Do you listen to Rush Limbaugh?

Saint by the Bay said
I would say this runs contrary to simple human nature.

Humans want to be herded and led. It's the way we are. It's why ideologues on both sides are so successful. What they are able to do is convince us that these are our opinions when really we're just herding up because that's what we do.

Unlike most I'm willing to concede this happens to me as well. If I listen to too much of one side it starts to have a serious effect on my opinion. It's why I try and go to such a wide variety of sources. Now that I have Sirius it's awesome switching from Patriot to Left to the new Independent (110) because I'm getting a ton of views on an issue in the same day.

The problem is there are lots of people who limit the information they intake to certain ideologues. They are easy to spot because they use the same talking points and are completely unable to express themselves when their views are challenged. If Rush or Hannity or Moore or Frankken hasn't covered the subject or facts they are completely unprepared with the proper verbiage to compose a response.

Here those people get no quarter given (though they ask for rolls of quarters) because somehow we have managed to gather up on the EE some pretty strong thinkers from all political persuasions and positions.

I'm just going to echo yours and TPS's points just by adding that I'm not ashamed to say that my political perspective has changed in part from reading and participating in debates on the EE. A good example is Ron Paul's writings on race. As many knew, I was pretty keen on Paul and kept reading and hearing about these writings, so I came to the EE.

I'll also add that rigorous, analytical debate should be an exchange of real ideas, points, evidence and argumentation, NOT an exchange of talking points or cliches.

I'd also claim that it's not just Limbaugh who is part of this problem. I think most of the talking heads on the major networks are nothing more than ideologues repeating talking points over and over again. It's not a debate as much is it is theatrics.

And those who claim that when these folks listen and merely parrot what they hear on the AM dial or whatever craptastic TV show they take in, they're going to look rather foolish around those who are much more informed and actually know how to really have a debate.