Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: Quick rundown of the show below the fold.
Via Crooks and Liars and Think Progress, we learn O'Reilly is taking on the blogosphere:
Falafel
Personal attacks lodged through the internet! How are so-called "Web logs" being used as ideological weapons? And who's behind the smear campaigns? We'll have a No Spin look at a dangerous new weapon in the culture wars!
From O'Reilly Factor Homepage
Evil, evil blogs out to DESTROY!
Credibility waning much O'Reilly? Got to nip those pesky blogs in the bud?
It would be funnier if it wasn't so sad.
Should there be a reaction, other than the gleeful chortles of knowing that we're under O'Reilly's skin?
[more below]
Think Progress has it spot on:
We’re sure it will be an informed, reasoned discussion, especially considering O’Reilly doesn’t even read blogs:
AUTHOR BERNARD GOLDBERG: There are some conservatives on the list [”100 People Who Are Screwing Up America”], but there are mostly liberals. And when they could write unanimously on the Web, you know, a review or post.
O’REILLY: Blogs. I don’t even read them. I mean, it’s so outrageous.
GOLDBERG: It’s beyond — it’s beyond vile.
O’REILLY: Let’s go to the — look, that’s just a waste of time. You shouldn’t even read it. It’s garbage. Nobody cares about it. Everybody knows the simpletons who are doing it are cowards and they don’t have any influence. [7/18/05]
C&L posits: Try to guess who he'll have on to prove his point.
My bet: Billy Bennett
Update [2005-10-4 17:49:3 by Clever]: Commenter Robert at C&L has dire predictions:
Headline - Tomorrow's (10/5) News:
14.2 Million Blogs cease operations after Bill O'Reilly says they are irrelevant.
Andrew Sullivan: "Bill's Right - I'm done"
PowerLine: "This hindrocket is o-v-er"
Malkin: "I going to start knitting"
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: I'm watching it right now so you don't have to.
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]:O'Reilly just got done downplaying Bennett's remarks to Van Jones. Check MediaMatters later as there will probably be a few choice nuggets in there. Moved on to talking about the OJ trial.
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: Now talking to Spencer Abrahms about energy and about to talk about the AdCouncil site http://www.energyhog.org/ [Not much there in the way of information. Lots of boing noises and animations.] Not going to watch. Back soon.
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: Gonna wait until we get to the main course. Listening to O'Reilly speak is like listening to, well..O'Reilly.
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: Here we go...Singles out Media Matters and The Smoking Gun. Has Jed Babbin, who was 'smeared' by Media Matters.
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: Went looking for the 'smear', here's what I found: Link 1 and then there's the site search. Looking quickly, I don't really see anything I could say was close to 'smear'ish, just , as in normal media matters fashion, "They said this, but other [corroborated] reports say otherwise". Poor, poor Babbin.
Babbin - "Little boy's 'Lord of the Flies' atmosphere"
No mention of any other weblogs yet.
David Klien speaks a bit, says some "blogs" say Bush was behind 911, but others say Clinton had Vince Foster killed [to which O'Reilly says "Of Course!"].
Klein says we are going back to the time before corporate media where people are more involved. O'Reilly says politicians are afraid to run because Media Matters will come after them. Says people won't come on "The Factor" because they are afraid of Media Matters.
O'Reilly says he has to have security because of "them" [bloggers?]. Kinda funny, he told Babbin he could have the last word but then said "I'm not afraid of them, I loathe them."
Reeeeally boring. Seems Bill just wanted to bitch about Media Matters.
I wish I could get the last 40 minutes of my life back.