Friday, December 19, 2008

What he said!

"I find the professional screamers and their checklists of what constitutes a 'liberal' or 'conservative' predictable to the point of boredom."-Bob Schieffer in the preface to his book, Bob Shieffer's America

1 comment:

Spencer Troxell said...

As a psych. major, I have a professional interest in listening to talk radio, so I do. It is all very entertaining and informative (and sometimes scary) if you look at it from that angle.

What is most disturbing to me is the way many acolytes of these 'screamers' take their style of argument (as well as most of their talking points) directly from the radio shows, and into their personal lives. On college campuses, and at dinners with acquaintances, otherwise nice people become arrogant invective slingers for some unseen mass.

I don't mind being challenged by Hannity or Rush's talking points, but I am often disturbed by the personal transition people will undergo when the 'politics' flip is switched.

I reminded someone recently in a little debate that we didn't have to yell at each other or try to trick one another into surrendering their argument. "We're two people exploring answers in conversation." I said. "This isn't the O'relly Factor. We're not getting paid for this."