They have an effect, they do not control... People still have the power to believe what they want...there are so many choices these days now that the Internet is out of the bag and we have alternative sources of information... The people have the ultimate control, even when they don't use it or temporarily abdicate it to schmucks like Bush...
Now, ZZZzzzzzz, go back and re-read my post. I did not say the media controls the people. I said the media controls the information it presents to the people. Yes, the people have ultimate control, but they can be easily persuaded. If an advertiser wants you to buy his product they will present it to you like it is the best thing since sliced-bread, and many people will go out and buy it just to find out that it was not what they expected it to be. The same thing holds true in politics (no bias to any party intended). The media can promote their bias by presenting or portraying a candidate to be what they want the public to believe he or she is. The power of persuasion is extremely prevalent in the media which effects the decisions of the masses-- not controlling but effecting.
So what? They have and always will control the information. In a busy world people don't have the opportunity to get an eyewitness view to all the news of the day... Dating back to the day before any technology, a person walked into a community or met a stranger and gave them the "news" of the day and they had control over what they said...and the listener had the power to believe or not believe the "news" given to them. Back in the day of emerging technology in America, there was only one newspaper, then more, then more, then radio, then TV, now the Internet. People still make up their own minds what to believe... The "media" is like any other human institution... People are only persuaded to what they want to believe...it is not as if they are convinced through coercion...especially now that we have the Internet so easily available with so many bloggers... Blaming the media is usually a cop out...
If you believe this you are definately ZZZzzzzzzzing at the wheel. Go to bed; you're not making any sense.
This is not hype... Let's be realistic for a moment. Here stands a moment in American History that will rival moments such as July 4, 1776, December 7, 1941,November 22, 1962 and September 11, 2001. This is a moment that ALL (or at least many) Americans are proud of and want to be a part of in the grand scheme of things. For the first time in forty four leaders of this nation, a man of African ancestry will President of the United States. Leader of the Free World. That being said, yes, there are in a huge wave of excitement. I am a bit amazed by some of the statements. I was wonder how long it would take for one or two members to throw up the race issue. As for making any comparison to Paris Hilton is totally laughable! Obama is light years more intelligent and scholarly than Hilton (or Bush for that matter) will ever be in life. But this is not about Bush. I believe that Obama has to make his own mark in history. He will have to lead from the center. He will have to run the country with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid breathing down his neck wanting to push their agendas.
No one was comparing the intellect "airhead" vs "scholar". The comparison was the marketing campaign of the person offering "perfume" and one offering "change".
Sure I am dogmatic unlike those "enlightened" idiots caring "YES WE CAN" and "CHANGE" signs. You really made me feel insecured now.LOL.LOL. You call me dogmatic yet it's you who knows shit about Obama.Funny. I would really be surprised if nobody came up with Jackson and Sharpton argument.LOL. The matter of fact is that blacks vote much more along the racial lines than whites.