Press Panic

March 16, 2016

16458226596_ae9dbb782b_zSunshine and bright objects this early Wednesday on California’s north coast as thin, high clouds appear to be floating away, at least according to the observation from my back patio.

Another ascertainment off the horrid entertainment last night, and current state of the union: ‘“I don’t think you can say that we don’t get it automatically,” Trump told CNN after a night of wins in Florida, Illinois, and North Carolina.
“I think you’d have riots. I think you’d have riots. I’m representing many, many millions of people.”

We’re in way-bad predicament…

(Illustration: Donald Trump, ‘Basic Shapes,‘ by caricaturist/illustrator Chong Jit Leong, found here).

And worse — The Donald is the dark side of ‘are you not entertained?
A study of media coverage, reach and advertising rates on our current political theatrics reveals The Donald is maybe unstoppable.
From Time:

Trump’s $2 billion in so-called “earned media”—as compared to paid-for media (i.e. advertising) — dwarfs the $746 million in earned media given to Hillary Clinton, the next highest earner.
Just last month, Trump got $400 million in earned media, roughly what John McCain spent on his entire campaign in 2008 — a testament both to how expensive American elections have become and to The Donald’s extraordinary ability to draw attention, for good or ill.

Horribly ironic, playing to the cameras, and acting the fool. Yet last month, The Donald showed his real media side (per Slate):

“One of the things I’m going to do if I win — and I hope we do, and we’re certainly leading — I’m going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money,” Trump said.
“So when the New York Times writes a hit piece, which is a total disgrace, or when the Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they’re totally protected.”
Trump then went on to utter what sounded like a straight-up threat: “We’re going to open up libel laws and we’re going to have people sue you like you’ve never got sued before.”

The Donald’s reality (via the Guardian): ‘His ideal scenario: “If you write something that’s wrong, at least knowingly wrong, a person like me can write lawsuits and collect damages.”

Did I use the word, ‘predicament,’ already?

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