In a Nutshell, What's O'Reily's Story

[sparkie]

In a Nutshell, What's O'Reily's Story

I get the impression that people either really like him or really don't. He is a character. I have not watched him much. Is he kindof a senationalist=type reporter?

[speckledbird]

In a Nutshell, What's O'Reily's Story

I get the impression that people either really like him or really don't. He is a character. I have not watched him much. Is he kindof a senationalist=type reporter?

All WE have to do is have HIM get wind of what's REALLY going on down in NOLA, then you'll see "what's his story" and be glad he's around!

PROJECT NEEDING COORDINATION QUICKLY!

[NicoMoon]

Hi Sparkie,

In a nutshell, Bill O'Reilly hosts the most highly rated cable news show in the country, and is syndicated internationally. He's become a very powerful and influential person in his own right, even to the point of having called for a boycott of French goods and services that has had it's effect on that country's economy.

His mantra is "No Spin", although not all of us would agree, but he introduced that novel concept to his viewers, and I think it's had a beneficial effect on how we all watch the news, which is a good thing. He's loaded with personality and talent, even though he's a bit rough and gruff sometimes, kinda the guy you love to hate if you disagree with him, and the guy you adore if he's on your side.

Another of his mantras is "I'm looking out for the folks". So he's a hero to a lot of people too. I believe that he's very sincere about that, actually.

O'Reilly authored a book for children that is wildly popular,just a common sense guide to the youth of America, and it seems to also be having a huge impact on the kids who read it. I'm a big fan of any kind of mentoring of children by influential, successful, responsible adults, so I admire him for having written that book. Our kids really need it.

Franklin and I try to watch his show, we try to tape it everyday, and speed through a lot of segments that don't interest us, but we like the show because he does a lot of good interviews, and does sometimes really get to the heart of the matter. There are usually a few good chuckles too!

One of his big scores was when he investigated the Red Cross and other relief organizations after 9-11 and found a lot of abuses and misappropriation of donations. The scandal he created resulted in SOME improvements, but most importantly an awareness of how these groups work.

So, basically, what I'm trying to say is that the guy is informative, interesting and influential, so whether you love him or hate him, he's worth keeping up with.

Which is also why we created a thread in his honor, a chance for we the Folks to talk back to O'Reilly. He used to always end his show an appeal for emails from his audience "if we wish to opine" but admonished "no bloviating" causing America to revist our dictionaries, another good thing, IMO, and also the inspiration for our word play forum headers. We like words too, and we want people to bloviate here!!

We need a really great moderator for this thread for sure!! It will become a very hot item once it gets rolling, I'm sure of that!

Fair and balanced assessment, Speckledbird?? I know you're a big fan too.

Nico

[NicoMoon]

All WE have to do is have HIM get wind of what's REALLY going on down in NOLA, then you'll see "what's his story" and be glad he's around!

PROJECT NEEDING COORDINATION QUICKLY!

Interesting point, Speckledbird. I'm finding it difficult to imagine how he couldn't know what's going on, he's got a huge and talented research team behind him.

I'm waiting to see how and when he starts digging into this story, and wondering why he's been relatively silent on the topic so far, other than in relation to the rising gas prices, and questions about restoration contracts. Or maybe I missed some of his shows during this time of my own involvement in the Let's Roll project. It has most seriously detracted from my leisure TV viewing time.

BTW, I did write to him in the early days about this site, and addressing the issue of why the Red Cross was specifically endorsing the MoveOn.org housing project. No reply or response. Hmmmmm!! I thought that was a hot one.

[vicki2]

I clicked into this thread because not living in the States right now, I don't know what O'Reilly is like these days. Is he still as feisty?

I thought he could come up with some good points but often, he would seize a topic and beat it to death for ratings.

[Penelope]

Hi Vicki!

Welcome to Livewire! :hummers:

Yes, you just about have it right. I don't know if it's me or him, but I used to like O'Reilly because he seemed to be the only TV interviewer who asked the same questions I would ask, and noticed the same inconsistancies or whatever in the spin some of his guests were offering.

Lately he's as much a spinmeister as anyone, and yes, he sure does work his topics into the ground!

One problem, I think, is that he's gotten a bit power mad. Due to the popularity of his show, he actually does have a fair amount of influence. His audience jumps to his every suggestion in great numbers, so all Bill has to do is hint that so and so should be boycotted, or whoever should get a ton of mail, and bingo, the O'Reilly fans are off and running. That could be a good thing, but it evidently takes a person of more backbone than O'Reilly has to use that kind of power judiciously.

Bill just doesn't seem to have the smarts he once had. He's clearly being used by certain special interest groups, like the far right Christian fundamentalists, and I've also noticed that he is so deferential to black people that it's borderline offensive. Black people can pretty much say anything on his show, and he gives them a pass. Seems a tad like reverse racism to me. I mean, people are people, some have intelligent and solid arguments and some don't, skin color has nothing to do with it.

I'm a fan of O'Reilly's in the sense that he's the master of his game at the moment, and I always study the masters. Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm full of admiration for all of the reasons that he does rule cable prime time cable programming. Sometimes people achieve status one way and keep it another. I fear that Bill is one of those folks.

Where are you, btw??

[vicki2]

I'm sorry to hear that O'Reilly has succumbed to reverse racism ...not that I'm a supporter of racism at all but I don't think giving people passes does much more than create resentments.

I tuned out on him about the time he was in that big flap with George Clooney, I think it was ...which seemed so silly that it didn't merit all the air time he gave it.

Now in Scotland ...from New England.