Is Imus nuts, or what?

[ginnyinWI]

Media Matters says he's saying terrible things about both Al Gore and Hillary:

"Summary: On Imus in the Morning, Don Imus referred to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as "Satan" 11 times, once calling her "that buck-tooth witch, Satan." He also called Al Gore "the phoniest bastard on the planet," adding that Gore is "a horrid human being."

Either this is all a big, horrible act, or he's certifiable, or he's a RW operative--take your pick. In any case, I can't believe that JK has a real friendship with this man. It's got to be out of a desire to "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer".

Now I really really can't stand Imus!

http://mediamatters.org/items/200605250001

[JI7]

1. Imus has always been an asshole including towards Kerry

that's why i wish Kerry would stop going on his show. nobody other than the whores and partisans listen to it and even then it's a small number of them.

that one time Kerry was on with McCain and Romney , Imus was a real jackass. but that isn't the worst of it. he is much worse when it comes to Gore and Hillary and some others. i think he has some personal hatred towards them and it's not justified.

Imus always made fun of Elizabeth Edwards with jokes about her weight. and calling Teresa crazy and some other shit.

i hate the fucker . never was a fan, never will be.

[_dynamicdems]

2. He's a jerk.

I've wondered about the "friendship" between Imus and JK too. He does needle Imus when he's on the show. I think Imus has called everybody "a horrid human being" at one time or another.

I remember him ranting before the election how much of a liar John Kerry was and saying he was going to hold his nose and vote for him anyhow. This is a friend?

He's got issues.

[ginnyinWI]

3. issues is right!

There's got to be a lot of self-hatred there, for him to be so hateful of others. Got to be. I don't know--this just got my blood boiling tonight, for some reason. Deep breath. He obviously doesn't care about the country or anything--only himself. He just uses politics to have something to shoot at.

[JI7]

4. and more recently that appearance where McCain and Romney were on

kissing up to the freeper crowd by making fun of Kerry. asking Kerry "does your wife still love you" ? and saying he wasn't paying attention while KErry was speaking on an important issue.

and that comment he made about how McCain is such a huge supporter of Veterans, ....oh, and Kerry too.

[wisteria]

5. OMG, I saw that show yesterday, and he included Kerry in the

criticism of the Dem's. Kerry is a stiff and he made a mistake voting for him, but he likes him an all. I don't know, with friends like him, who needs enemies?
He has been on the attack against Dem's. I can't figure him out. He supports McCain. Maybe, this is his way of helping out McCain. Maybe he has sold out for money or he is being told to bash the Democrats. Lately, they have all been on the attack. I can't help thinking this is somehow connected to Rove and the White House. This baloney with Imus though is getting really one sided.

[ProSense]

6. Makes you wonder doesn't it.

Every poll shows that Bush and the Republicans are destroying the country. On some issues, even the RW rags are criticizing these jerks. Yet, the media personalities (so-called journalists included) are on the attack against Democrats. My guest is the clean up corruption talk is making them very uncomfortable: fear of losing their influence in terms of money and power. These self-serving assholes really aren't interested in what's good for America and Americans.

[rox63]

7. I can't stand Imus

I have a hard time listening to him, even if JK is on the show. And that's practically the only reason I would ever listen to him.

[karynnj]

8. I think Imus is exactly what he appears - a vain, egotistical,

self-indulgent man. He is emotionally stuck at about 13 and says whatever comes to him head. He is constantly pushing his and Deidre's products and will spend hours on his subject de jour. Right now it's autism. (In fact, he almost daily for at least 2 months berated and belittled Frist because he wasn't sufficiently overwhelmed by the need to meet with Deidre (who has no credentials) on this.)

I think that he not only supports McCain, he is completely in awe of him. Imus has admitted that he is a Republican - I would guess a libertarian. He clearly is against censorship. So, McCain is likely politically close to where Imus is. The only (major) difference in the Iraq war. Imus is also impressed by McCain's status as a war hero.

Kerry and McCain are different types of heroes. McCain is in the mold of Nathan Hale, who was brave when captured. McCain refused to accept an offer to return home, obviously in disgrace, and ended up a POW for 5 years. (Though no one thought the war would continue that long.) Kerry was a hero because he risked his life to save someone and because he devised a strategy that worked in an ambush, risking his life again when it could have failed. Kerry was undeniably brave.

To me, Kerry's immediate and constant use of his intelligence and creativity as tools in the war is more impressive than making a choice between two awful alternative. For many guys, for some reason, McCain's status as a war hero exceeds that of anyone else. (not just Kerry, so it's not the protesting.) Imus is clearly one of them - maybe because it's easy to think of what would you do. I do think that Kerry's hero status is part of why Imus is nicer to him than to similar ideology Democrats.

If you look at what he says about either Clinton, Gore, or Kennedy; Kerry gets offs lightly. Mostly Imus is mad at him because Kerry "hurt" Imus's record by losing - talk about self centered. I assume that if Kerry had never been a guest, he and Teresa would have been treated like the Clintons or Gores were. I doubt Kerry considers Imus a friend. Decades ago when Imus first started bringing on credible politicians and reporters, I think it was seen as a way for both to be more casual and more personal than they usually had to be. The politicians he let on, generally do get to give their message - including Kerry. That's the only think worth listening to on the show.

As people mentioned here, that format when Kerry appeared in person worked very well for Kerry. He showed a funny, personable side that is hidden on the more serious talk shows when Kerry carefully articulates well crafted ideas. I suspect the reason it worked better in person is that Kerry has a presence and Imus is intimidated enough to be fair. When you throw in he way he used the Imus show to defuse the "terrorize" comment and I think it was the first place where Kerry himself said there was nothing to the intern story, on balance it's a plus for Kerry.

[ginnyinWI]

9. I agree with you 100%

Libertarian fits well--explains disliking * and Democratat the same time. McCain and Imus are both from the West, where Libertarian thinking abounds. He probably has an ingrained suspicion of anybody from anywhere else, especially the East.

Yeah I agree it's a smart strategy for JK to keep as much on Imus's good side as he can. Also, knowing his competitive streak he probably thoroughly enjoys the challenge of going head to head with that old crank. I think he likes going on MTP for the same reason.

[whometense]

10. That is a brilliant analysis!

I agree with you - Kerry should keep going on his show as long as it serves his needs. Imus is a loose cannon, but I can see why Kerry keeps that option open for himself.