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Bill O’Reilly To John Stossel: “You’re Not A Pothead, Are You?”

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» 43 comments

With the potentially-marijuana-legalizing Prop 19 debate raging in California, Bill O’Reilly brought in his go-to libertarian John Stossel to debate the issue on the Factor tonight. You’ll never believe this one, but O’Reilly wants it to get voted down (he thinks the measure will fail), while Stossel wants it to pass (and he thinks it will do so).

The two went back and forth on it, with O’Reilly even asking of Stossel, “You’re not a pothead, are you?” (Stossel declined to discuss his private life.) O’Reilly made the dubious assertion that marijuana is “exactly as addictive as tobacco” (the only consensus on how addictive it is seems to be that there’s not much of a consensus at all), while Stossel said “making [marijuana] illegal is a war on our own people.”

O’Reilly did say he’d agree with Stossel if marijuana users never went outside, which actually seems vaguely akin to the third season of the TV show The Wire, where a district police commander moved all drug trafficking to legalized zones in remote areas, making the rest of the community safer. And O’Reilly and Stossel even made a bet on whether or not Prop 19 would pass. That bet? $10,000 from the loser to a charity of the winner’s choice. We have to give them credit for doing a bit of good here. Video of their exchange below.

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  • Big Eddie

    He should ask Geraldo . …Name and town if you wish to opine .

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

    I hate it when O’reilly talks like hes an authority about things he doesn’t know a thing about. Hes not the only one in the media who is guilty of it, but damn man! You talk about freedom non-stop and expose Democrats who want the government in our lives, but you make an exception for pot?

    Come on Bill-o, that’s not consistent or logical.

  • http://www.libertarianism.com/ Jack Burns

    All I have to say is States rights! And don’t Bogart that joint my friend…

  • Big Eddie

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  • merton

    Dronetek said:
    I hate it when O’reilly talks like hes an authority about things he doesn’t know a thing about. Hes not the only one in the media who is guilty of it, but damn man! You talk about freedom non-stop and expose Democrats who want the government in our lives, but you make an exception for pot? Come on Bill-o, that’s not consistent or logical.

    I’m bothered by this, too. I remember noticing it several times when he debated Megyn Kelly. One argument in particular was the whole Westboro Baptist Church ordeal (it was actually covered by Mediaite. http://www.mediaite.com/online/megyn-kelly-and-bill-oreilly-have-heated-exchange-over-westboro-church/)
    O’Reilly acted like his opinion mattered more than the actual laws involved. I think almost everyone can agree the Westboro clan are deplorable, hateful human beings.. but legally they have every right to say whatever offensive, bigoted crap pops in their heads.

  • Azarkhan
  • Azarkhan
  • the real john t

    Azarkhan said:
    Azarkhan says:

    Do you ever have anything to say on the topic of the thread? Did you go by “G-dawg” on another blog where you thought you could change the topic to suit your fancy?

  • TonyClifton

    Stossel should make NORML his charity of choice.

  • Azarkhan

    the real john t said:
    Do you ever have anything to say on the topic of the thread?

    Pot is great, legalize it and kids will get pot from mom and dad and start smoking earlier, Stossel is boring, and so is this thread. And if Prop 19 fails, Boxer loses.

    But this isn’t boring! So good it deserves a replay:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuYTrMTFhm8

  • the real john t

    Azarkhan said:
    Stossel is boring, and so is this thread.

    Then why bother even posting on it? You must think every topic on here is boring since you do the same on all of them. If I got that bored I’d find another blog.

  • Rousseau

    We need to keep government out of our lives. That is the only way to make it smaller. If pot is bad, then let the labor market, part of a free market settle the issue.

  • the real john t

    I think pot should be legalized. It’s no worse than liquor.

  • Azarkhan

    the real john t said:
    Then why bother even posting on it? You must think every topic on here is boring since you do the same on all of them. If I got that bored I’d find another blog.

    See? Boring.

  • MiddleRoader

    Azarkhan said:
    http://www.therightscoop.com/rush-rips-republican-elites-for-compromise-with-democrats

    I believe it was you Az that said before you hate democrats with a passion. That is of course your prerogative, but In my mind the reason for the two party system is to insure that there is more of a balance to governing instead of one party getting it all. Hence, the working together notion. I think it shameful for Rush et al to want to continue keeping this country divided in such a viral way. I said it once before and I will say it again. The only real and successful relationships are brought about by compromise. So it should be in politics as well. Instead of the spoiled brat syndrome of grabbing your ball and taking it home if the other kids don’t want to play your way or with your rules.

  • MiddleRoader

    Poor Stossel should have told O”Reilly he uses for medicinal purposes after he got his ears boxed in from that wrestler. LOL But really it should be legalized. It’s much safer in many ways more than alcohol. Bill, argues that drugs become a menace once someone leaves their homes. WTF about alcohol?

  • the real john t

    MiddleRoader said:
    Bill, argues that drugs become a menace once someone leaves their homes. WTF about alcohol?

    Yeah, people that I know that smoke pot are calm and laid back after smoking it. Then there’s
    the people that drink alcohol that get 8ft tall and bullet proof and are meaner than hell.

  • Azarkhan

    MiddleRoader said:
    I believe it was you Az that said before you hate democrats with a passion.

    Yes. I have a deep and abiding hatred for Democrats. That’s not going to change anytime soon.

  • the real john t

    MiddleRoader said:
    I believe it was you Az that said before you hate democrats with a passion.

    Yes he hates Democrats. He doesn’t really know why, it’s just somebody told him to.

  • MiddleRoader

    the real john t said:
    Yeah, people that I know that smoke pot are calm and laid back after smoking it. Then there’s
    the people that drink alcohol that get 8ft tall and bullet proof and are meaner than hell.

    Amen to that! The only other bigger problem with pot is the munchies. LOL Boy oh boy then the health police will have a field day!

  • Azarkhan

    the real john t said:
    He doesn’t really know why, it’s just somebody told him to.

    Well, I’ve read a number of your comments, and I think you are pretty despicable.

  • MiddleRoader

    Azarkhan said:
    Pot is great, legalize it and kids will get pot from mom and dad and start smoking earlier,

    Could end up Mom and Pop will get some from their kids and think… damn, why didn’t I try it sooner?! A good number of people here on this blog could benefit from a small toke or two. Az, you might end up finding a toleration level for dems, lololol Ok, well, maybe not.

  • the real john t

    Azarkhan said:
    Well, I’ve read a number of your comments, and I think you are pretty despicable.

    That’s okay, after reading a bunch of your comments I find you totally ignorant. But I don’t group all RWers in with you.

  • the real john t

    MiddleRoader said:
    Could end up Mom and Pop will get some from their kids and think… damn, why didn’t I try it sooner?!

    I worked with another Ironworker that had to hide his from his kids.

  • MiddleRoader

    I tell you when my kids started to drink, I thought to myself, if it weren’t for the illegal ramifications of pot, I would have totally preferred that to alcohol for them. I think we all know that if the government didn’t make money off it, it would be legal by now.

  • MiddleRoader

    And no AZ I did not whisper that to them out loud or provide it to them. And I don’t do it myself anymore since i grew up and choose not to break the law. But i think it’s a stupid law!

  • the real john t

    MiddleRoader said:
    I think we all know that if the government didn’t make money off it, it would be legal by now.

    Hell, they could make a lot more money if it were legal. The taxes on it. But I guess they’d have to come up with a way to tell if it was from here or Mexico or someplace else.

  • the real john t

    MiddleRoader said:
    And no AZ I did not whisper that to them out loud or provide it to them. And I don’t do it myself anymore since i grew up and choose not to break the law. But i think it’s a stupid law!

    I don’t do it now either. I tried it in my younger days and it made me sick as hell. But I know many people that do and it doesn’t bother me a bit.

  • MiddleRoader

    the real john t said:
    Hell, they could make a lot more money if it were legal.

    I suppose that could be debatable. I have to think they make a killing off of confiscating drug money and property from the big guys, not to mention all those little fines that add up. I don’t really know for sure as I have never researched it. But I often wondered what the hell happens to all that money they confiscate.. You’d think that should help bring down the deficit a bit. Then again I always wonder what happens to the unclaimed lottery winnings, or when they stop a certain lottery game that had a huge pot. LOL.. You see sometimes my mind works like I’m high. Flashbacks,(from pot, rolls eyes) yes, I prefer to think of it as that than me just being inane. Actually my real excuse is being tired. I am off to bed now. Goodnight JohnT. Thanks for the chat!

  • MiddleRoader

    the real john t said:
    I don’t do it now either. I tried it in my younger days and it made me sick as hell. But I know many people that do and it doesn’t bother me a bit.

    My recollection from being around it was as you said totally laid back, with a lot of laughs to go around. How many times in our lifetime did all of us witness an upset when alcohol was involved? Probably more times than we’d like. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting alcohol should be outlawed, but I truly do believe that pot should be decriminalized. It can be regulated same as alcohol. The arguments against doing so, seem to x themselves out compared with the evils of alcohol, in my opinion. And it is not a gateway drug as so many would like us to believe.

  • the real john t

    MiddleRoader said:
    And it is not a gateway drug as so many would like us to believe.

    I know people that have smoked it for years and never did anyother harder drugs. They are just content with pot.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Feldman/1158574704 Josh Feldman

    I think this debate can put to rest the notion that the tea party is the same old Republican base. The tea party really hasn’t spoken out on social issues and seems to have no big objections to Prop 19. You might not agree with conservatism if you’re a liberal, but don’t assume conservative libertarians are your foes, you actually have more in common.

  • tws258

    “Why is marijuana not legal? It’s a natural
    plant that grows in the dirt. You know what’s not natural? Eighty year
    old dudes with hard ons. That’s not natural, but we’ve got pills for that.
    We’re dedicating all our medical resources to keeping the old guys
    erect but we’re putting people in jail for smoking something that grows
    in the dirt? ”

    Lazyboy

  • sarainitaly

    tws258 said:
    “Why is marijuana not legal? It’s a natural
    plant that grows in the dirt. You know what’s not natural? Eighty year
    old dudes with hard ons. That’s not natural, but we’ve got pills for that.
    We’re dedicating all our medical resources to keeping the old guys
    erect but we’re putting people in jail for smoking something that grows
    in the dirt? ”

    Lazyboy

    I love it! LOL!

    I think they should just make it legal and tax it, and make money. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal, harmful, and dangerous… I don’t get why not pot. If anything, people will be more chill. haha I think the majority of people who will smoke it, already do. It’s not like it is hard to get your hands on it, now.

    What I want to know though, is the answer to this:

    Nathan Martin spoke up at the MTV town-hall forum to ask President Obama why he has intervened to stop Arizona from enforcing immigration law but has yet to intervene to stop California from flouting federal law on marijuana.
    http://hotair.com/archives/2010/10/15/video-mtv-town-hall-questioner-hits-obama-on-hypocrisy-over-ca-pot-legalization/

  • The Lantern of Truth

    im Ted . my granny iris said i coud use the conputer

  • Kitsune

    Honestly, I don’t think legalizing it would make much difference in a lot of places. Employers will still look for it on drug tests, and still be inclined to not want to hire people who use (especially in at-will states).

    So, even people who might be inclined to try it if it were legal, well, they’re going to have to keep in mind that just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean employers will stop testing for it.

  • SmartAlec

    Can’t we all just get a bong? oops, I meant along

  • fallenchicken

    Here: O’reilly makes a good case for being the dumbest person on television. Take that, Jersey Shore.

  • MiddleRoader

    Kitsune said:
    So, even people who might be inclined to try it if it were legal, well, they’re going to have to keep in mind that just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean employers will stop testing for it.

    That maybe true, but could be unwise. I work with at least a couple people that do come to work slightly high (not obliviated) sometimes and do their best work. One of them is less edgy and irritated. You could probably argue that they would benefit from an anti-depressant instead. But, what’s the difference? A synthetic remedy or a natural one? I should think natural would be a better choice.

    SmartAlec said:
    Can’t we all just get a bong? oops, I meant along

    That’s a good one. LOL

  • CAconservative

    The marijuana issue in California points out just how bad the economy is here. The politicians would rather make marijuana legal, in order to tax it, than stop the spending and make the cuts necessary to make this state economically viable. California has between 3 and 4 million illegal aliens sucking of the tax-nipple to the tune of $10,500,000,000. annually!! We have screwballs like Jerry Brown who think that’s just fine?!!

  • sasha

    Pot should absolutely be legalized. It’s a joke that it’s not. It’s exactly like prohabition….It’ll eventually get legalized but in the meanwhile we’ll spend tons of precious tax dollars trying to stop it. We need more profitable, small businesses. Let’s handle like booze and tax it. Think of all the jobs and tax revenue it could provide right now when all the states need it. It’s no worse than booze and it may be safer. I’m 67 years old and I personally don’t smoke but I do know that a whole lot of people do. So let’s quit all this nonsense…We also need to legalize prostitution and gambling of all kinds so we can keep it clean, safe and tax it highly.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cheri-Johnson/1477172165 Cheri Johnson

    yes I agree that the failed drug policies have got to stop and legalization is the way to stop it..Noone seems to remember the lives that have been ruined and families torn apart..But to take my legal right away from me to smoke if I chose so and to not drink because it makes me sick should be my chioce not the governments

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cheri-Johnson/1477172165 Cheri Johnson

    TonyClifton said:
    Stossel should make NORML his charity of choice.

    yes and so should Bill maher

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