Cable Anchors, Guests Use Tea Parties as Platform for Frat House Humor

[bytor2112]

For thousands of Americans, Tax Day was a moment to protest what they see as bloated budgets and a pile of debt being passed on to their children. .....Gross....here

[Maxel]

The behavior of the coverage I saw by CNN on the parties made me think these people take lessons in 'serious, non-biased journalism' from Colbert. Simply shameful. Fox may be right-wing, but at least it's telling it like it is- actually covering the tea parties and interviewing some protesters (without making a mockery of them).

Shameful.

[FunkyTown]

That's really not appropriate treatment of people with a legitimate gripe(Or even illegitimate, because they're voters and there appears to be a lot of them). If the best they can do is make some vague sexual innuendos, then it means the legitimate arguments against these protests are wearing thin.

Honestly, I don't know why some of these people become reporters. You would think the reason to become a reporter is because you believe that a democracy only works with an informed populace and that a democracy in ignorance is a tyranny by another name.

[Hemidakota]

Maxel, actually, one show on FBN is the combine rating of the other five networks as most watched. I was quite surprise to see the ratings on what Fox news has done over the past five years.

[Maxel]

Maxel, actually, one show on FBN is the combine rating of the other five networks as most watched. I was quite surprise to see the ratings on what Fox news has done over the past five years.

Not surprised to hear it. It seems that Fox is one of the few news outlets that's maintaining a conservative slant. Conservatives have to go somewhere if they choose to stay even partially informed about events without being repulsed by the presentation.

Apparently, the number of those people are larger than I thought.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Maxel
Clarification

[prisonchaplain]

You know, we conservatives used to wonder why the liberal media pretended to be objective. Now I yearn for the days when they pretended. At least it kept their potty mouths in check.

[Moksha]

You know, we conservatives used to wonder why the liberal media pretended to be objective. Now I yearn for the days when they pretended. At least it kept their potty mouths in check.

I think the true pretention is that this was a ground swell grass roots movement that was not put together and hosted by Fox News.

I think its impetus was from the impending increased taxation for the very rich as opposed to the majority who actually received some sort of tax cut. It just so happened that the very rich Rupert media empire (Fox News) also tapped into those folks who wish to pay either no taxes or bare minimum taxes.

[bytor2112]

I think the true pretention is that this was a ground swell grass roots movement that was not put together and hosted by Fox News.

I think its impetus was from the impending increased taxation for the very rich as opposed to the majority who actually received some sort of tax cut. It just so happened that the very rich Rupert media empire (Fox News) also tapped into those folks who wish to pay either no taxes or bare minimum taxes.

Moksha,

I typically love your comments, but, do you honestly believe that all of those people are protesting against higher taxes for the so-called "wealthy"?

Not everyone feels all warm and fuzzy when the government announces bailouts, stimulus bills and pork laden spending bills that have the potential of crippling our nation financially. The protests are about WASTE.......out of control waste of tax payer dollars. Seriously, taxes are not being cut , in fact taxes are going to increase on everyone....including you my Penguin friend in 2010 when the Bush tax cuts expire. Nearly 40% of the alleged tax cuts are being paid to individuals that do not earn enough to pay federal income taxes. That means that much of his alleged cut, which is really a rebate, as opposed to a cut, is nothing more than income redistribution.

[bytor2112]

I think the true pretention is that this was a ground swell grass roots movement that was not put together and hosted by Fox News.

Actually, the first call for a tea party came from CNBC ....Rick Santelli, not Fox.

[Just_A_Guy]

I think the true pretention is that this was a ground swell grass roots movement that was not put together and hosted by Fox News.

The "tea party" movement has been around for a couple of months now. Fox News is a Johnny-come-lately. Though I agree that their cheerleading has been a bit over-the-top.

[prisonchaplain]

I think the true pretention is that this was a ground swell grass roots movement that was not put together and hosted by Fox News.

I think its impetus was from the impending increased taxation for the very rich as opposed to the majority who actually received some sort of tax cut. It just so happened that the very rich Rupert media empire (Fox News) also tapped into those folks who wish to pay either no taxes or bare minimum taxes.

Sorry, but this is liberal paranoia and dismissiveness, imho. I'm rather concerned that our debt has tripled in a matter of months. The borrowing is something that must be repayed. It will take decades to pay back for these few months. Rupert Murdoch didn't goad me into feeling this way. Glen Beck's rantings actually have a reverse effect on me. You know--sometimes OD on sugar actually calms.

But the lingering feeling that this hyper-spending could really do us in...that's not artificially generated by a few wealthy people. And, btw, sure, George Bush racked up a goodly amount of debt with the Iraq War. But, rather than correct the error, the current administration is playing a dangerous game of double-down with the national economy. Just what really happens when a nation goes bankrupt???

Frankly I'm dazed an uncertain. What's going to become of us? Maybe the media feels the same way and they don't know what to do. Better to laugh than cry--better to make legitimate dissent into an off-color joke than consider the sobering reality.

[LittleWyvern]

C'mon, people, this is cable tv! I'd be surprised if nobody made the obvious sexual innuendo joke.

[Just_A_Guy]

In other news, it turns out that that CNN reporter who was so openly contemptuous of the protesters she interviewed on the air has a dirty little secret:

She has applied and been rejected for a position at Fox News. Twice. (via Instapundit)

But let's not make any hasty judgments. Desperation borne of long-term unemployment can lead any of us to take drastic and unwise action. Personally, I once applied for an editing job at Signature.

[Maxel]

I think the true pretention is that this was a ground swell grass roots movement that was not put together and hosted by Fox News.

Actually, the first call for a tea party came from CNBC ....Rick Santelli, not Fox.

Shhh... Don't interject logic and fact into the argument. That would ruin 'the bubble'.

C'mon, people, this is cable tv! I'd be surprised if nobody made the obvious sexual innuendo joke.

So, that excuses it?

[LittleWyvern]

So, that excuses it?

No, that doesn't excuse it, but I don't think any of us should be surprised about it.

[Moksha]

Sorry, but this is liberal paranoia and dismissiveness, imho.

Hey, I'm entitled to my conspiracy theories too. There is enough tin foil for everyone to fashion a helmet.

:D:D

Moksha,

I typically love your comments, but, do you honestly believe that all of those people are protesting against higher taxes for the so-called "wealthy"?

It is merely a theory, and it certainly was good at sparking discussion. Actually, it would appear that the tea bagger attendees have been hopping mad about their taxes for some time. Many in Utah were from the Sagebrush tax protester times. However, I do not believe the current motives of the Rupert Murdock Media Empire is really the same as the Sagebrushers.

Not everyone feels all warm and fuzzy when the government announces bailouts, stimulus bills and pork laden spending bills that have the potential of crippling our nation financially.

I worry about this too. Adding to the deficit at this time sounds counterintuitive. I am also worried that most of these expenditures we are footing the bill for will end up in already wealthy pockets - making us marks that have been robbed rather that a nation that has been saved.

However, all I can do is hope for the best. I do not find it in my best interest to watch the country fall just so Rush can say, "I told you so". Who knows, maybe all these economically edumacated former financial hustlers/bankers have a better bead on the future than us back here in Dogpatch.

:)

[Just_A_Guy]

I do not find it in my best interest to watch the country fall just so Rush can say, "I told you so".

Can we get over this one already? That's not what Limbaugh meant. It's not even what he said.

[a-train]

The "Tea Party movement" started with the Ron Paul Tea Party in 2007. I'm so glad to see so many Americans finally waking up to the fact that the Republican Party is no different from the Democrat Party. God Bless America!

-a-train

[DigitalShadow]

The "Tea Party movement" started with the Ron Paul Tea Party in 2007. I'm so glad to see so many Americans finally waking up to the fact that the Republican Party is no different from the Democrat Party. God Bless America!

-a-train

That may be where the "Tea Party movement" started, but since it has been hijacked by fox news, I've seen many conservatives around me who barely know who Ron Paul is or what he stands for are ranting about Tea Parties and how we have to now oppose the fascist government.

[prisonchaplain]

That may be where the "Tea Party movement" started, but since it has been hijacked by fox news, I've seen many conservatives around me who barely know who Ron Paul is or what he stands for are ranting about Tea Parties and how we have to now oppose the fascist government.

This seems to be the new liberal talking point. "We can ignore these conservative demonstrations, because, after all, Fox News orchestrated it." I sure wish we conservatives could dismiss the recent election by arguing that msnbc/cnn/abc/nbc/cbs et. al orchestrated it.

[a-train]

That may be where the "Tea Party movement" started, but since it has been hijacked by fox news, I've seen many conservatives around me who barely know who Ron Paul is or what he stands for are ranting about Tea Parties and how we have to now oppose the fascist government.

So true, so true. But many of them ARE starting to see through the Republican lip-service. Faced with the reality that the Republican Party has been a leading malifactor for decades, they are starting to understand that the problem is not simply a matter of party. It is definitely true that the Republican Party is trying to put this wind into their sails and many will fall for it, but they are only trying to hijack an already growing grass-roots non-partisan movement, one that sees them for what they really are.

The movement back toward individual liberty is largely supported by the free-flow of information made possible by the internet. Like I've said before:The ignorant are googling their way into the know. That is the real revolution. Americans ARE waking up.

-a-train

[Just_A_Guy]

A timely tidbit about the organization of the tea parties, via Instapundit:

GOP Fails To Hijack Maine Tea Parties.

[DigitalShadow]

This seems to be the new liberal talking point. "We can ignore these conservative demonstrations, because, after all, Fox News orchestrated it." I sure wish we conservatives could dismiss the recent election by arguing that msnbc/cnn/abc/nbc/cbs et. al orchestrated it.

Try really reading what I post rather than trying to instantly dismiss it all as "liberal talking points." I was not stating it should be dismissed because Fox News orchestrated it, I'm saying that Fox News hijacked the movement for their own purposes and most people who now support the movement don't have the faintest clue of its origins.

Edited April 19, 2009 by DigitalShadow

[bytor2112]

So true, so true. But many of them ARE starting to see through the Republican lip-service. Faced with the reality that the Republican Party has been a leading malifactor for decades, they are starting to understand that the problem is not simply a matter of party. It is definitely true that the Republican Party is trying to put this wind into their sails and many will fall for it, but they are only trying to hijack an already growing grass-roots non-partisan movement, one that sees them for what they really are.

The movement back toward individual liberty is largely supported by the free-flow of information made possible by the internet. Like I've said before:The ignorant are googling their way into the know. That is the real revolution. Americans ARE waking up.

-a-train

I don't know...maybe some are waking up. But Obama has poured some mighty tasty kool-aid. Honestly for those who hated Bush, Obama is governing a lot like him. Bush was a big spending liberal, Obama is just Bush on steroids and for all of Obama's rhetoric about change, he is behaving a lot like Bush. Americans need to wake up and dump the kool-aid from both parties before we live in a banana republic.

[DigitalShadow]

I don't know...maybe some are waking up. But Obama has poured some mighty tasty kool-aid. Honestly for those who hated Bush, Obama is governing a lot like him. Bush was a big spending liberal, Obama is just Bush on steroids and for all of Obama's rhetoric about change, he is behaving a lot like Bush. Americans need to wake up and dump the kool-aid from both parties before we live in a banana republic.

What is with your obsession with kool-aid