Lou Dobbs Should Blog
[Guest post by DRJ]
Lou Dobbs should consider blogging, especially when it comes to immigration. He’s mastered the subject matter, the catchy lingo, and even the apology. From the AP via Breitbart.com:
“Lou Dobbs is sorry about calling Gov. Elliot Spitzer an idiot. Sincerely. As for ripping the New York Democrat as arrogant, spineless and “a spoiled rich kid brat,” the host of CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” stands by those nationally broadcast broadsides. Absolutely.
Dobbs has made Spitzer an almost daily target over his recent plan to ease restrictions on illegal immigrants seeking New York state driver’s licenses, mixing vitriol with sarcasm while endlessly lambasting the governor’s decision. The lifelong Republican has taken on politicians of every stripe, as when he blasted the Bush administration over port security. But his nightly diatribe against Spitzer is notable for its intensity, and for elevating a state proposal onto the national stage.
“What he’s doing is an outrageous, arrogant abuse of power,” Dobbs said in an interview before a recent show. “He’s pandering to a constituency aligned directly against the interests of U.S. and New York state citizens.” Dobbs’ ire boiled over Tuesday night when he ripped Spitzer as an idiot—and then offered an on-air mea culpa.
“I’m the idiot,” Dobbs said. “Governor, I apologize for calling you one. Your policies are idiotic. But I have to apologize for calling you an idiot.”
Dobbs is also on the wrong side of the New York Times, something conservatives can relate to:
“Dobbs, who has made immigration one of his show’s centerpiece issues, was criticized this week in a New York Times editorial for his Spitzer bashing.
“Mr. Dobbs has trained his biggest guns on Mr. Spitzer, branding him with puerile epithets like `spoiled rich-kid brat’ and depicting his policy as some sort of sanctuary program for the 9/11 hijackers,” the Times wrote. “Someday there may be a calm debate, in Albany and nationally, about immigrant drivers. “With Mr. Dobbs at the megaphone, for now there is only histrionics and outrage.”
Dobbs isn’t expecting any apology from the Times. And he has few kind words for the newspaper. “The New York Times is the house organ for Gov. Spitzer,” Dobbs said. “They’re wrong on this issue, as they are on many others.”
However, it’s interesting to see Dobbs described as a life-long Republican when the Politico recognizes Dobbs’ appeal crosses party lines and Dobbs claims to be a populist. The Democratic Party even identifies some of its voters as “Lou Dobbs Democrats.”
— DRJ
“I’m the idiot,” Dobbs said. “Governor, I apologize for calling you one. Your policies are idiotic. But I have to apologize for calling you an idiot.”
Brilliant. Right up there with the Rush eBay success.
Jenn (e877f5) — 10/30/2007 @ 11:52 amLou Dobbs is a shrill liberal who suddenly found himself an issue he could appeal to conservatives on and bash the GOP at the same time.
chaos (aad1e2) — 10/30/2007 @ 12:18 pmCall him an “imbecile” and claim that for a minute you thought you were French
SteveG (4e16fc) — 10/30/2007 @ 1:15 pmCall Lou all the names you want. But when it comes to illegal immigration, he is right on. Illegal immigration is bleeding the USA dry.
Bud Dickman (7cfd24) — 10/30/2007 @ 1:22 pmBud,
I think SteveG meant Dobbs should call Spitzer an imbecile and then claim the French defense.
DRJ (5c60fb) — 10/30/2007 @ 1:25 pmhttp://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/01/dobbs-nyt-are-commies-and-fascists-for-criticizing-me/
http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/05/dobbs-on-rampage.html
Yeah. Dobbs should blog.
blah (c78c78) — 10/30/2007 @ 1:55 pmseems to me that someone who does idiotic things can justifiably be called, what’s the word, oh yeah, an idiot. idiocy is as idiots do, or something like that.
stevesturm (d3e296) — 10/30/2007 @ 1:57 pmBut wouldn’t you have fun in his comments section, blah?
DRJ (5c60fb) — 10/30/2007 @ 1:58 pmNo he isn’t. Lou Dobbs just parrots populist immigration talking points as an excuse to insult politicians in general because he knows it will get him ratings. The man’s an idiot.
chaos (aad1e2) — 10/30/2007 @ 2:07 pmWrong Chaos. While I don’t fully agree with everything Dobbs says, he is at times a lone voice in the wilderness. Who else at CNN will take on the full government, both parties, and back it with evidence. He is concerned with the trend towards the disillusion of sovereignty that is clearly a fact of contemporary American life.. you may honesty disagree, but to call him a rating grabbing parrot is either ignorant or disingenuous.
In other words, you may not be an idiot, but your accusations are idiotic.
DrT (b1f404) — 10/30/2007 @ 3:14 pmSpitzer was a slimeball and unethical as Attorney General of New York. He’s staying true to form as Governor. According to today’s polls, a majority of americans are against amnesty for illegal aliens (Dream Act), so maybe Dobbs isn’t that far out of the mainstream as people like blah think.
daleyrocks (906622) — 10/30/2007 @ 3:15 pmAn angry, caustic, immature, intemperate, blowhard of a voice.
What evidence? I’ve read his execrable editorials on CNN.com for a long time. They’re no different that Navarette idiot CNN has for the other side calling anyone who disagrees with him a racist.
He is concerned with whatever angry rhetoric gets ratings.
It’s a perfect description of his emotional rants.
They’re perfectly reasonable conclusions to draw after reading or watching Lou’s latest insulting of my intelligence with his lowest-common-denominator rabble-rousing wrapped up in the CNN veneer. Three years ago Dobbs was raving that corporate taxes were too low, now he’s raving about immigration and how no one in Washington cares about anyone outside of Washington – because they don’t agree with Lou Dobbs on whatever issue. Whatever makes the “Little Guy” feel good, whatever makes the “Little Guy” think that Lou Dobbs is one of them (I wonder, how much does he make a year? Where did his kids go to school? How big is the house he lives in? How often does Lou go to the bar and raise a few?), no matter whether it’s nonsense or not, Lou is willing to say it.
The man is a snake. A loud, puffed-up snake. I don’t like him at all.
chaos (aad1e2) — 10/30/2007 @ 3:37 pmTell us what you really think now chaos.
daleyrocks (906622) — 10/30/2007 @ 3:41 pmAnd what does his lifestyle have to do with anything? Edwards, a self labeled champion of the poor isn’t living in a cardboard box. Sharpton isn’t begging for his next meal either. while I don’t like either of them, I grant them the possibility that they actually care without being poor themselves.
Since you asked for evidence, I’ll recommend his book to you. I’ll ask you the same. What evidence do you have that Dobbs “is concerned with whatever angry rhetoric gets ratings”
Your elitism is leaking through. You are entitled to your opinion, but without something more than vitriol I doubt you’ll convince anyone of anything other than your lacks.
DrT (b1f404) — 10/30/2007 @ 4:00 pmuh boy
Is Lou Dobbs gonna be Ron Paul’s VP or something?
Thanks for clearing up my poor communication DRJ.
I thought it would be obvious that I was joking that Dobbs could have called Spitzer “imbecile” kinda like Sarkozy did to his press secretary on 60 Minutes and then just go whoops, excuse me I am French.
Ron Paul supporters who want Lou Dobbs for VP will no doubt point out that “Dobbs IS NOT FRENCH!!!!!!”
SteveG (4e16fc) — 10/30/2007 @ 7:03 pmSelective Tourette’s Syndrome maybe?
“Someday there may be a calm debate, in Albany and nationally, about immigrant drivers. “With Mr. Dobbs at the megaphone, for now there is only histrionics and outrage.”
Notice how they always call on our side to engage in calm debate while their side is taking action that will render debate useless?
Notice how they never call on the wackos on their side to engage in calm debate?
Rather curious, that.
Doc Rampage (ebfd7a) — 10/30/2007 @ 11:34 pmI went to my local drug store (major chain) this PM on Wilshire Blvd in LA. More than 3/4 of the clerks were new immigrants! I won’t shop there anymore! Come on, so flagrant! I left w/o purchasing anything.
penny (a47b85) — 10/30/2007 @ 11:37 pmWhich is why both they and Dobbs support policies that hurt the poor, the same as Hugo Chavez, the same as every other populist claiming to be for the common man who backs policies that stick it to the rich man and benefit no one but the State.
Whos does raising taxes on corporations and the rich benefit? No one but the State. Who does it harm the most? The average consumer. Dobbs doesn’t care, he’s too busy engaging in ridiculous typical Leftist class warfare, as if the rich being rich somehow necessarily is bad for the poor.
Who benefits from tariffs and other trade barriers? No one but the State in the long run. Certainly not the consumer.
There is not a single policy Dobbs would implement if he had the power that would help the common man.
Why does he support policies that would not benefit the common man? Opposing globalization and free trade doesn’t benefit the common man. Raising corporate taxes and taxes on the rich doesn’t benefit the common man. Dobbs’ stance on immigration wouldn’t help the common man.
The only entity that would benefit from every single one of Dobbs’ most passionately held positions is… the State.
That’s right, my elitism. What a laugh. I don’t agree with Big Government, Protectionist, Morally Superior to Anyone Who Makes What I Consider Too Much Money, Let’s Increase the Power of the State Lou Dobbs so I’m an elitist. Here’s an idea, why don’t you not talk if you’re going to make a fool of yourself.
chaos (9c54c6) — 10/31/2007 @ 6:07 amOK, that’s a new one. I never thought of Dobbs as a leftist or compared him to Chavez (who is bleeding loco and a half).
Like I said, I don’t support everything that Dobbs does. However, I can’t see that enforcement of federal immigration law (which would lead to higher wages for blue collar workers as the supply of illegals dried up), punishment for corporate offenders (A la Enron), or a demand that China reciprocate in trade agreements and actually float the yuan is going to harm the common man.
If your base viewpoint is that far off from how I see things there is obviously no reason to continue our discussion. If we can’t agree on the most basic concepts, it’s not worth my time.
DrT (69c4b2) — 10/31/2007 @ 6:57 amHey Penny I am glad you didn’t get any drugs in the drug store becuase they NEW IMMAGRANTS I hope your racist ass dies.
Poppa Bear (e38d00) — 12/1/2007 @ 10:48 amLou I agree with most of your opinions. You have lately disapointed me. You invite people on to your show,and then constantly interupt them. I just watched you do it to Mr Richardson. Lou please stop being rude to invited guests. I and others would like to hear what they want to say. All they are trying to do is answer your questions. Jim Hall
James Hall (e4579d) — 5/27/2008 @ 4:54 pm