Frost over the World - Gore Vidal - 23 May 08

[zatoichiable]

He is also one of those intellectual elite of the country who has been deceived by the handlers of Obama.

[EWt5lg5alQWLqPViO9vk]

What a legend!

[jamotide]

wow, even a genius like vidal fell for obummers charme, wonder how he feels about him now

[trollfinger]

@jamotide

I think Vidal liked him because he sees American politics as as much of a show as it is. He sees the pretty side of what it takes, and Obama had a lot of clever people on his side. I said at the time "I'm not afraid of change. I'm more afraid of things staying the same" and I was off the mark. He's worse. Vidal said the republicans had eight years to perfect corruption, which mean democrats had the same time to work their angle.

[CornFedArmen]

yeeesh! more like bore vidal

[Traynor921]

Frost and Vidal. Wanted to see these two on the same screen for ages.

[patrick112590]

Gore Vidal looks more and more like the snake he is every year.

[pupil8]

@patrick112590 We need more snakes to eat up all the vermin.

[patrick112590]

@pupil8 And we need saints like Christopher Hitchens to drive out all of the snakes.

[jhop9898]

"The land Israel seized in the 1967 war." What they fail to mention is that the Arabs started that war to overrun Israel. Had they won, they probably would've exterminated the Jews en masse.

The real problem is that this is a complex issue. You can't have an interviewer who is biased towards Syria only interviewing a Syrian negotiator. It would be equally absurd to have only a pro-Israeli interviewer only interview an Israeli.

[EmmaYaBasta]

@jhop9898 Eh? General Ezer Weitzman stated that there was "no threat of destruction" but that the attack on Egypt, Jordan and Syria was nevertheless justified so that Israel could "exist according the scale, spirit, and quality she now embodies." Menahem Begin also said: "In June 1967, we again had a choice.The Egyptian Army concentrations in the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him."

[Rico8458]

capitalist corporations instead of the mercantile republic is part of the damage done to america today. private owner of companies was better for america versus corporations that are legal persons with no responsibilities. the military industrial corporate complex married to china is our demise today.

[devourerofbabies]

I love Sir Frost's accent.

[chrish12345]

er Agincourt was 15th century but I take the point

[vetselm]

This was on my bitrtday :)

[YetAnotherLook]

Vidal is pretty stupid. He's banal and in many ways is the left's equivalent of William F Buckley: arrogant, grumpy, yet in the end very establishment and PC.

It doesn't take any great heart or brains after all to oppose the Iraq War - that's just basic decency.

[bigbossman999]

Write a guy who has written almost 30 books, won countless awards, is constantly called upon interviews for his opinion is "stupid"...but I'm sure YOU with your no doubt COUNTLESS achievements can be classified as intelligent...wait I'm sorry what have YOU done again? I'm pretty sure I can guess the answer...NOTHING.

[YetAnotherLook]

Yet nothing about the quality of those books, or the judgment and motives of those issuing 'awards' - which are simply tokens of praise from some elite (usually self-appointed) faction.

His prolific publication and mainstream recognition merely state in another way what I initially wrote - that he is Establishment. One need not be of the first or even second rank to achieve that status.

[TheReactorSings]

@YetAnotherLook

Are you accusing William F Buckley of being politically correct? And, in fairness, Vidal has upset plenty of people in the establishment over the years, with his 'pornographic' novels, his unabashed sexuality...even his disdain for 'ghettoized' gay culture. Hell, he's disparaging US intervention in WW2 in this very video; how establishment, how PC is that? To say nothing of his defence of Timothy McVeigh.

[trollfinger]

@TheReactorSings

There is a difference between defense and understanding. I mean, if you didn't agree with what he did, you could understand it by talking to him. Any person who commits a crime could tell you the reason, doesn't mean you have to agree with it.

[armedleg]

Ok but no.

[trollfinger]

@YetAnotherLook

I know your comment was a year ago. You said it doesn't take a genius to oppose the Iraq war. There is opposing the war that is blindly accepted as the people who support the war. No insight or real input on the matter. Gore Vidal has been around deep politics for a long time. He understands when people are being mouth pieces on both sides, but possibly shows a lot of truths for the lefts arguments since that would be what he understands.

[urdu034]

agree that our wars have been meaningless, agree that we are hapless and ignorant, and going backwards.

[allaboutdmagic]

He changed his tune, or lost interest as soon as Obama WAS elected, though. He instantly started blaming Obama's administration for the effects of the economic recession, which happened under who's administration? How easily we forget.

[pornswordtobacco]

I would love to hear a 1 hour talk about politics between Karl Pilkington and Vidal Gore.

[phantomofmyopera]

Haha! Thanks, that comment made my day.

[jimbopumbapigsticks]

Say what you like about Gore Vidal, but he's not boring.

[Speegs23]

"The presidency is alot more than making speeches" AMEN! Obama is a failure.

[xtiml]

gore vidal was one of the few who knew what was going on and sopoke about it.he was also a bett er writer and human than that retched buckleyy who threatened to kill him on television.

[trollfinger]

This reminds me a small bit of "hostory today" with Robert Newman.

[IWillFindAWayOrMake1]

Vidal at 1:09 hahahah

[cdphatty]

i have this sick urge to see gore vidal debate jonathan krohn

[theGhoulman]

Listening to Frost breath through his nose like a frightened calf was incredibly irritating during the Gore Vidal interview. Though, I appreciate Frost let Vidal speak without interruption. Vidal was rather eloquent and funny. He loves to do the 'I'm a war time president' voice! lol!

So, to Gore Vidal George W. Bush sounds like Stewey from 'Family Guy'? lol! :D

[bofors7715]

Gore Vidal is a real American hero.

9/11 was an Inside Job.

[babeebee]

Gore Vidal is a fantastic man.

[HumanStrategy]

Somebody needs to dedicate a live video feed to this man until he passes just in case he spouts something helpful.

Why does he have to be so fuckin old at this point. We could really use a man of his caliber around here now.

[borch1260]

A lot of Sarah Palin voters (the great mass of simpletons) seem to be commenting on this video.

[trollfinger]

@borch1260

Yeah, well you can hardly expect them to comment properly on a real political podium, without sounding like......Sarah Palin.

[clevelandrwellson]

why are so many idiots watching this video?

[emcga150]

you watched it and that's enough to challenge the mind and free thought...

[clevelandrwellson]

Judging by all the thumbs down, I get the impression the point of my comment was not clear. I'm a big fan of both Frost and Vidal--the idiots I was referring to were the ones complaining about how boring the video was. I guess a better way to phrase my question would be this: why do so many people watch the video and then complain about how boring it is, when it is clearly labeled as an interview by David Frost with Gore Vidal? What were you people expecting?

[leeroynaggins]

Nice vid.... but sort of dozed off whilst pulling my pud...

[APRIL7645]

i think looking at a tree is entertainig compered to this suckky video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[APRIL7645]

your video is lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[APRIL7645]

looking at the target dog all day is entertaining compered to this fake video

[pablodmdp]

fake?

[APRIL7645]

this video blowws suck a it boring as shit this video is lame!!!!!!!!!!

[bconnors07]

I positively enjoy the eurotrash who come onto You Tube to remark upon how superior their cultures are to America's. I hope you can see how insecure you look.

[josda1000]

i hope you can see how right they are though. and i'm from massachusetts.

[piedlin10]

Also Gore Vidal is American. His father was even a senator.

[dracpcpp]

It's not just Europeans. The people of the Australasian regions consider America to be a backwards nation of religious fanatics too.

[marcus3379]

Watch other Vidal videos its hilarious when he does Bush impressions.

[Chaffinch4]

The British and German's represent "high culture" and read more than Americans (and both countries publish more books than the U.S.) but that has not stopped them engaging in more than their fair share of wars.

[mowriter]

It's heartening to see that Al Jazeera is viewing, disseminating, and promoting this interview with this guy. Get the word out to the middle east that:

A. Not everyone agreed with the Bush Junta throughout its duration; and

B. Our nation has VIBRANT dissent that doesn not get squelched, it gets protected. Granted, Gore's speaking in England here, but is at no risk when returning home.

[TRICAMET]

Yes, but the west might not quash dissent with force unless it can get away with it, or when it's the only option (on home soil I mean), it has more complex ways to do that.

[tmprogram]

gore vidal can see through bullshit

[mcdade10]

It's a known fact that everybody apart from Americans know that in general terms Americans are quite stupid. The are ignorant in subjects like History, Geography and current affairs. All surveys taken in America by Americans point to those facts. There are many clever people in USA but they are a tiny minority. So called "Middle America" is staggeringly and profoundly ignorant about the world in general.

[warriorprince1010]

The USA is an empire as they took native america, mexican and hawaiin land. America is no different to the UK, Germany or France in that respect.

[afrircans1970]

Vidal, the typical Limousine Liberal elitist cannot fathom (or remember) that FDR developed concentration camps in the USA for Innocent Japanese....It's always black & white to Gore Vidal when it comes to politics: if it's Left it's correct. And if it's Establishment Left (like Hillery Clinton) it's the perfect choice.

What's more, Vidal is bigot. To claim to be "pro Black" is standard closet bigot rhetoric. When he uses statements like "Slave Race" his real thinking becomes very clear.

[inkonwater]

Liberals are honest enough to be the first and most serious in criticizing American mistakes under a Democratic president. Look at the Bush Adminstration and their base. Didn't you just undermine your own argument?

[znotty]

i wonder how many country`s this bloke would have let the Nazi`s invade before he stood up to them,Answer is he would done whatever was good for himself.

America was not the policeman,its was a fucking World War,over 50 million dead.

what an arrogant cocksucker.

[kbddd]

Well, he did stand up to them...

"In 1943, on graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy, Vidal joined the U.S. Army Reserve serving in the Aleutian Islands during World War II, where he served as master of an Army freight and supply boat." Wikipedia

[RationalEmotive]

"Jihad" now that is a funny name...

[rlkay001]

"the US are not the worlds police"

Reality unfortunately differs with Gore Vidal's statement.

Regarding WW1. The US let the UK blocked our trade with Germany. Meanwhile limitless trade and loans were given to the UK.

Wilson's foreign policy amounted to undeclared war on Germany from the very start. And Wilson knew where he was leading the country.

Would the world have ended if Germany had won the 1st world war? Hardly.

[adevezar]

Gore Vidal was always in reality. In this times of psycology and mind control

[adevezar]

people who negociate peace are just negociators

[dean146]

Gore Vidal believes:

The US should not have entered World War I, despite having our ships attacked by Germany.

The US should not have entered World War II despite being attacked by Japan.

Woodrow Wilson was "insane", George W Bush is "insane", and America should never use its influence for anything, and is "ashamed" to be an American and...

He endorses Barack Obama.

[DanLackey]

The Lusitania was attacked becsuse it was carrying arms. Churchill as War Minister helped engineer this result. See "The Lusitania," by Colin Simpson.

[Taramriel]

You're an idiot

[behan89]

Not as idiotic as yourself. Your stupidity is deadly: it could kill. You must be very sad. So piss off.

[Taramriel]

Not you, you idiot.

[behan89]

This is a cycle of idiosy, which has begun with the idiotic use of the word idiot by an idiot.

[Taramriel]

You got all that from the words "you idiot", you idiot

[behan89]

Excellent Gore Vidal book 'Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace'. He's writing the follow-up with you in mind now: 'Perpetual Idiot'.

[Taramriel]

No he's writing it for you, it's called "Perpetual Idiot"

[behan89]

Why are you repeating yourself like an idiot?

[Taramriel]

Why are you repeating yourself like an idiot?

[behan89]

You and fellow republicans believe:

Get terrorists, freedom yeah...um

Get the Arab chappies, bomb them to hell, um Russians, stop the black Mexican asylum seekers takin' all our jobs, freedom, get the terrorists...wherever they are...

[slackervenom]

OMFG..he did not..rrrrr..OK..fine..join Henry Rollins...join Ted Nugent..say one thing, do another..do you mean to tell me that a man with the intellectual capacity of Vidal voluntarily supported Obama?.. pfffff....VENTURA 2012 bitches....

[karolgadge]

I have no need to prove my intellectual prowess to anyone. But, brilliant as he may be - to a mind of liberal bent - I do not share your admiration. And my view of Vidal's historical knowledge is not based merely on one comment alone, but on his overall conclusions. I still don't see how a reference to the battle of Agincourt (yes, making allowance for Vidal's forgetfulness due to his age) can in any way be equated with US foreign policy of today.

[karolgadge]

Gore Vidal's ignorance of the Hundred Years' War between England and France is laughable. For starters, the battle of Agincourt was in 1415, not 'the fourteenth century'.

To equate the dynastic struggles of the French and English - originally springing from the Norman conquest - to present day US foreign policy shows an ineptitude that is breathtaking. Of course, with conceit dripping from his brow, Vidal is beyond such mundane matters as historical accuracy.

[stephiejoey]

Karolgadge....the man is approaching 90. Note, that Gore says "sometime around there." He is being general, in order to make a larger point, in reference to a particular era. I'm quite sure Gore Vidal's historical knowledge is more substantial than yours. I find it ironic how you mention his conceit, yet clearly, your paragraph is out to prove your intellectual prowess. The man is brilliant. Get over yourself.

[patnais102]

Zinn,Chomsky,Vidal,Pilger all the same kind of great human being.

[atvfreelife]

nader belongs on that list. amy goodman too.

[strangelovecraft]

I like Gore Vidal, he is a brilliant guy, but hes way off the mark about Obama. Obama is a puppet, a tyrant in waiting, just like Mccain. Anyone who thinks there is an ounce of difference between the two, or the republican or democrat parties, arent paying attention or just dont want to know. They all have the same agenda, corporate fascists using socialism to control and manipulate the masses. It is disheartening to hear Vidal perpetuate the myth, the false paradigm. He is a hopeless partisan.

[ReginaldsTest]

You're referring to the "business party" dynamic - that the US uses a one-party system with two primary factions. That is accurate. However, there actually are some differences between the two. Mostly similarities.

The overall trend is that the US, or at least the majority of its population, is in decline and McCain's policies historically facilitate decline faster than Obama's do. But in truth, in order to reverse the trend (instead of just slowing it), neither is nearly radical enough.

[peymaania]

David Frost is getting old...The only frost I feel is the one slowing down his mind.

He should retire to blackpool and a diet of Beer, w-fish N chips!

[bardi7]

Superb author, hopelessly partisan (dem) and master of the useless generalization.

[waynescooby]

Very true...but he is mildly entertaining to hear

[ReginaldsTest]

Not so much useless generalizations as over-generalizations. For example, "the result of the failed education system is that they don't know anything." You can sort out what he means with a bit of thought, but the statement itself is unnecessarily vague and overreaching.

Although he's not really a partisan Democrat in the sense that he's a historically harsh critic of the Democratic party (along with the Republican party, of course). He considers it (D)the historically more corrupt party.

[vincero2006]

you wish you had the intellect of vidal.

or his insight.

[principles101]

Gore Vidal is double-talking. Something is very wrong here. Double-talk, double-talk, double-talk is all I heard here. Something is very wrong.

[Xakryn]

double talk means that he says something one day and something else the next... So, links to what he said thats opposite of this.

[bubbleboy789]

Gore Vidal is a genius.

[itsacorporatething]

Gore Vidal said in January that Hillary would definitely win the election because of her corporate and elite backing.

[iraniancupid]

his political views are very Good.Bunch of thanks Mr Vidal

[12bl34ea56ch]

It's so fucking painful to listen to Frost speaking.

[PersonalJesus348]

and breathing heavily :X

[AVIONBLANC]

Gore is sounding like Pat Buchanan, Ron Paul, etc. Wilson was a Democrat. Up to Nixon only Democrats were war mongers. Now we have the Demoplicans and the Republicrats.

[lastnymleft]

Avionblanc - I was thinking that, too. He's a constitutionalist (or, at least, somewhat) so he should be supporting Ron Paul, not Barak Obama.

[AVIONBLANC]

You know, most knowledgeable folks agree on the facts. It is the conclusion that differs. Gore seemed to be very big government, empire building, collectivist. Maybe I figured him wrong all these years. Gore must have a book to push, because I've seen him on many "net" shows of late. His presentation is pretty much the same in all. I must not have really listened to him all these years.

[lastnymleft]

Maybe he is and has been a collectivist, but he has picked up on some of Dr Paul's talking points ("Only Congress has the power to declare war", etc). That would be encouraging too. It would indicate that heretofore unthinking (in the sense that they just went along with the opposite of the type of collectivism they hated eg hate right wing fascist collectivism, become left wing socialist collectivist) but rational collectivists are gettable. Maybe next time, they'll demand Congress declare war?

[AVIONBLANC]

YOU GOT IT!!!!! RIGHT ON TARGET!!! Hope to see you around the net and Youtube.

[BIGMEL1981]

yes she can throw in the towel but a good showing by the women faction ... they have come a long way ... give them that

[sugarpuddin88]

Trade with everyone; but avoid the political affairs of all

But instead, America has become an imperialistic regime!

Woodrow Wilson the worst President in history - Gave us WW1, Tax, and the Federal Reserve bank - And the Zionist got Palestine and the Federal reserve!

[mowriter]

sugarpuddin88: "Trade with everyone".

Ralph Nader has long advocated international trade ONLY with nations who respect true Human Rights...including workers unions, fair wages, etc.

How's that for America putting it's economic MONEY where it's ethical moral MOUTH is? Human rights compliance as the terms by which they do trade with us! Economics as spreading human rights! WOO HOO! :-)

[ogjimkenobi]

Holy crap, this guys name is actually Jihad? Crazy.

[lastnymleft]

It's only crazy if you follow the neo-con interpretation of the word.

jihad means "struggle". Anybody who has ever given up smoking is a jihadist.

[ogjimkenobi]

I actually wasn't thinking of the neocon interpretation of the word. I just thought it was a unique name.

[lastnymleft]

Well, it's not exactly up there with "John", or "Mohammed", but I've seen it around a bit. It might be the equivalent of, say "Trent", or "Blake", in popularity in the Muslim world, from what I can tell.

[12bl34ea56ch]

Yep, Jihad is actually a very spread name especially in the middle east and as lastnymleft explained it, the real meaning isn't the neo-con interpretation but extreme state of struggling, other states being (keefeh, difaa', keetel) and it had this evil interpretation since 9-11.