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Why is it TV Pundits and Chat Shows Bother With the Likes of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh; Surely it is "Bottom Feeding"?

I would say that journalists have a duty to bottom feed. The 24/7 news cycle makes such slumming inevitable and, actually, "fun." Since wise viewers know that they have to take everything they hear with a grain of salt at this time, they instinctively enjoy comic relief, the levity of, say, an Ann Coulter and a Rush Limbaugh. These people are entertainers and sensible people enjoy seeing just how far such court jesters go in prostituting themselves for the oligarchs or, as is the case of Limbaugh if not quite yet Coulter, self-dealing in tax breaks in order to push the Bush Economic Doctrine of trickle-down, the federal taxation equivalent of a pyramid scheme, a shameful giveaway to the smallest number for the greatest damage to middle class workers and the poor.

Besides, Ann and Rush are such fine specimens of the homo sapien type.

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on October 31, 2012 at 6:15pm

Quite right. And BTW, are you any relation to Franklin Pangborn? (Just kidding.)

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Permalink Reply by Russell Pangborn on November 2, 2012 at 1:05pm

As far as I know James, I'm not related to Franklin Pangborn the actor, Edgar Pangborn the author or Clyde Pangborn known as "upside down Pangborn" who was the stunt pilot and the first person to fly non stop across the Pacific Ocean.

Kind of makes me want to do something significant for the Pangborn name. Maybe I could become a famous outrageous bigoted talk show host and make a ton of money.

Nah - I've got too much pride in trying to be a reasonable citizen of the world.

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on November 2, 2012 at 8:03pm

Pride and apostacy go hand in hand. The Black Brothers like to put us down because we not only reject "God," we spit on their crapulous creeds.

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Permalink Reply by Beth KZ on October 31, 2012 at 8:13pm

Glen Beck also makes a good salesmen for particular gold dealers. Think of his cable channel as an infomercial.

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Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on October 31, 2012 at 9:57pm

I think those people are basically clowns. The people who believe them are also clowns.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Feeney on October 31, 2012 at 11:59pm

When it comes to what I call corporate media, I have some experience on the subject. I gave some Opening Words about media at the Ethical Society of St. Louis a couple of months ago; the theme of Platform that day was "Ethical Society vs. NPR".

Here's what I said that day: http://ethicalstl.org/blogs/opening-words/opening-words-from-sun-au...

And if you're interested, here's the Platform address given that day by our Leader, Kate Lovelady: http://www.ethicalstl.org/platforms/ESSTLPlatform2012-08-26.mp3

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Permalink Reply by Russell Pangborn on November 2, 2012 at 1:17pm

I liked your opening words on media Brent. As a Canadian it was nice to hear your positive reference to the CBC as a good source for news. Hopefully our current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper does not damage it too much with his planned funding cuts to this proud, storied Canadian institution.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Feeney on November 2, 2012 at 4:22pm

Thanks Russell. Very much appreciated. =)

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Permalink Reply by Toni B on November 4, 2012 at 2:37pm

$$. They wouldn't produce them if they couldn't make money and they couldn't make money if nobody watched or listened. (I'm quite sure I'm repeating what others have said.)

MY gripe is Nancy Grace--that's scraping the bottom of the barrel for money

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Permalink Reply by Pat on November 4, 2012 at 2:49pm

Nancy Grace is not the bottom of the barrel. You find her when you pick up the barrel, and underneath it, see the white worms crawling through the rotting detritus. As unethical as they get.