David Letterman is a Dumbass

from JoeUser Forums

I just watched a clip of O'Reilly vs Letterman on the Letterman show.  I saw the title of the clip and was all set to laugh at O'Reilly.  Instead, I found myself angry and dissappointed in Letterman.

O'Reilly was surprisingly composed given the situation he was in.  Letterman referred to the Bush administration as O'Reilly's friends and O'Reilly pointed out that Letterman has an easier time getting them on his show than Bill does getting them on the Factor (which I have witnessed to be true).  Bill was very wise in not supporting the war as much as supporting the troops and stressing the importance of us succeeding over there.  Letterman, on the other hand, sounded like an ignorant twit.

I could almost tolerate David pressing Bill as to why we are in Iraq as if it was O'Reilly's decision that put us there but the thing that caused me to lable him "dumbass" was when he started talking about Cindy Sheehan.  He told Bill he couldn't understand anyone who didn't simply have endless sympathy for Sheehan.  He couldn't understand Bill's point that what she is doing is harmful to our troops and their families.  What a dumbass!

David went on to say that if Bill hadn't lost a loved one in the war he had no right to pass judgement on Sheehan.  What a bunch of crap!  If someone's son gets killed by a schoolbus and then his mom kills a bunch of schoolbus drivers, should only those affected by schoolbus related deaths be able to pass judgement on her actions?  Nonsense!

David couldn't seem to grasp the basic concept of hating the sin but loving the sinner.  O'Reilly said he felt sorry for Sheehan but what she was doing was wrong.  Letterman needs to stick to his light hearted late night comedy and stay out of politics.

4,746 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
What that interview showed me is that Letterman really doesn't have the skills to conduct a political or current-events-oriented interview. He talks to celebs about projects, books, music, and love lives. That's his bread and butter, not hard-hitting political commentary and rhetoric. The interview went poorly, I agree. They were coming from two separate fields of study. O'Reilly gets off on punching people in the gut verbally... Letterman just can't do the same thing and be effective. It's not that O'Reilly is a better host - certainly not; he's rude, abrasive, and shuts you up if you're insipid - but O'Reilly is practiced at his skill, which is conducting a political, current-events-oriented interview. Letterman is skilled at light comedy and puffy interviews with Julia Roberts and (finally) Oprah.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
O'Reilly is practiced at his skill, which is conducting a political, current-events-oriented interview. Letterman is skilled at light comedy and puffy interviews with Julia Roberts and (finally) Oprah.


I agree but still say he is a dumbass due to his stance on Sheehan.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

What a bunch of crap! If someone's son gets killed by a schoolbus and then his mom kills a bunch of schoolbus drivers, should only those affected by schoolbus related deaths be able to pass judgement on her actions? Nonsense!

I had to laugh at that analogy!

I guess I did not miss anything when I missed Letterman!

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Letterman, on the other hand, sounded like an ignorant twit.

Exactly. Emphasis on the "ignorant."

Letterman needs to stick to his light hearted late night comedy and stay out of politics.

I wish he would. I'm so sick of entertainers spouting off about things they know nothing about. I used to enjoy Letterman. Of course I was younger and less conservative then.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
over in the DEMONCRAPIC Underground the show is being touted as bill being crushed by the wit of letterman, shows ya no two people see things the same way. I did not see interview as my bedtime is around 9 most nights. heh.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
If someone's son gets killed by a schoolbus and then his mom kills a bunch of schoolbus drivers, should only those affected by schoolbus related deaths be able to pass judgement on her actions?


Did I miss Cindy Sheehan killing someone (or a bunch of someones)?
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
It reminded me of when O'Reilly had Garrison Keillor on his show to plug Keillor's book about the Bush presidency. Keillor wrote things like, I get the feeling that Bush lies to people all the time... and blah blah blah. O'Reilly asked him for dates and times, when did Bush lie to anyone and how do you know and these are serious allegations, blah blah blah. Keillor's response was along the lines of well, that's just an impression that I get.

They were talking at cross purposes. Keillor's a humorist, for crying out loud. He doesn't cite.

In the same way, Letterman and O'Reilly were talking at cross purposes. They come from different worlds, and never the twain shall meet.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
My wife despises O'Reilly, mainly because he's arrogant & rude (in her opinion), so she was inclined to enjoy seeing him made uncomfortable. I didn't see the show myself.

I've been a huge fan of Letterman since he was doing the weather in Indianapolis in the early 70's, though he was funnier then, but like most successful entertainers, he's gradually come to the erroneous conclusion that celebrity makes you politically astute and obliges you to use that celebrity as a platform.

Maybe he's feeling threatened by Bill Maher.

Cheers,
Daiwa
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Did I miss Cindy Sheehan killing someone (or a bunch of someones)?


Do you know what an anology is?

I did not see interview as my bedtime is around 9 most nights. heh.


I caught it on MSNBC.com under video highlights.

In the same way, Letterman and O'Reilly were talking at cross purposes. They come from different worlds, and never the twain shall meet.


It really shouldn't have happened.

he's gradually come to the erroneous conclusion that celebrity makes you politically astute and obliges you to use that celebrity as a platform


I am sick of that across the board. Just because someone likes your show doesn't mean they want to listen to your political opinions. That is why we have shows for each subject. I am no O'Reilly fan. I am normally a Letterman fan but will avoid his shows that include anyone politically associated.

David needs to stick to joking around with his audience and flattering the pretty actresses.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you know what an anology is?


Yes, but yours wasn't very accurate, and was misleading. A proper and accurate analogy would be:

If someone gets killed by a schoolbus and then his mom protests against school bus deaths to the point of disturbing the public and getting arrested, should only those affected by schoolbus related deaths be able to pass judgement on her actions?
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes, but yours wasn't very accurate, and was misleading


I was pointing out that one doesn't need to lose someone in a war to be able to judge what Sheehan is doing. I wasn't trying to compare what Sheehan was doing to killing. I think you were being too literal.

Do you think that all Sheehan is doing is disturbing the public?
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you think that all Sheehan is doing is disturbing the public?


Personally, I think the woman went crazy after the death of her son, and that most people realize this and don't pay much heed to her. I think she is an inconvenience, but not really a harm.

But I was never a war supporter to start with...
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
most people realize this and don't pay much heed to her. I think she is an inconvenience, but not really a harm.


If only that were true. I totally agree that she went crazy when she lost her son and I completely understand that. I don't even blame her altogether. I think she is getting a lot of instruction and encouragement in her actions by people against the war.

I agree with the right to not support the war, think it was a mistake and think our CIA needs an overhaul. I agree with examining what went wrong and making changes in our government to make sure such a thing doesn't happen again. The important thing right now though is to support our soldiers in every way we can. Don't give the terrorists any reason to believe we sympathize with them in any way.

The truly sad thing is, I am sure Sheehan's son would be horrified at his mother's actions. Hopefully he is unaware.

I still say Letterman was a dumbass for trying to step into the political arena with O'Reilly.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
I thought it was pretty funny when David said that he didn't believe Bill's show was fair and balanced. Then David says he bases that opinion on what he has read because he has never watched Bill's show! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot regarding any credibility you may have in the debate.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
zorven, that sort of stuff just makes me think that he is regurgitating crap and not thinking on his own.  Thanks for the comment!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

Did I miss Cindy Sheehan killing someone (or a bunch of someones)?

Sure!  Her rhetoric slays me!

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just saw on CNN where they said it was refreshing to see Letterman step into the political arena but said he should have done his homework. It wasn't refreshing! It was revolting!
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am sick of that across the board. Just because someone likes your show doesn't mean they want to listen to your political opinions. That is why we have shows for each subject. I am no O'Reilly fan. I am normally a Letterman fan but will avoid his shows that include anyone politically associated.


I am actually a fan of both, and O'Reilly actually left a gaping hole in one of his arguments that, had Letterman PREPARED (as, if he was inclined to make it a POLITICAL discussion, he should have). Too bad Letterman missed his chance.

The hole, for those who missed it, was when O'Reilly was discussing the "war on Christmas". He used the example of an elementary school program that substituted the words for "Silent Night" with the lyrics "Cold in the night, noone in sight, winter winds howl and bite". While the substitution was, technically true, it conveniently omitted the CONTEXT of the substitution. See, this wasn't the usual train wreck chorus of tone deaf early elementary schoolers lined up to sing Christmas carols who were taught that these were, indeed, the words to the song, but rather a PLAY in which the central character (a tree, I believe) was lamenting his fate. This error was brought to light by a blogger on this very site, in fact.

While the "War on Christmas" may be, in fact, very real, it would have been better if O'Reilly himself had come prepared with FACTS instead of lamenting the fact that Letterman hadn't done his homework.

Letterman is very good at what he does. His talent, however, does not extend to politics. O'Reilly, similarly, while having some entertaining qualities, is not good late night talk show fare. I thought both did a disservice to their respective audiences with this show.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I thought both did a disservice to their respective audiences with this show.


I agree with this with regards to Letterman but not O'Reilly. O'Reilly was just as expected. I doubt any O'Reilly fans were dissappointed. I know for a fact that Letterman fans were. O'Reilly got plenty of good publicity in his circles. I can't for the life of me figure out what Letterman was thinking!
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

To use Jill's analogy further --

If someone loses a son and decides to go on a shooting spree, should only other people who have lost a son be allowed to judge her? Of course not.

Letterman freaks out about O'Reilly criticizing Sheehan without even knowing the topic.  Shouldn't Letterman follow his own advice?

Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
I like Letterman's show usually but that interview made them both look like idiots.