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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Fine. I’ll give that one to Obama.
Obama resolved the crisis? He rescued the hostage? I just not seeing what Obama did that is so extraordinary here. Force had to be used if Captain Phillips was in “imminent danger”. Period. End of story. What matters is how Obama handles this as a matter of policy going forward.
As for Carter – Don’t you think that even Jimmy Carter would have done the same thing? The two situations are very different from a tactical point of view.
Buy Danish on April 14, 2009 at 9:40 AM
LOL! Don’t you know he trained the sharpshooters?
RepubChica on April 14, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Or perhaps I just leave it up to the Navy to make those calls.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Treacher is the TrollBuster®
carbon_footprint on April 14, 2009 at 9:41 AM
President Pantywaste? Oh, I love it!
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 9:42 AM
You’re going to have to stop this crazy talk Ed. Objectivity and fairness are not allowed.
toliver on April 14, 2009 at 9:43 AM
But, you said it.
Johan Klaus on April 14, 2009 at 9:43 AM
So how hard is it to imagine that these ROE were communicated all the way down to the SEALs, along with an explanation that even if all three pirates were exposed and in the crosshairs, that would not be sufficient warrant to take them out; some specific visual evidence of this “imminent danger” would have to be cited to justify the action…. (wink wink, nudge nudge)
It’s coming right for us!
The Monster on April 14, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Make up your mind. Either Obama saved the day or he didn’t.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:44 AM
One hostage rescued while Obama is Commander in chief doesn’t make him into some crossbreed of Alexander the Great and Ghandi. The media wants to ignore every single flub Obama makes and expects the world to swoon when he gets something “right”. Can the bar be set any lower? 3 pirates in a lifeboat with no gas hold off a US Destroyer for 4 days, Obama refused to make any condemnation of their actions, he basically said “no comment” every time he was asked and now the left is trying to use this as an example and say “SEE! Liberal presidents can handle military matters competently!!”. Pardon me for being underwhelmed.
Mord on April 14, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Well, they attacked a US navy ship in 2006 that tried to board one of theirs. And they attempt to hijack two US owned cruise liners over the past few years.
But, again, you show great smarts. Obviously, these Somali teenage pirates thought president pantywaste would give them a free pass. That’s why they hijacked the ship. Didn’t know you were also an expert on piracy tactics of the Somalis.
But, aside from that, who gives a fuck why they hijacked the ship? They did and we blew their heads off (but, apparently not fast enough for some. Again, sorry about that Jim).
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:45 AM
No, I think that that was Joe Biden.
Johan Klaus on April 14, 2009 at 9:45 AM
As I’ve said all along, he played it cool. He COULD have, as many on the right seemed to have wanted — including you — ordered the Navy to hasten their rescue efforts. He didn’t. He authorized the use of force and let the Navy do their job.
Now, if you have a problem with the timeline, talk to the Navy.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Hold on boys and girls I do believe there is another way to look at this. I believe that Phillips shamed EVERYONE into acting correctly.
When he dived in the water and the men of the USS Bainbridge were caught with their thumbs up their asses. If they had been on top of their game it would have ended then and there. The decision to place the snipers on board and to kill the pirates came after that.
Just curious what these guys from the Commander of the USS Bainbridge all the way up the chain of command would have done if Phillips had not dived into the water. The true hero in this is Phillips. While everyone else was attempting to make a decision, Phillips made a decision and acted boldly upon it.
Jdripper on April 14, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Not that I don’t trust you, but…
What’s your theory, then? Oh, wait, here it comes:
Wise words. Who gives a fuck indeed?
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:47 AM
No need to get angry and use foul words. It will be OK.
Johan Klaus on April 14, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Wait, wait. There was GAMBLING in the back room at Rick’s cafe?
radjah shelduck on April 14, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Are we going to talk about housing now?
Yeah, he ordered the use of force twice, they’re saying. I wonder what happened the first time, that he had to repeat the order?
I’m talking to you. You’re the one with all the answers.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Not giving Obama credit comes off as both intellectually lazy and petulant. You’re not going to turn any swing voters this way, which supposedly is what Hannity wants to do.
Better to credit Obama here, even if it is begrudingly, while reminding people that this does not give Barack a free pass on all foreign policy actions for the next 3 1/2 years (which is what his big media supporters and Democratic spinners would like the public to think), and that as Commander in Chief, he’s going to have to make decisions involving the show of U.S. force over and over again in order to keep rogue bands of terrorists, pirates, and aggressive nations in line.
jon1979 on April 14, 2009 at 9:51 AM
RE: Hannity is Olbermann
Yeah I would agree with that. But remember Olbermann is one of the reasons Obama is president. Olby was one of the earliest supporters of Obama and was one of the most outspoken Hillary bashers out there, along with Chrissy Matthews. Say what you will about him, but he motivates his troops effectively.
angryed on April 14, 2009 at 9:52 AM
If you won’t take his word for it, will this do?
geckomon on April 14, 2009 at 9:52 AM
OK don’t have a dog in this fight (I’m an Aussie) but here’s how I see it:
Several things have clouded this story
(a) fast breaking story about a touchy situation in a remote area so hard for journos to get right info; plus on some matters (e.g. how the crew repelled the pirates) we won’t get the full story because crews don’t want to let it be known what sort of anti-piracy tactics they use. That’s fair enough
(b) the Obama machine and their shills in the press who will distort what is known only to make Obama look like messiah. Top of the pops seems to be Associated Press (the
Associated Press seems to have gone all out with their deception over the piracy issue which given syndication and resident lefty loons throughout the global western media, subsequently spreads like a meme. Here’s a lie for a headline about the resuce on top of an AP report in one Aussie paper.
(c) In addition to Blackfive’s report, there are also servicemen around the blogs – including one here at HA (hat tip to you sir) -who confirm that using force when a hostage is in danger is within the rules of engagement. So what exactly Obama approved is beyond anyone’s guess. He may as well have overriden certain ROEs and said, don’t shoot except if you have to.
(d) Gortney (via Flopping Aces) also made that clear:
(d)some time back, John Bolton wrote about Obama’s plan for surrender where he also pointed out diplomacy is all well and good, but…
The same goes for these sorts of negotiations. All indications are that Obama wanted the yaketty yak route – Goertner confirmed – so what was his exit strategy? It seems to me that it was the pirate’s agitation and the captain’s quick thinking (and some awesome awesome sharp shooting) that got Phillips home safe.
(e)What is more, there are basically two sorts of approaches to negotiation. The one where you are negotiating for the life of the captors (the Israeli option some might call it) or the one where you are negotiating for the life of the captured (the most common, and one that seems to have been used here). While the latter seems more palatable it’s the former that is more likely to get results but with a bigger risk to the innocents.
When I put all of this together I can only take my hat off to Phillips, the crew, and the U.S. Navy and SEALs.
The person who seems to have had the luckiest escape here is Obama.
In any case, while this may now embolden pirates to get nastier, it may also have the unintended (yet very welcome consequence) of forcing the international community to get serious about piracy. I am not holding out hope given Obama’s namby pamby “resolved to halt the rise of privacy” – I’d have been happier if the TOTUS without the T had the “resolve to halt piracy period”.
As I said on another thread Anti-Piracy 101 is simple but it does require a lot of resolve:
First, lose the lawyers.
Second, learn history.
Third, memorise this term: Hostis humani generis
Fourth, be civilized about it.
P.S. On the civilized bit, this is one reason why I do not favour arming crews but letting professional navies etc do the hob. Servicemen and women are trained, disciplined, have the authority (not least the authority of the state, and therefore the people), necessary checks and balances and (I hope) support to do what is, in one sense, a very unpalatable job: killing people to secure peace, order and security. And there is no other way to deal with piracy except to eliminate pirates and their havens. Literally. You don’t want the non-professionals and undisciplined getting addicted to blood lust or rambling about killing innocents.
Plus merchant sailors just want to be merchant sailors.
saint on April 14, 2009 at 9:54 AM
+100. Not to mention he ordered his crew to safety as they were being jacked and offered himself up to a group of men wielding automatic weapons…heroism personified.
RepubChica on April 14, 2009 at 9:54 AM
LOL. The same way that a deer in the headlights is “play[ing] it cool”. Pathetic.
progressoverpeace on April 14, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Again, I’m unsure of what credit Obama deserves.
I think a more principled approach would be to neither credit or blame him unless/until specific information comes out that would lead us to a better conclusion.
We celebrate the rescues and keep a wary eye on Obama to see if this is the start of something new for him (he grew a backbone)…
…or if, as some here have suggested, the Navy acted on their own accord and Obama is still the person we thought he was (no backbone, wants to give more rights to terrorists than conservatives).
Religious_Zealot on April 14, 2009 at 9:55 AM
It certainly isn’t allowed as to Palin when it comes to this website.
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 9:57 AM
I nominate you for The Green Room.
Well done Mate.
carbon_footprint on April 14, 2009 at 9:58 AM
The problem is if you give Obama or any Lib credit for anything they will take credit for everthing right down to aiming and pulling the trigger for the Seals.They have no shame and will never change.How many times did they give our troops any credit for doing a fine job over the last 7 or 8 years not one they just said they could not win and were a bunch of rapist and killers.
thmcbb on April 14, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Ed, what’s the big deal here? Isn’t that what the C-in-C is SUPPOSED to do? Sure, if he screws up he is held accountable but since when do we give any President credit for doing his job? I don’t understand why it even needs to be navel-gazed.
Traffic Cop Timmy on April 14, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Good post and prophetic. I heard on the radio on the way to work that pirates took 3 (?) more ships last night? Maybe we should hold the applause (Ed and Jonah) until this ALL plays out.
Traffic Cop Timmy on April 14, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Does anyone here actually believe that 100 days after leaving office, the military left by Obama for the next president will be ready to take on this task?
Bush gets the credit for this event because Oslime-a used his military to get it done. 4 years from now, Oslime-a will have decimated the military and intel communities to the point that missions like this will be nearly impossible to achieve.
csdeven on April 14, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Excellent points.
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Undeterred Somali pirates hijack 4 more ships
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30204891/
Traffic Cop Timmy on April 14, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I didn’t follow the Palin comments here. I tend to get bored with her quickly.
Anyway, I’m sticking with my Barry 5%-10% credit ratio, even though I’m sickened by the MSM coverage that’s left most “civilians” out there thinking that Obama personally ordered the rescue mission. I’ve been talking to regular folks out there, and that’s the impression they have from the coverage.
toliver on April 14, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Really, the media is the problem here, more than Obama. Obama’s statements haven’t said he was personally responsible for telling the SEAL team to shoot. The media is painting that (false) picture. Obama has been saying and doing the right things on this, the media is just ignoring that as they continue to pander to him.
It may come back to haunt Obama in the future, unforunately. There are already some Somalis who are saying America is enemy #1. By giving credit to the Prez, the media is basically helping radical Islam find a reason to hate him.
hawksruleva on April 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM
One final thing: while I am happy, ecstatic, that the crew is safe and that the U.S. Navy has done America proud, I personally have a hard time congratulating a man – any man woman or child anywhere in any country for that matter – who is so hell bent on demanding that his own countrymen be given the “right” and “moral authority”, even to the point of denying people’s freedom of conscience, to kill their own unborn, innocent children, and to also export infanticide to the world. That might sit well in the Meaghan McCain school of (sentimental in)coherence but it doesn’t sit well with mine.
saint on April 14, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I’d say screw them. I can’t believe ship crews can’t be armed. I doubt it is the Americans who are against this. And if other countries don’t want to rescue their ships and kill smelly pirates, again that is their problem. However, the fact that they millions to these creeps which undoubtedly goes to support terrorism, it becomes our business.
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 10:08 AM
That’s not what a hard-left CINC POTUS is supposed to do. I thought he was going to screw the pooch on this one, and was prepared to mock him. Obama surprised me by allowing the Navy to do their jobs.
toliver on April 14, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Yea, the headline will read (be spun):
“Obama Creates More Stimulus Jobs as He Pledges to Build a Ship by 2014 in Response to Latest Act of Piracy”
Traffic Cop Timmy on April 14, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Sorry, yes, that was a poor choice of words. I didn’t mean to give him credit for actually saving the captain. But, in his role as president, I think he handled it well. The Navy and the SEALs and the Captain deserve the praise.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Yes.
The President gets the credit.
getalife on April 14, 2009 at 10:13 AM
I don’t think he deserves much credit, but he did avoid doing the same thing Carter did in Iran and Clinton did in Mogadishu, which was not just nothing, but keeping the military from doing anything until it was too late.
The other point to make here from the right — and one the Obama people and the big media don’t want to mention — is that by doing this Barack has made his first group of intractable enemies on his own foreign policy actions with the Somali pirates and their various clans (as opposed to carrying on the Bush policies on attacking the Taliban and al Qaida in Afghanistan).
The Somalis and whomever supports them are not going to love Barack Obama any more than the enemies of the United States did not love George W. Bush, and if Obama is going to properly use the American military in the future, there are going to be a lot more people who are never going to love Barack Obama…which isn’t how the story line is supposed to go. All these people supposedly hated America because of George W. Bush.
If Obama’s going to keep his precious plan for massive domestic spending on social welfare programs intact, he can’t afford a foreign attack on U.S. soil, which will force lots of that money back into defense programs. And if he’s going to keep the U.S. safe, he’s going to create a lot more people around the world who hate him because he’s doing that. That’s a far more fun thing to contemplate, because there really are people on the left right now getting angry that Obama did anything to defend U.S. interests abroad.
Like back in 1993, when Rush Limbaugh and Bill Clinton were on the same side against the unions on NAFTA, better to give credit to Obama here while noting he’s got to keep doing this to keep America safe, and watch the far left keep getting angrier that Obama isn’t willing to let the country’s military roll over and die the way they thought he would.
jon1979 on April 14, 2009 at 10:14 AM
What’s a quote from one of the already freed crew members supposed to prove or not prove aside from the fact that they wanted the US to “get these guys” which they did?
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I am evaluating Obama as C-in-C much differently than the rest of his job. I don’t see left, center or right when it comes to protecting the country. Protection is job one and partisan politics must be left out of it. Which is how I come to the conclusion that he is just doing his job.
With four more ships captured, the story is not over.
Traffic Cop Timmy on April 14, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Sorry folks, we can put this topic to rest.
carbon_footprint on April 14, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Hannity is a boob.
A likable boob, but a boob nonetheless.
Attheendofthedayletnotyourheartbetroubledyou’reagreatAmerican.
Wander on April 14, 2009 at 10:19 AM
As I understand it, there were new personal brought on board on Saturday, so another authorization was required of the president. From what I’ve read, this is standard procedure.
No, I don’t. And again, if you have a problem in the timeline of rescuing the hostage, talk to the Navy as it seems they were the ones responsible for that timeline.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 10:20 AM
You want to know my theory? Here it is: they’re pirates. they hijack ships.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 10:22 AM
OK, but whoever put “shoot to kill” on the Teleprompter gets a prize too!
Wander on April 14, 2009 at 10:22 AM
None of those ships fly the Stars and Stripes.
The Monster on April 14, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Exactly right Timmy. This is where one starts to show true “resolve”, even when it gets ugly. You could count on Bush to stay the course, can you count on President Pantywaist? (Yes I know, we Aussies have to also worry about our Pink Batt Prime Minister these days too).
jon1979 is also right in one sense – Obama has made a set of enemies. Huzzah! I am not confident that he can handle all the “real world lerv” given that he’s kowtowing to Iran and Cuba and every other nutcase enemy of America out there, that but a little dose of reality might force his hand to actually do the right thing.
All I can say is bring it on.
saint on April 14, 2009 at 10:24 AM
This isn’t the first episode where Bernard Goldberg has gone in reverse on Hannity. It’s been happening ever since Goldberg’s last book tanked.
byteshredder on April 14, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Will anyone put the snipers on trial for using excessive force? It remains to be seen. Obama’s “imminent danger” ROE are designed to put those in the field on the spot using civilian legalistic standards in place of actual orders, allowing the CinC (Obama) the ability to take credit for success but disclaim and failure, and avoid any legal liability himself. Now, as seen with ridiculous headlies (sic on purpose) claiming Obama “ordered” the shooting, he’s claiming complete credit. If anything, he ordered them not to shoot except in extremis.
Now let’s see what happens when the ICC, Somali govt., or UN wants to investigate the shooting.
Beagle on April 14, 2009 at 10:25 AM
That certainly doesn’t seem very efficient.
After they got the first authorization and the second authorization, you mean.
And now: American ships.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Now you’re just screeching.
geckomon on April 14, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Aunt Zeituni says they’re kids just blowing off a little steam.
marklmail on April 14, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Keep dragging it out, dude. It’s been fun, but I don’t have any more time to waste.
Tom_Shipley on April 14, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Don’t forget your ball.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Ran this through BabbleFish:
Damn it I am getting my ass handed to me. Please just leave me alone.
carbon_footprint on April 14, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I’m wondering why there has to be any imminent danger to a hostage in the ROE? Just kill the f*#$%^& pirates and call it a day. They are enemies of humanity and have forsaken any “rights” as humanity knows them.
Mojave Mark on April 14, 2009 at 10:37 AM
This whole thing is a great example of a serious problem with this country — too many people feeling qualified to weigh in on a subject.
Sean Hannity doesn’t know jack about the situation and neither do we. Everyone should give those with the classified info the benefit of the doubt. The left’s constant harping on everything Bush did was ignorant and UNPATRIOTIC. It hurt this country a lot.
Similarly, actors and musicians don’t know jack about foreign policy or global warming. The country would be much better off if they would stay silent on those subjects. It is sad that anyone cares what they say. The media gets a lot of blame for publishing their ignorant babbling.
“When beautiful people become skilled in the performance arts, it does not make them experts in other subjects.”
Pythagoras on April 14, 2009 at 10:38 AM
I agree, but I am hard pressed to give Obama credit because he didn’t royally screw it up like I thought he would.
That said, because I really DID think he would screw up (and he didn’t), I AM willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when (not IF) the next crisis pops up.
I’m still inclined to think that he got lucky, but I will hope that he learned something here that he will apply better next time.
Religious_Zealot on April 14, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Thanks for sharing that.
Del Dolemonte on April 14, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Victor Davis Hanson makes the point I was trying to make (and fleshes it out a little better) about giving Obama credit, while noting what he’s facing in the future on NRO this morning.
Attacking Obama for everything is just BDS transferred over to a different president and a different group of people. Better to credit him when he does something that works out right, but remind people this isn’t like the end of some pro-Obama movie (which no doubt is being peddled in Hollywood right now), where nothing else bad happens that the president has to deal with after the hostage is freed and the end credits roll.
jon1979 on April 14, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Actually this shows a bigger problem with America. Once upon a time it was acceptable to weigh in on anything as the marketplace of ideas WAS the lauded idea. Now you have on this forum, by way of example, those that trounce others for opinions, such as the quote from your post, or to where those that don’t agree with AllahP are told to shut up.
Why should they? Why should Sean Hannity? How do you really know what someone doesn’t or doesn’t know? What I do know, is that this crisis was ended by a brave captain and some pretty hot military. I am still not sure what our Commander in Chief did beyond …some media appearance. I can’t quite separate out that he did a thing.
Noelie on April 14, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Those sniper not only saved Captain Phillips, they also saved Obama’s credibility in handling such a crisis. The “negotiating” was ridiculous.
portlandon on April 14, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Here ya go.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I understand what Hannity is saying, but I agree with Goldberg. For God’s sake Shawn, let it go. You’re starting to sound like all those fools on the left who went after Bush everytime ANYTHING happened.
fatharry1 on April 14, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I get bored quickly, too. Which explains why I don’t ever remember reading any of your comments.
Blake on April 14, 2009 at 12:07 PM
To take that position is to admit that negotiations with ‘bad actors’ are nothing more than a ruse, a delaying tactic, or a sham.
Personally, I’m fine with that because I don’t believe good-faith negotiations are possible with some people…I’m just surprised to hear some people admit it in the context of defending Obama.
James on April 14, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Interesting picture that goes along with story about how a pod of dolphins blocked Somali pirates from attacking Chinese merchant ships:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/14/xin_5920406141120000159014.jpg
eaglewingz08 on April 14, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Well, I guess I’m just optimistic that there’s a way to get through to people like Shipley.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
So…don’t take the shot?
James on April 14, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Guys, we’re talking about housing now.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Didn’t that happen, like, a week ago?
James on April 14, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Why should he? Was he there? Did he pull the trigger? Has he ever been in the military physically?
N4646W on April 14, 2009 at 12:42 PM
I guess I can view this a little bit differently than others have said here. I can see Hannity’s point in that this was an order that was basically a standing order in situations like this. There was no planning between Obama, Rahm or Axelrod as to what detailed action would take place. However, according to Hannity, Rahm made it appear as such and was making sure everyone knew it was Obama who made this all happen, not the military.
Obama made the right decision, and I didn’t hear that Hannity took that away from him. What I did hear, and I could be wrong, is that Obama’s decision didn’t make him the hero, the Navy Seals were, and that’s why Hannity was repeating what Capt. Phillips said which was “I’m just the byline. The heroes are the Navy, the Seals and those that have brought me home.”
As much as I like Bernie Goldberg and enjoy his commentaries, I think he jumped the gun on this one. It never helps when people end up talking over one another too.
moonsbreath on April 14, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Buck stops at the President’s desk. Things go wrong, he gets the blame. Things go right, he gets the credit. Simple as that. Hannity, other members of the anti-intellectual right and many commentators here offer up further proof that the far right and the far left are pretty much the same. Furthermore, whoever compared Hannity to Olberman was right on point. Hannity’s biggest problem is that he really isn’t very bright and is incapable of anything but very superficial analysis of any particular issue.
dakine on April 14, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Churlish and bitter.
Lot of that going around.
JohnGalt23 on April 14, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Part of professional sniper training is months of focusing on the “ONE”. They were thinking “Hope and Change” and “Yes we can”.
Hotair should give more credit to Obama than it does./sarc
shick on April 14, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Bernie is right on – The Right has taken over The Left’s critical craziness about George W Bush.
The Right has to stop behaving like The Left, period.
And yes, The Far Right and The Far Left have been one in the same for years.
AprilOrit on April 14, 2009 at 1:26 PM
My main gripe is how Obama hasn’t taken a strong enough tone against this kind of evil. After touring Europe and apologizing/bowing to the world, he needs to grow a pair and put the world on notice we will not be terrorized. Furthermore, his “sorry, we’re here to talk about housing” when this crisis was going on was feckless and weak. He is the C-in-C–everything else comes second.
Black Adam on April 14, 2009 at 1:48 PM
dakine said in part “Buck stops at the President’s desk. Things go wrong, he gets the blame. Things go right, he gets the credit. Simple as that.”
So then, Dear Comrade Leader is responsible and to blame for the current economic fiasco? Just sayin’.
As to the credit for resolution of the Pirate highjacking.
As I recall the time line, the re-captured ship was sailing to its port at the time that the Navy arrived. That ship had Seals on it at that time. So, there were Seals in the area and they were not to be used by the navy to resolve the situation?
I also have heard reported that the Navy asked for permission twice to use lethal force and were told to stand down and let negotiations continue. Doesn’t sound like a good use of our military in that case.
The only thing that saved the day was a courageous Navy Captain who interpreted Standard ROE’s that say if a life is in “imminent” danger, they can act, and interpreted that liberally.
Just Plain Bill on April 14, 2009 at 2:15 PM
But we let you stick around anyway.
Jim Treacher on April 14, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Too much generalization…it comes down to execution.
Carter put his “rescue” together to save face, and it was ill conceived, with poor equipment…the irony of having to cut the budget so far back that we didn’t even have parts for many helicopters, they didn’t even make the trip, let alone a “round trip”.
What I was stating is that, Carter was a fool who when he needed the military, they were not prepared because of his leadership.
When Obama called on the military, it was ready because of superb leadership under President Bush.
Now, Obama was taught a lesson, let’s see if he applies it and beefs up the military budget…or does he go the way of Carter, and we become another military disaster.
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Here is the most valuable lesson…negotiating is a tool to allow the military to complete their mission.
right2bright on April 14, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie.
You can’t be nice to these guys. They will smear you and shut you down at the first opportunity.
Learn from the Left. They are always wrong and Conservatives are always right. They do not respond to niceness or rational argument nor will they meet you half way. They won’t applaud Conservatives attacking their own, but merely expect it-they will not sit there and say, “Well, at least Conservatives aren’t afraid of criticizing their own. That’s wonderful!” It’s their way or nothing.
For over a hundred years they have been building up this momentum and the only bumps along the way have been Senator Joe McCarthy and the HUAC, Ronald Reagan and George Bush. They are impatient. The time is now.
Dr. ZhivBlago on April 14, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Again … Obama had really no role in rescuing this Captain. He gave an SOP order – and that is it.
His REAL role as CINC … is to create a foriegn policy that DETERS this kind of conduct. Bush created and maintained such a policy – and idiots remained clear of US Flagged vessels.
Obama – known to be soft on offense even when he was CANDIDATE Obama – is elected, goes on an apology tour to Europe and the Pirates suddenly take a US Ship.
This is not a coincidence.
So in Obama’s PRIMARY role of detererrence. He failed – simple as that. The fact that the Navy was there as his “safety net” and corrected the situation was helpful – but it was not a credit to anything Obama did. If he’d done his job – the pirates would have not dared to take the ship in the first place.
They never once attacked a US Ship when Bush was President. This bears repeating. It is fact.
HondaV65 on April 14, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Yeah that BDS tactic really “backfired” on the Democrats too didn’t it?!
Fact is the Somali PieRats do what they do because the global liberal elite has handcuffed the USN. Now, either by design or mistake the Somalis/muslims, aka skinny’s, attacked a U.S. operated vessel on the high seas, and took an American hostage. The kat soaked skinny’s, and their handlers, had every reason to expect that the Obama Admin, like the Carter Admin, would rollover. Happilly for the Master of the Alabama Maersk, the well trained USN was unchained long-enough to solve the current tactical problem.
Now, if the O’bama clique and the driveby press expect some % of credit to accrue to the Admin, they need to resolve the underlying problem which led to the crisis in the first place. That is, address the sin of ommission, that has allowed a failed state to deploy its flotsam to attack merchants in transit on the sealanes.
On the hostage issue, the Alabama Captain was correct, the USN and the Seal Team, are the “heroes”, and they, not Obama earned all the gedunk(awards) in the game. If they want glory, the Administration, including the CinC, should get their leftist/statist arses in gear, and commence cleaning out the onshore pirate dens in Somalia and everywhere else! They can Start buy destroying all smallcraft that puts to sea, with other than sail or oar power! But they won’t will they?
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on April 14, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Ed:
I don’t think Obama deserves any credit. The Seals did the job. Exactly what was Obama’s alternative or risk? I am not defending Carter, but the American embassy in Tehran with hundreds of hostages in a hostile place is a lot different from 4 guys with one hostage surrounded by the US Navy. There is no way the Navy was just going to sit there and watch the pirates murder the man in any event. It is not as if they did not have the legal right to act, even without that order.
Terrye on April 14, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Hannity is doing the very thing everyone was after the media going after GW, he is starting to sound as if he is just nitpicking. Go after his policies but don’t sound as if the guy is the devil, his policies suck but don’t go after him because of the dog he likes.
KBird on April 14, 2009 at 5:50 PM
LOL yeah that was one of the rare times I saw S. Hannity kind of taken back. I thought it was good. Most the time Bernie and him are on the same page.
Good to keep Hannity on his toes.
americaslaststand on April 14, 2009 at 5:50 PM
I trust Blackfive on these matters – Uncle Jimbo says:
corona on April 14, 2009 at 6:22 PM
KBird:
I don’t think so. Exactly what was the alternative? Those guys were not going to sit in that dinghy for 400 days like the hostages did in Tehran. And if the whole thing was finished because Obama gave an order to shoot to kill if the hostage’s life was in danger…does that mean they could not shoot to kill to save the man on the first or second or third or fourth day.
Obama let this whole drag out too long and then when the decision was made to end it, he made sure his butt was covered.
I refuse to the give the President of the United States credit for doing something that any President with an ounce of honor would do. It is just ridiculous.
Terrye on April 14, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Sean 0, Bernie 1, after I watched that last night. But that’s how good debates should be.
kirkill on April 14, 2009 at 6:36 PM
But the score on the Slobbering Love Affair the media has for The One? More Slobber.
kirkill on April 14, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Obama gets credit for “not playing to type.”
Given what you’d expect from a Democrat, he beat the standard.
But it’s a VERY LOW standard … if Obama was a Republican, there’d be nothing at all unusual about his decision.
In fact, Obama would be getting criticized by the Left for unnecessary violence which will ‘inevitably’ lead to retaliation ….
BD57 on April 14, 2009 at 7:14 PM
BD57:
I don’t really think so. I am not defending Democrats, but I can not imagine that any President would just let that man die in full view of the US Navy. In fact, the very fact that this is a big deal is ridiculous. The Navy should have finished it on day one without even having to bring Obama into it.
Terrye on April 14, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Beat me too it. George Bush wouldn’t have even let this become a crisis; it would have probably ended much quicker and in the same way. The liberals that are strutting around her with their chests puffed up would be screeching that Bush committed a war crime by having 3 teenagers shot. But, since wet eared rookie did it, we get to listen the theme of He-manbeing played over, and over again.
Look, the whole reason the left is so puffed up with pride is because they thought Obama was going to p**sy out too. They were getting ready to make excuses for the Captain dying; all Obama did, was get out of the way. His absolute refusal to even make a general statement on this indicated to me not that he was ‘cool and collected’ but that he was trying to keep a low profile in case the sh*t hit the fan. Had this gone bad, you’d hear all about a naval officer that didn’t follow Obama’s orders; I will bet good money on that.
austinnelly on April 14, 2009 at 7:42 PM
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