Military Charity Responds To O’Reilly: ‘If You Really Want To Help U.S. Troops, Set The Record Straight’
Military Charity Responds To O’Reilly: ‘If You Really Want To Help U.S. Troops, Set The Record Straight’
Last week, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan. After his trip, he sharply criticized the United Service Organizations (USO) for not sending more celebrities to the country. AP reported:
[T]he cantankerous Fox News Channel commentator told The Associated Press that he’s disappointed that the United Service Organizations “doesn’t put anybody out there (in Afghanistan).”
“I went to thank these guys on behalf of me and my audience,” he said in an interview from Istanbul, Turkey. “As far as I know, the only famous people in the past year were (country music singer) Toby Keith and me.“
At our request, USO provided ThinkProgress with its letter responding to O’Reilly’s inaccurate charges, urging him to “set the record straight.” USO has already sent seven entertainment tours to Afghanistan this year, and expects to send approximately 19 celebrities total in 2007. From the USO letter:
Just through September of this year, we produced 37 overseas tours with 241 performances for 98,000 troops in 14 countries, 9 stateside tours, 15 celebrity education events for military dependents, and 48 celebrity visits to military hospitals. … For 2007, we expect to take approximately 19 celebrities to Afghanistan and more than 35 to Iraq.
If you really want to support America’s service men and women and their families, please set the record straight (both on your show and with the AP) on the work the USO is doing right now on behalf of the nation’s troops and encourage your viewers to support the USO.
Additionally, providing entertainment is just 20 percent of USO’s work supporting the troops. It also operates 132 service centers around the world (including one in Afghanistan) and coordinates amenities such as phone cards, care packages, and more.
USO Vice President of Communications Mark Phillips told ThinkProgress that they are in talks with O’Reilly’s producers to come on the show and discuss the organization’s work. “We’re doing some great work over there, and we’d like folks to know about what we’re doing, and would certainly like to do more,” Phillips said.
Find out more about how you can support America’s troops HERE.
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November 21st, 2007 at 11:30 amI’m pretty sure that O’Reilly excludes anything that Al Franken has participated in….
November 21st, 2007 at 11:32 amThe military charity speaks for itself. It does not represent the entire military. The charity has every right to voice its opinions, just as O’Reilly has a right to express his. There are god folks in the military that agree with O’Reilly in general, and specifically on this topic.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:33 amFOX is State Sponsored TV.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:33 amThey make it up news sometimes.
This is a non-story, for one simple reason – if Dild O’Reilly makes the claim, OF COURSE it’s a lie. Geez, has he ever told the truth just ONCE in his wasted, ugly life?
November 21st, 2007 at 11:34 amBill O needs a reality check. First of all, someone needs to enlighten him that the world doesn’t revolve around him. In fact the world could get along so much better if he’d take an early retirement. He has a “hard on” against life! He is now manufacturing things to be against. He’s a fool! He’s a moron! He’s a joke! Get a life Billo! You”re a first class jerk!
November 21st, 2007 at 11:35 amYou don’t expect O’Reilly to concern himself with actual FACTS, do you? Especially when his version fits his agenda so much better?
November 21st, 2007 at 11:36 amIn fairness to O’Lielly, in his world, liberal entertainers like Al Franken don’t count as celebrities. Bildo means celebrities like Chuck Norris and Ben Stein.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:37 amYeah, Bill-O if you REALLY want to support America’s service men and women, why don’t you enlist?
Draft the Falafel King!
November 21st, 2007 at 11:38 amUh-oh… looks like TP has another case of “The Sh!ts”.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:38 amSend body armor, not celebrities! Unless, of course, you send celebrities who can double as body armor. Does anyone know–can Toby Keith be worn into battle?
November 21st, 2007 at 11:38 am“Bildo means celebrities like Chuck Norris and Ben Stein.”
Not to mention the re-animated corpse of Ronald Reagan:
“AAAAAHH!!! REA-GAN SMASH IRA-QIS! CRUSH! KILL! DES-TROY! AAAAAA!!!”
November 21st, 2007 at 11:39 amIf ouy really want to help US troops:
Listen to their families
Try to understand what is happening to them
Especially during the holidays
November 21st, 2007 at 11:41 amComment by ralph the wonder llama — November 21, 2007 @ 11:38 am
I am not sure but he may also be the character that “pooped up” the Think Fast thread.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:43 amI am not sure but he may also be the character that “pooped up†the Think Fast thread.
Comment by troll buster — November 21, 2007 @ 11:43 am
You may be right. I’m generally reluctant to ascribe all troll droppings to a single source, but there is a similar faux-reasonable tone to both identities you mention.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:49 amAwwww, now, TP – you know Billo never let a few paltry, silly FACTS get in the way of good rant!!!
November 21st, 2007 at 11:52 amLets rip Bill for going to Iraq now
November 21st, 2007 at 11:52 amralph the wonder llama,
Do you disagree with my opinion?
Hits
November 21st, 2007 at 11:53 amRalph – your comment at number 5 made me laugh right out loud. ;o)
Thanks for the great giggle!!!!
November 21st, 2007 at 11:54 amBilbo could send over his little friend Den-ass Milier and he could talk to our troops over there.
Perhaps he might get kidnapped!
November 21st, 2007 at 11:54 amObama Smoked Drugs!
No, just kidding. Who is the guy you all seem to think is me? This is my first posting in this thread. Am I being faux-responsible enough for you?
November 21st, 2007 at 11:55 amOoooh!!! YAY, Roger! You pulled your string again! *Good* for you.
Talking Point #4: Liberals hate the troops!
November 21st, 2007 at 11:55 am“Lets rip Bill for going to Iraq now”
I’d rather rip YOU for being a predictable, humorless tw*t. Mmkay?
November 21st, 2007 at 11:56 amRalf, I agree with you, there are several trolls fouling up TP. But in my opinion, there may be one or two individuals who are using more than identities. I’m curious, have you noticed that one of the more benign trolls has been keeping a very low profile here, since he was accused by a few TP posters of being the troll UL?
November 21st, 2007 at 11:56 amBillO might be entitled to his own opinion but he is not entitled to make up bullsh!t lies and spead them as gospel.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:03 pmAnd when they run out of toilet paper, there’ll be a copy of “Culture Warrior”, just when you need it.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:04 pmI’m curious, have you noticed that one of the more benign trolls has been keeping a very low profile here, since he was accused by a few TP posters of being the troll UL?
Comment by troll buster — November 21, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Ah, Trollology.
If you are refering to me, not sure, I haven’t been posting much lately but am still only one person.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pmComment by troll buster — November 21, 2007 @ 11:56 am
I confess I have a difficult time keeping track of them all. I tend to forget aout them until they pop up like a turd in a bathtub all of a sudden. I think you’re right, though — there are a couple of hardcore trolls who switch identities willy-nilly, and their consistent style makes it easy to spot them. UL was pretty easy to identify.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pmHmmmm, Keltoi, you sound like you might actually be seeing the light these days.
Just sayin’. ;o)
November 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pmI’ve got to stand up for BillO on this one. If you look at the list of entertainers that the USO provided, I don’t recognize any of them as being conservative pundits; and some didn’t even vote republican in the last election.
Therefore, they are not entertainment.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:06 pmLeftside Annie, you returned the favor with your comment to Roger. Thanks.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:06 pmO’Rielly and the entire Fox cabal need to be lined up against a wall and shot with sheep shit, then hanged for stinking.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:08 pmHaha… you dorks are discussing trolls. Try discussing the topic at hand, rather than spamming with your anti-troll hate speech.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:08 pmThe New IAEA regulations should keep newcomers away from producing their own enriched uranium. The US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and Japan will become the world’s nuclear filling stations. Under the auspices of the IAEA these suppliers will dictate the rules, the prices and the currencies they want to get paid in. Iran has become the pretext and test case for their plans. The problems of tomorrow’s world economy are being shaped today.
Just listen to Bushes words more carefully , the democrats know this too
http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=551761
we now have an anti-Iranian alliance of the US and E3. They smell the opportunity for a coup to seize world’s nuclear fuel market. To succeed, they would just need some legal sauce on the prohibition of uranium enrichment by non-nuclear-weapon states, with Iran as example. And a UN Security Council resolution would be enough, if it legalizes IAEA’s stand that it can forbid countries to enrich uranium.
Of course, they would make it impossible for Iran to stay within the Non-Proliferation Treaty then. To succeed their coup, they will have to take care, that Iran does not leave the organization before a resolution is successfully voted. For if so, there would not be any ground for a resolution anymore.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:08 pmLets rip Bill for going to Iraq now
Comment by Roger_Roger
Actually, I rip him everyday for breathing. Why waste our precious oxygen on him? Bill has supporters who watch him; don’t ask me why.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:13 pmLets rip Bill for going to Iraq now
Comment by Roger_Roger — November 21, 2007 @ 11:52 am
The right-wing mindset on display. A tighty-righty would, as a matter of habit, rip someone for something positive, and try to make it seem negative, simply because he disagreed with that person on politics.
Being progressives, we’ll instead stick to ripping O’Lielly for LYING. Maybe for his myopia, too. But mostly for LYING.
See the difference?
November 21st, 2007 at 12:20 pmHmmmm, Keltoi, you sound like you might actually be seeing the light these days.
Just sayin’. ;o)
Comment by Leftside Annie — November 21, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
There is no doubt in my mind that my 6 months or so at TP have shifted my political views a notch or two to the left. I have found it a depressing thing though. If you adopt a Progressive world view, the world you see is so hopelessly screwed up – and not just because of Bush, but in general – and so bereft of any leaders who seem capable of getting any traction that it just seems pointless to care. I’d say 90% of my friends and family don’t care about politics at all. I can’t help caring, but sometimes I wonder WHY I care.
How’s that for confused rambling? :)
November 21st, 2007 at 12:22 pmLets rip Bill for going to Iraq now
Comment by Roger_Roger
Actually, I rip him everyday for breathing. Why waste our precious oxygen on him? Bill has supporters who watch him; don’t ask me why.
Comment by StratRat — November 21, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
bill didn’t go to Iraq, R2. You’re as clueless as he is.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:22 pmI can’t help caring, but sometimes I wonder WHY I care.
How’s that for confused rambling? :)
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
It is depressing to consider how many sub-par morons are world leaders, isn’t it? But, we live here, and we have to keep trying, even if others are too lazy and self-absorbed. On the other hand, the lifestyles we in the USA lead are quite comfortable compared with at least 95% of the rest of the world’s residents. Which is why so few of us are concerned about what’s happened to our Constitution and morality.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:25 pmThere are god folks in the military that agree with O’Reilly in general, and specifically on this topic.
Comment by hits — November 21, 2007 @ 11:33 am
name one, liar.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:25 pmBeing progressives, we’ll instead stick to ripping O’Lielly for LYING. Maybe for his myopia, too. But mostly for LYING.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — November 21, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
Every time an O’Reilly related post comes up it is a gleeful orgy of Bill hate. I don’t really understand why TP bothers. Everyone here despises him. He could invent Cold Fusion and y’all would still hate him, or say it runs on loofas, or whatever. It seems a bit of a waste of time.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:26 pmKeltoi – I hear you. It is very depressing, and I confess, I’m very frightened.
However, which is worse?
Having your head buried in the sand and relinquishing any control you may have on what’s happening in your world …just waiting, in blissful ignorance, or the axe to fall …?
Or – looking at reality, facing it clear-eyed and with resolve to at least TRY to effect a change…?
I’ll take the latter. We are presumably intelligent beings, capable of change – and I refuse to go down without a fight.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:28 pmKeltoi…what a silly question!
We rip Billo BECAUSE IT’S FUN. ;o)
November 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pmHe could invent Cold Fusion and y’all would still hate him, or say it runs on loofas, or whatever. It seems a bit of a waste of time.
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
#
Cold fusion runs on loofas?! Holy sh!t! :)
November 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pm42 – Ugh. Typo…that would be “waiting FOR the axe to fall”….:o/
November 21st, 2007 at 12:30 pmBill 0(IQ) only thinks riechwing hacks are entertaining.
Falafel Bill is only entertaining to riechwing brownshirt lockstep lemmings.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trails ‘09
Buck Fush
November 21st, 2007 at 12:30 pmIt seems a bit of a waste of time.
Comment by Keltoi
Debunking wingnut talking points eagerly anticipated by the Conservative, Dumbya water-carriers is NEVER a waste of time.
It’s what brought YOU here.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:30 pmAs usual Bill Oraly got his facts wrong, or better yet, shot off his big mouth without checking the facts first. This blow hard needs to be taken off the air for the bonehead things he says. This isn’t the first time he’s shoot off his trap and didn’t know what the he double tooth picks he was talking about. But I guess if Billy boy didn’t spread propaganda, he like Rush LIMPbaugh and Sean Handnity wouldn’t have anything of substance to talk about. By the way, I mispelled Hand job’s and Rush name’s on purpose. That just shows what happens when you misrepresent the facts.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:33 pmIt is depressing to consider how many sub-par morons are world leaders, isn’t it?
Comment by Lefty Patriot — November 21, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Extremely. And confusing too – how does it happen? From a Social Darwinism standpoint, I’d say we are victims of our own success in some ways. Survival of the fittest has been suspended for generations; excellent leadership is no longer a major requirement to having a good life. Or so it seems, til things go completely to hell….
November 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pmIf you adopt a Progressive world view, the world you see is so hopelessly screwed up – and not just because of Bush, but in general – and so bereft of any leaders who seem capable of getting any traction that it just seems pointless to care.
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Keltoi, I think you’re still looking at it from the outside and you don’t see the corresponding hopelessness of conservatism — i. e., we will never be safe until we kill every one who hates us… government can’t do anything to help people except for letting corporations have their way, blah blah… and, as for leaders, the left certainly has a wealth of ineffectual leaders right now — no argument there — but the right has a wealth of actively destructive leaders, and corrupt ones.
The progressive mindset is actually, from my perspective, a profoundly optimistic one. The world CAN be made better through wise use of the resources of government, peace can be achieved in ways other than going to war, and people can generally be trusted to seek the ways of life that suit them best without being dictated to.
Just my two cents. Keep wrestling with it. Some of us welcome your contributions.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pmLefty Patriot,
If I named a couple of folks I personally know, would that meet the standard of changing your opinion?
Hits
November 21st, 2007 at 12:35 pmI can’t help caring, but sometimes I wonder WHY I care.
How’s that for confused rambling? :)
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Ummm… because you still have at least a few synapses left functioning properly?
It would be my observation that we all have a choice. We can either care about things like personal integrity, honesty, democracy, or not. Yes, there are times when I wonder why I bother.
But if I were to give in and become like so many other people I have known or dealt w/ or seen over the years, I would become JUST LIKE THEM… and I don’t want to do that.
To continue caring means I will be continue to be offended and frustrated and angry, and if that’s the price I pay for NOT BECOMING like those I despise, then I will pay it. It is a choice we all have to make individually.
It isn’t really a progressive or conservative choice. There are honest, ideological righties out there I respect, and corrupt, venal lefties I despise. The issue isn’t whether you’re a rightie or al eftie, it’s whether you’re honest or not.
I really can’t say one way or another if I have a soul, and I certainly don’t trust ANY organized religion figure to know either anymore. But if I do, I’m hedging my bets. If there really is anything like cosmic karma or reincarnation, I AIN’T comin’ back here again if I can help it.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:37 pmComment by hits — November 21, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
#
Would it change yours?
http://vetvoice.com/
http://votevets.org/
November 21st, 2007 at 12:38 pmAnd every time an O’Reilly related post comes up, you’re here to defend him, and chastise us for our “gleeful orgy of Bill hateâ€.
:|
Or did you think we didn’t notice?
Comment by BARTLEBEE — November 21, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
I am not defending him, nor chastising you, that too would be pointless. Annie had it right, it is like a deliciously fun sidedish to the main course of debate about things that matter for you guys. Enjoy.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:38 pmEvery time an O’Reilly related post comes up it is a gleeful orgy of Bill hate. I don’t really understand why TP bothers. Everyone here despises him. He could invent Cold Fusion and y’all would still hate him, or say it runs on loofas, or whatever. It seems a bit of a waste of time.
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
C’mon, Keltoi. Given Bill’s track record, if he SAID he invented Cold Fusion, he’d be lying. You seem to be saying that because Bill has a troublesome relationship with the turth, he should be given a pass for lying on the public airwaves. Talk about lowering the bar.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pmJust wondering – how many USO Tours did Bill O’Reilly do before 9/11, when the USO had to beg third-tier celebrities to do tours in Bosnia and Kosovo?
I’m guessing none.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pmChris L,
My opinions are certainly subject to change. Your data is too mild, however.
Hits
November 21st, 2007 at 12:43 pmbut sometimes I wonder WHY I care.
Comment by Keltoi
It is because you are seeing what empathy for other human being is like. Find something you can do to HELP others and CHANGE what little part of the world to make it better and don’t let it get you down, keep trying.
But watch out, it will make you a PROGRESSIVE.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
November 21st, 2007 at 12:45 pmThe world CAN be made better through wise use of the resources of government, peace can be achieved in ways other than going to war, and people can generally be trusted to seek the ways of life that suit them best without being dictated to.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — November 21, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Ironically, this is exactly what makes me a conservative. The world CAN be this way, COULD but this way, but never HAS been this way. Ever.
I liked what ROS said in 56. And I think that in the way I conduct my personal life when I interact with other human beings, I am as Progressive as anyone here. I can control my actions on a purely individual basis. But when you look at the actions of governments or nations, especially over the sweep of history….well, I revert to my point above.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:47 pmIf I named a couple of folks I personally know, would that meet the standard of changing your opinion?
Hits
Comment by hits — November 21, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
well, no. First, you lie constantly; you don’t even have a relationship with the truth. Secondly, you refuse to accept facts as truth, as above with Chris L’s post. You’re a rightwing hack, a confused, scared sheep, a follower of the fear-mongering subhumans that have stolen our government, so, no, your one or two names would make no difference. Anybody that would hang out with you would have to be as sick as you, anyway. And, of course, nobody can believe you.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:50 pmBut when you look at the actions of governments or nations, especially over the sweep of history….well, I revert to my point above.
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
And the fix for that? progressive governments, not fascist, sociopathioc monsters.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:51 pm“I went to thank these guys on behalf of me and my audience,†he said in an interview from Istanbul, Turkey. “As far as I know, the only famous people in the past year were (country music singer) Toby Keith and me.”
To be fair to Bill, there’s a reasonable chance that this wasn’t a lie. I find it incredibly easy to believe that he did absolutely no research before making that statement.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:56 pmIronically, this is exactly what makes me a conservative. The world CAN be this way, COULD but this way, but never HAS been this way. Ever.
I liked what ROS said in 56. And I think that in the way I conduct my personal life when I interact with other human beings, I am as Progressive as anyone here. I can control my actions on a purely individual basis. But when you look at the actions of governments or nations, especially over the sweep of history….well, I revert to my point above.
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Don’t you seem the pessimism in this statement?
Of course governments have been employed for bad ends — to crush the will of the people in order to maintain power for those who govern, for instance, or to invade other nations for purely material gain… but the dismissal of the power of government to do good (which you seem to be doing) virtually ensures that it will not. If we the people use whatever power we still have, and choose rightly, we can demand that the government serve the needs of all of its citizens, not just the wealthy and powerful. Our own government HAS acted on these impulses in the past, when the people demanded it. To say it has NEVER been this way is to ignore history, and to ignore the historic rise of the middle class in this country and industriualized Europe in the 20th century. The world changes. Societies change. We can either let it change as it will or we can work to direct the change in ways that benefit all of us.
It sounds like you’re saying you’re a conservative because liberal ideas are futile and so why bother trying?
November 21st, 2007 at 12:58 pmTo be fair to Bill, there’s a reasonable chance that this wasn’t a lie. I find it incredibly easy to believe that he did absolutely no research before making that statement.
Comment by bluefish — November 21, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Absolutely right, bluefish. Good point. It’s an important distinction between “lying” and “being absurdly uniformed on the subject you’re talking about”.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:00 pmBill didn’t serve the US Military but will go to entertain our troops as the Jester. Bill just showed our troops what a real coward girly man looks like. Now if a shot rang out Bill would be coming home hiding under his blanket like the true coward he is. Even George got to go to Vietnam but he was scared to serve during the war. Tweety to the easier way out he served as a true coward during the draft he went to the Peace Corp. were kids who wanted their Mommies went. Chris is two years older then me and my graduation class were drafted and left the next day. Sorry to say only 1/3 came home. But Chris knew how to fake it and now I bet he’s doing the same for his son. Most of the talkers aren’t doers and would pee in their pants if they had to put on a uniform and carry a gun.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:02 pmUn-informed, Dumb-A$$ comments like that are Bill “O’You Butt-Head’s” bread and butter. What bothers me is are all the closed-minded Pricks and Pricketts that butter his stale hard bread.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:02 pmWell said, Ralph – very well said!! *APPLAUSE*
November 21st, 2007 at 1:03 pmNow this loser (who never bothered to serve by the way, despite his tough pro-war talk) is going after the USO???
The only reason there are not more USO tours is because the military is stretched too thin, and can’t allocate the resources necessary to protect a large number of shows. The USO doesn’t decide the number of tours.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:05 pmCareful, Annie, people will say we’re sweet on each other or something.
*blush*
November 21st, 2007 at 1:08 pmHopefully, the next time Bill asks to go visit our troops to spread his propaganda, they’ll treat him the same way the NY Mets did and throw him out.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/06/17/2007-06-17_untitled__oreilly17s.html
November 21st, 2007 at 1:08 pmIt sounds like you’re saying you’re a conservative because liberal ideas are futile and so why bother trying?
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — November 21, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Yeah…that is pretty close. And if you are not pessimistic on the state of the world you aren’t paying attention.
My conservatism increases the farther away I get from my doorstep. I am a father and a supporting friend. I am nice to my neighbors and help them whenever I see a chance. Okay. I’ve gotten a few blocks away from my house now. My city is run well enough – and it is a small town – that nothing cries out for my aid. My state – a small one in flyover territory, same deal.
My country. Yeah, it seems pretty hopeless. Still more good than bad, but lots of bad, lots of injustice. The World? You gotta be kidding.
As far as the rise of the Middle class, was that something government DID or something government got out of the way and allowed to happen?
What is the best thing the US government ever did? Civil Rights movement? Well, that was led by the people in defiance of the government and the only credit gov gets is that it admitted segregation was wrong. Progressive Reforms c. early 20th century? Good candidate, but what giants of men we had to lead us then, and even they were amazingly bellicose in their foreign policy (TR, Wilson). World War II? Well, that was a war and was “good” only because of the steaming evil we defeated.
I DO believe government screws up almost everything it touches – the evidence is everywhere.
Question: Thomas Jefferson, in my view the perfect synthesis of philosopher and politician and the God of Liberalism (in the best sense of the word) opined that “the government that governs best governs least.” Do you agree?
November 21st, 2007 at 1:15 pmYeah!!!!…..
November 21st, 2007 at 1:17 pm…Like NRA Gun Nutes said !
In Fox producer Andrea Mackris’ complaint filed against Bill O’Reilly and Fox News for on-the-job sexual harrassment, she states that O’Reilly told her he uses a dildo shaped like a c-ock and that he was using a dildo on himself to make himself ejaculate while he made obscene phone calls to her. I wonder what name O’Reilly has given to his own dildo:
Count #66.
During the course of O’REILLY’s telephone monologue on August 2, 2004, he suggested that Plaintiff ANDREA MACKRIS purchase a vibrator and name it, and that he had one “shaped like a c-ock with a little battery in it” that a woman had given him. It became apparent that Defendant was masturbating as he spoke. After he climaxed, Defendant O’REILLY said to Plaintiff: “I appreciate the fun phone call. You can have fun tonight. I’ll appreciate it. I mean it.” Plaintiff felt as if the floor had fallen out from beneath her. She was shocked, frightened, and upset. She felt trapped.
Count 81.
During the course of Defendant Bill O’Reilly’s sexual rant, it became clear that he was using a vibrator upon himself and that he ejaculated. Plaintiff was repulsed.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013043mackris1.html
November 21st, 2007 at 1:23 pmThe only reason there are not more USO tours is because the military is stretched too thin, and can’t allocate the resources necessary to protect a large number of shows. The USO doesn’t decide the number of tours.
Comment by BrianFL — November 21, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Well, they do, but it’s based more on how many entertainers their recruiters can rustle up and how much funding they have, rather than the amount of logistical support they can receive. And they try to distribute tours between the hotspots and other places where people are serving – Germany, Okinawa, Korea, Diego Garcia, etc, so Afghanistan is going to receive only one fraction of that.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:31 pmQuestion: Thomas Jefferson, in my view the perfect synthesis of philosopher and politician and the God of Liberalism (in the best sense of the word) opined that “the government that governs best governs least.†Do you agree?
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
No.
I mean, in a perfect world, where human actions were guided by rationality and altruism and equality of opportunity was a reality, I’d say yes. Government could govern least.
However, in this world, human nature is guided by irrational self-interest and inequality of information and access, government has an obligation to level the playing field. Government is the only thing that can level the playing field. Without government, there’s nothing to stop monopolies and property theft and violations of civil liberties by members of society – corporate or individual – who put profit motive over all else.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pmIn his quest for money, power, and prestige, Bill O’Reilly sold out his own country. Yet (one assumes) he sleeps comfortably in a mansion every night, and cares not one wit about how he’s worked to deceive this country and enable the Bush crime-spree against America. And he will continue to do so with a sh-t eating grin on his face and both middle fingers fully extended toward the citizens of our once great country. I pray one day that all Americans will put their country first and their bigotry and hate last. But this is America — the country that allowed Bush to steal two elections, the country that allowed a select few elected citizens who were too self-absorbed to have actually given critical thought as to whether or not we should go to war because they were more concerned with how it might look if they actually said no to this president and his insanity — and I have lost all faith in our elected officials and our citizens.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:47 pmHowever, in this world, human nature is guided by irrational self-interest and inequality of information and access, government has an obligation to level the playing field. Government is the only thing that can level the playing field.
Comment by toasterhead — November 21, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
But that is just it – government is comprised of these same irrational humans we can’t trust to run their own lives. This is more philsosphy than policy we are talking, obvioulsy NO government is not a good option, but “government” is just an organization of people seeking to control the actions of other people.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:49 pmBut that is just it – government is comprised of these same irrational humans we can’t trust to run their own lives. This is more philsosphy than policy we are talking, obvioulsy NO government is not a good option, but “government†is just an organization of people seeking to control the actions of other people.
Comment by Keltoi — November 21, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Yes but if the people running that government are fully accountable to the people they govern, they have to behave in a rational and altruistic fashion, or they will be replaced. They have to limit the actions of other people, but also themselves.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:58 pmKeltoi – that’s where the law comes in – or is supposed to come in, anyway. The Bushies have nearly succeeded in perverting that as well.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:03 pmYou f**kers think people can’t govern their own lives, but considering how you f**k up your own – it’s easy to see why you’d make that generalization of everyone else! You are a complete moron!
Comment by republicans hate facts — November 21, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Now be fair – the “humans we can’t trust to run their own lives” bit was a reference to my previous statement about human nature, not his own beliefs.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:04 pmYou f**kers think people can’t govern their own lives, but considering how you f**k up your own – it’s easy to see why you’d make that generalization of everyone else! You are a complete moron!
Comment by republicans hate facts
Let’s try to keep things civil. Keltoi is raising reasonable logical points, unlike most of the conservatives that come here spewing mindless illogical talking points. It’s a breath of fresh air to have someone engaging a real exchange of ideas. I real open-minded discussion. So let’s not tear him to shreds simply because we don’t completely agree with him.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:13 pmYou f**kers think people can’t govern their own lives, but considering how you f**k up your own – it’s easy to see why you’d make that generalization of everyone else! You are a complete moron!
Comment by republicans hate facts
Nice while it lasted, guys! Maybe I’ll see y’all later on tonight.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:19 pmComment by Guido OBGYN Lover: “FOX is State Sponsored TV.”
Well, sorta but it’s more like the State is Fox-sponsoerd – or just plain Big Media-sponsored.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:21 pmIts not about the troops, its about ME ME ME [O'Reilly] FAMOUS FOLKS LIKE ME ME ME….oh.. and the audience maybe a little bit too.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:25 pmUnfortunately it’s a generalization that wingnut extremists always make to justify a fascist (classist) attitude. The reality is that if you don’t believe in people, you don’t believe in government. And if you don’t believe in government, you don’t believe in people. And if you believe in neither, you have no business living in a civilized society in the first place.
The reality is that wingnuts that whine about the failure of government do so in a vacuum of distortion. Industry fails at a much greater rate than government does!
Comment by republicans hate facts — November 21, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
I thought the wingnut talking point was that people universally acted in rational self-interest and if left alone in a free market they will reach perfect equilibrium without any regulation. This is more consistent with pro-deregulation, pro-gun, anti-tax, anti-affirmative action agenda than a distrust in human nature.
And I think it’s possible to believe in civilization and not believe in people. Yes, I believe in persons – I think individual persons are capable of rational and altruistic behavior. But people as a collective are not, unless they have some sort of government – just look at a history book.
Human nature is to maximize current utility without regard to future needs or those of others. The fact that the last 100,000 years or so has seen the worst mass extinction since the end of the Jurassic period is testament to this.
Government and industry both share equal blame for the current situation of this country. I don’t see how anyone can separate the two. Industry feeds government money and provides government with goods and services. Government provides industry with contracts and trade agreements. This system is ripe for endemic corruption. Government and industry must be accountable to society as a whole,
November 21st, 2007 at 2:39 pmBetter start digging a little harder before you expect me to embrace an inbred neocon troll.
He’s playing you like a cheap plastic banjo.
Comment by BARTLEBEE
I didn’t say I agreed with him. But he was being rational and polite. I really don’t think that verbally abusing someone is a way to bring them around to your way of thinking. And that is what we are about right? Bringing people around to our way of thinking?
If this place turned into a left-wing echo chamber with no one else from anywhere else along the politcal spectrum visiting it wouldn’t really be of much use IMO.
Now, there are some trolls on this site that are so brainwashed and idiotic that there’s little chance of ever getting anything close to an intelligent conversation out of them, and you will see me smack on them from time to time.
November 21st, 2007 at 4:34 pmOl’Motor Mouth Strikes.
Do you ever get the impression that this creature simply can’t
November 21st, 2007 at 4:41 pmsee anything, or anyone but himself on the Earth. The entire
World, and everything that happens, Ol’Bill knows best. Better
than the experts, better than the better educated than “Itself”,
better than any of his stupid Liberal and Progressive viewers
that watch him, and thereby keep his ratings so high. If every
Liberal, and Progressive, and true Conservative simply tuned
out his infernal know it all background noise, his so called show
would shrivel and expire. Its safe to say half his viewers are
are Dems/Progressives. Its like they are hooked on his
eternal abuse and lunatic ravings. When you watch him, you
support him, even if you hate him. I stopped watching him the
day we invaded Iraq, and locked out Faux on the remote. That
overweight know it all Beck has also been locked out on the
remote. Beck is like BillO Lite, at the CNN Vomiteria. Blitzer makes
CNN day time unwatchable he is so biased in support of the Far
Right. He is locked out as well. Libs/Progressives/Conservatives
of the non reactionary breed that watch this type of drivel must
suffer a latent masochistic personality disorder.
Sorry, but that’s exactly how Keltoi comes across to me, so I fail to see why you are so upset. This troll and I have a history of him making these stupid statements – and I have a history of pointing out what a fool he is.
Comment by republicans hate facts
Actually, I’m not that upset. I’m just sayin that’s all.
Maybe the history you have with him justifies your treatment of him. So far though I haven’t seen him post anything anywhere near as stupid as the likes of Daryll, micheal, or even southern man.
November 21st, 2007 at 8:04 pmwell, I nearly bit through my tongue with the John Gibson story and then I read THIS.
look, this has to be said.
look at those guys. look at all those guys. now, talk to the right-winger that I know you have handy. the right winger thinks “it’s just as bad on the other side”. they REALLY think that there are million dollar media liberals who lean as far left as those guys lean right. nope. never. not even close.
Phil Donahue sitting at a table with people who disagreed with him? Walter Cronkite finally deciding that the Viet Nam war WASN’T improving. Dan Rather having the unmitigated gal to suggest that George W. Bush recieved preferential treatment when he got in the guard? give me a break!
these right wing media stars are FREAKS and I don’t mind saying so.
How I wish they would go the way of groovy game show hosts in white belts. something tells me this thing is just getting started. the less popular Bush gets, the more of this crap we see. I’ve had it. it’s not normal. we’ve never had this before. people who get to go on t.v. and call the people they don’t like names EVERY FREAKING DAY.
the worst part is, it’s NEVER going to stop.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:29 pm11-27-07
Who gives a sh@t what Bill O’Reilly thinks. I cannot believe people still watch him and that people still watch FOX.
No wonder Americans are laughed at all across the planet.
Here is an email I sent to a few blow-hards; Hannity,
O’Reilly, Malkin, Coulter and Rush.
Email sent;
Hello,
It is people like you that are ruining America.
It is people like you that our Founding Fathers would have sent back to the “home land”.
It is people like you that should be tried for treason.
I hope you know that MOST Americas think you, and people like you are nothing but a big fat joke.
It is only the unintelligent, uneducated, unaware people who actually listen to you, and believe you.
Do you even have a conscience?
Are you conscious of what you say and what damage you are doing to America?
You are a disgrace of a human being, an unpatriotic fake and I hope the god you so believe in, sends you to hell, where you belong, once you pass on from this life, you seem to think is here for you to ruin.
You do not know how lucky you are that Liberals are the reasons why you can open you big fat mouth on the air for all to hear.
Are you so blind to this fact?
I assume you are just having fun with what you do, which is even worse. This means you actually know what you are doing to America.
You are the lowest form of life….a piece of sh@t.
Please feel free to read this on air or send this email to all your friends with my name and email address….the more people know that there is people like me out here, the more of them will step up and voice their opinion…as “free speech” is free to me, as it is to you.
Corey Mondello
November 27th, 2007 at 2:18 pmBoston, Massachusetts
cpmondello@yahoo.com
http://www.CoreyMondello.com