Billo blows, barack's unruffled

O'Reilly got Barack Obama in the same room Thursday, and as usual looked pompous, old, and not quite ready for "a change we can believe in."

Billo's regular "interview style" is a clash of egos where he ends up dominant, displaying his large testicles, then acting infuriatingly self-important and strutting around the little kingdom of his Fox News set chiding his sycophantic regulars into reiterating that he looks as good as he's told everybody he is.

But Barack did well keeping it about issues, deftly avoiding the obviously looming traps, (Billo ain't subtle) and not letting Billo make him look submissive as he does most of the poor saps he interviews.

O'Reilly half tried accusing Obama of avoiding the interview after he promised to do it back in January, "... thanks for being a man of your word. But I was worried there for a while."

Obama laughed.

"It's been nine months since we last met in New Hampshire," said Bill.

"It took a little while," said Barack, "I've had a few things to do in between."

Obama kept his cool, answering the filibustering blowhard and insisting the ends of his sentences be heard, and got to comment when Billo's pronouncements had no question at the end (as is his wont).

The first thing out of O'Reilly's mouth was the question: if he believed "we're in the middle of a war on terror." It was an instant loyalty oath testing Billo's oft-repeated suspicion that Obama is soft and would prove it by parsing his words. "Absolutely," said Barack.

Billo then questioned Obama about Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq with his planned gotchas that he tries to stop debates with such as "You're not going to send ground troops [into Pakistan], and you know it!" Barack said the war in Iraq had misdirected America's resources, saying that the surge had worked "beyond our wildest dreams." that took the wind out of the trap O'Reilly was laying for him. "Why don't you just admit it was a big success and move on? he asked. I just did, said Barack but put it in the context of the $10 billion a month cost of the long war, and reminding O'Reilly that the Iraqis have not yet stepped up to self-governance.

Billo tried to get the senator to say what he'd do in the case of Iran gets the bomb. "... a lot of people are saying, look, Barack Obama's not going to attack Iran."

SEN. OBAMA: Here's where you and I agree. It is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. It would be a game changer, and I've said that repeatedly. I've also said I would never take a military option off the table.  

MR. O'REILLY: But would you prepare for one?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, listen --

MR. O'REILLY: Answer the question, Senator. Anybody can say options. Would you prepare for it?

SEN. OBAMA: Look, it is not appropriate for somebody, who is one of two people who could be the president of the United States, to start tipping their hand in terms of what their plans might be with respect to Iran. It's sufficient to say I would not take the military option off the table and that I will never hesitate to use our military force in order to protect the homeland and United States interests.

The transcript is here.

The New York Times reported: "Mr. Obama gave no hint of rancor and remained pleasant, respectful and good-humored, but he did adjust his pace and wording to suit his speed-talking host."

(O'Reilly is not a debater, he's a gunslinger used to dueling with a home court advantage and opponents armed with rubberbands. Obama is really smart and has the trained mind of a Harvard law professor. The confrontation (if you could call it that) had the feel of a bemused tiger not willing to put out the effort to rip the throat out of the dickie bird that keeps flying at his face).

As promised, O'Reilly took measure of the man (so many Americans were waiting for his assessment. The basis his judgment is whether a person will come on his show or not. Go on his show, pretend with him he's as important as the guy he plays on teevee, lick those mighty testicles a little... and you're a "straight shooter.")

He told someone later on the show: "He's a tough guy, Obama... I looked at him eye to eye — he's not a wimpy guy."

Billo will string the interview over three more days, so as to maximize his big get, the ratings and the legitimization of himself.

Comments

[nevets]

Anybody understand anything Hussein said between the Uhhhs.

[Duffman]

Sen Obama is about as good at extemporaneous speaking as Sen McCain is at delivering a scripted speech. Nada!
EXPERIENCE! Now THERE is a decidedly different issue that was made crystal clear in last night's pre-speech McCain presentation. If the American public cares enough about this to have it be a factor in the decision making process of voting, McCain could get a bump.
Telegenically (as I've said before) Sen McCain doesn't play well...ESpecially next to his wife and/or now, Gov Palin. My feeling at this point is that the country is still caught up in a tidal wave of 'dramatic change' not just 'good-ol-boy' change, ergo...Obama still has the edge.
More details need to be vetted about Sen Obama's Chicago dealings and if there's nothing there and if 'nothing else' arises I don't see him losing this thing.
As for Bill O'Reilly: I don't care for him and can hardly stand watching his bloviating demeanor.

[dennisny]

Obama should go back in time, to the moment after his birth, and demand that his parents not give him the middle name "Hussein!"

[Coiler]

I noticed they covered up Billo's liver spots.

[Tommy008]

Of course he's not a wimp, Bill. He's a thug. He does a good JFK ipresssion (a European journalist noted that he mimics the martyred Dem icon's voice inflections ) but he's not a truly brave man like Kennedy. If he was he would have challenged the corrupt Chicago machine, like Palin in Alaska, and challenge and denounce Reverend Wright for his hate and racism. Instea he learned how best to fit right in with the Chicago machine. That was classic Chicago thug politics to demand, using the stick of loss of the interview forever, that O'Reilly put him on in the middle of John's big night, crashing the convention, like a gang member at a Medina garden party. At least John waited until after the convention to announce Sarah's pick.

[joanie]

It's called "thinking" while talking. I know conservatives are not used to "thinking while talking" but we on the left expect our candidates to think while they talk.

We've had enough of "scripted" talking, "talking points," and cliches from the right to last a lifetime.

If you do, things can only get better...

Try harder to listen and understand. Once you get your brain back in working order, you'll find you get used to it again . . . or maybe for the first time.

[Tommy008]

the night he announced on his show the deal Obama had coerced out of him, caller after caller reame him for caving in to the unreasonable, offensive demand and letting Obama play him. The consensus was that his reputation had been reduced. Bill rationalized it as he likes to do, but he really should have forgotten about getting his stupid big interview and told the slick Chicago thug to pound sand.

[Duffman]

Understand joanie; therefore you'd rather that Sen Obama not copy Deval Patrick any more, right?

[joanie]

whatever that means...

[Duffman]

Sorry joanie, thought you were up to speed. Not everthing gets vetted on Randi's Show.
Deval Patrick is the Governor of Mass., and apparently a friend of Sen Obama's. There are several instances of Sen Obama using pretty much the same words as Gov Patrick used in previous speeches.
So, you wouldn't want that, would you.

[Tommy008]

I noticed Taliaferro was pretty cranky last night. The Repub convention and Palin seems to have rattled him. His smug convictions of certain, even landslide victory over McCain were nowhere to be heard. He took some hateful cheap shots at Cindy McCcain, and her adopted chilren from the third world, saying they should have adopted little black kids from the American ghettoes instead.A black guy called in and said some African immigrants might take offense and he went into redfaced screaming fit mode, calling the man a peabrain. Poor old Ray. So much disappointment and heartbreak coming in about 8 weeks. Oh, and A black woman called him and warned that Barack and Joe neede to take off the gloves and get tough with Sarah. bwahahaahahah

[sparky]

How many times did McBush mention Afghanistan or Pakistan in his speech?

Zero

How maany times did he refer to helping education, better health care, the middle class? Anyone?

He is going to have to return to the Senate to vote on the Fair Pay act...what will women think if he votes no? Or if he doesn't show up.

Did anyone hear the interview with Tom Ridge, and he called McCain "John BUSH" ? it was crunchy goodness!

[Duffman]

Puts, chuck, steven, et al:
...interesting reading on Community Organizing

[Bantu]

Are republicans against community organizing then?

[joanie]

There are several instances of Sen Obama using pretty much the same words...

Four score and seven years ago...

How many times have you heard that?

Ask not what your country can do for you...

How many times have you heard that?

...the fat lady sings.

How many times have you heard that?

So, duh'ff, what else is new?

[orcas]

Keith Olbermann interviewed Obama and nobody gave a rat's ass. Olbermann lobbed a bunch of softballs that Obama hit out of the park. Billo is not a pushover like Keith. He will hold Obama's feet to the fire and confront him with tough questions. Billo will not allow Obama to weasel out with mealymouthed scripted responses. There is great anticipation for O'Reilly's interview segments with Obama by both the news media and the public. The TV ratings for this will be massive. Hey Keith, watch the Obama interview next week. Bill O'Reilly will learn you how to do your job. Yes I said "learn."

[Duffman]

It goes a little deeper than that ms joanie; think you'd better google and study a bit more. Just agreeing with you that we want Sen Obama to be 'thinking on his feet' not copying.

[Puget Sound]

Duff

The story floating around on those Code Pink types that interrupted McCain's speech is evidently they had media credentials MS-DNC badges to get inside the convention. I guess with Olberman in NY he made good use of his pass.
Story is still being tracked down and vetted but following the rules of engagement why not throw it out there.
I guess we didn't really understand how important Tim Russert was in keeping the Olberman and Matthews types- in line. No wonder you don't see Brokaw or Williams sitting next to Olberman.

[Puget Sound]

I am using the same standards some on this blog -won't be hearing any mea culpas from them will I?- had on the divorce papers yesterday in claiming Sarah Palin MUST have been having an affair with her husband's former business partner. The classic response when found to be offbase was, 'what was I supposed to think when he asked to have his private divorce papers sealed up so everyone couldn't look into his personal affairs?'

Jodie Evans, the Code Pink founder, is listed on Obama’s Web site as a “bundler” who is “raising from $50,000 to $100,000.”

MS-DNC Chair Keith Olberman has a long standing animus against Republicans.

Ergo, Olberman must have supplied his press credentials to get at least one of the activists into the convention.

Isn't that how the nutroots make stuff up. Does it matter if it is true? Heck no, just move on to the next rumor. I hear a good one about Joe Biden and that bump on his midriff...Oh wait, too pedestrian. Now let me toss in some of the children or grandchildren into the mix to make the story really disgusting...

[Duffman]

Yeah, I think I'd be keeping my distance from 'ol bathtub boy' [as John Gibson calls him] also. haha.
Don't care for either him and/or Bill O'.
I'm pretty much a creature of habit...been watching Jean Enerson for local -forever and then just meshes into (now) Brian Williams who I feel comfortable with. Guess it's just what you get used to, eh.
Your posts are 'fair and balanced' (no inferred play on words intended here) Puts and I think everyone here realizes that. We can all learn from you...but alas some will not give you that credit. Oh well, that's blatherville. [smile]

[Puget Sound]

Duff
Gibson is good. I am not a big fan of the Mark Levin show (although 2 million listen to him) but when Levin skewers Olby it is always good. Give it a listen.

The best bathtub boy website out there

Olbermanwatch

[BART]

there goes the gay guy again...writing about

big testicles....

he gets some sort of vicarious pleasure out of this.. writing it... thinking about it...seeing it in print etc etc..... ha ha ha

[blathering michael]

who says it's vicarious, BARTIE?

[joanie]

Guess I make my point, huh duff, to have elicited such a general and non-specific response.

Yes, we all repeat or paraphrase great words. That's what makes them great!

I think now you were a business major with an English minor...

As for the rest of the comments on this thread, if you add some T and A, I bet chucks would join in.

[chucks]

Tits and ass!!! Did somebody say T & A? Where is it? Oh, joanie.
Never mind.

[joanie]

Ah, chucks, so predictable.

How's the job hunting going? Keep pulling at those bootstraps when you aren't unhooking bra straps.

[sparky]

Olberman, Williams and Brokaw were together on numerous occasions during the Dem Convention.
Still no issues being discussed? Did Mccain ever say how he was going to make college more affordable? Did he say how he was going to help the middle class--specifically the 9% of Americans who are behind on their mortgage payments or are already in foreclosure? Did he talk about increasing access to health care for the middle class? No? Maybe that is why this conversation has turned to trashing Tv hosts..none of whom can make any of those changes..

[joanie]

Sparky, you know what the answer is going to be, don't you? One word. We'll see.

I want to know how these guys think we're going to win an occupation?

Why Bin Laden is still at large?

Why McCain stood in front of a green screen and then a picture of Walter Reed School?

Why forty-year old torture qualifies him to be president.

And if it doesn't, why did he talk about it? and has talked about it? and talked about it? and talked about it?

And what we are going to do when we can't drill anymore?

And what chucks is going to do when gumment finally gets eliminated and there's no income at his house? (I hope your wife is old like you so she doesn't have to survive on her own when inflaction hits 20%.)

So many questions; so few answers.

[Puget Sound]

Sparky,
Why don't you look to what the speech was about?
For many people he was discussing change, the end of corruption, reduction of taxes, eergy independence, etc. He also spent some time discussing who he was. When he talked about how the Vietnamese broke him many of us found it to be very compelling.
It wasn't going to be a policy wonk speech.
McCain isn't a speaker per se. He is a doer. If you want some specifics go over to his website to see his economic, social, military agendas. Plenty there if you want to take a gander.

The chants of USA were also nice to hear.

[joanie]

Okay, Sparky. Answer that incisive and specific post. You might add that you thought the flag waving was nice... :)

[sparky]

heh..

Puts I listened to the whole speech. I listened to it again on CSpan. I have heard, now 6 or so times, about his experiences as a POW..we appreciate his service, but I still dont see how it makes him suited to be President. I have heard more than a little bit about himself. I heard all about the Sara as a person. You'd think that experience would cause him to vote against waterboarding and other types of torture, wouldn't ya?

I have been listening to the radio a lot today and I am agreeing with the argument that experience is not an issue I care about anymore with the Gov. What I care about is that she is a Pentacostal whose beliefs have no place in government.She has every right to practice them at her church. Her stance on issues are 180 degrees away from mine.Lowering taxes? yes for corporations and the wealthy. For me? nope. So, those two things are all I care about--her stance on issues. Couple that with how McCain has voted WITH Bush 90% of the time and shows no evidence of changing a thing--no reason for me to support them or vote for them. Obama cares about the things I care about, and will be lowering MY taxes, therefore I will be voting for him.

My life has been made quite a lot simpler! Have a nice weekend.

[chucks]

Sparky
I am done fussing for the day but feel obligated to comment on one part of your post. Sen. McCain is the most anti-water boarding, anti torture member of the US Senate. McCain is very vocal about torture and his opposition to it. He has made it clear over and over again that it will not be tolerated by his administration.

[KS]

Obama did not sound particularly convincing when given tougher questions by Bill O. I understand that he only agreed to do the sitdown with him if it would be aired on the same night as McCain's acceptance speech. With BHO - the devil is in the details of his proposal schemes and are in harmony with Western Europe. Perhaps Bill O will do us a service and extract some of those details that he seems to desperately want to hide.

Obama is your classic passive-aggressive - (call it sneaky aggressive) he has a good presence but note how often he complains and whines when someone criticizes his policy proposals or his record of experience that he embellishes. Palin obliged him by taking him to task- she whines less than Obambam.

I'd like to hear the truth about her purported acceptance of earmarks - has she changed over time ?? (Obama is not one to talk about earmarks in the first place - check his record/not impressive).

[sparky]

Yeah McCain told everyone he is against waterboarding but he went ahead and voted against the bill that would require the CIA to follow a resitricted list of "interrogation methods" and he told Bush he should veto it if it passed.

As far as earmarks..the Chicago Trib reprints an article originally from the LA Times:

Wasilla had received few if any earmarks before Palin became mayor. She actively sought federal funds -- a campaign that began to pay off only after she hired a lobbyist with close ties to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who long controlled federal spending as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He made funneling money to Alaska his hallmark.

Steven Silver was a former chief of staff for Stevens. After he was hired, Wasilla obtained funding for several projects in 2002, including an additional $600,000 in transportation funding.

That year, a local water and sewer project received $1.5 million, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, which combs federal spending measures to identify projects inserted by congressional members.

When Palin spoke after McCain introduced her as his running mate at a rally in Ohio last week, she made fun of earmarking. She said she had rejected $223 million in federal funds for a bridge linking Ketchikan to an island with an airport and 50 residents, referring to it by its derogatory label: the "bridge to nowhere."

In the nationally televised speech, she stood by McCain and said, "I've championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said, we'd build it ourselves."

However, as a candidate for governor in 2006, Palin had backed funding for the bridge. After her election, she killed the much-ridiculed project when it became clear the state had other priorities. She said she would use the federal funds to fill those needs.

This year she submitted to Congress a list of Alaska projects worth $197.8 million, including $2 million to research crab productivity in the Bering Sea and $7.4 million to improve runway lighting at eight Alaska airports. A spokesman said she cut the original list of 54 projects to 31.

"So while Sen. McCain was going after cutting earmarks in Washington," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, "Gov. Palin was going after getting earmarks."

[Puget Sound]

Sparky
I respect what you are saying in regards to both McCain and Palin. These are the kinds of discussions I prefer.

I am glad that your ceding the 'experience' argument. I think both sides can give as good as they can take to a draw on that one. And we would both agree that it will come down to judgement for both candidates.

In regards to religion -believe me from personal experience I can appreciate what you are saying- but will point out the NY Times -no friend to Republicans- wrote

"Palin was baptized Roman Catholic as a newborn. She was then baptized in a Pentecostal Assemblies of God church as a teen and attended that church until six years ago, when she and her family adopted a different home church, an independent evangelical church.

The New York Times debunks that particular myth today in a look at Palin and the role religion plays in her life. Deep into the article, readers find this factoid that the Miami Herald somehow missed:

One of the musical directors at the church, Adele Morgan, who has known Ms. Palin since the third grade, said the Palins moved to the nondenominational Wasilla Bible Church in 2002, in part because its ministry is less “extreme” than Pentecostal churches like the Assemblies of God, which practice speaking in tongues and miraculous healings.

“A lot of churches are about music and media and having a big profile,” Ms. Morgan said. “We are against that. That is why it is so attractive to politicians because they can just sit there and be safe.”

“We’ve gotten a lot of their people when the other churches get too extreme,” Ms. Morgan continued. However, she added, “If you lift your hands when we’re singing, we’re not going to shoot you down.”

[Puget Sound]

In regards to abstinence, Palin said
"In a widely quoted 2006 survey she answered during her gubernatorial campaign, Palin said she supported abstinence-until-marriage programs. But weeks later, she proclaimed herself "pro-contraception" and said condoms ought to be discussed in schools alongside abstinence.

"I'm pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues," she said during a debate in Juneau.

That, coupled with the fact she believes only that if it comes up during discussion that Creationism be discussed as an alternative theory to Evolution. But that Creationism shouldn't be replacing Evolution in the classroom. That seems reasonable.

[Puget Sound]

Couple other tidbits you'll get

"No, she didn’t cut funding for unwed mothers; yes, she did increase it by “only” 354 percent instead of 454 percent, as part of a multi-year capital expenditures program. No, the Washington Post doesn’t appear to have corrected their story. Even after this was pointed out in the comments on the story.
No, she didn’t cut special needs student funding; yes, she did raise it by “only” 175 percent."

And yes, she did look to get some money sent to her city. Overtime she has come to see Earmarks -which she has no power to get that is something done by Senators/Congressmen- is something that is bad about the system. So yeah, she did request money and even hired one of Ted Steven's cronies to help with the request. She appears to have done a 180 on it. Which is good. I like when people change their mind to my way of thinking...

[Puget Sound]

Best term to describe what they are doing to Sarah Palin: Swift-Skirting

Wish I had thought of it.

Some BS story about an unnamed person alleging that she overheard Palin make a racial reference about Obama. You'll see it posted here soon as 'breathless news' no doubt.

[sparky]

Im not "ceding" any argument...I'm just going to focus on the other things...she is a religious wackjob who asks people to pray to God for a new oil pipeline and he will be a continuation of Bush by providing more taax relief for the rich and not do shit for the environment.

[Puget Sound]

listened to that 'ring of fire' show whilst doing some yardwork today. i guess i can understand where some of the misinformation comes from.

[Puget Sound]

Does anyone care to answer this question:

Is it in the Clinton's interest for Obama-Biden OR McCain-Palin to win?

[willamette]

Is Clinton your only hope these days? I thought you guys would get off that old saw by now.

[joanie]

Let me be more explicit:

WTF cares!

[Puget Sound]

C'mon, Matlock won't be on for a few more hours so just ease up on them hammers for a bit.

You don't think the Clinton's have an impact?
I bet team Obama cares.

Seriously, this is a legit question so set aside the hate for just a second and focus on the question.

Or is it too scary to contemplate.

Did the Dems really screw up by going for Obama?

Actually, the way the Dem Party set up the Primaries with proportional representation you had no real choice.

The Super Delegate corrective got blown up.

Maybe, just maybe the primaries should have been winner take all.

If so, the Dems would have a strong candidate on the top of the ticket Hillary with a good VP.

[KS]

PutS - good on your further research about Palin. The MSM is too irresponsible with too much of an agenda to support Mr. Obama to care about reporting all sides of the story -re:increasing the funding by 354 % for unwed mothers - instead of 454 %, which is still an increase. I have believed that the Dems are math-challenged (really liars) for a long time as they accused Republicans of cutting aid to education when they were decreasing the rate of increase which is still an INCREASE, but they were lieing again by calling it decrease or cutting aid (i.e. a 9% increase instead of 12% increase). I lose respect for them or anyone that parrots that type of rubbish.

The "Swift-skirting" will continue. Sounds as though she has done a flip-flop on earmarks, according to what you saw although she could never actually bring home pork with the offices she held. No problem with that, as long as she walks her talk. I think she defend herself adequately from the lies of the left. However, the right needs to be called on their lies also, such as Bush/Cheney - there may be some ugly stuff going down about Iraq.

According to Bill OR and I agree - the surge has won the war, for US interests, and the rest of this conflict is on Iraq. I expect that we will have a significant troop drawdown from there late this year and into next year, regardless of who is elected. So, Mr. Factor, who is despised by a goodly number on this blog has it right about the Iraq war, and many of you would tend to agree for moving a majority of our troops out of there in honorable fashion - its a start.

[Puget Sound]

Spot on KS
The Palinator is the Liberals worst freakin nightmare.

In regards to Swift-Skirting it is accurate as to what has been happening to this Lady.

As an aside, Swift-Boating is a term I hate to use. Until I realized that the original Swift-Boater was indeed John Kerry and those horrible lies he told about his fellow servicemen at the 1972 congressional hearing. '...they came in like Ghengis Khan....raping, strapping electrodes to the testicals of Vietnamese..'
when later asked for some proof he couldn't come up with anything of substance. So John Kerry, original Swift-Boater.

[willamette]

1972 was the year of the ratfuckers, howard hunt, haldeman etc. we shouldn't assume you guys would of held hearings if kerry hadn't spilled the beans, just like we see today with Abu Ghraib. just another republican admin doing dirty tricks.

[Puget Sound]

kerry spilled no beans. he just 'swift-boated' his fellow service members. he had no My Lai massacre type facts to impart. just heaped a crapfest on returning servicemen.
john kerry, original swift-boater.

[sparky]

Puts, who is telling you that Democrats are "sorry" Obama is our candidate?

[umo12]

The Obama interview with Billo was rugged, robust, lively and compelling. Olbermann also did an Obama interview on Monday. It was boring because Olby asked nothing but softball questions and almost offered Obama fellatio.