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.

[an amused spectator]

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

I thought about it for a real long time, and I've come to a sort of conclusion.

Bill O'Really is a very intelligent man, but we disagree on a lot of things. O'Really usually can't see the forest for the trees, and he's definitely a dupe for the Demis, most of the time. He just doesn't understand that the Demis are ALWAYS lying, about everything.

However, he ISN'T a Demi, so I'll suffer him to ramble on. When he's kicking the c**p out of a Heather Mallick, I'll cheer him on (oh, man! was she just the snottiest little Leftist bee-atch princess that you've ever seen! Including the PantSuit!). When he's being O'Really, I'll just say, "O'Really, Bill?". ;-)

[Texas Eagle]

Weather: This month it's gonna
rain a lot so like keep your boots
on cause there's gonna be lots
of mud and you never know when
you might step in it and get a mud soaker.

John Doyle

And the laugh was still there
By JOHN DOYLE
From Thursday's Hoser

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.

Excerpted - click for full article ^
http://www.execulink.com/~bobnet/hoser/

[potlatch]

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. O'Reilly actually said "if Canada grants them asylum", they would be boycotted like the French were.

[potlatch]

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.

O'Reilly actually said "if Canada grants them asylum", they would be boycotted like the French were.

O'Reilly may be a 'blowhard' but he generally 'huffs' our way!!

[potlatch]

Sorry for the double post, first time in ages!!

[SAJ]

No, that would be ''Paul the Dork''.

[Texas Eagle]

Does Canadia even have a Prime Minister or do they just have like a hall monitor?

[Brett66]

Anyone that uses the word "jingoism" as a criticism can be dismissed out of hand.

[kcvl]

JOHN DOYLE

[nopardons]

We agree again...no surprise to me.LOL

[Petronski]

I am happy to hear how someone understands, and then by God, agrees with me. Privilege is mine.

[kcvl]

John Doyle: We have three levels of relationship with Americans: 1) We make fun of them. 2) We get furious with them. 3) We are in awe of them. Basically, we feel superior. It's not healthy. We also obsess about this relationship.

[nopardons]

LOL...we're getting rather close to having a mutual admiration society going here.

Seriously,we do tend to see many things the same way and to post similarly.And I haven't found you to be "grumpy" at all.

[kcvl]

An estimated 700,000 illegal satellite dishes in Canada that pick up unlicensed channels such as CNN and Al-Jazeera through services like DirecTV in the U.S.

What's the difference in CNN & Al-Jazeera?

[Mr. Mojo]

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

Typical. ....This guy unthinkingly equates FNC with the blowhard O'Reilly, as if his was the only show on that network. Personally, I watch FOX to see Brit Hume's Special Report, John Gibson's The Big Story, and Neil Cavuto's Your World. ......and Laurie Dhue and Dari Alexander, of course ;)

[Petronski]

It's 'cranky,' damnit!


And if you're female, I agree completely.






Otherwise, buzz off. Homey don't play that.

;O)

[nopardons]

Oh gee........now you ARE being "cranky" and I apologise.I was wrong and used the wrong word...it isn't "grumpy" at all.My error.

And YES,I am most assuredly a woman.:-)

[Petronski]

Smile, sweetheart, I wuz kiddn.

You have no profile to tell me where you are, so I'll start.


I'm in Penna. Just give me your zip code and I'll have my computer calculate the countdown 'til I personally deliver some sweet sweet lovin'


jp

[nopardons]

I live in Conn.,with my husband.:-)

There's nothing on my personal page for two reasons...I don't know how to do HTML (and am in no hurry to learn)and I don't have anything to say on it.Long time FRiends know personal stuff about me and I don't choose to give mine enemies fodder.

[nopardons]

CNN is a bit more fanatical?