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Report: Senator Craig To Resign

Posted: Friday, August 31, 2007 6:01 PM by Countdown

(AP photo)

***UPDATE**** Craig will resign...the AP says:

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig will announce Saturday he will resign from the Senate amid a furor over his arrest and guilty plea in a police sex sting in an airport men's room, Republican officials said Friday.

Tomorrow morning (yes, on the Saturday of labor day weekend...the slowest news Saturday of the year) Senator Larry Craig will make some kind of announcement.  Will he remind us he's not gay?  Will he officially wish us a happy Labor Day?  Will he endorse the Countdown Dragnet re-enactment?

Interestingly...the AP reports that the Idaho governor has already determined a replacement for the Senator should he resign. 

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Countdown Thursday: To Catch a Senator

Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2007 8:07 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

According to published reports today, President Bush is considering nominating Clay Johnson to replace Michael Chertoff as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Mr. Johnson has no experience in law enforcement, the law, the military, counter-terrorism or intelligence. His current job involves oversight of management throughout the executive branch. Prior to that, he served during the Bush/Cheney transition by helping Mr. Bush to staff thousands of federal positions.

He served much the same role when Mr. Bush became governor, and then served as Mr. Bush's chief of staff. You can read his official government bio here. 

Mr. Johnson does not appear to have any blemishes of ethics or competence on his public record. (That line was written before we stumbled upon this.)  Privately, he has worked as an executive in the mail-order catalogue business, as well as for Pepsico. Specifically, Frito-Lay, a maker of fine snack chips.

To his credit, Frito-Lay has suffered not a single attack by al Qaeda.

His relationship with Mr. Bush is almost unique in Washington. The two men have been friends since they were 15 and met at Andover.

He recalls discussing Vietnam with Mr. Bush. Not the morality of it. That was "almost moot," he told the Associated Press. Their concern was getting out of the draft.

More to come, we suspect. Post your own links on Mr. Johnson's golden oldies. His role as personnel chief for Bush over the years could yield some interesting connections.

"My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall," Karsnia stated in his report. "From my seated position, I could observe the shoes and ankles of Craig seated to the left of me."

Craig was wearing dress pants with black dress shoes.

"At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area," the report states.

And the response from the Craig camp?

A spokesman for Craig described the incident as a "he said/he said misunderstanding," and said the office would release a fuller statement later Monday afternoon.

********UPDATE***********

Senator Larry Craig stated, "At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions. I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct.

"I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."

Change of Pace:  When a prominent Republican Senator like John Warner calls on President Bush to start bringing some troops home from Iraq -- that can be damaging enough. Now imagine what can happen when the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advises the president to cut U-S forces there by as much as half. Our fifth story on the Countdown: A published report says we may not have to imagine that scenario for much longer.

Revisionist History: Really perverse. That's what one historian calls the president's speech this week drawing on the lessons of wars past to sell staying in Iraq. He not only says he was misquoted... he says the adminstration is living in a fantasy land.

ODDBALL:  A boat that catches its own fish, an update on the Duct Tape bandit, and our introduction to the world of human tetris.

Lust in Space: Going to outer space is pretty impressive, and there is still a very small club of people who have done it.  But when astronaut Lisa Nowak went on another kind of trip...a road trip to end all road trips...she secured her place in infamy.  And today she was back in court. Our third story on the Countdown: The woman who is accused of stalking a romantic rival, the woman who was a navy pilot who allegedly drove one-thousand miles in a diaper so she wouldn't have to take a bathroom break, today asked for permission to remove her G-P-S monitoring device. Otherwise known as an ankle bracelet.

Crisis of Faith?: Our number two story.. in two weeks, we will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Mother Theresa.  The life and words of the legendary nun who dedicated her life to caring for the hopelessly sick and desperately poor remain a reminder of the power of faith.  But it turns out even Mother Theresa questioned the strength of that power.  Why do we know this?  Her writings which were not supposed to see the light of day...have.

82 Minutes:  Nicole Richie served 82 minutes of her four-day jail sentence yesterday afternoon.  82 minutes. But her reality show co-star Paris Hilton served 23 days of her own 45-day sentence. There's something not so simple about that math. And in our number one story on the Countdown, Ms. Hilton, of all people, is starting to look like she did hard time. While Ms. Richie -- at only 82 minutes -- has probably had hair appointments that lasted longer. Low lights take time people.

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From 'Double Down' to Drawdown

Posted: Friday, August 24, 2007 1:15 PM by Countdown

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A Picture's Worth 5 Days

Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:00 PM by Countdown

Why did this pic get a 13-year-old kid 5 days in the hole (i.e. suspended from school?). Find out after the jump.

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Countdown Thursday: A Bad Estimate

Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007 8:50 PM by Countdown

Alison in for Keith tonight...

Warner Warns Bush:  Three weeks before the Bush administration delivers its latest report on Iraq, today a top member of the Republican Party calls for the White House to make sure the U.S. commitment in Iraq does not remain open-ended. Our fifth story on the Countdown: Senator John Warner, the Senate's leading Republican on military matters says President Bush should start ordering some troops home... as 16 of America's spy agencies conclude that Iraq's leaders cannot govern effectively.

Decision 2008: Being number three is no fun, just ask Melinda Doolittle and John Edwards who is making a mad dash for the front of the pack. Will his criticism of Senators Clinton and Obama stick with voters?

ODDBALL:  Brawl in the Bolivian Congress, and Flash News...some weirdo flashes a news camera.  It doesn't get any more literal than that, right?

Tales from the Pokey:  It's official...Lindsay Lohan has reached a plea deal requiring her to spend one day in jail. A whole 24 hours. And in our third story on the Countdown, the question is once again raised. After two DUI busts within nine weeks, both involving alleged possession of cocaine...Is a celebrity getting special treatment?

Mine Disaster:    Number two tonight, there may be a little bit of justice for the families experiencing anguish and heartbreak. The latest on the fate of six missing miners in the Crandall Canyon Utah mine disaster. Today the senate committee that oversees mine safety said it would investigate the cause of that tragedy calling for hearings in early September. :

Putin on the Fritz:  Vladimir took his shirt off to reveal some ripply...something.  Paul F. Tompkins will try and contain the drool from dripping out of his mouth as he breaks down this skin story. 

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Breaking: Warner Calls for Withdrawal

Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007 3:28 PM by Countdown

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Inspect the Pecs

Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:05 PM by Countdown

Name that barrel chested dog-tag wearing world leader (hint: it's not Jeff Gannon/Guckert).

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Outlook Not So Good

Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007 10:20 AM by Countdown

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Countdown Wednesday: Vietnam? Really?

Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 8:50 PM by Countdown

Alison in for Keith tonight...

Iraq = Vietnam:  To quote the president on the state of the war: "The confused nature of this conflict cannot mask the fact that it is the new face of an old enemy. The contest is part of a wider pattern of aggressive purposes." Those words, coming from President Lyndon Johnson, another Texan, from another party, about another war, Vietnam, in April 1965.  But in our fifth story on the Countdown: the current President, George W. Bush, expressed many of the same sentiments today, in a speech linking the Iraq war to the conflict in Vietnam.  It all comes full circle.

The Utah Mine Collapse, The Plot Thickens:  It went from a tragedy to a catastrophe and now for some, to outrage. Is it even possible, the owner of the mine is considering opening up other sections of the same mountain for mining?

ODDBALL:  The world's longest table, a three horned cow and the crocodile whisperer.

The Book on Protestors:  The Bush administration has a detailed plan on how to deal with protesters.  It is a manual, in fact, and apparently it is very handy.  Public awareness that there are written instructions discribing clever ways to make the bad dissenters go away surfaced as the result of a lawsuit filed by two protestors who had been arrested. Our third story on the Countdown: the A-B-C's of marginalizing those pesky protesters courtesy of the administration.

The Brad Pitt Interview:  Our number two story tonight: fame, fortune and a few good ideas can be a powerful combination. If you are going to have photographers and TV cameras follow your every move, why not make those moves to help others and raise awareness for a cause.  Brad Pitt and his baby's momma, Angelina Jolie, bought a house in New Orleans last January because they SAY they fell in love with the city. Now they are working to help build healthy homes for the city's displaced residents.  Houses that are also healthy for the environment.

Tales From Rehab: In our number one story on the Countdown, Lindsay Lohan is either...A: doing great in rehab and really changing her life around.  B: acting out by having relations with a male patient in the bathroom.  Or, C: some sketchy combination of the two, if that's possible. But one thing's for sure: her lawyer has his act together because there's word that Lohan won't face any felony charges for her recent transgessions.

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Countdown Tuesday: Hawk Or Dove?

Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 8:44 PM by Countdown

Bush & Clinton Agree on Iraq?:  One of the biggest stories of the 2008 Democratic presidential contest so far has been Senator Hillary Clinton's slow and steady transformation from a hawk on the war in Iraq to a dove.  In our fifth story on the Countdown: An aviary happening. Either Mrs. Clinton is venturing back into hawk territory, or President Bush is showing early signs of morphing into a dove.   Put it to you this way: In the past 24 hours she and Mr. Bush have apparently overlapped in some of their comments about Iraq.

Mean Dean:  After pounding Jamaica, Hurricane Dean slams into Mexico.  We'll show you the damage left in its wake and find out how much stronger it will get as it heads back over water.  This as the remnants of a fairly overlooked Tropical Storm called Erin turns deadly, triggering staggering flooding throughout the midwest.                                                                                                                                     
ODDBALL:  The Cat Poop Coffee finally airs tonight, a guy dives 35 feet into 12 inches of water, and the oldest ever foot print is uncovered.

In the Wake of Disaster:  When we look back on the summer of '07, it could be called the summer mother nature did not take off.  Earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, floods.  One disaster after another.  Some with stories of rescue and bravery...others with less happy endings.  Our number two story, two very different efforts to save lives in peril.  The first, an underground drama that gripped us for weeks trapped underground in the moutnains of Utah six men simply working in a coal mine.   Three people died trying to save them.   Today, one of them was buried.. a final form of mourning that most of the families may never expereince.

Vixk Sacked:    The old saying goes....how can you expect football players to be warriors on Sunday and Gentlemen on Monday.  You can expect it because well...we are humans with free will who make our own decisions.  Some people decide torturing dogs they buy to fight other dogs is what they want to do between Sundays.  Some people will get to think about that in jail.  Our number two story... the man who may blow a 130-million dollar contract for his role in a cruel and dumb dogfighting scheme.   For Atlanta Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick, the next stop could be the P-F-L.. as in prison football league.


The "High School Musical" Phenomenon:   The most recent installment of "School Musical" which premiered this past weekend became the most watched basic cable program of all time.  What's all the fuss about this Disnay Channel made for TV movie series? Here's the plot: Boy likes to sing. Girl likes to sing.  Boy meets girl. Boy & girl try out for the high school musical and ---"Hey gang! Let's put on a show in the barn."

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Senator Clinton Says: "It's working"

Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:00 PM by Countdown

Here's the Hillary Clinton quote to the VFW convention in Kansas City yesterday that's got the intenets buzzing...

"We have begun to change tactics in Iraq, and in some areas, particularly in Al-Anbar Province, It's working.  We're just years too late changing our tactics.  We can't ever let that happen again.  We can't be fighting the last war...we have to be preparing to fight the new war."

Here's the video

And here's a question...what is the new war?

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Break Like the Wind

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 10:30 PM by Countdown

Technology has dealt a body blow in the ever long struggle between human beings and that dastardly invisible cloud known as the fart. 

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Countdown Monday: Rove Review

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 8:50 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Amy Robach in for Keith tonight...

:  Karl Rove may be a short timer at the White House, but it seems he's already got an inside line on a new potential occupation: Reverse Psychologist.  Our fifth story on the Countdown: The architect's week-long attack against Senator Hillary Clinton is far from subtle, probably far from over, and, possibly, far from original.

Mean Dean:   The first hurricane of the season is already a monster storm... in our fourth story on the Countdown tonight.  As Hurricane Dean heads straight for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula it's on course to make landfall early Tuesday morning possibly as a Category five storm.  Thousands of tourists on the Mayan Riviera are evacuating and offshore oil rigs have been shut down as Dean takes aim.

ODDBALL:  A guy gives mustache rides to motorcycles, some guys on motorcycles play soccer, and the newest sensation from Indonesia:  Cat Poop Coffee.

All Surged Out:  The most enduring piece of misinformation about Iraq is that it had something do with 9/11, even though the President and especially Vice President Cheney continue to connect the two. The latest example, today's White House hint that General Petraeus is likely to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the surge on September eleventh. Coincidence?  Our fourth story tonight... more stark differences between reality and Bush-vision..

Nightmares Caught on Tape:  Whether it was Mr. or Mrs. Murphy who first discovered Murphy's Law isn't clear but the law is: "If anything can go wrong.. it will."  Our number two story tonight, a couple of good examples, starting with a perfect flight and an uneventful landing of a Taiwanese airliner in Tokyo.

You're Hired?:  There may be no common denominator on why so called celebrities appear on reality tv shows.  Let's face it, in some cases, it's their last refuge.  But if the motive is to buff up their image, they might want to think twice before allowing Donald Trump to play boss.  In our number one story on the Countdown, The Donald is now recruiting -- for his celebrity version of "The Apprentice" -- Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.  The real estate baron thinks he could take the trio and "whip them into shape."

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Crush on Obama Not Mutual

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 6:59 PM by Countdown

According to the AP, the Obama Girl video is creeping his kids out. 

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Countdown on NBC!

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 1:44 PM by Countdown

Official press release after the jump.

CONTINUED >>

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Wanna save the planet now?

Posted: Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:10 PM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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Pass in haste, repent at leisure

Posted: Sunday, August 19, 2007 4:11 PM by Countdown

Remember that Bush-driven surveillance act that congress quickly passed so they could go on vacation? According to the New York Times, nobody read the fine print. So now, the Administration can get "certain types of physical searches on American soil and the collection of Americans’ business records". Without court approval.

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All Rove, all the time

Posted: Sunday, August 19, 2007 11:32 AM by Countdown

At 10:31 ET this morning, Karl Rove was talking on THREE network channels at once, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Here's some of what he said:

-On Valerie Plame: "I'm not even certain to this day whether she fits under the description of a CIA operative"

-On why People who voted GOP in 2004 and voted Dem in 2006: the #1 reason was corruption, #2 reason was spending.

-On Saddam Hussein: "He was funding terrorists, he was supporting terrorists, harboring terrorists".

-On why he won't testify on the record to Congress: The Constitution.

Also, has anyone noticed how Karl Rove loves to quote those same polls that the President apparently pays no attention to?

You can watch his full performance on MTP here.

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How to get Headbutted

Posted: Saturday, August 18, 2007 9:34 PM by Countdown

Remember the famous head butt that ended the career of French soccer star Zinedine Zidane in last year's world cup? (If not, see video above for a refresher). Well, the headbuttee has finally come forward in his autobiography to reveal just what he said to deserve it.

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Plane Scary

Posted: Saturday, August 18, 2007 4:07 PM by Countdown

What is going on at LAX? For the seventh time this year, there's been what aviation officials politely call a "runway incursion". In layman's terms, it means that two passenger planes nearlly collided on the tarmac. This time, one plane was travelling at 150 mph. The other plane fortunately managed to stop just in time.

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Beware of Dean

Posted: Friday, August 17, 2007 10:48 PM by Countdown

 

Category Four.

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Countdown Friday: Safety Undermined

Posted: Friday, August 17, 2007 8:49 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Mine Disaster: For eleven days, efforts to reach six stranded miners at Crandall County mine in Utah were hampered by movement of the very Mountain itself. Tonight, the whole underground search has been cancelled indefinitely, after three would-be rescue workers lost their lives trying to reach their stranded colleagues last night. The devastating loss coming as both the head of the federal mine safety (whom a Republican controlled Congress wouldn't approve) and the owner of the mine (who has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates) come under intense scrutiny for their active and passive actions against increased mine safety. CONTINUED >>

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Protecting the Homeland

Posted: Friday, August 17, 2007 4:33 PM by Countdown

Apparently some of the folks at the CIA and FBI have nothing better to do than edit wikipedia entries on Gitmo and the Iraq war. Your tax dollars in action.

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Another Hit for Gonzo

Posted: Friday, August 17, 2007 9:02 AM by Countdown

According to notes taken by FBI director Robert Mueller, Attorney General John Ashcroft was "feeble," "barely articulate" and "stressed" immediately after Alberto Gonzales and Andy Card paid him a hospital bed visit in 2004, secret NSA program authorization in hand. He even notes that Ashcroft's deputy was so concerned for his health of his boss after the confrontation, that he asked Mueller to bar anyone who wasn't a relative from entering the hospital room again. This directly contradicts Alberto Gonzales' sworn testimony who said Ashcroft was "lucid" and talkative. Wonder if congress will ever get to hear from Ashcroft himself on the matter.

The New York Times has a nifty graphic showing just how much time Rudy Giuliani actually spent at Ground Zero immediately following the attacks on September 11th. He has consistently claimed on the campaign trail that he faces comparable risks to the workers who dug through the rubble. Once he even claimed to have spent as much time at the site as they did. But records show he only spent 29 hours at the site from September 17th to December 16th 2001. Whereas workers often worked 12 hour shifts every single day.

Tragedy on Tragedy in Utah. Three rescue workers lost their lives at Crandall Canyon Mine in after ANOTHER cave-in while they were trying to reach the six miners stuck underground since August 6th. They were killed by the same seismic acitivity that cause the first cave-in 11 days ago. Mine officials are now debating whether to stop all underground activity.

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Buying Boobs

Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007 10:30 PM by Countdown

Props to our former NBC colleague Kevin Sites, now with Yahoo News, for this story, about a website that hooks up women who want breast implants, with people who are willing to pay for said implants in return for photos and "interaction". Huh.

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Countdown Thursday: Conflicting Reports

Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:43 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Ghost-written, Ghost-presented?: It is sleazy enough that the endlessly-hyped "Petraeus Report" proves to be nothing more than the latest White House spin of that which four star General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker have ascertained about Iraq. It is sleazy enough that the White House maintains that its authorship, and not Petraeus's, was the plan all along and the rest of us just didn't understand that. But now tonight: another new high in low. Reports that the Administration also wanted to prevent Petraeus and Crocker from even delivering that report, and therefore from testifying in public. CONTINUED >>

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Look who's getting married

Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007 2:08 PM by Countdown

Jenna Bush just got engaged to Mr. Henry Hager.  The above photo was taken of the love-birds during a special dinner for Prince Charles & his wife in 2005. Mr. Hager proposed on Wednesday.  Jenna Bush is currently writing a children's book with her Mom.  Henry Hager is a former intern of Karl Rove's and part of the Bush/Cheney re-election team in 2004. 

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Closed Testimony?

Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007 10:12 AM by Countdown

First, the "Petraeus Report" isn't even going to be written by General David Petraeus. Now comes word that the White House wants to limit his testimony on Capitol Hill next month to a closed-door hearing, leaving Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates to present the ghost written report.

As if the government isn't doing enough spying thanks to whatever classified NSA surveillance programs are currently afoot, local law enforcement will soon be able to tap into the same high-tech spy-ware that the feds use. Courtesy of the Bush administration.

And in the 2008 race, Democrats are ahead. At least when it comes to funding. USA Today reporting that the leading Democratic candidates have raised four times as much as their counterparts did in 2003. And in the first half of this year, they raised $32 milion dollars from some of the top campaign sites in the country, compared with $13.8 million gathered by Republicans.

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All Hail the King

Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007 12:01 AM by Countdown

We miss ya, big guy.  As do your legions of clones.

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Countdown Wednesday: Ghost-Written Report

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 8:49 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Not from the Pen of Petraeus: It was the Roman Emperor and unintentional philosopher Marcus Aurelius who observed that we each encounter deceit, greed, falsehood, and failure, every day.  And yet we're constantly stunned by it. "How ridiculous and what a stranger he is," he wrote, nearly 1900 years ago as he led an army through the forests of Germany, "who is surprised at anything which happens in life." So in this Bush Administration, the cell phone service You-Didn't-Read-The-Fine-Print contract of Presidencies, why are we surprised that it turns out today that the report on the surge by the latest white-knight of Iraq, General David Petraeus, will not be written by General David Petraeus, but will be written by the White House. As Marcus Aurelius would probably say: "You dummies are the ones providing the surprise, not Bush." CONTINUED >>

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What a Difference a Decade makes

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 1:39 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Video

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Drum Beat

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 8:51 AM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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Pressing Suit

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:01 PM by Countdown

The judge whose $54 million lawsuit against his local dry cleaners over a pair of lost pants was tossed out last June, is going to APPEAL.  This, despite the fact that the Chungs decided to let Judge Roy Pearson off the hook for their legal fees, after well-wishers donated enough cash to cover the estimated $85,000 bill. Anyone else flabbergasted?  More details here.

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Countdown Tuesday: Rove vs. Clinton

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:43 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Candidate Clinton:  The nominee may be named Giuliani or Romney or Thompson or Mr. Surprise. But still more indications that if the Democrats choose Hillary Clinton to run for President next year, her opponent will actually be Karl Rove. And that seems to underscore Senator Clinton's task: to at least partially re-create herself. It has been already done in our country by Richard Nixon. At least twice. CONTINUED >>

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Remembering 'Scooter' Rizzuto

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 1:59 PM by Countdown

As George Steinbrenner put it today "I guess heaven must have needed a shortstop".  The great Phil Rizzuto, the oldest living Hall of Famer,  died today aged 89.

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Power Grab

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:15 AM by Countdown

Just how many little known provisions are there in the Patriot Act? The LA Times reporting that thanks to a provision allowing the Attorney General to decide if states are providing adequate counsel to death row inmates, the DOJ is finalizing regulations that would literally give Alberto Gonzales the power of life or death. Basically if a state asks, and Gonzales agrees, the time that a death row inmate has to appeal his/her case in federal court could be dramatically cut.

A three panel judge is weighing up a decision that could ultimately determine if courts will ever decided whether the Bush administration broke the law by implementing the NSA surveillance program. At issue in tomorrow's hearing: whether two lawsuits about the NSA program should be dismissed because of the government's assertion of "state secrets privilege". The Washington Post has a great right-through explaining the nuances and importance of the case.

Newsweek's Howard Fineman predicted on Countdown last night that Karl Rove will directly or indirectly be involved in keeping a Republican in the White House in order to preserve Bush's legacy. Now the New York Times points out that all of the GOP campaigns have staff members who have worked with Rove and can bring his methods into the 2008 race.

Finally, news of another massive toy recall from China. Mattel is set to announce details of the recall later today. This come just two weeks after Mattel recalled 1.5 million Chinese-made toys because of lead paint. We'll post more details on the NewsHole as they become available.

***UPDATE***

According to the AP, the Mattel recall includes "253,000 “Sarge” cars from the movie “Cars,”... 345,000 Batman and “One Piece” action figures, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets and 1 million Doggie Day Care play sets."  More info here.

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If I Did It

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:23 AM by Countdown

 

From the AP: "A literary agent for the family of stabbing victim Ronald Goldman has made a deal to repackage and publish O.J. Simpson’s canceled “If I Did It” book about the slayings of Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife, a spokesman for the agent said Monday."  More here.

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Simpsons School

Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 10:47 PM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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Countdown Monday: Goodbye Turd Blossom

Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 8:47 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

End of the Rove: The surge will salvage Iraq. The President's poll numbers will bounce back. The Republicans have a very good chance of keeping the White house in 2008. Our fifth story on the Countdown: Karl Rove's exit-interview predictions, as he resigned from the White House today, while under Senate Subpoena. The Rove story may have been summarized by a question barked out to President Bush by the estimable CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante, just after the President and Mr. Rove embraced: "If he's so smart, how come you lost Congress?" CONTINUED >>

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Where's Gonzo?

Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 4:06 PM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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We'll no more go a Rovin'

Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 12:20 PM by Countdown

Bush's Brain, aka The Architect, is leaving the White House at the end of the month.  He chose to break the news of his departure to the latest acquisition of Rupert Murdoch, The Wall Street Journal - telling the paper that he chose to resign after the White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten told staffers that if they stay past September, they would  have to stay throughout Bush's tenure.  He called his time in the administration "the joy and the honor of a lifetime."  As to WHY he's finally stepping down, it's apparently got nothing to do with Plamegate, Gonzogate, the RNC email scandal or the specter of a charge of contempt of congress for refusing to testify.  He's leaving to spend time with his FAMILY.  You can bet we'll be doing plenty on this on Countdown tonight.

Mission Interrupted? Reports from NASA that the gouge spotted Friday on the belly of the Space Shuttle Endeavour is much deeper than they thought. It goes all the way to the shuttle's aluminum skin and they may need to repair it with a space walk. Jay Barbree reporting from Cape Canaveral that the damage could also delay FUTURE space missions too.

Remembering Merv Griffin. The man who created Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune died Sunday of prostate cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. Merv Griffin was 82 years old.

 

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Tommy's Out

Posted: Sunday, August 12, 2007 10:35 PM by Countdown

Well, no Tommy Thompson-Fred Thompson run off for the Republican candidacy.  Tommy has officially dropped out.  He now joins the ranks of Jim Gilmore and Tom Vilsack, and ruing the whole "Decision 2008: The Thompson Twins" post we were working on for next year.  That said, we're sure Tommy could use this right now.

 

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The Italian Job

Posted: Sunday, August 12, 2007 7:11 PM by Countdown

A week afther the revelation that 190,000 weapons sent to Iraq for government security forces, sent from the Pentagon, went missing...comes this news.  According to the AP, Italian investigaors have discovered an arms deal between elements in Iraq and the Italian mafia.  100,000 weapons were to be sent into Iraq in exchange for $40 million dollars.  The recipients of the weapons were to include members of the Iraqi government.

And oh yeah...

Iraqi middlemen in the Italian deal, in intercepted e-mails, claimed the arrangement had official American approval. A U.S. spokesman in Baghdad denied that.

This should blow up tomorrow.

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Hoo Doggie

Posted: Friday, August 10, 2007 10:30 PM by Countdown

 

CONTINUED >>

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Countdown Friday: The Mine Disaster

Posted: Friday, August 10, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Alison Stewart in for Keith tonight.

 Silence From Below:  Earlier today, Officials Announced some grim news.  After drillina hole barely 2.5 inches wide, extending more than 18-hundred feet into the Earth a distance greater than the height of any skyscraper, a slender steel tube dropped down that hole with a microphone on the end.  It brought back only silence... from the cavity where six miners are believed to be boxed in since Monday.

CONTINUED >>

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Ok, I'm Not "One of Them"

Posted: Friday, August 10, 2007 6:03 PM by Countdown

From the AP:

Giuliani says he misspoke when he compared his exposure to ground zero workers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is backing off comments he made that struck a nerve with some of ground zero's first responders.

Giuliani says he misspoke when he claimed he spent as much time, if not more, at the site and was exposed to the same health risks as workers.

The former New York mayor told reporters yesterday he "was there working with" police and firefighters.

The backlash was swift, with one firefighter saying Giuliani was grasping to "portray himself as the hero of 9/11."

Giuliani told radio host Mike Gallagher he was trying to empathize with them and tell them "I'm there with you."

A deputy fire chief, who spent months digging for his son at the site called Giuliani a liar and said "the only time he was down there was for photo ops."

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Choose or Lose?

Posted: Friday, August 10, 2007 4:23 PM by Countdown

Here's the video of the Bill Richardson "Choice or Biology" question.  We'll have the panelist on the left, Mr. Johnathan Capeheart, editorial writer for the Washington Post, on to talk about that and all ther notable events from last night.

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Iowa Strikes Back

Posted: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:22 PM by Countdown

Looks like the Iowa state motto "First in Politics, First in Butter Sculptures" will continue to ring true.  Ok, that's not the sate motto, but they will move their caucus up...but it won't be in December 2007.  That means the Decision 2008 graphics package is safe, and presidential election season hasn't stolen Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus.

Tonight on Countdown we'll bring you details of the Saturday Iowa Republican Straw Poll, where they'll be dipping people's thumbs in purple ink to be sure folks only vote once.  Where have we seen that before?

Also, the fallout from the LOGO debate last night, during which Governor Bill Richardson mistakenly said he thought that homosexuality was a choice and not biological.  He's now clarified his opinion, but it was not a small mistake.

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MMM...Late Night Snack

Posted: Thursday, August 09, 2007 10:30 PM by Countdown

This was the buzz around the office today.  Just about everyone that watched it was shocked and amazed, so we figured we share it with you all.  Unless, of couse, you're one of the 9 jillion people that have already watched it.  If that's the case, do yourself a favor and watch it again.

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Countdown Thursday: Getaway Day

Posted: Thursday, August 09, 2007 8:45 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Alison in for Keith tonight...

The Buck Stops Over There:   There's always a lot to get done at work before you go on vacation...and apparently when you're the president of the United States it's no different.  Our fifth story on the Countdown: President Bush, clearing the decks before some R and R... with a little Q and A.

CONTINUED >>

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Sur-real Politik

Posted: Thursday, August 09, 2007 3:09 PM by Countdown

In addition to live-blogging the AFl-CIO Democratic Presidential Forum, the Newshole has also committed to late-blogging some of the more memorable moments that happened behind the scenes... from a Newshole staffer who was with Keith Olbermann at Soldier Field on Tuesday night.

CONTINUED >>

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Decision 2007

Posted: Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:48 PM by Countdown

Well, South Carolina has officially moved their primary to January 19th 2008, meaning New Hampshire will probably reverse leap frog them and go to December 2007.  Not only does that truncate what we thought was a much-too-long primary season, but it means NBC News may have to build a whole new graphics package.  Thanks, S.C.!

MSNBC.com's First Read has a write through on the decision here.

The AP writeup after the jump.

CONTINUED >>

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Beijing Baby!

Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:00 PM by Countdown

No curling, but plenty of ping pong.  We work here...but we still think this Olympic trailer thing ruled. 

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A Hairy Neck

Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:58 PM by Countdown

Ready to play the hit game sensation sweeping the nation?  It's the N-hole's new game "Guess Whose Hairy Neck?".

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Countdown Wednesday: The Day After

Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:45 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Back to Chicago:  Last night in Chicago, in front of 15,000 workers and unionists in Soldier Field, Seven Democrats who all want to be President did their best to woo the AFL-CIO vote last night.  Our Fifth story on the Countdown...none succeeded.  At least technically.  At least not yet.  The AFL CIO announcing today that it will hold off endorsing any candidate for President right now, thus allowing its 55 unions to pick their own candidates.

CONTINUED >>

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756*

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 11:57 PM by Countdown

[YouTube:pbCXXkym_a8]

Check out this awesome POV shot of what it was like to be in the stands when Barry went yard.  You gotta love the YouTube.

Embedded video seems to not be working...check it out here.

 

Barry Bonds hit his record 756th home run tonight off of Mike Bascik of the Washington Nationals.Finally, Bonds is home run king and now maybe Senator Obama can answer Keith's question (see 8:27 on the live blog).

CONTINUED >>

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Live Blogging The Forum

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 6:29 PM by Countdown

Live from Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, it's the 2007 AFL-CIO Democratic Presidential Candidates Forum.

Live web video here starting at 7pm.

Refresh for Updates

Let's get down to bee's wax...

Ditka References: 0 (they all blew it)

6:35  You all can't see this, but from the internal MSNBC feed we can see the crowd is seated...they're watching the candidate's opening statements, which were pre-recorded and posted on MSNBC.com

6:40  No rain.  All day long the entire network, the AFL-CIO folks, and all the candidates have been worried they might have to move inside.  As of now (we hope we're not jinxing anything), the weather is holding up.  Although...weather.com says it feels like it's 100 degrees out there, still 30% chance of rain.

6:53 Here come the candidates out of the tunnel. 

6:54 Keith is announced.

6:59 One minute to the show...no one sweating too bad yet.  Crowd is raucus, this is gonna be fun.

7:00 Keith asks for no applause...no one listens as he announces each candidate.  Illinois Senator Obama gets a big cheer.

7:03 We get a first look at the warning lights. Two magnificent bulbs, really. Yellow means finish up, red mean stop.  Keith jokes, if you go over you lose your AC.  Do it again, it turns to heat.  HA!

7:07 Hillary Clinton's father was a Bear fan.  Still no Ditka references from the candidates.

7:08 Keith is running a tight ship.  No applause. Stop it!

7:09 Barack Obama drops a Bear reference, and picks right up on the foreign policy rhetoric he's been doling out in recent weeks.  The crowd applauds.  Stop it!

7:11 Sen. Biden (a fightin' Blue Hen) picking a fight with Rudy G. 

7:13 Edwards turns his very first question (on infrastucture) to the issue of contributions from lobbyists.

7:14 Rep. Kucinich wants to buy the Cleveland Browns (he was 3rd string quarterback in HS...can you say "Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!").

7:17 Pretty sure someone in the audience just yelled "Freebird!"

7:18 Everyone wearing square lapel pins.  Could be AFL-CIO related...could be Star Trek related...we'll keep you posted.

7:19 Sen. Clinton emphasizing her concerns with NAFTA date back "years."

7:20 First down the line question, "scrap NAFTA, or save it". 

7:21 Keith resigned that he can't stop the applause, he can only hope to contain it.

7:22 Does Canada have a President?

7:23 Edwards said something...we lost our train of thought. 

7:24 Rep. Kucinich 'gives the first real direct answer' to the NAFTA question.

7:25 Kucinich calls for the crowd to applaud against NAFTA, undermining Keith's calls to wait.  Stop it!

7:26 Sen. Clinton "I'm your girl!" to take on right wing (not to be confused with Paula Abdul, who is "forever your girl").

7:27 Keith's first Lincoln/Douglas reference

7:28 Beijing Olympics, only on the networks of MSNBC!  (Dick Ebersol is smiling)

7:30 The wind picks up. Not the rhetorical kind. The real kind.

7:31 Sen. Clinton comes out against bad Chinese food, and doesn't want our children playing with harmful Chinese toys.  We assume Chelsea is over the whole Thomas the Tank Engine fad.

7:33 Rep. Kucinich threw a haymaker...best line yet re: China, digging holes, something else...whatever, it was funny (and true).  Just watch the applause baiting, will ya Dennis?

7:35 First commercial break.  That went quicker than the L train to Wrigley. (that may or may not exist).  Anyway, get yourself a pop (that's what they call soda out there), hit the head and come right back. 

7:37 And......we're back. 

7:38 Iraq, Al Qaeda are up. 

7:40 Sen. Dodd gives it up for the men and women in uniform, the applause rule is appropriately relaxed.

7:42 Still no rain...this is great. 

7:44 Sen. Obama and Clinton explain their supplemental votes on Iraq funding.

7:46 Sen. Dodd explains his critical comments about Barack Obama's Pakistan comments.  Split screen action is in effect. 

7:47 Sen. Obama responds...he's amused that his critics are the ones that authorized the President to go into Iraq.

7:48 Keith has to cut Obama off...as the gloves begin to come off.  Sen. Clinton again takes a poke at Sen. Obama. 

7:49 Sen. Clinton booed after saying, re Obama, that you shouldn't always say everything you think when you're running for president.

7:50 Break #2

7:53 Audience questions up next...real people, real problems, real answers?  Ditka references? We'll see.

7:55 Sago Mine widow is first up.  Sen Biden, whose wife and son were killed in a car crash many years ago, answers the question on mine safety.  Crowd doesn't seem satisfied with his response.

7:58 Up next, an Iraq war veteran whose job moved to Mexico while he was fighting in the Middle East.

8:00 One hour in...no rain.  Wahoo!!

8:01 Emotional question from a man who lost his pension...health care when he lost his job due to a disability.  Standing O for this guy...Keith O appropriately lets them applaud. 

8:03 Sen. Edwards won't be stopped.  He just won't be stopped!!!

8:04 Sen. Clinton gets in a shot at President Bush re: stalling Sago Mine legislation.

8:05 Question about citizenship for Sen. Obama...he's running the red light, we're afraid.

8:08 Sen. Biden has two pins on.  That hardly seems fair.

8:11 John Edwards was on a picketline on Saturday and Sunday.  The Newshole was at a wedding and the Police concert.  We feel selfish.

8:12 Dang, this Chicago place is windy.  They don't call it "The City Where Wind is King" for nothing.  We may have that wrong.

8:14 The Newshole had a 1983 Camaro.  It was a gas guzzler.

8:15 Sen. Clinton dividing her time.  Crowd wasn't sure at first...some guy is yacking at her.  That's not cool.

8:16 Break #3, no flipping.  Seriously. 

8:19 We're going for an extra 5 mins.  That's bonus time, baby! 

8:20 Breaking news: Gov. Richardson will not pick Cheney for running mate. 

8:22 Sen. Edwards "we don't need lobbyists in Washington D.C"

8:24 Sen. Biden would consider a GOP Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security.

8:26 Still no Ditka references.  The Newshole thinks they're all missing a huge opportunity. 

8:27 Keith asks if Obama would honor Barry Bonds at the White House.  No Ditka reference.

8:29 Sen. Biden gives his now trademark "yes" answer to the nobid contract question, then stares at Keith for remaining 10 seconds. 

8:30 We're in bonus time!!!

8:30 Sen. Obama "George Bush has been a disaster"

8:32 Sen. Clinton uses 'perpetaul campaign' question into a 'clean house' metaphor...brooms, dust pans, vacuum cleaner etc.  The Newshole suggests a Swiffer Wet Jet.  They're fabulous.

8:34 Sen. Edwards wants to stand up to drug companies...stop playing nice.

8:35 Rep. Kucinich calls himself the "Sea Biscuit" of this campaign.  The Newshole once had a horse named "Air Biscuit".  It wasn't pretty.

8:36 Hal Fishman remembered by Keith.

8:37 Keith wraps it up.  Ok...now you all can chew it over.  Thanks for playing!

 

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Exclusive: AFL/CIO Forum Preps

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 5:21 PM by Countdown

Photo: Shiho Fukada/MSNBC

Here's Keith working the Soldier Field sidelines like Mike Ditka once did, as he and the candidates get warmed up (did we mention it's hot out there?) for tonight's big showdown.  Expect some tough questions and spirited debate tonight...as the final countdown begins.

More pics after the jump.

More pics after the jump.

CONTINUED >>

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Democrats, Rain or Shine

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 4:03 PM by Countdown

Tonight's weather forecast in Chicago is a balmy 87 and a 28% chance of rain.  That said, one way or the other the show will go on.  USA Today's On Deadline blog has another nifty preview of tonight's goings on.

CONTINUED >>

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Hal Fishman 1931-2007

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 12:28 PM by Countdown

The man Keith called a "colleague and mentor" after it was announced he was sent to the hospitalized on Friday night, has passed away.

If you know anything about Hal Fishman, you'll want to take a look at KTLA's tribute to the newsman on their website.

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Countdown to the Forum

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 1:00 AM by Countdown

The Newshole hopes you're ready for what's promises to be an excellent showdown of Democratic hopefuls at the 2007 AFL/CIO Democratic Presidential Candidates Forum. 

We expect the program (7pm-8:30pm ET) to break the 78-year-old Soldier Field attendance record of 123,000 (ok, maybe a few thousand less).  Every Democratic Candidate will be in attendance and have their voice heard (except Mike Gravel and Al Gore*).  Also, be sure and tune in for celebrity guest appearances by Michael Jordan**, Bill Murray***, Harry Caray**** and  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow*****.

You can go here to watch all of the candidates opening statements ahead of time...but come tomorrow make sure you tune in, and tell a friend******.  We think you'll enjoy it. 

You can go here to see a pre-forum interview with Keith to get his thoughts on the whole deal.

Also...we'll live blog the entire show, so stayed tuned to the old N-hole for some hot AFL/CIO Democratic Candidates Forum action!

*He's not running (or is he?)

** He really won't be there (or will he?)

*** He also won't be there

**** He's dead, won't be there

***** She's also dead, won't be there

****** Or even someone you don't like, all are welcome

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Countdown Monday: A Moment of Truth

Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 8:50 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Dems the Breaks:  We begin in Chicago, home of tomorrow night's AFL/CIO  democratic presidential forum.  The candidates here already forced to answer tough questions from the liberal blogging community over the weekend.  Their fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill now facing even tougher questions after caving to the President's demands for warrantless wiretapping over the weekend.  Our fifth story on the Countdown, the battle for the White House.                                                                                       
Caving Dems?:  If it boggles the mind that anybody would want as loose a cannon as Alberto Gonzales to be the man who decides which Americans can be wiretapped.  What's the appropriate word when 57 Democrats want that?

ODDBALL:  A dog on the highway and a fudge thief in Maryland.

Missing In Action:  If today's report from the Government Accountability Office were merely that about 190,000 weapons provided by the US to Iraq were missing that would be good news.  In our third story tonight, the bad news is who found them?  Specifically, who did the US military give them to?  A report last year put the estimate at a mere 14,000 missing weapons.  The GAO today found instead that the Pentagon cannot account for more than 30% of the weapons supplied to Iraq after 2003.

Mine Disaster:  Yet another stark reminder that concern about the nation's vital infra-structure should include what coal miners face, every day.  In our number two story on the Countdown, this time, it is six miners trapped in the Genwal mine in Huntington, Utah.  And once again if they are to be rescued time is of the essence.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD:  A certain large-headed FOX noise host, Laura Ingraham, and a man already featured on the Newshole, Bob Allen in the running for worsties tonight.

Record Weekend:  Bonds, A-rod and Tom Glavine stole headlines, but what about Bobby Matthews and a guy named Matt Kilroy?  They have big numbers...and no recognition.  Keith explains. 

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That's embarrassing

Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 6:06 PM by Countdown

Guess who Caroline Giuliani is voting for?

CONTINUED >>

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Sweet Home Chicago

Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 2:57 PM by Countdown

Keith from live from Chicago in advance of the big AFL/CIO Democratic Candidate's Forum tomorrow.  Tonight, all the weekend's Decision '08 fireworks, the caving of the Dems on the warrentless wiretapping, the dissappearance of tens of thousands of firearms in Iraq, and the record weekend in sports.

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755

Posted: Sunday, August 05, 2007 2:09 AM by Countdown

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Bob Allen's Fear of 'Statistics'

Posted: Saturday, August 04, 2007 11:00 AM by Countdown

Photo: CRAIG BAILEY/FLORIDA TODAY

Normally we don't bring you the particulars on the arrests of a state representative for soliciting prostitution, but the details in this one (which are just now coming out) are too hard to ignore.

Florida State Rep. Bob Allen, co-chair of the John McCain campaign in Florida, was arrested in July for soliciting an undercover police officer for oral sex (Allen wanted to pay the officer $20 to do it to him).  Allen had sponsored 6 sex crime bills this year, some of which dealt with indecent exposure and soliciting sex. 

Now Allen's own words at the time of his arrest reveal he first tried to see if being an elected official would get him off the hook.  Then, according to a taped interrogation by the police, he appeared to play the race card.

"This was a pretty stocky black guy, and there was nothing but other black guys around in the park," Allen, who is white, told police in a taped statement after his arrest. Allen said he feared he "was about to be a statistic" and would have said anything just to get away.

So his defense is that he was cornered by a 'black guy' and offered oral sex to get away.  Uh huh.

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1 couple, 17 kids

Posted: Saturday, August 04, 2007 10:03 AM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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A 'Phony War'

Posted: Saturday, August 04, 2007 4:00 AM by Countdown

Guess who sure as hell aint buyin' one of those bald eagle 'war on terror' license plates?

CONTINUED >>

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Be Afraid

Posted: Saturday, August 04, 2007 12:06 AM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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Countdown Friday: Contempt for Congress

Posted: Friday, August 03, 2007 8:45 PM by Countdown

Spies the Limit:  President Bush took more vacation in three years than did his predecessor, in seven. He was on vacation when a briefing crossed his desk entitled "Bin Laden determined to attack in U-S". He is still sending American troops to die in a country whose parliament has just gone on vacation in the middle of a Civil War.  But in our fifth story on the Countdown tonight, the President is now threatening to stop congress from taking its vacation, if it does not give him the right to spy on you as he wishes. Everyone agrees that the FISA law is outdated. But not everyone agrees with the President's demand that the D-N-I and the Attorney General be in charge of deciding who to target with surveillance -- while a court wouldn't be able to review their decision until 120 days after the fact. The disagreement so sharp, that late tonight negotiations between congress and the White house broke down, democrats accusing the administration of reneging on an earlier agreement.

CONTINUED >>

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Ridin' in Style

Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2007 11:30 PM by Countdown

This is interesting.

CONTINUED >>

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Guess who's on Rudy's buddy list?

Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2007 10:00 PM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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Countdown Thursday: Back To Gonzo Gate

Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2007 8:50 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

The Day After:  Tonight, almost exactly 25 hours after the I-35W bridge dropped 64 feet into the Mississippi River (the worst such collapse in more than 20 years) the fallen bridge is still moving.  Girders shifting.  Concrete crumbling, America's "great river" pushing relentlessly against the rubble.  Our fifth story tonight: the day after.

CONTINUED >>

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Know Your Deficient Bridges

Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2007 6:32 PM by Countdown

MSNBC.com has a great interactive map of the 'Deficient' and 'Obsolete' bridges around the nation, state by state (according to the U.S. Deptartment of Transportation).  Minnesota actually has a relatively small percentage in either of those categories (12% to NJ's 36%).  See how your state fares. 

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Countdown Tonight

Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2007 1:41 PM by Countdown

We'll have a good amount of reporting on the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis tonight, but we'll cover today's other news, as well as some of the things that we couldn't get to last night.  We'll cover the Karl Rove executive privilege battle, the Obama terror speech as well as the Gonzales attempt to explain what appear to be lies before the senate judiciary committee.

The NYT has a good write up on the Gonzales story here.

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Bridge Collapse: YouTube is there

Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 10:41 PM by Countdown

Here's the scariest one of them all...it's security cam footage of the bridge collapsing. 

This one below is just eerie...

Here's an interesting little 'mini-documentary' from a guy who was sleeping when the collapse occured.

The next two are kind of distant aftermath clips...

and short but pretty close to the scene...

This is worth reposting, too.  It's an update on that school bus filled with kids on the downed bridge.

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BREAKING: Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 8:06 PM by Countdown

 

Countdown begins with the horrific I-35W bridge collapse over the Missippi River in Minnesota.  Live Video from our Minneapolis Affiliate here.

If you have any first person media (video or still footage) and want to share it with us go to firstperson.msnbc.com

The latest from the AP after the jump.

CONTINUED >>

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And Here Come the Critics...

Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 5:33 PM by Countdown

CONTINUED >>

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Obama vs. al-Qaeda Classic

Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 10:51 AM by Countdown

Barack Obama will make what appears to be a strong foreign policy speech today in which he says he would send troops into Pakistan to deal with the regrouping al-Qaeda elements there.

From the AP:

"Let me make this clear," Obama said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."

The AP has a pretty thorough preview of the speech after the jump.

CONTINUED >>

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