Leeding? Okay, I realize that blogs are often pecked out in the heat of the moment...

WJ

Maybe Senators Clinton and Obama acting like juvenile delinquents MIGHT help Senator Edwards? I think Senator Clinton coming back to SC may have just answered my own question. It seems logical to at least silly ‘ol me that one would HAVE to consider “electability” even during a primary; Yes, your heart might “belong” to one candidate, but you have to be realistic, too.

Senator Clinton wants to change the rules of the MI “Democratic primary” after the fact? Nice… If she gets to do that, let’s go back and maybe have Senators Biden or Dodd get a little closer or maybe win previous contests outright. Or, let’s have Senator Kerry BEAT GWB in 2004. Politicians are damn short-sighted, ya’ know? They make up some rule, as in the case of the “super delegates”, to make their lives easier in the short run that could end up biting them in the behinds later on like, oh, NOW!

It doesn’t sound like I missed too much last night by missing the debate. Well, I take that back; it sounds like I missed an opportunity to get really peeved off and possibly throw something at my TV. “Opportunities” like that, I don’t need. So, when are any of these Republicans going to ask GWB to come out and campaign for them? Someone dressed up like the Easter bunny should show up at all future Gov. Huckabee campaign events.

Good for John Edwards!! I'm starting to look more and more in his direction; I've let go of the anger I once had for him!! I hope he does well!! This thing was called far too soon; I blame the MSM the most--it's really a shame --those like Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson --now Dennis Kucinich just couldn't compete with a high profile name like Clinton or all the attention given to an excellent orator like Obama --any of the above four would have made far better presidents in my opinion --Kudos John Edwards!!

Good luck tomorrow!!

PEACE!!

#5 -- Ooooh.  Do the math.  Way too many numbers for me.  Except … Edwards is way up in South Carolina.  This guy has courage, a loving wife, and a health care plan.  (But he probably could use a little more money.)  Hey Countdown -- what did The New York Times say about Edwards? And why did you choose to read the Clinton endorsement on the night before the election?  And if you’re going to read endorsements, maybe you should read them all, don’t you think?  And what do South Carolinians care about The New York Times endorsement, anyway?  

Craig Crawford selling the surge, Countdown?  Didn’t you tell us either last night or the night before that it’s NOT working?  Sheesh.  Make up my mind, will you?

#4 Super-delegates?  Just more meaningless math.  Sigh.  Excuse me a minute while I check my horoscope. That’s meaningless, too.  Sigh.  An endless primary season?  Always priceless.  I just LOVE politics.

Bushed!  The clarity of Orwell’s writing?  War is Peace.  VERY clear.  Double-speak.  VERY clear.  I wonder if anyone looked around Mukasey’s office.  I mean, pssssttt … did you ever stop to think, Countdown?  Maybe there was a camera behind the picture.

#3 -- Republicans talking about the war -- Unthinkable, Governor Mitt?  Unthinking, more like it.  Unbelievable?  Yes.  We didn’t find all the Easter eggs?  What do Baby Bears know about Easter eggs?  Get the right metaphor, Governor Just Right for America.  Bowls of porridge.  Sheesh.

WPitW -- Billo repent?  Don’t even think about it.  What would you do?  What would I do?  Really.

#1 -- Still boycotting for George, Denzel, and Clive.  And besides, way too much math.  WAIT -- late update --  GEORGE.  Oh. My. God.  Thank you, Countdown.

I always like someone who has enough courage to wear a pink tie, Countdown.  Very, very nice.  By the way, who won Nevada?  And happy birthday.  (I read that out here somewhere.)

goodnight gracie  

Happy birthday to Keith on Sunday! I hope you have a good day, that you have some laughs, and that you get to spend time with the people you care about.

These next thoughts might sound like they're "off topic," but they really aren't; I promise. I'm reading 4 books these days. One of them is the new bio of Hunter S. Thompson by Jann Wenner and Corey Seymour. I am really missing his special take on politics these days, especially in light of the way most of the "main stream media" seem to be covering the election to this point. For the sake of ratings and "the bottom line," what divides us is taking priority over what unites us. History professor Douglas Brinkley made these comments about Hunter after the 2004 election: "All the things he had championed in the cultural wars of the sixties were now not just being pushed back--they were being destroyed by the radical right. Team Hunter was losing, and it was heart-breaking to him. He thought Reagan was the worst of it, and now Reagan was like a genial way station in the conservative movement. Hunter was very hard on his generation; he thought a lot of them had just sold out. He felt the press corps was being bitch-slapped by the Rove White House, that the media were losing their nerve." Many bloggers here will be voting in primaries in the next couple of weeks; please think carefully and educate yourselves before you vote.

To all the great people who educate me every day here, to the hard-working Newshole moderators, to the staff and contributors of COUNTDOWN, and to the "birthday boy," have a great weekend, and I'll be tuning in tomorrow evening.

"Father Don Abbott, a transplanted Bostonian and a Catholic priest who is pastor of two churches, one in Walterboro, with a mixed, white, black and Latino congregation, the other in an area of Colleton County called Catholic Hill, which is all black, came to hear Bill Clinton speak Thursday in Walterboro.

Was he convinced by Bill to vote for Hillary? “Well, he convinced me that he’s a smart son of a gun. He’s always been the smartest president we’ve ever had besides John F. Kennedy.”

“Democracy is a means of living together despite our differences.  Democratic deliberation is an alternative to physical violence.  It is predicated on the assumption that it’s possible to disagree agreeably, that it’s better to laugh than cry, that one can vigorously contest the positions of one’s adversary without questioning his or her personal integrity or motivation, and that parties to a debate are entitled to the presumption that their views are legitimate if not correct.”  -Thomas Mann

Full Moon --This is how I have come to really enjoy your posts!! Please keep posting; also, many posts get lost --not just yours!! Again, I have really come to appreciate your posts!!

PEACE!!
                             

VOTE FOR WAR!!!

Vote Publican!!!!   We're smart, strong and ALL powerful.

It's time to show Iran who's boss!!

Yeah, I know:  it's national security, stupid!  LOL!!

Does this little rebate deal sound like buying votes with public funds?I mean these guys are always the ones to scream free enterprise. Get in trouble politically and economically and to the public trough they go.
I thought it had always been Republican fiscal policy not to spend money.Oh that's right when it comes to food stamps,medical care for children its the old hit the road Jack and don't ya come back no more no more.
Yes they are looking good using your money,gonna drop some long over due bucks down Katrina way. Let's just hope the folks remember that's more public funds for votes. Sounds like the Red Karl Rover's slime tactic play book again.
It's your money folks already. So they are giving you back what you gave them to create an illusion you are getting something that you will be taxed on again and will add to the deficit.
Cap gas at $ 1.75 a gallon and tax oil imports and you'll get some real help daily. Notice how the price has been dropping. The fix is on we all know it.Pelosi
up there thinking this rebate business is a great deal.Yea for votes.Bush and the Republicans telling you it's a great deal yea for votes and you money.
Cap gas at $1.75 Congress to help the economy.

C.A. in Tuscaloosa and Laura in L.A. (Jan. 24)

Thank-you for gently taking me to the woodshed for even though I'm a "newbee" I should have never introduced ad hominem attacks either overtly or covertly with anyone involved wiith this blog and I apologize. I more or less disagree with all your viewpionts, but I am continually impressed with how informed most all of you are.

Some 45 years ago I was one of you.  I was a product of my JFK father as he was with his FDR father. This last March I,my Mother and my five brothers buried him with full military honors.  Knowing I was a history buff he left me with two items money couldn't buy.  The first was his(quite illegal at the time) U.S.S. Washington ship log which described his Pacific campaigns at Iwo and Okinawa. Secondly, he bequeathed to me a signed invitation by JFK to one of his three inaugural dinners, as my father  was sec./treas. for the democratic party in Idaho in 1959/60 and although Nixon/Lodge took the state my parents were invited nontheless.  As most good democrats at the time they could not afford to go even though the most espensive entree listed was steak at $9.00- how times have changed!

To make a long story short Jimmy Carter was the first and last Democratic president I voted for.  It didn't take long for me to realize that liberalism was the path to socialism and in my eyes nowhere in history has socialism been proven to be successful.  

I am intrigued though with Barack Obama-he reminds me of Robert Kennedy in '68 and I truly feel if it weren't for the insidious Clinton machine this impressive young man with his equally impressive family could possibly be a unifying catalist(politics aside)for unification this country so desperately needs at this time.

Does Fox News only hire idiots?  Do they have to pass a stupidity test?  Or is it just an oath to support George Bush and the Republican Party regardless of how lawless and ridiculous and incompetent they are?  

I would suggest that they get some fact checkers before their people open their mouths, perhaps a history major and a political science graduate who keeps up to date on what is actually going on.  There isn't a night when they don't say something so incredibly stupid that it boggles the mind.

The photo of the Clintons and Tony Rezko could be damaging, not necessarily fatally but definitely, if it's spun properly.  Exhibit 1:  In 2002 Lamar Alexander, now the senior senator from Tennessee, was running for the seat vacated by Fred Thompson.  Alexander's opponent was Bob Clement, a member of a politically prominent family.  Clement was holding his own, even though Tennessee is lamentably conservative in general, until an East Tennessee TV station brought up a question about his association with the Butcher banking empire.

The Butchers were major players in late 1970s-early 1980s finance (remember the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville?) and politics.  The collapse of their banking empire was Tennessee's version of Enron.  There are still extremely hard feelings here toward the Butchers and their associates, although several of them served prison terms after the worst of the dust settled.  Bob Clement, perhaps caught a little off guard by the inquiry about his involvement with the Butchers, said flatly he didn't know any of them.  Whereupon the TV station produced photographic evidence in the form of newspaper items showing Clement with the Butchers in various meetings and fundraisers and the like.

I'm not saying Clement would have won that seat; knowing my fellow Volunteers, probably not.  But his numbers REALLY tanked after that, and Alexander is now our senior senator.

You cannot be too careful who you have your picture taken with, especially if that person or persons ends up in dutch with the law.  BURN THE NEGATIVES NEXT TIME!

Keith,

I'm no fan for Mukasey. However George Orwell is a great author and not a totalitarian. To say Orwell is a bad guy because of his creative works just seems wrong. Animal Farm and 1984 were written to show us how the evils of the world can exploit our own societies and not a manifesto in how to accomplish these acts. Orwell in and of himself is a creative author, not a authoritarian "boogey-man."  

Uh--baby--the guy from Faux may have been wrong about Lincoln "leaving" office--but it wasn't only the crackpot who shot him who hated him, and he wasn't generally accorded demigod status until he was dead--

#3-Glad you mentioned all the crap that four of the Republican candidates for president were spewing in their support of the Iraq war. Very strange, however, that you did NOT mention that Ron Paul's view of it was completely opposed to theirs, and in agreement with 70% of the American people.  A Republican in complete disagreement with the other Republican candidates seems unusual enough to be news, yet you did not report.  WTF, Keith?  

No mention of Romney's "secret whisperer" on the show tonight, Keith.  That wasn't news?  
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/MSNBC_blames_Romney_whisper_on_microphone_0125.html

#1. Imagine how much more would come in if she wore underwear? #2. It looked like the Styrafoam caught on fire. #3. They've all been taken over by the hypnotic strains of 'Dubmaster B and his Thousand Lies'. #4. Oh, the suspense, oh, the drama. #5. In the Equine World, the leader of the Herd, is always a Mare.

Was a little confused by your noting that the Edwards rise in the polls in S. Carolina seemed to be at Obama's expense with Clinton holding steady.  Last time I saw a poll it had Obama at 38, Clinton at 30 and Edwards, I believe, in the low teens.  You showed a poll with Obama still at 38, Clinton down to 25 and Edwards up to 20 or 21, as I recall.  To me that showed Obama, not Clinton, holding steady and Edwards taking away from Clinton if anything.

Also, I don't think it's going to be so tragic if Obama wins in S. Carolina with only a small part of the white vote.  After all, it's Edwards home state and it's the south.  Obama has already shown he can get plenty of white voters, especially independents, to vote for him.  He won in almost all white Iowa and killed with independents, lost by only 3 points in almost all white New Hampshire and won the independents there, too. Nobody expects any Dem to do well in most southern states in the general.  And does anyone really think the kind of voter who would refuse to vote for a black candidate is likely to be a Hillary Clinton supporter either?  

It's the media, along with the Clintons, who are forcing Obama into the box of being the black candidate and you all need to stop it.  The media switching from one convenient story line to the next every fifteen minutes is getting to be very annoying.  You weren't all talking race when he won Iowa.  

We elected tons of Dems in western states in 2006 by winning the lion's share of the independent vote for a change.  Dems need  that vote win  the Presidency.  Hillary does NOT appeal to the majority of indies.  Obama does, as well as to young voters who actually came out and caucused for him in Iowa and even some Republicans who are volunteering for Obama  here in Colorado.  Dems WITH Indies and some Republicans is the combination that  elected a Dem majority to our  state legislature and congressional delegation and elected a Dem governor here in Colorado,  completing a red to blue turn-around in just a few short years.  It's what we need to win the Presidency by a large enough margin to KEEP it this time.    

What a delightful surprise to wake up this morning to MSNBC and a man and his healh plan.  Senator Edwards … the man of the moment.  Looking very presidential.  Joe Scarborough asked him if he thought the media had been fair to him, and he said that any politician would say the media was not fair.  If only Chris Mathews had been there.  Fair enough.  Then Joe asked Senator Edwards why he thought he had surged in the polls.  He responded that Senators Clinton and Obama had made the race so personal that it gave him an opportunity to get his message out there.  Imagine it.  Issues over personal.  Haven’t they been reading this blog?  That’s what we’ve been trying to tell them.  But then, Joe finished with the same stupid question he asked Governor Mitt -- so, Senator, now that you’re surging in the polls and doing so well, are you going to be able to stay in the race?  Sheesh.  Joe didn’t apologize for that question, but I will.  Senator Edwards’ answer -- I’m in it for the long haul.  Good for him.  Stick to the issues and you will be, Senator.

We love ya Keith, but you missed the boat on the story about Mucasey hanging a picture of George Orwell in his office.  If you had read 1984, you would realize that Orwell was doing anything but advocating the draconian government he described in his novel.  It was a warning in the most horrific terms possible that we could end up there.  Hopefully, Mucasey is reminding himself that individual freedoms need to be preserved.  Well, we can hope, can't we?

Not planning to watch the SC primary coverage.  Boredom with the process set in early in the week and there are new NatGeo specials and a Riders in the Sky concert on PBS tonight, definitely more interesting--But I will say this:  David Gregory will definitely be an improvement over Chris Matthews in the other chair.  Gregory's smart, mannerly and also pretty damned easy on the eyes--the anti-Matthews, one might say.

Graham Bonnington, Chattanooga, TN (Sent Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:39 AM)

I would never presume to speak for Countdown, sir, but I believe he would agree with my own point of view that the Bushies have deliberately perverted the writings of Orwell.  Perhaps he didn’t say it as artfully as he should have, but I suspect he intended to say that it is ironic for Mukasey to have Orwell’s picture in his office.  I have said several times, even out here, that Karl Rove must have read Nineteen Eighty-Four and thought, “good idea,” and that the Bushies keep it on the shelf as a how-to manual.  No surprise, then, to find a picture of Orwell on Mukasey’s wall, but I do think they should have looked behind it to see whether there was also a hidden camera.    

Vote for SURRENDER, vote for Al Queda, vote for higher taxes, socialized medicine. Vote Democrat!

Ok, I turned the TV on as background noise this morning--Joe Scarborough drove me nuts in about 5 minutes! The tube is now off.

Regarding last night's show -- I'll chime in here and agree that it's good to see how Edwards' numbers are improving.

Loved the WPiTW segment and FNC's need for remedial lessons on Lincoln! Which is a nice segue back to the bickering democrats. Perhaps they should all be forced to read "Team of Rivals" for lessons on getting political rivals and enemies working together for the good of the country. Perhaps it should be required reading for few other people as well.

The preimpeachment question was absolutely priceless. Might just have to look into organzing some "preimpeachment rallies" for the upcoming Republican Convention in St. Paul.

One small nit to pick in the "best persons" segment--any self-respecting Austenite on this board might point out that Hertfordshire is pronounced "hartfordsure." Unfortunately, that also leads me to "in 'ertford, 'ereford and 'ampshire, 'urricanes 'ardly hever 'appen." That means I'm going to have "My Fair Lady" tunes in my head all day.

Anna Molly and Chris -- enjoy the balmy weather while you can today -- they're predicting -15 for next Wednesday.

Last but not least, happy birthday to Countdown -- I hope you at get a day off to enjoy it!

I predict Bill and Hillary will be coined with the name "Billary" which will lead to the downward spiral of her campaign.
People will realize they will be voting for a team and not a person. It will be much like the Bennifer name given to Ben Affleck and J. Lo which caused their relationship and careers to tank.
Same will happen with Billary.
I say this and believe because it is usually the little things that stick that will destroy a person. Just like "flip flopper" stuck with Kerry and Al Gore got stuck with inventing the internet. Hillary will be known for Billary and she will lose the spot light.

Billary will stick, just a matter of time for people to address them as that.
Billary
Billary
Billary

Happy Birthday Keith. As one of you gifts I hope you will get to comment on the impeachment of Dubyah,Chainey,and their dog Rover.
Now I am tired of Rudy and all this 9/11 business.The bottom line is that folks who were empowered to protect this country were doing it!They dropped the ball on their Intel-Powell,Condi,FBI,CIA-Tenet,NSA,and the rest of the 3 letter organizations that are supposed to protect us.They had information they didn't pay attention to.
So my take is this administration is responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and Rudy's bragging about it when they should all be ashamed and tried for dereliction of their duty to uphold the Constitution and Protect the Country.
So they are responsible for the attack on the WTC by not protecting it just like the guys at Pearl Harbor not quite getting the message.Of course Pearl was big time different.
Now in that race in SC I used to live there, even in Lexington in 1957,(we need more maps) and I got hell beat out of me for being born in NJ and a damn Yankee,
probably a Yankee baseball fan.That is not what they were referring too as well as my disagreement with them on quite a few other issues of race and equality.
That being said. I developed a southern accent very quick for life saving purposes.Where you from boy!Texas.I had lived there in El Paso.
I think it interesting all the back biting going on and think old bill smells that scent of power coming back. Rove's stirring the pot and where is Carville to
sidewinder him "Cajun Style." My hope and take Edwards
on a passed ball by the Clinton Obama bickering in the 9th inning.Again happy birthday Keith and put a smile:) on your face and in your heart and show God a good time.Thank you for show us one.  

We have to stop voting against our own economic self interests -- tax cuts for the wealthy and 'borrow and spend' budgets are disastrous for our country's economy.  

As of Monday, January 28, 2008 there are still 358 days until the end of this regime on 1/20/2009
There are 343 days until the end of this Congress on 1/5/2009
There are 281 days until election day -- 11/4/2008
There are 8 days left before Tsunami Tuesday -- 2/5/2008

There are still more Primaries to come!  Evaluate ALL the candidates and think of the consequences before you vote.
And we are counting down.

Bill Clinton is angry and driven to win this election for Hillary at any cost.  Why?  Is it payback to Hillary for all his character lapses climaxing with the Monica Lewinsky White House sex scandal?  I’m currently hearing rumors (actually mentioned on Bill Maher’s Real Time last night), that Rupert Murdoch plans on issuing a list of all of Bill’s “sexcapades” since the Monica Lewinsky mess should Hillary end up the Democratic Party nominee.  We don’t need or deserve any of this. And  I worry because I don’t want to be dragged through the mud of past in yet another bitter national campaign.

Why should we replace one liar in the White House (George Bush) for two (Bill and Hillary Clinton)?  This lifelong Democrat does not want to go back to the 90's, nor do I want a Clinton co-presidency.  Bill and Hillary have become part of the problem. From the start of his campaign, Barack Obama has attempted to lift this country up and move it forward to a brighter future.  At every stop of this man's visionary campaign, the slime of the Clinton Machine has tried to suck him up because THEY ARE AFRAID that only Barack Obama can put out the fires of division that pervade our culture.   WE, THE PEOPLE must choose this once-in-a-generation inspirational leader because we must heal our wounds now.   Let's turn the page for good and focus on a dynamic, fresh leadership for the 21st century.  I believe only Barack Obama can take this nation forward, solve problems here at home, and re-introduce the U.S. to the world.

The media stands in the way of this too.  Do your job, and bring us back to the legitimate issues, rather than feeding into and fomenting the non-issue controversies.  Stop contributing to the heated propaganda.  Just report the actual news, and when supplying commentary, persuade with balance---more logos and ethos, please, not just pathos.

Graham Bonnington, Chattanooga, TN (Sent Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:39 AM)

And to all who don't get Keith's rant about the AG having a picture of the author of 1984 in his office.  

It's IRONY!

We are currently sliding down the slippery slope towards a '1984'esque government ... AND OUR AG HAS GEORGE ORWELL'S PICTURE IN HIS OFFICE!  Is it to remind him "to finish the job" or to remind him that he should be preventing it?  

Irony.  

I mailed off my Super Tuesday absentee ballot yesterday morning, but any excitement I had over the past few weeks about the Democratic nomination still being up for grabs pretty much faded this week. On the surface, this looked like a case of more people, beyond those in Iowa and New Hampshire, having a say in the process for once. However, if the circular firing squad continues, then it doesn't much matter because the Democratic nominee will be too damaged to compete. Now, we have this super delegate business rearing its ugly head. It almost makes me nostalgic for a primary in which the nominee is determined early on.

I required the assistance of an adult beverage to make it through the Republican debate. Lately, nobody seems able to present a debate that falls anywhere between the extremes of kumbaya and a cage match. I was disappointed that Russert let McCain get away with denying he said what he did about his lack of knowledge about the economy. At the very least, Russert should've mentioned the source when McCain denied it.
Much as I despise Giuliani, I thought Williams' question about his dropping poll numbers was stupid. Debates are supposed to be about the issues, not candidates' personal reactions to their rising or falling poll numbers which may or may not mean anything. The only reason polls should come into a debate is if they're going to be used to discuss voters' concerns over a particular issue and what a candidate plans to do about it.

Keith,

Thank God for countdown and the guy who has the cohones to take on the establishment. However, recent political events and its coverage by corporate media are raising grave concern among a lot of progressives. The Clintons are being painted with a thick brush of wet "Heifer Dung" by the so called "Pundits" (who most times cannot even pronounce the word and mumble it as "PUNDINT"). It all started with Senator Clinton's remarks about LBJ and MLK. For heaven's sake man, for those (especially in the Elitist Corporate Media) you have to be on some real bad hemp to interpret it differently!!  Then President Clinton's remarks about the fairy tale with reference to Senator Obama's war voting history was once again twisted by the same twisted corporate media. This pattern of media hype continued to Nevada, and gets worse as we approach today’s SC primary. I'm talking people whom I respected before but who have now dropped to gutter level reporting, this includes the likes of Chris Mathews, Tim Russert (who needs a new wardrobe and make up person- he comes across like a grumpy old chef who has forgotten to wear his white hair guard!!) Then of course there is Andrea Mitchell, Matt Lauer, and Brian Williams. The list gets worse, this morning as I'm watching the "Morning Joe" show, I see both David Shuster and Meka "Brezpolinski", dodge a question from   Ann Lewis, when she correctly pointed out the fact that the only reason Senator Clinton slammed Senator Obama's with his ties to the Chicago slumlord was in response to Senator Obama's tirade about all the hard work he was doing on the streets of Chicago while she sat on the Wal-Mart board. David Shuster tried to twist that fact by saying it was the other way around. Coming from David Shuster, it was shocking. I have nothing but admiration and respect for him and he needs to get back on track before he looses that respect from a lot of us out here.  Our next blooper is Meka Brezynski asking salon.com why race was a factor in the SC primary when only recently Mrs. Clinton led 2 to 1 among the African American community. For God's sake woman, stop behaving like an innocent teenager on her first date. You have been constantly stirring the pot and your bias against the Clintons is very obvious, after all you now disclose that your father and one brother are working for the Obama campaign while the other brother is a McCain fan (or words to that affect). She comes across as some one who is ignorant of the facts, and appears to be jumping hurdles to live up to the "Dumb Blond" legend!! No offense to Blond women. The only reason race has shown its ugly head is the corporate media who has chosen to make this an issue, why would they be interested in boring issues like the Economy, Iraq (pronounced "E-raaq" not "I--rack"), Universal Health Care, the homeless, the poor. There is no sensationalism in these down to earth issues so why would they bother.

This is the same media who jumped on the WMD band wagon, because it wasn't patriotic to investigate the truth, the same media who hounded Bill Clinton from day one - first the white water deal, then the Vince Foster conspiracy which had no ring of truth to either of them. But they kept on until they played "gottcha" with the Monica Lewinsky "sensationalism" and the impeachment thereafter.  NBC needs to get back to reporting the facts not reporting the facts as they interpret them!!! We already have an outlet for that in FOX News. I feel ABC and CBS may be behaving more responsibly in the current 2008 election climate than any of the others.

Getting back on track, Keith you have stayed above the fray, please keep it that way.  

Try again to post to this blog, think I'm censored because I don't buy all this garbage about the Clintons.  I do like both of them, don't care about their sex lives, past or present, want a better economy, don't care about the Obama can't we all just get along song and actually want someone who can run this government.  My vote goes to the most qualified person, that happens to be Hillary regardless of the slings and arrows flung by one and all in the punditry. I don't believe that the Clintons are racist, I don't buy the republican koolaid and I don't vote for the person because they have a great personality.  I want results, and still that means Hillary. There is no one else in this race that can stand up to the republicans and still keep on going.  You never hear her stooping to the garbage things they say about her about other people, she makes comments about the record, voting or actions of others, not this stupid high school bashing fest these pundits are engaged in.  It is so stupid and does not get the things we need in this country like health care, education, or a fair economy.  

In a speech President Clinton gave in SC on Friday, I heard him say Hillary wants to rebuild the military.  With Charlie Rangel backing her and his proposal to bring back the draft, is this how she plans to rebuild the military?  As a mother with draft-aged children and relatives, I am concerned and want to know the answer to this question.  Could Keith, or David Shuster, or some other reporter please ask this question?

Clif- It would seem one mans warning is another mans handbook.  There is no doubt in my mind that someone in the bush administration looks to 1984 to solve thier problems.  

Greg McDonald- Love the "Billary" thing.  

Slightly off topic, but following B.A.’s post above, here are two articles describing how Bush’s economic stimulus plan is being received in Congress.  There are a few democrats with spines after all speaking out about the deficiencies of this plan --

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/25/business/main3752328.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/25/economic.stimulus/index.html

Similarly to B.A., I see Bush’s plan as nothing more than “trickle up” economics.  The small rebates that people get won’t even repay them for increased gas and heating prices last year, let alone this year.  For many, it is too little to save their defaulted mortgages.  For someone more fortunate, like me, it will not be enough to cover the hit my retirement plans have taken as a result of recent market losses.  (And my gas and food prices are higher, too.)  Many people who really need this relief are unemployed, have maxed-out credit cards, and face pressing problems like keeping their houses warm and putting food on the table.  To the extent that rebates get used to pay off credit cards or make defaulted mortgage payments, or even buy the things people couldn’t afford to buy during the holidays, there is a direct “trickle-up” effect, in the form of a disguised bail-out for already distressed businesses.  In addition, as Governor Huckabee pointed out the other night, to the extent people actually buy things with this rebate, a lot of that money will go overseas.  So, this so-called relief is only temporary, and not much real relief.  None of this is likely to create jobs -- at least not in the United States.

Democrats like Ted Kennedy and Charlie Rangel are rightfully criticizing Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid for agreeing to a deal that does not extend unemployment benefits or include other measures that provide more direct relief where it is most needed.  Ironically, as soon as congressional democrats began to criticize this bill, republicans began calling their objections nothing more than “partisan politics.”  They admonish democrats to stop arguing and act quickly, subtly threatening to blame democrats if there is any delay.  In this way, unfortunately, democrats who were complicit in jamming through a relief package that provides no relief have potentially caused their own party a BIG problem during the election season.  You won’t get any credit for agreeing to it, and you will get blamed if you don’t.  Sheesh.

Anna Molly and Chris -- enjoy the balmy weather while you can today -- they're predicting -15 for next Wednesday. ek, mpls mn (Sent Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:25 PM)

ek -- Your standards are pretty low, unless you didn’t get 3 inches of snow overnight, like we did.  And before we get the minus temps, we’re supposed to get a day of heavy rain and 40-mph winds.  Sheesh.

Nothing for it but a good day of politics and an evening with Jane Austen.  Always good for the heart.

Take care, ek.

Just wanted to get this in before I forget..HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH! From your sports days on KTLA in Los Angeles, until now you have gotten more good looking. Don't know if anyone else remembers you from those days, but I do. Continued good health, wealth, love and happiness..remember age is only a number, it's how we feel inside that counts.

Angela, Manassas, VA (Sent Saturday, January 26, 2008 2:23 PM)

Charlie Rangel started calling for a draft years ago, I think primarily as a way to muster opposition to the war in Iraq.  I always look at that kind of threat, like threatening to go to the media with a juicy story, to be useful only as long as you don’t act on it.  Thus, I have never taken Rangel seriously on his call for a draft, although I suppose you never know.  I am personally opposed to a draft, and I see the threat (as perhaps Rangel does) as a game of “chicken,” and maybe the quickest way to bring this godforsaken war to an end.  Especially if there is no special exemption for republican chickenhawks and their children.  

Billary...ha ha ha.  Anything to remind the voters that with Hillary they do get Bill.  Even the Super Delegates cannot control him.  He lies with absolute ease.  He walked all over Hillary in their marriage.  He is walking all over her in the campaign...or worse yet she is a co-conspirator in the dirty-handedness evidenced thus far.  Together they brought us NAFTA which has singlehandedly done more to leave our nation vulnerable, both in time of peace and especially in time of war, and has decimated our economy and, by virtue of same, our health care industry.  Combine that with our "service economy," upon which Reagan was so keen, and the American economy as well as the quality of life for countless Americans has declined ever since.  I have no respect for either Clinton...and I do recognize that they certainly are a package deal...but in particular I do not want a president so apparently unable to stand on her own two feet.

Thank you again for the information on Huckabee and his son's hanging of the stray dog.  This was absolute news to me and, for me, serves to confirm what I already suspected about this man.  FYI, animal abuse is an indicator of domestic violence and/or abuse in the home and is a known precursor to violence.  Voters would do well to notice how men treat their wives and children in presidential campaigns, particularly when they believe the camera has stopped rolling.  It speaks volumes as to their personal character and integrity and honor...or lack thereof.

M&M Friday, January 25, 2008 11:52 PM..Thank you for sharing your very moving post. Your father sounds like he was quit a man and leaving you those treasures, you are very lucky indeed. Your reasons for changing your opinion about the Democratic party are to be respected. Many of us wonder if we are in the right party sometimes ourselves. Welcome to our group and you won't be a "newbee" for long, I guarantee it!..and M&M is one of my favorite candies BTW!

Would someone at MSNBC please take a longer look at the polls.  Most of the difference in support for Obama between white and black voters can be explained by John Edwards' numbers.  Remember he was born in S. Carolina.  It may be that Obama is actually drawing support from Edwards among African Americans

THANK YOU NEWS HOLE for weekend updates..very much appreciated.

What is it with South Carolina anyway? You hear reporters repeatedly say "the people of Iowa don't like the negatives". The say the same thing about New Hampshire too. Boy as soon as the campaigns get to South Carolina most of the candidates start shovelin' the mud and B.S. and the South Carolinians eat it up like it was Chateaubriand! What gives?    

One of my classic edit typos in first post edit.The folks empowered to protect us on 9/11 were not doing so and therefore are responsible.They failed miserably
at there job even when given Intel and are responsible like all the other failures and rights violations they have taken.Had they been paying attention it should not have happened.Brag on that Rudy.They have lied and lied and lied and then have been backed up by an AG and duck and covers to protect
them.Focus you dumb Democrats on the problems rather than each other.We help the poor,the middle class,and those who need health care and education I thought regardless of color.Um the only guy I have seen so far with that kind of focus John Edwards. I haven't seen Hillary down in New Orleans building homes for Katrina victims,Obama down there with his saw and hammer.Instead it's business as usual we will play the old safe card and give that rebate vote to make ourselves look good. Of course that rebate is with your tax deficit dollars that you will be taxed on.
Thanks for those votes Hillary and Obama and Pelosi
you keep giving him money for the war but say your against it I am really confused.By the way do you get paid by us while you are campaigning?Just trying to help lower the deficit a little.
Thanks for your great show Keith and Happy Birthday.

Ah, Happy Birthday tomorrow, Mr. Olbermann.  i hope all of your wishes come true.  if this nation is fortunate and blessed, you will see many, many, many more years to come.  i consider you of rare and profound personal integrity and one of the most courageous men i have ever seen.  

p.s.,  i love the pink tie.   :)

Vote for Empire
Vote for theocracy
Vote for fear
Vote for ignorance
Vote for the Robber Barons
Vote for totalitarianism
Vote for child labor
Vote for the polluters
Vote for the HMOS
Vote for the Carlyle Group
Vote for the most vile and base of your instincts!

VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2008

Oh my those bulls having fun..porn on Countdown!

That Las Vegas fire, possibly started by a welder? A welders torch starts many..in this case I hope not. One of our good customers is working in Vegas on that building. I hope he's not the one involved. Somebody get me that serial number of that welder so I can check it out!

and Keith calling Billo "crap head" just too funny.

For those of you who are baby boomers, I've started reading Tom Brokaw's book BOOM! Haven't been able to put it down. Also finishing up Keith's book. Love it lots, but makes me angry all over again at this administration..halfway through John Dean's book, a great read for any of you who haven't yet read it.

I'm happy as a gopher in soft dirt!..it's sunny and warm outside, getting ready for more rain tonight and tomorrow.

On that note, enjoy your weekend and happy reading!

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