My exposure to Fox News and MSNBC

[Trevor]

I recently got satellite TV from www.toptv.co.za which is affordable, unlike other competitors here. In my choice of channels, there are various news channels such as BBC World and even Al Jazeera, but the ones I like best are Fox News and MSNBC. I know people like Bill O Reilly have their detractors but it's refreshing to see that these news anchors can say what they want due to the USA Constitutional laws and not worry: that would never happen where I am, despite the fact that freedom of speech is in our constitution.

The thing that made me laugh one time was when Bill O'Reilly was talking about ex Pakistan President Musharaff and his reaction to the OBL killing: Musharaff's indignation led O'Reilly to say "Don't you just want to slap this guy?" 

I love freedom of speech: a new thing where we are. 

[trekgeezer]

I am staunch advocate of free speech, but there are many in our country that take it for granted and many that wish it wasn't so free.

A lot don't realize what a great thing it is.

[Raffine]

I recently got satellite TV from www.toptv.co.za which is affordable, unlike other competitors here. In my choice of channels, there are various news channels such as BBC World and even Al Jazeera, but the ones I like best are Fox News and MSNBC. I know people like Bill O Reilly have their detractors but it's refreshing to see that these news anchors can say what they want due to the USA Constitutional laws and not worry: that would never happen where I am, despite the fact that freedom of speech is in our constitution.

The thing that made me laugh one time was when Bill O'Reilly was talking about ex Pakistan President Musharaff and his reaction to the OBL killing: Musharaff's indignation led O'Reilly to say "Don't you just want to slap this guy?" 

I love freedom of speech: a new thing where we are. 

Too bad you missed the Keith Olbermann era on MSNBC.

Boy, could that man rant! 

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I recently got satellite TV from www.toptv.co.za which is affordable, unlike other competitors here. In my choice of channels, there are various news channels such as BBC World and even Al Jazeera, but the ones I like best are Fox News and MSNBC. I know people like Bill O Reilly have their detractors but it's refreshing to see that these news anchors can say what they want due to the USA Constitutional laws and not worry: that would never happen where I am, despite the fact that freedom of speech is in our constitution.

The thing that made me laugh one time was when Bill O'Reilly was talking about ex Pakistan President Musharaff and his reaction to the OBL killing: Musharaff's indignation led O'Reilly to say "Don't you just want to slap this guy?" 

I love freedom of speech: a new thing where we are. 

Too bad you missed the Keith Olbermann era on MSNBC.

Boy, could that man rant! 

OMG, Olbermann used to make me laugh so hard, with that continual baritone-voiced string of left-wing condescension and vitriol that makes it clear that Olbermann seriously needs to get laid, lol 

[HappyGilmore]

I am staunch advocate of free speech, but there are many in our country that take it for granted and many that wish it wasn't so free.

A lot don't realize what a great thing it is.

I love the people that'd yell about freedom of speech, and then Howard Stern would come on the radio and they'd say "He can't say that! The Children, the children!" and scream that he should be fired.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I am staunch advocate of free speech, but there are many in our country that take it for granted and many that wish it wasn't so free.

A lot don't realize what a great thing it is.

I love the people that'd yell about freedom of speech, and then Howard Stern would come on the radio and they'd say "He can't say that! The Children, the children!" and scream that he should be fired.

Not to be rude here, or instigational,  and certainly no offense to you, HappyGilmore,
but we could also mention the Liberals who always see their constant and deliberate antagonization of the Right as "grass roots common sense" and "Free Speech", only to take a collective p**s and cry "victim!" when someone like Beck or O' Reilly shoves it back in their face.

Oh yeah, all the while they scream for them to be fired too.....  Victimizing while playing the victim.    There's a Left and a Right. These people need to get used to it.

And lastly, I totally agree with you, Free Speech is totally taken for granted to previously unprecedented levels. I don't think that's ever going to change.

[Raffine]

My understanding of free speech in America is you can jolly well say what you want, but having this freedom also means you have to take responsibility for what you say and  be willing to face any negative consequences resulting from it.

but we could also mention the Liberals who always see their constant and deliberate antagonization of the Right as "grass roots common sense" and "Free Speech", only to take a collective p**s and cry "victim!" when someone like Beck or O' Reilly shoves it back in their face.

It's been my experience that blowhard pundits on both sides of the fence are guilty of this.

[HappyGilmore]

I am staunch advocate of free speech, but there are many in our country that take it for granted and many that wish it wasn't so free.

A lot don't realize what a great thing it is.

I love the people that'd yell about freedom of speech, and then Howard Stern would come on the radio and they'd say "He can't say that! The Children, the children!" and scream that he should be fired.

Not to be rude here, or instigational,  and certainly no offense to you, HappyGilmore,
but we could also mention the Liberals who always see their constant and deliberate antagonization of the Right as "grass roots common sense" and "Free Speech", only to take a collective p**s and cry "victim!" when someone like Beck or O' Reilly shoves it back in their face.

Oh yeah, all the while they scream for them to be fired too.....  Victimizing while playing the victim.    There's a Left and a Right. These people need to get used to it.

And lastly, I totally agree with you, Free Speech is totally taken for granted to previously unprecedented levels. I don't think that's ever going to change.

None taken.  I agree with you. 

[Flick James]

Free speech is free speech. However, in today's world we are bombarded by so much information that people flock to whoever will water it down and simplify it to fit their needs.

People are going to believe whatever evidence supports their version of "the truth." The mind is like a set of filters. Culture, race, income, maritial status, parenthood, sexual orientation, and an almost limitless range of other factors all cause people to accept or reject information as the truth. By the time this enormous barrage of information we are assaulted with gets past all of those filters, I doubt very many people are left with very much actual truth. The commentators who attract the most viewers looking for that person to condense it all down for them are typically the most gifted fearmongers. Afterall, all of those filters I'm talking about are essentially a collection of fears, fears that are easily exploitable in the midst of such overwhelming volumes of information.

My typical cynical take. I don't have much faith in the media, free speech or not. The U.S. press, while seemingly free, is far more controlled than most care to realize.