Garrison Keillor on O'Reilly last night. We have GOT to do better...

[Brotherjohn]

Bless Garrison Keillor's heart, but I watched 2 minutes of O'Reilly last night (which is all I can usually stomach), and he could not even come up with specific instances when Republicans politicized 9-11.

He said to O'Reilly that he was very upset that Repubs exploit 9-11 for political gain.

O'Reilly countered something like "Okay, if you're going to make such a strong accusation, then you have to give me a specific example. When have Republicans politicized 9-11?" At which time he initiated "Republican Argumentative Tactic No. 1" : he repeated the question over and over to the point of cutting off and flustering Keillor. I admit this is effective (so is a gun, but...), and did, in fact, have the desired goal.

Then Keillor, trying to get a word in, brought up the Bush campaign ad showing the flag-draped body at the WTC. Of course, O'Reilly immediately snapped to Bush's defense: "What!? He's just saying ' this is what happened' and I'm here to defend you!" Nevermind that the simple use of the image in a campaign ad is by definition "politicizing 9-11".

Of course, it's not really Keillor's fault, because here, O'Reilly was using "Republican Argumentative Tactic No. 2", which is to deny/defend/deny/defend/deny, no matter how effective or true the opponent's point may have been. This tactic is the equivalent of covering both ears and shouting "LA LA LA LA LA...!!!"

But all this so flustered Keillor, that he could not come up with much more than a stammering mention of the 9-11 Bush ad. To his credit, at the end, he stood his ground and said "I'm sorry, but that just offends me" or something, and O'Reilly said "Alright, I can accept that."

But it would have been so easy to run off a bulleted list:
- The Bush 9-11 ad
- The ads associating Max Cleland with Osama Bin Laden (because he wouldn't vote for their version of the homeland security bill)
- The Karl Rove (or RNC?) memo saying that they should use 9-11 as a political tool
- Ridge's statement in this week's terrorism threat announcement, that "the kind of information available to us today is the result of the president's leadership in the war against terror"

That's for starters.

They are going to pull their rhetorical tricks, red herrings, straw men, and sometimes just plain try to out-shout you. But we have to expect this and we have GOT to do better.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. The Repug convention in NYC as close as possible to 9-11-2004. n/t

[oscar111]

8. Only debaters ought go onair w/ debaters:+ put O'reilly source in sig

Hi,
Moral of this event:
our good guys who are not career debaters , should stay in forums that are friendly.. like AA radio.

Of course an old pro like oreilly will beat up an amateur. Of course! Many are the illogical tricks that can be used, by unscruplous old pros. Kellinor, keep going onair, but in places like AA. Someone like Mike Malloy or Franken, should tackle oreilly. No one else.

PS the porno quote, needs to give the book title. I know the history of oreilly, but newbies will be mystified at the quote. Will wonder if it is made up.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

10. True ...................and done. n/t

[KurtNYC]

2. Picking NYC for convention and using 911 to invade Iraq

those would be my two big ones.

[Brotherjohn]

5. Yes, both of you. Those are two big ones.

The war is much worse, from a pratical standpoint.

But the Convention in NYC s much more brazenly political. Just before 9-11, at a record late date, so late in fact that there was some debate as to whether Bush would even be able to get on the ballot in at least one state! (I think the "great" state of Alabama, and its Republican-controlled legislature, made sure that wouldn't happen).

[readmylips]

3. Repig memo: Vote for Joe 6 Pack....

he speaks your language. Kerry is too much of an intellect, uses big words. Please vote for bush, the dumb guy.

[DemWitch]

4. Keillor came off as a weiner, but...

O'Reilly didn't really skewer him too bad. I think O'Lielly knew better, because of the list you just posted. He wouldn't want to put himself out there and then get slammed by lets say Garafalo, and be made an idiot of in front of his loyal L'Liellyists later on.

O'Reilly knows exactly what Keillor meant, but figured he'd have fun with him, then I think he thought better of it. His mail bad will prolly be full of items just like on your list, none of which will ever make it to air.

Did anyone notice now that anyone who is progressive and takes Shrubya Inc to task is now a "bomb-thrower"?

[Brotherjohn]

7. "Bomb-thrower"? You have GOT to be kidding me!

Is that what O'Reilly is calling US now?!?

Are you saying he's comparing Bush critics to terrorists? Hmmnn, that sounds an awful lot like using terrorism for political gains, Bill!

My two minute "stomach-quota" for what I can take of him just went down to nil.

[wtmusic]

6. Keillor is not really a political figure in most people's minds

but he should be able to back his statements up anyway. His fault.

O'Reilly is selective about his guests. About three-fourths of DUers could tear O'Reilly a new asshole, and when was the last time O'Reilly had Al Franken on?

[Brotherjohn]

9. My recollection is when he DID have Franken on, he whined like a baby...

... after.