Well, I got myself into a fine mess

[Ishoutandscream]

I have a new boss, some fifteen years younger than I. A very nice guy. He had heard that I was the "staff liberal" and started a friendly debate with me. Turns out he is an avid Fox watcher and worships at the altar of Bill O'Reilly (yuck).

He claims that Fox is not a Republican network, and that O'Reilly truly tells it like it is. He told me to read O'Reilly's "No Spin Zone" and see how much ol' Bill rips into Bush. I said okay, but he had to read Franken's "Lying Liars" and watch my copy of "Outfoxed."

He agreed. Now I'm stuck. And I know he will certainly not change his mind about Fox and O'Reilly. WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING??!!

[HFishbine]

1. Why are you stuck.

Keep your end of the bargain. If he keeps his, continue the debate, the truth will prevail.

[seabeyond]

4. cause he has to read oreilly

and there is time you will never get back, lol lol lol lol

ah well. take notes and point out all the lies, adn acknowledge when oreilly is right. telling ya, oh reilly's book isnt going to be the same as his show, knee jerk reactionism yelling like i have seen, you know the..shut up

[Ishoutandscream]

10. Exactly. I'm stuck because I have to read that damned book.

nt

[Sabriel]

24. At least make sure you borrow his copy.

God forbid you'd actually spend good money on it. Ick.

[Fenris]

2. You can't debate those people, love. They're delusional.

Good luck with "The No Spin Zone." Bring a highlighter. And sit near a computer, because you'll need to fact-check. A lot.

[dogman]

3. Hope there's a healthy job market in your area.

If he follows O'Vilely he plans to bully you out of your job. You were doomed before you talked to him anyway.

[Ishoutandscream]

12. No, I don't think so. I have tenure

and I have been working in the district much longer than he has. He really is a good guy. I was shocked that he thinks O'Reilly walks on water.

[Nite Owl]

5. I hope he is giving you his copy

and you don't have to buy it. We got the facts on our side so who knows maybe he'll see the light. And no I don't believe in Santa too.

[Ishoutandscream]

17. Yes. I'm bringing Outfoxed and Franken's book to work tomorrow.

I would have to be totally out of my mind if I bought a book by the boisterous bully.

[kaitykaity]

6. I wouldn't argue politics with the boss.

It's a recipe for disaster.

You can back out graciously and say, look, I don't
want to jeopardize my job by getting into a political
pissing contest with you, so let's just leave politics
at the door.

If he won't, then you take it over his head.

You gotta protect yourself here. These wingnuts
are NUTS.

[Ishoutandscream]

15. Well, he good natured ribbed me and asked me questions

I couldn't lie to him. I don't think we'll have problems.

[mike1963]

7. You can always do another deal...agree to read something by Coulter

(you can do it kneeling over the toilet) if he'll go see F911.
:evilgrin:

[Ishoutandscream]

18. AHGRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

NT

[zanana]

8. Hold your breath until Nov. 2

Funny--it always starts out friendly, with alot of "ribbing". But your boss has the "ribbing" advantage here and can take it wherever he wants. Careful!

[NMDemDist2]

9. you are a hero to throw your body and mind into the swamp to save

a fellow human being

try to see O'Reilly as a injured, frightened animal lashing out in terror, maybe that will help you be compassionate instead of going into a raving anger.

or not

view it as high political humor and satire

or not

if all else fails, you could just drink heavily :evilgrin:

[neebob]

11. Take the book, flip through it, and pull out enough points for discussion

Sure, it'll be irritating, but consider the potential payoff. It's not like the guy is my mother, who's been threatening to send me a copy of Who's Looking Out for You?.

On edit: Oh, wait a minute - I see I blew by the fact that the guy is your boss. In that case, find a few points to agree with. O'Reilly does manage to make sense occasionally.

[Ishoutandscream]

14. That's what I'm hoping to do

Do you think he'll want me to "read" two of O'Reilly's books? God forbid.

[neebob]

20. That's why I haven't agree to read WLOFY.

I'd get a big box full of Coulter, Hannity, Limbaugh, and Ingraham.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

21. Who's Looking Out for You?.

Everybody send Oreally the link to the Chalabi newstory... and ask him "when our boyz were promoting this sorry excuse for leader of Iraq... were they were looking out for us... or themselves"

[no one in particular]

13. Not all right-wingers are close-minded.

I did some time as a righty, but I never closed my mind to new information. Guess that's why I'm here today.

Even today I read things from the left and from the right. We should want all the information; not just that which supports our current point of view.

[mckara]

16. Why is this guy your boss?

He sounds like a complete moron!

[Ishoutandscream]

19. Well, mckara, I live in Texas

I guess that answers your question.

[Barret]

22. Where do people get social bosses like this?

The last boss I had was 100% work. Not a word of anything non-directly work related went between us or her and any other employee.

It just seems so foreign to me hearing about bosses that actually talk politics or anything else.

[Skittles]

23. I don't think it's such a bad idea

I suggest you take notes on every piece of bullshit in O'Reilly's book and have more friendly debates. I couldn't read that shit but I'd consider it if a conservative would read Lying Liars.

[Tactical Progressive]

25. Well, since you're already committed

you should make up a list of O'Reilly's top delusions and why once you scratch the surface they are total BS. For us. So no one here ever has to read such a book.

I agree with the others who say you should find a couple of good points that you agree with too, if there are any. I give O'Reilly credit for one thing and that is that occasionally he doesn't hew to every single right-wing talking point, which you have to admit is a rarity for mindless reactionary cultists. Give him credit if he does any of that, even partially, and your boss will at least see you have a somewhat open mind.

But don't expect too much. How many times have you encountered a right-winger just bursting to talk about something political, and assumed therefore that there was something openminded or questioning there, only to realize that all they want to do is spew the stuff they've heard on Rush so that they can sound like the smartalec with talent on loan from hell, just like their hero, and have absolutely no desire to really listen to anything? If you answer 'every time' your experience would come close to matching mine. And beware, they take the failure to acquiesce to their rank idiocy quite personally, even if you wouldn't think so going into such a 'conversation'.

[shraby]

26. Go to the Plame thread and

print out American Judas and have him read it. There are two copies on the thread..the first one is without links to the information and the second one is with the links..get the second one. #63

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2178477>


edited to add link