What’s It Gonna Be, Fellas?

February 8th, 2008 | by Craig |

It’s taken as an article of faith on the left that conservatives and Republicans pretty much mindlessly follow whatever the radio pundits tell them to do.

How, then, to explain the emergence of McCain as the presumptive Republican nominee, against the apparent consternation of said hosts?

  1. 17 Responses to “What’s It Gonna Be, Fellas?”

  2. By Mike on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply

    You didn’t get the decoder ring, Craig? It’s…wait a minute…a CONSPIRACY. Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Coulter, and the others are only trying to fool us (and themselves) into not supporting McCain so that he looks more moderate to people on the meshuganah left who wouldn’t vote for him anyway. It’s a delicious form of group psychosis that we all get a glimpse of from time to time.

  3. By Eric Coobs on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply

    I think it goes to show you that the talk radio hosts don’t have that much influence.

  4. By Mark T on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply

    Er, uh, do you like serve something to drink through your strawmen?

  5. By Craig on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply

    You keep using that word, “strawmen.” I do not think it means what you think it means.

  6. By Doug on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply

    And those same hosts supposedly receive their talking points directly from the RNC. I think I’m getting as much enjoyment out of the left’s reaction to the crackup as they are getting from the crackup itself.

  7. By Jim - PRS on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply

    I think they were just outgunned by those on the other side, which is to say the MSM.

  8. By Mark T on Feb 9, 2008 | Reply

    I rarely use the term straw man. You’re confusing me with thoughtful people. But you’re right, I think - here you merely characterized the “left”, by which I assume you mean to include all Democrats and liberals, from centrist righties to Nader rejectionists, as people who characterize your side as “mindlessly follow whatever the radio pundits tell them to do.” Then you skillfully refuted the claim you put in our lap with the McCain example.

    In fact, you have zeroed in on the opinion of one or two of us have of Eric Coobs. Nothing more.

  9. By Mark T on Feb 9, 2008 | Reply

    Hey - by the way, this rumor that talk show hosts get their talking points from the RNC stems from the fact that the RNC puts out a talking points memo to talk show hosts every weekday. We lefties so careless and radical!

  10. By JP on Feb 9, 2008 | Reply

    Boy, I never got one… I feel very left out. Thanks Mark.

  11. By Mark T on Feb 9, 2008 | Reply

    You’re a long time away.

  12. By Doug on Feb 9, 2008 | Reply

    Yes, Mark, I’m sure the RNC, DNC, and CCC all send out talking points. Are you arguing that these talk show hosts base their own talking points around these? (Which was my point to begin with - but I’m sure you know that)

  13. By Chad on Feb 10, 2008 | Reply

    Maybe the people who paid all that attention to the talk-radio types (the influencees) simply got tired of doing so. Doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. Just might not be happening now. Anecdotally, I see a whole lot less of people rushing (pun not intended) to their cars at certain hours of the day to tune in Limbaugh where they couldn’t be disturbed. And this is something I saw quite a lot of, but now not so much.

    Maybe they listen on the internet. I don’t know.

    But times and attitudes do change, and it does not necessarily follow that because Limbaugh and his rotten ilk do not have the same influence in this election as might be expected, that they didn’t have that influence in previous elections, nor for that matter they may have in future elections.

  14. By Mark T on Feb 10, 2008 | Reply

    I first heard of the existence of the daily talking points memo sent to talk show hosts from a book by Kevin Phillips, and I looked for it and don’t have the book anymore. And anyway, my information would be no better than the source, but I believe that entry was footnoted. But I don’t even remember which book it was, so I cannot cite, and will leave it at that.

    I don’t know how important this is, or how much influence the memos have, and doubt that people of such reliable opinions as right wing talkers need much herding. It would be merely a good management practice, an attempt to keep them on message.

  15. By Craig on Feb 11, 2008 | Reply

    In fact, you have zeroed in on the opinion of one or two of us have of Eric Coobs. Nothing more.

    Poke around for the phrase “parrot Limbaugh” or “parrot Hannity,” etc., and you’ll get the picture.

    Typically, I use the term “the left,” much as you use the term “right-wingers,” as a catch-all.

    For future reference, when I say “the left,” it doesn’t necessarily include “Mark T.”

  16. By Eric Coobs on Feb 11, 2008 | Reply

    My my Mark T, I’ve been nice to you for a long time… maybe it’s time to start smacking you down again…..

  17. By Mark T on Feb 11, 2008 | Reply

    I use the term “right wingers” to distinguish most of you from conservatives. I just had an interesting exchange with Carol at Missouapolis in which she defined herself as a conservative and used a rational and logical definition that would set her apart from most of the Republican Party. I like that. I respect conservatives. Both of them.

    Eric - bring it on.

  18. By Mark T on Feb 11, 2008 | Reply

    That being said, I include you on my list of conservatives. Eric not.

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