»» Columnists

Bill O’Reilly Criticizes Obama’s Iraq War Speech For Being Boring

video

by Colby Hall | 9:09 pm, August 31st, 2010

» 52 comments

Tonight President Obama gave the second prime time oval office speech of his term in office, commemorating the end of combat operations in the Iraq war, and thanking U.S. military for a job well done. It was a serious speech that stayed primarily focused on the ongoing mission in Iraq, but also brought in the military efforts in Afghanistan and the economic woes that the U.S. is currently enduring. During a special live episode of The O’Reilly Factor host that followed, Bill O’Reilly remained unimpressed. The reason? He found him boring.

O’Reilly’s critique of the sitting President for not being entertaining while addressing the nation during a time of war stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric that came from the very same show in the earliest days of the Iraq War: O’Reilly often chided critics of President Bush for being unpatriotic. Granted, those were very different times for a variety of reasons. Most notably, the emotions that came from events of 9/11 were still very raw in the early years of the Iraq War. Secondly, President Bush was more politically aligned with the self-described traditionalist O’Reilly. Finally, President Obama effectively ran for President opposing the Iraq War and voted against the surge in troops that many see as the strategic approach that proved most effective in transitioning the mission in Iraq.

O’Reilly’s criticism of President Obama’s style gets called out by guest Alan Colmes, who admonishes the host: “You can’t get him on substance, so you go over his style.” O’Reilly wasn’t hearing it, however; he later calld out Obama for the way he held his hands during the speech. Guest Monica Crowley follows with the derisive claim that Obama “he did look like sort of a ‘Myron” with a propeller hat.” The President of the United States looks like a nerd? Really?

In a moment that had as much historic significance as this – particularly about an issue that has previously earned a vast amount of coverage on this very show – O’Reilly’s critical words were awkward at best. In the words of O’Reilly, they were unbecoming of a patriot and more like the comments of a pinhead.

Alan Colmes, barack obama, Bill O'Reilly, fox news, Iraq War, The O'Reilly Factor

http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Just what are you smoking Colby. The speech was boring. The speech has NO historical significance at all. It was a campaign speech. This guy is not up to the job as president. Total loser.
AngelPeters

O’Reilly wanted to be “entertained?”

Oh yea, Fox. They like entertainment. :-/
murf

Yeah REAL HYPOCRITICAL there Colby, all I remember hearing from the Left after Bush’s speeches were criticisms on his stuttering , and delivery style. So I find nothing wrong with what O’ Reilly said .
AngelPeters

gordonbloyershow said:
Just what are you smoking Colby. The speech was boring. The speech has NO historical significance at all. It was a campaign speech. This guy is not up to the job as president. Total loser.

Were you really looking to be entertained? The blood of our troops has drenched Iraqi soil and you were looking to be entertained?

Please tell me you have more respect for the troops who have sacrificed, literally, life, body, mind and soul, for you and all of us.

Boring? Who cares if the freaking speach was boring?
NORBIT

I know, if I’m a Democrat, I feel really Motivated and Inspired over the President’s appearance!!
LOL!

Did you catch his demeanor?
He acts like it’s already November 3!

WOW!
Compare tonight with his campaigning!

Just because he CAN’T LEAD is no reason to be so hard on yourself!

This bodes well for the country, and not-so-well for the Democrats!
Iris

Billo , the old has been perv whose audience isn’t anyone under 50 ( ie gordonblows) has the nerve to call ANYONE boring
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nick-Andrelli/100000753300823 Nick Andrelli

But 0bama is such a great orator!!! That’s how he got elected, he just mesmerized everyone with his ability to speak to a crowd! How could he possibly be boring?

Eventually people started listening to WHAT the man says, rather than HOW he says it, and many people got turned off. That’s why, despite an MSM that is STILL trying to cover his back, his ratings are down into the low 40s, and we haven’t even reached the midterms yet. It was too late to save the Presidency, but hopefully it will be enought to save the country by preventing him from serving a second term.
Iris

Angel, BAMM!!! right in gordonblows face, he probably “pretended” to be gay to avoid the draft, what a hypocrite he is
notsofast

Iris said:
right in gordonblows face, he probably “pretended” to be gay to avoid the draft, what a hypocrite he is

No, that was Clinton!
Constantly

iris i hope you get help soon. getting raped by those 3 high school janitors really did a number on your head. of course fucking them every week after that probably didnt help. ill pay a christian to pray for you
TfT

Laughing at Colby’s commentary — what a double standard. For years, you lefties criticized everything Bush said and did, but hey, criticize hehimselftehone, and get blasted by Colby.

Too funny.

He didn’t bother to credit Bush for the hard decisions and the perserverence, but he did find time to blame Bush for the economy.

This was not a significant speech; it was a campaign speech.

Obama voted TO DEFUND THE TROOPS WHILE THEY WERE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

Too funny Colby — an Obama cultist fer sure.
Iris

o look another old perv nutsofart , no that was you gramps
Iris

old perv constipated, charming as usual
gar

Soon they will be adding flashcards besides the teleprompter.”look serious” “lighten up” “pound the table” “blame Bush”.It’s gotten to the point I tune him out like MSNBC.I’m also at the point that I believe this man was manufactured by the press. After Edwards shot himself in the foot the press needed something to juice up the primary. Hillary wasn’t going to fill many months of air time so Obama became the flavor of the day and it snowballed into this major production. Now the liberal press is defending their honor by trashing conservative americans over something they created. November can’t come fast enough.
Constantly

iris your cries for help will not go unanswered!!
notsofast

I see they say Malia Obama grew 6″ in the last 17 months.

Too bad Barry can’t grow up.
NORBIT

You know, maybe Barry’s really a Republican, and this was his plan all along – to Purge the Congress of Democratic control for the next 40 years!!
chucken

As a chickenhawk what else is Billo the pervert to do? Can’t show the polls that 60% of Americans think the war in Iraq was a mistake.He completely ignored the dramatic pullout of troops that hated MSNBC got exclusive footage of.Billo can’t talk about dead and wounded soldiers or how his taxes were wasted on the ill advised invasion and occupation.This fuckhead can only do what he knows best.Talk about himself and how this somber event does not interest him.What a complete asshole.
notsofast

n a moment that had as much historic significance as this – particularly about an issue that has previously earned a vast amount of coverage on this very show – O’Reilly’s critical words were awkward at best. In the words of O’Reilly, they were unbecoming of a patriot and more like the comments of a pinhead.”

LMAO-

A patriot? What would a lib know about being a patriot.

The cruelest thing Beck did at his rally was have the people sing the National Anthem and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

That drove any lib right out of DC!!
notsofast

Iris said:
Iris says:
August 31, 2010 at 9:47 pm Iris(Quote)

VIris, get on your walker and go home!
murf

Chicken — Your hero Keith Olbermann was quite the respectable commentator during the Bush years , wasn’t he ?

Let’s see

Traitor ‘

Murder’

Bush wants the troops to die ‘

Worse than Hitler ‘

Need I say more ?
chucken

Murf, Olbermann was right that the reasons for going into war WMD,Nukes,9-11 ties were lies.Obermann was right how the Bushies did not protect the troops with the proper armor on the army vehicles,Olbermann was right about the Bushies ignoring the injured soldiers that came back.Olbermann was right about the Bushies torture of innocent Iraq civilians.Yeah Olbermann was right that Bush is the worst president in our countrys history.
murf

Chicken — to say that Bush willfully had no regard for our troops safety , and well being is a downright lie . You can disagree with going to war , but the distortions and misrepresentations Olbermann engaged in , was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen .
notsofast

chucken said:
Murf, Olbermann was right that the reasons for going into war WMD,Nukes,9-11 ties were lies.

So it was Bush that lied about WMD? Really? I love the lib selective memory!!

From Sandy Berger, document thief and President Clinton’s National Security Advisor:

“Imagine the consequences if Saddam fails to comply and we fail to act. Saddam will be emboldened, believing the international community has lost its will. He will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. And some day, some way, I am certain, he will use that arsenal again, as he has ten times since 1983.” – Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University, February 18, 1998

Madeleine Albright, President Clinton’s Secretary of State:

“Iraq is a long way from Ohio, 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.” – Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University, February 18, 1998

“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. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well, effects American security. *** This is a very difficult vote, this is probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. Any vote that might lead to war should be hard, but I cast it with conviction.” – Senator Hillary Clinton, Addressing the US Senate, October 10, 2002

“My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. I’m a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Resolution that’s presently under consideration in the Senate. Saddam Hussein’s regime is a grave threat to America and our allies. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons today, that he’s used them in the past, and that he’s doing everything he can to build more. Every day he gets closer to his long-term goal of nuclear capability. *** Democracy will not spring up by itself overnight in a multi-ethnic, complicated society that’s suffered under one repressive regime after another for generations. The Iraqi people deserve and need our help to rebuild their lives and to create a prosperous, thriving, open society. All Iraqis, including Sunnis, Shia and Kurds, deserve to be represented. This is not just a moral imperative. It’s a security imperative. It is in America’s national interest to help build an Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors, because a democratic, tolerant and accountable Iraq will be a peaceful regional partner, and such an Iraq could serve as a model for the entire Arab world.” – Senator John Edwards, Speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 7, 2002

“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.” S
- 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 invigorated 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, December 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 mandated 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 seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. 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 always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.”
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (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 weap ons 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.”
- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

“Without 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 is miscalculating America’s response to his 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
juan

Democrats were the first to claim Iraq had WMD’s and voted for the War!

They then tried to cause us to lose the War by undermining President Bush and voting to defund our Troops!

Totally PATHETIC!
notsofast

Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

SP wins another!

Joe Miller is now the winner in Republican primary in Alaska!
juan

Thanks to Alaska for giving us Joe Miller!
the real john t

murf said:
Yeah REAL HYPOCRITICAL there Colby, all I remember hearing from the Left after Bush’s speeches were criticisms on his stuttering , and delivery style.

And all we hear now is the same thing from the right about Obama. REAL HYPOCRITICAL.
chucken

Hey notsofast did not see any Obama quotes in there.And when the hell are you going admit that George W Bush had the ultimate power to take us into war.You want to shift blame to others that certainly share the blame.But Bush and his neo-cons in HIS adminstration are the ones most responsible for the shitty intelligence that got us in to a war we did not have to fight.
notsofast

chucken said:
Hey notsofast did not see any Obama quotes in there

I saw the statements of the former President, SOS, top Dem leaders. YOU libs lied about WMD!
notsofast

chucken said:
Hey notsofast did not see any Obama quotes in there.

You dumb lib- BHO was in the Ill. State Senate during that time!

LMAO

Man, you lied about who lied about WMD and don’t even know that Barry was as irrelevant then as he is now!
chucken

We never found any WMD.Any the Bushies admit that.Obama gave an anti-war speech in Chicago before the war started and said we would get stuck and never get out.
the real john t

notsofast said:
I saw the statements of the former President, SOS, top Dem leaders.

And you’re a damn liar.
notsofast

the real john t said:
And you’re a damn liar.

Read my post above , YOU LIAR!
notsofast

chucken said:
We never found any WMD.Any the Bushies admit that.Obama gave an anti-war speech in Chicago before the war started and said we would get stuck and never get out.

BHO was not in the US

Senate until 2005- My garbage man also gave a speech against the war in 2003.

Big shit!

And BHO proved himself WRONG tonight, didn’t he?

Are you always this dense or are you making a special effort today.
the real john t

notsofast said:
Read my post above , YOU LIAR!

Show me one of those quotes that called for the invasion of Iraq. You can’t.
chucken

Hey notsofast you don’t want to answer the central question.Who was responsible for the war in Iraq?Who fucked it up?Who lied about WMD,Nukes,ties to 9-11? If all these Democrats lied or were stupid.So you just admitted that Bush lied and also was stupid..As Glenn Beckerhead says CASE CLOSED!!
notsofast

the real john t said:
Show me one of those quotes that called for the invasion of Iraq. You can’t.

You need to learn how to read, libby!
notsofast

chucken said:
Who lied about WMD,Nukes,ties to 9-11? If all these Democrats lied or were stupid

All of the above!

You libs lied to Bush and he believed ya.

BTW, it was Bush who set the withdrawal deadlines for Iraq, not Barry!
chucken

Bush was lied to by the Democracts in the Republican Senate and House!!Was Dick Cheney a secret Dem like Obama is a secret Muslim?Man you don’t have any idea how a government works do you? Bush talks with his people and ignored the evil liberals.
the real john t

notsofast said:
You need to learn how to read, libby!

Show me one of those quotes that says we needed to invade Iraq. You can’t and you know it. Now all you want to do is spin. Which you’re good at.
TeaBagALibby

News Flash, it was fucking boring, but not much that comes from this douchbag isnt.
Big_F-ing_Deal

This is why O’Reilly doesn’t do his show live. The depth of his comments result in “body language” and “boring” remarks..
And Monica Dumbshit talks about how he didn’t “look Presidential”.

They really need an hour or two to prepare some rehearsed hateful comments or else they are completely lost.
shootfromthehip

Yes, emdagard. People do watch her show. Mostly smart people (which are fewer and fewer thanks to Fox’s operation “make America dumb” campaign, ongoing now for a decade.

The Rachel Maddow Show” beat CNN’s “Larry King Live” for the sixth month in a row among both total viewers and A25-54 in July, out-drawing King by 50 percent among A25-54 (236,000 vs. 157,000) and by 37 percent in total viewers (891,000 vs. 652,000). July marks the 17th month “The Rachel Maddow Show” has beaten “Larry King Live” in its 23 months.

Not bad. There still are smart people left in America.

You might be one of them if you tune in.
NORBIT

Breaking News:

Democrat Lisa Murkowski concedes to Republican Joe Miller in GOP primary!

KINGMAKER Sarah Palin b-tch-slaps the Professional-Left Ruling Class once again!
NORBIT

The President looked like he was in a dentist’s seat last night, the way his body language showed he doesn’t believe in either one of these wars!

Whatever got us into the war, Bush handed this guy a stable, and dramaticlly more secure country.
All Obama had to do is NOT set a withdrawl date, and get the political leadership there under control, which was already underway (successful elections, etc.).

But Obama is an ideologue, so he puts in the like-minded, and total incompetent lefty, Richard Holbrook to oversee the situation.

WELL HOW’S THAT SITUATION NOW?
http://bit.ly/bKGa13 dandmb50

@dandmb50 – Smoke screen, smoke screen diversion, that is all it was, keep the peoples minds on something other than the economy and jobs. I missed it, but read/saw enough to know what was said and yes he kept his promise to get the troops out of Iraq, but what about his promise to close Gitmo?
Is this Change we can believe in, I don’t think so.
The Republicans wanted him to give credit for the “Surge” I’ll give them that and give them credit for the war, nice job, over 4000 dead because of no reason to be in a war.
Very sad indeed. Even some of the Liberals are distancing themselves from Obama.
And I don’t even live there. It was “boring.”

Daniel .. Toronto, CANADA
My take on things
shootfromthehip

“but what about his promise to close Gitmo?”

That is coming in 2011.

These things take time my nanook of the north.

Obama put it on hold partially because the crazy cons would have used that as a scare tactic in the mid terms.

“oh no! Obama wants to put the terrorists in your backyard!”

Be glad you live in Canada where there are adults.
gar

Hey shooter Obama hasn’t closed Gitmo because he doesn’t know what to do with the prisoners or where to put them. Like he really cares what the cons think. He came out 2 days after being president and said he was closing Gitmo. Must have been thinking about the midterms then. This is what your college education did for you.BTW Madcow beating a man that’s been dead for many years is a huge accomplishment.
The Real Royal King

I have to say it takes real chutzpah for O’Reilly to call anything boring! He has the same dull, dreary, dimwitted guests over and over, and he says the same dull, dreary, dimwitted things over and over. I sometimes think he has begun to find his job very tedious. A job punching holes in notebook paper must appear interesting to him at times.

BECKERHEAD’S GONE PREACHER, AND QUITE THE HERETIC,
O’HANNITY IS A SIMPLY A WORLD CLASS WHINER,
O’REILLY PRESENTS THAT WEIRD BODY LANGUAGE CHICK,
ADD O’VAN SUSTEREN: ASLEEP IN MY RECLINER!
writer

King, if you find O’Reilly that boring, stop watching.
glenn113

What else would you expect from a Chickenhawk like O’reilly? Maybe, “You and him go fight. I’ll hold your coats.” http://www.nhgazette.com/display/?id=75