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Dennis Miller: "[W]omen on the left hate" Palin "because to me ... it appears that she has a great sex life"

As noted by Gawker.com, on the November 12 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, radio host Dennis Miller stated of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R): "I think the left hate her -- mostly women on the left hate her, because to me, from outside in, it appears that she has a great sex life." He continued, "I think she has non-neurotic sex with that Todd Palin guy. I think most of the women on the Upper East Side, their husbands haven't been aroused since [Norman] Mailer signed copy of The Executioner's Song at Rizzoli's back in the early '70s." Miller also said in reference to the Palins, "[T]hat snowmobile looks like mechanized foreplay to me, and that's why people are fascinated by it." Moments later, host Bill O'Reilly asked, "You think that because she looks like a happy, wedded mom with not so much neurosis, that these people are going, 'We have to hate her'?" Miller responded, in part: "It's like Tina Fey's movie Mean Girls. Women are mean to other women. They look at her, she looks happy, a lot of them aren't, and they're cranky about her." Later in the discussion, after Miller said that President-elect Barack Obama "ought to flatten these punks at AIG [American International Group]," O'Reilly stated, "OK, and then arrest [Rep.] Barney Frank [D-MA], correct?" As the blog Think Progress noted, Miller replied, "Barney might want to be arrested." In response, O'Reilly said, "Oh, jeez. Ugh," and shuddered. He continued, "OK, Dennis Miller, everybody. I told you to hide the kids." Before going to a commercial break, O'Reilly added, "Next up, a viewer warning -- I'm sorry I didn't give you one before Miller." From the November 12 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor: O'REILLY: Now, the Sarah Palin hysteria. I mean, can you believe she's getting more ink now than the president-elect is getting? Didn't she lose? It looks like she won. MILLER: Listen, she's a great dame. People are fascinated by her because the left hate her. I think the left hate her -- mostly women on the left hate her, because to me, from outside in, it appears that she has a great sex life. All right? I think she has non-neurotic sex with that Todd Palin guy. I think most of the women on the Upper East Side, their husbands haven't been aroused since Mailer signed copy of The Executioner's Song at Rizzoli's back in the early '70s. So they look at her, and they hate her. I think that snowmobile looks like mechanized foreplay to me, and that's why people are fascinated by it. O'REILLY: So you think that -- cutting through all of the metaphors that even I don't even understand. Rizzoli's used to be a bookstore. You think that because she looks like a happy, wedded mom with -- MILLER: Yeah. O'REILLY: -- not so much neurosis, that these people are going, "We have to hate her"? It's -- what, it's schadenfreude? Is that -- how do you say that? German? MILLER: It's called schadenfreude. O'REILLY: Schadenfreude. [unintelligible] MILLER: The Germans concocted it. It's one's vague pleasure in another's discomfort. Leave it to the Germans, by the way, to concoct an intricate glossary of pain terminology. But I think people have -- I think people have schadenfreude about her. It's like Tina Fey's movie Mean Girls. Women are mean to other women. They look at her, she looks happy, a lot of them aren't, and they're cranky about her. Plus, you know, she's still viable to me. Katie Couric is not going to be the interlocutor that turns me off Sarah Palin. For God's sakes, does anybody remember Katie Couric during her first month on the job? Bill Paley and Ed Murrow were turning over in their graves so fast that they resembled the twin screws on the Thunderball boat, the Disco Volante, when they threw it into hydrofoil mode. O'REILLY: I guess that's a James Bond reference there? MILLER: I don't even -- Billy, I have no idea. Help me. Help me, for God's sake. O'REILLY: Miller, I hate to say this, but I think you may be beyond help. I think Bordello of Blood was it. Now, you've been reassessing in the last -- in the last eight days the presidential vote. And what conclusions, Miller, have you come to? MILLER: Well, two. I'm kind of happy now that it's over. Because when they showed Grant Park that night and I saw the looks on the face of some of the black elders looking up, who had been pushed aside to lunch counters and bathrooms, and I saw that catharsis, I thought, well, I intellectualized this would be good for the country in that way. I had no idea the depth of feeling. It pleases my heart. I'm happy for them. Also, the guy looks so smart to me. I didn't believe anything he said when he was running. But now I know he's so smart that when two dim, mindless magpies like [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid [D-NV] and [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi [D-CA] trundle down there to sell their tired Willy Loman wares, he's going to pay them lip service. The moment they split, he's going to look at [incoming White House chief of staff] Rahm Emanuel and go, "Sharp elbows, dull intellects. We're not listening to those cats. Do you think I worked this hard to get to this point that I'm going to parrot what those two idiots say?" So I like the fact that he's really smart. And you know something? He's my president now. And I am not going to do what the left did to Bush. I find it unbecoming. I hope that Barack Obama does so well that four years hence, I am salivating to vote for him. I want this all to work, because I love my country. At some point, I make Lee Greenwood look like the Rosenbergs. And I hope he does great. But I will not turn my back on George Bush. Today, 2,619 days since a domestic terror attack on this soil. Thank you to my commander in chief, and thank you to the troops for providing us the safety to have an election like that. O'REILLY: Absolutely. Now, how skeptical are you going to -- I think your sentiment is noble, by the way. And particularly in this dangerous economic time when people are really suffering, you've got to root for Obama to get the economy back on track and lessen suffering. But how skeptical are you going to be? And how -- and what is my watchdog role? See, I'm setting myself up to watch Barack Obama. You know, and I'm going to be fair about it. There's no doubt I'll be fair. But I'm going to very -- you know, watch him closer than I watched Bush because I didn't watch Bush close enough. I didn't. I admit it. I should have. So, how skeptical are you going to be about Obama? Are you going to bring a skepticism in from the beginning? MILLER: I'm always skeptical about guys who want to be president, because it seems like its own form of madness to me. But I'll tell you, if he wants to earn my goodwill and the goodwill of a lot of people, he ought to flatten these punks at AIG who keep taking -- these guys party. They make Caligula look like a shut-in. Enough is enough. We just gave them $150 billion. We've got to follow them around with hidden cameras. Take it all back, let them go away. It's economic Darwinism. If they want to spend like that, they should go under. Forget the parties, you guys. And I think that he ought to come down hard on them right now. O'REILLY: OK, and then arrest Barney Frank, correct? MILLER: Barney might want to be arrested. O'REILLY: Oh, jeez. Ugh. [shudders] OK, Dennis Miller, everybody. I told you to hide the kids. Next up, a viewer warning -- I'm sorry I didn't give you one before Miller.

Michael Tomasky on the key moments of the US election

One of the most famous New Yorker cartoons of all time shows two men in 19th-century garb, one sitting behind a desk and clearly a boss of some sort, the other in the boss's guest chair leaning anxiously forward. The boss is speaking. Caption: "I wish you would make up your mind, Mr Dickens. Was it the best of times or was it the worst of times? It could scarcely have been both."The cartoon is memorable because it skewers the pedantry behind the demand for neat categories. Life, as Dickens suggested, is always both. And so is politics. Without further ado then, some nominees for the best and worst of the campaign just concluded.Best speechOthers may be better known, but Barack Obama's thunderous oration at the Iowa Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner on November 10 2007 was a turning point. He was stuck in neutral, and Hillary Clinton looked inevitable. Then he tore the roof off the place. Remember, if he'd lost the Iowa caucuses, he may well have been forced out of the contest. The momentum that led to his Iowa victory began that night.Worst pre-campaign political decision with the benefit of hindsightHillary Clinton's vote for the Iraq war. She couldn't have known how badly the war would go of course. But if she'd voted against it, it's entirely possible that Obama never even would have run in the first place. Being the only top-level candidate against the war was his chief selling point to Democratic primary voters. Worst candidate Many conservatives predicted that Republican Fred Thompson would unite the party and be the answer to their prayers when he entered the race in mid-2007. Instead he always looked like he was wondering "God, when will this be over?" He once even refused to don a firefighter's hat for a photo-op, saying "I've got a silly hat rule." Earth to Fred: hats that people wear when saving little children from fiery deaths aren't "silly".Worst campaignEasy. Rudy Giuliani's (pictured left), specifically his decision to skip the first four GOP primary contests. You know - the ones that mattered. Best Clinton moment Hillary's New Hampshire comeback. Not only the famous crying episode, but the moment when she "found my own voice". Worst Clinton moment Hillary's gaffe when she said she had come under sniper fire when arriving in the Bosnian city of Tuzla? Nah. Hillary saying she and McCain had commander-in-chief credentials while Obama had "a speech he made in 2002"? Getting warmer. But I choose Bill's comparison of Obama's South Carolina win to Jesse Jackson's wins in the state in the 1980s. Both Clintons did their part against John McCain, but the Big Dog's primary season comportment isn't completely forgiven or forgotten.Worst Obama momentIn a New Hampshire debate, saying snidely to Hillary: "You're likeable enough." Cringe-inducing. He'd better keep that arrogant streak bottled up for four years.Worst press conference The controversial preacher Jeremiah Wright's preening appearance at the National Press Club, April 28 2008. The lowlight: the head of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, "is one of the most important voices in the 20th and 21st century". Thanks a lot, Jer.Best "Man, thank God that guy didn't win the primary" momentAugust 8, when John Edwards finally acknowledged his extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter - conducted while his wife had cancer. His career is over. Silver lining: not everyone has a 29,000 sq ft house (2,700 m2) to go home to.Worst McCain lieAmid stiff competition, the nod goes to the television spot in which he accused Obama of cancelling a visit to American troops in Germany because he couldn't take cameras in to capture the moment. Completely false, as he almost had to know at the time, and a particularly toxic allegation.Best Sarah Palin moment Her convention speech. Like her or not, it was a rip-snorter. Remember when Democrats were nervous that she might actually be an asset to the Republican ticket?Worst Sarah Palin moment Well ... golly, let's see. The shopping spree? Not quite, because the damage had largely already been done by then. Clearly, the winner here is the interview with Katie Couric. It killed her. And as for the worst Palin micro-moment within the worst Palin moment, I'd have to go with the fact that she couldn't name a single supreme court decision in the entire history of the country besides the abortion decision Roe v Wade. This was of course before we learned that she didn't know what countries constitute North America.Best classic Joe Biden moment His remark in late October that Obama would be "tested" in his first six months in office by hostile world leaders was clearly his most off-message remark of the campaign. But Biden showed pretty good discipline - for Biden - through most of the campaign. And he probably did help in Pennsylvania, where Obama rolled.Best debate momentObama's wins in the debates weren't so much about moments as they were steadiness and consistency. But forced to choose one parry I'll take this one, from the first debate: "John, you like to pretend the war started in 2007 ... The war started in 2003. And at the time, when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy."Worst debate momentEasy. Second debate. McCain. "That one!" Nuff said. Worst strategic decision McCain's suspension of his campaign after the financial crisis hit. It was a bid to look serious, but it looked gimmicky. Obama's more sure-footed response to the meltdown is probably what won him the election more than any other single factor.Best John McCain momentHis speech at the Al Smith Dinner in New York, October 17, where he was both funnier and more gracious than Obama was in his remarks. "Whatever the outcome next month," McCain said, "Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country and I congratulate him." Where was this guy the rest of the time?Worst Joe the Plumber moment His attempt in an interview to defend his belief that Obama's election would mean the death of Israel. The television anchor was aghast and said: "Man. Some things - it just gets frightening sometimes." And this was on Fox News, folks!Best moment for America and the worldElection night. Best upcoming airplane ride to look forward to Next January 20, when George W Bush takes his last trip on Air Force One, back to Texas.US elections 2008Barack ObamaJohn McCainSarah PalinJoe BidenUnited Statesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

ABC's Tapper quoted Boehner's criticism of Emanuel, ignored Graham's praise

During the November 6 broadcast of ABC's World News, senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper reported that the appointment of Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) as President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff "prompted criticism from some Republicans." Tapper then quoted House Minority Leader John Boehner's (R-OH) statement that Emanuel "is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center." However, Tapper did not note that former McCain campaign co-chair Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised Emanuel as "a wise choice," saying Emanuel "understands the need to work together." In a November 6 statement, Graham said of Emanuel's appointment: "This is a wise choice by President-elect Obama. "Rahm knows Capitol Hill and has great political skills. He can be a tough partisan but also understands the need to work together. He is well-suited for the position of White House Chief of Staff. "I worked closely with him during the presidential debate negotiations which were completed in record time. When we hit a rough spot, he always looked for a path forward. I consider Rahm to be a friend and colleague. He's tough but fair. Honest, direct, and candid. These qualities will serve President-elect Obama well. "Rahm understands the challenges facing our nation and will, consistent with the agenda set by President-elect Obama, work to find common ground where it exists. I look forward to working with him in his new position and will continue to do everything I can to help find a pathway forward on the difficult problems facing our nation." In contrast to Tapper, during the November 6 broadcast of the CBS Evening News, chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reported both Boehner's and Graham's reactions. From the November 6 broadcast of ABC's World News with Charles Gibson: CHARLES GIBSON (anchor): Jake Tapper is again in Chicago tonight. Jake, good evening. TAPPER: Good evening, Charlie. Well, President-elect Obama and Michelle Obama will head to the White House on Monday to visit with President and first lady Bush. But until then, President-elect Obama is focused on building his White House. And today, he made his first official hire: White House chief of staff. [begin video clip] TAPPER: This morning, Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel told President-elect Obama he would leave his successful career in the House to be in Obama's White House. EMANUEL: My parents are alive to see their middle son have a choice in his career between being a congressman and being the chief of staff to a historic presidency at a historic time. TAPPER: But the appointment of the sharp-tongued veteran of the Clinton White House has already prompted criticism from some Republicans. House Republican Leader John Boehner today charged Emanuel, quote, "is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center." Also likely coming on board: senior campaign adviser Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary and political guru David Axelrod as a senior adviser. From the November 6 broadcast of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric: AXELROD: Having once sent a dead fish to a political consultant he was angry with, Emanuel is comfortable as an enforcer. He'll also be counted on to reach out to Republicans. While his appointment drew quick criticism from the top Republican in the House, John Boehner -- "This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington" -- the reaction of Republican senator and top McCain supporter Lindsey Graham -- "a wise choice. ... Emanuel understands the need to work together" -- is a hopeful sign for Obama. And Emanuel sent his own message to Republicans today, saying, "We often disagree, but I respect their motives. Now is a time for unity. I will do everything in my power to help you stitch together the frayed fabric of our politics."