However,the BBC said staff have received an improved offer from the buyersSiemens. The BBC’s chief technology officer John Varney said the BBC iscontinuing to negotiate with Siemens to get the best deal for the staffinvolved”

http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/ - Media Network Weblog

YOUR LETTERS: “EXTRORDINARY EVENT”

James Porteous: “I know it is fashionable to dismiss the DNC as a programmed,preordained photo op, but as an outsider watching the coverage fromCanada (the C-SPAN coverage in all its glory) , I have to tell you thatthis is and always has been an extraordinary event. Where else in theworl d would you find such impassioned, heartfelt speeches from thelikes of Barack Obama, John Edwards, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy (who, weshould recall, was one of the very first people to speak out against thetorture videos) Kerry’s wonderful daughters? Is there anything in theworld quite so life-affirming as a new voice standing up to say “if yousee something you don’t like, change it, but don’t give up.” That, tome, is the very essence of the American democratic process. ”

FROM A BATTLEGROUND STATE

Sally Vitamvas writes from Silver City,Iowa”Thank you for doing what you do. Reading your blog is an integral part of my day, and I greatly miss it whenever you aren’t blogging. (I’m sure you’ll be gratified to know that your most recent appearance on Democracy Now did help alleviate the need for a blog fix.) I’m hoping the WMD promotion is going well.

“As for the show in Boston….It’s disappointing that the Democrats have seemingly given up on little d democratic ideals, (and from my perspective, the big D ones, as a result.) If their purpose is to “expand the tent” by keeping their message so bland that it is completely inoffensive, they’ve not succeeded with me. Perhaps their goal of getting their team elected is worth what appears to be the heavyhanded suppression of real discourse, and perhaps the American populace is truly so psychicly enfeebled by the past three years of force-fed propaganda that it must be reintroduced to the solid food of democracy slowly, by beginning with the pablum the Democrats are currently serving up in Boston. If that is the case, then heaven help us all. If, however, the suppression of anti-war sentiment, and the elimination of all but the most conservative of voices is really an accurate representation of the Kerry/Edwards/Democratic Party message, our nation may very well be beyond all help. I’m hoping it’s the babyfood thing, and not the complete sell-out it looks like.Anna Taylor comments on my question: “Or am I being too idealisticagain in these cynical times?

“DS — well, you might be overcome by crowd-cloud. Obama didn’t ring my bell — so much so that I even went and read the speech you linked to, and it still didn’t . . . Maybe you hadda been there. On teevee, it looks like the losers’ ball, and all the speakers look nervous in a BAD way?.”

KIWI COMMENTARY: CHECK OUT CNN INTERNATIONAL

Steve Withers: “I live in New Zealand where C-SPAN isn’t on any cable service. But Ihave been able to watch huge chunks of the Democratic convention via theInternet. I agree that most of the best speakers aren’t even mentionedon the TV news.

FROM CANADA ON CBS

Kenn Chaplin, from Toronto, Canada “Good work from the DNC… you are distinguishing yourself from the networks,and cable news, with your coverage. In fact bloggers, collectively, make upmore of my convention viewing than TV, although PBS is at least showing allthe prime-time speeches.

“I couldn’t resist a dig at Dan Rather for his “journal” on the CBS web siteyesterday. Here’s a copy for you…

“”Instead of complaining about how “dull” the “scripted” convention is, whydoesn’t Dan Rather show some of the creativity of authentic bloggers andfind stories to tell? Or is it the DNC media reps’ fault that network TVmissed the best speech of the convention, so far, tonight (Barack Obama’s).Journalism schools teach students to look for stories. So look, Dan, look -and stop whining!”

For more of Kenn’s work: http://kennchaplin.blogspot.com

>Daoud C Muhammad in Oregon: “There is something to be said for good writing AND a well written piece. Toward the last, you were beginning to sound a little cranky

At the breakfast table we discussed what a good deal it was to readyour not-miss-anything reports and our not hafta actually be there at the same time.

Our nephew and his wife adopted a baby boy a few years ago because they couldn’t have children of their own. As soon as they got settled in with the new kid (Bryce), natch, she comes up pregnant.

Their adopted baby (from Florida) is black, from a black African dad and a black American mum. So now the kid is growing up in mostly culturally white Oregon. His new dad tries to keep him in some kind of cognizance of black (role model) culture, except from a white Oregonian family in a mostly white Oregon culture, where to begin? There is a Jazz scene in Portland, and on the radio. Math, physics, music - makes no difference. And there’s sports…

Our lad is going to be 6 or 7 feet tall by the time he becomes a high school freshman, and he is already a little-league soccer champ, which I encourage - to keep him away from football - OJ and the former L.A. Rams and the present St.Louis Rams leave a bitter taste.

That could all change. There is our Arrrrrregon State star Steven Jackson who the Rams just signed up, and Southern Oregon University running back Dusty McGrorty, who they signed up last spring, began training so we’ll see…

I introduced Bryce to Malcolm when some years ago the post office commemorated him with a stamp. We bought a “sheet” of stamps and had them framed - in a good sturdy child-proof frame. He was too young then, and is probably still too young to read Malcolm’s autobiography or to see Spike Lee’s “X” - but I am the oldest male in this clan, and I think one of these days the boy hasta have at least a 1960s version of Black History under his belt, and then along comes Barack Obama.

I kept thinking about his speech yesterday (or the day before - in Baghdad jet-lag time), so I’m sending an e-note up to the nephew. I want for the boy to learn what this speech means from cover to cover - I only scratched the surface, and I’m passing it along to you because you always talk about your dad.

MORE FEEDBACK

Ken Chevis: “As an ex-resident alien of your great country, I have watchedwith horror and frustration asthe Bushites (or Bushophiles)have systematically soiled theUSA. Let us hope that reasonand sanity prevails and yourcountry is recovered onNovember 2nd. However, a mediaissue. Reports of Mrs. Kerry’sso called transgression rangedfar, wide and often during thepast few days. On the otherside, Cheney’s gratuitouscomments about his wife and thefact that she was obligated tostay at home and look after himcaused nary a ripple on thegreat sea of what passes forjournalism in the US. Ihesitate to think of thereaction had the “Johns” madethe same comment.”Ssharcc:” thanks danny for the great coverage. i am equally dismayed at the major networks lack or attention or “a.d.d.” in what may become one of the more important moments in american history. thank goodness for the internet, where the news gets reported unfiltered! maybe a watchdog group at the exit of newsrooms should be asking those airport-like questions: has anyone asked you to alter your story? has anyone asked you to lie? has your story been within your sight the whole time you’ve been working it! keep up the great work!”

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT: XTV Darren Shuster,: “After working with the media and a popular Iranian pro-democracy movement, and as a student of the media and politics for the past 10 years, I have learned that American mainstream media simply is not too eager to give any attention to Middle Eastern anti-terror movements!

“My client, S.O.S. IRAN and its Executive Director, Iman Foroutan, are one of the groups behind the new 24-hour satellite television station, XTV, in order to become the voice of the Iranian youth to the world. The TV station is supporting a new movement, the Los Angeles-based S.O.S. IRAN ? a group of Iranian-American intellectuals and technocrats are working together to communicate to the world what Iranian people inside of Iran have been experiencing.

“XTV airs in North America, Europe and the Middle East on satellite. This is one way that they are working to get attention — their own TV station.”

TALK BACK TO THE NETWORKS

If you share Mediachannel’s concerns about the network decision to cut back on coverage, say so by joining Media for Democracy’s latest e-mail campaign Click here:

http://www.mediafordemocracy.us/campaign/reality/wdeenuk4liw33b

Mediachannel’s Tim Karr was in the NY Times today and will be on CNN today, Rory O’Connor was on the air in Sacramento and I was heard in Santa Fe New Mexico and Chattanooga Tennessee. Urge your favorite radio stations to have us on to talk about media issues. Call 212 246-0202×3009.

I wanted to post this tonight as it happened?I will have more responses and hopefuilly your responss too by then. Write: dissector@medichannel.org