American Politics

I guess the flip side of the problem is that any real debate has been sidelined by a vocal minority (this thread is a microcosm of that) - and that's also bad.

There's definitely an extent to which a new generation can react against the defining characteristics of the one that went before - Andrew Doyle (in The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World) suggests this may be a way that we pull away from the more extreme social justice/witch hunts we're seeing lately.

But that could be a case of addressing the symptom rather than the cause. If a new generation rebels against, say, the idea that men can enter women's sports or that wearing blackface 15 years ago is somehow horribly offensive, the question is whether they'll just find other things horribly offensive and go after them Salem Witch-style, or whether they'll moderate their views overall. They're two very different things of course.

I do increasingly think that social media needs to be burned and destroyed though. And "Oh you can't regulate the internet" - but then I think we saw with Trump's TikTok ban that you can. And yes, I'm sure there's ways and means around those bans, but if banning X, Tumblr, TikTok or whatever ones are best gone after means interaction decreases by a significant amount, then that's got to be a win. And if some influencers or content creators lose their jobs, well in the greater scheme of things, so what?



(And yes, I'm aware of the Simpsons meme on the irony of appearing on social media in order to decry it, so don't bother pointing that out)

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Originally Posted by John83

None of that is what I asked about. How do you feel about the government regulator threatening the license of a broadcaster for nakedly political reasons?

Some of it is bunk too, e.g., Colbert was the highest rated show in his time-slot last year.

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How would you say Colberts ratings were against the likes of Jay Leno ( not to mention Johnny Carson )

These guys have gone very party political ( maybe to make headlines ) because virtually no one was watching their shows !

Is it Ok for chat show hosts to be party political ?

Surely, if they have gone very biased to one party ( political side ) then it is the job of the regulator, to regulate ~ ~ It is actually very surprising that, these totally biased chat show hosts got away with so much for so long !

And let's be honest about it, their party political musings ain't exactly helping the American Democrat party because virtually no-one is watching these very boring shows ! !

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Originally Posted by Neish

He lost approx 10-12% viewers over summer months when traditionally TV rating drop due to holidays and longer bright hours. Trump has lost 15-20% on his approval ratings since his inauguration

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There is virtually no-one watching these shows at any time ~ ~ Which probably explains why they are doing the controversial political stuff i.e. To get mentioned in the media.

When virtually nobody is watching their shows they have to stir up stuff in the media ~ ~ This time Jimmy Kimmel went too far and has correctly being sacked for it. I am sure his bosses are glad to see the back of him. It will be telling that Jimmy Kimmel will almost certainly disappear from public view, with-out a big network to push him. I have seem more talented stones ! ! !

Not at all. It’s bullsh*t. How would you react if they silenced Joe Rogan (I don’t know if that’s a good comparison)?

On the other hand, news media fully has a responsibility to remain unbiased and report facts. That has disappeared in the USA and has crept elsewhere.

Anyway, back on point, with the exception of news media, anyone can say whatever the fck they want without breaking the law. Whether it’s funny or not is for individuals/viewers to decide. Not some bullsh*t regulator. I could take or leave Kimmel, I like Fallon and despised Colbert. But - back to principles - give me the smart and irreverent humour of someone like Ricky Gervais any day of the week and keep letting him do his thing.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Not at all. It’s bullsh*t. How would you react if they silenced Joe Rogan (I don’t know if that’s a good comparison)?

On the other hand, news media fully has a responsibility to remain unbiased and report facts. That has disappeared in the USA and has crept elsewhere.

Anyway, back on point, with the exception of news media, anyone can say whatever the fck they want without breaking the law. Whether it’s funny or not is for individuals/viewers to decide. Not some bullsh*t regulator. I could take or leave Kimmel, I like Fallon and despised Colbert. But - back to principles - give me the smart and irreverent humour of someone like Ricky Gervais any day of the week and keep letting him do his thing.

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Surely, there is nothing stopping Jimmy Kimmel doing his own podcast ?

Let's see how Jimmy Kimmel gets on without a big network behind him ? !

Interestingly, it was Barack Obama that took a law off the books requiring media ( I assume national media ) to Not mislead the American People. Strange things can come from strange places in American Politics ~ ~ American Politics is very dark behind the scenes, regardless of the Soap-Opera played front of house !

The whole point of the Kimmell thing is not whether hes good or bad, whether you like him or not. Its that Trump has said, that these TV stations cant keep their license to operate if they allow hosts to criticize him. I posted the recording of it on previous page, so this is not just some theory. It's the leader of the country strong arming the media.

I read something last night that Disney, who own ABC are trying to buy Fubo TV and need the Trump admistration to approve the deal because of anti competition laws etc, and that's why they caved so quickly on Kimmell.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

The whole point of the Kimmell thing is not whether hes good or bad, whether you like him or not. Its that Trump has said, that these TV stations cant keep their license to operate if they allow hosts to criticize him. I posted the recording of it on previous page, so this is not just some theory. It's the leader of the country strong arming the media.

I read something last night that Disney, who own ABC are trying to buy Fubo TV and need the Trump admistration to approve the deal because of anti competition laws etc, and that's why they caved so quickly on Kimmell.

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You could take Lefties seriously on this sort of thing, if they had not been totally silent on people that they did not like getting sacked / de-platformed etc etc etc.

Lefties were more that happy to silence anyone that disagreed with them.

If Jimmy Kimmel was pulling in the viewers by being entertaining and funny, then he wouldn't have been doing boring political stuff in the first place.

Kimmel was only doing this stuff because he didn't have the talent to do anything else.

But eggs were expensive

You'd always kind of assume that if appointing a head of a law enforcement agency that you'd opt for somone with a background in law enforcement not a social media podcaster like Patel. It'd be like me being appointed as garda commissioner cause I'm a Dundalk fan and so was the Minister of Justice. Or a head of a key aspect of a department of defence like the pentagon being run by news presenter who then fires a bunch of military people, makes unilateral decisions on foreign policy without a president's or givernment's knowledge eg Ukraine support, has to do an about turn when its reported and next up journalists' access is revoked. If i thought it was possible that there would be a military coup in the US that would overthrow government it would be Popgun Pete. Donald acts on advice of who the last person he spoke to and soundbites from his preferred soap outlets. Patel is a lackey, Hegseth is his own person, kows what he wants and will keep trying.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

You could take Lefties seriously on this sort of thing, if they had not been totally silent on people that they did not like getting sacked / de-platformed etc etc etc.

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You're really determined to make no distinction between government action and public opinion.

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Originally Posted by John83

You're really determined to make no distinction between government action and public opinion.

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And Leftie politician's words and actions ? !

Or establishment's words and actions ? !

A recent example of the Irish establishment in action ~ Patrick Kielty said there was free speech on rte which is laughable re; Mass immigration / Trans lunacy and plenty more ~ The reality is you will get little or no coverage on Rte if you do not support the Irish establishments ( political / general ) agenda.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

And Leftie politician's words and actions ? !

Or establishment's words and actions ? !

A recent example of the Irish establishment in action ~ Patrick Kielty said there was free speech on rte which is laughable re; Mass immigration / Trans lunacy and plenty more ~ The reality is you will get little or no coverage on Rte if you do not support the Irish establishments ( political / general ) agenda.

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Which MAGA in the US! What you accuse RTE of is similar to main stream US media no? Only covering onesided agenda. Or does it not count when its the agenda you agree with.

This is part of the crux with what is happening in the US, if check and balances are eroded, judiciary and government are not seperated, journalists excluded if they dont follow the party line, well what happens when there is a change of government in the future, possibly 3 years time. Suddenly the leftie communists are able to exploit the mechanisms put in place by their opposition, except they will have the advantage of not having to use time to build a system to suit authoritarian rule. It will be there from day dot allowing them 4 years of solidifying control in to permanent rule. Thanks very much MAGA!

Do you think that the Left has contributed to where America ( and Western Countries ) is today ?

Do you ever not answer a question with a question?

Of course the left has contributed to where things are today. How far back do you want to go and on what, French Revolution, Bolsheviks, universal suffarage, civil rights, social inclusion, workers rights, free education (if I say universal healthcare no doubt that will be the buzz focus of ire).

Be more specific, what is it specifically that 'the left' has done to get us where we are today, how has the right made a contribution? What western countries? What is the left or right in your view. A person can be conservative and agree that a civil rights act is a good thing or not, like Charlie Kirk albeit he flip flopped.

Next question....

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Do you ever not answer a question with a question?

Of course the left has contributed to where things are today. How far back do you want to go and on what, French Revolution, Bolsheviks, universal suffarage, civil rights, social inclusion, workers rights, free education (if I say universal healthcare no doubt that will be the buzz focus of ire).

Be more specific, what is it specifically that 'the left' has done to get us where we are today, how has the right made a contribution? What western countries? What is the left or right in your view. A person can be conservative and agree that a civil rights act is a good thing or not, like Charlie Kirk albeit he flip flopped.

Next question....

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With regard to America, why did the Democrats come up with such a bad candidate as Hillary Clinton after Obama ~ Plainly the American people just did not trust her, and they were probably correct on that. Hillary wasn't able to convince them ( or fool them ) like many other dodgy politicians.

The Democrats haven't had a decent candidate since Obama ( and was he actually all that good in his second term anyway ? )

The Democrats are pretty useless now, and seem to have a talent of coming down on the wrong side of even 80 / 20 issues ! !

Maybe, if the Democrats actually got their act together ( apparently they can't ) then, that would be a good thing !

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Originally Posted by passinginterest

How do you change these extreme views if you don't keep trying to engage?

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You can't, and you shouldn't. People have studied this, the current glut of conspiracy theorists and pig-headed idiots simply cannot be brought around, it just doesn't work. So you go with the only solution that has ever actually worked on forums, and other communities, you don't feed the trolls; you take the advice of your mammy, you ignore the bully, you walk away.

And it has to be said, at this point it's the fault of the people responding, because this is hardly a new idea, it's not something they haven't heard before. They can't learn either. They just can't resist feeding their own egos, trying to "win". All they need to do is converse with the normal people, and ignore the cretins. It's really as simple as that.

And none of them will do this. Even if they stop for a day, a week, they'll start again, or another idiot will come along and engage. It's pathetic to watch.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

the Communists will kill you as soon as it suits them, and as soon as they have the power to do so, Because killing is the only thing that Communists are really good at.

AOC, Pocahontas, Jasmine Crockett, ( three off the top of my head ) ~ As I say it hard to differentiate between the Democrats cos-playing as Communists and the Democrats that would be Communists if they had the power to be Totalitarian Communists !

What Communists say and what Communists do doesn't very often tie in together.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

It's the killing Communists that I don't like, and that is all Communists when they get the power to do their Communist killing.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

Lefties don't take it well when you don't agree with them.

Lefties are often very insecure for some reason. I wonder why that is ?

Is it because deep down they know, that the vast majority of Lefty leaders are cos-playing as Lefties and are actually doing extraordinarily well from capitalism and are actually not going to do the stuff they are cos-playing with !

That must have a weird affect on ordinary lefties !

Re Communism = How come Communism always produces Elite Communists = It happens every time !

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

I have been a lefty when I was younger, As I grew older and particularly watching the lefties of about the last 15 years,

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

You could take Lefties seriously on this sort of thing

Lefties were more that happy to silence anyone that disagreed with them.

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Debate or the bait?

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Originally Posted by dahamsta

You can't, and you shouldn't. People have studied this, the current glut of conspiracy theorists and pig-headed idiots simply cannot be brought around, it just doesn't work. So you go with the only solution that has ever actually worked on forums, and other communities, you don't feed the trolls; you take the advice of your mammy, you ignore the bully, you walk away.

And it has to be said, at this point it's the fault of the people responding, because this is hardly a new idea, it's not something they haven't heard before. They can't learn either. They just can't resist feeding their own egos, trying to "win". All they need to do is converse with the normal people, and ignore the cretins. It's really as simple as that.

And none of them will do this. Even if they stop for a day, a week, they'll start again, or another idiot will come along and engage. It's pathetic to watch.

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Im learning from the 'engagement'. Its not an ego thing, or a trying to change the unchangable - its more an experiment, a curiosity, probitive, seeing how things can be pushed. Isnt it pathetic to watch the pathetic or is it a curiosity in itself. They say attack the post not the poster, so calling people idiots, hardly an example to set dahamsta. You are frustrated obiously, you can look away too! You also have now been trolled in to a response.

In light of the terrible assassination of Charlie Kirk ~ It is clear that a lot of Lefties are having a crisis with the way the Left has been carrying on !

I see that Charlie Kirk's widow has forgiven the killer of her husband !

I hope for the best for the Lefties, but I am not so sure that everybody else will be as forgiving as Charlie Kirk's widow !

A mad right wing dirtbag (his views were absolutely abhorrent and the world is a better place without him) was shot by an even madder right wing lunatic- where does the left come into this at all? Did some of them say hurty words or something? Obviously murder is wrong but there is no compulsion to pretend the guy was anything other than completely awful. No more that I'd pretend Horst Wessel was some kind of hero, and for the exact same reasons.

The would be Trump assassins were right wingers too. There isn't really a both sides here, the vast, vast majority of political violence in the US has come from the right.

But the increasingly authoritarian and evil administration doesn't care about truth and will use any excuse to feed their agenda.

We can only hope they are stopped before they do too much damage to their country and the wider world.