Returning to favorite slogan, Smerconish blamed Moussaoui verdict on the "sissification of America"
SUMMARY: On MSNBC's Scarborough Country, radio host Michael Smerconish again lamented the "sissification of America," this time in reference to the verdict in which Al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison instead of death for his role in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Host Joe Scarborough appeared to adopt Smerconish's terminology, suggesting that Americans aren't "reminded every day" about 9-11 by the "news network[s]," and that "[m]aybe this is part of the -- what do you call it, the sissification of America?"
On the May 3 edition of MSNBC's Scarborough Country, Philadelphia-based radio host Michael Smerconish again lamented the "sissification of America," this time in reference to the May 3 verdict in which Al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison instead of death for his role in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Immediately after noting his "respect" for Alice Hoagland, a 9-11 victim's mother who advocated a life sentence for Moussaoui, Smerconish stated: "I can't buy into this logic of transcending hatred. This is the sissification of America." Later, host Joe Scarborough appeared to adopt Smerconish's terminology, suggesting that Americans aren't "reminded every day" about 9-11 by the "news network[s]," and that "[m]aybe this is part of the -- what do you call it, the sissification of America?"
As Media Matters for America has noted, Smerconish repeatedly discussed "the sissification of America" while substituting for host Bill O'Reilly on the April 4 broadcast of Westwood One's The Radio Factor, claiming that "political correctness" has made the United States "a nation of sissies." Smerconish also claimed, several times, that this "sissification" and "limp-wristedness" is "compromising our ability to win the war on terror."
From the May 3 edition of MSNBC's Scarborough Country:
SCARBOROUGH: Right now, I want to bring in Michael Smerconish. He's a radio talk show host and also the author of the new book, Muzzled [Nelson Current, April 2006]. Michael, I just cannot believe that the man known as the 20th hijacker, who was begging the jury to execute him, got away. How did the Justice Department, the Bush administration, the entire federal government botch this case?
SMERCONISH: They should have given him his wish, Joe. You know, an hour ago, when your folks called me, I was in the middle of a book signing in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Let me give you a report from the heartland. And I said, I can sit here for the next hour and I can sign everybody's book, or I can go tell Joe Scarborough that this dog should have been put down. And everybody said, "Get out the door right now and deliver that message." And I think that's the way it's going to play in the heartland.
I'm going to tell you something. To me -- and I have such respect for Alice Hoagland, but I can't buy into this logic of transcending hatred. This is the sissification of America. We're not looking for terrorists at airports who resemble terrorists. The borders are completely porous. A guy who the jury just two weeks ago found absolutely, if he'd been truthful, we could have stopped short that which occurred on September 11, is going to be allowed to live on my dime.
[...]
SCARBOROUGH: I think people need to be reminded every day about what happened on September 11, but you won't get a news network doing that because they think it will be too offensive and too shocking to the American people. I don't know what is shocking about the truth. I still see images from Pearl Harbor. Maybe this is part of the -- what do you call it, the sissification of America?
SMERCONISH: Yes. Yes. Root word: "sissies." That's what we've become! Hey, Joe, go watch United 93. The only conclusion one can reach in watching that movie is that we must kill these SOBs before they kill us and our kids! Because that's all they're trying to do right now. And I cannot take this touchy-feely mindset of trying to battle radical Islam! They're cutting throats with box cutters, and we're sending a guy away to a can above ground for the next 30 years!
(1) Scab's premise, that the case was "botched," is wrong. The guy is going away for the rest of his life. The prosecution was successful.
(2) Why isn't 9/11 on the news networks every day? Well, Joe, most things that happened over four years ago aren't considered "news."
(3) Smerc was honest about one thing: he is incapable of understanding the concept of transcending hatred.
I agree that things that happened 4 years ago aren't generally news. But it is a lie on Scarborough's part (naturally) to say that the media aren't doing their part to keep the 9/11 memory alive.
In fact, I can't think of a single day since 9/11 that somebody on TV hasn't talked about it.
Why, fully half of the population of the United States are women! Not even men at all!
No wonder we're losing the war!
It would have been kinder to put a bullet in Moussaoui's brain.
These guys have no respect whatsoever for our system of law. This fellon was convicted by a unbiased jury. They and the judge did not buy the prosecution's story that he was the 20th hijacker.
So: "known as the 20th hijacker" has been fully debunked in court. Still, Smerconish continue to beat that horse. Further, he accuses the jury that they did not do their job, that is sentencing him to death, which is what the fellon wanted (its quicker for him!).
Naturally, we get the "people forget 9-11" which is of course not true! Everyone knows and remembers, and we need no dramatized film to stir our memories. Smerconish just want someone blamed and punished. As others noted: there are masterminds in secret prisons right now who were actually involved in the planning. The prosecution/central govenment made a mess, and continue to make a mess with terrorist trials, but people like Smerconish do not care: they just want to see blood, even when it is decided by a jury and judge to be not guilty of the charge that warrant to cut the veins.
"Sissies"? I would say: laws!
This is a message to all the righties who post on this site.... no one here, or elsewhere in the world has forgotten about 9/11. And, it ain't b/c these neocon idiots use it as ammunition day-in and day-out. There's something else none of us seem to have forgotten... the folks out there fighting, getting maimed and/or killed in this unnecessary and irresponsible conflict. Not to mention, 10's of 1000's of Iraqi citizens who have been killed as a result of OUR failed policies.
Smerconish should enlist. He seems like a real tough guy -- er, UN-sissy... as he likes to say.
Or, you wouldn't be calling this war on terror an "unnecessary and irresponsible conflict".
I think he refers to Iraq!
The war in Iraq has left the war against terror with only little teeth left.
But, this brings up a good point by GB... he -- true to the neocon montra and without question -- equates the 'war on terror' with the conflict in Iraq. The two are not related... as much as the neocons continue to ride that tired notion again and again and again.... In fact, we (the gov't) have produced a festering breeding ground -- a training ground really -- for future generations of terrorists. Wonderful.
I don't doubt GB's sincerity. But, his inability to see the forest for the trees is disappointing...bordering on pathetic.
Would you like me to tell you everything I did that day? I am so sick and tired of hearing how we've "forgotten" what happened that day. I for one am grateful that Moussaoui will live. What worse punishment for someone who wants to die than to have to live? No matyrdom. Just year after year after year of rotting away.
As far as the "War on Terror" goes....The war on terror could have been won if we didn't pull away from the real front lines and go on this crusade against the guy who embarrased "daddy". Seems to me the "wrong" (cause they're very rarly ever right) are the ones who have forgotten about what happened. bin Laden is still out there laughing at this country while we waste time in a country HE WASN'T IN!! He must be thinking "This is great. I bomb them. They attack a different country. I get people who want to blow them up now because they attack that country. Remind me to send Bush a Christmas card."
Sure al Qaeda is in Iraq now. We might as well have hung a banner saying "Terrorist recruits sign up here". Now what do we get? "Mission Accomplished" and over 2000 casualties later...Vietnam II.
And what of the masterminds and leaders of this terrorist group that managed to kill 3000 people? Why should we bother trying to hunt down those responsible?
Oh yeah, because that wouldn't be good business. Why cure the disease when you can get rich treating it? Why end the "war on terror", when you can keep people afraid and docile by promoting it?
What's it going to take before right-wing idiots like you finally realise what's happening in this country? Is going to take a swastika replacing the stars & stripes before you realise what this administration is doing to our country?
Okay, I feel a little bit better. I swear the next conservative moron who tried to tell to lecture and indocturanate me is getting my boot in his a**........it's the American way.
... How else is one expected to respond to perpetually inane comments?
Leave your jingoism and saber-rattling at the door. How many times must it be proven that IRAQ HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FIGHTING TERRORISM!!!
If the Bush cadre were interested in fighting terrorism, we'd be looking for Osama and Al Qaeda. But, we're not -- as much as these neocons tell you again and again... and just for good measure, they'll tell us how bad 9/11 was... NO SH*T!!
Thanks for the reminder. But, your case is faulty... as Ray McGovern said to Rummy... it's a a non-sequitur. The two are not related. But, feel free to continue the accuse folks around here of being less-than-patriotic, etc... it just makes you look foolish.
To do with any war on terror. Only the braindead, brainwashed, propaganda parrots keep trying to pretend invading Iraq had ANYTHING to do with 9/11. Congratulations, you are doing your PP job
apparently 32% of the country "think" like our friend Goalball, here.
if he thinks this is a case of "forgetting 9-11", then obviously he was absolutely unaware of the testimony for the prosecution at the trial.
..the jury's "job" was to give him the death sentence. If that was the case, why even goto court? Why look at evidence?
Tim McVie was a terrorist, show we be profiling angry white guys? He was a registered republican, should we be profiling republicans? He was a Vet, should we be profiling vets? Patty Hearst was a terrorist, should we be profiling spoiled rich girls?
There are Persian, Arab, Asian, European, African Muslims, to name some skin colors, should we be profiling all these folks?
maybe we should take all these wing-nut pundits off the air and put them in airports where they can survey the crowds looking for people who look like terrorists. Given their patriotic fervor and their lack of any real service to our country they should gladly volunteer and no one would have to listen to them anymore.
Fatbob, and why do you think we aren't checking the airport for "angy white men" or "spoiled rich girls"? Because they don't belong to a group of "hundreds of thousands" who are battling against freedom for the world!! Perhaps when all the terrorists stop looking like muslim dirtbags and rejects of the world, then we will stop looking at them as if they are the enemy! Profiling works, it's just you "sissies" don't like it because it makes you feel uncomfortable.
I don't like your style, but what the hey.
The terrorist that were involved in 9-11 were highly educated men, who would have beaten security anyway, at least before 9-11. They carried no guns or long knifes, which was not a problem at the time. Profiling is racist, but I am convinced that security is doing it anyway, but unconciously. When I fly, the once being looked at are Arab-looking people, especially men. I myself think that is perfectly human and normal. However, profiling just for the sake of it will not work, and will costs more than the additional costs for carriers for fuel right now. Besides that, we still have the airmarshal project running!
yellowbird says: " The terrorist that were involved in 9-11 were highly educated men, who would have beaten security anyway, at least before 9-11. "
Right, 'at least before 9-11'. Now, we have profiling that would have stopped them and has stopped them since. When they succeed at landing another plane into some building, then you can say profiling doesn't work. Until then, it does...like it or not....it works.
you make the challenge. Show me a study that showed that profiling works. I think even today the hijackers would have come through. When you watch the pictures shot by the security cam they look like traveling students.
What if they all looked like Moussaoui who looks African American or what if they had used all Malaysians - people like that wouldn't have been captured in your profile.
Now, we have profiling that would have stopped them and has stopped them since.
I'm unaware of any hijacking attempt since 911 that was thwarted by profiling. Was it on Fox News?
all praise bush. he has kept those nasty martians at bay for almost 6 years. But do us liburls give him credit for that? NO! Well, i say enough is enough.
But Bush has actually proposed sending men to Mars, in order to take the fight to the enemy. We must not sit back while the universe's most dangerous creatures build the universe's most dangerous weapons. The administration has blatantly falsified evidence that shows that the Martians have tried to acquire uranium from Niger, and Saddam may have sent his WMD there before the war (hey, its as believable and supported by evidence as the WMD to Syria story the conservatives won't let die despite a complete lack of evidence).
Hijacking planes was a one-trick pony. Think about it. If someone stood up on a plane and said ANYTHING apart from "Miss, can get s'more peanuts?" the passengers would rise as one and slay them. That would have more to do with deterring "another 9-11" than all the profiling and data mining in the world.
But I wouldn't even stand up to ask for peanuts out of fear of well-meaning but misguided passengers. That's what the attendant call button is for! Ever since 9-11, my cousin will only sit in or near the first row of the plane. That is so if anyone tries to get to the cockpit, he can use his black belt in Kenpo Karate on them. The days where there is any tolerance for any sort of shenanigans on an airplane are over. 9-11 has not been forgotten, it has been internalized into our everyday lives.
I'm really starting to think I recognize that particular scent of bull. Was "liberalsmustdie.com" getting boring for you?
If you believe that profiling works than all affluent, white republicans should be immediately arrested for fraud, purjury, embezzlement, and soliciting prostitutes. I mean some have done it...so they must all have right?
Haven't you noticed there haven't been any hijackings of western planes by Islamic Terrorists since 9-11? The main reason for this has not been the effectiveness of security, but the terrorists know that every person on the plane knows what they are going to do and will take them on because the passengers have nothing to lose at that point.
The problem with your solution is that it is finding a way (albeit deeply flawed) to fight the last battle. You seem to fail to appreciate the feedback cycle that creates more cunning terrorists. Your solution is just a thin facade of security that may make people feel safer, but won't do a friggin' thing to thwart an attack.
The best way to prevent terrorism is to avoid creating them by following better policies that don't needlessly inflame tensions between the west and the Muslim world.
what does a "Muslim dirtbag" look like? Arab? Iranian or other Central Asian? Indonesians? Or what about the Hui or Uighur ethnic groups of China? Or how about white western converts?
Mind enlightening me on how you can tell what a Muslim looks like at a glance?
I posted the same thing below before reading your post, I wasn't being a copy cat.
I responded to the inanity of the argument immediatly without checking to see if I was going over ground already covered I should have known better
Why profile at airports to begin with? I thought Bush and Homeland Security/TSA had solved this problem of lax security at our airports?
Perhaps when all the terrorists stop looking like muslim dirtbags " Goalball +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ..and how do "muslim dirtbags" look? Moussaoui looks like he could be my brother and most in my family are Baptist and not dirt bags. What about the Muslims of Bosnia they look European, and then there are Asian Muslims.
The country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia. As far as profiling "the muslim dirtbags", how many Muslims could pass as westerners like us? There are a lot of white Muslins in Eastern Europe and also in the former Soviet Republics like Chechnya.
Nice touch too, calling us "sissies". If you're so brave, why aren't you enlisting to fight the"dirtbags"? There are quite a few of us sissies here who've served our nation. Why not check the records of Republican vs. Democratic Senators and Congressman and see which ones were willing to do more than talk when it came to serving their country.
I re-read your post. I had missed the above little gem. I noted in my post below that Muslims were of multiple races and ethnicities and the Moussaoui specifically looked AA. I guess you intended your term "rejects of the world" to cover the non-Arab non-White looking Muslims. But I will ask you this, how would your suggested profiling process distinguish the Eastern European Muslims from the good Christian American White people?
I don't like profiling because it doesn't work. If you have data that shows otherwise please enlighten me. My manliness, or lack there of, has nothing to do with this argument, but feel free to insult me, it shows you have nothing of substance to say.
Why didn't you respond to my post? Perhaps it's because you know that McVie is one of yours. He committed a horrible act of terrorism against his own country. He killed all sorts of innocent people, not the least little kids at a day care center. And he was a republican. By your logic we should profile white angry republicans, vets, and people who use fertilizer.
On a side note, during the Clinton administration there were two large scale terrorist attacks on our country. The perpetrators in both cases were caught and successfully prosecuted. Without any infringements on our basic civil liberties. In the lead up to the millennium celebrations President Clinton responded to warnings from the intelligence community and as a result foiled two plots.
What exactly has bush done? He ignored pre-attack intel, screwed up the hunt for binladen, lied us into a war in Iraq that had nothing to do with the war on terror, has allowed the Taliban to come back in Afghanistan . He has run a huge debt that will have to be repaid, alienated all our allies, destroyed our reputation in the world, and destroyed many of our civil liberties.
He was a coward back during Vietnam, hiding from his service, and he's a coward now. You know something else, most of America agrees with me, if you doubt this, take a look at his poll numbers. You and your buddies are on a sinking ship, but instead of acknowledging that your captain doesn't know what he's doing, keep blaming the water.
So what does a Muslim look like? Indonesia is the worlds most populace Muslim country. Al Queda is active there. What do they look like? Nigerians? Also Muslim they look like WHAT? What do Iranians look like? They ARENT ARABS. But is SEEMS like it is 'getting tough' Thats all morons like you care about. What is substantive, what is real ,makes no difference, only what SEEMS like its getting tough. Always selling the sizzle never caring about the steak. Just pick on the Middle eastern looking people because they are todays racist target. RACISM always makes people like you happy and anti Arab racism is IN. Doesnt matter it wont really work.
Congratulations. You win the "Most Offensive Post" of the day award! If security had done their job properly, 9/11 never would have happened. Or even that one guy that sits in the White House. Maybe if he had paid closer attention -- who knows?! It has nothing to do with giving extra searches to anyone with the last name "Islam."
I guess we should start profiling Catholics, too. Never know when one of them might be an IRA member! Ooga booga!
The right wing punditry is beside itself with anger and what appears to be dare I say GRIEF that they didn't kill this guy. Blood thirsty bunch aren't they?
Actaully, I am glad he got life. I'm not as far right wing as Savage, but close. I prefer the guy didn't die a "martyr" as he wanted. Now, maybe he'll die by the shank. Hopefully they will show the movie 'flight 93' in the prison he goes to. That should make him a "freind" of all the bubbas there.
You didn't want the death penalty? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU A SISSY?
Actually he will be living in a tiny cement cell for 23 hours a day, sleeping on a concrete bed. He will have no contact with any other inmates save guards although I'm sure the other inmates would rip him apart if they could. That sounds to me like a fate worse than death and is exactly what he deserves.
it reminds me of the good old days in movies when someone was in jail that people did not liked. They just busted in and lynched the guy without process or whatsoever.
I love how Smerc refers to Philadelphia as "the heartland."
The word "heartland" has become another dangerously loaded and political term used by flag-waving right-wing demogauges.
Does that make New York the "esophagusland?" I know Homer Simpson once referred to Florida as "America;s wang," but that's a cartoon.
Oh, wait, so is Smerconish.
So what is Detroit now? The new Pacific Northwest?
I guess George Strait must have to rework the lyrics to his song "Heartland".
That makes California Hawai'i!
I'm gonna have a luau tonight! Maybe even get lei'd!
If California becomes the new Hawaii...what does Hawaii become? Well considering that Dubai has become the new Crawford, TX...I guess we can figure something out.
I'm gonna have a luau tonight! Maybe even get lei'd!
*groan*
He plead guilty. We really do not know what the truth is. He has made so many different claims about what he was going to do.
Moussaoui has told so many lies I'm not sure he can untangle the truth. He is one man--one deeply troubled, malicious little man--who will nasty away in solitude. I personally think that even if he had spilled his guts to the FBI, 9-11 would not have been prevented. After all, nobody paid any attention to any other clues.
And think we should be reminded every day of 9/11, then we should also be reminded every day that our men and women are dying in Iraq. Yet we're not allowed to show the flag draped coffins as they arrive at Dover AFB. If we truly believe that ours is a just cause, then we should honor our dead with the recognition they've earned with their lives. We shouldn't allow them to be hidden from sight.
9/11 has become a marketing ploy for the Neocons to stifle dissent and to nullify parts of our constitution when they don't suit their purpose.
Smerconish says, "A guy who the jury just two weeks ago found absolutely, if he'd been truthful, we could have stopped short that which occurred on September 11, is going to be allowed to live on my dime."
Let's analyze this.
Smerconish believes that September 11 could have been "stopped short". He believes this could have been accomplished by honesty. Honesty about what was known, and then acted upon. Acted upon by those in a position to evaluate intelligence information, and empowered to direct law enforcement.
Guess what? The Bush Administration HAD plenty of knowledge. About who was in this country, what they were doing, and what possible plans they might have. And the Bush Administration did NOTHING AT ALL about that information.
"Bin Laden determined to Attack" was dismissed as an "historic" finding of no importance.
And the Bush Administration lives every day on "our dime" ... and an ever increasing number of our children's lives.
one of the things in the months before 9-11 was the 'noise' that terrorists wanted to use plains as weapons. Apparently, there were many leaks on the side of the terrorists, not to mention all the other dots that were available.
Further, Smerconish is using words of this administration that when the guy had talked 9-11 would have been prevented, thus pointing the finger in another direction than all other investigations have done. The prosecuters wanted to show that he did indeed know of the hijack and the whole plot, whereas what the prosecution and the defence showed that he knew very little besides the 'noise' that the US intelligence already had.
I disagree with Smerconish. I'm quite happy with the verdict in this case, and the sentence.
Bruce,
I agree with you. The interesting thing to me is how Moussaoui was able to convince so many weak-minded Americans of his flimsy argument that the sentencing situation was some sort of no win situation for the government.
Moussaoui was going to gloat no matter what the verdict. If he was sentenced to death, he would proclaim to be a martyr, if he got a life sentence, he would say "America lost". What gets me is that no one seems to be able to see through this twisted transparent logic.
I support the decision of the jury, because they are the final arbiter in this whole thing. I am tired of people, who haven't heard the same evidence, decry what the jury has decided.
I am a supporter of the death penalty, but I don't think Moussaoui is worthy of it. I think he is probably crazy on some level and would like us to think he is more important in this whole thing than he is. I believe Moussaoui is a danger to others and himself and for that, a life sentence is entirely appropriate. It would be even better if he could get some psychiatric help of some sort, but I don't think he will get it under the sentence.
but I'll consider the resopnses I get, and I might change my mind (so be polite, folks...I'm solicitiing opinions!):
I think that the sentence was right because he didn't actually commit the crime. He inteneded to, he wanted to, he knew about it, but he didn't actually do it.
No matter how heinous the crime, he didn't do it.
that is indeed what the trail showed. For planning he now got life in a maximum secured prison in a small cell with only 1 hour a day out of it. Rightly so!
Look at all the evidence. We've tortured information from KSM, the real mastermind of the attack (who has not and never will stand trial for it!), who said that Moussoui was not involved in the 9-11 attacks but was supposed to be part of a second wave, where his appearance would help him get through the increased security Al Qaeda expected after 9-11. This is what Moussaoui was saying before. Then he changed his mind for the sentencing part. Why? Because he wanted death! The GOP makes a living off of saying that if a terrorist wants something, its wrong (the terrorists want us out of Iraq, so we have to stay, etc.). Now they are saying we should have given this guy exactly what he wants. Personally, I think the Supermax route is the way to punish him. The guy already bungled his chance at the martyrdon he wanted. We shouldn't give him a second one.
Lastly, I'm not an attorney, but can someone explain this to me: How is it a crime for Moussaoui NOT TO INCRIMINATE himself by telling the truth about his alleged role in the 9-11 plot? Didn't he have a right to remain silent? Seems like misdirection here. Make it out that Moussaoui is the one who could have stopped 9-11, and not the intelligence circles that knew more about the plot and its participants than Moussaoui did.
is that his right is to remain silent of his role, but because it did not yet happened, and IF he had realy contributed to 9-11, he would have been guilty of conspiricy because he remained silent. However, he seemed to have known as much, of even less then the intelligence service. His trial showed that he was not involved in 9-11 in any way, and thus his silence did not result in 9-11.
He was a 9/11 wannabe, a sad, pathetic, very disturbed little man. No reason to inflate his importance beyond what it was. Life in prison is appropriate. I am NOT a supporter of the death penalty but even if I were, I dont think this qualifies.
Frankly, I was expecting to be turned over to fox security by the latest crop of righty-tighties we've been seeing around here.
I said I agreed with you. I didn't say that we won't wind up being cellmates in Camp O'Reilly! Do you know anyone who can bake a hacksaw into a cake? Otherwise, we'll need to use my extensive knowledge of Fox's "Prison Break" to escape Fox's prison.
But he was thinking of it. In GWB's America that's all it takes. Isn't it really obvious from looking at the leaders of this country that THINKING is a crime?
That's one crime that we'll never be able to convict Bush of, there just isn't any evidence.
"But he was thinking of it. In GWB's America that's all it takes. Isn't it really obvious from looking at the leaders of this country that THINKING is a crime?"
According to what I have heard he was involved in planning the second wave of attacks, so he was not only thinking about it, but a threat to the national security due to his involvement. That is why he was sentenced.
why even on a left wing website like this, no-one is putting forward the argument that he shouldn't be executed because the death penalty is just plain wrong.
Events in Ohio the other day just serve to prove that but still, the majority of Americans agree with government-sactioned murder. Can't understand it.