In Search Of Utopia: How do we get the media to report a story?

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October 03, 2005

How do we get the media to report a story?

[Crossposted from Loaded Mouth]

The following is an email I just sent to my sister. It was in reply to an email from a mutual friend she forwarded to me, in which the author describes how he thinks Bush will either resign or be impeached after indictments for the Plame case are handed down, which should probably happen later this month.

Regular readers can already tell what I'm thinking, but I figured I'd post it in full for hopes that it will start a conversation on what strategy the Democrats should implement to make the Plame Affiar truly into Bush's Watergate. I detail what I think are some of the problems that could make the indictments a dead news story, and overview some solutions to give it legs.

Unfortunately, I don't hold as rosie of a view as he does. If/when indictments are handed down in the Plame case (and there is a good possibility that Cheney will be indicted), there's go guarantee on how Bush or the Republicans will react. They still hold all the cards, unfortunately. This isn't a situation like Watergate where the Senate was led by the Democrats and they were able to launch an invetigation and hearings into the matter, which then uncovered lots of evidence like how Nixon had tapes of his Oval Office conversations. That story, of course, had legs: Tapes? They exist? Well now we must listen to them! How do we get them? Let's ask Nixon. He's stalling. Sue him! Now we got a court order. Nixon hands over the tapes.

That's the kind of story that has drama to it that will last more than a couple of newscycles, and I fear that the same type of story might not come out of the Plame case. Rove and Libby (Cheney's Chief of Staff) will be indicted, maybe Cheney himself, but that's about it. The media will report the indictments, just like the media reported Tom DeLay's indictment last week, and then the Democrats will sit around with a thumb up their ass, which is generally their usual position. I mean, ever since DeLay was indicted last week, I haven't heard the Democrats come together and say something to the effect of "We're the anti-corruption party in Washington". No mention that they will fight to clean up politics. Hell, I'm not even sure what they are doing to use DeLay's indictment to their political advantage. So that's one leg of the story down. The fact that the Democrats, being the minnority party, don't have the power to launch Senate investigations, there's another leg down.

I guess what I'm saying is that shit just doesn't fall into place. I wish it did because then Bush would have been impeached right after the Downing Street Memos were revealed, but it doesn't. His impeachment/resignation shouldn't be expected. When the Plame indictments come out, the Democrats need to figure out a way to keep the story in the media. They're going to need to talk about the story in a unified voice, not back away from it when when the Republicans rabidly start to criticize them; the Senate Dems need to have private conferences with moderate GOP senators like Lincoln Chafee and Olympia Snowe to see if they can get Republican support for investigations, and they need to go on the attack publicly to make a story out of getting the Senate to investigate Bush. I think the investigations are key here, and a lot of drama could be added to the story with a sustained Dem/GOP conflict about launching Senate investigations.

That is, if the Democrats choose to fight. Which is something that I haven't seen them try yet.

Your turn.

Posted by Tas at October 3, 2005 08:30 AM
Filed Under Guest Bloggers | 619 Words

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Comments

I'd hazard a guess that the House Democrats are stepping lightly because it would be not be difficult to find members from each party with campaign finance, um, irregularities. A favored tactic of both sides is to find a gnat in someones' eye and conflate it with the beam in their own. The public at large is often more than willing to go along with the "they all do it" meme.

I'm less sure about the Plame thing. It just isn't clear to me what is going on. Judith Miller's actions are puzzling, and I'm betting the bunch really in power have the sense to keep anything really damning in the hands of underlings.

As an aside, I enjoy the writing here, from Dave and his guests. I disagree, sometimes, but rarely with the spirit of what is said.

Posted by: Dave Eaton at October 3, 2005 07:59 PM

What on earth makes you think a Republican controlled House would pass Articles of Impeachment against Bush?

What makes you think a Republican controlled Senate would vote to convict?

This kind of thinking is nothing more than Democratic pipedreams.

James @ Right Face!

Posted by: James at October 3, 2005 09:28 PM

You're joking, right?

Where do I start? How about with Delay, whose indictment was thrown out today. Yes, there is a new and even weaker indictment, which will also prove to be a sham. My prediction as a lawyer? Ronnie Earl gets disbarred over this.

Plame? The CIA employee with a widely-known desk job in Virginia for more than 5 years before the "leak?" Perhaps you should ask yourselves why Miller stayed in jail for three months, while she had a legally binding release for more than a year? Gee, perhaps she was waiting, as her former attorney said, for an agreement to limit her testimony to Libby, and NOT her other sources. Who were they? Just ask Joseph Wilson. This is a non-issue.

Also, I'm shocked anyone with common sense still thinks the Downing Street Memos were relevant to anything at all. Can't you people read?

Posted by: mark at October 3, 2005 11:36 PM

Well, gee Mark, I dunno. I think I can read. I think the Downinf Street Memos said that Bush "fixed facts and intelligence around" his policies, thus fixing this whole damn war. Fuck me if I'm wrong, but I could have sworn that's relevant to thousands of people being murdered for what now appears to be a big pacck of lies. But I guess that's just all irrelevant, isn't it? Let's talk about blowjobs instead!

Posted by: tas at October 4, 2005 07:10 AM

"I think the Downinf Street Memos said that Bush "fixed facts and intelligence around" his policies, thus fixing this whole damn war."

And that is where you would be wrong. One sentence taken out of context - "fixed facts around the intelligence" - does indeed seem damning... until you read the REST of the memo, which points out that Bush DID believe there were WMD, and Bush DID go to the UN afterward.

It's not hard to figure out why not a single Senate Democrat touched it with a ten foot pole. Because there is nothing there! Get it thru your head. John Conyers can organize as many pretend "hearings" as he likes but without proof you have NOTHING.

By all means, dont stop looking for wrongdoing in the leadup to the war. If you come up with an actual indictable offense, then America will be more than willing to listen.

Posted by: Go Metro at October 4, 2005 08:29 AM

If the indictment of Delay stands then they are going to be able to indict half of congress. That's why the democrats are staying away from criticizing Delay in this matter. As far as the Plame case, ever ask why Libby released her from her confidentiality? He isnt worried about her testimony.

Posted by: Mermaid at October 4, 2005 09:35 AM

So says the fucking moron.

Posted by: tas at October 7, 2005 08:11 PM