But the left side of the spectrum has their nutbars as well.
It's all noise on the fringe in both cases.
This is where I strongly disagree.
Yes both sides have nut-bars, yes both sides have vocal people.
But nothing compares to the craziness, misinformation and veracity of the right during a democratic presidency.
People like to pretend its an equal balance, but its beyond even being close. The fear mongering and outright lies of the right is beyond anything the 'liberals' (for you peter) could even attempt.
Who are these left wing nut bars anyways? Bill Mahar? Keith olbermann? Jon Stewart?
There just isn't an equivalent to the Becks, O'Reilys, or Limbaughs. Not even close. Even more confusing to me is how you can agree with the things they say. A level of logic I cannot bring myself to.
this one here is great. He talks about how Canadians have a lottery for health care. The end is the best though when he is screaming like a little girl. It's actually from his radio program so there is not video here.
Who are these left wing nut bars anyways? Bill Mahar? Keith olbermann? Jon Stewart?
There just isn't an equivalent to the Becks, O'Reilys, or Limbaughs. Not even close. Even more confusing to me is how you can agree with the things they say. A level of logic I cannot bring myself to.
I see a big difference in the commentators on each side. FOX and MSNBC are both more entertainment networks than news. However, the FOX team is far more likely to be mean, rude, witless and mendacious.
I'm 100% calling BS on this post. Whether you identify with him or not is another issue, but to say you know very little of him is to suggest you turn off Fox News during the precise hour he takes to the airwaves every day, and then turn it back on right after. Seems a little to convenient.
Also, I think the conservatives of America should have more to fear in Beck than the progressive side of things. He causes more damage than any moderate conservative ever could, regardless of his success. His antics are taken seriously on a daily basis by millions of people. It's scary.
I don't get Fox news. So have never watched it.
How does a radio/ talk show guy cause damage? You seem to be really threatened by this guy. I suggest you turn off Fox yourself.
I'd go so far to say the extremity of the right wing since the start of the Bush years has shifted the political center in the US a couple of notches over from the left. So if those on the far left now appear extreme, it's only because the center has moved.
Before this shift, people like Beck, Coulter, and (given her position) Palin would have been widely recognized for the morons they are. Now, they're actually given some level of credence they just don't merit, and a level of power and influence that is frankly dangerous.
And all the gun-toting would-be assassins are, unfortunately, on their side.
Spreading ignorance? Showing a complete lack on reasonableness when dealing with anyone who has an opposing opinion? Demonstrating that the way to win a debate is to be the loudest and most obnoxious person in the debate?
Some people enlighten. Some people do the exact opposite. Some people promote reason, debate, intelligent discussion, give and take, alternate viewpoints. Some people scream and talk over their counterparts. Some people use arguments. Some people use pure rhetoric, slogans, branding, us vs them mentality. Some people try and change the definition of words to slander another's position.
Radio/talk show people influence people. They can influence them in many different ways. Whether you consider their influence damaging depends on your perspective.
I don't know too much about this Glenn Beck character but listening to half that youtube video posted in this thread makes me never want to listen to him again and worry about those that see him as a guiding figure, a voice of reason, etc.
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Spreading ignorance? Showing a complete lack on reasonableness when dealing with anyone who has an opposing opinion? Demonstrating that the way to win a debate is to be the loudest and most obnoxious person in the debate?
Some people enlighten. Some people do the exact opposite. Some people promote reason, debate, intelligent discussion, give and take, alternate viewpoints. Some people scream and talk over their counterparts. Some people use arguments. Some people use pure rhetoric, slogans, branding, us vs them mentality. Some people try and change the definition of words to slander another's position.
Radio/talk show people influence people. They can influence them in many different ways. Whether you consider their influence damaging depends on your perspective.
I don't know too much about this Glenn Beck character but listening to half that youtube video posted in this thread makes me never want to listen to him again and worry about those that see him as a guiding figure, a voice of reason, etc.
So should we censor him then?
A thought on censorship.
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
What is really lamentable is the decay of the 5th estate in America into nothing more than another source of entertainment designed to maximize profit regardless of the social cost.
Yes both sides have nut-bars, yes both sides have vocal people.
But nothing compares to the craziness, misinformation and veracity of the right during a democratic presidency.
People like to pretend its an equal balance, but its beyond even being close. The fear mongering and outright lies of the right is beyond anything the 'liberals' (for you peter) could even attempt.
The funny part is that while people claim they are all for alternative view points and open discussion they are colored by their own prejudice.
"Sure our side has some nut bars... but theirs are much worse"
Theirs are only worse because you see truth in their position despite how extreme it is. It is the side of the issue for "your" team.
I am not trying to single you out, but you hear the exact same things from the supposed moderates on both sides. That is how polarized the politics have become.
Show me how Rush Limbaugh, Chris Matthews, Keith Olberman, Sean Hannity or Rachael Maddow are any different other than their choice of media outlet.
The right owns Talk Radio and the left TV and movies, it is just how it is. Although i would give a slight edge to the left with Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan.
The funny part is that while people claim they are all for alternative view points and open discussion they are colored by their own prejudice.
"Sure our side has some nut bars... but theirs are much worse"
Theirs are only worse because you see truth in their position despite how extreme it is. It is the side of the issue for "your" team.
Sorry but I don't play for a team.
Quote:
I am not trying to single you out, but you hear the exact same things from the supposed moderates on both sides. That is how polarized the politics have become.
Yup polarized is correct. However unless you have been in a cave, for the last decade the 'right' has been nutty and out performs the crazy on any side by many magnitude.
Quote:
Show me how Rush Limbaugh, Chris Matthews, Keith Olberman, Sean Hannity or Rachael Maddow are any different other than their choice of media outlet.
Yup. Both sides have their 'talking heads.' But do you see Matthews, Olberman, Maddow writing conspiracy books, running fear mongering campaigns, organizing protests.....?
The obvious answer is obvious.
Quote:
The right owns Talk Radio and the left TV and movies, it is just how it is. Although i would give a slight edge to the left with Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan.
LOL, ok.
The truth is, nobody does crazy, misinformed and out of touch like the conservative right of the USA.
Yup. Both sides have their 'talking heads.' But do you see Matthews, Olberman, Maddow writing conspiracy books, running fear mongering campaigns, organizing protests.....?
The obvious answer is obvious.
and the left don't believe in conspiracy theories like:
9/11 was a government plot
Bush created the Iraq war for Halliburton
How soon people forget the zealotry of the left during the Bush years.
Or my favorite on how the vast "right wing conspiracy" forced Bill Clinton to do naughty things with "that Woman" and lie about it on TV. and that was from the current administrations secretary of state and former senator.
The only reason the left hasn't done more is because they have only been in majority for 4 years
and the left don't believe in conspiracy theories like:
9/11 was a government plot
Bush created the Iraq war for Halliburton
How soon people forget the zealotry of the left during the Bush years.
Or my favorite on how the vast "right wing conspiracy" forced Bill Clinton to do naughty things with "that Woman" and lie about it on TV. and that was from the current administrations secretary of state and former senator.
The only reason the left hasn't done more is because they have only been in majority for 4 years
Excuse me? The left thinks 9/11 was a government plot? Unless you think the random dumbasses and that drunk on the C-train platform are "the left" I'd say that claim is pretty absurd. But hey, keep letting us know that you're operating on a 5th grade Alabama education level.
I'd go so far to say the extremity of the right wing since the start of the Bush years has shifted the political center in the US a couple of notches over from the left. So if those on the far left now appear extreme, it's only because the center has moved.
Before this shift, people like Beck, Coulter, and (given her position) Palin would have been widely recognized for the morons they are. Now, they're actually given some level of credence they just don't merit, and a level of power and influence that is frankly dangerous.
And all the gun-toting would-be assassins are, unfortunately, on their side.
This is a very interesting comment that compelled me to add to it. This has been a long term strategy of the political right in the United States. They have long taken eliminationist positions when it comes to dealing with political opposition. The goal has not been to discuss issues rationally, but instead marginalize and then eliminate the balancing positions and voices on the other side of the debate. McCarthy did it with the Red Scare in the 50's and the elimination of the communist or extreme left end of the spectrum. Reagan did it, with the help of Gorbachev, with perestroika and challenging the socialists in eastern Europe, eliminating the socialists from the extreme left end of the spectrum. The current group of conservatives are now challenging the liberals and making it unAmerican to be a progressive. If they succeed at eliminating the liberal perspective there will be no left to balance those "crazies" on the right. With each elimination of a balancing perspective the political fulcrum has shifted further and further to the right. I don't see that as being healthy in a democracy.
The Becks and Palins and Hannities and Coulters and O'Reillys of the world prove there is a sucker born every minute. While they like to talk a big game of being on the side of the little guy they are in it just for money and profit. They want you to believe that extending Bush style tax cuts are good for you, the little guy, but the people they help the most are the mulit-millionaires like the Becks and Palins and Hannitys and Coulters and O'Reillys. They play on the fears of the uneducated general public and make millions off of their ignorance.
One last point, that also follows flylock shox's post, just how many leftist militias are there out there? How many leftist attacks have taken place against the government or the people in general? How many leftist plots to wreak havoc on the population have been discovered and broken up? The answers are sobering.
The funny part is that while people claim they are all for alternative view points and open discussion they are colored by their own prejudice.
"Sure our side has some nut bars... but theirs are much worse"
Theirs are only worse because you see truth in their position despite how extreme it is. It is the side of the issue for "your" team.
I am not trying to single you out, but you hear the exact same things from the supposed moderates on both sides. That is how polarized the politics have become.
Show me how Rush Limbaugh, Chris Matthews, Keith Olberman, Sean Hannity or Rachael Maddow are any different other than their choice of media outlet.
The right owns Talk Radio and the left TV and movies, it is just how it is. Although i would give a slight edge to the left with Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan.
There is no way that Rachael Maddow belongs in the same category as these guys.
She makes her side obvious but will back up her view with facts she will never mislead intentionaly like the rest of this crowd.
and the left don't believe in conspiracy theories like:
9/11 was a government plot
Bush created the Iraq war for Halliburton
How soon people forget the zealotry of the left during the Bush years.
Or my favorite on how the vast "right wing conspiracy" forced Bill Clinton to do naughty things with "that Woman" and lie about it on TV. and that was from the current administrations secretary of state and former senator.
The only reason the left hasn't done more is because they have only been in majority for 4 years
can you please give me examples of the people on the left who believe this and hold the same status on the left as the the Orielly,limbaugh,palin,bachman's do on the right?
Iam suprised you dont think Halliburton had influence on the war though.
But at the age of 30, Beck lost his passion for radio - and everything else - as he was consumed by alcoholism and drug addiction. Coming to terms with his past and staying sober shifted his life direction.
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
Nice leap!
No just ignore him till he is no longer leading a march and just becomes a nut lob taking a walk.
