Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Iraq resolution

When Senate Democrats refused to allow consideration of all three competing resolutions on Iraq yesterday, seeking instead to bring only two to the Senate floor, Republicans stopped them from bringing the issue up at all. The Democrats then complained that Republicans were blocking debate on Iraq, and mainstream media outlets immediately agreed.

"Republicans block Senate Debate on Iraq," said the AP. "GOP blocks a debate over Iraq policy," concurred the New York Times. "GOP stalls debate on troop increase," echoed the Washington Post.

In fact, of course, both sides were trying to have the debate on terms most favorable to their party, but in this case, the Republicans were actually seeking a broader debate with more resolutions considered while the Democrats wanted to address just those that seemed most likely to come out their way.

Bashing Bush?

Newsweek magazine assistant managing editor and noted author Evan Thomas was asked on a local Washington TV program the other day whether the media has been bashing the president unfairly. His response — "our job is to bash the president. That's what we do." He went on to say that the President had lost support after he "kissed off the Iraq Study Group."

Thomas in the past has acknowledged the media has a bias in its reporting — saying the press favored John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election. His comments over the weekend followed an assertion by National Public Radio's Nina Totenberg — that the president had received a "free ride" for years, and now is getting fierce coverage.

The media is an audience and market driven group of voices who must simultaneously juggle the truth, what the people want and what the people will pay for, all the time, every day. Like the economy, it operates on an artificial pendulum, swinging to and fro due to market trends, public opinion and the facts available.

The free market ensures that every dog gets his day, but not everyday, forever. Be patient. You are witnessing the enthusiasm of a press corps that has been very patient and should enjoy the rewards. It is a cycle.

Journalism gives everyone in office enough rope. Either they pull the country up, or hang themselves in the process. We are Americans, and like it or not, we like to see a horse thief get hung at sunset on television.

Oh yeah! Hang 'em high!

That has been one of my suggestions to reduce crime.

Punishment, including executions, on prime time TV.

Off thread I know but the thought of hanging a thief set me off!

OK, back to the thread.

I think the point they are trying to make is that everybody wails on the Republicans without fully investigating it.

If it had been switched around, you can bet that the media would have reported something about the Republicans leaving out one of the bills, not that the Democrats were filibustering.

According to conservatives, the media is "liberal biased" when it slants a story against their side but "accurate" when it slants a story their way. I love it.

Andrew

I'd be happy if they just reported the facts and left it up to viewers to decide.

Unfortunately that would not sell advertising and garner ratings.

It's all about the $'s.

This is probably the wrong place to say it, but I wish Sirius would do TV!

At least they are debating about debating the War.

That's more than we've seen take place with Congress under Repug control.