If you’ve spent any time watching Fox News over the years you know that Alan Colmes is the Republican propaganda machine’s go-to token liberal, which — if you’re of the progressive persuasion — is probably maddening because Colmes is just plain awful. For years he spent every weeknight getting abused by Sean Hannity — until Roger Ailes decided it was better just to not even have a lefty buttplug like Colmes around for Hannity to work over.
Speaking of Ailes, I’ve always thought that the casting of Colmes in that role was a slice of diabolical brilliance on his part. Have the other side represented by a creepy and wimpy looking tool who is all too willing to be bullied by blowhards like Hannity and O’Reilly. Just brilliant.
With that said, Colmes assertion last night on The O’Reilly Factor that President Obama has proposed cuts to entitlement programs sent O’Reilly into a hilarious, frenzied fit of bluster. And I have to actually give Colmes credit for actually sticking up for himself when O’Reilly repeatedly accused him of lying. Naturally, as is often the case, Colmes was not lying about the proposed cuts and O’Reilly was wrong.
Never change, Bill…
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Alan Colmes looks like Kiff from Futurama.
Hannity, by the way, attempted to become a priest but was fired because he lacked the empathy necessary. Also, Hannity is a notorious fellow-traveler with racists like Bob Grant and Hal Turner.
Kiff. Perfect.
Or Disco Stu, without sunglasses.
Also regarding token liberals on Fox News, The Five is a masterpiece, putting an out-of-touch, sweaty ex-drunk whose only political experience is working for Walter Mondale with four sexy young Republicans.
Regardless of their politics, Fox News’ total control of forwarding their message is masterful.
I actually meant to mention Bob Beckel on The Five as well. It’s all sort of breathtaking in its evil brilliance.
It’s very difficult to reconcile the Bill O’reilly that’s willing to stage a fairly lighthearted debate with Jon Stewart with this one, who’s basically an awful person in general.
He knows his audience. The Fox News crowd wants the screaming and spitting, and he knows he won’t get away with it with a mixed crowd. Just a bully playing to the crowd and quieting down when the grown-ups are there.
“I’ve always thought that the casting of Colmes in that role was a slice of diabolical brilliance on his part. Have the other side represented by a creepy and wimpy looking tool who is all too willing to be bullied by blowhards like Hannity and O’Reilly. Just brilliant.”
Exactly. FOX understands it’s audience. They know that words and arguments are only wasted on the lowest common denominator – you have to appeal to dimwits with simple visuals. That’s why you cast some giant-necked meathead who looks like he used to be Johnny Football Hero back in high school as your hero conservative vs. some pathetic, scraggly, Gollum-looking dude as your straw-man villain liberal.
You can’t use “Johnny Football” anymore, it’s trademarked. Gollum, on the other hand, is in the public domain. Go figure.
Ugh, not to be token “both sides do it!” but MSNBC and Fox are the same shit in a different toilet. Rachel Maddow actually uses facts and Sheppard Smith is a legit newsman but the rest of those networks are just political Harlem Globetrotters.
Loves me some Shep Smith and Maddow. Probably my two favorite cable news personalities after the Silver Fox.
Does FOX News give 3 hours a day, 18 hours a week to a morning show named after an hosted by an ex Republican Senator?
Sure, they all do it*
*they don’t all do it.
Joe Scarborough is an ex-GOP rep. So they both give shows to ex-GOP elected officials.
Yeah, Mo, I think that was TWT’s point
Also, Alan Colmes looks like a wax figurine that has started to melt.
The best show on Fox News is Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. Pretty good mix of guests, funny and the “leg chair” is the best.
I watched it regularly when I was the night editor at Gawker. And then later became Twitter buddies with Andy Levy. Is it still on the air?
Still on every night/morning at 3 AM. Levy still does the halftime report and fills for Gutfeld from time to time. Needless to say I DVR the show.
Yeah, the time it airs makes it something I’d need to DVR to watch regularly. Gonna have to consider adding it. I used to enjoy it quite a bit.
Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld is available online from the Youtube channel “HDContentdump03″ and I watch it all the time (don’t get Fox News Channel). Andy Levy is great and it is really funny with some entertaining guests (Jim Norton, Andrew W.K., Sherrod Small, etc.). Heck Allison Brie was on once to rep Community before the show even started, but I can no longer find the clip (I double pinky-swear this happened, but you’ll have to take my word for it).
wait, the dow is at a record high? so what the fuck is everyone complaining about? everything is fine. i also see the price of gold is up too. so basically there are no problems left in the world.
I’ve seen so many lives changed for the better. Thank god Wall St is healthy.
Politcs…ugh. Obama is the worst, there’s my 2 cents. Oh, Justified recap is up!
I’m sure O’Reilly has looked into the president’s plan and will have an apology on the air today.
I love the fact that Alan Colmes is featured/sampled on Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet album.
I think the problem is that conservatives have really taken to moving the goalposts. When the markets aren’t doing well, they’ll scream about how the administration is bad for business and the markets reflect that, blah blah blah. Now the markets are doing well while household earnings are at lows, so they’re focusing on the metrics that reflect the latter. Isn’t that shit supposed to trickle down?
This. But basically, all the economic metrics that we have (GDP and its growth, inflation rate, money supply etc.) are kinda flawed and treacherous to use.
As someone funnier than me said, the Clint Eastwood speech at the RNC was the perfect embodiment of conservatism today — a clueless old man yelling at an imaginary Obama.