But don't hold your breath waiting for anyone else to call out these fascists, because the rest of them like the cocktail weenies a little too much.
I don't think we should hold our breath, I think we should e-mail copies of Olberman's speech to members of the corporate press/media, and especially to the "leaders" of the Democratic Party with the following questions:
When was the last time you showed this kind of courage?
When was the last time you did something you could really be proud of?
What's holding you back now?
Posted by James E. Powell at August 30, 2006 11:19 PMThat was incredible.
Not being old enough to remember Vietnam or Watergate, that was probably the most brave VIDEO editorial I've seen in the mainstream media. Consider that Mr. Olbermann works for corporate behemoth GE and yet he still called out the administration and used (artfully) images of Nazis to make a point that people like myself have been trying to get across to Americans since 2003: that the fearmongering, warmongering, and propagandizing these Neoconservatives have undertaken since 2001 are antithetical to EVERYONE'S freedom. Not just Conservatives or Progressives. Not just Americans, either btw.
I always liked Olbermann...in a Jon Stewart tongue-in-cheek kind of way. Now he has my respect.
Posted by Tampa Student at August 30, 2006 11:44 PMBush nominates 5 as appeals court judges
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060831/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_judges
I wonder if I wore a T-shirt that said Bush is an Idiot, would I be asked to take it off?
Arabic T-shirt sparks airport row
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5297822.stm?ls
When did Olbermann get so smart?
And so ballsy?
That was wicked.
Posted by Yizmo Gizmo at August 31, 2006 02:18 AMWhat do we need Democrats for? Let's run Keith.
Posted by Alex at August 31, 2006 04:30 AMAfter the extreme gratitude that was my reaction too, Keith.
Great stuff, but how come it didn't come from a professional in our own party?
Posted by paradox at August 31, 2006 04:36 AMI wonder if I wore a T-shirt that said Bush is an Idiot, would I be asked to take it off?
It's a free country. You would just need to have it covered up so no one could see it. Ain't living in a free country great, or what?
Posted by phidipides at August 31, 2006 05:53 AMNow, everyone email your Senators and Congressmen and ask for Rumsfeld's resignation and then do it again and again every week or so.
Posted by Nobody at August 31, 2006 06:04 AMI understand the wingnuts are urging their readers to unleash an email campaign against Keith. If you haven't done so yet, please send your email of support and thanks to Mr. Olbermann. Thanks.
Posted by emal at August 31, 2006 06:10 AMGreat stuff, but how come it didn't come from a professional in our own party?
Your answer, courtesy of emal:
I understand the wingnuts are urging their readers to unleash an email campaign against Keith.
To expound - the frightfuly sniveling democrats are too scared of the hordes of right-spinning wingnuts clogging up their telephone lines and screaming for their blood at campaign events.
When it comes down to it, they like confrontation about as much as the rest of us do on average. The problem is, they're the ones in public eye and office and should be verbally beating these idiots when confronted. It's part of their job description. Same goes for the media.
There's a time to ignore the jeering, and then there's a time to whallop the bullies. It's time to smack the cowards around.
Posted by idiosynchronic at August 31, 2006 06:22 AMKeith is awesome. He won't be around much longer after this, mark my words. I was right about Rove being behind the Karr confession, right? Mal's always right. I predict Repubs will sweep in November, and we suffer martial law, a depression making the one in the 30's pale in comparison; the return of the draft and never ending war..us against the world. Then, in 2008, when the dunderheads among us finally wake up, we will remove Neo-cons forever....naaaahhhh. Too optimistic. Elections by that time will be outlawed. You watch. Mal is right about ALL!
Posted by Mal Feasance at August 31, 2006 07:15 AMYou mean kick their ass ,don't you?
Posted by TIKI AL at August 31, 2006 07:15 AMWill the VFW ever get tired of being used as propaganda props by chickenhawks?
Do they respect the office of the commander in chief so much that they will blindly salute a chimp spewing ignorant talking point lies?
Wake up, you are not helping our soldiers by encouraging a simpleton that supports big business, not brave troops.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 31, 2006 07:35 AMRight on TIKI, what is with these AL rubes?
Wow, Olbermann, what a fabulous original argument! That the "dissenters" in the 30s were the CORRECT ones--Churchill was a DISSENTER! That's clever and insightful, bravo!
Will the Dems pick up on this, which has the potential to be a major Rovian misstep, calling the majority of Americans "appeasers"? They could really administer some hurt here if they MOVE and were unified.
"We don't think that 60% of the American people are 'appeasers' because they think we're on the wrong track in Iraq".
"Disagreement is not appeasement, Mr. President."
"Time to switch off the Nazi Channel in the Pentagon."
"The Bush administration appears to be watching the Nazi Channel way, way too much. How many Hitlers can they see at any one time?", etc.
Posted by euzoius at August 31, 2006 08:03 AMThat the "dissenters" in the 30s were the CORRECT ones--Churchill was a DISSENTER! That's clever and insightful, bravo!
And Prescott Bush was not a DISSENTER during WWII!
The (lesser) Donald did serve in the Navy.
I would be holding a poster up of him shaking hands with Saddam at everyone of his speaking engagements if I could!
When will the Dems realize to fight fire with fire. Take out a million dollars and put him and Saddam on TV after he spews this shit!
Some more classics from Sen. Conrad Burns.
...a "faceless enemy" of terrorists "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night."
At an appearance with Laura Bush no less.
Posted by snark at August 31, 2006 08:43 AMI wonder how many muslim cab drivers Crazy Conrad has run into in Montana?
Or maybe he's speaking out loud about his dark fears in DC, riding home from after a late night Cunningham-Wilkes "party".
Posted by euzoius at August 31, 2006 08:51 AMwe get to vote in Novemeber. It will be settled then. Unless, of course, it's already determined.
Posted by T2 at August 31, 2006 09:05 AMIt's been a long, long time since I have heard anything half as good as Keith's speech. It was indeed awsome.
Will the VFW ever get tired of being used as propaganda props by chickenhawks?
My step-father's first task whenever he travels to any town is to grab the phonebook and find the local VFW and head there for a some "hooch"
He is difficult to talk to about this admin, but I can say that they love anything that highlights their service or brings about an emotional response regarding their service.
No, as a group, they will never tire of it.
I've met many, many of them and they are great people most of whom deal with a world of emotional pain, but still enthusiastically answer to the banging of the war drums.
Posted by Simp at August 31, 2006 09:58 AMOne should remember that these national gatherings of the VFW and American Legion are comprised of officers of the local branches who are typically the most right wing members. The broad membership is no more right wing than the population in general. They join for the comradeship and the bar privileges.
Posted by Gareth G at August 31, 2006 10:12 AMSimp, My father is in the middle stages of Alzheimer's, WWII Vet, member of the VFW and still says bu$h and his admini$tration are the biggest crooks and idiot's he has ever seen! Says they couldn't figure out how to fight their way out of a wet paper bag!
As sick as he is, I believe him!
My cousin Tony who died this year was a Sherman tank gunner at Normandy and thought this was the worst administration of chickenhawks he had ever seen, and that invading Iraq was a terrible idea before the fact.
They may have some physical ailments, but the common sense of our elderly warriors allows them to see right thru bushco.
I still think the vets that hosted bush were wrong to do so. It's disgusting how bush takes them for granted.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 31, 2006 11:05 AMI hope the blogging community will encourage it's readers to contact MSNBC and tell them that Keith's sponsors will get first consideration when they decide to spend their money. I have already done so because I believe that this is the most efficient way to both thank and encourage such a valuable resource as Countdown.
Posted by Betsy Hutchins at August 31, 2006 01:14 PMWhile I can see many members of the VFW having 'knee jerk' support for conservative Republicans, all you should really have to do is start pointing out all of cases where Veteran's benefits are being cut or outright denied.
imo, there are a lot of Veterans out there who have been screwed one way or another by the US govt, and that number is steadily rising.
Posted by cheSF at August 31, 2006 01:49 PMcheSF, you're right, yet veterans (and "Legionaires") continue to heavily and blindly support "conservatives" against their own interests, just like Kansans do. Sadly, their support for "conservatives" undermines the country, whose interest these vets think they're aiding.
Of course there are "progressive" vets, we've got quite a number of active ones at TLC. They're just in the minority.
And I think this speech was before the American Legion, not the VFW.
Posted by euzoius at August 31, 2006 03:07 PMeuzoius, A lot of Service Organizations for Vets have regular 30 & 20 year retirees so they aren't linked to the Veterans Administration.
Other Vets think because they are getting their benefits, being seen by VA Docters and getting their Meds that everything is OK. They don't bitch or complain as loudly when cuts are made because they still look at as the best semi-socialized/universal care they can get. Unfortunately, the VA does not have the best Doctors, the best treatment centers, or the shortest lines. In some places walk in appointments are no longer being accepted.
I have fought them for so long that I see them taking stuff away all the time. As long as the repukes are in charge of the committee's the cutbacks will continue and our struggle will continue.
This is the best site for VA help out there, for any Veteran, bar none.
I just had a chance to watch Olbermann. I am blown away. Finally, a true patriot said what needed to be said, and did not hold back out of fear. He puts every politician to shame, in both Parties. That is the kind of speech we need to hear from those who still believe in this Nation and want to win our White House in 2006 and 2008.
Posted by Judith at August 31, 2006 06:11 PM