<p>Is there any rational response to a post like
other than “Whoa - sounds like time to adjust the meds again”?</p>
<p>“The Democrats DO seem to be the party of angry people, whether or not they are in office.”</p>
<p>sjmom,</p>
<p>Let’s test your theory against the marketplace. Have you ever paused to ask yourself why successful talk radio is overwhelmingly conservative? Could it be that these shows–which are often hysterical and bellicose in their rhetoric–appeal to the anger and fear felt by the people who make up their audiences?</p>
<p>Shhhh Kluge, Driver still thinks her ad hominems are witty.</p>
<p>spoon, that comment is largely based on seeing people like Paul Begala and James Carville on TV. They are out of control, intolerant and pretty hateful, in my opinion. Also, some of the most aggressive comments I’ve read on CC seem to come from those posters who favor the liberal position. Once in a while, a more conservative poster will seem to lose patience with the nonsense, but they also seem to apologize. I know that I have, when I’ve let my frustrations get the better of me.</p>
<p>I believe that the success of talk radio is due to the number of frustrated middle class, mainstream Americans, who don’t find their point of view represented much in the mainstream media.</p>
<p>
This is a classic example of talking about that which is unknown. You couldn’t listen to say, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, or even the archly witty Laura Ingraham and come to that conclusion. You should have a listen before pronouncing judgement.</p>
<p>I listen to the “other side” all the time, and its kind of fun listening to the right wing lies, hate, war mongering, and currently, flaying around trying to figure out how to blame the democrats for their republicans’ folly, it is a true joy to listen to</p>
<p>driver,</p>
<p>I didn’t say “always,” just “often.” I have, in fact, listened and I stand by my characterization.</p>
<p>“I believe that the success of talk radio is due to the number of frustrated middle class, mainstream Americans, who don’t find their point of view represented much in the mainstream media.”</p>
<p>It seems that you acknowledge the fact that these shows appeal to the anger and frustration felt by their listeners. But you imply that this anger is okay becasue the audiences members are largely alienated and disaffected. Has it occurred to you that the anger felt by the left might be similarly justified?</p>
<p>
I said “frustration.” You introduced “anger.” Perhaps, based on your final analysis, you are simply projecting.</p>
<p>I do NOT agree that the radio talk shows appeal to angry conservatives. I just said that conservatives have found a voice that echoes what they already feel. I stand by my earlier remarks about angry liberals. It’s hard for me to think of examples of logical, reasonable liberals arguing their cause – they mostly just seem ticked off that they aren’t in office. The one exception I can think of from TV would be Donna Brazile, who I’ve only seen a few times. I don’t usually agree with her, but at least she doesn’t come across as a lunatic.</p>
<p>Uh Driver, Custer couldn’t shoot fast enough.</p>
<p>Yes, but he was surrounded by a bunch of wild screamers.</p>
<p>He was a great young Civil War general, btw. Have you read the recent book “Lost Triumph”? I recommend it highly.</p>
<p>Speaking as a person who was a faithful Democrat until the election of 2000, I get a kick out of the ever-righteous, superior tone of kluge, who does nothing but spout the liberal party line, while seemingly having no clue that he does so. 
This is easily found simply by tuning into NPR each morning and night (as I used to do). </p>
<p>I get most of my news from lucianne.com, which is the first site I visit with my morning coffee each day before work. For those of you not familiar with it, it links to <em>newspaper</em> articles form across the country; that is, conservative and liberal papers including the LA Times, NYTimes, etc. in addition to conservative papers. Lucianne is the famous Lucianne Goldberg of Monica scandal fame. Lucianne is considered a conservative site, because it has a “must reads” heading, with funny comments regarding them from a right-wing pov. It also features ONE cartoon from a right wing pov. Readers can comment on the articles–most of the commenters are conservative. But as for the articles themselves, they are a cross-section of what the country’s papers are saying about the issues of the day.</p>
<p>I do NOT read ANY blogs. I don’t have time, plus, I’m not interested in someone’s digested viewpoint, since I like to form my own.</p>
<p>In the evenings during the week I listen to a) Chris Matthews b) Keith Olbermann OR Bill O’Reilly c) Hannity and Colmes d) Anderson Cooper on CNN. (Okay, I’m a news junky.)</p>
<p>I get a kick out of comparing and contrasting BOTH sets of talking points, kluge.</p>
<p>AM: Go to lucianne today for a really fun link to an article about Keith in the NY Post (I think you’ll enjoy it). :)</p>
<p>Phooey, HH. I still think he’s adorable.</p>
<p>Okay, so Michael Savage tells me that liberalism is a “mental disorder”. Anne Coulter teaches me that we are traitors. Rush Limbaugh intones that liberals “have no soul”. I admit, I’m not up on current media stuff, but who on the left is engaging in that kind of scorched-earth demonization of conservatives? Not just criticizing individual politicians, etc., but describing everyone who holds that philosophy as being essentially vile and worthless?</p>
<p>Honest question here. Those of you on the right who have been complaining that people who disagree with your are just so mean, while everyone who agrees with you is always reasonable and fair - who on the left can compare with that?</p>
<p>Edit: Actually lucianne links to papers and magazines from around the WORLD, not the country.</p>
<p>I am ready to hear about that “big, fat, dirty slob of Michael Moore”, how he is a big ol’ liar and says mean things.</p>
<p>In terms of pundits, there are absolutely no counterparts on the left side of the aisle that can hold a candle to those who rule the AM air waves.</p>
<p>Oh, please. You must never listen to Air America. Or, if you do and don’t find their hate speech to be anything out of the ordinary then that says a lot about your own views. Perhaps you find the Randi Rhodes routines about assassinating Bush to be just hilarious.</p>
<p>Of course there is also the Chairmen of the Democratic party who refers to the other side as “evil”.</p>
<p>FF: I have listened to Air America a couple of times. I’ve heard commentators criticize conservative politicians vigorously. I’ve never heard anything on a par with asaying that “Conservatives are traitors” or Conservatives are Mentally Ill", etc. Have you? Got an example?</p>
<p>HH: By the way, I checked out Lucianne. Links to a newspaper articles followed by page after page of foaming at the mouth partisan vitriol. Examples:
</p>
<p>Frankly, if that’s what you consider “fair and balanced”, then, no, I can’t compete in that arena. I’ll just have to settle for being “ever-righteous.” (I tried to find NPR on the radio once, since I heard they host “Car Talk”. Couldn’t find it, though. That “liberal party line” must just seep in in the water.)</p>
<p>don’t forget the ever lovable phrase’ femi-nazi…a true classic</p>