by liberal japonicus
This is a side story and it seems to have only been picked up by the San Francisco outlets, but to me, it says a lot.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) threatened Vice President Kamala Harris with a potential impeachment trial in an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”
The interview, conducted one day after President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment proceedings, gave Graham the opportunity to lash back at the former California senator.
Interesting to note this.
The Trump campaign and the RNC are calling attention to a media report that 13 staffers on former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
So why did Graham choose Harris as the one to threaten?
the right’s hatred of Harris is amazing. they’ve built all kinds of myths around her to justify it, too.
my favorite is that the whole election was to get her into the VP spot so that she can take over when Biden (who is too sick to function, in the GOP mythology) keels over. they think the whole thing was a plot to get her into the Presidency. a variation of this is that Harris is a schemer who is planning to use the 25th to get Biden out, as soon as she can.
but it’s the same old classic GOP racism and misogyny. it’s why all the Biden/Harris road signs around here had “BITCH” is red paint over her name.
and Graham is, as always, hamming it up for the GOP rubes.
the whole fucking party is insane.
the right’s hatred of Harris is amazing. they’ve built all kinds of myths around her to justify it, too.
my favorite is that the whole election was to get her into the VP spot so that she can take over when Biden (who is too sick to function, in the GOP mythology) keels over. they think the whole thing was a plot to get her into the Presidency. a variation of this is that Harris is a schemer who is planning to use the 25th to get Biden out, as soon as she can.
but it’s the same old classic GOP racism and misogyny. it’s why all the Biden/Harris road signs around here had “BITCH” is red paint over her name.
and Graham is, as always, hamming it up for the GOP rubes.
the whole fucking party is insane.
the whole fucking party is insane
Yes. And now, when (hopefully) enough people are sickened after watching the Trump incitement stuff at the impeachment, is the time for the Dem organisers to go all in for the 2022 senate races, a la Stacey Abrams. With a continuing program of brilliant, funny but pointed advertising (a la Lincoln Project) from now to then showing what is behind so many of the GOP’s ongoing moves. Every non-RWNJ billionaire should be clubbing together to fund such a public education ad campaign. If the Dems can only get a decent majority, maybe then will be their best chance to actually start putting nails in the TrumpGOP coffin. I say start, because God knows there is still an endless reservoir out there of hate, resentment and willingness to do anything at all to further their aims. Graham is only one face of it.
the whole fucking party is insane
Yes. And now, when (hopefully) enough people are sickened after watching the Trump incitement stuff at the impeachment, is the time for the Dem organisers to go all in for the 2022 senate races, a la Stacey Abrams. With a continuing program of brilliant, funny but pointed advertising (a la Lincoln Project) from now to then showing what is behind so many of the GOP’s ongoing moves. Every non-RWNJ billionaire should be clubbing together to fund such a public education ad campaign. If the Dems can only get a decent majority, maybe then will be their best chance to actually start putting nails in the TrumpGOP coffin. I say start, because God knows there is still an endless reservoir out there of hate, resentment and willingness to do anything at all to further their aims. Graham is only one face of it.
Every non-RWNJ billionaire should be clubbing together to fund such a public education ad campaign.
Overall, these super-rich types look to me to be rather stingy, and those leaning Dem would be doing more by deeply and permanently funding community organizing a la’ Stacey Abrams vs. big donations to their favorite candidates.
Every non-RWNJ billionaire should be clubbing together to fund such a public education ad campaign.
Overall, these super-rich types look to me to be rather stingy, and those leaning Dem would be doing more by deeply and permanently funding community organizing a la’ Stacey Abrams vs. big donations to their favorite candidates.
Every non-RWNJ billionaire should be clubbing together to fund such a public education ad campaign.
“(((Far-left liberal elites))) are plotting to indoctrinate American children!”
Every non-RWNJ billionaire should be clubbing together to fund such a public education ad campaign.
“(((Far-left liberal elites))) are plotting to indoctrinate American children!”
Well, bobbyp, I certainly agree on the community organising front, and about big donations to their favourite candidates. But I do think the ad campaign would be worth a go: something meticulously fact-checked, but funny and catchy, for every sneaky underhand chess move (if that isn’t giving them too much credit) of the GOP aimed to gerrymander, cheat, lay groundwork for illicit power grabs, smear prominent Dems etc etc. The non politics-obsessed (i.e. not us) public needs to be shown some of this stuff in action, while it’s happening or being mooted. And if that’s done in a funny, clever way for the next two years, maybe, maybe, it will move the needle a bit.
Well, bobbyp, I certainly agree on the community organising front, and about big donations to their favourite candidates. But I do think the ad campaign would be worth a go: something meticulously fact-checked, but funny and catchy, for every sneaky underhand chess move (if that isn’t giving them too much credit) of the GOP aimed to gerrymander, cheat, lay groundwork for illicit power grabs, smear prominent Dems etc etc. The non politics-obsessed (i.e. not us) public needs to be shown some of this stuff in action, while it’s happening or being mooted. And if that’s done in a funny, clever way for the next two years, maybe, maybe, it will move the needle a bit.
“(((Far-left liberal elites))) are plotting to indoctrinate American children!”
Of course, that is exactly what they would say. Which is why a) it would have to include some reasonable non-lefties (like wj – and there are a few around who have seen the light since the Trump phenomenon), and b) be fact-checked to hell and back, with immediate rebuttal tactics baked in.
“(((Far-left liberal elites))) are plotting to indoctrinate American children!”
Of course, that is exactly what they would say. Which is why a) it would have to include some reasonable non-lefties (like wj – and there are a few around who have seen the light since the Trump phenomenon), and b) be fact-checked to hell and back, with immediate rebuttal tactics baked in.
“(((Far-left liberal elites))) are plotting to indoctrinate American children!”
Nonsense! It’s far worse than that! They’re plotting to educate adults!
Oh, the horror!
“(((Far-left liberal elites))) are plotting to indoctrinate American children!”
Nonsense! It’s far worse than that! They’re plotting to educate adults!
Oh, the horror!
maybe, maybe, it will move the needle a bit.
Perhaps, but the early evidence does not look all that encouraging.
That, plus the idea of begging billionaires to open their wallets in the first place is a bit offensive to me, but that’s just me being a curmudgeon.
They could do both without breaking a sweat.
maybe, maybe, it will move the needle a bit.
Perhaps, but the early evidence does not look all that encouraging.
That, plus the idea of begging billionaires to open their wallets in the first place is a bit offensive to me, but that’s just me being a curmudgeon.
They could do both without breaking a sweat.
“The whole fucking party is insane.”
They are armed, racist, subhuman, conservative republican vermin.
They are EVIL.
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2021/02/the-christian-life-2
Kinzinger himself voted for Trump and voted with Trump and the malign conservative movement to murder Americans, his fellow Iowans, by removing their health care coverage.
Trump and his co-conspirators must be executed, put to certain death, via the constitutional rule of law for the attempted overthrow of the United States Government, or America does not go forward mercifully and in peace.
Murdoch News and the entire conservative fascist hate media machine must be removed from the face of the Earth.
“The whole fucking party is insane.”
They are armed, racist, subhuman, conservative republican vermin.
They are EVIL.
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2021/02/the-christian-life-2
Kinzinger himself voted for Trump and voted with Trump and the malign conservative movement to murder Americans, his fellow Iowans, by removing their health care coverage.
Trump and his co-conspirators must be executed, put to certain death, via the constitutional rule of law for the attempted overthrow of the United States Government, or America does not go forward mercifully and in peace.
Murdoch News and the entire conservative fascist hate media machine must be removed from the face of the Earth.
The Lincoln Project hits the shoals.
Money is power my friends, and power corrupts.
The Lincoln Project hits the shoals.
Money is power my friends, and power corrupts.
Kinzinger himself…
man, i could sure use a nice scolding about cancel culture.
Kinzinger himself…
man, i could sure use a nice scolding about cancel culture.
bobbyp: That, plus the idea of begging billionaires to open their wallets in the first place is a bit offensive to me, but that’s just me being a curmudgeon.
Whether you’re a curmudgeon or not, what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done than to beg the people who’ve grabbed most of it to part with a dribble or two.
It’s to the point where fundraising by nonprofits is often manipulative and sometimes outright dishonest. (“Time to renew” — six weeks after my previous donation, which wasn’t a subscription, i.e. renewable, in the first place.)
Take away my agency by lying to me — you will never see another dollar of mine. Luckily there are still plenty of people doing good work who have integrity as to both ends and means.
bobbyp: That, plus the idea of begging billionaires to open their wallets in the first place is a bit offensive to me, but that’s just me being a curmudgeon.
Whether you’re a curmudgeon or not, what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done than to beg the people who’ve grabbed most of it to part with a dribble or two.
It’s to the point where fundraising by nonprofits is often manipulative and sometimes outright dishonest. (“Time to renew” — six weeks after my previous donation, which wasn’t a subscription, i.e. renewable, in the first place.)
Take away my agency by lying to me — you will never see another dollar of mine. Luckily there are still plenty of people doing good work who have integrity as to both ends and means.
bobbyp: begging is not my style, but I take your point. Too bad their involvement would even be necessary, but where else would you get the dough for such an expensive, and long-term, campaign?
bobbyp: begging is not my style, but I take your point. Too bad their involvement would even be necessary, but where else would you get the dough for such an expensive, and long-term, campaign?
Whether you’re a curmudgeon or not, what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done than to beg the people who’ve grabbed most of it to part with a dribble or two.
As the resident (small c) commie, I agree wholeheartedly. My comment above was a deliberate understatement. Rage is the appropriate response.
but where else would you get the dough for such an expensive, and long-term, campaign?
Pass the hat? Vote with your feet? Move the goalposts? Steal more elections? The Bolsheviks robbed banks. But I kid. Like a good poker player with a limited bankroll, perhaps we just need to keep grinding it out and try to find the way.
All the best.
Whether you’re a curmudgeon or not, what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done than to beg the people who’ve grabbed most of it to part with a dribble or two.
As the resident (small c) commie, I agree wholeheartedly. My comment above was a deliberate understatement. Rage is the appropriate response.
but where else would you get the dough for such an expensive, and long-term, campaign?
Pass the hat? Vote with your feet? Move the goalposts? Steal more elections? The Bolsheviks robbed banks. But I kid. Like a good poker player with a limited bankroll, perhaps we just need to keep grinding it out and try to find the way.
All the best.
Janie: Whether you’re a curmudgeon or not, what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done than to beg the people who’ve grabbed most of it to part with a dribble or two.
bobby: As the resident (small c) commie, I agree wholeheartedly.
And as the resident (except when McKinney is stopping by) conservative, I agree as well. Plutocracy sits badly with democracy. And the wealth concentration we see is bad for us.** Bad politically. Bad economically. Bad all the way around. There’s really no excuse for it.
** That concentration is bad for the plutocrats as well. There aren’t enough hours in the day for them to actually use it all. And history makes rather clear that sufficient concentration, which we have achieved, is routinely followed by forced redistribution in some form. Very often accompanied by plutocratic corpses.
Janie: Whether you’re a curmudgeon or not, what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done than to beg the people who’ve grabbed most of it to part with a dribble or two.
bobby: As the resident (small c) commie, I agree wholeheartedly.
And as the resident (except when McKinney is stopping by) conservative, I agree as well. Plutocracy sits badly with democracy. And the wealth concentration we see is bad for us.** Bad politically. Bad economically. Bad all the way around. There’s really no excuse for it.
** That concentration is bad for the plutocrats as well. There aren’t enough hours in the day for them to actually use it all. And history makes rather clear that sufficient concentration, which we have achieved, is routinely followed by forced redistribution in some form. Very often accompanied by plutocratic corpses.
Seems like a good moment to give a link to three of my grad school comrades saying smart things about the language of economics and financial literacy as a narrative mode. Touches on Mark Twain, Game Stop, Game of Thrones, etc. on Matt Seybold’s podcast:
https://marktwainstudies.com/robinhood/
Seems like a good moment to give a link to three of my grad school comrades saying smart things about the language of economics and financial literacy as a narrative mode. Touches on Mark Twain, Game Stop, Game of Thrones, etc. on Matt Seybold’s podcast:
https://marktwainstudies.com/robinhood/
what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done
Very true, and I really hope it goes without saying that my idea was to use this theoretical billionaire-provided dough to produce results which would enable the Dems to win a decent majority, thus allowing them to start putting in place policies to (among other desirable outcomes) address the increasingly obscene concentration of wealth.
what’s really offensive is that wealth is so obscenely concentrated that there’s no other way to get enough money to get things done
Very true, and I really hope it goes without saying that my idea was to use this theoretical billionaire-provided dough to produce results which would enable the Dems to win a decent majority, thus allowing them to start putting in place policies to (among other desirable outcomes) address the increasingly obscene concentration of wealth.
Thanks, nous. Henwood’s Wall Street, How it Works is a classic.
Thanks, nous. Henwood’s Wall Street, How it Works is a classic.
Sen. Graham is a nose in desperate need of a butt crack.
I know too much history to underestimate the harm that Republicans can do–while all the while asserting that they are respectable, patriotic, moral, and law abiding (white) people.
Sen. Graham is a nose in desperate need of a butt crack.
I know too much history to underestimate the harm that Republicans can do–while all the while asserting that they are respectable, patriotic, moral, and law abiding (white) people.
And history makes rather clear that sufficient concentration, which we have achieved, is routinely followed by forced redistribution in some form. Very often accompanied by plutocratic corpses.
I guess The Netherlands is really in dutch then.
And history makes rather clear that sufficient concentration, which we have achieved, is routinely followed by forced redistribution in some form. Very often accompanied by plutocratic corpses.
I guess The Netherlands is really in dutch then.
https://brill.com/view/book/9789004416451/BP000008.xml
He who fails to understand history is condemned to read Reason…
https://brill.com/view/book/9789004416451/BP000008.xml
He who fails to understand history is condemned to read Reason…
As a Pennsylvania GOP official put it: We did not send Toomey to Hill ‘to do the right thing’
Which reminds me of Futurama: Leela: “Fry, stop doing the right thing!” (when Fry is in the process of bringing the price of stocks that the Planet Express crew just got filthy rich on crashing down by making an honest proclamation about certain details)
And Newsmax declares Romney to be a full blown communist. Which brings to mind a certain quote from The Manchurian Candidate.
As a Pennsylvania GOP official put it: We did not send Toomey to Hill ‘to do the right thing’
Which reminds me of Futurama: Leela: “Fry, stop doing the right thing!” (when Fry is in the process of bringing the price of stocks that the Planet Express crew just got filthy rich on crashing down by making an honest proclamation about certain details)
And Newsmax declares Romney to be a full blown communist. Which brings to mind a certain quote from The Manchurian Candidate.
Just noticed that wj already quoted the Pennsylvania GOPster in the other thread.
Just noticed that wj already quoted the Pennsylvania GOPster in the other thread.
This is a very good essay with which I have a degree of agreement.
https://www.niskanencenter.org/in-search-of-civic-virtue-part-two/
This is a very good essay with which I have a degree of agreement.
https://www.niskanencenter.org/in-search-of-civic-virtue-part-two/
Even Trump gets it right occasionally:
Trump attacks McConnell as ‘political hack’
Even Trump gets it right occasionally:
Trump attacks McConnell as ‘political hack’
How wonderful to have a true libertarian as your elected official
Texas mayor tells residents to fend for themselves during power outage: ‘Only the strong will survive’
How wonderful to have a true libertarian as your elected official
Texas mayor tells residents to fend for themselves during power outage: ‘Only the strong will survive’
Just in case nobody mentioned it yet, the Georgia GOP/the legislature now tries to change the state constitution in a hurry to prevent the calling of a grand jury to look into Jabbabonk’s attempts to pressure Georgia election officials to change the election results in his favor. The change is deliberately narrow to cover only potential election related crimes.
Meanwhile, the GOP dominated Kentucky legislature is preparing a bill that would prevent the (currently Dem) governor from appointing a new senator should one of the current ones have to be replaced (Mitch is not the youngest anymore, you know, also not very popular at the moment).
One could discuss this on principle (should it be the governor, the legislature or the people via special election?) but this is obviously just another one of the many “change the law to take power away from an elected position, should a Dem unexpectedly get it, and restore it once it is in GOP hands again” cases.
Just in case nobody mentioned it yet, the Georgia GOP/the legislature now tries to change the state constitution in a hurry to prevent the calling of a grand jury to look into Jabbabonk’s attempts to pressure Georgia election officials to change the election results in his favor. The change is deliberately narrow to cover only potential election related crimes.
Meanwhile, the GOP dominated Kentucky legislature is preparing a bill that would prevent the (currently Dem) governor from appointing a new senator should one of the current ones have to be replaced (Mitch is not the youngest anymore, you know, also not very popular at the moment).
One could discuss this on principle (should it be the governor, the legislature or the people via special election?) but this is obviously just another one of the many “change the law to take power away from an elected position, should a Dem unexpectedly get it, and restore it once it is in GOP hands again” cases.
Texas officials also blame it all on wind turbines. To which one has to say:
1. that amounts to just 13% of the power lost
2. other states install defreezing mechanisms in theirs and don’t have the problem
3. the main loss of power is due to fossil fuel installations (in particlaur natural gas wellheads) failing in the cold
4. the deregulation of the energy market led to nearly nonexistent reserve capacities and allowed companies to insta-hike the prices, so rolling blackouts were necessary to prevent financial ruin of the consumers.
Texas officials also blame it all on wind turbines. To which one has to say:
1. that amounts to just 13% of the power lost
2. other states install defreezing mechanisms in theirs and don’t have the problem
3. the main loss of power is due to fossil fuel installations (in particlaur natural gas wellheads) failing in the cold
4. the deregulation of the energy market led to nearly nonexistent reserve capacities and allowed companies to insta-hike the prices, so rolling blackouts were necessary to prevent financial ruin of the consumers.
Texas officials also blame it all on wind turbines.
The Governor of Texas also included some blame for the Green New Deal.
Texas officials also blame it all on wind turbines.
The Governor of Texas also included some blame for the Green New Deal.
“Only the strong will survive.”
Funny sort of thing to say to a massively-armed population such as the conservative movement subhumans have conjured in West Texas, where, we are told, they likeses their gunses, the malignant bacteria.
Makes you think maybe these filthy fake christian libertarians really DON’T believe they taste very good to we child-molesting cannibals on the wrong side of the tracks, seeing as how by the weekend, meat supplies might be running low in Colorado City and the former Mayor and his overfed family might start looking like a meal to the freezing inhabitants.
After all, the Donners didn’t call it a Party solely because of the door prizes.
I’d counsel the townsfolk to not consume the Mayor’s rat meat children in the meantime, as the sun will be out in a week or so and the subhuman lying Governor in his subsidized wheelchair can commence to crawling to the next fossil-fueled monkey-butts he needs to kiss.
Maybe he’ll accidentally attach his tongue to one of them now frozen natural gas valves as he licks his funding sources and will be forced to shut his fascist republican gob for a while.
“Only the strong will survive.”
Funny sort of thing to say to a massively-armed population such as the conservative movement subhumans have conjured in West Texas, where, we are told, they likeses their gunses, the malignant bacteria.
Makes you think maybe these filthy fake christian libertarians really DON’T believe they taste very good to we child-molesting cannibals on the wrong side of the tracks, seeing as how by the weekend, meat supplies might be running low in Colorado City and the former Mayor and his overfed family might start looking like a meal to the freezing inhabitants.
After all, the Donners didn’t call it a Party solely because of the door prizes.
I’d counsel the townsfolk to not consume the Mayor’s rat meat children in the meantime, as the sun will be out in a week or so and the subhuman lying Governor in his subsidized wheelchair can commence to crawling to the next fossil-fueled monkey-butts he needs to kiss.
Maybe he’ll accidentally attach his tongue to one of them now frozen natural gas valves as he licks his funding sources and will be forced to shut his fascist republican gob for a while.
I think I already knew about this circumstance from our good friend Michael Cain.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/16/business/texas-power-energy-nightmare/index.html
I think I already knew about this circumstance from our good friend Michael Cain.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/16/business/texas-power-energy-nightmare/index.html
Don’t mess with Texas? The Republic of Texas, if you can keep it?
Don’t mess with Texas? The Republic of Texas, if you can keep it?
Viewpoints like this drive me to despair, as they show that no matter how much shit America is made to forcibly swallow from Donald Trump, we don’t get his fundamental evil self.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-faces-a-huge-number-of-lawsuits-harvard-expert-larry-tribe-151741167.html
The sheer hateful vengeful Roy Cohn fun of it for the monster will if anything lengthen his lifespan.
He’ll be a groundhog in clover, a pig in mud, a freshly evolved spiked pandemic virus laying waste to our cells.
He can’t wait, and neither can his subhuman acolytes.
Do we think he views THIS as a defeat, as a failure?
https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Former-Trump-casino-where-stars-played-going-out-15955910.php
It WAS the plan.
And such it is for America.
There WILL be a future President who is worse that #45, ‘cept of course for all those others who were worse, we’re told.
His name is Donald Trump, unless what needs to be done is done.
Viewpoints like this drive me to despair, as they show that no matter how much shit America is made to forcibly swallow from Donald Trump, we don’t get his fundamental evil self.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-faces-a-huge-number-of-lawsuits-harvard-expert-larry-tribe-151741167.html
The sheer hateful vengeful Roy Cohn fun of it for the monster will if anything lengthen his lifespan.
He’ll be a groundhog in clover, a pig in mud, a freshly evolved spiked pandemic virus laying waste to our cells.
He can’t wait, and neither can his subhuman acolytes.
Do we think he views THIS as a defeat, as a failure?
https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Former-Trump-casino-where-stars-played-going-out-15955910.php
It WAS the plan.
And such it is for America.
There WILL be a future President who is worse that #45, ‘cept of course for all those others who were worse, we’re told.
His name is Donald Trump, unless what needs to be done is done.
How wonderful to have a true libertarian as your elected official
the gentleman in question has apparently resigned.
I am grateful for any signs of sanity I can find.
“When it comes to electricity, what happens in Texas stays in Texas,” Cohan said. “That has really come back to bite us.”
It’s not gonna stop until you wise up.
That’s how the song goes, anyway.
How wonderful to have a true libertarian as your elected official
the gentleman in question has apparently resigned.
I am grateful for any signs of sanity I can find.
“When it comes to electricity, what happens in Texas stays in Texas,” Cohan said. “That has really come back to bite us.”
It’s not gonna stop until you wise up.
That’s how the song goes, anyway.
Unlike other states, Texas has made a conscious decision to isolate its grid from the rest of the country.
That means that when things are running smoothly, Texas can’t export excess power to neighboring states. And in the current crisis, it can’t import power either.
In fairness, it should perhaps be noted that, in the current situation, the rest of the country doesn’t actually have excess power that Texas could import.
Texas biggest problem is that they chose to go for cheap power, rather than reliable power. Although I have to say, having your supply fragile enough that one of their two nuclear power plants shut down from the cold seems really excessive.
Unlike other states, Texas has made a conscious decision to isolate its grid from the rest of the country.
That means that when things are running smoothly, Texas can’t export excess power to neighboring states. And in the current crisis, it can’t import power either.
In fairness, it should perhaps be noted that, in the current situation, the rest of the country doesn’t actually have excess power that Texas could import.
Texas biggest problem is that they chose to go for cheap power, rather than reliable power. Although I have to say, having your supply fragile enough that one of their two nuclear power plants shut down from the cold seems really excessive.
I haven’t heard a single thank you yet from Comanche Texans for Joe Biden declaring their disaster area a disaster area, seeing as how the riffraff they send to Washington regularly vote down such help for other less exceptional, but more elite parts of the country and Trump regularly delayed and refused relief for those HE hated.
Biden seems to abide by the old values wherein Texans are Americans too, despite the insurrectionist, secessionist disavowals from the State’s worst.
It’s tough theseadays to reinstate the old bygone norms, particularly when undeserved.
Send the United Nations to Texas and sandbag the entire place. Call it Operation Conspiracy.
I’m surprised their Lieutenant Governor, the murderer, hasn’t encouraged the state’s infirm elders to just lie down in snowdrifts and freeze themselves to death on behalf of God’s murderous will …. and so his family can hog more of the natural gas reserves.
I haven’t heard a single thank you yet from Comanche Texans for Joe Biden declaring their disaster area a disaster area, seeing as how the riffraff they send to Washington regularly vote down such help for other less exceptional, but more elite parts of the country and Trump regularly delayed and refused relief for those HE hated.
Biden seems to abide by the old values wherein Texans are Americans too, despite the insurrectionist, secessionist disavowals from the State’s worst.
It’s tough theseadays to reinstate the old bygone norms, particularly when undeserved.
Send the United Nations to Texas and sandbag the entire place. Call it Operation Conspiracy.
I’m surprised their Lieutenant Governor, the murderer, hasn’t encouraged the state’s infirm elders to just lie down in snowdrifts and freeze themselves to death on behalf of God’s murderous will …. and so his family can hog more of the natural gas reserves.
Limbaugh is dead.
and as they say: nothing of value was lost
Limbaugh is dead.
and as they say: nothing of value was lost
Interesting take from Chris Hayes.
Interesting take from Chris Hayes.
Limbaugh is dead.
Trump Plaza in Atlantic City was demolished today. 3,000 sticks of dynamite.
I try not to read too much into these things, all things must pass in the end.
But I’m grateful for any sign of sanity I can find.
Limbaugh is dead.
Trump Plaza in Atlantic City was demolished today. 3,000 sticks of dynamite.
I try not to read too much into these things, all things must pass in the end.
But I’m grateful for any sign of sanity I can find.
On Hayes’ article. I wonder to what extent the growth of right-wing radicalism against democracy is due to the fact that they can see that they have lost the ideological battle on many of the issues that they care about.
It doesn’t hit home just because a conservative economist says “We’re all Keynesians now.” But when tolerance for varied sexual orientations, or interracial marriages, becomes usual? That hits a lot of people where they live.
On Hayes’ article. I wonder to what extent the growth of right-wing radicalism against democracy is due to the fact that they can see that they have lost the ideological battle on many of the issues that they care about.
It doesn’t hit home just because a conservative economist says “We’re all Keynesians now.” But when tolerance for varied sexual orientations, or interracial marriages, becomes usual? That hits a lot of people where they live.
From a Limbaugh death announcement:
“As so many of you know, losing a loved one is terribly difficult, even more so when that loved one is larger than life,”
Well, he did have a weight problem all his bitter life. It’ll take two coffins to secure his remains, one for his mouth and the other for the rest.
Michael Fox, Sandra Fluke, the millions who died of AIDS and Covid-19 send their thoughts and prayers.
The article also noted his founding role in conservative “info-tainment”, which seems an injustice that overlooks the considerable contributions of Pravda, Tokyo Rose, the Goebbels media empire, and Radio Kymer Rouge.
When I recite to myself all of the names of celebrity figures we’ve lost over the past year, only Phil Spector seems on a par with Limbaugh’s infamy, but Manson, Stalin, and John Wilkes Booth got away with murder in other years, so they don’t count.
I’d suggest Biden issue an Executive Order which taxes Limbaugh’s estate, mostly stolen off the back of American fairness and decency, at 200% of its value .. never would Death be so happy to be taxed … all of his and an extra 100% to be collected from Trump’s misbegotten winnings.
No doubt a tree of liberty and freedumb will be planted near his resting place, under which the the Medal of Freedumb will lay moldering, and I look forward to visiting for a long, satisfying watering of it from my bladder of payback in kind.
I regret only that the villain didn’t live long enough for me to punch his lights out.
He took the coward’s way out.
How politically correct of him.
From a Limbaugh death announcement:
“As so many of you know, losing a loved one is terribly difficult, even more so when that loved one is larger than life,”
Well, he did have a weight problem all his bitter life. It’ll take two coffins to secure his remains, one for his mouth and the other for the rest.
Michael Fox, Sandra Fluke, the millions who died of AIDS and Covid-19 send their thoughts and prayers.
The article also noted his founding role in conservative “info-tainment”, which seems an injustice that overlooks the considerable contributions of Pravda, Tokyo Rose, the Goebbels media empire, and Radio Kymer Rouge.
When I recite to myself all of the names of celebrity figures we’ve lost over the past year, only Phil Spector seems on a par with Limbaugh’s infamy, but Manson, Stalin, and John Wilkes Booth got away with murder in other years, so they don’t count.
I’d suggest Biden issue an Executive Order which taxes Limbaugh’s estate, mostly stolen off the back of American fairness and decency, at 200% of its value .. never would Death be so happy to be taxed … all of his and an extra 100% to be collected from Trump’s misbegotten winnings.
No doubt a tree of liberty and freedumb will be planted near his resting place, under which the the Medal of Freedumb will lay moldering, and I look forward to visiting for a long, satisfying watering of it from my bladder of payback in kind.
I regret only that the villain didn’t live long enough for me to punch his lights out.
He took the coward’s way out.
How politically correct of him.
“I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.” – Mark Twain
“I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.” – Mark Twain
“I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.”
Moi aussi.
Further to which, Biden will eventually have to decide (not that it’s his most consequentially pressing issue) whether to retire the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and then issue the new award to all previous winners excepting most (all? were there any reasonable ones?) of Trump’s, plus any new ones on which he decides. I really cannot imagine that any living eminent Americans would want to accept an award which is shared by the revolting likes of Limbaugh et al.
“I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.”
Moi aussi.
Further to which, Biden will eventually have to decide (not that it’s his most consequentially pressing issue) whether to retire the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and then issue the new award to all previous winners excepting most (all? were there any reasonable ones?) of Trump’s, plus any new ones on which he decides. I really cannot imagine that any living eminent Americans would want to accept an award which is shared by the revolting likes of Limbaugh et al.
I regret only that the villain didn’t live long enough for me to punch his lights out.
On the other hand, how much longer would we have had to suffer waiting for you? No offense intended, of course.
I regret only that the villain didn’t live long enough for me to punch his lights out.
On the other hand, how much longer would we have had to suffer waiting for you? No offense intended, of course.
A little something from President Biden’s town hall today.
Apparently, it was all pretty dull. Unless you are interested in facts and substance, rather than soaring** rhetoric.
** Really need a better word. Like “soaring,” but for swimming thru sewage.
A little something from President Biden’s town hall today.
Apparently, it was all pretty dull. Unless you are interested in facts and substance, rather than soaring** rhetoric.
** Really need a better word. Like “soaring,” but for swimming thru sewage.
Unlike other states, Texas has made a conscious decision to isolate its grid from the rest of the country.
Seems to me worth noting that the decision was made long ago. Latter half of the 1930s, if I recall, when the feds only regulated electricity if interstate commerce was involved. Reinforced during WWII when Houston and the East Texas oil fields were a critical resource and no one wanted to potentially disrupt the grid. There are a couple of AC-DC-AC interties between the Texas Interconnect and the Eastern, but they don’t carry very much power. The proposed Tres Amigas superstation would connect all three grids at much higher power levels. My understanding is that Texas originally supported the idea because then they could import power from other parts of the southern Great Plain. And that they no longer support it because the more likely outcome would be West Texas wind and solar power being exported towards the very lucrative Southern California market.
Unlike other states, Texas has made a conscious decision to isolate its grid from the rest of the country.
Seems to me worth noting that the decision was made long ago. Latter half of the 1930s, if I recall, when the feds only regulated electricity if interstate commerce was involved. Reinforced during WWII when Houston and the East Texas oil fields were a critical resource and no one wanted to potentially disrupt the grid. There are a couple of AC-DC-AC interties between the Texas Interconnect and the Eastern, but they don’t carry very much power. The proposed Tres Amigas superstation would connect all three grids at much higher power levels. My understanding is that Texas originally supported the idea because then they could import power from other parts of the southern Great Plain. And that they no longer support it because the more likely outcome would be West Texas wind and solar power being exported towards the very lucrative Southern California market.
That, plus the idea of begging billionaires to open their wallets in the first place is a bit offensive to me, but that’s just me being a curmudgeon.
Not beg, ask them to invest. Back in 2004, a couple of political activists approached four Colorado near-billionaires with a plan to capture the state legislature and governor’s office over two election cycles. Each of the rich folks had their own progressive interest, but bought into the plan to elect Democrats first, convince those Democrats about specific policies as necessary second. The rich folks cheerfully bought into the idea and became the so-called Gang of Four. Part of the enthusiasm was that the focus was local; part of it was that little of the money went directly to the party; and part of it was that there were real plans.
Colorado was going to swing blue eventually anyway, but the Gang certainly sped things up.
That, plus the idea of begging billionaires to open their wallets in the first place is a bit offensive to me, but that’s just me being a curmudgeon.
Not beg, ask them to invest. Back in 2004, a couple of political activists approached four Colorado near-billionaires with a plan to capture the state legislature and governor’s office over two election cycles. Each of the rich folks had their own progressive interest, but bought into the plan to elect Democrats first, convince those Democrats about specific policies as necessary second. The rich folks cheerfully bought into the idea and became the so-called Gang of Four. Part of the enthusiasm was that the focus was local; part of it was that little of the money went directly to the party; and part of it was that there were real plans.
Colorado was going to swing blue eventually anyway, but the Gang certainly sped things up.
Not beg, ask them to invest.
Interesting story, Michael Cain, and certainly the way any sane vaguely centre-left billionaire should look at the principle. And not only should: we have seen various stories over the last decade or so of very rich people coming out and saying that great wealth inequality is a huge threat to society in general, and to the rich as well. Financing initiatives designed to help Dems get into power in order to enact laws to address this (among other desirable changes) seems a no-brainer for people of that kind.
Not beg, ask them to invest.
Interesting story, Michael Cain, and certainly the way any sane vaguely centre-left billionaire should look at the principle. And not only should: we have seen various stories over the last decade or so of very rich people coming out and saying that great wealth inequality is a huge threat to society in general, and to the rich as well. Financing initiatives designed to help Dems get into power in order to enact laws to address this (among other desirable changes) seems a no-brainer for people of that kind.
There’s nothing he would say that was abstract or intellectual in any way. It was all extremely visceral: There was this transcendent evil behind the scenes that wanted to destroy you.
It just shows the viciousness of this person, and how badly he deranged our public life: People were literally being taught that nothing liberals could do, nothing Democrats could do, could be anything but a diabolical conspiracy to destroy them.
From an article/interview with Rick Perlstein in today’s WaPo, examining Limbaugh’s influence on today’s rightwing:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/17/rick-perlstein-rush-limbaugh-death-legacy/
There’s nothing he would say that was abstract or intellectual in any way. It was all extremely visceral: There was this transcendent evil behind the scenes that wanted to destroy you.
It just shows the viciousness of this person, and how badly he deranged our public life: People were literally being taught that nothing liberals could do, nothing Democrats could do, could be anything but a diabolical conspiracy to destroy them.
From an article/interview with Rick Perlstein in today’s WaPo, examining Limbaugh’s influence on today’s rightwing:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/17/rick-perlstein-rush-limbaugh-death-legacy/
very very few are as culpable for today’s absolutely insane GOP as Limbaugh. only Gingrich and Ailes compare.
very very few are as culpable for today’s absolutely insane GOP as Limbaugh. only Gingrich and Ailes compare.
WaPo perfectly in line with the post-mortem at Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/rush-limbaugh-dead-trump-ruined-america-1129222
WaPo perfectly in line with the post-mortem at Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/rush-limbaugh-dead-trump-ruined-america-1129222
very very few are as culpable for today’s absolutely insane GOP as Limbaugh. only Gingrich and Ailes compare.
Hard agree.
very very few are as culpable for today’s absolutely insane GOP as Limbaugh. only Gingrich and Ailes compare.
Hard agree.
Also, as I have often demonstrated, I am somewhat obsessed with the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine and its effect in empowering this kind of thing. I read something earlier which went into this much more with regard to Limbaugh, but cannot now find it easily. However, from a piece in the NYT:
The doctrine, which required stations to provide free airtime for responses to controversial opinions they broadcast, was repealed in 1987, and Mr. Limbaugh proclaimed himself liberated. He moved to New York City in 1988 and, in partnership with Edward F. McLaughlin, a former president of the ABC radio network, began his nationally syndicated show on ABC’s radio stations.
Also, as I have often demonstrated, I am somewhat obsessed with the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine and its effect in empowering this kind of thing. I read something earlier which went into this much more with regard to Limbaugh, but cannot now find it easily. However, from a piece in the NYT:
The doctrine, which required stations to provide free airtime for responses to controversial opinions they broadcast, was repealed in 1987, and Mr. Limbaugh proclaimed himself liberated. He moved to New York City in 1988 and, in partnership with Edward F. McLaughlin, a former president of the ABC radio network, began his nationally syndicated show on ABC’s radio stations.
We used to have a Fairness Doctrine.
It was based on the idea that broadcast media used bandwidth that was a finite and naturally occurring resource, which therefore should be managed as a commons by public actors, and which was licensed to broadcasters by those public actors.
In return for their ability to use this publicly managed resource, and make lots of money therefrom, broadcasters were considered to have a responsibility to the public. They were expected to make some amount of airtime available for public interest announcements and programming, and were required to provide air time for people to respond to controversial opinions aired on their channels.
If there is one thing that characterizes the last 40 years of American life, it is the utter loss and discrediting of the kinds of concepts and principles I’ve just described.
They are considered to be encroachments on individual rights.
Which gives us notable toads like Limbaugh.
We shit the bed, as the colloquial saying goes, and now we get to lie in it, while claiming to be utterly at a loss as to where that foul stink is coming from.
It’s not gonna stop until we wise up.
We used to have a Fairness Doctrine.
It was based on the idea that broadcast media used bandwidth that was a finite and naturally occurring resource, which therefore should be managed as a commons by public actors, and which was licensed to broadcasters by those public actors.
In return for their ability to use this publicly managed resource, and make lots of money therefrom, broadcasters were considered to have a responsibility to the public. They were expected to make some amount of airtime available for public interest announcements and programming, and were required to provide air time for people to respond to controversial opinions aired on their channels.
If there is one thing that characterizes the last 40 years of American life, it is the utter loss and discrediting of the kinds of concepts and principles I’ve just described.
They are considered to be encroachments on individual rights.
Which gives us notable toads like Limbaugh.
We shit the bed, as the colloquial saying goes, and now we get to lie in it, while claiming to be utterly at a loss as to where that foul stink is coming from.
It’s not gonna stop until we wise up.
I agree about the Fairness Doctrine: the line from Nixon to Reagan to Trump has always been quite clear. It’s why being a Democrat, even a ham sandwich Democrat, has always (during my voting years) been the right thing to do.
I agree about the Fairness Doctrine: the line from Nixon to Reagan to Trump has always been quite clear. It’s why being a Democrat, even a ham sandwich Democrat, has always (during my voting years) been the right thing to do.
We used to have a Fairness Doctrine.
The Fairness Doctrine was passed in 1959. Kennedy used it to go after radio stations that were critical of him and his administration. Nixon used it to hammer on the TV networks.
It became a political cudgel to be used by whoever was in power to pound on their foes in the media.
Many in broadcasting avoided the pain and expense of abiding by the doctrine by avoiding any discussion of controversial subjects.
We used to have a Fairness Doctrine.
The Fairness Doctrine was passed in 1959. Kennedy used it to go after radio stations that were critical of him and his administration. Nixon used it to hammer on the TV networks.
It became a political cudgel to be used by whoever was in power to pound on their foes in the media.
Many in broadcasting avoided the pain and expense of abiding by the doctrine by avoiding any discussion of controversial subjects.
The Fairness Doctrine was passed in 1959.
1949.
The Fairness Doctrine was passed in 1959.
1949.
Kennedy used it to go after radio stations that were critical of him and his administration. Nixon used it to hammer on the TV networks.
In what way, and to what effect?
Many in broadcasting avoided the pain and expense of abiding by the doctrine by avoiding any discussion of controversial subjects.
No, they didn’t avoid pain and expense; “many” (whoever that is) perhaps abided by the doctrine that way. There were certainly discussions of Vietnam (very critical – some credit it for ending the war), protest movements generally, hippies, drugs, “the sexual revolution”, hunger in America, racism. What was missing? If your answer is Pro-Nazis, that was less of a thing (although they existed, for sure) because the WWII veterans might have said Nah.
Kennedy used it to go after radio stations that were critical of him and his administration. Nixon used it to hammer on the TV networks.
In what way, and to what effect?
Many in broadcasting avoided the pain and expense of abiding by the doctrine by avoiding any discussion of controversial subjects.
No, they didn’t avoid pain and expense; “many” (whoever that is) perhaps abided by the doctrine that way. There were certainly discussions of Vietnam (very critical – some credit it for ending the war), protest movements generally, hippies, drugs, “the sexual revolution”, hunger in America, racism. What was missing? If your answer is Pro-Nazis, that was less of a thing (although they existed, for sure) because the WWII veterans might have said Nah.
Someone or other will be along soon to advise us that we MUST take the high road here and not stoop to the lows that Limbaugh and company so ruthlessly trained America in, that we are showing are true nasty colors, for we liberals are, after all, child-molesting cannibals who never saw a tax they didn’t like.
I prefer to think Limbaugh brought the best out in us, like Stalin brought the best out in Ukrainians and Hitler improved train travel in eastern Europe and showed Stalingrad how to rise to the occasion.
And like abusive bullies learn their habits from their abusive parents or violent uncle and go on to make everyone miserable.
Never fear, there are an deep state entire roster of well-funded scum conservative insurrectionist loud-mouthed subhuman haters maneuvering to crown themselves Limbaugh’s successor.
They are on the phones to their agents as we speak, fondling their weapons, and thinking up new ways to say “KILL Liberals!” and “Kill Government!” over the airwaves and then claiming political correctness when challenged.
Along about the time the Fairness Doctrine was retracted, I adjusted to the new Unfairness Doctrine pretty quickly, riding it bareback over fence lines and keeping up with the trick-riding lying subhumans.
As with metastatic lung cancer, it can work to our advantage as well.
I never advanced to actually monetizing my unfairness as Limbaugh did magnificently, like any old bullshit Prosperity Gospel fake Christian, while keeping everyone (by which I mean subhuman dumb conservatives) off balance with the “Hey, I’m just a comedian” schtick, like a concentration camp guard making balloon animals for their prey freshly disembarking from trains and requesting the kids pull their fingers for hilarious Nazi farting.
1/6 was to Limbaugh like the rotting head and body of a monkey sewed to the rotting tail of a fish … The FeeGee Mermaid … was to P.T. Barnum: a crowning legacy.
And now we can say “This way to The Egress, Asshole” to Limbaugh and know that he fell for it.
Time to advance to the Ruthless Doctrine by first deporting Murdoch on one of those 737s that haven’t yet had their deep dive algorithms corrected.
Someone or other will be along soon to advise us that we MUST take the high road here and not stoop to the lows that Limbaugh and company so ruthlessly trained America in, that we are showing are true nasty colors, for we liberals are, after all, child-molesting cannibals who never saw a tax they didn’t like.
I prefer to think Limbaugh brought the best out in us, like Stalin brought the best out in Ukrainians and Hitler improved train travel in eastern Europe and showed Stalingrad how to rise to the occasion.
And like abusive bullies learn their habits from their abusive parents or violent uncle and go on to make everyone miserable.
Never fear, there are an deep state entire roster of well-funded scum conservative insurrectionist loud-mouthed subhuman haters maneuvering to crown themselves Limbaugh’s successor.
They are on the phones to their agents as we speak, fondling their weapons, and thinking up new ways to say “KILL Liberals!” and “Kill Government!” over the airwaves and then claiming political correctness when challenged.
Along about the time the Fairness Doctrine was retracted, I adjusted to the new Unfairness Doctrine pretty quickly, riding it bareback over fence lines and keeping up with the trick-riding lying subhumans.
As with metastatic lung cancer, it can work to our advantage as well.
I never advanced to actually monetizing my unfairness as Limbaugh did magnificently, like any old bullshit Prosperity Gospel fake Christian, while keeping everyone (by which I mean subhuman dumb conservatives) off balance with the “Hey, I’m just a comedian” schtick, like a concentration camp guard making balloon animals for their prey freshly disembarking from trains and requesting the kids pull their fingers for hilarious Nazi farting.
1/6 was to Limbaugh like the rotting head and body of a monkey sewed to the rotting tail of a fish … The FeeGee Mermaid … was to P.T. Barnum: a crowning legacy.
And now we can say “This way to The Egress, Asshole” to Limbaugh and know that he fell for it.
Time to advance to the Ruthless Doctrine by first deporting Murdoch on one of those 737s that haven’t yet had their deep dive algorithms corrected.
In what way, and to what effect?
“Second, the Reuthers recommended using the Federal Communications Commission to pressure radio station owners. The FCC had a set of rules known as the “Fairness Doctrine,” which had been created a few years previously to encourage station owners to air multiple points of view on any given issue of public importance, including on current events and political questions. If a station aired a conservative broadcaster’s attack on, say, Kennedy’s proposed Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in the summer of 1963, then proponents of the treaty could demand free response time. Doing so would create a burden on station owners, who might be reluctant to air conservative programming at all in the future.
You can find the full story of how the Kennedy administration implemented the Reuther Memorandum’s recommendations in my book, but suffice it to say here that the counter‐Radio Right campaign was an astonishing success. The administration went on to create a series of front organizations to launder cash from allied interest groups and to create the facade of public support for silencing Right-wing radio. They leveraged the threat of lodging Fairness Doctrine complaints against recalcitrant radio stations into free airtime for pro-administration voices. And even after Kennedy’s assassination, the effort continued under the auspices of the Democratic National Committee, the US Senate Commerce Committee, and, later, the National Council of Churches.
By the late 1960s, radio stations had begun dropping conservative programming en masse. For example, Carl McIntire’s radio show had aired on at least 475 stations in 1964 but was reduced to 183 stations by 1967. It would not be until after the Carter administration relaxed enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine in the late‐1970s (followed by its formal repeal under the Reagan administration) that the Radio Right would re-emerge as a significant force in national politics.”
John F. Kennedy Did What Donald Trump Only Wishes He Could Do: Rules to promote “fairness” or prevent “discrimination” can all too easily turn into tools for gaining partisan advantage at the expense of free speech, a free press, and a functioning democracy.
“In memos written in 1970 and unearthed by the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973, senior administration officials bragged about exerting “an inhibiting impact on the networks,” in part by invoking the real threat of regulatory retaliation. Former White House counsel and eventual Watergate convict Chuck Colson crowed about personally pressuring executives from each network, reporting that they were “very much afraid of us and are trying hard to prove they are the ‘good guys.'”
“These meetings had a very salutary effect,” Colson wrote, “in letting them know that we are determined to protect the President’s position that we know precisely what is going on from the standpoint of both law and policy and that we are not going to permit them to get away with anything that interferes with the President’s ability to communicate….The harder I pressed them, the more accommodating, cordial, and almost apologetic they became.”
Colson’s main policy weapon was the same one many contemporary Trump-opposing media nostalgiacs want to bring back: the Fairness Doctrine. That Federal Communications Commission rule—inaugurated in 1949, enshrined by the unanimous Supreme Court decision Red Lion Broadcasting Co., Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission in 1969, abandoned in 1987, and finally struck from the books in 2011—required broadcast license-holders to air pieces on controversial news topics and allow for opposing viewpoints to be heard.”
Richard Nixon Probably Would Not Have Been Saved by Fox News: The 37th president used the then-stronger tools of media regulation to manipulate the far more centralized 1970s news industry in ways that Donald Trump can only fantasize about.
In what way, and to what effect?
“Second, the Reuthers recommended using the Federal Communications Commission to pressure radio station owners. The FCC had a set of rules known as the “Fairness Doctrine,” which had been created a few years previously to encourage station owners to air multiple points of view on any given issue of public importance, including on current events and political questions. If a station aired a conservative broadcaster’s attack on, say, Kennedy’s proposed Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in the summer of 1963, then proponents of the treaty could demand free response time. Doing so would create a burden on station owners, who might be reluctant to air conservative programming at all in the future.
You can find the full story of how the Kennedy administration implemented the Reuther Memorandum’s recommendations in my book, but suffice it to say here that the counter‐Radio Right campaign was an astonishing success. The administration went on to create a series of front organizations to launder cash from allied interest groups and to create the facade of public support for silencing Right-wing radio. They leveraged the threat of lodging Fairness Doctrine complaints against recalcitrant radio stations into free airtime for pro-administration voices. And even after Kennedy’s assassination, the effort continued under the auspices of the Democratic National Committee, the US Senate Commerce Committee, and, later, the National Council of Churches.
By the late 1960s, radio stations had begun dropping conservative programming en masse. For example, Carl McIntire’s radio show had aired on at least 475 stations in 1964 but was reduced to 183 stations by 1967. It would not be until after the Carter administration relaxed enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine in the late‐1970s (followed by its formal repeal under the Reagan administration) that the Radio Right would re-emerge as a significant force in national politics.”
John F. Kennedy Did What Donald Trump Only Wishes He Could Do: Rules to promote “fairness” or prevent “discrimination” can all too easily turn into tools for gaining partisan advantage at the expense of free speech, a free press, and a functioning democracy.
“In memos written in 1970 and unearthed by the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973, senior administration officials bragged about exerting “an inhibiting impact on the networks,” in part by invoking the real threat of regulatory retaliation. Former White House counsel and eventual Watergate convict Chuck Colson crowed about personally pressuring executives from each network, reporting that they were “very much afraid of us and are trying hard to prove they are the ‘good guys.'”
“These meetings had a very salutary effect,” Colson wrote, “in letting them know that we are determined to protect the President’s position that we know precisely what is going on from the standpoint of both law and policy and that we are not going to permit them to get away with anything that interferes with the President’s ability to communicate….The harder I pressed them, the more accommodating, cordial, and almost apologetic they became.”
Colson’s main policy weapon was the same one many contemporary Trump-opposing media nostalgiacs want to bring back: the Fairness Doctrine. That Federal Communications Commission rule—inaugurated in 1949, enshrined by the unanimous Supreme Court decision Red Lion Broadcasting Co., Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission in 1969, abandoned in 1987, and finally struck from the books in 2011—required broadcast license-holders to air pieces on controversial news topics and allow for opposing viewpoints to be heard.”
Richard Nixon Probably Would Not Have Been Saved by Fox News: The 37th president used the then-stronger tools of media regulation to manipulate the far more centralized 1970s news industry in ways that Donald Trump can only fantasize about.
Shorter CharlesWT: Post-WWII US (including President who was a veteran of said war) was committed to fighting Nazi propaganda.
Shorter CharlesWT: Post-WWII US (including President who was a veteran of said war) was committed to fighting Nazi propaganda.
We’re On The Air:
https://thehill.com/homenews/533236-limbaugh-dismisses-calls-to-end-violence-after-mob-hits-capitol
Luckily we had metastatic lung cancer as an “Undue Burden” on the radio stations that aired Limbaugh’s support of Trump’s murders.
Metastatic lung cancer: when bullets aren’t up to the job to shutting Limbaugh’s vermin mouth.
We’re On The Air:
https://thehill.com/homenews/533236-limbaugh-dismisses-calls-to-end-violence-after-mob-hits-capitol
Luckily we had metastatic lung cancer as an “Undue Burden” on the radio stations that aired Limbaugh’s support of Trump’s murders.
Metastatic lung cancer: when bullets aren’t up to the job to shutting Limbaugh’s vermin mouth.
In the interest of fairness and presenting t’other side, and if it is not an undue politically incorrect burden on tender ears, let me say that Josh Hawley, one of the leaders of a murderous, property damaging insurrection IN his place of employment at my expense still walks the streets a free, loudmouthed piece of elite subhuman shit, and the savage weapons of justice will track him down for his final reckoning:
By Sam Masterson NewsRadio 1120 KMOX
6 hours ago
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri released a statement after the death of well-known radio voice Rush Limbaugh, saying he “was a voice for the voiceless.”
The congressman said of his fellow Missouri native:
“A proud son of Missouri, Rush Limbaugh was a voice for the voiceless. He changed talk radio, but more importantly, Rush changed the conversation to speak up for the forgotten, and challenge the establishment. He lived the First Amendment and told hard truths that made the elite uncomfortable, but made sure working men and women had a seat at the table. Erin and I are praying for the Limbaugh family.”
He can have a radio show from Death Row.
It won’t be comfortable.
In the interest of fairness and presenting t’other side, and if it is not an undue politically incorrect burden on tender ears, let me say that Josh Hawley, one of the leaders of a murderous, property damaging insurrection IN his place of employment at my expense still walks the streets a free, loudmouthed piece of elite subhuman shit, and the savage weapons of justice will track him down for his final reckoning:
By Sam Masterson NewsRadio 1120 KMOX
6 hours ago
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri released a statement after the death of well-known radio voice Rush Limbaugh, saying he “was a voice for the voiceless.”
The congressman said of his fellow Missouri native:
“A proud son of Missouri, Rush Limbaugh was a voice for the voiceless. He changed talk radio, but more importantly, Rush changed the conversation to speak up for the forgotten, and challenge the establishment. He lived the First Amendment and told hard truths that made the elite uncomfortable, but made sure working men and women had a seat at the table. Erin and I are praying for the Limbaugh family.”
He can have a radio show from Death Row.
It won’t be comfortable.
In what way, and to what effect?
Every administration, from the time the Fairness Doctrine went into effect, threatened over-the-air broadcasters with loss of their license if they got out of line. The doctrine was doomed eventually by technology: cable didn’t require a broadcast license. Fox News — the O’Reilly and Hannity version — has never been delivered as an over-the-air service requiring an FCC license. (Dish and DirecTV require satellite licenses, but for content purposes are treated as cable companies.)
In what way, and to what effect?
Every administration, from the time the Fairness Doctrine went into effect, threatened over-the-air broadcasters with loss of their license if they got out of line. The doctrine was doomed eventually by technology: cable didn’t require a broadcast license. Fox News — the O’Reilly and Hannity version — has never been delivered as an over-the-air service requiring an FCC license. (Dish and DirecTV require satellite licenses, but for content purposes are treated as cable companies.)
Every administration, from the time the Fairness Doctrine went into effect, threatened over-the-air broadcasters with loss of their license if they got out of line.
Of course they did – totally agree. That’s what the fairness doctrine was all about. The origin of the fairness doctrine had to do with Charles [“Father”] Coughlin, and his having been shut down for being a fascist. See this article for the line from Coughlin’s hate radio to the present day.
The doctrine was doomed eventually by technology
The fairness doctrine only applied to a certain kind of technology – broadcast licensed media – which was free to consumers who could pay for or listen to a radio or television. So, it was always limited, but not doomed. Limbaugh ranted over AM bandwidth.
People have always had other media: print, etc., but most mass media cost more money to the consumer [either in cash or in effort] than what was broadcast over the air for the price of the receiving unit over limited bandwidth.
Every administration, from the time the Fairness Doctrine went into effect, threatened over-the-air broadcasters with loss of their license if they got out of line.
Of course they did – totally agree. That’s what the fairness doctrine was all about. The origin of the fairness doctrine had to do with Charles [“Father”] Coughlin, and his having been shut down for being a fascist. See this article for the line from Coughlin’s hate radio to the present day.
The doctrine was doomed eventually by technology
The fairness doctrine only applied to a certain kind of technology – broadcast licensed media – which was free to consumers who could pay for or listen to a radio or television. So, it was always limited, but not doomed. Limbaugh ranted over AM bandwidth.
People have always had other media: print, etc., but most mass media cost more money to the consumer [either in cash or in effort] than what was broadcast over the air for the price of the receiving unit over limited bandwidth.
In what way, and to what effect?
Joe Kennedy, JFK’s corrupt and mendacious bastard of an old man, exploited the Fairness Doctrine to harass conservative broadcasters, to the advantage of his son’s run for POTUS.
Charles is correct on this point. Can’t speak to the Nixon reference, but if there was a way for Nixon to FUBAR somebody, he probably made full use of it, so Charles’ second assertion is likely also correct.
And the absence of the Fairness Doctrine has given us Limbaugh, Fox News, OAN, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, and the rest of that sorry parade of spittle-flecked assholes.
So, to my eye, advantage Fairness Doctrine. At least crooked old Joe Kennedy had to work for it.
YMMV.
In what way, and to what effect?
Joe Kennedy, JFK’s corrupt and mendacious bastard of an old man, exploited the Fairness Doctrine to harass conservative broadcasters, to the advantage of his son’s run for POTUS.
Charles is correct on this point. Can’t speak to the Nixon reference, but if there was a way for Nixon to FUBAR somebody, he probably made full use of it, so Charles’ second assertion is likely also correct.
And the absence of the Fairness Doctrine has given us Limbaugh, Fox News, OAN, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, and the rest of that sorry parade of spittle-flecked assholes.
So, to my eye, advantage Fairness Doctrine. At least crooked old Joe Kennedy had to work for it.
YMMV.
The doctrine was doomed eventually by technology: cable didn’t require a broadcast license.
By the way, Michael, I forgot to mention that the fact that cable didn’t require a broadcast license wasn’t foreordained. That was a policy decision made as cable became popular during the Reagan administration when the Cable Communications Act of 1984 was passed.
So, no, it wasn’t technology that doomed the Fairness Doctrine.
The doctrine was doomed eventually by technology: cable didn’t require a broadcast license.
By the way, Michael, I forgot to mention that the fact that cable didn’t require a broadcast license wasn’t foreordained. That was a policy decision made as cable became popular during the Reagan administration when the Cable Communications Act of 1984 was passed.
So, no, it wasn’t technology that doomed the Fairness Doctrine.
Joe Kennedy, JFK’s corrupt and mendacious bastard of an old man, exploited the Fairness Doctrine to harass conservative broadcasters, to the advantage of his son’s run for POTUS.
Links would be appreciated. After all, when JFK ran, Ike was President, so it would be interesting to ascertain what steps were taken or demands made, and with what force.
Joe Kennedy, JFK’s corrupt and mendacious bastard of an old man, exploited the Fairness Doctrine to harass conservative broadcasters, to the advantage of his son’s run for POTUS.
Links would be appreciated. After all, when JFK ran, Ike was President, so it would be interesting to ascertain what steps were taken or demands made, and with what force.
The FCC had a set of rules known as the “Fairness Doctrine,” which had been created a few years previously to encourage station owners to air multiple points of view on any given issue of public importance, including on current events and political questions.
1949 is not a few years previously. Kennedy was elected to the House in 1946. Though I can’t find anything to link it, given the timing, I find it hard to believe that it is totally unrelated to the Red Scare. I also wonder if it may also be linked to Truman’s Fair Deal proposals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Deal
The FCC had a set of rules known as the “Fairness Doctrine,” which had been created a few years previously to encourage station owners to air multiple points of view on any given issue of public importance, including on current events and political questions.
1949 is not a few years previously. Kennedy was elected to the House in 1946. Though I can’t find anything to link it, given the timing, I find it hard to believe that it is totally unrelated to the Red Scare. I also wonder if it may also be linked to Truman’s Fair Deal proposals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Deal
Links would be appreciated.
I think if you google around you’ll find it, mostly from right wing sources. But it is a thing. If I have time tomorrow I’ll see what I can find.
IIRC Joe Kennedy mostly harassed the crap out of smaller conservative broadcasters via lawsuits.
I’m in favor of the Fairness Doctrine. I’m sure folks gamed it when they could, I’m also sure it went a long way toward keeping public discourse within sane bounds.
Mostly I’m in favor of it because a crapload of people get their information from broadcast media, even now, and there is a public interest in making sure public discussion is at least marginally balanced.
Links would be appreciated.
I think if you google around you’ll find it, mostly from right wing sources. But it is a thing. If I have time tomorrow I’ll see what I can find.
IIRC Joe Kennedy mostly harassed the crap out of smaller conservative broadcasters via lawsuits.
I’m in favor of the Fairness Doctrine. I’m sure folks gamed it when they could, I’m also sure it went a long way toward keeping public discourse within sane bounds.
Mostly I’m in favor of it because a crapload of people get their information from broadcast media, even now, and there is a public interest in making sure public discussion is at least marginally balanced.
So, in response to the Cato Institute mini-article and ad for the author’s book, why is it that the Fairness Doctrine was framed as a weapon against the Radio Right when, presumably, the Republicans could also file complaints and gain access to air time? (It’s also telling that the first weapon that Matzko lists Kennedy using was the ability to interrupt the religious broadcaster’s tax-exempt status.) This framing makes the piece read less like scholarship and more like an op ed.
I’d be interested to see how much analysis he did to determine that it was the threat of fairness complaints that shrunk the pastors’ programming footprint and not some other factors.
So, in response to the Cato Institute mini-article and ad for the author’s book, why is it that the Fairness Doctrine was framed as a weapon against the Radio Right when, presumably, the Republicans could also file complaints and gain access to air time? (It’s also telling that the first weapon that Matzko lists Kennedy using was the ability to interrupt the religious broadcaster’s tax-exempt status.) This framing makes the piece read less like scholarship and more like an op ed.
I’d be interested to see how much analysis he did to determine that it was the threat of fairness complaints that shrunk the pastors’ programming footprint and not some other factors.
I did a bit of the google about the “Reuther memorandum”, but it turned up all wingnut references, or JSTOR which I am unable to access.
A more nuanced treatment of the Fairness Doctrine and its entanglement with mid century right wing radio may be found in a book by Heather Hendershot entitled “What’s Fair On The Air”.
The cranks back then (Hargis, Smoot, McIntire) were in a league of their own when it came to delusional paranoia…true precursors to Limbaugh.
Some things never change.
And now, to borrow a term, you know the rest of the story (LOL).
I did a bit of the google about the “Reuther memorandum”, but it turned up all wingnut references, or JSTOR which I am unable to access.
A more nuanced treatment of the Fairness Doctrine and its entanglement with mid century right wing radio may be found in a book by Heather Hendershot entitled “What’s Fair On The Air”.
The cranks back then (Hargis, Smoot, McIntire) were in a league of their own when it came to delusional paranoia…true precursors to Limbaugh.
Some things never change.
And now, to borrow a term, you know the rest of the story (LOL).
From the Red Lion case cited above:
“Before 1927, the allocation of frequencies was left entirely to the private sector, and the result was chaos.”
Creative destruction, indeed.
From the Red Lion case cited above:
“Before 1927, the allocation of frequencies was left entirely to the private sector, and the result was chaos.”
Creative destruction, indeed.
I did a bit of the google about the “Reuther memorandum”, but it turned up all wingnut references, or JSTOR which I am unable to access.
You aren’t missing anything in JSTOR. I tried to do a search there and in Academic Search Complete, and the only references I found to the “Reuther memorandum” were either from Matzko related to his book or from an article published by the John Birch Society.
I did a bit of the google about the “Reuther memorandum”, but it turned up all wingnut references, or JSTOR which I am unable to access.
You aren’t missing anything in JSTOR. I tried to do a search there and in Academic Search Complete, and the only references I found to the “Reuther memorandum” were either from Matzko related to his book or from an article published by the John Birch Society.
The Reuther Memorandum: To the Attorney General of the United States (December 19, 1961)
Text containing the memorandum.
FOIA: Bundy, Edgar C.-Church League America-HQ-4 (document scan)
The Reuther Memorandum: To the Attorney General of the United States (December 19, 1961)
Text containing the memorandum.
FOIA: Bundy, Edgar C.-Church League America-HQ-4 (document scan)
This seems like a more balanced account of the Kennedy info that Matzko is using to attack the Fairness Doctrine in principle, rather than as interpreted.
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/31/archives/reported-political-use-of-radio-fairness-doctrine-under-kennedy-and.html
NYT 1975.
This seems like a more balanced account of the Kennedy info that Matzko is using to attack the Fairness Doctrine in principle, rather than as interpreted.
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/31/archives/reported-political-use-of-radio-fairness-doctrine-under-kennedy-and.html
NYT 1975.
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2021/02/trumps-most-slavish-imitator-tops-himself
It seems the erstwhile Governor of Florida, as with all of the doomed criminals in the conservative movement, wishes to be a four-headed genocidal monster, assuming the heads of the cake-sharing Marie Antoinette and hubby King Louis savaging the leg of a capon with his purty mouth as the palace doors are broken down by the blood thirsty mobs, AND lolling to the other side on his broad corrupt shoulders the heads of George Jacques Danton and Robespierre leading the furious mobs into the Palace for their bloody vengeance.
Technology being what it is, his neck will be laid down under a four-bladed guillotine and all four of his trumpian heads, having somehow thought up both a shortage of bread AND how to monetize that shortage for his own Randian subhuman coffers, will be forever separated from his body and come to rest in a basket fitted for four severed noggins.
DeSantis is contemptuous of the fury that is gathering to end subhuman him. Perhaps his surly conservative mouth will simultaneously let out an Antoinette shriek as the blade falls AND the derisive cackle of the tricoteuse Madame Defarge enjoying the justice of his bloody demise as he has, and gets it, both ways.
Hey, pitchers and catchers report to spring training soon, so things are looking up!
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2021/02/trumps-most-slavish-imitator-tops-himself
It seems the erstwhile Governor of Florida, as with all of the doomed criminals in the conservative movement, wishes to be a four-headed genocidal monster, assuming the heads of the cake-sharing Marie Antoinette and hubby King Louis savaging the leg of a capon with his purty mouth as the palace doors are broken down by the blood thirsty mobs, AND lolling to the other side on his broad corrupt shoulders the heads of George Jacques Danton and Robespierre leading the furious mobs into the Palace for their bloody vengeance.
Technology being what it is, his neck will be laid down under a four-bladed guillotine and all four of his trumpian heads, having somehow thought up both a shortage of bread AND how to monetize that shortage for his own Randian subhuman coffers, will be forever separated from his body and come to rest in a basket fitted for four severed noggins.
DeSantis is contemptuous of the fury that is gathering to end subhuman him. Perhaps his surly conservative mouth will simultaneously let out an Antoinette shriek as the blade falls AND the derisive cackle of the tricoteuse Madame Defarge enjoying the justice of his bloody demise as he has, and gets it, both ways.
Hey, pitchers and catchers report to spring training soon, so things are looking up!
Alas and alack! “Tops himself” in English English (slang, anyway) means “commits suicide”. I am very disappointed to read what that LGM link actually means.
Alas and alack! “Tops himself” in English English (slang, anyway) means “commits suicide”. I am very disappointed to read what that LGM link actually means.
Violent insurrectionist conservatives who not six weeks ago attempted to overthrow the US Government, murder liberal representatives and the (deserving of that fate) Vice President of the United States, and declare martial law demand Merrick Garland agree to go after Governor of Cuomo of New York.
https://www.eschatonblog.com/2021/02/owning-libs-by-putting-blue-trump-in.html
During normative times, I would demand Cuomo resign for his corrupt lying about nursing home Covid deaths and his fatal mismanagement of the situation early in the pandemic going, but my demand comes with a non-negotiable quid pro quo.
Depose Cuomo, but in exchange I want the following murderous members of the Senate Judiciary Committee put before a tribunal headed by Merrick Garland and tried for insurrection and murder, and when found guilty, executed in public alongside the reflecting pond by hanging and or firing squad, preferably both as insurance against possible reincarnation of the scum:
Cruz, Lee, Hawley, Cotton, Tillis, Blackburn, and Lindsay Graham.
The rest of the Republicans on the Committee and McConnell will be charged with cleaning up the mess, the blood and such, resulting from the executions and also resigning their posts, to accompany Cuomo’s resignation and retirement from public life.
By all means, let us be bipartisan as we uphold the rule of law.
Violent insurrectionist conservatives who not six weeks ago attempted to overthrow the US Government, murder liberal representatives and the (deserving of that fate) Vice President of the United States, and declare martial law demand Merrick Garland agree to go after Governor of Cuomo of New York.
https://www.eschatonblog.com/2021/02/owning-libs-by-putting-blue-trump-in.html
During normative times, I would demand Cuomo resign for his corrupt lying about nursing home Covid deaths and his fatal mismanagement of the situation early in the pandemic going, but my demand comes with a non-negotiable quid pro quo.
Depose Cuomo, but in exchange I want the following murderous members of the Senate Judiciary Committee put before a tribunal headed by Merrick Garland and tried for insurrection and murder, and when found guilty, executed in public alongside the reflecting pond by hanging and or firing squad, preferably both as insurance against possible reincarnation of the scum:
Cruz, Lee, Hawley, Cotton, Tillis, Blackburn, and Lindsay Graham.
The rest of the Republicans on the Committee and McConnell will be charged with cleaning up the mess, the blood and such, resulting from the executions and also resigning their posts, to accompany Cuomo’s resignation and retirement from public life.
By all means, let us be bipartisan as we uphold the rule of law.
I was just looking up this link to illustrate the British meaning of “top yourself” when GftNC got there first.
I was just looking up this link to illustrate the British meaning of “top yourself” when GftNC got there first.
Meanwhile, what on earth could explain something like this? Mental illness? Incipient dementia? I understand about people’s political opinions moving rightwards with age (sometimes), but this seems absolutely inexplicable:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/us/W-McCall-Calhoun-Jr-georgia-capitol-riot.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
Meanwhile, what on earth could explain something like this? Mental illness? Incipient dementia? I understand about people’s political opinions moving rightwards with age (sometimes), but this seems absolutely inexplicable:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/us/W-McCall-Calhoun-Jr-georgia-capitol-riot.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
no idea. but maybe he just likes to be on the defending/victim side of arguments? if GA is turning Democratic, he’d have to turn Republican to stay on the aggrieved side.
no idea. but maybe he just likes to be on the defending/victim side of arguments? if GA is turning Democratic, he’d have to turn Republican to stay on the aggrieved side.
“they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
The Uppity Kenyan
“they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
The Uppity Kenyan
Meanwhile, what on earth could explain something like this?
I blame the brown acid.
Meanwhile, what on earth could explain something like this?
I blame the brown acid.
I blame the brown acid.
Hmmm, you may have a point!
I blame the brown acid.
Hmmm, you may have a point!
Meanwhile, what on earth could explain something like this?
“I blame the brown acid.”
The “cure” is to immerse them in Red Fuming Nitric Acid, or is that too ‘commie’?
Just don’t mix it with the unsymmetric dimethyl hydrazine unless you’re fueling ICBMs.
Meanwhile, what on earth could explain something like this?
“I blame the brown acid.”
The “cure” is to immerse them in Red Fuming Nitric Acid, or is that too ‘commie’?
Just don’t mix it with the unsymmetric dimethyl hydrazine unless you’re fueling ICBMs.
There’s blue acid (HCN) but that’s usually used by Nazis not on Nazis (unless it’s themselves).
There’s blue acid (HCN) but that’s usually used by Nazis not on Nazis (unless it’s themselves).
Hmmm, you may have a point!
Dude was the bassist for the Kilkenny Kats, a damned fine rock band based in Athens GA back in the day. Caught them at the 40 Watt in Athens in fall of ’86 when I was passing through, literally a lifetime ago.
Makes me sad.
Apparently somebody wanted to take his guns away, and somebody called him a racist, so he decided Trump was his guy. It happens. Some long-time friends of mine turned up as Trumpers, for various reasons. It’s weird, and disturbing, and it makes me sad.
I figure if you can get from ‘progressive’ to Trump, your ‘progressive’ stance was probably not that deep to begin with. But, who knows?
My guess is cleek has it right, the guy just likes to be contrarian and get in people’s faces. When your context is red state GA, that means be a liberal scold. When red state GA turns purple, that means be a Trumper.
I guess. But really, your guess is as good as mine.
Brown acid makes as much sense anything else I can think of.
Hmmm, you may have a point!
Dude was the bassist for the Kilkenny Kats, a damned fine rock band based in Athens GA back in the day. Caught them at the 40 Watt in Athens in fall of ’86 when I was passing through, literally a lifetime ago.
Makes me sad.
Apparently somebody wanted to take his guns away, and somebody called him a racist, so he decided Trump was his guy. It happens. Some long-time friends of mine turned up as Trumpers, for various reasons. It’s weird, and disturbing, and it makes me sad.
I figure if you can get from ‘progressive’ to Trump, your ‘progressive’ stance was probably not that deep to begin with. But, who knows?
My guess is cleek has it right, the guy just likes to be contrarian and get in people’s faces. When your context is red state GA, that means be a liberal scold. When red state GA turns purple, that means be a Trumper.
I guess. But really, your guess is as good as mine.
Brown acid makes as much sense anything else I can think of.
in Russia, they use it on their dogs.
in Russia, they use it on their dogs.
maybe he just likes to be on the defending/victim side of arguments?
Sort of like how folks who were far left (e.g. Trotskyites) in college moved on to being far right a decade or two later. They felt a need to be extreme; which extreme was far less important to them.
maybe he just likes to be on the defending/victim side of arguments?
Sort of like how folks who were far left (e.g. Trotskyites) in college moved on to being far right a decade or two later. They felt a need to be extreme; which extreme was far less important to them.
oppose the establishment! always!
very coherent. and very silly.
oppose the establishment! always!
very coherent. and very silly.
Thanks all for the links relating to the fairness doctrine discussion. I was curious about Joseph P. Kennedy since he was a friend of Coughlin and supported McCarthy.
I did find this, which is mainly about alleged IRS overreaching.
CharlesWT’s link is worth looking at. An excerpt from the “nineteen
page documentary .. entitled, ‘What Is Happen-
ing to America’s Youth?'” reads:
“When one takes a look at the sleazey, smelly, unkempt, strangely-attired, ques-
tionable gender youth demonstrating from Times Square to Selma, to Berkeley,
parading, picketing and bearing banners containing everything from filthy speech
unacceptable to a decent society to ‘peace’ projects for anybody and everybody,
one is shocked into startling awareness that we are dealing with a moral and spirit-
ual problem and not a job problem.
“Many of the participants in student demonstrations, whether it be for so-called
‘free speech’ on a major university campus, or for ‘civil rights’ in front of the White
House, are young people from very prominent and wealthy homes whose weekly
allowance does not consist of a few pennies for an all-day sucker, but rather for un-
limited travel by jet and free spending for everything from continuous rounds of
cocktails to 50-cent malted milks.
“Some are the sons and daughters of highly paid writers, actors and actresses,
radio and TV personalities, educators and clergymen, and the intelligencia elite
corps of the nation. Theirs is not an economic problem. Their motive is one of revolu-
tionary overthrow of proven standards of decency, morality, righteousness, and of
time-proven standards which made of the United States a great nation envied by the
rest of the world.
“In such a rebellious atmosphere as this, the communists are tilling the soil of
revolution and planting the seeds of dissent which well may produce within the
near future the harvest that will sound the death knell of the American Republic. ”
Hmmm. I can’t really complain about a fairness doctrine offering an alternative to that. See also in Charles’s link a nasty several paragraphs about Pete Seeger.
Thanks all for the links relating to the fairness doctrine discussion. I was curious about Joseph P. Kennedy since he was a friend of Coughlin and supported McCarthy.
I did find this, which is mainly about alleged IRS overreaching.
CharlesWT’s link is worth looking at. An excerpt from the “nineteen
page documentary .. entitled, ‘What Is Happen-
ing to America’s Youth?'” reads:
“When one takes a look at the sleazey, smelly, unkempt, strangely-attired, ques-
tionable gender youth demonstrating from Times Square to Selma, to Berkeley,
parading, picketing and bearing banners containing everything from filthy speech
unacceptable to a decent society to ‘peace’ projects for anybody and everybody,
one is shocked into startling awareness that we are dealing with a moral and spirit-
ual problem and not a job problem.
“Many of the participants in student demonstrations, whether it be for so-called
‘free speech’ on a major university campus, or for ‘civil rights’ in front of the White
House, are young people from very prominent and wealthy homes whose weekly
allowance does not consist of a few pennies for an all-day sucker, but rather for un-
limited travel by jet and free spending for everything from continuous rounds of
cocktails to 50-cent malted milks.
“Some are the sons and daughters of highly paid writers, actors and actresses,
radio and TV personalities, educators and clergymen, and the intelligencia elite
corps of the nation. Theirs is not an economic problem. Their motive is one of revolu-
tionary overthrow of proven standards of decency, morality, righteousness, and of
time-proven standards which made of the United States a great nation envied by the
rest of the world.
“In such a rebellious atmosphere as this, the communists are tilling the soil of
revolution and planting the seeds of dissent which well may produce within the
near future the harvest that will sound the death knell of the American Republic. ”
Hmmm. I can’t really complain about a fairness doctrine offering an alternative to that. See also in Charles’s link a nasty several paragraphs about Pete Seeger.
Texas halts natural gas exports, while increasing its anti-American exportation of gasbags full on raw sewage:
https://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-cancun-texas-2021-2
What other terrorist Canadian enemies of the state are permitted to travel abroad in this bullshit country?
Biden needs to order the military to not allow Cruz and his family back into the country. Turn his plane around for national security reasons with fighter jet accompaniment.
Yesterday, in two grocery stores I visited in Denver, the shelves were half empty. The trucks and goods run through Texas. Also, at Whole Foods, they couldn’t process my debit card because their debit card processors in Texas were without power.
As subhuman conservatives whinge about China and our dependence on the foreigners, why is so much of this country economically dependent on a rogue state that doesn’t even want to be part of the United States?
Texas halts natural gas exports, while increasing its anti-American exportation of gasbags full on raw sewage:
https://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-cancun-texas-2021-2
What other terrorist Canadian enemies of the state are permitted to travel abroad in this bullshit country?
Biden needs to order the military to not allow Cruz and his family back into the country. Turn his plane around for national security reasons with fighter jet accompaniment.
Yesterday, in two grocery stores I visited in Denver, the shelves were half empty. The trucks and goods run through Texas. Also, at Whole Foods, they couldn’t process my debit card because their debit card processors in Texas were without power.
As subhuman conservatives whinge about China and our dependence on the foreigners, why is so much of this country economically dependent on a rogue state that doesn’t even want to be part of the United States?
Insider was not able to immediately verify the images, but they prompted outrage all the same.
Never let the lack of facts get in the way of a good outrage.
Me? I think the fewer politicians in the state during a crisis the better.
Insider was not able to immediately verify the images, but they prompted outrage all the same.
Never let the lack of facts get in the way of a good outrage.
Me? I think the fewer politicians in the state during a crisis the better.
Never let the lack of facts get in the way of a good outrage.v
https://twitter.com/Acosta/status/1362460562274324495
Never let the lack of facts get in the way of a good outrage.v
https://twitter.com/Acosta/status/1362460562274324495
58% of them blame … Congressional Dems.
fuck da GOP
58% of them blame … Congressional Dems.
fuck da GOP
I can’t really complain about a fairness doctrine offering an alternative to that.
Agreed.
Old Joe Kennedy might have been a SOB, LBJ and Nixon perhaps likewise, each in their own way.
But it’s hard to read or hear the… shall we say, outlandish narratives that comes out of RW radio and TV, now or then, and not think “maybe it would be good if they had to give some time to another point of view…”.
Some might say they – Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon – were gaming the Fairness Doctrine to suppress their opponents. Others might say they were providing a valuable public service.
We report, you decide.
58% of them blame … Congressional Dems.
crazy as they want to be.
I can’t really complain about a fairness doctrine offering an alternative to that.
Agreed.
Old Joe Kennedy might have been a SOB, LBJ and Nixon perhaps likewise, each in their own way.
But it’s hard to read or hear the… shall we say, outlandish narratives that comes out of RW radio and TV, now or then, and not think “maybe it would be good if they had to give some time to another point of view…”.
Some might say they – Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon – were gaming the Fairness Doctrine to suppress their opponents. Others might say they were providing a valuable public service.
We report, you decide.
58% of them blame … Congressional Dems.
crazy as they want to be.
Mashing up Chevy Chase and Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh is Still a Big, Fat Idiot.
Paraphrasing Christopher Hitchens, if they give Limbaugh’s corpse an enema they can bury him in a shoebox.
This comment has been brought to you by The Unfairness Doctrine, of which Libertarians(TM)seem to approve.
But, back to the MAGAt notion that “we didn’t send him to DC to do the right thing, we sent him to represent us”. I’ve been thinking this one over, trying to decide whether it’s an implicit admission of guilt — sort of like declaring yourself anti-anti-fascist.
–TP
Mashing up Chevy Chase and Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh is Still a Big, Fat Idiot.
Paraphrasing Christopher Hitchens, if they give Limbaugh’s corpse an enema they can bury him in a shoebox.
This comment has been brought to you by The Unfairness Doctrine, of which Libertarians(TM)seem to approve.
But, back to the MAGAt notion that “we didn’t send him to DC to do the right thing, we sent him to represent us”. I’ve been thinking this one over, trying to decide whether it’s an implicit admission of guilt — sort of like declaring yourself anti-anti-fascist.
–TP
The share of Republicans who said Trump is at least somewhat responsible for the events of Jan. 6 is down 14 points, to 27%, from early January.
58% of them blame … Congressional Dems.
fuck da GOP
JHC. Drive a stake through their heart, and make them unelectable forever. Finding a way to ensure the American people never forget what happened on 6/1, and who was responsible, is imperative.
The share of Republicans who said Trump is at least somewhat responsible for the events of Jan. 6 is down 14 points, to 27%, from early January.
58% of them blame … Congressional Dems.
fuck da GOP
JHC. Drive a stake through their heart, and make them unelectable forever. Finding a way to ensure the American people never forget what happened on 6/1, and who was responsible, is imperative.
Tony, it really does seem to pretty explicitly say that they know, and acknowledge, that to do what they want (to “represent them”) is NOT to do the right thing.
Tony, it really does seem to pretty explicitly say that they know, and acknowledge, that to do what they want (to “represent them”) is NOT to do the right thing.
Also – we got a few Texans here on ObWi if I’m not mistaken…
How you all doing? Everybody OK?
Also – we got a few Texans here on ObWi if I’m not mistaken…
How you all doing? Everybody OK?
I did OK compared to a lot of people. I had a couple of days and nights where the temperature in my apartment got as low as 45°F. Now I’m into day two without any running water while they try to fix the burst pipes and flooded apartments. No broken pipes in my apartment. When I moved to this apartment complex I choose a second-story apartment in a two-story building. That has literally placed me above many of the misadventures that occur in apartment complexes.
I did OK compared to a lot of people. I had a couple of days and nights where the temperature in my apartment got as low as 45°F. Now I’m into day two without any running water while they try to fix the burst pipes and flooded apartments. No broken pipes in my apartment. When I moved to this apartment complex I choose a second-story apartment in a two-story building. That has literally placed me above many of the misadventures that occur in apartment complexes.
Tony, it really does seem to pretty explicitly say that they know, and acknowledge, that to do what they want (to “represent them”) is NOT to do the right thing.
Maybe you’re being snarky, but I think it says no such thing. I think it was said with “the right thing” implicitly in quotes, with the implication that no one has any right to say that anything except what they want is “the right thing.” It’s a sneer at the notion that “the right thing” is anything but what they want.
Of course, as I said before, it erases the reality of everyone else, but that’s a feature, not a bug, in fact it’s the whole point.
Tony, it really does seem to pretty explicitly say that they know, and acknowledge, that to do what they want (to “represent them”) is NOT to do the right thing.
Maybe you’re being snarky, but I think it says no such thing. I think it was said with “the right thing” implicitly in quotes, with the implication that no one has any right to say that anything except what they want is “the right thing.” It’s a sneer at the notion that “the right thing” is anything but what they want.
Of course, as I said before, it erases the reality of everyone else, but that’s a feature, not a bug, in fact it’s the whole point.
Maybe you’re being snarky, but I think it says no such thing.
I think that perhaps they didn’t intend to say it. But say it they did. If they feel, as you say, that only what they say is “the right thing”, they could have found another way to phrase it. But they didn’t.
Maybe you’re being snarky, but I think it says no such thing.
I think that perhaps they didn’t intend to say it. But say it they did. If they feel, as you say, that only what they say is “the right thing”, they could have found another way to phrase it. But they didn’t.
Or perhaps, to them, the concept of “doing the right thing” is meaningless. Almost everything they say and do supports this theory. “Doing what we want”: you betcha. “Doing the right thing”: wha?
Or perhaps, to them, the concept of “doing the right thing” is meaningless. Almost everything they say and do supports this theory. “Doing what we want”: you betcha. “Doing the right thing”: wha?
No word from McKinney. He’s in Houston isn’t he? I gather they have it fairly bad….it would be good to hear something.
No word from McKinney. He’s in Houston isn’t he? I gather they have it fairly bad….it would be good to hear something.
We report, you decide.
Yeeup. So, by wingnut reasoning, cancel culture is just fine. Just wanted to get the ground rules straight.
Let’s roll.
We report, you decide.
Yeeup. So, by wingnut reasoning, cancel culture is just fine. Just wanted to get the ground rules straight.
Let’s roll.
Hey CharlesWT, I was off in a different browser and missed your earlier comment.
I’m glad you’re relatively okay. 45 degrees is pretty cold! That’s about what our house got down to during the ice storm of 1998 — but we had one room with a wood stove, plus the school “next door” (half a mile away) had a generator, so it was opened as a shelter that served meals, let us take a shower, etc. Our power was out for 11 days, in February! It seemed like a big adventure for a while, but it got tiresome eventually.
I hope you get your water back quickly — it sounds like maybe you’ve already got heat??
Hey CharlesWT, I was off in a different browser and missed your earlier comment.
I’m glad you’re relatively okay. 45 degrees is pretty cold! That’s about what our house got down to during the ice storm of 1998 — but we had one room with a wood stove, plus the school “next door” (half a mile away) had a generator, so it was opened as a shelter that served meals, let us take a shower, etc. Our power was out for 11 days, in February! It seemed like a big adventure for a while, but it got tiresome eventually.
I hope you get your water back quickly — it sounds like maybe you’ve already got heat??
The power went off for the last time early Tuesday morning. Maybe at least another day or two before the water is back.
The power went off for the last time early Tuesday morning. Maybe at least another day or two before the water is back.
The share of Republicans who said Trump is at least somewhat responsible for the events of Jan. 6 is down 14 points, to 27%, from early January.
The Republican ability to passionately believe something today which directly contradicts their passionate belief of yesterday cannot be overestimated.
However, I would like to know if the pollsters asked the same people both times. Because, anecdotally, a lot of people decided to stop being Republicans after Jan 6th. Not hundreds of thousands of them, alas, but a good few tens of thousands.
Maybe the Republicans who still believe T* to be responsible for the insurrection no longer self-identify as Republicans.
The share of Republicans who said Trump is at least somewhat responsible for the events of Jan. 6 is down 14 points, to 27%, from early January.
The Republican ability to passionately believe something today which directly contradicts their passionate belief of yesterday cannot be overestimated.
However, I would like to know if the pollsters asked the same people both times. Because, anecdotally, a lot of people decided to stop being Republicans after Jan 6th. Not hundreds of thousands of them, alas, but a good few tens of thousands.
Maybe the Republicans who still believe T* to be responsible for the insurrection no longer self-identify as Republicans.
But they didn’t.
You don’t need a dog whistle to know which way the wind blows.
But they didn’t.
You don’t need a dog whistle to know which way the wind blows.
Improve The News
Improve The News
“right thing” was probably in air-quotes when it was said.
“right thing” was probably in air-quotes when it was said.
“Maybe the Republicans who still believe T* to be responsible for the insurrection no longer self-identify as Republicans.”
I *TOLD* everyone before November that Trump-supporting MAGAts needed to get a “T” branded on their foreheads, just to avoid this situation! But did anyone listen? NoooOOooOOoo.
and here we are. Sheesh.
“Maybe the Republicans who still believe T* to be responsible for the insurrection no longer self-identify as Republicans.”
I *TOLD* everyone before November that Trump-supporting MAGAts needed to get a “T” branded on their foreheads, just to avoid this situation! But did anyone listen? NoooOOooOOoo.
and here we are. Sheesh.
Unintended consequences.
“It is also worth noting that talk radio in the 1980s was a much more ideologically diverse industry than it is today, with many hosts from both the political left and right. Contrary to conservative talk radio hosts who explain their dominance by the existence of a silent majority of average Joe listeners, ironically it was the federal government that boosted right-wing dominance of talk radio.
As historian Brian Rosenwald argues, left-wing talk radio hosts had to compete for listeners with government-subsidized, center-left NPR affiliates, while right-wing hosts had a clearer competitive field. Station owners could guarantee a larger audience to advertisers simply by picking right-wing instead of left-wing talk radio programs. Talk radio’s conservative bent is the unintended product of the government’s halfhearted attempt to create a nationalized broadcasting system in the 1970s. (Though I wouldn’t expect a “Rush was Made Possible By Listeners like You” slogan to appear on a complimentary NPR tote bag any time soon.)”
The Fairness Doctrine Was the Most Deserving Target of Rush Limbaugh’s Rage: He was no libertarian, but he absorbed an important lesson about regulating speech.
Unintended consequences.
“It is also worth noting that talk radio in the 1980s was a much more ideologically diverse industry than it is today, with many hosts from both the political left and right. Contrary to conservative talk radio hosts who explain their dominance by the existence of a silent majority of average Joe listeners, ironically it was the federal government that boosted right-wing dominance of talk radio.
As historian Brian Rosenwald argues, left-wing talk radio hosts had to compete for listeners with government-subsidized, center-left NPR affiliates, while right-wing hosts had a clearer competitive field. Station owners could guarantee a larger audience to advertisers simply by picking right-wing instead of left-wing talk radio programs. Talk radio’s conservative bent is the unintended product of the government’s halfhearted attempt to create a nationalized broadcasting system in the 1970s. (Though I wouldn’t expect a “Rush was Made Possible By Listeners like You” slogan to appear on a complimentary NPR tote bag any time soon.)”
The Fairness Doctrine Was the Most Deserving Target of Rush Limbaugh’s Rage: He was no libertarian, but he absorbed an important lesson about regulating speech.
It’s almost (but definitely not quite) enough to make one consider that the libertarians may have something.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/02/19/california-womans-new-real-id-has-a-photo-of-her-wearing-a-face-mask/
Hey, it’s probably more useful for airline boarding ID during the pandemic. And it is, officially, a Federally approved ID.
It’s almost (but definitely not quite) enough to make one consider that the libertarians may have something.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/02/19/california-womans-new-real-id-has-a-photo-of-her-wearing-a-face-mask/
Hey, it’s probably more useful for airline boarding ID during the pandemic. And it is, officially, a Federally approved ID.
or maybe Limbaugh was just better at making political talk radio attractive to people stuck listening to radio all day long than those before him were.
there’s a reason all of conservative media copied his disinfotainment model after all: it works.
or maybe Limbaugh was just better at making political talk radio attractive to people stuck listening to radio all day long than those before him were.
there’s a reason all of conservative media copied his disinfotainment model after all: it works.
CharlesWT cites scholarship by Brian Rosenwald, whose piece in the Washington Post today is worthwhile.
CharlesWT cites scholarship by Brian Rosenwald, whose piece in the Washington Post today is worthwhile.
ironically it was the federal government that boosted right-wing dominance of talk radio.
ironically, the federal government is also responsible for my arthritis and my wife’s bad eyesight. they’re the reason the low tire pressure light in my car is always on, and also the reason the squirrels keep eating all the bird seed.
the feds are ironically the cause of male pattern baldness, iron poor blood, and spam email from Nigerian princes. they’re the reason you can never get that last olive out of the jar.
the feds are the cause of hangnail, bad breath, and the hiccups you get if you drink soda too fast.
they are the reason the grocery store doesn’t carry your favorite breakfast cereal anymore. they’re the cause of that weird place in your yard where the grass just never seems to take hold. it’s due to them that your kids never write or call unless they want money or a load of laundry done.
flat tire? the feds. favorite TV show cancelled? the feds. pizza always gets cold before you can get it home? the feds. pants don’t fit anymore? the feds. the F you got in 10th grade French?
you got it. the feds.
damn them to hell.
ironically it was the federal government that boosted right-wing dominance of talk radio.
ironically, the federal government is also responsible for my arthritis and my wife’s bad eyesight. they’re the reason the low tire pressure light in my car is always on, and also the reason the squirrels keep eating all the bird seed.
the feds are ironically the cause of male pattern baldness, iron poor blood, and spam email from Nigerian princes. they’re the reason you can never get that last olive out of the jar.
the feds are the cause of hangnail, bad breath, and the hiccups you get if you drink soda too fast.
they are the reason the grocery store doesn’t carry your favorite breakfast cereal anymore. they’re the cause of that weird place in your yard where the grass just never seems to take hold. it’s due to them that your kids never write or call unless they want money or a load of laundry done.
flat tire? the feds. favorite TV show cancelled? the feds. pizza always gets cold before you can get it home? the feds. pants don’t fit anymore? the feds. the F you got in 10th grade French?
you got it. the feds.
damn them to hell.
the feds are ironically the cause of . . . spam email from Nigerian princes.
Well, they are you know. The Internet grew out of a DARPA project. And for the first couple of decades was run by the US government. So, no Feds = no Internet = no spam (or any other kind) emails. QED
the feds are ironically the cause of . . . spam email from Nigerian princes.
Well, they are you know. The Internet grew out of a DARPA project. And for the first couple of decades was run by the US government. So, no Feds = no Internet = no spam (or any other kind) emails. QED
thanks for nothing, Al Gore.
thanks for nothing, Al Gore.
the feds just landed another lander on Mars, and this one includes a motherfukkin solar-powered helicopter that is gonna fly around by itself and take pictures.
Republicans can’t even figure out how to keep the lights on.
the feds just landed another lander on Mars, and this one includes a motherfukkin solar-powered helicopter that is gonna fly around by itself and take pictures.
Republicans can’t even figure out how to keep the lights on.
russell at 3:51 — priceless. I laughed till the tears ran down my face.
russell at 3:51 — priceless. I laughed till the tears ran down my face.
Looking over Rosenwald’s dissertation, that Matzko cites and links to in that piece where he blames NPR for talk radio’s right wing bent, I have to say that I’m not convinced that Matzko is accurately summarizing Rosenwald’s arguments. Also, the way that Matzko writes his summary, it’s hard to tell if his assertion that “[t]alk radio’s conservative bent is the unintended product of the government’s halfhearted attempt to create a nationalized broadcasting system in the 1970s” is Rosenwald’s claim, or his own conclusion drawn from Rosenwald’s writing. I’m guessing the latter, but it’s pretty ambiguous as written.
I’ve got a theory with a lot fewer moving parts. Talk radio has a right-wing bent because its form and content rely on provoking an amygdala response. Amygdala response is not productive for liberal (deliberative) discussion. It only works for the militant left, which is tiny in number and passing over NPR in favor of someone’s podcast.
Looking over Rosenwald’s dissertation, that Matzko cites and links to in that piece where he blames NPR for talk radio’s right wing bent, I have to say that I’m not convinced that Matzko is accurately summarizing Rosenwald’s arguments. Also, the way that Matzko writes his summary, it’s hard to tell if his assertion that “[t]alk radio’s conservative bent is the unintended product of the government’s halfhearted attempt to create a nationalized broadcasting system in the 1970s” is Rosenwald’s claim, or his own conclusion drawn from Rosenwald’s writing. I’m guessing the latter, but it’s pretty ambiguous as written.
I’ve got a theory with a lot fewer moving parts. Talk radio has a right-wing bent because its form and content rely on provoking an amygdala response. Amygdala response is not productive for liberal (deliberative) discussion. It only works for the militant left, which is tiny in number and passing over NPR in favor of someone’s podcast.
Limbaugh’s shtick (and what all his followers now do) is to say “These people, Democrats are the enemy”, and then hyperbolize the news to illustrate the point. since his show started catching on in the late 80s, there have been generations of people raised to think that Democrats are literally the enemy of America – not just political opponents, not just wrong, but literal enemies. he got the ball rolling, and now Fox and the rest are raising the grandchildren of Limbaugh’s original dittoheads – generations of people raised to only trust “conservative” media.
that’s why Limbaugh lasted and that’s why Fox works.
Democrats never had that.
and for the most part, Democrats didn’t know what was being said about them. they knew Limbaugh was a loudmouth because he’d pop up in the news once in a while, but they didn’t listen to him to really get what he was preaching. and most Dems still haven’t really figured out how widespread, how deep, and how insane that GOP hatred of Democrats is. even mainstream reporters are reluctant to report it. they cast it as policy differences or ‘firy rhetoric’. they won’t just say what it is.
they’re learning, slowly.
Limbaugh’s shtick (and what all his followers now do) is to say “These people, Democrats are the enemy”, and then hyperbolize the news to illustrate the point. since his show started catching on in the late 80s, there have been generations of people raised to think that Democrats are literally the enemy of America – not just political opponents, not just wrong, but literal enemies. he got the ball rolling, and now Fox and the rest are raising the grandchildren of Limbaugh’s original dittoheads – generations of people raised to only trust “conservative” media.
that’s why Limbaugh lasted and that’s why Fox works.
Democrats never had that.
and for the most part, Democrats didn’t know what was being said about them. they knew Limbaugh was a loudmouth because he’d pop up in the news once in a while, but they didn’t listen to him to really get what he was preaching. and most Dems still haven’t really figured out how widespread, how deep, and how insane that GOP hatred of Democrats is. even mainstream reporters are reluctant to report it. they cast it as policy differences or ‘firy rhetoric’. they won’t just say what it is.
they’re learning, slowly.
and most Dems still haven’t really figured out how widespread, how deep, and how insane that GOP hatred of Democrats is. even mainstream reporters are reluctant to report it. they cast it as policy differences or ‘firy rhetoric’. they won’t just say what it is.
they’re learning, slowly.
The MSM is forked. If they attack Limbaugh’s schtick for what it is, then it just proves that the MSM is biased against the right. And if the MSM tries to perform a sort of even-handed treatment, then they normalize the corrosive rhetoric of the right.
Good luck breaking that self-reinforcing feedback loop, especially when it’s made RW media filthy rich and influential.
and most Dems still haven’t really figured out how widespread, how deep, and how insane that GOP hatred of Democrats is. even mainstream reporters are reluctant to report it. they cast it as policy differences or ‘firy rhetoric’. they won’t just say what it is.
they’re learning, slowly.
The MSM is forked. If they attack Limbaugh’s schtick for what it is, then it just proves that the MSM is biased against the right. And if the MSM tries to perform a sort of even-handed treatment, then they normalize the corrosive rhetoric of the right.
Good luck breaking that self-reinforcing feedback loop, especially when it’s made RW media filthy rich and influential.
The conceit that NPR is “center-left” would be less bonkers if NPR had been calling Limbaugh a misogynist racist blowhard over the past few decades.
The N(ice)P(olite)R(epublican) schtick is “balance”, not judgement. To be fair, NPR does deal in reality, which has a well-known liberal bias. So it has always been easy for Dittoheads, MAGAts, and now Qpies to tell each other that NPR is “left’ish”.
Thus nous has it right: good luck breaking that loop.
–TP
The conceit that NPR is “center-left” would be less bonkers if NPR had been calling Limbaugh a misogynist racist blowhard over the past few decades.
The N(ice)P(olite)R(epublican) schtick is “balance”, not judgement. To be fair, NPR does deal in reality, which has a well-known liberal bias. So it has always been easy for Dittoheads, MAGAts, and now Qpies to tell each other that NPR is “left’ish”.
Thus nous has it right: good luck breaking that loop.
–TP
I suspect a big portion of talk radio’s audience is made up of people who can listen while they work. Truck drivers, service and delivery vehicle drivers, assembly-line and construction workers, etc.
A couple of decades ago I listen on my to and from work. And sometimes at work when I was doing some physical task that didn’t require much attention. I haven’t listened since except for the occasions when I was a passenger in someone’s car. When I was a kid, I listen to H. L. Hunt.
I suspect a big portion of talk radio’s audience is made up of people who can listen while they work. Truck drivers, service and delivery vehicle drivers, assembly-line and construction workers, etc.
A couple of decades ago I listen on my to and from work. And sometimes at work when I was doing some physical task that didn’t require much attention. I haven’t listened since except for the occasions when I was a passenger in someone’s car. When I was a kid, I listen to H. L. Hunt.
The thing I always hated about Limbaugh was that Armed Forces Radio carried him.
People in the US military, responsible to the POTUS as the top of their chain of command and, in the case of enlisted military, having taken an explicit oath to obey the orders of the POTUS, listening to a fat lying loudmouth claiming that the POTUS and his family were engaged in every kind of foul and corrupt behavior up to and including murder.
And all us paying for it.
That just seems… questionable, to me, from point of view of good discipline and force cohesion.
I listened to Limbaugh briefly back in the very late 80’s. There is, and has been, a robust conservative talk radio presence in the Boston market, and it was a drive-time alternative to bad pop music.
I stopped because he was a creep. He was somebody I wouldn’t want to know in real life. It made me feel creepy to listen to him.
Same with Stern, although for different reasons. He was good for a laugh, for a minute, and then you felt like a nasty jerk for laughing.
I really don’t mind that he’s dead.
The thing I always hated about Limbaugh was that Armed Forces Radio carried him.
People in the US military, responsible to the POTUS as the top of their chain of command and, in the case of enlisted military, having taken an explicit oath to obey the orders of the POTUS, listening to a fat lying loudmouth claiming that the POTUS and his family were engaged in every kind of foul and corrupt behavior up to and including murder.
And all us paying for it.
That just seems… questionable, to me, from point of view of good discipline and force cohesion.
I listened to Limbaugh briefly back in the very late 80’s. There is, and has been, a robust conservative talk radio presence in the Boston market, and it was a drive-time alternative to bad pop music.
I stopped because he was a creep. He was somebody I wouldn’t want to know in real life. It made me feel creepy to listen to him.
Same with Stern, although for different reasons. He was good for a laugh, for a minute, and then you felt like a nasty jerk for laughing.
I really don’t mind that he’s dead.
I stopped because he was a creep. He was somebody I wouldn’t want to know in real life. It made me feel creepy to listen to him.
I’m rather amazed that more people, even rightwingers, don’t feel this way. I mean, the Sandra Fluke comments alone (and that’s only a recent example) were utterly creepy and revolting. What a sleaze.
I stopped because he was a creep. He was somebody I wouldn’t want to know in real life. It made me feel creepy to listen to him.
I’m rather amazed that more people, even rightwingers, don’t feel this way. I mean, the Sandra Fluke comments alone (and that’s only a recent example) were utterly creepy and revolting. What a sleaze.
russell, your experience with Limbaugh and Stern mirrors my own. I gave them both up for sports talk radio. The schtick is the same, but the tribal affiliations are less toxic to society.
At least until the constant toxic sexism of sports talk radio got to me, too.
So glad that my commute (at least in non-pandemic times) consists entirely of me walking 15 minutes across campus these days.
russell, your experience with Limbaugh and Stern mirrors my own. I gave them both up for sports talk radio. The schtick is the same, but the tribal affiliations are less toxic to society.
At least until the constant toxic sexism of sports talk radio got to me, too.
So glad that my commute (at least in non-pandemic times) consists entirely of me walking 15 minutes across campus these days.
I have to say that I’m not convinced that Matzko is accurately summarizing Rosenwald’s arguments.
I didn’t read Matzko with this in mind, but from Rosenwald’s Post piece, your assessment sounds right.
That said, people I know of millennial age have expressed some surprise recently at how progressive and incredibly cool some mainstream public broadcasting was that they and their kids are watching these days. The energy, creativity, and commitment to learning and literacy that I grew up with were things that I thought were American values. Little did I know it was all a leftie plot.
I have to say that I’m not convinced that Matzko is accurately summarizing Rosenwald’s arguments.
I didn’t read Matzko with this in mind, but from Rosenwald’s Post piece, your assessment sounds right.
That said, people I know of millennial age have expressed some surprise recently at how progressive and incredibly cool some mainstream public broadcasting was that they and their kids are watching these days. The energy, creativity, and commitment to learning and literacy that I grew up with were things that I thought were American values. Little did I know it was all a leftie plot.
I’m rather amazed that more people, even rightwingers, don’t feel this way.
Can’t disagree.
I gave them both up for sports talk radio.
I gave them up for NPR and ear training CDs.
NPR can be annoying, too, with their unrelenting determination to be nice all the time. Just shows you what a cranky old bastard I am.
But at least I never felt disgusted by them.
I’m rather amazed that more people, even rightwingers, don’t feel this way.
Can’t disagree.
I gave them both up for sports talk radio.
I gave them up for NPR and ear training CDs.
NPR can be annoying, too, with their unrelenting determination to be nice all the time. Just shows you what a cranky old bastard I am.
But at least I never felt disgusted by them.
Most arguments concerning “unintended consequences” remind me of George Carlin’s observation about the term “Legally Drunk”.
Well, if it’s legal, what’s the problem?
Willie Sutton’s perfectly reasoned conclusions regarding bank robbery: “That’s where the money is,” is in the same category.
Money in a safe is not safe. Leave it just lying around and no one would think to steal it, theft being an unintended consequence of locks.
Melanoma may or may not be a consequence of too much exposure to sunlight.
If we found out the sun INTENDED melanoma and its awful suffering, we could view its unintended consequences as “meant to be”, like the beginning of a beautiful love affair in springtime in Paris and feel better about our fate.
“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, seems to unintentionally encapsulate the entire “unintended consequences” argument, and not in a good way.
Mainly because it’s intentionally intended to serve certain masters.
I’ve tried to use the argument myself that the entire multi-decade half-baked Countme-In rhetorical enterprise, rightfully condemned by many when it goes off the rails, is an unintended consequence of, for example, Limbaugh’s rhetoric (now I come to find out it’s the government’s fault and thus unintentionally meant to be), but I’m stuck with fully intending it, which using Reason’s line of argument, makes it OK, I reckon mistakenly.
It doesn’t fly, much like a guy flapping his arms and jumping off a tall building succumbs to the unintentional consequences of gravity and hard surfaces met head-on with speed.
Most arguments concerning “unintended consequences” remind me of George Carlin’s observation about the term “Legally Drunk”.
Well, if it’s legal, what’s the problem?
Willie Sutton’s perfectly reasoned conclusions regarding bank robbery: “That’s where the money is,” is in the same category.
Money in a safe is not safe. Leave it just lying around and no one would think to steal it, theft being an unintended consequence of locks.
Melanoma may or may not be a consequence of too much exposure to sunlight.
If we found out the sun INTENDED melanoma and its awful suffering, we could view its unintended consequences as “meant to be”, like the beginning of a beautiful love affair in springtime in Paris and feel better about our fate.
“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, seems to unintentionally encapsulate the entire “unintended consequences” argument, and not in a good way.
Mainly because it’s intentionally intended to serve certain masters.
I’ve tried to use the argument myself that the entire multi-decade half-baked Countme-In rhetorical enterprise, rightfully condemned by many when it goes off the rails, is an unintended consequence of, for example, Limbaugh’s rhetoric (now I come to find out it’s the government’s fault and thus unintentionally meant to be), but I’m stuck with fully intending it, which using Reason’s line of argument, makes it OK, I reckon mistakenly.
It doesn’t fly, much like a guy flapping his arms and jumping off a tall building succumbs to the unintentional consequences of gravity and hard surfaces met head-on with speed.
I detect the unintentional hand of government coming back to bite us right in the consequences:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alaska-woman-using-outhouse-attacked-bear-below-n1258348
I detect the unintentional hand of government coming back to bite us right in the consequences:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alaska-woman-using-outhouse-attacked-bear-below-n1258348
Uh oh! Looks like cataract-ridden justice is on the job:
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/19/texas-ag-ken-paxton-civil-investigative-demands-ercot-winter-storm/4518986001/
He’s known to be a methane addict.
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/11/texas-ag-ken-paxton-criminal-allegations/
I’m betting transgender Texans are going to pay heavily for the power outage because they favor transitioning from fossil fuels to other more light-in-the-loafers energy sources.
Uh oh! Looks like cataract-ridden justice is on the job:
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/19/texas-ag-ken-paxton-civil-investigative-demands-ercot-winter-storm/4518986001/
He’s known to be a methane addict.
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/11/texas-ag-ken-paxton-criminal-allegations/
I’m betting transgender Texans are going to pay heavily for the power outage because they favor transitioning from fossil fuels to other more light-in-the-loafers energy sources.
I own some Tesla stock, but engineers afflicted with Trump-mouth should shut it and stick to perfecting Lidar.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-takes-104020129.html
I own some Tesla stock, but engineers afflicted with Trump-mouth should shut it and stick to perfecting Lidar.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-takes-104020129.html