I'm embarrassed for what I consider to be a low-point in Countdown history with the segment on Wendy Vitter's dress.  It's a sexist double-standard that the clothing of female public figures is fair game for sexual commentary -- form-fitting, plunging neckline notwithstanding.  We rightfully objected to the superficial coverage of Nancy Pelosi's wardrobe earlier this year, and we should be no less concerned because this time the target is a Republican.

It was a cheap shot, and the Vitter family deserves an apology.

Unfortunately, you’re still missing the big picture here.  We just heard from the LA Times this weekend that a majority of the suicide bombers in Iraq are Saudi nationals.  Among those suicide bombings is the Mosul mess tent bombing in December 2004, which to this day is the deadliest single attack against Americans in the Iraq War. According to the AP and UPI, the bomber was a Saudi named Said Ahmed al-Ghamdi.  Likewise, the gang of insurgents which blew up the Golden Mosque in Samara in February 2006, which promptly sparked the full-blown civil war we see today, was made up of 4 Iraqi Sunnis and 4 Saudi nationals.

Of course, 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis.  But take a second look at what The 9/11 Commission Report said about why that was the case.  According to the Commission, Khalid Sheikh Mohamed, the mastermind of the 9/11 plot, has now told U.S. authorities that in the years leading up to the attack he observed that roughly 70% of the recruits in Al Qaeda’s Afghan training camps were Saudis.  And he isn't the only Al Qaeda insider who has said as much.

That’s the real link between Al Qaeda and Iraq - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The real big red flag here is that Pres. Bush won’t say a peep about any of this, even though he’s being raked over the coals for all his talk of “Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia”.  This administration has clearly adopted a policy of covering up and concealing (or at least obfuscating) evidence implicating the Saudis, no matter how many Americans they kill.

For more on the gory details, see:

www.asecondlookatthesaudis.com.

Bush has been blathering for six years that he has made America safer by continuing the war in Iraq.  Now, all of a sudden, we must cower again because Al Qaeda has a strong foothold in Iraq from which they will attack us.  Isn't Iraq a rather inconvenient location for an attack on the U.S.?  If Bush's Iraq plan is doing so well, how did all those Al Qaeda get into Iraq?  C'mon George, you can't have it both ways.  Read my lips.  THERE WERE NO AL QAEDA IN IRAQ UNDER HUSSEIN.  That is a known, well publicized fact on all news networks.  If we are seriously expecting attack, why aren't our borders and ports closed?  Does Bush have any idea that he is contradicting himself and looks even more stupid than usual?

Any time things are really going badly for the Bush administration they start yelling about terrorists again.  There have always been terrorists.  There will always be terrorists.  Stop them at the border or shut up.  

America is sick of this toy president who wanted the title but not the job, so he turned all the work over to Dick Cheney who is a maniac and a despot and Bush just happily does his bidding and turns on what he imagines to be his personal charm.

Most of us in America would like Bush and Cheney to get out and stay out.  The sooner the better.

I'm going through WPITW withdrawal, but other than that, Alison did a very fine job.

Good Tuesday evening, my fellow Americans. Thanks to Alison Stewart for hosting tonight! Once again, a tour de force effort.

First in a quickie comment about Andy Dick and John Lovitz, I think Andy Dick is annoying as hell and not funny. If any of what was said about him tonight in connection with Phil Hartman is true, John Lovitz should have done more than push him against a bar.

As far as re-surging the surge or a surge to the surge or whatever other linguistic BS someone's gonna try to pawn off on us, OK...I'll admit to not being real strong in math. My educational background is history and literature, and I think math is Satan's spawn, but where the heck are the surgers for the surge gonna come from? As was mentioned tonight, I believe, troops are scheduled to be rotated sometime in the near future. Are we just going to keep the ones there there, get some from the Korean peninsula, or what? Could someone PLEASE explain this to me?

Is David Shuster gonna have to cot out with the Senators tonight (if they even last all night - not bloody likely)? He's a newly-married guy, for Pete's sake. If so, he deserves a pay raise in addition to the medal he should get for rolling around in all the DC ilk on a daily basis. I can't say that I have a whole lot of confidence in what's going to happen in the Senate tonight. The images of unloading the cots and Senator Reid's bravado are all well and good, but actions speak louder than words. And, so far, it seems like our Congress is much better at bravado instead of action.

I thought the comment tonight about Republican senators saying "off the record" that they agree that Iraq needs to end, but to save the President's (once again, capitalizing for the office - not the person in the office) face or any other part of his anatomy, they really need to wait to hear the September "report" before they can officially do anything was sadly and insanely telling. I hope they have the cojones to go to every family who looses a loved one in harm's way between now and September and explain themselves. I know...no way in hell.

Good night, everybody. See you tomorrow!

You have to ask this question? This is because of sheer incompetence, inattention, and ideological biases as well as a personal vendetta on the part of the President against Iraq. We dropped the ball and transferred our attention, intelligence, and military forces from Afghanistan to Iraq. If George Bush had been in charge during World War II, instead of Normandy, we'd be invading Romania for the Ploiesti oil fields and needlessly alienating Turkey and the old Soviet Union in the process. So, fighting in Constanta, instead of marching on to Berlin. A good idea for victory!

Ok it's 10:30 pm est time. Go to bed Lieberman!!

That Countdown 2 was a piece of trash.  That woman was wearing a perfectly normal dress with (as far as can be seen) a loose-fitting skirt; form-fitting?!  I think not. And as for "plunging" neckline--please!!  Here in SF, half the women under 40 run around with cleavage, which was not on view in this clip.  And lastly, and self-evidently, it was sexist.

Ok - this is 2 days in a row. Steve in Cedar Falls, Iowa - where is YOUR countdown? I'm missin' it.

#1. Jon Lovitz is a deranged psychotic beast. For that matter, so is Andy Dick. #2. If she only would've dressed up like a nurse once in a while, Vitter might have avoided all this. Oh well, see what you get for fifty dollars? #3. Hey, Honkey-American Babes can tussle, just like the Sisters, OK? #4. Lionel Ritchie would make more sense than the Politicians we have now. #5.  OK.  My neighbor Louella told me the same thing about Al-Qaeda, A YEAR AGO. She's either in one of the 16 spy-networks...and leaked, or it's just a DUH moment for all of us.  So let's talk about what America really wants to know.  Now that Linsey Lohan is out of Rehab, will she answer the question that has all the Boomers wondering.  Was the character she played in 'A Prairie Home Companion" the daughter of her Mother, a schmaltzy Russian-American Prom Queen and reprised by Meryl Streep, and: A. her husband, a Zombied and Russian-Roulette Addicted, not to mention Heroin, Christopher Walken, OR B. Robert DeNiro, the perpetually retentive Deer Hunter?  C'mon Linsey, fess up!

Disgusted, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 17, 2007 9:30 PM)
I am in total agreement.. I've said since Bush wanted the ports to be sold to Dubai, even Fox Noise has this... Uh HUM the same Dubai that Haliburton has moved to!
Bush Says He Will Veto Any Bill to Stop UAE Port Deal
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

WASHINGTON —  In a rare threat to use his veto power, President Bush said Tuesday he will stop any legislation that attempts to prevent the purchase by a United Arab Emirates-owned firm of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which runs six major U.S. ports.

Breaking a gaping silence from the administration in the debate about the purchase by Dubai Ports World of London-based P&O, Bush said the deal should go forward and won't jeopardize U.S. security.

If this wouldn't jeopardize U.S. Security.. if it's a real worry, then why do this? Because there is no real threat that's why!

After I heard this, I'm like if he isn't afraid of doing something like this, then why should we? This brought a huge attitude change in myself finally totally realizing, that all the stuff they were feeding us is BS about terrorist. This is also the time when I finally accepted that it was Bush along with his Thug Bunch, which spans to who knows how many behind the scenes cronies, who did 9/11!

I am sure that one of the reasons this company backed out is due to the fact that more and more people were starting to become aware that there is no real threat from an outside source..
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185479,00.html

Gotta love Fox Noise..
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185677,00.html
They also printed this!
Bush Wasn't Aware of Port Deal
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

WASHINGTON —  President Bush was unaware that a controversial deal to sell shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a United Arab Emirates-owned firm was in the works until it was approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday.

After Bush defended the deal Tuesday and threatened to use his veto power against any congressional legislation aimed at stalling it, the administration also said that it should have briefed Congress sooner about the transaction, which has triggered a major political backlash among both Republicans and Democrats.

"He became aware of it over the last several days," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters Wednesday. Asked if Bush did not know about it until it was a done deal, McClellan said, "That's correct."

There is more.. you can read the rest from the links...
Here is one from CBS too so...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/21/national/main1331694.shtml
Bush Vows Veto Over Port Deal
President Defends Deal To Give Arab-Owned Firm Control Of 6 U.S. Ports

" I've said since Bush wanted the ports to be sold to Dubai,"
"purchase by Dubai Ports World of London-based P&O"
Not US Companies. Last I heard Dubai Ports had decided not to go through with the deal. United Arab Emirates are not our enemy, why do the Democrats want to make them an enemy?

"According to the Commission, Khalid Sheikh Mohamed, the mastermind of the 9/11 plot, has now told U.S. authorities that in the years leading up to the attack he observed that roughly 70% of the recruits in Al Qaeda’s Afghan training camps were Saudis.  And he isn't the only Al Qaeda insider who has said as much.

That’s the real link between Al Qaeda and Iraq - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Saudi Arabia has allowed the US to build Airforce bases in that country. Bin Laden and the Radical Islamics are enemies of the Saudi Government for that reason among others. A recent attempt by al-Qu'ida to set saudi oil Fields ablaze was thwarted, not the first such attack and undoubtedly not the last.

Al-Quida has found that it can not operate very effectively in either Saudi Arabia or Jordan, those governments don't play around, Gitmo is a vacation resort compared to what al-Qu'ida operatives would face if caught in either country.

Al-Qu'ida is not a country or a Government, its membership includes US citizens and Citizens of many other nations.

The majority of governments of Arab Countries are Secular, this makes them natural enemies of Islamic Fundementalists.
Saudi Arabia long ago divided power between the Royals who handle all business and military functions and the Religious authority which regulates day to day behavior according to Islamic laws. Thats a fine balancing act. Bin Laden has always wanted to destabilize the saudi government in order to seize power and use saudi Arabia as the centerpiece of the Caliphate. None of this is news.
Bin Laden supported saddam solely because saddam was an enemy of saudi arabia and the US, thats not news either. There are a much higher percentage of fanatical wahabi in Saudi Arabia so they are the most common suicide bombers, other al-Quida and affiliates are slightly less enthusiastic about suicide or targeting muslim civilians.

Once more Ansar al-Islam was an al-Qu'ida affiliate, it was operating in Iraq, this is not in dispute. Al-Quida was in fact operating in Iraq. Northern Iraq is and was part of Iraq, al-Qu'ida means "the Base' it is composed of affiliates like Ansar al-Islam which was started up using al'Qu'ida funds and staffed by al-Qu'ida and al-Qu'ida affiliated Taliban commanders.

While saddam co operated with al-Qu'ida and supported suicide bombings in Israel Bin Laden counted him as an ally and presented a long message to his followers to explain just why this was so. Thats not in dispute, the text of the message has been available for years.

RE: Original Al Qaeda Returns.  Cover for a false flag attack or a purposefully allowed operation anyone?  What exactly is Blackwater doing these days?  We need to keep an eye on them too.  That's what happens when you hire mercenaries.

RE: All Night Long!  Well nice initiative, boys and girls.  How about seeing that kind of gusto more often.  How about every time we turn to C-SPAN, we see all you twits in your seats, sleeping on cots and eating pizza until you address Bush Co.'s repeated violations of the Constitution?  You bunch of lazy venal bastards.  Get to work defending the Constitution.  You know.  What you SWORE to do?  Pull your snouts out of the trough long enough to do that DUTY, will you, little piggies?

#3 - All I have to say about this is that this venture is premised on the idea that Americans on the whole (not just the black community) have a sense of shame.  Make of that what you will.  And Allison . . . call me, not that other guy.  I bet I'm more to your conversational tastes.  I can dance at any speed, so to speak.  Eh? Eh?  Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.  Dream on?  Oh well . . . c'est la vie.  A man's got to have a dream and your charm, wit, intelligence and beauty do indeed make you any sane straight man's dream.

KEITH OLBERMANN! You should be ashamed of the dress story!  It was petty to have the fashion consultant on. On the other hand it did inspire Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa to coin his gem. Steve, again, you just slay me.  Start going to open mike nights.  Please.

Okay, was that enough mock indignation at the dress story?

STIPULATION:  It was indeed a petty and cheap shot.

To all those crying foul here I submit for your consideration the degree and severity of character assassination that is the SOP of the GOP and their habitual doublespeak about being a party of any kind of moral or ethical values let alone that a malleable non-specific term "Family Values".  Is it just me or should this filler story be filed under "P" for "Payback"?  You all know what payback is.  Rhymes with "itch".

John Lovitz . . . my man, you have great restraint.  A lot of people miss Phil as the talented entertainer he was, but you lost a friend.  Sorry for your loss.  

Andy Dick.  Is it something about the name that makes you so obnoxious and creepy or do you actually have a Cheney or Bush in the woodpile?  Be glad I'm not one of Phil's friends.  I would have been much nastier to deal with than John.  I'd never have to lay a finger on you either.  Judging by the recent state of your career, I am guessing Phil had a friend like me.  Maybe more than one.  I'm guessing several.  Sucks to be you, doesn't it?  Ya little freak.  Read these words carefully, Andy.  Coke is death, moron.  You reap what you sew.  Enjoy your certain future as an unfunny has been and your likely future as the victim of a deal gone bad or an OD.

And on that note I bid you good evening.

9/11.....Attack Iraq.

Al Qaeda of Iraq.....Stay The Course.

Al Qaeda getting strong....Now we can't leave w/o VICTORY!!

Re: #5 "Al Qaeda is gaining strength... and is still determined to attack the U-S.....How is that even possible?"

How?  I'll tell you how!  Because it's not al-Qaeda, it's our own government who is doing the attacking. Only Republicans and the most naive of Democrats still believe in the mythical al-Qaeda (also known as "Al-CIA-duh") carrying out attacks here, or in Iraq.  Do you all really believe that all those car bombs and the mass carnage they are causing is simply Sunni attacking Shia and vice-versa? The Mossad and the CIA have been there all along, you know.  What does everyone think they're doing, just watching?

If another attack occurs on our soil, that will merely be confirmation that our government cannot and will not protect us.  Not because they can't.  Because they won't.  How to continue to push their war agenda and to continue to take our rights away without terrorism and the threat of terrorism?  Who benefits?

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, July 18, 2007 12:22 AM)

thank you. My world is now back on an even keel!

(smile)

Hark! What is that I hear? Those are the drums or war beating, faster and faster and coming closer and closer. The Al-Qaeda are getting stronger, reports 16 spy agencies, is this intel the real deal or some botched intelligence......again? Which country is going to be invaded now? Another Muslim country and another half a million or more dead, no doubt. Who is really counting and who really cares? Stick around for the second act.

Looking bad for us again .... time for a distraction.  Hmmmm .... terrorism has always worked for us ..... yeah, works great.  Make em afraid.  Then they won't pay attention to anything else.  

Let's release that NIE .... yeah ..... full of al Qaeda getting strong again.  Make sure our reporter guys - yeah, the whole Press Corps - doesn't ask why we released this one when we didn't release the last ones - or ask why we released it early.

Fill up those speeches with al Qaeda ..... yeah, Iraq al Qaeda .... Iran al Qaeda.  Put em together in the same sentences over and over again so the stupid people out there think there's a connection.  Plenty of references to 9/11, too.  Remember to remind em that they want to kill us ..... yeah ...... ramp up that fear.

Too bad we can't go to neon fushia terror alert status.  You know the media won't cover anything else.  Give em a big story - something with celebrities.  

Too bad Paris Hilton got out of jail early.  Can we send her back?  Then the press would be all camped out here and not covering our shill ....er, fine Senator .... Vitter and his being diapered by a prostitute fantasy.  Or the War getting more bloody by the minute.  Or those Dems getting balls and demanding accountability.  Or our people who don't show up for hearings - or give em a juicy raspberry as an answer to a question if they do show up for a hearing.  Or the reward .... er, justified commutation we gave our buddy Scooter for his silence ..... er, for his previous fine and patriotic service to our country.

Remember to remind em over and over again that Congress unanimously voted for General Patreus - make it seem that that vote means they never ever question him ..... or us.  Wave that flag.  Stick to those talking points we gave you.  Remember to keep mentioning our fine, brave fighting men and women - we've been hiding behind them for years.  

Remind people how many of our soldiers have died - make sure that the message gets out that ending the war dishonors our dead soldiers.  I know that doesn't make sense, but it sure makes a great talking point.

By all means find something to displace the stories that are out there and find something fast.  The bad news about us is ...... bad news.

Your cunning, patriotic, flag waving, partisan director of all things slimy,

Karl Rove
on an undisclosed email server
in an undisclosed location
this email will self delete and self destruct so no one but the faithful can get their stinking hands on it

I've detested Andy Dick for a long time, ever since he was associated with the death of a talented young actor David Strickland who committed suicide under the influence of coke after partying with Dick hours earlier.  If I remember correctly, I think there was some question regarding the extent of Dick's involvement but I DO remember that he made some terribly inappropriate comments at the time, playing it off like it was a big joke.  I had no idea about the connection with Phil Hartman.  I think Lovitz should be given a medal!

As a woman, I wasn't the least bit offended by the story on "the dress."  I was however appalled at the dress itself.  It was hideous and terribly inappropriate.  I'm sure I'll offend someone with this, but it just looked white-trashy to me.  It didn't occur to me at the time that it might be payback; but the more I think about it ... look at the set of her jaw in that clip.  She looks like a poster child for TMJ.

I like Alison; I just miss Worst Person when she's on.  I wish they'd do it anyway.

551 days...

Sue?  When you channel Karl like that, does it leave a stain on your soul?  A bad taste in your mouth?  Give you a bad hair day?  Make you want to kick the dog?  There must be some price for being that close to concentrated evil.  Just curious.

LOL Todd!  Channelling Karl is no problem.  I spent the last nearly 8 years of my nursing career working in a 2000 inmate prison.  I took my shots.

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, July 18, 2007 4:42 PM)

Sue!! Well no wonder you handle the neocon fleas so well. You've had experience in managing sick criminals!!

I feel sorry for Mrs Vitter.  But the other night I finally realized who David Vitter looks and acts like.  Major Frank Burns, M*A*S*H 4077.  Ferret Face!

Suzie, New Orleans LA (Sent Wednesday, July 18, 2007 9:30 PM)

OMG you are SO right!! Good call.

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