Quote:

---

Somehow in the mind of Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, the United States military is not controlled by its government.

In a discussion on government involvement on health care Tuesday evening, The O’Reilly Factor suddenly had an interesting and peculiar back and forth with Alan Colmes on the government’s overall effectiveness.

“Can they run the military?” Colmes asked.

O’Reilly replied: “They can’t run the military because it’s military controlled, not civilian.”

“That’s government run, it’s still the government doing it,” Colmes countered.

“But the Pentagon calls the shots,” he said.

“But the commander-in-chief is a civilian, the government runs the military well,” Colmes insisted.

“That is wrong,” O’Reilly said. “The Pentagon calls the shots on how the military operates. The Pentagon is military people.”

“That’s the government,” Colmes said. “It’s the government, it’s still the government.”

O’Reilly concluded: “They work for and the government running it are two different things.”

Despite what O’Reilly insisted, the military is led by the executive branch, which appoints the Pentagon’s leadership. The military’s top generals serve as advisers to the president, a civilian, who has ultimate authority over the military.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
I often get the feeling that government is no longer in the driver's seat when military operations are suggested.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Sometimes I feel that these decisions are being made in boardrooms and not government offices.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bytemite:
Also, I don't understand the last line of his argument.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:

Raptor is just being difficult again.
--Anthony

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by canttakesky:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bytemite:
Also, I don't understand the last line of his argument.

---

Bill is saying, WHO they work for (the govt) and claims that the govt is running the military, are two different things.

He is making the argument that govt is incompetent, but the military isn't. The military WORKS FOR the incompetent govt, but is not RUN BY the incompetent govt.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
"Even a casual examination of military actions would dispell such a belief system."

QFMFT

Seriously? What war HASN'T been a clusterfuck? Watch Restrepo to get a worm's eye view of how well the military runs itself. Christamighty.



HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
"He is making the argument that govt is incompetent, but the military isn't."

Hello,

Even a casual examination of military actions would dispell such a belief system.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:
I disagree.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by canttakesky:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:
I disagree.

---

You disagree with Bill, you mean. Not with me. Cause I agree with you.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Yeah, but all of you are missing the third-hand involved in this which generally DOES call the shots, handing the results up the chain as a fait accompli more often than not - the alphabet boys, our so-called-intelligence people.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
The right-wing simply doesn't include the executive branch as part of "the government." The executive branch is simply "the true power" in the land; they bow to it, fetishize it, passionately despise any libtard who profanes the office by getting elected, etc.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
The right-wing simply doesn't include the executive branch as part of "the government." The executive branch is simply "the true power" in the land; they bow to it, fetishize it, passionately despise any libtard who profanes the office by getting elected, etc.

---

Source this quote, if you can...

" Stroke of the pen, law of the land, kinda cool. "


Did you have to google / Bing it ? Or does it ring a bell.

It think you have a problem w/ your brain being missing.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:

Um. Er. You're making my point for me--you do realize that, right?

HKCavalier

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
You're such a funny little tyrant, Raptor, always dictating the manner in which folk are to speak to you. I gave you the answer. You have nothing but contempt for the Clintonistas because you see their claim to power as illegitimate by default. When a right-wing President smirks and chuckles at the power at his command, you revel in it as a personal victory.

HKCavalier

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
I need to grow up when you have a tantrum about not getting the reply you want in the form you demand. Funny.

---

You claiming you answered the question is like a child telling their parent they already made their bed, when it's clear they did no such thing. THAT is funny.

Quote:

---

The answer was implicit, Raptor. What's the matter with you? You were expressing your contempt at Begala's clucking over the power of the Presidency, while GWB clucked and smirked and chortled at how much power he wielded in the world on a regular basis and you only chortled along with him.

---

No, the ANSWER was Paul Begala, not " implicit". Begala was talking about Clinton's making of law , via Executive Orders. Talk about fetishizing over the office of the Presidency! Ha!

And yes, W did claim that HE was the decider, after the '04 election. Only problem was, he DECIDED on Harriet Myers, a 'comprehensive 'immigration policy, and meekly trying to fix SSI. I wasn't chortling along side him on any of those decisions.

Quote:

---

You never whinged at his pronouncements because that power properly belonged to him, in your eyes. Of course, the rightfully powerful enjoy their power, just as top executives in the private sectore lavish themselves with the spoils of other men's sweat and blood.

---

It's really funny to see you try to re-write history.

Quote:

---

Where as you vilify Begala and Clinton because their claim to power is undeserved. GWB wrote a legendary number of signing statements in his day, but not peep one out of you except in praise. My answer to your "riddle" was the basis of my reply. Again, what's the matter with you?

HKCavalier

---

Yeah, if you wanna keep saying using that line, I'd appreciate it if you'd cite a reference to where I claimed Clinton's power was undeserved. I said it was a lot of things, but not that.

And hell yes, I sided w/ Bush on occasion, but not out of any idolatry or belief that the office belongs to the GOP by divine entitlement. No watery tarts tossing simitars his way, I'll tell you that!

Bush was better, by far, than Gore or Kerry. But even so, I still didn't blindly follow him, and I DID speak out against much of what he did.

Now, what's wrong with YOU ?





" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Now, what's wrong with YOU ?

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
I'm sure a lot of folk reading this are wondering what possessed me to try talking to you directly this morning.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
The military runs the military, just like the Post Office runs the post office. Both entities are under civilian authority, so technically O'Reilly was wrong by not clarifying the distinction. He just likes to yell at the ever-deserving-of-it Colmes...it's show business after all.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AURaptor:


It think you have a problem w/ your brain being missing.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AURaptor:


It think you have a problem w/ your brain being missing.

---

It do?

Has anyone else ever noticed how incredibly bad at insulting the intelligence of others both Rappy and "Hero" are? Every time they try, they fuck it up.


I believe Rappy's response to such a thing would be, "Crassic!"

---

Quote:

---

You're such a funny little tyrant, Raptor, always dictating the manner in which folk are to speak to you. I gave you the answer.

---

Quote:

---

You have nothing but contempt for the Clintonistas because you see their claim to power as illegitimate by default. When a right-wing President smirks and chuckles at the power at his command, you revel in it as a personal victory.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
The military runs the military, just like the Post Office runs the post office. Both entities are under civilian authority, so technically O'Reilly was wrong by not clarifying the distinction. He just likes to yell at the ever-deserving-of-it Colmes...it's show business after all.

---

This is kind of like saying that the autoworkers run the auto companies. Sure, they may take their orders from the execs, but those guys aren't in charge in any way, right?

---