Yeah, If Franken didn't believe any of the stuff he wrote- and just did it to sell books, I suppose that would be funny in a pathetic sort of way, to someone with a perverted sense of humor. Sort of the same kind of humor I'd guess it would be if Limbaugh didn't really believe all the hyperventilated crap he spews, and just did it for the poor deluded bigots and good ole boys who lap it up.
Are you getting ready to imply that the value of ones opinion is based upon the level of their college education?
Wisdom can be well enough attained through lifes experiences if one is aware and observant.
I don't really care what Rush Limbaugh's education is honestly.
-Keeg
LoL Poor deluded bigots...
What did I do, land myself in a liberal bee hive? *laugh*
-Keeg
Lola, in case you missed this elsewhere:
What's the difference between Rush and the Hindenburg?
Well, one is a fat nazi gas bag . . . the other is just a dirigible.
Limbaugh is certainly not a stupid man. I've never listened to his program, so i know this only obliquely, although i did once catch the beginning of his television program (one among a myriad of reasons that i don't watch television). His backdrop was comprised of bookcases containing his book, all copies with the cover facing the camera. He's no dummy, he's that classic American institution--the snake oil salesman. Mencken assures us that no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public; i'd add to that nor has anyone in underestimating the intelligence of the American public, and Limbaugh is a very good case in point. He, and his insidious confrères pedal racism under the veil of criticism of immigrant behaviors (without offering to demonstrate sets of universal statements), as well as veiled white supremacy, and launch specious attacks on a national media they claim is liberal--and rope the conservative suckers in by the boatload. Their appeal is that they stay far enough from overt racist statements, and overt attacks on freedom of expression so as not to make uncomfortable those among their adherents who are intelligent but sufficiently, fanatically wedded to their ideology as to accept a debasing of their ideals; and the code they use in their speech is sufficient to assure the devotion of those among the right wing fringe who espouse racism, white supremacy and government censorship. I consider Limbaugh very clever indeed, and i also consider him an unregenerate confidence huckster who will never lack for an audience. They will shell out for his printed diatribes as eagarly as those who line up to send in their pittance of the televangelists. Sad story, but such demagogues have always been with us, and have always found their audience.
i was only curious since you made the reference to his education
Keegan you might want to check into his confrontation with AIM the american indian movement and his apology to them..if your interested in his credibility.
I am not curious.
*grin*
-Keeg
dys, It doesn't matter what Rush's education "merits" are. He's a t.v. and radio talk show host with many followers. "That's" what merits the question: why? c.i.
Setanta,
And what is wrong with that?
*grin* Just teasing.
-Keeg
Keegan
Actually, you have landed amongst an unsually well educated and thoughtful crowd here. Thus our response to your claim that Rush is educated and intelligent. Those qualities, or the lack of them, are not too difficult to discern after a person has spoken for some time.
I actually didn't know about this thread until today (thanks snood)...had never heard that wonderful zappa story (owe ya one, dys)...and though I'd known of this dust up, I hadn't listened to it until today (thank you PD)
I listened to most of it this morning. Molly Ivens was very good, as always, but Franken had the audience rolling. More and more, I'm coming to the conclusion that Franken's manner is the necessary manner for more of us to adopt...clear-headed and unforgiving satirization (Trudeau does it too with Doonesbury). Not only does it balance out the shrieking decibels of folks like O'Reilly and Coulter, it is far more compelling because it yet holds to the values of careful thought and accurate claims. One of the real advantages we liberals have over folks like those is that we care about being truthful and they don't. Truthful and bitingly funny (like Twain) make the other strategy appear for what it really is...shrill, nasty-minded, and untrustworthy.
Don't hold back, Boyo, tell us what ya really t'ink . . .
Considering that I have landed among the intelligent and well educated then it would be safe to say that I could expect more dialogue and more open communication.
I agreed long ago, that Al, had a gift for comedy. Although when he starting becoming the gear mechanism for the liberal political machine by attacking conservative personalities, well it is age old isn't it? Mud slinging was coined during Lincoln's campaign wasn't it?
One tries to build the merit of their arguments by working to undermine the foundational character of the opposition. It is kind of typical of liberals to find it ok, to throw insults and jabs at conservatives while at the same time, if the conservatives retaliate they are bigots, rednecks, crackers, clanmen, nazis. Well the double standard is rediculous. This is a trend that I assume will change over the next 20 years.
Also the illusion that things are cut and dried and black and white politically is another illusion. The fact that many people don't realize what it is to be a democrat or republican in the first place is where the problem starts. Most likely, it is all sort of an illusion built up my modern society in the first place. Really it makes little difference. If one is issues oriented, then it really wouldn't matter which party you were, or were not a member of in the first place.
In a discussion with a friend of mine he observed the following:
"Al as many others who follow his political thought want to centralize everything, give the gvt more power and in effect take away your personal liberties. How are they being taken away you may ask? Well besides centralization decresing if not eliminating personal work ethic among the poor, it also has other effects that relate to you and I. Take increased taxes, that are supposed to go into social programs, not only do you pay the goverment for what is unecessary, but you in fact pay the goverment to keep the poor poor, and impede the natural course of distribution of wealth, by allowing these people the opportunity to go and fend for themselves, help one another and grow prosperous. Becasue why should they if they have the bare necessities provided to them.
Now that is not it, Al and his colleagues are also there to ruin more of our liberties, for example free speech and political corectness. I cannot call a gay man a faggot, because I am then insensitive and politically incorrect, I cannot go and person of Latin American desent a spick, because I am insensitive, but that same person can call me a gringo, a honkey, a cracker, and so on and so forth. So where am I going with this, simple, "political corectness" as well as many other things that the "democrat" has proposed adn have taken root in american culture simply go too far. Instead of forcing tolerance, where the effects bounce back, teach tolerance, and teach a simple rule, treat others as you would want to be treated. Every one has been wronged, and it doesnt make it right, but the saying stands true, and people forget about it."
People like Al Franken lacks dialogue, which according to Plato is what is needed most in the progress of society. Al has a tendency to speak to instead of speak with. In fact that is a flaw with many modern day political personalities.
In addition, I do love Mark Twain and always have enjoyed his writings. I had the pleasure of portraying him in a stage production about his life a few years ago.
-Keeg
Setana, and Blatham - take a bow. And thank you most heartily.
Ah yes, Plato, who idealized the Laconian State (Sparta, for the classics-challenged) because of it's social control. Yes, two kings with absolute power, answering only to a council of elders with the unappealable power of life and death, in a state which glorified martial excellence--a necessity as they stood atop a pyramid of slavery. Yes indeedy, i want Plato to set my political agenda. Too bad those aparteith boys and girls in South Africa weren't more Platonic in inclination--the Laconians make them look like pikers, the Boers only held sway for about 50 years--Sparta rode to a putative glory on the backs of the helots for centuries.
Keegan
You refer to Plato...are you thinking here of one of the Socratic dialogues, or of something else? Please clarify and give citations if possible.
Plato/Aristotle most likely contributed more to the downful of western intellectual reasoning than any other event. IMO
Yes Plato's Socratic dialogues, correct.
*laugh* I love how attacks start flying at Plato. That is funny.
I mean, are we going to argue that dialogue is insignificant too, in the progress of society? Come on guys.
-Keeg
No man's life or property are safe while the legislature is in session.
Suppose i were a member of Congress; suppose i were an idito--but, then, i repeat myself.
Samuel Clemens
Western principles exist on utilitarian principles in the first place, which in and of themselves are unrealistic. Referring to Nozick.
-Keeg
