First, some
some background on what I'm doing (and why). Briefly, I've submerged myself in the world of Bill O'Reilly for the month of August, and sharing my nightmare with YOU!
Next, brief responses to some questions from Day #1. I stopped watching other news so I wouldn't realize what news I might be missing from OReilly. Two GLARING absences that I can't help but notice, no mention of the groundwar in Iraq, and no mention of the Supreme Court situation. WTF? Has Bush not made a nomination YET? I am NOT comforting myself at dailykos in between - haven't read a word here since mid-July. I don't know OReilly's overall viewership.Lastly, I TiVO this and frequently pause to copy screen text or collect my thoughts.
Now, Day 2's Summary:
Talking Point "God vs. Science" (OReilly seems to briefly mention a 'Top Story,' then go into a HUGE discussion of a 'Talking Point.' The 'Top Story' effectively comes second) His first topic is a discussion of Bush's suggestion that Intelligent Design be taught in public schools as well as Creationism. During this segment, he flashes text that basically matches his speech. Here are the first few things a Freeper would read
"The President said public schools should expose students to both evolution and intelligent design." "ID says life on Earth is so complex, a higher power must have been involved in creation." "Evolution says life on Earth developed over time through random mutations and factors on Earth." "All beliefs should be respected. But the science folks say ID doesn't belong in schools."
That science organizations, such as National Academy of Science and The American Association for the Advancement of Science reject the teaching of ID is
"fascism," OReilly states.
"There's nothing wrong with telling students many believe a higher power had a hand in the world's creation." "Genesis is for theology class, not biology. But students should know evolution is not a universal belief." "President Bush says students should know about ID so they can understand the debate." (RNinNC note: YIKES!!) "Seems logical. But some in the press spun the President's words."
Apparantly, Knight-Ridder is quoted as saying "Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian Conservatives to give ID equal standing with theory of evolution in the nation's schools. OReilly is VEHEMENT that Bush never said "equal standing," and that 'some in the press want to make (Bush) out to be a fanatic.
"Public schools are obligated to put all subjects in perspective." "If you're teaching the biology of abortion, you have to tell students the procedure is morally divisive." (RNinNC note: Double f*cking YIKES!!!) "Evolution should be taught as accepted science. There's no downside to mentioning other beliefs." "Pres Bush is right. Public schools should be champions of free discourse."
Schools are where students should learn both sides of any debate, then decide for themselves. Now I, as a gay man, found that EXTREMELY interesting, but we'll drop that for now. This whole segment took about 3 minutes. However, he returns to it just after the "Lead Story."
Lead Story "Air France Crash in Toronto" All survived, 24 injured. This was fairly straight forward, I think. He interviewed a survivor and showed about 4 minutes of overhead camera shots of the site. Let me know if you think I shouldn't skim past this type of thing in my summaries in the future.
Impact Segment "Evolution Politics" On screen interview with Dr. Paul Gross, author of "Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of ID." This professor came on to debate OReilly, but the guy never looked at the camera. He was eccentrically dressed and used big words. Looked like he didn't have on makeup (pale, DARK eye bags, etc). Dr. Gross called Talking Points a "good spin" on the debate, and suggested that ID's purpose is to say that Darwinism has collapsed. He says ID is not there to offer evidence in support of its own theories, but only to falsely disparage evolutionary theory. He says there is nothing "fascistic" about saying that only science should be taught in science classes.
Here, OReilly brings abortion into the fray again. To refresh, if students are learning the Science of Abortion (WTF???), then they should hear the moral implications. Dr. Gross points out that this 'science' would only be taught in Obstetrics during the first year of medical school, but OReilly insists on hearing the man's opinion of teaching it to high school students. "You'll lose the audience if you have this opinion," he warns outloud. The man is forced to simply state that the Science of Abortion would have to be taught with moral implications. The interview lasted about 6 minutes.
Factor Follow-Up "Children at Risk" This segment looked at toughening penalties against first time sex offenders. OReilly advocates Florida's "Jessica's Law" as a nationwide template for sending these first timers away for 25 years to life. He brings up some specifically egregious cases (on the surface) of where men have been lightly sentenced or let go after multiple accusations. All of these cases are from Rhode Island, and he follows with an interview of their Republican Governor, Donald Carcieri.
Carcieri states he doesn't know the specifics of the specific cases, so he can't comment directly. He says the sentences sound inadequate, and that he will personally look into them. He thanks OReilly for all he is doing, and continually says "You're right. Keep doing what you're doing." OReilly wants to take away the discretion of "nutty judges" to give light sentences. Carcieri says, "No one is against tightening laws against sex offenders." OReilly then says, "Depends on if you have any ACLU members in you legislature anymore." Carcieri basically promises he will bring up the idea of a Jessica's Law in RI and then promises it will pass overwhelmingly. This took 5 minutes.
Personal Story Segment "Vanished in Aruba" The Natalee Holloway/Joran van der Sloot story. This was a 5 minute interview with the same Aruban editor from yesterday, and discussed Dutch "behavioral scientists" coming to Aruba to assess Van der Sloot. VdS led a fast, party life and OReilly blames the father. 'Nuff said, I think.
The Great Debate "Terror Errors" Fighting the WoT. OReilly interviews Pearce O'Donnell, author of "In Time of War: Hitler's Terrorist Attacks on America." OReilly asks "You do not like what the President is doing, right?" Under the man's name, it says 'Trial Lawyer.' The man's argument is that military tribunals should've begun immediatly at Gitmo to obtain info and to help with the PR of the situation. OReilly says that these people don't deserve the rights of Geneva Convention because they were not in uniform. "Every single person in Gitmo went through at least 12 interviews to get there. So that there are (mere shopkeepers) there is nonsense."
While O'Donnell argues that the right to timely trials is one of the American Values we are trying to uphold, OReilly is reinforcing how much he doesn't care about anyone in Gitmo. "Bush's philosophy is we don't really care about these people in Gitmo - if they were to sit there for 6 years it's OK," because if not, they'll be released and kill more people. "I probably would order their execution if I had the power," OReilly says.
OReilly argues that terrorists shouldn't be tried in civil court because then their families would be targeted once their identities bacame public. He says that NOT presenting them to their accusers is protecting them from losing their families overseas. "As soon as you (release their identities), all of our intelligence dries up. Nobody knows that!," he says. Lastly, he states that no courts have found any fault in Bush's treatment of Gitmo residents. When O'Donnell says this isn't true, OReilly counters that all of those ruling have been overturned. This took almost 8 minutes.
Back of the Book Greta in Aruba. For 5 minutes, we get a preview of Greta watching bulldozers dig through a dump in Aruba. It's a sad thing.
I didn't intend to listen to Letters, but couldn't have because Fox cut to live Space Shuttle Coverage and I fast forwarded. The shuttle hasn't been mentioned on The Factor at all, but I think I've heard it's return has been delayed - hard to dodge the TV in some patient rooms, unfortunately.
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My Take This has to be BRIEF! I have to abandon this diary and go to work, so apologies in advance. I will read ONLY the FIRST THREAD under my OWN COMMENT! This way, you can ask me questions OR make suggestions without TAINTING my clear, clear mind. Discuss any lapses in OReilly amongst yourselves below my initial comment.
OReilly again presents a blame fest. The "Not Teaching ID = 'FASCISM'" argument is likely here to stay. Also, equating "Teaching the 'Science of Abortion' with Teaching Science in General" seems a CRAZY new candidate for something you will hear from Wingers. OReilly does give ground that Bush has been slow to process prisoners in Gitmo - he always seems to offer the SMALLEST olive branch at least once daily. He then snaps said branch by stating he'd everyone killed there.
The Letters segment is almost a debriefing. Although I didn't get to watch todays (TiVO cut it off during Live Break), I got to thinking about yesterday's Letters segment. It's a whole thing unto itself which I will try to look at in more detail when I'm off. He lightly chastises people who offer criticism, always smiling. He blatantly cheers those who kiss his ass.
OK, off to DC mass transit! Travel nursing is HARD....