Beck, Limbaugh, Franken, Gingrich: Political Bestsellers Bring On An Age Of Name-Calling

The Los Angeles Times:

The contents of these books are just as confrontational as their titles, and while President Obama might have lamented the "coarsening of our political dialogue" during a "60 Minutes" interview last year, experts say the tough language and name-calling falls directly in the arc of American political tradition.

Read the whole story: The Los Angeles Times

Comments

[SweetJudith]

02:48 PM on 06/08/2010

No more name calling!!! Let's just lock all these idiots up!!!!!

[MJVs Common Sense]

03:34 PM on 06/06/2010

Wouldn't it be nice if HuffPo (or any other media outlet) would point this out on the front page instead of putting crap like "people are angry" out there!

Maybe pointing this out would help people understand why people are angry!

Beck, Limbaugh, Gingrich, etc. are a bunch of lying blowhards who only care about their own political ambitions and those of their financial benefactors. They are destroying this country one book at a time, corrupting minds with lies, slander, and misinformation.

the only thing more tragic is the people foolish enough to believe their lies.

[REDSTATEREFUGEE]

11:16 AM on 06/06/2010

As William Butler Yeats wrote during the Irish Troubles, "The center cannot hold." The use of ad hominem argument on both sides of the political spectrum is merely symptomatic of a larger issue: the schism of our country into two warring camps. IMHO, U.S. political persuasions can be divided into three almost equal groups, progressive, conservative, and centrist, which is not in conflict with the other two, but serves as a tie-breaker for elections.

[Chubbster]

03:11 PM on 06/05/2010

"Have we entered an age of name calling?"

You haven't noticed?

[MichaelMcKLA]

03:05 PM on 06/05/2010

Name calling?

No.

I avoid screwwballs.

[linzy]

05:26 PM on 06/04/2010

Yes, name calling, indeed. There has always been negative and perjorative slurs against opposing political sides. However, I don't think they've ever been so harsh and, frankly, so slimy as we have seen since Obama was elected. Hate just seems to spew and fester with so many of the right wing pundits and crazy people. It seems like the ethnic slur is on the uprise. It makes me sick. Get a grip, get back your good manners and ask, "Would my mother approve of what I say?" Show some class people. Even the crap on the net is waaay baaad. Don't think you can remain anonymous by posting. (Didn't Bush take care of that?) People, play like grownups and get back some good manners, please!!!

[BebeLush]

04:40 PM on 06/04/2010

Nice to see people still enjoy acting like 1st graders arguing at the playground.

[Americulchie]

03:59 PM on 06/04/2010

It is my contention that the coarsening of the political debate springs from the time of Richard Nixon.No I am not blaming Nixon ;he was the last intelligent Republican president we had.What I am stating that since the downfall of "Tricky Dick" the Republicans have lost their minds collectively.I think it bothers their collective psyche that their party was chased out because they have no moral compass.They seem to believe that the only way for them to win is seek the lowest common denominator.Coarseness and crass are the tools of their trade as an institution.

[jemiltd]

02:22 PM on 06/04/2010

The Conservative side of the country has turned name calling into their standard statement of thought. Rarely do I come across any who are willing to insert fact to support their point of view...even when I ask for discourse, sources, something besides attempting to define who I am without knowing anything about who I am, only knowing that they don't agree. Kind of like cursing, when you are limited in your ability to communicate your thoughts and feelings, you generally use a curse word as the conduit. Same for name-calling. #p2

[ButchManowski]

01:59 PM on 06/04/2010

From the description, it sounds like a waste of trees. Actually, I'm sure it is.

[MerryW]

12:35 PM on 06/04/2010

Name calling is a way to vent frustration or shoot adrenaline.
It often is exhibited when a bully is displaying, to direct attention to the speaker, when a person runs out of factual arguments, and when a person feels insecure.
Animal Science 101

[Truelee]

12:00 PM on 06/04/2010

Conservatives have turned name calling into an art form. I can't wait to hear Sarah Palin's next term for the media or liberals. Name calling is her forte which is one reason why her base love her so much.

[Alex Lemon]

11:40 AM on 06/04/2010

Glenn Beck: King of the D-bags.