Daily Kos

I was MIKE in Florida: The head of FOX Security called me ALSO about calling O'Lielly

Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:07:42 PM PDT

I am in really big trouble. I called Bill O'Lielly the other day and made him mad. I might have even hurt his feelings. Tonight (Friday) I returned home, and had a message from Fox Security asking me to call them.

Yeah, I was "Mike, in Orlando,Florida" on the O'Lielly show the other day. What "pithy" comment did I make that has BOR so mad he has "Faux Security" calling me?

I called Bill O'Lielly, and was able to get on his show. He was able to censor out most of what I said, because he apparently has a delay of a few seconds, but what he heard clearly upset him.

More below the fold, and a link to the call.

Here is a link to what I said:

http://www.callingallwingnuts.com/...

Now, I want to make it perfectly clear what was said, and ONLY if you were screwed really tight, like BO would you consider it obscene.

Here is the conversation below:

"Bill thanks for taking my call. I like to listen to you during the day, because Keith Olbermann...(Censored)...

...Has the best show in the 8 O'clock hour."

So, Fox Security is going to show up at my door, along with the "local authorities".

What do you think I should do? I posted a poll below. I am leaning towards number 4 personally.

Poll

What should I do?

5%130 votes
0%7 votes
1%37 votes
87%1911 votes
4%109 votes

| 2194 votes | Vote | Results

Tags: Bill O'reilly, fox security, Keith Olbermann (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 219 comments

  •  re (4.00 / 7)

    be careful about recording. it may actually be against the law in your state.

    got any relatives that are attorneys?

    "Steve Holt is now iSteve Holt 3G." - Steve Holt

    by cookiesandmilk on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:07:24 PM PDT

    •  Relative as Attorney (4.00 / 32)

      The law in Florida requires I notify the other party that that I will be recording the call. (I plan to do this upfront)

      As for having relatives who are practicing attorney's, unfortuantely not really.

      Best I can do is an uncle who is a local judge and a grandfather on the Florida supreme court.

      "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

      by FloridaVoter on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:11:35 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  grandfather on the (none / 1)

        Fla Supreme court? How did he vote in Bush v Gore? That court is pretty liberal.

        It's Obamazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

        by Chamonix on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:22:51 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  I suggest (4.00 / 8)

        getting a liberal radio show to call Fox back for you. A local show, or perhaps Air America.
      •  Call the local media -- have them waiting with you (none / 1)

        Call your local radio or TV station or newspapers and make sure you   have reporters there when Faux Security shows up. Refuse to say ANYTHING to Faux Security without the presence of reporters.

        As the Bible says "Everyone that doeth evil hateth the light."

        Dave in DC

        •  Can someone explain to me why (none / 0)

          Fox News has  a "Security"?  Are they not just a TV network? What in the hell is "Fox Security" anyway?  a fascist  private goon squad that comes to your house?

          That's okay now? How come this isn't news?

          •  Apparently they protected Olbermann (none / 0)

            in the past - that's what he said on his show Friday night.  Olbermann had a stalker when he worked for Fox and Fox security was very helpful apparently.
            •  re: Fox Security (none / 1)

              I have no beef with a guy doing his job. Even fox security. However, if they threaten..its not his job, its a lawsuit.

              "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

              by FloridaVoter on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 10:11:10 AM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  Every company over a certain size has security (none / 0)

            They're not just a goon squad (well, not always). For instance, I've worked for a number of large software firms in the Seattle area -- Microsoft, Real, places like that. Their security people are charged with everything from protecting bigwigs like Glaser and Gates (and employees on site, if it comes to that) to making sure no one runs off with all those expensive computers to protecting the company's source code and other intellectual property to arranging to clear out the driveways when it snows.

            That said, it never surprises me if a certain percentage of a company's security people are a goon squad. Any company. It seems to come with the territory.

            The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote. -- Ambassador Kosh

            by Omir the Storyteller on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 11:06:43 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  as "earl" of dkos (none / 0)

            pointed out on another thread yesterday, Fox has actually nothing to do with O'Reilly's radio show. It's complete bullshit.

            This signature line confers blanket acknowledgment and correction of any tpyo's that may or may not exist in the above text.

            by oregon blue on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 11:37:08 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  One legal method of notifying the other caller (none / 0)

        is to have a beep every 15 seconds. And, that is the only thing you have to do, even if they ask you if the call is being recorded.

        With the beep, you could literally ignore the question and still be within the law. When you call 911 you'll typically hear it. There are recording machines that do that, you can probably find one at radio shack.

        FLORIDA LAW

        Fla. Stat. ch. 934.03: All parties must consent to the recording or the disclosure of the contents of any wire, oral or electronic communication in Florida. Recording or disclosing without the consent of all parties is a felony, unless the interception is a first offense committed without any illegal purpose, and not for commercial gain, or the communication is the radio portion of a cellular conversation. Such first offenses and the interception of cellular communications are misdemeanors. State v. News-Press Pub. Co., 338 So. 2d 1313 (1976), State v. Tsavaris, 394 So. 2d 418 (1981).

        Under the statute, consent is not required for the taping of a non-electronic communication uttered by a person who does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in that communication. See definition of "oral communication," Fla. Stat. ch. 934.02.

        Anyone whose communications have been illegally intercepted may recover actual damages or $100 for each day of violation or $1,000, whichever is greater, along with punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs. Fla. Stat. ch. 934.10.

        A federal appellate court has held that because only interceptions made through an "electronic, mechanical or other device" are illegal under Florida law, telephones used in the ordinary course of business to record conversations do not violate the law. The court found that business telephones are not the type of devices addressed in the law and, thus, that a life insurance company did not violate the law when it routinely recorded business-related calls on its business extensions. Royal Health Care Servs., Inc. v. Jefferson-Pilot Life Ins. Co., 924 F.2d 215 (11th Cir. 1991).

        New York Law

        N.Y. Penal Law §§ 250.00, 250.05: It is a Class E felony to overhear or record a telephonic or telegraphic communication if one is not the sender or receiver, or does not have the consent of either the sender or receiver. It also is a crime for someone not present to overhear or record any conversation or discussion without the consent of at least one party to that conversation.

        Cordless telephone conversations that are partially broadcast over ordinary radio waves are protected by the wiretapping and eavesdropping laws and require the same consent for recording as any other communication. New York v. Fata, 559 N.Y.S.2d 348 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990).

        State courts have held that newspapers that published transcripts of an illegally recorded telephone conversation were subject to civil liability when "the newspapers knew they were dealing with recorded conversations between unconsenting parties." Natoli v. Sullivan, 606 N.Y.S.2d 504 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Oswego County 1993), aff'd, 616 N.Y.S.2d 318 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994).

        Regarding Interstate Phone Calls

         In light of the differing state laws governing electronic recording of conversations between private parties, journalists are advised to err on the side of caution when recording or disclosing an interstate telephone call. The safest strategy is to assume that the stricter state law will apply.

        For example, a reporter located in the District of Columbia who records a telephone conversation without the consent of a party located in Maryland would not violate District of Columbia law, but could be liable under Maryland law. A court located in the District of Columbia may apply Maryland law, depending on its "conflict of laws" rules. Therefore, an aggrieved party may choose to file suit in either jurisdiction, depending on which law is more favorable to the party s claim.

        In one case, a New York trial court was asked to apply the Pennsylvania wiretap law -- which requires consent of all parties -- to a call placed by a prostitute in Pennsylvania to a man in New York. Unlike the Pennsylvania wiretap statute, the New York and federal statutes require the consent of only one party. The call was recorded with the woman s consent by reporters for The Globe, a national tabloid newspaper. The court ruled that the law of the state where the injury occurred, New York, should apply. (Krauss v. Globe International)

        In another case involving Pennsylvania law, four employees of the Times Leader, a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, were arrested after they printed a transcript of a telephone conversation between a columnist in Pennsylvania and a murder suspect living in Virginia that was recorded without the suspect s permission. The Virginia and federal statutes allow one party to record a conversation, while Pennsylvania, as discussed above, requires the consent of all parties. The man asked prosecutors to charge the journalists under the Pennsylvania law. The court eventually dismissed the charges against the newspaper staff -- but on the unrelated ground that the suspect had no expectation of privacy during his telephone interview with the columnist. (Pennsylvania v. Duncan)

        Federal law may apply when the conversation is between parties who are in different states, although it is unsettled whether a court will hold in a given case that federal law "pre-empts" state law. In Duncan, the newspaper argued that the federal law should pre-empt the state statutes, because the telephone call crossed state lines, placing it under federal jurisdiction. However, in that case, the court did not address the pre-emption issue. Moreover, as noted above, either state may choose to enforce its own laws.

        Mugs~ I do miss you so... Every, single, day.

        by Bob on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 09:43:44 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  I think I'd go one step further (none / 0)

        I think I'd actually hire an attorney for purposes of making the call. There's a great deal of power in the words, "Yes sir, I'm returning your call from the offices of Dewey, Cheatham & Howe, and I would like you to know up front that this call is being recorded, and my attorney, Mr. Huey Louis Dewey, is present. Now, how can I help you?"

        Obviously you should really have an attorney present instead of just stealing the names from Car Talk, but the point is, lawyers are professional intimidators, and Mr. Fox Security will react much better to you if you have a kind word and a hired gun in your corner than if you call with just a kind word.

        (For background on lawyers and intimidation, you might want to see if you can find a book that was popular about 30 years or so ago, Robert Ringer's Winning Through Intimidation. It makes a couple of good points, one of which is that if you're up against guys who buy their lawyers by the bushel basketful, you better have one yourself.)

        The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote. -- Ambassador Kosh

        by Omir the Storyteller on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 11:00:52 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Good job. (none / 0)

             I saw Olberman's piece on this call. O'Reilly has delusions of grandeur. What an ass.

        CHRISTIAN, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. A. Bierce

        by irate on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 11:49:25 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  here is my surmise (none / 0)

        o'rielly told security you threatened him or otherwise harrassed him, and his megalomania demanded that they "deal with it"

        this phone call is the result

        its hard to drink all day unless you start in the morning

        by The Exalted on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 11:58:18 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  oh, I disagree. (none / 0)

      you can record it, transcribe it, post it, and just don't say you taped it.

      say you did it all verbatim as you wrote down the conversation in shorthand as it happened.

      exactly WHAT will they do if you say that...? prove that you'd never taken steno back in high school? kinda doubt it.

      It's called the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. - G. Carlin

      by RabidNation on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:29:45 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  not hidden anymore.... (none / 1)

        However, he has just put his intentions to record on an online public forum........

        "Why can't you and the idea of separation of powers just hug it out, bitch?" Wonkette

        by Hollywood Liberal on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 05:43:50 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  certainly. (none / 0)

          but as his real name isn't here (at least thus far) and since I doubt anyone subpoena-able actually watched him physically type any of these messages, it's all hearsay, right?

          now if this were a murder case or something, posting your intent in this fashion would be something to worry about. but, ah, I think the bar's a bit lower here. kinda like o'reilly himself.

          It's called the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. - G. Carlin

          by RabidNation on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 06:15:49 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  This is all OK. (none / 0)

          If he tells them, at the onset, "Oh, by the way, I am recording this conversation," then he should be fine.  They will most likely hang up.  If they don't, then the tape will make excellent audio for Air America the next day.

          Politics isn't everything, it's the only thing.

          by tc59 on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 10:48:25 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  If (4.00 / 10)

      If it's a conversation between two parties on a telephone line, then there is an expectation of privacy, and you should notify the other party of your intention to record and perhaps reproduce the conversation.  

      However, if it is a multiparty conversation and/or a call to a live, nationally-broadcast radio show -- then no expectation of privacy exists.  It's all fair game.

      This is true even in Florida (which was still part of the United States, the last I checked).

      Fuck Bill O'Reilly.

      No more Republican rule.

      by HarveyMilk on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 12:08:21 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  so do you think bob woodward (none / 1)

      let his second source know he was being recorded as well?

      what about the student in colorado who recorded the teacher in colorado?  

      while this has been brought up, i am curious as to how federal wiretap laws would affect the cases in question above?

      as well, if all callers are aware that o'reilly records the entirety of his show, does that in any way signify consent by one or more parties thus making the actions of the diarist 'legal'?

      just curious....

      John McCain - 894/899 of his graduating class at Annapolis.

      by sedrunsic on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 05:55:51 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Tips? (3.99 / 107)

    thanks

    "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

    by FloridaVoter on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:07:58 PM PDT

  •  I would call them and say... (4.00 / 15)

    I warn you Darth, strike me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

    Lou Dobbs is the straight dope. Volvo Liberal is the clown.

    by DLC Overlord on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:09:15 PM PDT

    •  I would slap suit 'em for harassment (4.00 / 9)

      Bill claims that you harassed him. He spits out his phone number over the airwaves so that anyone can call in. He has no case. Even a local cop should know that. Susan Filan, former prosecutor from the state of Conneticut on Olbermann said O'Reilly should be investigated for this abuse of power.

      The plural of anecdote is not data.

      by bobinson on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 12:54:13 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I hope she investigates for a prosecution! (4.00 / 2)

        This is so hilarious....Bill O'Reilly should be committed. Baker Act for a 72-hour intensive psych evaluation. I think he's becoming "a danger to himself and/or others."

        Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime. ~Potter Stewart

        by SignalSuzie on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 06:32:14 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Make yourself available to Countdown (4.00 / 33)

    Keith Olbermann seems to be setting up a fight to the death with O'Reilly.  I bet he'd be eager to extend this latest example of Felafel's idiocy another day.  

    You did GREAT on O'Reilly's show!  Feel like moving to TV?

    Hanoi didn't break John McCain, but Washington did.

    by Dallasdoc on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:11:20 PM PDT

  •  Not as fun, but you should (3.80 / 15)

    This won't be as much fun for yourself, but you should pass this on to Keith Olbermann and let his people call on your behalf and record it for airing on their show.
  •  What should you do? (4.00 / 8)

    Pray that he harasses you further, then sue the crap out of him and his parent companies :)
    •  what you should do (4.00 / 8)

      post the phone number for Fox Security here, so we can all join in the fun.

      I think something like 40,000 calls in one weekend should give em' a hint that people won't put up with this kind of half-ass thuggery.

      •  I would be in for that...anyone else willing (4.00 / 2)

        to call?

        McCain and Lobbyists; McCain on NAFTA

        by ETinKC on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:48:18 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  fuck yeah!!! (3.16 / 6)

          I'll call, I'll tape it, and I'll share the transcript, and if they want to sue/prosecute then they can fucking well try and I'll have a grand time humiliating the fucking piss out of them. Oh, please let me; pretty please.

          there's nothing I enjoy more than baiting officious pissbags with cop complexes.

          I think they should get about 600 calls by noon monday, myself.

          It's called the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. - G. Carlin

          by RabidNation on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:33:56 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  I really wouldn't do that (4.00 / 13)

        Had the caller actually been harrassing O'Reilly, this guy's actions would have been legit.  He was acting on a complaint by O'Reilly.  He was doing his job, trying to figure out whether to pass on the complaint to law enforcement if it had merit.

        O'Reilly essentially filed a bunch of false complaints.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if Fox Legal has a sit down meeting between themselves, Security, and O'Reilly and his staff over this.  They can't be at all pleased that O'Reilly has exposed them to potential slam-dunk lawsuits from a bunch of private citizens.

        Don't give them ammo by actually calling and harrassing their security department.  If anything, call their PR or legal departments; they're supposed to handle this sort of thing.  And be polite!

      •  Oh, That's Good Too! (none / 0)

        Then Air America can also run it on every segment so everyone can join in the fun. :)

        Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime. ~Potter Stewart

        by SignalSuzie on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 06:34:00 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Yup. Sue his Ass! (none / 0)

      Don't wait until he does it again.  Do it now!  In fact, make it a class action on behalf of all those who have been harassed or intimidated by him -- ever.  

      Include O'Reilly, his side-kick, and the security guy -- as well as Fox, the radio station that covers him and the syndicator -- for a start.  

      First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Gandhi

      by flo58 on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 12:39:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Agree with Dallasdoc (4.00 / 19)

    Mike, you just have to contact Olberman and see if he is interested in interviewing you on air.  I'd love to see a segment with you and Olberman giving the play-by-play of the call and perhaps you can both try to pinpoint the precise moment you made Falafel boy flip his lid.

    Contact Keith and do his show!

  •  you did watch (4.00 / 15)

    Olbermann's show tonight, didn't you? He had a lengthy segment about your phone call to Bill, including the soundtrack right off FOX News' website before they scrubbed it. Keith also had a legal expert, who said if anyone's guilty of harassment, it would be O'Reilly for threatening you when you didn't do anything wrong.
  •  Invite some friends over and then call him (4.00 / 4)

    on a speaker phone.  No notification needed.  Make sure you have a script ready of what you want to say.  Ask for his/her name and ask who directed them to call you.  Make sure you also get the name of their direct supervisor.

    Oh, and if any of your friends are reporters, all the better.

  •  Way (4.00 / 5)

       to
          go
              Mike!
  •  Keith Olbermanns Show tonight...I Missed It (4.00 / 8)

    I read that Keith Olbermann talked about the call, but I was out tonight and missed his show.

    That is why I missed the call from "Fox Security".

    I wonder if Keith Olbermann could send me a copy of his show if I emailed him and asked real nice?

    "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

    by FloridaVoter on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:20:48 PM PDT

    •  Crooks and Liars has it on Video (4.00 / 5)

      Download it to your IPod and enjoy every day.

      McCain and Lobbyists; McCain on NAFTA

      by ETinKC on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:24:19 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Also (none / 0)

      Senator McCain, we don't have to twist everything that comes out of a Republican's mouth - you guys come pre-twisted.

      by PatsBard on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:25:42 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  fucking fantastic! here's the link (4.00 / 2)

      http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/03/03.html#a7384

      You should get your lawyer to sue faux crime syndicate MFs for harassment and intimidation thuggery -- bigtime.

      •  Now that 'santorum" (none / 0)

        has been launched into public and private usage, we need to redefine Keith Olberman as a suitably obscene word.

        I vote for "Keith The Big 'O' Olbermann".

        Falafel Guy versus The Big 'O'...
        the story continues.

        Proud member of the Cult of Issues and Substance!

        by Fabian on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 04:02:52 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  It was a scream! (4.00 / 8)

      There was a graphic up on a small screen behind KO with a picture of BOR's face and the caption,"Falafel Fatwa".
    •  Not yet, anyway (4.00 / 3)

      As he said on the show, he has nothing to do with this movement so he'd probably want to maintain an arm's length distance of indedependence...at least until O'Reilly's show is cancelled. (I give it less than a year to go.)  

      But he should buy you a favorite beverage of your choice! He probably owes you one cuz I'd bet this incident has brought many new viewers to his show.  I'm one of them!  

      After reading the posts earlier tonight and having read about him sporadically in diaries, I finally tivo'd his show for the first time.  How refreshing he is with his candor. Like noting how the Katrina tapes were released while Bush is overseas.

      I donated to your tip jar for your efforts...anyone who can persist and get through to a national talk show has a tip of my hat.

      We're in a culture that increasingly holds that science is just another belief. - Alan Alda

      by sawgrass727 on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:41:42 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  If you liked him tonight (4.00 / 8)

        Keith is the closest person we have on the MSM that is a real newsman/anchor.  Maybe even another Murrow.  And though occassionally he drops the ball (and honestly with all the intensity of events happening all the time, who wouldn't?>, you can tell he does research his stories seriously. You are bound to become a real fan after you see this:

        The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might've saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could've brought last Monday and Tuesday  like the President, whose statements have looked like they're being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.

        ...
        But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans � even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

        And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection � or at least amelioration  against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.

        It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.

        ...
        Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?

        You can see a clip of it here.

      •  If you liked him tonight (none / 1)

        Keith is the closest person we have on the MSM that is a real newsman/anchor.  Maybe even another Murrow.  And though occassionally he drops the ball (and honestly with all the intensity of events happening all the time, who wouldn't?>, you can tell he does research his stories seriously. You are bound to become a real fan after you see this:

        The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might've saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could've brought last Monday and Tuesday  like the President, whose statements have looked like they're being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.

        ...
        But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans � even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

        And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection � or at least amelioration  against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.

        It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.

        ...
        Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?

        You can see a clip of it here.

        •  Another Murrow (none / 0)

          Olbermann is pretty close, though my vote for years has gone to Bill Moyers.  

          Then again, Keith ends his shows with the words, "Good night, and good luck" as a tribute to Murrow. :-)

          War is over if you want it. -- John Lennon

          by Theodoric of York Medieval Liberal on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 09:10:56 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Transcript (none / 1)

          This is one of his absolute best monologues. It's from a few days after Katrina hit. He begins by stating that he's waited several days out of respect for the people in the affected areas, but he feels it's time to say what needs to be said. It was one of the most elegant speeches I've ever heard him give... and that's saying a lot because I find him very well-read and informed so his comments are usually far above many other news reporters.
    •  Important points (none / 1)

      When you watch the clip, you'll see Olbermann interview a prosecuting attorney who practically begs for someone to file charges against OReilly. She is insistent that he crossed the legal line and is engaging in criminal behavior.


      "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right." - Salvor Hardin

      by Zackpunk on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:51:06 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Countdown Transcripts (none / 0)

      You can view his transcripts online at msnbc.com. On the top of that home page, there's a link for MSNBC TV. From there, on the left is the list of shows. Select Countdown and then on the top right you can choose to e-mail the show, view transcripts or view Keith's bio.

      He posts all of his transcripts in their entirety.

  •  Homer Simpson = mall cop = (4.00 / 7)

    "Fox Security".

    You gotta be kidding me.  "Fox Security"?  What the fuck is that?  You got it, Homer Simpson in a cop suit.

    Good God ....

    "Letting a Republican govern is like letting a pedophile babysit"

    by Nordic on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:22:18 PM PDT

    •  If the fuchssturmentroopers get you (none / 0)

      There's a missing white girl, we in the rebel forces have been looking for.  If you see her give her a shout out from Obie Wan and the gang at HQ.  Tell her to STAY AWAY from the Imperial Falafel at all costs!

      A learning experience is one of those things that says, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' Douglas Adams

      by dougymi on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 07:37:12 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  When they do come to your door, make sure (4.00 / 6)

    you ask them why Fox security is dealing with a Westwood One network radio show.

    Flying Squid Studios - Cartoons to Rot Your Brain!

    by Arken on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:28:06 PM PDT

  •  You are under no obligation... (4.00 / 20)

    ...to call them back, or to talk to them at all.  They have no authority to compel you to respond to them.  In fact, as was pointed out on another thread, Fox News is not involved in this incident at all -- O'Reilly's radio show is carried by Westwood One.

    Ignore them.  If you happen to answer the phone when they call again, say something like, "I don't have to talk to you, and I'm not going to." Then just hang up.  

    If you want to hedge your bets, give the ACLU a call.  But a program that invites the public to call in can hardly complain about the public calling in.

    "Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing." -- Joseph Heller

    by Roddy McCorley on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:30:20 PM PDT

    •  If it was me, I couldn't wait to call them back (4.00 / 5)

      I would drag this out as much as I can...invite friends over to listen to the calls, have beer and pizza to celebrate, try to find out other peoples numbers at fox security higher up and ask them what you did wrong.

      I would call the news papers, other radio show and definitely contact Letterman.  He, I would have t-shirts made that said "Bill O'lielly sicked Fox News Security on me, so I bought this stupid t-shirt"

      McCain and Lobbyists; McCain on NAFTA

      by ETinKC on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:47:24 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I'm sorta wondering... (none / 0)

        ...if we should all call Fox News Security.  Flood 'em with polite inquiries.  Someone was thoughtful enough to post the number on one of the comment threads on Eschaton.  I think we as concerned citizens should look into this potential abuse of our local law enforcement agencies, and the resultant misuse of our tax dollars.

        But on the whole, I think the best thing to do is just ignore 'em.  I'd be willing to bet the guys who work in that department have real problems they need to keep track of.  (Olbermann made reference to just such a problem.)  They probably know this is bullshit, and would be just as happy to have the whole thing go quietly away.  

        "Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing." -- Joseph Heller

        by Roddy McCorley on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:01:05 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I've seen 2 numbers (none / 1)

          This one posted on the Randi Rhodes message board:
          646-208-2610
          They said it was the head of Fox Security's cell phone number, his name is Tony.  I'm not sure if its been verified by anyone else though.

          This is the phone number of Fox Security, posted on callingallwingnuts.com.
          212-301-3299

          •  call 'em up (4.00 / 4)

            to report that as a concerned fox viewer/westwood listener, you're concerned that someone is doping mr. o'reilly's food. he's been acting strangely lately, and you're worried that he may hurt someone, or hurt himself.

            you just want to see that he gets the help that he needs.

            It's called the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. - G. Carlin

            by RabidNation on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:37:40 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  Better yet... (4.00 / 3)

        ...do it on the air.

        See if you can hook up with a producer over at Stephanie Miller or another radio show and then call back and play along. (You can even get Stephanie to say she is your lawyer, and say she is recording the call--then she can talk too.)

        Tell the Fox Security person you are relieved he called because O'Reilly has been leaving obscene phone messages on your answering machine involving assulting your bodily orafices with sponges and Middle Eastern food products and has he ever done that before that they know of?

        Also, he keeps mailing you loofa's for no apparent reason, and you are getting concerned.

        Oooo fun.

  •  None of the above (4.00 / 5)

    First, if it won't cost you much or anything (or you can afford it), ask a lawyer you know where you stand on this legally. I seriously doubt you're in any kind of real trouble here, but I suppose that they could make your life a bit difficult for a short time. Then again, if they do this, I'm sure that you can turn the tables on them legally and perhaps even emerge with a fat settlement check (hey, starving the beast works for me and it's not the first time O'Falafel's had to pay up for his idiocy).

    And second, contact the Countdown and tell them about your story. If you can prove that the caller was you, they might want to have them on their show next week. But do this right away, as this story's got a very short shelf live. Hey, you might even get a first class flight to NYC and a night in a top hotel if you play your cards right. There are some really nice hotels not far from NBC and Fox headquarters. And you can get some really good falafel right across the street from Fox.

    Good luck.

    Sic transit gloria mundi - ancient Roman proverb

    by kovie on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:35:42 PM PDT

  •  Question.... (none / 0)

    Not meaning any disrespect, because I watched it tonight and thought it was very cool but....

    .... I thought Mike in Florida was Mike Stark. Am I wrong, or do you have two nicks, or what's up?

    America will never again be the land of the free... Until she again becomes the home of the brave.

    by Ducktape on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:46:22 PM PDT

    •  Frim Mike's own post (none / 0)

      First of all, mad props to Mick who got this all started with his call yesterday.  Since then, about 10,000 people have downloaded the clip from CallingAllWingnuts.

      I think that means that he did not make this call.

      McCain and Lobbyists; McCain on NAFTA

      by ETinKC on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:58:18 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Mike in Florida Was Not Mike Stark (4.00 / 21)

      Mike Stark has a great webste. Mike recruited me (and others) on DailyKos who could join him in calling Bill O'Reilly and we had a great script to follow.

      I was the one who made it past the screeners. However, it was the absolute brillant effort of Mike Stark who made it possible.

      Mike Stark's website: www.wingnutspinners.com

      His website is really getting tons of publicity from his efforts, so if you can donate and help him upgrade the server.

      PS. My nickname is MICK, not mike, the screener on Bill O'Reilly show got it wrong and passed it to Bill has Mike.

      "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

      by FloridaVoter on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:58:30 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Yes Please. Donate to Mike. (4.00 / 11)

        thanks Mick. good job by the way. anyone out there that can please donate $10 to the cause. Mike is a true 21st century American Patriot. spreading red pills all over the wingnut airwaves. equipment for his site is critical at this juncture in time and cyberspace. at this stage in history poisoning the wingnut koolaid well is a worthy and vital task.
        this is a direct stem up from the netroots eco chamber. our founding father's first amendment & the voice of the rabble republic. do what you can.  
        •  wingnutspinners (4.00 / 4)

          Please consider donating to Mike Stark's website. I am not rich and could only donated $10, but Mike has started a great idea to at least give the lying rightwingers pause when you challenge them with TRUTH.

          Although I made a call that got O'Reilly all riled up, it was Mike's idea and his plan.

          "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

          by FloridaVoter on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 04:49:08 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  You're not rich ..... YET (none / 1)

            True, you may not get rich but once you've finished the settlement over your harrassment lawsuits against Bill O'Reilly, "Fox Security," Rupert Murdoch, the WestwoodOne Radio Networks you should at least be comfortably ensconced in the middle class.
      •  Call Countdown immediately (none / 1)

        Let Keith make hay. Maybe he'll even help you sue Oreilly and fox.   I would attempt to parlay this incident into a real "problem" for O'Reilly and Fox instead of fleeting self-gratification.  Go for both - make OReilly eat it.

        ...once you're willing to say whatever it takes to win, you lose. ~~Dean

        by dkmich on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 04:34:53 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Correction (none / 0)

        Mike Stark's website is Calling All Wingnuts:

        http://www.callingallwingnuts.com/

        He calls the brave callers Wingnut Spinners, but that's not the name of his site.

      •  Yes he does & needs $upport (none / 0)

        And I'm happy that I've $igned in with him.

        We always ask, what can we do?

        Mike Stark is confronting "The Right Wing Echo Machine"  Head on.  I think this is one way to fight them on this particular arena.

        Kosaks Rock!

        Aurora

    •  check Floridavoters (Mick aka Mike) (4.00 / 2)

      history..he is the guy. His past comments with Mike S prove it (he was in the original diary for the set up.) His history speaks for itself. Way to go Mick and Mike S. Keep fucking with O'lielly, I want to see him totally lose it live,on the air and have Fox Security take HIM out of the building, screaming uncontrollably, while having a nervous breakdown.  

      It's Obamazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

      by Chamonix on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:22:33 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  for added confusion... (none / 0)

        I believe there is a "Mike S" who comments on dKos, who is a different person than Mike Stark, who posts under the screen name "Mike Stark."

        -8.25, -6.26 "I'm not superstitious. But, I AM a little stitious." - Michael Scott

        by snookybeh on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 08:00:43 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Wait a fucking minute here...... (4.00 / 26)

    I will be glad to give you my phone number.  Have them call ME.  You see, I am an American citizen.  I have freedom of speech.  And I'll tell them they can suck my motherfucking cock.  And when they're done with that they can kiss my motherfucking ass.  

    They fucking SOLICIT the public to call with their fucking opinions.

    If you call a lawyer, cringe in anyway, have any doubts whatsoever as to the sheer futility of their "security" team's ability to coerce you in any fashion....then you shouldn't be allowed out once the streetlights come on.

    But, I have every reason to suspect that you're an American citizen too.  So, relax.  They're fucking assholes.  And they can't hurt you.

    I got your back.

    Barbara Jordan = the anti Pelosi

    by Ghost of Frank Zappa on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:49:19 PM PDT

    •  Ghost of Frank Zappa (4.00 / 16)

      Thanks. You read me right. I can not WAIT to call them back and record the call from "Fox Security".

      I am not worried about the LEGAL ramifications, but Bill O'Reilly seems a bit unhinged lately..its the illegal ramifications that Bill implied that have me a bit nervous.

      Did the Fox Security Guys train at Abu Grahb?

      "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

      by FloridaVoter on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:02:18 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I understand... (4.00 / 7)

        ...especially since O'Reilly has threatened Al Franken and his family. But this is so well publicized--there is safety in numbers; the number of people now aware of O'Reilly's weird behavior.

        Oh, BTW, if you do sue, be sure to get Al Franken to  tell about O'Reilly's threats to him. It will strengthen your case.

        •  I didn't know that O'Reilly threatened (none / 1)

          Al Franken.

           I followed the ridiculous lawsuit he filed, but I didn't hear him actually threatening Franken.

          I would love to be on his program.  Honest to God.  I'd make the top of his fucking head explode from the throbbing of that big vein in the middle of his forehead.  

          Blood pressure...... too high...... too high...... too high......
          BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM !!!

          And that would make me feel....... fulfilled.

          Barbara Jordan = the anti Pelosi

          by Ghost of Frank Zappa on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 01:33:52 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Clearly (4.00 / 4)

            mentioning ones preference for Olbermann's show is WAY more threatening than say, oh, advocating a terrorist strike on say, I don't know, SAN FRANCISCO! So had you simply called up and suggested a chemical/biological attack on the citizens of Westbury/Levittown, now that's reasoned argument.

            In the beginning there was nothing...which exploded.

            by lucysdad on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 04:17:49 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Script of O'Reilly's killing Al fantasy (4.00 / 3)

            "What this guy writes and says does not matter to me, other than, Mike, he insulted me in a forum where I was at a decided disadvantage, you know, he went over his time limit. It was very, very sneaky, and you know, as I said at the top of the broadcast, somebody calls you a liar to your face, you don't just laugh that off. That's an insult. In the old west, that woulda got you shot. See in the old west, and I woulda loved to have been in the old west, Al and I woulda just had a little, uh, a little shootout. You know?
            We woulda went out, on Wilshire Avenue, and uh, six shooters, now he's a much smaller target than I am, about four foot eleven, but he's wider, and it woulda been you know, Clint
            Eastwood time. I woulda had the cheroot, the serape, woulda given my squint, and I woulda put a bullet right between his head. Woulda been wrong, woulda been wrong, but it was the old west, and I would not have known any better, so I
            wouldn't have been held accountable because I would not have known any--now I do, now in 2003 that would have been wrong."
            ---
            •  Plus there was the comment... (none / 0)

              ...O'Reilly made about someone showing up on Franken's doorstep and his family etc. etc.  Really creepy stuff.
              •  Typical (4.00 / 2)

                He's also threatened to show up at Mike Stark's house:
                Mike:  Hi Bill.  Of course this is important!  Our nation is at war right now.  Valerie Plame was an undercover CIA agent working on WMD - she wasn't tracking troop movements in India, she was working on this country's most pressing concern.

                And I've got something to say about the media also - if you are looking for the unvarnished no spin truth on this, you can't do better than Media Matters - they've.got a whole section on it

                O'Falafel:  Alright...  You're a nut.  Ya know, that';s the worst part of this job is the nuts.  We should all go to his house, because I can do that.  I can get his name and address from the phone records that we record.  We should all show up at his house.

                http://www.dailykos.com/...

            •  Too bad he doesn't realize (none / 0)

              That he's the "Ugly" in that scenario.

              Clint was the guy that called the liars liars, doncha know, Bill?

              The Next Agenda "For Progressive Canadian Politics"

              by Bionic on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 07:51:07 AM PDT

              [ Parent ]

      •  Heh (none / 0)

        A nice .308 FN Fal goes for around 700. A low end AR-15 sells for 550 or so. Or theres the ol standby Ak-47 for a few hundred. Tellem to bring it on.

        But seriously... REPUBLICANS threatening you physically? Who would they get to do their fighting?

        I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever TJ

        by cdreid on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 05:30:44 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  chicken-hawk wing-nuts (none / 0)

          would have to hire some Democrats to do their bidding.

          Not.too.damn.likely.

          "You know what the real fight is? The real fight is the definition of what is reality." Bernie Sanders

          by shpilk on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 08:20:15 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Interesting point (none / 0)

          I've pondered what would happen if there were another civil war.  The sides would be essentially the same.  The Liberal Northern Abolitionists.  And the unAmerican, antiChristian, inhuman waste of potential, the Jim Crow Slavers.  Otherwise known as "the Christian Right."  Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.  Haters in 1776.  And still hating.  And now taking their hate global.  In the 21st century.

          I believe the peckerwoods that still fly the Confederate flag, and question MY fucking patriotism, would be quite aghast should we shake it up again, what with Kunta no longer being in chains, and probably deserving a little payback.

          Who WOULD fight for them?  Probably paid off Saudi Arabians or Dubai Port World, whatever the fuck THAT is.

          Barbara Jordan = the anti Pelosi

          by Ghost of Frank Zappa on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 08:26:58 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I take your point (none / 0)

            But to nitpick a bit.. even if you were to assume a "blue north" and a "red south/midwest" (which isnt actually true).. you should look a little more deeply into the civil war. Things werent anything like as clear as you think. In fact there were riots in NYC over the draft etc.

            I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever TJ

            by cdreid on Sun Mar 05, 2006 at 04:14:22 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

  •  mike is (4.00 / 5)

    letting o'liely off easy...

    "I asked him to tell O'Reilly that we'd be happy if he took the anti-Olberman petition down and apologized to Keith."

    make him apologize to san francisco...to everyone he's lied about...for ruining falafel for lots of people

    etc.

    "Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise." Thomas Paine, Common Sense

    by Cedwyn on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:00:38 PM PDT

  •  You have nothing to fear (none / 0)

    but fear itself.

    Investigate War Lies --> Evidence for Senate Conviction --> End the War. Got it?

    by bejammin075 on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:04:04 PM PDT

  •  Also (none / 1)

    Post the name and number of the person to call right here.

    One person calling 1,000 times is harrassment. 10,000 people, callign twice each, is collective curiosity.

    The Number of the Beast 78-22

    by Deep Dark on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:07:40 PM PDT

    •  212-301-3299 (4.00 / 2)

      Tony, the head of Fox Security.
    •  Sounds like (4.00 / 3)

      a good way to let Bill off the hook.

      I can hear Bill now after Fox security gets 10,000 calls over this:

      "Do you see the crap I have to take from those Moonbats! That's why I had to get Fox security on the case!"

      Have fun guys but I think it's counterproductive.

      Why does John McCain think America should hide from it's enemies?

      by drag0n on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:55:56 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  With Credit to Arlo Guthrie... (none / 0)

      You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and they won't take him.  And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them. And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an
      organization.  And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out.  And friends they may thinks it's a movement.
      •  Alice (none / 0)

        ...You can get anything you want at Alice's Restuarant...

        "Hey, Bill O'Reilly. It's me, Mike in Florida...Keith Olbermann..(Censored)....has the best show at 8 O'Clock."

        by FloridaVoter on Sat