The No Spine Zone
A screen shot from O’Reilly’s appearance on the Today Show this morning:
This image has not been altered. It’s not clear whether the caption is an error or a sudden decision by NBC to raise their standards of accuracy.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
109 Responses to “The No Spine Zone”
Register
RSSLogin
View Most Popular
Visit Our Affiliated Site
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
Reports
In depth studies on select topics
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Beck
Big Oil
Bolton
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Dobbs
Drudge
Economy
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Feith
Fox News
GI Bill
Global Warming
Gore
Guantanamo
Hagee
Health Care
Immigration
Impeachment
Iran
Iraq
Justice
Kristol
LGBT
Lieberman
McCain
McClellan
Media
Military
O'Hanlon
O'Reilly
Obama
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Rove
Terrorism
Torture
Veterans
Wiretapping
Women's Rights
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
hahahaha
October 20th, 2005 at 7:55 amLooks like SOMEONE is trying to compete with Ireland’s Sky News. What is with the ghost image infront of his face though? Was a graphic fading out, or fading in?
October 20th, 2005 at 7:57 amAt least they got it right on this one. Now, will they make Tim Russert finally fess up to his true role in this terrible mess?
October 20th, 2005 at 8:02 amAre you sure that this isn’t something from The Daily Show?
October 20th, 2005 at 8:37 amToooooo funny! Maybe someone there just couldn’t help themselves and decided to filter the TRUTH in!
October 20th, 2005 at 8:57 amWow, this is ANOTHER image, different from the one I saw when I made my previous post. So now the ghost image I was refering to is gone. How long was this image up for?
And buckfush… seriously, stop with the links. It just turns people off from your cause when we see flooding of the comments. Pace yourself man. Also, no one takes anyone seriously who does a play on words to ‘hide’ swear words, it’s pretty immature. So, stop.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:14 am[…] http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/20/no-spine-zone/ […]
October 20th, 2005 at 9:14 amOK, I’m dense I admit it. I don’t understand the problem here? Beside the obvious that any picture of O’Liely is disgusting.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:14 amDid anybody see O’Reilly on The Daily Show Tuesday night? Stewart, treaded carefully with Bill and tried not to piss him off but Jon’s humor contrasted with Bill’s angry, surliness made O’Reilly look appropriately small and stupid. Not to mention the fact that O’Really got booed very heartily by the audience. He had a shamed, derr-in-the-headlights look for the entire segment. That guy had truly imploded. What’s with O’Reilly making the rounds with the left-leaning hosts? I don’t think he’s promoting a book? Is he trying to save his hide?
October 20th, 2005 at 9:19 amrob, you’ve obviously never had the pleasure of watching O’Reilly in his “No Spin Zone”….lucky you.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:21 amI thought that was what I saw, but then later it was corrected. Glad to see someone at the NBC controls has a sense of not only humor, but also accuracy. What do you think they should put under Russert’s picture next time he mentions the mentions the Plame scandal without acknowledging his role for the PAST TWO YEARS!?! Same goes for Andrea Mitchell. I used to trust them, and I feel like a chump. Tim, do you care?
October 20th, 2005 at 9:25 amO’Liely’s book for kids is out in paperback. This is the book–for KIDS–that he released just as his former producer released the transcripts that made him famous for his falafel & loofa fetishes
October 20th, 2005 at 9:28 amLook at the way he’s sitting! He looks like he has no spine and he’s been propped by a strategically place broomstick. Sicko.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:32 am#13, Tom, You beat me to it — you’re right. O’Leilly’s book first hit the market when his scandal/lawsuit involving his assistant hit the news, so he cancelled appearances and went back into his hole for a while. Now, he is trying to make a buck on the paperback issue, and he must believe that the public has forgotten that he is a pervert, so they will buy his children’s book!
October 20th, 2005 at 9:34 amThat’s pretty funny, I wonder how long that image was displayed.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:37 amThat’s right, the kids book. Stewart didn’t bring up the book in their interview except when he halfheartedly held it up for the camera. O’Reilly writing a kids book…..is akin to Tom Delay writing a book about how to keep lobbying money out of politics.
On another note, did anyone else see the Buzzflash headliner this morning? Looks as though Powell aide Lawrence Wilkerson has spilled the beans on the Cheney crew. How can Powell himself not step up and blow the whistle next? It’s gonna be a juicy 7 days!
October 20th, 2005 at 9:45 amO’Reilly thrives on people’s ignorance. Don’t watch his show or buy his book. He is a disgusting man and Katie should have demanded more specific answers to his stupid generalizations. Jon Stewart handled him beautifully.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:48 amIt just shows how bad the Today Show has become. When they have to start interviewing a guy like O’Reilly, they’ve hit rock bottom. It’s so pathetic.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:54 amAnd O’Wrongly had the nerve to call Jon Stewart a pinhead! (”What’s the matter with you, buying into the left-wing line - you pinhead!”) It’s bad enough that he’s boorish and rude on his own show, but as a guest insulting his host? Sofia, you’re right, Jon handled him perfectly. Jon could have turned around and called Bill a dickweed or something, but Jon’s always as polite as he can be with guests with whom he disagrees.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:03 amWhat truly flummoxes me is how conservatives like O’Really! seem never to be singed by their own personal moral failures. They just continue on with their preachy judgmentalism as though nothing had changed.
Think about it for a minute. Every single virtues hustler on the right has in the past 5 years shown themselves to be incapapble of actually practicing the the virtuous doggerel that dribbles persistently from the corners of their mouths–Bennett (addicted to gambling), Limbaugh (addicted to illegal prescription drugs), O’Really! (addicted to phone sex), two recently disgraced conservative Speakers of the House, Gingrich and Livingston(adultery), Strom Thurmond (addicted to underaged African-American housemaids) representaive Bill Janklow (reckless driving resulting in the death of a pedestrian), Delay (addicted to just about every illegal campaign donation one can imagine), Rove and Libby (addicted to government power and its creative abuse) and finally Bush himself (addicted to lying his way throughout his Presidency).
October 20th, 2005 at 10:05 amWho is this guy, O’Reilly, anyway? He can’t be Irish, he’s too stupid, as is the whole bunch at NBC-saw.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:05 ami agree, 19 - martin…my thought while watching this “interview” was “a new low for katie”…then again, i felt a bit sorry for her…that guy’s sleaze is so obvious…
October 20th, 2005 at 10:05 amBrendan,
I agree with you. What’s with:
O’Reilly
Hannity
Russert
Norah O’Donnell
Matthews
Noonan
I love the Irish, my favorite person on earth is 100% Irish (my wife) and these people are soiling the rest. We need all good Irish folks to step up and disown this runaway clique and restore the good standing of an Irish name!
October 20th, 2005 at 10:23 amHey katy, don’t feel bad for Katie! Don’t you see how uncomfortable she is when reporting Republican problems while, during the Clinton/Monica days, she was almost like a right-wing hack, reveling (sic?) in every story.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:23 amAnd a P.S. here: Not that I endorse any other the so-called big 3 networks for their blind-to-the-truth news coverage, but at least Shieffer on the CBS evening news (and the reporters) do not hold back on their critical innuendo/comments.
Remember: blowjobs doubleplus UNGOOD, Dear Leader’s war GOOD!
October 20th, 2005 at 10:27 amYou are all mindless idiots. Step back and look at where we come from and where we are going and you will all understand that Bill is fighting the good fight.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:35 amRe: O’Reilly on Jon Stewart
Did anyone think Jon was a bit soft on O’Reilly? And when I say a bit soft, I mean really soft?
Contrast Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire (as a guest) where he rightfully ranted and raved about the show he was on, against Stewart’s questioning of one of the biggest culprit’s of destroying the practive of civil political discourse (at least on television).
I love Jon, love the Daily Show, am trying to love the Colbert Report, but he disappointed me by not questioning him with some force. And no, the one-second long under-the-breath quips don’t count. I hope it’s not because O’Reilly seems very successful, whereas Crossfire was a very low-rated show.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:36 amYes, O’Reilly is a joke, and Jon Stewart handled him well - basically by just laughing at his tirade. And O’Reilly did call Stewart a pinhead, which was boorish but typical. But Jon Stewart stooped to the same level when he called Tucker Carlson a dick on Carlson’s show. I was disappointed - Stewart is much too smart and well-informed to stoop to that level of discourse. We don’t need to stoop to name-calling to point out the lies, hypocrisy, and crimes of these people. I think simple, truthful statements presented with some humility will do more to perusade a public tired of the rants.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:40 amwhat is he doing with his hands?
October 20th, 2005 at 10:47 ammy take on it, 28, john - the daily show is on COMEDY CENTRAL - it is supposed to be a farce - jon has to keep it light while getting in the obvious digs…his rant on crossfire was justified because, as he pointed out, that was supposed to be a NEWS show, on CNN no less…think about it………
October 20th, 2005 at 10:48 amHey #27. Where we came from was economic stability, low inflation and low unemployment. Where we have gone to is war against daddy’s nemesis, dead soldiers evry day, the non-capture of whats’isname, oh yeah, bin Laden (the REAL guy behind 9/11), cronyism (Miers, Brownie), FEMA (use your own imagination as to what that really stands for, control of the media (except for the right-wing spinmeisters), rising unemployment, a poor-performing stock market, high gas prices, Rove-gate, Scooter-gate, Frist-gate, inflation is ‘on the march’ and best of all, lower taxes for the wealthy. Yeah, we need more of this!
October 20th, 2005 at 10:49 amG. Jackson,
I’ve thought a lot about that and come up with a theory. They see themselves as good people who are caught by something out of their control (addiction, seduction, etc.). They see other people as making a choice to partake in evil things. So the thinking goes something like “the person down the street chose a lifestyle of drug use because he is immoral, but I found myself addicted to drugs and unable to stop, even though, as a moral person, I certainly wanted to.”
October 20th, 2005 at 10:49 amJon S behaves with wit and grace. O’whatever thinks yelling and insults make him correct. He’s a bully with a TV show.
Had to love:
when Jon S said “We add insult to injury…..but you add injury”.
“O’Reilly factor for kids” - Jon almost pointed out that O’suck’s audience is only large mean kids
And then flopped that book down like the dead rat it is.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:53 am[…] The No Spine Zone […]
October 20th, 2005 at 10:57 amKatie Couric, not unlike Bill O’Reilly, is an entertainer not a journalist. Performing an interview is not researching a news worthy story. When in her career has she done meaningful news reporting? The TODAY show is morning entertainment not a serious news show. It changed for the worse when Byrant Gumble left.
O’Reilly must be getting near the bottom of his ratings if someone told him the make the circuit to try to increase his potential viewers. Perhaps Faux news will cancel his show if his ratings don’t increase.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:59 amHey #32 Bob, don’t forget we now have the joy of lost face overseas and outrageouos deficits.
Lies about oral sex - high crime/misdemeanor. Lies that kill - not a thing badda bing.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:00 amAha - the puff-meister shows his real posture on things. Other times he is obviously propped up.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:02 amI miss one Irish American’s column.
The only reason this country is different from any place else is that once in a great while, this huge, snobbish, generally untalented news reporting business stops covering stories of interest only to itself and actually serves the public.
Jimmy Breslin
Politics, where fat, bald, disagreeable men, unable to be candidates themselves, teach a president how to act on a public stage.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:05 amJimmy Breslin
It may refer to O’Reilly’s posture. He’s stooped over like a hunchback.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:07 amYou idiots don’t see that your fixation on bin laden as the only threat is exactly why you will NEVER be trusted to secure this country. You might get some power back eventually (not in ‘06 or ‘08 though) but it will never be on the premise that you can secure this country.
And by the way, you pussies weren’t joining the army when we bombed the shit out of the Serbs, why was it you were so excited to bomb innocent Christians?
October 20th, 2005 at 11:08 amBecause they’re white? What threat did they pose to us?
Bill O’Really is the spitting image of a 60-year-old Beavis.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:13 amThe Truth of Bill O’Reilly?
Think Progress watched the “Today” show this morning and found this gem on Fox News host Bill O’Reilly (via Atrios).
October 20th, 2005 at 11:14 amCaption: (If she would move that leg just a little,I could see right up…)
October 20th, 2005 at 11:17 am#41 - that nutballishness must run in your family - Brother Tom has it as well.
So, did you get all them WMDs in Iraq yet? 5 Years on, and shrubco’s tax cuts have the economy skyrocketing, eh - about where it was 5 years ago.
I have nothing against justifiable military action - but UNjustifiable wars of aggression against non-threatening punks ? - the America I grew up in wasn’t the neighborhood bully.
And if we need to go after guys who kill/torture their own people, the list is really long, and now includes shrubco.
Apologies to everyone else, I shouldn’t feed the trolls.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:21 amcaption
“I wonder if she can hear my ass vibrator”
October 20th, 2005 at 11:24 amOh Look! Tom Cruise’s brother is here and he’s off his meds!
You idiots don’t see that your fixation on bin laden as the only threat is exactly why you will NEVER be trusted to secure this country. You might get some power back eventually (not in ‘06 or ‘08 though) but it will never be on the premise that you can secure this country.
And by the way, you pussies weren’t joining the army when we bombed the shit out of the Serbs, why was it you were so excited to bomb innocent Christians?
Because they’re white? What threat did they pose to us?
Comment by C.Cruse — October 20, 2005 @ 11:08 am
No Quorum For Santorum
Poor Rick Santorum. A few months ago, he was being hailed by his GOP brethren as a leading White House contender. Now it looks like the gay-bashing golden boy, who is running for a third term in Pennsylvania, may not even make it back to the Senate. According to a poll published yesterday in The Hill, the devoutly Catholic candidate is now trailing Democrat Bob Casey by 16 points. But as Santorum’s campaign has lost steam, Capital Hill sources say his support from RNC heavies has also evaporated. The blow-dried bible-thumper, who launched his campaign with a giant war chest, is also being deserted by the party’s major moneymen, who are focusing their largesse on more competitive candidates.
“This is how the Republicans operate,†sighs a veteran GOP campaign manager close to Santorum. “Even if you agree with their agenda, they’ll abandon you if you’re behind in the polls and move on to the next-most important race.â€
Increasingly dubious about Santorum’s chances, Capitol Hill sources report GOP powerbrokers have refocused their attentions—and dollars—on Doug Forrester, a little-known party hack who’s currently embroiled in a dead heat race with multi-millionaire Democrat Jon Corzine for New Jersey’s governorship.
“The party is pouring millions of dollars in PAC money into Forrester’s coffers, but most of that money was previously earmarked for Rick,†reports a well-placed Republican senate staffer. “It’s disgusting. Rick used to be Bush’s biggest booster on issues like stem-cell research, Social Security, and the Iraq war. Now the White House won’t even take his phone calls.â€
October 20th, 2005 at 11:30 amFrom that interview (read: love fest) with Crazy Bill is that the reason “The Left” will never vote for Harriet Miers is that she goes to church.
Thanks for that info Bill.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:32 amKatie… Maybe challege idiotic statements like that in the future??
Is the picture still there? I haven’t been able to see it.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:33 amI thought Jon Stewart handled BO perfectly. He was polite, as always, got in a few zingers, as always, but mostly he let BO make an ass out of himself while Jon sat back and giggled. When he finished the segment and tossed aside that book like the tripe it is, that said it all.
October 20th, 2005 at 11:44 amAll of the above mentioned (O’Reilly, Russert, Mithchell, Matthews etc….) are complicit in what has been happening with our country. They are working with(for) this criminal administration, and the ignorance of the American public plays right into their hands. “It’s on the TV so it must be true.” Most notably has been Chris Matthews who keeps reiterating when speeaking about Plamegate, “this is something that goes on all the time, doesn’t mean it’s a crime.” Are you serious Chris?!?!?!?!? This is treason in it’s highest form. Post 9/11 what is more important than national security.The outing of a covert agent , destroying her career and who knows what else is most certainly a crime, and we can only hope that Fitzgerald shows Rove,Libby, Cheney , Bush, Fleischer and the rest of the crime family for what they really are, dirty , filthy rotten thugs!
October 20th, 2005 at 11:48 amAll of the above mentioned (O’Reilly, Russert, Mithchell, Matthews etc….) are complicit in what has been happening with our country. They are working with(for) this criminal administration, and the ignorance of the American public plays right into their hands. “It’s on the TV so it must be true.” Most notably has been Chris Matthews who keeps reiterating when speaking about Plamegate, “this is something that goes on all the time, doesn’t mean it’s a crime.” Are you serious Chris?!?!?!?!? This is treason in it’s highest form. Post 9/11 what is more important than national security.The outing of a covert agent , destroying her career and who knows what else is most certainly a crime, and we can only hope that Fitzgerald shows Rove,Libby, Cheney , Bush, Fleischer and the rest of the crime family for what they really are, dirty , filthy rotten thugs!
October 20th, 2005 at 11:53 amDoes David Brock have some pull with the graphics people at the Today show?
October 20th, 2005 at 11:54 amHello trolls. How did Bush respond to the August 6th PDB in 2001?
Why did he fight the creation of the 9/11 Commission?
Once public pressure forced the creation of that commission, why did the White House refuse to release thousands of documents for their review, hampering their effort?
Why didn’t he testify under oath in front of said commission?
When he did testify, why did he need Uncle Dick to hold his hand?
These are facts, although you may not be familiar with them since you get you news from faux sources. Can you answer these questions with factual answers?
I’ll standby while you respond.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:07 pmI am sure someone has brought it up in the past, but when appearing on Jon Stewart’s show,do others also see how the republicans guests always press so hard to be funny and likeable which ,thens shows them to be pompus arrogant asses.? Makes you wonder what kind of sub-species would be attracted to such mean rotten rodents…
October 20th, 2005 at 12:09 pmThe only way this country will change the media is revolution. Government is only there to perpetuate itself and it does at the expense of the people. What would the press do if 10 million people marched down through the white house gates and demanded back the country? What would the administration do?
Do you think this country could handle a bloodless revolution like in the former soviet countries? No hell no; there would be blood in the streets. They would open fire on americans like they were Iraqi civilians and then the press would call them traitors or patriots depending on their bias.
Most all the left intellectual musings are poppy cock or at least coffiehouse bravado. If americans are unwilling to risk life and limb for change and that means seeing people possibly die then nothing will happen. Nothing will happen. People need to get a grip stop sending money and prepare to risk everything to stop this madness. Seeing innocent people - real heroes die- would be the only thing that makes the average person stop and say well maybe there is something to this. But I really doubt anything like that will happen. Why, because we need our flat screen tvs, ipods, suvs, and 401ks. We the people are the real reason we are in this situation. The people are responsible for this mess. We have let this so-called democracy get out of our hands long ago. But it is never too late.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:15 pmWhat’s he doing with his hands in that pic, anyway?
October 20th, 2005 at 12:21 pmI saw the interview on Today and laughed at the graphic. It was changed about two minutes in.
I actually agreed with O’liely on one thing, though. He kept asking for Russert to take a perp walk, much to Katie’s embarassment.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:24 pmNo…it’s because Stewart was the guest on Crossfire - whereas O’Reilly was the guest on The Daily Show. Guests aren’t under subpoena for these appearances: they have to be willing to show up before the host can get a crack at them. The surest way for Stewart to lose future guest candidates is to start antagonizing current ones. I thought he made his points about as overtly (and humorously) as can be expected given the need to get people like McCarthy/O’Reilly to warm a chair.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:35 pmhttp://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/20.html#a5469
October 20th, 2005 at 12:43 pmVideo of the segment
The difference between Tom Cruise and his brother is that while they’re both crazy, at least Tom nailed Katie Holmes. His brother only nails inflatable dolls.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:43 pm#32. you forgot elimination of civil liberties and resurgence of the Machiavellian strategem to equate questioning authority with being unpatriotic/’for’ the ‘enemy’.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:46 pmO’Reilly is just trying to get his brand of poison indoctrinated into the young, same as the radical Muslim medrassas.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:58 pmHas anyone else noticed the trolls don’t even make a lick of sense anymore?
Their arguments make less sense then a conversation at an Alzheimers ward.
The rants of the irrelevent.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:02 pmRe: No Spine Zone, presumably the paperback version of BO’s book comes in a loose-leaf binder.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:10 pmFrom an earlier question of why O’Reilly is making a tour now, first the whole perv investigation was inflight when his childrens book came out last time, so he wasn’t able to make rounds (notice they are showing that it’s now in paperback) and I surmise the second, looking at where he has been showing up, is that when he finishes the tour, he can blowhard about how he walked into all of the lion’s dens and came out unscathed…
October 20th, 2005 at 1:26 pmApparently someone that works in production isn’t a big fan of O’Reilly.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:27 pmDamn liberal media! I can’t believe they would do that to Crusader Bill!!!
October 20th, 2005 at 1:30 pm#31, katy — Just because The Daily Show is on Comedy Central doesn’t mean you can have it both ways; on one hand, it takes on serious topics with a very important take on things that you don’t get from the mainstream media, but when push comes to shove, “hey, we’re just a comedy show.” If you’re just a comedy show (or just on Comedy Central), then we shouldn’t care?
Be fair.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:33 pmWow. He calls himself an “athlete” and a “warrior.” A warrior with a waddle? Or is it ass-elite?!
October 20th, 2005 at 1:35 pmOwned’Rly?
October 20th, 2005 at 1:36 pmActually this was intentional. In addition, the NBC Sunday morning flagship show will now be known as “Melt the Press,” to better reflect current affairs.
Thank you for watching.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:39 pm#59, adios - I didn’t mean he should have antagonized O’Reilly. Heck, I don’t really agree with him antagonizing Carlson, just because it made Stewart look a bit… mean-spirited, like O’Reilly, etc.
My whole perspective is… say, Jon Stewart takes a Dave Letterman approach to his questioning (of all guests, right or left). Not to antagonize, but to, you know, ask thoughtful questions even if it’s just an entertainment show. I think it would make for a much more interesting interview than what we saw.
JS: Introduction to O’Reilly, quip.
BO: Rant, rave, froth.
JS: Softball, followed by under thr breath quip.
BO: Rant, rave, quip back.
JS: Show the book, throw it on the desk (omgomgomg)
BO: Later.
Just seemed it was way soft, like Stewart didn’t want to piss off O’Reilly, so to appease the leftmost part of the audience, he made under-the-breath quips and, as pointed out a couple times in the comments here, he “threw” the book on the table. Yeah, I saw it too… that took… balls?
It’s not a bad thing to ask for a better line of questioning when dealing with characters like O’Reilly. Stewart missed an opportunity, even if some people want to just say, “hey, it’s on Comedy Central.” Yeah, I know, I just think it should matter that it stands for something and doesn’t bow down, especially using “it’s a comedy show” as a lame excuse. Some of the best political discourse comes from comedy, don’t forget that.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:41 pm#64 Yes, I noticed. They are spinning around in circles chasing their tail. It’s cute when puppies do it, NOT when grown men in trailer parks do.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:45 pmThere was a lengthy interview of Jon Stewart a few weeks back in a British newspaper (or maybe it was a magazine) and they got into this very question. How can he take on such critical subject matter, responsibly connect the dots that paint a clear picture of the wrongdoing of our “leaders”, and then tread so lightly on the likes of O’Reilly. Stewart’s response was basically this (paraphrasing): “I get uncomfortable if I stray more than 2 minutes from a punchline”
So he has strong opinions, isn’t afraid to tackle the touchy topics of war, peace and a pying government…but he doesn’t want the responsibility that might accompany “real” journalism. I’m ok with that, I’ll take what they do at the Daily Show as opposed to nothing from a political statement standpoint, plus, it’s as funny as hell. I belly-laugh several times each 1/2 hour. Maybe, eventually (depending on how long the Bush admin continues to get away with murder) the Daily Show fans will have to demand that Jon either shit or get off the pot. Until then, I’m enjoying him.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:52 pm[…] Think Progress has a screen capture of NBC’s Today program this morning, with FNC’s Bill O’Reilly talking with one of the hosts. The caption reads: “No Spine Zone.” […]
October 20th, 2005 at 2:19 pmFrom CNN’s Crossfire, October 15, 2004:
_________________________
[John] STEWART: How old are you?
[Tucker] CARLSON: Thirty-five.
STEWART: And you wear a bow tie.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
CARLSON: Yes, I do. I do.
STEWART: So this is…
CARLSON: I know. I know. I know. You’re a…
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: So this is theater.
CARLSON: Now, let me just…
(CROSSTALK)
CARLSON: Now, come on.
STEWART: Now, listen, I’m not suggesting that you’re not a smart guy, because those are not easy to tie.
CARLSON: They’re difficult.
(LAUGHTER)
STEWART: But the thing is that this — you’re doing theater, when you should be doing debate, which would be great.
[Paul] BEGALA: We do, do…
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: It’s not honest. What you do is not honest. What you do is partisan hackery. And I will tell you why I know it.
CARLSON: You had John Kerry on your show and you sniff his throne and you’re accusing us of partisan hackery?
STEWART: Absolutely.
CARLSON: You’ve got to be kidding me. He comes on and you…
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: You’re on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls.
(LAUGHTER)
_________________________
I don’t think that is calculated self-deprecation, and I don’t think John Stewart longs to be a serious (’real’) journalist…nor is it evident that he thinks that political satire, well-crafted, is anything to apologize for. He does what he does, and when it’s on target it’s pretty sublime. He’s not Ed Murrow channeling Bill Hicks, he’s Jon Stewart Liebowitz channeling himself…
October 20th, 2005 at 2:32 pmTranscript is just cringe-worthy. I like how they (Begala and Carlson) try to inject some humor to diffuse the situation, but Stewart doesn’t seem to relent.
Just asking for him to do it to folks like O’Reilly. Either you’re tough and forceful and truly believe in your point of view in a fair manner, or you just don’t.
Just seemed he gave O’Reilly a pass whereas he really tried to hurt (and succeeded) two other guys with a lower rated show. Doesn’t seem fair is all.
Begala and Carlson, fish in a barrel. O’Reilly, not so much. I just can’t applaud Stewart on either note, comedian or not.
October 20th, 2005 at 3:22 pmAnd just to pre-empt the inevitable response “well, O’Reilly was on Stewart’s COMEDY show, Stewart was a guest on the NEWS channel show,” that’s tough for me to swallow. Just because Jon Stewart makes that defense doesn’t make it right. It just seems like a cop out.
October 20th, 2005 at 3:28 pmFortunately, Jon Stewart doesn’t take advice from you - probably why he’s successful (and funny). Get your own show and show us all how it’s done.
I hereby pre-empt your inevitable response. Poof!
October 20th, 2005 at 4:10 pmYeah John, how dare a comedian use jokes to pick on those poor pretend serious news journalists? It jus’ tain’t right!
He should out-serious them, that’d show’em.
October 20th, 2005 at 4:13 pmThis turned a bit nasty. Just had an opinion, but it does say a lot for general discussion when opinions get roundly mocked. Be proud, you’ve successfully stooped.
And anyway, he’s just a comedian anyway, right? I guess you guys are right, it just doesn’t matter.
Well played.
October 20th, 2005 at 4:28 pmLast thing from me — I’m not saying he should outserious ‘em. Just saying it would have been nice to see some more thoughtful questioning. Stewart seems to care about the issues, and I think that’s what’s gotten him to his current position. I just hope he doesn’t cop out in the future like he did with O’Reilly because, frankly, he’s better than that (Crossfire barking notwithstanding).
Then again, I’m no The Daily Show writer. Just a fan since Kilborn left.
October 20th, 2005 at 4:31 pmnews flash: they’re hypocrites
October 20th, 2005 at 5:18 pmWow, this sounds like an Onion Headline: Local Man Expects Hardhitting Journalism From Late-Night Comedy Show Host. Puh-leez! Jon has nothing to prove, folks. He’s performing to his base every night- they all know how awful O’Lielly is. I don’t think he gets up every morning hoping to lilt “Nailed it!” after buttonholing a particular guest with a withering question- O’Reilly’s a bloated windbag and Jon displayed that ably with his eliciting of O’Reilly’s Francophobia. Roasting O’Reilly would do nothing more than give FactorHeads another reason to whine about The Liberal Media…
October 20th, 2005 at 6:30 pmMagnumDB, there is no “Ireland’s Sky News”.
There’s the UK-based Sky News (a sister organisation to Faux) which, for the satellite/cable feed to an Irish audience, drops in ‘local’ content - a common tactic for Brit media selling into the Republic. They’re _not_ Irish.
October 20th, 2005 at 6:35 pmBegala, Carlson, O’Reilly all took on a professional comedian and lost miserably. Would they try this on Letterman’s show, and seem similarly foolish for trying? No. And I think Stewart’s give-’em-enough-rope approach hit paydirt with both Big Bill and probably even Little Bill and his Eveready-powered ass-prod.
Whaddaya want, Stewart should cut his mike? Cast the gauntlet? BO left the stage in shame, not that he wll admit it.
October 20th, 2005 at 6:38 pmWhy is BO holding onto his minisculeness?
October 20th, 2005 at 7:54 pmNo backbone AND no boner?
No bones about it, BO is a bonehead.
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS PLANNING TO KILL YOU — RIGHT NOW! The CIA knew where Bin Laden was and was trying to KILL him. Bush knew too, and he pulled the troops OUT — then he LIED about it! Now the LEADER of the CIA operation to kill Bin Laden is trying to get that story out, and he is being CENSORED! Wasn’t bush’s daddy the Director of the CIA??? Which crony did this bush appoint to this un-important job?!?! WHY DOES BUSH-THE-DRAFT-DODGER HAVE OUR TROOPS TIED UP IN IRAQ AND NOT HUNTING DOWN BIN LADEN — THE TERRORIST WHO ACTUALLY ATTACKED US ON SEPTEMBER 11TH????????????????????????
“Osama was there, we were aware he was there, and we were doing everything in our power to capture, kill him, and destroy his forces,” says Bernsten, who was the leader of a secret CIA paramilitary unit pursuing bin Laden.
http://www.wtopnews.com/ index.php?nid=25&sid=593756
Remember what Bush-the-draft-dodger said!!!!
The president called his opponent’s allegation “the worst kind of Monday-morning quarterbacking.” Bush asserted that U.S. commanders on the ground did not know if bin Laden was at the mountain hideaway along the Afghan border.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8853000/site/newsweek/
(Why the HELL isn’t this news? What the HELL does Iraq have to do with this??? Why the HELL aren’t our troops hunting Osama? OSAMA BIN LADEN IS PLANNING TO KILL YOU — RIGHT NOW! WHY IS HE STILL ALIVE AND OUR TROOPS DYING IN IRAQ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?)
October 20th, 2005 at 7:57 pmTHIS TODAY SHOW IMAGE IS PHOTOSHOPPED.
The original “ghosted” image was not.
October 20th, 2005 at 8:06 pmSo, Halloween has started a little early it seems.
Bill O’Reilly. The NO SPINE ZONE.
The horror!!! The horror!!!
October 20th, 2005 at 11:47 pmSince the fraudulent Presidential election (divine appointment) I have blocked the Fox network from my T.V., using the block feature on the cable box. Now I don’t have to gag at the phrase, “Fair, and balanced” O’Lielly is a totally reprehensible individual. How any person who claims to have a smattering of intelligence, can watch him, astounds me. He is nothing more than a hateful, racist, pervert.
October 21st, 2005 at 9:45 amThe image looks doctored to me. Maybe the person posting it didn’t, but someone else did. Anyhow, I give kudos to the attempt at humor here. The picture looks doctored though.
October 21st, 2005 at 10:01 amNo Spine is right. Look at his body language. He’s sitting across from a female, and he is shielding his genitals protectively. He’s got problems alright.
October 21st, 2005 at 10:03 amHe’s protecting his cojonitas there. That’s what his hands are doing.
October 21st, 2005 at 10:07 amSomeone asked about him making the rounds… Yes, I believe he has a book coming out soon (supposedly his last - one can hope). It is titled, or at least about, Culture Wars.
October 21st, 2005 at 10:23 amLooks like the big O’Factor man may be having some problems with image and ratings. He is making an aweful lot of unusual appearances lately.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:01 pmWhy is Bill cupping his balls?
CR
October 21st, 2005 at 12:06 pm#98: He’s not cupping them — he’s looking for them.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:09 pmposter judd is a dumbass. i have the video of the whole interview, and it says “no spin zone.” he (or whoever made it) should use his photoshop skills for making fake celeb porn instead.
that said, bill o’reilly is douchebag.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:32 pmFirst the Donahue interview on BO’s show.. then seeing him bomb on the Daily Show. More young people get their news from Stewart than anyone else. He is a funny guy and a great host that is tough on assholes. And by the way, we have been hiring actors to government jobs for eternity. I dont think it matters where you get your news from these days as long as you get the truth.
October 21st, 2005 at 3:38 pmFinally, the REAL wimp party is tagged as they are, spineless. I’m lovin’ it!
October 21st, 2005 at 10:15 pmWHAT can you say just look and lesten to BUSH , if ROVE and CHENNY go who will be PRESIDENT for the next four years ?.
October 22nd, 2005 at 10:42 pmMAYBE BILL O’RILLEY can call bush and TALK DIRTY to him. BILLS already lost the woman he talked to.
October 22nd, 2005 at 10:45 pmGOD will reward both of them.
Anyone who has watched the O’reilly Factor will know you can’t challenge Bill. He is always right (in his mind anyway), so to try to challenge him or just ask intelligent questions just makes him a defenseless a**hole. Jon got it right. Let him just talk and make an a** out of himself. If he had even tried to engage him in thought out or challlenging questions, he would have lost control and O’reilly would have ranted even more. I thought it was a great “interview”.
October 25th, 2005 at 4:38 pmWhat makes the picture hilarious is the way Bill’s hands are with the “….CIA Leak” caption. Bill, you have bladder problems?
October 26th, 2005 at 6:07 amQuestion: Since there are SO MANY of us that despise O’Reilly and all the other clowns like him on the air, WHY ARE THEY STILL ON THE AIR ?
November 12th, 2005 at 11:20 amHasn’t anyone noticed that “LOOFA” is “A FOOL” spelled backwards
November 13th, 2005 at 1:25 amDamn… we got a bunch of liberal sissies here. O’Reilly would own any of you weak ass libs any day of the week. But yeah, you guys just keep enjoying Communist News Network…tools. O’Reilly and Goldberk have TKO’d Franken and his crew when it comes to facts. Stop drinkin’ the kool-aid kids.
November 30th, 2005 at 11:18 pmI remember asking in this thread about hoping O’Reilly would make it onto Letterman because he would ask more thoughtful, pointed questions and challenge O’Reilly more than Jon Stewart did with his quips that did nothing (absolutely nothing) to progress the political discourse Stewart himself is interested in increasing.
From HuffPo:
Letterman normally tries to make the guest look as good and entertaining as possible. But he greeted FNC’s Bill O’Reilly with disdain. When O’Reilly urged an end to tagging Bush as a “liar,†scolded Cindy Sheehan for calling the insurgents “freedom fighters†and urged people to be “very careful with what we say” in disparaging others, Letterman took him to task: “Well, and you should be very careful with what you say also.” Letterman demanded: “How can you possibly take exception with the motivation and the position of someone like Cindy Sheehan?” And he tried to discredit O’Reilly’s contention: “Have you lost family members in armed conflict?” When O’Reilly conceded that “no, I have not,” Letterman castigated him: “Well, then you can hardly speak for her, can you?”
Now that is taking a guest to task in a very clear way. Don’t want to say I told you so… but yeah. Stewart, take a lesson.
January 4th, 2006 at 12:13 pm