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Countdown Thursday: What Really Happened

Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

What Really Happened: For punch and for brevity, just skimming the chapter titles may tell you everything. "Selling the War"... "Deniability"..."Triumph and Illusion"... "Revelation and Humiliation"... and "Out of Touch." Our fifth story on the Countdown: the book by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan...  Perhaps the most extraordinary collection of revelations about a sitting President since John Dean was sworn in before the Ervin Committee in 1973...Continues today to make the metaphorical ground beneath the Bush White House, shudder. Its author is here, for his first prime-time, his first cable, interview.

The Backlash:  We continue with Scott McClellan's first prime-time interview about his revelatory book "What Happened"...First, as preface... More reaction today.  The Former e-Campaign director for President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, Mike Turk, emailed the Huffington post to say that Scott McClellan is --quote-- "getting savaged for saying what everyone knows to be true."

The Propaganda Machines: More with Scott McClellan on what happens next and how he plans to deal with the right wing critics attacking him.

The Fallout: More with Scott McClellan.


Worse Than Watergate:  Lots of people know what it's like to work in a bubble... where group-think prevails, ends justify means and critics become enemies. Precious few know what it's like to work in a bubble where the world is watching... and the boss has the button. And even fewer know what it's like not just to escape that bubble... but also to go back and pierce it, from without. Our number-one story tonight, Scott McClellan... meet John Dean.

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Keith

Powerful.  Dean and McClellan.  I had hoped to hever be watching this scenario again.

Is America destined to repeat this travesty over and over again?

Judith, Newark De (Sent Thursday, May 29, 2008 9:12 PM)

and we are suppose to believe that the bush administration didn't know the erroneous intell wouldn't give american people the wrong impression about WMD's held in iraq. scott said they didn't give the false information intentionally. oh, to dumb to understand what it might do. if that's not flat out bs

wallace knight baltimore, maryland (Sent Thursday, May 29, 2008 9:39 PM)

That was a great interview, I'm going to watch it again tonight!!  I'm so glad Countdown is on twice!!

Vanessa H., Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, May 29, 2008 9:56 PM)

I'm glad that we have another resource that we can use to bring accountability to the White House.  

Armando Igari-Salazar, Los Angles, Ca. (Sent Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:28 PM)

Please stay with the Iran story, They still are using the same tactics to scare americans. The most powerful person in Iran said it is a sin to try to have nuclear weapons, and they as country will not.

Terry James Ontario California (Sent Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:46 PM)

For months now I've been hoping, in the face of all contraindications, that there would be one honest person in this travesty of an administration. We have needed a John Dean for our time and he has finally and miraculously emerged. My profound thanks to Scott McClellan for his allegiance to our country and to Countdown for showcasing it so eloquently.

Betty Blase, San Diego, CA (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:30 AM)

McClellan's opinion on the whole thing seemed more like someone else's, not his own.  Keith, you should have pushed him more on what his personal feelings about this are.  Does he feel that Bush, or anyone, betrayed America?  Betrayed him?

R. NorCal (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:31 AM)

why is rachael maddow nowhere to be found under friends of countdown?  did she get rocket

tim l, san diego (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:34 AM)

Wow. Powerful interview. Well done. You found just the right tone to bring him out. Not an easy task.

Many thanks for regularly redeeming the media as you do with work like this. Nice upgrade on the website, by the way.

PS: You may have seen this, but if not: An interesting clip taken in this new context. Early on in his transformation...
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=81281&title=scott-mcclellan-pt.-1

J.M. Brooklyn NY (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 1:05 AM)

I just made my friend watch the McClellan interview rebroadcast as I thought it was important. She observed wisely that he has just started on the real journey in his life.

Thanks again.

J.M. Brooklyn NY (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 3:56 AM)

Great interview, Keith!

Everyone's asking "why now" about this book.  I'm terrified by the understated way McClellan reacted when Keith asked him if he thought the administration was railroading us into a war in Iran.  He all but said, "Now, I'm not saying they'd do it again, but PAY ATTENTION THIS TIME!!!!"  

Linda O, Cleveland, OH (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 6:47 AM)

McClellan is a hero. It took some major *alls to do what he did... taking on the White House and this current 'administration', but more importantly educating the American people by becoming one voice for the American people.

Brad Bowman, Delray Beach, FL. (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 7:41 AM)

Glad to see all of the Countdown viewers have posted here.  Nancy Grace says hi.

Joe Smith (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 8:12 AM)

Keith, you did a great interview with Scott McClellan.
The sad part is that nothing will be done with this shoddy administration.  When we elect these people to high offices, we really don't have any recourse but to put up with them until the next election.  It's a crap shoot either way.

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 8:30 AM)

Excellent interview guys, I wish you guys did more shows like that one.

I enjoy the fact that Keith strays off of the typical media questions and asks about things that the American people really want to know about.

Great interview and great show as always.

http://www.politivine.com

Cory (SC) (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 8:40 AM)

LOL, maybe tonight we can have an exclusive with Obama's new spirital advisor! This is better than Wright.

Larry Charleston SC (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 8:44 AM)

MSNBC exclusive?? He's been interviewed on every NBC show all day long. Had to find a network to write and promote, good job. Thank God Keith's ratings are at the bottom. Scott would have a MUCK LARGER audience on friendly FOX!

Krista, Indianapolis (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 8:59 AM)

Scott McClellan is a hero.

Bruce, Wilmington, NC (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 9:07 AM)

You know I thought you were great on Sports Center!!  My respect for you and your commentary have grown since you have become a "REAL" news person.  The Bush Adminstration should have been all impeached years ago.  You called for it!  Pelosi and the entire system has failed the people.  

R.W. Johnson, Tallahaassee< Florida (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 9:12 AM)

We always turn on O'@sshole during your commercials (know thy enemy!) and last night he went off on NBC.  He was screaming!  It was great to watch.  You need to get the video and play it on your show.  You know how he loves for you to mention him.

Ann, Alexandria, Va. (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 9:30 AM)

Saw that rail from Bill-o on NBC. Even one of his cheerleaders, Bernie, the former CBS guy, stood there and shook his head as Bill-o kept raising his voice for no real reason.

You kind of wonder how much money Bernie makes for his appearances and how often he regrets it. Especially since Bill went on so long, Bernie never got a chance to speak.

Walter J. Murdock, Cincinnati, OH (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 10:25 AM)

Countdown is sacred viewing...The McClellan evening confirmed - again - why Countdown is event TV for my family. But why isn't Rachel included in the friends list?

Theresa MD, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:06 PM)

Keith keep up the good work.  You know you're hitting the right buttons when a certain someone at Fox goes ballistic at you and MSNBC.

Sue Yancey, Lee's Summit Missouri (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:07 PM)

Dearest Keith,  You NAILED it! When I heard Scott had chosen you for his first cable network interview, I felt some pride in the fact that he could have chosen many other venues to do that.  He TRUSTED you! I'm sure the evildoers at his previous job villified you for your propensity to be truthful, so it could not have been easy for him.  Excellet interview. You were Mahvelous!

Crystal views in Texas (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:08 PM)

People are missing the most important point.  Scott McClellan is warning us, in an indirect way, that we are about to engage Iran in a war that will also be based on administration lies.  We need to rally and stop this potential war with Iran now, which is due to begin any time now.  I believe this is Scott's key motivation in getting the book out now.  He needs to say this clearly so that Americans can understand what is about to go down if we continue business as usual.

Jennifer Vyhnak, Bristol, Vermont (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 12:43 PM)

I never thought Scott McClellen would turn out to be braver than Colin Powell.

jen,il (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 1:10 PM)

O'Reilly rails and rants on the bias of NBC.
Olbermanniac rails against Fox.

What's the problem?

Full Moon (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 1:28 PM)

Wow! For the first time in forever, my husband & I have some real hope that we can turn this country around. McClellan & Keith agreeing ... maybe there is a chance that we can come together by speaking truth to power. Cheers to Keith for all the years of helping us hang on during the last 7 years. (And where else can you get the real news, plus bouncing bears?)

Susan, Pagosa Springs, CO (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 3:42 PM)

I'd really like to send a comment to Keith on this show, but I can't figure out how. Does anyone know?

Thanks

Roney Pate (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 4:00 PM)

Mr. Olbermann,

As I watched Countdown last night, listening to you and Mr. McClellan discuss the war in Iraq, I found myself feel very, very sad. No matter how any one of us feel about the war or this adminstration, the relevations that have gradually come out about how we got there make me heartsick. As of today, 4,084 service people have died in Iraq from this country alone. That's four thousand and eighty four devestated families. Your neighbors and mine; moms and dads and sisters and brothers and cousins and aunts and ...

How they must feel hearing this. Please let us remember these people whenever we talk about a new book, a new story, a new piece of information. They are, in a very real way, what the story is about.

A. Roney Pate
Richmond, Virginia

Roney Pate, Richmond Va (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 4:03 PM)

I would love to see McClellan asked about the pre 9/11 attitudes of Rice & Company and why they totally missed all the signals prior to the attacks.  

Keith is one of the only people on TV today who can ask serious, thoughtful questions not designed to make the person answering look good.  Hear that Wolf!!

Pat Hughes, Houston, TX (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 4:07 PM)

Harvey Korman, February 15, 1927 to May 29, 2008. Legendary comedic actor who deserves a mention.

R. NorCal (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 4:34 PM)

Keith, you are the only voice of reason these days. You have been saying for years what Scott only confirms. I just hope the next president can actually govern, not just campaign.

Keven Watts, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 4:41 PM)

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/presspol/
MUST-READ!
Shorenstein study of 2008 Primary and Press Coverage Evaluation - coincidentally this is something Ms. (Bull Connor) Ferraro spoke about in today's Boston Globe op-ed (ruminations of a racist)

R. Evans/Windsor Hts/IA (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 5:59 PM)

Whoa! What a revelation Coercive Democracy.  Let's, in the course of human events, ram truth justice, liberty and the American Way down their despotic throats.

Mudcat Jackson, Albany, New York 518-4383625 (Sent Friday, May 30, 2008 6:02 PM)



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