# Dear Janeane Garofalo **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 4, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499 "2004-05-04T18:04:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/21 "2004-05-04T20:01:42Z")
She’s no random liberal. She’s on the circuit plugging her new radio talk show which she described to Sharon as “political”. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/22 "2004-05-04T20:19:01Z")
What in the name of God is your point? Do you honestly think Garafolo (note the spelling, I beg you) is going to be a driving influence in the upcoming elections? I need to hire you as my publicist. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/23 "2004-05-04T20:50:00Z")
> [@akennett](#): > > But isn’t that the conservative ethic: gimme, gimme, gimme!!! Funny, I thought that was the liberal stance (in relation to government) instead of being responsible for yourself. gimme national healthcare gimme prescription drugs gimme this gimme that make the rich pay for it all… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/24 "2004-05-04T21:02:23Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > She’s no random liberal. She’s on the circuit plugging her new radio talk show which she described to Sharon as “political”. Yeah, but she’s not an official spokeswoman of the Democratic party or the Kerry campaign. Unfortunately, there are people all over the political spectrum who demonize their political opponents instead of just disagreeing with them, and those people get audiences. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/25 "2004-05-04T21:05:01Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > She was pretty far out there on _The Daily Show_ last night too. I like her, I think she’s funny, but she should stick to comedy and not so much the political commentary. Actually, her comedy’s not so great lately either. She bombed at Caroline’s the last time I saw her. I used to like Janeane a lot. Now she freaks me out. Ava ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/26 "2004-05-04T21:05:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > True perhaps, but dogs in general are definitely conservatives. At least, I’ve never known any that enjoyed radical changes in their living situations. Four out of five dogs favor tax cuts to producers of rawhide, tennis balls, and Snausages. However, almost eight out of ten support increased funding for latex squeaky toys, even if it requires deficit spending. So I guess they’re moderates. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/27 "2004-05-04T21:06:27Z")
Disraeli wasn’t it? “I can deal with my enemies, Lord protect me from my allies.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/28 "2004-05-04T21:08:21Z")
She’s been on AirAmerica, which I think is using the “Big Splash” tactic to draw in listeners. She’s actually very bright, if a little extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/29 "2004-05-04T21:23:00Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > What in the name of God is your point? Do you honestly think Garafolo (note the spelling, I beg you) is going to be a driving influence in the upcoming elections? > > I need to hire you as my publicist. From where I sit, this sort of thing is systemic. It’s not just her, it’s the whole liberal nation. Even here at SDMB, a veritable bastion of liberalism, the complaints about Bush and company are just plain stupid. I’ve enumerated them elsewhere with links, so you can search my username for a list. The point is please STOP IT! Yes, both sides are demonizing each other but (note the point, I beg you) only one side is demonizing what people give a shit about. Y’all are going on about how Bush has a bad speechwriter, and the Bushistas are calling you traitors. This is not the time for liberal egghead snobbiness. I’m very familiar with it. We had it in spades in the 60s. That was the time, but this is not. People care about character, so bash Bush for lying. People care about safety, so bash Bush for endangering Americans. People care about freedom, so bash Bush for crushing our civil liberties. Stop saying shit that either doesn’t matter or else that everyone knows is not true. The idea is to GET VOTES from people like me who ordinarily would not vote for either Bush or Kerry. We are the 4-6 percent differential that you need. If one side is going to be as bad as the other, then I might as well vote for Nader. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/30 "2004-05-04T23:04:14Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s pretty clear she was talking metaphorically and given the popularity of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilley, Bernie Goldberg, Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannitty, Mike Savage and Peggy Noonan to name but a few who have made bashing liberals into a thriving cottage industry, I’d say she has a point. Precisely so. The pen is mightier than the baseball bat. > [@](#): > > The idea is to GET VOTES from people like me who ordinarily would not vote for either Bush or Kerry. We are the 4-6 percent differential that you need. If one side is going to be as bad as the other, then I might as well vote for Nader. I am reminded, **Libertarian** , of myself, four years ago, when I DID vote for Nader. Surely you’ve learned by this late, late date that part of being a grown-up means that sometimes it is better to go along with something that, while it may not fulfill every last ornate detail of the potential Utopia that exists in our minds, we are sometimes obliged to do our part in order to help prevent something that would, to all appearances, most definitely be detrimental to it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/31 "2004-05-04T23:50:12Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > What in the name of God is your point? Do you honestly think Garafolo (note the spelling, I beg you) is going to be a driving influence in the upcoming elections? > > I need to hire you as my publicist. “Janeane Garofalo” (note the spelling, I beg you) is how they spell it, not only on the Air America site, but her very own site: [http://www.janeane.net/](http://www.janeane.net/) ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/32 "2004-05-05T00:05:22Z")
> [@wring](#): > > or some other news flash about the pope and da bears. The Chicago Bears managed to sign the Pope? **Lib** , vote for whoever you feel is best for the job. Just realize that Nader has as much a chance of winning as I do…so if you’re going to vote for Nader, you might as well just write me in:D ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/33 "2004-05-05T00:52:24Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > What in the name of God is your point? Do you honestly think Garafolo (note the spelling, I beg you) is going to be a driving influence in the upcoming elections? > > I need to hire you as my publicist. I don’t get this. I’ve seen plenty of pit threads about Ann Coulter…Rush Limbaugh…Bill O’Reilly…Michael Moore…yadda yadda ALL of those people do the same thing…comment on current events from a partisan point of view. It’s the **same thing** that Garafolo is now doing for Air America. Please explain why none of the above people (who are not going to be “driving influences in the upcoming elections”) are subject to criticism? FWIW, I don’t have a dog in this particular hunt…don’t really have a strong opinion either way about her. I just note wonder why it’s okay to pit **some** political commentators, but not others? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/34 "2004-05-05T01:04:40Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > I caught her on “The Daily Show” last night. She put forth the brilliant proposition that voting for Bush amounts to “a character flaw”. :rolleyes: I didn’t get the impression she was joking, either. > > What a dumb cunt. Must make me a dumb prick, 'cause I certainly agree w/her. Not joking either. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/35 "2004-05-05T01:06:14Z")
Quote: Traditionally, what right-wingers and conservatives do is hire their thugs with baseball bats to bust heads of the liberals that [sic] are fighting for the betterment of society. Well first, what she is doing is summarizing the position of the right. And secondly, she is not stating an iron-clad rule here. It’s just a general “rule of thumb” sort of thing. No need to get upset. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/36 "2004-05-05T02:08:35Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > What in the name of God is your point? Do you honestly think Garafolo (note the spelling, I beg you) is going to be a driving influence in the upcoming elections? [Her name is spelled “Garofalo,”](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000413/) as per the OP. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/37 "2004-05-05T02:36:59Z")
> [@griffen2](#): > > It’s pretty clear she was talking metaphorically and given the popularity of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilley, Bernie Goldberg, Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannitty, Mike Savage and Peggy Noonan _to name but a few_ who have made bashing liberals into a thriving cottage industry, I’d say she has a point. Of course, you understand there may be a _reason_ the above are so popular. Right? RIGHT? Oh, never mind. ---
**Author:** ![griffen2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce7236/32.png) [@griffen2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffen2)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/38 "2004-05-05T02:49:10Z")
**duffer** What has their popularity to do with anything? They are professional rhetorical assassins who earn their keep bashing liberals. They pander to an audience primarily composed of people who seem to get an almost sexual thrill from having their beliefs validated by their pet pundits liberal bashing. Consequently, there _is_, contrary to the OP’s belief, some basis for Garofalo’s statement. As usual, you are running in circles with both thumbs jammed firmly up your ass while the point of the discussion sails over your head. That these malignant tumors eating away at the body politic happen to be popular is completely irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/39 "2004-05-05T05:12:30Z")
> [@griffen2](#): > > **duffer** > > What has their popularity to do with anything? They are professional rhetorical assassins who earn their keep bashing liberals. They pander to an audience primarily composed of people who seem to get an almost sexual thrill from having their beliefs validated by their pet pundits liberal bashing. Consequently, there _is_, contrary to the OP’s belief, some basis for Garofalo’s statement. > > As usual, you are running in circles with both thumbs jammed firmly up your ass while the point of the discussion sails over your head. That these malignant tumors eating away at the body politic happen to be popular is completely irrelevant. Wow, I thought my posts were bad. You’ve given me fuel to keep it up. _You’re_ the one to bring up the conservative hosts. _You’re_ the one to imply Queen Bitch is an antidote to those voices. All I did was make the point that maybe the popularity of Rush, Sean, et al., is a sign that not everyone agrees with you. How many stations carry her program, anyway? If it’s such a popular view, I’d expect it to be in all major markets. Now to the fingers up my ass. That was just brilliant. You really put me in my place with that one. I guess I’ll go cry a bit because a piece of shit like you disagrees with me. Damn, How will I ever go on? ---
**Author:** ![griffen2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce7236/32.png) [@griffen2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffen2)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499/40 "2004-05-05T05:30:15Z")
**duffer**. Here’s a tip. Don’t sprinkle your posts with flammable condescention if you don’t want them to catch fire. > [@](#): > > _You’re_ the one to bring up the conservative hosts. Well spotted. I was the one to bring up Conservative hosts. You know why? Because the existence of these bilious rightwing scumfucks on Talk radio provides a solid basis for Janeane Garofalo’s statement as quoted in the OP. Lots of people were saying she was full of shit, that Conservatives don’t “bust the heads of liberals”. I am saying that the popularity of the lunatic right wing fringe flavour of rhetorical attack dog suggest that, in fact, there is a statistically significant number of Conservatives who actively enjoy listening to liberals getting their heads busted. Hence, Janeane Garofalo might not have been as full of shit as was first assumed. QED. > [@](#): > > You’re the one to imply Queen Bitch is an antidote to those voices. I implied no such thing. I made an argument for why, in this particular instance she could well have a point. That is all. > [@](#): > > All I did was make the point that maybe the popularity of Rush, Sean, et al., is a sign that not everyone agrees with you. And I’m buggered if I know _why_ you bothered to make it since all it does is support _my_ argument that there are a lot of conservatives who enjoy listening to liberals getting attacked by Rush and Sean. Which is precisely what Janeane Garofalo was saying. > [@](#): > > Now to the fingers up my ass. That was just brilliant. You really put me in my place with that one. I guess I’ll go cry a bit because a piece of shit like you disagrees with me. Damn, How will I ever go on? Since at the moment all you’re doing is stumbling around the cyberspace like a human donut fellating your own appendix I’m at a loss to come up with a reason why you’d _want_ to go on. I sincerely hope you do though. The more you post, the more data I have for my study correlating the frequency of your posts with the price of Thorazine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-janeane-garofalo/243499.md?page=3)