patrick.net

Troy says

I just wish it didn’t find such a receptive audience

Yes, right ? Troy you really do get to the crux of the biscuit.

Shrekie seems to have left the building.

That picture needs the right caption. Blazing Saddles is the obvious reference.

Troy says

I just wish it didn’t find such a receptive audience

I'm still thinking about this, as I listen to the youtube of Obama's speech yesterday.

I'm not actually religious. Sprititual at times, but close to agnostic.

But I wish there was a judgement day, for which Beck, Limbaugh, Savage and the rest would have to answer for whether:

Do they say these things because they believe them ?

Or do they say them because that's what their audience wants to hear, and because there's money in it ?

If it is the latter, I wish that they would have to answer for that !!

So if it turns out this guy was into violent video games and gruesome hollywood movies are you going to start attacking them as well? Oh wait, shoveling death and destruction for entertainment purposes is art and protected as free speech.

Nevermind.

APOCALYPSEFUCK says

When the microphone is off, these people go home and spend their money

If they don't believe any of it, and they are able to influence the electorate that much, just because it sells ad time on the radio, then it's easy to make a very tight logical argument that we need the fairness doctrine back.

Now of course, if you are a right winger, then you may not be able to appreciate that one day things could be too far to the right, and at that time the fate of our country could be dependent on leadership that is to the left of where we then are politically.

If you don't think that is possible, then you will disagree that the fairness doctrine is a logical necessity. In this case I can point you to your argument. You can talk about the constitution, freedom of speech etc., and so on.

Okay, then we continue, and now with corporate citizens able to fund any propaganda they wish. Terrible change doesn't happen all at once. It happens one step at a time.

EightBall says

So if it turns out this guy was into violent video games

Speaking for myself, I have no idea whether the shootings had anything to do with right wing talk radio. But read above, or in other thread, people talking about parents and inlaws whose world view is more than a little shaped by right wing radio. If the entertainers on those programs don't even believe what they are saying, but do it simply because hate sells. That's a problem.

I may be talking about it now, in this thread, because it's possible Laughlen (sp?) was influenced by those guys. But I'm thinking about elections and the future of the country, not the prospect of cause and effect on violence.

Really I'm thinking about education. It seems to me, that even long after school is over, Americans are entitled to education.

Mr.Fantastic says

EightBall says

So if it turns out this guy was into violent video games and gruesome hollywood movies are you going to start attacking them as well? Oh wait, shoveling death and destruction for entertainment purposes is art and protected as free speech.
Nevermind.

This guy is right. His undertones of censorship are about protecting freedom. Freedom from being shot in the head by crazy leftist.

I am familiar with most video games and movies. Please show me which ones advocate or simulate killing Congress people. In contrast, please see the much repeated refrains of right-wing radio that argues for "Second Amendment solutions" to Democratic lawmakers, "I came unarmed (this time)" protest shirts, bullet holes and crosshairs targets on Democratic positions in print ads and billboards, etc.

Knowing that popular culture is steeped in violent art, is it responsible to suggest any of this violence should be directed at political opponents?

SoCal Renter says

Knowing that popular culture is steeped in violent art, is it responsible to suggest any of this violence should be directed at political opponents?

Unbelievable. So if the popular culture wasn't steeped in violent art, it would be OK to suggest violence at a political opponent? Perhaps the problem IS the popular culture?

Mr.Fantastic says

Have you not seen Air Force One with Harrison Ford? They shot the National Security Advisor. They nearly killed the President, but he was trained by the special forces so of course a leftist with no training is not going to be able to kill someone with special forces training. That wouldn’t be realistic.

I don't see how anyone could, even with the craziest of interpretations, conclude that the movie "Air Force One" actually ADVOCATED the killing of the President.

However, if by some strange reason, a movie was made that advocated the killing of the President, I would oppose that as well for being inflammatory and a violation of the 14th Amendment's prohibition against formenting rebellion.

EightBall says

SoCal Renter says

Knowing that popular culture is steeped in violent art, is it responsible to suggest any of this violence should be directed at political opponents?

Unbelievable. So if the popular culture wasn’t steeped in violent art, it would be OK to suggest violence at a political opponent? Perhaps the problem IS the popular culture?

On the contrary. I say it is NEVER OK to suggest violence be directed at a political opponents. I am saying it is WORSE if you believe popular culture is steeped in violence, as conservatives believe, and then ADVOCATE violence against your political "enemies".