McLaughlin (of TV's McL Group) turns against Bush

[Critical Thinker]

The most recent episode of the McLaughlin Group was a typical year-end compendium of "best and worst" of 2004. Among other questions, moderator John McLaughlin asked the panel for their assessment of the "biggest lie of 2004". Shockingly, arch-conservative McLaughlin awarded the honor of Biggest Lie to the notion that the war in Iraq has made America safer. Here is a transcript of the exchange:

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Worst Lie.

MR. BUCHANAN: "The Da Vinci Code." A number of people believe that, you know, Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and that they had children. And it probably damaged the faith of an awful lot of people. And I think it's by and large a big fraud, but it's a gigantic best-seller.

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Three words each. Worst Lie.

MS. CLIFT: It was a novel, Pat!

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Three words!

MS. CLIFT: That we're safer today because Bush invaded Iraq. Big lie.

MR. BLANKLEY: "Fahrenheit 9/11."

MR. O'DONNELL: John O'Neill's best-selling lies about John Kerry, trying to suggest he was not a real war hero.

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Eleanor's right. Worst Lie: The war in Iraq has made Americans safer. Worst Lie!

We'll be right back.

http://www.mclaughlin.com/library/transcript.asp?id=446

[Kikosexy2]

1. Gotta...

love that geezer!

[Be Brave]

2. Da Vinci Code? Hah! Get a life, Buchanan!

Worst lie: Above-mentioned plus imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction. Without that lie, there wouldn't have been a war.

[IndianaGreen]

20. The Vatican is going bonkers over The DaVinci Code

Even though this is a novel, I think the book is closer to the truth than the Church would like people to know.

[Raster]

40. You are correct. Modern, organized Christianity would prefer that

the ONLY view of Christ would be their particular version thereof. The DaVinci Code, although a work of fiction, causes people to think, explore and question the accepted status quo. Organized religion, christian, jewish, and muslim, does not encourage free thought. Organized religion, no matter the advertisement, does not encourage your own personal relationship with Christ. How the hell would organized religion make their money if people figured out they didn't need the priests, clergy, mullahs, etc. as intermediaries?

[Debbie13]

3. How about email McLaughlin and telling him you feel the same

way about the "Big Lie"?

[e-mail]

[Darkhawk32]

4. McClaughlin can be a windbag... but at least he's an

honest windbag.

[TheDebbieDee]

5. Mr. O'Donnell! That must be Lawrence O'Donnell....

of the "You're a liar, John O'Neill!" fame? He's back on TV? Good!:-)

[Lefty48197]

13. Lawrence O'Donnell is one of our best friends on television these days

I'd like to see him moderate a show.

[CBHagman]

18. Oh, our friend Lawrence is in a fine fettle.

He still thinks John O'Neill (the Nixon shill/"Unfit for Command"/SBVFT guy) and Zell Miller are huge liars and is willing to say so on TV.

Don't count on O'Donnell mellowing out and muzzling the temper any time soon. I think, like me, he has embraced his bad attitude and plans to use it like a WMD in the future.

[chelsea0011]

6. The tide is turning. it took awhile for the protests against "Nam to get

going.Of course, there will always be the clowns like Pat Buck.

[Prodemsouth]

8. Blankey is an even bigger clown..what proof does he have that F911 was

the biggest lie. Sounds like Clift and Mac are saying its not - Iraq terrorist connection (or lack of it) was a central theme in F911. But Buchanan was stupid for calling a novel the biggest lie.

[Prodemsouth]

7. Yeah, I have been seeing quotes- that raised my eyebrows before this

one. Maybe he is one of those old fashioned Conservatives that believe in the American Democratic Republic and that Bush is harming it.

[marcologico]

12. at least some conservatives are still awake

In fact Pat himself ran against Dumbya in 2000. I only hope he jumped on the Bushwagon this time for financial gain and that he got his check. Blankley on the other hand is a Bush-Moonie who will defend any despicable act as long as he can keep filling his Expedition Valdez SUV.

[Fenris]

9. John has been less than thrilled with Bush

Paleocon, naturally.

[musette_sf]

10. John's looking more "reality based"

every week. Seriously, this is the ONLY talking heads show I can watch anymore. I notice that they even got another liberal, so that everyone doesn't dogpile on Eleanor.

The next thing McLaughlin can do to get some credibility would be to dump that fat pile of shit Tony Blankley. Here are some highlights of a Blankley appearance on Hannity earlier this year, courtesy of Media Matters:

"Blankley's attacks on Soros included calling Soros a 'left-wing crank,' 'a Jew who figured out a way to survive the Holocaust,' 'a robber baron,' 'a pirate capitalist,' and 'a reckless man'."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200406040004

PLEASE NOTE: No reckless aspersions to weight-challenged individuals were made in this post. I among many struggle with my weight also. Tony Blankley is still a fat pile of shit.

[despairing optimist]

26. Blankley's a tacky dresser too, with the old Robert Hall look

Didn't know suits could be sized for grain silos.

EDIT: Inserted proper name

[musette_sf]

28. "We're doing our Christmas shopping

At Robert Hall this year!"

When I used to hear this ad on the radio when I was a kid, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what you could get for Xmas at Robert Hall (besides really crappy clothes), but it better not the hell be under MY freakin' tree!

And yeah, Blankley does look like he might shop there. But then again, it could just be the challenges of dressing after a three-martini breakfast.

[itzamirakul]

33. "Didn't know suits could be sized for grain silos" LOL

Please use that link upthread to email McLaughlin to send him your remark. It is too funny not to use. I bet he will enjoy it. McLaughlin, not Blankley.

[spooky3]

46. don't care about his natty attire but his lies disgust me.

No wonder he couldn't identify any lies on this program--he is so dishonest himself, that he can't distinguish truth from non-truth.

[despairing optimist]

47. When they were doling out the Kool-Aid, Blankley ate the pitcher too

He never lets a reasonable alternative view go by without spewing the prescripted party line. He's more on message than a GPS compass.

[spooky3]

51. good one!

[blondeatlast]

48. on the phone, can't type well, but ROFLMAO! nt

[CBHagman]

49. You know, the Soros thing really got to me...

Blankley did work for Spawn of Satan Newt Gingrich, remember, but I was still willing to cut Blankley some slack because he often seemed to be willing to respond to issues based on facts and not with boilerplate from the right wing.

But the attempts to vilify George Soros, among other things, have really made me sick. The anti-Semitism is especially disgusting. And we all know that if George Soros were a Republican of some stripe, the entire stinkin' GOP would be lauding him for his business success and his pro-democracy efforts. But no, the supposed party of "family values" is a cheerleader for sleaze merchant Rupert Murdoch.

So Blankley is long, long overdue for a trip to the woodshed. Heck, he ought to be afraid for his SOUL, given some of the things he's espoused.

[Pithy Cherub]

11. McLaughlin's WH Holiday Party invite said 2005 -

he is not a fan of father or son.

[Gloria]

14. McLaughlin has been against the war from the beginning, as

far as I recall. He hasn't been letting Bush off the hook for quite awhile.

Negative aside: I read a while ago that this very show is considered to be the start of the decline in discussion that has snowballed into what we have today. The confrontational nature/style, I read, was originated with The McLaughin Group.

[TexasSissy]

17. True. I've watched (& loved) The McLaughlin Group all year.

He has repeatedly lambasted Bush for his lies, handling of the war, the deficit, getting us into the Iraq War, etc. As has Pat Buchanan, BTW.

I love that show. Even though they sometimes have three righties to Eleanor's leftie, when it's supposed to be two on two.

[ailsagirl]

15. Michael Savage, too, has been critical of *

I don't listen to Savage but I have read recent quotes attributed to him (maybe here!) that have been critical of *'s policies

Though, IMO, anyone with an ounce of BRAINS would be against them!!!

[ochazuke]

16. Passion of The Christ

Just say it to make a fundy's head explode.

[Eric J in MN]

19. I just added this to my blog in response to your post.

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_12_26_george_w._bush_says_the_iraq_war_is_for_security_of_all.asp

[David Zephyr]

21. Howard Dean Was Crucified For Saying This By the Democratic Party.

John Kerry attacked Howard Dean for stating this.

[marcologico]

22. Kerry didn't attack Dean, Gephardt did

Kerry played it smart and let Dean self-destruct.

[kodi]

23. dean didn't self destruct he was a victim of character assassination

and both gephardt and kerry supplied the money and the assassins.

[Cheswick2.0]

25. nope

[David Zephyr]

27. Hear Kerry's Very Words Attacking Dean Statement That 'We Are Not Safer'.

Long before John McLaughlin and Eleanor Clift began patting themselves on the back...twelve months before, in fact, Howard Dean, said the very same thing, that the War in Iraq had not made us safer. Dean said this when it was not popular to say so, but he did. He was right. Unfortunately, his opponents in Iowa used his statement to go after him immediately.

John Kerry -- who I supported and gave thousands of dollars to, by the way (which other DU'ers can substantiate) -- did, like it or not, join immediately with Joe Lieberman in attacking Howard Dean for saying we were not safer because of the war in Iraq or because of the capture of Saddam Hussein during the Iowa contest twelve months ago.

Kerry, to his credit, albeit much, much later and only once having secured the nomination, did say we were not safer because of the war in Iraq. But let's at least tell the truth amongst ourselves here. Dean stuck his neck out, spoke the truth about Iraq, Kerry criticized him for it and used it to gain political leverage against Dean.

Here's exactly what Senator Kerry said right after Howard Dean dared to speak the truth that America was not safer with Saddam's capture:

1.) "Sen. John Kerry also differed with Dean, 'I think Saddam's capture is a very important step forward because it changes the dynamics on the ground in Iraq. It will make us safer because stability in the Middle East is critical in the long term to also dealing with the war on terror. I disagree with the governor (Dean).' Kerry offered this question concerning Dean, 'How can you have it both ways? What kind of leadership is that?'" http://www.iowapresidentialwatch.com/wannabes/Dean/deanDec2-2003.htm

2.) "A forceful proponent of the war, Sen. Joe Lieberman, said Dr. Dean is in a 'spider hole of denial,' a reference to Mr. Hussein's ignominious hideout and Dr. Dean's assessment of the capture's impact. Mr. Kerry said the front-runner's speech 'is still more proof that all the advisers in the world can't give Howard Dean the military and foreign policy experience, leadership skills, or diplomatic temperament necessary to lead this country through dangerous times.'" http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/nation/stories/121603dnnatdems.c33b.html

[marcologico]

31. okay, maybe Lieberman attacked Dean, but

I wouldn't call Kerry's "I disagree with the governor" an attack.

BTW I admire your financial support of Kerry.

[David Zephyr]

39. Give It Up (He Says In A Nice Sort of Way, Of Course)

Read all the Kerry statements I provided. And juxtapose them against what Dean courageously had said regarding Saddam's capture. Dean was right and Kerry has been proven wrong. That doesn't make Kerry a bad person, only wrong about Iraq at that time when he spoke.

I appreciate your kind words about my giving to Kerry's campaign. He would have made a very good president.

[sampsonblk]

41. That's a self-defeating statement from Kerry

...Kerry offered this question concerning Dean, 'How can you have it both ways? What kind of leadership is that?'

Sounds like the Repubs used the same line of questioning against Kerry himself. It was equally ridiculous, and equally successful.

[Bush was AWOL]

32. That's what I saw too...and that's why I shifted from Dean to Kerry

[Agnomen]

24. Let's not tell Buchanan

that "Da Vinci Code" is a novel

[ally_sc]

29. i kinda like ole john mclaughlin

i saw the taping when it aired sunday, and was glad he said that because it's true...we have no business being there, and too many lives have been lost and for what?
there was just no other correct answer. pat buccanan just did not want to say it. ego problem he has.

[bunkerbuster1]

30. I used to watch "The Barking Men" religiously

that was our nickname for the show; we always thought the theme music sounded like barking dogs as well.

McLaughlin ran a superficial media food-fight back in the day when it was a novelty to see people screaming about these issues in little bite-sized form. I never dreamed that other shows would take this and compress it (and dumb it down) even further.

Haven't watched it in awhile--maybe I should.

[ally_sc]

44. at least on mclaughlin

they get down to the nitty gritty and they even shout at each other which i kind of like every now and then instead of seeing everyone's head in a different window.

[tsuki]

34. First George Will, and now Pat Buchanan...hey, they are works

of fiction, you know the made up stuff, the not true stuff, the fiction stuff.

[Kahuna]

35. McLaughlin fell out with the bushistas, long ago. McLaughlin..

is sounding more and more liberal. :wtf:

[0007]

36. McLaughlinis's okay, except that he hurts my ear drums.

[CatWoman]

45. WRONG!!!!!!!!!

:D

[Kahuna]

50. *Snarf*

:evilgrin:

[ShaneGR]

37. I would hardly call McLaughlin an "arch-conservative"

I've always found his show to be well balanced, one of the few gems left of network television.

[American Tragedy]

43. It beats the hell out of Crossfire

Even with a fairly simple and primitive setup, McLaughlin Group is more entertaining and insightful than any of its equivalents on other channels.

[KansDem]

38. Haven't watched "McClaughlin Group" since Jack Germond left...

However, certain phrases such as "metaphysical certitude" and "you've stumbled uncontrollably into the truth" have become standard parlance in the KansDem household...

(...and while other phrases, such as "Eleanor, you're 'swellanor,'" and when someone is sitting in for Pat Buchanan, "Careful, that chair leans to the right," or "The rosary beads and Uzi are under the chair," and, when both Mort Kondracke and Mortimer Zuckerman are on, "Mort to the left of me, Mort to the right of me, I'm Mortified!," are not common parlance in our household, they are, nevertheless, greatly appreciated!)

[American Tragedy]

42. I love McLaughlin Group

I think it's absolutely hilarious. Seeing it when I was a little kid really propelled my later interest in politics. You really have to have the right sense of humor to be able to appreciate it.

And if you'd been watching the program for the past couple of years, you would know that his assessment of the war in Iraq is hardly surprising. He had been intensely critical of the idea before the war even began.

It's usually very funny and insightful, if you cover your ears and close your eyes whenever Blankley appears on the screen. My recommendation to viewers is not to take it too seriously.