<HTML>In a message dated 1/29/2003 1:49:37 PM Eastern Standard Time, dhenwood@panix.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">"Comcast runs advertisements from many sources representing a wide range of viewpoints, pro and con," Comcast spokesman Mitchell Schmale said in a statement issued Tuesday evening. "However, we must decline to run any spot that fails to substantiate certain claims or charges. In our view, this spot raises such questions." </BLOCKQUOTE> As if Bush substantiated any claims or charges. Not surprising that the biggest cable TV conglomerate is flexing its muscle at such a critical juncture. When the FCC approved the creation of the Comcast-AT&T Broadband cable goliath last November, giving them 30% control (the current market cap, but with more deregulation on that to come) over our cable stations, chairman Michael Powell said this giant was created in the 'spirit of competitiveness' and in the 'public interest,' (same thing he and his predecessors said about all prior media consolidations). He forgot to mention that the public interest was a moving target defined as Comcast and others see fit and repeatedly denies that consolidations lead to less diversity of opinions. Once again, Comcast has shown that it's not the money (i.e. the same advertising dollars), but the power and influence companies can exude on behalf of the officials who bless their size, that counts. Nomi </HTML>