I stumbled across an article at The Hollywood Reporter a couple days ago about how NBC is worried that their Olympics ratings are tanking now that Michael Phelps has completed his historic feat. Excerpts:
The same day I saw this, I heard Rush Limbaugh talk about it on his radio show. Here are his words, relating this practical example to the politics of the day:
I think Limbaugh is right. When there was a compelling reason to watch the American athletes (when they had a great shot at winning and making history), the rest of us want to witness it. We collectively enjoy that success, and wish those athletes the best. I don't like watching swimming, but I found myself cheering at my TV screen after Phelps and the U.S. team won those close races - my kids looked at me funny, but I just shrugged and told them that we had just witnessed history in the making. To see legendary greatness is a good experience, period; to have it be an American being legendary on a worldwide stage is even better, and most Americans know this and feel this. That's why people watched. Personally, I think the track and field events are also quite a bit more boring, so that could be another reason the second week gets lower ratings, but that's my own preference. The fact remains that the U.S. isn't expected to do as well in those events, so people aren't as interested in watching.
Limbaugh is right that the Democrat party's first response is to blame America for things, and to look at America as at fault or as causing whatever bad thing is happening at the moment. When was the last time you heard a prominent Democrat out there praising America for all the good things it does for the world? By contrast, when was the last time you heard a prominent Democrat out there ripping America for bringing catastrophe or trouble on the world? See what I mean?
I think this is because the Democrat leadership has been swayed by the kook far-Left fringe of society, which truly believes that America is the root of evil in the world. Most Americans, however, don't share that opinion regardless of what party they're in. This Olympic phenomenon is a great example of the fact that most Americans of both parties want to see American excellence. We don't want failure, we want success. We are quite happy to take on challenges in the hopes and expectation of overcoming them to see victory and success, and we love watching other Americans do the same, especially if it means being the best in the world. The Democrat leadership doesn't understand this fundamental belief held by most normal Americans -- that both America and Americans are good! -- and if I was a Democrat, I'd be hopping mad about my party being hijacked by kooks!
Whew! I just got a chill down my spine by thinking about being a Democrat...scary...I think I'll avoid doing that again for a while...
There's my two cents.
NBC's second Sunday night of Olympic competition -- and its first after Michael Phelps' historic gold medal run -- came in flat compared with four years ago.
Sunday's primetime telecast averaged a 15.8 rating/28 share, on par with the same night in Athens four years ago when the U.S. won three gold medals in track and field. Primetime viewership was 26.8 million, up 3% from the 2004 games, Nielsen Media Research said.
But there's an expectation that the ratings could decline further with the lack of Phelps.
In a research note Monday, Magna Global's Steve Sternberg said the swimming and women's gymnastics where the U.S. performed well aren't happening in the second week.
"The same degree of success for U.S. athletes is not expected in the track and field events," Sternberg said. "Generally during the Summer Olympics, the average ratings on television decline in Week 2."
Sunday's primetime telecast averaged a 15.8 rating/28 share, on par with the same night in Athens four years ago when the U.S. won three gold medals in track and field. Primetime viewership was 26.8 million, up 3% from the 2004 games, Nielsen Media Research said.
But there's an expectation that the ratings could decline further with the lack of Phelps.
In a research note Monday, Magna Global's Steve Sternberg said the swimming and women's gymnastics where the U.S. performed well aren't happening in the second week.
"The same degree of success for U.S. athletes is not expected in the track and field events," Sternberg said. "Generally during the Summer Olympics, the average ratings on television decline in Week 2."
The same day I saw this, I heard Rush Limbaugh talk about it on his radio show. Here are his words, relating this practical example to the politics of the day:
Now, what does this mean? It means, ladies and gentlemen, that Americans like achievement, Americans like excellence, they like the pursuit of it, and when they don't see it, they're not going to watch it. This ought to be a news flash to Barry Obama. Americans do not hate achievement. In fact, they're inspired by it. Americans do not share your passion for losing and punishing winners. Remember from the movie Patton, George C. Scott is Patton saying, "Man, all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ballplayers, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and they will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost and will never will lose a war because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans." Not to the Democrat Party. Losing is a victory.
I think Limbaugh is right. When there was a compelling reason to watch the American athletes (when they had a great shot at winning and making history), the rest of us want to witness it. We collectively enjoy that success, and wish those athletes the best. I don't like watching swimming, but I found myself cheering at my TV screen after Phelps and the U.S. team won those close races - my kids looked at me funny, but I just shrugged and told them that we had just witnessed history in the making. To see legendary greatness is a good experience, period; to have it be an American being legendary on a worldwide stage is even better, and most Americans know this and feel this. That's why people watched. Personally, I think the track and field events are also quite a bit more boring, so that could be another reason the second week gets lower ratings, but that's my own preference. The fact remains that the U.S. isn't expected to do as well in those events, so people aren't as interested in watching.
Limbaugh is right that the Democrat party's first response is to blame America for things, and to look at America as at fault or as causing whatever bad thing is happening at the moment. When was the last time you heard a prominent Democrat out there praising America for all the good things it does for the world? By contrast, when was the last time you heard a prominent Democrat out there ripping America for bringing catastrophe or trouble on the world? See what I mean?
I think this is because the Democrat leadership has been swayed by the kook far-Left fringe of society, which truly believes that America is the root of evil in the world. Most Americans, however, don't share that opinion regardless of what party they're in. This Olympic phenomenon is a great example of the fact that most Americans of both parties want to see American excellence. We don't want failure, we want success. We are quite happy to take on challenges in the hopes and expectation of overcoming them to see victory and success, and we love watching other Americans do the same, especially if it means being the best in the world. The Democrat leadership doesn't understand this fundamental belief held by most normal Americans -- that both America and Americans are good! -- and if I was a Democrat, I'd be hopping mad about my party being hijacked by kooks!
Whew! I just got a chill down my spine by thinking about being a Democrat...scary...I think I'll avoid doing that again for a while...
There's my two cents.
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