This will be the fourth time I've blogged about Homeless Vets this week, it's been a silly narrative O'Reilly has been broadcasting, if I give up following it now, I will be doing you all a disservice. You would think an adult with a salary of $9 Million could think of more to do with the valuable airtime he posses to address the real issues. Is he the type of journalist young Americans should listen too? (My lovely girlfriend gave me the O'Reilly children's book recently, as a joke, I found it scary.)
Olbermann references a bridge in New Orleans. Take a look.
Well, I have enough AOL experience to know that this comment section will likely descend into chaos. Many will complain that I am too liberal and many will cry foul because the enclosed video was from Bill's greatest rival, Keith Olbermann. The complaints are always the same, some AOLers will apparently keep complaining until I turn myself into a Neo-Con.
This complaint mess all started after Powerline informed the AOL community I was posting liberal propaganda. This was during my first couple weeks on the job. If they sound familiar, these are also the guys who brought down Dan Rather. Rather was a legend, taking down liberal blogger Jeff Hoard proved to be a piece of cake for them. Here I was, first days at AOL, an idiot, thinking each writer on Newsbloggers were all working together towards a common goal of creating a digital blog about current events and these guys are bashing me daily in front of the hundreds and thousands of potential new readers.
Powerline eventually left AOL, but the Neo-Con mentality remains, muddy every argument - a tie equals a win. I don't mind chaos and flamewars in comment threads, as long as AOLers are happy, I've come to terms with the fact that this blog has been a healthy anger outlet for many. Myself, I have a young mind and it generally only works when inebriated. For the first time I fear my mental health because I spend my days reading endless Neo-Con hate mail.
This is my 500th post here on AOL and I hope to continue with 500 more in the future, It's time this blog either turns a corner or ends its run. This month I am mobilizing a campaign to restore the integrity of this blog here on Newsbloggers, to learn more details about how I plan on making this blog a little bit more peaceful, Email me.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Jeff...
Take comfort, young man. Other blogs might receive four to five hundred comments per post, but the devil lies in the details of those comments. You see, most of the comments on the "Us vs Them" blog published on AOL by some Dartmouth pinhead are simple shouting matches between the same joyless players about the same joyless topics--over and over again. Their petty hissy fits rarely add up to little, if anything at all.
Moreover, most rational people realize that Bill O'Reilly is merely a bully and a coward. He only entertains the feeble to bully on his show and then shuts down the strong by outshouting them or simply cutting off their mike whenever they have a valid point that he doesn't want to hear.
So take comfort in the amount of comments you might receive on any one post. The lack of outrage only shows that you are more in touch with reality (and what your fellow Americans think) than some of the other, more rigid, fanatical bloggers are.
Paul at 8:45AM on Feb 4th 2008
2. I liked the Olbermann video you posted. And the Bach organ music in the background was neat. Actually, there are more homeless than that. Every kid over 21 who still lives at home is, in my opinion, homeless also. Everyone who has to share an apartment is homeless. As for the Neo-con hate mail you get, can you forward it to me? I need a good laugh. (My college roommate used to hand me the receiver whenever she got a masher phone call).
No, do not make your blog more peaceful. Actually, I think you should make it more liberal...as a sort of a compassionate, intelligent counterpoint to, say, Dinesh's right-wing, unintelligent, uncompassionate blogs. Don't you know, darling, compassion, intelligence and integrity go hand in hand.
The Goddess Athena at 8:55AM on Feb 4th 2008
3. Hey Jeff,
Look at it this way, the amount of hate mail you get from each blog is a sign you're doing something right. It is well known that reality has a liberal bias... so being called a liberal to me just means you're telling the truth.
Oh and I'm sure that there are a lot of people who read you blog who agree with you, but don't post on the message board. Those who do, and are unnecessarily vitriolic, just can't find much of an argument on the subject
Matt at 9:10AM on Feb 4th 2008
4. Jeff,
Hate mail aside, does it make you feel good that some of your posters believe in many of the things that you do ?
How about these statements ?:
Every kid over 21 who still lives at home is, in my opinion, homeless also.
Everyone who has to share an apartment is homeless.
Would you say these two statements dovetail with your views?
M2D5 at 10:09AM on Feb 4th 2008
5. Hey Jeff - No one took Dan Rather down. The man took himself down by making up news. And he's still denying it. All the bloggers did was expose his fraudulent reporting. And it's OK to be biased. Everyone has a viewpoint on the world and no one has all the answers. But the minute a news anchor's personal proclivities take precedence over "hard-news" reporting, the game is over. That's why Rather is done.
Dave at 10:15AM on Feb 4th 2008
6. The name of the game is "Stalemate." The Republicans are in check. They lost their Queen early by not putting Liz Dole in for Dick Cheney in 2004. The battle plan has not been executed with precision. Soldiers do not set policy and Petraus should not have been used to defend it. They use their Bishops and Rooks like pawns. They cannot defend their King forever. When all else fails, the only answer is "Stalemate." That is a victory if the player with greater skill fails to realize the necessity of their strategery! They blew it so they must frustrate you. They win if you can't stay focused and be patient. I hope this helps?
Cecil Jones at 10:56AM on Feb 4th 2008
7. Hey Jeff:-)
What an insult to anyone’s intelligence to compare O’Reilly to a real journalist such as Dan Rather. Firing Dan Rather for reporting what was probably the truth and nothing but is one of the reasons for the rage we are experiencing in our nation today.
Bill O’Reilly cares about his ratings period. He has no regards for the truth and apparently none for the Veterans’ or any other homeless human being in America.
Keep up the good work Jeff.
Patty at 2:10PM on Feb 4th 2008
8. Congrats on your 500th, Jeff.
For me, your blogs are always thoughtful, you find stories that somtime get buried, you bring honor to the word "liberal" and your Canadian insight is often an objective look at US politics and media controversies.
I am fascinated by people like Gassett and brian little b, with their sneering hatred of all thing on the left.
Oh, and by the way, r2d2, Rather's story was not made up at all, he just couldn't validate it. Bush's handlers (his daddy's people) covered up the story of his Guard service as best they could.
Linda at 11:17AM on Feb 4th 2008
9. Sorry, r2d2m I mean Dave.
Linda at 11:18AM on Feb 4th 2008
10. Jeff,
As a Conservative, I enjoy your blog---even if we disagree on most issues. As a former Canuck---how about some issues from North of the Border.
Interesting video from Olbermann---the Left's resident mouthpiece for idiocy. Olberman should stay on the sports side of the equation, where he had some semblance of competence. Olbermann "end's the debate?" Give me a break.
Let's review the FACTS once again. John Edwards stated there were 200K homeless Veterans "living under bridges and on grates". O'Reilly wanted to know where these 200K homeless Vets were--in the effort to help them. I would like to see this Olbermann clown step up and do the same.
The fact Olbermann twists the argument to include any homeless person indicates he didn't actually listen to what O'Reilly said. Certainly there are more than 200,000 homeless in America (there are probable that many in Vancouver, BC). However, the question is: Are there 200K Veterans living under Bridges and on Grates? If there are, why are the choosing to do so, as there are many Charities in addition to what the VA supplies in the form shelter, beds, hygeine kits, meals, etc. The answer is: Drug abuse and mental illness (this has been my conclusion after many years of volunteer work for the homeless).
Michael at 12:24PM on Feb 4th 2008
11. Thanks for the comment everybody, keep em up, I generally only post videos I feel should be discussed. This morning I was tired of getting the same hatemail after day after day, trying to curb that trend without degrading the controversial topics presented.
@M2D5
Yes, I don't think living in an apartment is being homeless. I currently am living with my girlfriend in a small apartment and it certainly is a home to us. I also don't think living with your parents should be considered homeless, in many cultures adult children never leave their parents.
Jeff Hoard at 12:36PM on Feb 4th 2008
12. Does anybody believe o'Reilly anymore. I am convinced that most people listening to O'Reilly are only doing so to see how idiotic he can be, or which product he will boycott next. French wines, Frewnch Fries...he has singlehandedly put the French out of business, hasn't he?
I don't know of anyone that actually believes anything this man says. he is so short-sighted and finds facts to be so inconvenient. I listen to him quite often, but for comedy sake.
runtune at 12:49PM on Feb 4th 2008
13. u r killing the messenger(s)
just repeat after me, the 1st amendment, the 1st amendment ad infinitum....
every point needs a counter-point
chin up & keep it honest
boredwell at 12:54PM on Feb 4th 2008
14. Linda : What do you know that I do not know about Bush and his military service? I am fairly intelligent and knowledgeable about military matters and I have absolutely no reliable information about any misdealings or hanky-panky tht occurred during his period of service.
I have been in both the National Guard (New York) and the regular Army with more that nine years of combined service and I have worked as a veteran's counselor for fourteen years. During that time, I personally represented more that 1,100 individuals at hearing before the Review Boards of the Army, Air Force and Navy. (Note: The Naval Review Board was for both Naval and Marine personnel)
I have read just about everything that has been written about GWB's Ntional Guard service and I have reviewed his military records. In my professional opinion, his service was quite ordinary and honorable.
Once again, what do you know that I don't know?
longwalker at 1:08PM on Feb 4th 2008
15. Jeff, Keep your chin up. I appreciate the videos that you bring us.
Regarding being attacked by the right, a thoughtful examination of the issues is what they fear. They fear change in our civilization. They fear us because they think that we are smarter. They fear those who are different from them. This fear easily turns to anger, then name calling, then hatred. Ergo, you become a right wing victum.
What hurts more than their name calling is that we must share the planet with them and that they are having a say in our future.
Steve Seivers at 1:18PM on Feb 4th 2008