Wheels Flying Off the Billo Bus

Posted: Friday, March 23, 2007 11:45 AM by Countdown

Give the man this: when he gets it wrong, he really gets it wrong!

If you don't often get to listen to the Bill O'Reilly radio show, here's a wonderful audio example of what you're missing.

We're told that later in his show, Billo described his outburst as "robust debate."

If you have the stomach for more, THIS VIDEO is an equally telling example of Bill O'Reilly, cartoon character.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Bill has nothing to do with my life. I cut his microphone off a long time ago.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 12:35 PM)

Reminds me of a Ron White bit about being on the debate team in high school and how he considered answering his opponent "well f**k you" as a victory since it left them speechless. Any claim Bill O'Really or anyone else in the right wing has to upholding freedom of speech and the truth is totally bogus. They call the left the fascists, and compare us to Goebbels when they are in fact the ones that are most parallel to anti-democratic history. However, I do not think they are telling outright lies when they say they are the purveyors of truth and Democrats/leftists are spinners/communists/fascists/liars etc. This is what they actually believe, and they cannot think beyond their myopic ideology which shapes their world view. To put it more into context, they are only capable of binary thought rather than complex thought. In short, they only see black and white, but not the huge gray area in between. They define their world in terms of Good and Evil, and they can be nothing but good and do nothing but good, anything that does not fit into their world view is therefore automatically relegated to evil. Knowing this makes it possible to understand their thought and the logic behind it, and that it actually is logical if held within the parameters of their world view. Therefore, the reason Bill O'Really goes off on rants like this, and gets miffed at people like Olbermann for pointing out his stupidity is because they do not see it as stupid, because stupid is bad. They can only be good and do good, no matter what.

Ashen Shard (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 12:55 PM)

The other day I saw a news story that Fox news was teaming with O'Reilly's favorite Evil Empire at NBC to undercut YouTube in distributing video content to the web. I thought to myself, "This will push him over the edge." Bingo!

Terry Ballard (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 12:56 PM)

It helps if you look at FAUX (FOX), the way you look at ProWrestling. It's ENTERTAINMENT, it's not REAL. Pro Wrestlers (or Wrasslers, if you will) are as Phony as a $3 Rolex. A lesser degree of Phoniness has come to dominate all sports. ESPN has the word Entertainment in it and that means all these Jocks are Entertainers. Politicians have also become Entertainers, as have the Medias who follow them. If it's Entertainment, it has no Truth but it's Own Truth and that is the truth of its' followers. Pro Wrestling Fans are Insane about their favorites, caring not a whit about the Phoniness of the Event. The same with FAUX watchers. Federico Fellini had a favorite line, "Se Non E Vero, E Ben Trovato.", "If it's not the Truth, as least it's well-invented". FAUX usually fails in that respect. But sometimes, that's Entertainment.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 1:20 PM)

Is O'Reily married? I was not sure. If not perhaps we could get him and Ann Coulter to tie the knot. If he is married then I'm sure we could get him to leave his wife for Ann. And when they do tie the knot we could send the two of them off on a nice honeymoon. Now where should we send them? Anyone have any ideas? Oh, I forgot. We could have Limbaugh the pig and Hannity the self-lover be best man and 1st bridesmaid (Rush could be the 1st bridesmaid), and send them off with the lovely couple as well. One more thought. Could you imagine taking Rush and Hannity and O'Reilly and Ann Coulter and placing them together, all alone, on a deserted island. God, now that would be the best of the best idea for a new reality TV show.

C A, Tuscaloosa, Al (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 1:32 PM)

Bill and his ilk on the Faux Noise Network employ the same tactics over and over: Talking over their guest, interrupting their guest, using loaded phrases and inflammatory descriptions of their guests positions, calling them names, endevouring to ridicule them,and literally shouting guests down. You see, he and his minions are the true anointed guardians of the truth. So nobody else deserves to be heard, let alone complete a sentence. I suggest that every single candidate for office decline any invitation from these creeps. They only invite people on to attack them. They have absolutely no interest in a true debate. It's not worth the aggravation and only feeds their extreme slant. If I were Mr. Andersen, I would have said. "Well Bill, it's become abundantly clear to me that you don't really want to discuss anything so I'm done here." And I would have stood up and walked off.

M G, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 1:40 PM)

"If you don't often 'get' to listen to the Bill O'Reilly radio show, here's a wonderful audio example of what you're missing." - huh who'd think that 2 out of 3 Americans who disapprove of Bush and his conduct of this war was very interested in listening to Bill. Who cares what his latest pile of b.s. is? I only clicked on his audio link by mistake.

Kathleen Bushman Portland, OR (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 2:02 PM)

I was wondering what Olbermann's obsession with O'Reilly was, know I know. O'Reilly is beating him about 4 to 1 in the ratings.

scott henderson nv (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 2:03 PM)

The man has no conscience. He's clearly off his meds. I love how the mayor from Utah remained calm while Bill demonstrated his need for anger management therapy.

Melanie, Santa Clarita Valley, CA (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 2:14 PM)

Like Keith said, that guy needs help. I hope he seeks a professional.

Tom Y MN (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 2:34 PM)

Sorry as I am to see anyone suffer from a crippling mental illness, I'm inclined to take Bill O's degeneration as a sign that the coherence of his world view is crumbling on the heels of recent news, and that is perhaps a good sign. The Fox propaganda machine in general has become more hysterical, nutty and irrelevant by the week. I suppose the new strategy is "fight to maintain a viewership of rabid loyalists", because they sure as hell are marketing to them. If *only* they didn't contribute to setting the tone and the scope of (what remains of our) public discourse, we could let them have their deluded fun, like lunatics putting on plays for their imaginary friends. If *only* the rest of MSM didn't pick up their "exclusive" stories, parrot their talking points, and legitimize the whole sordid enterprise... If only it hadn't taken this much corruption and destruction to start cracking the infrastructure of the spinmachine.

JS, England (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 2:37 PM)

I could be mistaken, but I watched a Snow press conference the other day in which he said there would be NO TRANSCRIPT, that Senators are free to take "copious notes" during the 'interviews' but that's it. Tony Snow made that very clear. What's O'Reilly's angle? Does he seriously want his viewers to think the White House is giving up concessions that they are not giving up? Or is he really that confused? I thought Anderson did a good job, calling O'Reilly out. You gotta admire Bill's interview style though. Papa Bear always puts those kooks in their places for us average, hard-workin' 'mericans.

David Morton, Chattanooga TN (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 3:15 PM)

Pretty funny stuff there BillO, I don't get how its bad for the NY Times to get a story that fox noise would also have access to.

CatyZ, Manley Hot Springs, Alaska (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 4:09 PM)

Props to KO for posting a link through www.mediamatters.org! It is possibly the only watchdog we have left. Please visit their site as often as you visit here. I even give them money.

JW, Chicago (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 4:13 PM)

Steve, me too. I don't think we should give him any more attention. I would rather the KO take a look at some of the spin being aired on MSNBC – I’ve given up on fox and cnn. There is still hope for MSNBC. As for Bill, there is no need to ask why he acts that way... (Bill, I'm smirking and holding up my pinky finger).

JW, Chicago (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 4:17 PM)

Once a jackass, always a jackass.

jeani o, saint inigoes md (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 4:18 PM)

One point that's being missed is that O'Reilly, crazy though he may be, couldn't believe that the White House people were going to testify without _any_ transcript being made. Even BillO knows that testimony under those conditions is worthless. BTW: Olbermann isn't competing for ratings with O'Reilly. O'Reilly has the reality-challenged crowd locked up tight. Olbermann has to compete with a lot of other news sources for the rational audience.

Houston (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 4:36 PM)

Didn't Billo and all of the so-called "journalists" at Faux News get their degrees through the same correspondence course that also gives you an art degree if you can draw Skippy the Dog?

L.A., Gig Harbor (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 4:46 PM)

If O'Reilly's ratings are 4 to 1 of that of Keiths, boy are we in trouble. That means for every 1 of us who take in Keith's show their are 4 like Scott-NV who watch O'Reilly. Wooaahhhssss meeee!!!!!!! And to think that Scott's reminder of these ratings was also an indicator that the O'Reilly viewers had any intelligence which might mean something....nah. So that makes the new rating profile 0 - O'Reilly versus 1 for Keith Olbermann.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 5:02 PM)

We all know that Bill's loofah has been drying up in the past year since starting that petition to get Keith fired and threatening Mike from Orlando with Fox Security. Bill, would you like some fries with your falafel as you descend further into madness?

Mike Czerniewski, Overland Park, KS (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 5:15 PM)

Steve Turner: Great posting and how true. The trouble though Steve is that an awful lot of those big time wrestling fans as well as those fans of O'TReily think that it is real. So we have an awful lot of our citizens actually living in a fantasy land and some just might be neighbors. We're in trouble bud.

C A , Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 5:42 PM)

I have often said, if that if he weren't so sad, this horrid man should change the title of his show to either a.) "The Bill O'Reilly Comedy Hour", or 2.) "The World According To Bill". His rants are truly as irrational as those of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when he channels Hitler, while insisting the Holocaust never happened and was "made up". This dynamic duo of idiots should really team up together, as both are just as irrational, ignorant and insensitive!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 5:42 PM)

I have often said that if he weren't so sad, this horrid man should change the title of his show to either a.) "The Bill O'Reilly Comedy Hour", or 2.) "The World According To Bill". His rants are truly as irrational as those of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when he channels Hitler, while insisting the Holocaust never happened and was "made up". This dynamic duo of idiots should really team up together, as both are just as irrational, ignorant and insensitive!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 5:43 PM)

Billy O'Reilly, now and forever-(cue bad organ music) the Worst Person-In The World!!!!!!!!!!! I heartily agree. Comedian Rush Limbaugh, of course, is in the top 3.

George New London Nh (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 5:58 PM)

Excerpt from Time Magazine: What Hath Fox Wrought by JAMES PONIEWOZIK, OCTOBER 6, 2006 “In the end, that wink—that is, the Fox gestalt of insouciance, attitude, and even playfulness—has had a bigger effect on the news media than any Bill O'Reilly rant. Fox taught TV news that voice, provocation and fun are not things to be afraid of. And for better or worse, probably every TV news program outside of PBS has been Foxified by now. The explosive graphics on your newscast: that's Fox. The "freeSpeech" opinion segments on the new CBS Evening News: that's Fox, too. Anderson Cooper yelling at a FEMA official or crusading in Africa: that's Fox. Keith Olbermann ranting at George W. Bush and O'Reilly on MSNBC's Countdown: that's Fox through and through, whether Olbermann would like to admit it or not. Fox's ratings, in other words, may have declined for its 10th anniversary. But there are ratings and then there are ratings. You may tell yourself you don't watch Fox News. But as they used to say in the old Palmolive commercials: You're soaking in it.”

KAK, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 6:30 PM)

CA. I see the Desert Island thing having only one possible ending. Ann would first geld all three of the 'Men'. After a short period for 'marbling', she would butcher and consume Rush. She would then blind Sean and Bill, cut out their tongues, and direct them to sift for bi-valves and crustaceans in the surrounding surf. The least efficient in that endeavor, would be consumed next. After setting up a larder of smoked seafood, she would then polish off the last 'man' standing, make an SOS out of their bones, and wait for the only real 'He-Man' in the world to show up. That being of course, Howard Dean.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 6:36 PM)

I think it's interesting that he accused Lis Wiehl of misleading his audience and that's why he cut her mic. He obviously doesn't think that his audience is smart enough to listen to two different stories and decide for themselves.

Melanie, Santa Clarita Valley, CA (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 6:37 PM)

Bill O, Bill O, Bill O, how long will you bark and bellow? You pretend to know the facts, and belittle the answers when asked. I hope one day you will see, the effects of a faux news legacy. You fly off the handle; a man insane; are your intentions to cause so much pain? I think you attack for the ratings, please stop all the political hating. I hope one day all your fans, will get their news from Kieth Olbermann.

Brandon Ingels, Glenwood Springs, Colorado (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 7:51 PM)

KAK, James Poniewozik must be on drugs if he thinks Keith or anyone else in news learned anything useful from Fox Noise. Especially Keith. Please!! Keith was bringing "voice, provocation and fun" to SportsCenter years before Fox Noise was even on the air!! If anything, THEY are copying HIS schtick!! And I'm sure that when Anderson Cooper yells at a FEMA official or crusades in Africa, it's because he wants to--not because anyone at the fake-news channel gave him the idea!

Tru M., Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:18 PM)

On a related topic, why does Kucinich go on Hannity and allow the pugnacious little dog turd to use him as a cudgel in his campaign against the more viable Dem candidates? If Kucinich can't see he's being used as a tool by Fox, he certainly has not claim to higher office.

Lars Bolander. Hutchinson Island, Fla (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:20 PM)

My father-in-law, who once was a rabid radio listener of Billo, had noticed that 'he isn't tracking very well lately.' To my credit, I didn't fall on the floor, laughing, while having the conversation with FIL. I waited until he had hung up.

Marie K Minneapolis, MN (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:23 PM)

I had to go spend half an hour getting my ears intimate with a Q-tip after hearing that. Fortunately, I removed my glasses before watching the video clip so I didn't really SEE anything, but...there's a good reason I don't watch Orally, and it's not because my roommate thankfully chooses that time of night to watch soccer. When it all comes crashing down, I hope to God I'm there to...watch it blurry and pixelated on YouTube.

Brandon Irvine, Schleswig, IA (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:26 PM)

Does anyone agree that Keith's newest glasses make him look like one of the McMahon and Tate's clients on Bewitched?

Lars Bolander. Hutchinson Island, Fla (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:31 PM)

LOL, very good Steve.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:35 PM)

This is nothing, tonight on his broadcast he said that the reports that Sadam had sought to obtain uranium from Niger were true. Go get 'em, Keith!

Terry Schultz (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:48 PM)

Watching and listening Bill O'Reilly, one can ask themselves is everything he does an act. O'Reilly did say on the Colbert Report, that the right wing spin was an act. It is an act that pays extremely well. There is nothing new to this type of kind of slant, it has been known as `yellow journalism', but maybe to update with the times should be renamed `murdochism'. O'Reilly has shown he's very good at `murdochism' especially all the way to the bank. Personally, I just roll my eyes whenever I hear of O'Reilly and say a silence thanks his lying as well as shut ups haven't been turned into a frat drinking game. Question is could most people do what is equal to selling their soul/conscience/sense of decency for cash?

Nathan Hale, Seoul, Korea (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:57 PM)

It just goes to show that in this universe anything is possible: slime mold, Bill O'Reilly.

Ian Patton, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 8:58 PM)

Tru M., Cleveland, Ohio - Oh Bravo!! Your words about Keith are so true. Also, I watched Anderson Cooper's "rant" and I applauded him. That FEMA Official was telling him how "proud she was of the hard work and effort they were putting it...”. Cooper cut her off and said, "stop patting yourselves on the back, there are literally DEAD BODIES floating by me", and they were!! No, Anderson Cooper said what I wanted say, and believe, he was much for diplomatic than I would have been!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 9:28 PM)

Wow, now I know why I don't listen to BillO. I feel that I not only need a shower but his punitive "turn off her mike!" took me right back to Catholic Elementary school! Shudder! Up his meds and ready the electro shock thingy!

Jodyodyo (Sent Friday, March 23, 2007 11:25 PM)

I don't think Olberman's possible obsession with O'Rielly has anything to do with rating's.O'Rielly i think said that Olberman would not be picked back up after his contract was up, but it was for four more years.Maybe Olberman has a problem with the Fox News slogan's like fair & balanced.That's not the first time Bill has cut the mic., he also done that to GUEST before,where's the FAIR & BALANCED part when you cut the mic because someone is not agreeing!Or how about this one WE REPORT YOU DECIDE! If Fox changed that one to WE REPORT YOU LISTEN & OBEY! Maybe Keith might say Okay! at least your being upfront with that one.

Don Oubre, Paulina, Louisiana (Sent Saturday, March 24, 2007 12:08 AM)

Ah, the hat trick, Coultergeist, comic Rush Limbaugh and Bill Oh-here-we-gooooooooooooo'Reilly.

James Craven, Philadelphia (Sent Saturday, March 24, 2007 12:56 AM)

Dear Tur M & Pam Bignardi: I guess the Time excerpt was too subtle (or short). I would encourage you both to seek out the entire article. I originally posted it in support of JS, England’s comments, which I agree with: “If *only* the rest of MSM didn't pick up their "exclusive" stories, parrot their talking points, and legitimize the whole sordid enterprise...” I came across this article and thought it would provide an interesting context versus the usual “Bill-O sucks” diatribes (which are obvious and boring). By the way, I’m starting to see Keith Olbermann’s name being lumped in with the likes of Glenn Beck & Bill O’Reilly in various MSM media/news coverage. Other than the “name mention” publicity, I have a feeling Mr. Olbermann may not enjoy being in the company of these men. One more thing, Tur M. starting your comment with “James Poniewozik must be on drugs” may cause people to stop reading soon after.

KAK, Chicago, IL (Sent Saturday, March 24, 2007 1:27 PM)

Don Oubre, Paulina, Louisiana - Right On!!!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Saturday, March 24, 2007 6:24 PM)

I hope that MSNBC learns from our comments and anger and applies a more fact based and open and fair policy to its own talking heads - several in the MSNBC house are just as abusive as those on fox and cnn.

JW, Chicago (Sent Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:44 PM)

Bill O'Reilly is a steaming turd, and most people with commen sense know it. "shut up" and "cut the mic" are the symptoms of a weak mind. Those of you who compare O'Reilly with MSNBC are really clueless, but I'll give you the comparison with the nucklehead Glenn Beck.

Stephen Marder, Portsmouth, Virginia (Sent Sunday, March 25, 2007 6:40 PM)

But there was one thing O'Reilly said in that segment that I think is the God's truth. When he said..."blah blah blah blah blha..." I think that says it all.

Jeanette /Topanga, CA (Sent Sunday, March 25, 2007 8:35 PM)

With this video it seems possible that the swollen carbuncle on Limbaugh's ass (the one that got him out of the draft) was actually an alien time capsule warning the sentient beings of the universe of the hypocritical, irrational hatred spewed by Bill O'Reilly, FOX, Murdoch et al.

Tom Hagen Quilcene ,Wa (Sent Sunday, March 25, 2007 8:48 PM)

Thank's Pam i have my moment's. I've been wanting to get that one of my chest for a long time!!

Don Oubre, Paulina, Louisiana (Sent Monday, March 26, 2007 7:28 AM)

Olbermann has a 'problem' with O'Reilly? Well, Edward R. Murrow had a 'problem' with Joe McCarthy,too.

Joe Friday, Los Angeles, CA. (Sent Monday, March 26, 2007 7:59 AM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=99440

More News Hole

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories:

The Essentials

Syndicate This Site

Add The News Hole to your news reader:

ABOUT THE NEWS HOLE