Ben Stein on "The Lynching of the President"

The American Spectator ^ | January 25, 2007 | Ben Stein

[seanmerc]

The Lynching of the President By Ben Stein

So there I was, lying in my bed in Malibu with my dogs, watching Mr. Bush's State of the Union speech. I thought it was darned good. Realistic, gracious, modest, sensible. I happen to think we should get out of Iraq yesterday, but I thought Mr Bush put forward his case well. And Congress responded graciously and generously on both sides of the aisle.

Then, whaam, as soon as the speech was over, ABC was bashing him, telling us how pathetic he was, how irrelevant he was, how weak he was, how unrealistic he was.

Right after that, Jim Webb gave a very short speech biting Bush's head off -- but not making any concrete proposals about anything. No network person mentioned how simple minded and unrealistic he was.

Then, tonight, the next night, I walked into the kitchen where my wife had left the radio going with NPR to amuse the cats. NPR was having a call-in show talking about the State of the Union. The first speaker I heard was a country music legend, Merle Haggard, who said he had never seen things so bad in this country. Then a legion of anonymous callers chimed in with similar thoughts.

And suddenly it hit me. The media is staging a coup against Mr. Bush. They cannot impeach him because he hasn't done anything illegal. But they can endlessly tell us what a loser he is and how out of touch he is (and I mean ENDLESSLY) and how he's just a vestigial organ on the body politic right now.

[Convert]

I watch too and I recall that his rationale was that those multi-millionaires who lavishly use the very freedoms others are sacrificing life and limb to preserve should be taxed and the money should go to those defending our country
I would have to see the transcript of the show where he advocating taking away tax cuts which benefit those under the mega-millionaire range

[Convert]

Newt will have a lot of trouble
And I have an autographed copy of "Contract"

[doc1019]

Please, as a fan of Ben, I would appreciate being proved wrong … but my ears are not defunct, eyes, yes, mind yes … ears … I don’t think so.

I have been a fan of Ben for many years and have always been miffed my his condescension of tax cuts.

[Eagles6]

I like Ben Stein, but a mistake? One of the reasons that we were hit on 911 was because saddam wasn't dealt with. He trained terrorists to attack us. Abu Yasin and Ramsey Yousef flew from Baghdad on Iraqi passports, blew up the World Trade Center and Yasin went back to saddam's open arms. That in itself was an act of war. The no wmd mantra goes on. Say it enough...We did find wmd, not the large stockpiles (they're in syria btw) that he admitted he had, but enough to kill hundreds of thousands.

Saddam had uranium, parts and plans for enrichment centrifuges, plans for nuclear weapons and, most importantly, the intent to build a weapon and use it against the US.

With the sanctions all but gutted, the UN corrupted for annan on down, most members of the Security Council openly trading with saddam, what other decision could have been made?

[Convert]

I've consulted my expert and there is no remembrance of anything but a tax on mega-millionaires to fund a few hundred dollars to give the lowest paid in the military a pay raise

I would have to have a time and date on that one

[Trajan88]

Re: "my wife had left the radio going with NPR to amuse the cats."

PETA is preparing to send in an army to save the kitties... NOT ;-)

[Names Ash Housewares]

NPR also had Frank Miller give a few thoughts.

He did not hold back. Thank God.....

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24146_Batman_Artist_No_Moonbat&only

[jazusamo]

I completely agree that the reasons you list are valid reasons for going to war in Iraq and that the war itself was not a mistake.

I believe if we pull out prematurely and it allows the radical muslim element to get a foothold in Iraq and go on to control its resources that it will have been a huge mistake.

I wasn't really clear on the point that Stein was making in this article but didn't think he meant that going to war in the first place was a huge mistake.

[doc1019]

Get back to me when your “expert” has reviewed all of the Fox news archives.

[Convert]

NO - you're the one with the burden of proof -
When did Ben talk about repealing all tax relief

[doc1019]

No, I gave a prima-facie case, gave referance location for refutation or libelous structure… up to you to refute.

[Convert]

You are the one making the accusation
If you don't have proof, just admit it

[doc1019]

No, I gave a prima-facie case, gave referance location for refutation or libelous structure… up to you to refute.

Still waiting for your answer to my question.

[Convert]

If you don't have proof....

[Convert]

Is it that Ben thinks there should be a flat tax?
That he knows all this tax cut stuff just distracts us from the real problem - constant meddling in our affairs?

[Lurker]

where my wife had left the radio going with NPR to amuse the cats

I think that qualifies as Cruelty To Animals.

L

[BreezyDog]

Bueller...is that your hand up?

[esoxmagnum]

"Although he is a genius, even geniuses have flawed thinking sometimes."

Indeed, didn't Einstein abhor war? If I am correct, didn't he vehemently object to his theories being used for war of any sort?

I may be wrong, but I've heard this several times before in my lifetime, and it supports your theory.

Who would argue that Zappa wasn't a musical genius, or Elvis' Colonel a marketing Genius, but that doesn't make them a genius in all realms.

From what I understand, Stein is quite the genius (IQ wise)and in his realm, but his problem is he crosses over to where he doesn't belong.

Maybe I'm wrong, its just a casual observation.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

country music legend, Merle Haggard, who said he had never seen things so bad in this country

Heartbreaking. This from the man who sang "Fighting Side of Me". Merle's been lefty for a while now - wonder what happened?

[napscoordinator]

For one thing Truman, FDR, and Kennedy didn't have 24/7 news. Second, I believe they all had all high numbers in the popularity numbers. I don't believe President Bush has those numbers. I don't know what is up with our Country, but the population gave President Clinton huge numbers in his last two years and he did nothing except get into trouble. Does not make sense...