Countdown Special Comment: You have no remaining credibility about Iraq, sir.
By Logan Murphy Monday Sep 03, 2007 8:50pm
Keith Olbermann's Special Comment tonight is without a doubt, one of his hardest hitting and most emotional to date. Keith absolutely lays waste to President Bush's lies and rhetoric about the surge. He contrasts his callous disregard for the truth and the troops between his six hour photo op in Iraq and the interview with Draper released this weekend.
This video is a must-see, hold on to your hats.
Download | play 
Download | play
And there it is, sir. We've caught you.
Your goal is not to bring some troops home -- maybe -- if we let you have your way now;
Your goal is not to set the stage for eventual withdrawal;
You are, to use your own disrespectful, tone-deaf word, playing at getting the next Republican nominee to agree to jump into this bottomless pit with you, and take us with him, as we stay in Iraq for another year, and another, and another, and anon.
Transcripts below the fold:
Finally tonight, a Special Comment about Mr. Bush's trip, and his startling admission of the true motive for this war, which was revealed in his absence.
And so he is back from his annual surprise gratuitous photo-op in Iraq, and what a sorry spectacle it was.
But it was nothing compared to the spectacle of one unfiltered, unguarded, horrifying quotation in the new biography to which Mr. Bush has consented.
As he deceived the troops at Al-Asad Air Base yesterday with the tantalizing prospect that some of them might not have to risk being killed and might get to go home, Mr. Bush probably did not know that, with his own words, he had already proved that he had been lying -- is lying... will be lying -- about Iraq.
He presumably did not know, that there had already appeared those damning excerpts from Robert Draper's book "Dead Certain."
"I'm playing for October-November," Mr. Bush said to Draper.
That, evidently, is the time during which, he thinks he can sell us the real plan.
Which is, to quote him: "To get us in a position where the presidential candidates, will be comfortable about sustaining a presence."
Comfortable, that is, with saying about Iraq, again quoting the President, "stay longer."
And there it is, sir. We've caught you.
Your goal is not to bring some troops home -- maybe -- if we let you have your way now;
Your goal is not to set the stage for eventual withdrawal;
You are, to use your own disrespectful, tone-deaf word, playing at getting the next Republican nominee to agree to jump into this bottomless pit with you, and take us with him, as we stay in Iraq for another year, and another, and another, and anon.
Everything you said about Iraq yesterday, and everything you will say, is a deception, for the purpose of this one cynical, unacceptable, brutal goal -- perpetuating this war indefinitely.
War today, war tomorrow, war forever!
And you are playing at it!
Playing!
A man with any self-respect, having inadvertently revealed such an evil secret, would have already resigned and fled the country!
You have no remaining credibility about Iraq, sir.
And yet, yesterday at Al-Asad, Mr. Bush kept playing -- and this time, using the second of his two faces.
The President told reporters, "They, (General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker) "tell me if the kind of success we are now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces."
And so, Mr. Bush got his fraudulent headlines today: "Bush May Bring Some Troops Home."
While the reality is, we know from what he told Draper, that the President's true hope is that they will not come home; but that they will stay there, because he is keeping them there now, in hope that those from his political party fighting to succeed him, will prolong this unendurable disaster into the next decade.
But, to a country dying of thirst, the President seemed to vaguely promise a drink from a full canteen -- a promise predicated on the assumption that he is not lying.
Yet you are lying, Mr. Bush. Again. But now, we know why.
You gave away more of yourself than you knew in the Draper book
And you gave away more still, on the arduous trip back out of Iraq -- hours in the air, without so much as a single vacation.
"If you look at my comments over the past eight months," you told reporters, "it's gone from a security situation -- in the sense that we're either going to get out and there will be chaos, or, more troops. Now, the situation has changed, where I'm able to speculate on the hypothetical."
Mr. Bush, the only "hypothetical" here is that you are not now holding our troops hostage.
You have no intention of withdrawing them.
But that doesn't mean you can't pretend you're thinking about it, does it?
That is your genius, sir -- as you see it, anyway.
You can deduce what we want -- we, the people, remember us? -- and then use it against us.
You can hold that canteen up and promise it to the parched nation.
And the untold number of Americans whose lives have not been directly blighted by Iraq -- or who do not realize that their safety has been reduced and not increased by Iraq -- they will get the bullet points: 'Bush is thinking about bringing some troops home. Bush even went to Iraq.'
You can fool some of the people all of the time, can't you, Mr. Bush?
You are playing us!
And as for the most immediate victims of the President's perfidy and shameless manipulation -- those troops, yesterday sweating literally as he spoke at Al-Asad Air Base...
Tonight, again sweating figuratively in The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death...
The President saved, for them, the most egregious "playing" in the entire trip.
"I want to tell you this about the decision, about my decision about troop levels. Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground -- not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media."
One must compliment Mr. Bush's writer.
That, perhaps, was the mostly perfectly crafted phrase of his Presidency.
For depraved indifference to Democracy, for the craven projection of political motives onto those trying to save lives and save a nation, for a dismissal of the value of the polls and the importance of the media... for a summary of all he does not hold dear about this nation or its people -- nothing... could top that.
As if, sir, you listened to all the "calm assessments" of our military commanders --rather than firing the ones who dared say The Emperor Has No Clothes, and The President, No Judgment;
As if, sir, your entire presidency was not a "nervous reaction", and you yourself, nothing but a Washington politician;
As if, sir, "the media" does not largely divide into those parts your minions are playing, and those others who unthinkingly and uncritically serve as your echo chamber, at a time when the nation's future may depend on the airing of dissent.
And as if, sir, those polls were not so overwhelming, and not so clearly reflective of the nation's agony and the nation's insistence.
But this President has ceased to listen.
This President has decided that night is day, and death is life, and enraging the world against us, is safety.
And this laziest of Presidents, actually interrupted his precious time off to fly to Iraq to play at a photo opportunity with soldiers, some of whom will -- on his orders -- be killed before the year, maybe the month, is out.
Just over 500 days remain in this Presidency.
Consider the dead who have piled up on the battlefield in these last 500 days.
Consider the singular fraudulence of this President's trip to Iraq yesterday, and the singular fraudulence of the selling of the Petraeus Report in these last 500 days.
Consider how this President has torn away at the fabric of this nation in a manner of which terrorists can only dream in these last 500 days.
And consider again how this President has spoken to that biographer: that he is "playing for October-November." The goal in Iraq is "To get us in a position where the presidential candidates will be comfortable about sustaining a presence" and consider how this revelation contradicts every other rationale he has offered in these last 500 days.
In the context of all that... now, consider... these next 500 days.
Mr. Bush, our presence in Iraq must end.
Even if it means your resignation.
Even if it means your impeachment.
Even if it means a different Republican to serve out your term.
Even if it means a Democratic Congress -- and those true Patriots among the Republicans -- standing up and denying you another penny for Iraq, other than for the safety and the safe conduct home of our troops.
This country cannot run the risk of what you can still do to this country in the next 500 days...
Not while you, sir... are playing.
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baby jesus is first
curtilingus is second
miss_kitty-third!
Can someone in the US please tell me why MR Olbermann has the guts(he reminds me of Ed Murrow) to say what needs to be said when no one else does?
Can some one please send Keith's resume to the WH? I hear there's an opening for Press Secretary!
As usual, Keith speaks the truth. Unfortunately, he is one of very few in the MSM willing to stand up to this administration's rhetoric. Even more unfortunate is that the democratically controlled congress does not stand up to it either. They are willing to sit by while the Bush administration drives our country into the ground so at the end of the day they can blame him and the Republicans for the harm done to this country. From a short term perspective, it makes sense, as Bush's continued blunders can only help the Dems win the '08 election. But in the long term, is the damage done to our country worth one election?
Don't mince words, Keith, tell us what you really think.
Not quite his best smackdown on the Chimp, but damn good.
Keith Olbermann has become this nation's conscience. He says--forthrightly and bravely--those things that so many of us think and feel about this horror-show that has become the Bush Presidency. He is one of an elite few who is doing the heavy-lifting of journalism at the national level--Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, Naomi Wolff, Sy Hersh. and the writers from the McClatchy chain of newspapers being the others.
It is so refreshing to hear the unvarnished truth coming from my television.
Olbermann has sealed his place in history, just as he has helped to seal George Bush's.
as always, keith is excellent-- but do the members of either party hear or care at all???
What the HELL is the plan.
Democratic leaders, you best have one. Cause come next week, the administration's dead enders are going to bring the crapstorm.
I-M-P-E-A-C-H.
Powerfull,emotional and sincere.....if he ran for office right now...alot of people would follow....just because he speaks out against this fubar admin,war.
Olbermann says the stuff he says because
A) He knows that there is an underserved audience in the talk show market, and he's smart enough to tap into that...
B) Probably understands he doesn't have much to lose... Face it. He is set right now, and no matter what he may say, he's covered. What if they fire him from MSNBC? He still has the sports background to fall back on. Having that ability to say "What the hell, let's do this," can be incredibly liberating.
Now, this is not to say that I think KO is faking this, nor am I cynical enough to believe that it's just a way to get ratings. I really think he believes what he says, and the Special Comments (which I was worried would become stale if over-used, but thankfully they didn't over use 'em) are his vent, his release valve, if you will. And I think we're all better for it.
Just my thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
Satan Himself @ 11:
I'll drink to that. I cringe thinking what kind of shennanigans are lined up for next week, what with the "anniversary" and all. I used to love September - time for the 6th annual funk...
I saw it. Not Keith's best, but it was good. The truth...his editorials are becoming meaningless. Certainly the Administration isn't listening, and I'm not sure anyone else is either.
He is like us, whistling in the dark. No one cares. The war goes on. So long as there is no draft, and the war's impact is limited to a finite number of families who's children went off to war to literally never return, why should the rest of America give a shit. Oh, the polls show they care. BIG DEAL. Helluvalot of impact the polls have. The repubs are lemmings to the President, and the Dems are weak, stupid, inept and in the hip pocket of corporate america.
KO by a K.O.
That man will not be at MSNBC much longer. And he won't be behind a sports desk.
He needs another Sunday night NBC gig with a special comment like this. I wonder what all the football watching beer guts would think hearing this?
Maybe make a few of them vote?
I agree these are a sort of "release valve" for his pent up frustration. This is not an act...cannot be an act...simply because Olbermann couldn't fake that much raw emotion as he's shwon in these episodes.
But, as always, he speaks for us. For that I appreciate him greatly.
Olbermann for president.
Can the revelations in this book be used as a smoking gun, meaning backed up with evidence other that the author's words? KO came off as such to me in that SC, that he has the goods on his and his guys..
Bush has no credibility. But KO certainly does!!!!
"And as if, sir, those polls were not so overwhelming, and not so clearly reflective of the nation’s agony and the nation’s insistence."
Wish it were true. Here in Wisconsin, most folks just go about their business, with little thought about the occupation. OK how can I speak for "most?" Look around where you live. Unless it is a very liberal community, you will hear more talk about the weather than the "war."
I love C&L and I dig Olbermann, but I fear that many here think that because the choir is convinced, the greater congregation shares the passion.
Not the folks I know, and with whom I work .
I was watching Good Night and Good Luck the other night and kept thinking that Fred Friendly (George Clonney) resembled alot like Mr. Olbermann. Then when I started hearing Murrow (David Strathairn) speaking, and I thought it was Mr. Olbermann. It has been said many times, but it is true, Keith Olbermann is our Edward R. Murrow.
Like always, good job Keith.
Bush, I'll see you in hell. Scratch that. I'll meet you half way down there.
Satan Himself @ 11:
The plan is to get the hell out of Iraq so no more of our American soilders and allied soilders will die. 4,000 American troops and countless other ally troops have died for nothing.
This "We're bringing freedom to Iraq" excuse is bullshit! We're there for the oil.
“I’m playing for October-November,” Mr. Bush said to Draper.
"Playing", he says. He's "playing" with the lives of soldiers -- they're the ones dying and getting shot or getting damaged psychologically or physically, beyond repair. So if Bush is "playing", what's his ante? What's he putting on the table that he personally has a chance of losing? Bupkas, that's what.
He's looking forward to "getting bored" when he retires in Jan 2009, spending some time on the ranch, doing a few speeches to "fill up the ol' coffers" ... ("Clinton's making a lot of money" is a direct quote) and taking it easy. Not much thought given, it seems to the damaged soldiers who come back, legless, armless, suffering from PTSD for the rest of their lives, marriages in shambles.
God help the completely leaderless US of A. I remember decades back when we used to look to your country with awe. We used to actually envy you. Not any more. Now we just gotta turn away in pity and embarrassment for you all.
Mr. President, welcome to the wood shed.
Sam @ 21:
Article on Guardian points to yes:
-- http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2162334,00.html
Bremer's made some letters public showing Bush was told about the de-Baathification.
God Bless Keith Olbermann and Bill Moyers. Without them, we do not have a fourth estate to shine the light upon the darkness of government.
Keith is spot on, as usual.
wow
Marty -
> ... Not the folks I know, and with whom I work .
So convert them. It's not all that hard. First you need to learn all the logical fallacies that they use, and then nail them everytime they use them. Eventually they figure out that they're in the wrong, and they become deprogrammed.
Not to blogwhore, but seriously, my panties are his for the asking.
Thanks for all the WORK getting that vid up, Logan honey.
Marty,
To be sure, the greater congregation does NOT share our passion. Especially on the progressive blogs (which I love), there is a shared love for anyone who stands up and speaks the truth. But I don't think many are confused about the greater sheeple.
I find myself thinking that we are the modern day equivalent of "fellow travelers"-- the old expression for commies in the U. S. Given the condescension of the MSM to the blogs, given the condescension of most elected dems to the blogs, they kind of frame us as malcontents in the minority. And we are to some degree. But why not cheer anyone who speaks the truth, regardless of our numbers and regardless of our discontent.
We are having our effect. Both at the polls and in our (limited as yet) influence upon the MSM. With W and his crime family at the top it seems so hopeless so much of the time. But his days are numbered. If we can have any influence whatever over those who barely notice what we seek online, why not go for it?
And why not revel in the bright moments, like the last election cycle or even in smaller matters, such as a great KO rant?
Peace (and war to the opposition).
[...] Watch Keith Olbermann’s special comment on this issue tonight. 10:36 pm | [...]
[Deleted. Your "concern" is duly noted. Please restrict your comments to the topic and not other posters]
Blue Gal, my partner in crime, you're going to have to get in line...behind me. :)
Olbermann '08!
Let's make an effort to get Keith on the network, too. His voice is by far the most convincing of all the talking heads and despite my love for internet sites like C&L, television is the most powerful way to reach the masses and network TV is the most watched. Let's work on NBC. Our country needs the voice and passion Keith O can deliver.
myiq2xu @ 8:
I hate to say it but it's true.
Still if Bush is dumb enought to let crap like that be put in a book about him he deserves to reap the wirl wind.
I'm amazed that Keith can stomach calling this creep "sir". I can't even bring myself to use the term "bush" or "shrub" any more--those are now just "plant" to me.
Keith is awesome. This Special Commentary, paired with his July 3rd special commentary is so frank, so articulate, so dang PERFECT, it should be heard and heeded by all our elected officials.
I'm contemplating constructing a huge old "NO" card and actually write a heartfelt, handwritten note to the elected officials in my state. NOT one more penny, dollar to GWB's war. I want the Democrats to grow and reinforce a damn spine. I want the Blue Dogs to quit enabling this Worse-Than-Hoover-Biggest-Stain-In-American-History ever. Keith just inspires. I wish more would tune in.
> ... You are not wanted here.
(cough cough) Now that's a little harsh IMHO. :-) Sure it's usually a waste of bandwidth, but not that much wasted bandwidth. So at least try to be innovative to keep it interesting when you claim first comments, folks!
I REALLY wish they would just bring back the draft. That will wake ALOT of people up and THEN they'll force the government to stop the war. Till then, it's just someone else's children to most people. And I agree, most people even in my area talk more about the weather than they do the war.
Keith's show is not ready for NBC, besides I do not think they are ready to ditch Brian Williams nor has an outlet to show his program nightly on the mothership. MSNBC is the right place for him and the numbers will skyrocket. Keith may have singlehandedly saved MSNBC from extinction.. NBC will water him down on the mothership.
Bravo Keith! He tore Bush a new one here. Keep speaking up, someone has to tell the truth to the addled, Karl Rove-i-sized, disinterested, non-voting public.
songtraveler @ 36:
It's their forum as much as yours.
I love how he is so polite calling the preztard "Sir". In all of my life I've never,until now , seen a prez called, "retard,preznit,dumbshit,knucklehead,fuckwad, c*nt, moron,
pissypants,shitwad,dunderhead,weenie,chenyhole,chalabilick,cretin, pinhead,pustule,crackscab,fratboy blowin,rah rah siss boom bah shackalacka .
Jenna freshin my tuhkillya.
[Edited-Sitemonitor]
Our corrupted two-party monopoly has convinced me by their actions and inactions that Americans no longer deserve this nation. The fascists have done what they couldn't do in WWII---WIN!
He may be preaching to the choir, but it's a hell of a lot better than not preaching to anybody. Nicely done, Keith.
[Deleted. Drop in flamebait-Sitemonitor]
his editorials are becoming meaningless.
Um, maybe you and Yankees can sulk together.
You mean Keith is meaningless like Nancy Grace? Careful what you call meaningless. If he's meaningless with an audience of a few million then what are the lefty bloggers?
His editorials will serve as historical record that a very intelligent minority did what it could to resist bush. Call them readers of The Nation. Call them ultraliberals. Call them the angry left. He is one of them, and one of the best.
...Unless he is playing us too. He does have a 20-something girlfriend. Maybe he does this to just get laid.
Mike the Canuck @ 4:
Because he is a sports reporter first. They tell the truth about our mythological base, are not afraid of their own emotions, and regard honor and integrity in a manner lost by the MSM.
If you want a truthful discussion always get the sports guys onboard. They may have opnions, even differing opinions, but.... a guy who really really loves baseball like Olbermann - he gets it. One of the most disturbing things George Bush did was own a baseball team - he was as dismal at that as he has been at everything else. His ego wanted to be commissioner, but the owners apparently talked him into being a politician instead. Even team owners (men not known for their integrity) saw that he would destroy it. Olbermann can speak because he understands the art and religion of sports - therefore he can speak to the artlessness and profane nature of George and his ilk. Politics at its best is like baseball - right now - MIchael Vick seems to represent what politics has become.
NiceNCool1 @ 44:
It sounds like "it's just someone else's children" to you too. I'll never understand this reasoning. Let's draft more young adults to go to their deaths in order to make the point that too many soldiers are dying.
[...] Video here Yet you are lying, Mr. Bush. Again. But now, we know why. [...]
Famous Quotes:
This is a nation "OF the People, BY the People, and FOR the People". (Not 'for the Monarchy') - Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address
From The Declaration of Independence
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, It is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, Laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
"The necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude, and perseverance. Let us remember that `if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.' it is a very serious consideration...that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers of the event." : - Samuel Adams, speech in Boston, 1771.
President Dwight Eisenhower, Republican Uttered these words on November 8, 1954:
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
In addition to being a war hero, a decent fellow, a moderate Republican before they began to go extinct, President Eisenhower apparently was also quite the prophet. Little George W. Bush was about 9 years old at the time...
"Patriotism means supporting your country always, and your government only when it deserves it." Mark Twain
“A government that fears the people is a democracy, a people that fear their government is tyranny.” ~ something like that by Thomas Jefferson..
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Thomas+Jefferson+A+government+that+...
"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else." - Teddy Roosevelt, Kansas City Star; May 7, 1918
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president ... right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." Teddy Roosevelt, 1918
America's true patriotic spirit cannot be silenced by the likes of the GOP. IMHO It is every American's GOD given right to question the wisdom of their 'elected' officials.
Love me the KO
songtraveler @ 36:
Songwriter, they actually got it in the right order. This is actually a historical moment on C&L. I don't see that happen very often here. Sometimes posters claiming to be "First", sometimes come in second or third. The only thing Baby Jesus could have done better was to claim "Frist". Yes, "Frist." It's a running inside joke on the forum here. Someone claimed "First" one time but spelled it "Frist" accidently. So the "Frist" thing is a running joke as long as I have been here.
Also those folks, Baby Jesus, Curtilingus and Miss Kitty are old timers on this forum. On here much longer then I have been.
Their jovalities or "Junior High antics" help break the ice. We are all pretty angry about what is happening to our country but at the same time we can't take ourselves too seriously. That is what the other side does.
So we all have our ways of grieving for the US.
I cried listening to this. My son was one of those given a 'death sentence' by this president. He was a Marine killed in Al Anbar in May 06.
Gayle
Bravo Keith Olbermann! we need more true Patriots like you.
"Give me freedom, or give me death."
Excuse me, I'm sorry "Songtraveler", I accidently wrote your name as "Songwriter."
Gayle @ 58:
I'm very sorry about your son.
This president will go to hell for sure.
Wow! As I listened to this special comment I found myself holding my breath and then almost gasping for air. What a speech. Too bad Bush will never hear it nor will Cheney
or Gates or Nancy or Harry. Everything Keith said we all have thought and agreed with him but the ones who need to hear it will be shielded from it. I would like to ask Nancy and Harry what they are waiting for. Keith said Bush was playing, IMHO so are the Democrats and Democratic leaders. Politics, politics, politics!! Political standing first, country last.
The most outrageous crime the US media have committed over the years must be C-SPAN's hiding the Cheney's Quagmire clip. Let's face it, the video would have stopped the war machine. If the video had been aired, the Invasion of Iraq wouldn't have taken place (and consequently 1 million Iraqi deaths and 4 million Iraqis relocated and suffering to this day, not to mention the whole nation turned into unrecognizable, shameful mess would have not happened)The moment it would have been aired, the nation would have collectively asked, "Wait the f*****g minute, what the f**k is going on??!!" And you can be certain that Cheney perfectly knew that his words were recorded and archived. You can bet that he demanded from the CSPAN's CEOs and producers through his agents or directly that the video gets hidden and never shown again. Sad facts like that are what makes empires perish. You can't progress, move forward and function normally anymore if your nation is based on such gigantic, transparent lies.
OK, you can under one condition. http://youtube.com/watch?v=9KaZvQ5LavA
Assuming that dumbing down America is on the neocon's agenda, which it clearly is, how do you want young people like that compete with the Japanese, Indians, Chinese 5 or 10 years from now if they have no practical knowledge, no analytical skills, no thinking skills whatsoever. What kind of economy will we end up with? Forget about importing foreigners anymore. They will choose China and Europe this time around no questions asked, no second thoughts. How do you want people that can't compete in the modern world simply because they are dumb afford to help keep the Social Security running, afford some humane and descent living for their grandfathers and grandmothers? And finally, how do you want to move forward as a nation if the economy is saturated by people who qualify for McDonald's jobs, phone jobs, warehouse or factory jobs in the era where factory jobs in America are no longer? This nation is bound to become a travesty and utter failure if the US media keep doing what they're doing. There is still plenty to f**k up so stay tuned, after all, the mainstream media is on your side.
No.
Nice rant, but Olberman is dreaming if he thinks the Democrats are going to stand up to Bush and stop funding the war. They just can't walk away from all that oil.
To quote Lewis Lapham out of context:
KO attacks the sanctity of myth with the heresy of fact.
I'm very proud to say that I'm a loyal fan of Keith Olbermann. He is, indeed, the man.
The Champ is out.
Another Emily Latilla moment from Olbermann. Bravo.
What's inconsistent about those statements? Bush didn't proclaim in his most recent visit to Iraq that he was in the process of a full withdrawal. He merely pointed toward the opportunity for "fewer troops". As did Petraeus today in an interview with ABC's Martha Raddatz. It might seem cynical, but or presence there is guaranteed into the next presidential term. What's wrong with wanting a candidate, Republican or Democrat, to feel comfortable for laying out a plan for that? Even most of the Democrats have acknowledged that immediate withdrawal is not an option.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Story?id=3556742&page=1
Of course, we're going to sustain "a presence" in Iraq for years. We've just built the world's largest embassy there and even if the security situation is improving, it's not down to a level where we can remove every troop. Olbermann should take a breath and try to understand that much at least.
Of course, none of these factors will immediately end our presence in Iraq. Although, Keith kinda qualifies his demand with "must end" and not by "must end by_____" Now? By year's end? Next March? Of course, everybody believes it "must end", Keith. Care to put your balls on the line as the great military mind that you are and offer a date?
I'm in as much agreement as anybody about the stupid sh*t Bush says, but Keith is not being very logical in his rant over these quotes. He's just grandstanding.
Gayle @ 58:
I'm very sad to hear that Gayle. It makes me angry each time a member of our Armed Services is killed over there. It's a life that is cut way too short. There is a mother here who lost her daughter two weeks ago. I can't imagine what the families affected by this are going through.
God bless.
[...] Countdown Special Comment: You have no remaining credibility about Iraq, sir. [...]
Why has Keith Olbermann never asked the troops in Iraq about what needs to be done or when to start pulling out Iraq. Wound it be because their answer would put he out of a job.
It is too bad there is a good long thread here but no conservative take on this. I am liberal but I always enjoy hearing the other side, no matter how wacky, otherwise the comments just get kinda boring to read when it is all liberals agreeing. Actually I find the saddest thing is that people don't really talk to people they disagree with, especially with politics, but just demonize eachother, and go ad hominem all the time. There is so much fun that is missed when not able to chat about things we disagree on. That being said, that was an awesome rant.
Stanley said- So convert them. It’s not all that hard. First you need to learn all the logical fallacies that they use, and then nail them everytime they use them. Eventually they figure out that they’re in the wrong, and they become deprogrammed.
You misinterpreted, Mr R. I didn't say they were pro war dittoheads, to be conquered (good luck with that project BTW.) I meant that they don't share the antiwar anti Bush passion one finds here. They just go about their business, and pay their bills. They don't vist C&L and don't watch MSNBC.
The rest of America.
Gayle - I am so sorry for your loss. Keith is about the only one speaking about it all with passion and reality now. I hope the fact that he speaks in such a truthful manner is a comfort.
There are no words for the pain of losing a child - but my heart breaks a bit in knowing that you have lost yours.. Enough of us with broken hearts - and this president will be gone - we can hope for resignation or impeachment, but the reality it - we must vote and make sure that others vote.
Folks--
The only way to get this war machine shut down is to expose its malevolence and consciencelessness to the people who can vote it out. It isn't just Bush-- it's a whole structure of neo-con con-men who move in synch in Washington positions and control the direction of the administration. The only way to make people understand what is going on is to truly investigate 9/11 in the public's eye without whitewashing and refusals to subpoenas and lies. Please-- this is happening but we need everyone's help. In NYC we are creating a legal independent investigation of 9/11 but we need the world to know (partly so they can't just 'disappear' us) and we need donations, even $5 helps. Please help spread the word, put the addy in your signature, tell friends.... nyc911initiative.org .. the only way to topple the power structure and put the United States back into the hands of the patriotic Americans who own it is for people to find out what their government is willing to do to us for its evil goals of endless, unprovoked war and repression back home.
Geno in Ptown @ 62:
My condolences as well.
The story I am going to tell at my Father's funeral when he passes on is about the time in the eighties when he, a high ranking reserve Naval NCO, received a 2 AM phone call ordering him to pull on his dress whites and drive about one hundred miles to notify the Mother of a Marine who was killed in Lebanon. He arrived 90 minutes or something like that before the earliest time by regulation that he was allowed to knock on the door, so he sat, in the dark and cold in his dress white uniform......the Mother saw him sitting outside and broke down crying............
As powerful and evocative (my eyes are tearing up now) as that story is to me, I can only imagine what it would be like to be on the other side of it.
Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.
"Vitam Vas"
Olberman thinks Bush is talking about the Republican candidates for president. No, Kieth, he is talking about all - or at least all who are actual contenders- including Hillary. All he wants to do is pass the mess off onto whomever is next. Of course it's us and our children who will pay the price.
Seriously, Bush becomes exponentially more schizophrenic every day with his finger on the button! What will, we the people, do about this?
Seriously, Bush becomes exponentially more schizophrenic every day with his finger on the button! What will, we the people, do about this?
I thinki many are frightened who are part of the administration - somebody is gonna be "deep throat" for this generation. However, I'm not sure there is anyone in the MSM who would go after the story.
Marty -
> ... (good luck with that project BTW.)
It's skill. Now where the luck comes in when you somehow manage to *admit* that they've been deprogrammed. :-) Somehow they don't like to lose their dishonesty.
> ... I meant that they don’t share the antiwar anti Bush passion one finds here. They just go about their business, and pay their bills. They don’t vist C&L and don’t watch MSNBC.
Sorry for my misinterpretation. You're talking about the "hiding people, with your heads in the sand, Hey brother, where you bound, Say brother, where you bound" (Supertramp). I don't have as good of an answer for that (except to tell them that since they claim so much to not to care anyway, then they may as well vote for exactly whom you tell them to vote for.)
Kieth is good - he's better than the Democrats.
sure - we all hae the war, but do you think HILLARY is going to get us out?
No. she won't. She EVEN SAID SO.
Will Obama get us out of Iraq?
Only to get us into Iran.
Frankly, the only ones I trust to get us out are Edwards, Kucinich, and Gravel. The only one that is electable of those three is Edwards.
So, that's what needs to happen, people. If you expect a Democrat to pull your fat out of the fire, for now, get Edwards elected. He won't be FDR, but he won't be James Buchanan either....
PPNB
40 hope Says: I’m amazed that Keith can stomach calling this creep “sir”. I can’t even bring myself to use the term “bush” or “shrub” any more–those are now just “plant” to me.
Just pretend it's pronounced "SIR", but it's spelled "C-U-R".
Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too bad KO couldn't do that on a Sunday.
Uh, I left out the words "get them" (as in "(get them) to admit they've been deprogrammed".) Sorry about that.
i may be wrong but i think song travelers just a troll meandering thru the liberal blogs stirring up shit!
Liberal AND Proud @ 16:
Sadly, that is what it is.
62
steve Says:
====
up here in Canada we're just waiting until we can come down there and pick over the corpse, man the tables sure have turned on your nation.
note: this was satire
Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch @ 82:
its funny but i was going to say kucinich was the only one worth electing!
Gayle @ 58:
My prayers go out for your son, Gayle, and for you.
BaScOmBe @ 90:
sorry for your loss!
Satan Himself @ 11:
The plan is lets meet in DC and close the place down . . . peacefully that is.
hope @ 53:
I'm a veteran myself. The point is that it would be stopped quickly if the draft were reinstated. As it is now nothing will stop them and people will die in the war till after Bush is out of office.
Gayle @ 58:
I, too, am so sorry, Gayle. I can't imagine what strength it must take to get through this. I just wish they would honor the fallen when they are brought back to the States as they deserve to be honored.
I sure as hell hope whoever is your next President that they make Gore Secretary of State and get them the hell out of Iraq.
How your country is ever going to crawl out of the hole these bastards have put you in is mindboggling.
bush "The Decider" is now bush "The Player"
We need vomitoriums in the U.S., not for the binging and purging as the Romans did, but for the overwhelming nausea as bush inflicts his pathos on us. It's all about him, and the rest of us, the rest of the world be damned.
E Ryno @ 92:
wonder what would happen in dc if twenty thousad people drove thier cars surroundind the whitehouse and everybody stopped took the keys out and walked away ,
The media should be ashamed of themselves. They won't even do 1 percent of what Keith is doing. Keith is the man
NiceNCool1 @ 93:
I'm aware of what the point is. Are you willing to sacrifice your children for such a cause? I'm not. Not for a war I've never believed in. Do you really think reinstating a draft will immediately stop the war before some of those draftees are sent to their deaths? I don't. That's more deaths for more of what it's always been--nothing.
baby jesus is always serious
Keith is overacting, but not overreacting.
Olbermann on fire.
Impeach. Indict. Imprison.
...
Our new media titan has spoken from on high - all hail Olbermann! The liberal horde roars to it's tired, tender feet to exclaim.
Oracle Obie's New York perch offers studio sniping as gilded proof of White House omissions and lies. His beating breast browbeats blundering bureaucrats into silent surrender.
[Deleted. Flamebait-Sitemonitor]
Repent sinners... W is the way and the light.
tyree @ 89:
Me too. Kucinich has won at every level of government and in all three branches. Don't call my man unelectable. And he wins in OHIO!
Takes it too them he does and isn't afraid of any monopoly or mob. The others are the monopoly and mob.
Go Kucinich...come on, you know you wanna...
Bit NOLA @ 17:
Qualify that for me, willya? Personally, I've wondered why the puke MSM hasn't bought the station just to get rid of Olbermann's brute honesty (so inconvenient, truth). They've been TALKING about it for quite some time now as if it were real, a right of the pukes to suffocate the truth anytime, anywhere, any-how.
In the meantime, I do wish Keith would quit referring to bush as "sir", far, far too respectful.
#56 Gayle - My heart breaks for you. I can't even imagine your pain.
To everyone else, DO something! Don't just complain here at C&L. For instance:
A. #41 Jackilope - If you've had enough, join the "Enough" movement:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/3/154627/3818
B. Help KO by visiting the MSNBC web site everyday. The more clicks there, the better:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/
C. Copy and send the KO transcript right above the comments to your congresscritters. Who knows--some there might read it.
Who knows which rock will start the rockslide? Who knows the tipping point?
Great big fucking deal. Means absolutely nothing, Olbermann's comments. I haven't been here for over a month, and you poor bastards are still seeing Jesus in a burnt grilled cheese sandwich. Oh good, Keith is mad at the presnit! That'll fix everything!
There won't be a revolution because the blogs have eaten it. Farewell, again.
(Billmon knew.)
Naughty Newsie @ 103:
But...but...tell us why the light is so....DARK, oh underwear so caked and fudgy?
> You people are just not right in the head. You are warped worshipers in a tiny cult called “the Keithy’s”. And like David Koresh and Jimmy’s Jonestown, the future is bleak. Because like them, you don’t matter. Repent sinners… W is the way and the light.
And you don't see the hypocricy of your own words.
> Great big fucking deal. Means absolutely nothing, Olbermann’s comments. I haven’t been here for over a month, and you poor bastards are still seeing Jesus in a burnt grilled cheese sandwich. Oh good, Keith is mad at the presnit! That’ll fix everything!
Straw man. I don't see anyone claiming that Keith's statements are gonna change things. We all know it takes *US* to change things. KO's a great inspiration for those of us who take actions to take the opposition's lame arguments out. As Steve Martin might say, well "EXCUSE ME" for being encouraged by KO, and "EXCUSE ME" for encouraging KO to keep up the great work.
Americans need to get into the streets.
George W. Bush's presidency needs to be suspended.
Like Louis XVI, Bush needs to be arrested and tried for treason.
Let's get it over with.
[Deleted. Flamebait-Sitemonitor]
Non violent actions to bring about change are clever, meaningful, and absolutely non violent. Non violent people must be prepared to be attacked, vilified, jailed and must remain non violent. No matter what. It drove out the Brits in India - while violence in Ireland kept em there for generations. It worked in Bosnia, in South Africa, and belately in Central America. It worked when Martin Luther King carefully led a non violent movement. But it didn't hold - not only are we unwilling to suffer, but we are unwilling to forgive - we like vengeance. A deadly combination that can only move toward a bloody end.
Non violence is the key, but those who enter that path must be prepared to suffer. That's the part Americans are unwilling to do. somebody else's kid can fight and we can sit and shake our heads and say - Oh it is so bad, but we are unwilling to suffer. We can hear Olbermann, but our lack of will to actually create change will destroy us all.
Bush knows this and would be so surprised if many showed a willingness to take on this administration non violently. The hardest part will be the forgiveness. You can make someone powerless and still forgive them. Archbishop Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Vaclev Havel, - non violence was the center and vengeance unnecessary.
Someone suggested leaving 20.000 cars in D.C. Is that a non violent act? I'm not sure it is. People ask, What would Jesus do?" - and the saying is rapidly becoming trite. We might ask - How would Gandhi act? - He saw Jesus as absolute non violence. And he acted in that fashion.
What would Gandhi do?
He might park cars or he might be willing to be a Cindy Sheehan - the butt of every talk show host joke. He would certainly suffer and forgive.
> Americans need to get into the streets.
Todays streets have no names. And what we need to do is get to Washington and surround the White House and phyiscally remove Bush from our White House and throw him in jail.
Dhalgren @ 51:
Who cares? Even assuming it's true, speaking much-needed truths to get sexual gratification with a consenting adult is in no way, shape, or form morally comparable to driving a country to the brink politically, morally, and financially, and destroying and ruining countless lives on false pretenses--all for the sake of power, profit, and sheer arrogance.
...Besides, I'm a twenty-something and I'd date Keith in a heartbeat. Brains, honesty, integrity, passion, and looks in a single package? Yum.
The Zombies have landed, folks
The fishnet stockinged babyfaced minions flabbily up from their sewer dwellings for their midnight knuckle-dragging attack on our sensibilities. (so empty, so impoverished, so limited they don't understand their lack of actual substance, that words have no substance, like themselves).
Bush is PLAYING!?!?!?
What he is, is Clinically, Pathologically, Homicidally Insane. Without Olbermann and Moyers there would be no point in turning on the television at all.
Stanley Rosenthal @ 113:
Stanley, you light the torches and hand them out, I'll carry the pitchforks! You're on, man!
I think it all will require us to turn off our computers. Nothing much happens in the house.
crazylove @ 108:
Because your head is stuck up your fat ass.
Can we keep that one flamebait?
JLee @ 114:
Now wait. Are you saying Keith is not allowed to have sex?????? Is he a naughty naughty boy JLee? Are you sure you're not Larry Craig?
> I think it all will require us to turn off our computers. Nothing much happens in the house.
If it weren't for us in the house, the Republican'ts wouldn't be running around now like they are with their heads cut off. It took *much* longer for America to come around during the Vietnam war as compared to our occupation of Iraq.
Stanley Rosenthal @ 122:
Thinker @ 119:
I thought nothing happens in the House because Pelosi's been bought.
Naughty Newsie @ 103:
Stanley,
you are right - the whole blog thing has made a huge difference - but, actual change - will require all of us to do more than discuss it. People like John Amato - he has changed the world with this blog - but are we working to find candidates we can support? Are we demonstrating - even when it seems invisible? Are we writing letters to editors, to our representatives? Perhaps I would have been more accurate to say - we must do more than sit at our computers. Action is necessary.
"People should not fear their government; their government should fear the people."
V For Vendetta ~~~ V
A.Citizen @ 5:
Yes they are useless and a disgrace to the Democratic party and to the men and woman serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. If the Democrats want to support our troops take control of the situation in Iraq starting tomorrow!
Naughty Newsie @ 120:
Um, I believe you DO QUALIFY for ommission. Since I'm known as slim and of good figure, you must be projecting your own condition onto others. I bet I'm right.
Bit NOLA @ 17:
He's got a four year contract. But more than that, I think MSNBC LIKES him. I know thousands of us viewers, including those (like myself) who have to get our Keith "fix" online (no MSNBC available on my cable) would be devastated were he to be removed from Countdown.
There has to be at least ONE voice speaking some truth.
Asha
> I thought nothing happens in the House because Pelosi’s been bought.
"Feels as if the House repealed the law of gravity" - Brave Combo ('Mystery Spot Polka'. This song was released about the time the Republican'ts took over the House in '94. My cover of it - http://www.thesequencers.us/samples/mystery_spot_polka.mp3 )
crazylove @ 128:
yada, yada, yada... take that!
I want Kieth for President and Baby Jesus for Vice President.
WOW!! Keith is the man!
I don't think Songtraveler is a troll. I agree with him 100 percent. Shouldn't regulars in this forum know better than to play that stupid and juvenile "first/frist" game? Does ANYONE think that's funny or clever anymore?
Come on, post something interesting, or on topic, or don't post at all.
So, here's my on-topic post: Keith Olbermann's special comment was excellent and gutsy, as almost all of his special comments have been. I agree with a previous poster who says, at the very least, that KO will go down in history as one of the few in the mass media who stood up to the psychotic who is running this country into the ground. I do wonder, however, if words and votes are going to be enough to halt America's decline...
MD @ 20:
I second that. And Wvdave, are you falafel boy? I know he's cruising the tubes!l
Honestly, I think Mr. Olberman should take over for Mr. Russert on Meet the Press. We all know that Mr. Olberman isn't going to fawn over his guests and allow them to give non-answers. Hell, I bet Meet the Press' rantings would go up!
[...] Full text and video here. [...]
OH COME ON
Phoenix Justice @ 135:
Sh*t! I meant "ratings" not "rantings". Although, if you want to count Mary Matalin and her pen throwing, that could be a "ranting". LOL
This man is simply incredible. There are just no words to express the gratitude we all should have for the one lonely voice of the people.
The rest of these media thugs need to fold up their tents and get the hell off the air after this.
I just don't see how it could be possible for any of them to continue after people all over the world listened to this man, tell it like it is and always was.
Thank You Keith
Everyone, email this clip to your Senator and to you Congressal representative. Hell, email it to everyone you know and tell them to email it to their's. And, tell them to grow some political balls, end this "game" and bring our soldiers home. NOW!!
Keith Olbermann is the only voice speaking the truth to this rogue crime family made up of thugs, liars and cowards. Anyone who cannot listen to the facts as presented by KO is either stupid or on drugs.
Asha @ 128:
Asha, the above is known as Zombiespeak. Never any content. Spare yourself.
While Keith is telling it like it is, FAUXNOIZ is still looking for the girl in Aruba.
Bushwacked @ 133:
come on the guys never posted on here before and now he comes on with that bullshit ! give me a breakkkkkkk
I swear, if anything happens to Keith at MSNBC I will personally shine his shoes for the next 20 years if we can get him into the presidency. He would snag it effortlessly.
Why were all the soldiers Bush met with disarmed? Is that normal in a warzone?
> I’ve never seen Olbermann have any guests on that actually disagree with him.
You can find those all over the rest of the MSM. Don't sweat it, he uses his forum to disagree with *them*.
hope @ 94:
We all honor your son. We are in the millions. Bush has no conscience like a real human being. On behalf of your noble deep love for your beautiful son and his dignified sacrifice, that is something the likes of bush can never ever diminish.
So sorry for your loss, Gayle. You will always be your son's mother, and we will always be his countrymen, and mark my words, more determined than ever to overthrow the charlatan in the whitehouse for the sake of your dear boy and every mother's son now in danger's path.
(((((((Love to you and peace to your heart, Gayle)))))).
Still think going into Iraq with fewer troops was a mistake?
Still think we went into Iraq because we thought there were WMD's?
Still think that leaving Iraqi weapons dumps unguarded was a mistake
because we had too few troops? Unguarded for months and months
because we were so concerned about finding WMD's?
Still think the dissolution of of the Iraqi army was a mistake done w/o the Presidents knowlwdge?
Where do you think the explosives came from to kill our troops? See above.
Why did President Cheney commit treason? PNAC, hegemony, oil, Israel, Blackwater at home and in Iraq,
the ability to catapult unchecked corruption and contracts over and above the fog of war,
appointment of civilian party loyalists to positions for which they had no ability or qualification...and on and on.
And the Republican party is getting away with it and the budget is broke even with all the poppies in Afghanistan.
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