The state of American political discourse

#1
emainvol

emainvol

Giver of Sexy
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Feb 4, 2006
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#1
Reading this board has caused me to think a lot about this topic. As most of my current research pertains to the topics, I am curious to hear your thoughts. I am going to leave this pretty open ended, but the main questions I have are

1) How do you feel about punditry? Is there really a difference outside of their politics between people like Hannity and Matthews?
2) What's your take on blogging? Lots of blog links get posted through here, and as with any form of the subjective media, the truly informed should delve further into the things that they read, at least in my opinion. Do you agree? Disagree?

To steal a line from OE, thoughts?
 
#2
#2
1) Same thing different brand

2) I read no blogs they are the internet version of National Inquirer.
 
#3
#3
Same as it ever was...same as it ever was...same as it ever....was.
 
#4
#4
1.) No difference what so ever...... their primary goal is simple......... viewership which brings them advertisment which = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

2.) I guess for me is a a secret sin like Air America radio............ KB said it is like the NI........... how can any one not read the NI?

That crap is funny.............. this is how I view political blogs............
 
#5
#5
1) basically what has been said above

2) bloggers can be good for seeing a point of view, or as OE said, as entertainment.

The problems come when people decide that the published conjecture of a blogger is viable as a factual source.
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#10
#10
I never heard Hannity claim that it was his job to make sure the President succeeded.
 
#12
#12
1) No material difference.

I'd add that they really just reflect politicians. Politicians deal in extremes, misrepresent the opposition and generally use one-sided, specious arguments that emphasize some facts and ignore others altogether.

Pundits simply reflect the true political discourse - that of politicians.

2) Blogs are valuable for breaking stories that might otherwise be ignored or missed. They provide an outlet for viewpoints outside the media gatekeepers. That said, they lack credibility as a whole.
 
#13
#13
what would you say was the most vitriolic period of American political discourse? I know the run up to the Civil War was pretty bad. Any others?
 
#15
#15
volinbham said:
1) No material difference.

I'd add that they really just reflect politicians. Politicians deal in extremes, misrepresent the opposition and generally use one-sided, specious arguments that emphasize some facts and ignore others altogether.

Pundits simply reflect the true political discourse - that of politicians.

2) Blogs are valuable for breaking stories that might otherwise be ignored or missed. They provide an outlet for viewpoints outside the media gatekeepers. That said, they lack credibility as a whole.
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Well said.
 
#16
#16
"I think that basketball should change, they should cut holes in the floor and let midgets play!" Abe Lemons, University of Texas, Head Basketball Coach, 1972 (or there abouts)
 
#17
#17
Oldvol75 said:
"I think that basketball should change, they should cut holes in the floor and let midgets play!" Abe Lemons, University of Texas, Head Basketball Coach, 1972 (or there abouts)
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I'm aware of no rule that they can't. They just aren't very good at it.
 
#18
#18
To me the biggest issue across the board is no one in this country can just live and let live. Ok you want to be an "environmental citizen" and drive prius', not use toilet paper, and eat only greens? Dude eat your heart out and enjoy! But why do you feel the need to see to it that i live that way too.

On the other hand Ok you are a God fearing, gun toating red blooded heterosexual that hates long haired hippies that eats raw red meat while growling while driving down the road in your big four wheel drive truck with the nuts hanging off the hitch? Dude go for it! Just why does everyone need to be like that?

No we all have to verbally, over written word, and use any other form of communication to totally trash those that don't see eye to eye and make sure the government rules and dictates that everyone else lives what we think is the ideal life.

God Bless America!
 
#19
#19
lawgator1 said:
I'm aware of no rule that they can't. They just aren't very good at it.
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Obviously it's the tall man keeping them down. We should put a height limit on basketball players so those less fortunate can live their dream as well.
 
#20
#20
OrangeYankee said:
To me the biggest issue across the board is no one in this country can just live and let live. Ok you want to be an "environmental citizen" and drive prius', not use toilet paper, and eat only greens? Dude eat your heart out and enjoy! But why do you feel the need to see to it that i live that way too.

On the other hand Ok you are a God fearing, gun toating red blooded heterosexual that hates long haired hippies that eats raw red meat while growling while driving down the road in your big four wheel drive truck with the nuts hanging off the hitch? Dude go for it! Just why does everyone need to be like that?

No we all have to verbally, over written word, and use any other form of communication to totally trash those that don't see eye to eye and make sure the government rules and dictates that everyone else lives what we think is the ideal life.

God Bless America!
Click to expand...

You're crazy, you need to get your thinking more in line with mine!
 
#21
#21
OrangeYankee said:
To me the biggest issue across the board is no one in this country can just live and let live. Ok you want to be an "environmental citizen" and drive prius', not use toilet paper, and eat only greens? Dude eat your heart out and enjoy! But why do you feel the need to see to it that i live that way too.

On the other hand Ok you are a God fearing, gun toating red blooded heterosexual that hates long haired hippies that eats raw red meat while growling while driving down the road in your big four wheel drive truck with the nuts hanging off the hitch? Dude go for it! Just why does everyone need to be like that?

No we all have to verbally, over written word, and use any other form of communication to totally trash those that don't see eye to eye and make sure the government rules and dictates that everyone else lives what we think is the ideal life.

God Bless America!
Click to expand...
I'm all for the libertarian leaning to anarchy world, but that's a tough argument in this country any more. We've far too many relying on the gov't and working in the gov't to argue that it should be downsized.
 
#22
#22
I don't want anarchy at all. We need laws to prevent others impeding on your right to PURSUE happiness and live it. And there is a call for some regulation across the board but far less than what we have now. I just wish I could actually see a debate that didn't dwindle down to verbal monkeys slinging their turds at each other. I really am realizing more and more tho that I am a libertarian over conservative/republican each passing day.

And I share your sentiment in that last sentence BPV, I guess I'm just day dreaming.
 
#23
#23
OrangeYankee said:
I don't want anarchy at all. We need laws to prevent others impeding on your right to PURSUE happiness and live it.

I agree in principle but finding agreement about what impedes what is where the rubber hits the road. The Libertarian fantasy falls apart here unfortunately.

And there is a call for some regulation across the board but far less than what we have now. I just wish I could actually see a debate that didn't dwindle down to verbal monkeys slinging their turds at each other. I really am realizing more and more tho that I am a libertarian over conservative/republican each passing day.

Agree in principle again but do see the Constitutional role of government (e.g. safety, security) as being broader in scope than a full-fledged Libertarian would.


And I share your sentiment in that last sentence BPV, I guess I'm just day dreaming.
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Nothing wrong with day dreaming as long as there's a reality check involved on ocassion.
 
#24
#24
Bham there is believe me. I think libertarians take the whole limited gov't way over the top. I guess I just am realizing I'm a very live and let live person who finds alot of the social issues a good chunk of the conservatives pump out a bit over bearing. While I don't agree with much of that stuff, I don't feel it is my right to tell people how to live. I am still pro life, morally opposed to recreational drug use, and not real keen to gay marriage. But I understand just like I can't stand when a greenie wants to regulate my power consumption, what I eat, and so on, how can I justify being against that when the social conservative stuff is just as off putting just different shoe?
 
#25
#25
As far as the argument between Hannity and Mathews goes I believe Hannity is more entrenched in his beliefs than Mathews I believe Mathews would say anything to get more viewers.I mean yeah he seems left wing now but the whole channel msnbc has gone left. In late 2001, 2002, and 2003 he seemed to be a fan of Bush's of course Bush had 65-80% approval rating and msnbc decided that it would try to outfnc the actual fnc they fired Donahue and replaced him with scarboro and Donahues ratings were better than scarboros ever was they hired michael savage and gave him a show P. buchanan had a larger role then on the channel they got Tucker carlson to come to msnbc after crossfire , but it did not pay off they eventually realized that people who want Dr. pepper and can have Dr. Pepper will not settle for Dr. thunder so Msnbc decided if we can't pluck the right wing viewers we'll go left.
 
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