What level of involvement in politics?

[Archaea]

Scrap the last vote as I was trying to vote for number six not number seven. I have not served elected office, thank goodness. I have wanted to serve as a university regent and may do that some day, as it is something I believe in.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

Do people not like Bill O'Reilly because he's brash or because they disagree with him or because they agree with him, but don't like how he treats others?

Honest question.

I know several on here are of liberal thought and action, but as to the hate for Bill O'Reilly. What it is that they hate about him POLITICALLY and PHILOSOPHICALLY?

I actually like it when he's interviewing someone and if they don't answer the question that he calls them on their bull and doesn't let them NOT answer the question instead of giving some spinworthy B.S. response.

Sounds like someone I know.

I wouldn't say that I hate Bill O'Reilly. I actually find his show quite entertaining. But it's because he is such a narcisistic blowhard on display for the entire country. And because his show is such a phony, scripted act. And for the all the constant pimping he does for his books and how he reads his fawning e-mail without any embarassment. And how he looks straight in the camera and recites that "fair and balanced!" bullshit without a smirk. The guy has a great racket going.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

No I think people misunderstand what that means. I don't think O'Reilly is fair and balanced himself nor do I think he really claims to be. He takes positions on all kinds of things, mostly on the conservative side. Where the fair and balanced comes in is that he does his best (I believe this) to bring in a guest who believes the opposite and gives them an opportunity to state their side of things. He may disagree with them and may even be abrupt with them, but he lets them have their say and gives them the last word. That is what I appreciate about his show. You get to hear both sides articulated. Just by way of comparison to another popular "news/commentary" show, Keith Olberman just gives you his side of things, not both.

I have actually thought there were a good many occassions when O'Reilly brought on a guest who got the better of him. He doesn't have to do that, but that fact is it happens enough to convince me he isn't just serviving himself up softballs.

Wow. Well, he does have legit guests on occasionally, but in most cases he is bringing in lambs for the slaughter. Folks that are way out of their league but are willing to go on the show in an attempt to promote some crazy idea and get some screen time knowing full well that Bill is going to eviscerate them and thereby continue his posing as the defender of all that is right and good. I have read interviews with former employees of his show that claim that all guests are carefully screened and they do their best to only bring in guests that Bill can easily dominate in a debate. And that his "outrage" is carefully scripted for effect.

It's good entertainment. That's for sure.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

O'Reilly is no worse a source that an other individual source. If you listen to any one source to the exclusion of others you are going to get a slanted view of things. This has always been true. Fortunately, most now recognize that there is no such thing as unbiased news and get their information from multiple sources.

In fact, I think I would hold O'Reilly above most others simply because his biases are apparent whereas others claim to have none. At least with him you know what you are getting.

I agree with the first paragraph, I disagree with the second. I listen to O'Reilly with regularity, and he constantly says he is an "independent thinker" not tied to either party. He is a conservative on a conservative network who, on a few issues, strays from the fold.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I wouldn't say that I hate Bill O'Reilly. I actually find his show quite entertaining. But it's because he is such a narcisistic blowhard on display for the entire country. And because his show is such a phony, scripted act. And for the all the constant pimping he does for his books and how he reads his fawning e-mail without any embarassment. And how he looks straight in the camera and recites that "fair and balanced!" bullshit without a smirk. The guy has a great racket going.

I agree that he and many media pundits have an inflated sense of importance. He's certainly no different.

[il Padrino Ute]

I like O'Reilly. We conservative Red Foxes have to stick together in the fight against commie bastards everywhere.

[hyrum]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Scrap the last vote as I was trying to vote for number six not number seven.

I guess that makes you eligible to vote in Florida.