COMMENTS: 55
Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh Are Crazy -- Yet Corporate Media Legitimize Them
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It's no coincidence that when members of the media talk about the media these days, they tend to talk about two things: the supposed importance of right-wing media like Fox News, and claims that the rest of the media lean to the left. The two concepts are fundamentally intertwined and mutually reinforcing -- and deeply flawed.
It may seem odd that much of the news media would simultaneously pronounce itself guilty of liberal bias and spend the year after a presidential election won convincingly by the more progressive candidate talking about the importance and influence of a conservative cable channel whose viewership consists of about 1 percent of the nation. But both of those somewhat inconsistent media memes can be explained by journalists' frequent inability to see where the center of the country really is. That inability makes journalists think they are further left of center than they actually are (even assuming they are at all to the left of center). And it makes them inflate the importance of right-wing operatives masquerading as media figures -- people who would have far less influence if actual reporters stopped buying their nonsense.
Their hateful views and adversarial relationship with the truth place the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh on the far-right fringe of a party and movement that have lost the popular vote in four of the past five presidential elections and that holds only 40 percent of the seats in Congress. They are on the far-right edge of a party that is far to the right of the rest of the country.
And, it must be said, they do not tell the truth. They lie about things large and small. They lie to smear their adversaries, and they lie for no real reason at all. Their lies should disqualify them from ever being taken seriously. But instead, the media have decided that if anything they say turns out to contain a sliver of truth, everything they say must be paid immediate attention.
That's what happened when, after years of making absurd claims about ACORN -- remember the lie that ACORN was going to get billions of stimulus dollars? -- some conservative activists induced a statistically insignificant number of the organization's low-level employees to behave badly. The rest of the media rushed to cover the "scandal" -- and to beat themselves up for not having taken their cues from Beck & Co. sooner. The ombudsmen for the The Washington Post and The New York Times, for example, scolded their papers for being too slow to report on Beck-generated controversies and gave credence to conservative claims that the delay was the result of liberal bias.
What few journalists seem to understand is that once you accept someone like Glenn Beck as a legitimate media figure, it skews your view of the rest of the media. This is not a new phenomenon -- not by any means. More than two years ago, I argued that once you accept Ann Coulter, who calls John Edwards a "faggot," as a legitimate guest on shows like NBC's Today, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd -- who merely calls Edwards a "girl" -- seems positively reasonable. Thus the entire media discourse is shoved in the direction of its least legitimate participants.
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Posted by: sicntired on Oct 19, 2009 2:47 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: Ann Coulter is as dumb as a stick
Posted by: willymack
» Canadian Nukes
Posted by: techcafe
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Posted by: davy on Oct 19, 2009 2:50 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Oct 19, 2009 2:57 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Do you have any idea how utterly cool that is? Lighten up, Bill.
I shall illustrate this nasty point by telling a tale of two marches on Washington. One took place in the late summer of 1963, the other in the late summer of 2009. One was promoted by a preacher from Georgia named Martin Luther King, the other by a former "shock jock" from the state of Washington named Glenn Beck. Ouch! Even mentioning the two of them in the same paragraph is somehow disconcerting.
In 1963, the the people were singing, We Shall Overcome.
Forty-six years later, the chant was, We Shall Undermine.
In 1963, a vast and varied demographic of the American people - all races and religions - descended on the nation's capitol to peaceably and nonviolently protest an injustice that was occurring in certain areas of the country to people of a certain skin pigmentation.
Forty-six years later, a Convention of Pissed-Off White People - united only by the fact that they were all habitual viewers of a single cable news channel - rolled into Washington to hurl invective at an African American president for creating a mess that he had absolutely nothing to do with creating.
In 1963, the signs people held up were optimistic: "With Liberty and Justice for All."
Forty-six years later, the signs were ominous: "We Came Unarmed - THIS TIME!"
On August 28, 1963, the hearts of people who marched on the city of Washington DC were filled with love and hope.
On September 12, 2009 they were just full of shit.
Let us boil the comparisons down to their juicy essentials, shall we? Martin Luther King had a dream. Glenn Beck has a scheme.
Health Care and Woe
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
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» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: vicentelll
» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: Tom Degan
» The vast majority of Americans don't accept Darwinian Evolution
Posted by: Karlh
» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: Archie1954
» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: Priam1
» "We came unarmed .. this time", Indeed!
Posted by: james_allen
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Posted by: Perry Logan on Oct 19, 2009 2:58 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
(And with our Democratic leaders screwing up bigtime, we definitely need reinforcements.)
As we know, the Right suffer from many delusions. One is that they are the true mainstream of America, the true grit, etc. We've all heard them say this a million times. In fact, the weirder the winger, the more he seems compelled to believe he speaks for the secret majority (I say "he," because the Right in America are almost all males--and white males to boot).
If someone keeps telling you he speaks for America, you can rest assured he's a deep-space winger. Even the American Nazi Party think the majority of Americans are actually closet fascists like themselves.
Gun guys think the whole world is gaga about guns, when poll after poll reveals most Americans want fewer guns and more gun controls. No amount of information will change their belief that they represent everyone. It's another thought disorder of the right.
I take heart in the fact that 20-30 years of right-wing bilge saturating the airways has resulted in more Democrats than ever. If they keep it up, they may turn us all into commies. :)
Alert: Wingnut Threat Level is now at Defcon 4.
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» The Backlash Begins
Posted by: ProgressiveManiac
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Oct 19, 2009 2:59 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In the America of 2009, "STUPID" is a valuable commodity. "STUPID" sells. A couple of years ago, one of the highest rated cable television programs for people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five was a show that was dedicated to stupid people doing really stupid things. The program was called, "Jackass". It was so successful, its producers were confident enough to make it into a full-length movie!
"STUPID" sells.
A few months ago, an African American named Michael Steele had a plan to bring other African Americans into the fold of the Republican party. How did he plan on accomplishing this damned-near-impossible feat, you may well ask? He was going to offer them watermelon.
"STUPID" sells.
In 2008, a Minnesota congresswoman declared that an investigation should be initiated against every Democratic member of congress for "un-Americanism". Less than a month later, she was reelected.
"STUPID" sells.
Last week at a Town Hall meeting, a woman confronted Eric Cantor with the plight of a close friend whose illness had left her destitute. With a straight face, the congressman suggested to the woman that her friend rely on charity.
"STUPID" sells.
Nearly half-a-century ago, there really wasn't much of a market for "STUPID" in most regions of this once-great nation:
"The energy, the faith, the devotion - which we bring to this endeavor - will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1961
"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
George W. Bush, 2002
No doubt about it: In the first decade of this new century, "STUPID" has a corner on the market.
How did the country that put a man on the moon a mere forty years ago become so jaw-droppingly dumb? There are loads of reasons for this, to be sure. Not the least of which is the fact that since the dawn of the so-called "Reagan Revolution" a generation ago, the education of America's children is no longer a priority. You see, Ronald Reagan's revolutionaries are not merely content to do away with the Department of Education, these assholes want to obliterate public education in this country all together! That is not merely my opinion, that is their stated, published goal. Do the research if you think I'm exaggerating.
This is not your father's America. Come to think about it, this ain't even your older brother's America. The dumbing down process of recent years has been that swift. If you're not seriously alarmed by what is now happening, you're probably getting up every morning with FOX and Friends. C'mon! Admit it!
Tom Degan
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» RE: Not your father's America.
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: adp3d
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: jleman
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: WyrdSister
» RE: HAIL TOM DEGAN
Posted by: Pirate1
» RE: HAIL TOM DEGAN
Posted by: Tom Degan
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Posted by: electron on Oct 19, 2009 4:09 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: The Right
Posted by: BobPomeroy
» RE: The Left
Posted by: JSquercia
» RE: The Left
Posted by: Morell
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Posted by: Marlena on Oct 19, 2009 4:20 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: 4changenow on Oct 19, 2009 4:25 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How about the pin head and the snowman model boy
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Posted by: Beck on Oct 19, 2009 5:27 AM
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Today, Howard Kurtz said:
"Plus, if you look at MSNBC's lineup after 6 p.m., Fox isn't the only network that goes heavy on the opinionated hosts. "
Did I miss something? Does MSNBC run informercials from 6am-6pm?
They have 3 hours of liberal, 3 hours of conservative, and 3 hours of moderate and 4 hours of straight news programming. Fox has 23 hours of far right conservatism and Shephard Smith.
But yet Howard Kurtz seems to equate the two. Is the Anita Dunn ahead of the media and specifically the Washington Post in making the point that FOX does not represent a legitimate news operation?
Ed O'Keefe: No, not 23 hours of "far right conservatism."
In addition to the down-the-middle Shepard Smith, Bret Baier's "Special Report" is generally considered balance and Greta Van Susteren is no flag-waving conservative. Same goes for Geraldo Rivera, who's endured several verbal tongue lashings from colleague Bill O'Reilly for their differences of opinion.
"America's Newsroom," "Happening Now," and "Live Desk" are also generally considered STRAIGHT NEWS SHOWS, but certainly have their share of opnionated guests.
MSNBC has a morning show co-hosted by a former GOP congressman, two sidekicks that generally disagree with him politically and a great balance of conservative, liberal and non-partisan guests. Their next show is similar, but the lead host pledges no partisan allegiance. Then they have an hour of straight news. Then a show about health care (let's see how long that lasts). Then Andrea Mitchell, generally regarded as one of the finest newswomen in the business. Then three hours of straight news, followed by six hours of opinion shows.
(All of this makes me miss "Crossfire," by the way.)
As Kurtz pointed out today, Dunn seems to be calling out Fox for what many of its critics have long-believed: That it's not a news network in the traditional sense, but more of a "news and views" network. She also noted that President Obama will likely appear on the channel again at some point. I can't wait to see that!
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Posted by: Unrepentant Heretic on Oct 19, 2009 6:13 AM
Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I find it amusing and equally disgusting when religous social conservatives and far left liberals think that their peoint of view is the neutral, correct point of view. That a far left position or a relgious social conservative position should be seen as the norm and that anybody not holding this position is crazy is a very dangerous notion.
This article is perfect example of this.
I find Glenn Beck extremely amusing. I don't agree with him but when the media is kneeling at the feet of a president, hero worhipping we need vocies that shout in the desert.
Beck is the ultimate American populist. He comes from a long, long tradition. He is however not, as he has been accused of, far right, social conservative and definitely not a racist. He is a radical libertarian and no social conservative.
ACORN and Van Jones are and were very detrimental to US Democracy. Subversive radicals that will do anything to get their point of view across, even revolution and illegal acts. Becks exposure had noting to do with Van Jones being black or that ACORN mainly supposts the african American society. Subversive and dangerous organiations and indiviuals should be harshly exposed no matter their gender, sexual orietation or race. There is no get out of jail card because you are a minority.
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» exactly
Posted by: james108
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Posted by: Gabba_Gabba_Hey on Oct 19, 2009 6:48 AM
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Matthews was a speechwriter for Pres. Carter and a staffer for Ed Muskie and Tip O'Neill. He was also a Peace Corps volunteer when young. With a resume like that, he's no conservative, and his mostly liberal political views are different from his analysis (often shaky) of what the "average American" will go for in political campaigns. He's used to being a political player, an insider, and he's trying to explain the process.
These attempts at analysis lead him to say some very strange things at times, but "liberal-bashing"? Not in general, IMO. MSNBC fired him from his anchorman role after his anti-Republican coverage of that convention last year. (Remember?)
His quotes about Pres. Bush, I always thought, were attempts at explaining to us liberals what the f*ck WAS supposed to be the appeal of Bush to those "average Americans" out there who voted for him. Frankly, his explanations of that phenomenon were as good as anybody's to me, because it was a complete mystery to me why anybody liked Bush. Maybe he had it mostly right, I dunno.
Misogynist? Could be - he seems to have some psychological problems in that area.
I don't watch his show often but it has an odd excitement to it, he's always going to say something weird, and so far at least he still has the drawing power to get prominent guests there (who might also say something weird). It's an entertaining train wreck of a show. On the occasions I'm home then and in the mood for news I'll watch his show over the car crashes, recycled newspaper stories and weather porn of the local TV news.
As a former constituent of Tip O'Neill's I've always regarded Matthews as a link to that old-time, blue collar Democrat era which is not always PC by modern standards.
Jon Stewart had him as guest last year. Chris had a book out, a sort of advice book telling how you could live your life like a political campaign. Jon just didn't get the concept and said "that's the most depressing thing I've ever heard." Chris looked absolutely crushed! Different worlds, I guess.
I think he made the right decision in NOT running for the Senate as a Democrat against Arlen Specter. That would have been a mistake. Al Franken he is not.
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Posted by: Ellen Remore on Oct 19, 2009 7:49 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: jtweezo on Oct 19, 2009 7:50 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Jiss
Ultimate Anonymity
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» JIZZ MOP ALERT--Don't click on that link (IDENTITY THEFT!)
Posted by: GuitarBill
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Posted by: maxfrisson on Oct 19, 2009 8:16 AM
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FoxNews = 42nd
Voyeurweb = 821st [a porn site]
Alternet = 12,149th
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Posted by: willymack on Oct 19, 2009 8:28 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just think about the "media" outlets willing to air or print their loony rants, for a profit, that is. If that's not PATHOLOGICAL GREED, I don't know what is.
Now thing about all those "birthers", "teabaggers", and other nitwits, afraid of being let out of their cages, and perhaps forced to THINK FOR THEMSELVES. A screw or two loose there too, doancha think?
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Posted by: Prinzowhales on Oct 19, 2009 9:46 AM
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Obama, by the way, supports legislation to help Corporatist Media through the crisis in opposition to the popularly supported alternative media.
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Posted by: C. Rich on Oct 19, 2009 10:26 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
http://americaspeaksink.com/?s=reelection
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Posted by: WyrdSister on Oct 19, 2009 10:41 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am off my meds now, so I am once again, not very socially acceptable; but I have no problem offending others as I just do not care what others think of me.
I want my own radio show so I can piss off the conservatives, the right-benders and wrong thinkers, their minions and media.
PICK ME PICK ME! i can piss people off just as much as they can!
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» Radio?
Posted by: njguy73
» RE Try Flying A Tinfoil Balloon And Telling People Your Kid Is In It
Posted by: desidid
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Posted by: JSquercia on Oct 19, 2009 11:28 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The main Stream Media treat everything as opinions and thus will accept the opinion of one side that the earth is Flat as of equal weight to the other side's Fact that the earth is round .
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Posted by: james108 on Oct 19, 2009 2:17 PM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There's nothing unusual about us threatening Iran for nuclear research or disclosing facilities even though Israel can threaten them with actual, hot and primed nuclear arms.
The Afghanistan war is the "right war", even though the dems and pubes gloss over the multinational corporate interests petitioning our government to secure it before 911, the billion dollar oil pipeline project secured after the invasion, the refusal to show lawful evidence before and after bombing thousands of innocents into the ground.
The democrats constantly lie saying conservatives have no solutions on health care, while they ignore solutions from both liberals and conservatives. Obama stood against Bush being impeached. The globalist domination of colored people who just happen to have resources the elite want keeps marching on. Patriot Act, FISA conditional constitutional overrides, which Obama actually supported and liberals and progressives were supposedly against continues, while Obama pushes for a new Internet Czar to expand the violations. Who cares what the the smoke-screening, pet media of the elite, which is beyond party lines and just uses them to pretend values depending on misinformed public shifts, legitimizes or not?
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Posted by: Rusty Shackleford on Oct 19, 2009 1:59 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My wife is a liberal, a secessionist, an environmentalist. A proponent of government sponsored healthcare, of clean energy, of electric cars, of gay marriage, and most everything else that defines an eco-friendly liberal.
Usually, someone in her case would be among the Limbaugh/Beck/Hannity/O'Reilley/Coulter crowd. But she isn't.
Why?
Because she lacks a key component that most of their audiences possess...
Religion.
My wife is an atheist.
Her family is full of Christians who listen to people like Limbaugh and Beck, and truly believe that not only is our country on a road to hell with this darkie muzlum as president, but that Jeeesus is comin' back in about 50 years.
I know not all listeners of conservative dead-heads are religious, but most of them are.
Free-market loving Christians who see no contradiction between amassing vast quantities of wealth and Jesus' preaching about how it's easier for camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven, and blessed are the poor, etc.
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Posted by: Priam1 on Oct 19, 2009 5:03 PM
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intelligent and insightful comments made. This is not standard Alternet dialogue. All I can say is not only am I impressed, but elated that as a nation, we are making some progress at coming to some sort of grudging acceptance of the other side's postions.
The reality is that Media Matters is the Fox News of left wing Democracy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. However, there is something wrong with misrepresenting the other side's views and castigating them--just like Fox News does. The difference seems to be that Fox News makes no bones of a one sided presentation, while Media Matters is far less candid.
The fact that Media Matters gives reader exposure to an organization that has already gone on air and said that they are biased in favor of a certain ideology says more about Media Matters than it does about Fox News. We have some very urgent and pressing issues facing this country, and we really don't need a couple of whores like either media outlet calling the other unchaste. What we need is some thoughtful logical rational presentations as to which way our country should go and how to further enhance the lives of all Americans, without concern about the color of their skin (black or white)and their positions on certain issues. These attacks by both sides do nothing to illuminate or resolve our issues. What they do do however is polarize both groups and reinforce the fact that neither Conservatives nor Left Wing Democrats can be trusted. What is so interesting is that Obama gets it and has been trying to walk the middle ground to the best of his ability. The horrible mistakes he has made (in my opinion) illuminate just how complex and tangled this economic situation is and the military occupations as well. It is very interesting as many people have mentioned, that Obama has brought in all insiders from the Bush Administration. It is actually funny that Cheny is criticizing the Obama Administration since it has pretty much followed his administration's policies. The Bush Administration set up the Economic Stimulus game plan and it is for all intents working as planned. Yes, left wing Democrats are agast, but Obama is an inside player and will not stick his neck out for a bunch of idealistic dreamers. The Iraqi War has pretty much gone according to the Bush Administration's projections. The only awkward issue is Afghanistan. It would really be to Alternet's self interest to allow more balanced bloggers to be published than the same hackneyed bigoted misinformation that is ususually served as "unbiased and legitimate Commentary" if for no other reason than to insure its own position as credible journalism. This constant hysterical preoccupation with Beck and Limbaugh do nothing but give Meida Matters less credibility and removes the focus on the real issues. To call Conservatives names like Crazy, Demented, Stupid,"wing nuts" will not get them to listen any more than calling Liberals "dittoheads," will get them to listen to conservative positions. The fact is, our country is pretty evenly divided between Conservative and Liberal. Because of this, the decision makers are going to be of neither persuasion. It was the independents that finally gave the nod to Obama over McCain, and it will be the Independent voters that give the nod to all future policy. The problem is that independents are more conservative than Liberals give credence to. So be careful as to whom you alienate if you want to implement progressive agendas.
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» RE: Let's Face It, Both Sides Lie
Posted by: Lilly
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Posted by: Lilly on Oct 19, 2009 7:31 PM
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Also, the shock-joke rhetoric is misperceived by many, who take it literally. Just this evening on conservative townhall.com a lady has posted that she knows Obamacare will offer abortion on demand because today she heard it on television. I don't know what somebody actually said, but that's what she heard.
A whole class of people is growing that hears so much right-wing invective that they now believe it is the only truth. When I go on right-wing sites and counter with facts, links, citations, etc I get the response that liberals have been hoodwinked by Socialism (and much worse).
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Posted by: halg on Oct 19, 2009 9:28 PM
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Chomsky's book, now 20 years old, explains in detail why and how the news is hand-crafted to support the agenda of the conservative elite.
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Posted by: will on Oct 20, 2009 1:14 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: Atlas Collins on Oct 20, 2009 8:21 AM
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Atlas is Shrugging, you LIBeral scum, and you're all in for a rude awakening when your government checks stop coming and your do-nothing government parasite jobs all go away.
Those of you who don't starve to death will probably be shot down as you riot in the streets demanding others feed and cloth and house you, or you will be hung from lamp posts by patriotic vigilantes for you crimes, and people like me will poke your twitching corpses with pointy sticks and laugh.
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Posted by: Makaainana on Oct 20, 2009 11:01 AM
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When we the consumer public allow our anger and dissatisfaction to be exploited by these divisive voices it gives them "followers".
By siding with them, by because of our anger, agreeing with them even when their views are different or more extreme than ours we make their voice more effective.
On top of all this the stations that broadcast the views and distortions of these people are more interested in profit than truth or the conveying of information. As a consequence the views and opinions of these folks becomes more pervasive and more effective.
We as a consumer public need to take credit and responsibility for their popularity, and where we disagree express it by not participating in the propagandizing.
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Posted by: IceCat on Oct 20, 2009 5:34 PM
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http://www.newsweek.com/id/218192
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Posted by: theweel on Oct 23, 2009 2:52 PM
Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
But Jamie's article is frighteningly basely. I have listened to Rush and non Rush commentator types for 20+ years.
Rush is a passionatle philosopher for freedom and capitalism. He is not a racaist, sexist or discriminatory. And not only that he is a very very good satirist. You all still have a sense of humor--right? Oh that's right Michael Moore.
Anyway Jamie, just give us some examples--you remember real world examples (journalism)? Not just goofy very left of center examples of trashing people because they disagree with your philosophy but of the racist, sexist and discriminatory stuff you think you are hearing. You do listen to Rush right?
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Posted by: sicntired on Oct 19, 2009 2:47 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: Ann Coulter is as dumb as a stick
Posted by: willymack
» Canadian Nukes
Posted by: techcafe
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Posted by: davy on Oct 19, 2009 2:50 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Oct 19, 2009 2:57 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Do you have any idea how utterly cool that is? Lighten up, Bill.
I shall illustrate this nasty point by telling a tale of two marches on Washington. One took place in the late summer of 1963, the other in the late summer of 2009. One was promoted by a preacher from Georgia named Martin Luther King, the other by a former "shock jock" from the state of Washington named Glenn Beck. Ouch! Even mentioning the two of them in the same paragraph is somehow disconcerting.
In 1963, the the people were singing, We Shall Overcome.
Forty-six years later, the chant was, We Shall Undermine.
In 1963, a vast and varied demographic of the American people - all races and religions - descended on the nation's capitol to peaceably and nonviolently protest an injustice that was occurring in certain areas of the country to people of a certain skin pigmentation.
Forty-six years later, a Convention of Pissed-Off White People - united only by the fact that they were all habitual viewers of a single cable news channel - rolled into Washington to hurl invective at an African American president for creating a mess that he had absolutely nothing to do with creating.
In 1963, the signs people held up were optimistic: "With Liberty and Justice for All."
Forty-six years later, the signs were ominous: "We Came Unarmed - THIS TIME!"
On August 28, 1963, the hearts of people who marched on the city of Washington DC were filled with love and hope.
On September 12, 2009 they were just full of shit.
Let us boil the comparisons down to their juicy essentials, shall we? Martin Luther King had a dream. Glenn Beck has a scheme.
Health Care and Woe
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
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» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: vicentelll
» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: Tom Degan
» The vast majority of Americans don't accept Darwinian Evolution
Posted by: Karlh
» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: Archie1954
» RE: Stupid Sells
Posted by: Priam1
» "We came unarmed .. this time", Indeed!
Posted by: james_allen
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Posted by: Perry Logan on Oct 19, 2009 2:58 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
(And with our Democratic leaders screwing up bigtime, we definitely need reinforcements.)
As we know, the Right suffer from many delusions. One is that they are the true mainstream of America, the true grit, etc. We've all heard them say this a million times. In fact, the weirder the winger, the more he seems compelled to believe he speaks for the secret majority (I say "he," because the Right in America are almost all males--and white males to boot).
If someone keeps telling you he speaks for America, you can rest assured he's a deep-space winger. Even the American Nazi Party think the majority of Americans are actually closet fascists like themselves.
Gun guys think the whole world is gaga about guns, when poll after poll reveals most Americans want fewer guns and more gun controls. No amount of information will change their belief that they represent everyone. It's another thought disorder of the right.
I take heart in the fact that 20-30 years of right-wing bilge saturating the airways has resulted in more Democrats than ever. If they keep it up, they may turn us all into commies. :)
Alert: Wingnut Threat Level is now at Defcon 4.
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» The Backlash Begins
Posted by: ProgressiveManiac
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Oct 19, 2009 2:59 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In the America of 2009, "STUPID" is a valuable commodity. "STUPID" sells. A couple of years ago, one of the highest rated cable television programs for people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five was a show that was dedicated to stupid people doing really stupid things. The program was called, "Jackass". It was so successful, its producers were confident enough to make it into a full-length movie!
"STUPID" sells.
A few months ago, an African American named Michael Steele had a plan to bring other African Americans into the fold of the Republican party. How did he plan on accomplishing this damned-near-impossible feat, you may well ask? He was going to offer them watermelon.
"STUPID" sells.
In 2008, a Minnesota congresswoman declared that an investigation should be initiated against every Democratic member of congress for "un-Americanism". Less than a month later, she was reelected.
"STUPID" sells.
Last week at a Town Hall meeting, a woman confronted Eric Cantor with the plight of a close friend whose illness had left her destitute. With a straight face, the congressman suggested to the woman that her friend rely on charity.
"STUPID" sells.
Nearly half-a-century ago, there really wasn't much of a market for "STUPID" in most regions of this once-great nation:
"The energy, the faith, the devotion - which we bring to this endeavor - will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1961
"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
George W. Bush, 2002
No doubt about it: In the first decade of this new century, "STUPID" has a corner on the market.
How did the country that put a man on the moon a mere forty years ago become so jaw-droppingly dumb? There are loads of reasons for this, to be sure. Not the least of which is the fact that since the dawn of the so-called "Reagan Revolution" a generation ago, the education of America's children is no longer a priority. You see, Ronald Reagan's revolutionaries are not merely content to do away with the Department of Education, these assholes want to obliterate public education in this country all together! That is not merely my opinion, that is their stated, published goal. Do the research if you think I'm exaggerating.
This is not your father's America. Come to think about it, this ain't even your older brother's America. The dumbing down process of recent years has been that swift. If you're not seriously alarmed by what is now happening, you're probably getting up every morning with FOX and Friends. C'mon! Admit it!
Tom Degan
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» RE: Not your father's America.
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: adp3d
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: jleman
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: Allstar Cookie
» RE: Part Two...and as far STUPID is concerned!!
Posted by: WyrdSister
» RE: HAIL TOM DEGAN
Posted by: Pirate1
» RE: HAIL TOM DEGAN
Posted by: Tom Degan
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Posted by: electron on Oct 19, 2009 4:09 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: The Right
Posted by: BobPomeroy
» RE: The Left
Posted by: JSquercia
» RE: The Left
Posted by: Morell
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Posted by: Marlena on Oct 19, 2009 4:20 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: 4changenow on Oct 19, 2009 4:25 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How about the pin head and the snowman model boy
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Posted by: Beck on Oct 19, 2009 5:27 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Today, Howard Kurtz said:
"Plus, if you look at MSNBC's lineup after 6 p.m., Fox isn't the only network that goes heavy on the opinionated hosts. "
Did I miss something? Does MSNBC run informercials from 6am-6pm?
They have 3 hours of liberal, 3 hours of conservative, and 3 hours of moderate and 4 hours of straight news programming. Fox has 23 hours of far right conservatism and Shephard Smith.
But yet Howard Kurtz seems to equate the two. Is the Anita Dunn ahead of the media and specifically the Washington Post in making the point that FOX does not represent a legitimate news operation?
Ed O'Keefe: No, not 23 hours of "far right conservatism."
In addition to the down-the-middle Shepard Smith, Bret Baier's "Special Report" is generally considered balance and Greta Van Susteren is no flag-waving conservative. Same goes for Geraldo Rivera, who's endured several verbal tongue lashings from colleague Bill O'Reilly for their differences of opinion.
"America's Newsroom," "Happening Now," and "Live Desk" are also generally considered STRAIGHT NEWS SHOWS, but certainly have their share of opnionated guests.
MSNBC has a morning show co-hosted by a former GOP congressman, two sidekicks that generally disagree with him politically and a great balance of conservative, liberal and non-partisan guests. Their next show is similar, but the lead host pledges no partisan allegiance. Then they have an hour of straight news. Then a show about health care (let's see how long that lasts). Then Andrea Mitchell, generally regarded as one of the finest newswomen in the business. Then three hours of straight news, followed by six hours of opinion shows.
(All of this makes me miss "Crossfire," by the way.)
As Kurtz pointed out today, Dunn seems to be calling out Fox for what many of its critics have long-believed: That it's not a news network in the traditional sense, but more of a "news and views" network. She also noted that President Obama will likely appear on the channel again at some point. I can't wait to see that!
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Posted by: Unrepentant Heretic on Oct 19, 2009 6:13 AM
Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I find it amusing and equally disgusting when religous social conservatives and far left liberals think that their peoint of view is the neutral, correct point of view. That a far left position or a relgious social conservative position should be seen as the norm and that anybody not holding this position is crazy is a very dangerous notion.
This article is perfect example of this.
I find Glenn Beck extremely amusing. I don't agree with him but when the media is kneeling at the feet of a president, hero worhipping we need vocies that shout in the desert.
Beck is the ultimate American populist. He comes from a long, long tradition. He is however not, as he has been accused of, far right, social conservative and definitely not a racist. He is a radical libertarian and no social conservative.
ACORN and Van Jones are and were very detrimental to US Democracy. Subversive radicals that will do anything to get their point of view across, even revolution and illegal acts. Becks exposure had noting to do with Van Jones being black or that ACORN mainly supposts the african American society. Subversive and dangerous organiations and indiviuals should be harshly exposed no matter their gender, sexual orietation or race. There is no get out of jail card because you are a minority.
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» exactly
Posted by: james108
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Posted by: Gabba_Gabba_Hey on Oct 19, 2009 6:48 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Matthews was a speechwriter for Pres. Carter and a staffer for Ed Muskie and Tip O'Neill. He was also a Peace Corps volunteer when young. With a resume like that, he's no conservative, and his mostly liberal political views are different from his analysis (often shaky) of what the "average American" will go for in political campaigns. He's used to being a political player, an insider, and he's trying to explain the process.
These attempts at analysis lead him to say some very strange things at times, but "liberal-bashing"? Not in general, IMO. MSNBC fired him from his anchorman role after his anti-Republican coverage of that convention last year. (Remember?)
His quotes about Pres. Bush, I always thought, were attempts at explaining to us liberals what the f*ck WAS supposed to be the appeal of Bush to those "average Americans" out there who voted for him. Frankly, his explanations of that phenomenon were as good as anybody's to me, because it was a complete mystery to me why anybody liked Bush. Maybe he had it mostly right, I dunno.
Misogynist? Could be - he seems to have some psychological problems in that area.
I don't watch his show often but it has an odd excitement to it, he's always going to say something weird, and so far at least he still has the drawing power to get prominent guests there (who might also say something weird). It's an entertaining train wreck of a show. On the occasions I'm home then and in the mood for news I'll watch his show over the car crashes, recycled newspaper stories and weather porn of the local TV news.
As a former constituent of Tip O'Neill's I've always regarded Matthews as a link to that old-time, blue collar Democrat era which is not always PC by modern standards.
Jon Stewart had him as guest last year. Chris had a book out, a sort of advice book telling how you could live your life like a political campaign. Jon just didn't get the concept and said "that's the most depressing thing I've ever heard." Chris looked absolutely crushed! Different worlds, I guess.
I think he made the right decision in NOT running for the Senate as a Democrat against Arlen Specter. That would have been a mistake. Al Franken he is not.
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Posted by: Ellen Remore on Oct 19, 2009 7:49 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: jtweezo on Oct 19, 2009 7:50 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Jiss
Ultimate Anonymity
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» JIZZ MOP ALERT--Don't click on that link (IDENTITY THEFT!)
Posted by: GuitarBill
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Posted by: maxfrisson on Oct 19, 2009 8:16 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
FoxNews = 42nd
Voyeurweb = 821st [a porn site]
Alternet = 12,149th
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Posted by: willymack on Oct 19, 2009 8:28 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just think about the "media" outlets willing to air or print their loony rants, for a profit, that is. If that's not PATHOLOGICAL GREED, I don't know what is.
Now thing about all those "birthers", "teabaggers", and other nitwits, afraid of being let out of their cages, and perhaps forced to THINK FOR THEMSELVES. A screw or two loose there too, doancha think?
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Posted by: Prinzowhales on Oct 19, 2009 9:46 AM
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Obama, by the way, supports legislation to help Corporatist Media through the crisis in opposition to the popularly supported alternative media.
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Posted by: C. Rich on Oct 19, 2009 10:26 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
http://americaspeaksink.com/?s=reelection
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Posted by: WyrdSister on Oct 19, 2009 10:41 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am off my meds now, so I am once again, not very socially acceptable; but I have no problem offending others as I just do not care what others think of me.
I want my own radio show so I can piss off the conservatives, the right-benders and wrong thinkers, their minions and media.
PICK ME PICK ME! i can piss people off just as much as they can!
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» Radio?
Posted by: njguy73
» RE Try Flying A Tinfoil Balloon And Telling People Your Kid Is In It
Posted by: desidid
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Posted by: JSquercia on Oct 19, 2009 11:28 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The main Stream Media treat everything as opinions and thus will accept the opinion of one side that the earth is Flat as of equal weight to the other side's Fact that the earth is round .
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Posted by: james108 on Oct 19, 2009 2:17 PM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There's nothing unusual about us threatening Iran for nuclear research or disclosing facilities even though Israel can threaten them with actual, hot and primed nuclear arms.
The Afghanistan war is the "right war", even though the dems and pubes gloss over the multinational corporate interests petitioning our government to secure it before 911, the billion dollar oil pipeline project secured after the invasion, the refusal to show lawful evidence before and after bombing thousands of innocents into the ground.
The democrats constantly lie saying conservatives have no solutions on health care, while they ignore solutions from both liberals and conservatives. Obama stood against Bush being impeached. The globalist domination of colored people who just happen to have resources the elite want keeps marching on. Patriot Act, FISA conditional constitutional overrides, which Obama actually supported and liberals and progressives were supposedly against continues, while Obama pushes for a new Internet Czar to expand the violations. Who cares what the the smoke-screening, pet media of the elite, which is beyond party lines and just uses them to pretend values depending on misinformed public shifts, legitimizes or not?
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Posted by: Rusty Shackleford on Oct 19, 2009 1:59 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My wife is a liberal, a secessionist, an environmentalist. A proponent of government sponsored healthcare, of clean energy, of electric cars, of gay marriage, and most everything else that defines an eco-friendly liberal.
Usually, someone in her case would be among the Limbaugh/Beck/Hannity/O'Reilley/Coulter crowd. But she isn't.
Why?
Because she lacks a key component that most of their audiences possess...
Religion.
My wife is an atheist.
Her family is full of Christians who listen to people like Limbaugh and Beck, and truly believe that not only is our country on a road to hell with this darkie muzlum as president, but that Jeeesus is comin' back in about 50 years.
I know not all listeners of conservative dead-heads are religious, but most of them are.
Free-market loving Christians who see no contradiction between amassing vast quantities of wealth and Jesus' preaching about how it's easier for camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven, and blessed are the poor, etc.
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Posted by: Priam1 on Oct 19, 2009 5:03 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
intelligent and insightful comments made. This is not standard Alternet dialogue. All I can say is not only am I impressed, but elated that as a nation, we are making some progress at coming to some sort of grudging acceptance of the other side's postions.
The reality is that Media Matters is the Fox News of left wing Democracy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. However, there is something wrong with misrepresenting the other side's views and castigating them--just like Fox News does. The difference seems to be that Fox News makes no bones of a one sided presentation, while Media Matters is far less candid.
The fact that Media Matters gives reader exposure to an organization that has already gone on air and said that they are biased in favor of a certain ideology says more about Media Matters than it does about Fox News. We have some very urgent and pressing issues facing this country, and we really don't need a couple of whores like either media outlet calling the other unchaste. What we need is some thoughtful logical rational presentations as to which way our country should go and how to further enhance the lives of all Americans, without concern about the color of their skin (black or white)and their positions on certain issues. These attacks by both sides do nothing to illuminate or resolve our issues. What they do do however is polarize both groups and reinforce the fact that neither Conservatives nor Left Wing Democrats can be trusted. What is so interesting is that Obama gets it and has been trying to walk the middle ground to the best of his ability. The horrible mistakes he has made (in my opinion) illuminate just how complex and tangled this economic situation is and the military occupations as well. It is very interesting as many people have mentioned, that Obama has brought in all insiders from the Bush Administration. It is actually funny that Cheny is criticizing the Obama Administration since it has pretty much followed his administration's policies. The Bush Administration set up the Economic Stimulus game plan and it is for all intents working as planned. Yes, left wing Democrats are agast, but Obama is an inside player and will not stick his neck out for a bunch of idealistic dreamers. The Iraqi War has pretty much gone according to the Bush Administration's projections. The only awkward issue is Afghanistan. It would really be to Alternet's self interest to allow more balanced bloggers to be published than the same hackneyed bigoted misinformation that is ususually served as "unbiased and legitimate Commentary" if for no other reason than to insure its own position as credible journalism. This constant hysterical preoccupation with Beck and Limbaugh do nothing but give Meida Matters less credibility and removes the focus on the real issues. To call Conservatives names like Crazy, Demented, Stupid,"wing nuts" will not get them to listen any more than calling Liberals "dittoheads," will get them to listen to conservative positions. The fact is, our country is pretty evenly divided between Conservative and Liberal. Because of this, the decision makers are going to be of neither persuasion. It was the independents that finally gave the nod to Obama over McCain, and it will be the Independent voters that give the nod to all future policy. The problem is that independents are more conservative than Liberals give credence to. So be careful as to whom you alienate if you want to implement progressive agendas.
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» RE: Let's Face It, Both Sides Lie
Posted by: Lilly
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Posted by: Lilly on Oct 19, 2009 7:31 PM
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Also, the shock-joke rhetoric is misperceived by many, who take it literally. Just this evening on conservative townhall.com a lady has posted that she knows Obamacare will offer abortion on demand because today she heard it on television. I don't know what somebody actually said, but that's what she heard.
A whole class of people is growing that hears so much right-wing invective that they now believe it is the only truth. When I go on right-wing sites and counter with facts, links, citations, etc I get the response that liberals have been hoodwinked by Socialism (and much worse).
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Posted by: halg on Oct 19, 2009 9:28 PM
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Chomsky's book, now 20 years old, explains in detail why and how the news is hand-crafted to support the agenda of the conservative elite.
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Posted by: will on Oct 20, 2009 1:14 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: Atlas Collins on Oct 20, 2009 8:21 AM
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Atlas is Shrugging, you LIBeral scum, and you're all in for a rude awakening when your government checks stop coming and your do-nothing government parasite jobs all go away.
Those of you who don't starve to death will probably be shot down as you riot in the streets demanding others feed and cloth and house you, or you will be hung from lamp posts by patriotic vigilantes for you crimes, and people like me will poke your twitching corpses with pointy sticks and laugh.
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Posted by: Makaainana on Oct 20, 2009 11:01 AM
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When we the consumer public allow our anger and dissatisfaction to be exploited by these divisive voices it gives them "followers".
By siding with them, by because of our anger, agreeing with them even when their views are different or more extreme than ours we make their voice more effective.
On top of all this the stations that broadcast the views and distortions of these people are more interested in profit than truth or the conveying of information. As a consequence the views and opinions of these folks becomes more pervasive and more effective.
We as a consumer public need to take credit and responsibility for their popularity, and where we disagree express it by not participating in the propagandizing.
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Posted by: IceCat on Oct 20, 2009 5:34 PM
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http://www.newsweek.com/id/218192
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Posted by: theweel on Oct 23, 2009 2:52 PM
Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
But Jamie's article is frighteningly basely. I have listened to Rush and non Rush commentator types for 20+ years.
Rush is a passionatle philosopher for freedom and capitalism. He is not a racaist, sexist or discriminatory. And not only that he is a very very good satirist. You all still have a sense of humor--right? Oh that's right Michael Moore.
Anyway Jamie, just give us some examples--you remember real world examples (journalism)? Not just goofy very left of center examples of trashing people because they disagree with your philosophy but of the racist, sexist and discriminatory stuff you think you are hearing. You do listen to Rush right?
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