Countdown's <I>Bushed!</i>: Helping Terror Globally, Refusing To Help Homeowners and How the GOP <I>Really</i> Supports The Troops
By Nicole Belle Friday Apr 04, 2008 8:46pm
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Substituting for Keith Olbermann with nary a hitch in coverage or delivery, Air America's Rachel Maddow gives us Bushed!.
First up is the news that George W. Bush's "War on Terror"™ has had the opposite effect that they one supposedly intended: our sustained presence in Iraq has given terrorists an ample chance to train against our tactics and then take that training worldwide. Case in point, while 600 IEDs have exploded in Iraq, the number of IEDs exploded everywhere else is up for the third year in a row to 300.
Then there is the Senate Housing Bill being debated right now. Despite stating that they are doing this out of concern for their constituents, only $3.3 billion of the $15.3 billion bill would provide tax relief to homeowners, the balance of $12 billion slated to help the companies involved. Worst yet, it would strip language out that would enable bankruptcy judges to re-write terms to allow homeowners to keep their homes. Are we sure we have a Democratic majority? This sure sounds like a Republican Senate to me.
And finally, the tale of Rep. Patrick McHenry, who related a little tale during a GOP fundraiser in his native North Carolina about this "two bit security guard" that refused him entry to a gym because he lacked proper credentials for entering.
Just so you know, the gym McHenry wanted to use? It was in the Green Zone, in Baghdad. The “two bit security guard” McHenry derided was an American soldier in harm’s way protecting visiting Americans, like Congressman McHenry. And because this soldier followed proper procedure and refused special treatment to a big shot like Congressman McHenry, his reward? Did he get to go home, like McHenry did? No, this “two bit security guard” stayed behind in Baghdad to fight McHenry’s war for him. Congressman, you feel a little apology coming on?
Carolina Politics (a GOP site) says that the security guard in question was a contractor, not a soldier. However, despite the fatter paycheck, the material point is the same.
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Since when did the Repugs care about anything other than big business? The bail out of Wall Street was nothing but corporate welfare. And, as for us, the middle class, they could give a shit!
Lot of nerve, the leg-shaving Nancy-boy McHenry calling a real man a two bit security guard. But thats the GOP for you, top heavy with Larry Craigites that pretend to be men.
Hello, is there anybody there? Well, I guess you all have lives. Me, I'm alone with my computer. Sad, really.
George Bush is the first pResident can accomplish whatever he wants without the consent of a bought and paid for Congress.
A true first.
So what Rep. McHenry got WRONG was that it was not a "two-bit" military security guard... but, in reality, a "six-and-a-half bit" contractor security guard.
The larger truth still does not change... that being that the Representative from Carolina is STILL A MASSIVE A-HOLE.
P.D. @ 3:
I think people are butting heads on another thread. They'll catch up with us cutting edgers.
McHenry is a little troll. Why doesn't he go over there a lend a helping hand? Better yet, enlist. Go ahead McHenry! Show us how patriotic you are!
McHenry is my congressman, I'm proud to say.....NOT!
P.D. @ 1:
These people are not in power because they are clever, intelligent or particularly capable; they are in power because they are willing to go to ridiculous and criminal lengths to get what they want and because they are backed by enormous money and influence to make up for their shortcomings.
If I were that "two-bit security guard", I would have been tempted to grab Congressman McHenry, drag his pasty pompous ass far away from the Green Zone, and told him to use his two-bit political skills to stay out of harms way.
xenophon, you have my sympathy. I have to ask you, why do people vote for him? Is it the religious issue? I just don't understand how people vote for these guys over and over again.
P.D. @ 7:
You have got to be kidding. That effete pasty-faced momma's boy McHenry wouldn't last more than a few days. Hell, the troops would probably break him down crying giving him constant wedgies.
Right on La. And don't forget the religious zealots. They deliver everytime.
Otay, I can see it now. Thanks for the mental picture. The real men would crush him like a grape.
P.D. @ 14:
And McHentry would probably squeal like a piglet.
How about the famous repug line that says where is personal responsibility. I guess corporations have no responsibilities
L.A. Confidential @ 4:
Yep, "Mission Accomplished" had nothing to do with Iraq, but everything to do with a rubber-stamp Congress and pervasive cronyism.
this story should be played over and over till they get it. they being all the true Patriots who think that to even be upset or question this war makes you un-patriotic. These 'men' set you up in this war and they don't think of you any better than teenagers think of a MALL 'COP' so freaking sad!
Necadawg Says @ 16:
Ah, the true conservative essence of "personal responsibility."
McHenry is a piece of disgusting filth. Does anybody know if there are any candidates running against McHenry? I will gladly contribute to their campaign.
The Republicans always state they are the party that supports the Military. How do they keep getting away with it? The fact is Chaney and Rummy got deferments. And by the way, where was Georgie when he was in the National Guard? When you have Limpballs screaming how patriotic he is, he didn't even serve in the military! Our we really a nation of dumbasses?
Otay @ 12:
That sissy girlie boy wouldn't make it through basic.
P.D. @ 21:
Hey! Limbaugh had a serious excuse. While a pimple on the backside may not seem serious to a lot of people, it really depends on just how big a pimple (or backside) is at issue. Anyone doubting Rush's qualification on either count?
Because of a mistaken interpretation of a Supreme Court reporter's notes in an 1886 railroad tax case, corporations are now legally considered "persons," equal to humans and entitled to many of the same protections guaranteed only to humans by the Bill of Rights - a clear contradiction of the intent of the Founders of the United States. The results of this "corporate personhood" have been:
Unequal taxes
Unequal privacy
Unequal wealth
Unequal trade
Unequal media
Unequal regulation
Unequal responsibility for crime
Unequal protection from risk
Unequal citizenship and access to the commons
Unequal protection by Thom Hartmann http://www.thomhartmann.com/unequalprotection/
fiver, I stand corrected.
moondancer @ 2:
How nice....if you said that about Barney Frank, you'd be banned. This shit shouldn't be acceptable about any gay men, even closet queens that bear a stronger resemblance to Ernst Rohm than I like. As a gay man, I call: homophobia!
This mistake in Iraq that Bush made is our second helping of Soviet-style mistakes. Invading the country that ruined the USSR wasn't enough, no, we had to invade two. On deficit spending, no less!
StirFry @ 17:
Read Fiasco by Thomas Ricks. "Mission Accomplished" is one of those bat shit crazy comments that Bushco thought was so clever (maybe just as clever as, "bring 'em on"). Tommy Franks who claimed responsibility for that banner was even more short sided than Bush (hard to believe, but true). "Mission Accomplished" had a lot to do with Iraq, but the accomplished mission did not include preparing for the aftermath of the invasion. As KO likes to say, ...... idiots.
Thanks oncall, I'll check that book out.
The Neocons are determined to attack Iran- they will not stop until it happens. Remember the NIE that was leaked, debunking the administration's claims of Iran building nuclear weapons? Now they are trying to manufacture another crisis. Wake up before it's too late!
Pictures of Iran our media will never show you
http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html
The Neocons have always intended to attack Iran, they just need to come up with a reason to sell the American people. After the debacle in Iraq, Americans are finally waking up. Remember the NIE that said Iran was not constituting nuclear weapons? We had almost non stop warnings from this administration about the imminent threat and poof- our own intelligence agencies leaked the threat was as bogus as Saddam's WMD's. Ask yourself, why would Iran antagonize us? They know this administration has an itchy nuke finger aimed at them. Why would they do that? They wouldn't and they haven't. Just like the run up to Iraq, all the threats were manufactured. They are doing it again.
Midwestvoter @ 30:
I live in the most heavily Republican region of my city, and the fuss over Iran has all but died. The NIE revelation killed it off. Not even the local talk-show hosts accept the "Iran has nukes" timeline, and some of them border into fascism.
Something tells me you only listen to the blogs instead of asking people who actually live in the People's Republic of Red-Stateistan.
General_Rennenkampf @ 26:
I got the world of respect for Barney Frank, I respect any gay person GOP or otherwise, even if they are quietly closeted. But when it comes to a hypocritical Nancy like this asshole who berates and votes against his own, then all the scorn I can muster he gets.
I don't associate McHenry with gay. I associate him with being an effete momma's boy. The type who used to live in his mom's basement surfing porn. A Karl Rove or Neil Cavuto type of dweeb.
The aura of arrogance displayed by McHenry is consistent with the Bush/Cheney/McConnell regime. We've heard Mitch say it's ok for soldiers to die since it's they weren't drafted and we know that Dick's response is "So?". After 7 years of the whitewash rhetoric, only to snub the workers while lining the pockets of the most wealthy, why would anyone expect anything different?
McHenry has apologized acording to Army Times...Lawmaker apologizes for comment on Iraq guard
McHenry's side of the story that it was a security guard and not a soldier that he made the comment about was out at least five hours before Countdown aired this factually incorrect piece. The chance to tag a Republican Congressman with a 'smear the troops' line was just too good for their research team to pass up.
Bad week for Think Progress. You'd think Countdown would think twice before relying on them for material.
Ms. Maddow, do you feel a little apology coming on?
To quote:
"Case in point, while 600 IEDs have exploded in Iraq, the number of IEDs exploded everywhere else is up for the third year in a row to 300."
DAR
You should note that according to the article you cite, these numbers are PER MONTH.
D.
arrogant schmuck. . .
I've one thing to say, Olbermann and Maddow have always had my ear and allegiance. Then, the two of them went to nit-picking Hillary. So at this point in time, I accept 80 % of their punditry, except the 20% of pillaring Hillary. Nothing nit-pikery of Obama, not even a tinge. Obama does not walk on water. Sorry folks, accept the truth. But come hell or high water I'll vote for the Democratic nominee, hope the rest of you can say that.
fedup @ 38:
Thank you so much for noticing that. I like both candidates,but lately I'm leaning to Obama a little more.But I'm disgusted with the biased media on him at Countdown. I expect shitty news reporting from all the others, but When I see KO give Obama a pass, it pisses me off. If Sen Obama is elected Prez,which would make me happy, Do you think KO will keep on giving him a pass? Just watch all the rabid Obama supporters heads explode..just wait.
Rachel is doing fine.
Olberman is a tough act to fill
I do miss her information and humor on the radio.
At least Rachel didn't have Randi as worst person in the world for her Hillary comments.......
My problem with Friday's Maddow-hosted installment of Countdown isn't that Maddow hosted it -- she's pretty much the only talking head on MSNBC who's in the tank for Obama to actually *admit* that she's in the tank for Obama. Or, in the case of Tweety, in it for anyone BUT Hillary. I appreciate that even though I'm a Hillary supporter -- since Rachel is honest and above-board about her preferences, she comes off waaaaay more nuanced and thoughtful except when Keith decides that it's dump on Hillary time and even then, she tries but often fails to reel him in.
My problem is that it was April 4th, they're pointing out the irony of a black man holding McSame's umbrella at the rainy site of Rev. King's assassination and Keith's regular fill-in host, the very funny Allison Stewart, has been replaced by a white chick.
Okay, so Rachel is gay, so one could argue (weakly) that it's just a case of swapping one minority out for another one, but still, the irony inherent in Stewart's absence being juxtaposed against McSame's dumb photo op is an unfortunate one that really, Keith & Co. should have thought through a little more fully. Maybe even had Maddow and Stewart co-host?
-- Rob
ShutUpRob @ 41:
Allison Stewart went to work for either PBS or NPR.
[Deleted, Posting in all Caps. Site Monitor]
Rachel should've mentioned the part of McHenry's statement where he said he 'doesn't make a habit of getting up early'. He was describing how he'd risen early that day and gone to the gym out of boredom.
It has to be one of the most elitist statements I've ever heard from *anyone*, let alone a politician on the national stage. Republicans are so ludicrously elitist-- I can't believe they've managed to convince anyone-- even the Limbotomized-- that they are somehow the proles.
To Dennis of post #35. You seem to be suggesting that it's OK for a pompous congressman to belittle a lowly contractor employee when said congressman is inconvenienced-- even for his gym time during war. The attitude that McHenry has towards the guard is consistent with the attitude that his party has had towards the working class. From McHenry's own admission, he recognized this. Otherwise, he never would have apologized. Nothing has really changed. McHenry's guilty as charged.
Mudshark -- yeah, I know Stewart went to work for NPR awhile ago. She's still been filling in for Keith from time to time since then, with Amy Roback, one of the channel's daytime anchors, filling in when Stewart wasn't available.
Given the significance of the date, I'd argue that it's possible or even probable that Stewart simply wasn't available on Friday due to other professional committments (perhaps covering the events of the day for, like, her main gig at NPR) but that doesn't stop the juxtaposition of the McSame umbrella stuff with Stewart's absence from being ironic, however possibly unintentional on MSNBC's part. Heck, it was probably even unavoidable on MSNBC's part due to not having first position claim on Stewart, but that only points out a HUGE hole in MSNBC's on-air talent situation: Namely, there are now no minorities anchoring shows on MSNBC. Lester Holt has been marginalized (what in the heck was he doing anchoring the Westminster Dog Show, anyway?) and Stewart has a Day Job. The rest of the anchor pool is lily white. Or worse (Noron. Ugh.)
-- Rob -- (FTR, 37yo SWM with the hairline of Dr. Phlox)
I think this is my first comment on Crooks and Liars,.....which is one of my favorite sites, and which I click on at least thirty times a day. Your downloaded clips are taking up gigs and gigs of my hard drive spaces, and I am eternally thankful that this site is here. John Amato and Nicole....this is some of the most reasonable spot on journalism and commentary on the web.
So it sucks that Im posting to take up for one of the bad guys.
Patrick McHenry should totally come out of the closet, or at least go into the porn synopsis business under a psuedonym, penning stories like "Congressman Chickenhawk" (combining both the political and gay double entendre), but his story wasnt offensive the way he told it.
As a matter of fact, its a fairly old southern storytelling technique, when you relate a humbling experience by dramatically inflating what an arrogant fool you are in the first part of the story.
Its obvious that he was relating to his (also southern audience) a story in which he was being all full of himself, and his own importance, and giving the audience humiliating detail about the pettiness of his concerns only to find out how meaningless and self pitying he was.
After demeaning the Soldier guard in his own mind because he didnt get his own way, he then relates how it probably saved his life, and implied that the guard he had been so mad at died defending him.
McHenry is an asshole, no doubt, but his story was, to southern ears, very self effacing.
Anyways, love and kudos.
Stephen Dare
Jacksonville Florida.
No one does countdown like Olbermann but if he has to take a day off here or there then Rachel is an excellent temporary replacement.
Stephen Dare @ 47:
You won't make it in Politics.
Just wanted to say I thought Rachel Maddow did an outstanding job of substituting for KO. I wish they had given her Tucker Carlson's time slot, rather than creating a show for David Gregory.
andy42302 @ 45:
I didn't suggest that at all. How you take it that I 'seemed to suggest it' that is lost on me. My only point in the post is that the Countdown research team are just as much as bunch of hacks as their leader is.
Don't you want the stories you watch and read to be accurate, Andy? Or is that just a catch-phrase to use when politicians you like and agree with are attacked unfairly?
Rachel Maddow delivered the McHenry piece with more sting in her voice than Keith would have done, especially when she demanded that the congressman apologize. The Dems could learn a thing or two about dealing with the repubs and bush dogs, from her. Well done, Rachel.
QBU @ 50:
I totally agree. She does a much better jop than Gregory.
job
"Are we sure we have a Democratic majority? This sure sounds like a Republican Senate to me."
How many times does a person have to say or read this before they start to realize THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE?
I love Rachel, but she seemed a little off on Friday night at times (from what I could see on the clips at MSNBC's website. My satellite provider doesn't offer the channel). I think she will be great in time, but it definitely wasn't a 10 out of 10 performance (I'd say closer to 7). That said, I can't wait until she gets a few more under her belt. As she mentioned to one guest, she seemed quite nervous at times.
Have a great Sunday, all.
Someone is running against that weenie McHenry: Daniel Johnson, a true Navy hero who lost both legs saving a fellow sailor on the USS Blue Ridge. He worked for Max Cleland and worked as a prosecutor before entering private practice. You can learn more about him at www.danieljohnson08.org. I'm not affiliated with his campaign and don't even live in his district, but am excited about the possibility of someone replacing McHenry who is an embarrassment to the state of North Carolina.
Why do the Reslugs proudly continue to show their hatred and intolerance of our troops doing their jobs.
I was so happy to see Rachel sitting in for Keith! Usually, I am less than happy when we have a substitute host, but Rachel is the best! I've been hoping she'll get her own show on MSNBC one of these days. She's one of the smartest people in the arena!
John McCain's enlarged prostate @ 49:
lol. huh?
"nary a hitch?" Honest? I mean, she did stutter a couple times. Still did a lot better than I would have done reading the teleprompter. :25,:44 - not bad, but these are by definition hitches.
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