Total Fear Works

Posted on September 1st, 2009 by ecthompson md

bill oreilly
The Fox “News” Channel continues to win in the ratings. For the month of August, their strategy of “all fear, all the time” garners a huge amount of viewers. It doesn’t seem to matter that Bill O’Reilly literally sucks IQ points out of the head anybody who is smarter than an empty soap dish. The fact that Glenn Beck’s viewership was up 108% over August of last year is depressing.

I’m not sure what this says about America. Bill O’Reilly’s show averaged 2.2 million viewers, less than 1% of the total population. So I guess the viewers are loyal. Where are the liberal viewers? Where are the millions that voted for Barack Obama? Could it be that all the liberals have jobs? Could it be that the liberals are getting their information through a variety of sources (newspapers, radio, the Internet and television)?

All I know is that it is damn depressing to see the Fox “News” Channel continue to trounce its competitors.

Tags: Media // 10 Comments »

  • Bud Brooks

    It should be disappointing to the extreme libs, as the moderate Americans who were entranced and smitten with The Annointed One’s (Obama’s) flowery speeches have decided that it was a house of cards, and have come to their senses. Americans do not want a socialist/fascist society, which is where we were headed (note the past tense) with the Obamanation crowd.

    It’s all downhill from here for the libs. The growth in Fox’s ratings should be a “wake up and face reality” moment for the liberals and is a direct correlation with the overwhelming disgust with the administration’s hypocrisy, snobbery and incompetence.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Oh, Bud. Please.

  • Bud Brooks

    Where am I wrong?

  • margaret

    Have you thought maybe the viewers watch Fox because they need a good laugh? Nobody asks the viewers why they watch Fox. People will watch some of the reality tv shows just because they are gross or that the people fight on them. The Jerry Springer show has a huge following and why? So maybe Fox thinks they are changing peoples minds but in reality they are just being laughed at for their stupidity…. Am I dreaming?

  • Gail Gordon

    Would MSNBC have been so popular last year if it weren’t for Bush/Cheney being such an easy target? It’s easy to complain, harder to lead. I think many people have become complacent..we won….on to the next thing. Those millions who voted for Obama are content and happy and watching American Idol. But the opposition feels they have more at stake. How do you maintain the same kind of fervor supporters of Obama had during the campaign? Like his historic poll numbers, it was bound to drop.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Bud –

    Well, let’s see — the definition of fascism, as I understand it, is a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader (according to Merriam-Webster). I would like a single-payer system which allows individuals to choose their doctor and their hospital. That doesn’t sound dictatorial to me but maybe it does to you.

    The other word which you and other conservatives throw out there is socialism. Socialism, as I understand it, again, is any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. Let’s look at single-payer, again — hospitals continue to be privately owned. Physicians continue to be in group practices or hospital-based or solo practice as they so choose. The government is paying for healthcare. Socialism or a socialistic system would be like the VA where doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and hospitals are all employees of the government.

    The systems that Dems have proposed in Congress keep the current system of health insurance in place. How the hell is that socialism or fascism? The Dems have proposed several lukewarm healthcare programs and conservatives simply lost their mind. As a matter of fact that is capitalism over reason. Conservatives complain about the price tag but we can significantly bring down the price tag by cutting out private insurance companies. Business (Big and Small) become more competitive. They can start spending more money on their business and completely stop spending money on healthcare. Yet, conservatives oppose making business more competitive.

    I continue to marvel at the way you and other conservatives bash the VA system since it is socialism. I want to know why you aren’t advocating for different system? You continue to say that the government is inefficient, incompetent and simply awful. You also say that you love veterans and the military. Don’t our soldiers deserve better? Why aren’t you advocating for dismantling the VA system?

    Finally, please tell me anything that the administration has done which would be described as snobbery? Hypocrisy and incompetence — I’ll be happy to put the Obama administration up against the Bush administration any day. We can compare the first six months of the Obama administration to the first six months of George W. Bush’s administration. We can see who accomplished what.

    Okay, seriously, what is it that you as a conservative want in healthcare? Do you want to continue the current system which will eat up 25% of our gross national product by the year 2025? Do you advocate a different system if so what? Please start with a blank slate. You have the power to create Bud’s healthcare system. What’s in it? I’m looking forward to your thoughtful answer.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Gail –

    Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    No Margaret –

    You might be on to something.

  • Bud Brooks

    I am not using fascism and socialism with respect to healthcare only; I am talking about the entire spectrum of Obama’s policies. And everyone knows that one the public option plan is in place, employers will ditch their private palns for the less-costly public plan. But those definitions do fit Obama’s plans.

    Businesses use employee benefits as an attraction and retention tool for getting an keeping the best employees.

    I don’t recall making any comments about the VA.

    Snobbery: how about the nasty ways in which the Dems called out their constituents at the Town Hall meetings? How many treated the attendees like third-rate numbskulls and idiots?

    Let’s see: first 6 months. Obama has quadrupled the national debt. Hard to beat that one.

    And why is it bad that healthcare is 20% of GDP? (it’s not 25%). That 20% creates millions of jobs for people. Why don’t we complain about the “burden” of the manufacturing sector, or the retail industry, or the whatever?

    I’ll get back to you on your last request!

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Bud –

    Thanks for your response.

    Are you working for an insurance company? That is the only explanation for some of your statements.

    You said that the White House (administration’s) was snobbish. So, are your amending your statement? Did you mean to say Liberals and not Obama’s White House?

    Businesses can use other tools like salaries to attract employees. As a matter of fact, it frees up plenty of money so that salaries of average workers and not just those in the front office can raise.

    Finally, I would ask you to read the section entitled SEC. 314. AUTHORITY RELATED TO IMPROPER STEERING of HB. 3200. All of the bills being considered in Congress have a provision that would prevent dumping. Have you read the bills? I can provide links if you need them. Here’s HB 3200.

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