Krauthammer and Shields Spar Over Pelosi-Taliban Joke and Rush Limbaugh
Charles Krauthammer on Friday made a humorous comparison between the Taliban's popularity in Afghanistan and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Cali.) approval rating in America that clearly riled Mark Shields.
So put off was Shields on PBS's "Inside Washington" that he not only took issue with Krauthammer's joke, but he also went after something conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh said about Pelosi earlier in the week (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Look, I think if you think of this in the long run you’re pessimistic. You think of Karzai and corruption and the unreliable Pakistanis. If you think in the shorter run, in, in the tactical level, I believe the administration when it says that they are making progress, meaning they are expanding the circles of the territory in the Pashtun areas in the south and Kandahar, where we are in control and not the Taliban. The Taliban, remember, have an approval level of about six percent, around Pelosi levels, and the reason that people support them is not ideology. It’s fear. Which makes it easier. If it’s ideology, you’ve got to change people's ideas. If it’s a fear, you have to provide protection, as happened in the surge in Iraq. If you can do that, then you can expand the area under our control. But then in the long run, is Karzai a guy who can handle it? That’s where the real issues are.
GORDON PETERSON, HOST: Mark, Richard Holbrooke had a 40-year career in which he’s served under four presidents. Vietnam to Bosnia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, where he is special envoy. Remarkable career.
MARK SHIELDS: Remarkable career that, just one personal note: I object to, clever as it was, mentioning Nancy Pelosi in the same sentence with the Taliban. I think that’s a cheap shot, and I think it’s beneath the panelist who made it.
KRAUTHAMMER: Let me specify that Nancy Pelosi is not a terrorist…
SHIELDS: Okay.
KRAUTHAMMER: …in case it was unclear.
SHIELDS: Well it was, that was the burden of the message of Rush Limbaugh yesterday, calling her a terrorist on national, on national radio. I did not want to put you in the same category of the echo chamber. But let me talk about Richard Holbrooke.
KRAUTHAMMER: I would not normally say that you lack a sense of humor, but, but it’s a pretty blatant example of it.
SHIELDS: I don't see the humor in Taliban in, in, but maybe you’ll explain it to me.
Later in the program, when the discussion moved to Mark Zuckerberg being picked as Time's "Person of the Year," Charles ribbed his liberal colleague for his poor sense of humor:
KRAUTHAMMER: Time picked Hilter I think in 1939, so. And again, I'm not comparing Hitler and Mark Zuckerberg lest Mark misinterprets what I'm saying.
For the record, Limbaugh's comments were made on Wednesday not Thursday as Shields said.
Regardless, what this demonstrated was how sensitive liberal media members like Shields are to any joke when one of their own is involved.
Krauthammer was certainly not equating the current House Speaker to the Taliban by comparing their approval ratings.
That Shields thought Krauthammer was indicates just how protective he is of politicians he reveres.
How can a "real journalist" be objective about those he's writing about if he feels he needs to defend them from innocent joshing?
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Comments
Libs have no sense OR
Submitted by Captain Repus on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:23pm.
Libs have no sense OR humor.
On a darker note, at this moment is has been decreed by our elected officials that it will now be permitted to sport an erection, drool, lustfully leer at and otherwise sashet your sexual admiration for those hot, masculine and otherwise dreamy soldiers in open shower and toilet facilities.
For the first time in my adult life I am not proud of my country.
Pass the soap
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:52pm.
Well an old fashioned 'blanket party' sure helps to dampen those feelings.
Still Proud
Submitted by Prince of Peeps on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 7:14pm.
I'm still proud of my country. I'm just not proud of it's governing body.
But...
Submitted by DemsRFascists on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:26pm.
It's certainly ok for Lefties to compare Republicans to Nazis and the Taliban!!!
[;-)
Where's the beef
Submitted by Nonanon on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:37pm.
I don't follow Shields writings or talking, but has he ever expressed outrage at the intentional labelling of the right wingers or conservatives as Taliban by the multitude of liberal 'journalists' that populate the TV or radio dials or various written periodicals? I'd venture to say he has never uttered a syllable about the nastiness of that sort of thing. There is no comparison between what left-wingers say and do and what right-wingers do. Conservatives hate what liberals promote and do whereas liberals hate conservatives. A lot of what liberals do is contrary to God's written word, but our hope should be to see them repent rather than see them go to Hell. For all of the 'God' they throw around at times, they sure preach a different gospel than He does.
I too believe there is no liberal bias in the media... it is full-blown campaigning now.
Mark, you're missing the point.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:44pm.
Pelosi isn't the Tall-e-bon. She is just you plain, ordinary, run of the mill, gold plated bitch. Hell, the Tall-e-bon would stone her if they had to put up with her for more than 30 seconds.
er, but Obama said...
Submitted by michiganruth on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:46pm.
didn't Obama just compare Republicans to terrorists? and wasn't that ok with Mark Shields? but Dr. K. making a very funny joke comparing the Taliban and Pelosi's unpopularity is beyond the pale?
you just can't reason with these people!
An excellent point !
Submitted by Galvanic on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:58pm.
Obama deliberately referred to the Congressional Republicans as hostage-takers with whom he would not normally negotiate excpet that the hostages -- the American people -- were in danger of getting hurt.
Is Shields on record denouncing the President's remark?
Too many folks on the left...
Submitted by Phryj1 on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:04pm.
...seem to think the left is above being made fun of. A lot of them will cry "false equivalance!" or say that people on the right lack the "nuance" to use satire or humor. So, are they saying humor is the exclusive domain of the left? Sounds like arrogance and narcissism to me.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
Shields needs a life
Submitted by RightRealDeal on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:16pm.
Krauthammer is a great American who calls it like he sees it. We need more Krauthammers around the country. Would Shields take exception to Obama calling Republicans terrorists? I don't think so. Look in the mirror Shields at yourself and your party. They are completely disingenuous.
"So, are they saying humor is
Submitted by MikeB on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:18pm.
"So, are they saying humor is the exclusive domain of the left? Sounds like arrogance and narcissism to me."
It sounds like a complete lie to me. Too many of the leftists "comedians" and "comediennes" are not humorous. They are sad, vicious, vitriolic, and humorless. For example: Maher, Garafolo, Barr, O'Donnell, etc.
Humor is excluded on the left.
A sense of humor
Submitted by TRH on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:28pm.
Liberals have none. You must be tolerant to have a sense of humor and liberals are not tolerant of others.
Guess it's a good thing Dr. K. didn't compare Pelosi to Cruella
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:39pm.
..de Vil (who she constantly reminds me of), else Shields might have started crying and then lodged a complaint with the FCC.
LOL - And if I had to choose between Pelosi or the Talibastards, I'd pick the latter.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Since Mark Shields is a long time professional policial type....
Submitted by Prester John on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:08pm.
...I'm sure he was outraged by former Representative (does that sound nice or what?) Al Grayson calling his opponent "Taliban" Dan Webster and condemned him publicly.
(crickets chirping)
You beat to the same point
Submitted by Conservator on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:17pm.
What's that they say about great minds? - Cheers!
I Wonder if...
Submitted by Conservator on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:13pm.
...Mark Shields had the same concern when Rep. Grayson (D-FL) ran a commercial calling his Republican opponent, Dan Webster a "draft-dodger? Webster received a student deferments and later, a draft classification as medically unfit for service.
How about the infamous "Taliban Dan" which distorted the truth? The ad attempted to warn constituents that "Religious fanatics try to take away our freedom, in Afghanistan, in Iran and in his district." Grayson's ads were admonished for editing video in mid-sentence to make Webster appear to be saying things he didn't say. Did that get Shields upset?
Larry King retired with distinction, albeit he publicly stated that he was a "politically correct liberal." We can only hope that Mark Shields follows him into retirement, but I doubt the word 'distinction' will be associated with his career. Besides, this leftist wing-bag has been espousing progressivism while foaming at the mouth for far to long.
Pelosi is the tailybon/POS
Submitted by williamhenley on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:33pm.
on the other hand you have:
sheilds,,,,,,,,,,,,BO,,,,,,,,,,,,,CK,,,,,,,,,,,,,,(the middle),,,,,,,,the right,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,me!
Mark Shields
Submitted by Time Will Tell on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 8:24pm.
Mr Sheilds lacks not only a sense of humor but also a lack of common sense. Mr Sheilds has been in DC so long that he is just as arrogant as the liberal ruling class he admires. Not only do we have to get rid of the corruption in DC but people like him that cover it up and lie for them.
You Are Right ON
Submitted by Time Will Tell on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 8:50pm.
You Are Right ON
~?
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 9:00pm.
That you, Travis?
LOL!
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 9:50pm.
.
Shields vs The Hammer???
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 9:50pm.
Good grief, that's even worse than Zippers vs The Vet.
Leftists have no sense of humor.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 9:58pm.
True cases of anhedonia, which is defined as inability to feel pleasure in anything, are rare. Every case I have ever treated has been in self-identified liberals/leftists who seem to have a cornucopia of whines, complaints and obsessions/fixations emanating from situations they largely create from thin air or obsess to the point of dysfunctionality. A particularly well-regarded psychiatrist once remarked that if you derive no happiness from anything in life it means you have no life. He was right.
Phony Outrage
Submitted by Chris Norman on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 11:58pm.
Aw - Shields, the Irish Pixie, was just feigning outrage - a silly device the left has down pat. Who's been nastier in their criticism of Republican over the years than Shields? This just made him look like a jackass - which he is.
Kinda like Dracula marries the bride of Frankenstein
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 8:50am.
Hey Mister Taliban
Marry Ms. Pelosi
Obama come and me wanna go home
Hey Mister Taliban
Marry Ms. Pelosi
Obama come and me wanna go home
Oh, I say Oh, I say Oh, I say Oh-ba
Obama come and me wanna go home
Oh, I say Oh, I say Oh, I say Oh-ba
Obama come and me wanna go home
Whats the old saying?
Submitted by Patriot II on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 11:09am.
"Screw'em if they can't take a joke!" That old fat boy is way past time to grow up (not out)!
Amazed at the confession
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 6:19pm.
Mark Shields admitted that he listens to Rush Limbaugh. I'll bet you that Shields has a standing order to his staff not to bother him from 12-3 pm.
I listen to Rush too Mark, he is the only thing out there that makes sense consistently -- certainly you don't.