Comments about ‘Talk radio shrinks listeners' intellectual capital’

The only place I'd have to disagree is the contention that Jon Stewart is news as entertainment. The daily show has never forgotten that it's on comedy central; the points it makes are always couched in laughs. It's not news at all. The so called news media, including talk radio, provides the laughs. Jon points them out. It should be more funny, but it's a reflection on the mind numbing reality we live in.

Hey Gale, If your not outraged, you are not paying attention. These Guys are talking about real issues. Beck even spoke about the fact we are 12 Trillon in debt when Bush was in office. Could it be you have to resort to name calling because you can't argue the issues?

Spot on. One wonders how our system of universal education has failed so miserably to teach critical thinking, which would arm the unsuspecting against the onslaught of bias and fear-mongering so prevalent in talk radio, particularly from the far right. Limbaugh/Hannity/Beck prey on those who cannot or will not think for themselves. So why does KSL continue to broadcast Sean Hannity 3 hours a day?

This may be the most intellectually bankrupt piece I have ever read in a news paper. Could the obviously brilliant and highly intellectual G. Don Gale use some facts to back up his "anti-rhetoric?" Could Mr. Gale possibly give some examples of inaccuracies or falsehoods perpetrated by these successful communicators whose major fault seems to be that they challenge the small liberal world Mr. Gale exists in? Doesn't the disturbing information exposed by Beck et al, while being ignored by mainstream media, add to the level of intellectual discourse? Is there some subset of information in existence that does not deserve to be explored? Would the nation be somehow better off if we all just kept our heads in the sand? Just a few questions for Mr. G. Donald Gale. Wow, those people whose names start with initials sound so smart.

Don Gale has selective memory. I used to enjoy his comments when he had a regular pulpit on KSL radio. Now he has gotten too negative for me to enjoy any more. When talk radio began to proliferate in the late '60s and early '70s, almost all the voices were what would now be called 'liberals'. They appealed to those who enjoyed their bashing of the rich, as well as conservative government, which they labeled as obstructionist. They soon lost listeners because they became too negative and attracted too many nuts who enjoyed sharing the pulpit. The conservatives gradually took over because they cheered for the good, as well as exposing the bad. They have started spending too much time bashing and not enough time cheering. Perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way. And they still attract the nuts who enjoy hearing their own voices.

How true. Because of kooks like Hannity, I have removed KSL radio from my radio push buttons. Like wise Fox News from my favorite list on my satellite dish. I'm sure that KSL & Fox won't miss one viewer, & I sure won't miss the opinionated nuts spreading their brand of garbage. Perhaps KSL should take a second look at their local Hannity wannabe & get some real talent there.

Thank you Don Gale and Deseret News for saying what needed to be said

Don't shoot the messanger.

Bravo!

Thanks for that excellent article.

Mr. Gales gives a great history lesson. He laments the fact that voices with which he disagress have come upon radio as a means to get their message out. Typically, Gales aruges little with the message itself. Beyond a few perjoratives and quick quips, Gale doesn't much take on WHAT is being said, only WHO is saying it.

Another good elitist at work. Attack the messenger. Much easier than attacking the message.

Sorry Mr. Gale but there's plenty of "reserve capital" in arguments put forth by the radio personalities you so detest. The bankrupt ponzi scheme is on the side you respect so much, the same old tired "modern" liberalism of giving away other people's money to buy votes. The same old tried and failed policies of the NEW (same old) progressive left.

This great Nation was built upon CLASSICAL liberalism, nothing like the modern liberalism you cherish. Classical liberals would value the RETURNS on INVESTMENTS that Hannity and Limbaugh can freely provide. Classical liberals would recognize you for the elitist snob you are, just as they did 230 years ago.

Lee Padron
Draper

Seems that Gale has been in "commentary" long enough that his intellect has now shrunk to zero.

those who whine about Beck and Limbaugh while acceptng bias in the MSM are the ones who bankrupt intellegence - I cant get upset about Limbaugh when the New York Times and Newsweek are blatantly pimping the POTUS There must be an alternative to such rot somewhere - anywhere, and at this point Limbaugh is pretty much all there is.

The liberal (yes liberal - that evil word that has been poisened by liberals themselves, not Limbaugh) "I belive in free speech but not your speech" attitude reaks

"Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are to intelligence as Bernie Madoff is to investment." So I guess that means that Rush et al are criminals of the mind and that their metaphorical pozi scheme does only damage and has no value. I suppose the author thinks the nation would be better off without their collective voice. Who then would bring up and discuss issues that the main stream media refuse to include because of their biased ideology? Would we be better off without Rush, Hannity, and Beck? Should we, as we have Madoff, eliminate them and force them from the airwaves? What do we gain from judging any voices as destructive? It sounds wrong headed to me.

Gale provides a good history lesson. Then, laments the fact that voices with which he disagrees use radio to communicate. Typically, he argues little with the message itself. Beyond a few pejoratives, he doesn't take on WHAT’s being said, only WHO is saying it and HOW it’s said.

There's plenty of "reserve capital" in arguments made by the radio personalities Gale so detests. The bankrupt “Ponzi” scheme is on Gale's side.

Ponzi scheme? What else do you call giving away other people's money to buy votes? No new wealth created. Social Security? Stimulus? Cash for Clunkers? Only redistributing wealth created by others. Same failed policies of the progressive, liberal left. Isn’t 100 plus years of it enough?

Gale might try actually listening to or reading what Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh say. It may be difficult. But, he should try.

Avoid argumentum ad hominem. That's lazy. Gale's education has prepared him better, no doubt?

Make the case against WHAT Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh say, if you can, not against them or the medium upon which they communicate.

Lee Padron
Draper

The author's own words, making reference to talk radio hosts "They verbally punish dissent in a land where dissent is traditionally welcomed and protected", totally negates the story.

Are not the talk radio hosts practicing their own brand of dissent? Is not such behavior "traditionally welcomed and protected" in this country?

I don't listen to radio at all, but what a bogus article, the left just can't stand allowing conservatives to have a voice in the market place of ideas. They twist themselves into pretzel trying to cover up their intolerance.

Seems appropriate that Don Gale is the president of an organization called Words, Words, Words. That's certainly all he offers us here -- words.

To suggest that Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck are so extremely popular only because they got there first is to offer words over any semblance of analysis -- or even facts.

And to suggest that left-wing talking heads are so extremely unpopular only because their audience is so much more suave and accepting of ambiguity is to offer words in defiance of facts of which we are all aware.

Maybe we ought to pay some attention to Mr. Gale -- he seems to be more than just noddingly familiar with shrinking intellectual capital.

But facts, not just words, words, words, would be nice, too.

Bravo! Excellent article - for anyone who has seen the movie with Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds, titled, "The Best Little W***ehouse in Texas", you can see the absolute similarity between these Talk Radio hosts and "Melvin P. Thorpe" - some of Sean Hannity's music at the top of the hour when he returns from a newbreak is also very similar to the 'Melvin P. Thorpe" musical introductions before he speaks to the masses!

What really irritates me is that the KSL radio station that brings us excellent inspirational music and speeches from LDS leadership; this same radio station is "polluted", by association, with the crassness and self-promotional marketing that Hannity specializes in.

I used to be proud to inform others that KSL was my favorite radio station; I am saddened that I can no longer say that.

You say Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are to intelligence as Bernie Madoff is to investment, when it needs to be Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are to stealing your thinking and money as Bernie Madoff is to stealing your life time of investment's, all are as crooked as a $3 bill. End of report.

A title, is just a shield, for a weak person to hide behind. Did you know this?. Separation of powers, checks and balances, enumerated powers, independent state governments, frequent elections, impeachment processes, the right to bear arms, an independent private sector, property rights, the right to petition government for redress of grievances, freedoms of speech and press etc, was all created through Judicial Activist Judge's, and, Special Interest groups plus bureaucrats, for control of power, through these people. A fine example, of this, is in a new DVD, that just came out, titled "FOOD, Inc.", a Robert Kenner film. In it, you'll see the few GIANT's that control everything we do, how we live and what we are forced to eat etc., these same people have powerful seats, and are in Congress also, apointed by the President as well, both on the GOP and Democrat side, and, with these people running the show, we can't and will not be able to limit government ever, until they are all gone from those seats, no matter how long we all whine about a smaller government. It's time to stand up, and, face the truth.