Countdown Tuesday: "Tonya Harding Option"

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

The "Tonya Harding Option"?: John McCain has defended Barack Obama against criticism related to Reverend Jeremiah Wright..Mike Huckabee has defended Barack Obama against Wright-related criticism. Hillary Clinton's Pastor has defended not just Obama... but Reverend Wright himself. Today, in our fifth story on the Countdown, Senator Clinton, for the first time, pounced on an opportunity... to attack Obama about Reverend Wright. This, as one unnamed Democratic Party official described what he called Senator Clinton's "Tonya Harding option" -- that the only way to get the nomination is for her to, quote, "knee-cap" un-quote, Senator Obama.

You Say Dubai, I say Hello: "I was usually the first person Bill would talk to about anything. It was a factor of both proximity and relationship."That - the latest argument from Senator Hillary Clinton as to why she is better suited to handle crises as than Senator Barack Obama. Because her husband - the President - spoke to her. First. By which logic - Laura Bush should likewise be on the ballot in November - perhaps on a joint ticket with her mother-in-law. Our fourth story on the Countdown - are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced?.

ODDBALL: We'll try again...fightin people and fightin robots.

Economy of Ideas: It is remarkable that during the Wild West saloon riot that has broken out in place of the Democratic primary season... The presumptive Republican nominee could stumble, at home and abroad, literally and figuratively. In our third story: Senator John McCain, also the ranking Republican on the Commerce Committee, speaking today on the nation's mounting economic crisis. And... he had no suggestions as to what to do now.

Tabby TIme! The good news: Britney Spears got through it. The bad news: this was on tape, if she hadn't gotten through it, it would have been erased for all time. 75 seconds of our number two story on the Countdown, Keeping Tabs.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: USA Today Sports Weekly, John Yoo, and Bill-o vie for tonight's top honors.

The Commander in Chief Test: "I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold. "And I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Senator McCain has done that. And you'll have to ask Senator Obama with respect to his candidacy." Our number one story on the Countdown -- what is the threshold test of which you speak? Well, Countdown has exclusively obtained a copy of said exam. On our 5th Anniversary special, Sunday Night on NBC, we will bring you the entire test, all 17 questions, plus the grading scale, in which you can find out for yourself whether you, or a presidential candidate near you, has passed the Commander-in-Chief threshold. Tonight... a preview...The Prep Course, if you will, for Sunday night's exam.

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Comments

Here I am!

“The comedian” is mentioning Rev. Wright every day, too. Great, Senator Clinton is taking campaign strategy from oxycontin-viagra comedian boy.

THE REAL Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:02 PM)

I'm back!

Do any of you have any concept of how weird it is for me to hear Indiana mentioned so stinkin’ prominently in a political race???!!!

NOT THE FAKE Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:03 PM)

Hey fake "Krista Swisher!" Did you miss me??!

I got the Robot Chicken reference! Seth Green’s take on Star Wars was freakin’ hilarious! Thanks also for the Caddyshack “Best” story!!

NOT the Fake Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:08 PM)

Hola! Esta Aqui!

The South Park Brittney Spears was disturbingly hilarious! Mrs. Elvis isn’t looking so great. Ah, there’s Graceland; I remember that house well! Oh goody, one of Cheney’s ilk minions made a WPITW. When did “he who shall not be named” ever “have it”?

Slightly BiLingual Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:09 PM)

EVERYONE should have the right to post here, have their posts displayed, and have some lively debate about the issues of the day; we just need to play nice - even the faux "Krista Swisher."

“The Commander in Chief Test” – Will we need pencil and paper for this? Man, I thought I was done with my test-taking days.

Krista "I Swear to Heaven, I'm the Real One" Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:12 PM)

Keith, excellent riff on Cheney tonight. Less primary crap, please, and more Mccain / Bush / Cheney crap. Thanks, buddy.

Richard Green, San Clemente, Cal., 92672 (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:14 PM)

As for me, could NOT watch tonight. The minute I heard Keith's voice, I turned the channel to satellite radio. For some reason, Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys were more congenial.

Fairweather Lewis (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:56 PM)

Please keep having Rachel Maddow contribute to your show. I look forward to her appearing and appreciate a smart, rational female voice, as well as that of Keith.

Keith, your show is why I have upgraded satellite channels. Thank you for you excellent insights.

Sterkworks, Layton, Utah (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:02 AM)

Tonya Harding Option: Read this writer's view. It's a theory, according to him, that the Clinton's are kneecapping Obama so that McCain wins and Hillary runs for Pres. again in 2012. (McCain is too old in 2012.) From Pat Murphy at the Idaho Mountain Express. [http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005119959]

Gary Cox, Idleyld Park, Oregon (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:44 AM)

Just in case I am lucky enough to make the blog, I wanted to thank you, Keith, for stating categorically that the pardon of Richard Nixon was a bad thing. You are absolutely right when you say that the failure to hold Nixon accountable explains how we end up today with Cheney and the "unitary executive" theory that threatens the Constitution. Keep hammering away on these points.

Linda, Pittsburgh (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:49 AM)

I appreciate the scrutiny given to the Clinton in Bosnia story - I'm surprised however that no one seems to be questioning the issue of integrity. Sen Clinton claims it was a misstep, sleep deprivation, and finally admitted it was a mistake. The truth is she's been telling this 'story' for quite some time - it was chronicled in similar detail in her book.

VKimble (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:28 AM)

electing john mccain will be nothing more than another 4 years of failed bush policies. to say he knows less about the economy than george bush is REALLY saying something...or saying less than something. for mccain to say that he went along with "supply side economics", (same as voo-doo economics) is downright scary.

pam giovanelli, amherst, va (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:41 AM)

if only obama's campaign was not completely assured of a terrific defeat in the general election, I believe Senator Clinton would be more receptive to talk about conceding the nomination

Chris, San Diego, California (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:55 AM)

This episode made me laugh ripping on O'Reilly. These people are truly insane!!! HAHA.

Joliet, IL (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:59 AM)

Keith is this Tonya Harding attack #2?

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/obama_and_the_jews.php

The Clinton campaign is distributing an article in the American Spectator about Obama foreign policy adviser Merrill McPeak. The article accuses him of being an anti-Semite and a drunk.

Nancy Watson, Toronto, Canada (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:23 AM)

Keith, it was clear that you were in rare form last night. Thanks for some great entertainment (O'Really? has stuck his foot in it again!) and for some thought provoking material.

Kathy "I don't care who the real Krista is" Ackerman, Minneapolis, MN (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:38 AM)

Personally, I think the 8 year "riff" that Cheney threw on the liberal media was spectacular. They will charge and bite at anything, and if the story isn'tdeep enough, they will make one up. Right, Mr. Olbermann?

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:36 AM)

I AM SHOCKED.
Day 1,234 that Bill O'Reilly is named the worst person in the world by Keith Olbermann
Good night and GET A LIFE!

Chuck Walker, Fort George G. Meade, MD (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:46 AM)

Obama is hurting himself by affilliating with "Reverend" Wright, an anti-American propaganda artist, racially and hate motivated and associating himself with other thugs even though they be in his past, for the most part. Why don't we drop the PC grap and "tell it like it is." (Aaron Neville)

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:54 AM)

About the good Reverend Wright. It seems to me that Mr. Obama's correct response to this manufactured brouhaha should have been something along the lines of "While I personally disagree completely with my pastor's comments, and find them denigrating to America in many ways, I will defend his right as an American to stand up in front of God and everybody and say them. I think this is a right that ALL Americans take too lightly, and one that the current administration is doing its best to undermine. Free speech and freedom from unlawful search - wiretaps - and seizure are the cornerstones of our democracy. If they die, so do we." Just my two cents.

John (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:56 AM)

When will someone tell the truth about Rev. Wright's comments? They were taken out of context. He was quoting an ambassator on Fox News. His sermon used this as an example to make people think. If someone would take the time to play the whole ten minutes that has been posted on First News they would see the truth. Keith? Someone please stop the pick and choose soundbite madness.

Paula, Maine (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 8:53 AM)

McCain wants to invoke the "Tonya Harding Option?" Considering Tonya's career powerdove faster than McCain's shot-up A-4 over 'Nam while Nancy Kerrigan went on to win a silver medal and achieve a stable marriage, why would anyone not suffering from chronic "senior moments" want that?

Jeff Cross, Marblehead, MA (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:07 AM)

Security in the Capitol?! We don't need no stinkin' security! Check this out!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/26/gunman.capitol.ap/index.html

Krista Swisher (I'm the Real One, but I Don't Recall if I Live in) Indianapolis, IN (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:16 AM)

Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon was one of the primary reason he lost the following election. All that those dirty tricks, plumbers, spying, and repression did was win an election for Nixon that ended with impeachment, resignation, and shame. Unfortunately, this Administration has done 100 times worse things than Nixon, but we have a cowardly Congress that won't remove these criminals from office. Clearly the Repugnikants didn't learn a lesson from the Nixon hoo-haa and haven't even been given a single item of instruction this time around. Maybe obeying the law is only for us "little people"?

Sue, West Allis, Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:47 AM)

How about other sermons or snippets of sermons from rev wright. maybe on infidelity or pulling oneself up by the bootstraps. if there were more inflamatory sermons in the closet, someone would have outed them by now. why hasn't someone done this already. i confess to being an obama supporter, but even if i were not i would know that three snippets do not make the man. let'shear something else.

susan brown jamaica plain, ma (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 10:22 AM)

More war coverage please. The Madi army just ended thier cease fire and there has been masssive violance the past three days. It would seem we didn't pay them enough to keep quiet until after the election. By the way is Iraq ever going to have elections again or was that a one time deal 4yrs ago.

jen,il (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 10:51 AM)

Am I the only one who thinks Ms. Clinton's statement re: "you can't choose your family, but you choose your pastor" is a double-edged sword for her. While keeping the "Wright" story alive,the statement is not entirely true. There are family members who you do choose - um, such as a husband. And while I still have great affection for the Clintons, does this not open Ms. Clinton to the question asked of Ms. Spitzer - "why did you stay with an unfaithful husband?" She did have a choice, did she not?

Dan Weir, Dallas, Texas (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:50 AM)

Keith you forgot to mention who Hillary was consorting with. The Pittsburgh Tribune Review paper that is owned by Richard Mellon Schaife part of the vast right wing conspiracy that brought down her husband.
She will sink to any low. Is she stable?.Seriously?.

Noel (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:52 AM)

I have never really liked Pat Buchanan, but it always good to hear opposing view points from time to time. If they are civil! He appears with fairly regularly on your show, but now I think he should be banned for his comments on his blog about Barac Obama. Check it out.
http://buchanan.org/blog/?p=969

Donna, West Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:05 PM)

To All the Obama critics concerning Reverand Wright:
Obama has renounced, denounced, and, repudiated Reverand Wright's comments. What more do you want from the man? Blood? Come on it's not like Obama is the ONLY candidate with a "Preacher Problem" here
Is he SENATOR MCCAIN?
Wright is NOT A MEMBER OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN. Whereas
Sen McCain's laundry list of right wing racist bigoted
"agents of intolerance" gets ignored.

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:11 PM)

Keith, 1st I love your program and tell all to watch it, with that said... I am getting maxed out on the election coverage. all the little snipets here and there ughh Obama this Hillary that, it is feeling like a sick gossip high school event. please go to some other issues like world issues.
I'll keep watching but may turn the sound down during the obamton coverage

KP, San Rafael, CA (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:19 PM)

Please look into Hillary Clinton's religious affiliations. It's only fair, and it's pretty explosive stuff when you start digging. Just look up Hillary Clinton and "The Family" prayer group. Scary stuff. I don't know how serious she is about any of it, but she is choosing some strange bedfellows, considering what she's saying about choosing pastors. If nothing else, her conservative religious maneuvers expose her willingness to move to the right -- far to the right -- when it suits her purposes.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080331/ehrenreich

Laura, Covington, Louisiana (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:21 PM)

If you think that Hillary has hit bottom yet, think again:

Carl Bernstein in Cooper's 360 blog about HER history as, to use Safire's term, "Congenital Liar":

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/26/hillary-clinton-truth-or-consequences

The Atlantic's Jim Fallows on HER use of the AMERICAN SPECTATOR (for cryin' outloud?) to smear Gen McPeak as "Anti-Semite":

http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/this_is_disgusting_clintons_mc.php

Folks - I gotta know - how LOW can SHE go?

Rich Evans (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:08 PM)

why is the media allowing hillary to control what they will talk about on the news...she actually got the media to bring back the Wright story...and also have some other George McGovern to say that it is harder to elect a female, which is another mind game to try to gain female votes. This women will stoop so low..and it is ashame..mccain will get my vote before she does.

Ingrid Car, Orlando, Florida (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 4:29 PM)

let us keep the focus on hillary sniper fire story...this is one that shows how misleading she really can be and what extent she will go to win. That is not good and says alot about her credibility.

Ingrid, Orlando, Florida (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 4:30 PM)

applauds to BILL RICHARDSON for standing up for who he believed in. He knew the Clintons would get mad at him because when they dont get their way they do whatever it takes...and it is ashame.

Ingrid, Orlando, Florida (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 4:33 PM)

My favorite baseball Cardinal memory-Garry Templeton. I don't want to contribute this to the WRONG player. I didn't actually see it (except thank God for instant replay)I was in the kitchen (probably searching for a beer) and missed his lead-off at bat. Which, at least to the 2 of us watching, was hilarious in a tragic way. Noone was hurt, but after receiving a full round of "boos" from the crowd, our shortstop silently relayed his opinion of the crowd, with feeling. He did convey where they could "put it".
We were very much on the player's side-he did have a right to "free speech". Imagine our delight upon later receiving O.Smith, against all odds.

S.Bolinger,St.Louis,MO (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 4:52 PM)

To The Real Krista-

"Carne Asada Burrito", Yum! I do call my Father a Hoosier (because he is one), but also because "the show-me state" gets so old. He laughs. Recently I found out he put the wrong city in Indiana on all of our birth certificates (as his city of birth). Social Security actually "called" him on this point. Then he and his still-living Mother got together and she most assuredly remembered it was Lafayette, not Monticello. He then proceeded to misspell Lafayette. So now I also tease him on the fact that he clearly did not know (for 65 years) where he was born.

S.Bolinger,St.Louis,MO (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:10 PM)

Very daring making a cricket joke.

S.Bolinger,St.Louis,MO (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:13 PM)

Thank you for pointing out the abysmal failure of our mental healthcare system to provide for those so obviously in need. Giuliani got a much needed CT scan of his head while visiting our state, but Sen. Bond-who is in such desperate need of attention-has been skipped over.

S.Bolinger,St.Louis,MO (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:20 PM)

Keith-
As donna brazile just recently pointed out on CNN, Sen. Clinton is willing to throw Wright under the bus even though Rev. Wright himself stood by Pres. Clinton, and chose to make an appearance at the Annual White House Prayer Breakfast in a show of support for the pres. during the whole lewinsky scandal:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/26/152731/877/306/484797

How's that for low?

Jose, Milwaukee, WI (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:10 PM)

I wish they would post the whole show and not just snippets! The new schedule completely whacked the west coast. Glad to see you returning to real business, though - the war, the administration scandals, Nixon, etc. One more day of Rev. Wright-gate and I think I'll start swinging at the cheesemakers!

I'm Krista Swisher and my wife's Krista Swisher, too, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:15 PM)

Keith:

As I prepare to leave for Sudan, I am trying to get my fill of Countdown before I go. Will I miss it or Starbucks more? Sometimes my blog is frequently kick started by a comment or topic or smirk that appears on the show. The last time was your staircase comment.

Thanks.

Judith Newark DE (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:44 PM)

What the H????? A "fake" Krista gets posted but a real MK does not? Well, I really am from Indianapolis, I share breathing space with Krista, the "real" one and I can't get anything on this blog in over a month???? Maybe I should fake being Krista (impossible, she is too well spoken.... err ah written) but at least I can dream.

MK, (sharing air with the "real" Krista) Indianapolis (Sent Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:54 PM)

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Countdown Tuesday: "Tonya Harding Option"

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

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Countdown Tuesday: "Tonya Harding Option"

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown

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Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under: Blogging the Countdown