Pinkerton Leaves Liberals At Loss for Words on Missile Defense

Fox News Watch/Fox & Friends Weekend/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

July 9, 2006 - 14:12

Twice in less than 24 hours, conservative columnist Jim Pinkerton left liberal talking-head rivals at a loss for words on the issue of missile defense.

Pinkerton's first victim was Neal Gabler, on last evening's Fox News Watch. In the context of the North Korean missile tests, liberal Gabler flatly stated: "Missile defense does not work. That is what we have learned." Shot back Pinkerton: "The Japanese believe in it. That's why they're building it right now." Gabler's silence was golden.

Then this morning, Pinkerton made his regular appearance with Ellen Ratner in their 'Long & the Short of It' segment of Fox & Friends Weekend. Fans of the duo should be advised that the segment has been moved from Saturday to Sunday morning, at about 7:15 AM. The good news is that the pair are now appearing during two segments, an expansion of the short slot they had previously been accorded.

Could there be some liberal talking points in circulation on missile defense? Because, sure enough, Ellen trotted out the same line as Gabler: "Missile defense doesn't work."

Pinkerton had his retort ready: "Then why are Israel and Japan building it?"

Ratner ventured a response: "People can build it, it doesn't mean that it's working."

Pinkerton: "They think it's going to work, who knows more - them or you?"

This time, the Ratner's only reply was nervous laughter.

Score it Pinkerton 2, skeptical liberals 0.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Fox News Watch/Fox & Friends Weekend/NewsBusters ping to Today show list.

[SandRat]

LoonieLibs Gobble Gobble Gabler and RATner get slapped down by Jim Pinkerton.

[JennysCool]

You'd think these idiots parroting the DNC talking points would be embarassed by now. Or are they just so insulated from reality they don't realize everyone knows they're doing it?

[Coop]

You're having a bad day if you get outdebated by Jim Pinkerton. He makes Dubya look like a polished speaker.

[plain talk]

Liberals have jumped the shark on SDI.

[mewzilla]

Could there be some liberal talking points in circulation on missile defense?

That's what they've been forced to rely upon since intellectual bankruptcy set in...

[NonValueAdded]

Please note that I received an email from a Murtha "truth" squad operative after making a comment on a thread about Murtha's original comment. They used the retraction as proof Murtha didn't say what the video proves he said. It was funny that the approach came via FReepmail and not an open posting as part of the dialog. It smacked of MD4Bush trolling and the mods quickly cleaned up the troll. Here was the exchange:

Re: Murtha and inducements (...Democrats tip-toeing away from Rep. John Murtha...)
From johnsally77 | 06/30/2006 7:29:42 PM EDT replied

Hi. I saw you commenting on this thread.

Did you know that The Sun-Sentinel issued a correction on June 28, stating that they misquoted Murtha because he was actually citing a recent Pew Research Center poll of public opinion in the United States and 14 European, African, and Asian countries.?
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/custom/corrections/sfl-628correx,0,4239586.story?coll=sfla-news-corrections

Re: Murtha and inducements (...Democrats tip-toeing away from Rep. John Murtha...)
To johnsally77 | 06/30/2006 8:59:27 PM EDT sent

Whether he invented itself or repeated it is of little difference. I want to see the transcript or hear the audio to determine the context for myself. What is your interest?

Re: Murtha and inducements (...Democrats tip-toeing away from Rep. John Murtha...)
From johnsally77 | 06/30/2006 9:15:04 PM EDT replied

You did not seem interested in reading a transcript or listening to audio before posting comments on this thread.

Re: Murtha and inducements (...Democrats tip-toeing away from Rep. John Murtha...)
To johnsally77 | 06/30/2006 9:33:41 PM EDT sent

Did not seem? All I did was thank the poster for reminding me to top off Diana Irey's campaign fund. Yet you're assuming, well, what? Go away, troll.

Johnsally77, if you are out there lurking ... nyah nyah nya nyah nyah.

[sgtbono2002]

Its a bit like saying the 2nd Amendment doesnt work because you have a gun in your drawer. But if you are threatened and get it out and blow away the scumbag climbing in your window , it works great.

If it doesnt work now, Make it work.
Dont just sit on your hands and hope no one attacks. with all the third world butt wipes trying to get Nukes and missiles now , we better find something that works.

[NonValueAdded]

Arrrgh ... wrong thread. Darn those multiple tabs. Sorry about that. And after all that formatting too. Should be on Knaves: Rep. John Murtha, who tried to back away from anti-American comments he made last month

[AdvisorB]

We are going to hang the leftist opposition to SDI around their necks in November. This is a big campaign issue. Do you want to vote for weasal leftist liberals who won't protect you, or will you vote for the GOP that initiated SDI despite DimRat opposition?

[American Infidel]

I still cannot figure out why the democrats are so adamantly opposed to a missle defense shield, and none of my liberal acquaintences are able to give me an answer, outside of a vague sense of: "well the right wing supports it, so it must be bad". It's almost as if the talking points on this issue haven't fully made the rounds. Being against a missle defense shield is like being against having a lock on your door under the premise that this will somehow "antagonize" a criminal and make him want to break into your house. I don't get it with these people.

[sneakers]

LOL!! I did that recently. Was posting to two different threads. Got them mixed up!

:-)

[Mr. Mojo]

Leftists have always been against missile defense. ....as reliable an indication as any of their incurable self-hatred. They don't want to be defended, feeling that they don't deserve to be. How else to explain their irrational (and often hysterical) opposition to a purely defensive weapon?

[Felis_irritable]

I would feel better about it if we'd used some aspect of the BMD technology to shoot down one or more of the NK missiles. Provocative? Yup. Make a point? Like nothing else. The US can talk it to death, but seeing a NK missile going into the ocean in a billion pieces sends the message that we don't have a wuss in the Whitehouse. Yet.

[Bernard]

Israel and Japan (are) building it

So people whose lives depend on fast and accurate defense are building it, and liberals who depend on others to protect them are bad-mouthing it.

Simple choice on who to believe. Liberals get another free ride; they can complain about it the entire time, until somebody really needs it.

[David1]

Good thing that the inventors of most of the stuff we use to live in comfort today did not have the type of pessimism that these libs have. Otherwise, we would still be living in caves.

[wingsof liberty]

Nice analogy, American! I love how China & Russia are against sanctions for North Korea because they feel it will "raise tensions" in the area. The only one who is raising tensions is Kim Jong ILL by making threats and launching missles!! As long as he knows the international community wont stand up to him, his beligerant behavior will continue. Once again, the U.N. demonstrates how useless and irrelevant it is.

[nuconvert]

Actually, it wasn't that out of place here.

[mikeybaby]

We don't know that it wasn't shot down, although I think North Korean incompetence is a better bet.
BTW, the current (quiet) sanction campaign against NK was put together by John Bolton.
I always believed SDI was doable, as long as we can keep traitors, er, Democrats, er, the press from giving it to the enemy.
I mean, something going on at area 51-isn't it?