For those of you who have never had the pleasure of reading Jesus' General, one of the funniest progressive bloggers I've come across, go check out his "feud" with cliffschecter.com favorite Dinesh D'Souza.
Except you can't really call it a feud, as D'Souza responds with such creative lines as "are you on drugs," (yes, this guy has made millions in wingnut welfare for witty responses such as that) while the General just destroys this half-rate loser who looks/acts like one of the freakish first-round booted contestants on American Idol.
Hysterical...
posted by Cliff Schecter @ 10:29 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Cliff-
I'm sorry I missed your appearance at FDL yesterday, because I have a question.
Why is there only one of you on teevee? I mean, I think you do a great job of exposing wingnut lies, but it's also, forgive me, not that difficult to do. I understand why we have Colmes, but on the other network pundit shows, why are there not more effective progressive voices? Why do we have Bay Buchanan on the right, and Donna Brazile and not Eric Alterman on the left.
There are plenty of people who could speak out as clearly and effectively as you do. Your appearances make great television, deliver the conflict that producers look for (I read Tucker Carlson's book about Crossfire). It would be way more fun for viewers to have more effective voices on left.
Why doesn't it happen?
Dinesh D'Souza shows how unfunny and oh-so-serious the wingers are. They wouldn't recongnize snark, wit irony if they were forced by their mighty Lord Jesus to identify or produce it during the Rapture.
Didja see how Colbert laid him out last week? It made my day.
It's a great question jay. And I am not offended. I have said many times that what I do doesn't seem that difficult, just go on and give these guys what they have been throwing our way for years.
Alterman would be one, I have seen some of our radio personalities do a great job - Rachel Maddow, Sam Seder and Cenk Uygur to be specific.
There are a few others too. I suspect many Dems/progressives are scared they won't be invited back. I go on with the attitude if they don't want me to be back acting like, well, me, then that's that. And as you said, conflict sells, so these Dems/progressives have it wrong anyhow.
I am trying to help. I do some media trainings and will probably be presenting on this subject at YearlyKos.
Thanks for the question. Insightful. Please join in the comments more often!
gimmeabreak.
I did see the Colbert segment. It was awesome. D'Souza is a jackass. And we should all treat him with exactly that level of contempt.
Are you on drugs???? Wow. Wish I could be that witty.
Cliff
I'm glad you mentioned Rachel Maddow. She's one of my favorite progressives on radio and tv. She is so intelligent and funny. I don't think she gets enough air time. I have yet to hear one Republican who can match her point for point. They usually resort to their usual, "Well, if it wasn't for Clinton..."
Regarding the Jesus General site, whenever I'm feeling down and fed up with Washington politics I go to his site. He always makes me laugh and helps me to put politics into perspective. He also helps me to shake off some of the crap I read on other blogs (not this one, of course!)
Of course, we all know that Republicans just can't understand the humor on Jesus General, they just don't get it. My gosh, those wing nuts are still chuckling over Laura Bush's stupid (and very old joke) about George milking a bull. They also just love the Barney Cam. They are humor challenged, to be sure.
Thanks for the response, Cliff. Yes, I'll add you to my bookmarks. I generally can't help but comment. It'd be interesting to discuss the issue of why the teevee shows prefer pallid leftie pundits during your chat on FDL tomorrow.
Have you been in touch with folks at politicsTV? They're also trying to help teach people how to be more effective in front of the camera.
Oh, and Cliff, if it's convenient, could you drop me an email. jay at ackroyd.org. I've been working with some of the YKos people on a project for the convention that may dovetail with your presentations.
The General is a joy. Better he swap emails with that cretin than one of us!!
ME-
ME TOO!!! Other than Cliff, Rachel is my favorite leftie pundit. I think the big thing that seperates the shitty ones from the GREATS is depth of knowledge and/or background on events. I've seen Cliff a couple of time just pull the facts out from underneath those asshats and same with Rachel.
I could beat the crap out of pretty much any of the right pundits except Pat Buchanan. I may not like the man, but he knows ALOT.
Jay,
I actually used to do a regular segment on PolticsTV. I still do work with them, putting up some satire we create, and they post many of my tv appearances.
I will be doing something with them soon. Otherwise, will email you about Yearlykos, probably tomorrow, as sleep is almost upon me...
Paddy - Thanks for the compliment. To me that is the key, being able to use facts and entertainment to make these asses seem like...asses.
Buchanan is one of the toughest. I have read his books (2 of them) and met him and gotta say, although I detest most of his positions (we agree on wars in the Middle East and trade it seems), he is one of the smartest guys on his side. I don't ever fear taking on Hannity. Or Coulter.
But with Buchanan, I know I need to be prepared.
The thing about Buchanan is that he is actually principled. I think he's bat shit crazy, but he believes what he believes, and holds to those beliefs. So he's consistent and coherent, and will disagree with people on his side of the aisle when they violate his principles.
That makes it harder to debate with him, because it's really a clash of principles rather than spinning whatever happens to be the issue of the moment.
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