I groaned when I heard that TV blowhard Bill OReilly has been tapped to address the annual convention of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America next April in Washington, D.C. While I don't object to political clowns in principle, I draw the line at those who try to pass themselves off as “journalists,” and wonder why a more liberal pundit can't be recruited once in awhile to appear at an insurance meeting.


Bullies like O'Reilly just don't have a sense of humor. Liberals like Al Franken, Bill Maher and Jon Stewart all manage to be funny while taking obnoxious jabs at the opposing political party. Why do right wing commentators, in contrast, take themselves so damned seriously?

I'm not a big fan of celebrity speakers to begin with at these gatherings. They draw huge fees, yet rarely if ever have anything very original, let alone relevant, to say.

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