Right Radio

[serratia]

My husband has often asked me how I can stand to listen to right-wing radio talk show hosts. I've told him that I like hearing differing points of view, and that I am most interested to hear if there is rationale behind the opinions (instead of dogma such as "that's how it's always been done" or "that's what the Bible says

Comments

[greenshadows]

I can't believe that wretched old harpie is still stinking up the airwaves. I know you're strong enough not to let that shit rot your brains but WOW, I couldn't do it. :/

[resonant]

She's one of the few people banned from the radio in Canada by the CRTC (the only other one I know is Ernst Zundel, a neo-nazi Holocaust-denying asshole).

[serratia]

Haha, *seriously*? She's banned from being on the air anywhere in the entire *country*??? That's awesome! :)

[resonant]

To be precise, the CRTC took action against the station that broadcast the hate-filled rants of an unqualified person calling herself a doctor while giving medical and/or psychological counseling.

She's not BANNED, but she either has to obey the law when on the air (which she refused to do, very loudly, saying something about amendments or whatever, ignoring the fact that it's a different country), or the radio stations get in trouble. So, the radio stations are reluctant to let her mouth near a live microphone.

[griffen]

She is such a bitch. Sorry, but that's really the only word that applies and has enough force.

I don't poison my mind with her garbage or any right-winger's shows. I don't have the time for it.

[serratia]

I can definitely see your point, and her rhetoric is evil and destructive. For *myself*, though, I find it fascinating to observe the psychological methods she and others like her use to retain their audiences.

It's surprising to see how many people are terrified at the thought of making their own life decisions without the reassurance of their "guru" that they are doing the right thing.

They can't accept that often there *is* no one "right" choice-- that there are tradeoffs, advantages, disadvantages, and a number of possible approaches to their ultimate goal.

People like Dr. Laura infantilize the masses for their own profit, and that's reprehensible.

[octopus_garden]

I didn't even know that cunt was still around. I thought she was hiding in her other identity as Ann Coulter....

[serratia]

Now that I think of it... you never see those two in the same place at the same time. Kinda like Michael and LaToya...

[laura_oneiden]

...what's also sad is that these folks apparently have no one in their lives to talk to about this and "have" to call Dr. L. I haven't listened to her in years...I wonder if she likes anyone other than herself...

[serratia]

I think you hit the nail right on the head-- they either have nobody... or else all the "somebodies" in their lives are also relying on people like Dr. Laura for their "morality." There is no capacity for independent thought.

Ya know, for all the ballyhoo about being "My kid's mom" and the "proper care and feeding of husbands," I'll bet you dollars to donuts that most (if not all) of her interpersonal relationships suck. I had heard some things about her son having a MySpace page where he posted his own picture with a handgun in his mouth and some other messed up pictures and text. Then suddenly the page vanished and Dr. Laura was telling everyone it was a fake.

I'll bet she's paying him off (and maybe hubby too) to shut up and pretend everything is idyllic in their little worlds. It won't work forever, though-- someday the "shocking" tell-all memoirs will be published...

[manoman]

I've come to the conclusion that the Dr, Lauras and Rush Limbaughs of our media are opportunists who are making a load of money by feeding the elements of the right who are fearful and hungry for support in their fear.

I can imagine the staffs of these people running around digging for things to keep the audience stirred up.

[serratia]

I agree that they exploit people who are too mentally/emotionally weak to do their own thinking, and who need their morality spoon-fed to them and constantly reinforced via the medium of the radio program.

I could just imagine people like this in California last month thinking to themselves, "Hey, I'm about to go out and vote-- so... are we still supposed to be hating gay people...?" *clicks radio on... hears bigoted anti-gay POV being trumpeted by favorite host* "Yup, yup, just as I thought-- gays are still evil and damned to eternal hellfire..." *clicks radio off and goes out to vote YES on Prop 8*