92 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

Steve, Please provide examples of her posts that demeaned black people? I'm not asking for the purpose of agitating you but true understanding on what you find offensive. As for those "liberals" that have been kicked off the board, if I knew about it and it was unjust as I see what happened to MaxineR then my comments would be the same. I may not agree with or understand democrats/liberals points of view but it doesn't mean they don't have a place on this board.
I don't agree with getting rid of the political forums either, it's like a tv show or radio program that you don't like .... don't tune in. There are plenty of other topics on this site that are non-political and plenty of discussion to go with it without controversy.

See my examples in post number 34. It is less about demeaning than it is about obsessively seeking out and posting negative things about blacks, and claiming that blacks were too much trouble to deal with. I grew up in the very diverse Bay Area and have dealt with people of all races all of my life. I can't think of any race that is not worthy of getting equal access to goods and services, I'd never refuse to serve someone based on race, and I'd never post anything like that.

By the way, this isn't about liberal vs conservative thoughts and opinions. I have many many conservative friends and interact with others here on the forum. I've found that many conservatives oppose Obama and liberals based on topics such as taxation, changing morality, social programs, and erosion of rights.

I'm always up for a discussion of those issues, but when people focus on race, it seems it's no longer about political differences.

Lastly, to answer the Dude's question, it doesn't take any amount of liberals to get a conservative kicked off, as being conservative isn't grounds for getting the boot, or many of you would be out as well.

This is about the owner of a website making a decision about a member who was not, in his opinion, adding value to the site. He didn't base it on her race or her politics.

[apeman45]

Well said Average Joe.

Ok I get it now. Any media outlet that gives a true fair and balanced view is considered liberally biased? I'm a dinosaur and still read a lot of newspapers. I read the commie paper Sac Bee for local stuff. I also like to read the National review and the Wall Street Journal which I consider fairly conservative. I guess I watch too much network TV which explains my dementia. Of course everyday at 2 pm I listen to the BBC news hour on, oh my God, NPR radio. I spend 90 percent of my radio time listening to sports talk radio - mostly KNBR. I think they are sending subliminal liberal messages to me.

I actually hate the far left shows that MSNBC carries. I don't really get watching a bunch of ultra liberals spout off about how right they are even though I generally agree with their views. I can stand watching it slightly longer than FOX but there is far too much anger and finger pointing and I don't see the point of it all. It certainly has no impact in how I feel politically. I like to think for myself.

[Carl G]

Well said Average Joe.

Ok I get it now. Any media outlet that gives a true fair and balanced view is considered liberally biased? I'm a dinosaur and still read a lot of newspapers. I read the commie paper Sac Bee for local stuff. I also like to read the National review and the Wall Street Journal which I consider fairly conservative. I guess I watch too much network TV which explains my dementia. Of course everyday at 2 pm I listen to the BBC news hour on, oh my God, NPR radio. I spend 90 percent of my radio time listening to sports talk radio - mostly KNBR. I think they are sending subliminal liberal messages to me.

I actually hate the far left shows that MSNBC carries. I don't really get watching a bunch of ultra liberals spout off about how right they are even though I generally agree with their views. I can stand watching it slightly longer than FOX but there is far too much anger and finger pointing and I don't see the point of it all. It certainly has no impact in how I feel politically. I like to think for myself.

I am both politically and socially conservative, but I must agree with you that there needs to be more liberal talk on stations. I for one miss Air America, especially Randy Rhodes. She reminds me of what Rush Limbaugh used to be, funny and entertaining.

I've never really understood why people have so much problem spotting bias. I can see it in all media outlets. I hate to admit it, but when I'm at the gym I find myself watching CNN more now. I don't agree with them much, but they usually provide some thought provoking material without the absurdities of MSNBC.

[Steve Heard]

I am both politically and socially conservative, but I must agree with you that there needs to be more liberal talk on stations. I for one miss Air America, especially Randy Rhodes. She reminds me of what Rush Limbaugh used to be, funny and entertaining.

I've never really understood why people have so much problem spotting bias. I can see it in all media outlets. I hate to admit it, but when I'm at the gym I find myself watching CNN more now. I don't agree with them much, but they usually provide some thought provoking material without the absurdities of MSNBC.

I agree that there should be more liberal talk, but there doesn't seem to be an audience for it. Conservative talk radio sells. I remember when Rush was funny and entertaining and his mission seemed to be to expose idiocy in politics, regardless of party.

I occasionally watch Anderson Cooper, but can't watch Madow, the guy who used to be a sports caster. His name escapes me.

I watch FOX at the gym a few days a week. I like Bill O'Reilly. Not crazy about Hannity or Beck.

Sometimes it seems like arguing politics, the same as challenging one's religion. We know there are things that don't make sense, or that we can't explain, but we follow it anyway and take offense to people who disagree.

I enjoy a good political debate based on policies and platforms, but not on personal aspects.

I've argued with Liberal friends who hate the rich (most do not), and they seem ignorant to the fact that our Democrat politicians can be just as rich or richer than the Republicans.

If we can keep it civil, we might be able to make a little progress, with each side coming at least to an understanding, and that's what I try to do.

One of the problems I see, is that we often have shut-down triggers that keep us from listening. As an example, I was talking to a Liberal friend about some issue, and when I said 'the other night O'Reilly said...' He cut me off and said, 'If you're going to start quoting O'Reilly, this conversation is over!', then went on to tell me what a bad guy O'Reilly was. I believe that even a broken clock is right twice a day, but there was no reasoning.

Similarly, when discussing with a conservative friend about Obama offering social programs instead of jobs, I wanted to discuss when Obama had said that jobs are the key to getting people off of welfare and turning them into tax-paying citizens, but as soon as I mentioned Obama, he said, 'I don't want to hear what your boy has to say. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie.'

So, there I was, unable to communicate because these triggers had shut my friends down and they weren't going to listen. It's not a Liberal vs. Conservative thing.

[knittychick]

Steve said, “I remember when Rush was funny and entertaining” – I remember when this forum used to be full of clever and funny posters. The conversations were more entertaining, thought-provoking and fun than controversial. There were several witty posters, but the one that comes to mind first is Mylo – if he posted I would read it even if I had no interest in the subject matter.

[Carl G]

Careful Steve, you may have to forfeit your liberal card. It is blue, isn't it?

[Steve Heard]

Steve said, “I remember when Rush was funny and entertaining” – I remember when this forum used to be full of clever and funny posters. The conversations were more entertaining, thought-provoking and fun than controversial. There were several witty posters, but the one that comes to mind first is Mylo – if he posted I would read it even if I had no interest in the subject matter.

Indeed, Mylo, the 2 Nates, chad, bishmasterb, billsfan, and others brought a lot of humor to the site.

Careful Steve, you may have to forfeit your liberal card. It is blue, isn't it?

That's funny. My Liberal friends think that I've gone Republican since moving to Folsom, and my Republican friends I've made in Folsom think I'm a leftist wacko.

Both sides think their positions are the only ones worth considering. I believe in public assistance and public assistance reform, I believe in public education and public education reform, I believe in union protection and union reform. Most folks want an either or.

[Carl G]

That's funny. My Liberal friends think that I've gone Republican since moving to Folsom, and my Republican friends I've made in Folsom think I'm a leftist wacko.

Both sides think their positions are the only ones worth considering. I believe in public assistance and public assistance reform, I believe in public education and public education reform, I believe in union protection and union reform. Most folks want an either or.

I would suggest we need power reform. Too much power in any one group causes problems. Fair and Balanced, hmmm, where have I heard that before?

With the election over I hope everyone's passions have settled a bit. Mine have. While not happy about it, I'm comfortable with our president for the next four years.

This group should try getting together for lunch sometime. I would love to find out if Tio Vinny is sitting in a classic truck.

[MikeinFolsom]

Both sides think their positions are the only ones worth considering. I believe in public assistance and public assistance reform, I believe in public education and public education reform, I believe in union protection and union reform. Most folks want an either or.

Well said. I can think of many more items like that, but it is true, with many nowadays, you have to be fully on either side of the fence. What ever happened to compromise?

[cw68]

Indeed, Mylo, the 2 Nates, chad, bishmasterb, billsfan, and others brought a lot of humor to the site.

Totally.

[Judge Smails]

It's fun to flip between MSNBC and FOX to get divergent views on the same topic. A big difference between the networks is MSNBC is pure commentary whereas FOX has commentary and news, albiet biased, as well. Both network's shows are pure showmanship they way Limbaugh use to be before he went off the deep end. Anyone remember Morton Downey Jr.? He was the Godfather of today's political/entertainment shows. We use to watch him late at night during the early days of cable in San Jose and laugh hysterically.

[The Average Joe]

In SoCal, it was Wally George (father of Rebecca De Mornay). Kind of a political precurser to Jerry Springer, with much the same schtick. Hilarious. A buddy of mine actually went on the show to argue some politics and was thrown off when the crowd went into a frenzy. It was kind of a badge of honor...Too funny.

[Judge Smails]

Wally George! That's the other guy I was trying to think of. Classic TV. All the bombastistic pundits today owe a debt to those guys.

[Stop South of 50]

I remember when Rush was funny and entertaining and his mission seemed to be to expose idiocy in politics, regardless of party.

I remember when Bill Maher used to be funny too...

I think both Rush and Maher have lost their comedic ability because they are just so filled with hate for the other side... it just completely consumes them and their commentary.

I think CNN is the best balanced news source out there. They are no where overtly obvious with bias like MSNBC or Fox. I think Anderson Cooper is a true international journalist and John King does a great job analyzing elections. Maybe that's why their ratings are suffering... they don't pander to the left or the right. The left flocks to MSNBC and the right races straight to Fox. CNN is caught in the middle trying to do actual journalism.