The Frosts, The Stall, The Aliens, The War

Posted: Monday, October 15, 2007 4:31 PM by Countdown

Photo: Dennis Brack / Bloomberg News / Landov

Tonight we'll have the parents of the child who started a thousand smears. You remember Graeme Frost, the 12-year-old boy who was held up as an example of someone whom S-CHIP would be a great help to and who the radical right wing decided to smear. Tonight Keith will sit down with his parents and get their real story.

Also we'll have much more on the Thomas Ricks article that led the Washington Post this morning...if we've beaten Al Qaeda in Iraq, why don't we get out? Did we beat Al Qaeda in Iraq? Lots of questions...we'll have answers tonight.

Plus...we'll have an in depth discussion regarding Rudy Giuliani's comments that he would keep America safe from an Extra Terrestrial attack. All that and a preview of Matt Lauer's exclusive interview with Senator Larry Craig (yeah, we got him!). It's must see TV, kids!

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Comments

Mayor Rudy REALLY said "Extra Terrestrial attack"?? I know I was "away from the world" this past weekend, but y'all are kidding, right?!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 4:44 PM)

Rudy's pretty clever. Saying he'll protect us from alien invasion is pretty-much a surefire promise he can keep. End of his term and we aren't licking the boots of alien overlords? It must be Rudy's hard work that saved us!

Kevin, Lincoln, NE (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 4:52 PM)

"if we've beaten Al Qaeda in Iraq, why don't we get out?"
There are severe penalties for early withdrawal.

If al-Queda is on the ropes in Iraq now is not the time to step back and let them get their wind.
And I thought Olby was once a sportscaster.

The thought of a possibilty of victory over al-Queda in Iraq scares the pants off the N-Holes.

All but one of the major Insurgent groups in Iraq have issued statements condemning Al-Queda.
Taliban are continuing to desert and join the Afghan Government forces.
Al-Queda losses of personel and resources in Iraq have already made it impossible for them to maintain a presence in Somalia.
Pakistani forces are now engaging AQ and Taliban in Waziristan and along the border.

These developments have the Leftists in such a quandry they have nothing much to say beyond "Limbaugh is a jerk", which I've known since his failed audition for the Tonight Show many years ago.
Its sort of patethetic to see Moveon.org's patrons defending them by saying "Limbaugh said the word first". Not only is MoveOn stupid they aren't even original in their stupidity.

BTW
A UK court ruled that al-Gore's film contains too many basic errors and untrue statements presented as fact to be shown in their schools without a disclaimer. Its a Political Propaganda film not a documentary.

Wayne, TN (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 4:58 PM)

To be fair (and I'm the farthest thing from a Rudy fan that there is), it was in response to a direct question from a kid about what he would do as president if we were attacked from outer space. But, his response was true Rudy: "We will be ready! We will be ready for anything!" Really? I've seen enough SciFi to realize that if we, as a planet, were attacked from outer space, we probably don't have the technology to deal with it. Not to mention, the complete inability of all the different governments of the world working together against this "threat." But, I got the impression Rudy thinks to good ole' US of A could handle the problem all by ourselves. Yawn.

Res Ipsa Loquitor (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:07 PM)

I heard Rudy thought "To Serve Man" was really about tennis.

Laura Hopkins, Tempe, AZ (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:14 PM)

The Democrats cant even pull off a fake news conference ... nothing more than poster child abuse.

Tommy Long.Wastate (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:28 PM)

Sorry Krista, Keith is exaggerating and putting words in Rudy's mouth for comic effect, which I wish he wouldn't do since it hurts his credibility. Some little kid asked Rudy if he would protect us from bad people from outer space and Rudy humored him.

nuanced (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:41 PM)

Laura, It's a cookbook!!

nuanced (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:42 PM)

I give Rudy credit here, because to my knowledge when he was mayor NYC did not have any extra terrestrial invasions....except those huge cockroaches and all the rats. All this time he was speaking of being against illegal aliens, I thought he was against Mexicans but he's really against those from Mars. It's still racism though!!!!!

Mike, AL (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:44 PM)

Krista (4:44 PM Post): I am as surprised as you appear to be. If Rudy really said that, although I already thought he was toast as far as being a legitimate candidate, he is definately toast now.

I can't help but think that both sides have tried to use Graeme Frost as a gimmick. Plenty of examples could have been used by the Dems to get their point across without bringing this young man personally into the picture. And the Republican response was of course way out of line. This is one where I cannot agree on how either side has behaved on this issue.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 6:03 PM)

I sincerely hope Matt Drudge is correct about the Imus return scheduled for December 3. I hope that one of Mr. Imus' first attacks will be on and about the cowardice of one former sportscaster turned liberal pundit. A pundit whose show Mr. Imus promoted almost on a daily basis.

I have not watched "Countdown", once a nightly must see, since Keith's shameless and cowardly attack on Imus AFTER he was fired. I'll never forget his crude attack that can only be described as gloating.

I am sure I have missed some fine commentary since I blocked MSNBC on my television, but I will not subject myself to the ramblings of someone who takes his cue from "media matters" and Al Sharpton.

I wonder what "Morning Joe's ratings will look like come December 3.

Jim (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 6:34 PM)

I heard Rudy thought "To Serve Man" was really about tennis.
Laura Hopkins, Tempe, AZ (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:14 PM)

Laura -- No, he thinks it's about dinner.

Anomaly (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 6:51 PM)

CA. That's politics, huh? But the Republicans didn't attack the Dems for using the kid, they attacked the kid. That makes the Republicans who did it, Child Abusers, and their fellow GOP's who didn't call them on it, Child Abuser Enablers. They obviously haven't changed their MO since the Foley Thing.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:09 PM)

I wonder if Keith will ask these good parents, The Frosts, about their personal finances like how they can afford 3 late model automobiles, 2 properties totaling over $400,000 in equity and why they will not allow interested parties limited information from their tax returns. Especially if they are going to claim 45,000/year salary.

Are these fine people really "working poor?"

Oh, and why does neither parent work full time in a job that would supply health insurance for themselves and their other children? Will Keith ask these probing questions? Doubtful.

SH, New Jersey (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:13 PM)

"I heard Rudy thought "To Serve Man" was really about tennis.
Laura Hopkins, Tempe, AZ (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 5:14 PM)

Laura -- No, he thinks it's about dinner."

And like most ReThugs, he wants to be at the head of the table with a carving knife. Reminds me of that Simpsons ep where the smarmy announcer informs his viewers that the Eart has been invaded by extraterrestrials, and then puts on a big smile and says, "And I would like to welcome our new alien overlords..."

Hunter of NY (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:18 PM)

Was that cookbook HOW TO COOK FOR HUMANS or HOW TO COOK FOUR HUMANS??!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:32 PM)

Hunter of NY (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:18 PM)

Actually, Hunter, if I get your drift, I was thinking more the other way. But your way works, too. With a side of falafel.

Anomaly (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:35 PM)

SH: We have some interest in YOUR tax returns.

Can I assume from your comments that they will be immediately available for eany interested party to review?

Yeah, thats what I thought.

Fred in Buffalo (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:52 PM)

Fred. I did not place my family, especially my 12 year old son, in the media spot-light claiming to be "working poor." Also, the democrats claim this poor family will be without insurance if the plan is not passed. I would really like to know why they cannot afford insurance when it seems they are not "poor" but actually upper middle class, with lots of assets and wealthy parents. Valid and unemotional questions for people who have allowed their son to be used as a political prop are supposed to be allowed. Why are you worried about them just being honest about their financial situation?

SH, New Jersey (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:59 PM)

"Actually, Hunter, if I get your drift, I was thinking more the other way. But your way works, too. With a side of falafel."

Okay, now I have to go take a shower...:)

Hunter of NY (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:00 PM)

DIdn't comedian Olby just have the parents on LAST WEEK?? No, it can't be that he's using them AGAIN to try and get his ratings up?? No, it can't be? Not the discredited sports journalist!!

John Kerry (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:03 PM)

Wayne, as usual you read something and totally slant it to fit your own interpretation. You really need to do something about your comprehension issues.

Mr Justice Burton agreed that Mr Gore’s film was “broadly accurate” in its presentation of the causes and likely effects of climate change but said that some of the claims were wrong and had arisen in “the context of alarmism and exaggeration”.
Mr Justice Barton was at pains to point out that the “apocalyptic vision” presented in the film was politically partisan and not an impartial analysis of the science of climate change.

In other words, the science in the film is sound; some of the political leaning of the film is not acceptable to this particular judge.

As usual the NeoCons see a flaw and want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

LT in MD Combating NeoCon Lies and Misinformation (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:13 PM)

Is it just me, or does Michelle Malkin look like a pug? Possibly a pekingnese, I'm just sayin'... No offense to any yippey dog owners.

Christina, Helena, AL (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:26 PM)

Also, there is a new and improved family the democrats are now exploiting to try to get the expanded SCHIP passed. Meet the Wilkersons. They are really working poor with one used car and they rent. I guess the democrats realized The Frosts were not quite right ("working poor") and are on exploiting another family's hardships. Lastly, both The Frosts and The Wilkersons would still be eligiable for SCHIP if the democrats simply did not expand the program to include even wealthier middle class families and adults up to age 25. The democrats do not seem honest here in claiming Bush is going to hurt people like The Frosts and Wilkersons. Renewing SCHIP with a less modest increase will still cover these people, and Bush has said he is ready to sign such legislation. Why do the democrats resist this simple compromise?

SH, New Jersey (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:30 PM)

That kid and his parents are dopes, it's not cute the choice of president is very serious as we've seen these last 6 plus years.

John Charlotte, NC (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:33 PM)

Stay away

O J (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:34 PM)

Actually, Hunter, if I get your drift, I was thinking more the other way. But your way works, too. With a side of falafel."

Okay, now I have to go take a shower...:)
Hunter of NY (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:00 PM)

I certainly understand that, but don't forget the loofah, Hunter.

Anomaly (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:41 PM)

Reminds me of the guy in forida that has a $10,000,000.00 house declares bankruptcy then keeps the $10,000,000.00 house. Or when you are on line and the person ahead of you have 2 piles of grocery. one paid with food stamps. The other, beer, cigs, pet food, with cash. Then hop into a lexus!

ken ny (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:46 PM)

I just watched the segment on the Frost's. It is CLEAR to me that NO insured family would have been able to withstand the amount of medical bills that such injuries would have created. I work in a hospital, one child alone could have racked up a half million in bills. These people had two injured children.

Would those of you who believe we should have let them die without medical help (because they couldn't afford it), please step forward and relinquish your "pro-life" buttons??? I despise hypocrites.

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:54 PM)

John Kerry (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 8:03 PM)

Keith had Shawn Hornbeck's parents on last week - the parents of the kidnapped boy that "he who shall not be named" claimed was enjoying his kidnapping and having a good time. I understand how confusing it is keeping track of all the right-wing nut jobs attacking kids, but try.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 9:03 PM)

Why is it whenever a child needs care in the United States every bleeding heart comes out to support their oh so sorry story? Hundreds of thousands of children in the world need help but GOD forbid an American middle class child not get the care he/she needs?! I do not have kids and do not want them, and am sick of having to float the boat for them. If you can't afford to have kids DON'T!!!
There are kids that have nothing. These kids have what most kids want or need a loving family, a private school education and a great house. Sell your house, car or whatever you have to save your kids. Do not expect there to be a back up!!!

rene davidson, colorado springs, co (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 9:20 PM)

After seeing the pictures of the Frost children on the show tonight, I cannot believe that grown men and women can publicly attack a child and live with themselves after doing so. Aren't Republicans supposed to be poster "Christians?" Well WWJD? He wouldn't be looking for reasons why they shouldn't have received the care they needed. There are circumstances in every family that everyone doesn't and shouldn't know about. Anybody ever think the parents couldn't work full-time because someone has to get those kids to their needed physical therapy and numerous MD appointments? As far as the family owning newer model cars, the cost of those wouldn't make a dent in medical bills. My first child was premature and in the NICU for ONE WEEK and the cost of those bills was well over $100,000.00. Selling both of our cars wouldn't have made a difference at all. I believe their children were in the ICU alone for a month. I can't imagine the bill for that. For those that are attacking this family, how do you know that you won't find yourself in a similar situation? How do you know your children or your grand-children won't be in a similar situation? As a nurse myself, I know that patients depend on the compassion of the staff that care for them. To all you heartless Republicans, maybe you should be praying the next time you are in the hospital that you don't have a nurse as uncaring as you are about human life.

CTW, Sweetwater, AL (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 9:23 PM)

I couldn't agree more MK.

CTW, Sweetwater, AL (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 9:25 PM)

CTW. Long ago, the WWJD pins worn by the GOP, were found to mean, "We Want Jack Daniels".

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 11:58 PM)

Years ago Congress passed the insurance initiative COBRA for people changing jobs could keep their insurance, Well I ask you! What single person, who has changed jobs, can afford to pay a monthly COBRA payment of $465 a month or $675 for a family in order to retain insurance? I can personally tell you there are not many that can therefore they go three to six months without insurance at a new job. That is just part of the insurance problem in the United States. So to attack the Frost Family and a innocent little boy is just awful. This government needs to get out of their offices and find out what it is like in the real Americans world.

Angela de Laveleye, Huntsville, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:47 AM)

What? Winning the war? What shall the dumocrats do now?

Tom, DC (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 8:39 AM)

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 11:58 PM) To stay with the booze theme, in the words of the Guiness beer pitchmen, "BRILLIANT!"

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 9:19 AM)

Rene, you are making ignorant statements. these middle class people WERE taking care of their kids. But the accident changed that. The middle class cannot afford ONE child with those injuries, much less two. And while I support your decision to not have children, you don't live in a vacuum, and compassionate statements like your "if you can't afford to keep them alive, let them die" are just the kind of thing that was practical...about 7000 years ago. Taxes for war are okay, but to save 2 injured children in our own society is a waste? Wow.

A. Response, Greenville, SC (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 9:33 AM)

I see the liberals are split on the Frost issue. What the hell are we gonna do ?

Larry Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 11:10 AM)

Reality check here for the poor N.H. kid worried about an attack from outer space. Bad news kid and Rudy and anyone else who saw Independence Day.
An attack by aliens capable of interstellar space travel on us would be many orders of magnitude worse than Cortez vs. The Aztecs. We would be like neanderthals vs. the U.S. army. Actually some of the bloggers here ARE NEANDERTHALS but thats another subject.

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 11:51 AM)

Angela (12:47 AM Post): You make a good point. Watch out for government initiatives from either side that claim to help people but are so expensive no one can afford the damn things. COBRA is a prime example. And your figures may be low. Due to annual contract increases ranging from 13% to 25% from the likes of Blue Cross and other Insurance Carriers, Individual COBRA health care coverage can exceed $600.00 per month and Family COBRA coverage as much as $800.00 per month. And don't forget that the employer can charge a 2% administrative fee on top of that. And if an 80/20 coverage plan the worker without a job is still responsible for 20% of any medcial services. Figure what that cost would be for the jobless worker for a $10,000+ hospital stay and remember when nothing is coming in nothing can go out. But tell that to hospitals and the medical field when you start getting calls about a delinquent payment. Yet both parties felt they were really doing something for a worker who loses their job and/or the dependents of a worker who loses their job when they passed this bill. What would be interesting is to see some statistics as to how many people who have become eligible for COBRA due to a layoff, etc. have actually participated in this plan. Check with your employer's HR Department and if they are willing to talk I'll bet the answer will be almost no one because they can't afford it. So again, be sure to give any proposal, whether from the Dems or Republicans a real close look before supporting any health care assistance bills (read the fine print). In most cases, although claiming to help those who need it, the target groups still can't afford it.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:02 PM)

In Canada the up front cost to the parents would be $0.00. All of it would be covered, and the care the chidren would have recieved would be the same as in the US. Nobody in Canada looses the farm because they can't pay for healthcare ... nobody.

Ian Patton (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 1:47 PM)

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, October 15, 2007 7:09 PM)

Spot on Steve. BTW, the "tactic" of using someone effected by legislation to represent it was first used by ...... wait for it ........ Ronald Reagan. It was an art form he invented and used to great political advantage.

But, like everything, when Republicans do it - no problem. However, when Democrats use it to illustrate a point, it becomes something dispicable.

Another point to be made is that nearly everyone's health insurance has a "cap" - a maximum payable benefit. Mine - good insurance - is set at $250,000. Most people don't realize that there is a maximum payout amount on their plans. One serious illness, like the lengthy intensive care stay for both of these children, as well as a long rehabilitation, can easily exceed the maximum and leave even the best insured person with a mountain of bills. This is one of the reasons that even people with insurance have needed to file bancruptcy in the past (no longer, however, thanks to that shameless Bancruptcy Bill).

We need universal health coverage in this country. Insuring children is a good start. My only problem with SCHIP is that it was not put on the budget, but funded with "special tax" on a small number of Americans. It's a national priority and should be funded as such.

To see so-called "pro-lifers" attack this bill and it's proponents makes me sick. Perhaps they should change their name from "pro-life" to "pro-birth and after that we don't give a rat's pajamas what happens to you".

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 2:05 PM)

Tom, DC (8:39 AM Post): Who says we are winning a war?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 4:13 PM)

another day

O J (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 4:16 PM)

Attacks from space? Follow the logic. We see ufos as lights in the sky. UFOs must come here much faster than the speed of light, their normal speed. Why, then, would they have exterior lights if nobody can see them? Better to worry about restroom romeos.

K Satterfield, Chapel Hill, NC (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 4:19 PM)

Larry Charleston, SC since you are so proud of the stock market, please take some of your dividends and buy a clue. Better yet, get a more modern sense of humor, 'cuz you are the only one who finds your comments witty.

Sick of Geezers thinkin' they're relevant (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 4:35 PM)

It is now 2:05pm PDT and my very well thought out post on all 3 of these subjects one quite personal to me and not easy to write, from 8:30am PDT has yet to show up so will just say this to Mr.Olbermann as indsignificant as it may seem to the rest of you:
Thanks Keith for going back to tossing the papers:-)

Adelaide Cleere (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 5:11 PM)

Do not get me started on the CHIP Program. Medically needy kids bankrupt their parents, and the shrub thinks this is okay. BTW, I posted a long response that didn't seem to post to Laura (and Pam) that I'm not really going away, just won't be posting much.

JAM, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Tuesday, October 16, 2007 8:09 PM)

A. Response
Please read what I wrote and then comment.

How many minority children have been on the news as of late or any time? I can count them on one hand. Don't they need help? I guess they don't fall in the upper middle class, 1/2 million dollar house range? This is what is wrong. Every child should be treated the same, but I have never seen a minority child brought to front and center unless they are being deported to Cuba.
All children deserve care, and if a parent can help they should. As I said sell your house, car, bonds, whatever. This is your child not mine.
Why isn't this being discussed?

Rene Davidson Colorado springs co (Sent Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:00 AM)

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