February 6, 2013

"Republicans and Fox News are moving to purge the controversial political creatures they created."

"Both were damaged badly in 2012 by loud, partisan voices that stoked the base — but that scared the hell out of many voters. Now, the GOP, with its dismal image, and Fox News, with its depressed ratings in January, are scrambling to dim those voices."

That's the way Politico puts it.

167 comments:

bagoh20 said...

The GOP is a perfect example of the whole being less than it's parts. The problem is not that the message is wrong - it's that not enough people what to hear it. Give it time, stay with your base and your principles, otherwise you serve no purpose. Remember why the election was lost: Republicans didn't vote.

steve said...

Does the GOP really have a dismal image? Or do they have a dismal image because sites like Politico keep telling us they are dismal? At the state level for the most part, the Republicans are doing rather well as I see it. Red state surpluses, lower unemployment than the blues, no income tax in some with more probably on the way. Not bad for a dismal party

steve said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

Oh, I almost forgot.

Enjoy the decline.

Andy said...

Remember when I said that Republicans should be ashamed and will regret having Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity as the most prominent and influential conservatives? Not to mention the whole stable of religious right nutjobs.

For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party.

London Boy said...

I'm not sure which "controversial political creatures" the hacks at Politico are referring to. It seems that any conservative who stands up for conservative principals and opposes the status quo in Washington is considered "controversial" by the left. It's strange, for decades the left fantasized about a popular revolt against the government of the USA but when that revolt actually arrived in the shape of the Tea Party they suddenly decided that the government had to be protected at all costs. This is basically Politicio chiding those who would challenge the status quo - there shall be no dissent.

Guildofcannonballs said...

I create political creatures. Garage mahal and rit and whores do too.

Don't you be stoppin' us now.

Great men have given great reasons why.

What the fuck is you stupid?

edutcher said...

Keep in mind this is politico's take and I think they're part of a media-wide psyop to make Conservatives believe, "Resistance is futile".

Consider that just about every polling result is now the exact opposite of what it was before the "election".

The RINOs are obviously running scared and the hard core Libertarians are hoping this will give them a shot to fill in the vacuum (good luck on that one).

Andy R. said...

Remember when I said that Republicans should be ashamed and will regret having Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity as the most prominent and influential conservatives? Not to mention the whole stable of religious right nutjobs.

For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party.


Like Andy Sullivan?

Suure.

Funny how Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity and "the whole stable of religious right nutjobs" command more of a following than the Lefty media.

But who cares about facts, right?

chickelit said...

Andy R. exhales:
For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party.

Utter concern trolling.

Guildofcannonballs said...

"Youse a beat writer, a pac style taker, tell you to you face you ain't shit but faker, suffer that Alize with a chaser..."

And during this period Mr. Buckley did okay.

David Davenport said...

Andy,

Why shouldn't so-called Red States get a divorce from Democrat, culturally Leftist Blue States?

People shouldn't try to impose their morality on other people, should they? So why should Red State folk allow themselves to be bullied by Blue Staters?

Bullying is wrong, isn't it?

///////////////////////

Politico is crying such big, sad tears of sympathy for Fox. Politico is so sincere.

And former Fox fans no longer tuning in to Bill and Sean -- I'll bet they're switching to CNN or MSNBC or PBS.

YoungHegelian said...

I'm sorry, could someone please explain to me how losing a presidential election by 2 points of the popular vote is some sort of world-changing blowout?

The reason the Dems talk this way, is because, in their heart of hearts, they know that Obama is a fuckup who even they were amazed to see win like he did.

Before we see this as some sort of magical re-alignment of US politics, we need to see a few more elections.

Maybe Andy is right, but maybe not. I don't think the Obama phenomenon translates into a Democratic re-alignment. We shall see.

Anonymous said...

"For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party."

2/6/13, 9:43 PM


Like Chris Christie.

somefeller said...

That's the way Politico puts it.

Yeah, that's the way Politico puts it. But is Politico's analysis of the situation incorrect? Given recent personnel decisions at Fox News and Rove's new activities, it certainly looks like the people Politico is talking about are trying to change the roster of players.

Shouting Thomas said...

I've mostly stopped watching political shows on TV, and stopped reading about politics. Why not? It's the off season. So, the ratings of political programming should be down. Only makes sense.

When there's a reason to pay attention again, maybe I will.

Shouting Thomas said...

And, Andy R, who's always bitching that he wants more stuff for the people he likes, now wants to "ditch" all the people he doesn't like, for the good of the country.

Kid's a fucking Nazi. As well as a spoiled brat.

Sorun said...

No, the GOP just needs to learn to lie more like Democrats.

Andy said...

The really funny thing is that Romney lost the election between he got dragged too far to the right during the primary, because of people just like the Althouse Comment Crew.

And now the few smart, sane, rational conservatives are trying to prepare for 2016 so that the next Republican nominee doesn't get dragged too far to the right by all of you people and then loses another general election. And you're fighting back.

This part of the article: But a senior Republican operative said the party has two huge, unresolved impediments to the top leaders’ grand plans: “suicide conservatives, who would rather lose elections than win seats with moderates,” and the “many groups on the hard right that depend on direct mail fundraising that requires a high degree of audacity, and borderline shrillness.”

Audacity and shrillness. Did you feel like it was talking about you?

Shouting Thomas said...

Audacity and shrillness. Did you feel like it was talking about you?

No, that's you, Nazi Andy.

You're the worst of the worst. You are everything you are projecting onto other people.

Christopher said...

I was curious how long the concern trolling would take.

You'd think the Libertarian party would be doing far better given how many people claim to only disagree with republicans based upon social issues (of course this assumes making such claims are honest and not just full of shit).

Shouting Thomas said...

Andy isn't "concern trolling."

He's suggesting that all the people he hates should be expelled from the political arena, including the voters he doesn't like.

The kid is a complete and utter Nazi.

Revenant said...

Getting rid of Palin and Morris isn't much of a loss.

If they were getting rid of people who matter, like Tea Party congressfolk -- that would be bad. But losing a couple of media whores isn't going to hurt anything.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

A "created controversial political creature"...

Oh oh.. there is that vortex creature from this morning again.

(btw I cant go back to this morn posts for some obscure reason... so my comment will have to stand as is... not as clear as a link or tasty as an egg)

Shouting Thomas said...

There's no need for Palin and Morris to be appearing on TV right now, since there are no elections to talk about.

They'll be back somewhere as soon as there are elections to talk about.

Revenant said...

You'd think the Libertarian party would be doing far better given how many people claim to only disagree with republicans based upon social issues (of course this assumes making such claims are honest and not just full of shit).

It also assumes that people vote for the candidate they think is best, instead of either voting for the viable candidate they think is best or just staying home. You are, of course, wrong to make that assumption.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party.

If people have a hard time getting Atlas Shrugged... the simple massage that what we do for most of our waking and sleeping hours of the day... that being looking after ourselves... is good... finding "some smart sane conservative to lead a party" is the least of our worries.

Shouting Thomas said...

Religious, conservative white heterosexual married people are not going to commit suicide and gracefully exit the planet because Obama won the presidency.

This fantasy is repeated endlessly by my liberal friends on Facebutt.

They have convinced themselves that the people they loathe are going to shoot themselves in the head and go away.

Not going to happen. Dream on.

Unknown said...

Conservatives won't win by becoming liberals.
If the Republican party goes liberal lite it might win (I don't really think it will) but it won't be a conservative win.
Conservatives will not become liberal just to win. My principles aren't for sale and I don't compromise my most basic integrity. If I lose, then I lose, but I don't become part of a belief system I loath.
Winning isn't everything, unless you have something other than principle at stake. My principles aren't for sale, but I can see than many party Republican's principles are.
The election changed me, and so did Benghazi, Obamacare, and the gun grab. This is much more than politics.

virgil xenophon said...

"That's the way Politico puts it."

It would..

somefeller said...

There's no need for Palin and Morris to be appearing on TV right now, since there are no elections to talk about. They'll be back somewhere as soon as there are elections to talk about.

That's not the way it works for professional political media figures. There isn't an off-season between elections. They may be back elsewhere in the coming years (being famous for being famous gives one a certain career longevity), but being pushed off of Fox isn't good for anyone wanting to be a conservative media figure.

I'm Full of Soup said...

"Controversial" ... a word used to describe almost everything conservative.

Shouting Thomas said...

@somefeller

I watched O'Reilly every night up to the election.

Haven't watched him once since.

No, they are only gone temporarily. They aren't needed at the moment.

RecChief said...

so how well is MSNBC doing?

RecChief said...

so how well is MSNBC doing?

somefeller said...

But O'Reilly isn't off the air just because we're in between elections, is he? Like I said, there is no off-season in that line of work. While you may have tuned out, others have not, and being a political media personality isn't seasonal work.

edutcher said...

YoungHegelian said...

I'm sorry, could someone please explain to me how losing a presidential election by 2 points of the popular vote is some sort of world-changing blowout?

As I say, psyop, "Resistance Is Futile".

somefeller said...

That's the way Politico puts it.

Yeah, that's the way Politico puts it. But is Politico's analysis of the situation incorrect? Given recent personnel decisions at Fox News and Rove's new activities, it certainly looks like the people Politico is talking about are trying to change the roster of players.


The big issue is the Leftward drift of Fox. Getting rid of Palin, Rove, and Morris (whose Conservative street cred we can debate) has more to do with a wussier editorial stance on their part.

We can also speculate on what the Left might have on Murdoch regarding that phone hacking thing.

Andy R. said...

The really funny thing is that Romney lost the election between he got dragged too far to the right during the primary, because of people just like the Althouse Comment Crew.

No, the Romster didn't lose. the election was stolen.

And now the few smart, sane, rational conservatives are trying to prepare for 2016 so that the next Republican nominee doesn't get dragged too far to the right by all of you people and then loses another general election. And you're fighting back.

Such as who, Christie? That's the She-Wolf of the SS' choice and we all know how up front and honest that is.

Except for fiscal responsibility (at least at the state level), do you have any notion of how Conservative he isn't?

Shouting Thomas said...

But O'Reilly isn't off the air just because we're in between elections, is he?

You're being deliberately boneheaded, somefeller.

Quit.

The roster of Fox News is not an indication of anything. I'll bet the ratings of all the TV cable news programs are way down.

Yes, there is an off-season, thank God.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Liberalism never takes a break... its their only thing not unionized.

You know... people have lives to live.

I get the sense they are panicking that conservatives might disappear and they have nothing mock and make fun of.

You wont have Nixon to kick around anymore.

Shouting Thomas said...

Fox News dementia is a peculiar manifestation of the left. I've never been able to figure out why the lefties get so worked up about it.

To repeat an oft-repeated story...

I was in a band for about a year and the lead guitar player walked into every rehearsal and whacked himself upside the head, then muttered...

"Faux Noise! Faux Noise!"

chickelit said...

I'm kinda surprised that the DC Politico types and the Sullivanists don't rail against Drudge more than they do. I suspect they fear him.

Chip S. said...

MSNBC's viewership yesterday was
up 7% over a year ago in the 25-54 y.o. demographic. Fox is down 13% and CNN down 21% over that period.

Fox still has the largest viewership by far, with 52% of the top 3 cable news networks' viewers, down from 54% last year.

somefeller said...

I'll bet the ratings of all the TV cable news programs are way down.

True.

Yes, there is an off-season, thank God.

Not for those in the political business. Don't kid yourself, what goes on personnel-wise at Fox, MSNBC, the DNC and the RNC and how it's interpreted by people who make their living in that world (not me, thank God) doesn't take a break.

chickelit said...

Notice that the article uses "purge" twice: first as a noun and then as verb. Lefties love projecting that Stalinist lingo--it's like they're telegraphing "get with the pogram!"

chickelit said...

Somefeeler, you sound like you have a personal grudge against some of those named Fox news people.

Do you?

Shouting Thomas said...

Yes, the "purge" is what the left is hoping for.

They're arguing that, for the sake of "tolerance," the Republican Party should disavow the "bigots."

The bigots are those conservative white lower and middle class white people in flyover country.

The left is cheering for some ethnic cleansing of the Republican Party. All in the name of "tolerance."

Chip S. said...

O'Reilly is down almost 30% from last year in the 25-54 demo, and Hannity's down almost 40%.

Meanwhile, internet laughingstock Piers Morgan has only lost 15% of his audience in a year.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I used to watch Fox News when it was new... because there was nothing like it... and you got to see people you didn't see elsewhere.

But then it slowly became as though it was whatever the others weren't... which is to say they started playing the game their competitors played... or maybe that was the bottom line all along.

But my bottom line is I lost interest... when I turned on their morning show and it was just like good morning America and the today show only not as good.

Then the Sunday anchor left to work for Bush and the good one left retired.

edutcher said...

somefeller said...

But O'Reilly isn't off the air just because we're in between elections, is he? Like I said, there is no off-season in that line of work. While you may have tuned out, others have not, and being a political media personality isn't seasonal work.

If some phony folksy actually went over to the Fox website, he'd see O'Really was on tonight.

edutcher said...

Chip, what were Morgan's ratings to begin with?

O'Really and Hannity were the top-rated shows in their time period.

I'm guessing Morgan was in the Rachel Maddow range.

somefeller said...

Somefeeler, you sound like you have a personal grudge against some of those named Fox news people. Do you?

No, just pointing out that those who say the Politico article is just liberal spin or that there is an off-season in politics/political media have it wrong. I'll leave the enemies lists to you.

David Davenport said...

According to realclearpolitics.com, Sarah P. turned down a Fox contract renewal:

Sarah Palin Parts Ways With FOX News

By Scott Conroy - January 25, 2013

After a three-year run as a paid contributor to the nation’s highest-rated cable news channel, Sarah Palin and FOX News have cut ties, according to a source close to the former Alaska governor.

“It’s my understanding that Gov. Palin was offered a contract by FOX, and she decided not to renew the arrangement,” the source close to Palin told RCP. “She remains focused on broadening her message of common-sense conservatism across the country and will be expanding her voice in the national discussion.”

The source declined to say whether Palin would pursue a television contract with another news network, such as CNN.

Bill Shine, Executive Vice President at FOX, subsequently issued a statement to the New York Times confirming the news, saying, “We have thoroughly enjoyed our association with Governor Palin. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

...

Palin’s relationship with FOX appeared to take several rocky turns. In a Facebook post during the Republican convention last August, for instance, the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee lamented that the news channel had “cancelled all my scheduled interviews tonight.”

...

Chip S. said...

Brace yourself, ed.

I hate to say it, but Maddow beat Hannity last night among 25-54 y.o.'s.

Andy said...

"Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites
For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of the culturally conservative white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus."

Who do you think Fox's target audience is? The people who are becoming irrelevant. (To Fox's credit, they know this is happening and purging these people is how they are trying to deal with it.)

somefeller said...

If some phony folksy actually went over to the Fox website, he'd see O'Really was on tonight.

But O'Reilly ISN'T [emphasis added] off the air just because we're in between elections, is he? Like I said, there is no off-season in that line of work.

Reading comprehension strikes again!

Shouting Thomas said...

The article was a complete waste of time and wishful thinking.

Nothing is happening now. The news media doesn't elect anybody. The voters do, and they've mostly checked out and will remain so until 2014.

The next election is the 2014 midterms and those elections are just beginning to form on the local level, completely out of sight of the media.

In other words, somefeller, you're completely wrong and irrelevant, just like the article. Have a nice night's sleep. I'm going to.

Chip S. said...

The news media doesn't elect anybody.

I think the 2012 election showed otherwise.

somefeller said...

In other words, somefeller, you're completely wrong and irrelevant, just like the article. Have a nice night's sleep. I'm going to.

Nope, I'm pretty confident I'm right about how that business works. But it is bedtime, and I wish you a good night's rest. Have sweet dreams of Les Paul guitars and media personalities.

Shouting Thomas said...

No Les Pauls for me. I'm all Strat all the time.

But, I appreciate the thought.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Dennis Kucinich Signs as Fox News Contributor...

Chip S. said...

Lem, that's unfuckingbelievable.

I agree w/your earlier comment 100%. It was a huge loss to Fox when Brit Hume retired. They need some people w/ his seriousness, not a wider variety of clowns.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Fox News is to conservatism what Fox Sports is to Liberalism.

Zilch.

Conservatism is a principle... not a tv show... not a news babe/hunk.

If the GOP and Fox News want to be prom king and queen... fuck'm.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

That was my best imitation of AllenS btw.

bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

Anybody could right that Politco distraction. What else are you gonna write about? The disaster that Obama's policies are turning out to be? The actual news that's all bad for him and his suckers? If you look at the stories this is designed to avoid, you'll see a very ugly scene that Politco does not want to talk about - it's wide and deep.

As to the ratings: Last year at this time was campaign powered. I rarely watch TV news shows and even I was into it then, and mostly Fox. I'm not watching any news now. If it's real news, it's bad, and if it's not news it's a smoke screen. The right warned about what would happen and it is. Either way, for the wise there is no news in the media anywhere. What's the point in watching?

Howard said...

Keep the crazy uncle and cat-lady face of the republican party. That's the key to winning the all important nut-bag rating wars over msmbc and cnn. By shoving that same teabagger salami down the throats of the public, they will assimilate the good news, friend and reward you folks with another chance to get your hands on the chicken switch.

Or go all Galt n shit because, you know, it's not like some illegal could ever learn the high finance of managing a quicky-mart. Then all of the lefty fools in the high-tech future will beg for you thumpers to come back and save the day.

bagoh20 said...

Ever since the election it's just been nonstop vindication of the Right's warnings. It's getting depressing now. Attacking the right is like kicking the dog when you get a foreclosure notice. Don't try and blame me - I voted for the other guy.

YoungHegelian said...

Re: Howard

Ever notice how every now and then some new lefty gets moved by the spirit to come and drop some pearl of wisdom from their febrile brain on us.

I'll say this for Andy, garage, Inga, somefeller, et al.: at least they can form a coherent sentence or two.

bagoh20 said...

Quicky-Mart. That's good Howard. Now just use your simple mind to think about that for a moment. The place has a bunch of people hanging outside with Obamaphones and EBT cards and rocks for sale, there's one guy inside paying all their tax burden, but you think he's the problem, and that such a system is sustainable. Pretty clever, you are.

Christopher said...

Andy R. has always struck me as a fan of purges.

Chip S. said...

It's even worse than that.

Howard thinks Apu is undocumented.

bagoh20 said...

And do you assholes ever actually wonder why few people actually "go Gault"? You'd never guess, so I'll tell you. They have families to support, employees they care about, dreams, ambitions, ideas and passion, but mostly they aren't the quitting type. That's the main reason they are successful enough to carry your burden, which your lame asses can't handle yourself, let alone cover anyone else's. Gault was a character in an old book. Used to try and make a point that you were too stupid to get.

Bruce Hayden said...

Fox still has the largest viewership by far, with 52% of the top 3 cable news networks' viewers, down from 54% last year.

The Fox show that seems to be moving up fairly quickly is "The Five" (at Five). It runs at 3 and 12 here in Colorado, and I try to stay up for it to pick up what I missed over the radio earlier in the day. For one thing, it doesn't have a single host, but 5 of them, each putting on one segment. And, 4 of 5 are relatively young, esp. compared to O'Reilly, etc., with the dedicated liberal (usually Bob B., but sometimes Juan Williams) being older. As a result, it has a lot more energy that most of the other cable news talk shows. And, there is guaranteed to be quite a bit of humor in each show (if for no other reason than having the irreverent Greg Guttfeld at one end of the table).

Michael K said...

Any conservative that takes advice from Politico deserves to lose the next election.

Chip Ahoy said...

This thread is useless with wishcasting.

J said...

Plus anyone who looks at Alisyn Camerota and sees anything but a LI lib is nuts.What New York calls conservative many of us in flyover country call squishy at best.FOX losing conservative/libertarian voices and keeping around Northeastern establishment aristocrats does not endear them to the rest of the country.And if I can't barely tell the difference between them and GMA why watch?

Steve Koch said...

I get all my news from the web and have not watched tv news, including Fox, in many years. Most likely many conservatives feel the same way I do and have completely tuned out tv news. This implies that the tv audience of conservative viewers is much smaller than it might be so, to enlarge its audience, Fox has to appeal to the indy audience. This might actually be a good thing for the GOP because it will wean some indy voters of of lefty news.

G Joubert said...

Nothing is happening now. The news media doesn't elect anybody. The voters do, and they've mostly checked out and will remain so until 2014.

And especially conservatives. That's why Fox viewership is down too.

Revenant said...

I'm sorry, could someone please explain to me how losing a presidential election by 2 points of the popular vote is some sort of world-changing blowout?

The economy is terrible, millions of people have lost their jobs, and the sitting President's primary legislative accomplishment was widely hated by a large majority of non-Democrats.

And the Republicans lost anyway.

It wasn't a "world-changing blowout". It was the public saying "we know things suck, but why the fuck would we ask a *Republican* to fix them?"

Can you blame them? Republicans haven't fielded a decent Presidential candidate since Reagan.

Anonymous said...

Fox News is totally tame and only into conservatism for the money. I would not be surprised to see real conservative alternatives arise soon.

2421Rich said...

Fox has changed. They are trying too hard to be "fair and balanced". If one political party bases their efforts on deception and misdirection is Fox fair and balanced if it lies only half of the time?

Achilles said...

The Republican Party would rather compromise with the democrats as the minority party than compromise with the libertarians as the majority. The establishment republicans are statists too they just want to impose different things and get their own goodies at the public expense. They buy votes too, they just promise a little less of other people's money. What a brilliant strategy!

Until the republicans become the party of liberty and give up their big government impulses they will just be democrat lite. Being the party of slightly smaller deficits and drug warriors with a dash of moral imposition is a fail.

Joe Schmoe said...

The media's attempts to talk down conservatism remind me of their attempts to talk up the economy.

Neither has worked and neither will work.

Anonymous said...

Not until we've purged all those crazy Tea Partiers will we be able to repeat the triumph of... 2008.

Joe Schmoe said...

The economy is terrible, millions of people have lost their jobs, and the sitting President's primary legislative accomplishment was widely hated by a large majority of non-Democrats.

And the Republicans lost anyway.


This may be a good reason why ratings are down on Fox News. It was a demoralizing year politically. A lot of people are saying "What's the point?"

It seems the dissonance comes from Obama himself. Polling shows him at a 52% approval, 43% disapproval rating. However, 55% of the same poll respondents think the country is on the wrong track, versus 37% who do. People seem to like him and apparently absolve him of blame when it comes to running the country. It's weird.

And when it comes to ratings, you can't believe everything Politico puts out.

Penny said...

REMINDER: These days, when you put on your "Party Hat", you pretty much look like you did on that New Year's Eve when ... well you know which one I mean, so enough said!



kentuckyliz said...

Isn't this just a variation on the assassination fantasy? Instead of desiring that a hated POTUS be killed, it's desiring that a hated part of the electorate be eliminated.

Brian Brown said...

'm sorry, could someone please explain to me how losing a presidential election by 2 points of the popular vote is some sort of world-changing blowout?

It isn't.

And watching mentally incapacitated people like Andy R pretend the Republicans, who control 30 Governorships and 26 state legislatures are irrelevant, is comical.

Of course pretending is what silly gay boys like him do.

Brian Brown said...

somefeller said...

That's the way Politico puts it.

Yeah, that's the way Politico puts it. But is Politico's analysis of the situation incorrect?


Um, yeah.

See, Dick Morris isn't some big Republican.

So go about pretending the Republicans are in total irrelevancy and cheer on an Assault Weapons Ban while you're at it.

Michael Haz said...

This isn't about the GOP. You're an idiot if you fall for that sucker bait.

The purpose of Fox News Channel is to make money for its owners; the more money the better. Roger Ailes has shown that he is exceedingly capable of running a network that makes money.

FNC is re-tooling a bit to keep fresh and to keep its rating and profits high. Unlike the low-rating, low (or no) profit MSNBC and CNN, FNC moves with its demographic.

If you think the changes and FNC are anything but that you don't understand how media makes money.

tim said...

If the folks who dropped Fox are like me, we only dropped Fox because we dropped the lefty Time Warner. You can get the same info on line (at Althouse and others) and save $120month. For those of you on the left the yearly savings comes out to 1 new Glock and about 2000 rounds, with enough left over for a steak dinner (even at today's prices).

To me Time Warner vs Glock not even close.

Robert Cook said...

"It's strange, for decades the left fantasized about a popular revolt against the government of the USA but when that revolt actually arrived in the shape of the Tea Party...."


Hahahahahahaha! Oh, my.

machine said...

"Funny how Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity and "the whole stable of religious right nutjobs" command more of a following than the Lefty media. "

Kinda the point, isn't it?

Kelly said...

The only show on FOX that I watch with any regularity is Special Report, since the election I've even tuned that out. I pretty much get my news from the web now. I wonder what has happened to Limbaugh's ratings? I've tuned him out as well. The only show I still listen to is Michael Medved, but he doesn't talk politics all the time.

sunsong said...

The extremes of both parties try to shout down any opposition to what they believe. The GOP primaries ruined Romney. Too many people just didn't believe he was anything other than who he had to claim to be to win the primaries.

The reactionary right does NOT help the GOP. They deserve their dismal image. It is never going to happen that the majority of Americans will vote for a far right agenda. Those who think that the GOP just wasn't *conservative* enough and that is why the GOP lost are deluded.

Lots of people identified the GOP with folks like Akin and Mourdock - and rightly so.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Lots of people identified the GOP with folks like Akin and Mourdock - and rightly so.

Can you explain how that is "rightly so?"

Kelly said...

Don't get me started on Mourdock, sunsong. He ran in my district. What a creep that guy was and what a shame we're now stuck with Donelly. The only comfort I have is that Lugar is gone, don't let the door kick you in the ass, jerk.

I don't blame Rove in the least for insisting there be more vetting of our candidates. Nothing wrong with drumming out the stupid.

edutcher said...

somefeller said...

If some phony folksy actually went over to the Fox website, he'd see O'Really was on tonight.

But O'Reilly ISN'T [emphasis added] off the air just because we're in between elections, is he? Like I said, there is no off-season in that line of work.

Reading comprehension strikes again!


More like unclear expression.

But O'Reilly isn't off the air just because we're in between elections, IS HE (emphasis added)?

Implication: he's off the air for another reason.

Instead of hiding behind reading comprehension, try writing a coherent sentence.

In other words, somefeller, you're completely wrong and irrelevant, just like the article.

Nope, I'm pretty confident I'm right about how that business works.


Some phony folksy - a legend in his own mind.

PS Up awfully late for a "work" night, aren't we?

Andy R. said...

Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites
For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of the culturally conservative white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.


Those are the "bitter clingers", moron. He never wanted them.

machine said...

Funny how Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity and "the whole stable of religious right nutjobs" command more of a following than the Lefty media.

Kinda the point, isn't it?


Considering the mindless automaton keeps talking about a blowout (other than the one inside his head), yes, it is.

If he was right, what I wrote would be untrue.

Leland said...

I'm with Steve Koch on this. I simply don't get my news from TV or radio. I prefer the internet. Mostly this is because of the mass media's "it bleeds it leads" stories that both spotline heinous crimes and seem to lead viewers to paranoia, and all for the purpose of enticing viewers. The other reason is the lack of knowledge in the subject being covered. I disdain MSNBC and CNN, but I also have no major interest in Fox News or Rush Limbaugh either.

I used to be enjoy Fox News Sunday, apparently for the same reasons Lem and Chip did.

sakredkow said...

You can get the same info on line (at Althouse and others) and save $120month.

You're getting your news from Althouse? I'm only asking as a low-information voter...

rhhardin said...

It's playing to women viewers.

Normal people don't watch at all.

X said...

Andy R. said...
Remember when I said that Republicans should be ashamed and will regret having Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity as the most prominent and influential conservatives? Not to mention the whole stable of religious right nutjobs.

For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party.


nothing to say about the SPLC inciting murder hat boy? nothing to say about academia inciting murder?

John said...

So running a RINO from Massachusetts scared the hell out of voters? Reason number one million why Republicans should have ran someone who actually believed in something. No matter who they ran the court media would have rewritten history to make said person into an evil right winger who was offensive all right thinking Americans.

Bryan C said...

Reading Politico for insight into the GOP is like listening to me describe an episode of The Kathy Griffin Show: Don't know anything about it, don't care enough to find out, dislike everyone involved, just want to make it go away.

John said...

Romney was never dragged to the "Right". Are liberals stupid or liars or what?

The media ensures that every stupid thing said by any Republican anywhere is immediately considered to be representative of the entire party. Meanwhile real nuts on the left like Henry Waxman or Maxine Waters are never covered or when they are considered outliers with entertaining but out of mainstream views that are of course ignored by the Big Daddy in the White House.

Anonymous said...

" Those who think that the GOP just wasn't *conservative* enough and that is why the GOP lost are deluded."

2/7/13, 7:16 AM

Precisely, yet they continue to bang that drum. Reality hasn't bit them hard enough yet.

machine said...

"Reality hasn't bit them hard enough yet."

Kinda the point (of this post and thread) isn't it...

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Perhaps we should think about cleaning up our cheat machine/corrupt (even the UN is laughing) voter system?

sakredkow said...

So running a RINO from Massachusetts scared the hell out of voters? Reason number one million why Republicans should have ran someone who actually believed in something.

I think the Dems tied the RINO to the other face of the Republican Party: the Limbaughs, the tea party, the bitter clingers, for lack of a better term. Sure, the libtard media gave the crazies just as much attention as the sober RINO, so what are independents, moderates and young single women supposed to believe?

sakredkow said...

Precisely, yet they continue to bang that drum. Reality hasn't bit them hard enough yet.

Cosign to that.

campy said...

No matter who they ran the court media would have rewritten history to make said person into an evil right winger who was offensive all right thinking Americans.

Yep. That's reason #1 why the Gone Obsolete Party will never elect a POTUS again.

Brian Brown said...

Andy R. said...
Remember when I said that Republicans should be ashamed and will regret having Coulter/Limbaugh/Palin/Hannity as the most prominent and influential conservatives?


And yet notice that nobody is taking Coulter/Limbaugh/Hannity of any program.

Idiot.

Brian Brown said...

phx said...


Cosign to that.


Of course. Silly, idiotic statements are an automatic "co-sign" for you.

chickelit said...

Inga said...

Precisely, yet they continue to bang that drum. Reality hasn't bit them hard enough yet.

Give me a reason why you remain so concerned about changing the views of the GOP on social matters, and utterly unconcerned about changing Dems on their economic policies? You appear to be more of a Dem insider than a GOP one, and could affect more positive change if you worked to change your comrades.

Brian Brown said...

Inga said...

Precisely, yet they continue to bang that drum. Reality hasn't bit them hard enough yet.


Hey stupid shit, since the GOP is like so irrelevant, please explain why they control 30 Governorships and 26 state legislatures?

I can't wait to hear you answer.

sakredkow said...

Let's make Jay the face of the Republican Party. : )

Anonymous said...

Gerrymandering. Dems know this and are on it. Things are going to change.

Known Unknown said...

Are there any controversial political creatures on the left? I can't think of a darn one.

chickelit said...

phx said...
Let's make Jay the face of the Republican Party. : )

Let's make Andy R. the face of the Democratic party. Ooops, he already is!

chickelit said...

@phx & Inga: I think Andy R could have the nuttiest view on religion, economics, war and peace you'd be afraid to speak up against him just because he's gay.

So show us that's not true.

Known Unknown said...

Gerrymandering. Dems know this and are on it. Things are going to change.

You're right. Gerrymandering is why Scott Walker exists.

sakredkow said...

I love Andy. He never gets personal with anyone like a lot of people do here. He states what he believes and why he think contradictory beliefs are full of shit. But he's disciplined enough to never make it personal.

The visceral response to Andy is pretty funny and embarrassing.

There are definitely worse faces for the Dems. Andy's a pretty good emissary.

Known Unknown said...

There are definitely worse faces for the Dems. Andy's a pretty good emissary.

He calls everyone whom he disagrees with a bigot, but other than that, he's peachy.

X said...

you're right phx. Andy is more into collective guilt.

Anonymous said...

I have no problem with Andy R. He is intelligent and well spoken. What is telling is that some of you conservatives think most liberals would have a problem with him.

So what if he is a atheist? Who cares? It's his right as much as its your right to be a Christian. It's his right to be a gay man as much as its anyone's right to be straight.

Nothing wrong with Andy R. He's young, he's exuberant, so what?

Brian Brown said...

phx said...
I love Andy. He never gets personal with anyone like a lot of people do here.


Your willful ignorance is pathetic.

One wonders if you even know how to tie your shoes.

Brian Brown said...

Inga said...
I have no problem with Andy R


Of course not, you silly fat, woman.

He merely calls anyone who disagrees with his views a "homophobe" and calls Christians dumb.

You're a Christian, right?

Brian Brown said...

phx said...
But he's disciplined enough to never make it personal.


You mean other than when he calls people who disagree with his beliefs homophobes, bigots, and stupid, right?

Brian Brown said...

chickelit said...

So show us that's not true.


Isn't it cute how they just then happily pretend he's never said anything personal or vile?

Anonymous said...

Well Jay, if the shoe fits......

chickelit said...

@phx & Inga: Jay is right that Andy R is astonishingly bigoted.

Known Unknown said...

What is telling is that some of you conservatives think most liberals would have a problem with him.

An African American majority voted for Prop 8, but all we ever heard about was the terrible Mormons in California.

I'm a gay marriage supporter (well, actually, I think govt. should get the hell out of marriage entirely) but I can see how a majority of blacks are social conservatives who would disagree with Andy. And yet they vote reliably Democrat every election.

Anonymous said...

Jay is NEVER right, the problem is you fail to see that.

Brian Brown said...

Inga said...
Well Jay, if the shoe fits......


You're a Christian, right?

Brian Brown said...

Inga said...
Jay is NEVER right,


I'm not the one who can't answer direct questions about my political views.

Want to guess why you can't do that?

Brian Brown said...

So what if he is a atheist? Who cares? It's his right as much as its your right to be a Christian. It's his right to be a gay man as much as its anyone's right to be straight.


Um, nobody said anything about him being Athiest.

Nobody said anything about him not having a right to be gay.

Want to guess why you're arguing against things nobody said?

sakredkow said...

He calls everyone whom he disagrees with a bigot, but other than that, he's peachy.

He tells you exactly why he thinks certain points of view are bigoted. And he makes a pretty good case whether you agree with him or not. And then people who hold those views of course say "He's calling me a bigot" and respond with a slew of epithets and disrespect.

Tough.

Brian Brown said...

Inga said...
Well Jay, if the shoe fits......


Notice how you supported the idea that Andy has never said anything personal.

Now, since that is silly bullshit, you'll justify it.

Kind of like you justify him hating Christians, but it is just those icky Christians not a good one like you>

You silly, silly woman.

test said...

Andy R. said...
For the sake of our country, ditch all those people and find some smart sane conservatives to lead your party.


A Kinsley gaffe from Andy: leftists are ruining the country but he prefers that outcome as long as we package it with driving religious believes from public life.

Brian Brown said...

phx said...

He tells you exactly why he thinks certain points of view are bigoted


He's never done any such thing.

He's not capable.

But notice you completly justify the personal attacks.

You've convinced yourself they are both not personal and justified.

You realize you're fucking stupid, right?

Brian Brown said...

phx said...

He tells you exactly why he thinks certain points of view are bigoted. And he makes a pretty good case whether you agree with him or not


That is one of the more utterly deluded comments I've ever seen on this Web site.

You've approached Ritmo territory with that utter bullshit.

chickelit said...

@phx & Inga: I don't mean to single Andy R out as unique: he's more of an archetype around here. Althouse used to have a commenter called Downtown Lad who was actually much more vile, personal, and nasty.

I'm "concerned" that Andy R will lose it one day and morph into a Downtown Lad.

sakredkow said...

phx & Inga: Jay is right that Andy R is astonishingly bigoted.

And you guys think he's bigoted. The difference is the level of disrespect and reason that people use when addressing each other. Andy's pretty decently respectful and impersonal when talking about his issues. His enemies are just the opposite. No discipline.

sakredkow said...

Althouse used to have a commenter called Downtown Lad who was actually much more vile, personal, and nasty.

Chickelit i love ya like a frenemy but you couldn't be more wrong on this one. Take an objective reread at a thread with Andy in it sometime.

chickelit said...

@phx & Inga: I'm concerned because public displays of mental imbalance are everyone's concern these days.

Rusty said...

phx said...
phx & Inga: Jay is right that Andy R is astonishingly bigoted.

And you guys think he's bigoted. The difference is the level of disrespect and reason that people use when addressing each other. Andy's pretty decently respectful and impersonal when talking about his issues. His enemies are just the opposite. No discipline.

religious right nutjobs.

Audacity and shrillness.


And that's just the tame Andy. He gets much, much more hysterical.
Which is funny considering he isn't even gay.

Seeing Red said...

Gerrymandering & the Dems are on it?


BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Is that why they want to loosen the voting laws again?

Gerrymandering happens with the census.

I can't wait to hear the Dems push for computerized districts.


Inga's dreaming again.

Known Unknown said...

It would be cool to get this thread back on track.

I have less issues with Andy than someone like Ritmo, who can always see into the hearts of men, and ascribes the worst aspirations to those he disagrees with.

I only think Andy is quick to the "bigot!" tag when there could be more of a dialogue about what Christians truly believe and why they believe it.

Anywho, I rarely watch any news on television because I don't like the format. I'd rather read my news online.



sakredkow said...

I only think Andy is quick to the "bigot!" tag when there could be more of a dialogue about what Christians truly believe and why they believe it.

There's an argument worth making.

I used to be much more of a news junkie than I am. Most mainstream online sources seem very superficial in their news coverage. I miss getting the NYTimes and WSJ. The NYT was the best place to be informed about what was going on in the world, particularly in international stories.

The Unknown Pundit said...

Whatever image problems the GOP has are well earned on their part IMO.

We all know that if Republicans had their way regarding abortion laws, women seeking abortions because of rape or incest would be deemed criminals for getting an abortion even under those circumstances, as would the abortion providers.

Some, certainly not all, pro-lifers even believe that abortions performed to save the woman’s life shouldn’t be allowed because to do so is to interfere with “God’s will”. A person that would allow a living woman to die when that she could be saved with the abortion is a despicable human being.

The GOP should be raked over the coals for their ridiculous stances and moral preening over this issue.

Then there are the Creationists in the GOP. There are socons in the GOP want the public schools to teach their creation myths as facts in science classes. It’s an embarrassment for the GOP.

Then there are those GOPers whose idea of religious freedom is to restrict the rights of those who don’t share their belief system. Basically, this type of Christian thinks that behaviors they see as wrong or sinful should be against the law, period. Peaceable actions should be crimes if the Bible prohibits it. They argue that it is a violation of their religious freedom to allow others to live beyond their idea of what is acceptable. Their moral absolutism is extremely toxic to the body politic.

Then there is the GOP’s support for that Big Government disaster commonly known as the War on Drugs. Evidently altering your mood makes Jesus cry, so that has to be against the law too.

Yes, there are elements in the GOP that scare me. And I never thought I would be saying that.

Mea culpa, I helped create this monster 35 years ago as a young Christian conservative following other evangelicals to the Republican Party. My apologies, America.

Brian Brown said...

phx said...
Take an objective reread at a thread with Andy in it sometime.


Notice that you've gone from asserting that Andy doesn't get personal, to well, he gets personal but at least he explains why he calls you a bigot.

Note: Andy does not such thing. And if he did, why don't you provide us an example?

OH. You're lying. That's why

Known Unknown said...

The NYT was the best place to be informed about what was going on in the world, particularly in international stories.

What they still do very well are human interest stories. Their Op-Ed page has poisoned their selection and coverage of national news stories far too much. Their blurring between hard news and editorial continues apace.

I'm not as familiar with their international news.

I find it unusual that some of the best coverage of U.S. news comes from across the pond in the U.K.

President-Mom-Jeans said...


"Nothing wrong with Andy R. He's young, he's exuberant, so what?"

I'm young and exuberant. I don't accuse everyone who doesn't agree with my agenda a bigot who believes in sky fairys though.

I also don't get cock shoved in my mouth or ass as a form of recreation.

I am guilty of saying mean things to the stupid, overweight, and elderly. I can live with that. You don't get AIDs from saying mean things.

Paulio said...

YoungHegelian said...
"I'm sorry, could someone please explain to me how losing a presidential election by 2 points of the popular vote is some sort of world-changing blowout?"

This made me laugh out loud. First, no one really said "world-changing blowout." Second and more humorously, Romney lost by 3.9% of the popular vote. Maybe you are trying to say "if 2% of the people switched their votes, Romney would have won" but that's not really what we mean when we say by what value someone lost, is it? The 49ers didn't lose by 1.5 points.
Third, and most humorously, NO ONE on this board corrected it because they all are still in deep deep denial about the accelerating decline of the Republican party's chances. Or they are just ignorant and don't know what actually happened in the last election. I think it's both!

sakredkow said...

I also don't get cock shoved in my mouth or ass as a form of recreation.

Yeah, now we understand where the problem lies.

President-Mom-Jeans said...

Phx gurgled:

"Yeah, now we understand where the problem lies."

Is that a problem Phx? Perhaps for you it is that I do not engage in those activities.

Is this a thinkly veiled coming out of the closet here on Althouse from you? Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Don't worry Phx, it gets better.

Penny said...

People know what happened in the last election.

They want their free stuff with no bother about who picks up the tab.

Funny thing how much this kind of thinking aligns with our current views about the internet too.

FREEDUMB!

sakredkow said...

Is this a thinkly veiled coming out of the closet here on Althouse from you?

Oh, hell. There's nothing "thinkly" veiled about it. Everyone here knows I'm gay.

The Unknown Pundit said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Unknown Pundit said...

This would seem to be on topic here, Congressman Paul Broun (R) Georgia, is filing papers to run for the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Saxby Chambliss.

Here is Rep. Broun's comments from last year made at Liberty Baptist Church Sportsman’s Banquet in September of 2012.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/10/rep-paul-broun-r-ga-evolution-big-bang-lies-straight-from-the-pit-of-hell.php

This man wants to be a U.S. Senator.

Yes GOP, you have an image problem because of people like Paul Broun.

Get it?

Probably not.

Bilwick said...

"Loud," "partisan," "scary"--translation: "too pro-liberty." These people want a nice, polite, deferential, "me-too" GOP that poses no threat to the Plantation. A GOP, in other words, made up of "Uncle Daves" (Brooks, Frum) and not those uppity tax-serfs who don't know their place.

Bilwick said...

"Loud," "partisan," "scary"--translation: "too pro-liberty." These people want a nice, polite, deferential, "me-too" GOP that poses no threat to the Plantation. A GOP, in other words, made up of "Uncle Daves" (Brooks, Frum) and not those uppity tax-serfs who don't know their place.

President-Mom-Jeans said...

Well apparently not everyone, that is news to me.

Congratulations on your fabulousness. That does make your apologia for Andy's sky fairy comments make a bit more sense.

No less incorrect however, but making more sense.

Aridog said...

... a RINO from Massachusetts...

Massachusetts will elect a pet rock, as they just did with the latest Cherokee Princess....and have done countless times in the past. Even a RINO would be an improvement.

sakredkow said...

I'm curious what you thought of Romney, aridog?

furious_a said...

phx: Everyone here knows I'm gay.

Rusty: And that's just the tame Andy....Which is funny considering he isn't even gay.

Wait...I'm confused.

sakredkow said...

Shhh. I was putting PresidentMomJeans on.

Aridog said...

phx ....Good question.

I saw Romney as a man of character, however I did suspect his tendency to be like Michigan Republicans pre-governor Snyder (jury still out on him), in particular former Michigan Governor William Milliken. His stint as Mass. Gov. implied that. If Milliken were younger he would be the pride and joy of the Obama administration...the man loved taxes, and raised and created more taxes than anyone in Michigan history, and did more to ruin the state, than anyone before or after him. To give you a measure of my distaste for Milliken: I was nearly arrested by his security detail for calling him a "fucking tax freak" when remarking about him at my table, adjacent to his, at a Detroit Institute of Arts shindig. Not being armed, at the time, kept me out of trouble.

So yes, I was concerned that Romney might be like Milliken, whom I equate with Obama, and I'm pretty sure I said so here and elsewhere. However, when the election time arrived I had no choice...vote for a guy who might be like Milliken or Obama, or vote for Obama and be certain of it.

PS: Obama and Milliken (a registered Michigan Republican) have some things in common, like their affection for lying traitor sniveling bitch boy John Kerry. Milliken formally endorsed Kerry in 2004 and Obama just appointed Kerry Secretary of State.

There is very little I like about either party these days....they are more alike than different. I'm socially liberal in the original Lockean sense and fiscally conservative to a considerable degree. I've been both a fed and military and nothing I observed there dissuades my disgust in the senior leadership across the board.

My new test: as the military is cut back, lets see how many flag rank (generals & admirals) get cut & sent home in retirement? We have 800+ military flag ranks on hand now...doing the work of approx 300.

A few thousand "feds" have already been furloughed (pink slipped)...wonder how many Senior Executive Service (SES) honchos were sent packing? My guess is none, zero,nada. I don't want to know, really, as it will only piss me off further.