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Countdown Monday: Balanced Fudge It

Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

Rachel Maddow in for Keith tonight...

Budget Buster:  Of the many claims made today by Senator McCain about the economy... my vote for the most laugh-out-loud double-take, wait-a-minute-what?! moment? Was the part where Senator McCain said he will have balanced the budget by the end of his first term because of all the money he will have saved... by winning the war in Iraq. Our fifth story on the Countdown: If you believe that, then there is this bridge in Brooklyn I'd love to talk with you about. I can get you an awesome deal.


Unconventional: A rumored change of venue has indeed come to pass. The Democrats make a change at their convention that's not only a stagecraft decision, not only a tactical decision -- but a symbolic decision about a campaign that's supposed to be about a new kind of politics, a new kind of politician. The Republicans, predictably, have responded with cynical snark. In our fourth story on the Countdown, the small-d democratization of an acceptance speech.  The original plan was scrapped. On August 28th, instead of an audience of 20 thousand - inside Denver's Pepsi Center,

ODDBALL: A panda gives birth and wife carrying in Finland.

Ad Nauseum:  Remember the fuss over Barack Obama not taking public financing for his campaign? Remember Obama's argument for why he made that decision? He said the system was broken, that even though John McCain was still participating in public financing... McCain still could still have third-party groups do his dirty-work for him... with unlimited funds. In our third story tonight... ding ding ding! Two attack ads... both supposedly, officially, at arm's length, or further, from McCain himself. First, one from the Republican National Committee.

Tabby Time: Keith and Dan back together, and Jim Carrey goes swimming.


Like a Player:  In our number one story on the Countdown... Alex Rodriguez' wife makes it official... and files for divorce. According to one of the lawyers for Cynthia Rodriguez...  A-Rod's "affair with Madonna was the final straw" And Madonna celebrates the fact that she is still capable of being the 'final straw'.

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ODDBALL

Isn't it wonderful when they revive old ethnic traditions like "inter-tribal wife stealing"?  The nostalgia value of that just chokes me up.

Anna Molly (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 9:16 PM)

Rachel Maddow--Thank you for finally saying what I was yelling at every newscast I saw this weekend--that, with respect to Obama's "flipflop" on Iraq, there was a lot of sloppy reporting going on. As I watched reporters on every network mindlessly repeat that Obama had adjusted his position after he had repeatedly said that he had not, I began to think that no one in television journalism was able to understand a simple English sentence any longer. Unfortunately, MSNBC reporters were just as guilty as everyone else. I was deeply disappointed that not one of the MSNBC reporters showed film of Obama making exactly the same statements before. Tim Russert must be revolving in his grave. Thank god for you.  

Patricia Coe, Lexington, KY (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 9:20 PM)

Hey Countdown --

Here's an idea for a show segment -- the "Magic Asterisk."  Just think of the possibilities.  Start with how it could be used to make the presidency of George W. Bush disappear completely from the history books.  Just insert the asterisk into those pages where the Bush administration should be with a note ... "removed by popular demand."   Now if only we could do the same thing with the war.  

Anna Molly (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 9:22 PM)

VIVA BILL HICKS!


L D Ablo (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 10:14 PM)

i love it when rachel maddow hosts countdown, her and keith make a great team, keep her on please!

ginna faulkner (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 10:19 PM)

Have you seen the 100 year war commercial?  Alex's mom asks, "John McCin, are you talking about Alex?"  Baby Alex frowns and says, "Uuuhhhh!"

Baby Alex should be the best person in the world! "Uuuhhh!"

Roz Taylor (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 10:41 PM)

Rachel, you rock. both you and Keith not only demonstrate brains but personality. Great show, up to the usual high standards.

Karen, Estes Park, Colorado (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:24 PM)

Rachel Maddow is great! Allison Stewart did a good job filling in for Keith, but Rachel nails it. Her personality, analysis, insight and humor are perfect for Countdown.

Vince, Sacramento, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:17 AM)

Thank you for the honest reporting that is lacking everywhere else.  Please keep it up, keep it loud, keep repeating it!

We need Journalists not opinionists.

Sue, Hollywood, Florida (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 8:52 AM)

Rachel, you had a great show last night.  Thank you for keeping everything in perspective.  This show is the only one that tells the whole story.  Also great news about Keith.  He does a wonderful job on the sport shows.

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:49 AM)

Hello Rachel
I so enjoy the show when you are filling in!! You rock!! Please address the "Enron Loophole" issue again. Rep John Larson has introduced a bill HB6337 to address control of speculators on the oil price issues & CFTA controls. Why is this issue not in the forefront of the news.  Could this be a hot potato item that is being ignored because the fat cats wish to continue making the big bucks at our expense?  Thanks

Louise/CT (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:58 AM)

Keith and Rachel, thanks for keeping the political playing field level.  I'm adamant that if you attend to all of Obama's words about Iraq, he has not changed his position.  The pundits simply need to keep their eyes on their ratings so they also spin the facts.  Countdown is the only poitical newscast worth watching.

Joan Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:26 AM)

Thanks to Rachel for being the only news person that I heard yesterday giving the news that Maliki wants a timetable for us to get out. You'd think the Bush administration would be dancing for joy - it's victory, according to the man who should know. This actually points to the dirty little secret - Bush doesn't trust a bunch of Arabs to run their own country outside of our watchful eye, and our guns.

Terry Ballard, Merrick, New York (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:54 AM)

Keith and Rachel... please help to keep the junk out of the serious election stuff... like, no more about the fist bump, or the flag pin and so on and so on... let's keep the discussion steered to what these candidates plan to do if elected. Also... I would like your (both of you) opinions about taking oil, gas and coal OUT of the commodities market. They are NOT commodities... they are necessities, even utilities... and nothing should affect their value and prices except true supply and demand... not a bunch of speculations manipulating the prices for profit. Take them out of the commodities market, altogether. Thanks.

Vince DeMattia, North Fort Myers, Fl (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:24 PM)

Rachel, You ROCK!! You are the Keithiest!  Keep up the Good Work

Kathy Quinn, Prattville AL (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:39 PM)

Rachel, you made a mistake in the #4 segment, which I hope you'll correct on tomorrow's show.  You reported "an unanticipated turnout of 80,000 people for Obama back in May."

You didn't mention the city this occurred in (Portland, OR), or that those people had gathered  there for a free concert by The Decemberists, who are also from Portland.  When Obama made his appearance, most of those people were still there, and for the vast majority of them, it was Obama's appearance that was unanticipated.  That's why you barely heard anyone cheering.  They weren't there to see him, they were there to see the Decemberists.

No way was that an Obama rally, spontaneous or otherwise, and it was rather disingenuous of you to report it as such.

R. NorCal (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:45 PM)

Okay, you can tell me; is Keith leaving Countdown.  I think Rachel is the only one that could or should replace Keith, but just not now.

Judy Baxter, Portland, Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 1:20 PM)

With all due respect to Allison Stewart, Rachel Maddow is a great fill-in host on "Countdown". She asks great questions of the guests and has the right amount of snarky skepticism that I love to see on "Countdown". And that announcement about Dan Patrick joining Keith on "Football Night in America" this fall was priceless--great impersonation, Rachel, even if you had to use the mask!

Robin, Miami, FL (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:24 PM)

If you want to read something really sickening, go to The Huffington Post and read about our fearless leader at the Global summit on food shortages and see that all the leaders are eating an l8 course meal.  Kinda makes you sick to your stomach, when we have to cut back on everything from food to gas.

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 4:47 PM)

So let me get this straight about economics ala McCain.
If I buy a car today and put it on my credit card, and I don't buy a car next year, I will not owe any money on the car I bought today?

Susan Gibbons, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:07 PM)

Rachel: As a replacement your  top shelf. The only thing I miss  is the worst person in  the world  part of the show. However with that said I think BILLO would be your biggest  fan. Dom Easton Pa

dominic grillo easton pa (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 6:02 AM)

count down, great job, true, true!
hello keith, hello rachel. great job rachel, i do miss keith a great deal though!

shima coody-posey san diego ca (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 2:31 PM)



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