Just thought I’d flag Andrew Kaduk’s nice take down of Sean Hannity. Apparently Sean is engaging in a bit of a double standard in his rhetoric. Listening to “the People” in opposing the immigration bill = good. Putting one’s finger to the wind and paying attention to opinion polls = bad. Hannity is a blowhard. Who knew?
Andrew has some great imagery here:
I was enjoying the sunshine and the breeze on my way home, and barely noticed (at first) that Sean Hannity was chirping away in the background over the noise of the wind humming through the open windows. Normally I would just change the station, if for no other reason than the fact that it’s difficult to drive with one hand while physically fighting vomit back into my mouth with the other…and Hannity has that effect on me. Frankly, my tolerance for partisan asswipery has grown rather thin in the last year…and Mr. Hannity certainly falls in the overall category of “Partisan Asswipe” with plenty of elbow room.
Notwithstanding the fact that some might put yours truly into the partisan asswipe category, I’ve found that I don’t have so much time for that kind of radio anymore either. For a long time in the distant past, I would routinely listen to Rush Limbaugh or other talk radio blowhards, either to love them or to hate them. Then, more recently, particularly when the Democrats were completely in the wilderness, I would listen to Air America or Ed Schultz. For whatever reason over the past year or so, I have not listened to much of any of these people. My preferences these days go more toward the Bob Edwards Show or various programs on NPR. I don’t know if it’s a sign of aging or what, but I can’t work up as much energy to be an outrage junkie these days. Perhaps with a bit more coffee . . .
It’s the kids. The kids make us tired.
It’s heartening to read someone else who is also nauseated by Hannity,and who can draw a verbal picture in such colorful prose.Hannity is one of these culture apologists who divides us into ‘moral people’ and ‘liberals’,and then explains who belongs in each group. Hannity has been a mentor to many, many people. After listening to his moral diatribes people can comfortably come away hating those who ‘deserve it’.They knew they hated these people in the first place,and that they suspected they were the cause of so many bad things, and now they know they’re right for sure.
Someone who drives a great deal ( as I do)finds this kind of chat framework all over the AM dial in copy cat local stations.It’s almost enough to push a person to subscribe to satellite radio.It’s the framework of grassroots support for the Bush administration and why so much is so slow to come to light in people’s minds. It’s a culture thing and either you’re on the right side or the wrong side..
I hope we some day get back to discussing issues( like the Immigration Bill) without characterizing and categorizing the people.My favorite TV interviewer is Charlie Rose and I always listened to Milton Rosenberg ( who is still on WGN radio)and NPR is still on the FM dial everywhere with Diane Reems(sp?)who is a fantastic interviewer of the issues of the day.
You’ll never go broke making people feel good about disliking people. Hannity probably has a bright future.
Doug –
Sadly true – it’s easier to get people to hate, than it is to get them to love.
So, Hannity has a show and a following – how do we get him to be a consistent force for good?
Air America would never take part in making people hate would they??My friends,family,and neighbors are part of hundreds of thousands of americans emailing,faxing,and phoning to fight this immigration bill which was crafted in secret out of the committee process by 12 Senators,LARAZA,Corporate America,Homeland Security Chief Chertoff,and commerce Secretary Gutierez.
Senator Jeff Sessions a attorney himself has a excellent post on his homepage showing the twenty gaping loop holes in this crap bill.If this thing eeks out of the Senate we will make our fight in the House where Pelosi says she needs 60-70 Republican votes.Which no one thinks she can possibly get.Our congressman Brad Ellsworth(D) has sent e newsletters,direct mail letters and published two articles on this issue saying he will NEVER vote for this junkl bill.The Blue Dog Democrats just elected will never support this legislation.
Of course we are all just a vocal minority according to the national media.Actually we are people who know what’s in the bill not just what Chertoff,bush,and Tony Snow spin on TV.
The word is now Lott and Mitch Mcconel are trying to twist enough arms to get this thing past.Do not forget also 12 Democrats and a Independent voted against cloture last Thursday night.If this group wants the trust opf the american people build the promised 800 miles of double layered fence,put all the security measures in place wait two years and prove that it has stopped the flow and then grant the amnesty.
The reason this will not be done is because the whole purpose of this bill is to grant a amnesty and pass a guest worker program which for now is sunset after 5 years a amendment the GRAND BARGAINERS are working to get around so the program will be permanent and that’s it.The security will never come.The guest worker program of 200,000 a year every year will become the next illegal immigrants because they most certainly will overstay their work visas.
The national media have a coming event to gush all over the “DREAM ACROSS AMERICA” tour kicks off today hauling legal immigrants in 8 trains to D.C. making stops along the way in various cities.These people say they have no position on the bill but will testify before Congress.I do not suppose people who are victims of crimes the illegals commit will have the same opportunity or the people’s businesses who have been hurt by companies hiring illegals and undercutting them will get to speak either.Nah!
In Daviess county KY this week their was a murder committed by illegal aliens.One has been arrested the other is still on the loose.If the case has to be prosecuted there it will cost the county.Local communities all over the country are in effect subsidizing Mexico’s poverty and inability to take care of it’s citizens.To the businesses hiring them ask them if they are willing to pick up the social costs incurred by saving a few bucks a hour on labor for their illegal immigrants.
Cal Thomas in his column last week asked does this country belong to it’s legal citizens or the illegal immigrants?I am begining to wonder.
If people do not like my position on this issue fine.This is the majority opinion in my community and I dare say my state,ofcourse despite being hammered with emails and calls our two Senators vote the amnesty line.Bayh who I have voted for for Governor and Senator emailed me he would NEVER vote for a bill with a guest worker program.He is a liar.He did just that by voting for cloture last Thursday night in which case he would have voted for this junk bill.