Tuesday Night Fights: Bill Kristol Accuses Jon Stewart of Interview Bias

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Say what you will about the Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol, but he is certainly a good sport. On Tuesday, the well-known conservative set himself up as a witting punching bag for the liberal comedian Jon Stewart on the “Daily Show,” and in between low-blows and kidney punches, Kristol got some good jabs in of his own (video available here).

Stewart’s focus predictably was how poorly the Iraq war is going in his view, and just how wrong President Bush and folks like Kristol were in their predictions for this incursion. As Kristol sat and took the comedic beating with grace and aplomb, he made a marvelous observation about how much differently he was being treated by Stewart as opposed to liberal guests like Barack Obama, and, just the night before, Iowa Governor and presidential candidate Tom Vilsack. What follows is a rough transcript of Kristol’s views concerning Stewart’s interview biases:

I feel I’m here to be cathartic for you. You know, once every three or four months…You have all these love-fests -- Barack Obama, Tom Vilsack, “Oh so good to see you, sir…What an honor it is to have you. You’re such a fine pleasant(?) fellow.” And then I show up as a punching bag every few months. Did you have a tough time with the little kids, the ten-month old, the two and a half year old. Estrange(?) you a little bit. You come in here and say, “Hey, let’s get Kristol.” Do you tell your crack staff, you know…

Wonderful stuff, and oh so accurate.

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.


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Good stuff Noel...but just to

Good stuff Noel...but just to clarify isn't Stewart just a COMEDIAN - as opposed to a real live news person like Kristol who can truly be taken seriously...?

Steward is the news

I know high school students whose only news comes from Jon Steward. Think how screwy there world view is.

Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower

And he's not the only one.

And there are many that fit that description.

I'm sure there are ton who ge

I'm sure there are ton who get the bulk of their news AND EDUCATION from freaking SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE...!

The future of "the world's lone superpower" is safely in the hands of comedy central's arrested-development crowd...

Sadly, it doesn't get much be

Sadly, it doesn't get much better when they hit college, but at least they tend to expand a bit -reading the campus newspaper which is written by people watching Jon Stewart for their inspiration.

Think how lucky we'll be wh

Think how lucky we'll be when Fox News launches their zippy new show and then those students can draw from both shows!

Especially you boa...you ment

Especially you boa...you mention this new show here and there quite a bit...seems to me you seem eager with anticipation to watch and become a regular viewer...

....good for you!

Btw...I could care less what Stewart has to say...ever! I do not watch his pathetic blathering leftist tripe.

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

Hey, comedy's comedy; I'll

Hey, comedy's comedy; I'll take it anywhere I can get it.

Balboa

Bal,

Remember the old urinal graffiti joke?   ns

What are you trying to say?

What are you trying to say?

Always in a fog Kristol claim

Always in a fog Kristol claimed the people of Iran would embrace “the right use of targeted military force.” He added that military force could “trigger changes in Iran,” causing them to embrace regime change. Who is the comedian now. 

Kristol was very funny and

Kristol was very funny and very good-humored last night. He was right about being Stewart's punching bag, but he doesn't seem to mind. The funniest part was when he made some comment about Stewart being and Upper West Side Liberal, and Stewart said something like "Wait a minute, you're the one that lives on the Upper West Side!" Good stuff.

Kristol doesn't seem to mind

Kristol doesn't seem to mind because he enjoys the limelight.  He's a smug "inside the Beltway" guy who wants as much access to as much media as he can get.

"The funniest part...&qu

"The funniest part..."...you're the one that lives on the Upper West Side!" Good stuff."

Good stuff?  What a kool-aid drinker you are!  An "Upper West-Side Liberal" is a person of a particular attitude regardless of where they live, so Stewart's playground retort completely missed the mark.  You must know this, but I guess you had to come up with something, even a lame non-sequitur, to soften the blow after one of your liberal pals got schooled.

Oh relax. You act like this

Oh relax. You act like this was the Lincoln - Douglas debates. It was a friendly give-and-take where Stewart pointed out that he doesn't live on the Upper West Side. It wasn't indicative of anything larger than that.

It was a supposed retort tho

It was a supposed retort tho Kristol's comment that Stewart is a Upper West-Side Liberal.  Your comment that it was the "funniest part" shows to what length you'll go to deflect criticism of your leftist loser media heroes.  My point was a response to your post, not to that show.

I thought that was funny! I

I thought that was funny! It was a nice light moment where each guy was having fun ribbing the other. I'm not trying to deflect anything. And if Jon Stewart is a loser, sign me up.

I guess you had to be there..

I guess you had to be there...

Stewart could learn some poin

Stewart could learn some pointers from the comic master Bill OReilly.  While keeping a straight face, Bill lectured Donald Trump on the evils of personal attacks.   He must write his own material.

Populist

Bill O'Reilly is a populist anyway.  So what?

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)

I agree. Plus Jon had earli

I agree. Plus Jon had earlier called neoconservatives "old liberals" or something, so it fit. The idea that one side or the other never landed a glove is IMO a partisan fantasy in this case. Reality is they both did, but that's coming from a (semi)partisan Libertarian.

I'm just not all that steamed when I see Stewart for the same reasons I'm not that steamed when I see Gibson on Fox News. Sure, both are partisans in the news business, but both admit it, so it's no shock when interviews are love-fests with their own party or jab-fests with opponents. My problems come with the pretense of objectivity, but that's never a problem for those 2...
JMR

Though I never watch him, fin

Though I never watch him, finding the show boring--hats off to Mr. Stewart for having Mr. Kristol on the show.  Hats off to Mr. Kristol for going. 

Liberalism is a convenient lie.

What a kool-aid drinker you a

What a kool-aid drinker you are!  An "Upper West-Side Liberal" is a person of a particular attitude regardless of where they live

That's funny.  Not funny ha-ha but funny strange:  calling someone a kool-aid drinker while insisting that the term "Upper West Side Liberal" doesn't mean a Liberal from the Upper West Side.  Do you think you're fooling anyone ?  Even worse, do you actually believe this?

Kristol

Kristol is intellectually so far ahead of Stewart (as well as Obama and Vilsak). And when it is evident, all the liberals have left are mocking invectives and ignorant comments. Stewart in the league with Joy and Rosie.

NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal

Truly a league of their own.T

Truly a league of their own.

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad

Jon Liebowitz (aka Stewart) i

Jon Liebowitz (aka Stewart) is an asshole.  what kind of newsman has to change his name.  what is he ashamed of? he isn't funny.  he packs his audience with dopers who would blow him if he asked them to do so.    he pretends to be impartial but is a liberal hack.    will he be as funny when clinton is president and we get attacked again by terrorists?  i can only hope that he or a member of his family is among the victims.

1. He's not a newsman.2. Yo

1. He's not a newsman.

2. You're assuming he was ashamed of his last name.

3. Rest of your post is...odd.

1. He passes himself of as a

1. He passes himself of as a pundit...same diff.

2. Your assuming that he's assuming something.

3. Your post is not only odd, it's way off.

1. Same difference? He's a

1. Same difference? He's a comedian. That doesn't hold him to some kind of "can't change your name" level of propriety. Who cares if he changed his name?

2. I don't really care if he changed his name. John Wayne did it. Who cares.

3. ....

1. Comedians have influence,

1. Comedians have influence, and he's definitely trying to use it to move public opinion...same as lefty "journalists."

2. I don't care if he changed his name.  I was referring to a false assumption you made.

3. ...

If you don't care if he cha

If you don't care if he changed his name, why would you mention it? Why would you say "what kind of newsman has to change his name. what is he ashamed of?"

Because you're assuming that

Because you're assuming that Buddyc was assuming Steward was ashamed of his real name.  You made a FALSE assumption....Something you're very good at.

You can't see that?????????????

Maybe Buddyc was referring to the idea that changing one's name rings pretty phony for someone who expects people to buy is schtick.  Or maybe there's another reason....either way, for you to ASSUME what buddyc meant...well you know what that makes you....

Whoa whoa whoa. Buddyc says

Whoa whoa whoa. Buddyc says "What is he ashamed of" in reference to changing his name. What am I supposed to get out of that statement? Please tell me.

Point taken, I skimmed over t

Point taken, I skimmed over that.  I just took it to be a reference to the fact that changing one's name is something actors do, not political commentators.   Still, he didn't say he was ashamed of his name, he left it as a question...  (Although I would have worded it differently)

Of course, you say Stewart is not a commentator, he's just a comedian.  But, when, as Kristol so deftly pointed out, Stewart gives Libs like Obama all kinds of slack while ripping on conservatives, he crosses the line from entertainer to commentator and therefore becomes fair game for criticism as a commentator.

He's fair game, absolutely.

He's fair game, absolutely. Although, I think he has treated other Republicans and conservatives very well on the show. I think because he knows Kristol, he's more comfortable doing a little sparring.

name one!  name one republic

name one!  name one republican conservative he has treated the way he treated kerry.   his named was changed for a purpose.  what was that purpose?  why change the name?  what news people do you know who changed their names? 

 he is a fraud.  he is a hack.  he is scum.

Well, he has a Jewish-soundin

Well, he has a Jewish-sounding name, and the Jews killed Jesus, so he had to change it... 

I like Jon Stewart, but my main complaint with him is that alot of the college-aged viewers consider "The Daily Show" "hard news". Remember, these are the same people who grew up thinking Kurt Loder was the next Walter Kronkite.

I also dislike Stewart

Buddy, you aren't the only one who can't stand the phoney. However, your kind of bile and shit-slinging is counter-productive and stupid.

Learn to express yourself like an adult. We do not wish for ANYBODY to fall victim to an atrocity, much LESS any "member of his family". This kind of jerkin' off is abusive and crude. Just say you detest the man. That tells it all.

Too many people give this S

Too many people give this Stewart idiot and his spin off, Colbert, credit for being anything but animation with a necktie. They are cartoons.

Someone decided allowing idiots discuss politics (ala the supreme moron, Bill Maher) would be entertaining. For a select few of the really moronic in America, it might be.

If I were Bill Kristol, I'd give Stewart answers that were as absurd and illogical as the question, then laugh hysterically at the reaction.

Strange (Not so), all that &q

Strange (Not so), all that "cool, snarky, cynicism" just vanishes when Stewart has a Democrat to schmooze. Then, he's like a dog after a leg...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Kristol should be congratulat

Kristol should be congratulated for confronting Stewart with what we've all witnessed.  Most guests on The Daily Show are either being schmoozed by Stewart (especially Dem politicians and older celebrities),  or are busy hawking their new book or CD or movie.  Stewart saves his most humiliating interviews for guests like Kristol.

I agree with Bal, as I do on

I agree with Bal, as I do on most things, that Stewart is not a newsman, but rather an entertainer.  It is common for entertainers to change their birth name to something else for various reasons and I don't think it necessarily implies that they are trying to hide something.  After all, entertainer and ACLU supporter Rush Limbaugh called himself "Jeff Christie" when he was a rock and roll disk jockey--was he trying to hide something?  I don't think so.

An entertainer entertains. 

An entertainer entertains.  A commentator comments.  Which is where people like Stewart, Letterman, Leno, etc. cross the line.  But I could cut them a little slack, IF they gave the same kind of scrutiny to both the Left and the Right... but sadly, entertainers are just as biased as the MSM is and they save their best jokes for people or ideas of the Right while letting Libs off the hook.  Because of this, they are fair game for criticism.

Stewart is a comedian who d

Stewart is a comedian who does a satire of political punditry from a somewhat left-of-center angle. Dennis Miller does so from a slightly right-of-center perspective. I didn't see any NBers crying foul when Miller did his "welcome to the grown-ups' table, Democrats" bit after the mid-term election.

"If their sins were as scarlet, they are now white as snow" Isaiah 1:18

JC

JC,

As Miller is a commentator for FNC, is there any question what side of the aisle he's on? This wasn't as apparent when he was doing Weekend Update on SNL, correct? As such, the issue that many of us have, JC, is that it's not as apparent that Stewart is a Democrat, and is speaking from that perspective. This means that many who are watching might not be cognizant of his leanings.

Frankly, what I would love to see on television and in print is for all commentators to have to divulge their affiliations much as politicians do. Wouldn't that cut through a lot of the bias concerns both sides have?  ns

"Welcome to the Daily

"Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Jon Stewart, registered Democrat."

Hm...I suppose that could work...

Or, maybe Kristol should intr

Or, maybe Kristol should introduce himself as one of the last remaining supporters of the Presidents reckless, feckless misadventure in Iraq and in favor of the continuation of his failed strategy and flawed tactics. 

Let the declaration of bias begin!

And Noel Sheppard could preface his every post with the disclaimer that he stood up for the misinformation campaign that resulted in the invasion of Iraq and  will continue to parrot the party line no matter what the consequence. 

Let all the remaining 21% that still support this sorry excuse for an Administration wear their badge of incompetence proudly and declare their support loudly!! 

It makes those of us that knew better feel superior.

Johnboy says.....It makes tho

Johnboy says.....It makes those of us that knew better feel superior.

You sir, are ungrateful blithering fool. I pity you.

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

And you, bigtimer, are a kool

And you, bigtimer, are a kool-aid drinking idiot.  But then, we all knew that, didn't we?

And, I'm not a total ingrate.  I'm grateful that most Americans are finally getting their heads screwed on straight about Iraq and this Administration - albiet, four years too late.  It took 650,000 Iraqi dead, almost 30,000 U.S. casualties, and what is closing in on a trillion dollars to finally get that it wouldn't be a "cake walk" that would be paid for with Iraqi oil.  They finally got what the Pope and the Dalai Lama warned them about and what Hans Blix and Scott Ritter - as well as MILLIONS who marched around the world knew - that invading Iraq wasn't a good idea. 

And, if you're going to lead a nation into war, at least be truthful with them.

DUH!!!

Johnbo, I'm just glad I don'

Johnbo, I'm just glad I don't live with my head up my ass like you do : ) !

I'm not going to even waste my time arguing with you as you obviously sure are one dumb son-of-a-bitch, but have a nice day anyway and thanks for playing...!

Johnboy...You sir are a ravi

Johnboy...You sir are a raving liar, just look at what you wrote in your posts with your statistics, you get these so called facts from screwy left-wing sites that you mire in...once a liar always a liar.

A lot of people think some things aren't good idea's...you would be one of them, good thing your parents didn't believe in abortion.

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

You are such a tool, bigtimer

You are such a tool, bigtimer.  But then, we all knew that, right?

So, where to start?  The U.S. casualties?  OK, almost 3000 dead and over 25,000 wounded, right?  Any despute there?  I didn't think so.

The money?  OK, we're approaching $500 billion at this point with no end in sight.  Some estimate we'll spend $2 trillion counting the long-term health care for the wounded.  Care to dispute that?  I didn't think so.

The Iraqi casualties?  OK, two - I repeat, TWO - different reputable sources came up with that number independantly.  Left wing websites?  I don't think the Lancet medical journal has a political axe to grind.  But then, YOU might, right?

OK, I'm ready.  Why are any of these points "lies"?  And while you're at it, give us YOUR version of the reality of Iraq and the Administration's so-called effort to establish "democracy" and why it's all going so well.  I can't wait.

...gee, I guess you're right

...gee, I guess you're right after all Johnbo...it would have been much cheaper to let Hussein grow into another Hitler and thus ALLOW WORLD WAR III TO FULLY DEVELOP...

...I mean just look how much money we saved on WWII...absolute genius buddy!

Facts?

Here's the quote from the Lancet approx. Oct 29th.

We are quite confident that there's been somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 deaths, but it could be much higher," Roberts said.

Previous independent estimates of civilian deaths in Iraq were far lower, never exceeding 16,000. Other experts immediately challenged the new estimate, saying the small number of documented deaths upon which it was based make the conclusions suspect.

"The methods that they used are certainly prone to inflation due to overcounting," said Marc E. Garlasco, senior military analyst for Human Rights Watch, which investigated the number of civilian deaths that occurred during the invasion. "These numbers seem to be inflated."

What a joke you "critica

What a joke you "critical thinkers" on NewsBusters are!!  The 100,000 deaths quote is from the Oct 29, 2004 edition of The Guardian.  The October 11, 2006 article about the Lancet study starts:

"The death toll among Iraqis as a result of the US-led invasion has now reached an estimated 655,000, a study in the Lancet medical journal reports today."

You must be used to getting a free pass for your propoganda from the regulars at NewsBusters. 

wrong Bucko!

Off the Washington Post.

I don't think the Lancet me

I don't think the Lancet medical journal has a political axe to grind.

As a matter of fact the Lancet is Institutionally Leftist down to its socialized medicine roots, and as such, has many axes to grind.

Pajamas Media Middle East Editor Omar Fadil of Iraq the Model responds to the Lancet published study alleging that 655,000 Iraqi deaths are attributable to the war: “This fake research is an insult to every man, woman and child who lost their lives. Behind every drop of blood is a noble story of sacrifice for a just cause that is struggling for living safe in freedom and prosperity.”

Oh, and an Oxford University research team (you know, the place that has more Nobel prize winners than France, the country) led by physicists Sean Gourley and Neil Johnson, and economist Michael Spagat have asserted in an article in Science that the second Lancet study is seriously flawed.

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

Hey, good one, Jackoff.  Whe

Hey, good one, Jackoff.  Where did you find Omar the Nutjob?  Oh, yeah . . . on Pajamas Media.   Not exactly the first place that comes to MY mind of where to look for a credible critique of a study done by one of our leading medical institutions (John’s Hopkins University) and printed in a credible medical journal (The Lancet) – even one with a “left wing bias” or whatever it is you say they have. 

So, let’s take a look at Omar the Nutjob’s critique.  Let me quote a little more from his little hit piece, er, “critique”, about the study printed in the Lancet:

When the statistics announced by hospitals and military here, or even by the UN, did not satisfy their lust for more deaths, they resorted to mathematics to get a fake number that satisfies their sadistic urges.
When I read the report I can only feel apathy and inhumanity from those who did the count towards the victims and towards our suffering as a whole. I can tell they were so pleased when the equations their twisted minds designed led to those numbers and nothing can convince me that they did their so called research out of compassion or care.

The jist of Omar the Nutjob’s “critique” is that the “twisted minds” at a world-renowned, credible medical institution wanted to help defeat the efforts of freedom-loving Iraqis by making up phony statistics.  No proof of that, just his allegation.  No critique of the methodology, just his assertion that their “sadistic urges” drove them to create “fake numbers”.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I ask you.  Is Omar the Nutjob a credible, unbiased, and trustworthy critic?  I see you all shaking your heads except for one strange looking, wild-eyed, pathetic looking person.  So, em, you there in the ratty looking trench coat, what did you say your name is?  Jack?  So, Jack, YOU apparently think Omar the Nutjob is credible, right?  And, em, Jack, how did you say you got through security?

But your Science Magazine article looks like it could be more credible.  But, wait, what’s this?  I found that the criticism was based on ONE niggling point; that the study had a “main street bias” i.e. the researchers in their sampling didn’t move far enough away from the main streets where the level of violence was greater.  The researchers responded that, while they had not printed their entire methodology in the Lancet article, they had sampled according to population distribution.  The response to the criticism:

But Prof Burnham said the researchers penetrated much further into residential areas than was clear from the Lancet paper.

The notion "that we avoided back alleys was totally untrue". He added that 28% of households were in rural areas - which matches the population spread.

Now, Jack.  Tell the truth.  Were you PURPOSELY distorting your post to make the Johns Hopkins study look bad?  Were you being a bad little propagandist again?  And, are you now going to tell us all with a straight face the causality rates that Tony Snow gives us are right?  Come on, Jack.  Tell the truth.  You DO know what that is, don’t you?

...hey Johnbo, here's a few o

...hey Johnbo, here's a few of them Iraqi invasion "mis-information" supporters right here for ya:

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
    President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998.

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
    President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998.

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
    Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998.

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
    Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
    Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998.

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
    Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998.

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
    Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.

"There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
    Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, Dec, 5, 2001.

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
    Sen. Carl Levin (d, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
    Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
    Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
    Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
    Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
    Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years . We also should remember we have alway s underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
    Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002,

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do."
    Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002.

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
    Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction. "[W]ithout question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. And now he has continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ...
    Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003.

Nice try, TruthMonger, but no

Nice try, TruthMonger, but no cigar.  Try your kool-aid induced swill on someone who doesn't know better.  I don't disagree that the quotes were accurate but you fail to give the context. 

First, the Dems were forced into a corner by the Rovian strategy to "cram the war down their throats" for the purpose of winning the 2002 midterm.  At the time the President was riding a post 9/11 approval rating of 70% and the Dems were up against the wall and unable to find a response to the rush to war logic that the  White HOuse Information Group was pushing.  Andrew Card and Karl Rove coordinated a marketing campaign that gave us the "mushroom cloud", the aluminum tubes, and the "yellow cake" lie.  They were aided and abetted by the Vice President, Rumsfeld, and Condolessa Rice.

Secondly, the Administration and their allies in Congress have failed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the lies leading up to the war.  These were the lies that some - I repeat, SOME - Democrates parroted.  That's where those quotes come from.  (Expect to see the subpoenas start to be issued for that long overdue investigation!!)

And, Thirdly, the resolution that the Democrats supported that gave the President war power, gave him that power ONLY AS A LAST RESORT.  He was expected to do everything possible on the diplomatic front BEFORE going to war.  We know now that he had no intention of avoiding war.

Or, wait, this is NewsBusters.  You propably don't have a clue that Bush intended to go to war even as he pretented to try and avoid it.

...nice try johnbo...but blah

...nice try johnbo...but blah blah blah blah blah frickin blah - you're the one with the retard koolaid problem - you're thoroughly busted and full of shit on all counts, we've beat your crap to death a thousand times on this site, and I could frankly care less about your stupidity - so just keep your crap in the dkos sandbox where it belongs...

"Busted" by TruthMo

"Busted" by TruthMonger?  What a joke!!

As I expected, you don't have the BEGINNINGS of an answer to what I posted.  All you can do is echo the right-wing rant that's rotted what's left of your brain and hope no one calls you on it.  Lucky for you, no one on NewsBusters usually knows better. 

Save your shit for someone who might fall for it.  It ain't me, bro.

...your a f*ckin class A left

...your a f*ckin class A leftard, Johnbo...way too stupid for anything but namecalling at this point...

Get back to us if you grow a brain....

Name-calling is all you got l

Name-calling is all you got left, dumbo.  You got nothing else.

...it's just amazing to me yo

...it's just amazing to me you can speak English...I mean obviously with only one cell and all! After a few million years you could maybe try some basic logic!!!!

TruthMonger, you shouldn't bo

TruthMonger, you shouldn't bother trying to use facts to convince a kool-aid drinking, tin foil hat wearing, commielib that his world view is skewed.  It's a case of pearls before swine.  I'm sure if you ask, Johnbo will tell you the 911 Truthers have the right of it (I don't think he'd use the word "right", perhaps "un-left") that W planned the destruction of the WTC and the CIA carried it out.  Give it up.  Johnbo will believe what he wants to believe, and your efforts to convince him of the truth will only cause him to stick his fingers in his ears and scream at the top of his falsetto voice, "yah, yah, yah, I can't hear you."

"A communist is someone who reads Marx.  An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx."  Ronald Reagan

johnbo, designer mosquito

John, you seem to be the new designer mosquito seen on Drudge lately. Much noise, little effect.

If Truth Monger sends you a list of Democrats dating back to Clinton's first term, all indicating they HAVE the same opinion both Bushes maintained, what's your buzz-buzz about?

You're making a total ass of yourself. The record is clear; and whatcha gonna do about it? You're depending on pure hindsight for what few points you make (a teeny few) and operating on simple hatred for Bush. No substance. When did they release youz from the mental ward, Kid?

...and to think that brave me

...and to think that brave men and women fought and gave their lives for plicks like you and your ilk....

Why do you even bother to come here to NB's little Johnboy...after you, and your filthy leftist buddies get done waving your white flag in your sandbox....why don't you head em' on up and move on out of this country, protecting people like you make me ill.

How soon you forget the tragedy of 9/11....nothing new with cowardly people.

War is not a video game. War is hell, and prissies like you are worthless tripe.

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

And watching pukes like you p

And watching pukes like you pretend to have a clue about country, courage and patriotism makes me want to head-butt your stupid ass back to the trailer park where your crack-whore mother is turning tricks to keep her in pork rinds.

Maybe you should take your "war is not a video game" line to the President and the rest of the chicken hawks that haven't got a clue what war is like.  As a former fighter pilot, I piss on morons like you.

...a former fighter pilot...O

...a former fighter pilot...OK, man...did you fly the PaddedCell-16 Sreaming Eagle or something like that...? Awesome dude...

I suspect Johnbo was a fighte

I suspect Johnbo was a fighter pilot the same way "Father" Baracus was a real priest.  C'mon, Johnbo, admit it: you're not a real fighter pilot, but you did watch Top Gun while staying at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx.  An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx."  Ronald Reagan

P/ss

If you do any pissing it's sitting down! Butt Pirate!

Hey, I used to be fighter pil

Hey, I used to be fighter pilot too, and we had a great old saying:

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

he's a fighter pilot?

Come on, Designer Mosquito. You went to flight school? Do they take simpletons at Annapolis? When were you released from the mental ward? Come on, fess up--How & when?

This guy's obviously TOP GUN

This guy's obviously TOP GUN ALL THE WAY...

...right...in...to...the...DANGER ZONE!!!!

G-Spot

Me thinks he pulled too many G's with a leak in his inflatable bloomers.

...well I believe the "P

...well I believe the "PaddedCell-16 Screaming Eagle" will pull about 9 G's so that would about do it, I guess : ) !

Johnbo, please..I beg you, pl

Johnbo, please..I beg you, please don't make us go thru this fighter pilot thing again... you were busted on this once before. Give us a break..it's Christmas.

mandrake...if he tells himsel

mandrake...if he tells himself he was a fighter pilot enough then to him it must be so....

Like all leftists they repeat lies often enough the really start to believe it themselves.

Btw....I was hoping someone else remembered his BS from the past with the fighter pilot jive.

I think it is a full moon out...the moonbats are active!

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

BT, thanks for the backup. I

BT, thanks for the backup. I thought it was the season to be jolly, not looney!

Back at ya mandrake! (Thank Y

Back at ya mandrake! (Thank You and those above....)

Ho Ho Ho!

Btw....I remember well the outing of the faux fighter pilot gig! It was awesome watching you guys cream him to smithereens slowly but surely...kind of a terrible torture....hehehee

Must of been a boyhood dream he had that never died in his head, such as it is. Or he thinks we all have forgotten....typical of a leftist, it didn't happen if it has been awhile ago...blah blah blah....I see nothing!

LOL!

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

Hey you two, Very much jol

Hey you two,

Very much jolliness going on today. Drubbing the trolls and such.

I vaguely recall the fighter pilot outing thing. Can either of you think of a particular word I could use to search the archives? That's usally the way I find stuff.

BT - how'd your game turn out the other day?

B....Colts and Chargers won s

B....Colts and Chargers won so I am happy! Zags lost bigtime...so my other half isn't so happy!

This was before you were here I think when this all happened regarding the fighter pilot thing (of course it was an on-going thing now and then)....at least mandrake pushed that botton rather well...looks like Johnboy ejected...LOL!

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

BT,Glad your teams won.  Gue

BT,

Glad your teams won.  Guess I'll have to cheer for them too (I rarely watch pro ball).

I'm eagerly awaiting January 8th....so far my Gators are being totally dissed, Ohio State has beaten them three weeks prior to the game, so I am a happy camper.  Bad press can be a very motivating factor, plus the underdogs (my team) have no reason to believe in their own good press.  ;)

Well, I will have to cheer fo

Well, I will have to cheer for your Gators so as you don't beat up your Gator Guy you got in the house! (I rarely watch college football...) but I know how bad ya want this....seriously good-luck the 8th!

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

You clueless twit, bigtimer!!

You clueless twit, bigtimer!!

You "remember well the outing of the faux fighter pilot" do you?  Please post for all to see how it was that I was "outed".  I'd love to see it myself.  While you're at it, please explain the incongruities in "Zoomie's" presentation for all of us.  I'm sure you know what I'm talking about since you were there, right?

You're as full of it as a Christmas turkey.  It's so hard for you knee-jerk, knuckle-dragging, conservative troglodytes to accept that someone who was a member of the military - and a fighter pilot at that - could have such a different point of view from you brain-dead zombies here on NewsBusters.

See my reply to bigtimer belo

See my reply to bigtimer below.

And, I issue the same challenge to you, nitwit.

nitwit? As anyone here will t

nitwit? As anyone here will tell you, I am a nitpicker!

WRT your challenge. I am rather busy right now as it is my family's turn to host Christmas dinner. However, if after the holidays you still want to play fighter pilot, just post something to that effect and we'll do it all again..might be fun.

Suggestion, look up a picture of the instrument panel of the plane you claim to have flown. It might be helpful next time :-) 

I can't wait, mandrake.  And

I can't wait, mandrake.  And come prepared.  I plan on proving you didn't go to the school that you think you did and that, in fact, you don't even EXIST based on the techniques and methodology that "Zoomie" used to "out" me as a "faux fighter pilot".  I love how easily manipulated you fools are!!  You'll fall for ANYTHING as long as it supports the results you want.  Wait until you see how it works in reverse.

I can't wait for Christmas now.

As a former fighter pilot

As a former fighter pilot

Johnbo - You and George Bush have something in common!  :-p

Except Bush is smarter. . .

Yeah, he's one smart hombre.

Yeah, he's one smart hombre.  He led us straight into the worse foreign policy blunder in American history.  If that's smart, I'll take stupid any day.

P.S. There's something else we DON'T have in common: I didn't have my daddy's friends get me a position in an Air National Guard unit and then cover for my ass when I decided I didn't really feel like taking my annual medical exam to keep my flying status current and then split to another state and skipped out on the last years of my committment.

P.S. yourself, Johnboo. N

P.S. yourself, Johnboo.

None of the things you say here are true. It's easy to rain on the parade; and that's all losers do. Rain and complain. You did take stupid, and that's what you're stuck on.

Yeah, I'm no genius, tumbler_

Yeah, I'm no genius, tumbler_2007, but, apparently, still smarter than you.  At least I knew better than to believe the swill being served up about the reasons to invade Iraq and did what I could to prevent it. 

I don't take any great satisfaction at having been right as the result of this disaster is that hundreds of thousands of people have died and our children’s children will be paying for the debt racked up by Bush and the Republicans.

Maybe if you had a lick of sense you’d be “raining” on Bush’s parade too.

"If that's smart, I'll

"If that's smart, I'll take stupid any day."

Unfortunately for you Johnbo, you don't have a choice. It's a "box of chocolates" life for you, I'm afraid.

When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

Johnbo...is this really you in the pics?

I know this sounds crazy but are these your pics Johnbo? Seriously...The Pics of Johnbo...From birth to the present. Really, the email with the pics I got was even signed...Mrs. Johnbo.

If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.

Hehe, "...forced into a corn

Hehe, "...forced into a corner by the Rovian strategy..."

This is precisely why they cannot be trusted with national security, they are unprincipled and only desire power.

Better hold on to your wallet

Better hold on to your wallet.  Should the dims begin to do what they want to, more Americans will want them out again. 

Liberalism is a convenient lie.

Johnny-poo, based on your rec

Johnny-poo, based on your recent comments, I could hazard to guess that you consult Zogby before you take a dump.

Rovian strategy to "cr

Rovian strategy to "cram the war down their throats" for the purpose of winning the 2002 midterm. At the time the President was riding a post 9/11 approval rating of 70%.

If the President's approval rating was already at 70%, then he obviously had no need to cram anything to win in 2002.

So your bizarro world logic springs an instant leak. We're all so surprised.

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

Johnbo

JB,

Does Kristol try to hide his position on this war? I think you're kidding yourself here, JB. This is certainly not anything that's been a secret.

Furthermore, I'll proudly wear a badge saying that I supported this effort in 2002 and 2003 before it began and still do if all those conceivably like yourself who supported this at the time but changed their minds when it didn't go as smoothly as had been hoped also have to wear such an insignia.

You feel superior? Really? Why? Because you, like about 50 percent of the nation, and an overwhelmingly large majority of Democrats in both chambers of Congress who were behind this when it started, changed your mind? You consider that a sign of integrity to be proud of and something that makes one superior to be willing to send people to war and then deny any responsibility?

Or, are you part of the 25 percent of this nation that were always against it? Which is it, Johnbo? And, do you have any written record on the Internet to prove that you were part of the minority that was opposed to war in March 2003, or should we not question the veracity of someone so superior as you?

Finally, please try to respond after you step down from the high horse you just climbed on top of if you want any further replies from me as I have no interest in discussing anything with someone as pompous as what was portrayed in your previous post. Fair enough?  ns

I was NEVER for invading Iraq

I was NEVER for invading Iraq and watched in awe as this country got jerked around by their noses by Bush and the White House Iraq Group.  It was clear to me that we were being lied to long before the evidence started emerging to prove it.  (I could go into my files and pull out letters to the editor that were printed locally).

And, it was evident to a lot of people in this country that were paying attention.  The fact that 70% of this country believed that Saddam Hussien had something to do with 9/11 gives you some idea how truly gullible the American people are. 

And thanks to them - and you - we are now in the worse foreign policy disaster in our history.  And, curiously, you wear your support for this disaster as a badge of honor.  You should really be wearing a court jesters outfit as you do your mental back-flips to entertain the kings loyalists.  And, I wouldn't get too pumped up by the applause from this crowd.  These toadies will cheer for anything if it's got the Administrations seal of approval on it.  And, as we've all seen, that's not a record to cheer about.

re:Johnbo

We Americans are too kind. Johnbo is an example. He is sitting in his cell in Baghdad waiting to be hanged. We should not give him a laptop and free internet connections out of mercy. Look how he rants. He comes up with an American style tag and then protests on this site. Well, when the trapdoor opens , it's all over for you Johnbo. Goodbye Johnbo alias Saddam.

Foreign policy according to Johnbo

Seems to me that a successful foreign policy according to Johnbo is to immediately disband the military, because at that point the entire world will instantaneously fall madly in love with the United States.

At which point we begin fumigating the United States of ALL Hyper Evil Rich Leeches, an act that will give Johnbo the most intense, violent orgasm he has EVER known. 

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)

mattm ---influence??/

Most of the "political" comedians have, I think you meant flatulence, in this case.

I guess if you brand what you do as humor, you can commit any offense that you care to and you will always find someone to laugh at it.

It's pretty obvious that Bil

It's pretty obvious that Bill Kristol knows what to expect when he goes on that show.
He held his own very well as the sacrificial Christian (OK, Jewish guy) in the lion's den.
Clearly he was enjoying himself and then they probably went out to dinner together afterwards. Bill showed that he has a great sense of humor and loads of class.
BTW, Bill Kristol is the number one conservative pundit in America, IMHO, with Charles Krauthammer a very close second.

Stewart is a blithering idiot

Stewart is a blithering idiot.

Wow that John Stewart, boy he

Wow that John Stewart, boy he just has me splitting my guts. I cant tell you just how funny it is to hear our troubles in Iraq. How funny it is when he said that one guy is waving at you as you drive by in Bagdad and is setting a bomb. How funny it is that the people want freedom. Just call me stupid, but that is just what I want to hear for comedy. What a comic genius. Wow you put Rosie, Bill Maher John Stewart together and you get: Fat Drunk and stupid.. and we all know that’s no way to go through life.

America is best described by one word, freedom... Dwight D. Eisenhower

He was making a serious point

He was making a serious point when talking about the Iraqi who waves at the troops as the approach, then sets off an IED after they pass.

Kristol was right about a few

Kristol was right about a few things. . . we failed to secure the country and Rumsfeld "wasn't a good Defense Secretary" (that's putting it mildly). 

As for raising the troop strength (the "surge"), aren't we three years too late?  (Isn't that what Gen. Shinseki recommended from the get-go and got fired for?) At this point, we're just another "militia" stomping around the country, albiet with more fire power but with no clue.  Don't speak the language, don't know the culture, and acting as a magnet for more mujhaddin?

Stick a fork in it, this turkey's cooked.

poke a fork in your eye

A fork in you, Broke Back,

When did you graduate from West Point? You seem to know all the answers, but you're an ambassador without portfolio,

A Leftist bed-wetter who wins wars in his dreams. Old Bojohn. Har har!!!

You're right.  I don't have

You're right.  I don't have a "portfolio".   But, then, the ones that ARE West Point grads and DO have a portfolio have done what . . . .???

At least I had the good sense to put feet to pavement and march more than once - along will millions of others around the world - in the attempt to PREVENT the disaster we're  now witnessing.

And you did what . . . ???

Oh, yeah.  And maybe you can give us YOUR views on any of the many great options we now have to pull "victory" out of the bag.

have the good sense to clam up

Just have the good sense to leave the war to those who know what they're doing. Dissidents are nice, over in front of Starbucks. No dissident has ever snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. They can only win defeats. Here's what Alexander the Great said:

"I don't fear an army of lions with a sheep for their leader. But an army of sheep led to battle by a lion; I must fear."

It's clear to everyone you are no leader, Johnbo. You'r sheep-like and afraid of war. George W. Bush is a lion. He leads; and that's why you hate him. Your love of sheep is making you a Bush-hater. You'd rather be ruled by imams than follow a leader.

Bush is a "leader".

Bush is a "leader".  Your quaint innocence is only outdone by your laughable ignorance. 

Don't let your knuckles drag or the door hit you in the rear as you leave.

Can't top that enlightened co

Can't top that enlightened come back.

when you meet the imams, johnbeaut

They'll have something quaint for your sensitive arse.

First your pants will be torn off. Then you'll be appraised and pinced around the tenderest parts of your rectum. You better just hope we get a handle on those Toy Boys from the middle east. T.E. Lawrence wrote how they thrive on beautiful boys. Imam Hassan will flip the dinar to select who bangs you first.