Keith Olbermann: "A special comment about lying"

[TahitiNut]

A special comment about lying
Keith Olbermann on the difference between terrorists and critics
SPECIAL COMMENT
By Keith Olbermann
Anchor, 'Countdown'
MSNBC

Updated: 8:33 p.m. ET Oct 5, 2006

While the leadership in Congress has self-destructed over the revelations of an unmatched, and unrelieved, march through a cesspool ...

While the leadership inside the White House has self-destructed over the revelations of a book with a glowing red cover ...

The president of the United States — unbowed, undeterred and unconnected to reality — has continued his extraordinary trek through our country rooting out the enemies of freedom: the Democrats.

Yesterday at a fundraiser for an Arizona congressman, Mr. Bush claimed, quote, “177 of the opposition party said, ‘You know, we don’t think we ought to be listening to the conversations of terrorists.’”

The hell they did.

One hundred seventy-seven Democrats opposed the president’s seizure of another part of the Constitution.

Not even the White House press office could actually name a single Democrat who had ever said the government shouldn’t be listening to the conversations of terrorists.

President Bush hears what he wants.

Tuesday, at another fundraiser in California, he had said, “Democrats take a law enforcement approach to terrorism. That means America will wait until we’re attacked again before we respond.”

Mr. Bush fabricated that, too.

And evidently he has begun to fancy himself as a mind reader.

“If you listen closely to some of the leaders of the Democratic Party,” the president said at another fundraiser Monday in Nevada, “it sounds like they think the best way to protect the American people is — wait until we’re attacked again.”

The president doesn’t just hear what he wants.

He hears things that only he can hear.

It defies belief that this president and his administration could continue to find new unexplored political gutters into which they could wallow.

Yet they do.

It is startling enough that such things could be said out loud by any president of this nation.

Rhetorically, it is about an inch short of Mr. Bush accusing Democratic leaders, Democrats, the majority of Americans who disagree with his policies of treason.

But it is the context that truly makes the head spin.

Just 25 days ago, on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this same man spoke to this nation and insisted, “We must put aside our differences and work together to meet the test that history has given us.”

Mr. Bush, this is a test you have already failed.

If your commitment to “put aside differences and work together” is replaced in the span of just three weeks by claiming your political opponents prefer to wait to see this country attacked again, and by spewing fabrications about what they’ve said, then the questions your critics need to be asking are no longer about your policies.

They are, instead, solemn and even terrible questions, about your fitness to fulfill the responsibilities of your office.

No Democrat, sir, has ever said anything approaching the suggestion that the best means of self-defense is to “wait until we’re attacked again.”

No critic, no commentator, no reluctant Republican in the Senate has ever said anything that any responsible person could even have exaggerated into the slander you spoke in Nevada on Monday night, nor the slander you spoke in California on Tuesday, nor the slander you spoke in Arizona on Wednesday ... nor whatever is next.

You have dishonored your party, sir; you have dishonored your supporters; you have dishonored yourself.

But tonight the stark question we must face is — why?

Why has the ferocity of your venom against the Democrats now exceeded the ferocity of your venom against the terrorists?

Why have you chosen to go down in history as the president who made things up?

In less than one month you have gone from a flawed call to unity to this clarion call to hatred of Americans, by Americans.

If this is not simply the most shameless example of the rhetoric of political hackery, then it would have to be the cry of a leader crumbling under the weight of his own lies.

We have, of course, survived all manner of political hackery, of every shape, size and party. We will have to suffer it, for as long as the Republic stands.

But the premise of a president who comes across as a compulsive liar is nothing less than terrifying.

A president who since 9/11 will not listen, is not listening — and thanks to Bob Woodward’s most recent account — evidently has never listened.

A president who since 9/11 so hates or fears other Americans that he accuses them of advocating deliberate inaction in the face of the enemy.

A president who since 9/11 has savaged the very freedoms he claims to be protecting from attack — attack by terrorists, or by Democrats, or by both — it is now impossible to find a consistent thread of logic as to who Mr. Bush believes the enemy is.

But if we know one thing for certain about Mr. Bush, it is this: This president — in his bullying of the Senate last month and in his slandering of the Democrats this month — has shown us that he believes whoever the enemies are, they are hiding themselves inside a dangerous cloak called the Constitution of the United States of America.

How often do we find priceless truth in the unlikeliest of places?

I tonight quote not Jefferson nor Voltaire, but Cigar Aficionado Magazine.

On Sept. 11th, 2003, the editor of that publication interviewed General Tommy Franks, at that point, just retired from his post as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command — of Cent-Com.

And amid his quaint defenses of the then-nagging absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, or the continuing freedom of Osama bin Laden, General Franks said some of the most profound words of this generation.

He spoke of “the worst thing that can happen” to this country:

First, quoting, a “massive casualty-producing event somewhere in the Western World — it may be in the United States of America.”

Then, the general continued, “the Western World, the free world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is freedom and liberty we’ve seen for a couple of hundred years, in this grand experiment that we call democracy.”

It was this super-patriotic warrior’s fear that we would lose that most cherished liberty, because of another attack, one — again quoting General Franks — “that causes our population to question our own Constitution and to begin to militarize our country in order to avoid a repeat of another mass-casualty-producing event. Which, in fact, then begins to potentially unravel the fabric of our Constitution.”

And here we are, the fabric of our Constitution being unraveled, anyway.

Habeus corpus neutered; the rights of self-defense now as malleable and impermanent as clay; a president stifling all critics by every means available and, when he runs out of those, by simply lying about what they said or felt.

And all this, even without the dreaded attack.

General Franks, like all of us, loves this country, and believes not just in its values, but in its continuity.

He has been trained to look for threats to that continuity from without.

He has, perhaps been as naïve as the rest of us, in failing to keep close enough vigil on the threats to that continuity from within.

Secretary of State Rice first cannot remember urgent cautionary meetings with counterterrorism officials before 9/11. Then within hours of this lie, her spokesman confirms the meetings in question. Then she dismisses those meetings as nothing new — yet insists she wanted the same cautions expressed to Secretaries Ashcroft and Rumsfeld.

Mr. Rumsfeld, meantime, has been unable to accept the most logical and simple influence of the most noble and neutral of advisers. He and his employer insist they rely on the “generals in the field.” But dozens of those generals have now come forward to say how their words, their experiences, have been ignored.

And, of course, inherent in the Pentagon’s war-making functions is the regulation of presidential war lust.

Enacting that regulation should include everything up to symbolically wrestling the Chief Executive to the floor.

Yet—and it is Pentagon transcripts that now tell us this—evidently Mr. Rumsfeld’s strongest check on Mr. Bush’s ambitions, was to get somebody to excise the phrase “Mission Accomplished” out of the infamous Air Force Carrier speech of May 1st, 2003, even while the same empty words hung on a banner over the President’s shoulder.

And the vice president is a chilling figure, still unable, it seems, to accept the conclusions of his own party’s leaders in the Senate, that the foundations of his public position, are made out of sand.

There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

But he still says so.

There was no link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaida.

But he still says so.

And thus, gripping firmly these figments of his own imagination, Mr. Cheney lives on, in defiance, and spreads—around him and before him—darkness, like some contagion of fear.

They are never wrong, and they never regret -- admirable in a French torch singer, cataclysmic in an American leader.

Thus, the sickening attempt to blame the Foley scandal on the negligence of others or “the Clinton era”—even though the Foley scandal began before the Lewinsky scandal.

Thus, last month’s enraged attacks on this administration’s predecessors, about Osama bin Laden—a projection of their own negligence in the immediate months before 9/11.

Thus, the terrifying attempt to hamstring the fundament of our freedom—the Constitution—a triumph for al Qaida, for which the terrorists could not hope to achieve with a hundred 9/11’s.

And thus, worst of all perhaps, these newest lies by President Bush about Democrats choosing to await another attack and not listen to the conversations of terrorists.

It is the terror and the guilt within your own heart, Mr. Bush, that you redirect at others who simply wish for you to temper your certainty with counsel.

It is the failure and the incompetence within your own memory, Mr. Bush, that leads you to demonize those who might merely quote to you the pleadings of Oliver Cromwell: “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.”

It is not the Democrats whose inaction in the face of the enemy you fear, Sir.

It is your own—before 9/11 - and (and you alone know this), perhaps afterwards.

Mr. President, these new lies go to the heart of what it is that you truly wish to preserve.

It is not our freedom, nor our country—your actions against the Constitution give irrefutable proof of that.

You want to preserve a political party’s power. And obviously you’ll sell this country out, to do it.

These are lies about the Democrats -- piled atop lies about Iraq -- which were piled atop lies about your preparations for al Qaida.

To you, perhaps, they feel like the weight of a million centuries -- as crushing, as immovable.

They are not.

If you add more lies to them, you cannot free yourself, and us, from them.

But if you stop -- if you stop fabricating quotes, and building straw-men, and inspiring those around you to do the same -- you may yet liberate yourself and this nation.

Please, sir, do not throw this country’s principles away because your lies have made it such that you can no longer differentiate between the terrorists and the critics.




© 2006 MSNBC Interactive

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15147009/


__________________________________________________

Mods ... snip if you really, really must. :cry:

[malaise]

1. I love this man

Love him.

[Janice325]

3. Please add me to the love Keith train.

We're so lucky to have him be a part of our lives.
k&r

[TahitiNut]

6. Nobody could make me gay ...

... but he'd come closest. It's been a long, long, long wait to hear the sane and accurate truth in the vast wasteland.

[Frazzled Educator]

23. My mother was moved to tears from Olbermann tonight

Wow, it was great!!!

[madokie]

79. Tell your mom its ok, it had the same effect on me.

Someone please tell me this moran is not our prez

[connecticut yankee]

53. He makes me wish

I were thirty years younger and single.

[SammyWinstonJack]

90. Count me in!

[PegDAC]

154. You aren't the only one.

I swear, if I weren't married...

:loveya:

[MrSlayer]

2. Just watched it. Brilliant.

Keith knows his shit. Everyone in the country should see that.

[rzemanfl]

4. Awesome, two little mistakes, Secretaries and Air Force carrier,

but the Pretzeldent can't come up with a coherent sentence. Bush is a fucking liar, bless Keith for saying so in no uncertain terms.

[Hav]

5. Thanks for posting

In your face, Bush. Asshole.

[bleever]

7. A statement for the ages. A signal moment of courage and truth.

My gratitude cannot find expression at this moment.

[chill_wind]

123. Beautifully expressed bleever. My exact sentiments as well. nt

[Maestro]

8. Excellent!

KO for president!

[Swamp Rat]

9. OH HAPPY DAY!!!!

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Washed my sins away (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)

(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When my Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away

(La, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la

He taught me how (oh, He taught me how)
To wash (to wash, to wash)
Fight and pray (to fight and pray)
Fight and pray
And he taught me how to live rejoicing
yes, He did (and live rejoicing)
Oh yeah, every, every day (every, every day)
(oh yeah) Every day!

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day, yeah (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When my Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
My sins away (oh happy day)
I'm talking about that happy day (oh happy day)

He taught me how (oh yeah, how)
To wash (to wash)
Fight and pray (sing it, sing it, c'mon and sing it)
Fight and pray
And to live
yeah, yeah, c'mon everybody (and live rejoicing every, every day)
Sing it like you mean it, oh....

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
I'm talking about the happy days (oh happy day)
C'mon and talk about the happy days (oh happy day)
Oh, oh, oh happy days (oh happy day)
Ooh talking about happy day (oh happy day)
Oh yeah, I know I'm talking about happy days (oh happy day)
Oh yeah, sing it, sing it, sing it, yeah, yeah (oh happy day)
Oh, oh, oh
Oh happy day.....

[uppityperson]

10. thanks for posting, don't het him on tv, slow internet, makes hard to watc

[blue neen]

11. Scarborough looked absolutely shell-shocked.

He knows there is no posssible way he can even hold a candle to Keith's brilliance.

[TahitiNut]

12. He really did look like a deer in the headlights.

:rofl:

[immoderate]

19. Time to bring back a classic...

--IMM

[krispos42]

165. Love it! n/t

[holboz]

84. LOL - it was quite a stunning moment when they split screened to Joe

What a mixture of emotion he had on his face. Shock, a bit pissed off, and bewilderment all at once. I love it when Joe has to follow a KO stinging commentary. :rofl:

Go Keith, Go!

[bklyncowgirl]

17. Shit, how do I follow that.

Although he did manage to vent his own outrage against Foley and the GOP leaders.

[magellan]

77. No fan of Scarborough but

...after seeing him joke with the woman who sat-in for KO earlier this week for not throwing a wadded up piece of paper at the camera, I think part of what JS might be doing is waiting for that shatter effect...and KO didn't do it last night after his Special Comment (appropriately).

However, I was one of the first to say JS looked like he didn't know how the hell he was going to follow up after one of Keith's earlier Special Comments.

Poor Joe, watching his party self-destruct before his eyes and having to report it. Oh the agony!

:nopity:

[barbtries]

83. i'd love to know

how the bushwhores on msnbc are reacting to him. to this day it is difficult for me to watch because the lead-ins, the guests, all the other shit leading up to KO's end of show comment, even though he does name the lies for what they are, they're still there. keith olbermann is destined to go down in history as a great, great man, if democracy survives.

[Homer Wells]

13. DAMN!!

He is sooooo GOOD!


May God protect you, Keith. We are sooo proud of you:kick: :yourock:

[Kierkegaard]

14. Holy SHIT!

* is going to being walking funny for a few days after having his sack kicked like that!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

I do hope Keith has a bodyguard. I fear for his safety.

[BlueCentrist]

15. Incredible.

What a poignant message in these days when the President can now,essentially,declare anyone an 'enemy combatant'.

Keith has my eternal gratitude,he keeps my faith alive that we will make it thorugh this.I can't thank him enough for that.

[Duer 157099]

16. Wow. Just Wow.

Thanks for posting that.

I'll have to watch the rerun tonight for a second dose.

Why isn't Keith our President?

[PegDAC]

155. We need him to be our Truthteller.

I'd rather have him as that than as President.

[Demonaut]

18. this is the only one we have in the MSM, and refreshing it is.

[TahitiNut]

20. Yep. It's the "Liberal Media" -- all hour of it.

:applause:

[Disturbed]

25. KO does it again.

He truely is an American treasure.

[deutsey]

21. I wrote an email to MSNBC and to Countdown in support of Olbermann

[Bucky]

51. Can you post the email address you sent it to? I want them to hear from me

I got something to say.

[deutsey]

75. I sent to [e-mail] and [e-mail]

[PegDAC]

156. also send to

[e-mail] .

[NVMojo]

22. K & R!

[KeepItReal]

24. "you can no longer differentiate between the terrorists and the critics"

Said by one real Patriot.

PRICELESS

[TahitiNut]

28. That WAS a highlight - perfect framing! Just EXACTLY what they do.

It really was a masterstroke.

[ramblin_dave]

26. Video at Crooks and Liars

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/05/olbermanns-special-comment-it-is-not-the-democrats-whose-inaction-in-the-face-of-the-enemy-you-fear/

[karlrschneider]

38. Thanks for that, I was away and missed it on air.

:D

[tavalon]

102. Oh, man, that was so good

He is amazing, just amazing.

[sweetheart]

27. along for the ride

in a big bus with 300,000,000 seats, the
commentary is riveted to the seat,
heartfelt, believing in the bus's apparent solidity.

[mike_c]

29. that is SO amazing....

Wow.

[bbgrunt]

30. that was a thing of beauty!

[Chomp]

31. Wow...

[gulfcoastliberal]

32. Be great if the demleadership had half the spine Keith does.

Bush would be up a creek, instead, he gets away with bloody murder.

[DemoTex]

33. The Oliver Cromwell quote brought me to tears ..

Oliver Cromwell: “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.”

That says it all.

[TahitiNut]

39. Absolutely. The hubris of autocratic arrogance infests tyrannies.

... particularly religious tyrannies. It even, according to some (royalists?), infected Cromwell. It's an ironic choice in that Cromwell was the Puritan 'republican' against the establishmentarian royalists of Charles I's reign.

(Cromwell, a Puritan, said that to the in a letter to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland prior to the intiation of the War with Scotland, who'd accepted Charles II's regency.)

[krispos42]

167. BushCo actions are treason in all but name

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason"--Sir John Harington

It's starting be decidedly non-prosperous, and therefore okay to call "treason".

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

-Article II, United States Constitution

Gee, nuttin' in them thar fancy-schmancy words 'bout "Pre-tectin' the 'Merican people", jes' about the Constitution!

Any time you want to start preserving, protecting, and defending the Consitution, George, go right ahead.

[Erika]

34. Keith at his best again trying to wake up Americans

Let's let MSNBC know how much his truthful voice is appreciated!

[MethuenProgressive]

35. Imagine a Keith v Bush debate...

they'd have to stop it after one inning, like a 30 to 0 Little League game..

[Dem2theMax]

44. One inning? One sentence is more like it. If * went first.

;)

[bullwinkle428]

93. Final outcome : * on floor, curled up in fetal position, in tears!

:woohoo:

[PegDAC]

157. Whimpering and sucking his thumb,

asking for Mommy.

:cry:

[krispos42]

168. Not HIS mommy...

His uncles. You know, Jack, Jim, José, and the Captain.

[Mme. Defarge]

176. En garde!

Doubt if Dubya knows how to say touché.

[emdee]

36. Thanks for the transcript!!

emdee

[volstork]

37. SO passionate! SO well-spoken!

[Synnical]

40. Thank you

Crooks and Liars has the video, so now I can forward to friends and assholes.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/05/olbermanns-special-comment-it-is-not-the-democrats-whose-inaction-in-the-face-of-the-enemy-you-fear/

[UTUSN]

41. FANtastic!!!1 I need the highlighting, so am re-linking

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15147009
A special comment about lying
Keith Olbermann on the difference between terrorists and critics
While the leadership in Congress has self-destructed over the revelations of an unmatched, and unrelieved, march through a cesspool ... While the leadership inside the White House has self-destructed over the revelations of a book with a glowing red cover ... The president of the United States — unbowed, undeterred and unconnected to reality — has continued his extraordinary trek through our country rooting out the enemies of freedom: the Democrats. Yesterday at a fundraiser for an Arizona congressman, Mr. Bush claimed, quote, “177 of the opposition party said, ‘You know, we don’t think we ought to be listening to the conversations of terrorists.’” The hell they did. One hundred seventy-seven Democrats opposed the president’s seizure of another part of the Constitution. Not even the White House press office could actually name a single Democrat who had ever said the government shouldn’t be listening to the conversations of terrorists.
President Bush hears what he wants. Tuesday, at another fundraiser in California, he had said, “Democrats take a law enforcement approach to terrorism. That means America will wait until we’re attacked again before we respond.” Mr. Bush fabricated that, too. And evidently he has begun to fancy himself as a mind reader. “If you listen closely to some of the leaders of the Democratic Party,” the president said at another fundraiser Monday in Nevada, “it sounds like they think the best way to protect the American people is — wait until we’re attacked again.” The president doesn’t just hear what he wants. He hears things that only he can hear. It defies belief that this president and his administration could continue to find new unexplored political gutters into which they could wallow. Yet they do. It is startling enough that such things could be said out loud by any president of this nation. Rhetorically, it is about an inch short of Mr. Bush accusing Democratic leaders, Democrats, the majority of Americans who disagree with his policies of treason.

But it is the context that truly makes the head spin. Just 25 days ago, on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this same man spoke to this nation and insisted, “We must put aside our differences and work together to meet the test that history has given us.” Mr. Bush, this is a test you have already failed. If your commitment to “put aside differences and work together” is replaced in the span of just three weeks by claiming your political opponents prefer to wait to see this country attacked again, and by spewing fabrications about what they’ve said, then the questions your critics need to be asking are no longer about your policies. They are, instead, solemn and even terrible questions, about your fitness to fulfill the responsibilities of your office.

No Democrat, sir, has ever said anything approaching the suggestion that the best means of self-defense is to “wait until we’re attacked again.” No critic, no commentator, no reluctant Republican in the Senate has ever said anything that any responsible person could even have exaggerated into the slander you spoke in Nevada on Monday night, nor the slander you spoke in California on Tuesday, nor the slander you spoke in Arizona on Wednesday ... nor whatever is next. You have dishonored your party, sir; you have dishonored your supporters; you have dishonored yourself.

But tonight the stark question we must face is — why? Why has the ferocity of your venom against the Democrats now exceeded the ferocity of your venom against the terrorists? Why have you chosen to go down in history as the president who made things up? In less than one month you have gone from a flawed call to unity to this clarion call to hatred of Americans, by Americans. If this is not simply the most shameless example of the rhetoric of political hackery, then it would have to be the cry of a leader crumbling under the weight of his own lies.

We have, of course, survived all manner of political hackery, of every shape, size and party. We will have to suffer it, for as long as the Republic stands. But the premise of a president who comes across as a compulsive liar is nothing less than terrifying. A president who since 9/11 will not listen, is not listening — and thanks to Bob Woodward’s most recent account — evidently has never listened. A president who since 9/11 so hates or fears other Americans that he accuses them of advocating deliberate inaction in the face of the enemy. A president who since 9/11 has savaged the very freedoms he claims to be protecting from attack — attack by terrorists, or by Democrats, or by both — it is now impossible to find a consistent thread of logic as to who Mr. Bush believes the enemy is. But if we know one thing for certain about Mr. Bush, it is this: This president — in his bullying of the Senate last month and in his slandering of the Democrats this month — has shown us that he believes whoever the enemies are, they are hiding themselves inside a dangerous cloak called the Constitution of the United States of America.

How often do we find priceless truth in the unlikeliest of places? I tonight quote not Jefferson nor Voltaire, but Cigar Aficionado Magazine. On Sept. 11th, 2003, the editor of that publication interviewed General Tommy Franks, at that point, just retired from his post as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command — of Cent-Com. And amid his quaint defenses of the then-nagging absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, or the continuing freedom of Osama bin Laden, General Franks said some of the most profound words of this generation. He spoke of “the worst thing that can happen” to this country: First, quoting, a “massive casualty-producing event somewhere in the Western World — it may be in the United States of America.” Then, the general continued, “the Western World, the free world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is freedom and liberty we’ve seen for a couple of hundred years, in this grand experiment that we call democracy.” It was this super-patriotic warrior’s fear that we would lose that most cherished liberty, because of another attack, one — again quoting General Franks — “that causes our population to question our own Constitution and to begin to militarize our country in order to avoid a repeat of another mass-casualty-producing event. Which, in fact, then begins to potentially unravel the fabric of our Constitution.”

And here we are, the fabric of our Constitution being unraveled, anyway. Habeus corpus neutered; the rights of self-defense now as malleable and impermanent as clay; a president stifling all critics by every means available and, when he runs out of those, by simply lying about what they said or felt. And all this, even without the dreaded attack. General Franks, like all of us, loves this country, and believes not just in its values, but in its continuity. He has been trained to look for threats to that continuity from without. He has, perhaps been as naïve as the rest of us, in failing to keep close enough vigil on the threats to that continuity from within.

Secretary of State Rice first cannot remember urgent cautionary meetings with counterterrorism officials before 9/11. Then within hours of this lie, her spokesman confirms the meetings in question. Then she dismisses those meetings as nothing new — yet insists she wanted the same cautions expressed to Secretaries Ashcroft and Rumsfeld. Mr. Rumsfeld, meantime, has been unable to accept the most logical and simple influence of the most noble and neutral of advisers. He and his employer insist they rely on the “generals in the field.” But dozens of those generals have now come forward to say how their words, their experiences, have been ignored. And, of course, inherent in the Pentagon’s war-making functions is the regulation of presidential war lust. Enacting that regulation should include everything up to symbolically wrestling the Chief Executive to the floor. Yet—and it is Pentagon transcripts that now tell us this—evidently Mr. Rumsfeld’s strongest check on Mr. Bush’s ambitions, was to get somebody to excise the phrase “Mission Accomplished” out of the infamous Air Force Carrier speech of May 1st, 2003, even while the same empty words hung on a banner over the President’s shoulder. And the vice president is a chilling figure, still unable, it seems, to accept the conclusions of his own party’s leaders in the Senate, that the foundations of his public position, are made out of sand. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But he still says so. There was no link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaida. But he still says so. And thus, gripping firmly these figments of his own imagination, Mr. Cheney lives on, in defiance, and spreads—around him and before him—darkness, like some contagion of fear. They are never wrong, and they never regret -- admirable in a French torch singer, cataclysmic in an American leader.

Thus, the sickening attempt to blame the Foley scandal on the negligence of others or “the Clinton era”—even though the Foley scandal began before the Lewinsky scandal. Thus, last month’s enraged attacks on this administration’s predecessors, about Osama bin Laden—a projection of their own negligence in the immediate months before 9/11. Thus, the terrifying attempt to hamstring the fundament of our freedom — the Constitution — a triumph for al Qaida, for which the terrorists could not hope to achieve with a hundred 9/11’s. And thus, worst of all perhaps, these newest lies by President Bush about Democrats choosing to await another attack and not listen to the conversations of terrorists.

It is the terror and the guilt within your own heart, Mr. Bush, that you redirect at others who simply wish for you to temper your certainty with counsel. It is the failure and the incompetence within your own memory, Mr. Bush, that leads you to demonize those who might merely quote to you the pleadings of Oliver Cromwell: “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.” It is not the Democrats whose inaction in the face of the enemy you fear, Sir. It is your own — before 9/11 - and (and you alone know this), perhaps afterwards. Mr. President, these new lies go to the heart of what it is that you truly wish to preserve. It is not our freedom, nor our country — your actions against the Constitution give irrefutable proof of that. You want to preserve a political party’s power. And obviously you’ll sell this country out, to do it. These are lies about the Democrats -- piled atop lies about Iraq -- which were piled atop lies about your preparations for al Qaida. To you, perhaps, they feel like the weight of a million centuries -- as crushing, as immovable. They are not. If you add more lies to them, you cannot free yourself, and us, from them. But if you stop -- if you stop fabricating quotes, and building strawmen, and inspiring those around you to do the same -- you may yet liberate yourself and this nation. Please, sir, do not throw this country’s principles away because your lies have made it such that you can no longer differentiate between the terrorists and the critics.

© 2006 MSNBC Interactive

[Dem2theMax]

42. Thank you TahitiNut. I really appreciate your posting this for us.

I watched the show, but it's wonderful to be able to read the words as well.
I've been saving Keith's "comments." This was just added to my collection. :)

[TahitiNut]

46. Yep. I collect them, too.

Good reading and rereading.

[DemReadingDU]

76. Collector of Keith too!

Thanks for posting!

[steve2470]

43. He will go down in history as the lone voice in TV against the regime nt

[tblue]

45. Anybody notice a blank spot when he was talking about Cheney?

It got silent. I played it over and it did it again.

[deacon]

47. Edward R. Olbermann n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

48. Rock on, Keith

You really are the best.

[MoonRiver]

49. Thank you Tahiti Nut.

God bless and protect Keith Olberman. O8)

[ninkasi]

50. Olberman is magnificent

He has become a national treasure, and has an incredible amount of courage. He is speaking truths that the whole world needs to hear.

[brettdale]

52. kick

kick

[young_at_heart]

54. "Differentiate between the terrorists and the critics........dead on!

Wouldn't it be nice if the GOP leaders noticed how Bush has corrupted everything he touches.

[Subdivisions]

55. You know what's a damn shame though?

That sorry excuse for a president doesn't possess the intellect to digest Olbermann's eloquent prose. He can neither understand it in the spoken form nor could he comprehend it in the written form.

[TahitiNut]

57. Long ago, I stopped having any concern whatsoever ...

... for what el Smirko allegedly 'thinks' or allegedly 'feels.' He does neither in anything approximating something that would be meaningful to me. When (and if) he's locked away in solitary confinement in a padded cell for the rest of his miserable life, I'll have even less concern.

[Balderdash]

56. Keith is our voice

Thank you Keith!

[Nevernose]

58. Holy shit. It's like I was just kicked by a mule.

Wow. The video, the text ... all have left me speechless.

[opihimoimoi]

59. KO for President

[PhilYerHead]

60. TahitiNut, you missed the end, "Good night and Good Luck"!

That was the moment I burst into tears.

(ms. PYH)

[TahitiNut]

61. That was part of the show, not the comment.

It's MSNBC's transcript, anyway. Hell, I teared up a couple of times. It's soooo good to listen to sanity.

[PegDAC]

158. That's his usual sign-off.

It's become more meaningful the more Murrowesque he becomes. Love it!

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. BRILLIANT

[deminks]

63. the president who made things up

"we create our own reality"

The aide said that guys like me were ''in what we call the reality-based community,'' which he defined as people who ''believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ''That's not the way the world really works anymore,'' he continued. ''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.''

http://www.cs.umass.edu/~immerman/play/opinion05/WithoutADoubt.html

[Clarkie1]

64. Wow. Just, wow. nt

[Hubert Flottz]

65. I stayed up and watched it again...

The sweet sweet sound, of the unvarnished truth...what a long time it's been since we heard that coming from the MSM.

[Richard D]

66. One thing I don't agree with

Keith said in explaining *'s motivation: "You want to preserve a political party’s power. And obviously you’ll sell this country out, to do it."

Personally, I doubt that * gives a rats piss about the republican party (or this country or for the world for that matter) other than it is where his supporters are. I think he's into power, and that all of his actions are only to hold onto his power for his sake. The republican party is only a tool of his for his evil motives.

[Straight Shooter]

67. Yowza! I've got goosebumps the size of silver dollars!

:woohoo:

Here's for you, Keith O.! :patriot:

[Terri S]

68. GOD, I LOVE THAT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't start regularly watching the show until he was the only person to really push the voter fraud issue after the election, '04. I wondered even then how he managed not to be muzzled by powers that be.

With each 'special comment' I think he couldn't possibly top THIS one, yet he always does!

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vidar]

70. KO is the man!

[aaronbees]

71. 100 percent rockin' right on true!

What a complete and utter evisceration of BushCo ... "the president who made things up." Indeed!

Beautiful to see!

:patriot:

[intaglio]

72. I wish that the UK media had room for someone like KO

Like Murrow, he is something special and unique to the US. k&R

[Kurovski]

73. K&R.

:kick: :patriot:

[redacted]

74. "LYING IS NOBLE" according to their guru Leo Strauss,

and the Straussians have exploited the "noble permission" he gave them to lie with wicked, relentless, reckless abandon.

[magellan]

78. Keith is wonderful

I felt so sad when he got to the end and said, "Please, sir, do not throw this country’s principles away because your lies have made it such that you can no longer differentiate between the terrorists and the critics."

Sad because it's spot on, and sad because some of us have been asking Bush** and his party the same thing -- with letters, emails, phone calls -- for several years, and it's done no good. They don't hear.

Rock on, Keith!! :loveya:

[dave420]

80. Not more crap from this guy

I thought he was supposed to be a news anchor? The US news has been serially screwed by "commentators", on both sides. Applauding one asshat for spouting his own opinions and then condemning another for spouting his (that you happen to not agree with) is a joke. This bullshit shouldn't be tolerated from either side. News should be news. Opinion is for the water cooler.

[FlaGranny]

88. Editorials are a time-honored

tradition of news organizations. Crap? Nah - TRUTH!

Edit: He speaks for well more than half of the country and probably more than 90% of the world.

[dave420]

113. But it's editorial

So it's opinion, not a statement of truth (even though it might actually be factual). Relying on editorial to touch the heart-strings of the readers is appealing to the lowest common denominator. If he was a good journalist, he'd actually be able to put together a real report on what's going on. It's the same bullshit Fox does, which most people here hate them for.

[bluethruandthru]

92. I don't have a problem with editorializing

as long as it's presented as such. Countdown leaves no doubt that Olbermann's commentaries are just that....commentaries. They are never couched as real news. I think you'd be hard pressed to say the same about Faux news, CNN and others.

[dave420]

114. But it has no place in "news"

As it's not "news". Calling him a "commentator" is just sad - they're for sports, not news. WE are supposed to make up our own minds about what's happening - having some guy talk to us like a teacher to a class is not news, but is continuing the "spoon-feed the public" mantra that US MSM news has been spouting for decades.

[kentuck]

120. It is "news".

Somebody finally called your President on his bald-faced lies. That is big news!

[dave420]

121. It's not his place to make news

Just to report it. That's a massive conflict of interest. And he's not my president, btw ;) Seriously - "news commentators" seems to be a very US thing. That might explain the ridiculously poorly-informed voters.

[AbbyR]

130. That's just not true

Editorial writers and columnists do comment on the news every day. It's what they do and have always done. What I don't like is when, as on Fox, or many other papers, the editorials are mixed in with the news stories, or in 48 point type or bigger.

[distantearlywarning]

96. I love Keith Olbermann.

He presents his opinion as just that: opinion.

If he presented it as fact (like the asshats at Fox News do), then I might have a problem with him.

But as it is, he's the most brilliant man on TV. Sorry you don't like him. Maybe you ought to listen harder to the speech next time. As a DEMOCRAT, you ought to agree with much of what he says.

And welcome to DU. :hi:

[Boston Critic]

99. Our Murrow

When the history of the Bush Error is written, Keith Olbermann will stand out like Edward R. Murrow, that rarity who dared to speak truth to power while the rest of the media served as stenographers and echo chambers for the administration.

He gives me hope that all is not yet lost.

[Auggie]

101. Agreed

[dave420]

117. I do like him

I just don't think he should even dare to include opinion with news. Try finding that on any even slightly-trusted TV news outlet outside America - you'll have a hard time. It's a joke.

I can agree with what he says AND realise he shouldn't be saying it. He's compromising his professionalism by spouting this garbage. He's hurting news, not helping it. He's furthering the "dumbing-down" of US MSM news. That hurts democracy, not helps it.

[ProfessorGAC]

104. Duh! He's A Commentator, Not A News Reader

His show is not a news show. It's a news commentary show. Try to catch up, ok?
The Professor

[dave420]

116. He's a news anchor

Him flitting from reporting to "commentating" is a farce. Can't his agency actually do reporting any more, or is their only avenue of approach mired in opinion? That's not reporting.

[PegDAC]

159. He does not even present himself as a news anchor.

He provides commentary on/analysis of news items. In other words, he Interprets the news. Providing a considered opinion is integral to that.

[Bridget Burke]

106. Well, you're free to watch Katie Couric.

I'm sure she won't upset you.

[dave420]

118. It's not about what I watch

It's about people relying on shit like this to change people's opinions. That's what we have facts for. Just because we agree with what he's saying doesn't mean to say we should turn our backs on this bullshit of opinion-in-news-shows. It's pathetic.

[Bridget Burke]

132. Olbermann's show has a Special Comments segment.

Newspapers have editorial pages.

[Name removed]

109. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dave420]

119. Freepers?

I'm as left-wing as they come :) Nice try!

My problem is not with what he's saying (I agree with it), but that he's switching from between a news REPORTER to a COMMENTATOR. The fact news commentators exist is a big ol' steaming dump on journalistic integrity. News is about fact, not opinion.

But thanks for not even addressing what I said and calling me names - that really made my argument look weak. boy howdy.

[kentuck]

122. On "news reporters"...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2328656&mesg_id=2328656

[dave420]

124. Exactly!

That's exactly it. News is not defined by the person (or personality) saying it, but by its accuracy. The fact these networks rely on a galvanising personality to add credibility is an absolute fucking joke. No wonder so many people are so ill-informed on current events in the US.

Go to any other country and watch the news. Some random guy will sit down and say what happened, staying as far away from opinion as possible. Just speaking the verifiable truth. In the US it seems opinion is absolutely required before anyone will listen to anything even slightly related to news or current events.

[ManWroteTheBible]

153. Just speaking the verifiable truth?

There-in lies the problem... "truth"
The mainstream media in the US reports verifiable "untruths" as the very "news" you're complaining Keith isn't reporting with his commentaries. Your argument that if Keith shares his opinion during his broadcast is no different than say Bill O'Reilly doing the same during his, does have some validity. SOME. The difference being Olbermann's opinion is FACT-based and O'Reilly's is bold-faced lies. I doubt, seriously that the O'Reilly's, Coulters, Limbaugh's, et al truly believe the bullshit they spout daily. They're the worst kind of human scum because they know what they are saying is false.
We - as in Liberals/Progressives - need to take the gloves off. We need to hit the Right-wing fascists with everything we have. And we have the one weapon they do not... the truth.
The days of "our" side taking the moral high ground should have died BEFORE the Democratic National Convention of '04 - if they had, John Kerry might be president and George W. Bush and his criminal administration might be facing trial in the Hague.

[me b zola]

136. Your argument makes it seem as thought you have never read a newspaper

So let me explain. Newspapers have an editorial page. Surrounding the editorial page is news.

I haven't seen you complain about Bob Schaefer for giving his closing thought at the end of his Sunday morning news show. Do you also believe that Murrow was unprofessional?

I'm calling bullshit on your hissy-fit against Olbermann. If you were serious you would have wrote an opinion piece in your own thread decrying Murrow and a few other well respected newsmen for occasionally editorializing. But you did not do that, you came to stink up a thread that is praising this generation's Murrow and his eloquent speaking out against an increasingly totalitarian government.

Before you respond, do yourself a favor and do a little historical research on the American press during the first years/generation of our nation. You might save yourself from looking even more stupid.

[AbbyR]

129. Editorials=Opinion

I write one every week for my newspaper. Wish I could come close to being as eloquent as KO.

[The Count]

135. You were wrong. He's not supposed to be a news anchor. He is a commentator

On the other sides, the 'comentators pretend they deliver news and when caught in their lies they say "I was just joking" They put a "D" after Folley's and Hastert's name - that's not commentary - it's falsifying news.
KO makes a commentary. It so happens to be based on facts. I like it.

[Jo March]

146. You aren't going to find many who agree with you

Reporting on election fraud is crap? Reporting the truth about Iraq is crap? Reporting about the Delay, Foley, Ney, etc., etc. scandals is crap?

Whatever.

Oh, and welcome to DU. :eyes:

[Buzz Clik]

81. Christ. I've gotten so used to being called a traitor for my dissent...

that I've forgotten to get angry.

Thanks Keith.

[Mad_Dem_X]

82. Spoken like a true American!!!

:patriot: :applause:

Bravo, KO!

[Stalwart]

85. Each Line a Devastating Punch

Delivered in print exactly the way he said it. Well formed and well timed. Each line a gem. Simple, direct, honest and delivered with sincerity and conviction.

My man of the year!

[Jo March]

147. Yep!!

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Nimrod2005]

86. Keith should run for office, some day.....nt

[gkhouston]

143. not sure he wants that. But if MSNBC is ever stupid enough to fire him

and a good political candidate picked him up as a speechwriter (and it would have to be someone with first-rate ethical standards or KO would never do it, IMHO)... my God, they'd flatten everyone in sight.

[PegDAC]

160. Or if, for instance,

a Democratic President chose him for Press Secretary. I can see him servong in that capacity to, for instance, Wes Clark.

[Justyce]

87. I forwarded the transcript and video

from crooksandliars to everyone I know... I'm just speechless.

[rosesaylavee]

89. A true patriot

so truly grateful for his courage and heart in taking on what's wrong with this country. :patriot:

Video is now up at MSNBC - you have to click on the videos as it its not linked to the Special Comment page yet.

[Justpat]

91. Much thanks for posting this. n/t

[carolinayellowdog]

94. He speaks for us all-- Democratic politicos heed his example!

This is what we've been wanting to hear from you for six years. The author of the "greatest speech of the decade" has just exceeded his eloquence in the last two special comments.

I liked Joe Scarborough more last night than I ever have, and it was great to see Rachel Sklar for the first time after reading her on Huffpo for so long. But Pat Buchanan destroyed every trace of respect he had grudgingly earned from me over Iraq. He is a pure hatemonger and does not deserve to be invited back to discuss a serious matter with responsible adults.

[rniel]

95. The best one yet

I love all his special comments but this is the best one he's every done. You can tell it really comes from the heart. It would have to after being sent something that could've been anthrax in the mail. I could see him getting choked up near the end.

[Rambis]

98. True Patriot (nm)

xx

[PegDAC]

161. He just gets better

with each Special Comment he delivers. We can be grateful that Dan Abrams and MSNBC are supportive.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

97. I watched it 3 times. There are no words to express my respect

for Keith.

[myrna minx]

100. Mr. Olbermann, you sir, have my never ending gratitude and respect.

And I want to have your baby!

[halobeam]

103. I heard he received over 800,000 emails re: his 9/11 commentary

I hope we match it, better yet exceed it.

It is one way to show the network what will get the viewers back. They HAD to take notice, and that is why, IMO, there's no mystery as to why they are "letting" him speak out so effectively.

CNN copies FOX when they wanted higher ratings... they'll copy MSNBC when the time comes...and maybe it's comin'!!!

Kudos to Keith... I'm on my way to write him.


Hope everyone writes to credit those who deserve as much as to Cristie those who deserve.


viewerservices@msnbc

countdown@msnbc

[IWantAChange]

105. Billo gonna have a hard time

staying ahead of KO - Olbermann is carving out a niche for himself as the best commentator on TV/cable - simply because he expresses his opinion versus the company line. Kudos Mr Olbermann - kudos.

[lisby]

107. I worship at K's feet.

He man is my hero.

:) :D :9 B-) O8) :evilgrin: :hippie: :party: :toast: :bounce: :thumbsup: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause:

Lisby

[bridgit]

108. i had issues with the content & delivery of his 'comment' this time...

it was wordy, i understand he has to rif for a few moments of selected time & he seemed to be filling up each nano that much is true; but each word did not seem as balanced as were they in other comments he has made of late...his delivery was clearly as though he was talking to 'his audience', and not per se to bush, though he kept hoping bush would hear, "sir!"

bush is a liar, check

Olbermann is on the verge of a great run, check :patriot:

[Nothing Without Hope]

***VIDEO*** now up at Crooks & Liars:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/05/olbermanns-special-comment-it-is-not-the-democrats-whose-inaction-in-the-face-of-the-enemy-you-fear/#more-10808

Quicktime and Windows Media formats provided, along with the transcript as given in the opening post. I haven't watched it yet, so I don't know if the seeming deletion (or awkward/abrupt transition) in the transcript (noted by someone upthread) when he suddenly starts talking about Cheney matches the video.

He's stepped into the shoes of Edward R. Murrow of the McCarthy era, as he's very much aware. May he succeed in opening the eyes of the people and emboldening others to come forward with the truth before it is too late.

[azmouse]

110. I still have tears in my eyes

thinking of the power of KO's words! He is simply wonderful!

[RobertSeattle]

111. George W. Bush - Strawman In Chief

[neuvocat]

112. One thing I have noticed about pathological liars

is that they want to believe the lies that they keep telling. Reality has a liberal bias of course in the case of the Bush admin and reality just doesn't suit them at all. It never has. They think they can convince themselves of the lies that they tell in order to feel better about themselves.

The lies always start off small and gradually gain momentum. The bigger the lie the bigger the belief and therefore the greater the insanity that accompanies it.

[gkhouston]

144. and the one thing I've noticed about pathological liars

is that they don't stop. They seem convinced that as long as they can keep talking, they'll find a way out of it. Whatever they said yesterday simply doesn't matter, even if you rub their noses in it. It's gonna be a long haul 'til 2009.

[TahitiNut]

151. "Perception is reality."

This is the perverted view of the right - and neoconservative capitalists. Rather than comprehend the impact of perception divorced from reality as tragic, in their view it's to be exploited and used to control others.

"Managing perceptions" becomes a morality-free endeavor.

[ooglymoogly]

115. keith olbermann

you may yet prove to be the salvation of this squandered and once great nation. a big kick and nom.

[sarahlee]

125. I had to catch this on a rerun late at night

because my powere went out yesterday afternoon. I really needed to get to bed, but was so glad I had stayed up after the Daily Show and the Colbert Report because this was well worth it. I kind of got the cats and dog excited with my cheering!

[bluescribbler]

126. K&R

:kick:

[Supersedeas]

127. the Great Divider!!!

[HughLefty1]

128. Another kick here....

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.

--Harry Truman


BTW, I've met Keith several times in 'real life' a few years ago~ The guy was a class A arse but I do agree wholeheartedly with his commentaries on MSNBC. I do appreciate that someone is speaking the truth in the MSM, instead of the same old corporate bullshit spewed everywhere else.

[bdamomma]

131. I watched it again, and the tears welled up in my eyes

what Keith said was so powerful and true.......we all have to do something about this, this is about our survival.

[Hawaii Hiker]

133. Keith easily has the best news-show on the air today!

It really helps to READ his entire comment to fully appreciate it, as it's hard to pick up everything from listening to it just once...The special comments he's done so far have been absolutely brillant, he should do at least one special comment weekly, and of course, hope he never stops calling out the fools at FOX either..It's priceless when he blasts O'Reilly, mostly in his "Worst Person in the World Segment"!!

[me b zola]

137. Welcome to DU, Hawaii Hiker!

I feel the same way. First I watch it, then read the transcript, then I watch it again. It is something to be savored. :toast:

[Red Right and BLUE]

134. Keith nails it again.

Thank you, KO!!!!!!

[AikidoSoul]

138. Olbermann is the voice of Truth in this hour of darkness

I cried like a kid when he said the words, "Good night and good luck".
Every word Olbermann utterered was like a jewel of truth... and I was
breathless. I didn't see the cable program, but I did hear the commentary
with my dialup connection online and had no trouble... except for slipping on
my tears on the tile floors. I totally lost it then the spirit of Murrow
was called forth.

Hail to the Olbermann!!!:kick:

:wow:

[keithjx]

139. After watching this segment last night....

I stood in my living room and marveled at how great this nation is, that Keith can make these statements on a national feed. The Thomas Jefferson quote kept echoing in my head, "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all." For all the crap that talking heads spew these days, I was really inspired to watch "the spirit of resistance" personified in that moment. His special commnetaries have been historic, in my opinion.
KJ

[rosesaylavee]

162. Great Jefferson quote.

Marvel is a good word too. Just stop and stare that someone has the eloquence AND courage to speak out at this time in history when so many don't. It is truly amazing and wonderful thing that he is doing for all of us.

[civildisoBDence]

140. Olbermann needs to challenge Limpbaugh to a debate

and then Hannity, and Savage, and Boortz.

They can name the time, place, and rules--but not one would accept the challenge.

Newsprism

[carljanderson]

148. re: Olbermann needs to challenge Limpbaugh to a debate

KO would be able to the win the debate with ALL four those teamed up against him.

[Ksec]

141. Does he write these?

Whoever does it understands. KO nails it again.

He should be a Democratic strategist .

[gkhouston]

145. Yes. n/t

[Diclotican]

142. O dear, that was harsh word - but verry true word..

Hello

That was harsh word but werry true word. Good that SOMONE want to take the fight witht the Administrastion, and fight them where they may hurt most, strigth at theyr face... With the truth.

Good know that we need someone who are not afraid of talking the truth, to the great power who rule the US today.. Is he to late?.. Ore are the snowbald beginning to spinn?.. Not just to the election, but also to the next election to the presidentsy?. I really hope so, that the american, who are the masses that can shange the US state ship, are doing what the whole world is hopeing to, trow that nuttcase out of the white house, and trow the rest of the "band" with him either to the maximum prision, or more likely to a mental innstitution with a lot of barberd wires on the top....

America.. Wote for shange before it is to late, and you have the scance NOW! To bite the bulet, before the bulet bite you in the behind.. You NEED to get the government to understand that the world need another goverment in US.. If you want us as allies and friends then... US kan come to discover that we dont _want_ the US anymore... And then the US wil be a verry alone place to be...

Thank to Obermann, and ALL democracy lowing americans out there. We on the outside are loking to you, and HOPE that YOU all go ut and wote for a schange at november 7.. And pray for that you shoosing little mor wisely this time, then in 2004 (I know it isent president election but... all hands are on the table now..)

Dear you all

Diclotican

[oldboy101]

149. Welcome to DU, Diclotican!

Clearly English is not your first language but you do manage to get your point of view across. Your post is interesting because it shows us how, thanks to the Internet, people around the world are able to see what is going on here in America.

You speak for much of the world in your desire to see that the poor excuse we now have for our president needs to be replaced by someone who is at least competent to lead our nation in the future. We Americans would do well to remember that it is not only we who are affected by this man's incompetence, it is the entire world.

[Diclotican]

170. Oldboy101

Hello

In my bad engelish I try as best I can to write down what I feel about this ********* regime you have in the US toda... It similary to the old Sovjet style dictatorship that was in place in one of our border-countrys for about 15 year ago, when the USSR was going down.. Yes I am a social-democrat, but any way democratic in my way..

I speak for my self, but maybee for many other too, becouse we are verry worry about the way the leadership in your country is acting in many way.. What has happend to United States of America the last 6 year??? Under the cold war, you was in many way "the shining city on the hill" for the most of Europe - inncludet for the most also the East EUroperan country who know you was there, but was not able to do somting to schange the game.. In 1989, where the Berlin Wall was downing and the East was moving to the west, many still tink about US as a good thing...

Today we still think at USA as a good country.. But Your leadership is bad, verry bad and if you dont do somting, you wil wake up to a full blown Dictatorship and then it wil take looooooooong time to repear it again.... Belive me, it is mor easy to tear down democracy then to build it up again from the rubble.. If you dont do somting, you get a hard work in front of you...

President Bush have doing mot harm to the "reputition" of USA, then 10 attack from AL Quada wil do in our life... Yes we have to fight terrorism, but not with the type of handling mr Bush and the gang have shoosen to do.. Torture, the same torture that US was so angry about when the Sovjet use it, is not the way to end violence, grave hatred and terror to the west... I dont know how to end the terrorism, but the way BUSH have doing it is not the way... And AMERICA wil pay a huge sum for the nuttcase in the White house... Belive me.. You are maybee already beginning to pay for that "gentleman" already?..:-(

I really hope you wil trow this man who hi, and the leadership in the current Administration who they really deserve to be, in prision where they cant do more harm to US, and to the world.. You have to to work out who to clean up with the neo-cons in your country.... It wil be ha hard work, but if you want it, US wil DO it, as it always have doing it...

Keep it up, trow out some of the worst Republicans out of the Kongress and the Senate, and make the way for a verry trubblesome last years for the Administrastion.. Then he wil be litterly a lame duck president:-) :nopity: :rofl:

Diclotican

[oldboy101]

171. I see that you are Norwegian.

Hi Diclotican,

My maternal grandparents immigrated from Sweden so we have Scandinavian heritage in common.

We Democrats are every bit as much concerned about what George Bush and his gang have been doing to our country these last 6 years. We are determined to elect a Democratic controlled Congress this year, and to rid ourselves of this worst president in our history in 2008 if not sooner. The impeachment process is a difficult one.

After 9/11 the world was with us when we went after the Taliban and al Quaeda in Afghanistan. But instead of going after Osama Bin Laden our foolish leaders took us into an unnecessary war in Iraq. Thousands of innocent people have lost their lives as a result and I agree with you that Bush and his gang belong in prison for what they have done.

Chances are though that he will simply be sent back to Texas where he can live out the remainder of his life in utter disgrace.

[Diclotican]

172. OldBoy101

Hello

Yes I am from Norway. Cool, where in Sweden are yout grandpartens from then?, maybee a part that I know about;

I dont know why you shose a leader like your current one.. Its amazing to se a otherwise good country go down the toilet in less than 6 year..

We was ALL American in the months and weeks after 11 september 2001, we all suportet your war against the "evildoers" who attaced New York so shamelessy..
I was seeing the twin towers falling live on TV and I belived it first was a horrible accsident.. We know after a white it was not... It was a attack... on US..

And then the war against Talian, and Al Qauda came.. And it look like the US was doing the right ting, blowing the Taliband and Al Qaida to smitternesh once and for all..

Now, 6 year later, the Taliban and Al Qauda is not dead at all, but are really living... The Iraq war have doing a lot of harme to the US, and problably doing US to one of the most dispaiset country in the Middle east.. In the most of Europe we just pray for the fact that you shoosing better next time, and making little more "check and balance" into the system again.. You soorly need some power behind the power to make the Presidet slow down the way to tyranny and dictatorship in US..

MR Bush really belong either in a prison, or mor likely at a mental fasility where he can be given some had needet medisin for the nightmare he as, and deploy to the rest of the world.. He and he Neo-cons friends should all be testet for medical handicap, and doing some "forceed medician" so they may come back to the world as mental sound man again.. THEY really belive USA can comand the rest of the WORLD TO DO THEY BIDDING.. Belive me, no can do that, not even The United States of America can Comand the rest of the world to to US bidding.. Not anymore anyway...

If US want out friendship, we are there, but if they damage the friendship to mutch they can find that you dont have some allied anymore.. Friends are there in the most sircumstanses, but in some they go little back and dont want to be part of it...

America has always been seen as a great nation, who everyone kan do they best.. But the America we are seeing now, is not a country that is great, but verry similary to the old sovjet, ore maybee even the nazi-germany.... Good know that we dont need a repeat of THAT in the 21 century.. The Patriot ACT and now the "we can tel you to be a enemy-combandand and put you in prision for the rest of the "war" against terrorism".. Its like giving Hitler the "power" to suspend the german law, who was happing after the Reichtag- fire in 1933.... Good know what the Bushwick of the world are capable to doing, but burning down the Congress? I hope no...

Diclotican

Diclotican

[oldboy101]

173. We are determined to take back the Congress this year.

Hello Diclotican,

I voted for Al Gore in 2000 in Florida. You may be aware that the votes were not counted properly in that state and the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5 to 4 to award the presidency to George Bush. Big mistake!

I voted for John Kerry in 2004 but there was some vote fraud in Ohio this time, and once again Bush was returned to office. We Democrats are determined to see that this sort of thing never happens again.

About my maternal grandparents, they came to America in the 1890s as single people looking to escape from poverty in Sweden and find a new life in this country. They met and married here in America. I know my grandmother was from Goteborg and my grandfather lived on a farm in southern Sweden but I am not sure of the area he came from.

They started out as servants, my grandmother as a maid and grandfather a chauffeur for some wealthy people. All four of their sons and their only daughter graduated from college, something grandfather was very proud of. They both lived to age 87 and passed away over 40 years ago. I myself am 70 now and retired.

What are your circumstances and where in Norway do you live?

[Diclotican]

174. OldBoy101

Hello

God to know that not everyone wotet for mr Bush jr in 2000.. And yes it was some horrible sircumstases in Florida... And the Court desided to take the presidency to the worst candidate.. Bush.
And who know maybe the whole horrible 911 have been divertet if a stronger president have been elected in 2000?.. I dont know, but I guess that OBL and his gang find the opportunt to attac US, when they have a shance to attac it, with a "weakminded" President who was verry hardworkning to have holiday and play golf.. No wrong about Golf, its a great game, my brother is playing it for fun, and god at it too:) But not when you are the leader of the most powerfull nation on the face of the earth.. Then you need to be little mot attantion to the work, and not to the golf..

And the same ting happeing in Ohio as in Florida in 2000, some frued and some "acsident" happeing, and the worst candidat get elected.. Yes Kerry was not elected but if the system had worket and not E-WOTET it may be the current president has had the name Kerry.. not Bush..

I really hope that the democrats is coming to power in november this Year.. If they are doing that, they can do the hard work to undermine and to work the horrible cost that Mr President have doing to your country.. If the VOTING is doing right, it should be a good scance for democrats to get hold of either House of Representatives or the Senat itself... I think it is 15 members its fighting over...
But remember.. The Republicans are hard to hit, and they are MEAN when corned....

Ok, in the 1890s both Sweden, Norway and Denmark was poor country, and many was travling far away from those country.. I have some family over there myself, but I have never visitet them...
My father was there in the 1960s, and he was to wisit a first cussin of my grandfather.. At my fathers side of the family its smal farmers for the most part, and the first cusin was doing great, my father told med that he was travling at a car, a hwole hour at my grandfathers familyproperty before they was looking at the house.... That is big diference to Norway can I tel you...
;-)

Gotenburg or Gøteborg at is kalled in Norway, is a great city, more than a million habitate there if I am not horrible wrong. I think Gotenburg is the 3 largest City in Sweden today..

Good to know that everyone of you family sucseedet, not bad to have _all_ going tru college, thats a good investment to the future anyhow you desid to live your life
:D

My self then.. 30 years old, craftsman at trade, not rich, but I can afford to have a old Toyota, and feed my self and have a roof over my head. Also I can afford to pay the petrol pricses in Norway, that wil scare the hell out of most americans... not married yet, but they wil come, when they come I hope ;) My father was 41 when I was born so I have almoust 12 year to beat him yet;)

I am living outside Oslo, in a smal "town" called Asker 3 mil or 30km (not miles) out of Oslo.. Asker is a important train city, and its 25 minutes by comute train to the downtown of Oslo (Nasjonalteateret stasjon) In many ways its more easy to travel by train to downtown Oslo, then to drive

Wel, I am cristian, even a Mormon, but I have a great dislike for mr Bush and his misuse of the Lord and what He was standing for when He was here on earht.. I wil guess when mr Bush jr and his gang is doing it on jugment day, they wil have a LOT to take responsibility for when The Lord ask them why they misuse His Name!!

Wel that was the lot of it.. Its late now, 01:13 and I have to go to bed now. Good night Oldboy.. Its so good to se that not EVERYONE american, who is old is nutcase republicans, I almoust lost hope for USA..

Diclotican

[oldboy101]

177. No, we are not all old nutcase Republicans!

Hello again Diclotican,

I had a laugh at your description of us old folks here in America. Thank you for telling me a bit about yourself. I don't know if you might care to continue an occasional exchange of ideas but if you do, perhaps it would be better to use a more private e-mail exchange than this blog.
My e-mail address is [e-mail]

[TahitiNut]

150. God dag fra Michigan, fetteren!

Meg moder foreldre var innvandreren fra Norge - Oslo og Bergen. Velkommen!

((Er der rom for meg å utvandre å Norge? Jeg ha slekt der Jeg har aldri møtte.))

[Diclotican]

169. hello Michigian (fetteren)

Hello

It is always place for somone else in Norway;) I dont know how old your are or how old yout mother is, but Norway have shanget in many ways from 1940s ore somelike that... Now we are a rich country;) But we have maybee some of the same problems that rich country have everyday too.

Norwigian:
Ja, det er plass i Norge, god pass til og med, besøk oss først og oppdag Norge på kryss og tvers. Det er kanskje ikke like stort som i USA, men det er ganske fint her. Kanskje du oppdager slektninger og familie også:)

Diclotican

[Time for change]

152. If we take back Congress

Keith will deserve the Nobel Peace Prize because he will be as responsible for it as anyone.

[Lebowski]

163. You can only hope...

...that those morons in the White House watch Keith's commentaries, and that it sends their blood pressure through the roof. Maybe we'll get lucky and have some of them keel over, saving us the trouble of impeaching their traitorous asses.

[krispos42]

164. My VCR ran out of tape and I missed it!

Damn damn damn damn damn damn damn!!!!!!!!!!!! He always does the really good stuff when I forget to turn the VCR off so the autotimer works!

God, we need to clone Keith, like in "Multiplicity". Five for each network so a Keith is on duty 24-7. So we'd need 35 of them. Plus an extra one to cover vacations and such in the rotation.

We'd better clone his wife, too, as a courtesy for her.

[PegDAC]

175. I don't think he's married. n/t

:D :loveya:

[upi402]

166. ko'd

:rofl:

[edwardbuendia]

178. I had to Join after This one!

Hello everyone: I have been a loyal reader of DU for over a year, and I simply had to join and participate to express my admiration for Mr. Olbermann. He is our {and by 'our' I meas as Americans} brightest asset in the MSM. If O'Reilly, Hume, Coulter, that idiot with the bow tie, et al had an ounce of Keith's conviction the Right would not be the complete fetid moral and intellectual wasteland it is today.

[upi402]

179. welcome, and i agree 100%

:toast: