The Republicans are a national party.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Originally Posted by Mario Speedwagon

Do you any of you actually believe these shit flinging monkeys in Washington have any interest in real reform?

That is racist.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Originally Posted by Eomer

So, you blame the Republicans for the downward spiral, but seem to be making excuses for those on your side who are doing the exact same thing. Do you not see the hypocrisy there? Political discourse shouldn't start and end with "HE DID IT FIRST."

Political pornography for ratings is not done by the Left. It is done by the Right. There is no Left equivalent to:

• Rush Limbaugh
• Sean Hannity
• Mark Levin
• Laura Ingraham
• Bill Cunningham
• Glenn Beck
• Sarah "Death Panels" Palin
• Bill O'Reilly
• Ann Coulter
• Monica Crowley
• Tammy Bruce
• Karl Rove
• John Bolton
• All of Fox News not mentioned above

The Left only has Keith Olbermann and he is only half as bad as the worst one from the list above. Fox News is a 24 hours/7 day a week outlet of lies and misinformation about the President.

[AladainAF]

The Left only has Keith Olbermann

Well, to be fair, you have ALL television media minus Fox.

But on the topic of radio -- What do you propose happens if you do get some far leftists on a radio show, and that radio show has abysmal ratings and they go into the tank?

See whats funny about that is that republicans use words and phrases sometimes that others might find offensive - like Limbaugh using "feminazi", or making a song "Barack the Magic Negro" based upon the LA Times story calling him a Magic Negro. Many "ordinary" people find those things funny. It's like a racist joke. Just because you laugh at a funny joke that is very racist doesn't mean you wish for the genocide/extermination of a race. Therefore, many conservative radio programs do very well ratings wise, and thus generate good advertising revenue. They are funny, and they are entertaining.

Democrats/Liberals wouldn't dare do that on their radio show. Therefore, their shows are all serious, and about the "issues" at the same time trying to be funny, but falling flat on their face. The average person says "If I want serious conversation, I'll watch the news or something". Therefore, no one really tunes in thus low ratings, and no advertising revenue. In turn, it wouldn't be a good business decision to put them on the air because you're not making them money.

[Arbiter]

If Grayson wants to speak a bunch of crap before folks, let him. People are more than capable of researching things and finding out the truth on their own.

[Mario Speedwagon]

Originally Posted by AladainAF

Well, to be fair, you have ALL television media minus Fox.

But on the topic of radio -- What do you propose happens if you do get some far leftists on a radio show, and that radio show has abysmal ratings and they go into the tank?

See whats funny about that is that republicans use words and phrases sometimes that others might find offensive - like Limbaugh using "feminazi", or making a song "Barack the Magic Negro" based upon the LA Times story calling him a Magic Negro. Many "ordinary" people find those things funny. It's like a racist joke. Just because you laugh at a funny joke that is very racist doesn't mean you wish for the genocide/extermination of a race. Therefore, many conservative radio programs do very well ratings wise, and thus generate good advertising revenue. They are funny, and they are entertaining.

Democrats/Liberals wouldn't dare do that on their radio show. Therefore, their shows are all serious, and about the "issues" at the same time trying to be funny, but falling flat on their face. The average person says "If I want serious conversation, I'll watch the news or something". Therefore, no one really tunes in thus low ratings, and no advertising revenue. In turn, it wouldn't be a good business decision to put them on the air because you're not making them money.

Well your first sentence is full of fail and really sets the tone for the rest of your post. Literally the first time I've ever seen someone try to argue that conservatives have more of a sense of humor than liberals.

[CnCGOD]

Originally Posted by Mario Speedwagon

Well your first sentence is full of fail and really sets the tone for the rest of your post. Literally the first time I've ever seen someone try to argue that conservatives have more of a sense of humor than liberals.

Its hard to have a sense of humor when your PC police hunt down anything funny that might hurt someone's feelers.

[Leto Eu`Acumen]

Originally Posted by Celebrindal

Everything now just seems like you have to be some sort of TV ratings spectacle to get proper information out.

This is the damn problem right there (minus the "proper information" part). AladainAF touched on it as well. It is not news, it is entertainment. If people are not entertained, too many turn to something else.

We have turned the national political discourse in this country into an entertainment industry.

Grayson isn't a "media darling", he is just the trainwreck of the moment.

There is no profit in factual reporting and well reasoned analysis - the profit is in sensationalism and shock value. We give the most absurd voices the ratings and the profits and we wonder why the national discourse is so fucked. Fox News is no friend to conservatives...it sucks away money and legitimacy in return for entertainment.

I have no idea how to unfuck it. I think the most any reasonable person who still has a working Bullshit Detector can do is flee to the internet where they can at least try to avoid the the stench and find something that resembles journalism or at least something that vaguely resembles an objective discussion of the issues.

I wonder when folks will realize that media moguls such as Murdoch (just as an easy example) don't give a damn about advancing conservative causes, he is laughing all the way to the bank as the conservative base shrinks further and further.

I am reminded of the words of Russel Crowe's character Maximus from Gladiator:

"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? IS THAT NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?!?" /spits in disgust


Well. Are you entertained?

[Sharmai]

My whole problem is how many few options we seem to have in dealing with republicans. There is appeasement which seems to mean do nothing at all for the republicans and that's the excat opposite of the whole point of reform. There's working together with them which EVERYONE OTHER THEN REPUBLICANS have been trying to do for ages and that republicans have been side-stepping, distracting, or completely ignoring. Then there is doing nothing which may get republicans to shut up about the bullshit in the end but it will also kill any possibility of reform. Not talking about it is just as bad if not worse then anything else.


So what do we do? Getting angry like Grayson is doing may be more polarizing but what is the alternative? See our above choices and ask yourself what are the alternatives? Our best hope is keeping the issue alive until a point for which something happens and people demand change and republican lies stop working. Let the issue polarize since the alternative is letting the issue die.


I suppose there is the possibility that letting the issue die quietly and rounding up some republican votes over then next 2 years are so to pass a small bill MIGHT work but really can we count on any of those lobbyists letting it pass quietly now or in two years? heck no.

[Lleauaric~EW]

This post is chock full of fail. Lets begin.

Originally Posted by AladainAF

Well, to be fair, you have ALL television media minus Fox.

Oh bullshit. While there is some left bias in the media as whole.. the top tier gets it right alot more often than they get it wrong. The problem is that Reality has a well know left wing bias.

But on the topic of radio -- What do you propose happens if you do get some far leftists on a radio show, and that radio show has abysmal ratings and they go into the tank?

The right can have AM radio. They can have all these passive forms of communication where the host talks at people and filters the calls to create an illusion. In 15 years this medium wont exist.. and the Left presence on the internet is far stronger than the rights.

Therefore, many conservative radio programs do very well ratings wise, and thus generate good advertising revenue. They are funny, and they are entertaining.

Limbaugh isnt a comedy show. He is selling hate. Goebbeles had a radio show too.

Originally Posted by J. Goebbels

We do not intend to use the radio only for our partisan purposes. We want room for entertainment, popular arts, games, jokes, and music. But everything should have a relationship to our day. Everything should include the theme of our great reconstructive work, or at least not stand in its way. Above all it is necessary to clearly centralize all radio activities, to place spiritual tasks ahead of technical ones, to introduce the leadership principle, to provide a clear worldview, and to present this worldview in flexible ways.

Radio is and has been a political tool for controlling the masses. Its not about interaction, its about command. Its about marching orders and indoctrination. One uninterrupted, unaccountable voice.

Democrats/Liberals wouldn't dare do that on their radio show. Therefore, their shows are all serious, and about the "issues" at the same time trying to be funny, but falling flat on their face. The average person says "If I want serious conversation, I'll watch the news or something". Therefore, no one really tunes in thus low ratings, and no advertising revenue. In turn, it wouldn't be a good business decision to put them on the air because you're not making them money.

Have you seen the Daily Show and the Colbert Report? They are twice as controversial and edgier than anything on Radio Neo-Con.. and are alot funnier.

[AladainAF]

Literally the first time I've ever seen someone try to argue that conservatives have more of a sense of humor than liberals.

My point completely flew over your head. Leto Eu`Acumen nailed it perfectly, however.

Conservative talk radio is funny. It's entertaining. Liberal talk radio isn't funny. It's not entertaining. People tune into talk radio for entertainment.

There is a reason Air America was a dismal failure.

My whole problem is how many few options we seem to have in dealing with republicans.

Why worry about this? With a democrat president, democratic house, and a damn near filibuster proof majority in the Senate (59 is it?), Democrats don't have to "deal" with republicans at all. All they have to do is pass their agenda, of which they have options to do RIGHT NOW. Why don't they? Is it because they believe the public anger is actually more than what they portray (i.e. more than just a political mob full of brown-shirts?). Whats the issue here?

Here is how you deal with the republicans: You try to bring them onboard with your agenda. If they want to be the party of no, YOU MOVE ON WITHOUT THEM.

There's working together with them which EVERYONE OTHER THEN REPUBLICANS have been trying to do for ages and that republicans have been side-stepping, distracting, or completely ignoring.

There is an awfully large amount of things that go on in a bi-partisan manner. Not every vote in the Senate is 59-41.

Getting angry like Grayson is doing may be more polarizing but what is the alternative?

Say fuck the Republicans, and just do shit? Why do you have to work with the party of No? Is there a rule for this? What the fuck is the point. There is absolutely no excuse to blame republicans for anything if you are the party in firm control of every level of government minus a single vote.

[Sharmai]

Originally Posted by AladainAF

Say fuck the Republicans, and just do shit? Why do you have to work with the party of No? Is there a rule for this? What the fuck is the point. There is absolutely no excuse to blame republicans for anything if you are the party in firm control of every level of government minus a single vote.

Unless you miss the whole fucking point that government is not about one polarized side shoveling shit down the other sides throat. It's about working together give and take to find a common ground. What you have right now isn't democrats vs republicans its The party of No vs The party of lets try to work something out. The democrats may have the majority but they aren't polarized within the party because being polarized turns you into the mindless mob that is the republican party.

[AladainAF]

Originally Posted by Sharmai

Unless you miss the whole fucking point that government is not about one polarized side shoveling shit down the other sides throat. It's about working together give and take to find a common ground. What you have right now isn't democrats vs republicans its The party of No vs The party of lets try to work something out. The democrats may have the majority but they aren't polarized within the party because being polarized turns you into the mindless mob that is the republican party.

Then what the republicans are doing is politically brilliant. They are preventing the democrats from doing anything, and the democrats will do nothing about it and eventually won't be the majority anymore.

[Erumaron]

Originally Posted by AladainAF

Then what the republicans are doing is politically brilliant. They are preventing the democrats from doing anything, and the democrats will do nothing about it and eventually won't be the majority anymore.

And a whole lot gets achieved while they do that. Go root for a sports team or something...your mentality fits it better.

[AladainAF]

Originally Posted by Erumaron

And a whole lot gets achieved while they do that. Go root for a sports team or something...your mentality fits it better.

I'd love to see the democrats grow some balls and say fuck you, we tried. But I guess they wont, and instead just bitch that republicans tactics are mean, etc, and blame them for their failures.

Only in American Politics can a political party hold a complete majority in congress, and yet blame everything on the party not in control.

That would be like Labour blaming everyone else in the UK for all their issues.

[Lleauaric~EW]

calm down.

Its only 8 months into the Presidency. The bulk of which was spent getting positions filled and dealing with the economic meltdown. There may yet be a time where Obama says "ok, fuck it" about bipartisanship.. but he simply isn't there yet.

The fact is that more than you or the talking heads on the TV, Obama understands that a big part of the reason he was elected was that he was going to be above the partisanship and get people talking. He simply cannot abandon that. Look past the 'OMG RIGHT NOW" shit. Think long term. Can Obama go back to the people who voted for him and they absolutely believe he did everything he possibly could to try to bring as much bipartisanship on board as he could? Not if he abandons it now just because it got tough.

Think about the national situation in Nov 2010.

• The Economy is going to be in recovery
• Health Care will have passed
• Some type of financial regulation will have passed.
• Some sort of environmental reform will be at the very least, in the works if not had already passed.
• It appears there is going to be some real progress with Iran.
• Iraq will be winding down really quietly

The only wildcard I see is Afghanistan.. but Obama is being really damn careful here and they are really working to craft a set of achievable goals for that place.

What are Republicans going to run on? Glenn Beck? Joe Wilson? Tea Parties? In the end all Republicans have accomplished this entire summer was create one big gigantic campaign ad for the Democrats in 2010. Republicans still have no face for their party.. the groundwork for making that Limbaugh, or Beck or Palin has been well laid. All Dems have to do is seem reasonable and not batshit crazy... They have to be the adults in the room, and they have nothing to fear from this shambling mess of a political party called the GOP. Its not at all ironic that this circus has an elephant for a mascot.



If I was more motivated, Id make one badass campaign poster.. shop in all the usual conservative suspects.