General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt's Fox's fault. All of it. Most of the crazies in Congress and dysfunctional gov't. All Fox.
Fox started in 1996. There was a big shift in politics at that time. It allowed more bat shit crazy republicans to get elected by making it seem normal to be bat shit crazy.
Yes, we've always had a few wing nuts in Congress, let's say 10-20% pre 1996 (cough-Gingrich-cough). Now I'm not sure you can find that many sane republicans.
I used to think Fox was harmless because fewer than 2M ppl watched. So what of it melted the minds of 2M Americans. But it also melted the minds of people who ran for office. With gerrymandering they can even get elected. The crazier you are, the more air time you get on Fox AND Fox will defend you if you are crazy enough.
Look at this and the last presidential GOP primary. I'm guessing the powers that be kept the likes of Trump and Cain out of sight before Fox but Fox intimidated the GOP suits. I don't remember a primary pre Fox with so many nut cases in the race.
Fox emboldened the nuts in the party and intimidated the sane ones.
It's starting to backfire but if the Dems don't go after state houses in 2020 we'll be stuck with it longer than necessary. 2016 is important but the stakes are higher in 2020.
tridim
(45,358 posts)phantom power
(25,966 posts)world wide wally
(21,754 posts)The power of television is even greater than most of us want to give it credit for.
I remember the first time I saw Fox News in a motel lobby sometime in the 90's. I instantly noticed that it was wall to wall coverage of Clinton and eventually lead to the impeachment procedures.
Here we are 20 years later and it is wall to wall Benghazi in their attempt to slime another Clinton.
Sometimes i think America has permanently lost its collective grip on reality thanks to the folks at Fox.
New Orleans Strong
(212 posts)It's propaganda. It is a plan. It's a machine. A thresher that cuts down any reason. It's a muscle relaxer that loosens any grip on reality that these people may, (or may not) have ever had. I've read much on Rwanda, and the similarities are chilling. Just chilling. Look no further than what happened at a mosque in Arizona today. "F... Muslims" t-shirts at a FREEDOM AND FAMILY! event. Fox has normalized this. This! This is now patriotism. Hating Americans is a litmus test for being one of these "True" Americans.
Glad I'm old. I am truly glad I am old - And great post W3.
New Orleans Strong
(212 posts)Geraldo... http://crooksandliars.com/2015/05/geraldo-rivera-soulless-freak-i-report-you
11 year olds who are raped by their Dads MUST carry the child(ren) to term, but poor Denny! Nice.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)listened to that nonsense all day long.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)And since that time, both religion and the GOP have run to the fundamentalist extremes in both politics and religion. This cost them some supporters but solidified the rest of their bases.
Since not long after that I have not been able to talk to friends/family who were either religious or republican. They're impossible to talk with because they refuse to give in when faced with reason or facts.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)Jerry Falwell's Morale Majority (which it was neither) and then in the 80's with Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition did the rest. That is when the GOP turned into a theocratic party.
Hamlette
(15,412 posts)not any more. They just call us liars when we point out some fact. They say the only news that is truthful is Fox and if I got my info from any other source it is a lie. It's the bubble. They never talk to/hear anything else so they are shocked and refuse to believe it.
They might have cooked their own goose, and in some way maybe we should be thankful it didn't happen on our side. Only old people watch Fox and not sure how they can change their model to keep viewers. Young 'uns are not buying into their shit on religion with 75% of them saying "religion is not important to me". Not godless yet, but a start.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)Romeo.lima333
(1,127 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)And becoming dinos doesn't help at all.
pansypoo53219
(20,991 posts)calimary
(81,440 posts)FINALLY!!!! Shoulda started this at least a decade ago!!!!
DAYUM it takes our side a long time to catch on.
http://dlcc.org/news/dlcc-launches-advantage-2020-key-success-next-round-redistricting-70-million-plus-effort
Hamlette
(15,412 posts)My friends got sick of me wringing my hands about the fact no one was talking about it in 2009 and 2010.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)Iowa and NH Republicans voting in the primaries are essentially Foxbotrons, all who wish to be nominated must kiss the ring of Ailes the Hut.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Encourages other media people to follow the same formula. No lack of sleazes in the US. And no lack of suckers.
Initech
(100,099 posts)DCBob
(24,689 posts)who have brainwashed the ignorant masses. If we as Democrats don't face this fact and find a way to deal with it we are doomed.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)He closed all the mental hospitals, and turned them loose.
Now, the inmates are truly running the asylum.
world wide wally
(21,754 posts)Thanks, Fox!
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)channel has nearly destroyed this country, and other parts of the world.