Olbermann Gives The Commentary of a Lifetime

This is simply - outstanding. Thank you, Keith, for this magnificent last word on 9/11/2006.

This Hole In The Ground

Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space.   And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.

All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.

And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.

I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.

And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.

However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.

Five years later this space is still empty.

Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.

Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.

Five years later this country's wound is still open.

Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.

Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.

It is beyond shameful.

At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."

Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.

Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We cannot dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground." So we won't.

Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.

Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres.  The terrorists are clearly, still winning.

And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.

And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation.  There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.

The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.

Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.

Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.

Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.

History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.

Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people.

The President -- and those around him -- did that.

They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused, as appeasers, as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists."

They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken, a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated al-Qaida as much as we did.

The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication."

The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."

Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space, and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.

Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11.

Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible for anything in his own administration.

Yet what is happening this very night?

A mini-series, created, influenced -- possibly financed by -- the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.

The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option.

How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death,  after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections?  How dare you -- or those around you -- ever "spin" 9/11?

Just as the terrorists have succeeded -- are still succeeding -- as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero.

So, too, have they succeeded, and are still succeeding as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.

This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney's continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.

And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street." 

In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm. Suddenly his car -- and only his car -- starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man's lights go on. As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot -- but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help.  The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials are seen manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there's no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it's themselves."

And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight: "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men.

"For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn."

When those who dissent are told time and time again -- as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus -- that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American...When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"... look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:

Who has left this hole in the ground?

We have not forgotten, Mr. President.

You have.

May this country forgive you.

Comments

[BenofNoHo]

Full details of the Disney/ABC propaganda.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060925/path_to_911

I salute Olbermann for his bravery, for his fearless stand.

Olbermann has described the new American theocracy: don't question, just follow.

Question! And don't stop questioning.

They're winning. What are we going to do about it?

[oldgringo]

The clip is up on C&L---AWESOME, I believe is THE word of choice nowadays...
At any rate, I advise that you watch it while you can, for Keith's life expectancy curve just headed for the river Jordan or worse...

What a shame that out of all the talking heads in the MSM we can find ONLY ONE HONEST MAN WITH THE INTELIGENCE, THE PRESENCE, AND THE BALLS TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

I wonder how, or if, the rest of his so-called "peers" can look him in the eyes, don't you?

[Mad as Hell]

This is a definite mission Keith Olbermann is on. He obviously has the support of his "higher ups", as each of these speeches are out doing the last one. What a brave man he is! There will be no more swift boating anyone as long as Keith has his platform. We're not taking it anymore, thanks to Keith! We've all got to start fighting back just as hard as he is!

[Carlene]

Amen, KO!

[oldgringo]

Someone writing above asked in effect, "...what are we gonna do about it?"

Since K.O. can't do it alone, I suggest the following:

GET OFFA YOUR ASS AND ONTA YOUR FEET---
GET OUTTA THA SHADE AND INTA THE HEAT---
THA PLACE TO BE IZ INDA STREET!

Work at getting as many progressives into office as we can: hoping for a miracle ain'ta gonna get it, SO GET ACTIVE ANY WAY YOU CAN!

Bush and Company are America's PUBLIC ENEMIY NUMBER ONE, and WE are the only ones who can STOP THE BASTARDS!

[Ken]

Keith obviously hates George Bush and America. Why? WHY? Doesn't he see, as any number of smirking Bush-worshippers have reminded me, that the LIBBURULS are to blame for all of this? The evil, evil Clenis(TM) is the source of their satanic power, but they tremble and scatter before the might of the Colossus of Crawford, the Son of Poppy and His holy minions. I was just remarking to someone yesterday that I felt SO much safer. I bask in the admiration that Amurrika receives from the rest of the world....Iraq is going swimmingly, which we'd know if the goddamn LIBBURUL MEDIA would stop trying to embarrass our God-Emperor and tell the truth...W i sthe best goddamn Preznit this country has ever had or ever will had, greater even than the Wise and Holy GIPPER (on whom be pee).

[Flamethrower]

the best thing is his commentary led right into Bush's speech.

tasty.......

[davis]

KO keeps getting better and better.

[rhoda]

I love KO's bravery but, alas, it gives me false hope.

He's a drop of sanity in the slimy bucket of our times. I fear MSNBC will be forced to cancel the show soon. Bushco can't allow this window of clarity to exist on the air for very much longer.

[collin]

god-DAMN that's some fine speechifying!

[Jerry]

Did anyone notice how disturbed Chris Matthews looked on MSNBC just a minute after Olbermann spoke? Since Matthews was just off camera during KO's commentary (both were at the WTC site), it must have unhinged him to see a real commentator close-up . . . and to see his own relevancy vanishing before his eyes.

I frankly don't think KO's honesty and directness will get him fired in the current Bush-hostile political climate . . . particularly as his ratings rise. I think it will get Matthews on the way out. Jon Stewart on Crossfire, anyone? Tucker Carlson will show you the danger of standing too close to the truth: in a year you'll be Dancing with the 'Stars'.

[Dianne]

Everytime we say Olbermann has given the speech of his career, he tops himself. I fear that the people running MSNBC will never allow him to keep it up - if they do, they will win the gratitude of our nation. I believe that one of the reasons for the outrage regarding "Path to 9/11" was a view of our country's future with a media totally under the control of the govt. and at this point, we only have a few who have not caved in to the bullies in Washington. If they prevail, they will write (and rewrite) the history books and future generations will never know how it was during this time. Bush will be seen as the great leader he thinks he is and not as the pitiful, inept failure we all know he is.

[zota]

That's Tron.

He fights for the programs.

[legadillo]

I disagree with KO on one point: Why the fuck should we forgive?

[Hoffmania!]

Good news, folks. MSNBC CAN'T stop Olbermann. I just posted the news: He's the only show on MSNBC that beats CNN.

[Shirley]

Damn that man is good.

[barbara mcgee]

yes i did see mathews face after keith gave is most wonderful speech about the lying evil bush it was priceless. mathews doesnt have the guts because all he cares about is keeping his weasely little show shame on chris i kept waiting for mathews t get some balls and tell the truth about our so called president. he sure didnt mind trashing clinton night after night .he owes bill clinton for even having his show

[Fidel Cigar]

Sportscaster masquerading as political hack and liberal windbag, Olbermann is a disgrace.

[Fidel Cigar]

Sportscaster masquerading as political hack and liberal windbag, Olbermann is a disgrace.

[Mary Lieberman]

What I love about Keith is that he's not being funny or charming here, just pissed, smoldering angry, and pissed. Me too. My husband and I watch him every night and then high-five each other because he nailed it. Last night, he nailed it.

Mary Lieberman

[rhoda]

I'm a bit off topic (but this is about a tv host), I saw Charlie Rose interview the artist Richard Serra last night. Serra is as indignant about the direction of this country as are most of us.

I was truly disappointed in Rose as he appeared quite uncomfortable and couldn't change the topic fast enough whenever Serra pointedly expressed his views about never having seen or lived through such a time as these.

[Dave Abbott]

Two of humanity's most common and brittle frailties have been exposed in this awful mess. First, how easily we in our rage can be misdirected, and second, how reluctant we are to admit that we have been so deceived. Thanks, Mr. Olbermann, for calling it as you see it, and for God's sake don't ever back off.

[F. Kleinberg]

The United States has to be the only democratic country in the world where a leader such as W faces neither armed insurrection or impeachment. It is a tribute to us as a people that we do not resort to violence in these cases, but a worrisome fact that impeachment is reserved for those leaders who lie about sex. Excellent editorial, thank you.

[Bourgeois Deviant (Brooklyn, NY)]

legadillo,

We should forgive because it gives us the higher ground. It makes us better than they are.

You have to wonder if Olbermann is our modern day Edward R. Murrow. Lord knows we need one right about now.

[Intuition]

Anyone who grew up during the 2nd WW, had to see this coming. The French and Greek underground. Who could not see that they ditched their uniforms, hid their weapons and waited for the right time. The administration has been one lie after another, "Dead or Alive" (Still Alive). Mission Accomplished, they never knew what the mission was. Insufficent personnel and materials, lied about endlessly. Rove puts Goebbels to shame, and Chenny is Winnies Goering.There dissing of the Congress and the Constiution shows us were the real facsists that we should fear are.

Olbermann Keep It UP. May all of us know how we must vote in November.