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AM/FM radio

By iwog   Follow   Thu, 26 Jul 2012, 12:16pm   5,215 views   96 comments
In Lafayette CA 94549   Watch (0)   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (6)   Dislike (1)  

I just returned from a LOOOOOONG overland trip in my car where I traveled through many states and listened to literally days worth of radio programs. Unfortunately they really only fall into two categories:

- Modern "Conservative": Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity,& Laura Ingraham

- NPR and Alan Colmes

Here is my unbiased review. Feel free to dispute any of this, but I think these observations are beyond rebuttal. They are simply the way things are.

1. "Conservatives" on the air consider debate toxic and will not allow differing opinions. Of the five I listened to, only Michael Savage (very rarely) allowed someone on the air who was interested in providing an alternative view. However this almost always turned into Savage screaming at the caller and accusing him of being a communist.

2. Both NPR and Alan Colmes welcome differing opinions, in fact Alan Colmes lets right wing maniacs on so often it becomes annoying. NPR goes out of its way to provide alternate opinions. Specifically I heard an NRA spokesman and a former member of the Bush administration invited to inverviews.

3. All conservative talk show hosts with the exception of Michael Savage are synchronized on their talking points. They are SO identical in fact, that it becomes tedious and boring. It's my personal opinion that Michael Savage isn't playing with a full deck. He seems less and less aware of what he's said on previous shows and his opinions depend on the day. Example:

a) Hollywood should be regulated and violent movies like Batman cause violence.
b) The Sopranos was a great show and had one of the best "chick killing" scenes ever.

4. Both NPR and Colmes have genuine intellectual content. All "conservative" radio relies on a cult of personality, in fact intellectual content is discouraged. Rush Limbaugh and Savage are the worst at this relying almost entirely on fact-devoid rants that may have no relevance to politics at all.

5. "liberal" radio seeks to expand knowledge, "conservative" radio seeks to constrict knowledge. Example: Every single neocon played the single sentence clip of Obama's business owners speech while both NPR and Colmes played the entire speech. Every conservative host misrepresented Obama while Obama himself contradicted them a few words later in the same speech, although this clarification is never discussed.

6. NPR isn't overly liberal, in fact they are quite moderate. I NEVER ONCE heard NPR presenting a single side to any story or topic. While I'm sure they pick stories that appeal more to a liberal audience, they are SO balanced that they can become annoying.

Comments?

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1. iwog Follow Befriend (48) 274 threads 12,558 comments 47 male Lafayette, CA Premium

   57   11:50pm Fri 27 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says BTW, be suspicious when someone claims to be "unbiased." :-) I never claimed I was unbiased, I said my report was unbiased. "Right wing radio programs almost never allow two sided debate" is an observation that can be objectively observed. Besides I threw that in to challenge people to use their brain and contradict me if they could. "you're not unbiased" is not contradicting me.

2. thomaswong.1986 Follow Befriend 15 threads 2,845 comments

   58   11:53pm Fri 27 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Peter P says * "Conservatives" like to invoke "moral" authority * "Liberals" like to invoke "intellectual" authority "Conservatives" national sovereignty "Liberals" brotherhood of man LOL! Im sure the UK is very pleased it didnt join the Brotherhood of Man (The Euro) and would be bailing out Spain, Greece and who ever starts to fail next. Germany is certainly regretting it.

3. thomaswong.1986 Follow Befriend 15 threads 2,845 comments

   59   11:57pm Fri 27 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   iwog says "Right wing radio programs almost never allow two sided debate" is an observation that can be objectively observed. Besides I threw that in to challenge people to use their brain and contradict me if they could. "you're not unbiased" is not contradicting me. Jez! get over it.. switch to FM and find something else to listen! Else should have brought some CDs along the way... But im sure you have an agenda with this mombo jumbo "trash talk radio"...

4. iwog Follow Befriend (48) 274 threads 12,558 comments 47 male Lafayette, CA Premium

   60   12:01am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   thomaswong.1986 says Jez! get over it.. switch to FM and find something else to listen! Else should have brought some CDs along the way... But im sure you have an agenda with this mombo jumbo "trash talk radio"... Why is it so fucking hard for you to answer an honest question? What the hell is wrong with Republicans that they can't even discuss their opinions? If you think I was presenting this with bias, please tell me what you disagree with? "You're biased" might as well be "you're a poo poo head" or "you've got cooties" When was the last time you had a reason for what you believed in?

5. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

   61   5:11am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   So Gates and Buffet have no morals? I see... freak80 says gbenson says Correct. The people who "rule the world" are the people with no morals. Morals only get in the way of acquiring power.

6. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

   62   5:17am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   So then, according to your definition, you are a closet republican. http://patrick.net/forum/?p=1214413&c=849142#comment-849142 iwog says thomaswong.1986 says How can you say your unbiased, when you constantly snap biased comments ? You clearly are not independent since you have a vested interest ! You have no facts, just an opinion. What a waste of data storage space! That's nice and all, but you didn't answer my question. Not answering questions seems to be a common disease among those on the right. If you think I was presenting this with bias, please tell me what you disagree with? I'm very willing to consider alternate interpretations.

7. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

   63   6:28am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   iwog says "You're biased" might as well be "you're a poo poo head" or "you've got cooties" When was the last time you had a reason for what you believed in? The ignore feature is a wonderful thing...it keeps my blood pressure down...

8. iwog Follow Befriend (48) 274 threads 12,558 comments 47 male Lafayette, CA Premium

   64   8:07am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike (1)   xrpb11a says So then, according to your definition, you are a closet republican. I've often said that I'd be a Republican if they weren't ripping apart the economy and if they weren't members of a budding dogmatic fascist movement. I own guns, I believe in strong family values, I've never been divorced, I'm an anti-feminist, I can't stand affirmative action, I'm violently opposed to PETA, Greenpeace, and most tree huggers, I'm pro-capitalist and I understand that communism is a failed system, I support nuclear energy, and I don't want women in combat. Where Republicans fail miserably is in economic issues, science, and religious freedom. Furthermore the most famous and well respected Republicans in history were quite liberal: - Abraham Lincoln: Anti-state's rights and civil rights reformer - Teddy Roosevelt: Corporate attack dog, workers rights advocate, and pushed progressive taxes - Eisenhower: Expanded the federal government, warned of corporate power and the military industrial complex - Reagan: The most shameless Keynesian since FDR (no other president to that time comes close) and granted Mexican amnesty.

9. gbenson Follow Befriend 16 threads 389 comments

   65   10:17am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   xrpb11a says Here's what I said: "Most politicians have an abundance of neurons" You cherrypicking a select few of a group numbering in the thousands does not support your position at all. So taking 2/3 of the past Republican Presidents and the current house majority leader is 'cherry picking'? I know, lets toss in your Republican candidates for President of the United States of America this year (all of the ones that filed) and see how they fare: Bachmann (batshit crazy) Perry (intellectually on par with a 6th grader) Cain (hilariously stupid) Lane (housewife) Martin (Birther) McMillian (rent is too damn high guy) Miller (flight attendant) Paul (libertarain - which means he ain't wrapped too tight) Synder (landscaper) Wuensche (construction) Karger (gay republican strategist - need i say more) McCotter (lead guitarist for "New FLying Squirrels") Sanitorium (bible thumper cum-laude) Ones that fit your description: Gingrich (smart but megalomanical) Pawlenty (Has neurons) Huntsman (Has neurons) So that's a Republican sanity rate of 19% for candidates running for the presidency of the United States of America in the year 2012. Go look in the mirror for your epic FAIL. *edit* forgot Romney cause he's a closet Democrat running as a Republican. He would bump the percentage up to 24.. Most implies a majority

10. Randy H Follow Befriend (5) 44 threads 4,602 comments Los Altos, CA Premium

    66   10:46am Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   @rfsanders You raise a lot of good points. Podcasts and self-styled internet radio does suffer from lack of a functioning editorial filter. I guess I just believe the democratization of information is forever cyclical. Too restrictive -> disrupted by technology -> democratized -> too noisy -> willfully edited -> too restrictive... I think radio is well into the "willfully edited" stage after being disrupted and becoming very noisy while Podcasts are too noisy and still have some of the final pieces of technology settling in (like the fact TuneIn can't hold a stream over a G4 network even at low bitrates).

11. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    67   3:44pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Yes, it is. You apparently have severe reading comprehension problems. I sympathize, so once again, Here's what I said: "Most politicians have an abundance of neurons" ( if you repeat the above line 10x in rapid succession you will be surprised at how well it sticks ) so. There are 535 voting members of congress at the federal level There are 120 voting members of the california state legislature. Without performing massive research, lets estimate 100 members in each state legislature. That: 535 federal 5000 state ( 100 x 50 ) 5535 Total federal and state. Note this does not even include governors and presidents/vice presidents / judicial branches, so it's an extremely conservative estimate. You cherry pick 17 batshitcrazy people out of a minimum of 5535. So Yes, you are cherrypicking. By definition. gbenson says So taking 2/3 of the past Republican Presidents and the current house majority leader is 'cherry picking'?

12. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    68   3:48pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   What's up with this? Do you have any pets? iwog says I'm violently opposed to PETA,

13. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    69   3:53pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I am against violence. But I also have no love for PETA. Foie gras forever! (Sorry, Iwog.) I have pets but I do not believe animals have rights.

14. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    70   4:16pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   It's not about 'rights'....its simply being 'humane' towards other forms of life. Peter P says I am against violence. But I also have no love for PETA. Foie gras forever! (Sorry, Iwog.) I have pets but I do not believe animals have rights.

15. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    71   4:25pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   xrpb11a says It's not about 'rights'....its simply being 'humane' towards other forms of life. What are you trying to say? In many cases, animals are just food.

16. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    72   4:28pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   I'm saying "DON'T FUCK WITH MY DOGS!" Peter P says xrpb11a says It's not about 'rights'....its simply being 'humane' towards other forms of life. What are you trying to say? In many cases, animals are just food.

17. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    73   4:30pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   That doesn't mean they should have to live a life in misery until the butcher comes along... Peter P says In many cases, animals are just food.

18. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    74   4:31pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   xrpb11a says I'm saying "DON'T FUCK WITH MY DOGS!" Of course. But I assume you understand that other people's animals are not your business.

19. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    75   4:35pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Sure it is. I see someone else torturing their animal, watch how quick the police are called, and the person is charged with existing laws protecting animals... Peter P says Of course. But I assume you understand that other people's animals are not your business.

20. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    76   4:40pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Of course I respect all laws, but I think laws protecting animals are redundant. It is down to property rights. If I see someone being cruel to their pets, I will not want to be their friend. But I philosophically reject the notion that animals deserve the right to be treated kindly. It is a slippery slope. Following that logic we will all be forced into vegetarianism or worse. I advocate being kind to animals (except food). But this should be a form of charity, not requirement.

21. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    77   4:51pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I would not make that blanket statement. I would exclude intelligent forms of life whom we have power over, who have demonstrated an ability to co-exist peacefully. ie. we take away rights of humans who cannot co-exist peacefully within the general population.. Peter P says If I see someone being cruel to their pets, I will not want to be their friend. But I philosophically reject the notion that animals deserve the right to be treated kindly.

22. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    78   4:59pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   xrpb11a says I would not make that blanket statement. I would exclude intelligent forms of life whom we have power over, who have demonstrated an ability to co-exist peacefully. But what are intelligent forms of life? To invading aliens, we are probably not very intelligent. They may want to eat us and I think that would be fair. :-)

23. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    79   5:04pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   All the republican presidential candidates..... Peter P says xrpb11a says I would not make that blanket statement. I would exclude intelligent forms of life whom we have power over, who have demonstrated an ability to co-exist peacefully. But what are intelligent forms of life?

24. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    80   5:06pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Well, I have high hopes for Mitt Romney.

25. xrpb11a Follow Befriend (4) 2 threads 787 comments

    81   5:37pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   My priorities for presidential selection are, in order: Integrity Political positions. As an 'r', i'll probably be sitting this one out. Peter P says Well, I have high hopes for Mitt Romney.

26. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    82   5:43pm Sat 28 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Problem is, politicians with integrity do not make it very far. Just look at Ron Paul and Barry Goldwater. So it is all about positions. (But not exactly advertised positions.)

27. jhall Follow Befriend (3) 23 threads 130 comments Minneapolis, MN

    83   7:28pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   iwog says I've often said that I'd be a Republican if they weren't ripping apart the economy and if they weren't members of a budding dogmatic fascist movement. I believe in strong family values, I've never been divorced, I'm an anti-feminist, I can't stand affirmative action ... I don't want women in combat. Iwog, The Oxford English Dictionary defines an antifeminist as "one opposed to women or to feminism; a person (usu. a man) who is hostile to sexual equality or to the advocacy of women's rights." Does this definition describe your beliefs as an "anti-feminist"?

28. Bellingham Bill Follow Befriend 30 threads 1,488 comments Bellingham, WA Premium

    84   7:29pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says Well, I have high hopes for Mitt Romney. because this graph: http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=946 isn't high enough, LOL

29. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    85   8:13pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Profit is always a good thing.

30. Buster Follow Befriend (7) 22 threads 325 comments

    86   8:20pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   If you believed in Kolob, and gave 10% of your money to the Mormon Church, like you are supposed to, you would have Kolob star music piped into your car AND home for free. Then you would not have to listen to the crap on AM/FM radio. I mean, get with the program dude. Jeesh! LDS forever!

31. Bellingham Bill Follow Befriend 30 threads 1,488 comments Bellingham, WA Premium

    87   8:23pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Peter P says Profit is always a good thing. Bank robbers have immense profits. Several thousand dollar takes, minimal capital costs. Recalibrate your morality.

32. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    88   8:25pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Theft is not profit.

33. errc Follow Befriend (7) 30 threads 1,215 comments 31 male Premium

    89   8:26pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Of course I respect all laws What do you mean of course? Are we to assume that because something is law, that it is to be automatically deserving of respect?

34. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    90   8:28pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   errc says Of course I respect all laws What do you mean of course? Are we to assume that because something is law, that it is to be automatically deserving of respect? Yes. If not, you must at least respect its consequences.

35. Bellingham Bill Follow Befriend 30 threads 1,488 comments Bellingham, WA Premium

    91   8:36pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Peter P says Theft is not profit. Sure it is. Just ask Iwog.

36. Buster Follow Befriend (7) 22 threads 325 comments

    92   8:40pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   errc says What do you mean of course? Are we to assume that because something is law, that it is to be automatically deserving of respect? Respect and obey all Mormon Star Kolob Laws and you will be fine. No need to follow any of the others.

37. errc Follow Befriend (7) 30 threads 1,215 comments 31 male Premium

    93   8:44pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says errc says Of course I respect all laws What do you mean of course? Are we to assume that because something is law, that it is to be automatically deserving of respect? Yes. If not, you must at least respect its consequences. The consequence of respecting unjust laws, is to willingly forfeit ones freedom.

38. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    94   8:52pm Sun 29 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   You can seek to change laws, but until then you still have to respect them.

39. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

    95   7:47am Mon 30 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says Theft is not profit. Don't tell that to the financial sector.

40. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    96   8:48am Mon 30 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   freak80 says Don't tell that to the financial sector. They will just claim that profit is not theft. ;-)

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