Lou Dobbs -- Truth Telling Hero or Creepy Conservative Zero?

[Armstead]

There seem to be a lot of mixed opinions about CNN's Lou Dobbs.

Some say he's doing a great job at going after the administration and at bringing out important long-neglected issues like the abuse of corporate power, the scam of "free trade globalization," and the destruction of the American middle class and workers.

But others say he is just another creepy conservative. His critics say his economic populism is just a pose. Or that he hates immigrants and foreigners and all non-white minorities.

Or people have mixed feelings about him.

What say you?

[otohara]

1. I Liked Him One Month Ago

during the Dubai thingy - leave the Mexican's alone Lou!

[rudy23]

6. I often disagree with him BUT I'll take him over a neocon shill

any day of the week.

I don't doubt that there is some xenophobia behind Lou's views on immigration. It's not his stance so much, as some of the language he uses. However, he is one of the only media voices who stands up for the middle class, and sees that this administration is selling us out. I'll take that any way I can get it, especially since some conservatives will listen to what he's saying.

For whatever xenophobic feelings he might have, he seems to be more motivated by what motivates many of us who are against illegal immigration--speaking out against the corporate love affair with cheap labor, which drives down wages for all of us who are not upper class.

[goclark]

41. I agree ~ he needs to leave his

views about the Hispanics out of this~ didn't I hear him say that the Minutemen are doing good work?

[Armstead]

2. If you vote, an occasional kick would be appreciated

Sometimes polls get a lot of votes but disappear because people don;t comment.

So comments or an occasional :kick: would be appreciated.

[Marie26]

4. Creepy conservative zero!

There, I commented. :)

[Klukie]

5. How do you kick a thread?

[Armstead]

19. You just did... When someone replies to a post, it is kicked up the list.

[Klukie]

23. Hey thanks...

I'm not so computer savy.

[Orrex]

3. Thanks to Lou

I learned that every single problem in America is caused by Mexicans. Why else would immigration demand a prominent 10 minute spot in every night's broadcast no matter what other event might be newsworthy on a given day?

[saltpoint]

7. Lou's a smart guy and he's become a celebrity analyst, but

he's definitely not the best journalist out there.

10 minutes of Bill Moyers is worth the entire box set of Lou Dobbs.

[Armstead]

10. I'll agree with you there.

But rather than Moyers the real comparison is to the boneheads that actually work in the MSM these days.

10 minutes of Dobbs is worth the box set of corporate apologists and Elite Beltway Snoozers like Greenfield, Feinman, Tweety, Blitzer, etc.

[saltpoint]

13. Ok. The shift is understandable. When I like Lou, I like him a lot.

When I don't, same holds.

I'd like to have seen him tear into the administration over the Patriot Act instead of Immigration.

[Armstead]

15. He been starting to do that too

[realFedUp]

8. A fifty minute man

:-)

[Pirate Smile]

9. I voted for option #2.

"I respect him and often agree with him but also disagree with him often."

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. I can't stand him. He was one of the BIGGEST & LOUDEST Iraq invasion

supporters.

He did good when he stopped the Dubai deal, but that's the ONLY thing good I can say about him.

[msgadget]

12. He's a one issue guy

and doesn't help matters one little bit. This globalization thing is gonna keep on happenin', we're a nation of immigrants - legal and illegal - and him endlessly pointing out the resulting negative aspects makes them feel even worse than they are. There's always more than one side to an issue except with Lou Dobbs.

I dislike the immigration bills because they ignore the major cause of the mass immigration from Mexico and South America - employers enticing cheap labor across the border and our trade agreements, chiefly NAFTA. Without anyone speaking about them or the other causes of poverty this is just a way for the corporate oligarchy to keep on keepin' on without being made accountable.

[Armstead]

14. I usually agree with you -- but not on this one

Dobbs does do a lot to expose the underpinnings of globalization in other ways.

Although he focuses too much on the immigration side of it, he does put it in the proper context, which is the "Anything for a Buck" ruthless of today's Corporate Oligarchs and the rotten system they have put in place in the name of "free trade" and "competativeness."

Personally, I care less about what the entry point to this issue is (whether it be social justice or more self-interested reasons) we have to get a debate about the basic truth about the Corporate CONservative CON Job that has been sucessfuiy imposed on America for the last 30 years.

[msgadget]

17. Since it's you, Armstead...

I'm going to think about this. I have read his book and I do agree with him but at some point the mere reporting of what's happening does us no good unless he's advocating for some sort of massive uprising in opposition. Globalization is going forward thanks to the WTO, NAFTA, FTAA, etc (some of it is even vital to our security) and unless politicians - the only ones who can stop this train - are looking over their shoulders worried, I don't see how he helps us. It would help if he also reported on how we can survive in this climate. Frankly, his relentlessness leaves me rather frustrated and hopeless.

OTOH, as you say, there are MANY who wouldn't realize the extent of our hijacking were it NOT for Lou Dobbs so...okay, I stand corrected.

[Armstead]

18. Think of it in terms of consciousness...(I realize that sounds flaky)

People have come to accept a lot of unacceptable ides because it has been banged into their heads in recent decdes.

"Corporations' only responsibility is to make a profit for their investors. They ar not a social welfare agency."

"Support the idea of losing your community's factories to overseas sweatshop. It will be better for your community in the long run."

"Take as pay cut, even though your employer is profitable. He has to remaion competative."

We need to do whatever is necessary to counter such ridiculous notions and increase p
It's like the old story of the Emperors New Clothes....If the peope who point out that the king is naked has to include peopel like Dobbs and Buchanan, so be it. Whatever will put ideas and common sense back into teh mainstream is helpful. We can argue with them about the rest of it later, as long as we can agree that the Empire is Naked.

[msgadget]

20. Even better

Yes, I get your point now - it's the message, not the messenger. You have to admit, on other issues he's obnoxious and partisan. But, now that you put it this way, maybe that's a good thing because he wouldn't have such an audience if he was a lefty loony, would he? IS he getting anywhere though? The NYT did a couple pieces on him , which was shocking, they damned near promoted his show for him. But, I walk around every day and I don't see people as angry as I... I'm going to start wearing a sandwich board - maybe that'll help.

[Armstead]

21. Anger has not been acceptable under the Corporate Rules

Honest Anger....and the desire to channel it into constructive positive action....has been branded as being "against the rules" as part of the Corporate Con Job.

Instead people are supposed to be "fatalistic." That's why anger is eitehr represed, denied or sublimated these days.

That's one reason there are so many "born again" fundamentalists. Corporate values have denied a place for the spirtual and non-commercial side of life. As a result, many people turn to religion for solice -- Just as the old Plantation Slavemasters used to encouage their slaves to look to Jesus and Heaven to tolerate their current suffering instead of rebelling against it.

This all gets really complicated, but those dimensions are part of the problem we have to address, just to overcome all of the subtle (and not so subtle) nonsense that has caused people to overlook their own legitimate responses and interests.

[msgadget]

22. That's certain

and I agree about the upsurge of religion since I actually witness it. Amazing how many people are now 'born again' in these uncertain times, reaching desperately for some higher power to rescue them...and of course an administration that encourages such. Armstead, it's all so repugnant...

[donsu]

16. I think he's rightwing but discovered he could be a star and keep his

CNN job by doing the immigrant thing.

[Ronnie]

25. I agree.

I think he saw what happened with Anderson Cooper because of his reporting during Katrina. Then he (Dobbs) pushed the Dubai Ports reaction and that went well for him. The immigration issue probably looked like low-hanging fruit. I think for him it's all about Lou.

[blm]

24. He supported corpo-fascist enablers like Roberts and Alito and dumped on

the Dems who spoke against their anti-worker agenda.

He recently fell back on the meme that both parties were the same after FAILING to report on Kerry's record or his pro-worker, pro-environment, pro-small business economic plans and his comprehensive healthcare plan.

I blame guys like Lou Dobbs for bending over backwards to NOT REPORT on many economic issues when they are the ones who influence much of the economic perspective of the rest of the media.

[JStuart]

26. take the good with the bad...

he wins some and loses some. His stance on illegal immigration is actually anti-administration.

[blm]

27. Not the point - he FAILED to do his job during a two-year campaign cycle

when it mattered most to average Americans.

He's a finance reporter - he refused to report or cover the campaign issues that people needed to know. In fact, he went out of his way to MISREPORT on the issues as if being a laissez-faire capitalist was the same as being a free but FAIRER global trader.

[ShortnFiery]

28. But IMO it's also too simplistic ...

The republicans always are able to be apologetic for the Businesses who hire illegal aliens saying that, in essence, they we're duped by the illicit paper mill on the boarder.

Several things need to work in concert. One of them being the flourishment of labor unions.

It's going to be a long hard struggle but it's easy to blame those "little brown people" pouring across the border vice the selfish business who love the fact that it keeps wages bottomed out.

Yes, this is a very serious and complex problem.

Lou is not addressing the whole picture.

[mdmc]

29. the msm guy that hates beaners, right?

I don't watch msm (I saw dobbs on real time - He was introduced as the guy that does not like mexicans? lol)

[KoKo]

30. I picked your #2 to be fair to him.....but I still think he's a

"Libertarian/Racist Whore" for the Right Wing who might have a small populist streak down the middle of his back that itches him so much he occasionally has to cry out in pain.

[radio4progressives]

31. I voted "other"

Like almost all Libertarians that I know personally, Lou Dobbs is Right On about some things, and way off on other things...

As a Leftist who tends to lean Socialist Libertarian, I understand the thinking of Libertarians like Dobbs, except for their visceral hatred for all things not white, which is often difficult for them to conceal.

People, Libertarians absolutely hates Government. They rather see Education treated like Free Market Enterprise. Don't want to be taxed for public services like Roads, bridges, Public Saftey, including Police and Fire - they dont' think taxes should be paid for anything.

I could on! but what's the point?

I don't even understand how anyone on DU (Liberals)would even give Dobbs a nod for anything - except for the fact that he bashes Bush. and that's why Liberals are sucked into to Dobbs. Because he bashes Bush as much as he does the Dems.

C'mon people! wake the fuck up!

[Armstead]

34. Here's why we need people of ALL stripes to wake up

Here's my take on this.

It becomes increasingly IMPOSSIBLE to debate or address any issues if we don't deal with the fundamental structural threat to our entire economic and political system that transcends "politics as usual."

That threat is by the inscreasing concentration of wealth and power on a structural and systemic basis. that fundamental restructuring odf our sytstem is undermining the usual venues for the ongoing differences libertarians and traditional conservatives and liberals and progressives and socialists,

The true "free market" as well as the "public sector" are both threatened by this. So, for example, it becomes incrteasingly irrelevant debating whether public or private healthcare is preferable if the government and the entire medical industry are in the grip of a few oligarchs and corporate empires...It makes any debate between liberals and conservatives over the best health care system an exercise in futility because neither side in that disagreement has any damn power to do anything about it.

The same thing goes for most other issues. We cn't deal with racism, for example, if the majority of people in all races are slaves on the corporate plantation.

So, while I may not like the attitude of people like Dobbs on many issues, I do welcome him if he is at lest willing to address the fundamental problem that threatens to make ourt differences irrelevant.

Save America. Then we can all go back to fighting pover specific issues.

[old_techie]

37. Right on.

Why should anybody care if he is left, right, up, down or sideways if he maintains a list of companies that outsource jobs? - a taboo topic with the major media.

[OhioChick]

32. I like Lou

and agree with much that he has to say.

[RB TexLa]

33. Wrong on ports deal, wrong on immigration, wrong on free trade

but then again I don't think anyone would be the lest bit surprised if he ended his show with the phrase "if it ain't white, it ain't right"

[Elwood P Dowd]

35. Wrong on free trade?

Every so called free trade deal we've entered has been a colossal failure. They're not even free trade as prescribed by David Ricardo, the father of free trade.

Look at NAFTA and all the promises made about that agreement. In each case, the exact opposite of the promise has become the reality.

[Elwood P Dowd]

40. Still waiting for all this great free trade news

that Lou Dobbs was wrong about.

[outraged19]

36. While I am not allowed to vote as a new member in this poll...

I would like to add my opinion. Lou Dobbs focuses on national issues which other media ignores. While he does voice his own opinion, in most of telecasts he has knowledgeable, involved commentators on the issue from both sides and allows them to counterpoint both him and the opposed. He frequently welcomes back members from sides of the issues.

I don't agree with reference to Lou exposing the GOP. He exposes the failures of both major political parties to represent the American citizens interests over the last 30 years. He is the only one pointing out that there is a revolving door between government workers in the nation and corporate lobbying organizations and CEO positions. He emphasizes the lack of accountabilty the government has shown to the public. Eg. His basic question on the announcement of DeLay's resignation in light of corruption was to ask if Delay leaves behind his pension or other benefits or penalized in any way. Who else is pointing that out?

[Blue_Tires]

38. i don't watch

so i voted 'lou who?'

[lovuian]

39. I voted #1 He has been onto the destruction of the

American middle class by Bush... He has pounded the message over and over again

He's been on the side of the American worker...

He's a Hero after the media has been just propoganda for Bush!!!:loveya:

[shadowknows69]

42. A little from column A.....

n/t

[cry baby]

43. kick

[Swamp Rat]

44. Other

I like it when he attacks Bushler.