Sometimes I catch myself saying that Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, or Bill O'Reilly are stupid racists pedaling ignorance. The fact is that I got half of that right. They are pedaling ignorance, but I believe those people know exactly what they are doing. We on the left (or center) complain incessantly about them while they run all the way to the bank. Their party is shrinking and they are still laughing at home with their maid, butler, and high definition televisions.
So, I always do the best I can to avoid confronting the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Reillys and Ann Coulters of the world. It's difficult to say whether or not they really believe what they are spewing or not. Anyone can pretend to be an ignorant bastard for an hour a day. Limbaugh doesn't even have to look you in the eye when he's doing it. They get their 20 percent and that gives them excellent ratings.
Glenn Beck is another story entirely. Watching his show the last several weeks is a study in a guy that appears to be losing grip with reality. Calling Obama a racist is one thing, but he not only has not apologized, but doesn't seem to acknowledge that it happened. This is fine in normal situations, but he is leaking corporate sponsors at a record rate. He may get ratings but if no one sponsors the show it doesn't really matter. You can tune into his show nearly everyday and hear something else crazy. I think everyone's personal favorite was when he did his own bit of art interpratation.
Beck seems unhinged more than anything else because he doesn't understand the rules of being a shock jock. It's basic child psychology. If you give a child a cookie for doing what they should everyday then the cookie loses it's appeal. Similarly, if you say something crazy everyday then it ceases to become a big story. Suddenly, the story isn't the statement but the fact that the white coats are coming for you. The only alternative in that case is to say something crazier or more deranged until you do wind up in Devereaux or Bellvue.
The real secret for guys like Limbaugh, Hannity, and O'Reilly is that they are reasonable more often than not. So, when they say something unreasonable then the discriminating listener just assumes it is out of character. The non-discriminating listener thinks it is reasonable since they are almost always reasonable. Those that watch Beck must watch for entertainment value because there is nothing socially redeeming about the show.
Liberals are probably tuning in now just to see how long it will take before the guys in the white coats come in with their net to haul poor Mr. Beck away. I suppose he could milk it for all its worth. He could interview those abducted by aliens or those that have the latest hairbrained conspiracy. Oh wait. he already does the last part. If you don't believe me then ask that secret communist family the Rockefellers.
Oh by the way, an example of the conservatism I've run into. Here is a quote from another site:
"Just my two cents, but I've heard more truth from Beck in the last month than I've heard from the networks on stories on healthcare or anything else for that matter. He was talking Van Jones before anyone else would touch it. I stand and applaud him, 'nut job' 'whacko' or not.
Kind of brings up the question, ...Just WHEN did Beck become a nut job? ...when he was knocking Bush for the TARP bailouts? ...when he was knocking BOTH Republicans and Democrats for screwing up our country? ...or just when he started knocking the 'new guy' of color?"
Ok, I "stumbled" on this tonight. It seemed to fit.
http://www.allhatnocattle.net/42109cb.jpg
For those that don't know, DeLay was Dale Gribble before he was in politics. Maybe he has dabbled a little in the extermination business since he got drummed out. Maybe he's been inhaling too many of the chemicals.
He looked like I feel after a night at the Oxygen bar.
AstrosGirl,
That was kind of my point on the whole thing as well. A whole hour about garbage on the art in Rockefeller Center? I swear that both Beck and DeLay are on something. That interview that DeLay gave with Chris Matthews? He was high on something.
The difference, machine, is that I can distinguish fact from fiction. I try to make sure I have access to facts and knowledge.
Sparkle can make no such claim, at least not while telling us all how much she admires Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin.
Let us remember, Sparkle's heroine, ex-Govenor Palin (who btw still signs her letters "Governor Sarah Palin") is the one who, after a debate years ago, noted all the facts and statistics being offered by her opponent and said to herself (and then others), "what does any of it matter?"
This sounds awfully petty of me, but after watching the art interpretation the other night, I actually googled "Glenn Beck Drugs" to see if there was any evidence if he was back on the sauce or worse. I even paused the TV to see if his pupils were dilated. I don't mean this to be mean, I mean this because I really think he's on something, or mental..I don't know. I feel kind of bad for the guy, believe it or not..
FL: Well said.
Nice read Scott.
Some of these right-wing radio and TV morons are just "Howard Stern" types. Plain and simple. How much of what they say do they believe??? Who knows.
I admit, I don't listen to or watch them. Frankly, I see how much it irritates you guys, my friends. I find enough to get irritated about without these guys.
I am listening to Wombat and telling myself these guys preach to the 21% Club and that the majority of the rest of us see them for what they are. Reprehensible, moronic, racist bigots.
Or should that be bigoted racists??
Either end of the ideology spectrum is just someone's way of dealing with reality.
Examples:
There are poor and starving people in this world.
CONservatives choose to let them starve to death.
Liberals want to feed them.
There are not enough resources in the world.
CONservatives choose to slaughter the people of another country to take their resources.
Liberals choose to make do with what they have, or trade/buy what they need.
Education would solve a lot of today's problems.
CONservatives choose to cut education spending, because a stupid populace is easier to control and exploit.
Liberals want to provide the best public education possible.
Limbaugh and Beck's behavior is just a symptom of how they look at the world. They choose to exploit and connive their way through life. While the rest of us want to make this planet a better place.
I believe there are three kinds of conservatives (in terms of economics)
1) Those that honestly believe that people are more equipped to take care of those less fortunate than the government. They believe that if the government cut taxes then people would donate more to charity (I know, I know, it is what THEY believe)
2) Those that honestly believe that profit motivation is better for all. It's the bootstraps mentality. If I do my best then you must do your best to succeed.
3) Dick Cheney
What about CONservatism is honest? The entire ideology is based on deception. The deception that people don't matter only the accumulation of wealth matters. The deception that it is O.K. to slaughter innocent women and children for resources. The deception that corporations are going to look after the people's interests.
If conservatism is suppose to be something different, it was perverted and shaped into something evil long ago. If conservatism can not be separated from the 'kill them all' attitude, then it will fade into history like every other wacko ideology.
I think Machine is right in the general sense. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded curmudgeons is a clear path to being close-minded. However, in many instances I must choose between being close-minded and being irate. I have enough conservative friends to keep me honest suppose (or remind of what I am fighting against).
Don't forget to add Michelle Malkin to the list. Talk about crazy! And someone explain why Beck is giving us an art history lesson concerning the architecture at 30 Rock? Where did he get his PhD in Art History again? CNN, MSNBC and some other media outlets, I can handle, Fox I cannot.
Sparkle made up her mind on issues a long time ago *then* surrounded herself with people and media that reinforces those beliefs. She feels she doesn't have to really debate if she knows in her heart that she's already in the right.
Rush Limbaugh is a glorified disc jockey...Bill O'Rielly and Lou Dobbs are bitter television lifers...Ann Coulter is a marginally-talented writer who exists to make herself a fortune selling books...Glenn Beck is simply a lunatic whose 15 minutes should be ending soon.
Watching these folks in action always reminds me of the Elia Kazan film "A Face In The Crowd". If you've never seen it, do so...amazing how some things never change.
We didn't have right wing talk radio when I was a kid. Father Coughlin had been off the air for a number of years by then and no one had yet risen to take his place. We did have the local chapter of the John Birch Society, people who called their president (Eisenhower, at the time) a tool of the communists and outright accused our Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, of being a communist.
The vast majority of Americans, if they listened to the Birchers in the first place, realized they were completely fucking nuts. But the John Birch Society, with its complex allegations of international conspiracies, can't hold a candle to the loons of today's right wing, Beck, Hannity, Colter, Limbaugh, and Texas Sparkle (I add her just for laughs). And to read Sparkle, one would come away with the conclusion that she certainty believes that she speaks for a huge and angry majority.
I hope she is wrong. I surround myself with liberals, read liberal media, watch MSNBC just to keep in touch with reality. But what if Sparkle is right? What if facts and logic and history and you know, actual knowledge, are no longer relevant?
Beck reminds me of a whiney little kid I was at camp with in Colorado when in grade school. The horses were monsters to him, and they kept turning their heads and biting him when he tried to mount them for the trail ride, and they would even throw his saddle blanket on the ground and whinny in a knowing kind of horse thing that the little boy wasn't worth a good ride.
The gist of it is that even your dog can disown you if you're not cool, and I'll bet Beck can't keep one for very long! So the animals watching his show may soon become unsettled by his behavior as well, eh? It's not sustainable, nor is it cool anymore...