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Countdown Wednesday: Storm of Controversy

Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 8:50 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

Two Years Later: President Bush, who did not even mention Hurricane Katrina in his most recent State of the Union address this past January, today declaring in a visit to New Orleans that "better days are ahead" for that city. Given that independent studies reveal that only about a fifth of the money supposed to be spent on levees, has been spent (just a third of the money supposedly already spent on homes), it is notable the President did not say how many years or decades ahead those "better days" are.

More MoneyHe got $120 billion for Iraq on the promise that Iraq would fulfill political promises. It didn't. Now President Bush is back, with another reckoning. $50 billion, or else.

ODDBALL: La Tomatina time, and the fastest fan in the CFL.

"I am not Gay": Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig last night endured a fate politically worse than becoming a convict.  He became a punch line. But while Senator Craig became a household name overnight, in the same time span, among his fellow Republicans, he became better known as "Senator Who From the What Now?"

Going to the DogOn the anniversary of the Katrina disaster, let it be noted that the late Leona Helmsley once gave $5 million to hurricane relief and will end up giving billions more to charity. That pretty much sums up the good stuff. The woman who famously said "only the little people pay taxes," decided that a little dog gets the largest single bequest from her inheritance.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: Glenn Beck squares off against the MSHA and Fidel Castro for top honors.

Dragnet: Larry Craig: When the magazine Roll Call broke the news Monday night that Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig had pleaded guilty two weeks ago to a misdemeanor, what captured the public, and political, attention, was not so much the charge of disorderly conduct itself. No, as the old saying goes, God is in the details. And the details are divine. We offer a dramatization, utilizing the actual, unaltered text of the Craig incident report. Embellished only with a Dragnet-style introduction and wrap-up.

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Comments

#5:  Yes, and the insurgency is in its' last throes.
#4:  Or else what?  He'll start another war?
#3:  Honestly, I never heard of the guy either.  
#2:  See!  This country IS going to the dogs.
#1:  Well, hopefully I'll be able to watch the program tonight!!!!!
Pam
  You seem to have an active knowledge the candidates for 2008. Based upon experience insight and personal opinion, how would you rate each candidate for the presidential race( ignoreing public opinion polls) giving both pros and cons for each candidate and arangeing them from best to worst
Just a coincidence, I suppose, that the undercover officer,...ahem(!), kinda/sorta resembled Anderson Cooper.....
Or else ... he'll quit?  
To the COUNTDOWN Off off off OFF Broadway players, BRAVO! STANDING OVATION! AUTHOR! AUTHOR! Oh wait, guess we all know who the author was. ;)

And, to everyone who reads this blog and participates in this forum, contact your Congressional representative and your Senator to tell them to grow a spine, stand up to this White House, follow the law that they themselves caved to in May, and say, in September, NO MORE!!! No more $$$, no more caving in, and be strong!

I love, love, love, LOVE Harry Shearer!! Everything from THE SIMPSONS to THIS IS SPINAL TAP to MIGHTY WIND brings me and many others so much joy. But, as Keith pointed out tonight, his most important role today is New Orleans resident. His comments were absolutely SPOT ON! I'm at a loss on how to comment on the inequity of monies for MS as opposed to LA. It defies logic, it defies humanity, and it defies words. I guess all I can really "say" is to imagine how beautiful New Orleans and the Gulf Coast could've been had EVEN A PORTION of the money we're spending in Iraq now had been spent to help in the recovery efforts and the efforts to MAKE SURE THE MONEY RAISED GOT TO WHERE IT WAS NEEDED!

Don't forget that tomorrow (Thursday) is the one-year anniversary of the very first "Special Comment"!! Watch especially that very first one ("Feeling Morally or Intellectually Confused?") and/or any of them to remind yourself of THE POWER WE THE PEOPLE HAVE!

Everyone have a good evening!
Interesting that the repeal of the "death taxes" on the rich was supposed to help the children but it looks like it has gone to the dogs.
Or else ... he'll hold his breath until he gets his way?
Somewhat of a digressive to the original content (Katrina), however, it is related in a frightening sort of way ... I hope Keith and Co. can get this out in the open.  It's entitled Modern Day Slavery on the Gulf Coast.

Take a moment and check out this disturbing piece from the Institute for Southern Studies at:
http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2007/08/modern-day-slavery-on-gulf-coast.asp
Thank you countdown for another twit free night.  Thank you very much.  

Loved the dragnet spoof -- it was spot on.  

Now how can we get Congress -- both sides, to stop funding the Occupation of Iraq.  
The chimps historic legacy will be Katrina.  Of all the astounding errors, to let what is arguably the greatest cultural city in the United States wither from neglect is epic cynicism.
 People from every corner of the world will look at the facts and scratch their heads.  How could the leader of the free world let this great city die? Could it really be true that he did this because Karl Rove saw an opportunity to gain political advantage?  Is there another country or leader in the world that would have done the same?  He left New Orleans on the side of the road to gain a possible extra seat in the senate?
 While across the border in Haley Barbour country,
there is bustling enterprise building luxury condos for fat cats with fed money.  Low cost housing has been demolished and replaced with more luxury for the casinos.
 It is the essence of the chimps social view.  And this will be the legacy of george II rex republicana.
 
K. Collins, USN (Sent Wednesday, August 29, 2007 8:59 PM)

In previous elections, various newspapers would have an online questionnaire, and based upon your answers, tell you which candidate was closest to your philosophies.  The next screen took you to your 'matched' candidate's page and explained how you agreed.

I haven't seen that yet, has anyone? or is it too soon before the primaries.  

In the meantime, I would suggest that you try to watch as many of the debates as possible.  Admittedly, they aren't perfect, but at least you would get a feel for some of their positions.  

I'm still undecided as well.  I'm looking for some one  who will be able to clean up after '43's huge mess.  
Larry Craig version of "Dragnet" = instant classic. Thanks, Countdown, for producing another one that will live on YouTube forever and become beloved throughout the Internets.
Keef, loved the Dragnet bit...
Where is Bush Apologist Keith, Allentown PA on this? He was just in here recently, jabbering about all the money that's been sent to N.O.

Well, Keith? Is it still the local authorities' fault that repairs are happening so slowly?    
Or else ... we'll all have to sit at the dinner table in the dark until we agree to swallow the manure he's been trying to feed us for the past seven years?
Or else ... he'll have to go over there himself and take care of the bullies that have been beating up the generals?
Or else ... he'll take his marbles and go home?  (Nah, he lost his marbles a long time ago.)
Or else ... he'll have to hold a bake sale?
The only famous Mr. Craig I used to hear about played for the Brroklyn Dodgers decades ago. Well ok he once lost over 18 games in a row as a pitcher for the Dodgers but that's very differnt from what this Mr. Craig has done.

As for New Orleans, if t he Republicans cannot make money from it, they don't care that much unless it affects their electoral situation.

I would like people to watch this anti war video please. You can help end the war in Iraq. Yes, you can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htlOccWMsQA

Re the Dragnet segment:  Is that really what goes on in men's bathrooms?  If so, why is it that the long lines are always for the women's bathrooms?  And if so, how is it that men put up with that?  I think if women saw someone in the stall next to them tapping their feet, adopting a "wide stance," and waving their hands in that ridiculous way, they would laugh the perpetrators clear out of Dodge.  
In this case it would appear that Senator Craig got a pass for being gay, or at least was treated better than he would have if he had been cruising the bathrooms for a woman!

Doesn't anyone get creeped out by this, I mean aren't there any gay bars he could meet folks that were actually gay, and not just looking for long flight relief.
I just viewed the news report re Katrina w/harry shearer. it was mentioned that the democrats ignore nola just like the republicans...what about john edwards? is he not democrat enough for y'all? he has constantly tried to bring this to the forefront and has not forgotten...geez, he announced his intention to run for prez from there in order to keep this area in the news-it's a big part of his stump speech. why does this candidate always get the short-shrift in reporting?
While I can understand the love and concern over ensuring a pet will be cared for after the owner's passing (my cats are in my will, too, to cover their care and vet bills), but 12 MILLION BUCKS?   Holy mink doggie coat, Batman.

You'd think that Leona would at least have left some of that payola she raked in by bilking others to a charity, if, for no other reason, than to regain some good feelings for her memory.  I guess not, though.  After all, we're only those "little people" who pay all the taxes so the rich can get filty rich and the rich can get uber rich and the uber rich can get ultra rich.

Steam cleaning the mausoleum once a year and grandchildren's inheritance based on signing in at Daddy's grave site ever year (is that the same son who's wife she sued after he died?) indeed.  She better hope that the afterlife is not reincarnation based on one's life, or she will end up coming back as one of her underpaid and overworked employees.

Oh, and about the WPITW Bronzer to MSHA requiring the signature of the entombed miners before the miner's union can represent them in the disaster investigation - you gotta be kidding me.  They needed the GOLD medal for that decision.  Get digging Murray and Stickler - I will hold you both personally responsible for gathering those signatures.
Too bad I missed tonught's show in favor of watching the Buccos go 0-8. Watched the video of "Dragnet: Larry Craig" and gosh darn that was just...dumb.
#4 Swelling War Chest

Donald Rumsfeld – “I can’t tell you if the use of force in Iraq today would last five days, or five weeks, or five months, but it certainly isn’t going to last any longer than that.” – 11/14/02

“It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.” - USA Today, 4/1/2003

Stripes (Movie - 1981)

John Winger – “C'mon, it's Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick 'em up, we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czechoslovakia. It's like we're going into *Wisconsin*.”
Well after watching W's little speech in New Orleans I must say I'm fairly impressed.  I really thought he was going to say something stupid. You know some brilliant idea he had, rather than just say "Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today", in my best Harry Shearer impression of W, "Ya see..heh heh ya got these heh heh uh....(dart eyes left to right a couple of times)..what uh you got all these..uh..what you call rowboats!  (nod head up and down a few times, exhale) What ya do see is...uh..uh ya call 'em gondolas..(lean forward on podium, smirk) and we change the name (pause for dramatic effect) of uh from New Orleans..heh heh..to uh..uh (exhale again) New Venice West.  (nod head up and down and smirk some more) Ya see (lift eyes and look off in the horizen) what people want (nod head slowly moving from left to right and back again) is a romantic ride in a gondola. (turn hands palm up with a smug expression on your face and nod some more)  Heh heh heh because (pause, wrinkle forehead) tourism ya see is important to the economy.  (grin like an idiot) The tourism (look befuddled) is dependant on the uh...tourist.  (smile like you said some something intelligent as you shift your body weight from one leg to the other)...all of America...will want to come to New Venice West ya see(smirk, nod) I love our freedoms to uh...be tourists.  That's a uh a good thing (smile, nod a few times)  which will in turn...uh (pause, purse lips) economize the efforts of uh..the rebuilding efforts.  Thank ya New Venice West."  Nod head, wave, walk off in fake cowboy stroll and get outta town.  

I'm not kidding, I thought that's what he was going to say given how ineffective and bereft of anything even resembling competence this administration has shown.  And he wants 50 billion dollars more?!?!  I feel a Lewis Black level of rage and frustration coming on.        
#1.Back in Idaho, a foot nudge in a Public Toilet means, 'Did your wife go to Boise State' and a hand sweeping under the stall means 'Show me the pictures of your kids, and I'll show you mine!'...#2. Michael Vic, take notice. #3. The Republicans don't want to shout too loudly. Especially the ones in the closet. #4. Fifty billion to Dubya, is like five bucks to you or me. Or so he says. #5. Sounds like a variation of the Cheer he invented at Yale, called the 'Pimpernel Swish'.
I'd like to know what is so controversial about George W. Bush NOT using the word Katrina in his speech yesterday. I watched it and it was well-spoken and well thought-out. Once again, Keith is trying to make a mountain out of nothing. It's the 15th time Bush has visited the region.
What? No "Worst Person" tag for MSNBC buddies Tucker Carlson/Abrams/Scarborough for Tucker's "hate crime" admission on gay assualt and the others' funny laughter? MSNBC easy to poke at Fox's O"REALLY and CNN's Beck, but not one of their own.
Sen. Craigs' mugshot reminds me of the evil Szell in the movie Marathon man, Did he say "is it safe" while lingering in the airport mens room
Technically, shouldn't Dubya have waited two more weeks to visit New Orleans?
Why should should we be surprised that this President doesn't care about the people in the Gulf Coast who still have no home, and cannot afford to rent or buy a home when/if they return?  Why should we be surprised when he travels to the region 15 times; not to actually HELP the people, but to use it as a photo op and give speeches full of empty words and even emptier promises?  

Why should we be surprised at his heartless actions?  This is the man who cares more about lying, souless bastards like Rove and and Gonzales than he does about good upstanding people just trying to get their lives back?  This is the man that said "You're doing a great job, Brownie" as people were dying in their homes because of lack of help from FEMA?  Why should we be surprised?

This is the man that sent thousands to a war based on lies and deceit and continues to send them over to die and has caused the death of 70,000+ civilian Iraqis? This is the President of empty promises.  This is the man who said that our military committment in Iraq was not open-ended and that he would hold the Iraqi Gov't accountable for the political part of the equation and when that falls through, he continues to send more Americans to die and more to come home without limbs.  

This is the man that has basically shredded the constitution, put politics before the rule of law and put big business before the rest of Americans.  

We cannot trust anything this man says.  He and his administration will go down as the worst in history and unfortunately for the rest of America, we and our children and our children's children will have to pay for the actions of those few.  As children of the Iraq war dead grow up without fathers and mothers and those that served do survive their injuries spend the rest of their lives recouperating from injuries from the war and as so many are still trying to rebuild their lives after Katrina, this so-called "compassionate conservative" will be back in Crawford clearing brush with the blood on his hands and oil revenue from that blood in his pocket.  
I can't believe it but I am starting to feel sorry for Senator Craig.  Republicans are calling for his resignation.  This is the hieght of hypocracy.  These are the same people who changed the rules in the House of Representatives so that Tom Delay could keep his leadership role while he was under multiple investigations.  They are the same people who continue to make excuses for a man who was convicted of obstructing the investigation into who outed a covert CIA operative.  Thier president sent Alberto Gonzolas to get him out of jury duty in Texas so he could keep his drunk driving conviction secret.  Suddenly we are suppose to believe they are hard on   corruption in thier party because they are asking for a man who played footsie with an undercover cop to resign, it's absurd.  Aside for the fact that they have allowed thier members to do much worse things and get away with it, as long as they didn't admit thier guilt. Shouldn't the party of states rights leave it to the people of Idaho to decide if Craig remains thier senator.  All they are doing is sending a message that if you can steal from taxpayers(they never called for Duke Cunningham to resign), if you attempt to intimidate a U.S. Attorney (Pete Deminci NM) into bringing charges he thinks are without merit thats okay.  Just whatever you do don't be gay.  Go ahead and attack me Larry, Scott and Wayne it is not going to change the fact that I think the republican response to this is far more repugnant than the actual crime.  
To the COUNTDOWN Off off off OFF Broadway players,
BRAVO! STANDING OVATION! AUTHOR! AUTHOR! Oh wait,
guess we all know who the author was. ;)

And, to everyone who reads this blog and participates
in this forum, contact your Congressional
representative and your Senator to tell them to grow a
spine, stand up to this White House, follow the law
that they themselves caved to in May, and say, in
September, NO MORE!!! No more $$$, no more caving in,
and be strong!

I love, love, love, LOVE Harry Shearer!! Everything
from THE SIMPSONS to THIS IS SPINAL TAP to MIGHTY WIND
brings me and many others so much joy. But, as Keith
pointed out tonight, his most important role last night was New Orleans resident. His comments were absolutely SPOT ON! I'm at a loss on how to comment on the inequity of monies for MS as opposed to LA. It defies logic, it defies humanity, and it defies words. I guess all I can really "say" is to imagine how
beautiful New Orleans and the Gulf Coast could've been
had EVEN A PORTION of the money we're spending in Iraq
now had been spent to help in the recovery efforts and
the efforts to MAKE SURE THE MONEY RAISED GOT TO WHERE
IT WAS NEEDED!

Don't forget that today (Thursday) is the one-year
anniversary of the very first "Special Comment"!!
Watch especially that very first one ("Feeling Morally
or Intellectually Confused?") and/or any of them to
remind yourself of THE POWER WE THE PEOPLE HAVE!
Bubba (9:57 am post), you are TOO GOOD! Nicely done!
A thousand million jillion zillion apologies for taking up space with the double post! ;( I'm giving myself 40 lashes with a wet noodle as I type. Wonder if Senator Craig would be into that?!
K. Collins -

           Dennis Kucinich, Peace Keeper
           
Boston Globe headline:

           KUCINICH IS RIGHT ON HEALTHCARE

"With poll numbers at 1 or 2 percent, the Ohio congressman is the nudge kicking at the knees of the Democratic Party to offer more than incremental change. He deserves more attention than he gets.  On healthcare, he says what Americans believe, even as his rivals rake in contributions from the industry."

KO, having Harry Shearer on Countdown was a great reminder of just how far we have not come to helping out our own. I remember in my area the push we made here right in Clevleand to help out our brothers and sisters in New Orleans. We had more passion and love for these folks than our own governement. Something is really wrong here, when Bushies calls for $50 billion dollars moe for the war in Irag, where we can send some of it for relief efforts. Has he no clue of what is going on? Dumb question, sorry fine bloggers. I for one would be happy to donate food and clothing again to help these fine folks out again.

To the off Braodway players on Countdown, Bravo! I laughed my A** off. This is truly why I am a fan of the Keith, Peace to All, Denny!
MSNBC is showing the Dragnet spoof in prime time today.  No one is going to miss it.  Take a look, if you missed last night's show.  Excellent, Keith.
Full Moon: Are you being sarcastic? Well spoken and well thought out are two attributes that should never appear in the same essay about W let alone the same sentence. Unless those terms are preceded by the not or never.
Leona Helmsley leaving a cool 12 million bucks to her dog is the best argument for the estate tax I can think of.
In this particular case the tax should be 100%
Hey I like dogs but that's ridiculous.
Krista the disparity in aid can be summed up in four colors:  red, blue, white, black.
Sorry Neils.
Full Moon,

Please learn to read. Keith stated that Bush didn't mention Katrina in the State of the Union address. This is why you guys tick me off. Read a headline & guess the rest.In your case, there must be a full moon every night.
Back to #5. Dubya is waiting for Iraq to be Perfect. Then, with that as a role model, he will Perfect the Gulf. THAT will be his full Legacy.
Pam (1:18 am post), thank you so so SO MUCH for the DESPERATELY NEEDED laugh today with the STRIPES recall ("Our forefathers were kicked out of the finest countries in Europe... :D).

I gotta get that first "Special Comment" watched soon, or I'm gonna go ape-$hit...
And a thought on #3. One glaring difference this whole thing has pointed out, is the treatment of Gays by the Democrats and Republicans.  Barney Frank has been Gay at least as long as he's been a Politician, been so, said so.  He even had some trouble with one of his roommates over an escort service, if I remember right.  Didn't seem to rile the Party or his COnstituents all that much. But Republicans are still living in the past, when Homosexuals could be beaten or killed and the perpetrator could plead Justifiable Homocide and get off.  Should a Republican be discovered to be gay, the person is an instant Wet Leper. Now that we now all know one Religious Tenet is not what we want this country to be controlled by, maybe the Republicans should get with the Program and ditch the Pogrom.
To all you righties out there. Media Matters has the entire op-ed piece by Fidel Castro regarding the 2008 elections. Two things about this are patently obvious.
1) Michelle Malkin and Fixed News misrepresented the story.
2) Castro was handicapping the race not making an endorsement.
A little bit of Craig humor from the best editorial cartoonists.  Enjoy.

http://cagle.com/news/SenatorCraig/

There are 509 days until the end of this regime on 1/20/2009
There are 432 days until election day -- 11/4/2008
And we are counting down.
Bonnie - 11:50 pm post -

If the toe tapping, wide stance, hand waving stuff was going on in neighboring stalls in the ladies room, the woman in the next stall would just hand over the TP and be done w/it...
An interesting article from today's NY Times

The article included this quote -- any one here surprised?   If the army has acknowledged 76 instances, how many more are there?  

The disclosure of the weapons in Turkey, part of those investigations, came on the same day that the Army announced moves aimed at addressing a widening scandal that has generated 76 criminal investigations involving contract fraud in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.


U.S. Weapons, Given to Iraqis, Move to Turkey
By DAVID S. CLOUD  and ERIC SCHMITT
Serial numbers on pistols and other weapons in Turkey match those originally given to Iraqi security forces.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/washington/30contract.html?th&emc=th


There are 509 days until the end of this regime on 1/20/2009
There are 432 days until election day -- 11/4/2008
And we are counting down.


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