ABOUT THE NEWS HOLE

It's the new award-winning blog* from the cast and crew of the award-winning television news hour** "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."

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.

So here it is. Covering the big news, the small news, medium-sized and irregular, The News Hole strives to bring everything you love or hate about Countdown to the internets.

Your feedback and hate mail is encouraged.

*Countdown's "Best of the Web Awards" 2007
**The News Hole's "Best of the TV Awards" 2006



Countdown Monday: My Way or the Highway

Posted: Monday, December 03, 2007 9:03 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

Redo or Die: In our fifth story on the Countdown: Imagine if President Bush kept giving the same speech again and again. His regular attacks on Congress for failing to rubber-stamp his agenda, strangely similar.
Rovisionist History: Karl Rove won't give an inch despite facing a torrent of criticism from his own former colleagues in the White House that he got his comments about the build-up to the war wrong.

ODDBALL:Kung-Fu Robots, Santas on the slopes, and more christmas trees.

No Campaign no Gain:  We are now one month away from the day when the first voters in the country will get a chance to vote for whom they want to be president. But if you thought each party's nominee was already inevitable, let alone each party's winner in the Iowa Caucuses January third, in our third story tonight, a new set of polls and the behavior of the candidates themselves is starting to suggest that everything is up for grabs.
Tabs: Miss Puerto Rico lies about the pepper spray? Paris and Britney still BFF, and Trouble the dog fleas New York.
A Gay old time: Perhaps Senator Larry Craig thought he had made a modest recovery after the fallout from his arrest in an airport restroom sex sting. He has, so far, held onto his Senate seat. And he has repeatedly denied all manner of gayness. But his possible hypocrisy has now led five more men to come forward, in our number one story on the Countdown. Those men detail encounters with Mr. Craig, two of the encounters leading to sex.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

#5 and #4..Deja vu and Karl Rove can't remember what he said..so here's a list of what he does remember..

http://www.236.com/blog/w/sean_carman/things_karl_rove_just_remember_2674.php

Presidente Bush had a news conference this morning. I guess the media is so tired of the same old, same old, for most of the stations didn't even broadcast it.

#1..very interesting. Now Larry "wide stance" Craig's "partners" are coming out of the woodwork. Let's see how he gets out of this one.

and..thanks to David Shuster for sitting in while Keith was away. We miss you Mr. O, even for one show..here's hoping you're back for tonights show.
Pud - Laguna Niguel, CA (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 10:45 PM)

The only way the Republicans will win the election is if they can convince the voters that they are NOT George W. Bush 2.0.  If they can't do that, it doesn't matter who's running against them.
From watching his Rose Garden speech yesterday, I'm convinced that George W. Bush is used to getting his way, which is something I tend to see a lot in children of wealth and privilege.

As for Larry Craig, it DOES matter if he's into men, women, or stuffed animals. It was his party that made it an issue with Bill Clinton's extramarital affairs. We continue to see this kind of nonsense emanating from Larry all the time. Now a Republican embroiled in a sex scandal and all of a sudden it doesn't matter?  Those who live in glass houses should not be throwing stones...too bad our Larrys (both Craig and the other crackpot) haven't figured that out yet.
Hey Folks did you hear sbout the N.I.E. stating Iran suspended their nuclear program in 2003 ? All the more reason to bomb them they don't have nukes!
The report was written Feb of this year yet the chimp in chief acts like he just read it. Impeach and remove these clowns from office already!
You mean to tell me that the potato with mange (Karl Rove) is  still clinging to his misstatements and outright lies about the lead in to the war in Iraq!
I'm shocked just shocked!
A new nickname for Sen. Craig of Idaho "Larry The Locomotive", I like it.
Regarding Iowa and the primaries. How many here remember Presidents Howard Dean and Edmund Muskie?
Or President Gary Hart for that matter? Dems lets work together for an ABH (anybody but Hillary) candidate. Don't let the Repugs pick our candidate for us.  
So George was caught lying again. About Iran this time, but the lie was the same. At least this time, his lie was discovered before thousands of Americans died.

As for Larry Craig; if Republicans want people like Craig, Vitters, Haggerd, Cunningham, Abramoff, Foley to lead them, well that's just sad.
News Hole - are you going to delay updating until this afternoon again today?
Don't know is someone in the intelligence community finally grew a pair or they just got tired of getting their IE's twisted by Bush and Cheney so they could get someone else blamed for their cherry picking but it was nice watching Dubya squirm in that news conference. What's annoying, though, is the bulk of the information had to be known at least to the majority of the inner circle as well as Bush for a few months now and he still made the World War III comment back in October. Another black eye for American credibility in the international community thanks to this ignorant little martinet who talks the talk but can't walk the walk. I wonder if Bush can even spell integrity.
DAVE (10:19)
 I agree with you about Sen. Craig's personal habits having nothing to do with his ability to represent his constituency. What one consenting adult does with another consenting is nobody's buisness. Unfortunately, since Newt and Republicans (including Sen. Craig) seized the moral high ground in attack Pres. Clinton's extra marital affairs with such glee, a politician's private life has become a side show and distracts from that person's ability to help run the country. I'd be very happy to see people chosen for their ability and their message. I don't see that happening in this country today. Everything is sound bytes and very little substance.
Here's a Worst Person nominee for Keith (assuming he's back tonight): A writer is going "hot & heavy" on the estate of Evel Knievel for an estimated $100 million that he won in a legal decision about 20 years ago. The book painted a negative picture of the daredevil. Knievel attacked this guy with a baseball bat and no one could defend that, but come on, the man just died! It's not right to keep his survivors from their inheritance, no matter what happened.  
I've been hearing in the news about Intel showing that Iran shelved their Nuke Weapon Program in '03.

What happened in '03 that made them do that? A sudden realization that Nukes are bad? They kill too many if used? Or something else?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22095352/

Dubya says the new report that Iran  has no current nuclear weapons program is an opportunity "to pressure the Iranian regime to suspend its program."  He says although Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in the fall of 2003, it still needs to be stopped from trying to develope nuclear weapons.  
24% of Americans accept his reasoning.
Pud - Laguna Niguel, CA (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 10:45 PM)

It's silly to make assumption about how an Election will play out, until the Election is done. A week is an eternity in politics, and sometimes a day is even longer.
NEWS HOLE - YOUR MODERATION IS NOW OFFICIALLY CRAP!
Is the Bud Light making me foggier than usual, or is it that the moderation's bad?  These are the same nine comments that were up three hours ago!  C'mon, guys, s**t or get off the pot!
NEWS HOLE!! WHERE'S OUR UPDATES????
I just wanted to comment on Gillian Gibbons and the great teddy bear flap.
No, the intent was not to insult Islam or to make Islam look ridiculous.  Islamic fundamentalists do not need our help to do that.  Just imagine, calling for the death of someone who allowed a group of children (some of whom wer probalbly named Mohammed) to vote on a name for a child's toy.
To those who are eager to jump at imagined affronts-
Most of us in the USA and UK don't care about Islam.
We tend to believe that everyone has a right to their beliefs.  We do care about lunatics of any religion who want to kill in the name of any god.
In the words of the young "get over yourself".
Okay, I know I'm six hours ahead of the East coast and all, but seriously, no updating?  C'mon, somebody.
P.S.  Happy Hanukkah!
Bush said in his first speach on Iran shown last night that Iran "Wanted" to have Nuke Weapons.

Just because Iran "Shelved" their Nuke Weapon Program doesn't mean that they no longer want to have Nukes. Just that they put a hold on it, until they feel that it's ok to proceed.

After hearing that the N.I.E. says that they've shelved their program, they just might think that they could start back up quitely as it would take time for the N.I.E. to be revised.

I just can't count Bush saying that Iran "Wants" to have Nuke Weapons as a Lie. Or "Shelving" as anything more then merely a delay.
Just as well I didn't watch last night, huh?  If I actually had anything to say there's not a snowball's chance it would get posted anyway!  COME ON, guys, this is the sort of thing that started the endless boycott messages!  We realize you're busy, but this is a bit ridiculous.
Terrible Tuesday? Looks like the days of the 'Color Alerts' might be coming to an end. Dubya now is giving us 'Alerts', personally. I'm going to miss all those Colors. If I remember right, 'Green' as in green with envy, meant the Swift Boats were after John Kerry or McCain. 'Red' meant all the Congressmen were going to wear red ties that day. 'Blue' meant there were Democrats outside, trying to get 'In'. Chartreuse meant Barney Frank was giving a Speech.  'White' meant Fundamentalists were in town to meet with Dubya, and 'Yellow' meant all Americans should soon be scared out of their Nike's. Now, all we get is Dubya givin' out constipated verbal Warning Signals..."The only thing we have to Fear, is...uh... Everything!"...what's with that? I guess we could call it a "Drab Alert".
So where was Keith last night?  Sick?  Hung over?  On Vacation?  Smacked down for his ... exposé Friday night?  Inquiring minds want to know!
Boycott until we get an update.  Meanwhile, if anyone has anything (since we obviously are getting no action here), please visit http://auntornery.proboards91.com.  I'll be there if no one else is.
Going on sixteen hours with no updates.  Let's see how you spin this one.  
A collection of progressive individuals, and their media resources, should be able to mature beyond the nonsense of certain "news."

This potential is almost never realized, and the failure to grow is evident every evening during Countdown's last 20 minutes or so. However, I'm not just ranting about Brittney and Paris anymore.

Folks, you are being played for fools. Karl Rove utters a few lines of nonsense, and it becomes "news" for days and days. Don't fall into this trap. All the left / right, democratic / republican, liberal / conservative garbage is meant to distract you. It's a staged event, a rigged fight as real as any pro-wrestling event.

People like Karl Rove will say/do something ridiculous to cause a media circus, thereby taking the focus off real issues. Wake up! His absurd comments deserve no attention! NONE! Yet here we are, wasting our time and energy.

So what happens? In a news world dominated by false left/right paradigms and celebrity gossip, real investigations take a back seat in pursuit of the latest trash. In this case, researching the criminality of Rudy Giuliani gets swept aside for the week to complain about a fat-faced, blabbering fool?

Give me a break! Wake up my friends! Certain issues such as 9/11, and a CRIMINAL of that very day now running for president(!), should NEVER be bumped to express "outrage" about Karl Rove's remarks!

Every momment that a newspaper or television show focuses on this filth is a victory for the liers, the crooks, and the deceivers who don't want you to check Rudy's criminal ties to 9/11, or anything else that truly matters.

The only difference between Brittney and Karl Rove is that Ms. Spears distracts us unintentionally. Wake up!
Are we getting any updates today???
Many kudos to Mr. Schuster for saying how childish it is for Hillary and her people for bringing up the fact about Barack wanting to be President way back in the 3rd grade. This is the real Hillary showing her "cheap" side. Would have never heard this from Keith. I'm glad Hillary is behind in Iowa. I really do believe that most Democrats do not want her as the nominee. They never have. Again many thanks to David Schuster.
Guess it's a good thing I have already opted out for tonight to watch RUDOLPH THE REDNOSED REINDEER.  This has gone beyond a lack of respect for your viewers/bloggers; this has edged over into outright contempt.  Surely it would not take an act of Congress--let alone of God--to post some reason for the complete lack of moderation today.
David Molinero (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 10:19 PM)
Concerning Larry Craig, I don't care for high level gossip, nor if he's into men, women, or stuffed animals.
The only thing that really matters, is if the people of his state thinks that he represents them well. Anything else is foolishness as far as I'm conserned.

If the fine citizens of his state value hypocrisy & hate (and a wide stance), Larry (Craig, not our whack-job out of Carolina) is their guy!
Too little too late.
Anomaly (still a fan of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 9:03 AM)

Bravo, gal!  What happens though if a Geoffrey and a John come out of the woodwork?  Especially the latter?

As for Vlad the Impaler, that one works, but I'm more concerned he's more like that Russian dude people are always confusing with Vlad--y'know, Ivan the Terrible?  Rumor has long had it that Ivan was a big fan--
well aint that somethin.  real early monday morning i posted the jack murtha song i promised annie molly and that cougar lady and they didn't see fit to stick it up either. moderator must not appreciate fine art. or any art.

DTOldman, Coldsnap, NE (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 10:42 PM)

DT -- What a coincidence.  I posted a response to this that didn’t make it, either.  I always hate to miss a good political character song.  Couldn’t find the Murtha song on the internets, although I did find a few other interesting ones involving active candidates.  (They wouldn’t have made the cut, either.)  Maybe you could pick out a few bars on the ole git-tar.  I see you’ve moved again, DT.  Nebraska this time, I guess.  Are you a traveling salesman or something?  I liked City of Industry.  It sounded so … busy.  Coldsnap sounds like here.  Cold.  With snow.
I can't name any names or my submission won't be posted, but for a politician to be gay and in the closet, is incompatible with public service.  The reason for that is that it leaves that politician subject to blackmail.  This fate has already befallen one top tier Democratic candidate for president, but we will never hear about it.  I think everyone knows who I'm talking about.  
R. NorCal (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:20 AM)

Well, okay, R. NorCal.  I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box and I never pretended otherwise.  Not saying your wrong about the whole blackmail thing - I was MI back in my Army days, so I know how potentially damaging a secret like that can be.  But can you at least give us a clue as to this "Top tier Democrat" who is so tempting fate?
Mr. Olbermann spent most all of last evening arguing with Cris Collinsworth. Seems they have different opinions on a variety of topics.
Immortal Cougar (honestly, I'm TRYING to be more serious) (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:08 AM)

Did you catch the out and out falsehood uttered by Mr. Bush?  Well, either he lied or Hadley did yesterday.  Hadley said yesterday that Mr. Bush had been told there was "new" information in the NIE and that he should back down on some of the inflammatory rhetoric several months ago.  Bush, when asked about it today, said that no one told him to back off.  So, who's the liar?  My money's on the big guy . . . fits his M.O.
DT Oldman --

If you care to send them on, my email is immortalcougar@gmail.com.
That Cougar Lady (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:13 AM)

I second that. Good lyrics always accepted.  Confidentiality guaranteed.  Ann.anomaly@yahoo.com
We do care about lunatics of any religion who want to kill in the name of any god.
In the words of the young "get over yourself".
Phyllis (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 2:08 PM)

Phyllis, you get over yourself!! There are lunatics and fanatics in EVERY religion; have you forgotten about the Christian conflict in Northern Ireland; have you ignored the American Christian maniacs that have gunned down and murdered in cold blood doctors that work at clinics that provide abortion and other vital services to women??

It is the minority, again, the minority of Muslims that are fanatics!! Also, it was two British MUSLIMS that secured this teacher's "pardon", that's right, a pardon!! Just as there are fanatics in the Christian faith, President Stupid being the best example, there are in every faith.  It is those like you, who are so narrow-mined as to insult every person of Islamic faith that continues to breed hatred!!

Have a lovely day!!
Oopsie!  Sorry for the typo, R. NorCal- I meant to say, "Not saying YOU'RE wrong".  Put it down to my excitement over the fact that this blog was finally updated!
What happened in '03 that made them do that? A sudden realization that Nukes are bad? They kill too many if used? Or something else?

David Molinero (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 1:21 PM)


Most likely it was because of public opinion . . . Iran is one of the most western friendly nations in the Middle East.  The young people of Iran WANT to modernize and they do not despise the West.  The point is, Dave, the Bush Administration KNEW this several months ago and LIED . . . once again . . . in order to make a push for war.
Chris F, Just o'er the border in Williconsinois (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 4:54 PM)

Thanks Chris; I was wondering the same thing!! It's not obvious to me at all!!

PEACE & GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE!!
That Cougar Lady (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:13 AM) My poem wasn't an original; it's a wonderful little ditty from an anthology I picked up in a used book store in "the Village" in NYC. The book's called I HAVE NO GUT, BUT I CAN SPIT.
James, NYC, NY (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:48 PM)

I totally agree with you about Rove . . . I had a friend tell me that Rove is not significant any longer because people know what he is . . . people have known what he is for over 30 years . . . hasn't stopped him.  This man is the "genius" who promoted an incompetent, inexperienced, unqualified, mentally unstable man to the White House . . .TWICE.  Rove's plan is working, once again.  He's getting attention.  He THRIVES on this stuff.
Bush saying the NIE doesn't change anything sounds alot to me like during the aftermath of the Iraq invasion. They started by saying there was "no doubt" Iraq had WMDs but then when they couldn't find them they justified the invasion first by saying they had WMD related programs and when that also turned out to be a load. They settled on saying he wanted nukes.  Doesn't every country want nukes!  It the only way to be sure the US won't invade you.
David Molinero (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:11 AM)

At last, something we both agree on.  Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean should have gotten medals, not jail time.  

Let's hope that justice will finally be served in this case.  
Steve 2:29pm
You did it again! I really did have tea gushing out of my nose. I got the screen & the desk, but missed the keyboard. Thanks for the laughter.
James 3:48pm
You sobered me up and it's all true, but we do need Steve's light relief or else we'd curl up in a corner until Nov 08.
BTW (First time for me to say this) Moderation stinks.
James, NYC (3:48 PM Post):

Well stated James and quite a bit of truth to what you state. We have to get beyond allowing the strategies of others like Rove or the news organizations to control our futures and what we think (and when) and learn to act rather the react. I am reminded of companies and those training workshops on Crises Management. I had always thought that if people were to act instead of react perhaps there would be no need for crises management training. I do follow your thinking regarding our comments here. Maybe that is why we as the American people cannot achieve the kind of leadership in our political officials that we desire. Instead of acting on these issues we react to the same. And reacting means the sled is already a quarter or halfway down the hill. Perhaps if we reallly emphasized and concentrated our efforts as to who gets on that sled and when we could avoid many of the pitfalls that come with having to put out so mamny fires that we can't control what will happen in the next minute, hour, day, week. But maybe that is not how we are made. If we were designed to act rather then react who in their right mind would have allowed GWB to act as head sled driver. It also may be the reason why most comments concern what has been reported as being wrong with someone or something rather than how we can make them right from this day forward. Boy, the ole mind is just spinning away here. Hope I didn't confuse anyone.
News Hole, you update at 4:00pm eastern time and still can't get all the comments posted?
I see you’ve moved again, DT.  Nebraska this time, I guess.  Are you a traveling salesman or something?  I liked City of Industry.  It sounded so … busy.  Coldsnap sounds like here.  Cold.  With snow.

Annie Molly (aka Anomaly) (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 4:51 PM)

Well, one of my exes was on my tail so I hopped a  freight train out of san diego, thinkin it was headed for el paso or maybe dallas. but the darn thing didn't slow down till omaha. glad i got had a chance to jump off before chicago. I aint dressed for this weather.

then i met up with some snowbirds headed south in an old winnebago. fixed a flat for them and they offered me a ride south.

wherever you go, there you are.
Let's hope that justice will finally be served in this case.  

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 5:10 PM)


I usually agree with you Carol, but these border guards broke the law . . . just as the person who they were after did.  If you know the actual facts of the case (not the media version of the facts), these guys are being punished for breaking the law.  Law enforcement officers are bound by the law just like everyone else.
What's going on with the Hole?  No updates?  And whazzup with font used first for the Friday thread and again for this one.  Hard to read.

Interesting to hear folks comment on the Bush Rose Garden Speech and how it's like the all previous ones he's given.  They're just noticing that now???  They were expecting???  These NeoConNutJobs haven't had an original thought since the 1950s.

And how come no one besides KO is calling Rove what he really is .... a liar ....?  CNN (Crony Corporate Network) calling what he said "extraordinary".  Hey folks, the truth is - he's a big fat liar.  Let's be honest.


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=494763