Re: A response to your comment in Chris's livejournal, but I figured I'd post it heresidneymcdangerJune 3 2005, 19:39:36 UTC
You may be right when you say that a healthy political opinion cannot come from one book, but you have some grave misconceptions about this book, it would seem (you might, too, Jon. Only the first few chapters are about media bias). Of course he has a point to make, and maybe Al Franken is willing to be deceptive to make his point, but his deception comes from showing an exceedingly partisan argument, not from lying outright. He cites facts and statistics in his book, and has many direct quotes and verbatim passages to support his arguments. I own many of the books that he picks apart, and all of his claims are supported by the sources that he cites. I have researched many of them. The problem: he only uses evidence supporting his agenda. This is where we get to your comment about liberal and conservative thought. He is a knowledgeable liberal author, and he has many opinions that I and other liberals agree with. That does not, by any means, mean that there is no such thing as a good conservative argument. In the chapter, "I Bitch-Slap Bernie Goldberg," Al mentions how a caller on the show where he bitch slaps Bernie Goldberg complains that they brought on an articulate liberal and an idiot conservative (I am paraphrasing). Even Al Franken recognizes that there is such a thing as an articulate conservative argument. The problem is, if it is a better, more sensible manner of thinking, both morally and politically, why would they have to lie so goddamn much?
Re: A response to your comment in Chris's livejournal, but I figured I'd post it heretyler87936June 3 2005, 22:31:44 UTC
Well that's very interesting, and I have to admit that I do have very limited knowledge about this book in particular. I just know who Al Franken is (in other words, an SNL comedian) and I know what his agenda is, so I imagined the book was just a reflection of the two. Not to mention how sick I am of actors and comedians offering their political commentary, as if they are somehow in a better position to critique the government, and its our duty to listen to them, so I probably took Al's writing cum grano salis. Al Franken's a bit better, I guess, because the guy is at least educated and everything. I appreciate you recognizing (and Al, I guess) such a thing as an articulate conservative argument. But in response to your final question, I think it's a pretty unreasonable statement to make that conservatives notoriously lie more than liberals. It's not true. Both lie. Lying isn't a trait inherent in conservativism, but rather in politics in general.
Re: A response to your comment in Chris's livejournal, but I figured I'd post it heresidneymcdangerJune 4 2005, 09:41:11 UTC
You're getting caught up in the language. Just because politicians will invariably try to deceive you does not mean that they are are willing to outright lie to you. I addressed this. Republicans tend to be willing to just lie to the public. Democrats tend to deceive by misdirection. Conservatives assume that we are stupid, and liberals think that we are lazy. I am liberal because, often, I am, in fact, lazy. That, and I am opposed to so much goddamn unethical political behavior.
Re: A response to your comment in Chris's livejournal, but I figured I'd post it heretyler87936June 4 2005, 10:37:31 UTC
Ha ha, you're right. But I think you may want to reexamine who's getting lost in language. You seem to be splitting hairs here. I see your point though.
Re: A response to your comment in Chris's livejournal, but I figured I'd post it hereclaine1283June 5 2005, 04:42:34 UTC
When I read it last summer I read it for an entertainment value, if you ever read it it is just a mish-mash of stories about run-ins Franken has had over the years with people of the conservative spectrum. There were some funny elements but nothing to make a credible argument against the right over. I think he should just stick to his SNL shtick and leave politics to the pros.
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