Talk Radio - Does it have ANY influence?

[Fern]

I catch a little talk radio almost everyday. Usually it's about 10-15 minutes (including comericials) twice day, so it's only enough to see what the topic is mostly.

Jeebus, has anybody noticed how Rush, Hannity, Glen beck and all the others are bashing Mccain non-stop everyday?

Then there's Ann Coulter on TV last night. She dislikes McCain soo much she finds HRC preferable. :roll:

Yet inspite of all this non-stop "campaigning" against McCain by these talk radio conservatives, they haven't hurt his polling numbers for the Repub primaries in the least. None.

All you around here saying that their listeners are Repub sheeple are clearly wrong.

All this has, IMO, revealed just how little (or none) influence that they actually have. They've been exposed and are frustrated to no end.

Fern

 

[Farang]

I wonder how they're going to reverse this if Clinton gets the nomination. People say McCain needs these people.. he only needed them for the nomination, which he has wrapped up. For the general, the hardcore conservatives will surely vote for McCain over Clinton.

 

[sandorski]

Ah, it's quite clear they have some influence. Too many times people have repeated their nonsense as if it were fact. That does not mean they always influence on every subject though.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Farang
I wonder how they're going to reverse this if Clinton gets the nomination. People say McCain needs these people.. he only needed them for the nomination, which he has wrapped up. For the general, the hardcore conservatives will surely vote for McCain over Clinton.

They're gonna have to backpedal like crazy mofo's.

Or just not mention him and focus on criticizing the Dem candidate.

I think this is a big "ego shrinking" event for them. Nobodys paying attention to them. The "emperor has no clothes" as far as influence goes.

Fern

 

[Bowfinger]

What is your basis for claiming "they haven't hurt his polling numbers for the Repub primaries in the least. None?" How do you know what his numbers would have been without the constant character assassination by the blowhards? There are certainly plenty of people here who seem to think McCain is the end of the world. Look at the anti-McCain threads. What makes you think their opinions weren't influenced by talk radio?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Ah, it's quite clear they have some influence. Too many times people have repeated their nonsense as if it were fact. That does not mean they always influence on every subject though.

I'll grant some pick up their talking points. Then again, who knows if those arn't from other sources really, like blogs etc.

But "influence", at least to me, means more than developing talking points.

I see their tirades against as sort of a reverse "endorsement". Problem is, he's going up in the polls, not down.

Fern

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger
What is your basis for claiming "they haven't hurt his polling numbers for the Repub primaries in the least. None?" How do you know what his numbers would have been without the constant character assassination by the blowhards? There are certainly plenty of people here who seem to think McCain is the end of the world. Look at the anti-McCain threads. What makes you think their opinions weren't influenced by talk radio?

Last I heard, which was recently, is that he's going up in Repub polls.

Fern

 

[Rainsford]

I'm not sure I understand the point you're trying to make, Fern. The last poll result from Rasmussen puts McCain at a solid 30% support among likely Republican voters. That means up to 70% of Republicans could have been influenced by talk radio assclowns to not support McCain when they otherwise would have. Is this likely? Probably not, but your argument that McCain's 30% support means that the talk radio attacks on him must be having no effect is not an argument that uses anything resembling our Earth logic.

 

[SSSnail]

I heard churches also influence people into voting. Don't know if that's true or not...

 

[Lemon law]

I sometimes listen to talk radio because its so instructive on phony logic. I have always regarded McCain as a very conservative Republican who does have a few good principles
he will stand up for.

Why talk radio tries to paint McCain as some radical is beyond me. But now that sleepy Fred and 911 Rudy are gone, I have to guess republican talk radio will rally around the Romney
that I distrust with a passion.

 

[FoBoT]

but the majority of their audience are not the mccain lovers

 

[Moonbeam]

Republicans won't listen to brilliant people like me. Why would they listen to those nuts?

 

[IronWing]

Talk radio blathermouths have influence in that they normalize boorish behavior. Also, they promote belief and innuendo over rational thought.

 

[ProfJohn]

People listen to them because they share their thoughts and ideas not because the hosts feed them thoughts and ideas.

Also because they are a good source of information about topics and stories not covered by the MSM.

And let?s not forget that they are enjoyable to listen to if you like politics.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
People listen to them because they share their thoughts and ideas not because the hosts feed them thoughts and ideas.

Also because they are a good source of information about topics and stories not covered by the MSM.

And let?s not forget that they are enjoyable to listen to if you like politics.

I'm not sure why you think you're making a good argument...listening to political commentary because it agrees with what you already think is hardly admirable. The desire to seek intellectual comfort by only surrounding yourself with opinions you agree with is a symptom of a pretty defective mind, I don't care if Rush is "programming" anyone, his audience is there for intellectual support, not enlightenment.

 

[ProfJohn]

And you base your belief on what???

I have been listening to Rush for 17 odd years and I do so because I enjoy his show and because we share the same ideas on most topics.

I think you, like most libs, don?t understand why people listen to Rush and thus attempt to marginalize what you don?t understand.

BTW if listening to Rush etc is a sign of a ?defective? mind then why are the liberals so obsessed with coming up with their own version of Rush?

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: Farang
I wonder how they're going to reverse this if Clinton gets the nomination. People say McCain needs these people.. he only needed them for the nomination, which he has wrapped up. For the general, the hardcore conservatives will surely vote for McCain over Clinton.

We did that for Bush. Once was enough.

McCain betrays my values. The only way to promote those values is through a party that supports them. If the party does not support them, it must be crushed by an overwhelming support for the other party.

The argument for "the lesser of two evils" is no longer valid with me. Eight years of that was enough.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: Bowfinger
What is your basis for claiming "they haven't hurt his polling numbers for the Repub primaries in the least. None?" How do you know what his numbers would have been without the constant character assassination by the blowhards? There are certainly plenty of people here who seem to think McCain is the end of the world. Look at the anti-McCain threads. What makes you think their opinions weren't influenced by talk radio?

Last I heard, which was recently, is that he's going up in Repub polls.

Fern

What does that have to do with anything I said? Unless McCain is polling at 100%, you cannot show the talk radio attacks aren't influential. All you're showing is some people aren't influenced, a given since not everyone listens to talk radio.

 

[umbrella39]

IMO people who faithfully listen to Talk Radio are looking for like minded people who solidify their opinions. I doubt they are influenced one way of the other in that regard since their minds are already made up.

EDIT: although after reading PJ's post about Rush I may have to reconsider my stance.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
And you base your belief on what???

I have been listening to Rush for 17 odd years and I do so because I enjoy his show and because we share the same ideas on most topics.

I think you, like most libs, don?t understand why people listen to Rush and thus attempt to marginalize what you don?t understand.

BTW if listening to Rush etc is a sign of a ?defective? mind then why are the liberals so obsessed with coming up with their own version of Rush?

It would not appear you are attempting to dispute anything I said. I am not failing to understand Rush or his audience, in fact my comments were not based on Rush in particular, I was speaking of the general phenomenon of seeking out political commentary from people who agree with you. I suggested that Rush's audience listens because they agree with him, and you confirmed that's why you listen to him...so how do I not understand, exactly?

As for liberals trying to emulate Rush, I'm not entirely sure that's an obsession...if "the liberals" really wanted a liberal version of Rush, it would seem he or she would be able to find an audience. Yet the closest attempt, Air America Radio, failed horribly. That suggests that the Rush phenomenon is something primarily afflicting conservatives.

 

[Lemon law]

To answer the post question, "Talk Radio - Does it have ANY influence?", I fail to see how it can be anything but a big yes. Some debate on how many regular listeners Rush Limbaugh has, I have heard figures between 13 to 20 million. And given the fact that they are probably more motivated to vote than the average American, its as much as 10% of the American electorate.

And if conservative talk radio is united in opposition to John McCain, its almost impossible to say it not going to hurt McCain. But given the fact of what conservative talk radio has been touting, namely the proven failures of GWB&co, its also impossible to argue that conservative talk radio is doing anything but discrediting itself. And its shall be very comical to see what conservative talk radio does if McCain ends up being the GOP nominee.

Now if we want to ask does conservative talk radio serve a "good" national purpose, thats far more debatable. But given the fact I don't believe in censorship, we can't shut the idiots down. We can only shake our heads in wonder at any that would believe a single word these gas bags say.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: umbrella39
IMO people who faithfully listen to Talk Radio are looking for like minded people who solidify their opinions. I doubt they are influenced one way of the other in that regard since their minds are already made up.

EDIT: although after reading PJ's post about Rush I may have to reconsider my stance.

The fact that people might already agree with what the talk radio folks are saying doesn't mean talk radio has no influence. In fact, I'd say talk radio has MORE influence on similarly minded people than it does on listeners who DON'T agree with what's being said. Despite evidence to the contrary, political views aren't set in stone. People change their minds over time to adapt to new information and ideas, but only if they are exposed to those new ideas and that new information. People who deliberately try to only expose themselves to information and ideas that support their existing world view are much less likely to end up changing their minds, so the fact that Rush's listeners are already raging conservatives doesn't mean he doesn't influence them. They might not become MORE conservative, but they're not going to become liberals either.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
And you base your belief on what???

I have been listening to Rush for 17 odd years and I do so because I enjoy his show and because we share the same ideas on most topics.

I think you, like most libs, don?t understand why people listen to Rush and thus attempt to marginalize what you don?t understand.

BTW if listening to Rush etc is a sign of a ?defective? mind then why are the liberals so obsessed with coming up with their own version of Rush?

At least you are not a Ditto-head in denial. Up the Rush ideological circle jerk! "Holy defective minds need continual radio brain washing, lest they begin to think for themselves, Batman!"

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: umbrella39
IMO people who faithfully listen to Talk Radio are looking for like minded people who solidify their opinions. I doubt they are influenced one way of the other in that regard since their minds are already made up.

EDIT: although after reading PJ's post about Rush I may have to reconsider my stance.

The fact that people might already agree with what the talk radio folks are saying doesn't mean talk radio has no influence. In fact, I'd say talk radio has MORE influence on similarly minded people than it does on listeners who DON'T agree with what's being said. Despite evidence to the contrary, political views aren't set in stone. People change their minds over time to adapt to new information and ideas, but only if they are exposed to those new ideas and that new information. People who deliberately try to only expose themselves to information and ideas that support their existing world view are much less likely to end up changing their minds, so the fact that Rush's listeners are already raging conservatives doesn't mean he doesn't influence them. They might not become MORE conservative, but they're not going to become liberals either.

Wait a minute, these talk radio shows don't educate their audience? "sarcasm X 10"
Better , a mob and a rabble rouser in a feedback loop.