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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.

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Countdown Monday: Finding Her Voices

Posted: Monday, February 25, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

Ire Straits: With wild-eyed anger in Cincinnati on Saturday...And then condescending and cynical sarcasm in Rhode Island on Sunday...Senator Hillary Clinton may have written her own political obituary. The corollary question: in so doing, did she also hand John McCain some of the paper and ink he'll need to try to write Barack Obama's? Our fifth story on the Countdown: Whatever the Clinton campaign thinks it is writing -- today it might have supplied the accompanying illustration: of Obama in traditional African robes.

Red White & Blue Herring: George Washington never said the Pledge of Allegiance. He wasn't even born in the US.  So... what was he hiding? In our fourth story tonight, measuring a man's patriotism by his allegiance... to symbols.

ODDBALL: A car on the train tracks and zebras gone wild

The Double Talk Express:  Senator John McCain today staked his presidential bid on the success of the war in Iraq...  Then immediately flip-flopped. Absolutes... a problem for the Senator, in our third story on the Countdown. Regarding the New York Times report that McCain had done favors for clients of a Washington lobbyist, Vicki Iseman... McCain's blanket denial... beset by moths. First, there was the McCain deposition contradicting the McCain campaign's denial... that he talked to anyone from Paxson Communications in 1999. Now McCain is also contradicted by Lowell "Bud" Paxson, the t-v mogul himself... who says he personally met with the Senator, and that Ms. Iseman was probably there, too.

Tabby Time: Lohan at the Razzies, Jolie pregnancy.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD:  WHNT, the CBS station in Huntsville, James Rosen, and Mort Kondracke vie for tonight's top honors.

The Politics of Funny:  If Ann Coulter makes a reference to Barack Obama's middle name, and throws in a shout-out to Hitler, America cringes. If Jon Stewart does it at the Oscars -- it's... funny? Our number one story on the Countdown: moments at which even the most pro-labor people might have regretted the settlement of the Writers' Strike. Not just at the Kodak Theatre... But on Saturday Night Live, back from forced hiatus, with the premise of a CNN debate in which the moderator admits the entire media is in the tank for Obama.

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Comments

I have nothing to say--I'm just checking in to see if anything actually gets posted here.

greenbrier (Sent Monday, February 25, 2008 9:31 PM)

I want to watch countdown on the web. Were can I see it?

mehdi, San Francisco, CA (Sent Monday, February 25, 2008 10:00 PM)

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731][1] the first son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington, on the family's Pope's Creek Estate near present-day Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was educated in the home by his father and older brother.[7]

Matt De Mello (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:36 AM)

I dont usually harp on the fact checking, but George Washington "wasn't born in the United States"? I know what was implied (it wasn't the United states, yet), but comments like that call unnecessary critism and attract the attention of Bill O's retarded henchmen to say "Yes he was, get your Facts right!".

Kevin (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 6:41 AM)

All day yesterday I heard the media talk about Hillary changing her message and how great it is that Obama can stay on one message.  Has it occurred to anyone that Obama has to stay on one message because that it all he has?  Can anyone consider that Hillary is versatile and flexible and her breadth of knowledge can't be touched by Obama?  What is the matter with everyone?  

Jeanine Colburn, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 9:37 AM)

I guess we can officially add "flip-flopper" to Senator McCain's resume. First, we're going to be in Iraq for 100 years. But, now, apparently, the Iraq war "will be over soon." In the words of the great Stewie Griffin, "What the deuce?!"

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 9:52 AM)

Many Texas Republicans plan to vote in the Democratic primary and even to return for precinct caucuses.  

Are only Democrats being polled?  If so, the polls may be more wrong than usual.  Not sure who cross-overs vote for, but they could determine the winner.

Democrat, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:15 AM)

Hello Keith!  Last night you really made me laugh !! I love those facial expressions while you are stating the obvious. I'm not so sure the photo of Obama in traditional African robes is such a bad thing for him. The timing - during the primaries, after he's already won the trust of millions of Americans - is actually optimal. It will have the effect of inoculating him against the vicious attacks from the underworld that a sure to come.

Cris in Texas (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:32 AM)

How about a Tim Russert write-in campaign?  Give me liberty or give me death!

S.Bolinger,St.Louis,MO (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:00 AM)

Thanks Keith for a great show.  You're the only reason we still watch MSNBC.

We love you, your fair and objective reporting and notto mention the Worst Persons segments.

Joe Neely, Jr. (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:32 AM)

It's all about context, and Keith obviously missed this one (though he is usually ten times more "on the ball" than any other broadcaster out there).
This wasn't remotely similar to anything Ann Coulter has ever done. In fact, it was the opposite. Stewart was using humor to diffuse an extreme, unreasonable sentiment (a sentiment that is not Jon's, but clearly DOES exist out there). Coulter regularly espouses extreme, unreasonable sentiments (that are clearly HER OWN), and then tries to pass them off as humor after the fact.
Coulter repeatedly reminds us that Osama's middle name is "Hussein" in a pathetic attempt at stoking fear.  Stewart made a joke involving Obama's name to show that such fear is, well, just plain silly.  

John, New Orleans, LA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:42 AM)

Regarding Sen. Obama's alleged lack of patriotism:
By NOT wearing a flag lapel pin he is showing proper flag etiquette. The only people allowed to wear flag patches etc. on their clothing are the police, fire, and military personnel or members of other patriotic organizations.
So for all you righties worried about flag lapel pins on Sen. Obama why don't you slam those who descrate the flag by wearing those pins? Truth be told G.W. Bush and Dick Cheney desecrate the flag by their very presence in office.    

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:54 AM)

Hello?? Anyone home?? If y'all are going to put up a thread, please post comments.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:23 PM)

Hellooooooooooo!  No comments posted yet?  Wakie wakie.

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2:01 PM)

Keith...I've watched you many years.  I am glad that I found you to watch, and during Bush's time you have helped me stay a bit sane.  
Time is marching on, and for your voice, and the voice of MSNBC, is being minimized as being a liberal voice for "the bad guys."  The thing is, you can say the truth without representing a wing of anything.  Bush is bad for all of us, and even conservatives need a voice they can trust to tell them truth.  I think you are becomming a voice only for the liberals.  There are lots of those.  Be a voice for me.  Thanks

Dave Lawler (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2:31 PM)

Dear Keith,
I wish I could watch your program, but Comcast made it digital TV only in the Denver area. They said MSNBC only releases it in that format.
I guess they don't want us poor folks who can't afford a digital TV to watch you.

Dave Axtell, Boulder, Colorado (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 7:20 PM)



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