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Countdown Tuesday: The War Tax

Posted: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

Paying For The War: Amid reports tonight that the first State Department report about the alleged killing of Iraqi Civilians by Blackwater contractors, was written by a Blackwater contractor...A sobering conflation of the old Benjamin Franklin bromide about nothing being certain but death and taxes. Our fifth story on the Countdown: three Democrats proposing something that might actually stop the madness: an Iraq War... Tax. The burgeoning Blackwater scandal in a moment... First, the proposed answer to the President's four and a half year fraud, that the war in Iraq would pay for itself.

Doctor Limbaugh:  Rush Limbaugh caught doctoring the tape in which he called service-men critical of the war quote "Phony Soldiers"...the latest, plus Rachel Maddow...

ODDBALL:  The return of the foot in the smoker and artists living in a mall.

The Money Race: In the campaign for president... cash is king.  Except this year when it appears that cash... is queen.  Our third story.. the Countdown to 2008, and a surge of summer dollars for the leading Democratic candidates. Including a startling 35% fundraising leed  for one of them.

No Nukes: Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has endorsed a plan to create a "world free of nuclear weapons," beginning by having the major powers reduce their own stockpiles and research efforts -- he says it, and sanctions, are the best strategy to deal with any possible nuclear threat from Irahnian President Ahmadinejad. And when the Republican National Committee tried to slap Obama around for it... it wound up kicking itself in the rear end. Our number two story on the Countdown: Iran and Satire... intentional and otherwise.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: Pat Robertson, a certain large headed host of a Fox News show, and the Buffalo Bills football team vie for tonight's top honors.

The Brits Keep On Coming:   Just one day after losing physical custody of her kids... there's a chance Britney Spears may lose control... over the use of her likeness... in the worst possible way. As in, reportedly, a sex tape, which, according to her paramour -- quote -- "lasted for about 25 minutes and then we passed out." And her lip-synching was apparently way off.

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Comments

Why wouldn’t we hold Blackwater and other private security firms that we hire for our purposes to the same rules of engagement we hold our own troops?  Hmmmmm.  Is it because ... they have immunity and the troops do not?  Perhaps a 21st Century extrapolation of that old saw … ‘the West wasn’t won with a registered gun’?  Cowboys, for sure.   These guys have been watching way too many movies (or maybe playing way too many video games) where people don’t bleed when they get shot.  


I don’t think Countdown needs to worry much about big-headed Billo, who is clearly a blowhard (so much fun with alliteration, so little time), but if I were you, I would worry about Dick Cheney.  He will bring more than a loofah when he comes after you.  And you’ll need more than a talisman.  Hold on to your hat (the one you wore on last night's show will do nicely) and be sure to keep your wits (or skull) about you.


Billo as Macbeth?  A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing?

(At least give me some credit for the re-do on this one.)

Anomaly (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:07 PM)

Keith's show is THE best.  I wish we were a Nielson family!!   We watch every night.  hurrahh!

anachronism (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:11 PM)

That political rookie Senator Obama wants to get rid of nuclear weapons?! FREAK! HIPPIE! PEACENIK! His obvious inexperience discounts the fun of radioactivity, nuclear winter, and mutations. He should know better.

Who would make the call to have "the comedian" removed from Armed Forces Radio? Would Clear Channel or some kind of government entity?

A war tax, huh? That would be a way to get more people to feel they're a part of the war effort. A war tax may help bring about our quick exit stage left from Iraq once the war began hitting people in their wallets.

As far as Blackwater goes, let me try to follow this logic - a dangerous thing, I know, with this crop in D.C. GWB has claimed to always listen to the soldiers on the ground and to the generals. The only general he's listened to up to this point has been General Petraeus. So, if someone tells General Petraeus to say that Blackwater and other "private security companies" should get their money-grubbing behinds out of Iraq, y'all think GWB and the "Dictator-Wanna-Be" will order them out? Just a thought...I'm still under the influcence of Nyquil.

Everyone have a good night!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:12 PM)

What, say it ain't so! What did the Bills do??! I can no longer get MSNBC through my satellite provider, so I will have to wait to find out..unless some kind blogger can clue me in.

LT in MD (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:24 PM)

O J (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 10:06 PM)

Unthinkably, I missed the #1 story, and reading the description above, it sounds so very interesting. This is exactly why you have to fix the video thing for Mac users.  Take my word for it, although they do have a certain charm all their own, little twirling circles are no substitute for Britney (especially when a sex tape is involved).  

Please, please, please, please, please fix the video thing before too much more Britney goes by.  When withdrawal sets in, what will become of me?  I’m sure you don't want that on your conscience.

Anomaly (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 10:41 PM)

Now that what I have been talking about all along with a tax on Oil Company Profits not passed on to US as well as Oil Profits.Lets see where Bright Lights Big City wants to send American troops then when his buddies and his fellow buddies in Congress have to pay back the lobbyist money they have been taking to get out relatives killed and killing Iraqia soon to be Iranians in what ever the cause made up cause is for the week.Whoops I smell another Bin Laden video coming staring Tinker Bell,Santa,and the Fairy God Mother.Whoooo they've got me paranoid now let me vote for some Republican Chicken Hawk.I am not talking about you Chuck Hagel.It has to be embarrassing to have that guy Mitch McConnell as the leader of your club.Or is it Mickey Mouse.Sorry about that Senator Hagel no disrespect meant.At least there are a couple cool Republicans left.Wait till the Hispanic Voters take Texas and California.Viva La War Tax.Viva Zapata.
Tax on Dudes Tax em.Great idea you got my vote.Tax some of those Oil Guys too while your at it.Yep no more of this deficit war.Time to pay for the bullets,bombs,tanks,ships,planes,medicine, and the cost in lives destroyed.
Next on the list impeachment get to the source.Where has old Dick Cheney been busy making up lies to attack Iran with Condi.Boy if there isn't an impeachment there waiting to happen. I can here the theme song from "Cops" playing in the background.

B.A. Buddusky (Sent Tuesday, October 02, 2007 11:22 PM)

Please stop all the Britney coverage.

And while criticizing O'Reilly may get a laugh or two, there really are dozens of more important developments out there.

Come on, General Electric. Take off the leash. You know Keith doesn't want to give us celebrity gossip. Think about his journalistic integrity, and his audience's backlash against nonsense news.

James, NYC, NY (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 12:14 AM)

why are the democrats so inept at the use of symbols to rally support? instead of 12% or whatever, why not the "Nine-eleven war-on-terror patriot surtax"? the surtax rate would be.... 9.11%.  It should be tied to the funding for the Iraq war; if dubya wants more money he has to take the surtax to pay for it. you want dessert; you have to eat your broccoli first!

david shoop, Yakima WA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 12:42 AM)

I would think the Countdown staff would be able to spell Countdown correctly (see the title).

Ha.

Gilbert (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 1:01 AM)

Boy President Bush is such an idiot!!  He only won 2 elections and seems to win every fight he has had with the "smart" Dems. And I know there are people like the really "smart" Keith Olberman (Since when does being good on ESPN equate into knowing anything about the world or politics) who seem to just hate Mr. Bush but I have to ask..... is everything President Bush's fault?  My dog crapped on my carpet... is this his fault?  My wife has a nail in her tire.... is this his fault?   To listen to the drivel that comes out of Keith's mouth and most all Democrats these days these things must be his fault.  I long for the day when it acually takes talent to be on the T.V. and our politicians can work together to solve problems and not "blame" someone else for their own failures.  

R. Pierce Phoenix Az. (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 1:20 AM)

a TAX....A WAR tax....Brilliant!!! Include those who have appropriately aged and healthy children to join the armed services, no draft ALL have to enlist AND no deferments for any reason!!! If you think I am preaching without putting my own in jeopardy, I have 22 yr old and 19 yr old daughters and an 11 year old son who would be included in this. I believe if the chickhawks have to pay the same cost as us 'little people', the war in Iraq will come to a close in a hurray.....Heck, we can all send Jenna wedding congratulations she can open and read in Bagdad while she is holding down a forward position fox hole. Wouldn't that be quite a photo-op for all you disgusting Bushies out there??  

The Edge, Macon GA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 1:23 AM)

Countodwn? Anybody wanna fix that?

Darian Knight, Murray KY (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:08 AM)

I'm confused. Why has there not been a huge bru-ha-ha over Rush's comments? No Bills introduced to condemn him? Is this bizarro world?

Tery S., Bremerton, WA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:31 AM)

I would like to thank Countdown for putting Bud Black and Michael Barrett on you "good guys" list on the 10/2 show. As a life long Padre fan, I'm glad to know that while my hart was breaking Monday night, my team was conducting themselves with class. I'm also pleased to find out that in the sound bite era, behaving properly still counts for something.

Douglass Abramson, Corona, CA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:36 AM)

why are the democrats so inept at the use of symbols to rally support? instead of 12% or whatever, why not the "Nine-eleven war-on-terror patriot surtax"? the surtax rate would be.... 9.11%.  It should be tied to the funding for the Iraq war; if dubya wants more money he has to take the surtax to pay for it. you want dessert; you have to eat your broccoli first!

david shoop, Yakima WA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:52 AM)

This only marginally relates to the #3 story. I'll bet no one here ever imagined that Rudy Giuliani is Constitutionally ineligible to be President.

The Constitution states:

“No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.” – Article 1, Section 9

Rudy Giuliani is running for the highest office in the land and he has been knighted by the Queen of England. This knighthood, called “Knight Commander of the British Empire”, was bestowed on Rudy Giuliani on February 13, 2002.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1818874.stm

So, who's going to give Rudy the bad news?
 

R. NorCal (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 5:38 AM)

The word is Countdown, not countodwn! Liberals can't spell!

Tom, DC (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:47 AM)

O J (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:50 AM)

Leave Britney alone!!

leavebritneyalone.com (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:30 AM)

Where have all the Reagan Democrats gone? As Congresses go this has to be the worst in history (with a president to match)

3.14 (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:33 AM)

Anomaly: kudos on the re-worked Macbeth.

Jan from CA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:55 AM)

LT (9:24 pm post), if you're on DishNetwork, I'd call them because I can still watch COUNTDOWN in Indianapolis; it might be some kind of technical issue.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:03 AM)

Jamie, Elmwood Park: I always loved this quote:

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living.” Alvin Dark

Good luck!!!


Bill/Rochester & Carol/NJ: How good is this from Yogi?

"I'd find the fellow who lost it, and, if he was poor, I'd return it." -- Yogi Berra, when asked what he would do if he found a million dollars.

The New York Yankees remind me of Peyton Manning and the Colts. Doesn't matter the score or how far behind they are. You just know they're going to win.

Rocky Mountain, your enthusiasm is awesome. Enjoy the game.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:55 AM)

Is Keith going to let us know his predictions as the baseball playoffs begin?

Jules, Palatine, IL (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:03 AM)

Not getting MSNBC should be a blessing. It's ashame that Morning Joe with Scarborough is using Don Imus' old stage settings and camera techniques. It's the only show I watch (occasionally) on MSNBC. Fox and Friends is by far the best. Down to earth, funny and right on the money.

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:04 AM)

There are 475 days until the end of this regime on 1/20/2009
There are 398 days until election day -- 11/4/2008
Evaluate all the candidates and think wisely before you vote.
And we are counting down.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:06 AM)

Hey, you guys, I wish you would lay off my buddy Rush.  He's certainly no more phony than I am.  And, besides, it's not nice.  All morons hate it when you call them a moron.

Gotta go now.  I need to get back to my day job. Wouldn't want anyone falling off any cliffs, like they're doing in Iraq.  But ... if there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the he!! on top of it.  I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.

Holden Caulfield (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:06 AM)

Bruce Springsteen - You made a fool of yourself on the telly the other day. They should have pulled the plug during your political rant. You were supposed to be the next Bob Dylan. Kind of fell a zillion steps short, didn't you? Funny, when celebrities reach the apparent end of their career they start to speak up. By the way, of Dylan's last three albums, ALL were nominated for album of the year and one, Time Out of Mind, won the grammy. Which reminds me, I have to go get my Dylan tickets before it's too late. Sorry about your luck, Bruce. ALL HAIL BOB! ALL HAIL BOB! ALL HAIL BOB!

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:16 AM)

OIL OIL OIL.

America stop buying and operating automobiles. Otherwise we are going to saty in Ithe Middle EAST until either the oil runs out of we have a no kidding cheaper source of fuel to sustain automobiles. Standard US policy since WWII has always been to Protect Americas oil acces to the middle east.
Every President since FDR has practiced and enforced that policy

Billy G WI (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:19 AM)

From First Read This Morning:

IRAQ.
The House voted 377 to 46 “to give the Bush administration two months to present to Congress its planning for the withdrawal of combat forces in Iraq,” the Washington Post reports. The paper calls it “the first salvo of a new legislative strategy of House Democratic leaders, away from partisan confrontation and toward a more incremental approach to war policy that can bring Republicans to their side.”

_____________
Pam, anything going on in San Francisco do you know as far as Nancy Pelosi's popularity and the Democratic Party as a whole in their inability to change course in Iraq? Is Nancy Pelosi taking a hit in SF over this?

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:22 AM)

Those that cannot fix problems are always the first to ridicule them

Steve in Arizona (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:28 AM)

O J (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:29 AM)

O J (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:38 AM)

Bill Maher , pony up ! We got a war to pay for.

Larry Charleston, SC (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:39 AM)

The State Department having Blackwater write reports for them sounds pretty much par for the Dubya Administration in general. Did Halliburton write the WMD reports for Iraq? How about Wall Street writing "No Millionaires Left Behind"? Vipers. Just a Generation of Vipers.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:39 AM)

I think an income surcharge would be a good thing to help pay for this war.  The filthy rich SHOULD pay for this war, since many of them are the very ones profiting from it!!!

Have a backbone Congress!!!  Filibuster, shmilibuster.  You can explain how our debt for this war works in layman's terms - like what happens when you rack up a large credit card bill and don't pay the bill in full when it comes in!!!! Everyone gets how the interest on their credit cards work!!!  Especially those drowning in debt!  Stand up for our lady liberty!!!  She's been hijacked by the rich business men who want to rename her United States of Coporaterica!!!!

And Keith, WCVB in Boston ran a story here this morning that a young soldier from Quincy, MA recently came home briefly and told her family that she had seen and heard things in Afghanastan that caused her concern.  So much so that she told her family to investigate her death if something happened to her.  Well, last week she was found dead from a bullet wound to the head at a "secure" base in Afghanastan.  Have her family on your show.  The world needs to hear what this soldier had to say!!!!!!  It reeks of Pat Tillman!!!!

Gigi, Hudson, MA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:45 AM)

I finally got to see the video of the #1 story, and it was better than I anticipated.  Not the Britney part, of course.  But Rehab with the Stars? -- what a concept for a show.  Well, maybe not, but this Drew Pinsky guy rocks.  Make him a regular.  If we can't have Clive Owen, or George Clooney, either, then Dr. Drew will just have to do.  Who knew?  

And fix the video problem, okay?  Those endless twirling circles ... I'm beginning to become drowsy ...

Anomaly (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:47 AM)

- QUOTATION OF THE DAY -

"We have 1,000 guys out in the field. People make mistakes, they do stupid things sometimes."
- ERIK D. PRINCE, chief executive of Blackwater USA, which is under scrutiny
for shootings by its employees in Iraq.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/03/world/middleeast/03firefight.html?th&emc=th

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:50 AM)

The more I find out about Blackwater the more this war makes sense.  It is designed to be perpetual war to profit a few and instill fear in many.  They get 500 billion dollars to split up amongst themselves and they create "Al Qeada" in Iraq.  An organization so seemingly feirce that if we were to leave Iraq they would swim halfway across the world to plant roadside bombs here.  All the while doing absolutly nothing about actual security and threats to this country.

jen,il (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:54 AM)

One advantage to starting impeachment proceedings against Bush/Cheney is that they will have no time to invade Iran.  

We should probably also include Condi in the process as well.  

And while the impeachment circus is going on, all four star generals need to tell Gates that "invading/attacking/threatening Iran is off the table".  

If we keep it up for the rest of this term, the world will be a better place.  

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:04 AM)

Barak Obama just doesn't get it. G.W.B. really IS concerned about global warming, and has the perfect solution for it. It's called NUCLEAR WINTER!
A war tax? Hey come on. Why should those who cheerlead for this war and who have made money off it
have to pay for it? Why that's downright unamerican!
Let's not forget that it is the State Department that contracts with Blackwater. This is another nail in Condi's coffin as far as I'm concerned. She should be rendered on the next plane to the Hague IMHO.
Larry here's more evidence that the R's ARE TOAST. Just take Deep Throat's advice and "follow the money"
When the party of privelege and wealth can't cough up more geld than the Dems they are in serious trouble.
Big business(the R's traditional donors) is giving more money to the Dems this year.

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:06 AM)

If I believed for one minute that a 'war tax' would end the war -- I would pay it in a heart beat.  

Even if it went to fixing up our aging infrastructure (bridges, roads, sewers, tunnels), I would still willingly pay it.  

But if it's going to end up in the hands of the Military Industrial Complex like Halliburton, or Mercenaries like Black Water, or Lobbyists on 'K Street', then not one more nickel do they get.  

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:08 AM)

#1. They passed out at the same time? Or was one of them "fakin it"?  Ah, the life of a Meat Puppet. #2. An America without Nukes? That's Un-American! #3. First one to a billion, WINS! #4. Rush knows all about Doctoring. Did you know Doctors can be shopped for? And Judges, too, evidently. #5. Dubya meant '...the war in Iraq will pay for MYSELF."

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:22 AM)

Did any one else see Chris Matthews on The Daily Show last night?  It was funny, where else would you see a book club discussion comparing "Life's a Campaign" to "The Prince".  Suffice it to say, Jon didn't like his book and Chris was upset.  At the end, like the mature adults that they both are, they shook hands and Chris invited Jon to visit him on Hardball.  

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:31 AM)

UPDATE

UPDATE (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:35 AM)

Did any one else see Chris Matthews on The Daily Show last night?  It was funny, where else would you see a book club discussion comparing "Life's a Campaign" to "The Prince".  Suffice it to say, Jon didn't like his book and Chris was upset.  At the end, like the mature adults that they both are, they shook hands and Chris invited Jon to visit him on Hardball.  

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:39 AM)

Well Goergieboy has done it again. He has vetoed the SCHIP bill. This shows just where his heart lies. Billions  for death and destruction around the world so he and his buddies can make money off it. But we don't have the money to give working class kids health insurance. It's all about prioritizing to pay for the War in Iraq and now we know just where Georgieboy's priorities lie.
This veto shows just how disconnected, and, disinterested Georgieboy is in the well being of American kids. Maybe if they lower the enlistment age
to say 10 or 12 these kids could sign up and get health care through the army.

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:44 AM)

Obama is so cool he is just gonna tell Putin, Hu, Musharraf (or who ever), France, UK, Israel, and whoever else to dispose of their nuclear arsenal and presumably will unilaterally dispose of ours.  Wow I’m just a little surprised he would have the power.  He definitely has my vote!

True Liberal (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:46 AM)

Corupdate please

WWW. (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:58 AM)



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