Apr 25, 2023·edited Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture, George Takei
Regarding Reagan: I disliked/despised the man from the days when he was the voice over for 20 Mule Team Borax, the sponsor for the series, "Death Valley Days". When Reagan was announced as the new president in 1980, I became visibly angry. A coworker asked, "Vince, why are you so upset?" I looked at her and said, "This is one of the darkest days in our country's history." The people who fawned over that phony of a man were pathetic. They were in love with the fake "knight"; not the dark monster that was Reagan to his core. Working class Americans continue to pay the price for Reagan's treachery.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Thank you! I remember well when Reagan turned his back on gays during the HIV/AIDS crisis. He partnered with Jerry Falwell (the irreverent) in declaring HIV/AIDS as "God's punishment" for being gay. I lost a number of friends to AIDS. My first partner died from AIDS. Reagan "promised" millions for AIDS research; then diverted those funds to other projects. Some of us saw through that snarky veneer.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
I graduated medical school as AIDS hit. We didn’t know what caused it. We had only a few treatments of the secondary infections. All we could do was be present, hold hands, listen. And when the time came, cry.
I am to this day furious with Reagan and his administration. For me tfg now known as the criminal defendant took a page from Reagan’s playbook and ramped it up exponentially with the result that over 1 million Americans died of Covid and many families are fractured due to politicization of vaccines and masks.
I have ruined what ever good karma I might have earned by fantasizing Reagan burning in the netherworld for all eternity and praying the tcd joins him. Soon. Like today?!!!!!!
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Sigh. There is that, too. I graduated from a Seven Sisters school in 1978, and moved to NYC. While in college we were moved to the head of the line @ Studio 54 because, well, because we all look the part. My college was well known at the time for sexual experimentation, in part because it had very recently gone co-ed to prevent being merged (as was Radcliffe and Barnard) into the "brother" Ivy League college. Many of my male friends came out as gay, and many are now dead because of HIV. It was a hard, hard time. I, too, hold that as something on Reagan.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
I was fortunate to remain healthy and disease-free. I attribute drugs ("poppers" +) to some of the deaths. And, of course there were the men who became infected unknowingly by men who were infected. That, of course, is a whole different discussion. Reading your "looking the part", I laughed. I recall in the '80s while vacationing in Provincetown, walking along Commerce Street with friends, a straight (presumably) couple was also walking. The woman said to the man with her, "Oh, I don't know honey. They all begin to look alike to me!" I thought to myself, "F**K! It must be the Izods." LMAO.
OMG! LMAO! Izods, I forgot all about those (Ralph Lauren stole the whole look and buried it)! Cords with saiboats, the combination of pink and green . . . OH, and don't forget the sweater tastefully wrapped over the shoulders! Layering had a whole different meaning than nowadays. You wore the white turtle neck UNDER the Izod (color choice yours, but it had to match the next), button down oxford shirt over all. With sweater tastefully wrapped around your shoulders. I shall have to find my dog-eared copy of The Preppy Handbook for shits & giggles. Thanks for that laugh, and I am so pleased you escaped the contagion and continue to do so. Too many of my friends are positive, kind of like covid, it has not gone away.
Despite the challenges, I saw the late sixties (I "came out", May 1968) into the very early nineties as the most fun period. The unspoken dress codes belonged to our own tribe. "Looking good" was not an option. A straight friend remarked after meeting some of my friends, 'Thank God they are gay. I'd never have a chance with women if they were straight." I am sorry to hear about your friends. Fortunately, the medical field has advanced to offering/providing excellent medications resulting in indetectable status. Truthfully and honestly, I liked it better when few people really knew about gays. There was value in that anonymity.
I didn't like him from my years of living in SoCal when he was governor. I actually know people who have 8x10 color glossies of him on their desks. I never had the heart to tell any of them they were auto-signed. They BELIEVE still.
Almost as bad as the John Wayne posters one finds in my brother's house! If I had "one more for the Gipper", it'd be my boot right up his butt. Nancy Reagan was worse then her husband. Ronnie's "aw shucks" demeanor didn't fool all of us. 😈
Sigh. I've referred to my father's classmate status with Haig and Scowcroft. They are all dead now, so the Secret Service won't be knocking on my door. Haig HATED her, Scowcroft, ever the walker-of-the-middle-road never commented. Haig's beef was that she was essentially running the country b/c of his Alzheimer's. I wouldn't repeat this if I wasn't standing at the reception and my father wasn't drawing him out after a few snorts of scotch. No, she was apparently disliked intensely because she could be a (pause here because this feminist doesn't like this phrase) controlling bitch.
Wasn't Regan fired because of Nancy? "Ronnie" could not have functioned without her. Talk about the woman behind the man! 🤣 I think "Ronnie" met Karma in younger Ron, who barely touched the ground even on a good day.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture, George Takei
My dad dabbled in conspiracy theories, was a Fox watcher for his news, but we would mock him for it in a light hearted way. I am not sure how much he truly became ensconced in the RWNJ talking points, but he kept his theories away from my brother and me.
My mother once raised a furrowed brow to me and wondered out loud about Barack "Hussein" Obama. Fox was hard at work with its talking points. It took me a lot of self control not to shame her into humiliation over that inane wonderment by asking her what her middle name said about her. What was the meaning of the middle name she gave to me? Ugh.
I am grateful my dad died in 2011 so I never had to officially lose him to the Fox Propaganda Rabbit Hole, or as I refer to them - First National Propaganda of Christ. My mom died in the spring of 2016 while trump was still a joke of a candidate. Seriously, the electorate wasn't dumb enough to vote for that conman, right? She died believing Hillary would be our first woman President. There is a piece of that I envy.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
As I think about George, and in a much smaller way myself and my facebook friends replete with Medicare and liberal thoughts, I wonder how so many of us "parents" escaped all this. In my case it was disinclination to watch ANY TV news since Uncle Walter left, but surely I'm a minority in that. Has anyone done research about how many of those of us golden years types reacted to the 60's with "Hey Hey LBJ, How many Kids Did You Kill Today" as opposed to "America, Love it or Leave it?" How many of us have stayed sane? Does the education level really have an effect?
Psychologists of the future are going to have dissertation materials for years and years.
Yes fair. There certainly is a countervailing story to be told about the leftward shift of some as they age, as happened to my Mom, actually. I suspect that is more common among women while the Fox radicalization was perhaps more a male-focused phenomenon. Would definitely be curious to see data on it.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
For me, it was a hard, slow evolution. As a family, we were stationed in the Philippines from '66-68. I was about 11 at the time. On the bus, going for my horse riding time at the base stables, we passed the hospital, and Every Single Day, there were young kids in wheel chairs outside with no legs, no arms, and sometimes, all of the above. When we returned home in '69, my father's orders were to return to SE Asia. Mother and I settled in SoCal. Hippy, dippy SoCal. Newport & Laguna Beach. Events came fast and furious in that year: the Manson murders, Woodstock, and increasing bitterness towards the war -- very apparent where we were living.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
This article couldn’t have come at a better time. I literally just had my weekly call to my parents. My father has always been a republican, staunch. Also, huge NRA, but as a gun collector. To his credit, he taught my brother and I all about gun safety and proper gun ownership.
Growing up in California, he was very Republican; but, more laid back about politics; and, always told us that there are always 2 ways to look at something and not to jump to a side or conclusion.
During the Clinton years he started to change. He always had a level of distrust and anger, but nothing like it has grown to, since that time. He also was more sequestered, having moved to the South and into the woods. My mother was going nuts with his ever changing mood and personality.
Talking of politics became a no go, in anyway shape or form. His time in front of Fox News is constant. Not only in the family room, but in their bedroom and the kitchen.
I, now and somewhat unfortunately, live in Florida with my husband. My parents asked about the insanity unfolding daily here with attacks on the LGBTQ + community. I hesitated to answer, but knew they had seen the recent surge Swastika story I had posted. So, I carefully stepped through the conversation, even praising 2 local Republicans for their limited support. All the sudden he lost it. He was everywhere in his screaming of “Foxpels”. I just sat quietly watching his face, looking at my mother’s horror. I literally lost the thread, and finally said”What are you talking about? You asked me what was happening to us, directly. That’s what I answered “. His response, “There’s more than one state to worry about, with what’s happening in D.C. Better to be a Nazi, than Communist. It’s your fault for living there.” My mother and I just looked at one another. But then, she threw me. Her response, “You 2 will never see eye to eye.” What?!? I said that called to see how their doctors appointments went, and was happy that they both went well. Gave my goodbyes.
It’s tough. My brother doesn’t have much to do with them. My father’s level of rage and fear is too much to be around. There is no joy ever with him now. I’m not sure what his outcome will be. But known him, he will be this way until he passes. And that’s sad, because he has alienated everyone.
I'm so sorry, Blaise. Thank you for sharing. It is a question I think about quite often, whether my Dad would have gotten to that point had he lived through the Obama and Trump years. I'd like to think not but will never know.
My father died before the election in 2016. I can still hear his ashes rattling in his box (mother won't part with them, but that's another story). I hear thumps and bumps in the middle of the night, and I KNOW it isn't mother OR her cat.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Great summary. I'd add this, though, and Jen Senko touched on this with her comments: It all started with Rush Limbaugh. While laughing all the way to the bank, he did more to create the right wing ecosphere/echo chamber than anyone/anything else. Without him, there is no Fox News, no Tucker Carlson, no Mark Levin, no Glenn Beck, etc., etc. I hold him directly responsible for a large amount of the polarization that now exists.
Yes, definitely the OG of the modern right-wing disinformation media machine. Last night Rachel Maddow had an excellent rundown of the history running from Father Coughlin in the 30s all the way to Tucker Carlson, with Rush being a pivotal cog in between.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Great article man, one thing tho...this propaganda b.s has been coming from media for a long time! Since mentally ill rich white rePUGliCONs have owned media for forever...I mean look at who was giving us the news. White men. God I could go on because I’m a white woman and I knew in 30’s that fox was full of 💩 but I am glad Fuckem got fired! He’s a smarmy 💩
Apr 25, 2023·edited Apr 25, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Wow. Thank you for this, because I realize I dodged the bullet with them, but Ho-boy, some of my cousins fell down that hole.
In my case, my parents never watched Fox. Mother has been a liberal for years, with her vote cancelling my father's. Dad, despite being a cradle Republican, liked Rachel Maddow for "her moxie and intelligence." Two West Point classmates of his, Al Haig and Brent Scowcroft, served under Reagan and got ribbed mercilessly by him at West Point reunions. However, he tended to vote Republican up and down ballot (I know because I had to be his helper at the voting machine because of his infirmities).
So, imagine my surprise when in the lead up to the Obama/Romney election in 2012. We were out blowing leaves, as you do in central Ohio in the fall. Dad was in his late 80's, and did the job with a blower in one hand and his cane in the other. An earnest Romney volunteer ventured into the driveway, clipboard in hand, to "talk about the election." Dad whipped off his ear protection (not that he needed it, he was stone cold deaf w/o his hearing aids) and said (loudly and emphatically) "YOU ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE!I WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THAT MAN IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!" Earnest volunteer vamoosed at the sight of the angry old man.
I needed a forklift to get my jaw off the ground. "Dad! Wait! What?" He winked, as he was wont to do and said, "Don't worry. I'll vote for Gus Hall." [insert note: google him if you don't recognize that name.] I went into the house and found mother, told her what happened and she was stunned. At dinner she asked him, "So? What changed your mind?"
"Several things," he answered. "First stem cell research. [my brother has aggressive-progressive MS, a cousin has ALS, and another cousin was terminal with a rare cancer of connective tissue. Stem cell research offered light for all of them.] "Second: Republicans have never managed to improve my stock portfolio, and after watching what Obama did in 2008 and 2009 to pull this country out of the recession, I realized a vote for the Republican candidate for president is a vote for a recession. No thank you."
He did, however, down ballot vote Republican party lines; I think his 80+ years of habit got the better of him. But he NEVER watched FOX!! Thank all the powers that be.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Todd Beeton, Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture, George Takei
Thank you so much for this! It perfectly describes how I lost my parents to "Fox Brain" and what it did to my relationship and now my memories of them. My partner is a Fox News Junkie, but is forced by myself and his grown daughters to keep his opinions to himself. It is, however, a wedge between us that lurks in the background and could ultimately end the relationship, so I appreciate the glimmer of optimism for recovery.
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
I grew up in the 1950s, the only girl with four brothers; I'm was the second born. My father used to tell me that if I'd been born a male he would of had a perfect record; I was not equal to my brothers or to him. Our father moved us out of an incredible neighborhood once he thought that "the blacks" were moving in, but he rarely, publicly or privately, talked about his racism. Our mother never said a bad word about anyone. Growing up in St Louis, white and middle-class, we were Catholic Democrats but as adults my youngest brother (brother #4) became a Republican and an uber-Catholic (became a Deacon), two things that seem to go together. My other brothers and I left the Catholic Church years ago because of its hypocrisy, misogyny and pedophilia. Our father passed way and then Brother #1 passed away. A few years later, our mother was dying in the hospital but voted for Obama right before she passed away and that made her so happy. My remaining two brothers and I don't socialize with our youngest brother too often and when we do he makes it clear that we can't discuss politics or religion. Brother #3 got brother #4 to admit that he voted for Trump because he was anti-abortion. Brother #4 believes that the end justifies the means. Having taught ethics courses (retired academic) for many years there is no ethical or moral framework that supports that the end justifies the means. Brother #4 is not looking to debate and defend his beliefs and he certainly doesn't want to change. And yes, he is a loyal Fox News customer. We only see Brother #4 at family gatherings and holidays and since he doesn't talk about religion or politics, there really is no point in "calling him out" on his beliefs. The good news is that all of our children, even those of Brother #4, are much more open-minded and socially liberal (mostly Democrats), and none of them, as far as I know, watch Fox News.
My father was a lifelong Republican who watched Fox News; however, his reason was different than most. My sister moved to Jerusalem over 20 years ago, and about 15 years ago, she convinced our father to join her. There were only two English-speaking sources of news in Israel: Fox News, and Al Jazeera. Being a Jewish immigrant to Israel, there was no way my father was going to watch Al Jazeera's news, so he watched Fox News instead.
When he moved back to the US, to be near me, about 10 years ago, he was still a Republican, and didn't believe me when I said - sadly, prophetically - that I could never vote for a Republican, because they wanted to make abortion illegal. He did not, I don't think, realize how far Fox News had drifted even then - but when I set up his TV, I made sure he had ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, and CNN all on his Roku with the Fox News he wanted. He also read the local newspaper daily, so at least he got a different perspective from that.
He still believed much of what Fox News said - but he was willing to listen to my perspective, and he was swayed more by information and logic than by emotion. We never did agree on the aims of the Republican Party, but at least he was still more reasonable than many Fox viewers - mostly, I suspect, because as a retired college professor with specialties in English and Library Science, he always looked for multiple sources for information, and compared them. He passed away 5 years ago, and as much as I still miss him, I'm glad he missed the events of the past 5 years; he would have been heartbroken at the current state of the country.
First Rush Limbaugh and then Fox News wrecked my family too in small-town Virginia. First my wonderful loving father, and then my apolitical mother and sister. I agree that the Obama years were the worst for this. It was pure brainwashing.
My sister went so far into right wing hate, racism and conspiracy theories her daughter set up a conservatorship for her and manages all of her financial affairs. My sister lives in a very remote area of the California Gold Country has no friends, and has developed enormous health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease. She was even kicked off both Twitter and Facebook. She has not spoken to me in years as I volunteered on both Obama campaigns!
It’s sad to say but I’m glad my parents are gone. I’m afraid they would have likely succumbed to the pull of Fox, especially my dad. I feel sorry for my friends who have Fox addicted relatives. 😢😡
Sad, but so true. Fox Noise and the other GQP propaganda/hate outlets (both TV and Radio) follow a script of stoking constant outrage. Much of it is laughably false, but once the willfully ignorant sheep have been sucked in, they will believe (and regurgitate) everything their thought-masters feed them, no matter how outrageous. Mr. Potato Head? Kids using litter boxes in schools? CRT (which most of the brainwashed minons can't even define)? Sad.
As the song says ("Movin' On", by Deal's Gone Bad): "you're hellbent on being hellbent ...".
Thank you for this article. It perfectly describes my dad. His gateway drug was Limbaugh. He died in 2004.
I was thrilled when Obama was elected. I was also grateful that he didn’t live to see it. I suspect it would have radicalized him even more.
I am certain my dad would have voted for Trump if he were still alive in 2016. As a former marine who fought in the Pacific during WWII, I like to think that he would have some point come around to see through the lies and would have turned against Trump.
During the Obama years my brother drank the Fox koolaide. Trump’s candidacy and presidency ramped it up even more. Covid drove us apart. He took prophylactic ivermectin. To this day he is unvaccinated. And I am estranged from my last living first degree relative.
The Foxaholics are not the only ones that are addicted to adrenaline.
Why do you think MSM feeds us a steady diet of the criminal defendant and the rest of the christo-fascists? We get angry at the stupidity, the lies, the racism, the cruelty, the unwinding of things we value e.g. non biased judiciary, women’s control of their bodies, care for the earth, health care for all, severe economic disparity, etc etc etc.
I get a visceral reaction to the word “trump” when used in a sentence. And it isn’t just the proper noun, it is also the common noun and the verb. Blood pressure and pulse rate goes up, fight or flight engaged.
So I am suggesting we all become aware of what happens when we hear about tcd and his cronies. When we hear about the injustices and lies and cruelties. The adrenaline rush is addicting but long term, physiologically damaging. Take steps to avoid it.
I would like to see the MSM decrease the coverage of tcd to once or twice a week at most. (With notable exception if the name DJT is used in a sentence containing the words convicted, imprisoned, or dead. Then they get a pass!
Regarding Reagan: I disliked/despised the man from the days when he was the voice over for 20 Mule Team Borax, the sponsor for the series, "Death Valley Days". When Reagan was announced as the new president in 1980, I became visibly angry. A coworker asked, "Vince, why are you so upset?" I looked at her and said, "This is one of the darkest days in our country's history." The people who fawned over that phony of a man were pathetic. They were in love with the fake "knight"; not the dark monster that was Reagan to his core. Working class Americans continue to pay the price for Reagan's treachery.
When he gave his speech in Mississippi, near the site where civil rights activists were murdered, I knew that the GOP had lost its moral bearing.
Expecting decency and dignity from Republicans, sadly, is a bridge too far; and, too high.
Well said.💯
Thank you! I remember well when Reagan turned his back on gays during the HIV/AIDS crisis. He partnered with Jerry Falwell (the irreverent) in declaring HIV/AIDS as "God's punishment" for being gay. I lost a number of friends to AIDS. My first partner died from AIDS. Reagan "promised" millions for AIDS research; then diverted those funds to other projects. Some of us saw through that snarky veneer.
I graduated medical school as AIDS hit. We didn’t know what caused it. We had only a few treatments of the secondary infections. All we could do was be present, hold hands, listen. And when the time came, cry.
I am to this day furious with Reagan and his administration. For me tfg now known as the criminal defendant took a page from Reagan’s playbook and ramped it up exponentially with the result that over 1 million Americans died of Covid and many families are fractured due to politicization of vaccines and masks.
I have ruined what ever good karma I might have earned by fantasizing Reagan burning in the netherworld for all eternity and praying the tcd joins him. Soon. Like today?!!!!!!
Sigh. There is that, too. I graduated from a Seven Sisters school in 1978, and moved to NYC. While in college we were moved to the head of the line @ Studio 54 because, well, because we all look the part. My college was well known at the time for sexual experimentation, in part because it had very recently gone co-ed to prevent being merged (as was Radcliffe and Barnard) into the "brother" Ivy League college. Many of my male friends came out as gay, and many are now dead because of HIV. It was a hard, hard time. I, too, hold that as something on Reagan.
I was fortunate to remain healthy and disease-free. I attribute drugs ("poppers" +) to some of the deaths. And, of course there were the men who became infected unknowingly by men who were infected. That, of course, is a whole different discussion. Reading your "looking the part", I laughed. I recall in the '80s while vacationing in Provincetown, walking along Commerce Street with friends, a straight (presumably) couple was also walking. The woman said to the man with her, "Oh, I don't know honey. They all begin to look alike to me!" I thought to myself, "F**K! It must be the Izods." LMAO.
OMG! LMAO! Izods, I forgot all about those (Ralph Lauren stole the whole look and buried it)! Cords with saiboats, the combination of pink and green . . . OH, and don't forget the sweater tastefully wrapped over the shoulders! Layering had a whole different meaning than nowadays. You wore the white turtle neck UNDER the Izod (color choice yours, but it had to match the next), button down oxford shirt over all. With sweater tastefully wrapped around your shoulders. I shall have to find my dog-eared copy of The Preppy Handbook for shits & giggles. Thanks for that laugh, and I am so pleased you escaped the contagion and continue to do so. Too many of my friends are positive, kind of like covid, it has not gone away.
Despite the challenges, I saw the late sixties (I "came out", May 1968) into the very early nineties as the most fun period. The unspoken dress codes belonged to our own tribe. "Looking good" was not an option. A straight friend remarked after meeting some of my friends, 'Thank God they are gay. I'd never have a chance with women if they were straight." I am sorry to hear about your friends. Fortunately, the medical field has advanced to offering/providing excellent medications resulting in indetectable status. Truthfully and honestly, I liked it better when few people really knew about gays. There was value in that anonymity.
I didn't like him from my years of living in SoCal when he was governor. I actually know people who have 8x10 color glossies of him on their desks. I never had the heart to tell any of them they were auto-signed. They BELIEVE still.
Almost as bad as the John Wayne posters one finds in my brother's house! If I had "one more for the Gipper", it'd be my boot right up his butt. Nancy Reagan was worse then her husband. Ronnie's "aw shucks" demeanor didn't fool all of us. 😈
Let us not forget Nancy had an astrologer on the payroll.
Rumor had it that she was absolutely HATED by White House staff.
Sigh. I've referred to my father's classmate status with Haig and Scowcroft. They are all dead now, so the Secret Service won't be knocking on my door. Haig HATED her, Scowcroft, ever the walker-of-the-middle-road never commented. Haig's beef was that she was essentially running the country b/c of his Alzheimer's. I wouldn't repeat this if I wasn't standing at the reception and my father wasn't drawing him out after a few snorts of scotch. No, she was apparently disliked intensely because she could be a (pause here because this feminist doesn't like this phrase) controlling bitch.
I never met the woman, just the auxiliaries.
Wasn't Regan fired because of Nancy? "Ronnie" could not have functioned without her. Talk about the woman behind the man! 🤣 I think "Ronnie" met Karma in younger Ron, who barely touched the ground even on a good day.
My dad dabbled in conspiracy theories, was a Fox watcher for his news, but we would mock him for it in a light hearted way. I am not sure how much he truly became ensconced in the RWNJ talking points, but he kept his theories away from my brother and me.
My mother once raised a furrowed brow to me and wondered out loud about Barack "Hussein" Obama. Fox was hard at work with its talking points. It took me a lot of self control not to shame her into humiliation over that inane wonderment by asking her what her middle name said about her. What was the meaning of the middle name she gave to me? Ugh.
I am grateful my dad died in 2011 so I never had to officially lose him to the Fox Propaganda Rabbit Hole, or as I refer to them - First National Propaganda of Christ. My mom died in the spring of 2016 while trump was still a joke of a candidate. Seriously, the electorate wasn't dumb enough to vote for that conman, right? She died believing Hillary would be our first woman President. There is a piece of that I envy.
Totally get that. Thanks for sharing.
As I think about George, and in a much smaller way myself and my facebook friends replete with Medicare and liberal thoughts, I wonder how so many of us "parents" escaped all this. In my case it was disinclination to watch ANY TV news since Uncle Walter left, but surely I'm a minority in that. Has anyone done research about how many of those of us golden years types reacted to the 60's with "Hey Hey LBJ, How many Kids Did You Kill Today" as opposed to "America, Love it or Leave it?" How many of us have stayed sane? Does the education level really have an effect?
Psychologists of the future are going to have dissertation materials for years and years.
Yes fair. There certainly is a countervailing story to be told about the leftward shift of some as they age, as happened to my Mom, actually. I suspect that is more common among women while the Fox radicalization was perhaps more a male-focused phenomenon. Would definitely be curious to see data on it.
For me, it was a hard, slow evolution. As a family, we were stationed in the Philippines from '66-68. I was about 11 at the time. On the bus, going for my horse riding time at the base stables, we passed the hospital, and Every Single Day, there were young kids in wheel chairs outside with no legs, no arms, and sometimes, all of the above. When we returned home in '69, my father's orders were to return to SE Asia. Mother and I settled in SoCal. Hippy, dippy SoCal. Newport & Laguna Beach. Events came fast and furious in that year: the Manson murders, Woodstock, and increasing bitterness towards the war -- very apparent where we were living.
What did it for me was Kent State.
This article couldn’t have come at a better time. I literally just had my weekly call to my parents. My father has always been a republican, staunch. Also, huge NRA, but as a gun collector. To his credit, he taught my brother and I all about gun safety and proper gun ownership.
Growing up in California, he was very Republican; but, more laid back about politics; and, always told us that there are always 2 ways to look at something and not to jump to a side or conclusion.
During the Clinton years he started to change. He always had a level of distrust and anger, but nothing like it has grown to, since that time. He also was more sequestered, having moved to the South and into the woods. My mother was going nuts with his ever changing mood and personality.
Talking of politics became a no go, in anyway shape or form. His time in front of Fox News is constant. Not only in the family room, but in their bedroom and the kitchen.
I, now and somewhat unfortunately, live in Florida with my husband. My parents asked about the insanity unfolding daily here with attacks on the LGBTQ + community. I hesitated to answer, but knew they had seen the recent surge Swastika story I had posted. So, I carefully stepped through the conversation, even praising 2 local Republicans for their limited support. All the sudden he lost it. He was everywhere in his screaming of “Foxpels”. I just sat quietly watching his face, looking at my mother’s horror. I literally lost the thread, and finally said”What are you talking about? You asked me what was happening to us, directly. That’s what I answered “. His response, “There’s more than one state to worry about, with what’s happening in D.C. Better to be a Nazi, than Communist. It’s your fault for living there.” My mother and I just looked at one another. But then, she threw me. Her response, “You 2 will never see eye to eye.” What?!? I said that called to see how their doctors appointments went, and was happy that they both went well. Gave my goodbyes.
It’s tough. My brother doesn’t have much to do with them. My father’s level of rage and fear is too much to be around. There is no joy ever with him now. I’m not sure what his outcome will be. But known him, he will be this way until he passes. And that’s sad, because he has alienated everyone.
I'm so sorry, Blaise. Thank you for sharing. It is a question I think about quite often, whether my Dad would have gotten to that point had he lived through the Obama and Trump years. I'd like to think not but will never know.
My heart goes out to you, Blaise.
My father died before the election in 2016. I can still hear his ashes rattling in his box (mother won't part with them, but that's another story). I hear thumps and bumps in the middle of the night, and I KNOW it isn't mother OR her cat.
Great summary. I'd add this, though, and Jen Senko touched on this with her comments: It all started with Rush Limbaugh. While laughing all the way to the bank, he did more to create the right wing ecosphere/echo chamber than anyone/anything else. Without him, there is no Fox News, no Tucker Carlson, no Mark Levin, no Glenn Beck, etc., etc. I hold him directly responsible for a large amount of the polarization that now exists.
Yes, definitely the OG of the modern right-wing disinformation media machine. Last night Rachel Maddow had an excellent rundown of the history running from Father Coughlin in the 30s all the way to Tucker Carlson, with Rush being a pivotal cog in between.
Great article man, one thing tho...this propaganda b.s has been coming from media for a long time! Since mentally ill rich white rePUGliCONs have owned media for forever...I mean look at who was giving us the news. White men. God I could go on because I’m a white woman and I knew in 30’s that fox was full of 💩 but I am glad Fuckem got fired! He’s a smarmy 💩
Wow. Thank you for this, because I realize I dodged the bullet with them, but Ho-boy, some of my cousins fell down that hole.
In my case, my parents never watched Fox. Mother has been a liberal for years, with her vote cancelling my father's. Dad, despite being a cradle Republican, liked Rachel Maddow for "her moxie and intelligence." Two West Point classmates of his, Al Haig and Brent Scowcroft, served under Reagan and got ribbed mercilessly by him at West Point reunions. However, he tended to vote Republican up and down ballot (I know because I had to be his helper at the voting machine because of his infirmities).
So, imagine my surprise when in the lead up to the Obama/Romney election in 2012. We were out blowing leaves, as you do in central Ohio in the fall. Dad was in his late 80's, and did the job with a blower in one hand and his cane in the other. An earnest Romney volunteer ventured into the driveway, clipboard in hand, to "talk about the election." Dad whipped off his ear protection (not that he needed it, he was stone cold deaf w/o his hearing aids) and said (loudly and emphatically) "YOU ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE!I WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THAT MAN IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!" Earnest volunteer vamoosed at the sight of the angry old man.
I needed a forklift to get my jaw off the ground. "Dad! Wait! What?" He winked, as he was wont to do and said, "Don't worry. I'll vote for Gus Hall." [insert note: google him if you don't recognize that name.] I went into the house and found mother, told her what happened and she was stunned. At dinner she asked him, "So? What changed your mind?"
"Several things," he answered. "First stem cell research. [my brother has aggressive-progressive MS, a cousin has ALS, and another cousin was terminal with a rare cancer of connective tissue. Stem cell research offered light for all of them.] "Second: Republicans have never managed to improve my stock portfolio, and after watching what Obama did in 2008 and 2009 to pull this country out of the recession, I realized a vote for the Republican candidate for president is a vote for a recession. No thank you."
He did, however, down ballot vote Republican party lines; I think his 80+ years of habit got the better of him. But he NEVER watched FOX!! Thank all the powers that be.
Thank you so much for this! It perfectly describes how I lost my parents to "Fox Brain" and what it did to my relationship and now my memories of them. My partner is a Fox News Junkie, but is forced by myself and his grown daughters to keep his opinions to himself. It is, however, a wedge between us that lurks in the background and could ultimately end the relationship, so I appreciate the glimmer of optimism for recovery.
That sounds like a difficult situation that you are handling as best you can. I wish you a full Fox recovery.
Thank you for that new phrase that I will be using liberally here in my trumplandia desert scape.
I grew up in the 1950s, the only girl with four brothers; I'm was the second born. My father used to tell me that if I'd been born a male he would of had a perfect record; I was not equal to my brothers or to him. Our father moved us out of an incredible neighborhood once he thought that "the blacks" were moving in, but he rarely, publicly or privately, talked about his racism. Our mother never said a bad word about anyone. Growing up in St Louis, white and middle-class, we were Catholic Democrats but as adults my youngest brother (brother #4) became a Republican and an uber-Catholic (became a Deacon), two things that seem to go together. My other brothers and I left the Catholic Church years ago because of its hypocrisy, misogyny and pedophilia. Our father passed way and then Brother #1 passed away. A few years later, our mother was dying in the hospital but voted for Obama right before she passed away and that made her so happy. My remaining two brothers and I don't socialize with our youngest brother too often and when we do he makes it clear that we can't discuss politics or religion. Brother #3 got brother #4 to admit that he voted for Trump because he was anti-abortion. Brother #4 believes that the end justifies the means. Having taught ethics courses (retired academic) for many years there is no ethical or moral framework that supports that the end justifies the means. Brother #4 is not looking to debate and defend his beliefs and he certainly doesn't want to change. And yes, he is a loyal Fox News customer. We only see Brother #4 at family gatherings and holidays and since he doesn't talk about religion or politics, there really is no point in "calling him out" on his beliefs. The good news is that all of our children, even those of Brother #4, are much more open-minded and socially liberal (mostly Democrats), and none of them, as far as I know, watch Fox News.
My father was a lifelong Republican who watched Fox News; however, his reason was different than most. My sister moved to Jerusalem over 20 years ago, and about 15 years ago, she convinced our father to join her. There were only two English-speaking sources of news in Israel: Fox News, and Al Jazeera. Being a Jewish immigrant to Israel, there was no way my father was going to watch Al Jazeera's news, so he watched Fox News instead.
When he moved back to the US, to be near me, about 10 years ago, he was still a Republican, and didn't believe me when I said - sadly, prophetically - that I could never vote for a Republican, because they wanted to make abortion illegal. He did not, I don't think, realize how far Fox News had drifted even then - but when I set up his TV, I made sure he had ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, and CNN all on his Roku with the Fox News he wanted. He also read the local newspaper daily, so at least he got a different perspective from that.
He still believed much of what Fox News said - but he was willing to listen to my perspective, and he was swayed more by information and logic than by emotion. We never did agree on the aims of the Republican Party, but at least he was still more reasonable than many Fox viewers - mostly, I suspect, because as a retired college professor with specialties in English and Library Science, he always looked for multiple sources for information, and compared them. He passed away 5 years ago, and as much as I still miss him, I'm glad he missed the events of the past 5 years; he would have been heartbroken at the current state of the country.
First Rush Limbaugh and then Fox News wrecked my family too in small-town Virginia. First my wonderful loving father, and then my apolitical mother and sister. I agree that the Obama years were the worst for this. It was pure brainwashing.
My sister went so far into right wing hate, racism and conspiracy theories her daughter set up a conservatorship for her and manages all of her financial affairs. My sister lives in a very remote area of the California Gold Country has no friends, and has developed enormous health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease. She was even kicked off both Twitter and Facebook. She has not spoken to me in years as I volunteered on both Obama campaigns!
It’s sad to say but I’m glad my parents are gone. I’m afraid they would have likely succumbed to the pull of Fox, especially my dad. I feel sorry for my friends who have Fox addicted relatives. 😢😡
This article has brought some perspective for my family members. It was well worth the minimal subscription fee. And you have my loyalty.
Appreciate it!
Sad, but so true. Fox Noise and the other GQP propaganda/hate outlets (both TV and Radio) follow a script of stoking constant outrage. Much of it is laughably false, but once the willfully ignorant sheep have been sucked in, they will believe (and regurgitate) everything their thought-masters feed them, no matter how outrageous. Mr. Potato Head? Kids using litter boxes in schools? CRT (which most of the brainwashed minons can't even define)? Sad.
As the song says ("Movin' On", by Deal's Gone Bad): "you're hellbent on being hellbent ...".
Thank you for this article. It perfectly describes my dad. His gateway drug was Limbaugh. He died in 2004.
I was thrilled when Obama was elected. I was also grateful that he didn’t live to see it. I suspect it would have radicalized him even more.
I am certain my dad would have voted for Trump if he were still alive in 2016. As a former marine who fought in the Pacific during WWII, I like to think that he would have some point come around to see through the lies and would have turned against Trump.
During the Obama years my brother drank the Fox koolaide. Trump’s candidacy and presidency ramped it up even more. Covid drove us apart. He took prophylactic ivermectin. To this day he is unvaccinated. And I am estranged from my last living first degree relative.
The Foxaholics are not the only ones that are addicted to adrenaline.
Why do you think MSM feeds us a steady diet of the criminal defendant and the rest of the christo-fascists? We get angry at the stupidity, the lies, the racism, the cruelty, the unwinding of things we value e.g. non biased judiciary, women’s control of their bodies, care for the earth, health care for all, severe economic disparity, etc etc etc.
I get a visceral reaction to the word “trump” when used in a sentence. And it isn’t just the proper noun, it is also the common noun and the verb. Blood pressure and pulse rate goes up, fight or flight engaged.
So I am suggesting we all become aware of what happens when we hear about tcd and his cronies. When we hear about the injustices and lies and cruelties. The adrenaline rush is addicting but long term, physiologically damaging. Take steps to avoid it.
I would like to see the MSM decrease the coverage of tcd to once or twice a week at most. (With notable exception if the name DJT is used in a sentence containing the words convicted, imprisoned, or dead. Then they get a pass!