Fogbow

Interesting, maybe?

John Thomas8 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 5:35 pm Interesting, maybe?

Didn't watch it all, since it's way past my bedtime, but as a current employee of Big Diplomacy, I thoroughly enjoyed the 2/3 of it (30 minutes or so?) I did watch. And will watch the rest tomorrow.

I liked the way the two, even in disagreeing, remained respectful and diplomatic, and where they agreed, it was very firm. Likewise with how the agreed or disagreed with Stewart as the host. It was a true discussion, and the kind of thing Stewart was begging for as far back as the first time he smacked Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala upside the head for Crossfire.

That's what I want from political discourse.

It’s how it largely usta be, too also. At least in my memory.

Phoenix520 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 11:04 pm It’s how it largely usta be, too also. At least in my memory.

It's my impression it started to die about the same time the "24 hour news cycle" started.

Now that you mention it…

... and, I hate to say it, but ESPN has some effect. I thought it was great. I was a total sports addict. In the early days, you could watch replays of the greatest games in history. It was so cool. Sports all day! During the week!

But it meant the quote unquote "news" channels had to do stuff to compete, like the Fox News blonde bimbo lineup. And the 24/7 instillation of fear. That'll get some eyeballs on the tube flat screen.

I have set aside some time to watch this, but I suspect it will depress me some.

Phoenix520 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 11:04 pm It’s how it largely usta be, too also. At least in my memory.

It's the natural effect of the QOP spending the last half century teaching their base, that Dems are not the opposition party whose ideas we disagree with, but they are still our countrymen...but they are the enemies of the US...

Marry that with fundie christianity....

Frater I*I wrote: ↑Sun Nov 20, 2022 12:03 pm

Phoenix520 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 11:04 pm It’s how it largely usta be, too also. At least in my memory.

It's the natural effect of the QOP spending the last half century teaching their base, that Dems are not the opposition party whose ideas we disagree with, but they are still our countrymen...but they are the enemies of the US...

Marry that with fundie christianity....

Goldwater warned us about that.

I have felt for a long time that the divisiveness in our political discourse is caused by several things. The following list is not in any particular order.

1. The 24 hour cable news networks. Even when there is no news, they have air time to fill, so they put up opinion shows, masquerading as news shows. Remember, Roger Ailes pitched the idea of creating a Republican news network to then-president Richard Nixon. The only reason it didn't happen was that cable TV had not yet reached critical mass. The left-leaning channels (such as MSNBC) are guilty of this, as well.

2. Primary elections. Primaries were not the norm until a couple of generations ago. In primaries, the R's have to run to the extreme right to win the nomination. D's have to run to the left. Then in the general election and when it comes time to actually govern, it is impossible for them to return to the center, where compromise and progress is possible. I firmly believe that we got better candidates and therefore better government from smoke-filled rooms.

3. Rating news shows. Walter Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkely, Eric Severeid and other newsmen (and newswomen) of the era did not worry about ratings. Neilsen did not compile and publish ratings for news shows. Now, news shows must compete for advertising dollars on the same basis (ratings) as the entertainment shows.

4. The internet. I am a retired IT professional, but I am coming to believe that, on balance, the internet is not a benefit. Yes, there are many good things, but it has allowed the crazies to find a national voice that they did not have before.

The lack of civility in politics has been brewing for a long time, but I think that it really took hold with Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution".

Makes me think maybe the Ukrainian people were right to elect a comedian.

Danraft wrote: ↑Sun Nov 20, 2022 2:50 pm Makes me think maybe the Ukrainian people were right to elect a comedian.

We could do worse than Al Franken.

IIRC, Ted Turner regretted ever starting CNN.