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freedom fries!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

from what I heard the man can't even hold his piss or shit anymore

and his brain is going going gone...I know, like as if he had one

in the first place...

Compassion comes so naturally to the Left. They fawn all over a B-movie actor who fell from a horse, but they savage a man with an incurable disease who, by the way, won the Cold War and gave us the economic prosperity we enjoy today.

To suggest people shouldn't watch Martin Sheen is 'McCarthyism' but to work actively to silence Dr. Laura and Michael Savage is 'progressive'.

Funny stuff.

I disagreed with the attacks on Dr. Laura. I don't care for her show but she is welcome to express her OPINION as far as I am concerned.

Michael Savage is a crude, boorish, jingoistic, anti-American, Loggorheaic Imbecile (with apoligies to legitimate Imbeciles who cannot help themselves) and as long as it is not enforced by government edict, I would support a boycott and even protest of his continued access to an audience. However, unlike advocates of the NeoCon movement I actually support Freedom of Speech.

I have probably disagreed with Martin Sheen more than I have ever agreed with him but would not oppose his right to speak. I have never watched "The Left Wing" and so pass no judgement on his acting. (Although I loved his made for TV Movie "California Kid".

The qualitative difference here is that what appears to be going on is the enforcement of a homogeneity of opinion on Major Media. How this is enforced is debatable but I think it real - just from observation.

One of the mistaken, being charitable, propositions put forth by NeoCons is "he is just an actor". True but his position makes him an Opinion Leader. Whether the NeoCons wish to admit this or not. Regardless of the validity or invalidity of his publicly expressed opinions they are going to affect the opions of a good many people.

The attempt to silence him by writing him out of the script is simply, IMHO, a move to silence dissent in the Major Media and impose a pall over the freedom to dissent and further the homogeneity of the propaganda message being further in Major Media.

Thankfully people are beginning to wise up and it is, obviously, not working as well as the Opion Shapers would like.

Three cheers for Independence of Thought, and the freedom to speak your mind.

You have a point, my comparison of Martin Sheen to Michael Savage and Dr. Laura was somewhat inept.

Savage and Schlesinger are commentators. Their whole purpose is to comment on the political and social scene as they see it. They make their statements without any disclaimers - they are paid to say what they think.

When someone who is opposed to their point of view decides to put pressure on radio stations to silence these views (rather than just changing channels), they are engaging in an attempt to muzzle political speech. There is, however, little acknowledgement of this fact. People who scream 'McCarthy' at the treatment of a Bill Maher are silent when Dr. Laura is cancelled after an extensive and intensive campaign to silence her.

Sheen is an actor. He portrays the President of the United States in a popular show. Yes, he is a public figure, an Opinion Leader, to borrow your term. The problem is, that he was hired to play a role in a show - not to express his opinions on politics. Unlike Savage and Dr. Laura, his opinions are not what he is being paid for.

Having decided to offer his opinions, he finds that a significant number of Americans disagree with him, and their dislike of being preached to by unelected 'Opinion Leaders' has resulted in a significant impact upon the show's popularity.

The producers and programmers of the major networks (both radio and television) are driven by market demands. The market for political commentary tends to support conservative thinkers. The market for popular entertainment tends to support liberal entertainers. Thus it is unlikely that Rush Limbaugh will be hosting The Tonight Show any time soon. Similarly, when Martin Sheen steps outside his role as a make-believe President, and makes political pronouncements, he is judged, rightly or wrongly, on his views in the political arena. If his show gets cancelled, he has no one to blame but himself.

It would appear that Americans don't like to be lectured by their entertainers. If Martin Sheen wants to be a political commentator, then let him make the attempt. I suspect that if he does, he will be merely the next in a long line of Leftists who fail to find an audience.

“....Unlike Savage and Dr. Laura, his opinions are not what he is being paid for. “

Is this now a test of the ability to speak one’s mind - that for it to have validity you must be paid for it? Does that make PR more valid than honest news reportage?

“Having decided to offer his opinions, he finds that a significant number of Americans disagree with him, and their dislike of being preached to by unelected 'Opinion Leaders' has resulted in a significant impact upon the show's popularity.”

The “Left Wing” did not get it’s nickname for being the model of balance and fairness. So, I would have to say “where’s the Beef”? Are Sheen’s publicly stated, privately held, opinions actually having an affect on the show’s ratings? I do not know that to be the case. You have made a quantitative assertion supported by qualitative arguments. What brings a television program into and out of favor is the fickle audience. If ratings are declining it is just as possible that the writing has become stale and repetitive, or simply that people are wrapped up in so much angst over current real world political matters that they simply do not wish to watch it as a diversion.

“It would appear that Americans don't like to be lectured by their entertainers. If Martin Sheen wants to be a political commentator, then let him make the attempt. I suspect that if he does, he will be merely the next in a long line of Leftists who fail to find an audience.”



No one particularly likes to be lectured at by anyone. One can make a hortatory exposition without talking down to one’s audience. It is not evident that Sheen has been talking down to anyone but those who would accept unquestioned the simplistic rationales for killing that the Bush Junta is trying to sell.

I do agree with one thing - public entertainment, notably TV (radio as well - I remember one posting by a small businessman who attempted to advertise on one program and was offered free time on Limbaugh’s slot to keep up the appearance of a full board of advertisers) is driven by the profit motive. If advertisers apply pressure behind the scenes they can, and have, caused changes in or elimination of actors and programs.

Bullshit...it's all entertainment, and not very good entertainment at that...it is not meant to foster political discourse...it is meant to sell soap.

Simple Slopmon must like racism, the type dished out by Michael Savage. It figures. Forget the Alamo.

How did the Alamo find it's way into this discussion? We're talking about FRIED FOOD, junior. Keep up or get out.

ok simon, so why don't you tell us what you think about "freedom fries".

i mean, do you think that this is a good idea - to change the name from "french fries" to "freedom fries"?

for? against? why.. why not..

you can do it, soldier.

I think the idea of changing the name of French Fries to Freedom Fries is assinine. It reminds me of the changing of many street names in Cincinnati and Chicago from German names during WWI. Sauerkraut became 'Victory Cabbage'. All stupid.

The beauty of this country is that it is composed of a wide variety of people from a wide variety of countries - to insult the citizens of French descent and French visitors here is counterproductive.

There is no question that the French have worked counter to our national interests on this issue, and that they are the ringleaders of the revolt against action.

With a quick, decisive victory and the liberation of the Iraqi people, the French will be so piqued it will be fun to watch.

And I'll celebrate by having a Burger King Crossandwich for breakfast and French Fries with my Whopper at lunch.

so, Simon, what are these "freedom fries" people thinking?

what ails your fellow pro-war people that they are reduced to such pitiful silliness?

don't be afraid to speak your mind.

These people are only passing feel-good do-nothing measures for populist reasons. They are political lightweights looking for a little free press.

Not to mention, if you're opposed to the position of the French, then bite into some French Fries! Cut, gnaw, chomp, take that Frenchie!

I

you know what grosses me out about you, Simon?

the minute the tide really turns and the war party collapses..... you'll abandon your flowery words.

i hope i'm wrong but you come off as the kind of elitist scum that'll spout whatever doctrine the lucky snobs are spouting.

what are the chances you'll suffer for your positions.... try and convince someone of THAT. never you're way too smug, snotty, and spoiled sounding. teacher's pet all the way.

I don't often suffer for my positions, true. That's because I am usually right.

You on the other hand must spend hours on the cross. Do those nails hurt?

                        

Dishing Disinformation & Dogma Daily

Simple wrote - - "I don't often suffer for my positions, true. That's because I am usually right."

people respect people who stand by their principles through thick and thin. like steadfastly political prisoners for example. with an attitude like yours you will never be truly respected but it wouldn't matter to a snot like you anyway.

Kindly demonstrate an act of shiftlessness on my part. You are the yellow dogs who bite the hands that feed them, not I. You have turned on your country out of your own self-loathing.

Compared to the spineless weasels and mental patients here, I am the ideological freaking Rock of Gibraltar.

A smart person will look at a situation and gather together the available information fully aware that they may not have everythin and come to a conclusion.

They will however be open to the fact that aditional information may arise that contradicts this position and if it is compelling and from a reliable source then they will be willing to change their mind.

this is not hypocracy this is just not being an idiot.

infact if a single person contradicts themelves after new information comes to light like for example USA supporting and then opposing Iraq that gives credibility to their second view point as they are not just blindly trying to avoid the critisism of hypocracy (which is infact a meaningless critisism as it is not attached to anything of fundimental moral worth).

These guys are willing to use national tension to better their saladbar? Not!

It is pretty lame to take the stress of a nation and use it against her --to push a warped message (and fried too)





I love this picture gather round 'yall

it's photo-op time!

(go to Jones state web site)



ps Any Congress folk publicly smack this guys for being toads?

inquiring minds want to know.