Keith Olbermann vs. George Bush

[_Droopy]

I see Olberman as one of the very few journalists on the air today that will report on the abuses of power and problems of the Bush/Cheney presidency. I can't think of many others who do, except for the guys on Comedy Central - John Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and they do it through comedy.

Yeah uh...right Coke. It scares me silly that you apparently desire me to take this seriously.

[_Droopy]

You realize that is pretty much impossible to do? Even by presenting the news one way instead of another shows bias.

Perfect separation from bias is impossible, but nobody's asking for that. The well documented problem with the mainstream media is that the very idea of separation of bias from reporting has been sacrificed on the alter of cause activist journalism. The problem is that, for the most part, objectivity isn't even attempted anymore by most mainstream media journalists.

So then answer my question [it's really easy: Y/N with "Y"=yes and "N"=no]:

Do you think Bush giving up a hobby [golf] is a weak sacrifice in comparison to what soldiers sacrifice? Y/N

This is, as usual for Olbermann, simply snarky political pot shot taking. This is, as Olbermann goes, standard. Olbermann is an embarrassment to this country and a clear indication that the American mainstream media has, for all intents and purposes, collapsed intellectually.

Bush's comment is inane, and inane comments coming from this President are hardly unknown. But the very idea of a President "sacrificing" some personal pleasure because he has sent soldiers into harms way to defend this country (or, in this case, western civilization itself), or that he should engage in some kind of self flagellation for taking his oath of office seriously, is nothing if not the tendentious fulminations of a practiced political hack (which is exactly what Olbermann is). This is the core, fundamental function of government; to physically protect its citizens from internal and external threat. What is Bush supposed to do, castrate himself? Strip naked and pour sand on his head on the White House lawn? Sacrifice his first born child?

[_Bond...James Bond]

What is Bush supposed to do, castrate himself? Strip naked and pour sand on his head on the White House lawn? Sacrifice his first born child?

He's supposed to do nothing. Nothing he could do can measure up to the loss of a soldier, so he shouldn't make any type of comparison because he brings the sacrifices of soldiers down to the level of giving up a hobby. He needs to do nothing except recognize that it has nothing to do with him...but is about the soldiers. To even give an interview and make the comparison proves he's thinking that it's a worthwhile comparison. Which is quite sad.

[_moksha]

What is Bush supposed to do, castrate himself? Strip naked and pour sand on his head on the White House lawn? Sacrifice his first born child?

I would go with the strip naked and pour sand on his head.

[_GoodK]

You realize that is pretty much impossible to do? Even by presenting the news one way instead of another shows bias.

Perfect separation from bias is impossible, but nobody's asking for that. The well documented problem with the mainstream media is that the very idea of separation of bias from reporting has been sacrificed on the alter of cause activist journalism. The problem is that, for the most part, objectivity isn't even attempted anymore by most mainstream media journalists.

So then answer my question [it's really easy: Y/N with "Y"=yes and "N"=no]:

Do you think Bush giving up a hobby [golf] is a weak sacrifice in comparison to what soldiers sacrifice? Y/N

This is, as usual for Olbermann, simply snarky political pot shot taking. This is, as Olbermann goes, standard. Olbermann is an embarrassment to this country and a clear indication that the American mainstream media has, for all intents and purposes, collapsed intellectually.

Bush's comment is inane, and inane comments coming from this President are hardly unknown. But the very idea of a President "sacrificing" some personal pleasure because he has sent soldiers into harms way to defend this country (or, in this case, western civilization itself), or that he should engage in some kind of self flagellation for taking his oath of office seriously, is nothing if not the tendentious fulminations of a practiced political hack (which is exactly what Olbermann is). This is the core, fundamental function of government; to physically protect its citizens from internal and external threat. What is Bush supposed to do, castrate himself? Strip naked and pour sand on his head on the White House lawn? Sacrifice his first born child?

I really, really hate to admit this, but I agree. It's become fashionable to hate Bush, and the writers and producers that tell Keith Olbermann what to say are just playing to the crowd. And did someone compare Olbermann to Stephen Colbert? Blasphemy.

[_Coca Cola]

What is Bush supposed to do, castrate himself? Strip naked and pour sand on his head on the White House lawn? Sacrifice his first born child?

I would go with the strip naked and pour sand on his head.

How about ending the war without any further loss of human life, and bringing our soldiers home safely?

[_Coca Cola]

I see Olberman as one of the very few journalists on the air today that will report on the abuses of power and problems of the Bush/Cheney presidency. I can't think of many others who do, except for the guys on Comedy Central - John Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and they do it through comedy.

Yeah uh...right Coke. It scares me silly that you apparently desire me to take this seriously.

Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Drudge, David Horowitz, and Beck, and anyone on Fox News - it scares me silly that you would listen to these guys.

[_Coca Cola]

And did someone compare Olbermann to Stephen Colbert? Blasphemy.

Have you ever seen Stephen Colbert's roasting of President Bush at the White House Correspondent's dinner in 2006? It was classic! He's been my hero ever since.

It's up on Youtube and many places on the internet. Read about it here:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert_at_the_2006_White_House_Correspondents'_Association_Dinner


I heard they asked Colbert to perform because they actually bought into in his right-wing parody. They were certainly sorry afterwards.

ETA: I'm sorry, I can't get the link to work.

[_Trevor]

Olbermann is an embarrassment to this country and a clear indication that the American mainstream media has, for all intents and purposes, collapsed intellectually.

I am interested in seeing the evidence and arguments you have to back up this accusation you love to drop casually whenever you have an ideological disagreement with someone.

Is the only intellectual soundness to be found in that which agrees with you?

[_Droopy]

How about ending the war without any further loss of human life, and bringing our soldiers home safely?

This is absolutely unbelievable.