Posted on 08/12/2004 9:09:45 PM PDT by Jenya
a new political party: o'loserdopian
:>)
I think they show a different version of the No Spin Zone out here in Hawaii. O'Reilly is definitely a centrist-conservative. He is not a populist. He is more culturally progressive than most conservatives, but how much of that is really just because of ratings? A non-culturally progressive tv host wouldn't get any ratings.
But politically? Mr. O'Reilly is really conservative.
But perception's differ, and that is what I see when I watch his show.
I'd say the 2000 election is when it began...and you are correct.
Most of you seem more interested in labeling O'Reilly (is he conservative? No! Then he's a jerk-off! Yes! Then it's okay, he is still on our side, he must just be forced to actually think about these issues in more than black and white. Ugh) than in discussing what he's said, or considering whether or not he's being genuine in trying to think this issue through. I agree with him: blind partisanship is a flaw which weakens the credibility of a person. It makes us look like a thoughtless, knee-jerk sheep.
One doesn't need to be obsessed with the conservative/liberal split to make a moral judgement about Kerry, nor should that split be the driving force in the judgement you make -- I mean, you shouldn't say Kerry is liberal, therefore I hate him, rather, Kerry did XYZ, therefore I hate him.
There is a difference. That difference allows someone like O'Reilly to be IN GENERAL aligned with a body of thought known as Political Conservatism, but still stay objective -- which is his job as a reporter, I might add. Many of you complain that the media is too liberal, and it is. But would you have it be "conservative"? Not me. I want it to be what it should: truthful -- which would give no one a false advantage, and would force Americans to think for themselves. That may not be possible, since most people make their decisions on tag lines and sound bytes. For example, I doubt most people watched/will watch the conventions. They will watch the SPINNERS, who ALL lie, no matter what side they purportedly support.
I don't like Kerry. I consider myself conservative. I'm sick of Hollywood and the news media (which is essentially just an entertainment biz, i.e. part of Hollywood) telling the story THEIR way. But I admire and respect O'Reilly for THOUGHTFULLY reflecting on the issue at hand, obviously aware of some of the gray areas.
Blind partisanship doesn't make one loyal, it makes one blind. And if I'm going to hate Kerry it's going to be because I thought about what he stands for (in his own words and deeds) and not because he's called a Liberal by the GOP.
As for the content of this missive, it's really not so shocking that Kerry is trying to push his military record. It's their strategy. We get it. The Bush camp have their own strategies, which play up aspects of his life in order to make him stand apart from Kerry. So the F what. That has nothing to do with right now. I think Bush is the leader we need, and BOTH of these guys are polishing up questionable military records. Let's look at the issues at hand. Politicians aren't honest anyway (don't fool yourselves), so this is not a proof of integrity.
Hahaha...
Who is the one being blind, Mr. O'Reilly?
I was watching Gilligan's Island before I was watching blowhard Bill. Mary Ann looks a "whole" lot better now and I think I might learn something from the professor.
The Oman stepped in it with this one....Bill you are loosing viewers because of how you are treating these guiys....
???
Err Uhm Uhh...your actions are what determines whether or not you are a Liberal. It's not genetic. Therefore I can indeed say that because Kerry is a Liberal, I hate him.
TROLL ALERT!!!
~grin~
Good evening, all.
Rassmann wouldn't have been able to see anything in the river because the water was so muddy. Those guys weren't called the "Brown Water Navy" for nothing. Also, being blown off the boat when the mine detonated would have disoriented him big time. Big booms do that.
I think the only thing Rassmann knows for sure is that john kerry was the one who helped him get out of the water. I believe he is starting to regret ever speaking up.
Michael Frazier
Not our fault Kerry made his record a issue. We're not the ones that were running around claiming Nixon sent us to Cambodia. Kerry could prove us all wrong by releasing his records.
First off, I believe Jim Rassmann when he says that Kerry saved his life by pulling him out of a Vietnam river while under fire. Rassmann is a former Green Beret, a former police officer and a long time registered Republican until earlier this year. If he says John Kerry is a hero, nobody should doubt it. Rassmann has earned the right to be trusted and insulting his testimony is way out of line.
First off I don't care what party the Vet claims to be registered as. Lots of people register one way and vote the other. Further more I don't care who he is voting for just if his story is true. O'Neil has shown way more respect to Rassmann than you or the rest of the media whores have shown to the Swifties.
But I also believe Steve Gardner, a former Navy gunner who was also present on one of Kerry's Swift Boats. He says the Senator wrote up a false report, neglecting to inform the Navy that he, Gardner, had accidentally shot a Vietnamese child during a firefight. This is a tough one. Gardner is implicating himself and has no reason to do so. But perhaps Kerry was looking out for him by not reporting the incident. Only Kerry knows.
Ok so that is true and everything else he says is a lie. Sounds fair Bill.
His heroism impressed most of his Swift Boat mates, but his civilian anti-war activities and perceived grandstanding also alienated many other Vietnam Vets. And so the battle lines are drawn.
It wasn't Kerry's grandstanding. It was his lies about what he and others did in Vietnam. How have we reached a point where people don't care if they are told the truth or not?
What should we, on the sidelines, make of all this? Well, it's a judgment call. It is absolutely wrong for Americans to condemn Kerry's war record because he demonstrated provable valor. However, those who distrust him do deserve to be heard although facts not emotion should be demanded.
What should you make of this? That the mainstream media isn't asking the same of Kerry as they did of Bush. If Kerrye demonstrated probable valor he can release his records. Then what the Swifties have asked for will be done. The facts will be out.
Mr. Bush received an honorable discharge from the National Guard. Admiral Elmo Zumwalt pinned a medal on John Kerry's chest. The record is the record, unless rock solid proof refutes it.
The record is the record Bill. Bush released his and Kerry won't. If Kerry signed off and released his records we could find out what the truth really is. But Kerry doesn't have to because the media isn't hounding him like they did Bush. Who is looking out for us? It sure as hell isn't Bill O'Reilly.
Who's Kerry?
Knowing that I served in the U.S. Senate with John Kerry and that, like him, I am a veteran of the Vietnam War, many people have asked me what I think of him, particularly now that he's the apparent presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.
When Kerry joined me in the Senate, I already knew about his record of defamatory remarks and behavior criticizing U.S. policy in Vietnam and the conduct of our military personnel there. I had learned in North Vietnamese prisons how much harm such statements caused.
To me, his remarks and behavior amounted to giving aid and comfort to our Vietnamese and Soviet enemies. So I was not surprised when his subsequent overall voting pattern in the Senate was consistently detrimental to our national security.
Jack Webb would do his research, O'Reilly.
"According to the Kerry for President campaign, News Corp. President and chief operating officer Peter Chernin has endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate. News Corp. owns Fox News Channel."
"That would put Chernin in the ranks of some other Kerry-supporting media executives, including Barry Diller, Kirk Kerkorian (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.) and Harvey and Robert Weinstein, who backed the release of Michael Moore's controversial anti-Bush documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11.
____________
"News Corp. owns Fox News Channel." . . and Bill O'Reilly, and Hannity and Colmes. Is it any wonder direct posting from FoxNews is on the "No-No" list?
____________
That 'splains this . .
I just sent an e-mail to O'Reilly check it out :^)
Bill, I sent the Kerry campaign the Form 180 in the mail, so now he can release his military records and show us how much of a hero he is.
"name"
"location"
think he will read that on the air? HAHA i doubt it!
The words "Christmas in Cambodia" are missing from your schtick!
Great analysis. Nail on head.
pls check post #95.
Rassman fell off kerry's boat because kerry fled the scene so fast. kerry only returned when he realized there was no enemy fire. Why this rassman character would slobber all over kerry is a mystery to me, unless he's been bought off. When I watched him on TV I could tell he was lying.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.