Boehlert, Feldman and Sklar At The Tank Tonight

by: phillip anderson

Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 14:40:13 PM EDT

As we head into the final phase of the 2008 presidential election, how will the words, practice, and personalities in the media shape our national debate? What trends should we look for? What pitfalls lay ahead on the right and the left? How will this election impact the course of American political media for the next 4 years?

Join us for a roundtable discussion with three nationally-recognized experts at the forefront of the hotly-contested debate on media and politics.

As a journalist, blogger for Media Matters and critically acclaimed author of Ladogs: How The Press Rolled Over for Bush, Eric Boehlert is a leading observer on the complex and troubling relationship between media and government.

Media Editor of The Huffington Post and contributor to The New York Times and The Village Voice, Rachel Sklar engages daily with question of ethical standards in an age of broadcast politics.

An expert on language and communication, Jeffrey Feldman's new book Outright Barbarous: How the Violent Language of the Right Poisons American Democracy, examines how the conservative punditry undermines American deliberative democracy.

Sounds like a great discussion. Hope to see you there!

The Tank, 279 Church Street between Franklin and White, New York, New York.
Subway: A, C, E, J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, Z, or 6 to Canal Street, 1 to Franklin Street
Date: Tonight
Time: 7:30 pm. FREE

Buy Jeffrey Feldman's Book

by: phillip anderson

Thu May 01, 2008 at 16:59:41 PM EDT

Since September 11, 2001, most attempts at reasoned political debate in America have been severely limited by the violent language of the Right. In books and on television, it has become a regular ritual for conservative pundits and intellectuals to infuse violence-particularly against Democrats or liberals-into discussions of the major issues of the day, such as terrorism, immigration and gun violence. The result is the creation of a shrill discourse that silences opposition and destroys any chance for serious, civil debate.

In Outright Barbarous: How the Violent Language of the Right is Poisoning American Democracy, political language expert Jeffrey Feldman analyzes the words of leading conservative figures Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, James Dobson, Wayne LaPierre, Pat Buchanan and Bill O'Reilly to show how the Right's language of violence is polluting our public discourse and limiting the free exchange of ideas. In addition to exposing the conservative obsession with violence, Feldman also shows how the civic discussion in America can be reshaped without the use of violent language, creating a healthier political climate.

In other book news, look for another book event later this month with another good friend of TAP, David Sirota.

Two NYC Events This Week. OK, Three Events

by: phillip anderson

Tue May 29, 2007 at 15:05:15 PM EDT

First up: I'll be part of a discussion tomorrow night (May 30) with our own NYBri about running a netroots campaign. Or something. The discussion will be moderated by Jeffrey Feldman and will take place at the Tank.

FROM BLOG TO BALLOT BOX: Framing the Netroots Campaign

Since Howard Dean first put out the call for all Americans to consider running for office, a number of bloggers have launched campaigns. Only now, in the wake of the tremendous gains of the 2006 election cycle, do we have a chance to learn from those members of the netroots who orchestrated the challenging move from blog to ballot box.

Joining in a conversation on these and other questions, Brian Keeler will share his experience running in the tight race for State Senate in New York's 41st district. Keeler began his political activism as writer and founding member of two online organizations, Political Cortex and ePluribus Media, the largest citizen investigative journalism organization on the Internet. It was from these prominent points on the netroots that he mounted an innovative campaign to unseat a long-time incumbent in New York's Hudson River Valley. Joining Keeler will be Phillip Anderson, a blogger, filmmaker and activist and an integral part of the Keeler campaign's communications team.

In a discussion moderated by author and blogger Jeffrey Feldman (Framing the Debate, Ig Publishing 2007), Keeler and Anderson will discuss the experience and challenges of running a campaign--telling stories and recounting first-hand the dynamics of stepping up to run for office.

Starts at 7.

Next up: Thursday on a very special Drinking Liberally... It's DL's 4th B-day! Join us at the original DL at Rudy's in Hell's Kitchen.

Political change is brewing all across the country...and the brewmasters are not the Presidential hopefuls - they are the grassroot, volunteer leaders of Drinking Liberally*, the national network of progressive social clubs that
turns 4-years-old at the end of this month. Whether you find politics naturally intoxicating, or just looking to share a few ideas while you share a pitcher, *Drinking Liberally* has become your home for "promoting democracy one pint at a time."

Founded in the spring of 2003, shortly after the launch of the Iraq War and during the darkest days for liberal Americans, *Drinking Liberally* began as a free, informal, inclusive, weekly opportunity to raise questions and ideas while raising a pint with like-minded, left-leaning libation-lifters.  Now, in 200 cities and towns, conservative strongholds and liberal oases across the country, *Drinking Liberally* is raising the spirits and pride of local liberals, as they raise hell to create a better America.

More on the flip...

Jeffrey Feldman Book Club Discussion Thread

by: phillip anderson

Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 18:48:22 PM EDT

Jeffrey Feldman Visits TAP Book Club Tonight!

by: phillip anderson

Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 13:40:55 PM EDT

For decades, the powerful communications machine of the conservative movement has controlled our national political discourse. One of the biggest obstacles to progressive victory has been seeing what American political speech looks like when it is not "framed" by the Republican noise machine.

Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections) is about unleashing the power of communication in contemporary progressive politics. The book presents fifteen key speeches by American presidents-George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George Bush-in order to define the big ideas and images-the "frames"-that each speech evokes to show how those framing techniques can be applied to today's political debate in order promote a progressive perspective.

An essential book in today's political climate, Framing the Debate will be instrumental in helping to reshape progressive political language and rhetoric.

See ya tonight!

TAP Book Club With Jeffrey Feldman

by: phillip anderson

Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 13:55:11 PM EDT

I know it's short notice and all, but Jeffrey's book is widely available now and I read it in one sitting on a flight to LA a couple of weeks back. I so hope tht you'll join us for the discussion of this great piece of work and the ideas therein.

From the publisher:

Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections) is about unleashing the power of communication in contemporary progressive politics. The book presents fifteen key speeches by American presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George Bush - in order to define the big ideas and images - the "frames" - that each speech evokes to show how those framing techniques can be applied to today's political debate in order promote a progressive perspective.

An essential book in today's political climate, Framing the Debate will be instrumental in helping to reshape progressive political language and rhetoric.

See ya Wednesday!