Would you be happy if liberals had a "Rush Limbaugh-type" talkshow host?

[kentuck]

Personally I would not. I think these propagandists are very bad for our traditional free speech norms. ALthough they argue exactly the reverse - that it is free speech at its best - I disagree.

We can see how it is used for propaganda. There are no opposing viewpoints allowed. Dishonest and untrue statements are permitted to carry over our airwaves without a response. Some of our more naive citizens are tempted to believe every word they hear from these propagandists. And political Parties do not hesitate to use the propaganda to their advantage.

And when we permit one person to proselytize about political events and political personalities, it cannot be considered "free speech" as we traditionally recognize it. Only when there is the opportunity to offer an opposing viewpoint, is there "free speech" as we know it. As the "Limbaugh-types" use it, it is nothing but pure propaganda.

[George_Bonanza]

1. I agree, I hate propaganda by either side

Left propaganda is just as bad as right (as in wing) propaganda. History has taught us that both sides are liable to go off the deep end when given too much power. It would only be sinking to the rotten conservatives (not that all conservatives are bad) level. Then the Republicans would be able to accuse the Democrats of being hypocritical if we cry foul against their demogogues because we'd have our own that twist and foul up their words.

[mbee]

6. I like NPR because they cover every subject under the sun. Most of

the program hosts are Left/Moderate leaning except Talk of the Nation. They usually invite all sides of a debate to participate and their programming is not based on bashing and gossip. Right wing talk just isn't very educational. It's mostly based on personal attacks against human beings (mostly left leaning human beings) which is a total waste of time and requires no brain power.

[Sephirstein]

26. Agreed...

According to left-wing propaganda, Taiwan is a neo-Nazi grat Satan.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

28. Whenever someone from 'our side'

is on one of those spin shows and is just using the same tactics it makes me sick. But unfortunately the game is rigged and it's formatted in such a way that there's no other way to be heard, so no real discussion of ideas is possible. Now with the giant field of candidates we have, the media is able to format our debates that way as well. I think we desperately need some candidates to drop out or they will have sabotaged all of our candidates before the first vote is ever cast.

[Dr Fate]

2. I would rather see more "Mike Malloy" style talk shows...

a principled Liberal who gives his sources, and admits it if he gets a story wrong...

[candy331]

23. I woul like to see

a news forum/talk show that strictly reports the news/facts with no interpretations and the references listed to do searches of the material presented.. This could be called "Get the facts you Decide." The dumbing down of America is I think largely because of TV so this would be good, although I think people would have to have a lot more incentive to tune in because let's face it negative things grab attention. But I do think there is a big need for such.

[papau]

24. I agree- a liar like Rush as a spokesperson would stop me from being a Dem

I do not need two parties that lie.

[MODemocrat]

27. I'm proud of Mike Malloy

but I would not be happy with a Limbaugh counterpart. What's the purpose of all the propaganda anyway? I have never liked lies and induendo. There is some liberal radio out there, but Malloy has the fire it takes to make people sit up and take notice. :shrug:

[AP]

3. Actually, that guy on 810...peter werbe??...is like that.

I wouldn't want him to be THE voice of liberalism (the way Rush is for conservatives), but he certainly makes a valuable conclusion.

And, man, does he have facts at his fingertips. He doesn't make shit up like the Republicans.

[Skittles]

4. NO

Rush is a f***ING LIAR and a HATEFUL BIGOT. He's DISGUSTING. Just because he appeals to the lowest of the low is NO REASON TO EMULATE HIM. That hypocritical gasbag can GO TO HELL.

[poskonig]

5. If it were funny and entertaining, I would.

A little controversy never killed anyone. Adults listen to these shows, not children.

[Mikimouse]

7. Much simpler solution to the problem would be

to push for reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine. I think we should really push all of the Dem. candidates for their positin on that issue. Just trying to establish a liberal radio host to worek in opposition to the neo-cons would be an exercise in futility and would probably make the situation deteriorate even more- Somewhat akin to the old joke about the sailor and the Captain who keeps asking the sailor what he would do if a storm suddenly blew in from the (select a direction, any direction) and the sailor keeps answering 'throw out an anchor'. We can keep throwing out all the anchors we want, but there will inevitably be more storms. Better to reintroduce legislation that will be effective for both camps. Just my opinion.

[kentuck]

9. I agree....

Controversial issues and misstatements should be allowed equal time for an opposing viewpoint. That is what the Fairness Doctrine did. It was very effective in making political a little more civil. People think twice about lying about their opponents if they know their opponent will get the time to respond to his charges...

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Actually, no

I agree with you Kentuck. I wouldn't even mind a conservative host providing his views in a way that is food for discourse instead of the vitriolic rantings of rightwing lunatics like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter.

Apart from the lack of balance in the media nowadays, it's that lowbrow venom I can't stand. The less we have of it the better, regardless of the viewpoint.

[Kamika]

10. i think it would be great

Im not sure how you mean rish limbaugh show.. somehow i have a hard time imagining a liberal spouting out hatred like rush does, but a clearly fun and good propaganda liberal show would be great

[VOX]

11. No, not like Rush. But it would be nice to have some liberal thinkers...

...out there publicly, who had the courage of their convictions, and who enjoyed a similar leverage of "brand recognition" like Rush does.

Al Franken is terrific, but I'd like to see a more diversified lot of progressive pundits/hosts/writers enjoying a broader popularity.

[kentuck]

12. I would like Rush Limbaugh if he had a good liberal voice sitting...

right beside him to challenge his lies and distortions... It's the balance that is important. One of the best talk shows ever on radio was when Pat Buchanan and Barry Lynn had their talk show together. It was great. However, I would not want Pat Buchanan alone spewing his stuff, without a balanced viewpoint.

[stevebreeze]

13. We don't need no stinkin Rushclones

Like Harry S said "I don't give em hell, I give em the truth and they think it's hell"

:kick:

[magnolia]

14. One Rush Limbaugh on the planet is quite enough....

...whether Liberal or Conservative. I would love to have a Liberal talk show person who explained and supported Democratic issues, pointed out Bush and the Republicans weaknesses without hate. I wouldn't mind a little bashing if it were done in a humerous way.

[kodi]

15. that is an oxymoron.

not to be confused with an oxymoran.

[LuCifer]

16. Why just radio?!

Mike Moore made a GREAT point in his new book, and I can't stop thinking about it. It makes so much cents (or dollars!) Com'on y'all! Let's start with TV and the Internet. Then worry about radio. Mind you, as you can tell by my sigfile, I ain't got nutin' 'ginst liberal radio! It's just odd how they put SOOOOOOOOO much empahsis on the outlet of AM old fart talker radio which is way dinosaur primative and shit, VS. the Net and TV which would reach a butttload more people! In addition to which, you can't say Randi Rhodes and Neil Rogers aren't national--they got Netfeeds!!! Also, when they do the liberal radio network, PLEASE for the love of god, have it on FM stations!!!

That be my $0.92 (2 cents with massive stagflation)
Lu Cifer

[quaker bill]

17. NO

There is sufficient misinformation out there already.

[childslibrarian]

18. I'd just like to hear something different

and they might have to be bomabastic or at least gimicky to stay on the air.....

[charlie]

19. We came close to having one before Limbaugh

Alan Berg was on the verge of breaking nationally when he was gunned down by white supremacists in 1984. I wonder how different things would be if he had lived.

[mitchum]

21. You're absolutely right...

Berg would have been such an asset for us

[Clete]

20. No.

What I would like is that Rush's claims be checked for accuracy before he goes on the air, or that the station make disclaimers before and after his show stating that what the host says is his own opinion. It doesn't reflect the views of the station and they can't guarantee the accuracy of the content or something to that effect.

I also think that if a station chooses to run shows with one-sided views like Limbaugh's, then they should run another show before or after from the opposing camp. Only then could it be considered balanced.

[maggrwaggr]

22. We need someone to balance his type

and they're not out there, or if they are, nobody knows about them.

We need to counter these assholes because they repeat what they say enough until people start to believe it.

We need our own LOUD voices.

We need leaders, damnit.

[laura888]

31. Michael Parenti

michael parenti is an incredible wit, excellent speaker.

I'm not sure why the media doesn't give him his own show - the ratings would go through the roof!

[calimary]

25. Which, for me, makes it all the more urgent that we DO have a liberal

version of Limbaugh. Call it equal time. How long has Rush been allowed to pontificate, how many years - 15??? How long has he been allowed to blather on and spew his hate-mongering narrow-mindedness all over the airwaves, pretty much unopposed? That's an AWFULLY LOPSIDED playing field in my opinion. I think he's HAD his turn. I think it's high time we started working toward a liberal monopoly, to push the pendulum back. We don't have free speech because we have no one with an opportunity to offer an opposing viewpoint. Since the Fairness Doctrine and Equal Time Provisions were abolished, the right wing has run roughshod over everything and there's no motivation by broadcasters to do what's correct. They have no interest in balance. So, in the spirit of the Equal Opportunity provisions and affirmative action, maybe we need to adjust things a little. I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing a whole passel of liberal talk show people on, wall-to-wall. Because it's been more than a decade since we had even SOME liberal talk on the air. We need it. We need an entire television network's worth, like FAUX, only liberal. It wouldn't be a violation of free speech to have only liberals on it, as long as we have FAUX. All you have to do is point to their existance as justification for the liberal network. To be TRULY "fair and balanced."

[SharonAnn]

29. Not if he/she lies like Rush has been doing.

eom

[Cat Atomic]

30. No. Rush lies. I want someone who tells the truth in an

entertaining way.

[Silverhair]

32. It's been tried. The ratings were terrible.

In the past 11 years there have been several liberal radio talk show hosts. They flopped. Not enough listeners to be able to sell advertising to pay for the show. I don't know why conservative listen to their talk radio, but liberals don't very much, but that's the way it is. Probably liberals have other things to do with their time.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

33. no i am glad that we don't

[arwalden]

34. Only If It Were WITHOUT THE LIES!!

But that wouldn't be difficult to do.

-- Allen