Countdown Friday: Iraq the Vote

Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Iraq the Vote: Our fifth story on the Countdown: after an insufficient 52-to-47 margin in July, Majority Leader Reid retaliated by temporarily setting aside the appropriations bill vowing to delay it until Republicans agreed to refrain from stalemating Iraq War legislation. Yet today in the Senate, another vote on the Levin-Reed amendment -- which would require the withdrawal of most American forces from Iraq within nine months -- was blocked by the Republicans. The only difference? Fewer Democrats voted for it. Maybe we could bring in the guy who found an exit strategy from Barry Bonds.

The Blackwater Controversy: Now, tonight, there are three separate investigations of the Blackwater USA shootout in Baghdad. Who are these people from the author of a book titled "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army."

ODDBALL: A fake Abraham Lincoln on a plane, and a guy who had a bite taken out of his ear...and wore a special t-shirt for his big sit down interview.

Race & the Race: When the Democratic presidential candidates refused to debate on Fox... they were asked, with some sliver of logic -- if you can't stand up to Brit Hume, how can you stand up to Osama Bin Laden. Leaving aside the budding analogies there... In our third story on the Countdown: when the Republican presidential candidates refuse to debate at Black or Hispanic venues... why aren't they being asked if they're as racist as that seems?

Britney Charged: Breaking news... in our number two story on the Countdown... Britney Spears has been charged with two driving violations.... from a parking lot crash. One count of hit and run, causing property damage... and one count of driving without a license.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: The managers of the Hush Enigma Club in Devon, in England...a certain radio talkshow comedian...and a certain guy that spells his first name with two NN's vie for tonight's top honors.

Decision 756*: Barry Bonds will not come back to the Giants, and his record home run ball may not come back to earth. Marc Ecko, the guy who is holding an online vote to see what to do with the record home run ball, will be Keith's guest.

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Comments

#4 -- If we have more private contractors in Iraq than we have soldiers, then we’re talking about more than 300,000 troops -- and we still can’t get a grip. I’ve been wondering why we need all these private forces, and I now think I understand. It’s like this:

If Bush had asked for 300,000 troops in the first place, he never would have gotten authorization. (And we thought it was just Rumsfeld’s plan to run the war on the cheap. Cheapness never had anything to do with it, as events have proven.)

If he told us now that we actually have 300,000 troops there, then people might actually show some curiosity about why we’re not getting better results.

To get 300,000 regular troops the legitimate way, Bush would have had to ask for a draft. (Like that was ever going to happen.)

If we had 300,000 regular troops there, then his cronies wouldn’t be getting rich. (Back to cheapness never had anything to do with it.)

And Congress is willingly complicit because it gives them further opportunities to duck their responsibility.

This is either the height of cynism or the depths of deceit – or both.

Anomaly (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 9:02 PM)

Hey Countdown -- if dental tools were good to go, what was wrong with Jabba the Hutt?

Anomaly (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 9:04 PM)

Ahhh...I remember well watching and cheering the destruction of the "Barton ball" on COUNTDOWN! Wonder where 'ol Stevie is these days? And, does any team REALLY want the baggage that is Barry Bonds? Something tells me that he's not exactly going to play for free. Will the big money he will surely demand be worth the trouble?

What I learned about Blackwater tonight made me want to wretch. They just seem to want it all, don't they?! They want to "play soldier" and not get punished for it when they "shoot first and ask questions later." And, with the track record established by Congress this week, I am absolutely sure that Blackwater and other "private security companies"/mercenaries will continue to get away with what they've gotten away with since day 1.

Since it's Friday night, it's time for some "words of wisdom." Tonight's thoughts come from a wonderful book I found in a tiny bookstore in Greenwich Village in 1996. It's an anthology called I HAVE NO GUN, BUT I CAN SPIT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF SATIRICAL AND ABUSIVE VERSE. Here is a snippet from W.H. Auden that was the "inspiration" of the title:

Some thirty inches from my nose
The frontier of my Person goes,
And all the untilled air between
Is private PAGUS or demesne.
Stranger, unless with bedroom eyes
I beckon you to fraternize,
Beware of rudely crossing it:
I have no gun, but I can spit.

Everything from politics, religion, fame, etc. is covered in this gem, so I may be referring to this book a lot, especially since I can envision needing a great deal of laughter over the next weeks and months.

To the hardworking NewsHole updaters and moderators, to EVERYONE who posts here, to the staff, producers, reporters, and contributors to COUNTDOWN, and finally to Keith Olbermann, whose return to COUNTDOWN yesterday literally had me dancing in my office (but take it easy and take care of yourself!!!), thank you all for everything, and never underestimate the power of spit! :D

Have a great weekend.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 9:23 PM)

#1. Maybe a Pharmaceutical Company will buy it and put in their Hall of Fame. #2. A third charge "Driving Without A Clue" is pending, though the 'Trash Goddess Guidelines' of California, may get her off that one. #3. What if Oprah and Carmen Electra showed up to debate them? Holy Crap! #4. This private "Skull and Bones" army of the Yale President, is reputedly made up of Red-State Male Cheerleaders, who fit Dubya's Idea of an "I Know War Warrior". Most dangerous weapon? Depleted Uranium Pom-Pons. #5. Nine months? Them Republicans don't keep their Mistresses longer than that. How about the year 2525?

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 9:44 PM)

Thank you for confining the tabloid stuff to "Keeping Tabs" where it belongs.

I enjoyed the rest of the show, welcome back, but don't over do it, okay. Peritonitis is not fun, been there, done that, and spent two weeks in the hospital with antibiotic ivs.

I think that the Dems in the Senate should keep bringing these bills up, and then have press conferences after each Republican stone walling.

Some one suggested that you work with Brian Williams and bring your 'Special Comments' to the network evening news or maybe weekend news. I think that's a great idea and NBC should consider it.

Hope this is posted before Monday morning.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 10:17 PM)

Leave me alone

O J (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 10:28 PM)

There is an EXIT strategy, and it's called VICTORY--no matter how much it costs in Benjamins, lives, time, honor, justification and sense.

That was their EXIT strategy: come home to a parade. They felt God allows good to defeat evil using evil's methods.

Talvenada, Phila., PA (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 10:40 PM)

Keith, Keeping telling it like it is!!!

Jenny, Mount Airy MD (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 10:44 PM)

Contrary to several commentators, I am less than convinced that Reid and Pelosi are "doing a hekuva job." Why wasn't yesterday's Levin-Reed vote permitted to lapse into filibuster? I think it could have been as catastrophic for Repugs as Newt's shutting down of the federal gov't a few years back -- and put the pressure on them. Instead, as Mr Woolfe points out, it was a very good week for the Pres. thanks to the utter lack of leadership among Dems.

Les Jamestown NY (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 12:32 AM)

My husband and I were stunned to find out that there are MORE contractors in Iraq than American military troops. So the occupation involves, really, 350,000 Americans in some form or another. That is a staggering total. Who are these people and what are they doing, other that building embassies and US bases? And considering they've been at whatever "reconstruction" they are doing since "Mission Accomplished," are these folks as incompetent as the flying monkeys that brought us the lustrous Katrina recovery?

One fascinating aspect of the Bush presidency is the revelation that these people couldn't care less that everything they do turns to excrement. So long as the money keeps rolling out of the US treasury and into their pockets, and so long as they can find a way to get those Middle East dominos to fall, it doesn't matter if we have a nice friendly puppet government or ethnic cleansing, civil war, and a refugee crisis. And the Bush believers think these people are conservatives, patriots, and Christians because it can't possibly be true that people who care for nothing but money and power and empire could get control of first the Republican party and then the American government.

Linda, Pittsburgh (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 12:57 AM)

#5: Neener, neener, neener, “Ring Around the Rosie’s” next; #4: The Baath Party returns to power; #3: George W. Bush honors the “dead” Nelson Mandela, enacts Apartheid in the United States; #2: Relax, Britney’s baby will go back to being her chauffeur; #1: “Of course I care about the children starving en masse in Darfur, are there TV cameras there?”

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 1:55 AM)

I know that 7 years of the Bush Administration has warped reality to the point of nonrecognition, but can someone please explain to me how 50+ votes in a 100-member Senate doesn't pass a bill? Have I missed out on a new math? I seem to remember a time in a democracy when the majority in Congress would pass a bill and send it to the Prez to get signed or vetoed. Am I being too old school here?

John R., Kuwait City (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 2:24 AM)

Britney? Again? I thought countdown was for political discussion not fluff stories. Britney is definitely fluff!

Aunt Ornery (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:48 AM)

Keith Who?

Gary Ivey, Long Beach, CA (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:12 AM)

Drink the apple juice. OJ will kill you.

Bubba (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:06 AM)

Not only does the Senate lack leadership in the anti-American Harry Reid, but they can't seem to understand they are in Washington to represent the people who elected them. Harry Reid, Durbin, Obama, Kerry, Kennedy, and a few other anti-sovereignty senators are again trying to sneak illegal immigrant amnesty legislation into 2008 appropriations bills. The latest is to take tax payer monies to pay for in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigra up to the age of 30, placing them ahead of American citizens vying for the same tuition assistance and seats at institutes of higher learning. Furthermore, they are trying to increase the amount of H-1B and H-2B visas allowed because we don't have enough American workers losing their employment to cheap foreign labor. Hey, MSNBC and Keith Olbermann, why don't you cover that little tid bit of sneaky Democratic Party sedition and treason against America, its citizens and its culture. I grow quite sick of our Senators on both sides of the political aisle. I think they should all become very afraid of their constituency and look forward to recalls and replacements until we find representatives who do our bidding, not that of monied lobbyist groups who represent big agriculture and the rogue industries who want the cheap foreign labor and illegal immigrants over paying a decent wage to American citizens.

Ken Wightman, Grapevine, Texas (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 10:18 AM)

KO, I am soo glad you are back and feeling bette, you were sorely missed. Allison does a good job in your absence but she is not you and there is no one that can come close either. Enjoye the Special Comment again and was just curious KO, what did you get in Econ 101? Peace to All, Denny

Denise Cohn, Cleveland,OH (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 10:25 AM)

Interesting story on Blackwater. Memo to all trolls.
THESE GUYS ARE NOT THE TROOPS. Ergo they deserve no support from the public whatsoever. It does not surprise me to learn that the head of Blackwater is a fundamentalist Christian. Who would Jesus shoot?
I'm shocked I tell ya shocked to learn that the Republican candidates refuse to appear in front of Black or Hispanic forums.
The Republican Party is racist? Gee Ya think?
This is news? It should be patently obvious to anyone with an I.Q. higher than phytoplankton(I guess this excludes lower case scott Larry, Wayne ,et. al) that
the Repugs are racist, to their core.
Of course one could argue that the Repugs aren't racist since their policies and actions target ALL POOR PEOPLE EQUALLY!
Who cares about Barry Bonds ? Not I. In saw that the Giants don't want him back next year. Good for them.
Hey George S. Do not try and sign him over the off season. We already have one guy too many who's used steroids and can't field a position . We don't need another.
On a happier note since May 29th the Yankees are 68-36. Nice turnaround guys.

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 10:43 AM)

Still awaiting the apology to our president for the lying vomit Mr. Obermann spewed the other day. Implying that Bush made Peterous testify before congress in his stead. It was a clear misrepresentation of the truth. But with the liberal lack of character I doubt Mr. Olbermann will acknowledge the deception much less apologize.

scott henderson nv (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 11:45 AM)

The idea of Blackwater running amok in Iraq is very unnerving. Please tell me what are these private armies going to do when they come back to the US?

Kevin Kennedy, Lebanon Oregon (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 11:51 AM)

It's Saturday and Dubya now wants to veto kid's health care to be able to increase the funding for Blackwater, as they are soon to be acquiring a legal team to defend them in their Massacre Defenses.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 1:47 PM)

Hillary Clinton for President

Henry Alvarado Shreveport,La. (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 2:30 PM)

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 2:48 PM)

There is a war on. The number of men Angelina Jolie has slept with is totally irrelevant in the present climate. As for Britney Spears, I might find her hit and run mildly diverting if she'd sideswiped a Humvee in downtown Baghdad instead of an overpriced POS in an L.A. parking lot--but I doubt it.

Not only that, but a few days ago I submitted a comment that was not complimentary of the manners of certain MSNBC anchors (not you, KO). I frankly found nothing offensive in the comment--to the effect if we tasered people for bad manners then those two would be in states of permanent drooling paralysis--largely because I watched my grandmother die in such a state thirty years ago. It's a fact of life, not an insult to the physically impaired. Therefore I can only conclude that I unintentionally maligned two candidates for sainthood. Forgive me. Perhaps I should jackslap myself and stop posting altogether--although I'm tempted to do precisely that because the moderation at this blog has been over the past three weeks increasingly erratic and hellishly annoying.

Is it the moderation today, or is the Internet under attack?

KT, TN (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 2:55 PM)

There are missing posts again, please fix this problem. Thank you.

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:04 PM)

I went back and reread the thing on Dubya's health thing. It said Bush Kids' Health Care Veto. Does that mean the twins? Is he actually gonna veto their health care? No more cartons of 'Morning After' pills? An end to all those 'Limbaugh Party Drugs, Kegs of Erectile Dysfunction Tabs, and Pump Dispensers of Emotion Lotions for the Stallions in their Stables? I bet the caption meant "All the Poor Kids in America" and not our precious, "First Twins, Fraternal". It had me worried for a minute.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:21 PM)

Is this another lost weekend, with no updates? How disappointing!!!!!

Folks have been ready to give up on this blog. Please don't give us reason to.

LT in MD (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:23 PM)

Aunt Ornery (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:48 AM)

She isn't even fluff. She's irrelevent.

JAM, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:53 PM)

News Hole, why are so many comments missing? Please do this blog right or just don't; it's unfair to so many and is very disrespectful to your bloggers and fans of Countdown.

Move.On.org/Update (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 4:30 PM)

Did any of you know that the Department of Homeland Security is collecting, keeping, and preventing correction and challenges of all kinds of information about you when you travel?

This includes: who you travel with, your hotel accomadations including what bed you request, what books you read, and everything you take with you. Yet another violation of our right to privacy revealed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092102347_2.html?hpid=topnews

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:30 PM)

Well, in the midst of all the confusion, there's one thing we know for sure now - the face of terrorism is obsure, ever-changing and global in nature. On the other hand, the face of the religous right in the USA is plain as day, and presents a deep threat to life and liberty as guaranteed in our Constitution. An amoral Executive branch hiding behind the religious right wreaks havoc day by day. Our enemies our legion, and some of them are us.

Congress is full of rich, weak humans playing politics - representative government is under siege. Where's our protection?? What's the answer??? Politicians are playing down the crisis, although several may know the extremity of the situation. I'm looking for someone, a candidate who understands the gravity of the situation, but don't see a soul - just business as usual. I think this is because the voting public can't stand the truth.....information must be spun in a digestible format. The truth of the damage done by the depravity of the Bush administration is simply something that can't be digested by ordinary folks...people that support policies contrary to their own best interest because they don't have the critial thinking skills to sort it all out.

I only hope we can avoid a confrontation with Iran in the coming months - I believe Bush/Cheney are intent on bombing Iran in the near future - of course the case for doing so is non-existent - as weak and filled with lies as the case for invading Iraq - but no matter. An act of war on Iran spells disaster of untold magnitude. If we avoid it, you might convince me there is a God afterall.

T-Rex (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:39 PM)

I can't fathom the Democrat senators thinking either, "The Republicans have been calling us wimps and commies at every oppurtunity, and have blocked every single thing we've tried. Still, I feel compelled to join them in a vote to support their manufactured outrage at a newspaper ad."

Scott Copeland, Naples, Fl (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 6:14 PM)

How about an "Honor Journalism Segment" in which you annouce what stories you will not report on - B. Spears/OJ!

Andrew Hornick (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 6:20 PM)

The war will end only when the Republican Senators stand up and vote against King George...The Dems, ineffective and clueless for sure, just don't have the votes...The Dems cannot get 60 votes to stop a filibuster or 66 to override a veto...the Dems majority in the Senate is 50 to 49 plus Lieberman...not a real majority at all...until the 2007-2008 Republican versions of Goldwater, Scott, and Rhodes emerge to challenge Bush, the war will drag on...remember, Rove threw himself and Gonzales under the Bush so the Repubs would continue to support the war...and doesn't the whole Move-On flap smell like something turd blossom Rove would emit...I guess that pesky first amendment doesn't matter anymore either...free speech applies only if you agree with Bushworld...even Admiral Fallon disputes the success of the surge...as for the Repubs, Lugar, Warner, and Collins, etc, all yap about Bush's failed policies and bringing troops home, but when it is time to vote, despite all the yapping, they continue to vote to back King George...like not supporting the troops again by not backing the Webb-Hagel bill...giving the troops equal time off for equal time served...the Repubs shot down the bill twice, but claim to support the troops..the only way to keep troops in Iraq now is to keep extending their deployments and shortening their down time after their tours...the Dems majority is more in name than in numbers...the Repubs own the war now...the blood is on their hands...

and it is amazing that the Repubs presidential candidates have no time to debate for black or hispanic audiences...the Repubs just spurn minorities...the great white party of bigots...they take their clues from Bush...New Orleans and Katrina, weakening of Brown v. Board of Education, ring any race bells...the grand old white party...they don't need no stinkin' minorities...even Newt Gingrich said the Repub candidates are making a mistake by avoiding debating for the black and hispanic communities...Jena Six ring a bell...

George, Hammonton, NJ (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:12 PM)

It is so refreshing to hear someone speak the truth; something this current administration knows nothing about. They continually insult my intelligence with the spin they put on the major issues; assuming that I will believe anything as long as it appears on Fox. FYI--I am not watching Fox nor am I buying your BS. Too bad the majority of Americans believe whatever 15-second sound bite this administration feeds them. Keep up the good work!!!

Donna Johnson, Versailles, MO (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:49 PM)

It's not fare to the democrats, to have the media bashing them for not stopping the war. The media needs to focus on the republicans, for voting to continue the war. The democrats have voted 99% of the time to withhold funding, reduce troop time in combat, benchmarks, you name it they have tried it. The media needs to stay focused on the republicans, for their refusal to end it. You can see the perdicament the democrats are in. They can't defund the war with troops in harms way. Their in a catch 22 that could backfire on them, and thats right where the white house wants them and the so do the republican congress. It's clear as day the republicans are the ones keeping this war going not the democrats. Even if the democrats had the votes to withdraw, you know dam well, it probably wouldn't happen until the next election and if it did happen any time soon, it would be done in such a way with the lack of planning or coordination that our troops and the iraq people will pay a price for it and the democrats will be blamed. The democrats have made their point time and again we know where they stand, so let it go. The democrats aren't playing politics, their dealing with reality, The democrats should put the war behind them until the election, it's not worth the risk, of more U.S. troops and Iraqi lives being lost over politics in the U.S. they would love that. The republicans and the white house are holding us hostage, and there's no real safe solution to do anything about it until the election. And I don't fault the democrats for not defunding the war at this time because of what might happen, so give them a break and place the blame where it really belongs, in the white house and the republican congress. Mike Melley

Mike Melley (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:51 PM)

No No but no Mr. I over use the word Compassionate a billion times when I was running in 2004 vows now to veto the "Kids Health Insurance Bill."
Veto This, "Turd Blossom" Rover's Breath's Buddy a tax on all Oil Company Profits not to be passed to the consumer at the pump the pay for "YOUR War and Clear the Deficit Books' before your and your criminal cronies and perverts in Congress leave town " TO PAY FOR YOUR WAR"
Oh voters please take note of who votes against any tax appropriation against "Oil COMPANY PROFITS AND IMPORTS" to pay for the no new taxes that will eventually passed on to you and blamed on the Democratic Congress when these irresponsible crooks leave DC.Yes and we are woried about a couple of bucks for our kids for middle income families who can't afford insurance but waste billions in Iraq.
Yes my friends that "No New Tax Deficit" Looks Like it Will be Close to 700 billion if not a Trillion by the time he leaves town.Troops,pilots,and armed forces as Senator Hollings said on the floor back in 2004 if I remember correctly,Who is going to pay for the War?
Please use your ammo wisely because they are going to stick you with the bill sooner or later for that and the equipment.

B.A. Buddusky (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:02 PM)

Aunt Ornery - sadly "Brit Bits" are a part of pop culture, which impacts the youth, who one day will vote (well, maybe) and hold jobs in society (at least I hope so) Fluff or not, I want to know (in small doses mind you) what POP culture is dishing out to children as examples of living the "good life"

p.s. remember how hollywierd & the white house have many connections? reagan, arnold, marilyn, well you get the "picture" ^^

mom with a watchful eye in midwest USofA (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:44 PM)

Interesting statistics from recent polls. Turns out democrats are twicw as likely to buy into wacked out conspiracy theories. The highest percentages of Democrats that subscribe to conspiracy theories are Black and Hispanic.
You'd have to put that down to Nurture VS Nature. Democrats court minoroty voters mainly by concocting conspiracy theories, along with pie in the sky social engineering schemes. Much like the tactics of Communist agitators in third world countries.

Wayne, TN (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 10:33 PM)

lr, pitt pa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 6:52 PM)

Man, read the memo. This is now the Tech Town, not the Steel City. We've got enough people down on us. Please, use a spell-check and don't make yourself sound ignorant. Thank you.

James Craven, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 8:41 PM)

Good Lord! Candelaria?? If PNC Park wasn't so nice, I'd never go to games. I'm really hoping the big shake-up will at least get us a .500 season.

BTW, I wanted to thank you NH bloggers that sent "athiest buster" back to the shadows the other day.

Laura in LA & anomoly - my SO is *really* unhappy with me walking 30 minutes home. We are going to get the car fixed up so I can drive in. Ugh. To me, it's a short walk and I can use the exercise. Him, he's scared of a couple of dark alleys and me walking past the jail. I have no problem with it; I've done it many times, just not that late (2 a.m.).

Jamie, you and yours get to Italia yet?

JAM, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 6:13 AM)

JAM, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 6:17 AM)

I want to vote all incumbants out of office in 2008 and bring in a new crop of legislators, but it seems as soon as anybody gets into any position in Washington, be it Congress or the Executive branch, they are all sucked into the hypocritical, bipartisan, special interest group, forget the American people/need-to-get-reelected bullsh*t, so what's the point? None in Washington care what the average American wants. The majority of Americans want out of the war in Iraq and nothing is being done. The majority want all Americans to have healthcare and nothing is being done. Why should they care? Only those in Congress with loved ones in this war are making any kind of sacrafice and once they are in Congress, they never have to worry about healthcare again. The average American (who doesn't have millions to line the pockets of these politicians) have no say in what goes on in this country; not even with our votes.

I am thinking of forming my own country like the couple did off the coast of England (check out their website). http://www.sealandgov.org/

LA, Seattle (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:40 AM)

Send Pa Kettle to the fights. This country is a disgrace to third graders, not to mention the dead Iraqis slaughtered for biscuit sucking white trash from Hunt, I'm sucking on a mustang, Oil!

doomed (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 8:53 AM)

War is for profit and there are so many undisclosed stories about who is making all the money. Our 2 party system is a world wide joke. If the Dems and the Republicans spent half as much time on solutions instead of muckraking and finger pointing we wouldn't be in such messes on several fronts. Like so many others, I am sick of the name calling and political arm wrestling that that goes on every day to prove who's better. They have lost sight of why they were elected. The upcoming elections should be a time for everyone to think for themselves and not be told by one party or the other whats best for them.

A. Zigon, Dallas, Tx. (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 2:51 PM)

I doubt this will make the cut, but here it is.

Someone asked me earlier about a source for my statement that al-Queda has committed its resources to Iraq weakening its abilities in other zones of conflict.
I had thought this would have been obvious.
Now according to al-Queda and Taliban sources al-Queda leadership itself has begun to split on the issue of use of available resources, with Bin Laden being pushed into a figurehead role and having no operational command.
You can read more about this in recent news week articles.

Wars are not won by inflicting casualties alone, the biggest killer is not always the winner. Also battles won at too high a cost can lose wars.
Wars are fought in the will of the people. If the will to resist evil is not there then no amount of might can win in the end.
Totalitarian states substitute the will of the state for the will of the individual.
In a Democracy once battle is joined the will of the mass of the population can rise and fall with events so the core leadership must persevere regardless of the inroads made by sedition and just plain irresponsible journalism.

Al-Queda can no longer expect to win any significant support from those who have a choice. People trapped in regions under al-Queda control have found that co-operation with al-Queda does not buy protection, they have seen this so often that they are now among AQ's worst enemies.

Wayne, TN (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:29 PM)

Seein' is how this is Sunday Afternoon in the Ol' Heartland, I'd guess this posting will be about 165th or so. If anybody reads this, will you copy it, put it in a bottle, and throw it in the ocean, or any major river or tributary that will get it to an ocean. Add your name and address and I'll pay the return posting to anybody from a foreign land (Yes, that includes Canada) who sends it back to you. My guess is it will reach you before this blog opens up for us again.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:22 PM)

The argument among democrat bashers is 'why can't the democrats convince republicans, on the other side of the aisle to vote with them in overriding a presidential veto?' That's like blaming the frying pan for burning your breakfast.

Bob MacDonald (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 5:55 PM)

Keith looks faboo in his triumphant return to FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA. And, Chris Collinsworth hasn't driven me nuts yet, but the night's still young.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:30 PM)

Keith looks faboo in his triumphant return to FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA. And, Chris Collinsworth hasn't driven me nuts yet, but the night's still young.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:30 PM)

Columbia University (If it can be truthfully called a University) is selective in who it allows to speak there. Only those with common views are allowed.

scott henderson nv (Sent Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:45 PM)

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Countdown Friday: Iraq the Vote

Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

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Countdown Friday: Iraq the Vote

Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

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Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown