The essence of actually existing bad ass action is getting off your rump and performing some true deed of negative or positive daring. Examples include everything from relief work in tough areas to picking up your AK for a bit of the old insurgent ultra violence (yeah see, negative and positive).
But of course the chattering class of radio and television performers can't do this - they have to stay in the studio, behind the mike and in front of the camera.
So for them creating the appearance of bad assedness requires "controversial" transgressions of good taste, common sense, 'political correctness' and just plain decency.
When confronted they say they're just telling like it is or something similarly weaselly (but delivered with a tough guy/gal drawl).
The real question isn't why people say awful things, but why is there an audience (and a sufficiently large enough one for advertising support) for this phony toughness?
I'm tempted, for some odd reason, to credit American decline; the hard knowledge that lurks, like a crazy, attic confined relative, in the subconscious of millions of proud people. As we slowly sink into the mud, the cursing grows louder and louder.
.d.
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