Are cable news pundits making people dumber?

Regarding FAUX "News," we know the answer. But what about MSNBC and CNN? Their pundits bombard the screen 24/7 and with a few exceptions like Keith Olbermann, Rachael Maddow and Eugene Robinson, most of them are hopeless idiots. It's possible this primary might have been over months ago if pundits hadn't filled the airwaves with meaningless braying.

If Obama or Hillary cuts a fart, it's the lead story for a week with the talking heads giving it more coverage than Iraq. Conversely, McCain could eat a baby in Times Square and it would barely receive a mention.

Newspapers are dying out and far too many people can't or won't use the net to stay informed. At one time news really was NEWS. Today, it's pablum fed to the masses to put them into a coma. And it won't change as long as the MSM is owned by corporations. Perhaps a Democratic president and a Democratically dominated congress can reinstate the fairness doctrine for starters.

I have no choice but to concur.

:eyes:

complacent. They are just as bad as Tweety, Tucker, Scarborough. All republican frauds.

Rachael Maddow and Eugene Robinson on and the topics are covered in ways not seen elsewhere. Olbermann also covers stories that you'll never see elsewhere. I don't know how you can put him and his guests down when they're getting out a few of the things that really matter. (Except, of course, for the second half hour where he usually puts up more humorous pieces.)

I was off the airwaves, so to speak, for the past year - no TV, no newspapers, no outside world. Now that I'm back, I see that not much has changed, except, as you so succinctly noted, things have gotten dumber. It's as if these people get paid by the word.

It was appalling to see Pat Buchanan back, still yelling, still a Nazi apologist, still thinking he actually has something worthwhile to say. I was so sure he was dead, and nothing I've seen since my return leads me to believe otherwise.

At least, I think that's where I see him.

It's getting harder and harder to tell the cable news channels apart, save for Fix News, which has its own special magic.

Iz wus alrudy dum.

each network, all pundits & journalists use the same talking points over and over - sometimes for days/weeks. It's very toxic in my opinion - somewhat addictive.

technique that's been known since the 20's. Excessive repetition of even the most brazen lie makes that lie stick in people's heads as the truth. No matter how reasoned the response to that lie, the lie stays in the minds of those who have heard it over and over again. That's another reason 'liberals' are kept off the airwaves in droves--to keep us from taking advantage of the repetitiveness factor.

Do they watch cable shows because they're dumb -- or are they dumb because they watch cable shows?

You could argue about that for months without coming to a conclusion -- so at least discuss it somewhere where they serve beer by the pitcher.

have their TV(s) tuned to Faux. It's enough to drive you to another pitcher.

http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/23/video-first-look-at-tv-b-gone-in-action/

You just point it at any TV and it will turn it off. That should drive the bartender crazy.

:P

I use their remote to set parental controls -- with a password -- on Faux and MSNBC.

Just a little guerrilla action against the fascists.

People aren't "dumber" - those who could care less about being informed about the world would not be watching cable news anyway. They are too busy with other pursuits. Those who do care have moved on to better sources of information.

Now - are the TeeVee pundits generally getting stupider? Well, um, YEAH. (with a few exceptions) -- They are also getting lazier.

Aldus Huxley postulates that we will pay people to be our public thinkers so that we don't have to do that as individuals. We will simply be told what to think, because that will be their job.

Chilling how true that has become. :scared:

I know there have been moments of dumbness, but it seems to be getting better.

Pretty much their job is to tell people what to think. Have you ever tried to argue politics with someone who listens to people like Limbaugh, Hannity, and Boortz? It's like talking to a brick wall!