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Special Comment on Rudy Giuliani

Posted: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 11:39 PM by Countdown
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"Rather than a reasoned discussion — rather than a political campaign advocating your own causes and extolling your own qualifications — you have bypassed all the intermediate steps and moved directly to trying to terrorize the electorate into viewing a vote for a Democrat, not as a reasonable alternative and an inalienable right ... but as an act of suicide."

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Thank you for speaking out for the informed, rational Americans who are tired of being threatened by the fear-mongering Republicans led by King George.

R. Place, Kamuela, HI (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:02 AM)

Thank you for speaking for us the American people on your SPECIAL COMMENT ON RUDY GIULIANI.

Jennifer, Silver spring, Maryland (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:08 AM)

Excellent commentary on Giuliani. Fear is a very real tool with the republicans.

M.Gorham (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:08 AM)

BRAVO! Thank you, I have not heard an American speach like this since Watergate! I am sure you are going to be served up so....thank you again!

Donna Friedman, Sedona, AZ (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:15 AM)

Keith, if you read the message boards and between the lines, these people seem to be calling for nothing short of the 'mass genocide' of all Arab people. They used terrorism like “a wonderful invisible enemy” to “allege” terrorist connections any country they wanted to attack. They played our post-9/11 patriotism like a fine violin and manipulated it into such an overwhelming degree of NATIONALISM that all we wanted to do was INVADE – INVADE – INVADE at the slightest wave of their hand. Truly, to believe that our armies cannot be beaten and that we can do no wrong is a dangerous path to tread in a world so utterly chockfull of AAMDs (Arsenals of ABSOLUTE Mass Destruction). It is as if we’ve all been taken prisoner on some underlying crusade of theirs. …a crusade just as likely to end with us holding hands with loved ones - begging for a chance to have done more - as the bombs fall, as it is with the election of someone who could undue this catastrophe. It’s an utter paradox that the land of the free beginning to act with the tyranny and imperialism of the worst nations in history. Secret prisons? Torture? The invasion of sovereign countries? The postponement of elections? War criminals wrapping themselves in our flag daring us to challenge their patriotism? I'd personally rather live in Russia than endure the slow, grueling death this democracy is undergoing.

Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:26 AM)

I love it when Keith gets mad. As he so eloquently put it, ENOUGH already with the threats and terrorizing statements this Republican machine makes with impunity. Now Rudy joins the ranks with Karl, Tom, Dick, George, etc. asserting that electing a Democrat as president will bring death and distruction to us all. Notwithstanding a two-thirds disapproval rating, I guess the plan is to continue to depend upon the perception that most Americans are feeble-minded. Otherwise, why do they continue on this course of blackmail? Vote Republican, or you will be targeted. "We fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them here." It is a strategy of distraction, so we won't recognize the terroritists have been here, and in the White House since 2000. I, for one, am glad Keith is in a fighting mood.

Patti La Bouff, San Diego, CA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:43 AM)

Rock on, Keith! At the end of this very special commentary, I stood up and cheered right there in my living room. Thank you for paying attention and for giving voice to my outrage.

Mary Ray Worley, Madison, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:46 AM)

Keith, You are among the very few who will speak out against the Republican far right who have taken over most of the airways in order to spew their distorted view of American freedom. What a GREAT commentary you spoke Wed. PM. !!!!! THE BEST that I have EVER heard!!! Thank you sooo much!!! May the good God continue to give you courage. Tom

Tom Houlihan, Elgin, IL (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 2:40 AM)

Keith, Where have you and your special comments been? Your sincere indignance for the perverse manipulation of tragedy rings to the deepest regions of our very souls. Most of all, you give us all a voice - a stirring, unwavering, well-crafted and resolute voice through all the maniacal claims and falsehoods. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, especially here at home. Thanks for standing guard. - We, The People

Rick Bruni Jr. (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 2:46 AM)

Keith you keep it real. Now you need to address some of your colleagues on MSNBC such as, Tucker Carlson. While I love your show, MSNBC seems to allow Enquiry type media to hit their airwaves. I quote......... What about the nutjob called Dennis Kucinich impeaching VP Dick Cheney? He told Congress he doesn't stand alone, be he was there surrounded by a microphones alone.... end quote. by Tucker Carlson. However, what Mr. Carlson did not continue to say, which was very relevant to him calling Senator Kucinich a nutjob, was Senator Kucinich made that response of not standing alone based on a question from a fellow Senator asking him it appeared he stood alone. The Senator stated, and I quote..... I do not stand alone, I stand with millions of my fellow Americans.... end quote. Tucker, he does!!!!!!!!!!

psouffrant, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 2:59 AM)

I might also add, Tucker Carlson had a Republican and a Democrat on his show talking about the upcoming presidential elections, and how Senator Barack Obama would attempt to sway the Black vote. He told the two how Jesse Jackson, when he was running for president said, vote for me because I'm black. The Democrat on the show said, I never heard Jesse say that. Tucker's response was, yeah, but we all know what he was saying. Well, Tucker your president said he had no clue that the yellow cake letter was a forged document, why don't you come out and say, yeah, we all know he knew it was forged! After all, the CIA told him months before he claimed it! We have that evidence in him taking it out in his Cincinatti speech months earlier than his SOTU speech.

psouffrant, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 3:08 AM)

Outstanding!!! If only there were more people willing to speak truth to the powers that be.......

D. Davis,Greensboro NC (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 5:37 AM)

Brilliant commentary, Keith. Finally, someone in the mainstream media takes on this phony character called "America's Mayor." As someone who lived in New York City under the Giuliani regime, I can testify to what a dreadful, incompetent, petulant, authoritarian president this cretin would be. Democrats need to be far more proactive in taking him apart. And if you get a chance, you might want to quietly water down your boy Chris Matthews' Giuliani Kool-Aid...

Joy (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 6:34 AM)

Nice whinning, Keith. Why only chide a republican for using fear? The problem is that Rudy's speech is no different than what speaker-want-a-be Pelosi's in the 2006 campaign.... "Five years after 9/11, we still do not have 100 percent screening at our ports, we still do not have a mandate for chemical and nuclear plants to safeguard them, we still have not brought anywhere near what we need to of fissile material that poses the biggest danger to the safety of the American people. Our ports are not secure, our borders are not secure, and our country is at risk. We could be safer." Nancy Pelosi, "Five Years After 9/11, We Are Not As Safe As We Should Be" 9/6/06 Fear is used by both sides and yet Mr. Olbermann only gets angry at the right. Why? Well, I have my opinion but I know if I state it this will have no chance of being posted, so I'll skip it. However, for Mr. Olbermann to assert that democrats do not use fear to motivate support is an error at best.....a lie at worst.

Chris, Westfield, NJ (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 8:16 AM)

KO, you are a true force in the industry of of journalism and what fair and accurate reporting is. This, by far, was your best "special comment" on a well known public figure going sour. After 911, everyone was looking for a hero, Rudy fell into the postion all too graciously and became the poster boy for good deed doer's after that abismal day took place. If you look at most of his photo ops, he is smiling, probably knowing he would some day use that tragedy to his advantage. Well he did. Now, he has the gaul to say that if you vote the Democratic Way, going down that path will be voting for death. Has he no clue about a democracy and what it is all about. Who could trust a man that would ridicule, a now stronger party than ever and try to take away out God given rights as Americans and try to decide who shall run the country. Did he sit down with his wife and ask her"honey, what cruel and dispiscable comment can I make to the American public right after what happened in Virginia? How can I make people feel even worse than ever and what else can I say to sound like Jim Jones. Keith, I am glad you got so pissed and I hope right afterwards, you had a stiff drink. Bravo! I am sick of all the crap that is being thrown around and what goes around will defintely come around, Denise

DCohn, Cleveland,OH (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 8:33 AM)

AMEN. It is about time that someone in the "liberal media" had the cajones to call these fear mongering facists on this crap. It is always a pleasure to watch your show.

Peter Chewning, Fairfax VA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 8:47 AM)

Until recently, as a long-time cable resister with dial-up modem I've been limited to read-only versions of your special comments. All I can say is wow and thank you! While there is plenty of impassioned rehetoric available, little of it is as reasoned and articulate as yours. Of course, I then made the "mistake" last night of watching Bill Moyer's report on media buying into the war and I got mad all over again. Thanks again for being the voice of reason.

ek, mpls mn (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 8:55 AM)

Chris - PA: Naw, you wouldn't rather live in Russia. Not really. They might give you a spot of land in Siberia and I can assure you it is much colder there then in PA. Besides, this is still the greatest country in the world. Although at times a nice isolated south pacific island not yet ruined by man sounds nice. Any time you have a collection of people within boundaries called a country or nation you are going to have ups and downs. But the American people have done pretty darn good. And when and if necessary in the event any persons or other types of disasters threaten us the American people will come together to meet those challenges. Japan learned that in WWII. We really are a sleeping giant that is capable of the greatest of of accomplishments. Unfortunately, the opportunity was missed by this administration that could have bolstered our confidence, love, defense and promotion of this country tenfold compared to the frustration and anger we see today. I cannot believe what a fool Bush was and this administration in blowing this opportunity. Right after 911 all the American people were one, were willing and able to throw all differences aside to make this country even greater than what it was, and is. But the opportunity was wasted. We were led down a path that destroyed confidence in the greatness of this country both at home and abroad rather than validating and increasing that greatness. And wasting this opportunity is perhaps the worse crime of this administration. So, we have always known that the American people are up to any task, and that we can meet future challenges together as a nation where few if any can compete. We just to have to begin relying more on ourselves then on our elected officials. Ours is a desire to achieve greatness collectively. Theirs is a desire to achieve greatness personally. The two do not mix.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 8:56 AM)

This was one of the best Commentaries Keith has done. Calling these politicians out on issues like this is more important now than it ever was before. I, for one, will not be a hostage to fear. No American should. To play politics with 9/11 for personal gain is beyond reprehensible. I am so thankful we have Keith to tell it like it is!

Jackie, Hazelwood, MO (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:04 AM)

Mr. Olbermann, Thank you for your analysis of the Rudolph Giuliani record and your principaled attack on his performance based on substance, not his glaring personal flaws. Like Wayne Barrett's, your critique is carefully reasoned and well-documented. The good news is that Giuliani is his own myth-making manipulator. (Fortunately, his ego and temperament are too large to let any of the professional handlers shape his message). After all, when his term as mayor was over, Rudy literally stole his public archive so he could re-write history. This death-wish control freak will implode, just like 7 World Trade Center, where he brilliantly built his emergency bunker in the sky--setting up the perverted image of a squint-eyed Giuliani leading his people out of the ashes of 9-11--or so the legend goes. His crime statistics in NYC are just as much a distortion of the facts. But that's another discussion and further proof that self-promotion at any cost and dishonesty have become the rule in politics. Keep telling the truth, Keith. Thank you.

Fred Smith (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:06 AM)

Chris in Westfield, Can you really not see the difference in pointing out our shortcomings in National Security and saying that if you vote for a Democrat more people will die? Democrat vs Republican has nothing to do with how prepared we are to deal with another terroist threat like 9/11. This was political pandering at it's worst and you know it.

Jackie, Hazelwood, MO (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:10 AM)

While I agree with every word of the Comment, I think that the "performance" (a horrid concept to even consider for a newsperson, I should think) detracts and distracts. I recognize indignation. I'm indignant myself. But I don't need to be screamed at me for me to get the point.

Ted Stryker, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:11 AM)

Keith, I pray that you never lose your fervent determination to call people on their BS. Thank you for the strength of your convictions.

Paul, Ames, IA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:37 AM)

Is it just me or does anyone else realize that we haven't had a color-coded terror alert since, well, just before the '04 presidential election. Now what does that say about manipulation of people's fears? i guess it served it's purpose and has been put to rest since it's not needed anymore.

Retiarii (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:39 AM)

Keith, I felt like last night's program was a 2 for 1. Exposing the absolute hypocrisy and lies of Rudy Guiliani and Bill O'Reilly, just as you did with John McCain all those months ago. It was a superb program. What a sad state of affairs we are in when Countdown has to continually sort out the mess that is allowed on our air waves, year after year, from commentators and politicians, none of whom seem to realize that we are not all idiots. The day I agree with anything O'Reilly, Beck, Hannity, Guiliani, Romney or McCain has to say is the day I need to be put in an institution. To say nothing of Bush and Cheney. Or Coulter or Limbaugh. And so on. Cheers.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:41 AM)

C A from Tuscaloosa AL, PAY MY WAY (and not just for a ticket but for a full, seamless transition) and we will see who laughs last! This country is on the doorstep on an IMPERIALISTIC dictatorship who have already taken control of TWO past elections. I'd rather take my chances on a cold trip to Siberia than one to GITMO or one of their other Soviet-type goologs. Your hope for the American people to somehow bounce back fails to recognize that they'd rather be watching > THE AMERICAN IDOL < than voting. NO THANKS... PAY MY WAY SIR... PAY MY WAY!

Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:11 AM)

Is it just me or are most of us starting to open our eyes and our minds. It seems like post 9/11 closed us up and now we are all waking up again. Bravo Keith. Good Talk.

Bryan Fagan, North Bonneville, WA. (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:24 AM)

Great comment, Keith! The politics of fear will not work, It didn't work on '06, and it won't work in 2008. You have helped people get wise to these old tactics, a great public service.

Tom Y MN (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:27 AM)

Thoroughly enjoyed and agreed with your commentary. Would like to thank MSNBC for allowing you the freedom to present your views - I don't think many news channels would allow their anchors to do so. I also think we owe Rudy our thanks for showing his true colors; with this statement I think he's derailed his campaign all on his own.

Jamie, Elmwood Park, IL (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:35 AM)

Maybe Keith could be applauded if he split his attention equally on both sides of the isle. One could poke a million holes in last night's diatribe. Countdown is no different then The No Spin Zone both inaccurate and more concerned about ratings then even handed discourse.

Todd, Anytown, USA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:37 AM)

Love your show, keep it up

Mac,Charlotte, NC (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:49 AM)

Thank you Keith !!! You are one of the few voices of sanity on the airwaves. Keep giving them hell !! They really think we...the public... are all stupid.

Cindy, Texas (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:50 AM)

ahhhhhhhh! I'm mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore!

John Roscoe (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:06 AM)

Thanks, Keith, for saying what really needed to be said. I am very tired of the scare tactic being used by both the administration and some of the people who wish to replace them. ENOUGH. The politicians were surprised last year when we voted, they may be even more surprised in '08 when more of us go to the poles and vote. Most of the elected officials think we, the people, are stupid and will continue to follow party lines like sheep. They might just get a real shock with what we do the next time we vote. When we get together, when we get mad, when we have had enough of "SSDD" we will put them out of office and take our chances with the new, and untainted new people.

J. S. - Orlando, FL (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:19 AM)

Great comment,I wish the rest of the American people would wake up and pay attention.We have been sedated with bread and circuses.Keith should write speeches for the next Democratic convention.We are no safer now than we were before 9/11,we are likely worse off.We have a long way to go to make this country safe and we are wasting our reasources in a pointless war.LOVE THE SHOW AND KEEP IT UP.

Cindy,Levittown ,Pa. (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:28 AM)

Ok Chris, a one way ticket to the far reaches of Siberia land. Do not pass go, do not stop to consider those frigid cold russian nights where you will be kept awake by those northern lights or the carribou stealing your veggies or the wolfs coming to steal your toes. Speaking of Siberia, want to hear something interesting Chris. My grandfather fought in Siberia protecting the US and Canadian timber rights during WWI and guess who he was fighting. You got it. He was fighting the Russians (can't remember if the reds or whites) while at the same time the Russians were our allies in the war against Germany. Now is this not a crazy world. By the way, my grandfather told me it is really, really, really cold there in Siberia, and the women are not, well, you know what I mean.

C A, Tuscaloosa, Al (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:33 AM)

YES!!!! KEITH!!!! I loved ya last night!and watched your comments on Guiliani twice. omg this US media has been so cowtowed to the GOP for the past several years!!! It musta been all those anthrax letters and maybe the GOP media massages? What Guiliani and the GOP have been doing is actually an old nazi trick...."Of course the people don't want war..but it's the leaders who determine the policies and it's easy to drag the people along. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pascifists as unpatriotic and leaving the country open to danger" Hermann Goering-Nuremburg trials yep our GOP are the fear and terror mongers...much more concerned about power than the integrity or citizens of this nation. Notable also that the GOP focused on Clintons sex life while we were being plotted against and 9/11 happened on BUSH and THE GOP watch. Thank you Keith! for being a true thinking and speaking AMERICAN. It was refreshing!

Virginia A Denton Salida, CO (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:48 AM)

The rebublican mascot shouldn't be an elephant it should be a big hippo, as in big hippocrit!

Dyan, St. Louis, MO (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:11 PM)

Topping off the Fear Buffett, is Dubya doing a mean 'Mashed Potato', to highlight 'Malaria Awareness Week'.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:13 PM)

Despite what Mr. Olbermann may say about his years in the "den of iniquity that was Cornell back in the 70's," last night's special comment (in particular) certainly suggests that he actually dropped by his composition and journalism classes, at least occasionally. He is certainly more than passingly familiar with sentence expansion, parallel construction, and advanced rhetorical techniques, not to mention that he never does end a sentence with a preposition. And what a message it was, delivered with dignity and incredible passion that you just don't see anywhere else in the media today. Bravo, and ditto on "keep it up."

Bonnie, Madison (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:31 PM)

Keith Obermann is Edward R. Murrow - with passion

Robert Stevens, Chesterton, Indiana (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:34 PM)

I watch MSNBC almost exclusively and Countdown is absolutely a must-see News program. I applaud all of your very eloquent and passionate Special Comment segments. Fear has been a part of our political landscape for far too long. The rhetoric espoused by those who would exploit and wield fear as a weapon, must be met by those patriotic enough to dissent. If the veil of fear in this country is to be lifted from our collective eyes, it will only be from the perspective of the truth, from those brave enough to speak it.

Jason Tetzloff, Stevens Point, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:55 PM)

I listened to Mr Olbermann's Special Comment last night and have re-read the transcript and still find it amazing that someone such as Mr. Olbermann does not realize that over-the-top political rhetoric has been taking place in America for over one hundred years. One glaring example was the famous ad against Goldwater (featuring the little girl and the mushroom cloud). If that wasn't offensive and over-the-top, I don't know what is. Mr. Olbermann, please do not let your politics and personal feelings get in the way of good reporting. Everyone is entitled to their scathing attacks, but please remember this political hyperbole has gone on before us and will continue long after we are gone. Mr. Giuliani was using a tried and true political tactic and the voters of the United States will speak.

Erik, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:57 PM)

Thank You keith,You sopke for me.

James Crowley,Rushville,NY (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:59 PM)

Keith, thank you, thank you, thank you! I wish there were more of reporters like you with an "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" attitude. This fear-mongering is old. Tha American people can't take much more of this...at least I can't. ROCK ON KEITH! You're my hero! :)

Jodee, Cortland, NY (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:00 PM)

Mr. Olberman, this is why the Democrats will continue to cede foreign afffairs and and policy to the Republican for another 10 years. When are you guys on the left going to be able to recognize the threats we face? I mean we face an enemy whose ideology and philosophy is right out of the Middle Ages. These radical Islamic militants see this as a holy war with world domination their eventual goal. They share absolutely no similarities with any of the principles the left wing in this country stands for. These Islamic extremists seek to kill all non-muslims be they Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, etc.....Heck they will kill their fellow Muslims if they don't agree with their brand of Islam. Keep this up Mr. Olberman...it will only serve to hand the National Security and Foreign Policy argument over to the Republicans.

Shane, Casper, Wyoming (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:18 PM)

keith - would you marry me?? I love you for so eloquently expressing what I have known and tried to express since the begining of this whole debacle - that the underlying agenda of this administration has been to erode the very rights that we so fervently hold dear - and the very ideals that the terrorists hate us for -

laura holland, florissant, mo (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:19 PM)

Keith, Your Comments about Giuliani were fact. Please don't stop telling us the truth. Countdown is one of the few news programs to tell the truth. We must never let the "conservative junk commentators" fool the American people again. Before Countdown most American were in fear of commenting about the war and many of the freedoms the Bush Administration are taking away from us in the name of patriotism. It's called Free Press for a reason. Don't stop being courageous and don't give up on telling us the truth. You are truly a Great American. Many Thanks.

Jose V W, Plains Township, PA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:34 PM)

A little clarity on the subject: Late yesterday afternoon the Democratic National Committee sent an email bearing the signature of chairman Howard Dean (reproduced at Little Green Footballs), in which he misquotes Giuliani outright: Rudy Giuliani should be ashamed. The former New York City Mayor is politicizing September 11th in his 2008 presidential bid. Here's what he said at a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire: "If a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001... Never ever again will this country ever be on defense waiting for (terrorists) to attack us if I have anything to say about it. And make no mistake, the Democrats want to put us back on defense!" I won't let this wannabe Republican nominee get away with remarks like these. In fact, the first sentence in the Giuliani "quote" was not something Giuliani said but something Roger Simon of The Politico wrote.

SATIE, ANYTOWN USA (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:41 PM)

Mr. Olbermann, I pray and wish that I can only be as eloquent as you on topics that I feel equally as passionate about. Your commentaries are the epitome of what persuasive public speaking is about. You, sir have a great talent. One which is shared by very few. I admire your emotion while presenting these issues and your steadfastness in addressing "crazy" issues such as those that have stemmed since the beginning of this year. I have watched all of your commentaries, whether online or on your show. You make my day (or night) and are far better than O'Reilly. God's speed Sir and continue with the good work!

Hilda M, Baltimore, MD (Sent Thursday, April 26, 2007 1:48 PM)



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