As the Iraq war continues, the vitriol from the left is getting even more hostile.
In fact, just days after a long-time member of Congress stood on the floor of the House claiming the president is amused by American soldiers having their heads blown off, media writer and Fox News contributor Neal Gabler strongly implied that he'd like the Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol to go to Iraq and die.
Here's the partial transcript of this unbelievable moment in television history from Saturday's "Fox News Watch" (h/t Hot Air, video available here):
I love so many critics of the press in Iraq, you know, can criticize the press, can criticize Lara Logan, and Richard Engel, and others who actually have their boots on the ground there. But I would like to see some of them like Bill Kristol go there, without a bodyguard, walk down the street. If he does so, I will make him this promise: I will attend his funeral.
Honestly, what is going on in this country?
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Lefties really are gettin sickning...
October 20, 2007 - 16:12 ET by ThreePuttinDudeI'm getting real sick of these lefties spewing their BS. If there is a civil thought on their side, it needs to be heard.....soon. Things are getting ugly, and I'm getting tired of holding my tongue
UNBELIEVABLE! Everytime I
October 20, 2007 - 16:18 ET by Gary P JacksonUNBELIEVABLE!
Everytime I watch the show I want to throttle this guy, but this is just incredible. The best part is when he says something idiotic like this, he starts laughing like he's proud of himself.
Liberals have no shame anymore. On the other hand, as more and more normal folks start seeing this kind of thing, they will start waking up to the real threats these people are to the Nation.
Send Bill to Bill
October 20, 2007 - 16:21 ET by Lame CherryMaybe the best way is to send Bill Kristol to Bill Maher as Maher seems to have shutting free speech down to an armed science no his program.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
no admittance
October 20, 2007 - 16:29 ET by Jerry MackNeil and his left wing loons will always find a way to say that there is no progress in Iraq.
Lara Logan??? Boots on
October 20, 2007 - 16:38 ET by drillanwrLara Logan??? Boots on the ground??!!??
Puh-leeze!
Oh, and I am even more pissed no one on that panel felt the need to challenge him immediately ...
Who's "Lara Logan"?
October 20, 2007 - 17:52 ET by Del DolemonteOh yeah, former British swimsuit model.
Simply, really
October 20, 2007 - 16:45 ET by 10ksnookerWe are winning in Iraq, the left are "all in on lose". The thought of winning causes an insanity of hate to well up, uncontrollable. Take it for what it is, hate blinds.
In all fairness, I think
October 20, 2007 - 16:56 ET by Right2thePointIn all fairness, I think it's a bit of a reach for that conclusion. I read it more like substitute a generic name for Kristol and you have that nobody would be safe without a body guard.
Which probably isn't far from off in most areas until things settle down more.
In the Kurd areas it may be possible but this isn't strolling down to the mall to have a look around yet.
Noel, I am with
October 20, 2007 - 16:56 ET by msh1973Noel,
I am with you...what is going on in this country? The hatred is now so blatant, no one thinks twice about saying horrible things about the President, Military and anyone who has a differing opinion.
Gabler is just the latest
October 20, 2007 - 17:23 ET by motherbeltGabler is just the latest graduate from the left's "Julianne (I hope Clarence Thomas dies young) Malveaux Shool of Graciousness and Sensitivity."
We need to do something
October 20, 2007 - 17:39 ET by ricklailWe need to do something about this. I don't like the bullshit coming from the clowns on CNN, CNBC or PMSNBC. You can write them about it and get no response. I believe if enough people will e-mail Fox News something may be done about this.
Southern by birth, Tarheel by the grace of God!
Noel: I think you're
October 20, 2007 - 17:45 ET by JerNoel:
I think you're reading far too much into Gabler's words. Consider this analogy: You and I are sitting in your den watching a heavyweight boxing match, and, at some point, I comment that neither fighter appeared "all that tough". You respond, "Well, Jer, I'd like to see you get in there with either one of them, because within minutes you would be carted out on a stretcher."
Would someone overhearing our conversation be correct in concluding you had strongly implied a desire for me to suffer serious injury? I certainly wouldn't interpret it as such.
Jer
Jer
October 20, 2007 - 19:01 ET by Noel SheppardJer,
Happy Saturday.
I think there's a big difference between a couple of guys sitting in a den having such a conversation over a few beers and members of the media chatting while the cameras are rolling. In fact, one is on the record so to speak while the other is clearly not.
Did you watch the video, and hear the growns of the other panelists when Gabler finished? Did they read into his statement as well?
Look, I didn't say he wished Kristol dead. However, he certainly implied it, I think it's disgraceful, and am very saddened that this is where our country is today. Aren't you? ns
Noel... Happy Saturday to
October 20, 2007 - 19:30 ET by JerNoel...
Happy Saturday to you, too.
Yes, before initially responding, I had watched the video (and heard the groans) to see if any further context was provided. I guess we just have a different take on his statements, but I don't think the "groans" necessarily suggest the other panelists agree with yours. Presumably, Gabler would have been vigorously challenged by the others for a clarification if they had drawn a similar inference. [I suppose we'll have to await that portion of the video or transcript.]
Indeed, I am saddened by the current state of polarization and rhetorical excess in our country, and have said so here, frequently.
Jer
No defender of the left am
October 20, 2007 - 17:46 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltNo defender of the left am I, but I took a different meaning away from his comment.
I took it to mean that the critics of the media who are there in Iraq don't understand the hostilities there (that's another discussion for another time), and if Bill Kristol thinks it's not still a hostile and very damgerous place, then let him go there without protection if he thinks it's so safe, and he will in all likelihood, be killed.
Although a crass comment, I didn't see the wish for Bill Kristol's death as clearly.
Schedule Change?
October 20, 2007 - 17:54 ET by Del DolemonteWhen was this on? Fox pre-empted both this show and Beltway Bozos from their regular time slot.
I missed it as well
October 21, 2007 - 08:15 ET by CTI missed it as well and could not find it at it's normal rebroadcast time 11:30 PM EST here in Philadelphia.
I don't know whether or not
October 20, 2007 - 18:29 ET by fitzfongI don't know whether or not Bill Kristol has been to Iraq. But I can tell you he knows a HELL of a lot more about what's going on over there than Neal Gabler, that smarmy film critic, does. There are plenty of honest, competent reporters with "boots on the ground" in Iraq. Lara Logan and Richard Engel are not among those. Nor is Michael Ware.
Hey, Neal Gabler I think
October 20, 2007 - 18:42 ET by USA4freedomHey, Neal Gabler I think its too dangerous there why don’t you
take a little walk around downtown Philly late on a Saturday night. I sure you
will find it quite safe..
You can call it hushpuppys on the ground..
Its the old line: your not there, so you can't say: (what ever)
you are not black so you can't say: (what ever)
You are not (fill in the blank) so you can't say (fill in the blank).
It that is the best you can do??
I dont think you are smart..so you can't say (fill in the blank)..........
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Michael Yon ... and the ones
October 20, 2007 - 18:44 ET by drillanwrMichael Yon ... and the ones actually reporting the Iraq War news objectively are not with any network or news agency, but all on their own ... with their own self-funding.
Gabler Again????
October 20, 2007 - 19:04 ET by BourbeauI understand Fox's desire for fair and balanced, and I'm more than happy having both sides of any argument coherently debated. But Neil Gabler is one of the more venomous liberal media analyst and it's distressing, at times, to see and hear the latitude he's given with some of his more outrageous comments. He has made numerous unsubstantiated personal attacks on the President and his administration, yet they are often allowed to stand unchallenged. It's always a nice touch by a liberal, when they don't like what you say or do, they immediately challenge you to be put in harms way, as if that proves anything. What about them? Has Neil Gabler been put in harms way? I doubt it; the closest he ever came to being in harms way, was being on the Fox Newswatch set.
Bourbeau
October 20, 2007 - 19:16 ET by BlondeGabler's idea of being in harm's way is to be on TV with a panel led by Cal Thomas.
Gabler is a plusperfect idiot lib.
And Noel hit it spot-on. The rest of the panel's uncomfortable laughter after Gabler's remark implies alot....but you're right....they should have called him to the floor for such a stupid statement.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
What's Going On in This Country?
October 20, 2007 - 19:28 ET by Sonny LykosAs if you didn't know.
The MSM, the Democrats, the ACLU, and many others, have become socialists who must silence conservatives, those of us who are still trying to defend out Republic.
The MSM will only get worse in their sleazy attacks on any "R" candidate as we get closer to Nov '08.
I personally think this is
October 20, 2007 - 19:39 ET by GregEI personally think this is non-topic here. Neal did not want Bill Kristol killed in Iraq, and the question posed in that way is a premise that's wrong. We didn't think Rush and his "phony soldier" comment was any big deal (and it wasn't, though the liberals went bananas to try to work an angle). Neal's method of making his point was fine, regardless of what we think about Neal's ideology and view on the Iraq war.
This was nothing. If we're going to be up in arms about the media slamming Rush for nothing, we can't slam Neal Gabler for nothing. That's my opinion.
GregE
October 20, 2007 - 19:53 ET by Noel SheppardGE,
Point taken. I might be feeling a tad defensive after all these recent attacks, especially Stark's. However, I've reviewed the video several times -- and once again before responding to you -- and I'm still displeased with its contents.
Remember that our anger concerning Rush and the phony soldiers controversy was due to words being put in Limbaugh's mouth that he didn't say or mean.
In this case, Gabler did indeed say that he would go to Kristol's funeral. As such, have I put any words in Gabler's mouth, or manipulated anything in the transcript so as to imply that something transpired which actually didn't? ns
No, you didn't, except for
October 20, 2007 - 20:16 ET by balboaNo, you didn't, except for maybe suggesting that Gabler _wants_ Kristol to die. I don't think he does. He wants Kristol to understand firsthand how bad things are in Iraq (according to him).
Gabler made his point very poorly, with a lot of almost "tough guy" bravado.
I certainly understand the
October 20, 2007 - 20:17 ET by GregEI certainly understand the frustration with all the recent attacks on merely the words of conservatives in recent weeks (as well as the buffoon Starks), and especially the making things up that aren't there just to score political points. And the media playing right along with it by reporting it as twisted as it's being "interpreted" by those who are supposedly (and I stress "supposedly") offended. We all see that nonsense as just that. The media takes it and does all the dirty work by passing it along to America in a one-sided skewed fashion, and when continally seeing it, we get pulled into the very thing we see as asinine by the liberals. It's difficult not to. Taking a high road doesn't at all make the opposition view do the same, and the liberal media will never take a high road when it comes to these things.
No you did not put any words into Gabler's mouth, as the Democrats and the media did regarding Rush. I just see it as all that he said was that something would happen to Bill Kristol, not that he actually wanted it to happen.
And again I understand your point, and appreciate the discussion.
If you have taken Gabler's
October 21, 2007 - 10:20 ET by Chris NormanIf you have taken Gabler's comments out of context and misinterpreted it, there's still a difference between this and what happened with Rush. There will be no pick up and magnification by the media and no resulting firestorm - with Republican senators writing Roger Ailes. Unlike MediaMatters, NewsBusters doesn't have a direct line to CBS, NBC, ABC, etc.
That, I agree with
October 21, 2007 - 11:42 ET by GregEThat, I agree with completely. Aside from the fact that what each said (Rush and Gabler) was nothing, the media will treat each completely different and choose (as they already have) the one to scream about from the mountaintops.
Plus, slamming the well-known Rush carries greater reward than slamming the who's-that Gabler. I guarantee if each had said what the other said, instead what each actually said, the media would grab Rush's and say "look, Rush want's Couric (or whomever he would mention) killed" and run story after story about it.
I would love to say what I REALLY think about Gabler....
October 20, 2007 - 19:41 ET by Dave R...but I am currently far enough inside Matthew's dog-house as it is.
As for Honestly, what is going on in this country?
That's easy. The left's frustration level has now reached the point where their true feelings are now coming to the surface.
These so-called "compassionate" people are nothing of the kind, particularly when they are dealing with political opponents.
After all, have you ever heard die-hard proponents of "socialist bliss" like Gabler here ever lament the untold millions murdered by Stalin and Mao?
There is a very good reason for that.
Why would anyone be
October 20, 2007 - 19:44 ET by Clear thinkerWhy would anyone be surprised by this jerk. He has a history of being more than a little wacky. People like him should never be taken seriously.
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Ineffable
October 20, 2007 - 20:10 ET by BondPlainBondI was watching the show when Neal Gabler utter those unbelievable words.
The panel was NOT enthused, impressed, or understanding of Gabler's commentary.
Fire-able? I think so. He's pushed the envelope of decency too many times with off-the-wall innuendo.
Liberals - like Gabler? It's simply the way they think - Use violence against the opposition; shut them up by any means available and/or wish them ill, dead, or both.
Nice.
Noel, what is going on is a Leftoid Meltdown of the nth degree.
October 20, 2007 - 20:20 ET by acaiguanaI believe what we predicted months ago. We predicted a Democrat Left meltdown about this time and when they look around at all their carefully laid traps and plans, very few, if any, have worked, they are in a panic.
The Iraq war seems to be turned for a long haul, not just a blip on the screen; Bush appears to be President for another year and a quarter; I can't think of any bills their so-called 'majority' or their so-called 'mandate' have produced; and finally, Hillary is still an ex-wife with no paperwork.
I agree with the Rush comment that Ms Bill Clinton is the most cheated upon woman in history.
But I digress.
Or did I?
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Gabler
October 20, 2007 - 22:25 ET by doug1950I wonder when Neal Gabler was in Iraq to where he has all this first hand knowledge of the situation "on the ground". I think he is another arm chair general who gets his info from the MSM he pretends to be critical of and objective about. In the end he is just a wienie.
An Effing Fool
October 21, 2007 - 00:55 ET by fulldroolcupGabler's an effing fool politically. He repeats common "liberal" tropes:
* If you support the Iraq war, you must go to Iraq. Well, did all Americans who supported WWII, Korea or vietnam have to go there to support the war? Do all female Americans who support the war have to enlist, when during prevous wars they were exempt from being drafted, but COULD enlist? Does everyone who supports a war as being just and necessary have to go and fight it? Ask Hillary that question, will you Neil??
* If you support the Iraq war, you must "send your children to go there and fight"--- NEVER MIND that we have a volunteer army, and NEVER MIND that several hundred congressfolk and Senators are STILL on record supporting the Authorization of Force resolution that allowed Bush to go to waar. Should such Dems send their "kids" too, Neil?
* If you don't support the war in Iraq you don't need to go to Iraq. Convenient, eh, Neil? It allows Gabler to pontificate at a distance, while arguing that those who support the war are...pontificating from a distance.
Bottom line on Gabler: deep down, he's shallow. In the world of thought, he's not left his training wheels.
Gabler's apparently written a very good biography on Walt Disney. But he's wandered into the political thicket, and has shown himself to be completyely out of his depth.
I have a sampler on my wall quoting a Will Rogers comment, which goes "Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects".
Guys like Gabler ought to contemplate the deep truth in that observation.
Neal can go to hell
October 21, 2007 - 06:01 ET by well99Just a note on Jounalist killed since 2003 Iraqi: 97 • European: 13 • Other Arab countries: 3 • United States: 2 • All other countries: 5
As far as Neal's statement since he always trashes the military why doesnt he throw on some LBE and go over Iraq.I will go to his funeral.Well no I wouldnt.
Neal Gabler
October 21, 2007 - 10:08 ET by iveseenitallAll the truths about the evils of modern liberalism can be summed up in two words--Neal Gabler!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I heard this hateful
October 21, 2007 - 17:48 ET by bigtimerI heard this hateful spewing from this little leftist yesterday....what makes me angry is the msm never says a word, I can guarantee if this had been in the reverse this would of been played over and over on the newscasts calling no screaming for an apology...and him losing his job.
Gabler is a mental midget, another prize in the cracker jack box of the enemy within.
Sickening.