Media Matters asks an interesting question. Why is news that is obviously bad for the Republican Party said to be "good" for it by the media? The writer points out that commentators are spinning now that the US Supreme Court's Handam decision is good for Republicans because this will allow them to run " agaisnt the Court"- a Court pretty much of Republican making. When Bush's approval ratings hit the floor, they said this was good because Republicans could run against Bush. Threating media outlets that publish news on say secret wiretapping with investigation allows Republicans to run against the media.
It's a good commentary. Check it out.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Running Against Everything
Posted by USWest at 10:45 PM
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2 comments:
If the Republicans in Congress can run against Bush, and Bush can run against the Congress, why can't Democrats run against both? USWest is right to draw attention to this kind of bias in the news reporting. I think there is a general sense of defeatism among many rank-and-file Democrats, so they nod their heads sagely as everything is painted as bad news for them.
The trouble is that the Democrats have yet to provide a focal point--a person, a plan, even a Contract with America. Until that can be done, Democrats may appear to many to be merely sniping from the sidelines, a bunch of uncoordinated Davids working against a Republican Goliath. (OK, so it only took one David, thus the metaphor sucks, but you know what I'm trying to say.)
Hello,
I came across your website and think it's an awesome way at approaching politics. We at the sunlight foundation are giving out grants for those with creative ways of strengthening the relationship between elected officials and the people they represent. Below is an official email about the grant proposal.
The Sunlight Network is announcing a series of four to six "mini-grants", in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, for nonprofit organizations and non-affiliated groups who have creative and innovative approaches to strengthening the relationship between members of congress and the citizens they represent. The focus of the work must be to enable a better, more open and accountable relationship between members of Congress and citizens. Ideally, this work will be executed on a local or regional level.
We encourage applications from existing small nonprofits, local or regional chapters of national organizations and groups of individuals. Grants are available to augment existing projects or to jumpstart new ones. Grants will be made available on a rolling basis starting July 15th. Apply early!
The Sunlight Network was founded in 2006 to change the relationship between lawmakers and the people they represent, using technology, transparency, and local communities. Sunlight believes that open, honest, sincere representation is possible, and that only engaged citizens can make it happen.
Please send a one-page summary of your proposed project, a budget (including the amount requested from Sunlight) and contact information to Zephyr Teachout, National Director, Sunlight Foundation (zteachout@sunlightfoundation.com).
Feel free to call me at the Sunlight Foundation 202-742-1520 if you have questions that you need answered before applying.
Projects will be judged on their creativity, their likelihood of success and the degree to which they match Sunlight’s goals. We strongly favor efforts that are themselves open and democratic in their internal structure.
Below is a list of examples of projects that may be awarded with grants from our organization. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.
We also encourage you to forward this email to people and/or organizations that you feel may be interested in these grants.
Grants will be announced on a rolling basis between August and September1. Sunlight will be available to provide consulting support to recipients of these mini grants.
Best Regards,
Ellen V. Rice
Intern
Sunlight Foundation
Sunlightuser3@sunlightfoundation.com
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS
Local citizen journalism site seeks $10000
An Austin website that aggregates news and commentary on local issues seeks funding to do more work related to digging and blogging about their federal representatives. The money is for travel, a video camera, lexis-nexis access.
Local Miami students curious about controversial landfill and $ interests seek $1,000
Students seek grant to pay for research (travel, small stipend) for four people to show how business interests may have previously supported local politicians and distorted decisionmaking. Wants to do investigative report and post on the web.
Farmers in “Rural Pennsylvania” (an incorporated nonprofit) seek $1,500
A tiny nonprofit incorporated to represent farmers interests in PA seeks funding to send 5 people to Washington DC in van to meet with representatives be present at hearings on agricultural issues and blog about their trips and their experiences with trying to meet people.
Porkbusters in Kansas seek $2,000 to:
Creative webheads in Kansas have video idea that mocks the money interests behind ethanol. The video site includes images taken from the public domain.
The Little Old Ladies of Pasadena seek $1000
A politically active informal group that calls themselves the “Little Old Ladies of Pasadena” seek $1000 to hold open houses at their Congressman’s office. They bake cookies and lemonade and give it away, camped outside Congresman’s local office, to people who will come and meet their congressman. The money goes towards food funding and a site that details it. They hope to inspire little old ladies everywhere.
// posted by Ellen Rice
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