Posted on 01/03/2006 9:20:35 PM PST by PJ-Comix
Displaying a hostility to President Bush and the Iraq war similar to that expressed by Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart, on tonight’s Late Show David Letterman will go further than I’ve ever heard him in revealing his derision for President Bush’s decision to launch the Iraq war. I know this thanks to the “Big Show Highlight," a two-minute streaming-only RealPlayer preview of tonight’s program, which is now featured on the Late Show’s home page.
In the posted clip, Letterman mockingly tells guest Bill O’Reilly: "The President himself, less than a month ago said we are there because of a mistake made in intelligence. Well, whose intelligence? It was just somebody just get off a bus and handed it to him?" Letterman demands: “Why the Hell are we there to begin with?" When O’Reilly points out that the British, Russians and Egyptians also presumed Iraq had WMD, Letterman retorts: “Well then that makes it all right?" Turning unusually serious, Letterman soon lectures: “I'm very concerned about people like yourself who don't have nothing but endless sympathy for a woman like Cindy Sheehan. Honest to Christ. Honest to Christ." That prompts O’Reilly to contend: “No way a terrorist who blows up women and children is going to be called a ‘freedom fighter' on my program." To which Letterman fires back: “I have the feeling about 60 percent of what you say is crap.” After the show airs in an hour, I will update this item with more from the Letterman/O’Reilly exchange, including a video clip. (Transcript of RealPlayer excerpt follows.)
It took me a while, but I managed to take down this transcript from the two-minute streaming RealPlayer “Big Show Highlight” video clip on the Late Show home page:
David Letterman: “The President himself, less than a month ago said we are there because of a mistake made in intelligence. Well, whose intelligence? It was just somebody just get off a bus and handed it to him?”
Bill O’Reilly: “No.”
Letterman: “No, it was the intelligence gathered by his administration.”
O’Reilly: “By the CIA.”
Letterman: “Yeah, so why are we there in the first place? I agree to you, with you that we have to support the troops. They are there, they are the best and the brightest of this country. [audience applause] There’s no doubt about that. And I also agree that now we’re in it it’s going to take a long, long time. People who expect it’s going to be solved and wrapped up in a couple of years, unrealistic, it’s not going to happen. However, however, that does not eliminate the legitimate speculation and concern and questioning of ‘Why the Hell are we there to begin with?’”
O’Reilly: “If you want to question that, and then re-vamp an intelligence agency that’s obviously flawed, the CIA, okay. But remember, MI-6 in Britain said the same thing. Putin’s people in Russia said the same thing, and so did Mubarak’s intelligence agency in Egypt.”
Letterman: “Well then that makes it all right?”
O’Reilly: “No it doesn’t make it right.”
Letterman: “That intelligence agencies across the board makes it alright that we’re there?”
O’Reilly: “It doesn’t make it right.”
Letterman: “See, I’m very concerned about people like yourself who don’t have nothing but endless sympathy for a woman like Cindy Sheehan. Honest to Christ.” [audience applause]
O’Reilly: “No, I’m sorry.”
Letterman: “Honest to Christ.”
“O’Reilly: “No way. [waits for applause to die down] No way you’re going to get me, no way that a terrorist who blows up women and children.”
Letterman: “Do you have children?”
O’Reilly: “Yes I do. I have a son the same age as yours. No way a terrorist who blows up women and children is going to be called a ‘freedom fighter’ on my program.” [mild audience applause]
Letterman: “I’m not smart enough to debate you point to point on this, but I have the feeling, I have the feeling about 60 percent of what you say is crap. [audience laughter] But I don’t know that for a fact. [more audience applause]
I have always disliked Letterman. I very rarely saw anything that tickled me, and I suppose in light of this I must have seen the underlying A-hole and been turned off.
Talk show hosts who haven't clue one as to how intelligence is gathered shouldn't be discussing it.
Disgusting to say the least. David Letterman does not deserve the freedom our troops provide him
Regardless if you like O'Reilly or not, Letterman is a radical left trash bag. He believes that witch Sheehan is a Saint. Simply unbelievable.
I like Letterman but he should be very careful.
This could finish him!
Are there inside Letterman email addresses ?
Which was a good line worth some laughs.
He's an entertainer after all, and from what I've seen, his audience was entertained.
Stopped watching both Letterman and Leno months ago because of their relentless, vicious, and thoughtless attacks on Bush and the war - my only consolation is that they and people like them would be amonst the first into the shreading machines should the jihadists ever take over......
I agree. Jay Leno is so much more intelligent and so much funnier than Letterman is.
I hope his ratings take a big nose dive.
Read your post and won't watch show.
I have the feeling about 99 percent of what Letterman say is crap.
Strike that.
I KNOW it is crap!!
Leftist Letterman is a bore. His show sucks and he can't even beat Leno? He's tired and snarly and boring. He should retire.
Letterman is more and more vocal in his hatred of Bush, and that is why I quit watching. He isn't funny anymore.
I don't really care for O’Reilly but Letterman is an honest to God POS.
I would say that Letterman did not do well by himself at all tonight, in both or any sense you can take those words.
He was outright hostile, sneaky , and dishonest with O'Reilly, and seemed to have him on ONLY to ambush him with cheap shots and play to his own captive audience. I expect O'R will be talking about this tomorrow on the radio, and I expect Letterman will be getting a lot of flak about this from a variety of sources and will issue a half-hearted apology of sorts on Wednesday night's show. I was VERY disappointed in Letterman , and will probably not watch his show again. The few times I've turned on Leno, I was surprised at how good it was.
Sounds like a commie-pinko traitor.
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