#5 --  Hey Countdown, here’s my problem -- If you take away three Cy Young awards, Roger Clemens still has four.  How do you keep THAT out of the Hall of Fame?  What a shame this all is.  Shame on Bud Selig, for sure.

Bonds won the home run record while juiced?  Paging OJ.

Asterisk era?  No s**t.

#4 -- Senator Clinton apologizing to Senator Obama?  Senator Clinton advising President Obama?  Murder/suicide?  Everyone wants change, for sure.  

Why doesn’t anyone ask where Mrs. Clinton was when Mr. Clinton was using drugs, but not inhaling?

Bushed!  Lunatics running the asylum?  Wasn’t that an insult to asylums?

Instead of limited immunity, why not just torture those Blackwater thugs?  Neo-cons, what say you about that?

#3 -- Holes in Rudy’s transparency claim?  Aw, come on, Countdown, do you have to make it so easy?

WPitW -- Billo knows BIG.  I’m the friendly stranger in the black sedan …

#1 -- Tom Cruise is starting to be a regular, again.  Okay, but what happened to Ewan and Clive, Countdown?  

I have to throw in more of my 2 cents' worth about the Mitchell Report, and I've been a baseball fan for as long as I can remember. Nothing will happen – nothing. Keith was correct earlier today. The only thing that will get those in baseball to notice and take action is if fans (and nonfans) are so disgusted by the developments that they stop going to games, and all this begins to hit their wallets. What was the point of the report if no one’s going to held accountable? I think Senator Mitchell's being a little naive. And, Spineless Selig may try to extert some authority, but the Players' Association won't go for it unless, like I said, this all begins to affect $$$$$$.

Haven’t A LOT of people made money by spying on Americans? Of course, they’re not running for president, claiming to be “America’s Mayor,” or saying that people will die if he doesn’t get elected.

And, finally, it's so nice to see that Don Imus learned his lesson! Maybe most people and advertisers won't think that "gay" is as bad as "nappy headed ho's" I'm glad to see that not everything has changed.

YO GUYS,

Molinero was responding to MY post about wrong-doing, and he was the ONLY Neo-Con to do so.  The others were too buzy evading the subject.  There was a GWB Admin. part, a Bill Clinton part, a OJ part and a Libby conviction and pardon part.

Hey, he many not want to admit that GWB has 47 scandals, but he's man enough to admit at least 2.  So, back off on the Clinton mention, because it was part of his response to me.  Me?  I only slightly favor the left from my moderate POV.  And nobody busts Neo-Cons better than me, because I work w/ 3 of them.  So, cut the guy some slack.

Anna Molly (the nunnery didn’t take, so it’s time to get thee to the library) (Sent Thursday, December 13, 2007 3:15 PM)

Are you the Anna Molly who went to Miss Wilhelmina's Finishing School for Party Babes and Future Unwed Mothers of America in East Pennsyltukky. (I'd state the years but I don't want to give away your age)

Has no one noticed that the Torture Tape story is the Elevated Terror Alert of our time? The president was furious and embarrassed by the first bombshell of the week. The CIA's NIE on Iran. The CIA had shown up the president and detoured the March to War. Time to switch the subject!

Isn't it likely that rather than change the subject by raising the terror threat, as was always the case, the administration instead had someone drop a dime to the NYT on the destruction of the interrogation tapes? The objective would be to 1.change the headlines, and 2. cast doubt on the trustworthiness of the CIA -- therefore undermine the credibility of the NIE.

This sounds so contrived, but the history of changing the subject, turning the tables on those who speak truth to power, and its well documented ability to plant stories in the NYT all combine to make this a likely scenario.

The President is at war with the CIA.

As a lifelong NY Yankees fan, I wasn't surprised to see Jason Giambi and Roger Clemens on the list, disappointed, but not surprised.

I was surprised and disappointed to see Andy Pettitte's name on the list.  So now we know how Clemens took him under his wing and showed him how to extend his career.  

Does this mean that they've cleaned up their act now? I hope so.  

With regards to our local boy, Rudy.  May the drip, drip, drip of bad news become such a steady stream that he chooses to drop out before he becomes a bigger national embarrassment.  He can then stay home and make more millions from his many shady customers.  

When the WPITW segment comes on I just turn the channel. Sad really.

"The insult is the last refuge of the out-argued"
-- John 'Birdman' Bryant

As of Friday, December 15, 2007

There are 403 days until the end of this regime on 1/20/2009
There are 388 days until the end of this Congress on 1/5/2009
There are 326 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.

Anna Molly,

Tip 'o the hat to you, generously, for your in-depth knowledge of Backwater Boys' stuff, like Triremes & siege engines & Knot speed,  and things like that.  I’m betting you were a tomboy. Maybe even the Fullback on your College Team.

Also, thanks for not pestering me about lending you "The Petrified Forest".  I actually don't have a petrified anything.  

First of all, who cares?  This is a business. And all the managers and owners care about is the bottom line. I have zero interest in professional sports. I have not seen a game since the strike in baseball and never will again.

At least twice a year you read about an athlete on steroids killing someone while in a rage. And the fact that athletes want to risk their lives down the line with the damage steroids do to the body, is their problem. They will need all that money to use for doctors when they encounter kidney and liver damage, not to mention what the use does to the brain.

These people are adults, if they want to screw up their health that is their decision and they might well be very sorry later. As to the honesty of just how well they would do without the steroids thats another question. Should their be an asterik to mark their achievements?  Sure.

Should these athletes be used as roll models for kids? Hell no. They don't push society or the human condition forward one iota. If parents are using them instead of real achievers than they are to blame. It may not be as exciting to use a brilliant scientist or writer or thinker as a model, but it is certainly better than a lot of people that most often are one trick ponies.

So many of them have focused everything on this one skill. Some of them in interviews come off like one step from the trees, with knuckles dragging the ground. Pathetic. Like the old Saturday Nite live joke about the dumb athlete that answers the same way to every question. "baseball been bery good to me."  Barely cogent. And no there is no misspell. It is bery.

Sports is a BUSINESS. And in a great many businesses there is cheating,lying,and greed. Why is this different? Corporate America does it all the time. So what else is new?  These athletes are boobs.

Finally drug scandals catch up with MLB.  About time.  As a cyclist and cycling fan, if the same charges were leveled against a pro-cyclist, they would be banned for life.  This should be a major league wake up call to MLB.  Get your house in order.  It is disgusting to American sports take a lax attitude toward drugs, we can and should do much better.

Is this an attempt to diminish the Yankees glorious years by a Red Sox loving investigator. No matter what you all say about Senator Mitchell, there are so many hear says in the report. Even The Roger Clemens situation is like public linching.If all we are basing all the accusation on is a testimony under duress of one person. Where are the recipts and the copies of checks. Where are the corrobating evidence . Please save all these insults because you are daming the intelligence of ordinary baseball loving fans- maybe we need to be insulted anyway. It is much ado about nothing. keep on doing the good job my friend Keith. At least you stand for something and the spine which many democrats and liberal is this country surely needs today.

#3
After reading: "A Tale of Two Giulianis" in the January 2008 Vanity Fair issue, one must have a loose noodle to believe any of the candidates we have to choose from; especially GIULIANI; the ultimate Mobster, could possibly be for us. Giuliani is making money from 9/11. Prior to that: HE WAS BROKE!

True Liberal (Thursday December 13, 2007 10:32 AM)

True -- Thanks for the article.  But apparently the CIA officer quoted did not actually witness the waterboarding.  He was merely “carefully briefed” on what happened.  So, we still have no firsthand, conclusive proof that the waterboarding actually worked.

If you ask me, True, this whole thing sounds just a bit self-serving, given the timing of it, and especially since we no longer have any way to disprove this claim.  If this is such a shining example of how waterboarding works -- and is not torture -- then why didn’t they hold those tapes up for all to see?  Why, indeed.  If it’s because we don’t want our enemies to know the exact techniques used, then I guess we’d better kill Zubaydah right now, because HE knows the exact techniques used, for sure.  Sounds vaguely like a Salem witch trial, True.

My view?  Haul Zubaydah up to Congress, put him under oath, and give him use immunity.  Then see what he says.  Not reliable enough?  You still think we would have to torture him to get the truth?  Well, then why shouldn’t we do the same thing to the Blackwater guards to make THEM tell the truth?  Save time and money, which neo-cons always say they like.  Maybe even prevent a few unnecessary deaths.  Worth it, True?

The CIA officer who ordered the waterboarding has now said he opposes it.  Why, True, if it was so effective and not inhumane?  Remember, what was done to Zubaydah is ultimately on this officer’s conscience.  Who are we to second-guess his conscience?  

So What and Who Cares??

Baseball is Entertainment.  Who Cares?

#5: It's a sad day for me and a sad day for many fans of baseball!! Having said that, I don't believe this should trump the continued reporting of NIE report, which proved George W. Bush and Dick Cheney to be the fear-mongering liars they are in their despicable attempts to start a war with Iran!! Nor do I believe this report should trump the CIA destruction of video tapes of Americans torturing detainees and prisoners under the administration of George W. Bush!!

I'm not sure which I am more saddened by, Senator Mitchell's report or that the report has trumped issues mentioned above!! In my humble opinion, I believe the NIE and the CIA’s destruction of torture tapes should be the top stories covered on tonight’s show and every show until people are punished!!

PEACE!!

I was going along with all the righteous outrage over the illegal substance mess involving major league players until I heard an opinion piece on KNX radio (Los Angeles) tonight. If you haven't heard it yet Keith, you should. Dave Ross gave his take on what he sees as a double standard the general public uses with these players; while at the same time looking to enhance our own lives with cholesteral lowering drugs, sleep aids, weight loss supplements, viagra, etc.  Are our expectations fair in judging these professionals? Something all of us can ponder.

#1. According to "The Diva Cheese Code", Britter is sittin' on the Hootchie Cootchie Holy Grail and it's protected by the Paparazzity of Sion. #2. Liza better take it easy for a while. #3.Why should Dubya and Cheney be the only ones to profit off it? C'mon, guys! Share the ill-gotten gains #4. Mass debating before Christmas. Ah, the political life. #5. From now on, just call it the 'Cyborg Young' award.

hey Knucklehead! Where's your wit and wisdom on the plight of your pal, the 'reverend' Al?
Pandering Dork...

For those of us in the South, we have long known that Kudzu (A.K.A. Mile a Minute) would cover cars, houses, fields, trees, utility poles, and slow moving Southerners. But now there's a new danger to this fast growing vine.

GLOBAL WARMING!!!
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/12/04/kudzu1204.html?cxntlid=inform

Time to really get out there with the weed whacker on this Oriental Vine that was imported back in the 19th Century and cut it as far back as we can to save the Planet.

Hey NewsHole,

It sounded like Keith just claimed that Seisint's database was populated with data from the illegal "wiretap." (The term doesn't begin to describe what they've done.  Don't get me started.)

I read the Time article online, and did not find any hint of this point.  They did question the wisdom and legality of large databases of consumer data, but so far databases of publically available records are not themselves illegal.  Using stolen data, that's another matter.

Will you please point out some documentation linking Seisint to the wiretapping issue? Where did Keith get the wiretap link?

This is vitally important to me.  I'm doing some research and writing on data mining right now.

#2 Who cares about Liza...but it's Goteborg, Sweden. Get it right!

Oh, something else not mentioned:  Jeb Bush was instrumental in the initial development of the MATRIX system.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43608-2004May20.html

Keith, I'm disappointed in your reporting of the Mitchell Report, especially considering your sports background.  While most if not all of the players named are probably guilty of juicing, you neglected to mention the many holes and conflicts of interest concerning this story.  Among them:

1)  Most if not all of the evidence (including the checks) was based on hearsay; and being hearsay, it's notable that names like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and others were omitted.

2)  The huge conflicts of interest that Sen. Mitchell had, among them:
a)  He's on the board of directors of the Red Sox (didn't divest)
b) He has a financial interest in ESPN/Disney (didn't divest)
c) He's a longtime personal friend of the commissioner Bud Selig

3)  In light of that, it's very suspicious to say the least that 16 Yankees were named (some current and very prominent) while only 3 Red Sox players were named (none prominent in their recent success)

4)  Also in light of that, Mitchell failed to assign proper blame to Selig - one of the biggest culprits since he became commissioner - for all but ignoring this problem until Congress forced him to.  Also, Mitchell failed to note that one of the main reasons why steroids became so prevalent was the lack of a real commissioner since Fay Vincent who has no conflict of interest.

I love Keith Olberman but I do have one question,  I
I don't think much of Bill O'Reilly but why does
Keith hate him so much?  He's actually giving
Billo a lot of free advertising as a lot of us
have started watching his show just to see what
dumb thing he does next.  Thanks!

Mr. Molinero --

Take a look, sir -- solid evidence that Al Qaeda in Iraq has spread elsewhere --

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/world/europe/14london.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

“Investigators examining the bungled terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow six months ago believe the plotters had a link to Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, which would make the attacks the first that the group has been involved in outside of the Middle East, according to senior officials from three countries who have been briefed on the inquiry.”

I wonder what they’ve been up to the past six months.  Algiers, maybe?

So much for fighting them over there.  And we couldn’t even get THAT right.  Feel safer now?  Not me.

Somewhat off-topic, but yet another example of NeoCon priorities..to keep shoveling money at wealthy farmers. A bill that would have tried to limit the subsidies well-off and downright rich farmers receive was rejected by Southern rethugs. At this point if 70% of America could impeach the entire government, I believe we would. Enough of the professional politicians..we need leaders who are concerned about actually representing the interests of the Nation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22244296/

Yet one more reason why the people in this country have their priorities so out of whack!  Let's pay these bozos millions of dollars to attempt to hit a spherical object with a piece of wood, and pay outrageous amounts for tickets to games and sports itmes, but let's not worry so much about kids needing healthcare or the numbers of homeless in our country.

I used to love baseball, and the Angels will forever and always hold a place in my heart, but baseball and its' players can take a flying leap!  There is no magic to it anymore, and when these overpaid players need to use steroids to try and enhance their playing, they do nothing FOR the game.

I know my father is looking down from heaven on these people and the game he adored-the game that he introduced to his nine children-and is shaking his head in sadness.

backwater boy --

If you see another post from me on the last thread addressing the same topic, I just wanted to send you a little something before you got that shower.  Unfortunately, I missed.  I hope you looked up.  

I thought you might appreciate sheesh, being Girl Scout for jeepers.  And that’s pretty much the way I talk, so get used to it.   I didn’t mean any disrespect about your books.  I was just trying to show you I was interested.  When I said the movie about the woods was not my cup of tea, I was referring to the symbolism.  I meant to say I got it.  That’s all.  By now I hope you know better.  Sheesh.

You said any request …  I have no right to ask, of course.  You’ve done so much already. But I have many requests, so I hope this wasn’t a one-time offer.  For now -- Be whoever you need to be to make it worth your while to stay.  Whenever there’s doubt,  give me the benefit of it, and I’ll do the same for you.  Talk any way you want to me -- gibberish, sarcasm, name-calling, joke-telling, code, whatever -- but whisper something soft and kind once in a while.  You do it very well.  In turn, tell me your requests for me.

I really would like to know what your hobbies are (that other thing can wait a bit), but let’s start with your socks.  Then work your way up.  Tell me every color.  Pour moi.  Then go take another meteor shower.  Pour vous.  Always.

Off topic from last night, but THIS story has to be a sign of the end of days:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/12/13/abba.museum.ap/index.html

Obama/Edwards or Edwards/Obama  John Scully Denver Co. (Sent Thursday, December 13, 2007 7:12 PM)

Hey Scully – What would you say if they just took turns?

Hated the baseball story. Not sure why its news.  I'm fairly certain that if someone offered me 16 million dollars I'd shoot heroin into my butt.  16 million buys alot of rehab and medical care.  The whole thing seems awfully minor considering we have troops in harms way, hundreds of thousands of americans will lose thier homes this year, and we are torturers.  

I am stuck on this torture thing. I'm not sure why, it's not like I really thought this administration wasn't torturing people.  I guess I thought they were going about it in some sort of purposeful way and at least had good intentions. The Abu Zabayda story however seems to blow that out of the water.  First when he was waterboarded there was no ticking time bomb.  He had been in our custody for at least 2 months, any information he had was at least two months old.  Am I really to believe that these super terrorist, wouldn't change thier plans when they noticed Abu was gone.  Then the CIA guy who says we got valuable information turns out not only not to have been there but he doesn't know what that info is.  If we go valuable info who was prosecuted.  The only terrorist that has been successfully prosecuted since bush took office was Zackarias Massoui.  So we committed war crimes for nothing.  No, we committed war crimes to instill fear.  We committed war crimes to terrorize.  We committed war crimes to make enemies.  We insure enough people will fight us to continue perpetual war. It's hard to believe we want that. It's hard to believe how far we have fallen so fast but it is all that makes sense to me.

I know this is of no consequence, and I'm sure people couldn't care less, but these delays in posts are getting annoying.

There are a few of us that live overseas, so by the time Countdown is over it's pretty much lights out here.  I get up in the morning and nothing has been posted-still.  It is now 1627 here in Italy on Friday afternoon (1027 EST), and nothing!

The delays were bad enough before, but c'mon, enough people have volunteered to moderate.  Are you  moderators doing the George Bush thing by pretending to work for a day then go and take 5 days vacation?

Well, Bush Jr. say's that steroids have sullied baseball.. what a big word he used! I say that GW has soiled the Office of the Presidency. At least Nancy Pelosi is somewhat telling the truth now..I am sure she will be bashed by the NeoNuts for saying the Republicans "Like the Iraq war." Of course they do, because in their fascist brains, "Might makes right." The NeoNuts apparently LOVE torture..

He who throws dirt is losing ground ...

#5..A sad commentary and legacy for the "great American pastime". We'll never know how good these players actually were/are on their own merits without enhancement steroid use. They traded drug use for a proud baseball career. As a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, I was angry to hear the worst report came out about them. Owner Frank McCourt bought the team from Rupert Murdock in 2004 said he hadn't read the whole report, but was steadfast that steroid drugs have no use in baseball. Does this mean he knew nothing of what was going on? How could the owner of the worst report about steroid use not know about it and how could he make a statement like that. I feel cheated. As a fan, any one of us could look at our favorite player(s) and not know if he was good on his own merits or on drugs to be better then the next guy who perhaps wasn't. Everyone in baseball, from the owners, managers, down to the players are to blame. The conclusion to this is that nothing will be done about it. No one will get punished for it. The bottom line is all about money. Anything to win the game. A terrible example for the kids who look up to athletes and will one day read about this black stain (*) on baseball.

#4..after Wednesday's Republican debate (Thompson and Keyes were grumpy), the Democrats were at least civil.

Why bring up Obama's use of drugs as a teenager? He admitted to it freely. This was not an adult who experimented. This was a kid. If he was an adult at the time and hide from it, he would still be critized. It's d**mned if you do, d**mned if you don't.

#3..Rudy is shameless..why is he still around? Now he is making money off our invasiion of privacy. What next? Why is he still in the running? With daily outings of his lack of ethics, why is he still around? I don't understand it. He truly is shameless. Taking a look at him I've come to the conclusion that with the right makeup he could be a good double for the Joker of the Bateman series.

WPitW..Imus did say his show basically wasn't going to change..it didn't take him long to offend that caller with the Huckabee comment.

and..Rush "gasbag" Limbaugh and Billo..to my utter dismay, my beloved brother listens to these two idiots. I recently found out he is a left leaning Republican!! Who knew!?! I guess that's my cross to bear in life.

Everybody have a great day and an even better weekend..

Your heart will always make itself known through your words ...  

I must apologize for my comment above regarding being saddened that the steroid report has trumped stories such as the NIE report and the CIA torture tapes and the destruction of then in an obvious cover-up attempt!!

While driving home last night, the coverage on this report consumed my two-hour commute home on every news radio station. When I finally arrived home, every TV channel was covering the report in-depth, and also devoted their entire news programs to the steroid report.

I thought to myself, George W. Bush and his administration of thugs must be thrilled the media is giving this report prolific coverage, thus keeping their criminal actions, fear-mongering, scandals and cover-ups out of the media entirely.

While this report was certainly a creditable story and worthy of news coverage, I don’t feel it was worthy of 24/7 reporting on every channel on each news program.  I should have been more clear and again, I apologize to Countdown for my first comment; I want the media to continue reporting on this administration’s criminal activity and I don’t want any of these thugs, led by President Stupid, to come up for as much as one breath of air, i.e. 24/7 news coverage of the steroid report!!

PEACE!!

Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life …

Keith,
I propose two baseball associations: one would be called "juiceball" and anyone could take whatever they want to play...the crowds would likely flock to see these huge monsters play (and die young).  In the other league they would struggle to make their payrolls.
Beanie

A sad, but true commentary on this administration.

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/cartoons/2007/12/121407_library.html

WE WOULD LIKE OUR FIRST UPDATE PLEASE..much appreciated.

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause …

The Washington Post is doing "Candidates Week" series called "The Front-Runners Understanding the leading presidential candidates".  They are doing in-depth reports of each candidate, one per day.  The series will be finishing on Sunday, but many are already available to read via this link.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/

The LA Times is doing an eight part series on "issues", called "American Values and the Next President". It also is still a work in progress.  Click here to read about the issues, and how many of the candidates are positioned.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-op-values2008-home,0,6868742.htmlstory

Has the boycott begun?

The baseball issue is a reflection of the problems facing this country today. Some might be aghast at some of the names and the number of players exposed by this report but should we really be surprised? We live in a society that is going astray and has been on a road towards destruction for quite some time now. A society where getting ahead and beating the competition has become more important then playing by the rules or fair play. There is a large crack in this country's sensitivity that was once solid as a rock and little by little we find ourselves faced with behaviors that ignore the basic principles of ethics, honesty and integrity. The ball players guilty of these attitudes and behavior are no better or worse then what we all have become as a Nation. For these attitudes do not just fall amoung those in sports but are running wild throughout the very fabric of this Nation. Those of us who are adults are, and have been, doing the younger generation a huge disservice by allowing such conditions to even take hold in this country. And when the younger people become involved in behaviors against themselves and other persons we ask ourselves, how could this happen? Even our chosen leaders no longer can be trusted or relied upon to act as proper role models for those generations that will follow. Unless we can make dramatic changes and quickly and return to what was good and honorable about this country, and its citizens, the end will shortly follow. Let's hope it is not too late.    

I am Right, Liberals are WRONG (Sent Thursday, December 13, 2007 11:27 PM)

What a stupid thing to say. It would be just stupid as "Conservatives are Wrong."

Just be honest, that way the Facts can't come back and bite you at a later date.

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