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Special Comment Tonight

Posted: Monday, November 05, 2007 2:28 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

More in little bit, but we wanted to give you all a heads up that tonight Keith will deliver a special comment on a story we did on Friday that continues to percolate on the eve of the Mukasey hearings.  We'll have an excerpt for you soon.

****Update, click continued for excerpt******

On Daviel Levin, the former U.S. Acting Assistant Attorney General, who was himself waterboarded to determine whether or not the act constituted torture and was therefore counter to the claims of the Bush Admininstration that it was not.

Water-boarding, he said, is torture.

Legally, it is torture . 

Practically, it is torture. 

Ethically, it is torture . 

And he wrote it down.

Wrote it down somewhere, where it could be contrasted with the words of this country's 43rd President: "The United States of America does not torture."

Made you into a liar, Mr. Bush.

Made you into, if anybody had the guts to pursue it, a criminal.

A whole lot more tonigh at 8pm ET...hope you can join us.

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Comments

Stephen Colbert has dropped his bid for the White House.

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:12 PM)

UPDATE THIS BLOG NOW.

NOW (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:16 PM)

An outstanding post and wonderful questions posed.  It amazes me every time I read such apathy and hate on this blog and elsewhere.

Where IS the America our Forefathers founded?  It certainly is not the one we are living in today!!

PEACE FRIEND!!

Pam Bignardi. San Pedro, California (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:20 PM)

OH BOY, ANOTHER BAD DAY FOR THE MODERATOR.

O J (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:20 PM)

NEWS HOLE - ARE YOU ON STRIKE WITH THE WRITERS? WHAT'S UP?

www.update.com (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:31 PM)

Oh goody.  Another "Special Comment".  I guess Keith is angry at Michael Mukasey because of his stance on water boarding.  Keith, are you willing to say that saving American lives from a terrorist attack is not worth dunking a terrorist in water?  Does the well being of Al Qaeda matter more to you then the well being of Americans?  
James, San Diego, CA (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 3:32 PM)

Okay,  I have had it with you people on the right.  IF we torture someone,  what kind of information do you expect we will get from them?  The truth?  HA.  Why is it so hard to understand that someone being TORTURED will SAY ANYTHING they think you want to hear so you will stop the torture?  What about that don't you understand????  

While I am on the subject,  ever hear about someone being arrested or the police busting into a house only to find out they have the WRONG house or the WRONG person?  Do you think that ever happens?  

I really am sick of the mentality of the right...."I am not doing anything wrong....tap my phone,  look at my library records,  check my bank account,  read my mail,  I have nothing to hide".  Well QUIT giving away my freedoms!!!  The Taliban dictates to the people of Afganistan what they can do,  who they can call,  what they can wear.  If I want my government to dictate to me I will move there.  Right now,  I will use the freedoms my dad fought for and my grandparents immigrated here for.

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:55 PM)

Obviously it shouldn’t be done arbitrarily, and should only be done by knowledgeable experienced people with a doctor present.
scott henderson nv (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 3:47 PM)

Doctors take oaths to saves lives,  not stand by while someone is risking the life of another.  Any doctor who would stand by and watch just in case someone being waterboarded would drown is not a doctor worth a dime in my opinion.

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:02 PM)

Kevin of NJ (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 3:55 PM)

Kevin - It infuriates me too but from the opposite end of the spectrum.  All Mukasey had to do was answer a simple question.  "Do you consider waterboarding torture?"  By not answering or "playing dumb" he created this spectacle.  Then Dubya comes to his defense to make matters worse to explain that Mukasey has not been briefed on their interrogation (torture) methods.  To answer the question yes or no doesn't really require a WH briefing.  Even John McCain said it is torture.  I guess Mukasey could not truthfully answer the question because if he told the committee it was torture, that means Bush would be a liar since he claims "we do not torture."
Although I think the waterboarding is a serious issue, I'm more troubled by his comment that there are certain laws that the President may not have to abide by.  Business as usual in the Dubya WH.  
Kevin - Are you not troubled by the Presidency throwing his usual tantrum?  "If the Senate does not confirm Mukasey, I'll serve out the rest of term without an attorney general "(para-phrasing). And he's the leader of the free world.
And finally Kevin, if we torture everyone we consider a potential terrorist and continue to "accidentally" murder civilians, how does that make us any better than them?

Mike, AL (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:26 PM)

LT in MD (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 4:43 PM)

YES!!!!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:34 PM)

How far have we come to a place in our nation's history where torture is justified? How sad.
Please Read Sister Dianna Ortiz's book "Blindfold's Eyes" on her experience of torture.
Mr. President, have you no sense of decency?

Ed Cee, White Plains, NY (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:35 PM)

Keith - what I have not heard posed to any of your esteemed guests is the fact that if waterboarding is practiced by any US agency, that inherently must assume that we accept like treatment to our troops under similar circumstances. it will be interesting when we learn that the practice occurs against our enlisted and we appear to be outraged - i am scratching my head in advance.

christina, walnut creek, ca (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:38 PM)

Is this what you want?  Kevin, Lincoln, NE (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 3:05 PM)

Kevin – You’ve pretty much described what it is we do here, except we use black horses and lizard steeds instead of vans.  Our customers definitely say what we want to hear.  We seldom release them and they hardly ever complain.  (Although we did release Perino because even WE couldn’t stand her.)

You have a problem with that?  Take it up with my new boss.  His office is a couple of doors down from Mt. Doom.  His name is Cheney or something like that.  The last guy was no match for him.

The Witch King of Angmar (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:41 PM)

"They hate us because of our freedom."
.....Just needed a little time to realize the "they" was not the Wahabi fanatics, but our own Evangelical Taliban; War Criminal Torture Terrorists; Lobbyist Finishing School [nee Congress]; Blood for Oil Oligarchy; and Love the Fetus, Hate the Child Dead-Enders.
Thank you, Mr. Edward R. Olbermann

PS - Keith, not Clapton, is God.

Ed in NJ (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:51 PM)

ok ok

O J (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 7:57 PM)

Think Clinton was responsible for the booming economy of the 1990s? Nope - the recover was underway before he even was elected. Think he erased the deficit? Wrong - gushing tax revenues did that, and a Republican Congress that imposed a slim veneer of fiscal discipline. Think he was serious about "reforming welfare as we know it?" Think again - he signed that bill only because he thought it was necessary for his reelection, and then he vowed to supporters that he'd fix it, though he never did. Think he was an innocent victim of a vast right-wing conspiracy? Hah - he brought all his troubles on himself and has no one else to blame. Think he was tough on crime? Hardly - he nominated a clueless Janet Reno attorney general, the Queen of the Bunny Planet. Think he helped bring peace to the Middle East? Not even close - he strengthened Arafat, whose refusal to accept generous concessions from Israel led to the current bloodshed. Think he cared about the people of Africa? Not so fast - he not only did nothing to stop the genocide in Rwanda, his administration actively opposed any UN effort to send more troops there

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:01 PM)

Clinton was a lazy president - he preferred talking about tough issues to actually doing something about them. He avoided any action, no matter how justified, necessary, or right, that he thought might cost him a dip in the polls, while taking action only on issues that he thought would help him politically, or were just easier, like school uniforms and the V-chip.
Because of that, one could almost conclude Clinton was an inconsequential president, except for one major issue: terrorism. By treating it as a law enforcement issue, he essentially washed his hands of it and left it to the Justice Department to track down terrorists, a task for which the department was not prepared. As a result, Osama and his cohorts had free rein to kill Americans all over the world, until finally the country woke up to the war we were in on September 11, 2001. Clinton knew Osama was a threat, yet other than bombing empty buildings and deserted training camps, he did nothing. That would be difficult, you see, a distraction from his important work of pardoning rich fugitives and getting Hillary elected to the Senate.

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:06 PM)

Sharon, NY, NY (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 4:58 PM)

Great Idea Sharon, why don't we drop you in the nearest communist country, where any ideas you don't agree with can be immediately censored and/or erased completely so you don't have to be offended. You can be the Minister of Propoganda For Right Wing Demagoguery.."The NeoCons are always right because they want to kick butt and kill all the brown people", right Sharon?

I'll be willing to bet you think all Muslims are our enemy, and that Al Quada is ready to drop a big bomb in every major American city, so all the Librul, Pinko commies need to shut up. Please leave the thinking to the Liberal Elite.. we are still looking for our backbone in Congress, but at least we know what Jesus Would Do.

LT in MD (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:06 PM)

I'll say it...conservatives can be hypocrites but at least they will admit it. I think that's the one thing that separates the left from the right sometimes. The left's smugness would never allow them to admit such a frailty  Same as shame is (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 5:59 PM)

Hey Same as – My pseudononymous hypocrisy can beat your pseudononymous hypocrisy anyday.  How’s that for “smugness”?  

I don't suppose you care to explain what you think you're talking about?

ANOMALY (Capitalized for Emphasis) (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:10 PM)

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 5:45 PM)

Thank you Steve, your explanation makes a whole lot of sense. I wish for the Neocon Rightwingers, that Santa Claus brings them all souls for Christmas.

They have no problem calling their fellow Americans UnPatriotic losers, because we want our government to be BETTER THAN THE TERRORISTS, and they have no problem choosing loyalty to a political party over loyalty to their Country and to their Constitution; yet somehow it is the "Liberals" who are betraying the things America stands for.. I feel like we are being sucked into an evil NeoCon Twilight Zone, where evil is suddenly good, and good is now evil and wrong. Or at least the version of "good" envisioned by our forefathers.
Peace

LT in MD (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:23 PM)

You know Keith... sometimes I enjoy watching your show, but I was watching tonite when you interviewed Rear Admiral John D Hudson. I know there is a lot of controversey about waterboarding and wether or not it is torture, but to listen to him talk about torture like he has any clue to what he's talking about when it comes to subject... I guess because he USED to be "THE" Navy JAG so he must know everything... I mean he must have read about it in a memo. After all he was appointed by Congress. He was right that this has been happening for a long time, but in my 10 year military experience during 3 different conflicts I don't ever remember ANY JAG especially the BIG CHEESE anywhere near the front lines. They do work well in analysing intel... but that is about as far as it goes. Funny I don't remember anyone saying anything about this during the Kosovo conflict during the Clinton administration, but what would I know about the subject... stick with Sports... you seemed to be good at the subject.

Aric Martinez Virginia Beach (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:40 PM)

Do as I say not as I do

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:42 PM)

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:01 PM)

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:06 PM)



Talk about being stuck on stupid.  Why do you constanly bring up Clinton?  Wake up!  Bushie boy has been the King for the last 7 years.  Larry,  your "true" colors are shinning thru onto "true liberal".  Give it up,  it is getting really old.  

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:46 PM)

Who would have figured 7 years ago that John Ashcroft would turn out to be the member of the Bush Justice Dep't to do the most to protect the Constitution.
John Doe, Seattle Wash. (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:11 PM)



I know!  

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:47 PM)

junebug (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 5:10 PM)
Rory, Oakland, CA (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 6:33 PM)

It would appear Larry is the LIAR; if not a liar, guilty of complete ignorance!!

Thanks to both of you for proving both my very intelligent daughter, who does her research and my self correct!!

PEACE!!

Again, "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:58 PM)

You are so Awesome Keith.  
Because  Waterboarding is torture  and  like you say
We Americans should be above  such torture.  .   .
Well done on this  Special Comment.  
Your tore  W  and Ilk  a new one  
thanks for being a patriot.

DENISE (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 8:59 PM)

I've been a big fan of Countdown for many years now. Apart from agreeing with Keith on the politics and appreciating his journalistic commitment, I also like that he understands sports, and covers important stories in that realm.

One can only imagine my surprise that my name (but not me) would be the topic of a SPECIAL COMMENT editorial. I always hoped that I might have the chance to bring down the Bush Administration. So at least Keith thinks my namesake has done the job. But now I'll just have tell everyone who knows me that I'm not the Daniel Levin that was waterboarded. Thank goodness I'm not a lawyer as well.

Daniel Levin, Boothwyn PA (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:02 PM)

Keith you speak the truth with astonishing courage. I'm amazed I saw this on American television. Waterboarding is torture!

Joel Underwood New London New Hampshire (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:02 PM)

KO,  It is my fondest hope that Bush is "screwed" for being a liar.  However,  I would have to depend on my representatives to do the right thing and charge him with a crime. George W Bush,  going to prison,  wouldn't that be appropriate!  Do I think that will happen,  hell no.  

Either way,  I admire you more than I can say.  Thank you for keeping the truth front and center.  

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:02 PM)

WAY TO GO KEITH!!!!!

Delila Owens Bakersfield, CA 93305 (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:03 PM)

BRAVO, Keith!! You are the Tom Paine of the 21st century! Semper Fi!

Al Dente, Denver, CO (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:04 PM)

Keith- That was an awesome message to Bush... He and his regime have torn down so much of what makes sense in this country...
He's apparently got enough support from people with lower IQs than even HIS, that we who can think and learn are spinning like tops wondering... WHEN WILL THIS CRAP END!! You give me hope, Keith, with your honesty and directness.

Cyd, Santa Rosa, CA (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:05 PM)

Keith, you are my hero. I watch you every night. Superb special comment tonight. I and the country thank you for always telling it like it is, with no fear. You're the man.

Pirjo Holmstrom (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:05 PM)

Thank you Keith for having the cojones to stand up for your beliefs and speak the truth. I hope enough people tuned in tonight. America, WAKE UP!!!

Aurora, Phnx, AZ (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:06 PM)

Torture is being led by the Cheney-Bush gang of chickenhaws!

Cass Tacey (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:07 PM)

THANKS KEITH FOR LAYING IT ALL ON THE LINE IN ONE OF THE BEST SPEECHES I'VE HEARD. Know that Americans who are terribly concerned about this country under this horrific administration are grateful to you for your show, your comments and your courage. The minute I heard about this, I was disgusted by Mukasey's waffling inability to do the right thing, and revolted by SCHUMER & FINESTEIN who must be dying to commit political suicide considering the mood of the country. What many can't understand is HOW IN THE WORLD A PRESIDENT WITH UNDER 30% APPROVAL RATING CAN INTIMIDATE CONGRESS LIKE HE DOES?

Sue, Syracuse (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:07 PM)

AMEN to your comments tonight.  THANK YOU FOR VERBALIZING so eloquently the morals and ethics that our Consitutition stands for, and the desire of Americans to be above the standards of those who condone torture.  BRAVO!

Marianne Mabbitt (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:07 PM)

Torture is being led by the Cheney-Bush gang of chickenhawks!

Cass Tacey (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:07 PM)

Bravo! A Classic "Special Comment".

Encore!


John Worf (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:08 PM)

Keith Oberman has got to be the dummest commentator on TV.  His rant about waterboarding is laughable.  This debate over wheather waterboarding is torture or not could easily be put to bed by Congress.  All they have to do is define it and say it is torture and threfore illegal.  Ever wonder why they dont???  I'll tell you, they don't want to be blamed for it not being used in case of a prisoner who may know where the dirty bomb is.  And of course if they don't take a position they can blame everyone else but themselves.  Also waterboarding is used to train US Service Men.  The training our troops go through is far worse then anything we do to illegal combatants.

John Trent (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:08 PM)

Keith, Your special comment tonight was fantastic!!! You are a treasure. Please keep on doing what you do.

Diane Mundt (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:08 PM)

Perhaps America is a lost cause after all.  With courageous men like Keith Olbermann willing to point out the obvious fact that the President has knowingly and intentionally violated domestic and international law, there is a small ray of light.  

Olbermann is a hero to people of all political persuasions who despise this despot, George W.Bush, for all the crimes he has committed and for his ruinous presidency, probably the worst in American history.  We will emerge from this darnkness known as the Bush Administration, partly because of courageous men like Keith Olbermann who simply tells the obvious truth, George W. Bush is a criminal and a liar.  He and many others in his administration should be extradicted to the Hague in 2009 to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

William Winston Newbill, Esq. Arlington, Texas (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:09 PM)

Bravo! Thank-you Mr. Olbermann. You make me proud to be a reporter.

Editor Jane Doe (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:09 PM)

I just finished watching your comments on waterboarding and this administration that should be legally punished for the use of this torture. I want to Thank You for having the guts to go on the air and say what so many of us are screaming to our TV's when we hear these people come on and try to convince us that it is not torture.
Thank you for all of your special comments, they are head on.

Ann Ferrara, Cherry Hill, NJ (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:11 PM)

For some reason we have NOT experienced another 9/11 since that tragic date in US history. Perhaps the protection that you label as anti-American has kept us safe at least for the short-term. Your remarks, on the other hand, reflected your personal intense hatred and your political bias much more than the message you desired to convey. As you spoke the only thing visually missing was your frothing mouth and smoke coming out of your ears.

Danny Broskie, Richmond, VA (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:12 PM)

Right on, Keith!!! Where is the democratic leadership?  Email  Sen. Feinstein and Schumer tonight and flood their offices in the morning with phone calls.  This is unbelievable they would vote for a man who is clearly under the influence of the Bush Admin. When is the democratic leadership going to take a stand?  What is it going to take to make a stand against the White House Admin who continues to lie, ignore our constitution and defy International Laws?  Stop the funding Iraq,  stop the madness.

KC Dem (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:13 PM)

Thank you Keith, I wish everyone could hear this.  I have sent it to everyone I could.  I especially wish Bush & Cheney could hear it, but I suppose it wouldn't make any difference to them.  How sad that this country has come to this.

WINNIE HIGGINS (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:13 PM)

Great job...

Fernando Moreno, San Diego Ca (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:13 PM)

Fernando Moreno, San Diego Ca (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:13 PM)

Thank you, Mr. Olbermann.

Thank you for openly and unambigiously calling George W. Bush what he is: a liar and a criminal.


Stan Alluisi, Durant, Oklahoma (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:14 PM)

I think its best said " give me liberty or give me death" Stand on your morals or have them stepped on. Waterboarding or any other form of torture is just wrong, No matter what you think you can gain in the short run, In the long run you lose more then you can ever gain.

Iou101 (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 9:14 PM)



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