"Most on the right have insisted that they don't have that power anymore"
I agree. If the liberal media were so powerful, Kerry would be leading Bush by 15 points. So far, every media attack against the President had melted into nothing; or come back to smack the dems in the face.
I'm not saying the attacks haven't had some effect, but after the onslaught the media has loosed on Bush, he should have been toast months ago.
Here's a stat for you which might explain why the "partisan" media is no longer as powerful as they WANT US TO BELIEVE.
During impeachment, the media continually threw in our faces the fact that 75% of the public did not want Clinton removed from office. However, just one short year later - after a lot of what was in the impeachment documents got exposed, that same 75% of the public had changed their minds and now believed Clinton SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED. The media has never acknowledged this shift away from support for the Clintons. They still have their groupies, but Clintons personal approval numbers are still in the 20% range or lower.
Add to that stat the 2000 election and the gross performance of Al Gore .. and add to that 9/11 .. and the whole attitude of America is changed.
The problem is that the partisan media has denied this radical change in the public's attitude, and the democrats refuse to acknowledge they are out of power.
During the last WH Press Conference - CNN's audience = 1.9 mil, FOX's audience = over 5 mil. The public no longer trusts the partisan media .. they are losing viewer share daily and still they refuse to change. To continue doing the same thing and expecting different results - is insanity.
You make my point, the elite NY media allowed Clinton to stay in office during impeachment. It's only after the fact that they release damaging info.
As soon as Kerry picks a VP, the elites in the press will get him to 15 points up.
And if he is elected, you will see good news out of Iraq, good pictures, and "investigative reporters" will suddenly start investigating our enemies.
Since 9/11 I have seen NO serious journalism info on OBL, Arafat, Islamic cults in general, Syria, or Iran.
They COULD be helping their country at this time, and are refusing to do so.
The NY elite media need to be smeared and their reputations ruined by the "seriousness of the charge".
Who should we start with?