Comments on: Why Talk Radio Is So Angry

By: opit

opit — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:58:13 +0000

This is an old ‘controversy’. An appartchik for media control recanted years ago; GHeorge Orwell. His name is still a legend for ‘conspiracy theory’ : lovely misnomer for an obvious and well reported situation. People have a hard time believing that disinformation is the norm.( Can’t watch Faux! )
AlterNet has a piece outlining his report: How Shock Jocks inspire hatred and anger.
http://opitslinkfest.blogspot......ation.html is my ongoing collection. You’ll note that Daily Kos, Needlenose,Pandagon and AlterNet are only a few of the places reporting such!

By: Ron Chusid

Ron Chusid — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:15:10 +0000

I think conservative writers are to some degree influenced by group think (as are liberal writers) and there might be some push toward ideological purity, but they don’t have the same pressures as talk radio of being totally off the wall.

By: Eclectic Radical

Eclectic Radical — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:45:34 +0000

However, just because I can’t help it, I think most of the people writing for the American Spectator really are that stupid.

By: Eclectic Radical

Eclectic Radical — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:44:28 +0000

“That goes along with the comments I’ve had here from time to time on talk radio suggesting that most of them are just putting on acts for the ratings and they don’t really believe the nonsense they say on the air.”

I do think there is an important line to be drawn, however, between generating more anger and histrionics and being more outrageous to make one’s point and saying things one doesn’t believe on the air. I can believe that single payer health care is desperately necessary but then say ‘Congress, for failing to consider single payer health care completely and fairly, is possibly guilty of genocide.’ The degree to which I overact may be insincere, but it is still motivated by sincere belief.

Do I think that Rush Limbaugh ‘believes’ many of the things he says on the air, as far as the completely stupid crap goes? No. However, I think he is sincerely angry and sincerely deeply reactionary and that he is willing to overact for the audience because his core beliefs support his ability to justify his act as hyperbole to make his point.

However, it really is important to understand how much GOP punditry (on talk radio and off) is driven as much by the prejudices of its audience as it is by the beliefs of the pundits. As John McCain’s primary campaigns proved, a Republican cannot criticize the religious right or advocate pragmatic policies on immigration, health care reform, or abortion and win the support of the party’s base. It’s equally certain that to keep Fox News viewers from watching Lou Dobbs instead, Beck and Hannity have to be crazier than Dobbs.