Countdown Tuesday: Scott's Issue

Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

Rewriting History: Scott McClellan today not only accused the President of the United States -- and the Vice President -- and Karl Rove -- of being quote "involved" un-quote in lying to the American public about who outed C-I-A operative Valerie Plame... He also, by implication, accused the President of the United States of commuting the sentence of Scooter Libby, even though some of Libby's lies to the Grand Jury were lies in which Mr. Bush was quote "involved." Our fifth story on the Countdown: His publishers releasing the briefest of excerpts from McClellan's upcoming book, but those 121 words portray President Bush as, at best, a passively-involved, liar-in-chief.

Ooh, Alberto: The good news for the White House tonight: at least Alberto Gonzales hasn't written a memoir yet. As such, no McClellan-esque bombshells from him for the time being. The bad news -- in our fourth story -- The McClellan political fallout. Along with what overnight became the almost comic relief... The former White House Counsel turned Attorney General is making public appearances... at which the public is turning against him.

ODDBALL: A deer in the headlights, a dancing burglar and a model goes down on the slopes.

Reality on the Ground: Two years and three days since Jack Murtha stepped before a news conference on Capitol Hill and eviscerated the Bush Administration over the war in Iraq. Two years and three days since his comments that inspired Congresswoman Jean Schmidt of Ohio to call him a coward... and other Republicans to figuratively try to stone him to death... and to their shock, to watch as the stones bounced back and ultimately cost them the election a year later. Our third story on the Countdown: 3875 Americans now dead in Iraq -- two more today, in a helicopter lost near Baghdad -- roughly 1800 of them since Congressman Murtha drew his line in the sand. And today Murtha decided another line needed drawing.

Tabby Time! An apparent medical mistake at one of the most famous hospitals for the stars leading off our number two story tonight... Keeping Tabs. The newborn twins of actor Dennis Quaid and his wife Kimberly Buffington are fighting for their lives at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L-A... listed in stable condition.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: The Pentagon's SEB Bonus Division, Glenn Beck and the bug man Tom Delay vie for tonight's top honors.

No Turkey Left Behind: President Bush has completed his annual commuting of the sentences of the turkeys. I know, I know -- you thought he'd done that on July 2nd with Lewis "Scooter" Libby -- but you and I are being not metaphoric here but literal. Our number one story on the Countdown: Humor, politics and the feeling that inside every politician is a stand-up comic yearning to be free.

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Comments

#5 -- I always knew that’s why Mr. McClellan quit. But don’t get too excited. After all, they had something that immediately got Alan Greenspan to back off on his “revelations.” They bought off George Tenet with a piece of silver. Wait for it.

(And if I’m wrong, THEN break out those pardons.)

#4 -- Fredo hasn’t written a memoir yet? Too easy, Countdown. How can he write a memoir when he can’t remember anything?

(Psst. Angmar has volunteered to ghost-write it for him. HE remembers.)

Oddball -- Oh, deer!

BPitW -- Thanks. I can never get enough of that picture of Giuliani. That and a “mitt” and a glass of ice-9 … a whole new fantasy event. Who needs buzzy and cookie? (:

Anomaly (strangely, doesn't remember Fredo) (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:03 PM)

#3 -- Cri de Coeur -- Jack Murtha. Lionheart, for sure.

(And thanks for bringing Richard Wolffe in-house. No more cheesy background.)

Keeping Tabs. You’re So Vain? It WASN’T about Billo? Then whom? (:

(Does anyone know how to gavotte?)

WPitW -- Swing and a miss? No, sorry, Countdown. That’s not Glenn Beck. it’s Rudy.

#1 -- This story was a turkey (no, really). But you jumped my “pardon” line. Bedbugs!

(Blissful gobbling? What I do here every day.)

p.s. -- That dreamsicle tie is always surprisingly good at bringing out the blue eyes.

(But it cannot possibly beat A BLUE SHIRT.) (:

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Anomaly (formerly smiley-face-caver, now blissful gobbler) (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:07 PM)

Buckle up, strap yourselves in, and here we go! First, my female chaauvinist pig moment...Richard Wolffe and Keith together in the same space?! Hubba-hubba to infinity and beyond! I am a sucker for British accents! [insert image of me fanning myself here]

Way to go, Keith, for the call-out during WPITW! I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's interview. Another story along the same lines are returning vets having to give up some of their benefits and money for continued care for their injuries. My husband's former assistant at his job, a vet who flew Kiowa helicopters in Afghanistan and had to leave the service after a back injury, was given a "lump sum" check for his care and injuries instead of a monthly check for life. Of course, he's been out of the service for at least a couple of years, he received the check only recently (within the last couple of weeks), and nearly lost his house. Hell of a thanks for serving our country, huh?!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:11 PM)

Can I nominate someone for "worst person in the world?" If okay I will explain why in another email. In any case,"Countdown"is essential. Thanks.

Steve Edelstein, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:17 PM)

As far as Scott McClellan finally "seeing the light," as I said in an earlier thread, it's too little too late. I just can't believe ANYTHING is going to come of this "revelation." I WILL NOT GET MY HOPES UP. McClellan will be portrayed as a disgruntled former employee, the appropriate minions will be provided talking points to drive the point home, and all the hub-bub will go the way of the dodo bird. I'm sorry to be such a downer on this subject.

Freddo is on a college speaking tour?! I did "the Google" to see if he'd be coming to any colleges in my neck of the woods but couldn't find a schedule. I DID find out, though, that he's charging between $30K-$40K per stop. Please, Freddo, come to Indianapolis! Indiana is a "good red state," and I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU. Today's protesters should at least be given a hearty hand shake, a pat on the back, and the warm glow of victory. And, ANY association with this administration and "truth" is an oxymoron to the extreme - kind of like compassionate conservatism and Turd Blossom in charge of a library.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:20 PM)

Please, please, please, impeach Cheney and then Bush, it'll keep us out of Iran AND it'll keep the Republicans out of the White House for many years to come.

As an added bonus, we need to restore common sense to the judiciary which has been taken over by Old Testament Conservatives.

Carol, Long Valley, NJ (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:27 PM)

… we create lakes using dams … scott henderson nv (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:17 PM)

Yes, we do, scott. And look what happens when we don’t understand (or respect) the environment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/world/asia/19dam.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

“Last year, Chinese officials celebrated the completion of the Three Gorges Dam by releasing a list of 10 world records. As in: The Three Gorges is the world’s biggest dam, biggest power plant and biggest consumer of dirt, stone, concrete and steel. Ever. Even the project’s official tally of 1.13 million displaced people made the list as record No. 10. Today, the Communist Party is hoping the dam does not become China’s biggest folly. In recent weeks, Chinese officials have admitted that the dam was spawning environmental problems like water pollution and landslides that could become severe. Equally startling, officials want to begin a new relocation program that would be bigger than the first.”

This is what I mean by "scott's issue."

Anomaly (first thing off the new drawing board) (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:30 PM)

And, finally, I know some of the great bloggers here have passed along Thanksgiving wishes, so, now, it's my turn. But, eclectic little me won't pass along only "traditional" Thanksgiving good wishes - heck no! My Thanksgiving wishes come from one of my favorite authors, William S. Burroughs. He was primarily a novel writer but wrote one very special poem, at least it is to me. It's called simply "Thanksgiving Prayer." It's too long to post in full here, so here's a link to YouTube where you can see the great one himself read it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7_MYrVzU-Y
If this link doesn't work, do "the Google" for William S. Burroughs Thanksgiving Poem, and this should take you there. If you have problems with "objectionable language" or do not appreciate the art of irony and satire, don't go here. But, if you like something that might make you laugh and may absolutely make you think, something I try to do here, as an academic advisor, and as a professor, every day, then go for it!

I am so thankful for EVERYONE who blogs here, to the staff, producers, and contributors to COUNTDOWN, to Keith Olbermann, my friends and family, good health, and for the bravery of our soldiers in harm's way fighting to protect our freedoms.

Hope you enjoy William Burroughs' "Thanksgiving Prayer"!

Peace to us all...

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:34 PM)

#1. Latent Stand-up Comedian? Gimme a break. Try Latent Guillotine Operator. #2. In our prayers. #3. Grunt B*tchslaps Shrub...metaphorically speaking, of course. #4. Gonzo will eventually settle in with the 24 per cent audience. (Tip for Gonzo: Sell t-shirts.) #5. Cheney's butt is safe. You don't have to lie to America as Veep. You just let the President do it. Good luck Dub, Dick went huntin'.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:50 PM)

Anomaly,

Backwater boy?

You're really lashing out now. You hate me don't you? I daresay you would like to kill me.

Pud - Laguna Niguel (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:00 PM)

What is it ladies with all these terms of endearment at this site, like "Hon", "Dear Friends", and even "Sweetpea?" How lovely.

You sound like a bunch of old maiden aunties, twittering and fussing and clucking around. Unfolding your doilies getting ready for tea time.

Many of us guys thought you modern ladies, especially you liberal ladies, had turned into a tribe of single-breasted amazonian spear-chuckers. Ain't you sisters ever heard of the big liberation?

Maybe the big liberation never really happened. Imagine that.

Pud - Laguna Niguel CA (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:10 PM)

Let's get Scott McClellen in front of The House And Senate Judiciary Committees and see if this bird will sing. Anyone who would out a covert C.I.A. agent is "the most insidious of traitors" according G.H.W Bush.
I expect Gonzo is going to see a lot of crowds like the one he faced at the University Of Florida. Serves him right. Trying to make legal arguments FOR TORTURE for crissakes.
Well said John Murtha! How many other House Dems will follow his example? LOTS I hope.
The Pentagon's SEB Bonus Division is the Right's way of supporting the troops!

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:40 PM)

Not that I would ever try to tell Countdown what to do (unless it involved something important like Clive, George, or Ewan), but here’s a story on break-through research involving the reprogramming of skin cells into embryonic stem cells. I hope you will consider giving this some airing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/science/21stem.html?hp

“Two teams of scientists are reporting today that they turned human skin cells into what appear to be embryonic stem cells without having to make or destroy an embryo — a feat that could quell the ethical debate troubling the field…. The two independent teams, from Japan and Wisconsin, note that their method also creates stem cells that genetically match the donor without having to resort to the controversial step of cloning.”

This is fabulous, of course, for reasons that are obvious -- the potential cure of, e.g., Parkinsons and Alzheimers. But in the context of THIS show, what really interests me is how it may transform the right-to-life debate in the 2008 election. If they can get this to work, who could possibly be against it?

What’s that you say? NEOCONs? They’ll find some excuse? Like wanton disregard for the sanctity of skin cells?

You think?

Anomaly (ready to volunteer for reprogramming) (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:52 PM)

I was appreciative of the vitriol during Worsts.

Jackasses, indeed.

Coupled with today's idiotic Pentagon press conference I wasted half an hour of my life watching, I have to wonder ...

1) Is the Pentagon REALLY that desperate for money?

and 2) Is there a stronger epithet than Jackasses that applies here?

Brandon, IA (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:53 PM)

Oddball. Deer in the Headlights? Try two of them. OK. Here's the Vonnegut Story. Late Seventies. My girlfriend at the time was going to be alone in her Mom's house over the weekend and invited me to be alone with her. Now, she and her Mom had an agreement that they would not have any body over when the other was gone. I reminded her about it but she said she paid rent and yahda yahda, y'know, sneaky? So Saturday morning rolls around and I go into the kitchen and make some coffee. I'm standing there in my skivvies when this oldish duffer in his skivvies, comes down the stairs and walks into the kitchen. He says hello and I say hello and coffee done soon. He asks if he can bum a cigarette and that they were his brand, Pall Mall Red. Thinking it gracious of the bum to care enough to lie about an OP, I said sure. Just then, my girlfriends' Mom comes down and starts yelling at me, what was I doing there, etc. So in comes my girlfriend who starts yelling at the bum. Finally the two women are yelling at each other, so the bum and I (also a bum at this point)take our Coffee and Reds and retire to the back steps. His name is Kurt and he's a writer, hung out in Iowa City for a while. My name is Steve and I'm a writer, and I hung out in Iowa City for a while. He'd never read anything that I'd written, and vice-versa. Later on, I did read a couple of things he wrote. He was great, and not an Other Peoples Cigarettes Bum...he actually did smoke Pall Mall Reds. He even wrote about them. In Hoc Signo Vinces.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:54 PM)

Is George Bush's pardoning of the turkey professional courtesy or perhaps brotherly love?

Disgusted, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:05 PM)

I have posted this information before, but it bears repeating as often as possible, until it makes it into the mainstream news! This is the Reality On The Ground!

How many would you say are the total number of US service personnel killed in Iraq up to now? Getting close to 5000? If you said that, you would be wrong. Dead wrong. The White House and the Pentagon are lying. Over 15,000 US service personnel have been killed as a result of the Iraq war. That includes suicides into the thousands. What would we think if an MSM organization suddenly reported the truth about this, and continued to, every night? Too shocking and "anti-American", so no one will take that first step.

Every Democrat and every Republican is complicit, and just as responsible for these lies and all the deaths, too. The Pentagon counts only those killed on the battlefield, not personnel who die of battle injuries in any other place. That's how they are getting away with these "low" figures. That's also why no politician will dare to utter the truth, lest he/she exposes himself/herself to being just as complicit in this fraud as Bush and Cheney. It's not just the Chimp and Darth who are guilty of war crimes, ya know? This is why no one does anything to stop them because then everyone would see that they are just as guilty and have been all along.
http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney11172007.html
http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a2790.htm

R. NorCal (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:12 PM)

Keith,
Can you urge John Dean to use his political clout to urge Patrick Fitzgerald to reopen the Plame-Wilson investigation? With Scott McClellan's admission today, it would seem McClellan could be called before a grand jury to testify under oath and we could possibly finally get to the truth. This administration has thus far gotten away with egregious crimes and it's time to end that. And we certainly can't wait for the spineless Congress to act. Now is the time to act and Fitzgerald is in the best position to accomplish something. And if I hear one more time that the public is not interested in this story, I'm going to scream! Anyone who loves this country is interested in this story. By the way, my day is not complete until I have seen Countdown, even if I have to stay up until 11 p.m. (central.) And tell Mr. Dean that he is the ultimate patriot -- I'm reading "Broken Government" now and it should be must reading for every political science class.

Julie Powell, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:49 PM)

I'd like to suggest that the Pentagon's SEB Bonus Division hereafter be known as the SOB Bonus Division. "Jackasses" is far too mild a description.

HM, in an ivory tower somewhere (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:58 PM)

Olbermann wants to be taken as a credible Journalist and talks about the "October Surprise"? What's the point of bringing up a debunked theory like that?

Two congressional inquiries then confirmed these conclusions. The Senate stated that "by any standard, the credible evidence now known falls far short of supporting the allegation of an agreement between the Reagan campaign and Iran to delay the release of the hostages" (Committee on Foreign Relations 1992, 115).

http://hnn.us/articles/4249.html

Sorry Keith, but your credibility meter has gone way down by the finding of a Democratic Controlled Congress.

David Molinero (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:17 AM)

Go directly to Jail.
Do not pass "GO".
Do not collect $200 million (from Haliburton).

KarenS., VA (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:25 AM)

laura took billos place tonight and led with talking points about iraq vet having to pay back signing pay but then mentioned him after feature on toad licking...way to support the troops.

tom garcia marlin,tx (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:44 AM)

The next Frontline (PBS) episode is titled," Spying On The Home Front". Just thought you guys would want to know.

KarenS., VA (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:00 AM)

How is it that people in government, paid by the taxpayer, can't tell the truth or do the right thing? The truth only comes out when they get paid for writing a book. Ruin our country, then cash in for the big bucks. THAT should be illegal. After all, murderers can't profit by writing books about their crimes - the money goes to their victims. It's the same concept.

Otherwise, Waxman, Conyers, Leahy - start ponying up the payola when you call these jerks in front of your Congressional Committees. Maybe we need to start paying to squeeze the truth outta these bums. But...then, again ..... there's waterboarding ......

And then there's the "support the troops" administration that can't provide body armor, proper vehicles, but provides Roach Motel outpatient living conditions for our wounded soldiers, evades paying them appropriate disability, and now demands that soldier PAY THEM a rebate on their recruitment bonus if they get wounded! How low can they go? How long can they hang onto even a 24% approval.

The emperor has not clothes .... and no humanity.

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:18 AM)

Little Scott, NV:

Control is it? Like control the news, control the world to benefit us, control history, control education in the Neo-Con image.

Where is that control in Iraq? Neo-Cons are SUPERIOR, and Iraq is primitive. 5 years? Where is Mission Accomplished in 2-3 mos., Mr. Control? Where is US dominance over those primative nobodies? There for our sport, our pleasure, our superior culture. Well, Mr. Neo-Con?

Talvenada, Phila., Penna. (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 2:58 AM)

Davy-boy Molinero, Publican Neo-Con:

You don't understand? It's everything and at least once a month.

Today, it's Scott McClellan, and how he was mislead to misspeak by Bushie Boy, Darth Vader, Turdy, Card Shark & the pardoned Neo-Convict. 6 Neo-Cons and their stories don't match. Why? You're a Neo-Con, you have ALL the answers--more than God in your mind. WHY????????

I await your reply or deflection, probably deflection like change the subject, talk over, never shut up and/or the LOUDest voice in the city.

Talvenada, Phila., Penna. (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 3:12 AM)

Huffington Post Wednesday..The Most Significant Second Amendment Case In History..let's hope the Justices do the right thing for all of us.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-helmke/the-most-significant-seco_b_73608.html

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:47 AM)

Huffington Post Tuesday..Happy Birthday, RFK..it was actually yesterday..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-a-palermo/happy-birthday-rfk_b_73563.html

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:55 AM)

#4..this is what El Presidente has to look forward to..if he even takes the time to go speak anywhere.

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:57 AM)

Keith looks good as Karnak. John Dean two nights in a row..what a treat..and Richard Wolffe looks oh so handsome in the studio..something about guys with glasses.

#5..is there enough information now so we can get started with the trials for these ciminals?

#3..Rep Jack Murtha "do you believe what The Pentagon says ha?" Give 'em hell Jack..this man has guts.

#2..prayers to Dennis Quaid and family that these babies recover.

WPitW..to quote Keith "you jacka**ses"..the Pentagon's SEB Bonus Division wanting a "refund" for soldiers time not served because they, gee, just happened to get hurt in combat..freakin' f**king unbelievable. What other injustices you idiots got for these troops? Looking forward to the mother of Mr. Fox on Countdown tonight.

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:47 AM)

Before I get so busy during the day and forget to say this..to ALL bloggers here and I mean everyone..my wish for you to have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Take a moment to think of all you have to be thankful for. I am thankful to be a part of this great group of people. You all have brought so much joy, laughter and education. Hope to be here for a long time.

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:53 AM)

To News Hole moderators, staff, producers and especially to Keith Olbermann, have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING. My day would not be complete without Countdown. Thank you for all your great work.

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:56 AM)

Liars, all of them. It is disgusting how they can tell the truth for a dollar but not when they need to. Yellow belly liars.

The courage to tell the truth and speak up for the good of our Country must have gone out the window as soon as Nixon was encouraged to do the right thing and step down. Bush should be impeached, even if he leaves on the last friggin day he has in office, he should have to leave in shame.

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 6:40 AM)

No Turkey Left Behind! Love it!!

I am waiting to see how the NeoCons spin the McClellan revelations. Where were all these folks who are now writing books, when they could have actually done some good? Very few people seem to have the courage of their convictions..or the courage seems to come hand-in-hand with sudden profit.

Apparently, GWB himself is going to have to nationally televise confessions of all his deceits, untruths and misinformation, in order for the 25 percenters to believe how corrupt and rotten this administration is.

LT in MD (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 6:40 AM)

Excellent, excellent show Keith, as have been all of the last few shows. But I think you do need to back up a bit and apologize for that thing about getting B.C. vs. A.D. wrong. I sent in a comment about this earlier and lo and behold, it was one of the ones that never appeared...Keith, Keith, A.D. is calculated from the approximate time of Christ's BIRTH, not his death. A simple acknowledgment that you got this wrong would go a long way and would stop giving your enemies an easy thing to knock you on. Thanks. I now return you to your regularly scheduled truth-telling. Let's get out there and let the world know what Scott McClellan is only now just admitting to. It's about time. Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Tru M., Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 7:37 AM)

Oh, and great pun. "Scott's issue" = Scott Tissue? Classic! Indeed, Scotty appears to be planning to wipe away a lot of what Scott Tissue is used to wipe away in order to finally tell us what was really happening.

Tru M., Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 7:40 AM)

It's nice to see that Bush and Cheney are finally being exposed for the disturbed autocrats that they are. Their lack of morality and principles is exceeded only by their hunger for power. I think over the next few years as more and more of the few people who served in this administration who actually do have some integrity and principles begin to speak out, we will finally get a better picture of how dangerous and demented these two men are. Any person who is compelled to demand secrecy and unaccountablilty cannot be trusted to perform in any manner except in their own best interest. I hope someone will introduce articles of impeachment soon to accelerate the discussion so the repair of our reputation around the world can begin.

gator,stuart, fl (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:30 AM)

Let's se , when Scott McClellan was spokesman he was a liar , an idiot , not to be believed. Now that he is selling a book , he is the greatest American author ever , a man of principle and integrity. who do we believe now ? Surely not this disgraced former administration bafoon ! LOL And besides , lying about sex is ok. Especially when "W" is screwing the democrats.

Larry Charleston , SC (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:34 AM)

I watch Countdown every day and have heartily recommended the show to others, calling Keith the present-day Edward R. Murrow.

During Tuesday's show there were two separate cracks about creationism, one during this story naming the Creation Museum. Have you been to the Creation Museum? Have you talked to Ken Ham? I got an answer when I contacted www.icr.org by e-mail. I'm sure he would be happy to speak with you.

Creation scientists are not nutballs who believe the earth is flat. Did it ever occur to you it might be beneficial to some interests in this country for mainstream science to dictate what we think, e.g. the most popular lie today, "Everything's relative. There is no absolute truth." Try to imagine what that thought has done to this country. It means that nothing is right or wrong.

Jamie Berry, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:52 AM)

Thank heavens for DVR! I had to rewind and watch every single story last night!

The worst person segment was especially interesting. I had heard about the Pentagon wanting refunds on Rachel Maddow earlier in the day and am really glad Keith touched on it too. So shameful!

Kudos to Scott for telling the truth. Hope he isn't considered anti-American/unpatriotic/an enemy combatant now.

Sarah, Tucson, AZ (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:01 AM)

Krongard or "crony-guard"? You decide.

Parker Dooley (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:29 AM)

Many of us agree friend. He is only trying to upset us. And personally I think he should be glad a few of the more violent members can't find him.

Aunt Ornery (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:52 PM)

Since, you know, nothing ends a debate like a tomahawk to the face.

Kevin, Lincoln, NE (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:35 AM)

Hey, We'll all be here after the next election. The BIG question is whether Keith O will be around. I am sincerely concerned about his ratings. I think if Hillary wins he would make a great Secretary of Defense. Of course that would mean defending Hillary against all of her whatever "gates".
On a more serious note, I got my new company insurance info today. I'm thinking about supporting Hillary after my review. Even a man of my means would love free healthcare , the same king the Senators get. Promise me that with no tax increases and you get my vote. To hell with national security , I WANT FREE HEALTHCARE !

Larry Charleston, SC (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:35 AM)

Cuban should put O'Reilly on his Christmas list...and send him a regifted copy of "Culture Warrior". Samuel, Lincoln, NE (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 2:37 PM) Unnamed sources claim FOX is soon to release its' own movie called "Redactyl", featuring Bill O'Reilly continuously washing his webbed feet and tail, while humming, "Trois Gymniopedes" by Erik Satie. Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:03 AM)

Gentlemen -- I’m not waiting for Mr. Cuban. I’m making up my own gift basket now, starting with my own copy of Culture Warrior. None of my other books will associate with it, anyway, and it’s creating quite a mess on the floor of my library as they all jump ship. I’ll also throw in all of my Erik Satie recordings (including Blood Sweat & Tears), as Steve has now spoiled Satie completely for me. A couple of those specially treated loofahs, some fava beans, a falafel recipe, some vinyl sophistry, my “support the troops” sign, a copy of A Christmas Carol (so that Billo can find out what Charles Dickens REALLY thought), an “unredacted” photo of me waving at Billo, and I think we’ll be ready to go.

But let me know if you think of anything else I should include. I'm willing to pay the shipping on this one.

Anomaly (it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas) (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:47 AM)

Scott McClelland- Are we really surprised? Only the highest ranking members of the administration would have the hubris to "out" a member of our secret intelligence agencies. Which, by the way, could be considered treason or, at the least, endangering our covert allies. Two scenarios- Bush knew about and condoned this (treason) or Bush didn't know (stupidity or laziness). Gives a whole new meaning to the term "bush league", doesn't it?

Phyllis Redd, Lincoln, NE (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:50 AM)

Unnamed sources claim that Dubya's defense against McClellan's allegations will be that when lesser individuals are around someone of Dubya's Intellect. Invincibility, and sheer Commanding Aura, they become delusionary, megalomaniacal, and suffer from Post-Pardon Depression, fearing they will be blamed for some trifling faux pas, and not be forgiven as others have been(big words by Cheney).

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:03 AM)

#3
Murtha knows what is at stake here, visits with families of fallen and injured soldiers in his district in PA on a regular basis, and understands the need to only send troops into battle when there is a real objective established for them to achieve. Our military is trained to fight and win wars, that's it. They are not trained for or should be used to act as policemen for another country. If this country wants to provide such services then develop an effecitve international police force with some teeth and that includes other players, and disband the ineffective UN peace keeping forces.

#5
I hope we hear more from Scott McClellan. We knew this was coming and as more folks leave the Bush Administration we are going to see more books being written filled finally with some truth. It is quite evident that this Administration felt it was above the law and that it had some kind of devine right to govern a country as despots.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:05 AM)

The student protest of gonzo was fantastic. It brings me great hope knowing students are protesting and so cleverly too.

jen,il (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:12 AM)

Well I do not find it surprising that Scott McClellan had lied about Bush and Cheney's involvment in outing Valerie Plame. Yes McClellan lied to cover up the Bush Cheney involvement while he served as press secretary. That's what McClellan did as his job, to cover up for the pResident. However now that McClellan wants to cash in he now reveals what he would not on the job. Scott and his brother Mark just appear two Bush toadies who lied as a part of their jobs.

For liberal and progressive countdown fans, I have set up a forum for you at http://countdown.dmocrats.org and for liberal and progressive C-SPAN viewers I have set up a forum at http://c-span.dmocrats.org

The Liberal Democratic party of the United States (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:29 AM)

Murtha said the Pentagon was issuing "irresponsible" propaganda.

"They're scaring people," he said. "They're scaring the families of the troops. . .That's the thing that's so despicable."

We are finally seeing good news coming out of Iraq. Continued pressure on Iran (stopping funding of insurgency), squashing AQI, and continued pressure on the Iraqi government to get their proverbial sh** together is leading to positive results out of Iraq. This can no longer be proclaimed a "lost war", a disaster, etc. We need to continue funding the troops.

The New York Times even had a positive article about Iraq today. The trouble is, if there is continued good news out of Iraq, then that is bad news for the democrats. Keith O realizes that, so he will continue to highlight the negatives.

We all want our troops out of Iraq, and if we continue to add to the positives in Iraq, those troops will come home soon, and a stable Iraq will actually become a reality. Anyone with a heart, would want to see that kind of success in Iraq.

Kevin of NJ (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:33 AM)

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