Are you an extremist?

[Ed]

Bill O'Reilly had these observations and "litmus test".

Thoughts?



Talking Points Memo
Are you an extremist?
"The loony left is furious that we have outed Cindy Sheehan as a radical. The loopy right is mad because I said Jesus might not be down with Pat Robertson putting out a contract on Venezuela President Hugo Chavez. There is no shortage of extremists, but there's a problem with labeling someone an extremist - they may be rational in most areas, but off the wall in a few. An extremist is someone who rejects facts and holds on to opinions no matter what. So, are you an extremist? Talking Points has devised a short list of indicators: If you think Michael Moore reports accurately, you're an extremist. If you agree with Reverends Falwell and Robertson that gays and abortionists caused God to allow 9/11, you're an extremist. If you feel foreign terrorists have Constitutional rights, and convicted child sex offenders should not serve long prison terms, say hello to the extremist label. If you agree that Allah is okay with slaughtering civilians, you're extreme. If you agree with everything President Bush has done, you're an extremist. And if you think everything he's done has been wrong, put a big 'E' on your forehead. And finally, if you applaud when Barbra Streisand talks geopolitics or when a right-wing talk show host urges a nuclear strike on Iran, welcome to the wonderful world of extremism." http://www.billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShow&showID=423#1

[Skeptic]

Can't stand O'Reilly... but when he's right, he's right.

[Zep]

You can invent any label you like to apply to anyone you don't like, so he has. O'Reilly has just used a newer and wordier version of the old and despicable "When did you stop beating your wife?".

[a_unique_person]

He left out the question, "Does your Surname start with the letter 'O', and end in the letter 'Y'"?

[Ed]

Originally posted by a_unique_person
He left out the question, "Does your Surname start with the letter 'O', and end in the letter 'Y'"?

Do you know of any extremist positions he has taken?

[a_unique_person]

Originally posted by Ed
Do you know of any extremist positions he has taken?

I was just adding one more inane question to the rest of his list.

[Ed]

Originally posted by a_unique_person
I was just adding one more inane question to the rest of his list.

Why "inane"?

[Mycroft]

Originally posted by Zep
You can invent any label you like to apply to anyone you don't like, so he has. O'Reilly has just used a newer and wordier version of the old and despicable "When did you stop beating your wife?".

I don't think so. His list seemed pretty reasonable to me, though maybe a little slanted to the right.

If we agree there are extremists on both left and the right (as well as other kinds of extremists) doesn't it make sense to identify the issues that mark them as extremists?

[Skeptic]

Originally posted by Mycroft
I don't think so. His list seemed pretty reasonable to me, though maybe a little slanted to the right.

To be fair to him, his list is "slanted to the right", but is obviously not meant as some exact definition, only as a list of some prominent examples. I don't think he is saying left-wingers are more extremists.

[Cleon]

I find it interesting that conservatives are so fond of litmus tests. O'Reilly's "are you an extremist" test, or Sharansky's "legitimate criticism of Israel vs. anti-semitism" test.

Here's a hint, guys--life is not a computer program. These things don't fit into nice little "if - then" diagrams. You are looking for the "One True Algorithm," and it ain't there.

[Ed]

Originally posted by Cleon
I find it interesting that conservatives are so fond of litmus tests. O'Reilly's "are you an extremist" test, or Sharansky's "legitimate criticism of Israel vs. anti-semitism" test.

Here's a hint, guys--life is not a computer program. These things don't fit into nice little "if - then" diagrams. You are looking for the "One True Algorithm," and it ain't there.

The moment I read or hear a generalization like the above everything else is sort of marginalized. Litmus tests are the current state of the art. Know why? Because it allows the media to make a complex story a soundbite. Tell me, is abortion a litmus test for the left? Firearms? Entitlements? Affermative action? All the same except I think that O's list is somewhat more balenced.

[Mycroft]

Originally posted by Cleon
I find it interesting that conservatives are so fond of litmus tests. O'Reilly's "are you an extremist" test, or Sharansky's "legitimate criticism of Israel vs. anti-semitism" test.

Here's a hint, guys--life is not a computer program. These things don't fit into nice little "if - then" diagrams. You are looking for the "One True Algorithm," and it ain't there.

You know when I was reading Sharansky, I read passages out loud to my uber-liberal wife, and she loved him. Eventually I got her to read the book, and there wasn't anything there to offend her liberal sensibilities.

I really think he transcends the liberal/conservative paradigm, it’s just that Liberals won’t read him because they heard Bush likes him.

Last night on Larry King I listened to former President Clinton talk about what the Clinton/Bush foundation was doing to raise funds for disaster relief, and I was thinking that those were two guys who can be admired for setting their differences aside and working together on common ground. It’s too bad it can’t serve as an example for the rest of us.

[Mycroft]

Originally posted by Skeptic
To be fair to him, his list is "slanted to the right", but is obviously not meant as some exact definition, only as a list of some prominent examples. I don't think he is saying left-wingers are more extremists.

If you think Jesus would vote Republican, you're an extremist. :)

A few more like that would make the list more balanced. :)

[BPSCG]

Originally posted by Ed
Bill O'Reilly had these observations and "litmus test".
...snip...
If you agree with everything President Bush has done, you're an extremist.
...snip...
I assume Bush agrees with everything Bush has done. I guess he's an extremist...:confused:

[BPSCG]

Originally posted by Ed
Litmus tests are the current state of the art. Know why? Because it allows the media to make a complex story a soundbite. Bingo.

[Jon the Geek]

If you feel foreign terrorists have Constitutional rights...
How many qualifiers do I have to put on that one before I'm not an extremist. If I say, "Technically, the Constitution does not apply to everyone, but if we want to remain a civilized society, we should treat everyone with the same protections we reserve for ourselves," am I an extremist?

[Upchurch]

If you think O'Reilly actually has a "No Spin Zone", you may just be a redne... er, extremist.

Okay, my real suggestion (and continuing my Hannity-bashing mood):

if you think Sean Hannity comes anywhere near "fair and balanced", then you are an extremist.

[Ed]

Originally posted by Upchurch
Okay, my real suggestion (and continuing my Hannity-bashing mood):

if you think Sean Hannity comes anywhere near "fair and balanced", then you are an extremist.

He is such an idiot that my mind wobbles. Coulter is an idiot too but she can think on her feet. H, when pushed mouths platitudes......

"rape rooms mass graves, tell me, sir are you in favor of rape rooms? Do you believe that entire populations should be gassed? No? Am I to believe that you don't like cabbage with your corned beef? Sir, why don't you just leave this great land, just leave."

What an idiot.

[Orwell]

Bill O'Reilly is an extremist. :p

[delphi_ote]

Originally posted by Ed
Do you know of any extremist positions he has taken?

Yes. On that very episode regarding intelligent design.

[delphi_ote]

Originally posted by Upchurch
if you think Sean Hannity comes anywhere near "fair and balanced", then you are an extremist.

If you think Sean Hannity comes anywhere near REALITY, then you have problems.

[delphi_ote]

Originally posted by Cleon
Here's a hint, guys--life is not a computer program. These things don't fit into nice little "if - then" diagrams. You are looking for the "One True Algorithm," and it ain't there.

Then how else will they get irate and yell at strawmen? You realize you're putting them out of a job, right?

As for the "One True Algorithm," Turing and Godel put that nonsense to rest a long time ago.

[Sushi]

Originally posted by Skeptic
Can't stand O'Reilly... but when he's right, he's right.

Which is never.

[duggie]

Can't you see what he's up to here? By presenting a series of false dichotomies he is trying to pass himself of as a moderate. Cindy Sheehan supporters are equated with those who support the assasination of Hugo Chavez in the sense that O'Reilly is equidistant from both these "extremists" in the middle. Similarly with Michael Moore. If you think Michael Moore reports accurately you are as looney as those who believe "that gays and abortionists caused God to allow 9/11". And Barbra Streisand talking geopolitics is equated to "a right-wing talk show host [urging] a nuclear strike on Iran". Notice he doesn't provide any evidence that Cindy Sheehan is a "radical" or that Michael Moore reports inaccurately, or that Barbra Streisand has no right in this free country to talk about Geopolitics, it's just a given. Nice try Billy boy. Won't fool any of the critical thinkers here tho. (Will it, he asks plaintively?)

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Ed
Coulter is an idiot too but she can think on her feet. If you say so....

I've heard some really idiotic things come out of Coulter's mouth and keyboard, as the case may be. Hannity, at least, play acts at objectivity from time to time. Coulter is pure reality-be-damned propagandizing attack machine.

duggie, you make an interesting point. All the liberal examples of extremism, except the one about foreign terrorists and child sex offenders*, have to do with voicing dissent against the president.



* I assume these are meant to be liberal positions. I dunno.

[Kerberos]

Originally posted by Upchurch
If you say so....

I've heard some really idiotic things come out of Coulter's mouth and keyboard, as the case may be. Hannity, at least, play acts at objectivity from time to time. Coulter is pure reality-be-damned propagandizing attack machine.

duggie, you make an interesting point. All the liberal examples of extremism, except the one about foreign terrorists and child sex offenders*, have to do with voicing dissent against the president.



* I assume these are meant to be liberal positions. I dunno.
The One about foreign terrorist is about voicing dissent against the president too. Why is it BTW that only foreign terrorists are included? Are you more of an extremist if you feel that (suspected) foreign terrorists should have rights, than if you feel (suspected) American terrorist should?

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Kerberos
The One about foreign terrorist is about voicing dissent against the president too. How so? I mean, I know the President's position is that (yes, suspected) foreign terrorists should not enjoy U.S. Constitutional rights, but it is at least a substantiative issue on which to measure, as opposed to "if you voice dissent, you are an extremist".

[delphi_ote]

Originally posted by Upchurch
All the liberal examples of extremism, except the one about foreign terrorists and child sex offenders*, have to do with voicing dissent against the president.


I've posted this quote before, but I think it's highly relevant here:

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else. -Teddy Roosevelt

[kalen]

The big "E" goes where..?