Watch Out for the Hook!

It is AMAZING how MEDIA COVERAGE on political matters tend to FALL by the wayside once "DANGER" is no longer imminent but "OUT OF SIGHT OUR OF MIND DOESNT ALWAYS WORK"

In Boxing/Martial Arts, 

fighters tend to watch hours of tape of their opponents in preparation for upcoming fights. It is often interesting to fighters get knocked out from a blow that just wasn't expected because it is a primary weapon in their challengers arsenal. 

If I am known for a devastating uppercut that doesn't not mean "DONT WATCH OUT FOR THE HOOK!"

THE HOOK COULD BE THE KNOCKOUT BLOW!!!

How does this relate to MEDIA??

Let's look at the issues in Syria!

We had immense coverage on Syria when we were contemplating a strike against Syria. Media had constant coverage, analysts and reports from DC to Syria. 

Although the strikes on Syria are no longer imminent that does not mean coverage should diminish. 

From our Twitters, 

we realize there are numerous talks on issues in Syria and nuclear warfare although the headlines are more concerned with Miley Cyrus. 

Soft news vs. Hard News. 

The Assad regime has been a huge impact and been a thorn for the U.S. and should never be taken lightly. 

For coverage to almost completely go by the wayside almost gives the assumption that we are no longer concerned as a nation about pending threat. 

Even in reference to the UN delegations. We provide coverage and highlight key points from around the world but don't really offer the analysis or in-depth details of the various occurences. 

All I am saying is, 

MEDIA never really seems to dive deep into an issue or cover an issue until something big happens. 

I believe we have a right to stay informed and it is medias job to gain information. 

We should never feel that nothing is going on and then be shocked when an attack happens.

9/11 was a BIG issue of that. 

There was so much conspiracy that media didn't cover or release until after the incident happened. 

Preparation is the key to success and we have a right to know.

I ask again!!!

Is Mass Media LOW-BLOWING the people or doing a KNOCKOUT job???

Mass Media and Politics or Mixed Martial Arts!!!

As we dig deeper into the semester we realize more and more the impact that mass media has on politics. 

A key point is to avoid political rants in these blog assignments but I believe it is imperative to incorporate a sense of self intertwined with the learnings from our discussions and assignments!

With that being said, 

The issue at hand is how Mass Media covers the Congress's outlook on Syria opposed to the issues on the homefront i.e. a potential government shutdown!!!

First and foremost, 

We look at Congress's lean towards approval of a strike on Syria which could cost the U.S. more money and have negative effects on the nation overall. 

However, when we looked at the potential Government shutdown because of the Senate's disapproval to defund Obamacare you wonder where the mindset of the Congress lies. Granted, it would be cheaper to not fund the Affordable Healthcare Act, it provides millions of uninsured the ability to take better care of themselves. It could increase the overall health status of America as a whole as well. 

The potential strike on Syria could lead to a war, innocent lives being lost and really does NOTHING for the nation as a whole. 

So how does Mass Media have an impact on it all!!!

The coverage of both issues. The media puts added emphasis on the STRIKE ON SYRIA than on a proper analysis of the positive or negative impact it could have on the nation. 

The media portrays more about a GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN than it does about the positive or negative impact ObamaCare or defunding it.

The media hardly displays the benefits or proper analysis of either situation and I guess you could argue that they focus on more of a "he said, she said" concept than a hard-news reporting subject. 

Much of the news coverage is "Representative So and So from Texax said this" and "Senate House leader had that to say" and "President Obama weighed in on this" as opposed to really covering IN-DEPTH each issue. 

The analyses they provided were more on the STANCES of each political party's policy and reasoning behind their overall decisions opposed to proper analysis of  benefits and consequences. 

It would have been nice to really cover and explain to Americans, many of which don't deal with politics due to lack of understanding, the benefits and consequences of each situation including a looming Strike on Syria or Government Shutdown. 

Mass Media or Mixed Martial Arts???

Is MASS MEDIA in regards to POLITICS fighting for the PEOPLE or the POLITICIANS???

We don't want the "spin" we would really enjoy the truth!!! 

In a democracy, the people have a voice and we vote in politicians to represent our voice but if we don't understand what we are voting about then what are we really voting for???

Is Mass Media Low-Blowing the people or doing a KNOCK OUT job?

FIGHT NIGHT!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen!!! 

In the Blue Corner,

Weighing in at 100 people, 

1/2 of the U.S. Congress,

Represented in majority by the Democratic Party, 

THE......U.S. SEEEEEEEEENAAAAAAATTTTEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

and in the Red Corner, 

Weighing in at over 400 people, 

1/2 of the U.S. Congress, 

Represented in majority by the Republican Party, 

THE...HOUSE OF REPRESEEEEEEENTATIVES!!!!!!!!!!

AND NOW, 

thousands in attendance, 

and the millions watching around the world, 

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

And that's how the fight to defund ObamaCare goes. 

The Republican majority House of Representatives approved a vote to defund the ObamaCare program. As usual, the bill then passed to the Senate. 

The Democratic majority Senate rejects the bill which now falls back to the House of Representatives. 

There are obviously a number of power shots and kicks going at it over this bill in Congress. 

The media has held no hands in coverage that has included analysts of both parties. 

There has been "he said, she said" and hard and soft journalism revolving this bill.

As the bill goes back and forth we now allude to a potential government shut down. 

Who is really going to win this one!!!

I'm calling a KNOCK OUT blow for the Democratic Senate and a LOW BLOW on the Republican House of Representatives for pushing a Government SHUT DOWN!!!

Nevermind the impact that a Government shut down has on America, or the best interest for the people, now it's simply DEFUND or DEAL WITH IT!!! 

Not Cool!!!

Fresh Tea Brewing

ObamaCare Fight in Congress Re-Energizes the Tea Party Movement

In lieu of the recent ongoing debates in Congress focusing on the funding or defunding of ObamaCare, it looks like a fresh cup of Tea began brewing and the glasses are ready to pour up.

The Tea Party began it's rise around the early years of Obama's presidency and the initial talks of the Affordable Healthcare Act AKA ObamaCare.

With the constant feuding in Congress it looks like the Tea Party is brewing again after the pot seemed to have run empty for a while. 

While the Tea Party has no specific political affiliation and are known more or less as partly conservative, partly libertarian and partly populist sponsoring protests and supporting political candidates since 2009. 

As we know the Republican heavy House of Representatives passed a bill to defund the ObamaCare program which was shot down by the Senate prompting a potential Government Shutdown.

With the rise of the Tea Party again, it looks like there could be a huge impact on politics and future presidential elections. 

Primarily known for advocating a reduction in the U.S. National Debt and Federal Budget Deficit by reducing government spending and taxes, the rising conflict between Congress definitely has its impact on both the Democratic and Republican parties. It is definitely evident that the Tea Party is in support of defunding the ObamaCare plan so the ultimate question lies:

Is the rise of the Tea Party a LOW BLOW to the Democratic party or could it be a KNOCK OUT?

The Tea Party, while it fosters its own supporters had it's negative impact on the Republican Party as well especially with much of negative publicity they got during the last election campaign and of course weigh there impact on the Democratic Party. It might be interesting to see how this continues as we approach the next presidential election.