Hannity & I chat about Kos
Published by Mike Stark June 12th, 2006 in Sean HannityHannity wanted to beat Markos, and by extension, Democrats, over the head with Kos’ two year old comments about mercs… I did my best to swat the charge away, but Hannity kept hammering it while cutting my mic… I’m not sure it maade any dents in his listenership, but I think I did as well as I could under the circumstances.
I just wish I had the chance to ask, “Well, which is worse - a kid that grew up watching mercenaries - contract killers - destroy his home country… that kid growing up with a contempt for mercs, or Ann Coulter trying to shut down democratic debate by calling 9/11 widows harpies and broads?”
Maybe next time….
22 Responses to “Hannity & I chat about Kos”
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Sounds like you have built up quite a rapport with Hannity.
“The Democrats have now decided to associate themselves with this big group, having Reid, Dean, etc. there….”
Yes, this “big group” is made up of Americans from every background, profession, and levels of education who are outraged at seeing Americans die for all the wrong reasons in Iraq. Tired of seeing a Pres. trample to Constitution and run up a staggering debt future generations will struggle to apy off. Clear thinking, patriotic Americans we are.
And if you are reading Sean, we are a MAJORITY of Americans, and you and your lobotimized neoconservative cheerleaders are a MINORITY of Americans.
I like Sean’s complex questions. He asks you if you support Daily Kos but calls those blogs “Extreme, left-wing, radical” in the same breath. The man might succeed against a pre-school debate team, but I cannot fathom him past that. The loudest voice is just the loudest voice.
He refused to acknowledge the problem of Mercenaries. First, they’re detrimental to the good order and discipline of the military as a soldier getting 30 grand a year may be miffed doing the same job as a man getting 130 grand a year. Second, they were for a long time a power unto themselves in Iraq thanks to Bush’s proclamation of Iraq being lawless. Third, they undermine retention in the military as why risk your life for reletively low pay when Blackwater will give you more government money. Fourth, mercenaries hide the true manpower we are deploying in Iraq as we count only the active duty troops. Fifth, mercenaries allowed kings to wage wars without care for the loss of life whereas citizen soldiers will stay the hand of hawkish administrations.
However, saying you don’t give a damn about the US versions of mercenaries is a bit extreme. So long as they’re more of a security force, they’re just as valid as rent-a-cops in the mall. It’s the unhindered merc that worries me.
your work is so important Mike . GREAT WORK . thank you . GREAT JOB . oh and all you bobble neck pin heads at fox GO HOME !
Good job Mike. Don’t let them attribute random comments to me or anyone else. I obviously did not say those last few things he claimed I said. I don’t doubt someone dug them up from the comments, but it wasn’t me.
Thanks!
Dat wadical website daily kawss… wadical wadical wadical, you wascally wadical wiberals.
Especially funny how Hannity did his absolute damndest to spin Kos’ (2 yrs old, no less) comment about the mercenaries from firms like Blackwater and Wackenhut, into a comment about elisted soldiers.
They don’t seem to understand that the mercenary point of view is “Hey they’ll pay me 20 grand a month to go shoot me some Iraqis” whereas an enlistee doesn’t have much of a choice once they sign on that dotted line. That’s where the bravery comes from, that’s the difference between someone who kills for money and someone who pulls the trigger because they’re ordered to on the front lines.
If Hannity can’t make that absolutely simple distinction… well, screw him too. If these mercs were anything approaching honorable or brave, they’d have enlisted.
Mike–You should be proud that Hannity now plans for your calls w/ 2-year-old background quotes. Possibly you will need to counter some of his strategy by changing the subject when he clearly preps for you (particularly when he knows what the subject of your call will be) towards something he has not prepared for, some sort of surprise query you can quickly ask, before he has the opportunity to mute you.
As someone who spent timeworking w/ Salvadoran refugees and on Central American policy, you really hit the nail on the head about mercenaries. Let’s not forget that the idea of the “Salvador Option,” i.e. using death squads in Iraq (which, of course, has come to pass), mimics the actions of the ARENA death squads that were supported by the likes of Abrams, Poindexter & Negroponte, close allies to Rumsfeld/Bush/Cheney…
We need to keep reminding folks that the policies of the ’80’s in Central America were completely evil & murderous & the responsibility of many of the architects of the tragedies that have occured over the past 6 years.
Stark, you remain the man.
Next time someone brings up those comments, bring up the ones from soldiers about mercenaries. Most Army men HATE the mercenaries because they make their jobs a lot harder. This was especially the case after those “trophy videos” came out:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2005/11/rumsfelds-hessians-have-been-shooting.html
Byron York mentioned this comment too (that’s the only one they can find on Kos?), maybe you should challenge him to a debate again. Nah, he’d wuss out.
If he has to cut your microphone every time you’re making a relevant point, it isn’t a debate at all. What a wimp.
A real man would let you say your piece, not cut you off, mute you, and rant for a minute at a time before giving you all of four seconds to respond.
Im not sure your calling conservative talk radio will do much for your cause, but im glad to see you both tried to remain some what civil. As to the 2 year old quote, its not suprising to me when we see that many on the left still talk about the 2000 election. Thats almost 6 years ago. Its part of the game. If you say something, you can expect someone with more time that social life will hunt it down these days. I am not a liberal, (well duh you say) but i am a moderate, and i have to say that the tin foil hats at the convention problably destroyed any good it did for me.
But all that aside, as a nation we have a problem. The LEFT AND RIGHT have got to let go of this hate. The invective of both sides is why neither party is getting my vote or my money. Bush is not satan or god, but he is repeatably shown as one or the other depending where i go.
One thing i will promise you, I won’t vote for him in 2008 ;-).
Newsflash there, Andrew. You can’t vote for him in 2008.
Happier now?
LOL i know, thats why the smile with the wink is there!! Lighten up a little!! I’ll make you a deal, if he tries to stay in power after the elections in 2008 or cancels them, you can cover me while i storm the white house to remove him. I’ll go one further, I will not support Jeb Bush for president EVER. Enough with the bush family!! However i will also not vote for anyone because they have a “D” after thier name. (or an “R” for that matter)
does hannity get the fact that you are probably his most frequent caller?
Great job, Mike. You got your point across that Kos did NOT say that about the soldiers, only made comments about mercenaries, and that Kos dislikes people who kill for money.
Even Hannity cutting off your mic was not effective, as you talked around that. Maybe some of his audience will come over and check out daily kos and your website - and leave the Dark Side!!!
Thanks!
Sue, all armys are paid killers. At least i got paid when i was in the army. The distinction is smaller than you may think.
He’s good. Every word hannity says about anything on his show is rehearsed and repeated. he knows exactly how to take the ball in his court and keep it there.
Andrew, the concept of armies has changed over the centuries. We may be paid whether we’re cutting potatoes, mopping floors, arranging files, supervising, etc.
Mercs are for hire, they’re paid only when there’s fighting to be done. They have no loyalty aside from their small unit and the money of the current boss.
Have I considered myself a mercenary? From time to time, yes. I get 60 grand a year plus benefits that can total 10 grand or more extra (insurance, savings on shopping, medical, tax breaks, etc.). That pay accounts for no college pre-requisite. However, I’m paid to do a job that does not necessarily mean killing. If you want to say I aid in killing, well, anyone that pays taxes or even partakes in the US market place aids in killing then.
I don’t think citizen soldiers qualify as mercenaries. They are called upon, even now, to perform a service for their country. I consider the US military excessive, but that’s not the point. It’s still a service that as children we’re told is honorable.
Mike, you do realize that you’re playing into Hannity’s hands, don’t you? I think some of your calls are great, but this call just gave Hannity an opportunity to bash the liberal blogosphere.
I completely disagree with Bobby McGee’s comment above. If you don’t think it was on Hannityy’s agenda to rag on the liberal blogosphere, and the yearly Kos convention in particular, you are dreaming. That’s the type of crap he does every day. That’s his job! Mike was there to effectively counter the crap that he was spewing. Without Mike’s call, the BS Sean was saying about Markos would have gone unrefuted. Atleast those that listen to him, that don’t accept everything he says on blind faith, now have a reason to seek out the truth, since they were presented with both sides of an issue. Some thing that happens on conservative talk radio very rarely.
Props to Mike for another great call!
I’ll just defer to the fourth comment for my judgment. That pretty much clears things up for me.
Charles, all good points, but mercs will also do all of that. I think the biggest difference is that soldiers do it primarily for the country instead of the money.Godd knows i didn’t get paid much for all the time i spent in Bosnia and Macedonia.
Good job Sean. I know we disagree politically but gotta give you credit for having the guts and integrity to talk to critics other commentators simple run in fear from.
It’s also a good strategy, staying in top form by debating people experienced at debate.
The thing that gives me some hope is that people are (at least some) beginning to get that this is a bunch of crap.
That he can find 3 quotes in 3 years, vs. a litany from any of his colleagues in just a month says a lot.
People are beginning to wake up.