NPR: Entertaining Our Way To Socialism

The New American ^ | 01/24/11 | Sam Blumenfeld

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"My sister once talked me into listening to Garrison Keeler. He was all the rage with her friends in Colorado. I only made it through one program and half of another. He was a living lesson in why it takes government subsidies to support a lack of talent."

The only show on NPR I consistently listen to. I disagree and believe him to be the modern day equivalent of Mark Twain. I love Lake Woebegon where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average. I've also read numerous Lake Wobegon books. I enjoy the skits on the show and the music.

I think the show could easily stand on it's own. The only reason he's on NPR is because he's such a lefty and believes in "public broadcasting". It's not because his show does not have an audience. His book sales are a testament to that.

Yes, he pokes fun at conservatives, but he also pokes fun at the left also. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "Al Gore" on one of his skits making a fool out of himself. I remember when Reagan died. It happened shortly before his show went on the air and he broke the news to his audience. As I recall, idiots in his audience jeered the news and he scolded them and had nice things to say about Reagan. Yes, he's a lefty, but not in your face and his show is good entertainment IMO.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Keeler is absolutely 1000% pretentious and 1000% self-absorbed and his audience of mind-numbingly stupid leftists all lick it up like it's some kind of manna from heaven."

See my post to Baynative, I'm sure I'll get slammed for my opinion but I really like Garrison Keilor. I'm as against government funding of a media corporation as anyone else. However, I think that A Prairie Home Companion would easily stand on it's own. If he didn't sell his soul to NPR, there would be many radio stations in many markets that would scoop up his syndicated broadcasts.

[SoCal SoCon]

There are private radio stations that play classical music. If you’re ever in SoCal try KUSC.

[Tzimisce]

You’re a racist.

They don’t want you as a listener.

Doubt you’re smart enough to keep up with their intellectual programming anyway.

/sarc

[SoCal SoCon]

I also like Lake Wobegon.

[Pharmboy]

LOL indeed...perhaps we can fund a James O’Keefe Hidden Camera Rotating NPR Executive Lunch....

[Renderofveils]

Good article, but I am not so sure that JFK was weakened to the point his second term chances were threatened. I need to do a little research. If anyone has a source, Ol’ Lando would be grateful.

"The defeat of the conservatives gave Johnson and the Democrats in Congress all the votes needed to pass their Great Society programs, which included the Civil Rights Act

There are a few snippets of the article which are dead wrong. The Democrats (Al Gore Sr and Byrd, most notably) were not responsible for passing the Civil Rights Act.

[wideminded]

I disagree and believe him to be the modern day equivalent of Mark Twain.

That might be a little strong. Like Mark Twain, Keeler has his ups and downs, but the fact that Keeler appears to write all the skits on his shows and keeps coming up with new material marks him as unusually productive and genuinely talented and creative.

No doubt he doesn't appeal to everyone or equally to all parts of the country.

[Lando Lincoln]

Good points. You are correct.

[samtheman]

Well, it’s a matter of taste, what entertainment we each like. We just don’t share the same taste in whatever Keilor is supposed to be (a comedian?).

Anyway, it’s not important who you like or who I like, but, as you say, there should be no government funding of entertainment.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"but, as you say, there should be no government funding of entertainment."

Well, I might make an exception for Charlie Sheen. He's very entertaining these days.... : )

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I expected to be ripped for liking Keilor. I’m glad there are other freepers out there that like his show.

[samtheman]

:)

[Baynative]

When I told my sister that I wasn't fascinated with his show she said you have to listen for a while to get into it. I gave it a shot, but it didn't work. Maybe it's his delivery, his voice, his arrogance regarding leftist supremacy ...I don't know. But, it's been a long time since I tried it and my opinion is cemented - so, I ain't going back.

If his show could stand on his own he should try it and see what his reaction is by going mainstream. My gut is that he plays in safe territory where everything is guaranteed gubmint funding. Maybe his books sell, but to whom? Hillary's book sold, so did Gore's and Obama's.

[CottShop]

Bill Moyers took a trip around the world with David Rockefeller. Later he wrote in 1990: ‘Secrecy is the freedom zealots dream of: no watchman to check the door, no accountant to check the books, no judge to check the law. The secret government has no constitution. The rules it follows are the rules it makes up’ (Bill Moyers, The Secret Government: The Constitution in Crisis (1990) p. 7).

This is EXACVTLY what we are seeing come out of the obama administration and ferom the left in general- they are systematically trying tyo dismantal the constitution, and give the government aLL THE POWER TO DO AS IT PLEASES- MAKING UP RULES ALONG THE WAY AS IT GOES.

[CottShop]

and just for hte record, socialism can only work IF a government FORCES asnd KEEPS ON FORCING EVERYONE to add to the lockbox so that everyone can share- and make no mistake- this little ditty is left out of socialist’s advocacy for socialism because it’s the ugly fact that no socialist wants the public to learn about- the hwole system of socialism breaks down when people begin to say ‘Hey- so aqnd so has more than me and doesn’t work near as hard- I’m gonna rebel because it’s so unfair!”

In order for socialism to work- the govenrment MUST use force to get everyone to comply, and to keep the unhappy within the system suppressed and out of the public eye because of the fear that they might spark unrest in those individualks who are smart enough to see the INJUSTICE of socialism

And just for the record- that is precisely what secret organizations such as the Kights Templar, and free masons were originally set up to accomplish- keeping the masses ignorant of the secret manipulations done behind the screens by the governments- Heck, some govenrments way back when even hired ‘elite assassines’ to hit the unsuspecting masses that slaved for hte governments during periods of rest- catchign htem unaware, to instill fear in them and keep them from ever thinking about risig up agaisnt hteir govenrments.

Ever wonder why so many presidents and notable scholars and scientists were/are freemasons or skull and bones members?- Secrecy, Deceit, etc are a major framework of many govenrments troughout history, and one hting most secret organizations have in common is their beleif that the masses are too stupid to rule themsleves, and need the elite to rule for them- Far left liberals hold htis view as well- which is why we see them cosntantly attackign our consitutional rights- just liek htis present administration is doing

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"If his show could stand on his own he should try it and see what his reaction is by going mainstream."

He produces his show and sells it to the local stations. It is the local stations choice whether they buy it or not. Now, of course they are buying it with government funded money and that has to stop. If you would listen to him speak, then you would know how much he believes in public broadcasting. That's the reason that he stays on there. However, if his show did not draw in listeners, he wouldn't have been on for almost 40 years. As for who buys his books, well I've bought several of them and I'm as conservative as you get. If NPR were to go away tomorrow, Garrison Keillor would still be on the radio somewhere IMO.