Bill O'Reilly is Tearing Me Apart

It all started a few years back when I received a copy of The O'Reilly Factor book as a Christmas gift from my brother. I had heard of Bill O'Reilly at that point but had never watched his program or read his book. I figured I might as well give it a read just to see what the fuss was about. I remember stopping several times during the book and putting it down, vowing never to finish it. But I eventually did and I was immediately aware of a problem. I disagreed with a lot of what the man said but I enjoyed the book immensely. It didn't make sense.

In the years since that time I have ended up reading all of his books and watching The O'Reilly Factor and listening to the Radio Factor on a regular basis. But I still don't agree with much this man has to say. Why do I keep coming back and why I can't I wean myself off of his products? Is it because of subliminal messages embedded in the broadcasts? Is it a crack-like substance in the pages of his books that is being absorbed through the pores of my fingertips that makes me want to keep coming back? Rationally I know I don't like the man or what he believes, but emotionally I feel like I need to know what he thinks.

I have started taking my lunch at work to align with the Radio Factor broadcasts. I sit and listen to his arrogant monologues on my car radio and eat my artery-clogging fast food lunch each day, periodically hitting the steering wheel in frustration or arguing with him out loud. I hear him spout off on a range of subjects and sometimes he does hit on an opinion that coincides with mine, but rarely. I know his views are primarily conservative, which mine tend not to be, and this should tell me that we aren't going ti hit it off, but I have this need to be challenged somehow. Maybe it's easier to debate a radio personality than a real flesh and bones human being. Sometimes I feel that I'm not up to the task of debating someone, particularly regarding political topics. I wonder if I enjoy O'reilly because I can sit there and formulate responses in my head before I fire them back at him, a luxury I am not afforded in the real world.

What is it about this guy in particular that ropes me in? Rush Limbaugh was never able to do that to me; I'd just flip the channel. I don't get the same pull to Hannity, Colmes or any of the rest of the Fox News stable of opinionated jerks. I hate to admit it but I think it may that O'Reilly is just a gifted speaker and interviewer. That apparently transcends whatever over-the-top (or "off-the-charts" in O'Reilly-speak) crazy theories he is spouting at any given moment. I find myself being entertained by this blowhard day in and day out. I suppose if I were listening to the anti-O'reilly, spouting off everything I already believe, I probably would lose interest at some point. I need the absurd and inflammatory statements to make my blood boil, to give me a "rush" when I get my dander up about something controversial or outrageous he has said. It has to be the same reason people like to watch reality TV; they like the emotion, the conflict, the controversy. I suppose I can feel a little better about watching O'reilly in that he is at least discussing topics affecting my life, namely current events. At least I'm not watching Danny Bonaduce's personal trainwreck or Ozzy's dysfunctional mess of a homelife. It makes Bill O'reilly actually seem like a pretty decent guy after all.