http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,79779,00.html I don't think he has a clue as what "un-american" is.
I think he used a poor choice of words. "Stupid", "moronic", "idiots" are words that spring to mind that could've better described the protesters.
I think that the admitting of mistake is merely a stupid trick to attract more liberals to watch his show. It's all about ratings. "Bad-American"...hmm.. Sounds funny, soft, un-Conservative.
"If American military men and women are putting their lives on the line for their country, they deserve our support, even if you don't agree with the cause. Think about this -- some of us actively fighting to remove Saddam Hussein don't agree with the cause themselves, but they're doing their duty." Does anyone really buy this crap? This is the kind of talk popular in countries with divinely sanctioned leaders who are thus incapable of making mistakes. If Bush was given to us by god, and that was the basis of our government, then O'Reilly would have a point. But this whole stupid cliche of "supporting our troops" absolutely must be disregarded by any democratic individual. In any case, isn't it very easy to claim that protesting a stupid needless war in order to save our troops is the best form of support one could give them? That is, support them by bringing them home, putting them to school, providing them with good jobs, etc?
Yeah, almost all republicans and consveratives are using the terms un-american and treason very lightly, like any kind of dissent or protest or even pointing out any flaw of bush is treason.....if that were true then all of them would be arrested for what they did to clinton during his presisdency.
And then he gives himself the weaselly "if it turns into a Vietnam" out. That is an example of a disturbing strain in the thinking of some hawks. Sometimes you'll see them justify the war by saying we'll win with few casualties. Well, OK, but there are probably 100 nations we could defeat with few casualties. That hardly means we should. And I'll make my pitch again...if we want an easy win that will be a boon to human rights, let's intervene in the Sudan.
Whether or not you agree with it or not, if war does happen, giving support for the troops is something everyone should do. They are the ones putting their lives on the line, possibly in place of you, or your father or mother or brother or sister. Don't like why they're there, fine, protest or complain about the administration, but the soldiers are laying their lives on the line...the least you can do is cheer 'em on. Once war starts, it isn't going to just end because some people want it to. Once war starts, the "ref" has made his call, and no matter how much you argue it he isn't going to change his mind. The game will go on, and the "replay" will show whether the call was the correct one or not.
RE: Supporting the Troops and Patriotisim. I have good friends and aquaintances in all branches of the armed services, some of whom are in-theater. By protesting the war, either as a hypothetical or in the future as an ongoing thing, I am fully supporting my friends' rights to not die in a horrible way in some sandy sh**hole because some half-wit politician is trying to make some sort macho, electorally-driven point. Disagree about the war on the merits if you like. Call me a damn soft-headed liberal. No problem. But getting pretty sick and tired of being called anti-American, or un-patriotic for this. Internet bulletin boards are one thing. Anyone who calls my patriotisim into question to my face had better be ready to throw down.
I now understand how you can have such a childish and undemocratic view of the role of public opinion. To you, war is a "game." Cheering on our troops is akin to cheering on John O'Brien when he scores against those intimidating Portugese. Put it this way, do you "cheer" the fact that during the Gulf War, our military leaders secretly used highly toxic ammunition without telling our very own soldiers to be careful around them? Thousands of Gulf War vets have come down with mysterious illnesses in the ensuing years, while the Pentagon keeps trying to shirk ALL responsibility for exposing them to depleted uranium. Guys were camped in radioactive fields for months with no protection whatsoever. How does "cheering on" the troops help them? The only thing that would have helped them is more brave Americans at home challenging the admin to the point that they never send the guys in the first place. Meanwhile, you can cheer on all the My Lai massacres you want...you are free to do it after all.
Re: RE: Supporting the Troops and Patriotisim. I'm thinking of wearing a "Give Peace a Chance" T-shirt so I can beat the shit out of anyone who gives me grief about it.
Re: Re: Re: RE: Supporting the Troops and Patriotisim. I bet I can wear my "Nuke Saddam" t-shirt to the mall and not be asked to leave.
Re: Re: RE: Supporting the Troops and Patriotisim. Yeah, yeah. Over the top, I know. The thing the just pisses me off enough to make admittedly bull**it statements like that is the sense of helplessness adn desperation watching the administration. You couldn't sell a novel based on this plot. No one would believe it. Yet here we are living this freakin' nightmare of a policy. A policy which if it doesn't go at least 90% according to plan is going to result in all kinds of chaos at home and abroad. F***it. Gotta go pull Cat. 5 cable.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: RE: Supporting the Troops and Patriotisim. Stand on a bench in a mall and yell anything except "Spend money in all these fine stores!" and see what happens.
Re: Re: Re: RE: Supporting the Troops and Patriotisim. No, I was serious. I sincerely believe that being on the receiving end of a GringoTex asskicking is emotionally healthy for most people.