The One Thing: 3/20

" the first here is the one thing. You've seen a lot in the news today and I think it's an illusion my critics are right I do have something in common with Howard --"

" I want you to get up milk. I want to all of you to get up out of -- chase. I wanted to get up right now that go to the window. Open it means stick your head. I imagine my. I'm not."

" I feel if this is me but I am mad as hell. And yes I do wonder every night. Why you're not out your window just -- and -- and I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore. The Dow goes up the Dow goes down today it's up everybody's smiling everybody's happy -- maybe I'm wrong. I don't think I am but maybe I am I think people understand that will all of the spending and the uncertainty from government. We are far from standing on solid ground. But the media seems to be painting a picture of anyone who is worried enough to prepare for the future as -- I'm crazy you're crazy -- crazy together. People now are starting in the media tell you all you can't trust that Glenn Beck he's crazy or I have something to gain or and just a Republican hack in disguise. The obvious insinuation is if you're watching this television show every night. One of those -- well. But I think what they've missed here is. Even correct me if I'm wrong I don't think -- ask you to trust me. I'm asking you to trust yourself. People try to say this you know all about my ratings and this is all about ratings I am only saying these things because of -- ratings really. My opinions have not always been so popular did -- last time. They just recently have come into fashion I guess and yes I do on this program cry like a little girl sometimes. I'm sorry actually if that destroys my credibility with you but. I've stopped hiding who I am and being ashamed of who I am a long long time ago and if you don't like it that's okay there other shows on TV watch them. I am who I am like it or not big girls don't cry. -- but -- from time to time. -- Because as I told you before I feel passionately about my country and the people in it. I like you believe in America's promise and I think it over the years the promises been distorted. Its its its like a -- now. I don't believe in the promise of government that have they fix the economy today. I believe in the promise of the dreamer the one who's all sweaty and stinky from working hard all day. But refuses to give up because they know they are the ones that can still change the course of their life. Only in America can this still happen. But as -- warns us about going to socialist I think our collective gut is warning us as well that this is in jeopardy. For anybody who has followed me over the years you know -- that like you I wanted change last November I wasn't a fan of the Bush Administration at the end it. The right was frustrated just as much I think is the -- maybe even more so because we felt as though we were betrayed."

" We -- the people or ticket all the hits for these guys and we were betrayed we believe in something. The Republicans. We fought believed in things like small government and and not a big debt and border security but they didn't. We all wanted change last November. To -- at least though not enough Americans demanded answer to the question of what kind of change are you for and in the end. All of the politicians were just claiming change -- change change needed change change. The real emotion felt by almost all Americans. Have been turned into a bumper sticker and in the game just started all over again. You know they knew they were there for earmarks. When they're in power and against them when they're not we can't afford this statute out of control when they're out of power but they can't spend enough when -- power and the -- just keep changing. When I said -- want to change this is what line. No more lies no more games no more earmarks no more politicians saying one thing and then doing another. Don't do the right thing for your party or your special interest group doing the right thing for your country even. What it means. You're in trouble even that your own political apparel honesty is what you say or do when people are watching integrity. Comes from doing the right thing even when it hurts. I know that everything in this country is seen through the prism of the right vs Obama. Well. That's not my reality is -- yours I mean this isn't about the president America is much bigger than the president or congress or any political party. I don't think it would have been that different to John McCain would -- won they're taking us to the same place. -- dividing us I think there should be a new dividing line may be political game players. From honest citizens that actually care or better yet almost every current politician from their seats of power. America we have come to a very dangerous point in our country's long storied history. America doesn't trust anyone anymore we don't trust anything anymore. Everybody is telling you you know I'm the one you can believe it picked up I'm different you know we are -- what do you can trust to bring change. Yet nobody ever seems to really do it. So why come to every night -- ask you to trust me. I hope you've never gotten that impression because the answer is no. Instead I ask you to do something that this whole broken system of government and media has taught you not. To do trust yourself. In power yourself. -- are the solution take charge of your own life. Don't don't take my word or anybody else's word for anything Reid questioned every angle and trust your gut. I read something back in the ninety's to change my life this Thomas Jefferson he said quote. Question with boldness even the existence of god for if there be one he must more approve of the homage of reason. Than that of blindfolded fear point it just made sense to me. But that's the problem in America anymore we don't have. Anyone asking honest questions anymore everybody has an agenda they want their answer to be right. Thankful my answer is wrong. You know what this what I liked about Tim Russert. I think he was a guy who engaged in honest questioning. No matter what side of the aisle you were on on Sunday morning many of the turn -- (%expletive) you off for making cheer and usually in the same episode. He would ask the tough questions. And he was fair the only agenda that Tim Russert seemed to have was the truth. You know when he died I only been in good television for a very short while but I was amazed. In journalism how he was universally loved and even more than just how much they loved him. Everybody was in journalism they all said things like why are they sure don't make him like that anymore. I -- I kept asking. Why. I mean nobody made Tim Russert he made himself if you miss him -- you should become him. You know everybody makes themselves we all do by the way we choose to live our lives when journalists -- the only thing that sends a chill down their leg is integrity. Well then maybe America will be able to trust them again. You know and -- the line of journalism has been blurred. It has been blurred by those who can hide in the fuzzy yes I want you to understand clearly. I am not the journalist. Be very clear on that I even opinion maker I'm no different or any smarter or better than you. I have found. Myself at a place that is incredible. -- and an amazing time in our country's history."

" I don't take that lightly but I also don't hesitate to give you my opinion it's what they pay me to do. It was. Quite frankly was all fun when it started a few years back. It was fun until started to count. Now what does. You should know that I know that. I realize over the weekend I was doing a lot of soul searching and I realized I'm -- guest in your home you invite me in at this time every night. And a lot of people in America has never even heard of me or don't know who I am so let me tell you myself. I'm an imperfect guy in my life I've done some pretty bad things not jail where -- but certainly blush worthy. I am -- recovering alcoholic and I feel at times like I'm a recovering dirt -- as well. I stop drinking in the ninety's but I really only sobered up what I found faith in the late nineties. And a small businessman. I do radio to television Internet I write books I printed -- humor magazine. And I built it all from scratch with the help of an amazing group of people. In 1999. Only in America in 1999. I couldn't afford my -- of 695. Dollars a month. Things have changed and as -- right now my business is doing pretty well but just like you I'm concerned about tomorrow. It's true to say that."

" I am not the most well educated guy on TV one guy lately has become -- Bernard from the office you know Andy it is like flawed from Cornell this guy is so desperate to let everybody know -- went to court now. Well I want you now I didn't. I did go to college until I was in my thirties and when I did I went as a special student which I think meant I was in the short bus. I didn't go to get a degree."

" Nor did I receive one. I went just to find some answers because I wanted honest answers honest questions but unity broke part of a divorce. I could only afford one semester of college so instead of going to college I just went to the bookstore. I still -- the bookstore. All the time and while it's not Cornell. I'm hoping that self education might work out as well as it did for my grandfather. Or Benjamin Franklin. The one thing that I haven't done in my life was. Gamble and what -- you know what I was. Height of drinking I was not a gambler and I realize this weekend not entirely true what I'm doing right now. Is probably the biggest risking gamble of my life it is a game that I have gone into knowing that most likely I am going to lose. The odds are not in my favor because of what I have come to believe. And feel compelled to say because I try to live my life as an honest man I am not making friends yeah. If not making friends on either side of the island Washington and that's fine because I think they are out of control. Believe what you will on why I'm here in your living room every night. But I am sitting here at this table playing my cards face up every night in hopes that others will join me soon. If you think that spending. And corruption and and power and are all out of control in Washington congratulations. You're already a member now stand up. And lead. On Saturday night I was in Florida. I just took my kids into -- it was about 11 o'clock I check my email. An old friend of mine sent me a note about this TV panel that included one of the bigger hate mongers and the country from NBC news. It was really actually more of a lynch mob than anything else. And they all agreed that I was dangerous and sleazy person. That I make it more likely that something tragic would the -- our president. My president. Your president. They also hinted that if another --"

" McVeigh would appear -- this guy's fault meaning me. This from the same people that were saying that you know they were being intimidated into silence just a few months ago."

" I would never be the person who says that you have to watch what you say because that borderline and don't really have I what I'm not for that I don't know I buy -- blood got there arguments it's given a lot you can't say this because a borderline person might take it and then do this. I'm sorry that's the price of living in a free speech country and I do want to live and one because -- make my living. Okay but you know I must say Tim McVeigh in 1995. You were called this was the same kind of talking -- that made him blow up that building."

" Unbelievable -- me be clear on one thing if someone tries to harm another person in the name of the constitution or the truth behind 9/11 or anything else. They are just -- dangerous and crazy. As those people we don't seem to recognize anymore you know the ones who kill in the name of ala. There are enemies both foreign and domestic in America tonight college fear mongering or call it the truth. Either way remember you were the key. While you search for the truth all they will try to demean you for what you watch what you read what you listen to. But let me make you this promise. If we can put principles over parties and just do the right thing not the easy thing but the right thing we will heal this nation and restore her as a beacon of freedom for all of those. Not just the yearning to breathe free. But those who respect the hard work and the sacrifice. That makes it possible to breathe free. Are we all Howard -- tonight. Are all of us you know all those people just opening up those windows every night and finally expressing what needs to be said that. Or are we just people who care enough about this country."

" Just not to care what we look like anymore."

" Listen to may television is not the -- what they want the truth. Go to god. Gaudio guru. -- Because that's the only place you're gonna find any real truth. You know -- get any truth about us."