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Special Comment Tonight

Posted: Thursday, January 31, 2008 3:58 PM by Countdown

Tonight at 8PM ET tune it for Keith's Special Comment about the President who would rather protect the telephone companies from the law than the American people from the terrorists.

Here's an excerpt:


In a Presidency of hypocrisy, an Administration of exploitation, a labyrinth of leadership, in which every vital fact is a puzzle inside a riddle wrapped in an enigma hidden under a claim of executive privilege supervised by an idiot, this one is surprisingly easy.

President Bush has put, protecting the Telecom giants from the laws…ahead of protecting you from the terrorists.

He has demanded an extension of the FISA law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but only an extension that includes retroactive immunity for the Telecoms who helped him spy on us.

Congress has given him, and he has today signed, a fifteen day extension, which simply kicks the time bomb down the field, and has changed nothing of his insipid rhetoric, in which he portrays the Democrats as 'soft on terror' and getting in the way of his Superhuman efforts to protect the nation... when, in fact, and with bitter irony, if anybody is 'soft on terror' here it is Mr. Bush.

 

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WOW!! This is going to be great!! Thanks Keith!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:17 PM)

I so can't wait. Thank you Keith.  

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:23 PM)

~Thank you Keith Olbermann
~Thank you John Dean
~Thank you Jonathan Turley

Brlliant, brilliant people, who despite what we keep hearing, are not gentlemen with a left wing bias. They're just providing America the plain and simple truth. Something only brilliant people can do accurately.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:28 PM)

I offer the same encouragement I offer before every "Special Comment": Go Baby, Go!! :D

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:28 PM)

please look at Jack Cafferty's version of "fair and balanced" in the early 4 o'clock hour: "Someone will go on, and someone will, er, go home and bake cookies." This is put on as news and supposedly fair commentary.  Why not say someone will go home and ??? you can fill in any other subtle thing on the counter side.  Here's Cafferty, going for the O'Reilly award.  Used to be you could expect some respect for journalism on both CNN and MSNBC.  Creative News Network. Please don't let MSNBC go down the pander path; there are enough viewers to go around without sacrificing real truth and balanced reporting. (Stay sane, Mr. Olbermann, I'm not even in the game and it's getting hard for me.  But I'm older than you.)

roger adelman, villa hills, kentucky (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:30 PM)

NEWSHOLE NEW THREAD AND ONE COMMENT FROM PAM COME ON AND UPDATE

THANK YOU (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:39 PM)

Mr. Olbermann, here's a news tip:  Look at the Senate Bill S.1145 (I think)the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (now 2008).  As an excuse for ridding the system of patent "trolls", a group of large enterprises have sought to completely rewrite the patent system, robbing the inventor of any claim to substantial damages and rewarding and making substantially easier well funded infringers to prevail. Check it out, skip the first 20 pages it's very hard to read and those pages change from first to invent to first to file -- also playing to favor big money.  Read from pages 20 to 30 as if you were the inventor/patentee...It reads more easily, and it gives away invention to the highest dollar.  This kills the incentive to innovate.  I am an inventor, and I know.  Put this into effect, and everything goes to the richest not the hardest working, not the most innovative.  If, as virtually all the leaders state, our future is dependent on American Innovation and Technology, then with this bill becoming law, there is no future.  

Like the old Danforth Foundation used to say, "I dare you." to look into this.  It's under everyone's radar, and it will tank the country.  Good luck.

Roger A. Adelman, Ph.D., P.E., MBA
LCDR USN-R (ret)

roger adelman, villa hills, kentucky (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:41 PM)

If you are a democrat, is this the good news or the bad news for your candidate?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/31/study-obama-most-liberal-senator-last-year/

Barack Obama has demonstrated his appeal to independent voters and even some Republicans as he campaigns for president, though a just-released study from the National Journal indicates the Illinois Democrat was the most liberal senator in 2007.  Chief rival Hillary Clinton held the 16th most liberal voting record last year, the non-partisan survey of 99 major Senate votes found.  The study also shows both senators have moved to the left compared to previous years. In 2005 — Obama's first year in the Senate — he was ranked the 16th most liberal, and he came in at number 10 in 2006. Hillary Clinton has long held a moderate voting record: she debuted on the list at number 25 in 2001, and has been as high as 34. In 2006, the New York senator was ranked 32.  Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, now a supporter of Obama, held the same distinction in 2003, the year he spent campaigning for the Democratic nomination. His high ranking was later used by Bush's re-election campaign to paint Kerry as an out-of-touch liberal.

Anna Molly (: (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:48 PM)

Be still my heart, this has got me going. Can't wait for the rest of it. Give 'em hell Keith!

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:55 PM)

Keith & MSNBC -

An important distinction:  FISA, itself, does NOT expire 2/1.  Only August's temporary Protect America Act REVISIONS (eviscerations) to FISA will expire (sunset) 2/1, save for this 15-day extension.

If Keith has time, he should try to read this about-to-be-published technology report about the DANGERS of the PAA (and the pending FISA legislation) TO the security of our domestic communications networks:

http://www.crypto.com/papers/paa-ieee.pdf

Here's the website of one co-author:

http://www.crypto.com/blog/wiretap_risks/

MSNBC could even help some corporate bottom lines by reporting on this new study, which is co-written by experts from Sun Microsystems, SRI International and at Columbia, Princeton, and UPenn.

Remember that this fight is not only about immunity, it's about our Fourth Amendment right to privacy from unreasonable government snooping.  The Protect America Act purported to "legalize" the unConstitutional "Terrorist Surveillance Program" which consists of the monitoring of real time "call detail records" of OUR domestic and international communications to look for suspicious calling patterns.  This data is being recorded and reviewed for historical calling patterns as well.  These experts help explain it, and point out why such access to our domestic communications networks is such a serious threat to its security and stability.

Chris Dodd has this issue down cold.  Please consider inviting him on the show to comment.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for covering this, Mr. Olbermann.  The truth is an endangered species on national television broadcasts in our country.

An American Citizen, Main Street, USA (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:10 PM)

NEWSHOLE UPDATE YOUR BLOG!

PLEASE! (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:16 PM)

Thanks Keith, fortunately someone watches over our collective interest, friggen Democrats are too chicken to oppose even a major lame duck president like Chimpy!

Nick, Washington Township, NJ (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:22 PM)

Additional hot air to follow after special comment tonite.

You Don't want to miss it!!

Paul Fauther,, Tenn (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:23 PM)

Okay; this is really embarrassing being the sole poster on this thread!! Please give us a much needed update News Hole!!

PEACE!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:26 PM)

Oooh-looks like we are in for some great viewing tonight.  

Knock em dead Keith!!!

Pat, New Lenox, Il (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:32 PM)

No only soft on terror, but a terrible leader who is more disconnected from reality than Britney Spears!

Steve, Kansas (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:33 PM)

newshole get your act together and update your blog

disgusted (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:34 PM)

I am buckling up my seatbelt and I'll go along for the ride with you,Keith to night.

gc, Nashville, TN (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:36 PM)

Newshole your moderation is awful today.

disgusted (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:40 PM)

IMPORTANT Keith don't make this mistake on this important issue - From your trascript on Monday night.

OLERMANN:  "What is the rationale?  What is even the stock answer when you say we are going to take a 30-day extension and give you what you want for at least another 30 days while we continue to battle this out, when somebody points out the expiration of FISA means America is in pearl, but they would rather have it expire on Friday than extend it a month over the issue of the legal protections and the telecommunications companies?  What is the actual, even the boilerplate answer to that?"

OLERMANN:  What is the rationale?  What is even the stock answer when you say we are going to take a 30-day extension and give you what you want for at least another 30 days while we continue to battle this out, when somebody points out the expiration of FISA means America is in pearl, but they would rather have it expire on Friday than extend it a month over the issue of the legal protections and the telecommunications companies?  What is the actual, even the boilerplate answer to that?

The FISA law IS NOT expiring.  It's been on the books since the 70's and will remain on the books after this abomination of a law expires.

I also hope you rip the Senate Democratic enablers like Harry Reed and Jay Rockefeller.  They are backing and pushing this law.

Hopefully you’ve been reading Glenn Greenwald at Salon – the best blogger on this issue.    

Doug DeDecker (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:11 PM)

Just one more thing for Oliver Stone's movie.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:13 PM)

I am really looking forward to this.  It's been a while.  However, your "Bushed!" segments are mini comments, which are great, too.  Keep shining the light on the vast hypocracy of this criminal misadministration!!

Marsha W., Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:24 PM)

Wonder if the guttless democrats will cave into the idiot in chief, once more? Maybe Keith calling this into question will help, but I doubt it. Won't miss this special comment for the world! What is it going to take to impeach and convict this criminal president.

Roger Macdonald South Lyon, Michigan (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:27 PM)

For those who may not have experienced the Bush War up close and personal as I have Iraq the people Bush has destroyed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Fm0ALx0Do

Gerald Von Riesen Parker CO (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:39 PM)

Feinstein NEEDS to hear this!!!!

Ann Catherine Keirns, Castro Valley, CA (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:20 PM)

Can't hardly wait!  I will sitting around counting snow flakes and watching KO tonight.  One of them is my favorite thing the other is a curse of winter,  guess which is which.  Krista and I will be up to our butts in ice and snow until Sunday when it will all melt away.  Here's to Sunday!!    

MK, Indianapolis (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:31 PM)

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 1:58 PM)

I have not seen recent data on deforestation as a source of greenhouse gases but do not contest your data. An equally large question, I think, is what to do about pollution in India and China and a re-awakening Russia, all of whom are running frightfully inefficient coal plants for power. Their (quite reasonable) argument is that the industrialized west got that way without pesky pollution controls' why shouldn't they.

Unless we jump to that conservative fever-dream, a world-wide big-brother state, major economic and social incentives are needed. China appears to be getting the message in light of it's air pollution problem; hopefully others will also. A US government not quite as beholden to Wall Street may have some influence on the world-wide pollution issues.

mo (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:51 PM)

Sorry Countdown -- Opted for the debate.  I’ll check in to catch your tie color and catch your show later tonight.

Anna Molly (: (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:12 PM)

Their (quite reasonable) argument is that the industrialized west got that way without pesky pollution controls' why shouldn't they. mo (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:51 PM)

Mo -- have you seen the pictures of Beijing I posted earlier this week?  Check those out.  You can find them at The New York Times.  That’s why they shouldn’t. They’ve been 9 years in remediation and still have air that looks like fog at dusk, but it not quite so friendly.  

Anna Molly (: (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:35 PM)

Thank you for speaking my mind on the Criminal George W. Bush.

Bob Perkins, Carol Stream, IL (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:04 PM)

Hey Keith,
Do you realize you're actually foaming at the mouth?
Your cameraman should have let you know about the thick spittle coming out of your mouth and sticking to your lips.  You looked as ridiculous and you sound!

Elsie Granville, Pinehurst, NC (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:05 PM)

Keith Olbermann...nice attempt to accomplish what? The norm for you and your comedy hour.  President Bush gets you foaming at the mouth....literally.  Bash on.

R Doe, Greensboro, NC (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:11 PM)

Thumbs up, Keith. Keep exposing these clowns.

Sam (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:11 PM)

I heard your words tonight and I have only one word for you sir.
                   "BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Ray Hall, Webberville, Michigan. (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:12 PM)

Excellent Special Comment tonight, Keith. As usual.

jane doe (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:12 PM)

Thank you for your courage to speak up about the deplorable behaviors in thr White House!

wanda Sanford Fl (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:13 PM)

Debate report -- Senator Clinton:  “the differences between Barack and I pale between the comparisons between us and the republicans.”  You’ve been reading this blog, Mrs. Clinton.  Now you’re talking my language.  It’s the dems’ race to LOSE.  Is it time to make that leap of faith?  We’ll see.  Back to Countdown.

#3 -- Billo “ducks” vets.  Good one, Countdown.  Daffy Duck, you mean. Please leave HIM a message.  Tell him to try sleeping under the Golden Gate bridge at high tide and we’ll see how well the duck can swim.  A quack, for sure.

YES!!!  George Clooney -- good will ambassador to the world, for real.  And I didn’t even have to beg you, Countdown.  Thank you, sir.  And a very nice silvery tie.

WPitW -- Rudy in the Tuscan ballroom.  But the slippers didn’t fit.  How could he possibly dance?  

Special Comment -- Chilling.  Orwellian.  You think it’s Mr. Bush’s hyperbolic worst?  Don’t hold your breath, sir.  Mr. Bush never responsible?  Ducking, for sure.  

As always, great comment, Countdown.  Check and checkmate.

Red Queen aka Anna Molly (: (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:14 PM)

Bless you Keith Olbermann--  Your Comment is exactly right and very important.  Bush's insistance on immunity for telecoms, and even more, on his use of the threat of terrorism to demand immediate passage of a surveillance bill with the immunity provision shocks the conscience.  Thanks for speaking out so eloquently on this.

Jon Hinck, Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:15 PM)

Elsie. That's nuthin'. You should see what's drippin' on Limbaugh's socks.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:15 PM)

CONGRATULATIONS KEITH!  My God that was a GREAT speech! Right to the point!  Brilliant!  I am SO glad that there is ONE newscaster who speaks the truth!  Please get this entire speech on the internet, easy to find, both in print and the complete video of it!  GREAT!  THANK YOU!  And why aren't YOU running for president???!!!!!

Ro Thompson, Texas (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:16 PM)

Thanks again Keith for telling the truth (a rare commodity in these times). I know you'll stay on top of what these criminals in the White House are doing (and have done) and it's good to have you on the job.  You and Jon Stewart are getting me through this mess alive.  Bless you, sweetie!

Tulsi Reynolds (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:17 PM)

Mr. Olberman
Thank you very much for speaking aganist monitoring private phone calls. I am very greatful for people like you supporting our cause. I am myself very disturb and feel that I am being watch/listened when I call my counterparts in Syria and Iraq. Becasue of this, I often prefer to communicate our next plan over the internet rather than calling them. But, I would rather want us to put a band on telecom monitoring, so I can call them rather using IM. Thank you again for supporting our casue and looking out for us.

Yousef Ahmed  

Yousef Ahmed, Detroit MI (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:19 PM)

Keith you are right on and you are awesome!
Please keep disclosing to the public the truth of what is behind these issues.
Shame on At&T and Verizon and Mr. Bush.
You make  watching the news FUN and interesting!
And thank you MSNBC for allowing Keith to do so.
Keith is the reason all of us watch!

Rosalie Geier, Monticello Indiana (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:20 PM)

I finally got it tonight.  Cousin Herbert is a repeat WPitW--Dead White Guys division, which is why you mention him in segment three every time you want to make a point about foolish GOP mistakes, instead of in WPitW.

I guess it won't be any use to defend him anymore.  You're fixated and I have better things to do--like changing the channel.

Herbert Hoover's fifth cousin eight times removed (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:22 PM)

Mr. Olbermann, you rock!!!   So when are you running for president?  Oh wait, you're too smart and over qualified for the position.

Thank you thank you for the terrific commentary, I only wish more people tuned in, and heard what you have to say.

Keep it up!

M.G., Englewood, NJ (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:22 PM)

January 31, 2008 9:00 PM (FISA Commentary) thoughts:

Right on the money as always Keith, thanks for giving voice to my thoughts. You give insight into these crimes that apparently will go unpunished. I wonder how an ordinary citizen would fare under the same standard if they were savaging the Constitution as this administration has. Keep on with your high standard of calling these people out for their lies and distortions. My hope that a few voices will be heard and make the differance eventually.
JLG Kenmore,NY  

Jean Grugan, Kenmore, NY (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:23 PM)

Fantastic!  The conviction and the passion was actually understated relative to the severity of the problem.  Only if Keith had set himself on fire and blown up the set could he have more effectively communicated the historical seriousness of this situation, and even then, he would have been understating the issue.  The 4th Amendment has been hijacked.  Hitler would be proud.  Wake up folks.  

Bill Smith (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:29 PM)

I would not call what I saw tonight a commentary. It was more like a hate mail. It lacked facts but it was full of fiction and accususions. Where is the news reporting 101? Maybe, you should go back and take a refresher on the news reporting. I was really afraid when I watched you tonight. I could see the hatred and that I did not like it.

Kaya, Plymouth MI (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:29 PM)

much of what I wanted to say has already been said above.  As they used to say to Truman, Give 'em Hell, Keith!  And keep on doing it til others also pick up the cudgels.

This crew, starting with the Cockamamie-in-Chief, has rent asunder so much of the separation of powers, separation of church and state, acted unconstitutionally, trashed America's reputation both here and abroad (especially abroad), have done near-irreparable harm to the economy as well as fiscal restraint (when it comes to wars) and pay-as-you-go is a myth with these guys.  

For those who admire conservative philosophy, what has Bush done to you and your principals?  Trashed 'em, that's what.

David E. Scottsdale AZ (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:30 PM)

Hi Keith. Watched the 1st Special Comment of '08.  In one word, GREAT! If they weren't doing anything WRONG, they wouldn't need immunity now would they?  You explained it all, unfortunately it doesn't seem as if the Congress will do what needs to be done, hold them accountable.  Thank you for presenting the truth, it so needs to be given a voice and you're it along with your daily featured guests (I don't have a favorite, they're all good!)  I can't wait until what I call "Deliverance Day" (1/19/09), the day that the two war criminals go off into the sunset. The "Countdown" has begun....

Debbie Lackowitz, Yorktown Hgts, NY (Sent Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:35 PM)



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