I've been thinking to myself for a long time how I can help to change the political dialogue in the MSM.  My biggest conondrum is how do I do it?  We're talk David and Golaith in an age where David is so small, he's nothing more than an ant to either be stepped on or ignored.  Then I had an idea.

I got it after reading QTip's recent post:

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/political-courage-washpo-edito.php

The WaPo has in the upper right-hand corner of its home page a panel that displays the 'most viewed' articles.  Suddenly all became clear.  We, (read YOU) can directly influence what is displayed there by simply reading, emailing, commenting, on that article.  This goes for nearly all MSM outlets.  If we did this today we could pull down the Wright issue and pull up the gas-tax issue.  If we did this today we could pull down the bitter comment and pull up Iraq.  It could be a real revolution.

Do I think that this will change what the MSM puts on its front page...absolutely not.  At least not in the short term.  Do I think that it will change what the average viewer reads, absolutely.

How does this work?  Consider yourself as someone who logs on to find out what the days talking points were.  You don't have time to sift through 50 links to find the issue you're interested in, but perhaps only want to know what most people are interested in.  Suddenly, you find yourself reading about real political issues, instead of 'Manufactured Political Distractions' (which are On Notice, by the way).  Suddenly, you are informed about your Candidate, and their real political issues.

Over time, people will want to know why real issues aren't being covered.  Over time, people will see a real disconnect between what is being reported and what is being read.  Over time, maybe, just maybe, (and I know it's a big maybe) the media will shift its focus onto real issues, instead of Wright and Bosnia.  Maybe Americans will start to focus on what is relevant and what is not.

This is trivial for most of us.  We can just view the article, or email it, or comment on it, we're already doing it here. 

In my mind this is a real grass-roots initiative to direct the 'common' person (and I don't mean that in a negative way, just somebody who doesn't read TPM, DailyKos, etc.) regularly to the important issues. 

Is this the revolution I'm thinking of?  I'd love to hear your comments.  I'll try to respond if they are substantive and questionable of this tactic.  OK!