Video: Did Bernie Goldberg “smack down” Sean Hannity?
posted at 8:48 am on April 14, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Right after Sean Hannity’s show aired on the East Coast, I began to get mail describing a supposed smackdown by Bernie Goldberg on his host for not giving Barack Obama credit in the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from pirates this weekend. I waited until I could watch the segment myself and sat through all seven minutes of it. I don’t see a smackdown — in fact, Bernie goes out of his way to remain polite, and Sean mostly sticks to his guns — but I did see a good debate, and one mirrored on the Right this week:
For my part, I agree with Bernie here. I have some criticisms about the way the crisis was handled initially, including negotiations with Somali “elders” and the pirates themselves, although one reader suggested that Obama may have used that time to get the Navy SEALs in position. In the end, Obama made the right call and resolved the crisis in the proper way, and managed to rescue the hostage to boot. Jimmy Carter spent 444 days not resolving a hostage crisis properly, and to this day still thinks he did the right thing. At least Obama learned quickly.
When things go wrong, we blame the Commander in Chief, and therefore when things go right, he gets the credit. This is how the game is played, Bernie reminds Sean, and pointedly suggests that Sean may have taken the lead in tossing blame had things gone badly. That would have been perfectly legitimate, too, so denying Obama credit for success in this instance seems churlish and bitter.
Watch for a good Casablanca reference when Bernie talks about the media. They’re blowing the success out of proportion, of course, but anyone shocked by that hasn’t been paying attention. We’d be better off pointing out that aspect of the coverage rather than deny the obvious.
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Forget it. Obama get’s nothing from me.
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Ed, did Obama do the right thing or did the US Navy and Obama is taking credit? I suppose it really doesnt matter.
doriangrey on April 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Obama lied , Somalis died.
the_nile on April 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
What exactly did Obama learn? He didn’t change strategy during the hostage standoff. He played it cool, while less calm heads — mostly of the right, inlcuding you Ed, called for things like “all the might of the U.S. Navy” to come down on these pirates.
If anyone should be learning here, it’s you guys.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Agreed ed.
I am free of ODS
blatantblue on April 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM
With two more ships (British and Greeks) being hijacked today we will see how they handle these pirates.
Dire Straits on April 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM
He passively allowed the SEALS to do their jobs. In this instance ” present ” was good enough. Kudos.
/sarc…
DeweyWins on April 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Obama had 2 options:
1. Do nothing and let an American citizen be executed.
2. Do something.
He chose option 2. Such courage and leadership! All Hail OBAMA!!
angryed on April 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
I like Bernie Goldberg, but he has to get it through his head that he is not the arbiter of objectivity. He is bending over backwards for The Precedent, sort of like he writes about others doing.
Goldberg’s idea that “it happened under his watch” is just moronic. Really, truly moronic. We analyze WHAT people do, not what just happens around them.
The Precedent flubbed this whole situation, but he got lucky that the initiative was taken by others who knew better. If it had been up to The PRecedent, negotiations would still be going on and Captain Phillips would probably be somewhere in Somalia.
I generally like Goldberg, but sometimes he just really ticks me off with his silliness.
progressoverpeace on April 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
If anyone should be learning here, it’s you guys.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM
He appointed five guys to resolve the issue and each had to resign because of tax problems.
Passionate-Conservative on April 14, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Comparing a standoff between a Navy Destroy and 4 pirates in a life raft to the hostage crisis in Iran during the Carter administration seems a little ridiculous to me. Not to defend Jimmy Carter or anything but it seems like his situation was just a tad more complicated.
Bill Scrunty on April 14, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Hailing teh-Fearless-Leader for allowing the US Navy to apprehend three ragtag bandits, is like praising a retard for wiping his butt without an accident.
A normal president would be insulted by such praises.
Aristotle on April 14, 2009 at 8:59 AM
I give BHO credit for handling the hostage crisis well enough, but he seems to be taking too much credit. And his sycophantic slobbering fan club is taking it way too far.
jgapinoy on April 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Obama freed the military to do what it can do better than anyone else in the world…execute the mission and save lives. GOD I love our military.
Passionate-Conservative on April 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Libs and RINO’s are acting like Oprompta invented Navy Seals and bullets.
There’s no medal for doing one’s duty.
Akzed on April 14, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Obaama only used the military as a last resort. If he had his druthers, the Dept. of Justice would have handled the situation. We’ll never know the number of negotiations going on with Somalia and others behind the scenes. The military option should have been used sooner.
kingsjester on April 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
According to Ras, THE ONE is down to 55% and his approval index is down to 2%. It was at +28% on that glorious day of Jan 20 when THE MESSIAH came down from the heavens. The stong disaprove was at 29% when the pirate “crisis” started. It is now at 32%.
Looks like the sheeple are waking up and his bullshit isn’t fooling anyone anymore. Well it is still fooling the fools (getalife, shitstorm, Media Huckster, Tom Shipley). But that will always be the case.
angryed on April 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Bernie was right, Hannity is going over board trying to find every little thing wrong…and it will backfire.
Pick your fights, if everything said and done by Obama is wrong, it will begin to fall on deaf ears.
The right tried that with Clinton, and it failed.
Just say “Great, a good thing happened on his watch, now we will hold his feet to the fire that he will clean up piracy”.
And hold him accountable for things that he has actually done and said.
A good thing happened (through no action of his) on his “watch”, say “great” now move on.
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
I think Barry handled it well. But, I do have to ask where is all the outrage that these pirates were teenagers? If Bush had done this, the media would be calling him a criminal.
bloggless on April 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Good segment. They both make valid points.
I give credit to the US Navy. And I give credit to Obama for letting them do their job. Although….I tend to think…Obama said, “only if his life is in danger”..didn’t he say that? (that’s comical to me) And then the Navy decided someone had a gun to the captain’s head..so they took action…even if there were no gun to his head. No pics, no video…we’ll never know….but I’m thinking the Navy should get most of the credit, Not the CIC.
Just like I don’t blame Bush for Abu Graib(sp?) I blame the idiots that ran the place.
bridgetown on April 14, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Exactly. And the real irony here is that all the people attacking Obama as “president pantywaiste” were really attacking the U.S. Navy as they were the people really calling the shots on this operation.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Remember when Dan Quayle said he wanted to stop “privacy on the high seas?” Wasn’t that stupid of Dan Quayle? Oh that Dan Quayle.
Akzed on April 14, 2009 at 9:04 AM
I knew Hannity would be reluctant to give any credit to Obama. Mike Gallagher was much more gracious. He pretty much said this on his radio show yesterday:
I agree with that. If I want to bash him for bowing to the Saudi king and then having the nerve to LIE to me about it, then when something does go right, I am bigger than those libs who blamed Bush for everything and gave him no credit for anything.
ladyingray on April 14, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Probably best to drop this issue or rather non-issue. Obama will have plenty of opportunity in the days to come to show us what he is or is not made of. I’ll wait to pass judgment or heap praise when his butt is really in a crisis situation.
Now, we need to focus on guaranteeing a good showing for the Tea Parties tomorrow. Believe me, the left is watching. If we don’t have a good showing, we’ll be the laughing stock of the media. Please either go to one or encourage folks you know to go. We need to show Washington that we mean business on this issue. As an added benefit, it will demonstrate some unity on the right which is sorely needed now.
KickandSwimMom on April 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
I don’t think this issue is resolved. Taking out 4 pirates on a boat is one thing. But will he have the resolve to order US Military assets to neutralize other pirate attacks? Already we’ve seen new acts of piracy from Somalia. Is Obama going to take action to stop it? Or just when there’s an American-flagged vessel involved? Will he sign off on arming the crews, or continue to let crews sail unarmed in pirate-infested waters?
If I were President, I’d park 2 attack subs there, coordinate with satellite & shipping to spot Somali pirate vessels, then blow them out of the water with a torpedo. Send 2 “turn back now or be sunk” messages, then down to Davy Jones’ locker with them.
Nethicus on April 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Who would have gotten the blame if the captain died.
nice343 on April 14, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Obama did his job. Hooray. Of course if this happened under Bush’s watch he’d be called a bloodthirsty executioner who murdered teenagers.
JammieWearingFool on April 14, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Sorry for the OT:
“Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, DC trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas.” Gov. Rick Perry
It’s on.
God Bless Texas!
carbon_footprint on April 14, 2009 at 9:07 AM
That drones like you will always cover for him.
He played it cool, alright. “Guys, we’re talking about housing now.” Cool. Now these pirates know that you don’t mess with the United States… eventually.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Of course the credit goes to the Seals. But I really thought Obama would let the pirates take the captain to Somalia, rather then let the navy do its job and use force. He didn’t so you should give him (a little) credit.
Let this go and get on with the Tea Party!!!!
tottoritodd on April 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Bush.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Afraid you are wrong…the hostages under carter were held on land, after his miserable, feeble, weak, embarrassing attempt at rescue, the several men were separated and isolated from one another making any attempt at a rescue impossible. And complicated negotiations. It was a mess, with the “government” helping and assisting the kidnappers.
What simplified it was this: Reagan promised, even if there was a loss of life, he was militarily going in and retrieving the men or the bodies, and the cost of such action would be swift and punishing…and they knew he meant it, no campaign slogan.
The day he was elected, they were released (444 days after capture). That is what made it simple, we were going to kick-ass and take names.
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Where exactly is Obama taking credit?
mycowardice on April 14, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Not just teenagers but teenagers of color who most likely all had scholarships to Yale waiting for them if not for that crazy Bush.
angryed on April 14, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Goldberg’s right here and Hannity’s trying to pettifog the matter because of his ridiculous partisanship. Principle is one thing, partisanship is another and Hannity, too often, goes to that extreme.
When things go well, the President gets credit; when they go bad, the President gets the blame. It doesn’t matter whether either is completely warranted, it’s just the way it is.
Yes, Obama’s overall foreign policy approach and his domestic policies are still absurd and wrong. But we can fight that battle another day.
Tip the hat to the President on this one.
SteveMG on April 14, 2009 at 9:13 AM
OK, this was an easy call, and if like give him some credit for it. Now, let’s talk about stopping the F-22 project; reducing the force structure of the Army and the Navy; diminishing our nuclear strike force capability; eliminating our missile defense system; pandering to Iran and North Korea; and, reducing the general defense funding to a dangerous level. People had better understand that this event is nothing but a distraction from the dangerous and destructive policies of this new administration. They’re good at this and you can look forward to more “sharp pins in the butt” to startle you and distract you from the irreversible damage being inflicted upon the Republic.
rplat on April 14, 2009 at 9:13 AM
A good debate,it goes to Hannity by a bit!
And Liberals have to chill out,Bush was bashed daily,
and its only been about three months since Hopey be
came the POTUS!!
Liberals get a grip!!
canopfor on April 14, 2009 at 9:13 AM
If the captain had died Obama would have been blamed. So whats wrong with giving him credit that it didn’t happen?
nice343 on April 14, 2009 at 9:14 AM
This is Lehmann collapse all over again. Barry was AWOl during the standoff, the same as the Lehmanns crisis and he gets praise for handling the crisis so well. The credit for the resuce should sit squarely on the shoulders of Cpt.Phillip. The Seals missed first time, so they did not cover themselves in glory exactly. As usual, Barry stays out of crisis, other people resolve the situation, Barry comes at curtain call to take all credit for it, amidst a flurry of flashlights. Nice work, Barry!
promachus on April 14, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Can someone help me understand this negotiating thing? If the US doesn’t negotiate with terrorists (and pirates), why were FBI negotiators sent to assist the Navy?
Either we did or we didn’t, but it sure looked to me like the US was negotiating both directly with the pirates and indirectly through the Somali Elders. How does this square with the V Adm statement they we don’t negotiate?
huckleberryfriend on April 14, 2009 at 9:15 AM
This thing is a non-event. It happened on his watch, he did what he had to do. The Seals did the work, obviously, and they succeeded magnificently.
Recall Jimmy Carter’s failed hostage rescue mission. Great embarrassment, discouraged further efforts. This had the same potential.
But, it happened, and the plan worked. Cool.
Now, the real test for Obama is how to follow up. How do you stop piracy? What policy makes sense? How will that be seen in light of his other foreign policy messages?
rogersnowden on April 14, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Proof?
Johan Klaus on April 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
…..above all, always remember the Left loathes the military..it is a tool to be used for an end political objective for them….nothing more……
sbark on April 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Sometimes, Hannity does the republican party a disservice when he continues on and on with his same old lines against Obama, Pelosi and Reid. Better to have new policy ideas and new phrases than to keep saying the same ol same ol.
Tony Dungy, later in the show, also does a nice job of correcting Hannity.
Maybe Hannity needs to do like his idol Romney did and throw Obama a few praises now and then.
texasconserv on April 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Not to talk about housing when there is a pressing international crisis.
BadgerHawk on April 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
I watch Hannity in HD. Dude needs to bruch the dandruff off his dark suits. Looks like he’s in a snow globe.
marklmail on April 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
One thing missing…Obama never took credit before the success…so he would have just said “Our military did the best they could, but the commanders at the scene failed in their objective, I gave them the latitude, and it did not work out.
And then since it worked:
Our military did the best, I let the commanders make the decisions, they made the right ones, all the credit goes to them.
The honest statement would have been:
I had to back away from this deployment, I have no real experience in dealing with these matters, particularly in military operations.
I therefore relieved myself of any real oversight and let the commanders have free reign as to what action to take place. They made excellent decisions, and I learned a lot from watching these noble warriors execute a perfect rescue.
Sometimes it is best to step back and let the experts run the show…this was such a time.
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Dont worry , if the captain had died the media and Obama would have blamed Bush legacy.
the_nile on April 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Good points.
We give credit for the President for this succes. It happened under his watch.
Good job, Mr. President.
Now, how are you going to address the larger problem? How does the opinion of mankind, the view of America by others that you’re so concerned about, help us here?
SteveMG on April 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Maybe when Obama leads the rescue of Roxana Saberi we can praise his heroics. Until then I’m giving the military the bulk of the credit.
JammieWearingFool on April 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Did it work for Romney? Did it work for Bush?
Johan Klaus on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Subs are overkill. I think this is a good place for Predator type aircraft and a switch to a convoy system for moving the ships. With the ships running in groups there will be less ocean to watch. The Predators have lots of time on scene and a Hellfire missile is going to lead to a bad day for for the pirates.
alilianstrom on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Hogwash!
it’s obvious that you just talk to hear your own voice . . . or in this case to read your own typing.
rplat on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
That is what has to be kept in focus…but won’t.
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
I agree with Bernie. It seems almost incidental to have any critique on the heels of such a great success. I’m no Obama fan by any means, but when it comes to some moves he’s made on the foreign policy front, especially the ones that seem to vindicate President Bush, I applaud him.
But still, even that is more like a golf clap. Otherwise I find myself hollering Fooorrreeeee!!!
therightscoop on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Yeah, sorry about that Jim. I know you must have been busy over the weekend, with Good Friday, Easter Sunday and all. Next time they’ll wrap it up quicker for you… not to mention the Captain’s family! I’m sure they could have done without all that suspense.
And, more to your point, the pirate community was definitely emboldened by the fact that we waited 5 days to blow their heads off. i mean, seriously, if we had any balls we would have not waited for the right moment to strike and needlessly endangered the life of the captain by raiding the boat. They’d be no way anyone could call us pussies then! How are we going to show our face at the next G8?
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
That’s a good point, and most people aren’t arguing with it. It’s the initial handling that Presidnet Obama did poorly with. Allowing the military to make a decision based on the events on the water was exactly the right call. I don’t even care that President Obama worded his approval in a way to avoid blame if things went poorly. The military did a fantastic job, and the President didn’t try to micromanage them. Good work all around.
BadgerHawk on April 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
So you’re saying invading a country with a military force on land is less complicated than a Navy Seal picking off a few pirates in a life raft?
Bill Scrunty on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Sean Hannity is becoming our Keith Olberman. He sounds like a broken record with the same talking points every night over and over.
evensteven on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Not by you, he wouldn’t.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Tom,
“President Pantywaist” was a reference to Obama’s European trip, not the piracy incident. It started with Gerald Warner of the Telegraph. Had nothing to do with this, and you know it.
Ed Morrissey on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I get Goldbergs point but I agree with Hannity. Obama’s got a humility problem.
His pre and post election messiah/great leader tactic is constant exposure and give them a constant diet of all his good works and did I mention constant exposure…?…
katy on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
The wheels and the bus go round and round…
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
The U.S.S Bainbridge was first on the scene,was the
Captain in charge,and who authorized the green light
for the Seals?
Who ever issued the order,for the Seals to snuff out
the pirates due to the MV Maersk Alabama’s Captain
being in ‘imminent danger’!! Jus sayin!!
Did Obama give the order?
In this case,what was the chain of Command,for the go
order!
canopfor on April 14, 2009 at 9:21 AM
You are 1000% right. Conservatives must not make the mistake of developing “Messiah Derangement Syndrome.” Bush Derangement Syndrome and the politics of personal destruction were fatal to Bush’s effectiveness as President only because (i) the media were in the Dems’ pocket and (ii) Bush had no effective PR apparatus to spin it. We will not be so lucky. Remember that Clinton Derangement Syndrome hurt us back in the 1990s, even though the media did turn on Clinton over his personal scandals. Developing a Messiah Derangement Syndrome will hurt us very badly.
I think the way conservatives should be playing this is as a media bias story; had Bush whacked the pirates, it would have been pooh-poohed by the media. Obama gets out of the military’s way and he’s regarded as a hero. In fairness, Bernie is largely right. Had this gone sideways, Obama would have gotten slammed. The story had a happy ending, so Obama deserves at least some credit–at least unless and until we get proof that the Navy could have ended this 3 days earlier and Obama rejected it, or something to that effect. Otherwise, we should give Obama the benefit of the doubt and conclude that the 5 day delay was the result of tactical decisions made by the on-scene commander.
Outlander on April 14, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Hey, how about the brother of Obama was denied entry into the UK because he is a pervert story? Or the stage photos to make it look like the troops love Obama story? Instead we get we should kiss Obama’s butt for lucking out due to the work of the Navy and how cute Chub Chub is and why we should all be gay or something.
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Sean doesn’t get paid to be nice to Obama–he gets the ratings and the dough to be the Prez’z harshest prime time critic….as for this exchange, I’m a big fan of Bernie’s and I can see his point, but hats off to Sean for trying to keep it all in perspective–the media did go a tad overboard in their jubilation, heaping oodles of praise on Obama at the benefit of the real heroes–those Seal sharpshooters and Captain Phillips–FOX was great last night in that they profiled former and current Seals in all their nightly shows.
RepubChica on April 14, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Ed Morrissey on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Ed, go look at the comment section of the piracy threads from over the weekend. References to Obama as “President Panyywaste” were abundent. There were references to him having “no balls” after the French (real men) staged a rescue attempt on a ship where pirates were holding hostages.
It may have started with the European trip, but it carried over to the piracy story big time.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Once Hannity gets something he can repeat ad nauseum… there’s no shifting him. He’s made a career out of one-liners, and beating dead horses.
“Have you seen the map!?!”
It’s easier than actually making an argument.
Mark Levin follows Hannity locally… and he makes Sean sound like the amateur that he is. He’s a time-slot hit and has been since day 1 of his program. Gawd, I wish we had someone else between Rush and Mark!
mankai on April 14, 2009 at 9:24 AM
True. Sean hannity is the new Olbermann. Finding every opportunity to critize the president. he needs to add a ’special comment” section to his program
nice343 on April 14, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Sean Hannity is becoming our Keith Olberman. He sounds like a broken record with the same talking points every night over and over.
evensteven on April 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I agree…and he’s been like this for a while IMHO…don’t even listen to him on the radio much anymore.
DCJeff on April 14, 2009 at 9:24 AM
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”
“Guys, we’re talking about housing now.”
Oh, so his first escape attempt wasn’t the right moment to strike? I’d think that would be a pretty good moment to strike, but obviously you’re the expert.
If this is the end of it, I’ll be glad to have been wrong. Feel free to remind me.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Obama’s inner circle ALL think they’re “the smartest people in the room”. They spin, poll, calculate and spin and lie some more. They are trying so hard to control the media message that they don’t think level-headed people see what’s really going on. What they DON’T understand is that the lying and media cover-ups are making us more and more motivated. 2010 Suckas.
marklmail on April 14, 2009 at 9:27 AM
No one can be the new Olbermann. Hannity’s just a newer version. His one saving grace is that he’ll actually have people on his show who disagree with him. Doesn’t do a terribly great job of arguing with them, but at least he’s not afraid to try.
BadgerHawk on April 14, 2009 at 9:27 AM
The Golden rule , we’ll show the same respect Bush got.
the_nile on April 14, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Seeing that they seized a ship during that time, threatened the US, and have taken another ship right after, I would have to say that the evidence points to the fact that they were emboldened. Unless you think they would have taken more ships and would have threatened the US, anyway … is that what you’re saying?
If we had a President land targets would have been turned into ash. But we don’t have a President, just a Precedent.
Huh? If the Saudi primitive were anywhere near the meeting, The Precedent’s face would be buried in the ground in front of the Saudi, anyway.
progressoverpeace on April 14, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Hey Tom, the term was started before the piracy issue but for some reason pantywaste sticks.
Nopun intended. Let it go bubba.katy on April 14, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Of course, the military could not have figured that out without your man’s guidance.
Johan Klaus on April 14, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Yeah, but at least Hannity allows opposing views to be heard and, more important, unlike the fraud Olbermann he (Hannity) never claims to be a news anchor or reporter and Fox doesn’t let him anchor the news desk for political or campaign coverage.
Hannity’s an extreme partisan who never claims to be otherwise.
Olbermann’s an extreme partisan who fraudulently claims to be newsman.
SteveMG on April 14, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Hannity’s show is falling apart. He’s totally freaked by Beck and ABC radio is in deep crap. Instead of recognizing where things are heading, he’s doubling-down.
When H&C looks like a rational show in hindsight, you’re in deep shit. Sean’s problem is that he doesn’t inform he just reiterates. Anytime I hear the words ‘Wright” or “Ayers” come out of his mouth, I fast-forward. If the panel doesn’t have a comedian, show’s over.
All that said – he’s still holding at 2mil, so Ailes isn’t going to do anything drastic. And they won’t move his show because then his numbers will drop.
Has anyone else noticed how Beck and Bill O never even mention Hannity?
budfox on April 14, 2009 at 9:29 AM
He did the right thing. He kept his hands off. If he had kept his hands off the economy, the low interest rates and low energy prices would have initiated recovery 3 months ago.
I think he called the captain’s wife. If he did, he did a good deed.
The Maersk CEO called the Mrs.
News flash:
3 more boats are taken in last 24 hours.
seven on April 14, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Sad but true.
thomasaur on April 14, 2009 at 9:30 AM
so if the USN was “calling the shots”; not the Precedent, then they get the credit for calling the right shots. Thanks for admitting that.
The Monster on April 14, 2009 at 9:30 AM
But if the panties fit…
carbon_footprint on April 14, 2009 at 9:30 AM
If Obama does the NEXT right thing, we won’t hear about it. Piracy should steadily decrease as the pirates seem to have a mysteriously high “lost at sea” rate. No news. No stories. No one knows what happened to them.
Air power.
Pythagoras on April 14, 2009 at 9:31 AM
With Obama and the media on his side one must wait until the event is over or resolved before criticizing.
If Obama succeeds or it has a positive resolution all the earlier comments against him looks petty and the press turns Obama into a god/genius for solving the problem.
If it is a failure, Obama will deny any involvement and the media will hide/bury the entire incident.
albill on April 14, 2009 at 9:31 AM
I’d like to see more “pirates” taken out. Not captured, not tried. Eliminated at sea. Then we need the videos to go up on CNN for all the world to see what warmongering bastards we are.
Second wish: Have Hannity take a sabbatical and let Mark Levin have his slot.
perroviejo on April 14, 2009 at 9:31 AM
So if this had been a hostage situation in, say, a factory or store, and the local police chief had given the same order to a SWAT team, would we be making this big a deal of him OKing an order to shot if the hostage was in danger?
This was an easy call and hardly presidential. All it showed was that the President isn’t a total putz. A tougher call would be whether you send your guys in when negotiations stall, knowing that you’re putting the hostages (and the team you send in) in temporary danger in order to rescue them. Tougher still would be sending ground troops to clean out the pirates on land.
Let me know when he makes one of those calls.
Strick on April 14, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Without racial hatred and class envy the left does not exist. Is the right trying to emulate that position? Is Hannity becoming as sick as Olberman? Looks more possible every time he opens his mouth.
volsense on April 14, 2009 at 9:31 AM
So Jim, you know that the first escape attempt was a good moment to strike? You know what the coniditions were? Now, who’s really “playing the expert here.”
And, of course, you’re right. If we had ended this after one day… two at the most, the piracy threat would have ended. U gots the smarts, man.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:32 AM
We all need to be brought to earth on occasion, Sean is no different. Bernie was right.
I don’t agree with nary a word, let alone the ideas that drip out of the current administration. However, Obama did his duty on this one.
SOP in police hostage situations is to negotiate a release as snipers are put into place, and to use the snipers at the first sign of trouble.
The question is how far is the President willing to take this?
Now was that lifeboat funky or what!?
kregg on April 14, 2009 at 9:34 AM
I feel he did the right thing. Im not bashing him for this, but the Seals still deserves way more credit that the Precedent.
The only thing I didnt like is it wasnt done earlier.
becki51758 on April 14, 2009 at 9:35 AM
The expectations for a president should be higher. The left and the MSM need to stop treating him like a two-year old who went one whole day without wetting his pants.
sherry on April 14, 2009 at 9:35 AM
They were emboldened by the fact that we were “negotiating” with them. Don’t forget what the Admiral said at the press conference – that The Precedent [my term] issued orders that no action was to be taken UNLESS the captain’s life was in “imminent danger” and that negotiations should continue.
I like the way you haven’t mentioned these moronic “negotiations” in any of your posts. Why is that?
progressoverpeace on April 14, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Here are the three reasons why I’m not inclined to give Obama “credit” for what happened:
1) He refused to comment on the crisis when asked. The decent and presidential thing to do would have been to make a very general comment about the situation is being handled and that our country’s hopes and prayers go out to the captain and his family.
2) The situation drug on too long. I’m hard pressed to believe that the snipers didn’t have ANY clear shots at all three (or four) pirates before Saturday night. Something or someONE was preventing them from doing their job.
3) He was negotiating with terrorists. We simply don’t (or shouldn’t) do that.
I’m not going to call this a failure on Obama’s part (at least not until all the facts are out and such a designation becomes obvious)…
…but neither does he get a pat on the back. He got lucky.
Now let’s see how he proceeds from here vis a vis the pirates.
Religious_Zealot on April 14, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I agree that Hannity’s schtick is becoming ineffective. He hammers away on the same points – like the other side is not already ready for the predictable attack lines! He is most effective when he takes callers on his show and calmly listens to them rant and then expresses his point of view or tries to make the caller see their own bias.
It was interesting on last night’s show that Karen Henritty (sp.?) who is a republican strategist was definitely annoyed by his take on things. Is she more of a republican rino? Does anyone know? I am noticing that republican strategist Margaret Hoover (who appears frequently on O’Reilly) is also squishy about social issues. I remember both of these strategists on Hannity and O’Reilly lavishing praise on Obama right after the election. Seems they are part of the republican beltway’s strategy of saying nothing against Obama. Has anyone else noticed this?
KickandSwimMom on April 14, 2009 at 9:36 AM
About as well as you do. Thanks for almost comprehending the point.
Your penetrating insight and skillful use of sarcasm aside, I don’t suppose you have any theories about why they decided to attack an American ship in the first place, do you? When was the last time pirates did that?
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:37 AM
The Navy did the rescuing, and 0bama let them. Wow. I’m impressed. Maybe he’ll find the bathroom all by himself next week.
Sekhmet on April 14, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Exactly….many HA posters were calling for the Seals from jumpstreet…the WH took a few days and a dozen meetings with high-level military and Pentagon to get it right…
RepubChica on April 14, 2009 at 9:39 AM
I’ve never not admitted that.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:39 AM
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