Last week Bill O’Reilly ranted against Sen. Ossoff for an off-color refernce he made about a WH aide. O’Reilly called him a guttersnipe at least twice. He said Sen. Ossoff was a despicable human being. He looked into the camera and raged with obvious vitriol "Is this who you want representing you?," presumably addressing Georgia voters. Not an exact quote, but close enough. O’Reilly then said he'd vote for Putin if he were running against Sen. Ossoff. Days later, when Chris Cuomo, called O’Reilly out for this, he said maybe he'd stay home if Putin ran against Sen. Ossoff. Really?
On his Monday show, O’Reilly again ranted against Ossoff, again calling him a guttersnipe and a despicable person. O’Reilly said character matters.
Over the last 10 days, O’Reilly must have devoted at least 30 minutes on his show, on Cuomo's show and on Leland Vitter's show to angrily tear into Sen. Ossoff for supposedly being a guttersnipe and a despicable person.
If I had O’Reilly’s mentality, I'd say he is a hater. But that's cheap.
When O’Reilly went on Chris Cuomo's show, Cuomo rebuked O’Reilly for going bonkers against Sen. Ossoff but saying nothing about President Trump, who does the same thing on a regular basis. O’Reilly accused Cuomo of whataboutism. But Cuomo was NOT using whataboutism. Whataboutism is when your initial response to criticism of someone on your side is to point to someone on the other side who does something similar.
Cuomo was NOT pointing directly at President Trump. He was pointing directly at O’Reilly, who claims not to be on ANY team (wink, wink). Cuomo’s point was that O’Reilly, who claims to be a fair-minded journalist who doesn’t play favorites while claiming that almost every other commentator is dishonest, was being hypocritical by spending so much time angrily tearing into Sen. Ossoff, calling him a guttersnipe and a despicable person and putting him in league with Putin, but not doing anything near comparable with President Trump. At this point, Cuomo was leaving aside Sen. Ossoff’s remark, and President Trump and his team were secondary to his point.
Cuomo said that O’Reilly "says nothing" about President Trump frequently demeaning women for just doing their jobs. Here, he was wrong. Actually, O’Reilly says VERY LITTLE about President Trump frequently demeaning women for just doing their jobs. In one segment he said "Why bother with that" (almost an exact quote) implying that such talk obscures his message, in another segment he said if he wants to protect his legacy he must stop doing that, in another segment he said he must put a stop to it or it'll harm him. In other words, O’Reilly NEVER angrily lambastes President Trump him for demeaning women for just doing their jobs. O’Reilly said this with NO vitriol as he did with Sen. Ossoff ‘s singular comment. Rather, O’Reilly was giving Pres. Trump advice to help him.
President Trump demeans women regularly for just doing their job. As two examples, he told a female reporter "Shut up Piggy" in front of the cameras for the whole world to see and hear, and he repeatedly demeans reporter Kaitlyn Collins at press conferences and once at the WH Correspondence dinner. Did Mr. O’Reilly rant on and on against President Trump about this? Did he call President Trump a guttersnipe even once? Did O’Reilly tear into President Trump with vitriol for being a despicable person? Did he put him in a league with Putin?
O’Reilly emphasizes that Ossoff is a sitting U. S. Senator. But Trump is a sitting U. S. President!
In fact, on one occasion O’Reilly said that President Trump's bombast doesn't bother him, "maybe it should, but it doesn't." Almost an exact quote. On another occasion O’Reilly essentially told viewers that they should focus on his policies, NOT on the "crazy things" he says. O’Reilly has NEVER angrily torn into President Trump, not by ANY stretch.
In a later episode, O’Reilly tried to patch his hypocrisy by saying that he said these personal attacks “on both sides” must stop. But this is not what O’Reilly said. And he claims to be an honest broker?
The conclusion that Mr. O’Reilly is trying to help President Trump retain the Senate is becoming increasingly unavoidable. O’Reilly is imperiling his credibility. His veneer is getting thinner and thinner. Pretty soon, only the MAGAites will trust him.
Chris Cuomo's theory is that, because Miss Sharp is young and attractive, many Right-wingers automatically thought of sex whereas Sen. Ossoff was simply referring to hanging out. While I don't quite buy into that, if Miss Sharp were 60 years-old and weighed 200 lbs. those right-wingers would find another reason to be outraged. On the other hand, if Miss Sharp were 60 and weighed 200, Sen. Ossoff possibly not have made the reference.
Intense and unwavering loyalty to a political figure it is really not about policy agreements. It’s usually fueled by a desire for social group-based dominance with a specific hierarchy. When we’re feeling deprived or cheated of what is rightfully ours, we don’t look for a traditional principled politician. Instead, we look for a political bully (or party of bullies) to be our champion. The rhetoric that most comforts us promises to crush opponents and reduce outsiders as threats to our very existence. We desire having an authoritarian in charge to set up or restore the rightful order. The policies asserted are inconsequential, and very often fluid. When our chosen leader behaves erratically or against our own moral code our brain goes into defense mode using denial, accusation of false critiques and what-about-ism to deflect the criticisms or to relegate our previously claimed important values to now have little to no importance at all. We don’t abandon the leader; we just bend and/or reorder our own values to protect our own ego.
One might assume that such flip-flop is due to low education or poor emotional control. Not so! The most loyal to authoritarian leaders were in fact themselves often highly educated, organized, dedicated and self-disciplined. But they saw the world around them as dangerously unpredictable. Nearly everyone feels an identity in belonging to an idealized society. Where a society does not conform to their ideal or is in some kind of broad chaos, they feel a loss of fairness or some kind of traditional order and consistency. Becoming attached to authoritarianism is not crazy but rather a logical and organized decision to align themselves with a savior figure or movement who promises to put things right.
When our political choices become solidly one with our core identity our brain processes information and facts that conflict with our political choices as an actual physical assault and imminent existential threat. Reason is relegated as we perceive a crisis and all opposing views require a fight for our very survival. Bad politicians and bad media on both sides of the political isle work hard, to their advantage, to keep people in crisis mode perceiving existential threats around every corner.
1. Do you attribute Trump's newly revised bullying of Canada and South Korea a return to "Trump's Greatest Hits" after his failed excursion into Iran? In other words, like a classic bully, he backed down (while continuing to talk tough) when someone (Iran) stood up to him, and then returned to someone he could bully with relative impunity (Canada, and to a lesser degree, South Korea)? I'm expecting him to bring out the "we need to control Greenland" screed next week.
2. Do you and Bernie think the Democrats will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by nominating DSA candidates in competitive districts/states, thus making the GOP candidate come across as the more reasonable choice?
3. How concerned are you that Trump will try to thwart the results of the mid-terms if things don't go his way, for example declaring a National Emergency, seizing voting machines, etc... ?
C'mon John, at least be honest. Are you telling me you are not rooting for Trump to fail? Be honest. It's because I sense your TDS is the reason why I say you're rooting for Iran. It took guts to deal with Iran and at least try to forcefully end their nuclear program. Just because it's not easy doesn't mean don't try. You just want to be negative on Trump.
And, while I do believe you recognize how disgusting some of the DSA candidates are, I think you fail to realize how disgusting most of your Democrat candidates are! And you fail to realize that the DSA is an offshoot of the deranged, left wing woke policies of the DEMOCRATS, and the gutless attitude the Democrats have in challenging the anti-semitism & communism within the DSA speaks for itself. Just look how disgusting Schumer is, for example. He's totally amoral as he kisses El Psycho's ring. The only good Democrat is Sen Fetterman. He has guts, brains, and morality. He truly cares for the country and is willing to work w/Trump & the GOP to make our country better. ARE YOU? Or are you strictly partisan? It's very telling that the only Democrat embracing common sense is the one who had a stroke!
The DSA is the creation of the Democrats' wokeness & weakness. I blame the Democrat "leaders" (😆🤮), their media, and their voters.
>>>C'mon John, at least be honest. Are you telling me you are not rooting for Trump to fail? Be honest.
Steve, I don't root for any POTUS to succeed or fail, I root for America to succeed. My views are very similar to Bernie and John D's which is a big part of why I'm a subscriber to this site. If Trump is doing something that I sincerely believe is bad for America, e.g. his tariff policy, then yes, I do root for him to fail in that case.
As for Iran, as I've commented on this site several times, I supported the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites last year, but opposed his war this year, because it was obvious to me that he had no clear strategy beyond "bombing the sh** out of them", killing their leaders, then hoping new leaders emerge who cry uncle and give up their nuclear aspirations. Iran was never going to undergo "regime change" with an air campaign, and Trump was an idiot for thinking it would work, and worse, for having no contingency plan if it didn't work.
>>The DSA is the creation of the Democrats' wokeness & weakness. I blame the Democrat "leaders" (😆🤮), their media, and their voters.
100%. Both parties have become total clown shows. I remember a time when Republicans and Democrats could disagree, but still compromise for the good of the country. Those days are long gone.
Hey John, you sound like someone with TDS who would be happier if Iran would have nukes just so they could stick it to Trump rather than him punishing them, making them say uncle, AND making the world safer. So since you have no cred in rooting for the right country- the USA- your overall premise & analysis suffers. I see the war against Iran as a mission still in progress to defeat a dangerous evil enemy/bully, the issue with Canada as the US finally fighting back at a trade bully - one can be militarily weaker and still be a bully- and re: South Korea, a swipe at their lack of help assisting the US against Iran even as the US continues to defend them. So, you see, there are different perspectives to look at things- the patriotic way and the TDS way. I confess both ways are biased, but your way wishes the worst for the US under the guise of wanting the best. And your fear re: the potential loss of the midterms by the Democrats due to the DSA? I’m sorry to have to break the news to you, but the Democrats ARE THE DSA!! Look at the evil you woke liberals created. Your anti-Trump, anti-American sentiment has essentially allowed the Democrat party to spawn into a Nazi party filled with America haters, Jew haters and terrorists/terrorist sympathizers. I advise you to spend more time exploring why the Democrat party turned into the DSA instead of pontificating Trump’s strategies making America Great Again and the world a safer place. Leave that to the fair-minded, patriotic adults. Go handle your commie fascist kids.
>>Hey John, you sound like someone with TDS who would be happier if Iran would have nukes just so they could stick it to Trump rather than him punishing them, making them say uncle, AND making the world safer.
Hey Steve, you sound like a maga cult member whose feeling are hurt when someone criticizes Trump. You claim I'm "rooting for Iran", because I am critical of Trump's Iran policy. Delusional, but predictable, cult response.
>>And your fear re: the potential loss of the midterms by the Democrats due to the DSA? I’m sorry to have to break the news to you, but the Democrats ARE THE DSA!! Look at the evil you woke liberals created. Your anti-Trump, anti-American sentiment has essentially allowed the Democrat party to spawn into a Nazi party filled with America haters, Jew haters and terrorists/terrorist sympathizers.
LOL - I asked a question about the Democratic Party self destructing by embracing fringe candidates that may hurt their chances in a general election, and that makes me a "woke liberal". Typical cult response.
>>Leave that to the fair-minded, patriotic adults.
Let me know when we have some of those in Washington DC.
You're right, less than 1% of the general population is trans. A far fewer percentage of the population are biological males trying to compete in girls' sports, as admitted by the crusading female swimmer in PA. Quite possibly far more people are struck by lightning in a year than biological males trying to compete in girls' sports over the last 30 years.
Too many prominent Democrats stupidly took the bait of the GOP and their comrades-in-arms in the screeching class and thus gave them the green light to create a BIG and diversionary issue.
I think the hate Trumpers and Democrat voters are by default energized to go out and vote against Trump & the Republicans regardless of whether Trump campaigns for GOP candidates or not. There's a reason most midterms are won by the party that's not the president's party- ANY president.
The out-of-power party is automatically energized and the president's party is complacent. So Trump NEEDS to be out campaigning with the GOP candidates to get out his base because the Dems - whether deranged anti Trump or not- will come out regardless.
Another thoughtful discussion. Stay the course.
Thanks Benn!
Last week Bill O’Reilly ranted against Sen. Ossoff for an off-color refernce he made about a WH aide. O’Reilly called him a guttersnipe at least twice. He said Sen. Ossoff was a despicable human being. He looked into the camera and raged with obvious vitriol "Is this who you want representing you?," presumably addressing Georgia voters. Not an exact quote, but close enough. O’Reilly then said he'd vote for Putin if he were running against Sen. Ossoff. Days later, when Chris Cuomo, called O’Reilly out for this, he said maybe he'd stay home if Putin ran against Sen. Ossoff. Really?
On his Monday show, O’Reilly again ranted against Ossoff, again calling him a guttersnipe and a despicable person. O’Reilly said character matters.
Over the last 10 days, O’Reilly must have devoted at least 30 minutes on his show, on Cuomo's show and on Leland Vitter's show to angrily tear into Sen. Ossoff for supposedly being a guttersnipe and a despicable person.
If I had O’Reilly’s mentality, I'd say he is a hater. But that's cheap.
When O’Reilly went on Chris Cuomo's show, Cuomo rebuked O’Reilly for going bonkers against Sen. Ossoff but saying nothing about President Trump, who does the same thing on a regular basis. O’Reilly accused Cuomo of whataboutism. But Cuomo was NOT using whataboutism. Whataboutism is when your initial response to criticism of someone on your side is to point to someone on the other side who does something similar.
Cuomo was NOT pointing directly at President Trump. He was pointing directly at O’Reilly, who claims not to be on ANY team (wink, wink). Cuomo’s point was that O’Reilly, who claims to be a fair-minded journalist who doesn’t play favorites while claiming that almost every other commentator is dishonest, was being hypocritical by spending so much time angrily tearing into Sen. Ossoff, calling him a guttersnipe and a despicable person and putting him in league with Putin, but not doing anything near comparable with President Trump. At this point, Cuomo was leaving aside Sen. Ossoff’s remark, and President Trump and his team were secondary to his point.
Cuomo said that O’Reilly "says nothing" about President Trump frequently demeaning women for just doing their jobs. Here, he was wrong. Actually, O’Reilly says VERY LITTLE about President Trump frequently demeaning women for just doing their jobs. In one segment he said "Why bother with that" (almost an exact quote) implying that such talk obscures his message, in another segment he said if he wants to protect his legacy he must stop doing that, in another segment he said he must put a stop to it or it'll harm him. In other words, O’Reilly NEVER angrily lambastes President Trump him for demeaning women for just doing their jobs. O’Reilly said this with NO vitriol as he did with Sen. Ossoff ‘s singular comment. Rather, O’Reilly was giving Pres. Trump advice to help him.
President Trump demeans women regularly for just doing their job. As two examples, he told a female reporter "Shut up Piggy" in front of the cameras for the whole world to see and hear, and he repeatedly demeans reporter Kaitlyn Collins at press conferences and once at the WH Correspondence dinner. Did Mr. O’Reilly rant on and on against President Trump about this? Did he call President Trump a guttersnipe even once? Did O’Reilly tear into President Trump with vitriol for being a despicable person? Did he put him in a league with Putin?
O’Reilly emphasizes that Ossoff is a sitting U. S. Senator. But Trump is a sitting U. S. President!
In fact, on one occasion O’Reilly said that President Trump's bombast doesn't bother him, "maybe it should, but it doesn't." Almost an exact quote. On another occasion O’Reilly essentially told viewers that they should focus on his policies, NOT on the "crazy things" he says. O’Reilly has NEVER angrily torn into President Trump, not by ANY stretch.
In a later episode, O’Reilly tried to patch his hypocrisy by saying that he said these personal attacks “on both sides” must stop. But this is not what O’Reilly said. And he claims to be an honest broker?
The conclusion that Mr. O’Reilly is trying to help President Trump retain the Senate is becoming increasingly unavoidable. O’Reilly is imperiling his credibility. His veneer is getting thinner and thinner. Pretty soon, only the MAGAites will trust him.
The faux outrage on the Right over Ossoff's comments tell me that he struck a nerve.
Chris Cuomo's theory is that, because Miss Sharp is young and attractive, many Right-wingers automatically thought of sex whereas Sen. Ossoff was simply referring to hanging out. While I don't quite buy into that, if Miss Sharp were 60 years-old and weighed 200 lbs. those right-wingers would find another reason to be outraged. On the other hand, if Miss Sharp were 60 and weighed 200, Sen. Ossoff possibly not have made the reference.
Intense and unwavering loyalty to a political figure it is really not about policy agreements. It’s usually fueled by a desire for social group-based dominance with a specific hierarchy. When we’re feeling deprived or cheated of what is rightfully ours, we don’t look for a traditional principled politician. Instead, we look for a political bully (or party of bullies) to be our champion. The rhetoric that most comforts us promises to crush opponents and reduce outsiders as threats to our very existence. We desire having an authoritarian in charge to set up or restore the rightful order. The policies asserted are inconsequential, and very often fluid. When our chosen leader behaves erratically or against our own moral code our brain goes into defense mode using denial, accusation of false critiques and what-about-ism to deflect the criticisms or to relegate our previously claimed important values to now have little to no importance at all. We don’t abandon the leader; we just bend and/or reorder our own values to protect our own ego.
One might assume that such flip-flop is due to low education or poor emotional control. Not so! The most loyal to authoritarian leaders were in fact themselves often highly educated, organized, dedicated and self-disciplined. But they saw the world around them as dangerously unpredictable. Nearly everyone feels an identity in belonging to an idealized society. Where a society does not conform to their ideal or is in some kind of broad chaos, they feel a loss of fairness or some kind of traditional order and consistency. Becoming attached to authoritarianism is not crazy but rather a logical and organized decision to align themselves with a savior figure or movement who promises to put things right.
When our political choices become solidly one with our core identity our brain processes information and facts that conflict with our political choices as an actual physical assault and imminent existential threat. Reason is relegated as we perceive a crisis and all opposing views require a fight for our very survival. Bad politicians and bad media on both sides of the political isle work hard, to their advantage, to keep people in crisis mode perceiving existential threats around every corner.
Questions for the Friday Q&A:
1. Do you attribute Trump's newly revised bullying of Canada and South Korea a return to "Trump's Greatest Hits" after his failed excursion into Iran? In other words, like a classic bully, he backed down (while continuing to talk tough) when someone (Iran) stood up to him, and then returned to someone he could bully with relative impunity (Canada, and to a lesser degree, South Korea)? I'm expecting him to bring out the "we need to control Greenland" screed next week.
2. Do you and Bernie think the Democrats will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by nominating DSA candidates in competitive districts/states, thus making the GOP candidate come across as the more reasonable choice?
3. How concerned are you that Trump will try to thwart the results of the mid-terms if things don't go his way, for example declaring a National Emergency, seizing voting machines, etc... ?
C'mon John, at least be honest. Are you telling me you are not rooting for Trump to fail? Be honest. It's because I sense your TDS is the reason why I say you're rooting for Iran. It took guts to deal with Iran and at least try to forcefully end their nuclear program. Just because it's not easy doesn't mean don't try. You just want to be negative on Trump.
And, while I do believe you recognize how disgusting some of the DSA candidates are, I think you fail to realize how disgusting most of your Democrat candidates are! And you fail to realize that the DSA is an offshoot of the deranged, left wing woke policies of the DEMOCRATS, and the gutless attitude the Democrats have in challenging the anti-semitism & communism within the DSA speaks for itself. Just look how disgusting Schumer is, for example. He's totally amoral as he kisses El Psycho's ring. The only good Democrat is Sen Fetterman. He has guts, brains, and morality. He truly cares for the country and is willing to work w/Trump & the GOP to make our country better. ARE YOU? Or are you strictly partisan? It's very telling that the only Democrat embracing common sense is the one who had a stroke!
The DSA is the creation of the Democrats' wokeness & weakness. I blame the Democrat "leaders" (😆🤮), their media, and their voters.
>>>C'mon John, at least be honest. Are you telling me you are not rooting for Trump to fail? Be honest.
Steve, I don't root for any POTUS to succeed or fail, I root for America to succeed. My views are very similar to Bernie and John D's which is a big part of why I'm a subscriber to this site. If Trump is doing something that I sincerely believe is bad for America, e.g. his tariff policy, then yes, I do root for him to fail in that case.
As for Iran, as I've commented on this site several times, I supported the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites last year, but opposed his war this year, because it was obvious to me that he had no clear strategy beyond "bombing the sh** out of them", killing their leaders, then hoping new leaders emerge who cry uncle and give up their nuclear aspirations. Iran was never going to undergo "regime change" with an air campaign, and Trump was an idiot for thinking it would work, and worse, for having no contingency plan if it didn't work.
>>The DSA is the creation of the Democrats' wokeness & weakness. I blame the Democrat "leaders" (😆🤮), their media, and their voters.
100%. Both parties have become total clown shows. I remember a time when Republicans and Democrats could disagree, but still compromise for the good of the country. Those days are long gone.
Hey John, you sound like someone with TDS who would be happier if Iran would have nukes just so they could stick it to Trump rather than him punishing them, making them say uncle, AND making the world safer. So since you have no cred in rooting for the right country- the USA- your overall premise & analysis suffers. I see the war against Iran as a mission still in progress to defeat a dangerous evil enemy/bully, the issue with Canada as the US finally fighting back at a trade bully - one can be militarily weaker and still be a bully- and re: South Korea, a swipe at their lack of help assisting the US against Iran even as the US continues to defend them. So, you see, there are different perspectives to look at things- the patriotic way and the TDS way. I confess both ways are biased, but your way wishes the worst for the US under the guise of wanting the best. And your fear re: the potential loss of the midterms by the Democrats due to the DSA? I’m sorry to have to break the news to you, but the Democrats ARE THE DSA!! Look at the evil you woke liberals created. Your anti-Trump, anti-American sentiment has essentially allowed the Democrat party to spawn into a Nazi party filled with America haters, Jew haters and terrorists/terrorist sympathizers. I advise you to spend more time exploring why the Democrat party turned into the DSA instead of pontificating Trump’s strategies making America Great Again and the world a safer place. Leave that to the fair-minded, patriotic adults. Go handle your commie fascist kids.
>>Hey John, you sound like someone with TDS who would be happier if Iran would have nukes just so they could stick it to Trump rather than him punishing them, making them say uncle, AND making the world safer.
Hey Steve, you sound like a maga cult member whose feeling are hurt when someone criticizes Trump. You claim I'm "rooting for Iran", because I am critical of Trump's Iran policy. Delusional, but predictable, cult response.
>>And your fear re: the potential loss of the midterms by the Democrats due to the DSA? I’m sorry to have to break the news to you, but the Democrats ARE THE DSA!! Look at the evil you woke liberals created. Your anti-Trump, anti-American sentiment has essentially allowed the Democrat party to spawn into a Nazi party filled with America haters, Jew haters and terrorists/terrorist sympathizers.
LOL - I asked a question about the Democratic Party self destructing by embracing fringe candidates that may hurt their chances in a general election, and that makes me a "woke liberal". Typical cult response.
>>Leave that to the fair-minded, patriotic adults.
Let me know when we have some of those in Washington DC.
Enjoy your kool-aid.
You're right, less than 1% of the general population is trans. A far fewer percentage of the population are biological males trying to compete in girls' sports, as admitted by the crusading female swimmer in PA. Quite possibly far more people are struck by lightning in a year than biological males trying to compete in girls' sports over the last 30 years.
Too many prominent Democrats stupidly took the bait of the GOP and their comrades-in-arms in the screeching class and thus gave them the green light to create a BIG and diversionary issue.
I think the hate Trumpers and Democrat voters are by default energized to go out and vote against Trump & the Republicans regardless of whether Trump campaigns for GOP candidates or not. There's a reason most midterms are won by the party that's not the president's party- ANY president.
The out-of-power party is automatically energized and the president's party is complacent. So Trump NEEDS to be out campaigning with the GOP candidates to get out his base because the Dems - whether deranged anti Trump or not- will come out regardless.