Don Imus said a bad thing. But maybe shutting him up is worse then letting him keep talking.
Interesting story in the New York Times on how, in a world where pundits are constantly saying moronic, outrageous things, Don Imus was the one who got torpedoed, in part, according to the Times, because it was a slow news week.…
Article comments
26 - Clavos
As to O'Reilly - he's an ass. Just as is Limbaugh. I truly wish something would bring them down as well.
I'm surprised at you B'Tone. They have a right to make a living; you have a right not to support it by not listening to them.
Don't be surprised to see Imus back (elsewhere - XM, possibly) very soon.
It's all about money, and Imus (and Limbaugh and O'Reilly) made his employers a lot of money.
27 - Charles Herold
The thing about getting rid of someone like O'Reilly is that wouldn't mean people would stop thinking like that, it just means they'd have less stuff to watch on TV. That's the problem with chasing people off the air; removing odious people from television and radio does not simultaneously remove all their listeners for the planet, nor does it instantly make them more thoughtful and intelligent. This is why it is better to let them stay on the air and have other people on the air to counter them. We don't need less O'Reillys, we just need more Olbermanns.
28 - Baritone
Oh, I wouldn't dream of depriving the O'Reillys and Limbaughs of the world their means to a living. I was just voicing my distaste for those two. Now Ann Coulter is another matter. She should have to scrimp to live for a while. Maybe be forced to get food stamps. Perhaps have to live out of her car for a time. (What do you suppose she drives? A Beamer, perhaps?) That'd be good for her. At any rate, though, I don't believe I have much of a say in the matter. Whatever will be will be.
Baritone
29 - Charles Herold
Well, perhaps we should be charitable and assume that Coulter is clinically insane. People like O'Reilly and Limbaugh just strike me as foolish and prone to pander, but Coulter; that chick's a complete nut job.
30 - Dave Nalle
Coulter's not insane. She's got a very specialized schtick, knows her market and plays to it shamelessly. She's the conservative equivalent of Al Sharpton.
Dave
31 - Zedd
I can't help but think that we will find out something really terrible about Coulter's early life. Something happened to her that makes her want so much attention, without regard for her image.
Women don't generally look for that type of attention unless some sort of physical and emotional abuse has happened to them. We are socialized to guard our reputation. We are raised to be even slightly charming. She is vacant. Its like there is an empty carton perpetuating what she does.
I don't buy that its just a shtick. I think she is a terribly wounded person.
Like prostitutes who sell their bodies and risk social ridicule, most are victims of abuse. Coulter is selling herself, her personal image to a vast population. She keeps getting more and more shocking as if she is screaming for the most ridicule and attention that she can stand.
This isn't going to end well.
No proof just intuition. I hope I am wrong.
32 - Clavos
Pop psychology: America's albatross.
33 - Baritone
Somehow the image of Ann Coulter going through therapy or say, a 12 step program is damn hard to conjure.
I know Al Sharpton is devisive in his own right, but I don't equate him with Coulter. She is alone on her own plane, as it were. She has reached such hideous heights of vitriol as to be unmatched.
I actually listened to her recording of her latest book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism on CD recently. That was an experience I would not wish on anyone. She looks so far down her nose at practically everyone living or dead, human or not, that you'd think she would be permantly cross eyed. If you hadn't noticed, she has a very nasal voice. It's like fingernails on a blackboard. But I got through it by god! About 6 hours of it. Fortunately, it was an abridged version of the written work.
Back to Imus. He has one ace in the hole still going for him: his devastatingly good looks. He could start acting in films. He would be perfect for any further remakes of Dawn of the Dead, don't you think? He'd require no make up, no prostheses. Just take his spot on the set and - "ACTION."
Baritone
34 - Zedd
Baritone,
What she said about Edwards and just out of no where drawing homosexuals into her depraved cluster was sad, and painful for me to watch. I actually hurt when I saw that.
She just out of no where found it acceptable to use gays as a group to disrespect without regard, when no one had done anything to her. She acted as if it was a no biggy to pick on gays freely. Like this group is alright to use for my own attention seeking needs.
I guess sort of like Imus.
Like it was safe to pick on gays. She should have been dealt with and taught a lesson (in her pocket book off course).
It was at that point that I knew she had a deep problem.
Her story is just not going to end well. Something is terribly amiss.
35 - Zedd
Clavos
Not pop psychology. Just woman's intuition.
36 - Clavos
Worse.
37 - Zedd
Baritone
Funny on Imus. I thought you were serious and thought "well to each his own".
He is an elderly man. He looks fine for his age.
38 - Andy Marsh
talking about Coulter is like talking about rappers...
...and I'm not the one that said rappers and Imus had nothing to do with each other...Coulter and Imus were no where near each other politically or idealogically....they might both be crazy but it's like some kinda bipolar thing...one goes one way and the other goes opposite!
Everybody gives this guy to much credit...he had 1% of the population listening to him...nobody would have evan known about it if it hadn't been for Sharpton and Jackson...that's all there is to it. One freakin' looney says something stupid and everybody gets there panties in a wad...it's all so much straight up bullshit! And you Zedd, try to make it more than it is and blow it out of proportion just like Sharpton...you're not worth the time...
later!
39 - Baritone
Zedd,
I don't think Imus looks particularly fine. He has sported his gaunt look as long as I can remember. I just think he's an odd looking dude. My wife thinks he looks like a Zombie. Of course, Zombies may find that offensive.
I think you are correct about Coulter's gay remarks aimed at Edwards. She said it as a slam against Edwards with no consideration for gays. I doubt that gays and lesbians even register on her radar as being worthy of any concern.
As you suggest, Coulter's story may well end badly as she seems compelled to go further and further out of the sphere of civility to get the cameras back on her. However, I would say that she is obviously not a stupid person. She seems to be setting her own course. Although, she may have a group of "handlers" who prod her to say more and more outrageous things. She may well wind up crashing really hard. The question is: Will anyone care?
Baritone
40 - Zedd
Baritone
sed: Will anyone care?
Probably not.
My concern are that there are so many losers who follow these emotionally needy types. Imus, Rush, Coulter and even O'Reilly, you just know that they have major needs that haven't been met; bottomless pits of self hate and littleness. How does anyone follow and ditto what these sad souls say. There are millions of these people who hang on every word that these angry school yard punching bags say. I truly miss the pull.
Its like the classical picture of the diabolical yet stupid guy with the side kick who always goes "yeah, yeah, yeah boss".
41 - Zedd
Clavos
Don't forget that I studies Sociology. I lived and breathed stats. I also understand social phenomenon that contributes to those stats. I have a clear understanding of a spurious correlation. In this case color is not the cause.
What this reports ALSO says is Blacks are more likely to be be convicted of more crimes than Whites.
In Texas on the highway from Houston to Dallas, you can watch who the state troupers pull over, its almost comical. I had to drive to Houston regularly in the 90's and it became a game for me to count the number of Black young men (who looked like college kids driving back and forth from school) who would be stopped. When my then boyfriend would be driving we were stopped every other trip. I'm a fast driver. I drove even faster when I was alone. I was never stopped. I made that trip about thirty times.
It was funny, we would drive with a car of Black men next to us and we would laugh and say "well they are not going to make it X or Y miles". We would compete as to how long it would take for them to be stopped.
Now meanwhile White drug traffickers, murderers at large, kidnappers could have been breezing by happily and pink. Funny stuff!
Blacks are more likely to be pursued by police.
Why is it that with the insane meth user numbers that our jails aren't filled to the rim with White drug dealers? The numbers of Whites in jail are growing but they should be exploding. Small towns are crumbling because of meth.
Do you realise that in dealing with the meth crisis the federal government has put in place laws which deal with the supply end of meth use. They have made it difficult to get the supplies which make meth.
When the crack epidemic came out, as you remember, the focus was on conviction. The sentence for the same amount of crack as straight cocaine (a White drug then) was increased to be much higher.
That was my point Clavos. I am surprised that I had to expound in order for you to understand. We know our country well. Lets not pretend ignorance.
Rush gets to apologies for being a drug abuser and go back to making millions. He can afford a doctor to be his pusher and expensive lawyers.
However what I find interesting is that Imus does something heinous and we end up talking about how horrible Blacks are.
42 - Zedd
Wrong thread on the post above hehe he (flush)
Major apologies.
43 - Christopher Rose
Z, re-post it where it belongs and I'll delete these three.
44 - Baritone
Zedd,
There are always hangers-on, people who attach themselves to someone or something often just for the ride. Some are more akin to bloodsuckers - leeches or lampreys. A few are true believers. In pretty much every case, if their chosen star or prey - whichever best applies - takes a fall, they will likely find someone or somewhere else to latch onto as it were. I wouldn't worry about them too much.
Think of all the people who follow evangelists either on TV and/or in some of these monster mega-churches. As I've observed and stated elsewhere, the so-called "services" are more akin to full blown theatrical productions. They are carefully formulated to mesmerize their parishoners with a combination of glitz, gung-ho hoopla, and sturm und drung gnashing of teeth resulting in exhaustion and total, tearful abject suplication, usually just in time for the offering plates to be passed.
When one of these guys (most often, these evangelists are guys, but not always) takes a fall such as most recently the obnoxious Ted Haggard, their adherents are momentarily angered and dismayed, but few fall away. They simply look up and around and latch onto the next one that comes along - and there's always a "next one." The money is too good for there not to be.
Of course, Haggard and others of his ilk usually find a way to come back landing on their feet, often stronger than ever. Usually, they invoke satan - "The devil made me do it." And now they have repented, seen the error of their ways, have driven the devil out, and once again are true lovers and the rightful messengers of Jesus. By and large the people buy it. Literally. The money comes rolling in once again. Hallelujah!
Baritone