A serious political question...

[Lee]

After work last night, two ladies brought up the fact that they watch Bill O'Reilly. I (jokingly) made the comment that he is a blowhard who thinks he's smarter than he actually is. And they got MAAAAAD.

I was told O'Reilly is very intelligent and could beat me in a debate ANYTIME. I was also called ignorant for questioning his intelligence.

So my question is, why do Conservicans get so pissed when you make fun of ANYTHING to do with their politics? I'm sure Libricats to too...but it seems that the more right-wing you are, the less one can take a joke.

[Jet Black]

I find the opposite.

[fearpeddler]

i've found people just take themselves waaaay too seriously, and have no sense of humor anymore, you're just not part of society anymore unless you act like you have something jammed up your arse..

[cgarison]

O'Reilly is as smart as the people who prep him for his show. Fox News has a great group of researchers working behind the scenes to make sure that he can be an arrogant blowhard without coming off like an idiot.

And the amazing part, my very liberal Aunt Connie worked at Fox preparing research copy for the hosts. So even if the shows do not come off as fair and balanced, that is partly because they make sure the show prep contains as much information as possible so that all liberal spin is neutralized.

O'Reilly is a pretty smart guy. He could not hold his own in a debate with Michael Smerconish ( http://www.mastalk.com/ ) but why would O'Reilly do that when Smerconish is his backup when he cannot be on the radio.

[Scott Reppert]

Let's get back to chicken. Or hot dogs. Or both. Together. With Fizzies...

[Lester]

After work last night, two ladies brought up the fact that they watch Bill O'Reilly. I (jokingly) made the comment that he is a blowhard who thinks he's smarter than he actually is. And they got MAAAAAD.

I'd say it's due to have to constantly defend their TV watching choices to someone that has never seen the show, yet still has an opinion.

As an example, I attacked Air America based on its lack of ratings... but never once attacked the hosts... I've never heard them. I haven't watched Olbermann either... therefore: no opinion.

I've listened to Rush a time or two, find him entertaining enough, but not compelling enough to ever actively tune in. O'Reilly? I'm usually out right after the talking points memo... sometimes I don't even make it that far.

Have you done the same?

[Lee]

I've caught bits and pieces of the show. Nothing to hold me. I just find his attempt at attacking celebrities like Eminem over a song a bit much. It's like he WANTS the attention.

[Big Media]

I've learned that EVERYONE has a strong opinion about something. Regardless of the foundation of said opinion, the opinion holder will defend said opinion as if were their first born or something.

I've also learned to keep my opposition to said opinion to myself... Just smile and wave boys... just smile and wave.

Speaking of hot dogs... NO ONE, I mean NO ONE, can possibly make a better hot dog than Frost Top. That is a fact.... Not an opinion.

[Jay Nunley]

In my experience, you will find that 10% of any group of people will be ill-tempered douchebags of varyious types and degrees. I mean any group, not just political factions. Try it. Take gender, occupation, economic status, location, musical preference, age, breakfast cereal choice, or any criteria you want that we use to categorize ourselves and somewhere near 10% will exhibit constant douchebag behavior. You'll find occasional examples of douchebag behavior in every person, but there's that special 10% that are Total Douchebags. It's an amazing quirk of mathematics and socioanthropological happenstance I think needs to be researched and studied for the good of all. It has to be the key to something important.

If nothing else we can find a way to prevent the Total Douchebags in any of the categories we fall into from giving the rest of us the bad reputations and ill will they leak onto us now.

[AmpedNow]

So, does Bill O'Reilly fall into that 10% category?



I mean, I like him, but he is pretty arrogant. Esp when he's interviewing a "far left-leaning kook".

As for me, I know I'm prone to running my mouth and giving unsolicited opinions on this board. But I never attack anyone personally.

[Dave Harman]

I stopped at a local mom'n'pop place to get a six pack, and in the course of conversation about the news playing on his tv, I mentioned that I couldn't see how a Senator who lived in Walter Reed hospital could POSSIBLY do his job properly. He told me that I had made my last visit, and threatened to physically throw me out if I ever came back. Fair enough, he owned it, and has the right to conduct business the way he sees fit (so far), but I mean, really. Didn't that seem just a bit defensive?

Seriously, there is way too much of this going on from both sides. I guess your perspective depends on which side of the fence you're standing on.

[fearpeddler]

I stopped at a local mom'n'pop place to get a six pack, and in the course of conversation about the news playing on his tv, I mentioned that I couldn't see how a Senator who lived in Walter Reed hospital could POSSIBLY do his job properly. He told me that I had made my last visit, and threatened to physically throw me out if I ever came back. Fair enough, he owned it, and has the right to conduct business the way he sees fit (so far), but I mean, really. Didn't that seem just a bit defensive?

Seriously, there is way too much of this going on from both sides. I guess your perspective depends on which side of the fence you're standing on.

damn, that sounds like someone i'd like to argue with... point me towards said hilliblly

[Jet Black]

Once, frustrated during the Clinton Impeachment, I punctuated a discussion of said issue with "...damn Democrats anyway...." It was a stupid remark, but this guy, a life-long friend of the family, a guy who took me places when I was a kid and was generally a great guy, has given me the cold shoulder ever since, and treats me like a bum off the street when I see him. My fault, but you know, I've never seen or heard of a Republican having that kind of reaction.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I've never seen or heard of a Republican having that kind of reaction.

Really? Read your own posts.

[Lester]

But he continues to post... that contradicts your statement.

[Hoosier Daddy]

No it doesn't. Jet takes just as much as offense as this life-long friend he mentioned when someone makes a strong remark against his non-bending, unmoveable, opposing-thoughts-never-considered personal political beliefs. How is it really different?

[Jay Nunley]

So, does Bill O'Reilly fall into that 10% category?

I don't think so. I kind of hate his TV show, but liked his radio show very much. I liked him better than Rush or Big Ed.

[Arp2]

Jet takes just as much as offense as this life-long friend he mentioned when someone makes a strong remark against his non-bending, unmoveable, opposing-thoughts-never-considered personal political beliefs.

Once you've figured out that 2+2 does not and will not ever equal 3, 5, 6, 8, or anything else but 4, then you have taken smart and become learned and wise. Moving away from 4 would be shockingly stupid and weak of such a person. Besides, there's no point in having "beliefs" when the truth is as clearly visible as it is in this matter and can be easily known.

Socialism and communism have never brought prosperity at any place on the globe at any time in history. What it (I consider them essentially one thing) does do every place and every time is create a ruling class which anoints itself and its chosen ones with power and wealth, for that's what socialism and communism are, despite the flowery rhetoric, designed to do.

If you think about it, there really is no such thing as an inadvertent result in these kinds of matters because history has shown us the "if-then" in pretty much every combination and permutation. When actions produce specific results every time, then you know exactly where you're going when you initiate them, and those initiating them in the here and now know exactly the result they're intending. And it is by no means the publicly-stated one.

Don't be suckered, folks.

[Jet Black]

No it doesn't. Jet takes just as much as offense as this life-long friend he mentioned when someone makes a strong remark against his non-bending, unmoveable, opposing-thoughts-never-considered personal political beliefs. How is it really different?

I guess everybody reading this thread can judge that remark on it's merits. You've been in the famous three unions too long, you think evrybody takes marching orders.

[Bob Campbell]

Oh boys, boys, boys. We throw around terms like "socialism" and "communism" like anything that's happening in this country remotely approaches either. That means you're either just using them as buzzwords or you really don't know what either term actually means.

Can we toss around "fascism" and "olicarchy" for the previous administration?

Big Media; anyone who can quote the Penguins of Madagascar in a post has my undying respect.
Right Rico? Right Skipper.