And the laugh was still there (Foxnews fans are crazies!!)

GlobeandMail ^ | 04/29/04 | JOHN DOYLE

[Pikamax]

And the laugh was still there

By JOHN DOYLE From Thursday's Globe and Mail

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Let's start with a conclusion. The Fox News Channel, its chief ranter Bill O'Reilly and the channel's rabid followers are the lunatic fringe of the American culture.

I can say this with certainty because I've now got an earful from O'Reilly several times over, but I've also heard from thousands of American readers who view Fox News and O'Reilly with utter loathing and deep embarrassment.

I think Fox News Channel is comically overheated with its wailing about "left-wingers" and "elites." I also think O'Reilly is nothing more than an intolerant windbag, what the Irish astutely call a gobshite.

If somebody wants to make the Fox News Channel available in Canada, fine. Believe me, if you thought Dan Rather's occasional outbursts of jittery, googly-eyed American jingoism were comical, you haven't seen anything yet. O'Reilly makes our Ed the Sock look like a reasonable chap.

The Fox News philosophy of finger-pointing about perceived lapses in patriotism and suspicion of outsiders is no more representative of the true spirit of the United States than the Taliban represents Islam.

A week ago, I wrote about how my mockery of Fox News and O'Reilly had resulted in some highly abusive and comically ill-written e-mail from the United States.

This stirred many Americans to write and apologize for their fellow Americans, and for the existence of Fox News. That was the story so far. Then The New York Times called.

Last Sunday, the Times carried a feature about my mockery of Fox News and O'Reilly, the expletive-filled responses from his followers and the apologies that followed. The Times found it funny, and it was. It turns out that a lot of Americans read The New York Times on a Sunday.

Since then I have received thousands upon thousands of e-mails from Americans who are mortified. People in New York, Chicago, Seattle, Denver and Phoenix have invited me out to dinner. Many others have invited me to stay in their homes.

I've been invited to give a talk in Denver. Schoolchildren, retirees, registered Republicans and Democrats have written to apologize for the abusive mail I received from Fox News fans.

Many join in my amusement at the barking-mad antics on Fox News. They know, as Americans usually do, that by laughing we drain the fanatics of their significance.

This past week, Bill O'Reilly seems obsessed with Canada. This probably mystifies many of his American viewers. On Tuesday, Globe columnist Rick Salutin was on his radio show. On Tuesday evening, my fellow Globe columnist and friend Heather Mallick was on his TV show. In all instances, he attacked Canada and The Globe and Mail. When he spoke to . Mallick, he proclaimed that if Canada harbours two "deserters" from the U.S. military who don't want to return to duty in Iraq, there would be a nationwide boycott of Canada, which will result in a recession.

The threatening, hectoring hysteria is precisely what makes much of Fox News Channel amusing to Canadians and mortifies many Americans. Most of us, no matter what way we lean politically, believe in Canada as a just society. Tolerance, kindness and respect are more valued than shouted attacks and threats. Mistakes are allowed. Forgiveness exists.

Bill O'Reilly is now obsessed with Canada for several reasons. First, he's stung by the realization that Canadians might laugh at his aggressiveness. Second, The Times piece about the abusive letters revealed that many of his supporters are foul-mouthed fanatics. Third, Canada represents an irritating calmness and assuredness at a time when the American culture is in crisis. To paraphrase W. B. Yeats (an Irish writer who the American-Irish O'Reilly should acquaint himself with), our hearts have not grown brutal from the fray.

In the midst of all those thousands of e-mails from sympathetic, embarrassed Americans, I also received a handful of abusive insults, both personal and directed at Canada. One man wrote: "Canada is little more than a pimple on the Earth's ass." Well, we know we irritate you. And we know we'll laugh when Fox News comes to Canada.

From the volume of apologetic mail I've received, it seems certain that the generous, humorous spirit of the United States is not dead and has not been lost. The shrill minority of the lunatic fringe that follows and supports Fox News has merely temporarily shouted it down. Bring Fox News here by all means, and let's have a laugh. Americans can learn from that.

[sinkspur]

What a cry baby!

[Texas Eagle]

O'Reilly makes our Ed the Sock look like a reasonable chap.

Who is their "Ed the Sock"? Is he like their Prime Minister or something?

[vbmoneyspender]

This stirred many Americans to write and apologize for their fellow Americans,

I always love it when lefties apologize for their fellow Americans. In a vain attempt to make themselves feel superior I am sure that if aliens ever land here, they'll be out front apologizing for the shortcomings of their fellow human beings. Talk about a bunch of twits.

[free2freep]

Dan Rather's occasional outbursts...American jingoism

Yes, you're reading that correctly. To Canadians, Dan "I Luv Fidel" Rather is an American jingoist.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Canadian Newspaper Circulation

Looks like a total weekly circulation of 1,965,991. I don't think Fox News or "the channel's rabid followers" need to sweat this fishwrap much.

[cripplecreek]

"The Fox News philosophy of finger-pointing about perceived lapses in patriotism and suspicion of outsiders is no more representative of the true spirit of the United States than the Taliban represents Islam."


Thats more than a little insulting.

[HardStarboard]

There's reaal nothing wrong with Canada and their "we know what's right" superior attitude that a couple of small strides by al Qaeda wouldn't cure.

They have a large Pakastani population (and other Muslim extractions) throughtout the country, so it might be in the works as we speak.

[Texas Eagle]

I also received a handful of abusive insults, both personal and directed at Canada. One man wrote: "Canada is little more than a pimple on the Earth's ass."

Heh, heh. I'm sorry, Mr. Dooright. Who is it that you said doesn't have a sense of humor?

[vpintheak]

Ed the sock is too smart to be the prime minister of the future Canadastan.

[Intolerant in NJ]

... the channel's rabid followers are the lunatic fringe of the American culture...Fox News has been regularly pulling more viewers than either CNN or MSNBC (and in some cases more than both combined) - some "fringe"....

[BenLurkin]

Well - John - IMO the thousands of American readers who view Fox News and O'Reilly with utter loathing and deep embarrassment are the "Lunatic fringe".

How about that?

[Interesting Times]

In an uncertain world, one thing is certain: if and when the Left finally goes down, it'll go down lying.

[moodyskeptic]

liberals always screech like this when their media monopoly is threatened.

Somebody call the Waaaaambulance.

[aft_lizard]

Thats pretty good considering canada only has 30 million people

[Petronski]

I enjoy FoxNews very much, but I can't stand Blowhard Bill O'Reilly.


Stick that in your stereotype and smoke it.

[Intolerant in NJ]

In an uncertain world, one thing is certain: if and when the Left finally goes down, it'll go down lying...ain't that the truth!.....

[an amused spectator]

post-NewsMedia Conservative History ping - A Must-Read: John Doyle, Canadian Leftist From The Glob & Flail

Doyle is a "special friend" of whack Heather Mallick. These people have to be seen to be believed. Apparently, Canada has started granting titles of nobility to Leftist journalists. At least, that's the way they act.

'E's larffing at us, 'e is.

On, Off, or grab it for a Media Shenanigans/Schadenfreude/PNMCH ping:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~anamusedspectator/

[Waco]

You left out "kicking butt" John. Slap youself on the wrist RAT now!

[Anti-Bubba182]

"Thats pretty good considering canada only has 30 million people"

Good as compare to what?

Link

"..Additionally, Fox has all but monopolized the top positions for news shows in the ratings race. With 2.2 million viewers, "The O'Reilly Factor" is top of the heap, followed by "Hannity & Colmes" with 1.5 million viewers and the "Fox Report with Shepard Smith" with 1.4 million. CNN's "Larry King Live" was in fourth place with 1.3 million viewers..."

On any given night The O'Reilly Factor has more viewers than the combined weekly circulation of that entire Newspaper, viewers who are tuning in to watch O'Reilly, not to read the sports page or the funny papers.