Bill O'Reilly has written something worth reading - is this possible?

[Democat]

Bill O'Reilly: Dodge ball

Let me ask you a direct question: Do you get angry at politicians who avoid answering tough questions? Don't dodge now. Does it bother you that President Bush has only held three press conferences in more than three years? Does it grate on you that Hillary Clinton considers Larry King her media guru? Does it drive you nuts that Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and Dick Cheney have sought sympathetic media venues since the war in Iraq started going south?

If none of the above rankle you, then you're in tune with the latest trend in politics: "Forum Shopping." That means whenever a politician is faced with a controversy or a situation whereby he or she is looking bad, they have certain friendly "forums" where their spin will not be challenged.

Thus, a politician can seem accessible to the public because they appear on "Oprah" or "Leno" or "The Daily Show." But these forums are purely entertainment, and rarely is the politician put on the spot. They can pretty much say what they want to say.

Now there is nothing wrong with our leaders going on entertainment venues. Talking to Jay Leno helped get Arnold elected governor. But if that's all they do; if the only interview deal is a sweetheart deal, then we have a problem in this country.

http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/pe_columnists/article/0,2071,NPDN_14960_2836348,00.html

Regardless of the fact that he wrongly considers Fox or his show "real news" instead of entertainment, his point about the media and politicians is one that has been brought up here before. This is only going to get worse as time goes on and the line between entertainment and news in America breaks down further.

[DaisyUCSB]

1. Yup, one of his token non-right-wing agenda voicings to cover himself

for the substantial percent of his "fanbase" who believes him when he says he's objective and not a "spinner".

Other than the thing about the Daily Show being "just entertainment" like the tonight show.

TDS is way more important and educational and dependant on an intelligent audience than any other late night talk show. It isn't celebrity driven.

[Wickerman]

2. Guess Cheney on Rush would fit his bill of a sweetheart deal

and there IS a problem in this country.

[Faygo Kid]

3. Just more pouting from O'Lielly

His ego can't stand politicians in demand going on other shows. That's all this is. Another tantrum from Mr. Ego.

[alvis]

4. Bill whO'Reilly is part of this problem

He just wants these people on his show. It hurts his inflated ego that those people are going on other shows rather than his. This guy doesn't even get it that his infotainment show is one of these forums that he's complaining about. Maybe he does get it and it's all part of the act.

[hasbro]

5. I can't tell what stung egO'Reilly more

about The Daily Show. Newsweek putting Jon Stewart on the cover and saying he "is better at defusing spin than Bill O'Reilly." Or The Colbert Report "It's French Bitch!"

this is the second time he's lashed out at Stewart so comeuppance anytime on the Daily.

[Viking12]

6. O'Liely conveniently overlooks the forum he provides

for people that reinforce his views. Watch Bill the Shill's Mel Gibson interview and tell me were where the hard hitting questions? Watch him interview someone on any other of his pet issues and show me the hard hitting questions. Watch him host two guests, one that agrees with Bill and one that doesn't, you'll see Bill the Shill tag team with one side aginst the other. O'Reilly is a whining hypocrite. I agree with his critique of the problems inherent in "forum shopping", but to exclude himself from that critique is intellectually dishonest.