"Where Are The Democrats?"

It must not be easy to be the party out of power, and not be able to speak with anything resembling a "single voice."

Almost everything that concerns the well being of our country is going badly. I certainly understand that the Democrats are "out of it" big time. Whatever positions the Democrats take are of course mischaracterized by the Republicans. If they want to end this dreadful war, they are said to not support our troops. If they suggest that the tax cuts granted to the wealthy not be made permanent, they are cleverly accused of wanting to raise taxes. The consolidated Republicans have the opportunity do as they wish, and create mischief wherever they choose.

The Presidents acceptance is in the low 30% in many polls and I wonder why they are even that high. The war is going badly, gasoline prices are through the roof, we owe whomever in the neighborhood of 9 trillion dollars, Katrina issues abound, Halliburton is making a gazillion dollars, millions of illegal aliens and their countrymen are protesting the status quo, and yet the President's performance is still considered OK with one third of our population.

It is reasonable for reasonable people to ask why? And although hardly anyone would accuse me of "reasonableness," I believe that you can compare the popularity of the President to the popularity of Nexium.

I keep hearing about the Presidents "base," yet he has done so many things to offend his "base" that I would look elsewhere for an answer to why so many voters support him.

As a person involved in the business of Television for 50 years, I "nominate" Television as the reason that so many people continue to support the President.

I am constantly exposed to commercials for Nexium, and as a result, I assume that every time I have a little heartburn, if I don't immediately call my Doctor and begin taking the drug, I will develop esophageal cancer before morning.

Television commercials for NEXIUM and coverage of the President are broadcast CONSTANTLY.

If you were the President and you wanted to know what is happening in Louisiana and Mississippi, you would probably stay in your office like a good executive should and receive reports from your staff and others. Want to know about alternative energy cars, you would do the same. If the President did that, he would not receive the television coverage that he gets. He is on Television all the time, and he NEVER says anything of substance.

These are my suggestion for the Democrats.

Form a large group of high profile and respected Democrats, who are able to articulate the "Democratic" position, and are not the "usual suspects." Small groups of them should visit with the major media companies at the highest levels and try to "arrange" some form of "equal" time situation for "the loyal opposition" so that when the President speaks publicly about ANYTHING, members of the Democratic group are given equal time either to reply to the Presidents statements or discuss other things that they choose. These "selected" Democrats must be available to appear on Television whenever they are asked.

They could respond to issues like the Presidents "plan" to complete the war, reduce energy prices, justify NSA domestic spying and do nothing about health care.

When the media companies (General Electric, News Corp, CBS, and Walt Disney, among others) are put on notice as to the reasonableness of the request, and that the Dems could re-gain the White House (and the FCC) in 08, I expect that the media giants will respond in a gracious manner to the request. For the most part, the media conglomerates are only interested in expanding their business, power, and profits, and if this is the case, they will all be afraid to cross the Democrats.

The Democrats MUST select relatively centrist members of their party and understand that they must "speak" to EVERYONE in our country, including their constituents.

In the movie Network, Howard Beale, (Peter Finch) asks why he has been chosen to deliver "the message" and is told "because you're on Television stupid."

We are primarily a nation of Television viewers, not newspaper and magazine readers.

Carl Rove understands this. Does Howard Dean?

I need to take a Nexium right now.

NORMAN HOROWITZ

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