My view on Fox from someone who's watched it

[Polish3d]

This is obviously a sore issue, but I thought I'd share my opinion on the network and its various shows. You may characterize me as someone who believes in objectivity, but is not extreme anti-Bush or pro-left. I voted for Bush in 2004, and voted libertarian in 2001. I will be voting democrat in 2006 due to many issues, primarily to help restore the check and balance system sorely needed.

Anyway, here it is: You may or may not find it useful but I decided to post it and you are welcome to read and comment.

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My view on FOX:

(I think CNN is the most boring/dryest of the three cable news stations, but it is the one that has the most of my respect. I don't watch much TV, usually preferring to read the news online. (Generally from my homepage which is still MSN.com) But I have seen most of Fox's shows many times.

I think Fox is the most entertaining, along with Chris Mathews on MSNBC, but it absolutely is populated with conservatives. What I enjoy on Fox is Special Report with Britt Hume, when you have the panel of individuals discussing things.

Still though, on Special Report, the panel as I see it is:

Juan Williams - slightly liberal
Mort Kondracke - Moderate
Mara Lianson - Moderate
Charles Krauthammer - Conservative, but somewhat independent thinker
Bill Kristol - (not on lately) Everyone knows Bill - I enjoy his commentary and have noticed moments of intellectual honesty over partisan spin.
Fred Barnes - extreme partisan conservative, liar, dismiss anything he says due to repeated lying


Hosts:

Neil Cavuto - interesting show, conservative, I enjoy the spread of opinions
John Gibson - extreme conservative, even get the sense that he's one of those types that gets aroused by authoritariansim, not a fan of him
Britt Hume - conservative, but somewhat impassive
Shepard Smith - pretty even
Bill O'Reilly - conservative, somewhat independent, entertaining show, annoys by often claiming the neutrality of Fox, but with forced conviction (IMO)

Hannity and Colmes - IMO Fox uses the senses to affect viewer opinion. Hannity (insane partisan), well groomed, etc. Colmes (I like him, fairly reasonable guy, but quite disheveled.

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Fox uses the senses in a maniupulative way IMO - (or, a more effective and overt way)

Example 1:

"FOX News Alert" - IMO designed to give a little burst of fear and anxiety which can also be interepreted as a "thrill," which can be 'addictive' in a minor sense

Hot Babes - obvious reason

Liberals - most of the liberals that were/are regular guests are distasteful in some sense. Ellis Hennigan, the white haired guy is goofy and fairly obnoxious, Susan Estritch sounds like an alcoholic and is totally unbalanced, Colmes is a good guy but clearly disheveld.

Kristen Powers however, ("democratic strategist") is one hot babe who I bet can fXck like a superstar

 

[techs]

Mort Kondracke - Moderate

http://mediamatters.org/items/200409170007

Morton M. Kondracke claimed that, "for all I know," the growing insurgency in Iraq was "designed ... to help elect [Senator] John Kerry."

Yes, he's a moderate. In the sense that Goering was moderate.
Compared to Hitler.

You take Fox News money and you are a wh*re.

 

[Polish3d]

Now techs, I have heard this guy speak on many, many times and one quote does not sum up his entire viewpoint. I do not want to get into any arguments about it, I just presented my opinions.

 

[BlancoNino]

The hosts on Fox News are generally conservative. What I like though are the entertainment and stories they report. CNN is boring.

Despite having conservative hosts on Fox, they bring in some of the biggest well-spoken liberals around to debate and are civil about it.

 

[LumbergTech]

i disagree entirely..the network never takes on any real challenges of its positions and its reporters are lunatics, they dont know the meaning of the word objective..honestly i think you are totally fooled by the network...ive watched it quite a bit myself and i can say that a majority of the programming is garbage, thats not to say that some of the stories they present arent well done, they are talented, just pretty much full of crap and willing to spin any way they can possibly think of

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
The hosts on Fox News are generally conservative. What I like though are the entertainment and stories they report. CNN is boring.

Despite having conservative hosts on Fox, they bring in some of the biggest well-spoken liberals around to debate and are civil about it.

So O'Reilly telling his "guests" that he doesn't agree with to shut up is civil? :roll:

 

[HardWarrior]

There's nothing at FOX News that even approaches "balance."

 

[Moonbeam]

I would compare the characters on Fox News to Big Bird and Barney. Depending on your mental age you think what you see is real.

 

[OFFascist]

Fox is definately more "entertaining" than other news channels.

That is the reason most people watch it. Most Americans dont watch the news because they want to see the news they watch it because they want to be entertained by the news.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
The hosts on Fox News are generally conservative. What I like though are the entertainment and stories they report. CNN is boring.

Despite having conservative hosts on Fox, they bring in some of the biggest well-spoken liberals around to debate and are civil about it.

So O'Reilly telling his "guests" that he doesn't agree with to shut up is civil? :roll:

The only time he says that is during a certain context "Why don't you just shut up to the media about it?!". At least from what I've seen of the show. If he ever tells a guest to shut up it's probably because they are being uncivil and attacking the well-being of O'reilly or one of his other guests.

 

[DealMonkey]

Believe it or not, the other day I was watching FNC and the story was about rising gas prices at the pump. After they cut back from the piece, one of the anchors (I can't recall who and I'm paraphrasing here) said, "You want to see gas prices go down? Vote all the Democrats out this November." And then he proceded to chuckle about it. Not only is this statement just a small example of the incredible bias at FNC, it's a pretty weak statement as the minority party only has minimal influence in Congress.

 

[kage69]

Some people here really need to watch OutFoxed! :shocked:


There is nothing comparable to the FNC; it is a unique entity within American media with an agenda that feeds on people being duped and led around by the yarbles.

*Alec* If you have any yarbles...


I always chuckle when I hear the criticism 'boring' thrown in there when the rest of the political airwaves are being pondered. Guys, it's news. If you want to be thrilled or moved, may I suggest the local theater, or perhaps HBO? Expecting reality to conform to your sensibilties, when what you need is comprehensive and factual reporting, makes you part of the problem. Enjoy your entertainment, but don't draw voting decisions over it. Our own president has shown us full well these last few years what happens when you insulate yourselves from opposing veiws and additional information. (Read: you're wrong.) People who get their sole political intake from Fox because it's so American looking! and it comforts them are what I believe to be one of the worst threats we face today.

"You want to see gas prices go down? Vote all the Democrats out this November."

Reminds me of the "Oh yeah, North Korea looves John Kerry!"

You know, some people say... :laugh:

 

[bearxor]

I'm a conservative, and Fox News commentators tend to make me mad with their liberal viewpoints every so often. I watch maybe an hour or two a week though.

 

[johnnobts]

special report with britt hume is the best hour in news every day.. for entertainment i watch hardball.

 

[zanieladie]

FOX News is the only cable news channel that I watch. The rest are too darn liberal for me.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: OFFascist
Fox is definately more "entertaining" than other news channels.

That is the reason most people watch it. Most Americans dont watch the news because they want to see the news they watch it because they want to be entertained by the news.

entertaining news is often (and rightfully so) mistaken as tabloid BS.

 

[Drift3r]

Hannity and Colmes - Hannity partisan hack, Colmes = ringer. He is there to make Hannity look good, and sound smart.

O'rielly - After being caught on the phone talking about dildos to a woman who did not want his advances now wants to paint himself as a some moral figure to be looked up to. The guy is a blow hard who jumps up and down like a crazed monkey and that pedals his crappy "Oreilly Factor" items like a used car salesmen.


Neil Cavuto - About the only guy who actually sticks to his guns and makes valid and logical points from time to time. Still part of the FNC spin machine but at least he is bareable IMHO. I've seen him debate O'Reilly several times and tear into and rip him a new vagina.

 

[astrosfan90]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
The hosts on Fox News are generally conservative. What I like though are the entertainment and stories they report. CNN is boring.

Despite having conservative hosts on Fox, they bring in some of the biggest well-spoken liberals around to debate and are civil about it.

I'm with you Blanco...CNN puts me to sleep. I can't even tune into MSNBC without my eyelids getting heavy, either. FNC is the only one I can stand of the three--they know how to keep it interesting.

 

[Thump553]

Why not include BBC? Most Americans with cable can get this at least part of the time. It's factual and not bias driven, and refreshing in that it is not USA-centric. While it may be dry for those raised on MTV, it's true substance. If you ever catch the prime minister's periodic appearances before the House of Commons (they have a mandate that the Prime Minister must appear before the House regularly-once a week or once a month, deliver a speech as to what is currently facing Britain) this is THE most entertaining political show, bar none.

Ditto re the Leherer Report on PBS-that show delivers more substantive news and intelligent commentary in one hour than all three 24 networks carry in a full 24 period.

I used to watch CNN until they started tagging after Fox with its all flashy logos all the time. Frankly, I think Fox/CNN/MSNBC are to news and political commentary as pro wrestling is to real sports-a telegenically flashy impersonator.

 

[spikespiegal]

I listen to the BBC when I can, but it usually means I have to drone though hours of NPR, and even right leaning Fox isn't as left leaning as NPR.

As for Fox, I don't mind a reporter or anchor throwing a lit bit of 'attitude' into the program as long as they are doing it with the intention of the audience is intelligent enough to make up their own minds. I like Tony Snow and Brit Hume for these reasons, and find both guys pretty objective and interesting. Could care less for the rest of Fox's cast of characters.

I used to talk to Alan Colmes a lot via E-mail before he got famous, and the guy is lightyears ahead of Hannity. Unfortunatley Fox has this little 'act' going on where they are pretending to be conservative to entertain the audience, when in fact it's just marketing. If you want to listen to a real media conservative, listen to Limbaugh sometime. At least Fox gets an opposing viewpoint on the show...sometimes.

 

[astrosfan90]

Honestly, BBC doesn't do it for me either. Not because it's bland--it's reports are in-depth and interested enough to compensate for that. It just comes across to me as extremely biased in it's own way.

Spikesiegal, interesting about Colmes. I always liked the guy. I think he does a great job.

 

[Todd33]

"My view on Fox from someone who's watched it"

I can see a thread about climbing Mount Everest or maybe flying a F15, but about a TV channel from someone who has watched it, wow!! Thanks for the un-expert opinion and poorly thought out input about Fox Frackel, your threads and replies never cease to amaze me.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: astrosfan90

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
The hosts on Fox News are generally conservative. What I like though are the entertainment and stories they report. CNN is boring.

Despite having conservative hosts on Fox, they bring in some of the biggest well-spoken liberals around to debate and are civil about it.

I'm with you Blanco...CNN puts me to sleep. I can't even tune into MSNBC without my eyelids getting heavy, either. FNC is the only one I can stand of the three--they know how to keep it interesting.

So when you pick your news program, you don't consider the breadth or depth of coverage, the integrity of the reporters or quality of information, you look at how entertaining it is? You people are pathetic. :thumbsdown:

 

[CaptnKirk]

FOX is run to be a continuous Political Advertisement to promote the Goodness of King George.

It is not objective, and only chooses to air subject matter that favors the present Administration in the best light, regardless of facts.

It does carry a very high audience rating as it caters to those individuals that seek re-inforcement of their agenda.

34% of the country supports Dubya, and those 34% make up 99% of the audience that FOX serves theis message up for.
meanwhile the remaining 66% of the population get their 'Fair and Balanced' news content from a collection of other sources.

You can't fool all the people all of the time, but you can fool all of the fools who choose to be fooled anywhere and everywhere - all the time.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: HardWarrior
There's nothing at FOX News that even approaches "balance."

?? sheppard smith has a great show. he is balanced and just reports the news without any spin in either direction.

"at the speed of live" yes i love listening to smith on my XM.