So about Glenn Beck's little 'Restoring America' Rally...

[Azure]

Originally Posted by llama64

It's on par with believing what you read in the National Inquirer.

National Inquirer has broken major stories that the MSM refused to pick up on.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

He also demonstrates that the Democrats are incredibly poor at implementing all the right things.

If he actually does that, which I don't know, then he is just a moron.

All the right things? Are you kidding me?

EDIT: Come to think of it, the times I have watched Stewart and he was talking about the Democrats, he NEVER presented his own opinion as saying the Democrats are just incompetent at implementing all the right things. I've heard him make fun of a lot of Democratic policies in the past. He might support more Democrat policies, considering he does lean left a bit more, but by no means is he that blind.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

One last thing that I've seen Stewart do is admit a mistake in his conclusions or reasoning. I've seen very few TV personalities do this. I doubt Beck has but since I'm not an avid follower, I may be wrong.

In discussing the 'ground zero' mosque, he said it's wrong to limit other people's free speech rights, freedom of religion, etc, etc. He took that opportunity to apologize for the stance he took several years ago when he said it was in poor taste for the NRA to hold their rally in Colorado shortly after the Columbine incident.

Agreed, I thought that entire episode was terrific. I pvr'd and have already watched it twice, probably will again. I remember being against Stewart politcally at the time but I'm much more on-board with him now.

Heston absolutely hit the nail on the head.

I'm also a big fan of Oliver and Wyatt and their "Team evil / Team stupid" segment.

[Cowperson]

A famous essay, probably required reading for participants in this thread, from 1964 called "The Paranoid Style Of American Politics."

It begins this way:

American politics has often been an arena for angry minds.

In recent years we have seen angry minds at work mainly among extreme right-wingers, who have now demonstrated in the Goldwater movement how much political leverage can be got out of the animosities and passions of a small minority. But behind this I believe there is a style of mind that is far from new and that is not necessarily right-wing. I call it the paranoid style simply because no other word adequately evokes the sense of heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy that I have in mind.

In using the expression “paranoid style” I am not speaking in a clinical sense, but borrowing a clinical term for other purposes. I have neither the competence nor the desire to classify any figures of the past or present as certifiable lunatics., In fact, the idea of the paranoid style as a force in politics would have little contemporary relevance or historical value if it were applied only to men with profoundly disturbed minds.

It is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant.

Of course this term is pejorative, and it is meant to be; the paranoid style has a greater affinity for bad causes than good. But nothing really prevents a sound program or demand from being advocated in the paranoid style. Style has more to do with the way in which ideas are believed than with the truth or falsity of their content. I am interested here in getting at our political psychology through our political rhetoric. The paranoid style is an old and recurrent phenomenon in our public life which has been frequently linked with movements of suspicious discontent.

http://www.kenrahn.com/jfk/conspirac...oid_style.html

And he continues on . . . .

Or, if we want to talk in Battlestar Galactica terms, "All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again."

Coincidentally, in the left-wing Time Magazine today, this essay asking if Glenn Beck is bad for America: http://www.time.com/time/politics/ar...924348,00.html

And, to inflame things, the right wing (and born in Canada) Charles Krauthammer looking at the racism accusation: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/...blame-bigotry/

Cowperson

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Or, if we want to talk in Battlestar Galactica terms,

Always.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Azure

National Inquirer has broken major stories that the MSM refused to pick up on.

Like Batboy?

edit: I may have meant to reference World News Weekly (I'm not up on my tabloids...)

[Azure]

Originally Posted by llama64

Like Batboy?

edit: I may have meant to reference World News Weekly (I'm not up on my tabloids...)

John Edwards scandal for one.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Azure

John Edwards scandal for one.

I guess it depends on what you consider a major story. I put stories about who's sleeping with who, on the level of gossip.

[SeeBass]

To say that Stewart should be held to the same standard that people on a channel they call news is ridiculous.

You do know that Stewart comes on after puppets that make crank phone calls.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

The Tea party movement is about Politics. Saturday wasn't about politics.

whatever helps you sleep at night I guess

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I guess it depends on what you consider a major story. I put stories about who's sleeping with who, on the level of gossip.

Sorry Vulcan I have got to agree with Azure on this one

The Edwards story is a huge story even though it is a bedroom scandal it does matter to the voters, maybe not in France but in the US it is.

If Edwards had beaten Obama,Clinton or was even picked as a VP the goverment would be even more stuck than they are now.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Sorry Vulcan I have got to agree with Azure on this one

The Edwards story is a huge story even though it is a bedroom scandal it does matter to the voters, maybe not in France but in the US it is.

If Edwards had beaten Obama,Clinton or was even picked as a VP the goverment would be even more stuck than they are now.

John Edwards is corruption personified. What a sleaze ball.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

John Edwards is corruption personified. What a sleaze ball.

All true, but the MSM wanted to protect him, and National Enquirer ran the story.

[SeeBass]

I dont know if the MSM was protecting him or the MSM has no desire to spend much money now all they put out is the exact same thing.

I believe the Enquirer said it took 2 years to finally have the goods on Edwards that is a lot of money that the MSM doesn't spend anymore.

Examples would be no investigative journalism on the so called WMDs and the Dan Rather fake letter about Bush's service record. Absolute brutal work on their part.

[Bertuzzied]

the Americans get everything they deserve for voting Bush in for a 2nd term.

America is going to be f-d up for many years to come if that many people can be attracted to Glen Beck. hahah ridiculous.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

I dont know if the MSM was protecting him or the MSM has no desire to spend much money now all they put out is the exact same thing.

I believe the Enquirer said it took 2 years to finally have the goods on Edwards that is a lot of money that the MSM doesn't spend anymore.

Examples would be no investigative journalism on the so called WMDs and the Dan Rather fake letter about Bush's service record. Absolute brutal work on their part.

There is very little true journalism, and almost no pro-active investigative journalism among major TV news organizations now. For them, it is much easier to sell opinion than information. In fact, for the 24 hour news channels, opinion-selling is a necessity: there just isn't 24 hours worth of news every day.

The dying 5th Estate in America is what is really dangerous - not so much the Glenn Becks of the world. Or, to put a different spin on it, the Glenn Becks of the world wouldn't be so dangerous if the 5th Estate still viewed itself as having some responsibility to investigate matters of importance and accurately report information to the public.

One of the biggest legacies of 9/11 (although the trend was already growing prior to this) has been the abandonment of journalistic integrity and courage.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

the Americans get everything they deserve for voting Bush in for a 2nd term.

America is going to be f-d up for many years to come if that many people can be attracted to Glen Beck. hahah ridiculous.

As opposed to John Kerry and that corrupt sleezebag John Edwards?

The US is going to be screwed for many years if they can't put some better candidates into office.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Azure

As opposed to John Kerry and that corrupt sleezebag John Edwards?

The US is going to be screwed for many years if they can't put some better candidates into office.

Better candidate has long ago stopped being a requisite quality for POTUS

[Azure]

Originally Posted by valo403

Better candidate has long ago stopped being a requisite quality for POTUS

Thats a good point. Who WAS the last 'good' candidate to run for office? Forget his views. Someone who was actually capable of leading the country.

Clinton? I'd venture a guess that Reagan should be included in there, but y'all might jump on me.

When it comes to exemplifying leadership, Obama can't hold a candle to Clinton, IMO. Ol' Bubba was pretty appealing both in character, and politically.

[troutman]

Coming to Canada?

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics.../15188571.html

Lawton, a conservative-leaning activist from London, Ont., is one of the organizers behind an online attempt to start a Tea Party movement in Canada.