Despite being the lone Conservative on Friday’s “Real Time,” National Review contributor Lisa Schiffren might have had the best line of the evening when she accused comedian and actor Richard Belzer of emulating the “Rosie O’Donnell School of Foreign Policy.”
As the discussion moved to Iraq, Belzer advanced the common liberal meme that the war was all about oil:
And now the Democrats are stealthfully working with the Republicans to take all the oil from Iraq and give, like a little bit to the Iraqi people. You know about that? Did you hear about that? This is an oil war.
Schiffren wasn’t going to let this pass without pointing out the obvious inanity (video available here courtesy of our dear friend Ms Underestimated):
That is clearly Rosie O’Donnell School of Foreign Policy.
This didn’t sit very well with Belzer, who actually got quite defensive, setting off the following delicious exchange:
Belzer: Well, it’s true though. Don’t call me names. That’s a fact. That’s a fact.
Maher: Why is that a name, Belz? Rosie O’Donnell?
Schiffren: Actually, I should have said, “Conspiracy theorists” which…
Maher: Well, he is a conspiracy theorist.
Belzer: But that’s not a conspiracy. That’s true. It’s a conspiracy between the Democrats and the Republicans to control all the oil in Iraq. So, you can’t dismiss that reality. I mean, you can call me whatever you want, you know. I’m made of rubber, you’re made of glue, but, it’s, it’s going on right now.
Maher: I’ve heard worse names shouted across this table than Rosie O’Donnell.
Belzer: No, I’m not offended by that. I’m just saying you don’t call somebody names…
Maher: I could have called you a nappy-headed Jew.
Jamie Tarabay of NPR: Well, I don’t think it helped anybody when right after the, the American troops moved into Baghdad right after the fall April 9 that they worked to secure the Ministry of Oil and left all the other ministries to be overrun by the Iraqis.
Belzer: And thousands of weapons were unguarded, and they’re killing our kids now with the weapons that we didn’t guard because we were so obsessed with oil.
So, is this Rosie O’Donnell School of Foreign Policy or not?
Well, CNNMoney.com reported on April 5 (emphasis added):
Despite claims by some critics that the Bush administration invaded Iraq to take control of its oil, the first contracts with major oil firms from Iraq's new government are likely to go not to U.S. companies, but rather to companies from China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Does this mean that American companies will be completely shut out as more contracts are awarded? That remains to be seen. However, the article made it clear that China seems to be best positioned for such awards in the future.
With that in mind, it would be interesting to know what facts Belzer had to support his contentions if any.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
Waaaaaaaa!!!! don't call me
April 28, 2007 - 17:37 ET by jmad627Waaaaaaaa!!!! don't call me names.
Is it me, or are the libs' needles stuck. They just keep repeating the same things, like a mantra.
Repitition: I makes things
April 28, 2007 - 17:39 ET by heldmywRepitition: I makes things true...
Repitition: I makes things true...
Repitition: I makes things true...
Repitition: I makes things true...
it's become like the little
April 28, 2007 - 20:43 ET by kahoonait's become like the little brother, who, in order to get you into trouble, will scream, "stop hitting me!" when all you've done is walk by.
the more outrageous the conspiracy claim, the more likely they are to take false offense at ANYTHING you say and characterize it as insulting or name-calling.
but it is fun to watch them get apoplectic...i just keep waiting for that "scanners" moment.
What!!!??? You want facts!!!
April 28, 2007 - 17:48 ET by c5thenStop calling me names, you intollerant conservative! I've given you my statement. If you can't accept that as fact, then that's your problem, not mine. I can't believe that after I've said that you claim you want facts to back it up!!?? You're attacking me. Somebody help! See! You see how they are!!??
The above is method #2 for dealing with someone asking about pesky facts when dealing with liberal talking points.
Wow Noel, seems to me I comme
April 28, 2007 - 17:59 ET by bigtimerWow Noel, seems to me I commented on this exact statement form Belzer in your earlier Maher video and blog...coincidence...LOL!
....and the rant from Belzer about him getting upset with the phrase 'The Rosie O'Donnell school of philosophy' from the conservative gal...
Earth to Belzer...SNAP Out of IT!
BT
April 28, 2007 - 18:24 ET by Noel SheppardBT,
I had seen your comment, but had anticipated writing about this and the other two issues early this morning when I first watched the program. I missed it last night because of the Warrior game. :-) ns
ns,Yeah that arrogant and irr
April 28, 2007 - 18:36 ET by bigtimerns,
Yeah that arrogant and irresponsible comment by Belzer was too much for me, and the comment by Maher with his line...'The war is lost and it's not the troops fault' was another that made me want to go through the screen.
Thanks for the clip...even though it makes me furious at these silly little leftists.
Questions
April 28, 2007 - 18:06 ET by BlondeThis is the same Richard Belzer who is so terminally stupid that he must read 27 newspapers a day, to ensure he is smarter than any soldier in the military?
And isn't the "war for oil" thing about five years out of date?
And finally, when can we expect the appearance of Richard's loopy cousin....Dawn Renee =^..^= ?
they are killing our kids now
April 28, 2007 - 18:16 ET by dmntd1they are killing our kids now with the weapons that we didn't guard because we were so obsessed with oil.
While I'll stipulate that our MEN and WOMEN are dying, I seem to recall hearing, more and more of late as a matter of fact, that the weapons being used to kill our MEN and WOMEN are actually Iranian in origin.
And where's the outrage over "nappy headed jew"?!?
Please make sure your train of thought carries freight.
Great last line!!
April 28, 2007 - 18:54 ET by c5then"Please make sure your train of thought carries freight."
The sad truth is that most of the liberal loons "train of thought" can't even cary a tune, let alone freight.
dm and C5...Beautiful!
April 28, 2007 - 19:08 ET by bigtimerdm and C5...
Beautiful!
Se taire, tu gran sac de do
April 28, 2007 - 19:28 ET by happyuscitizenSe taire, tu gran sac de douche Belzer!
Conspiracy? If that's the case then why is gas over $3 a gallon on average over here and even higher in your adoptive home of France, where you have been dwelling for many years bad mouthing the country that has enabled you & Johnny Depp to live your over priviledged lifestyles. Why don't you talk to your buddies over at Agip and Total who seem to have all of the oil tied up from the Ayatollahs and others in the region, or better yet minimize your carbon footprint and take the bus or the Metro!
Weapons killing our kids? Don't make laugh you egomaniac! You don't give a damn about any one in uniform whether it be a cop that you pretend to be on TV or some visting member of the military that inconvenienced you during Fleet Week in New York City that you probably gave the bird to!
If you were an honest man, an honorable man, you would confess if any of these valiant troops of all branches were god forbid (Sorry for the religious reference Belz...NOT) on fire in front of you and you had a full bladder; you would ask for directions to the nearest facilities just like Maher, and the rest of your lefty buddies! So save your faux outrage for when you reading Le Monde along the Rue Seine mon amis!
Do us all a favor, take French Citizenship! It is better to renounce US Citizenship than to be accused of treachery that way you won't be so defensive when your idiotic baseless accusations are proven to be false, and take that promise-breakin' child abuser Baldwin back to France with you too!
"I'm just a big fat hairy American Winning Machine!" - Ricky Bobby
Well said.You caught the es
April 29, 2007 - 04:55 ET by Right2thePointWell said.
You caught the essense of this person. Note I did not say man, a careful exception.
Belzer doesn't like the milit
April 28, 2007 - 19:52 ET by Gat New YorkBelzer doesn't like the military. I was in an audience once at a comedy club when he found a former Marine Corps Captain who did 2 tours in Vietnam. After repeating it in an impressive manner, he then lowered hi voice and said, "damn Nazi." So he not only amazingly ignorant and uneducated, he is also a vile person.
Richard has so much to say an
April 28, 2007 - 21:17 ET by RackieRichard has so much to say and so little time....
"It's this patronizing thing that people have about if you're against the war everyone's lumped together. You know, the soldiers are not scholars, they're not war experts."
[On U.S. soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom] "You think everyone over there is a college graduate? They're 19 and 20 year-old kids who couldn't get a job."
. . . . and this from a per
April 28, 2007 - 23:10 ET by Gat New York. . . . and this from a person who dropped out of junior college.
HEY! College degrees aren't
April 28, 2007 - 23:18 ET by dahliatraversHEY! College degrees aren't everything. When was the last time you appeared on the Bill Maher Show??
Good point. I would add . .
April 29, 2007 - 07:22 ET by Gat New YorkGood point. I would add . . . or being interviewed by anyone on MSNBC.
When was the last time you
April 29, 2007 - 08:47 ET by Free StinkerWhen was the last time you appeared on the Bill Maher Show??
WHy would that be such an honor? Having seen some of the guests on there, apparently the bar is set very, very low.
Got College? "it don
April 29, 2007 - 16:05 ET by RackieGot College? "it don't mean a thing..."
Putting one of our Marines in
April 29, 2007 - 08:41 ET by Seabeach4348Putting one of our Marines in the same sentence as "damn Nazi" shows that even though Belzer claims to read 27 newspapers a day ( and I don't believe him...) he still empty-headed with a pile of s**t for a brain.
Maher is no better.
That Marine was a friend of m
April 29, 2007 - 09:37 ET by Gat New YorkThat Marine was a friend of mine and you can only guess what we wanted to do to Belzer after the show, but we cared too much about our careers to do it.
I would believe he read 27 newspapers if it included USA Today and My Weekly Reader and others like them.
Watching Bill Maher politic
April 29, 2007 - 15:35 ET by ScottyDogWatching the Bill Maher politically incorrect commie hour is like listening to dumb and dumber. Belzer is a moron that does not have a clue.
Once again the insult is that any rational guest is outnumbered 2 to 1.
What pisses me off that HBO is becoming Politically active by airing one sided socialist propaganda under the guise of airing cutting age entertainment.
Joseph Goebels would be proud of Time Warner.
Is this Mexico or the USA
Hmmmm...
May 1, 2007 - 09:18 ET by goldenthroatI am convinced that Richard Belzer and Dennis Kuncinich were twins separated at birth - or did Gollum have a twin brother?
Never dance on an empty stomach unless it's a liberal.