Dennis Miller Takes on a Whining Phil Donahue

MRC ^ | Thursday, February 13, 2003 11:02:17 AM | BrentBaker

[fight_truth_decay]

MSNBC viewers got a lively hour Wednesday night/late afternoon as Donahue came live from Los Angeles at 5pm PST/8pm EST with Dennis Miller as the guest for the hour. So much good stuff, but only so much time to transcribe it. But we got down some of the best parts.

Miller so flustered Donahue that he went on a rant about how people like Miller are trying to "marginalize" liberals. Becoming a parody of himself, Donahue whined about how "you're making us to be some sort of wimpy kind of people who, woo, woo, we don't get it. We don't see evil. We think everything is a nice fairy tale. That is an attempt to marginalize us."

Donahue also claimed to be a conservative Republican: "We do not think one man should have the Army, Navy, and Marines to send the war all by himself and without the advice and consent of Congress as the Constitution calls us, upon us to do. That makes me conservative. I'm for the Constitution. I would make a good Republican."

When Donahue charged that dropping "incendiary devices on a crowded city at night where old people and children are sleeping" will give "Osama a poster for recruiting more angry young Islamic militants," an incredulous Miller fired back: "Oh, you believe he needs that, Phil? Do you really believe that he needs that?"

Miller's best two humorous zingers of the night:

-- On the New York Times: "If only Saddam Hussein would open an all-male country club somewhere in Iraq, so the Times could get behind this invasion."

-- On Osama bin Laden: "I think that he made a fatal error when he said that he didn't approve of drinking wine or adultery. Because now the French and Clinton are on board."

Now, from the portion of the February 12 show quoted above, a full transcript of one of the most illuminating exchanges between Miller and Donahue, as taken down by MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth, starting after Miller suggested liberals don't see the reality of the world:

Donahue: "Well, first of all, your comment suggests that liberals never see evil. Now, that's, what that does is marginalize liberals. I mean, did you ever talk to a liberal?"

Miller: "Yes, most of my great friends in the world are liberals."

Donahue: "But liberals, you're making us to be some sort of wimpy kind of people who, woo, woo, we don't get it. We don't see evil. We think everything is a nice fairy tale. That is an attempt to marginalize us. Our voice is strong, it is growing, we are very proud to live in a country that doesn't squelch it and tries to say shoosh, although everywhere we feel, we feel that kind of pressure. We're proud Americans. We believe in the Constitution. We believe in the War Powers Act. We believe Congress should get into this. We do not think one man should have the Army, Navy, and Marines to send the war all by himself and without the advice and consent of Congress as the Constitution calls us, upon us to do. That makes me conservative. I'm for the Constitution. I would make a good Republican. I don't know why so many Republicans dismiss this feature as sort of in the way. And by the way, we're not so frightened that we have to preempt, preemptively, you know, you got Iraq there, boom!. Oops, sorry, thought you had a gun. Let us just calm down a minute."

Miller: "Oh, if it was only Iraq, Phil, for God's sakes. The sort of Damocles is now an ICBM of Damocles, for God's sakes."

Donahue: "So because these bombs and these instruments of war are now so powerful-"

Miller: "Yes."

Donahue: "We can't wait for a conference. We've got to kill them right now."

Miller: "Listen, we get around, what's our-"

Donahue: "Do you really think it's gonna make us safer-"

Miller: "Yes."

Donahue: "-to drop incendiary devices on a crowded city at night where old people and children are sleeping? They're gonna say, 'Oh, boy, didn't know you were that strong! Okay, no more terrorism.' You are, we are giving Osama a poster for recruiting more angry young Islamic militants."

Miller: "Oh, you believe he needs that, Phil? Do you really believe that he needs that?"

Donahue: "Do you really believe that killing innocent people is going to, is going to make us safer?"

Miller: "Do you think that's our intention, to go over and seek out the innocent people?"

Donahue: "I do not think it's our intention. I do not think we are going to kill innocent people with malice. But we know it's going to happen, and it doesn't have to."

Links to Miller's earlier comments mocking liberals and standing up for President Bush's policies to combat terrorism:

--cyb20030204.asp#4

-- See: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2003/cyb20030130.asp#8

-- See: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20021108.asp#7

-- See: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2001/cyb20011107.asp#7

For Miller's Internet Movie Database page with a rundown of his acting credits: http://us.imdb.com/Name?Miller,+Dennis+(I)

Tonight's guest for the hour on Donahue: Atlanta-based conservative radio talk show host Neal Boortz. I see a strategy here: Donahue is bringing on conservative guests so that people will actually watch his show.

[hattend]

The Difference Between The Liberal and Conservative "Debate" Over The War On Terrorism

Question: You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner and is running at you while screaming obscenities. In your hand is a Glock .40 and you are an expert shot.

You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
__________________________________________________________
Liberal Answer:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor or oppressed? Have I ever done anything to him that is Inspiring him to attack? Could we run away? What does my wife think? What about the kids? Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation? Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me or would he just be content to wound me? If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me? This is a complex issue! I need to debate this with some friends for a few days to try to come to a conclusion.

___________________________________________________________
Conservative Answer:
BANG!

___________________________________________________________
Texan's Answer:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! ...click...
Wife: "Sweetheart, he looks like he's still moving, what do you kids think?"
Son: "Mom's right, Dad. I saw it too."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Daughter: "Nice grouping Daddy!"

[arm958]

Miller so flustered Donahue

Not hard to do. Donahue is a notorious stoner.

[UncleSamUSA]

Hahaha... But no, the story by Mushnick was NOT in the Sports section at all. Sorry I didnt mention it earlier, but it was in the first half of the paper, just a few pages before the great Post Editorial pages. Which is why it was so weird.. a small little squib by the Sports TV writer being buried late in the news pages, in an almost forgotten abyss in the paper just before the good Editorial and Op Ed stuff.

I dont have the paper in front of me, but look hard in the latter part of the first half of the paper. If you miss it, that was probably the editor's idea in the first place.

[pgyanke]

> ..."I guess they've figured out the only way to get ratings is to get some one that's not a bed wetting nod your head in agreement bash Bush liberal opposite Donowho..."

Actually, I think Donawho sees the writing on the wall... Have a failed show for being an egotistical fool or invite people with well thought out opinions to kick his whining, liberal butt for him. It reminds me of Jim Carrey in "Liar, Liar" when he "kicked his own a$$" in the bathroom. Donawho is someone we are happy to watch get pummeled on the playground for being a whiny sissy. Sadly for him, the ratings are improving...

[Calpublican]

I want to preserve an America where you can continue to miss the point in."

Yes! My favorite too.

Donahue was really a caricature of himself last night. The show was funny on several levels, some unintentional.

[paltz]

I liked when he said that schools are teaching that B's are the same as D's but with little belts in between so we'll end up getting unprepared kids ordering from McDonalds saying things like, "Can I have brink with that Dig Mac?"

[prairiebreeze]

I didn't see the show, so I'm glad to read these overall good reviews of Millers performance against Donahue. I am dismayed that the F word came into play though 7-second delay misunderstanding or not. Because it likely damaged Millers credibility a bit. Apologies notwithstanding.

People standing up to libs on media need to be polished and aware. Still, I'm glad everyone that posted here liked his message.

[techcor]

guy who jumps on a nativity scene so he can "f- - - the sheep."

Please. Around the children we prefer to call them "sheep lovers".

[Hoboken]

I believe it was the Underdog balloon that Miller refered to in his metaphor. Vintage! :-D

[irish_links]

...We believe in the Constitution. We believe in the War Powers Act. We believe Congress should get into this. We do not think one man should have the Army, Navy, and Marines to send the war all by himself and without the advice and consent of Congress as the Constitution calls us, upon us to do....

Perhaps Mr. Marlo Thomas had a "senior" moment here. Has he already forgotten that Congress passed a resolution last year giving Pres. Bush authority to use force against the government of Saddam Hussein if he failed to abide by U.N. resolutions? A resolution that passed with overwhelming DEMONcrat support. Does this not meet Mr. Thomas's strict interpretation of the Constitution (if only he were such a strict constructionist with regard to the 2nd Amendment)?

Oh, pardon me, I forgot. The vote was taken before the November election when all the congressional DEMONcrats felt complelled to support military action for craven political reasons. They want a "redo" now, I suppose. That's in the Constitution, isn't it, in the Umpteenth Amendment, the one that grants the opposition party one free redo whenever it votes for legislation for purely political reasons.

Mr. Thomas, you are indeed a man of extremely high principles and integrity. And, I thank you profusely for refreshing my memory regarding the Umpteenth Amendment. And by the way, your puss will be greatly missed on television. NOT.

[Republic]

Goldberg blasted Shalala at the end, it was great

Would you elaborate on this, please. Enquiring minds want to know! Thanks.

[Boston Capitalist]

Celebrities do have more weight than they deserve and when we delight in one of them being on our side we add to that weight. Every time the press reports some idiot actor's opinion about foreign policy, we should be shaming the press. Of coruse, what Miller said is better than the Spears example you give, which makes the Miller case more of a mix.

[fight_truth_decay]

Give this guy his own show!

I emailed FOXNews and said the exact same thing.

[labowski]

"He's got balls, all right!"

"Balls as big as Underdog in the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade" -d.miller

[ErnBatavia]

Would you elaborate on this, please. Enquiring minds want to know! Thanks.

Pinging Ken5050 for the refresher....I don't remember the exact scenario, but he was digging - pretty hard - at her "not being able to ever cross the goal line".

[ken5050]

Chris was praising Shalala as one of those cabinet members who stood up to Clinton, wouldn't allow herself to be used.....Bernie said that she didnt't go far enough...she only took one small step..he was about to say, I believe that she should have resigned in protest...then they went to a commerical...I think Chris was trying to shut him up.....you'll have to read the transcript...

[bonfire]

MSNBC's ratings would soar if they hired DM. Maybe we should start a campaign?

[amused]

Celebrities do have more weight than they deserve and when we delight in one of them being on our side we add to that weight. Every time the press reports some idiot actor's opinion about foreign policy, we should be shaming the press. Of coruse, what Miller said is better than the Spears example you give, which makes the Miller case more of a mix.

I understand what you are saying. But the reality is celebrities have always been sought out for the light they can shine on a project or cause. We even used celebrities very effectively as propoganda up until the Vietnam War. Then hollywood went gaga over the left. Now we have seen a pendulum shift in opinion and conservative or even moderate celebrities no longer fear standing up and speaking their minds. Of course we cringe when an idiot opens their mouth and people give it credence. But we should feel a reserved satisfaction when someone who has done their homework chooses to speak.

Would it be a better world if celebrities were not even sought out for opinions? Probably, but there are too few of us thinking that way to make an impact. And if this is the environment one must exist in, then I have few qualms about using what is at our disposal.

[TexasNative2000]

"If only Saddam Hussein would open an all-male country club somewhere in Iraq, so the Times could get behind this invasion."

Brilliant.

[Damocles]

Gee, I didn't know I was involved in this thread...