It’s subtle but not so subtle. Suddenly all things are turning blue. Never red, never never purple or gold. “Why, O why?” you ask. Blue voters are going to vote out the red maga-gang.
A major theme this week on this and other liked minded newsletters read my us enlightened Blue left of center voters is what can be done to get Biden and the Democrats to start communicating, getting the message out, and generally rallying the “troops”. There’s a general perception they’re barely aware there’s an election in November.
Many commentators on other newsletters have posted action plans and good ideas. I’ve started making a copy/paste list. Later today (pacific time) after dealing with some Life Gets in the Way stuff, I’m planning on replying to this comment with some of those ideas.
Teaser: The first will be from A few days ago and late in the evening after everyone else had posted comments to a Robert Reich newsletter, I commented on how in the 2016 election the Trump campaign bought every single ad spots 24/7 for the two weeks before the general election on a certain cable TV channel for $150,000. That channel reaches a potential 46 million households, has a loyal fan base in rural America and the highest voter turnout of any cable channel. Surveys taken by that channel indicated ZERO female voters surveyed planned on voting for Hillary Clinton. ZERO for $150,000.
The Dems need to reach the voters at their front porches on issues they’re concerned about.
In a select group of female voters in 2016, ZERO said they would vote for Hillary Clinton. ZERO. What $150,000 bought Trump -
AARP claims to be politically neutral, having a policy not to endorse candidates. As an organization representing seniors age fifty and over, they obviously promote a strong, well funded, firmly established Social Security system and Medicare. So it was with great surprise I saw the following in the December 2023 issue of the AARP Bulletin:
“Watch “Rural America Live With AARP” to hear from Republican presidential candidates about Social Security. ….. Dec. 21 on RFD-TV or watch on demand at aarp.org/aarplive “
So who and what is RFD-TV? RFD-TV is a cable channel aimed for the rural America market and agricultural sectors of the economy. It is carried nationwide on most of the large cable company networks. RFD-TV is privately owned by Rural Media Group (RMG), which also owns The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel, and RURALRADIO on SiriusXM. The owner of RMG is Patrick Gottsch, who claims RFD-TV is neither Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative and their programs are aimed at the interests of rural Americans which they see as a market underserved by major media.
RFD-TV also broadcasts over the air in two markets, with digital terrestrial television: 36.1 (Redwood Falls, Minnesota); 22.1 (Cortez, Colorado). The latter is in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District represented by Republican Lauren Boebert since 2021.
As of February 2015, RFD-TV was available to approximately 52 million pay television households (44.8% of households with television) in the United States. (46 million cable television households in 2017). With an average of 136,000 viewers in 2016, RFD-TV has some of the highest viewership relative to availability compared to other "ultra-niche" networks with similar or wider distribution owned by major corporations.
AARP produces and shows “Rural America Live With AARP”monthly on RFD-TV.
Being curious, I attempted to watch the recorded episode of Rural America Live With AARP from December 21 to see how Republican candidates were pitching Social Security, its benefits and its future and how it was presented to rural Americans; however, I discovered I needed to pay to subscribe to RFD-TV streaming service. That particular episode was one of the few episodes not available on the aarplive website or their YouTube channel.
I wanted to watch for two reasons. The first being to determine any bias on the part of the host and the guests, and secondly to determine if AARP is politically neutral as they claim. Alas, I’ll have to wait until it’s available through AARP and report back later.
I also researched RFD-TV, RMG, and its owner Patrick Gottsch.
What I found, and the reason for this long diatribe is:
1. RMG is Republican. According to Open Secrets, they have so far donated in the 2023-2024 election cycle $14,100 to Republicans and $0 to Democrats.
2. In 2015 Gottsch said of 149 cable channels, RFD-TV rates second in voting record, with 64 percent of the viewing audience voting in national elections.
3. In the 2016 presidential election the Trump Campaign bought every single RFD-TV ad spot, 24/7 for the two weeks up to the November 2016 general election. Let me repeat that - every single commercial 24/7 for two weeks going into 136,000 rural homes and potential to reach 46 million American households. For a total cost of $150,000. LET THAT SINK IN - 136,000 viewers and potentially 46 million for 24/7 for two weeks for $150,000. Nationwide to rural America. When asked, Gottsch responded the Clinton campaign showed no interest and turned down requests to buy ad time.
4. In non-scientific surveys, RFD-TV staff ownership, staff, and program hosts asked on air guests and rural Americans on sidewalks and supermarket aisles if they watched RFD-TV and if any of the women in households that watched RFD-TV would vote for Hillary Clinton. The answer was ZERO.
5. LET THAT SINK IN. $150,000 for every ad spot 24/7 for two weeks on a nationwide cable channel viewed by rural America, which also skews toward older Americans resulted in not a single female that would vote for Clinton. ZERO.
Rural America is not a bunch of hicks. I attended a university with a highly regarded large College of Agriculture. You have to be smart to be a farmer these days, really smart. You have to understand soil science (that includes a prerequisite course in organic chemistry), biology, botany, animal science, agriculture economics. Those kids were smart. And they came from well off multigenerational family farms. Their parents flew in on Lear jets. They vote and they’re political.
Open Secrets also had a few other surprising facts on MSM political donations in the 2023-2024 cycle. While RMG’s $14,100 ranked 7th on the list, NBC Sports ranked 3rd with $50,000 in donations going to conservative organizations, causes and PACs.
Now I count my lucky stars I live in a state with two Blue senators, a district with a Blue congressional representative, Blue state assembly member and state senator, and a Democrat for a county supervisor. Two rounds of redistricting ago, that was all Red. Some of it deep dark Nazi speak hate Red. So this is what I plan, because all of the aforementioned seats are safely Blue.
I’m going to contact the House and Senate campaigns of Democrats and the Biden campaign running in rural states and districts and tell them what I told you above about what $150,000 bought. $150,000 (I’ll calculate the today’s dollars amount) in a presidential campaign budget or even a senate campaign budget for a larger or contested seat is chump change these days.
$150,000 and not a single female would vote for Clinton in 2016. ZERO.
Let that sink in. ZERO.
The Democratic Party needs to communicate to all Americans in every county of this country, not just the Blue coastal states or whatever they think they need to get to 270. And they need to talk issues and values that matter to the people at their local level.
Clinton earned her elitist title. That title rubbed off on the party and the Democrats still own it. That’s not going to cut it in 2024.
I’m also planning on writing a letter to AARP after I get access to the December 21 episode.
Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › RF...RFD-TV
I’m starting to see comments to HCR, Jay Kuo, Robert Reich and on a few other newsletters from people that do not reside in a tightly contested House district or Senate seat state where their best efforts would/should remain local. These Substack commenters are beginning to ask what efforts might they be able to do.
Some say they don’t see the good in direct monetary donations to national campaigns for Biden, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC), and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC) because they fear the same-old, same-old methods, rhetoric, advertising, and battlegrounds of past campaigns just won’t work this time. The stuff used and the political mindset of the 1980’s and 1990’s no longer cuts it with newer generations and communications. I agree.
Some say they will phone bank, work email lists, stuff envelopes. I’d love to join them, until I look at the phone number log on my landline answering machine of no message left hang up calls and those messages left I deleted, my email junk and trash folders, and pile of paper junk mail and ripped envelope addresses to be shredded. I have a feeling I’m not alone with that type of (lack of) response.
What the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC need to do is think like Millennials and Gen Z. I’m not including Gen X, because they came of political age during Reagan and are hopelessly brainwashed in MAGAland.
Being a senior, I’m a little out of my league here, but others have suggested using TikTok and other social media targeted at specific generations, groups and regions. I think they’re right. If you call that class warfare or generational warfare, you’re right. And if it works, do it.
There are specific cable channels and ad supported streaming services that garner key demographics of all generations, socioeconomic groups, local economies, and geographical regions. Tell specific congressional members and senators to advertise there. Their buck will go a lot further than ads on nationwide network television and in major print newspapers. Think local. See my comment on cable channel RFD-TV.
Have an idea for an advertisement, message and a way to get it out? Contact individual candidates and campaigns and let them know.
Adopt a candidate, like people/groups adopt a highway for cleanup. Have friends or relatives living in a tight race district that are sweating out democracy’s future? Ask them how you can help from afar or contact that campaign directly.
I happen to live in a Blue House district of Blue California. (FYI, CA has some Red areas and they are very deep dark Red. I use to be in one for state legislature and House district until redistricting. So I know the pain some of you feel.). I happen to like Montana. Been there a few times, including sub-zero January. Maybe I’ll adopt Sen. John Tester. He’s an organic farmer and three time incumbent with a 61 percent approval rating in Montana, a state Trump took 57/41 in 2020. Take nothing for granted.
You have some great ideas, Michael G! Have you thought about running for any vacancy? If Blues don’t go in the ballots, reds get elected uncontested. There is a “run for something initiative”. I think you’re right about adopting local candidates and rather than spending your income, give time going door to door. We need rural women, young voters 18-50 to lead this election, and older blue voters can work online or at the polls. Organization is the key!
"As we fight the good fight against felons, Putin and Orban lovers, and insurrectionists, high-roller billionaires for lancing them . . ."
In the current edition of Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Victorovich Zygar (a Russian journalist living in exile in Berlin), Mr. Zygar makes the point that Vladimir Putin uses Marine le Pen and Viktor Orban to message to the right-wing in Europe and favors heavily the MAGA group and, of course, Trump.
Here is the article that expands on your own point:
Thanks, Armand, for the link. The US links to the dictators notes to the former president and his maga-base are downright scary. Yet people here are asleep or blind or both.
A major theme this week on this and other liked minded newsletters read my us enlightened Blue left of center voters is what can be done to get Biden and the Democrats to start communicating, getting the message out, and generally rallying the “troops”. There’s a general perception they’re barely aware there’s an election in November.
Many commentators on other newsletters have posted action plans and good ideas. I’ve started making a copy/paste list. Later today (pacific time) after dealing with some Life Gets in the Way stuff, I’m planning on replying to this comment with some of those ideas.
Teaser: The first will be from A few days ago and late in the evening after everyone else had posted comments to a Robert Reich newsletter, I commented on how in the 2016 election the Trump campaign bought every single ad spots 24/7 for the two weeks before the general election on a certain cable TV channel for $150,000. That channel reaches a potential 46 million households, has a loyal fan base in rural America and the highest voter turnout of any cable channel. Surveys taken by that channel indicated ZERO female voters surveyed planned on voting for Hillary Clinton. ZERO for $150,000.
The Dems need to reach the voters at their front porches on issues they’re concerned about.
In a select group of female voters in 2016, ZERO said they would vote for Hillary Clinton. ZERO. What $150,000 bought Trump -
AARP claims to be politically neutral, having a policy not to endorse candidates. As an organization representing seniors age fifty and over, they obviously promote a strong, well funded, firmly established Social Security system and Medicare. So it was with great surprise I saw the following in the December 2023 issue of the AARP Bulletin:
“Watch “Rural America Live With AARP” to hear from Republican presidential candidates about Social Security. ….. Dec. 21 on RFD-TV or watch on demand at aarp.org/aarplive “
So who and what is RFD-TV? RFD-TV is a cable channel aimed for the rural America market and agricultural sectors of the economy. It is carried nationwide on most of the large cable company networks. RFD-TV is privately owned by Rural Media Group (RMG), which also owns The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel, and RURALRADIO on SiriusXM. The owner of RMG is Patrick Gottsch, who claims RFD-TV is neither Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative and their programs are aimed at the interests of rural Americans which they see as a market underserved by major media.
RFD-TV also broadcasts over the air in two markets, with digital terrestrial television: 36.1 (Redwood Falls, Minnesota); 22.1 (Cortez, Colorado). The latter is in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District represented by Republican Lauren Boebert since 2021.
As of February 2015, RFD-TV was available to approximately 52 million pay television households (44.8% of households with television) in the United States. (46 million cable television households in 2017). With an average of 136,000 viewers in 2016, RFD-TV has some of the highest viewership relative to availability compared to other "ultra-niche" networks with similar or wider distribution owned by major corporations.
AARP produces and shows “Rural America Live With AARP”monthly on RFD-TV.
Being curious, I attempted to watch the recorded episode of Rural America Live With AARP from December 21 to see how Republican candidates were pitching Social Security, its benefits and its future and how it was presented to rural Americans; however, I discovered I needed to pay to subscribe to RFD-TV streaming service. That particular episode was one of the few episodes not available on the aarplive website or their YouTube channel.
I wanted to watch for two reasons. The first being to determine any bias on the part of the host and the guests, and secondly to determine if AARP is politically neutral as they claim. Alas, I’ll have to wait until it’s available through AARP and report back later.
I also researched RFD-TV, RMG, and its owner Patrick Gottsch.
What I found, and the reason for this long diatribe is:
1. RMG is Republican. According to Open Secrets, they have so far donated in the 2023-2024 election cycle $14,100 to Republicans and $0 to Democrats.
2. In 2015 Gottsch said of 149 cable channels, RFD-TV rates second in voting record, with 64 percent of the viewing audience voting in national elections.
3. In the 2016 presidential election the Trump Campaign bought every single RFD-TV ad spot, 24/7 for the two weeks up to the November 2016 general election. Let me repeat that - every single commercial 24/7 for two weeks going into 136,000 rural homes and potential to reach 46 million American households. For a total cost of $150,000. LET THAT SINK IN - 136,000 viewers and potentially 46 million for 24/7 for two weeks for $150,000. Nationwide to rural America. When asked, Gottsch responded the Clinton campaign showed no interest and turned down requests to buy ad time.
4. In non-scientific surveys, RFD-TV staff ownership, staff, and program hosts asked on air guests and rural Americans on sidewalks and supermarket aisles if they watched RFD-TV and if any of the women in households that watched RFD-TV would vote for Hillary Clinton. The answer was ZERO.
5. LET THAT SINK IN. $150,000 for every ad spot 24/7 for two weeks on a nationwide cable channel viewed by rural America, which also skews toward older Americans resulted in not a single female that would vote for Clinton. ZERO.
Rural America is not a bunch of hicks. I attended a university with a highly regarded large College of Agriculture. You have to be smart to be a farmer these days, really smart. You have to understand soil science (that includes a prerequisite course in organic chemistry), biology, botany, animal science, agriculture economics. Those kids were smart. And they came from well off multigenerational family farms. Their parents flew in on Lear jets. They vote and they’re political.
Open Secrets also had a few other surprising facts on MSM political donations in the 2023-2024 cycle. While RMG’s $14,100 ranked 7th on the list, NBC Sports ranked 3rd with $50,000 in donations going to conservative organizations, causes and PACs.
Now I count my lucky stars I live in a state with two Blue senators, a district with a Blue congressional representative, Blue state assembly member and state senator, and a Democrat for a county supervisor. Two rounds of redistricting ago, that was all Red. Some of it deep dark Nazi speak hate Red. So this is what I plan, because all of the aforementioned seats are safely Blue.
I’m going to contact the House and Senate campaigns of Democrats and the Biden campaign running in rural states and districts and tell them what I told you above about what $150,000 bought. $150,000 (I’ll calculate the today’s dollars amount) in a presidential campaign budget or even a senate campaign budget for a larger or contested seat is chump change these days.
$150,000 and not a single female would vote for Clinton in 2016. ZERO.
Let that sink in. ZERO.
The Democratic Party needs to communicate to all Americans in every county of this country, not just the Blue coastal states or whatever they think they need to get to 270. And they need to talk issues and values that matter to the people at their local level.
Clinton earned her elitist title. That title rubbed off on the party and the Democrats still own it. That’s not going to cut it in 2024.
I’m also planning on writing a letter to AARP after I get access to the December 21 episode.
Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › RF...RFD-TV
https://irjci.blogspot.com/2017/01/rfd-tv-founder-says-trumps-win-was-not.html
https://www.agproud.com/articles/33258-rfd-tv-ventures-into-politics
https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/rfd-tv-rural-america-1201963217/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/11/20/inside-rfd-tv-the-network-that-unlike-the-others-covets-rural-and-older-viewers/
https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/local/2017/11/28/rfd-tv-network-has-devoted/16953477007/
I’m starting to see comments to HCR, Jay Kuo, Robert Reich and on a few other newsletters from people that do not reside in a tightly contested House district or Senate seat state where their best efforts would/should remain local. These Substack commenters are beginning to ask what efforts might they be able to do.
Some say they don’t see the good in direct monetary donations to national campaigns for Biden, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC), and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC) because they fear the same-old, same-old methods, rhetoric, advertising, and battlegrounds of past campaigns just won’t work this time. The stuff used and the political mindset of the 1980’s and 1990’s no longer cuts it with newer generations and communications. I agree.
Some say they will phone bank, work email lists, stuff envelopes. I’d love to join them, until I look at the phone number log on my landline answering machine of no message left hang up calls and those messages left I deleted, my email junk and trash folders, and pile of paper junk mail and ripped envelope addresses to be shredded. I have a feeling I’m not alone with that type of (lack of) response.
What the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC need to do is think like Millennials and Gen Z. I’m not including Gen X, because they came of political age during Reagan and are hopelessly brainwashed in MAGAland.
Being a senior, I’m a little out of my league here, but others have suggested using TikTok and other social media targeted at specific generations, groups and regions. I think they’re right. If you call that class warfare or generational warfare, you’re right. And if it works, do it.
There are specific cable channels and ad supported streaming services that garner key demographics of all generations, socioeconomic groups, local economies, and geographical regions. Tell specific congressional members and senators to advertise there. Their buck will go a lot further than ads on nationwide network television and in major print newspapers. Think local. See my comment on cable channel RFD-TV.
Have an idea for an advertisement, message and a way to get it out? Contact individual candidates and campaigns and let them know.
Adopt a candidate, like people/groups adopt a highway for cleanup. Have friends or relatives living in a tight race district that are sweating out democracy’s future? Ask them how you can help from afar or contact that campaign directly.
I happen to live in a Blue House district of Blue California. (FYI, CA has some Red areas and they are very deep dark Red. I use to be in one for state legislature and House district until redistricting. So I know the pain some of you feel.). I happen to like Montana. Been there a few times, including sub-zero January. Maybe I’ll adopt Sen. John Tester. He’s an organic farmer and three time incumbent with a 61 percent approval rating in Montana, a state Trump took 57/41 in 2020. Take nothing for granted.
You have some great ideas, Michael G! Have you thought about running for any vacancy? If Blues don’t go in the ballots, reds get elected uncontested. There is a “run for something initiative”. I think you’re right about adopting local candidates and rather than spending your income, give time going door to door. We need rural women, young voters 18-50 to lead this election, and older blue voters can work online or at the polls. Organization is the key!
Agree 100%💙🇺🇸💙 Women can win the election if mobilized!
Thanks, Diane. It is important to develop an action plan to enable a healthy outcome in November. Vote often and blue.
Yes, Armand! 💙🇺🇸🧢
Not Armand, but humbly accept the blue heart.
Ooops! Sorry!
No problem, have a great day! Go blue!
"As we fight the good fight against felons, Putin and Orban lovers, and insurrectionists, high-roller billionaires for lancing them . . ."
In the current edition of Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Victorovich Zygar (a Russian journalist living in exile in Berlin), Mr. Zygar makes the point that Vladimir Putin uses Marine le Pen and Viktor Orban to message to the right-wing in Europe and favors heavily the MAGA group and, of course, Trump.
Here is the article that expands on your own point:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russian-federation/russias-war-woke
Thank you for sharing. This is terrifying!
Yes! 🐰💙🇺🇸
Thanks, Armand, for the link. The US links to the dictators notes to the former president and his maga-base are downright scary. Yet people here are asleep or blind or both.