Bush and the Stars

[bfp]

Bush and the Stars
By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com
Thursday, Dec 04, 2003

You may have heard that some Hollywood types are organizing to unseat President Bush next year. "So what," you say. "What can these people really do?"

Well, they've got money, number one. Far-left billionaire George Soros has pledged ten million to a group called "America Coming Together" which is recruiting celebrities like Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Rob Reiner, and Mike Farrell to spread the anti-Bush word.

But money is not really the issue here... access is. Here's what's going on.

Right now, only about half of the voting age population in America actually votes. And for Americans under the age of 30, the percentage is far less than that. The anti-Bush forces believe if they can reach young Americans, they can boot the President out. But the only way to connect with many of those people is through entertainment vehicles. And that's where the celebrities come in.

Increasingly, singers like Bruce Springsteen and the Dixie Chicks, to name just four, are using their venues to talk up liberal politics. So are other performers like Sean Penn, George Clooney and Susan Sarandon. While promoting their films, they drop anti-Bush grenades that millions of people hear. The message is getting stronger and louder: Bush is a menace.

This strategy will become even more organized and intense in the coming campaign year. The danger for Republicans is that only the anti-Bush side will be heard as many entertainment venues do not actively seek political balance. Let's take a look at the landscape.


∙Jay Leno is a fair guy and books people on all sides of the political spectrum so there's no problem here.


∙David Letterman is a different story. Since Labor Day, for example, his guest list has included far more liberal thinkers than right-leaning people. The anti-Bush people will have support on this program.


∙The network morning programs are hosted by people who are primarily socially liberal, but these shows do present a wide variety of guests. However, conservatives are usually challenged harder, and celebrities are mostly given soft treatment. The democrats have an advantage in the morning.


∙The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is a liberal funhouse, but right-wingers with a sense of humor are welcome, so this venue is a political wash.


∙Oprah wields enormous power, but does not get involved with partisan politics much. However, she will allow celebrities almost free reign. Advantage: Hollywood liberals.


∙The View ladies take a decidedly liberal approach to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but they are not exclusionary. You can get a contrarian point across on the program, but you'd better be quick.


∙The late night gabfests like Conan O'Brien play to their young viewership which means the mean, old Republicans don't have a chance there.

So if liberal entertainment people really invest some time and effort, it might be bad news for President Bush. We are living in a time where perception is reality, and impressions are formed from rank propaganda and outright deception. A flood of anti-Bush celebrities on the chat shows could help the Democratic candidate bigtime, and the GOP really has no answer. Can you imagine Dick Cheney dishing with Star Jones?

The left-wing sharpies see an electoral potential in the young vote and they believe they've found a way to tap into it. Seven hundred votes decided the last presidential election. This time Letterman is good for at least that.

[Ryan]

What the hell is he bitching about? I would be willing to bet that his show has higher ratings than most of the ones he listed. How unbelievably hypocritical of O'Reilly. Does he actually consider himself to be something more than an "entertainer?" The effect that Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Drudge, Savage, Reagan, Boortz, Hannity, and the rest of the hardline right-wingers in "entertainment" have had on the American political scene is far greater than the dumbasses like Streisand have had. Noone is voting for a candidate because the freakin' Dixie Chicks tell them to, but you'd be hard-stretched to say the same about head-Rush Limbaugh. Give me a break, O'Reilly!

[Adam D]

Somewhere, a single sorrowful violin plays for the Republicans, with their money, their Fox News, and their conservative radio networks.

[Ryan]

Who do you all honestly think would have the advantage if all celebrities, including the ones with their own talkshows, kept their mouths shut? I would gladly duct tape Sean Penn's mouth if Rush Limbaugh would leave the airwaves in return.

[USAcommitteeX]

Somewhere, a single sorrowful violin plays for the Republicans, with their money, their Fox News, and their conservative radio networks.

Liberals don't have shows because no one wants to hear them or their nonsense. Sean Hannity needs to give ol Alan the boot he is to boring.

[Ryan]

Originally posted by USAcommitteeX
Liberals don't have shows because no one wants to hear them or their nonsense. Sean Hannity needs to give ol Alan the boot he is to boring.

Then why do you all bitch incessantly about the non-existent "liberal bias" in the media? I think you're angry that non-conservatives even have the right to express their views in public.

[bfp]

Originally posted by Ryan
Then why do you all bitch incessantly about the non-existent "liberal bias" in the media? I think you're angry that non-conservatives even have the right to express their views in public.

The huge majority of people that listens to AM radio are staunchly conservative. There have been many Liberal Radio Hosts that have come to radio, and all of them have failed. It's a supply-demand issue. The majority of people that watch Television on a daily basis are spoon-fed shit they have no idea whats going on. And the huge majority of the time, they give only leftist views as if it's the Salvation to American Freedom. I will give you one example out of many. Katie Couric had a hardline left-wing maniac who had just written a Defamatory book about the president on her show. And some of the remarks she made were unbelievable. Telling the guy "good luck" with his venture to convince the American people with his radical hatred towards the President. This crap happens every day on all of the shows forementioned. Giving people like Janine Garafalo air time to bash the president, with no one on the other side to debate her. And in the end with the Host interviewing her agreeing with her banter, they seem as if it's the right thing to do.

[Ryan]

Originally posted by bfp
The huge majority of people that listens to AM radio are staunchly conservative. It's a supply-demand issue. The majority of people that watch Television on a daily basis are spoon-fed shit they have no idea whats going on. And the majority of the time, they give only leftist views as if it's the Salvation to American Freedom. I will give you one example out of many. Katie Couric had a hardline left-wing maniac who had just written a Defamatory book about the president on her show. And some of the remarks she made were unbelievable. Telling the guy "good luck" with his venture to convince the American people with his radical hatred towards the President. This crap happens every day on all of the shows forementioned. Giving people like Janine Garafalo air time to bash the president, with no one on the other side to debate her.

How do you figure a "huge majority of people who listen to AM radio are staunchly conservative?" I huge majority of what people hear on the radio is staunchly conservative, but I hardly believe the former to be true. Again, you're implying that the leftist subtleties of Katie Couric are commensurate with the direct and intentional bombardment from the right from people like Limbaugh when it comes to shaping public opinion. First off, I don't believe for one minute that this is true. Secondly, I'd be willing to bet that a "huge majority" of the people who form their opinions from Katie Couric, the Dixie Chicks, or George Clooney are the same people who stay home on voting day.

By the way, when was the last time you heard Limbaugh actually "debate" someone - anyone - without hanging up on them?

[bfp]

How do you figure a "huge majority of people who listen to AM radio are staunchly conservative?" I huge majority of what people hear on the radio is staunchly conservative, but I hardly believe the former to be true. Again, you're implying that the leftist subtleties of Katie Couric are commensurate with the direct and intentional bombardment from the right from people like Limbaugh when it comes to shaping public opinion. First off, I don't believe for one minute that this is true. Secondly, I'd be willing to bet that a "huge majority" of the people who form their opinions from Katie Couric, the Dixie Chicks, or George Clooney are the same people who stay home on voting day.

By the way, when was the last time you heard Limbaugh actually "debate" someone - anyone - without hanging up on them?

For the times that I do listen to Limbaugh, he does let them make fools out of themselves. He does try to debate. Whether or not they are screened, who knows? But if you want to talk about debating being screened, Clinton had a gig on 60 minutes before it was cancelled, and Limbaugh was the original host to debate him, and HE demanded that Bob Dole(who can't debate to save his life) take his place because he knew Limbaugh would tear him to shreds. But let's compare the people that "arent" conservative that listen to Limbaugh, etc.(which is a minute number), to the number of people that watch the morning & evening programs. The numbers can't even compare! And if you want to compare the people that watch and listen to ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, CNN, etc. compared to (Fox cable), then give it a run, the numbers can't compare there either.

[Ryan]

Originally posted by bfp
For the times that I do listen to Limbaugh, he does let them make fools out of themselves. He does try to debate. Whether or not they are screened, who knows? But if you want to talk about debating being screened, Clinton had a gig on 60 minutes before it was cancelled, and Limbaugh was the original host to debate him, and HE demanded that Bob Dole(who can't debate to save his life) take his place because he knew Limbaugh would tear him to shreds. But let's compare the people that "arent" conservative that listen to Limbaugh, etc.(which is a minute number), to the number of people that watch the morning & evening programs. The numbers can't even compare! And if you want to compare the people that watch and listen to ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, CNN, etc. compared to (Fox cable), then give it a run, the numbers can't compare there either.

1) You keep bringing up "numbers" but you have yet to actually show us any. What "numbers" are you speaking of? Do you have actual ratings to back this up?

2) I asked you a few weeks ago to show me a single article from any major network that showed a blatant liberal bias. Neither you nor any of the other conservatives on here were able to do so. If you all are so victimized by this "liberal bias," show us some actual proof.

3) Limbaugh was bragging on his show the other day that he has tens of thousands of new listeners every month and that most of them claim to be moderates and curious liberals. If you think he's not reaching the general public in a massive way, I think you're dead wrong.

[bfp]

Originally posted by Ryan
1) You keep bringing up "numbers" but you have yet to actually show us any. What "numbers" are you speaking of? Do you have actual ratings to back this up?

2) I asked you a few weeks ago to show me a single article from any major network that showed a blatant liberal bias. Neither you nor any of the other conservatives on here were able to do so. If you all are so victimized by this "liberal bias," show us some actual proof.

3) Limbaugh was bragging on his show the other day that he has tens of thousands of new listeners every month and that most of them claim to be moderates and curious liberals. If you think he's not reaching the general public in a massive way, I think you're dead wrong.

Come on Ryan, can you sit there and tell me that the number of Limbaugh listeners actually outnumber the numbers of Television viewers of these leftist program hosts?

About proof, I just gave you some events that happened recently, listed above. If you claim to listen to Limbaugh sometimes, he is always talking about it. Surely you have heard detailed reports on left-leaning reports released to the public.

[Big Andy]

So what exactly is the point here? Rich celebrities speaking out against an administration they disagree with is wrong or un-fair in some way?

Welcome to the United States.

I used to watch Limbaugh's show when I was in elementary school. Then I graduated to cartoons. As long as he's on the air, I don't think any of you conservative rednecks have anything to complain about just because some movie stars are excersizing their first ammendment rights.

And I totally agree with you, Ryan. The pot heads that like to laugh at Conan O'brien aren't the people that will vote Dubya out of office just because Mr. T and Natalie Maines told em to!

[Big Andy]

Originally posted by bfp
Come on Ryan, can you sit there and tell me that the number of Limbaugh listeners actually outnumber the numbers of Television viewers of these leftist program hosts?

So the public is being brainwashed into thinking that leftist views are right because these talk show hosts are "leftists"??

Gimme a break, the people that are actually gonna get up and vote in November either A) will educate themselves using the news sources they deem appropriate, or B) just truck on down the voting booth to show their redneck support for that good ole boy Dubya!

Maybe if these movie stars figure out a way to actually get my lazy ass generation out to the voting booth, then they can have an effect on the outcome, but that will be difficult.

I think the republicans are lucking out on the democrat candidate process so far though. I personally don't like Dean, and I would bet money that's who it's gonna be. I'd rather have him over Bush, but I still don't like him. I think Bush would have better chances at defeating Dean than he would a more charismatic guy. But we'll see.

[bfp]

Plus, If you were to vote for Howard Dean, Ryan, this is the type of mentality that you are wanting to run your country:


Chris Matthews: ``Would you break up Fox?''

Howard Dean: ``On ideological grounds, absolutely yes, but ... I don't want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not. ... What I'm going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one.''



The control of media, radio, etc.

[Big Andy]

Originally posted by bfp
Plus, If you were to vote for Howard Dean, Ryan, this is the type of mentality that you are wanting to run your country:


Chris Matthews: ``Would you break up Fox?''

Howard Dean: ``On ideological grounds, absolutely yes, but ... I don't want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not. ... What I'm going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one.''



The control of media, radio, etc.

Yeah, Dean sucks.

But I think he would definately be the lesser of 2 evils. That's all fuckin elections seem to have been in recent history. Nobody worth a damn, just pick whoever doesn't suck as much as the other.

When the rash of shitty candidates end? We should just make em all split it. Give em each one vote, majority rules on all their decisions. Shit, you think government is slow now, good thing it's not like that! lol