The Three Titans

FOX News. CNN. MSNBC. These are the three titans of the twenty-four hour cable news networks.

Really, they remind me much of the three nations that were always at war with one another in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four: Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania. In the novel, two of them are always at war with the third, and the allegiances seem to switch regularly and without warning.

But I hardly need to explain Nineteen Eighty-Four to anyone who aspires to obtain a degree in political science. To admit to not reading Nineteen Eighty-Four as someone interested in political science is almost like a Baptist preacher admitting that he actually hasn't even read part of the Bible.

But I digress. Anyway, it would seem to me that CNN would be the one that is being destroyed by the other two currently. As recently as a year or two ago, MSNBC would be the network placing a distant third behind the other two in ratings and influence, but CNN surely takes that dubious distinction now.

MSNBC took the clear number-two spot behind Fox because it was willing to position itself as the liberal counterbalance to the rightward slant of Fox News.

Realizing this, CNN has attempted recently to place itself as the unbiased, serious news source between the two warring factions. I do think that this is the only thing they can do—I mean, are they really going to out-liberal MSNBC, so to speak? That seems like it would be a tall task, and one that would make CNN redundant and irrelevant.

As just one piece of evidence displaying this tactic:

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2010/11/09/promo.news.network.cnn

That's a pretty clear message. Fox News is listed on the elephant, while MSNBC is on the donkey. CNN is going to be the news network, not the cheerleader.

If this were true, then I would wholeheartedly support them as serving a useful purpose. But it simply isn't. They're still a bunch of leftists at heart, and they don't understand what appealing to the center actually means.

For instance, let me use their relatively new 8PM show, Parker Spitzer, as an example of this. CNN intends this to be a Crossfire-style debate amongst a conservative and a liberal. Now first of all, I don't believe that two opposing sides screaming at each other for an hour is the real meaning of a lack of bias or true neutrality. But I shall set aside that opinion for the time being.

In short, I think this show is unwatchable and awful, and it is a clear sign that CNN just doesn't get it. It actually reminds me a lot of Hannity & Colmes back in the day. Yeah, Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes were supposedly equals (wink, wink), but everyone knew that Colmes was really just the foil/sidekick for Hannity, the show's dominant personality and star.

This dynamic seems to be in play for Parker Spitzer. It's Spitzer's show, and Parker is just along for the ride as an accessory, token conservative. I find it interesting that CNN picked these two personalities to man the primetime spot in this sort of format. Conservatives absolutely despised Eliot Spitzer as both the attorney general and governor of New York, and were certainly happy to see him crash and burn in a sex scandal.

And having someone who inspires that kind of hate for one side might be fine, if placed against a worthy adversary... but Kathleen Parker is just not that opponent. Those on the right don't like her either; they consider her something of a turncoat for her columns during the 2008 presidential election, with much of her writing spent bashing conservatives. If they must make another show like this (and I was personally not a fan of either Crossfire or Hannity & Colmes), then it needs to at least be done correctly.

Again, they just don't get it. I think there's a place for a third cable-news network that is more hard-news focused and less slanted than what we are faced with currently; but, until CNN has a better handle on how to shed their liberal binds and actually accomplish this great task, they will continue to languish in both ratings and influence.

Old Bumper Stickers

My father found this sticker while cleaning out our basement over the weekend.

I post this to make an observation. There is a group of people who base their vote entirely or almost entirely on a single issue that isn't either the economy or foreign policy. I will grant that those two realms of policy are by far the most important to the future of our Republic.

But there are many people out there who are single-issue voters, and I have to wonder if they are underrepresented by the media in their reporting. I know many people who absolutely use abortion as a litmus test when choosing a candidate, to name one example. Obviously, Second Amendment rights are an extremely important factor kin determining some votes. I know others who vote entirely on environmental issues.

Yet, beyond maybe a question in a debate between candidates, I never really see these issues covered by the media unless some disaster like a school shooting occurs.

Again, I understand. I really do. I think back to a chart we were shown in class a couple weeks ago about what issue the voters most cared about, and gun control and abortion were predictably absent. But on the other hand, it seems like the complete lack of coverage is unhealthy for our citizens. That's just my two cents.

The TSA

A Washington Post editorial decrying the TSA pat-downs as unconstitutional

You know what? I am sick and tired of hearing about the TSA. This is a pretty clear example of the feeding frenzy concept. The media at large has latched onto a few isolated incidents and made it seem like everyone and their grandmothers are being violated on their way through security checkpoints. This is just simply not true. I don't like going through airline security, either--but this narrative is getting extremely tired very quickly. I think the media is latching on to this because everyone despises how ridiculous airline security has become in our post-9/11 world. It reminds me a lot of a third-rate comedian trying to rail on airline food. The major news networks need to give this one a rest. The fact that President Obama went and spoke on this matter is utterly absurd.

People like Rush Limbaugh think this is a media conspiracy to steer people away from the human pat-downs and towards the screening machines. I don't know if I buy that—and furthermore, I don't think I care.

I just want to stop hearing about this. I understand the tendency of the mass media to beat issues into the ground, and it's not like this is something that they haven't done before. However, I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Ten Conservative Songs and Thoughts on Music and Media

My second list is of ten of my favorite “conservative” songs. Frankly, it was harder to come up with ten conservative songs than ten liberal songs by a wide margin. For the purposes of this list, I will count a song as conservative if I deem it to espouse a conservative agenda or conservative values. Among other things, this could include cries against government intervention in the realm of economic policy, an affinity for the “tried-and-true” traditional view of values, a hawkish view on war and foreign policy, and concerns about individual liberty and freedom. Here it is:

“Taxman” by The Beatles

This one instantly came to mind when making this list. The Beatles certainly made some music that could have been on my liberal music list, but there's nothing more conservative than a song railing against a 95% marginal tax rate.

“Revolution” by The Beatles

This one might be a controversial selection... but I believe a close examination of the lyrics finds the piece to warn against revolutions and change merely for the sake of change.

“The Trees” by Rush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHEcIbhDiw

Rush is my favorite band of all time, by far. I'm including the link because this song is not as commonly played as some of the others. I'm just going to post the lyrics on this one without further comment, as the metaphor is pretty heavy-handed:

“The trouble with the maples,
And they're quite convinced they're right...
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled.
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads.

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
'The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.'
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.”

“Something For Nothing” by Rush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096LhjGNNCk

“You can't have something for nothing,
You can't have freedom for free.
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be.”

A very conservative view towards welfare. Whereas Bruce Hornsby blames the rich for keeping the poor down in “The Way It Is”, Rush says that it's the poor's own fault.

“Red Barchetta” by Rush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAvQSkK8Z8U

Based on a short story in where the future is regulated by environmental nuts and safety nazis. The protagonist fights the laws by driving a really, really fast awesome car—the type that is considered too unsafe and too polluting in the future. Good tune.

“I Fought The Law” by The Bobby Fuller Four (among countless others)

“I fought the law, and the law won.” This is why you should respect authority figures.

“Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Toby Keith

I'm listing this as a representative of every post-9/11 country song that advocated scorched-earth diplomacy on the people who attacked us.

“Justice will be served,
And the battle will rage.
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage.
You’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass,
It's the American way!”

“Janie's Got a Gun” by Aerosmith

As the saying goes, “God created men and women... Samuel Colt made them equal.” I'm being somewhat tongue-in-cheek here, but this song does advocate Second Amendment freedoms as a way for women to escape abuse.

“My City Was Gone” by the Pretenders

This song could have made either list. Obviously, the Pretenders meant for it to be an environmental anthem, but it could also be taken as conservative's hesitation to embrace government-sponsored change. Because Rush Limbaugh commandeered the tune for his show's theme song, I'm putting it here.

“Won't Get Fooled Again” by The Who

I need a tenth song. Obviously, I think the Who would probably bristle at this song's inclusion on this list, but it is a cynical look at revolution and societal change in general.

It's harder to point to “conservative” songs as having an effect on the general public. When songs advocate sticking with tried-and-true traditional values, well... it is difficult to give them credit for keeping things the same.

I should also note at this point that many of the songs on this list were made by artist who could very well have a lot of songs on the other list, as well. Also, there are many songs that can be twisted to fit an alternate agenda. Three songs immediately come to mind when I mention this: “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen, “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp. All three pieces are examples of songs that sound patriotic on the surface. “Fortunate Son” was heavily edited by Wrangler in an attempt to sell jeans. Ronald Reagan famously wanted to use “Born in the U.S.A.” in his 1984 presidential reelection campaign. “Pink Houses” was used by John McCain in the 2008 election until Mellencamp asked McCain's campaign to stop using the piece, stating that his personal views were at odds with McCain's and that the song was being taken out of context.

All three of these songs can be made to be patriotic on the surface, but a closer examination of the lyrics indicate that all three are in fact protests against the American system. In one sense, the personal beliefs of the artist become almost irrelevant, and independent actors in the media can use it to whatever ends they deem necessary.

Ten Liberal Songs and Thoughts on Music and Media

Recently, us bloggers were asked to expand upon the effects that music has upon politics. As such, I had decided to come up with a list of songs, both “liberal” and “conservative”.

My first list will be of ten of my favorite “liberal” songs. I will count a song as liberal if I deem it to espouse a liberal agenda or liberal values. Among other things, this could include cries against government intervention in the realm of morality, a general questioning of authority, a dovish view on war and foreign policy, concerns about equality, and an affinity for the common person. So here goes:

"The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby & the Range

Deals with class warfare, racial divisions, the oppression of the poor by the rich... So many progressive themes here, so little time.

"Rockin' In the Free World" by Neil Young

This song is about America's poor, cleverly crafted to sound like a patriotic anthem.

"War" by Edwin Starr

No war for any reason. Period. That's a winning theme among many on the left.

"Snake Oil" by Steve Earle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqk5of8LgLE

There's the link, since that one is a little less well-known than some of the others on this list. Anyway, Steve Earle is both an excellent artist and a hardcore progressive. This entire song compares Ronald Reagan to a snake oil salesman.

"Devil's Right Hand" by Steve Earle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW5E8noEbn4

Another excellent song by Earle. This one pushes hard for more stringent controls on firearms.

"Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine

I could make this entire list Rage Against the Machine, as well. I'll try and limit myself. These guys only make political music, and they are very, very good at it. “Bulls on Parade” is an attack on the excesses of capitalism.

"Guerilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine

The music video for this one makes it a protest against sweatshops.

"Testify" by Rage Against the Machine

Again, another political song made even more political by the music video for it. The video in this case protests the choice in the 2000 Presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore to be a false one.

"Imagine" & "Give Peace a Chance" by John Lennon

Frankly, I despise both these songs... but they are both excellent examples of liberal music. Both are anti-war anthems, and “Imagine” is even on the borderline of advocating some form of communism.

Overall, it is much easier to point to liberal music as being more influential than conservative music. This is mostly because of an overarching dynamic; that is, liberals generally want things to change, and conservatives like to see things stay the same. In addition, it seems that the people making the music seem to be on the leftist side of the spectrum more often than not. Therefore, there is a larger pool to choose from.

But at the end of the day, I believe that music is an indicator of popular opinions that have already been formed—it doesn't shape those ideas or values. To borrow the popular idiom: the dog wags the tail; the tail doesn't wag the dog. I will use the example of the Vietnam War. It is true that music from the era might have amplified the voices of the anti-war crowd, but I don't think it was instrumental in changing peoples' minds.