I think what the rest of the world forgets is that every country has an equal share of idiots- it's a statistical certainty. In America, a capitalist society, enterprising folks have discovered how to tap into that large moron market, selling them an infinitely renewable resource of verbal pandering and garbage.

I think it takes a degree of intelligence to do what O'Reilly or Limbaugh do, and I don't believe that they fully believe everything they say. However, when you sell bullshit long enough and hard enough you find yourself one day covered in it.

It can be hard for outsiders to understand what motivates Americans to so easily abandon integrity and ethics for cash. What you have to remember is what we are indoctrinated with since birth- capitalism. Every day the media, entertainment, church and community hammers in the point: our only pursuits are wealth and fame.

But hey- it's not like things are better anywhere else. Just different.

If he were really trying to be funny, he might take the cue that you can't insult people without giving some sign it's just a put-on.

My theory is that when comedians pick a target, you get the sense that they're ripping on the actions versus the actual people - if the folks in question didn't do/have the stand-out features, there wouldn't be much to talk about; they'd just be "folks".

But even though there may be some comedians who are exceptions to this approach (Carlin, Andrew Dice Clay - maybe), you STILL get the sense that the people are "protected", that is, the comedians are mocking traits, not the individual or group. It's not "real" hatred.

With Bill-O, he truly does hate the people he can't find any value in, and that's a pretty small population. Listen again to his too-brief take on "Real (TM) Americans" and you'll get an idea why neoconservatism and humor have nothing to do with each other. He can't be funny because there's no sense he's joking. He means it.

I don't think he's dumb. I think he's a sociopath.