Michelle Malkin confirms that Rosie O’Donnell, The View’s resident Truther is packing up and heading out. I can’t decide whether this is a good thing or not, frankly. On the one hand, it was disturbing that an extreme Moonbat had a huge bully pulpit to disseminate her anti-Administration views. On the other hand, it was potentially useful that an extreme Moonbat had a huge bully pulpit to disseminate her angry, illogical views. One of the theories behind the “marketplace of ideas” is that sunshine is a good disinfectant, and that most ideological shoppers in that marketplace will shrink from purchasing manifestly bad product.
For reasons unclear to me, the story suddenly sparked a memory from a good 15 or 16 years ago. This was when Rosie was still packaging herself as everybody’s best friend, the chubby straight girl with a crush on Tom Cruise. It was long before Rosie publicly went very, very nasty. At that time, I learned that one of my friends had an in-law who was Rosie’s personal assistant. I asked the logical question: “What’s she really like?” The answer started with just one word: “Awful.” Rosie, apparently, was a cheap, vicious, petty, slave-driving employer. As Iago, the parrot in Aladdin says, “Why am I not surprised?”
Filed under: Hollywood
I am in general opposed to the suppression of dissent, rudeness, stupidity etc. I think in the end it impoverishes us all. Whatever happened to the idea of “I may disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”? PC, hate crimes, etc are all variations on the same theme: mental tyranny.
Elle, I agree that it is wrong to stifle dissent — even rudeness and stupidity, but we don’t need to give it a megaphone. It seems to me there is enough vicious vituperation in the world without amplifying it.
Sorry, Ellie, to get your name wrong — I think I need better glasses.
I don’t see much difference betweeen Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Malkin and her followers. They are all the same, spouting extremism.
Finian, really, you see no difference? You may not agree with the positions Malkin takes on issues but she backs her positions up with links, facts and so forth. Rosie just spouts off from ignorance (“first time in history that fire melted steel”) or what she read on her favorite lefty conspiracy blog. I’m sorry, but there is a world of difference between Rosie and Malkin.
A lot of people think Michelle is hot. Asianic features perhaps.
Can’t find many with the same view towards Rosie.
That’s one difference.
Sorry Sean, I don’t see a difference. Both are so unAmerican it is frightening. Your points regarding facts & links are the differences between a writer and a comedian. But the similarity that both are so obviously filled with hate for half of America is glaring.
Finian, I’m sorry, I gave you a major example of how Rosie and Malkin are different and the best you can say is that they are both “Un-American” and “hate-filled”. I would agree that spouting off that 9/11 was an inside job, sympathizing with Iran and some of her anti-Christian statements may qualify Rosie as hate-filled and un-American, but I mostly just see her as ignorant. I haven’t seen anything similar from Malkin: examples please.
Sean, you gave me an example that is the difference between a writer and a comedian. When links, footnotes and bibliographies are standard fare on a television show than maybe you will have a point. And btw, I would argue that both of them cherry-pick facts rather than actually presenting a balanced view of anything. A simple search will show plenty of bloggers who have debunked both of them with “facts” too. “Facts” are easy to come by and easy to twist, especially in a day and age when both extremes have taken it upon themselves to come up with their own “facts.”
All you need to do is read Malkin’s blog to see how much she dislikes half the people in the country. Just like all you need to do is listen to Rosie to hear how much she dislikes half the country. They are exactly the same in that respect. And what does it prove? That there are two sides to every story? That there are opposing views in America? Wow, that’s deep. Thank god we figured that one out 300 years ago. It’s an intellectually dishonest practice that only strokes the egos of their readers/viewers and avoids the real questions and solutions. But it sure is a great and easy practice for ratings and page-hits. And there sure are a lot of people that eat it up readily.
Michelle rails against the tone of other’s blogs while employing the exact same tone on her own. And god forbid, we actually look at her television appearances. What a disgrace! It’s Rosie in a little female’s body. Although the unhappy twisted expression on both of their faces is almost identical. At least Ann Coulter is clever and funny when she plays this game.
It’s a shame too. There are points that both of them have that if presented in a reasonable manner, reasonable people would listen to them. I doubt this was their intention but if there is one thing Rosie & Michelle have proven, the MSM is still the best place to get one’s news.
Finian, Perhaps “links, footnotes and bibliographies” are not standard fare on television, but they are on blogs or any other written medium that is worth reading. Even “cherry-picked” facts can be researched by following the link. And that distinction is important… at least for me.
I read Malkin’s blog quite regularly and have found no examples of “hate” (unless you count reprinted lefty commenter’s e-mails). I have found that she backs up her conclusions quite well, which is quite refreshing detour from the MSM assumption that we accept what they say at face value.
Being passionate and aggressive, or even snarky for that matter, hardly qualifies one as “hate-filled”. And disagreeing with her conclusions and opinions hardly makes her “un-American”. You wrote quite a bit but still you cite no examples.
What people like Malkin, Bookworm, etc. have proven, to me at least, is that MSM has failed us considerably by feeding us almost exclusively the left wing side of the news and in order to get the other side’s view one has to go to alternative venues (like this website). About the only the MSM does well is on-the-scene minute-to-minute weather reports and reporting only the bad news from the war.
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/04/hot_air_vent_de.html
Speaking about Malkin…
Give it up Sean. Haven’t you yet observed that folks on the Right generally make arguments and/or refutations. This takes training or an innate aptitude for logic.
Folks on the Left generally make pronouncements (as if from on high) and hurl insults at those who disagree.
They either have no concept of argument/refutation or they follow the advice that “if you have the facts on your side, argue the facts; if you don’t have the facts on your side, scream, shout and call names.”
If Rosie’s brand of degeneracy continues to be marketable, then she will be courted and paid obscene amounts of money by some other outlet. Simple as that.
Elie, I can only shake my head if you really believe that someone is stifling Rosie’s right to dissent. Mental tyranny? Reality must be on Spring break. Maybe I missed somthing, but I never heard of this right to be provided a public forum and paid $$ x millions to spout your views. If you are sure of such a right, please tell me where I can go and get my share.
Finian doesn’t see much difference between MM and RO’D. That statement speaks volumes, Finian. Do you have any more thoughts to share with us?
Oldflyer, I thought I did read something about Tom Delay “going after” Rosie, but that’s not my point. I was thinking of a darkening of attitudes.
Whereas in earlier times, argument and debate was considered something of an art form, entertainment even, now I see a disturbing urge to punish and silence those with whom we disagree. I see this as a precurser (and prerequisite) to persecution. That’s the tyranny part.
Once we demonize the opposition, it’s a small step to the stake, cross, ovens.
Agreed, Ellie, it probably is a waste of my time.
Although, what happened to Rosie is an example of the market at work; not censorship. First of all the government didn’t remove her. Second, she is still free to say what ever she wants, just not on The View. I’m fairly certain she will have no problem finding some other venue where she can her ignorant conspiracy theories.
Ymarsaker makes a good point as well.
Sean, I was on the verge of responding to Elie but your post summed it up quite well. It would be foolish to bang against the intellectual brickwall that won’t, or can’t, differentiate between market forces and a fanciful first step toward persecution and tyranny. Maybe Imus could enlighten us on that subject.
It is also mystifying how anyone could find an attitude darker than Rosie’s. But that is a different argument.