Fuck you, Savage, Hannity, and Boortz. Shut the fuck up, will ya?

[civildisoBDence]

For links, this is cross-posted at http://newsprism.wordpress.com/">NewsprismBlog

I've tangled with Hannity and Boortz about a dozen times on air, and both are dishonest, mean-spirited assholes. Hannity called my website a "drug website" even though he'd never seen it and knew only one thing about me: I support legalization of pot. Boortz called me a "jerk" and questioned my intellect...after hanging up on me before I could accept his challenge to prove that FoxNews has a *gasp* conservative bias. So here goes:

SHUT UP and TALK (RADIO)

Laura Ingraham's book Shut Up and Sing: How Elites in Hollywood, Politics and the UN Are Subverting America makes the case that liberals in the cultural elite (singers, actors, authors, filmmakers) are in cahoots with the political elite (appointed judges, ambassadors, legislators) in subverting traditional, conservative American values and beliefs. I can't argue with her premise; conservatism has been under particularly vicious attack at least since scurrilous lies were aimed at Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election.*

I do take exception with one of the beautiful Ms. Ingraham's central points, however: that those cultural elites should have less of a voice in our political discourse. What makes the opinions of a talk radio host any more legitimate than those of a singer or actor?

Laura, #4 in the talk radio ratings, is one of the best of the right wing radio hosts---smart, funny, informed, and principled. I'd say the same things about Bill O'Reilly. (I've already opined aplenty on the #1-rated Godfather of talk radio, Rush Limbaugh, both the good and the bad.) But there are others whose on-air behavior truly deserves the admonition to "Shut Up."

Michael Savage, #3 in the talk radio ratings behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, is an unrepentent bigot, for example. His hatred for homosexuals and Muslims is palpable, as is his disdain for liberalism, which he calls "a mental disorder" (audio). Ironically, this attack on the mental health of liberals parallels the same attack made against Barry Goldwater in '64.

I'd be surprised if his homophobia and xenophobia haven't encouraged, if not caused, violence somewhere along the way. Dr. Savage (he has a PhD in nutrition from, of all places, Cal Berkeley!) should just Shut Up.

Then there's Hannity, who's #2 in the talk ratings. His most recent book, Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism and Liberalism, literally lumps liberals in with terrorists and despots. That's Hannity's schtick on TV and the radio as well: self righteous hyperbole without one iota of nuance or decency. No reasonable observer of the American political scene should countenance such sanctimony.

When Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks told a concert audience that she was "ashamed" that like her, President Bush is from Texas, Hannity launched a months-long attack on the group. He advocated boycotts against them by consumers and radio stations alike. Without a doubt, Hannity did everything in his power to damage the Chicks' career.

But four years later, rocker Ted Nugent held up two assault rifles at a concert and told Barack Obama to "suck on" one and Hillary Clinton to "ride" the other---two very violent and sexually repugnant innuendos. Nugent also called Obama a "piece of shit" and Clinton a "worthless bitch." Now I honor Nugent's right to express himself, but his actions went way, way beyond Ms. Maines's simple statement of shame.

Pressed to condemn Nugent on air, Hannity bluntly refused...this despite the fact that he's repeatedly said that various liberals are guilty of "hate speech." That kind of brazenly partisan hypocrisy doesn't deserve to be taken seriously.

Bill Moyers once labelled Hannity as "vile," prompting Hannity to challenge the septuagenarian ordained minister to "say it to my face." Sean Hannity is a bully who should should really just Shut Up.

And then there's the lesser known, but more rabid, Neal Boortz. Boortz so angered Bill O'Reilly that the usually even-tempered Bill used his O'Reilly Factor to call Boortz a "vicious SOB."

But that's Boortz's modus operandi: to anger people with outrageous statements that pollute discourse but increase ratings. When a US airstrike tragically targeted an Iraqi wedding, killing 40 innocents including women and children, Boortz joked about "40 funerals and a wedding." When an American fighter pilot accidentally clipped the cable to an Italian ski lift, killing 20 skiers in a horrific plunge to the ground, Boortz joked about the pilot's skill at making "lasagna."

And when 13-year-old aspiring professional surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm in a shark attack in Hawaii, Boortz attacked her mercilessly. He called the girl "stupid" and "inarticulate," joked about her arm being "shark food," and laughed at the fact that she'd never be a secretary. What an ass---savaging an adolescent girl after such a tragedy.

Neal, you should really, really, Shut the Fuck Up.

Our democracy thrives when media proliferate and citizens express their views. But the hateful, mean-spirited rhetoric of Savage, Hannity and Boortz doesn't serve the nation---it only serves their bank accounts.

When arrogance and greed subvert democracy, we all lose.

http://www.newsprism.com">Newsprism

*Further reading: Conservatives Without Conscience by John Dean; The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater

[Peregrine Took]

1. For some odd psychological reason vile, vicious, hate comes across very

well on the radio. When you peer at their fat pusses, it doesn't work so well.

[civildisoBDence]

2. Great screen name. Have you noticed how Hannity keeps his brow furrowed

as if he's some kind of visionary peering into the eyes of God? What a poseur.

(He's peering into a holy orifice, alright.)

http://newsprism.wordpress.com">Newsprism

[sharp_stick]

4. Oh Bang On

I absolutely can't stand the look of that prick, I was trying to figure out a way to describe it and you hit it.

I don't know why but he bothers me more than any of the rest. I think it may be that look of his, I just want to smack it off his face every damned time I see him.

[jmg257]

3. I am pro-gun, and Nugent should SHUT THE FUCK UP. That was totally assanine

and anyone who feels so...casual about the violent images he intoned should NOT have guns.

[civildisoBDence]

6. Something tells me he drives a HUGE SUV, too

It's called "compensation."

[Johonny]

5. subverting traditional, conservative American values and beliefs

My family has tradition, liberal American value and beliefs many of which can be traced back to the founding fathers. American values are not traditionally conservative, thus she has not point to make. Her whole argument is based on a false strawman.

[pegleg]

7. The Democrats had their chance to change the radio landscape

by supporting a new revised FAIRNESS DOCTRINE which is desparately needed - and they refused to support it. I really find it hard to listen to them complaining about talk radio anymore.

[civildisoBDence]

8. It would have taken a lot more than that...

just look at how pathetic AirAmerica has been.

http://newsprism.wordpress.com">Newsprism

[pegleg]

14. There isn't one thing RW announcers fear more than the Fairness Doctrine

[walldude]

9. "Conservatism has been under particularly vicious attack"

Gee I can't imagine why. Maybe it's because greed, selfishness, apathy, narcissism, and a general feeling of being superior to people who are of a different race, religion or nationality aren't values that the American people want to hold dear. Maybe if fucking conservatives develop a bit of a heart and a modicum of humanity they might not find themselves under attack. I have never seen a bigger group of "whining victims" than the conservatives. They have been in control for 8 years, they have fucked up everything they touched, yet they still think they are victims.

Laura Ingram is smart, funny, informed, and principled? I guess we are all entitled to our opinions. Here's some of Laura's:

On liberal “elites”: “Terrorists, and their facilitators and friends, aren’t jealous at all. Like our own self-hating elites, they genuinely detest democracy and the principles enshrined in the constitution.” (Shut Up and Sing, p. 73)

More on liberal “elites”: “Elites are … fundamentally anti-American.” (Shut Up and Sing, p. 74)

More on Elites: They "live in palaces invisible from the road outside, and fly in private jets, while their managers and assistants tell them only what they want to hear." (Shut Up and Sing, p. 17)


It sure does take a genius to come up with the conclusion that liberals hate America, they are a terrorists friend and facilitator and they detest Democracy and the principles enshrined in the constitution Yep, have to agree with you, that is one smart principled woman there. :eyes:

[civildisoBDence]

11. I'd say the viciousness has been back and forth at least since '68

That's when the counterculture really took hold and merged, at least in the public mind, with the civil rights, women's rights, and ecology movements.

It's been all downhill since then.

I'd also make a distinction between the Western, Goldwater conservatives (free markets, individualism, pretty much what the Founders believed) and the social conservatives (intolerant fundies) and the neocons (Satan's minions, the Frat Boy from Hell.) The Goldwater types--like William F Buckley--are a pretty open minded bunch.

I know that some won't allow the least bit of respect to be shown to ANY conservative...but that's their promlem, not mine.

Will you at least admit that Ingraham is beautiful???

http://newsprism.wordpress.com">NewsprismBlog

[walldude]

13. No I won't "admit she's beautiful" all I see when I look at her

is an ugly hateful person. Same thing when I look at Ann Coulter. And yes there are Republicans who deserve respect and to be treated decently, but they are few and far between.

[alarimer]

15. I bet she is one of thos elites living in palaces

how much money does SHE make anyway? Fucking hypocrite.

[mikelewis]

10. Please... don't panic... I'm here to help you... Calmly, slowly, turn your radio off...

... Sit in silence for a little while... listen to the sound of the wind whistling outside... hear the whirring of the cars out the window... listen for the sounds of real people...

Stop... don't reach for that dial... come on now... just put it down... and back away.

When you grace these bloated pigs with your presence, you are in essence listening to demons and your mind is entirely too precious to waste on the prattling's of devils. Honestly, there have always been these sorts of parasites... their existence depends on feeding hatred like blood-starved vampires. Nothing they say and nothing they do is going to bring any goodness into your life... turn them off and turn away. Let those who hate, follow hate... you should find a different path...

Here are some options...

First find your local NPR station and listen to Diane Rheem in the mornings and Ira Plato in the afternoons for your truly balanced political discussions... they do have a balance approach and at least try to give a fair hearing on all the issues of our day. I thoroughly enjoy hearing them discuss all the important issues with out resorting to hate-filled rhetoric and ignorant political maneuvers.

If NPR isn't your thing... and you have a MP3 player (or can purchase a cheap one with about 1 GB of storage) then you can get some books on tape and figure out a way to play this through your car speakers... In my car I use a cassete tape adapter ($10) and a cheap ($60 1 GB) Mp3 player and I listen to books on tape while driving and working. www.theaudiobookstore.com is a great place but there are others... I usually buy mine from half-priced books and convert them to file...


These are just two alternatives to listening to hate spewing shock jocks. Who cares what bile they belch forth... this is America where they have the Freedom to say what they like and thank God we have the Freedom to not have to listen to them. Don't listen to them... don't let them grate at your soul like a zombie clawing on a coffin door. I despise them and can't stand to hear them but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I also cannot change them... nothing I do or say will ever change them... so the only thing we can do is change what we do and hope for the best. Fill your mind with Tolstoy and Emerson... With Shakespeare and Descartes... with Art and history and peoples and places and things of beauty instead of all that hate... listening to hate makes you hate... and it does no one any good to be filled with that vile liquid. Spit them out and turn away from the dark side of our human nature... it does you and all those around you absolutely no good to drink them in.

[civildisoBDence]

12. Thank you for caring, but...

I like to sit with my laptop in my lap, MSNBC on the TV, and the radio playing in the background, no matter who is on. Call it mediaholism.

NPR is great, but it puts me to sleep.