# Rachel Maddow vs. Bill O'Reilly **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745 "2010-07-23T18:12:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/41 "2010-07-24T17:19:19Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > and claiming someone is a “liberal pinhead” that O Reilly will easily "“handle” isn’t? > > - No, no, it’s “estrogen-fueled liberal pinhead.” You missed the misogynistic part. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/42 "2010-07-24T17:22:54Z")
Obviously the take away from all this is we should side with Bill O and watch Hannah Montana for all our political commentary. After all her ratings are higher then both Bill and Rachel therefore we should expect more integrity there right? ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/43 "2010-07-24T17:38:10Z")
oops ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/44 "2010-07-24T17:42:51Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > > > Wrong, **MeanOldLady** ; I am merely pointing out the lame practice of claiming someone is smarter than someone else just because you agree with them. Claiming your opponents are stupid is a lazy way to make a point. . > > and claiming someone is a “liberal pinhead” that O Reilly will easily "“handle” isn’t? Don’t forget the part about being estrogen-fueled! Now then, **Tim** , you decided to lump in Rachel Maddow with the hens on “The View” because…? Because they have vaginas, and are liberal? Uh hmm. I might even be convinced that selling a false story doesn’t necessarily make one stupid, but it certainly does make one lazy. A little bit of research is against the rules in the fair and balanced, we report, you decide, No Spin Zone apparently? WordMan’s point is clear and valid: Fox News was full of shit, Madame Maddow called them out, then O’Reilly tried to whip out his ratings dick, as if that were a rebuttal of her case. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/45 "2010-07-26T18:11:31Z")
Miss Maddow intentionally misses Bill O’s point. In attacking O’Reilly Maddow is trying to present herself as being on his level. She was hoping to get him into a debate where she could appear as his equal and exagerate her own importance. By responding about ratings, instead of on the issue, O’Reilly shows that he sees what she is trying to do and is above doing it. Eagles don’t hunt flies after all. Maddow and her ilk are having a hard time with Barry O’s presidency and are trying to find a bogeyman to stir up hate against and juice their ratings. Maybe after the elections in November they can find a new politician to hate who will be as good to them as Bush was. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/46 "2010-07-26T18:20:07Z")
Whatever. You’re right, because Maddow is championing doing your research, common sense and integrity, it shouldn’t matter because her voice isn’t as loud as O’Reilly’s. :rolleyes: “I don’t have to respond to you, regardless of whether you are right, because you aren’t worthy of my time” - okay, if that’s his position, it makes Bill O’Reilly - _regardless of his specific political views_ - look like an even bigger douchebag. I have requested that this thread be shut down. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/47 "2010-07-26T23:04:44Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I have requested that this thread be shut down. Why? It’s a good topic of discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/48 "2010-07-26T23:37:20Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Miss Maddow intentionally misses Bill O’s point. In attacking O’Reilly Maddow is trying to present herself as being on his level. She was hoping to get him into a debate where she could appear as his equal and exagerate her own importance. By responding about ratings, instead of on the issue, O’Reilly shows that he sees what she is trying to do and is above doing it. Eagles don’t hunt flies after all. Maddow and her ilk are having a hard time with Barry O’s presidency and are trying to find a bogeyman to stir up hate against and juice their ratings. Maybe after the elections in November they can find a new politician to hate who will be as good to them as Bush was. Wow. And you’re serious. Wow. Wow. **Starving Artist** has competition. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/49 "2010-07-26T23:50:43Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Miss Maddow[…] That’s Dr. Maddow. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/50 "2010-07-26T23:53:41Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > > [@WordMan](#): > > > > I have requested that this thread be shut down. > > Why? It’s a good topic of discussion. The Cafe Society mods have discussed this and decided to leave it open – the fact that it’s gone in a direction the OP didn’t anticipate doesn’t mean the thread has been hijacked. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/51 "2010-07-27T00:41:53Z")
One day, facts will triumph over FOX; until then, Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are better news sources than anything on faux ‘news-like product’. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/52 "2010-07-27T01:11:06Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Miss Maddow intentionally misses Bill O’s point. In attacking O’Reilly Maddow is trying to present herself as being on his level. She was hoping to get him into a debate where she could appear as his equal and exagerate her own importance. By responding about ratings, instead of on the issue, O’Reilly shows that he sees what she is trying to do and is above doing it. Eagles don’t hunt flies after all. Maddow and her ilk are having a hard time with Barry O’s presidency and are trying to find a bogeyman to stir up hate against and juice their ratings. Maybe after the elections in November they can find a new politician to hate who will be as good to them as Bush was. Sorry, I don’t believe that you’re correct on this. Bill O’s point is that ratings absolve him of any wrong. It doesn’t matter when he’s wrong or when he lies or when he tortures puppies, his ratings prove that he’s an okay guy and, in fact, better liked than Rachel. Might makes right\*. \*(c) GOP ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/53 "2010-07-27T03:20:14Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Miss Maddow intentionally misses Bill O’s point. In attacking O’Reilly Maddow is trying to present herself as being on his level. She was hoping to get him into a debate where she could appear as his equal and exagerate her own importance. By responding about ratings, instead of on the issue, O’Reilly shows that he sees what she is trying to do and is above doing it. Eagles don’t hunt flies after all. Maddow and her ilk are having a hard time with Barry O’s presidency and are trying to find a bogeyman to stir up hate against and juice their ratings. Maybe after the elections in November they can find a new politician to hate who will be as good to them as Bush was. I see. So you think wrestling must be a legitimate sport because it has great ratings. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/54 "2010-07-27T03:24:42Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Miss Maddow intentionally misses Bill O’s point. In attacking O’Reilly Maddow is trying to present herself as being on his level. She was hoping to get him into a debate where she could appear as his equal and exagerate her own importance. By responding about ratings, instead of on the issue, O’Reilly shows that he sees what she is trying to do and is above doing it. Eagles don’t hunt flies after all. Maddow and her ilk are having a hard time with Barry O’s presidency and are trying to find a bogeyman to stir up hate against and juice their ratings. Maybe after the elections in November they can find a new politician to hate who will be as good to them as Bush was. Heaven forbid that someone with a doctorate in politics from Oxford dare question someone with a high-rated show! Oh, how ever will she atone for her grievous error? By the way, you obviously haven’t watched the shows in question. Maddow and Olbermann are among those on the left who call Pres. Obama on the carpet repeatedly when they disagree with his policies/decisions. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/55 "2010-07-27T03:39:30Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Miss Maddow intentionally misses Bill O’s point. In attacking O’Reilly Maddow is trying to present herself as being on his level. She was hoping to get him into a debate where she could appear as his equal and exagerate her own importance. By responding about ratings, instead of on the issue, O’Reilly shows that he sees what she is trying to do and is above doing it. Eagles don’t hunt flies after all. Maddow and her ilk are having a hard time with Barry O’s presidency and are trying to find a bogeyman to stir up hate against and juice their ratings. Maybe after the elections in November they can find a new politician to hate who will be as good to them as Bush was. Another Bill O’Reilly gnostic. Only those who have the secret knowledge can understand…:rolleyes: Very disingenuous argument. Basically, you’re overlooking libel to cover up for Bill’s sins. What if it were the other way around? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/56 "2010-07-27T05:59:35Z")
I don’t recall Dr. Maddow ever becoming so flustered that she walked out on an interview. But that’s what Mr. O’Reilly did on an NPR interview with Terry Gross. Maybe he thought it wasn’t fair and balanced. I can’t imagine Rachel losing it like that. She does seem to have qualities of emotional intelligence that he doesn’t have. By the way, for those of you among us with misogynistic tendencies and lacking in apparent powers of observation, not all of the women on _The View_ are liberal in their viewpoints. Someone pointed that out with the name of at least one _very_ conservative participant. There’s more than one Northwestern. Ho hum. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/57 "2010-07-27T12:18:37Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > > [@Kolga](#): > > > > > [@WordMan](#): > > > > > > I have requested that this thread be shut down. > > > > Why? It’s a good topic of discussion. > > The Cafe Society mods have discussed this and decided to leave it open – the fact that it’s gone in a direction the OP didn’t anticipate doesn’t mean the thread has been hijacked. Yes ma’am. Umm, Dr. Err, Ms. twicks, sir; shit, er, um, ma’am. I am just stunned that O’Reilly defenders put supporting him in front of the basic facts. I support people but regulary find fault with them - that’s life. You support O’Reilly’s basic political positions and/or him as a personality? Cool! Not my cuppa, but variety is the spice of YMMV, or thereabouts. But O’Reilly is simply wrong here. You are welcome to like him more than Maddow, but this is just…douchebaggery. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/58 "2010-07-27T13:40:28Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > > > No, it’s more like saying he’s handled four rabid estrogen-fueled liberal pinheads at once, so why would he have any trouble handling one? > > OK, for future reference, every time you say “rabid estrogen-fueled pinhead” you mean “liberal woman”. Gotcha. Can’t mean that. There are only two of those on The View. (Whoopie and Joy. (Shut UP,) Elizabeth and Sherri are fairly conservative. Baba Wawa usually maintains a quite dignified moderatorial neutrality.) (Oh, and there IS a Whoopie corrolary: Fellow Hollywood stars can do no wrong. If Joe Schmo had drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl and then fled the country or left a horribly violent and vile message on his baby momma’s answering machine, Whoopie would NOT be on the View defending him.) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/59 "2010-07-27T13:47:12Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Whoopie would NOT be on the View defending him.) Hmm. By those standards, Whoopie is, indeed, a douchebag. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745/60 "2010-07-27T15:06:07Z")
I thought O’Reilly brought up his ratings numbers because that proves more people go to him for their news analysis than other shows. That may be true, but I don’t know how that absolves him of jumping to conclusions on the Sherrod story (like a lot of other people did). He admitted his mistake afterwards, but he doesn’t feel he needs to dwell on that. Others’ mileage may vary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rachel-maddow-vs-bill-oreilly/547745.md?page=4)