Talk Radio going over the edge?

[Arkaign]

With the recent suicide of that one fellow down in Florida, and the emergence of something of a civil war within the GOP as it reflects on the election results, I thought it might be interesting to listen to some local conservative talk radio here in Dallas to see what the message and conversation were about.

I am an old school fiscal conservative with libertarian social views overall, and I try my hardest to view things through a prism of logic rather than through preconceived ideas of party and ideals. In this way, I find good and bad in both major parties, and a lot of similarities in the partisan divide. It's sad and funny to see the hypocrisy that many partisans exhibit merely because of the appearance of an 'us vs. them' debate.

That said, I am appalled at the current state of the conversation. This morning a major local radio host was in the middle of saying some truly insane things. He apparently had latched on to the message that Obama won only by giving things away. Following this logic, the host was saying that nobody who receives any form of government assistance should have the right to vote. To DFW's credit, most of the callers were calling him out on this obvious BS. One guy asked about his son, who was severely wounded in Iraq in 2006. The guy said he was basically a moocher and shouldn't be able to vote. Round and round like that.

I can understand the idea of being intentionally idiotic or insane in the effort to boost ratings, but I think they're actually doing damage to the sane conservatives out there. The larger hosts such as Hannity, Rush, Levin, etc are also seemingly jumping over each other to say ridiculous things as well. It's complete chaos. And the loudest voices are always the craziest ones.

Well, at least I can be proud of a few of my Texan brethren here. Another caller said "I voted for Romney, but what you're saying is the dumbest *bleeeep* *bleep* thing I've heard on this station in 29 years!".

 

[Uhtrinity]

An echo chamber of any kind is bad and eventually self destructive. I can only hope right wing radio implodes on itself as I believe it is one of the top causes of much of our political problems. At least the liberals were smart enough to reject (and let die) left wing radio, ie. Air America.

 

[crashtestdummy]

I actually in many ways prefer it this way. While I would certainly like everyone to be reasonable and rational, that's never going to be the case. The next best thing is for crazy people to be as loud as possible, so that everyone else can see their incredible silliness.

 

[Emos]

I had one of my coworkers come up to me this morning and proclaim that he got wind that "The next thing that's going to happen is that the whitehouse has a plan to confiscate your 401K and distribute it to everyone". Said this with a straight face! Now this is an otherwise intelligent person who I respect...granted his politics were always right wing but this was an Alice down the Rabbit-hole moment. Wasn't in the mood to engage so I said "guess I better use the Under-The-Mattress plan lol herp derp". To which he replies "you know cash will be made obsolete so that plan will not work, one card society!"
Is this a level of fail beyond even Limbaugh and Hannity (haven't listened to them in years)? What happened to this college educated nice guy?

 

[wuliheron]

The bums are still in denial that after 40 years of failed trickle down economics they finally got a mandate from the people to shape up or ship out. The invented crisis of the fiscal cliff is their last hold out and once we're past that they'll have to start dealing with reality, but they dug themselves into this pit of denial pretty deep and have yet to accept a revolution has occurred. Get it straight you ignorant hillbillies! No more "legitimate" rape or calling half the country lazy bums. Either learn how to get along with people and accept nobody is buying your trickle down economic crap anymore or move to the back of the bus.

 

[boomerang]

With the recent suicide of that one fellow down in Florida, and the emergence of something of a civil war within the GOP as it reflects on the election results, I thought it might be interesting to listen to some local conservative talk radio here in Dallas to see what the message and conversation were about.

I am an old school fiscal conservative with libertarian social views overall, and I try my hardest to view things through a prism of logic rather than through preconceived ideas of party and ideals. In this way, I find good and bad in both major parties, and a lot of similarities in the partisan divide. It's sad and funny to see the hypocrisy that many partisans exhibit merely because of the appearance of an 'us vs. them' debate.

That said, I am appalled at the current state of the conversation. This morning a major local radio host was in the middle of saying some truly insane things. He apparently had latched on to the message that Obama won only by giving things away. Following this logic, the host was saying that nobody who receives any form of government assistance should have the right to vote. To DFW's credit, most of the callers were calling him out on this obvious BS. One guy asked about his son, who was severely wounded in Iraq in 2006. The guy said he was basically a moocher and shouldn't be able to vote. Round and round like that.

I can understand the idea of being intentionally idiotic or insane in the effort to boost ratings, but I think they're actually doing damage to the sane conservatives out there. The larger hosts such as Hannity, Rush, Levin, etc are also seemingly jumping over each other to say ridiculous things as well. It's complete chaos. And the loudest voices are always the craziest ones.

Well, at least I can be proud of a few of my Texan brethren here. Another caller said "I voted for Romney, but what you're saying is the dumbest *bleeeep* *bleep* thing I've heard on this station in 29 years!".

I like your analysis. Too often groups are judged based on the vocalizations of a few. Pointing out that this radio host was called out by his own listeners in this manner makes a big statement. Both about your character and the right overall. It serves no one to seize upon the views of the fringe and apply it universally to a group. :thumbsup: Despite what many have been led to believe the right does not think collectively.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

I've listened to conservative talk radio for years. It's become increasingly more radicalized and out of connection to reality, but only gradually. I haven't noticed any particular spike in the stupid/crazy level since the election.

 

[boomerang]

The bums are still in denial that after 40 years of failed trickle down economics they finally got a mandate from the people to shape up or ship out. The invented crisis of the fiscal cliff is their last hold out and once we're past that they'll have to start dealing with reality, but they dug themselves into this pit of denial pretty deep and have yet to accept a revolution has occurred. Get it straight you ignorant hillbillies! No more "legitimate" rape or calling half the country lazy bums. Either learn how to get along with people and accept nobody is buying your trickle down economic crap anymore or move to the back of the bus.

You like that word don't you - hillbillies. It appears in many of your posts. You may want to try exhibiting some of that tolerance those on the left profess to be for.

The "back of the bus" comment appears in most every post too. Your posts are pretty much scripted.

 

[Arkaign]

I like your analysis. Too often groups are judged based on the vocalizations of a few. Pointing out that this radio host was called out by his own listeners in this manner makes a big statement. Both about your character and the right overall. It serves no one to seize upon the views of the fringe and apply it universally to a group. :thumbsup: Despite what many have been led to believe the right does not think collectively.

Agree. I think we can eventually quell the extremists if we're patient and continue the focus on fiscal realities. I understand the need for balance, and the necessity for a certain amount of social and military spending, but I do think we're currently unsustainable on our balance sheets. These guys that scream like banshees about socioreligious issues, or who come off as insane totalitarians are a damaging group. It kind of reminds me of a certain fringe on the left (and a handful on the right as well) when they continually insisted 9/11 was some insane conspiracy with duplicate planes, missiles, invisibility cloaks, etc.

Coming back to reality, we have two major parties with no solutions on the table for fixing our deficit crisis, let alone the accumulative debt itself. Things like gay marriage, whether or not someone should be able to smoke weed legally, contraception, all of this is just noise to me. I come down on the side of liberty whenever/however possible, and although I wouldn't want talk radio silenced by any government action, I do wish that some sanity would return to the message there. There are very important things to be said and to talk about, and screaming about nonsense hurts everyone except for them. They get their ratings, they get their checks, but the listeners mainly get nonsense, and the more important issues are left status quo.

 

[Phokus]

I like your analysis. Too often groups are judged based on the vocalizations of a few. Pointing out that this radio host was called out by his own listeners in this manner makes a big statement. Both about your character and the right overall. It serves no one to seize upon the views of the fringe and apply it universally to a group. :thumbsup: Despite what many have been led to believe the right does not think collectively.

The conservative entertainment complex is a massively profitable enterprise. There's no such thing as 'a few' when you're talking about rightwing media. They're all batshit insane and based on the amount of money they make, their listeners are too.

I would go back on painting republicans as batshit crazy if they all collectively dumped the CEC and embraced david frum's analysis of the rightwing media. The chance of that happening, of course, is zero.

 

[techs]

One of Talk Radio's unspoken attractions is that it gives people the feeling they are influencing politics by listening. Which is why you see links to talk radios talking point of the day shortly after the listeners hear them on every website possible.

Another of the unspoken attractions is that talk radio exists to make people feel better about themselves and superior to others.

When the Republicans didn't win the elections like talk radio told them they would it caused talk radio into panic mode. They are doubling, tripling down on everything and anything they can think of to say to their viewers to explain away their failure and keep listeners from realizing they are being hoodwinked.

 

[stormkroe]

I think it's only the top dogs that can get away with that kind of stuff because they have at LEAST a national audience, folks that agree with them listen to hate people in the stories, folks that disagree with them listen to hate the host themselves. Local guys spewing that garbage wont last very long.

 

[boomerang]

I would go back on painting republicans as batshit crazy if they all collectively dumped the CEC and embraced david frum's analysis of the rightwing media. The chance of that happening, of course, is zero.

Yeah, your sig makes all that so very believable. Your hatred of the right courses through your veins sustaining your very existence. On some level I admire it. Your beliefs are unyielding and unwavering. You're the type that despots rely on to achieve their vision. Smart enough to make decisions in the field that further the cause and dumb enough to believe you'll come out ahead when it's all over. I could imagine you going door to door in the dead of night rounding up those turned in by neighbors for the promise of an extra beet ration.

Your psyche demands that you be a superior being and for that, there are those that must be below you. You've found them and you're never going to let go. Fool yourself if you wish, you're not fooling us.

 

[techs]

I think it's only the top dogs that can get away with that kind of stuff because they have at LEAST a national audience, folks that agree with them listen to hate people in the stories, folks that disagree with them listen to hate the host themselves. Local guys spewing that garbage wont last very long.

I can think of a few local guys. One is Howie Carr. The others name was Bob Grant . He started before Rush and in NY they were on one after another. He finally went over the top one day and got fired and went to another station where I think he got fired, and then retired. Footnote, Sean Hannity got his break when he took over Grants spot.

 

[stormkroe]

I can think of a few local guys. One is Howie Carr. The others name was Bob Grant . He started before Rush and in NY they were on one after another. He finally went over the top one day and got fired and went to another station where I think he got fired, and then retired. Footnote, Sean Hannity got his break when he took over Grants spot.

Did you listen to Hannity back then? I only started listening to him in around 2004, and back then he only took hard stands on safe things. I actually learned a lot during that period, but it wasn't long before I noticed the strange smell of bias. In the last 2 years I don't even recognize him as the same person. Now Sean Hannity is like Limbaugh-lite: Same bad taste with way fewer calories. Now tell me that isn't quotable

Now I only like to listen to John Stewert and Michael Savage. Strange combo, huh?

 

[Matt1970]

Did you listen to Hannity back then? I only started listening to him in around 2004, and back then he only took hard stands on safe things. I actually learned a lot during that period, but it wasn't long before I noticed the strange smell of bias. In the last 2 years I don't even recognize him as the same person. Now Sean Hannity is like Limbaugh-lite: Same bad taste with way fewer calories. Now tell me that isn't quotable

Now I only like to listen to John Stewert and Michael Savage. Strange combo, huh?

Hannity was ok when he had Colmes to keep him in check.

 

[Matt1970]

The bums are still in denial that after 40 years of failed trickle down economics they finally got a mandate from the people to shape up or ship out. The invented crisis of the fiscal cliff is their last hold out and once we're past that they'll have to start dealing with reality, but they dug themselves into this pit of denial pretty deep and have yet to accept a revolution has occurred. Get it straight you ignorant hillbillies! No more "legitimate" rape or calling half the country lazy bums. Either learn how to get along with people and accept nobody is buying your trickle down economic crap anymore or move to the back of the bus.

I didn't know we were in a 40 year recession. A revolution? Last time I looked Obama vs Romney was 51% vs 48% and the House and Senate didn't change much. Where is this revolution you speak of?

 

[sportage]

I had one of my coworkers come up to me this morning and proclaim that he got wind that "The next thing that's going to happen is that the whitehouse has a plan to confiscate your 401K and distribute it to everyone". Said this with a straight face! Now this is an otherwise intelligent person who I respect...granted his politics were always right wing but this was an Alice down the Rabbit-hole moment. Wasn't in the mood to engage so I said "guess I better use the Under-The-Mattress plan lol herp derp". To which he replies "you know cash will be made obsolete so that plan will not work, one card society!"
Is this a level of fail beyond even Limbaugh and Hannity (haven't listened to them in years)? What happened to this college educated nice guy?

MSNBS Chris Matthews or was it Lawrence O'Donnell has a little interesting tidbit on the 401k Friday nights show.
How the whole idea of the 401K was a little business scam created during the Nixon administration (naturally), to pass on business losses to the employee through the 401K employee retirement investment.
The name 401K was actually labeled from a nasty little business law # 401 down on the list.

I'm giving very vague detail because the segment was maybe 3 minutes long.
I'd have to listen to it again.
It was on Lawrence O'Donnell I believe.
Wish I'd recorded it. The subject needed a lot more airtime.
You never hear the news media cover stuff like this, not any more.
Lawrence O'Donnell had a guest that wrote a book on the 401k and how/why
business with the help of congress created this little "screw the worker retirement" scam.
The 401k is not your friend. It is the little legal tool business and walstreet created to take your money under the illusion of retirement security, while passing all their risk onto some poor working sucker.
Why do you think no one offers a pension to employees in today's business world, but rather the vulnerable market risky 401k retirement plan?

So concerning the above quote, your 401k has already been fully confiscated on the very day the idea was first proposed. The very first day you invested one red cent.
The pension was lifetime, protected, and reliable.
Can you say that about your 401k?
Do you believe these screw the employee scams just happen???

Ps. Tell your co worker has nothing to do with Obama.
He was screwed long before Obama was a out of diapers.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Your hatred of the right courses through your veins sustaining your very existence.

Making him the mirror of people like you.

 

[Perknose]

With the recent suicide of that one fellow down in Florida, and the emergence of something of a civil war within the GOP as it reflects on the election results, I thought it might be interesting to listen to some local conservative talk radio here in Dallas to see what the message and conversation were about.

I am an old school fiscal conservative with libertarian social views overall, and I try my hardest to view things through a prism of logic rather than through preconceived ideas of party and ideals. In this way, I find good and bad in both major parties, and a lot of similarities in the partisan divide. It's sad and funny to see the hypocrisy that many partisans exhibit merely because of the appearance of an 'us vs. them' debate.

That said, I am appalled at the current state of the conversation. This morning a major local radio host was in the middle of saying some truly insane things. He apparently had latched on to the message that Obama won only by giving things away. Following this logic, the host was saying that nobody who receives any form of government assistance should have the right to vote. To DFW's credit, most of the callers were calling him out on this obvious BS. One guy asked about his son, who was severely wounded in Iraq in 2006. The guy said he was basically a moocher and shouldn't be able to vote. Round and round like that.

I can understand the idea of being intentionally idiotic or insane in the effort to boost ratings, but I think they're actually doing damage to the sane conservatives out there. The larger hosts such as Hannity, Rush, Levin, etc are also seemingly jumping over each other to say ridiculous things as well. It's complete chaos. And the loudest voices are always the craziest ones.

Well, at least I can be proud of a few of my Texan brethren here. Another caller said "I voted for Romney, but what you're saying is the dumbest *bleeeep* *bleep* thing I've heard on this station in 29 years!".

There used to be a party for people like you. It was called the Republican Party, and it was, in the main, a sane, patriotic, and principled counterpart to the Democratic Party. And both, in the main, accepted each other as patriotic Americans who meant well for the Republic, but differed on points of fiscal and social policy.

We were all cold warriors then.

The extremes of each party were there but marginalized, and they did not have the megaphone of Limbaugh-like talk radio or For TV News to spew through.

Both parties had a core of centrists who were not really ideologues.

Then, the GOP made their devil's deal with the Dixiecrats and the evangelical yahoos, in order to forge an overwhelming electoral block based on God, Guns, and (anti-) Gays. Like all deals with the devil, it contained the seeds of its own destruction within it. Think of the fable of The Monkeys Paw. Be careful what you wish for.

You and I may differ on some points of policy, but I am proud to have you, a sane and principled conservative, as a fellow American and a member of the LOYAL opposition.

I wish for you, and for all of us, a national party that hears you and gives you a voice. I hope that is once again the Republican Party, a party with an extremely proud history, the party of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower and Everett McKinley Dirksen, great Americans all.

 

[dmcowen674]

There used to be a party for people like you.

It was called the Republican Party

Then, the GOP made their devil's deal with the Dixiecrats and the evangelical yahoos, in order to forge an overwhelming electoral block based on God, Guns, and (anti-) Gays. Like all deals with the devil, it contained the seeds of its own destruction within it.

You and I may differ on some points of policy, but I am proud to have you, a sane and principled conservative, as a fellow American and a member of the LOYAL opposition.

I wish for you, and for all of us, a national party that hears you and gives you a voice. I hope that is once again the Republican Party, a party with an extremely proud history, the party of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower and Everett McKinley Dirksen, great Americans all.

Well written but good luck with that.

 

[techs]

I didn't know we were in a 40 year recession. A revolution? Last time I looked Obama vs Romney was 51% vs 48% and the House and Senate didn't change much. Where is this revolution you speak of?

Well, the Republicans lost the popular vote for President 5 out of the last 6 times. The pollsters are seeing exactly what the demographics would expect them to see. Every day the Republicans are losing voters while every day Democrats are gaining voters. We have passed the tipping point. Not only are Republican candidates starting at a disadvantage but every day the disadvantage is greater.

What makes this so unique is the polarization of the country and the part talk radio and the similiar outlets on the internet and television that are main news and opinion outlets of the right. Normally if you are on the losing side of an issue your political party adjusts its views. However, the current climate is like it was in the 1850's. The people for slavery could not moderate their views. There was no compromise possible. It was either/or.

What talk radio and other right wing media have done is make either/or the fundamental part of their platform. The Repubicans can't moderate their views or thier entire political philosphy crumbles.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Nicely said, Perknose.

 

[techs]

Here's how I heard it put.

Over 20 years ago there was a wacko or two in every town. But they knew they were on the fringe and would never be able to do anything. Then came the internet and talk radio. Suddenly the wackos could find each other and work together.

And that, dear friends, is how the Tea Party began.

 

[Matt1970]

Well, the Republicans lost the popular vote for President 5 out of the last 6 times. The pollsters are seeing exactly what the demographics would expect them to see. Every day the Republicans are losing voters while every day Democrats are gaining voters. We have passed the tipping point. Not only are Republican candidates starting at a disadvantage but every day the disadvantage is greater.

What makes this so unique is the polarization of the country and the part talk radio and the similiar outlets on the internet and television that are main news and opinion outlets of the right. Normally if you are on the losing side of an issue your political party adjusts its views. However, the current climate is like it was in the 1850's. The people for slavery could not moderate their views. There was no compromise possible. It was either/or.

What talk radio and other right wing media have done is make either/or the fundamental part of their platform. The Repubicans can't moderate their views or thier entire political philosphy crumbles.

You keep telling yourself that.