Comments on: Letterman Kicking O’Reilly’s Behind (UPDATE TWO)

By: Kim Ritter

Kim Ritter — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:54:36 +0000

gal- I love Colbert- he’s a satiric genius, but very subtle . Sometimes I wonder if the subject of his interviews even realizes that he’s being played for a fool by the seemingly foolish Colbert. Billo is too smart to go on that show!

By: gal

gal — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:14:14 +0000

Kim — I’d also love to see O’R on the Colbert Report. I’m impressed with Colbert’s agility during his interviews. He manages to a) stay in character, b) whip out quick comebacks, and c) get laughs. I’d love to see how he would seemingly “agree” with every word O’R says while simultaneously skewering him.

By: Richard 23

Richard 23 — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 09:14:55 +0000

Wow- they really could barely control their dislike and contempt for each other, could they?

Interesting tactic O’Reilly took to attempt to disarm the audience response, claiming that Letterman is his friend and that it was all an act.

That was a non-responsive non-answer to the reasonable questions and barbs being thrown his way.

By: Kim Ritter

Kim Ritter — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 03:32:56 +0000

I got the feeling listening to the tape that Letterman would have dearly loved to show Billo exactly what he thinks of him! I don’t think anyone got the impression that they actually get along on anything.

By: Rudi

Rudi — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 02:28:13 +0000

I wish Letterman would have smacked Billo with his stupid book and thrown him off his stage. The “lets pretend to get along” was so phony…….

By: Kim Ritter

Kim Ritter — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 22:57:32 +0000

Wow- they really could barely control their dislike and contempt for each other, could they? I think their exchange summarized the partisan divide over Iraq in a nutshell.

Maybe if this administration had been more forthright, and admitted the whole thing has been about oil and not WMD’s, the country would not be where it is today. Its pretty easy to understand two oil men with heavy backing from the oil industry wanting to protect access to the ME oil supply. Its not pretty, and I don’t condone it but it makes a lot more sense than some of the other rationale we’ve been hearing for invading Iraq.

I personally think we have erred grievously by not tackling energy independence through alternative fuel sources like Brazil did. Our entire foreign policy is convoluted around our addiction to oil.But I guess it sounds better to say that we have brought democracy to Iraq.

By: Rudi

Rudi — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 22:54:18 +0000

KR OReilly was on Stewarts show in AUGUST 2005. Here is a link to a local C&L search: JS OReilly

By: SnarkyShark

SnarkyShark — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 21:56:07 +0000

People need to quit watching the so called reality shows, and check out real reality.

Theres this big thing called life just out your front door. You’ve seen it on TV, and its calling for you to go be in it.

Letterman’s seething emotion was more genuinely dramatic than anything I’ve seen on TV this season.

Case in point. Real life beats fiction every time.

By: aisle

aisle — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 21:20:33 +0000

I watched this last night. It was funny in the “pain of the reality hurts” way, and I was extremely unsettled. The constriction of the format, the pretension of civility, almost squeezed the passions of both men into tears. And no outlet toward humor could alleviate the tension. Letterman’s seething emotion was more genuinely dramatic than anything I’ve seen on TV this season.

By: Kim Ritter

Kim Ritter — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 21:16:36 +0000

I would love to see O’Reilly go on Jon Stewart’s show or the Colbert Report== because to me Bushspeak= truthiness-O’Reilly really never wants to hear those pesky little factinistas that contradict his viewpoints. How can anyone view OReilly , Hannity or Limbaugh, as anything but shills for the administration??? If asked about it, all three find a token issue that they find fault with Bush on- immigration or overspending. But they never doubt him on the hallmark issue of his presidency, the war.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 20:58:09 +0000

FYI when I worked at the Wichita Eagle-Beacon years ago, one of my favorite people was an editorial writers was named Gretchen. She eventully married one of my other favorite people, a businesswriter named Bob. It was only towards the end of my stay there that I learned she was David Letterman’s sister. I moved on and so did they. I was a huge David Letterman fan from his very first appearances and remain so. What’s remarkable about this clip is that he’s coming from a space that many of us come from right now. I have repeatedly said that the GOP could not have the kind of control it did without some independent support; independent voters have either been split (because it’s iffy as to whether they wanted to vote for the GOP or not, but that’s the nature of being an independent) or gave the GOP the benefit of the doubt. Now they are moving towards the democrats. Its partially because of the way the war has gone but it is also I believe because of a sense that a)they have been had and b)the administration and its supporters go through all kinds of mental gymnastics to either deny or downplay that they have been had. I think the latter point is what’s going to cost the GOP independent support. The Letterman clip is unusual in that it capsualizes this aspect so totally but it also shows Letterman in a mode that few people have seen him ever in. Even the way he ends it is devasting to O’Reilly.

By: Michael van der Galien

Michael van der Galien — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 20:39:28 +0000

Joe I agree completely. That is why I believe people should simply watch the video. He handled it very well and it is quite obvious that he supported the war and is now opposed the US presence in Iraq, not because he’s anti-Bush, but because he believes they’re messing it up.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 20:19:26 +0000

If you listen carefully to what Letterman is saying, he’s basically giving the view of MANY centrist and independent voters who gave the administration the benefit of the doubt and now feel snookered. It all boils down to issues of credibility and high regimented partisan thinking. He’s not talking to O’Reilly as a Democratic partisan or a Bush partisan. He’s clearly upset and frustrated at what was state, where we are now and precisely what justifies existing policy when people are dying. Just a “trust us” is no good anymore. Except for lockstep Republicans such as Rush, Hannity and those who get their intellectual marching orders from them, Americans of BOTH parties and independents are looking at things, reaching conclusions and waiting for answers that are not being delivered. Note that State of Denial is clearly a book with key sources who were closer to the first Presideng Bush who don’t like what they see and where we’re going. I was going to link this right now but see Michael did it. They key here is that Letterman is not giving an Air America regurgitation or a “yes you’re right” Rush/Sean pat on the back to the administration. He is thinking things through, not just giving a pro or antiwar line. The preening O’Reilly isn’t about that kind of thing, nor are most talk show hosts on the radio. Thought=weakness=wishiwashiness.

By: Michael van der Galien

Michael van der Galien — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:26:51 +0000

People are â€œdepressedâ€? and want to watch â€œDancing with the Starsâ€œ, that is why they question the war? That statement speaks volumes about the contempt O’Reilly has for his dottohead audience. Hilarious that he can make such a contemptuous statement and it does go right over their [ditto] heads.

Grognard I agree.

By: grognard

grognard — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:20:32 +0000

People are â€œdepressedâ€? and want to watch â€œDancing with the Starsâ€œ, that is why they question the war? That statement speaks volumes about the contempt O’Reilly has for his dottohead audience. Hilarious that he can make such a contemptuous statement and it does go right over their [ditto] heads.

By: dittohead

dittohead — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:01:35 +0000

Mikey:

I had high hopes for you. Just a short time ago you were singing the praises of “Rumstud” and showing Israel didn’t kill any civilians in Lebanon that it was all liberal lies and jumping on the apeasers and now you’re jumping on Bush and calling him a murdering liar while you defend Saddam.

I can’t believe the libel and anti semitism you leftists sink to. So you think Iran should be allowed to nuke Israel?

By: Rudi

Rudi — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 18:46:38 +0000

OReilly’s ego is unbelievable. The last time he was on Letterman – Dave said all his thoughts are CRAP. He will go on Fox and his radio show and sing how vicous the Librul are to independents like Bill.