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We heard about this whole "blogosphere" business from Tom DeLay, and came to the immediate realization that we too, "needed to become involved" in it.

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**The News Hole's "Best of the TV Awards" 2006



Countdown Monday: The Truth About Waterboarding

Posted: Monday, November 05, 2007 9:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

A Year and a Day:  This is Monday, November 5th... 365 Days until the 2008 Presidential Election. One day until the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on the confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. In 1983, in President Bush's home state of Texas... federal prosecutors charged a state sheriff and three of his deputies with violating the civil rights of prisoners by forcing their confessions. According to the complaint, the four conspired to quote "subject prisoners to a suffocating water torture ordeal" that "generally included the placement of a towel over the nose and mouth of the prisoner and the pouring of water in the towel until the prisoner began to move, jerk, or otherwise indicate that he was suffocating and or drowning."  In short, water-boarding.  All four defendants were convicted, and the sheriff was sentenced to ten years in prison. Our fifth story on the Countdown: The man likely to be the President Bush's next Attorney General... still refusing to comment on whether a practice illegal during the Reagan administration... is still illegal during the Bush administration.

The Pakistan Problem:  Secretary of State Rice with a stern warning after President Musharraf shuts down Democracy and cuts phone lines in Pakistan. President Bush? Not so much.

ODDBALL: Pumpkin sliding and King Tut revealed.

Green is Good: Now that we've all asked former Vice-President Al Gore if he might run for President... we can move on to whether he would serve in someone else's administration.  More on that, presently, in our third story on the Countdown. And as the seven years of the current administration has dramatically demonstrated... facts -- including, scientific facts -- have never gotten in the way of dis-information. So too with global warming... Which hasn't stopped the critics of Mr. Gore -- the so-called climate skeptics -- including one who was recently featured on the op-ed pages of the "Wall Street Journal". In Mr. Gore's first interview since being honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, he answered that, too.

Oprah's Troubles: The airing of grievances takes center stage in tonight's number two story, Keeping Tabs...  Our celebrity and entertainment news begins with Oprah Winfrey going public for the first time..

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: Brit Hume, Kevin Magee and Rudy Giuliani vie for tonight's top honors

The Levin Revelation: Tonight's Special Comment. 

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Comments

After this evening’s special comment, regarding water boarding and the debacle of the Bush administration and the criminal liability of Mr. Bush, I just had to write to say thank you to Mr. Olbermann.  I can depend on him to articulate, in his exquisitely intelligent, clear and inarguable way, the truth about what is going on in this country.  His words brought tears to my eyes.  I know I am witnessing the demise of the integrity of this country in the eyes of the world and, tragically, in our own eyes.  I feel so frustrated, angry and scared.  What can I do, what can I do??

Joan Garrity, White Marsh, MD (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:04 PM)

no way

O J (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:11 PM)

Just a couple of non"Special Comment" comments...

Now, I'm going to have to listen to my Steve Martin cd featuring "King Tut" at work tomorrow! ;D As a matter of fact, I think tomorrow is going to be all comedy all the time - all Lenny Bruce, Steve Martin, George Carlin, etc. Of course, I will need to remember to lower the volume for the more...umm..."dirty" parts.

I think LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS music would've been appropriate for the best worst dentist (or the worst best dentist, depending on your point of view), too.

Good night, everybody!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:20 PM)

#1. He died briefly. Saw God, who told him that Dubya was gonna go to Hell for torturing people, but not to say anything or he'd get fired. And was brought back to life by a plumber on his way to the Watergate #2. Even Oprah gets let down sometimes. #3.  Don't tell Dubya he isn't Green. Green is his favorite color, and coincidentally, the favorite color of No-Bid Contractors. #4. Wonder how Musharaf will like living in Texas? #5. Maybe if they change the name of it to  Traumatic Sponge Bobbing??

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:30 PM)

Americans have become immune to the dishonesty of politicians. Manipulation and deceit have become so commonplace that people just don't seem to care anymore. The popular view is that it is ok to tell a lie as long as you are not caught. If the means justify the ends, then telling a lie is ok. I am not a fan of William Bennett, but maybe he does have a good point when he describes the present- day situation as "the death of outrage".

Mr. Clinton now rivals Richard Nixon as the most dishonest man to ever occupy the White House. The only difference between the two is that Nixon was caught. Clinton has not been formally accused and brought to trial for his treasonous conduct, but that doesn't make his crimes any less serious.

Chinagate is a serious matter that deserves more attention that it has received. Forget the Monica Lewinsky debacle. This is the scandal that really matters.

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:31 PM)

Clinton is absolutely guilty of treason. Forget the myriad of other "gates", this is the mother of all scandals: treason by the President of the United States. To find out that Clinton and his minions are responsible for possibly endangering the very existence of this nation by allowing security secrets to be given and sold to communist China is beyond belief. If someone proposed this as a Hollywood script, he would be laughed out of town. But once again with this administration, truth is stranger than fiction. Just as complicit are the mainstream media and Democratic leaders who have helped cover-up, obstruct, and spin this story so as to absolve the Clinton administration from blame.

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:33 PM)

How did Clinton and Gore manage to get away with this under our very noses? Clinton and Gore managed in 8 years to sell our best technology to a Communist country who not only is using it to their own advantage, they are selling it other terrorist countries as well! I am scared to imagine what would have happened to us if Al Gore had been elected President - and he is talking of running again! What I want to know is why this information never managed to get through to the mainstream public?

True Liberal (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:34 PM)

As someone suffering from the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, having had one lung removed and the remaining one now with metatstasis, I am often unable to breathe. The terror I feel while gasping to take in oxygen is beyond description. TO learn my own country is without shame on visiting that same horror on other human beings - regardless of reason - is almost as painful to me as my cancer. What happened to the acid test of whether or not something was right? You know, that "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"? Forget George Bush or Mukesy - can someone can tell me how Jesus would feel about waterboarding?

June Breit, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 10:57 PM)

So, Pakistan is under a dictator that threw away their Constitution, killed their Supreme Court, and are arresting anybody against their dictator. Did I mention that this was not the U.S.?

With your Special Comment, Keith, I am afraid you will become like those arrested in Pakistan, soon. I will too, because of my support for impeaching this administration. I am wondering, when will our nation  become like theirs? I know it has already started here, but before next years election, what will happen? Will it actually be a real election this time?

I remember when it was extremely hard to get any info from this administration. Now whistleblowers are coming out of the woodwork. It reminds me of what Princess Leia said in Star Wars: A New Hope, before her planet was blown-up. "The more you tighten your grip Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

Thankyou, Keith, for going after Oprah! I know it was a risky thing to do, but I am glad that someone else noticed that she is all about "me". She ALWAYS has to appear on the cover of "O". I am wondering, when she cried for 30 mins, when she heard about the abuse, how many of the rooms in her home(and in which home) can she pace in 30 mins? Her main home in Santa Barbara was bought for 50 million! It is not like she has anybody else to share it with. How many schools can she build in Africa, with that mullah?

All this pondering has made me tired, and ill. Will Gore just run so that we will have some hope? (Great! I'm pondering again.) He will win! Hillary will not! We are just going to deal with another 4+ years of Shrub and Dick-tater's reign if a GOP candidate wins.

KarenS., VA (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 11:07 PM)

Great Show....The "special comments" section was one of the best ever.  How could anyone (in their right mind) disagree with what was said?

One piece of advice Keith. Although the show was great, my wife wasn't too happy with the comments on Oprah.  Call Bush, Cheney, Condi, and all the neo-cons what you want, but don't mess with Oprah.  

Mike, AL (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 11:17 PM)

Ronald Gross (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 11:37 PM)

Alas the truth flows by eloquent prose in tonights special comment. Thank You, I hope the Senate was watching.

Ray Davis Jr. Santa Fe N.M. (Sent Monday, November 05, 2007 11:45 PM)

Water-boarding IS TORTURE and should be a national, and an international, CRIME!  Anyone ordering or instituting this procedure should have to face criminal prosecution as well as undergo water-boarding themselves!  THANK YOU, Keith Oberman, for speaking the truth!    

Mary Snyder, Corpus Christi, Texas (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 12:20 AM)

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

Thanks for the "research" and the link!! As a member of MoveOn.org, I knew who started the organization; so did my daughter Rana.  I also remember why they started it; I thought the “move on” was a great name at the time; I know I was sick and tired of the GOP led Congress and its asinine and relentless impeachment efforts of Bill Clinton!! Not to mention Ken Starr and the millions of wasted taxpayer dollars from the “fiscally conservative” Party – HAH!!  However, knowing how some of these people make crap up as they go along on this site, i.e. Larry, small caps scott, and Full Moon; back up was cited.

David was wrong; Rana was polite in correcting him in my opinion.  As usual, Larry was, so I backed up the information with another link.  You two also added the information regarding WHAT Hillary DID say; however, these trolls don't care.  They just spew out anything they've recently eaten!! I think they listen to about two syllables of anything or anyone they disagree with and then go into a bright RED "black out" and just start blogging or yapping.

It's wrong and immoral, as I've come down hard on Hillary, as noted above; I've come down hard on Feinstein, as noted above; I've given kudos to republicans when it’s deserving. Many so-called “liberal loonies” here have come down hard on the Congress (democrats) for continuing to fund the Iraq Occupation!!  C A and Carol are right, there's no getting anywhere with these type of people.

Junebug, KUDOS to you for always correcting the misinformation from these so-called “human beings”!! I feel it is needed and have stated this since before you ever began blogging here!! I am SO glad you have!! I have spent months ignoring Larry, I should have left it that way!!  Full Moon is just full of s$$t and has been a miserable person since "it" came here!! I should have known better with "it" also.  Back to "Orange Alert" scroll bar!!

PEACE TO BOTH OF YOU!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 12:46 AM)

I think you were a little too easy on these jerks (Bush, et al)

mike miller (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:14 AM)

Wow.

One of your greatest and longest special comments I can remember in quite some time.  Coherent, lucid, concise, laying it out for us all to see, one of the most direct and plausible explanations for this president's actions.

To all those who would decry us 'liberals', we 'unpatriotic weak ignorant fools,' those few who insist that the president is right and correct and that those who criticise him are deluded, I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is - go try this waterboarding for yourself and see if you agree - is it torture?  Would you lie to save your skin?  Or do you think it is some walk in the park, something fun to do on a Sunday afternoon?

My compliments, Keith.  Good show.

Paul Bennett (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:20 AM)

Keith - Excellent, excellent, excellent!! Yes, George W. Bush is a "liar" and I believe you are the first person on non-pay TV who has had the guts to say so!! It was a brave statement, a deserving statement and an accurate statement sir!!

If anyone had told me seven years ago that one day the United States of America, to include government officials and civilians, would even be discussing "torture", to include what is or is not torture; or that a future president would make the statement, “The United States does not torture”, in defending his/her policies; I would have never believed it!!

George W. Bush has destroyed nearly everything this country was founded upon; however, he has not destroyed the hearts and souls of millions of Americans.  As you so eloquently stated, we have always been "better"; we have preached the moral high ground; we have protested against such brutality in other countries; we have voiced our outrage about waterboarding, in addition to other draconian, monstrous and illegal actions of the administration of George W. Bush!!

While it will take years, probably decades, to undo the terror George W. Bush has instilled globally, I know "we the people" will prevail, we will win!! I only hope the world forgives us!!

"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use -- of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public."-- Robert F. Kennedy - The Pursuit of Justice, 1964

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

PEACE!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:27 AM)

I am constantly amazed by Keith Olberman! He is the bravest man I know! To actually go on air and say all these things out loud--for others to hear! I wholeheartly agree with all that he said in tonight's Special Comment about waterboarding and the Bush administration's use of this form of torture (and God only knows what other kinds) and their denial of it! My only hope is that Bush/Cheney and the others involved in this will someday be prosecuted for their crimes.
I've posted things at work (articles from the NY TIMES mainly)about the Bush administration's abuse of power that should really worry people--but no one seems to want to get involved or even believe it. I'm just so glad that there is SOMEONE who understands how serious this is and is brave enough to speak out! Thank you Keith, from all of us out here that "get" what your talking about!! I pray that we can pull our country back in one piece after Bush leaves office!

Deborah Watts, Santa Barbara, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:27 AM)

Thank you and God bless you, Keith Olbermann. I only hope and pray the comments you made tonight will get through to those who, in positions of power, need to act while we still are a nation of law. It sickens me that Bush, Chaney and the toadies and sycophants with whom they surround themselves are not merely morally bankrupt, but are in fact criminal -- and that too many of those we trust to maintain a check against unbridled abuse of power are moral cowards.

Our choice seems clear enough: Raise hell with your representatives and senators, people, or sit back and wait for hell to come to you.

Niels Erickson, Bay St. Louis, MS (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:36 AM)

             "Special Comment" ?????

                 W O W !!!!!

As opposed to a 20 second sound bite -(ME)from the rest of the "Game Show Hosts" that daily portray themselves to be the free and honest media ... Keith hit one so "on the money" and so far over the fence that if he played baseball ... the stroke would make Barry Bonds look like John Gochnaur !
(Worst Baseball Player Ever)

Wait a moment ... Barry already is !

It took something Special for Keith to shed so much light on the MORONS in this country who are supported by 99.4% of the GUN OWNERS in this country.

Anyway, For this ... Keith's "Ball's" should either be put up on E-Bay or sent to the Hall of Fame ... With a double ** for telling the absolute truth. (something they don't tell in baseball either)

Outstanding Show !



Art Karr, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:54 AM)

Watch your back Keith. Your comments rank up there with Murrow's at an equally dangerous time in American history, when we are again being whipped into frenzy by charlatans intent on stealing our collective beacon of justice and freedom. I admire your courage, eloquence, and righteous indignation. And when in some future time we have regained our senses, and our children's children will look back on this era and will inevitably ask, "Who among you stood his ground? your name will ring from the belfrys of the mystical watchtowers, my cyber brother. Few understand the courage it takes to do what you are doing in these paranoid days. May the holy spirit of our founding elders find us again and, may I add, watch over your crazy ass. We need you and love you man. God save the Republic.

TJ, South Lake Tahoe, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:56 AM)

Keith I love you.  I'm totally addicted to Countdown which causes the household to come to a standstill when you're on.  You speak for me on so many issues.  HOWEVER, you need to go back and watch the entire Oprah interview from this morning.  I am not always an Oprah supporter but I felt that her comments this morning were well thought out and that other Americans in positions of influence could have gone to school on the way she is handing this horrible mess. You took one response to one reporters question and made it appear that it was "all about her" which was not true.  Perish the thought, but as one of your biggest fans, I must say that you looked a little Fox Newsy with that unfair comment.  You owe Oprah an apology. I know you're man enough to do this.

Carol Fenn, Tucson, AZ (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 1:58 AM)

I had a thought about why Feinstein might be supporting the nomination - this is pure speculation on my part, from the peanut gallery - could she be supporting the nomination because of the fires that happened in California, and she is either afraid that Bush will hold up funds (ala Katrina) or has even threatened to hold up funds?  

Anyone wanna take a guess about that possiblity?

Ferris Valyn, Ann Arbor, Mi (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 2:00 AM)

Thanks Keith for the special comments. My heart was yearning to hear words from somebody in the media that they recognized the magnitude of these crimes. There are hard times ahead and much work to be done, but my soul feels peaceful now. I know it will be OK and we will clean out this manure pile, the balloon has been popped.

Larry Larson, Santa Monica, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 2:14 AM)

Mr Olberman,

You, sir, are the most impressive, honest, sincere, caring, clear headed newsman I have had the privilege to listen to. EVER!  


While I enjoy the sometimes quirky Best and the Worst persons of the day, and by the way  I agree about Oprah as I thought the same when I saw her news conference earlier today, I was moved as never before in your Special Comments this evening.  I was shaking, crying at the clarity and the reality of  the truth that you spoke.  Yes, it was your truth, your passion, your anger that we collectively feel, and your caring as an American as I have never heard before....except from you as you spoke your last Special Comments.  It is real and I could not hide from the truth.

To me you are this generation's Edward R Murrow.  Oh that you can make a difference.

How I wish the Moron had a conscience.

Thank you,

Barbara Berg.



Barbara Berg, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 5:14 AM)

Great special comment Keith.  That will be the day to see Bush go to jail.. The impeachment process needs to begin but the Democrats evidently don't have the back bone to do anything but to let this administration get away with everything.  What a sad day for this country.......

cindyg, princeton,tx (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:07 AM)

After last nights totally un-hinged special comment would MSNBC please up Keiths medication. I neve thought a network could possibly be so irresponsible. I guess hiring a ball card collector and ex ESPN broadcaster makes sense now. Capture the lunatic fringe MSNBC !

Larry Boston Ma (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:15 AM)

##5 and 4– There you go, Countdown. Why on earth should Mr. Bush care what lawyers say about anything?  After all,  President Musharraf doesn’t, and Mr. Bush is much more clever than he is.  While President Musharraf had to expel HIS Supreme Court, Mr. Bush got Congress to help him emasculate OURS in advance.

You know, one of those “preventive measures” intended to eliminate a “threat to future law and order.”  Mr. Bush’s law and Mr. Bush’s order.  Our future.

And thanks for the quick peek at the Pakistani lawyers in their cute little black suits and ties being clubbed and gassed by Pakistani troops.   If it wasn’t so scary, it would have been perfect for Oddball.    

#3 – A solid piece on the environment.  It’s always a treat to see Al Gore.  But you probably don’t know that the “green” shot behind you is eerily, and ironically, similar to the commercial logo used by the evil, polluting, murdering corporation in George Clooney’s new movie (Michael Clayton).  (More on Clooney later.)

WPitW – Say it with me, everybody –  Fibbin.  Fibbin.  Fibbin.  Fibbin.  

Silver tie – good.  Silver hair – better.  (:

Special Comment.  Wow.  No, really.  Wow.  

Anomaly (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:28 AM)

Water-boarding IS TORTURE and should be a national, and an international, CRIME!  Anyone ordering or instituting this procedure should have to face criminal prosecution as well as undergo water-boarding themselves!  THANK YOU, Keith Oberman, for speaking the truth!    
---Mary Snyder, Corpus Christi, Texas

It already is, Mary.  And in fact the United States has prosecuted people, in the past, for commiting it.  See: Japanese Officers from WWII.  In particulat, Yukio Asano, who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor for his actions.

Mark C., Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:49 AM)

Good news, MSNBC is working on a new program starring non other than Rosie O'Donnell.  She would be after KO.  KO is quoted as saying the following:

"Mr. Olbermann acknowledged that for MSNBC’s nighttime lineup to ultimately work, viewers needed to be able to follow at least some common themes from one show to another. He likened himself and his fellow hosts, collectively, to the menu of a hamburger restaurant with several variations of the same dish.

“If you go into a burger place, and you go in there for the fish, you might want the fish occasionally but it’s probably a mistake,” he said. “Could you be utterly different politically and succeed in this format? You’d basically be throwing your audience away.”

So he is admitting this is a conscious decision to go down the Bush bashing show path.  My question to Mr. Olbermann, Sir, what are you going to do in 13 months when Bush is out of office.  Exactly, maybe you should report real news.  Keith and Rosie, wow MSNBC you are really desperate.

Kevin of NJ (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 7:58 AM)

One of KO's best comments. I'm flabbergasted that a "debate" is even ongoing about torture. We are Americans and no one is above the law in this case. Alas, Bush is hiding behind the skirts of his hand-picked "Lady Justice". I'm amazed that for all the chest thumping and swagger, there is no MAN in this government that says ENOUGH! Thank you KO for being that MAN.

April Null, Salisbury, MD (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:00 AM)

From today’s New York Times, more news from Pakistan –
The leader of the country’s largest opposition party, Benazir Bhutto, was scheduled to fly from her home city of Karachi to Islamabad on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, she is to meet with other civilian political leaders but she said she will not meet or negotiate with General Musharraf.  “No and nor do I intend to meet Musharraf," she told reporters at Karachi airport before boarding a flight to Islamabad, Reuters reported.

Hey Countdown – See how this is getting more like Henry II every day?  Eleanor of Aquitaine just arrived.  Now we have “who will rid me of this meddlesome woman?”

Is Eleanor an anagram of Anomalie?  Nope.  Too bad.  She was one tough woman.  Pakistan could use her now

Anomalie (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:02 AM)

Mr. Olbermann keep up the great work.  Good luck to Rosie O'Donnell.  Congratulations to msnbc.

Tom Boran (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:12 AM)

Your Special Comment Monday night about the criminality of this government was a masterpiece. Why dont any of the Presidential candidates have this passion and clarity?

Peter M, Fairfield CT (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:19 AM)

Oddball -- As a fan of ancient Egyptology, I appreciated your piece on King Tut -- Countdown was funny, as always, but the funniest comment I heard about this was one that was not meant to be funny, from some giddy CNN newsreaders on Sunday morning:  “Where else can you see someone so old and so famous?”  

Really.  Where else?  A Rolling Stones concert, maybe?

Anomaly (who wishes she were Queen Nefertiti) (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:25 AM)

The Case for George (Clooney).

On several previous occasions, I’ve tried to convince Countdown to balance Britney, Lindsey, and Paris with Ewan, Clive, and George.  To be sure, Countdown has been a pretty good sport by allowing me to carp on this point.  I’m sure Countdown knows I’m only kidding.  Countdown fills the screen pretty well himself.  

But I thought I made a good case for Ewan (political figure from a galaxy far, far away) and Clive (political pirate from the 16th Century).  Although Countdown evidently did not agree with me, I still think there are some things worth trying, even though you know you won’t succeed.  Now, if we could only convince Congress to adopt my philosophy.

Anyway, undeterred by my earlier abject failures, I started working out my case for Clooney.  But if galaxies far, far away don’t cut it, it seemed unlikely that a desolate fantasy world like Syriana would cut it, either.  Desperate for inspiration, I forced myself to see George’s new movie.  (Oh, the sacrifices I make for the Newshole.)  (: (: (: (: (:

Turns out there wasn’t much there, either, although it could fit in, perversely, with Countdown’s current “green” theme.  But, there WAS a lot of George Clooney on the screen.  

And then it came to me.   The case for George Clooney is – George Clooney.

Now, unlike George Bush, I’m not delusional.  I know this plan won’t work either.  But like George Bush, I don’t really care anymore.  I just wanted to complete my mission.  

Mission accomplished.  (About as effectively as Mr. Bush accomplished his.)  (But with 50 percent less torture, unless you count the self-inflected variety.)

Anomaly (no longer waiting for Clive, George, and Ewan) (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:30 AM)

Did'nt Saddam pull some of the same tactics as Musharraf when he was a dictator? How come Bush has not identified Pakistan and Musharraf as evil? Do we now invade Pakistan as well? Fact is, Bush and Cheney and Rice find themselves having to deal with  international affairs that are getting out of hand and that this administration has no clue what to do if anything about them. We are in a free fall regarding our foreign policy.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:40 AM)

Last night’s Special Comment absolutely captured what so many of us, true Americans, have been feeling for the past several years about this Bush-Cheney co-dependency*, but haven’t been able to put into words:  these guys are just a few dozen RICO counts in search of a prosecutor.

Concerning the show's earlier story on Pakistan, it seems only natural that Bush would support Musharraf.  Early in office, Bush looked into Vladimir Putin’s soul and liked what he glimpsed there.  Bush must feel a great deal of kinship with these two nuclear-powered dictators who feel the only way to “save democracy ” is to destroy liberties and the rule of law and to disappear one’s enemies (if not literally, then certainly figuratively, right Mr. Levin?).  And who but Bush and Musharaff could, through their own idiotic and extreme actions, make Islamists and Talibanis seem reasonable and even sympathetic.  Just as only Nixon could go to China and Clinton could reform welfare; only Bush could bring Al Qaeda to power in Iraq and Musharraf, if he keeps following Bush’s model, may actually turn Pakistan into an unstable theocracy.

And I never thought I’d say this in response to a non-Court TV program, but hooray for lawyers!  Between your first guest, from the JAG, calling torture the last refuge of the lazy, the stupid and the pseudo-powerful and the fact that you showed it was lawyers who were literally  on the front lines of the Pakistani revolt, well, I’ve never been prouder to be a member of the bar.  

Thanks again, Countdowners for making it safe for thinking, freedom-loving people to watch the news!!


*Let’s not give it even a modicum of constitutional cover and call it a presidency.

Shannon Smith, Littleton CO (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:49 AM)

standard operating procedure of GW and this administration:  if we want to do something illegal, we change the language so that the description SOUNDS different, proclaim it legal, secret, and vital to the safety and security of every PATRIOTIC American, and you dare NOT question us or our authority, unless, of course, you are a terrorist, and therefore may we should listen to your records.  

A.Response, Greenville SC (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:56 AM)

I share your outrage and fear for this country under the Texas-Stupid President, but I have serious doubts about the conclusion that there is a wide criminal conspiracy afoot. I believe, maybe niavely, that there are many more people, like Levin, bravely and patriotically trying to do their duty. It is, rather that they, like us, are saddled with our own "Darth Vader" and the other neo-cons as bosses. At least for another year. And that was the result of Florida- and U.S.-stupid!

Jonathan Kaplan, Malibu, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:58 AM)

If we are living in a fascist state then why are you on the air? The special comment made no logical sense!

Larry Boston Ma (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:07 AM)

2nd attempt to post...

Just a couple of non "Special Comment" comments...
Now, I'm going to have to listen to my Steve Martin cd featuring "King Tut" at work! ;D As a matter of fact, I think tomorrow is going to be all comedy all the time - all Lenny Bruce, Steve Martin, George Carlin, etc. Of course, I will need to remember to lower the volume for the more...umm..."dirty" parts.
I think LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS music would've been appropriate for the best worst dentist (or the worst best dentist, depending on your point of view), too.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:34 AM)

Thank you Keith !

Cindy (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:40 AM)

Keith, your special comment last night was the best - we can only wish that our democratic Congress and Senate members were listening, and will display the kind of courage you displayed last night, by telling the american people the truth about the criminal doings of George W Bush and his administration. Thank you for all you do - you are MSNBCs biggest asset.

J. Ardini (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:41 AM)

We can't keep electing people who are against big government to run the government -- they only try harder to make it fail, and then say "See, big government doesn't work!".  

We have to elect someone who wants the job AND who wants to do it right AND who understands that Religion has no place in government and Government has no place in the Church/Mosque/Temple.  

They are separate for a reason and we should keep them separate -- otherwise you might not agree with the one religion that will win.

There are 441 days until the end of this regime on 1/20/2009
There are 426 days until the end of this Congress on 1/5/2009 ???
There are 365 days until election day -- 11/4/2008

The first Caucus/Primary hasn't happened yet!  Evaluate ALL the candidates and think wisely before you vote.
And we are counting down.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:52 AM)

Keith, once again I'm stuck feeling as if there's nothing left to say after your beautiful Special Comment of last night...because you said it all. I only wish a tiny particle of the truth you spoke would penetrate the skulls of certain people in the Senate. I only wish we could know that those who are so keen on torturing others to get "information" out of them--especially when it's bad "information" whose collection has no purpose other than to help them prop up their sorry premise of "protecting us from terrorists"--will have their rightful reward someday.

Tru M., Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:53 AM)

Anyone know of a Democratic PAC that promotes progressive candidates to challenge and replace the Democratic neanderthals blocking the halls of congress? I sincerely believe we need to clean house first or else defeating Republicans will be a waste of time, money and effort.

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 10:24 AM)

Keith:

Your show is the best.  We loved your special comment last night.  We look forward to you nightly show every nigh.  Keep up the good work.

Phil and Lynton

Lynton Goulder, The Villages, FL. (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 11:02 AM)

Loved the special comment. Perhaps best ever.  I am hoping for a filibuster and preparing myself to be disappointed yet again.  If Barack Obama really wants to change politics and move the country forward with him and become president he will filibuster Mukasay. I don't know that he has the confidence to do it.  The country yearns for a senator of real courage and priciples to draw a line and say as Keith said last night "we are better than that".  But of course thanks to this cowardly, lazy president we aren't.

jen,il (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 11:11 AM)

Having yourself waterboarded is NOT the same as having it done to you.  Levin knew, even at the back of his mind, that he wouldn't be killed.

ET, Houston (Sent Tuesday, November 06, 2007 11:12 AM)



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