Special Comment: On FISA and Telecom Immunity

"You said that the lives of countless Americans depend on you getting your way. This is CRAP. And you sling it with an audacity and speed unrivaled by even the greatest political felons of our history."

It's an update of his January 31st Special Comment on this topic, relevant more now than then. The tipping point now is that Bush's bluff was called - AND HE CAVED by not postponing his trip to Africa after all.

Bush's weaknesses have never been tested - for what reasons only the Beltway kids know. But now they know: Bush can fold like a house of cards when his nose is pushed into a big steaming pile of truth.

Keith has called out President Pinocchio for the past two years. The turtles in D.C. finally pulled their heads out this week. Congrats, KO.

Comments

[Mad as Hell]

David Shuster will be returning to the air on MSNBC in one week, Feb. 22! We have to have these guy's backs, now, more than ever before. Every single time Olbermann does a special comment, it's an absolute miracle when he's still around the following day!

[oldgringo]

You got it, Mad as Hell, and we otta give Pelosi and Crew a BIG ATTA WAY TA GO BESIDES!

[Stitch]

Yes, thanx to KO. If not for him, nobody but blog readers would have even heard of the telecom issue.

[left of center]

terror is their battle cry time and time again. i for one am sick of it. they beat on that drum constantly and i'm tired of hearing it. yes terrorism is real but the scare tactics that the Bush Co. uses are just that "scare tactics"... "if you don't let me do this everyone is going to die". its time to go Bush, pack-up your lies and cronies and get the hell out. I hope the fine people from Ohio see right through Bohner and vote him out on a rail and that goes for all congressmen/women who think they can just walk out of work when ever they want, what would happen to most of us if we walked out everytime something at work pissed us off...."YOU ARE FIRED" and out we would go.

[dennis in West Chazy]

I recently filled out some meaningless survey and one ubiquitous question that I gave some thought to was "Who do you think of as a hero?" I wrote: Cindy Crawford. Some people might write Ghandi or So here is a question to Hoffmania readers: is Keith Olbermann a hero?
When I watch the direct way that he confronts power, I think wow that takes a lot of balls. I'm guessing he makes a decent living in addition but does anyone here characterize what he does, in his commentaries, as heroic? Sometimes I wonder if he isn't all that different than Rush in the sense of function. (please don't misunderstand, I see Limpdick as a greedy propagandists that has taken advantage of people in America who see things a whole lot different than me and he has made a whole lot of money at it.) but is KO a hero?

[chutta, grand rapids, mi]

This immunity thing is just part of their covering their tracks, learning from Goehring, Goebbels, Himmler and the rest-don't leave a paper trail this time.

[al in nyc]

'You are a liar Mr Bush' (and I add, an asshole, and a criminal against humanity! Creep! You have dragged our great country into the gutter -
Everyone Read, 'Debunking 911 Debunking' by David Ray Griffin & Demand the Truth!

[mario]

f-ing aye he's a hero.

[Mark]

I am literally on the verge of tears after watching this special comment. K.O. has spoken for all of us who have watched as this cruel, evil man and his gutless toadies disembowel the Constitution. Let us hope that 2/14/08 is a watershed moment when the veneer of "humanity" is peeled away from this rotting, stinking presidency.

[Helena Montana]

I contend that Dems' sudden show of spine is solely due to Donna Edwards victory over Albert Wynn (the blue dog Democrat) in Prince George's County, Maryland in this past week's primary. The Dems have suddenly realized that if a progressive can get the electorate to give the boot to Albert Wynn, they're all in danger--no more bribes from the telecoms or anybody else. And even K Street must have a limit on the number of ex-legislators it can support. Congress's approval rating is in the toilet and the Dems have finally realized that that fact has consequences that could be very, very unpleasant for them.

I predict we'll see a lot more activity on the Dems' part--at least until November. After that, of course, it'll be back to business as usual.

[bodicca]

There's safety in numbers -- in order to keep our hero safe, this video should be forwarded to as many people as possible. Speaking truth to power is dangerous in what is essentially a police state.

[republicanSScareme]

KO keeps slamming them out of the park. He seems to be the only TV reporter/commentator/journalist who's fully alert.

All Keith is doing is yelling Fire! when there's a fire. As long as George W. Bush holds office, our Republic is in dire straits.

Make sure Pelosi and Reid see this.

Maybe it will inspire them.

[Steve]

I'm confused. Since Jorge W. has violated FISA like, a billion times, it's clear that whatever's written down don't make no nevermind to him. It's like Capone negotiating the tax code.

[Jeanetta/Victorville]

I found Keith Obermann a few years ago and have been watching him nightly. This is not the first time he let GWBush & Company have it. I sit in my chair, clapping and cheering him on. As said in other comments, Keith is the only brave person to speak out like he does. I love it....and I love his play on words.

Thanks, Keith, for telling it like it REALLY is!

Keith is the ONLY ONE who tells the truth!!!

Thank God for him..he is my HERO!!!!!!!!!

[Michael P. Sakowski]

Another typical tirade of twisted, out-of-context ideas, used as pathetic, self-promotion for Keith Gooberman, who is a self-grandizing opportunist, masquerading as a news announcer.

What I think is so pathetic is the eery willingness of so many thousands of Americans, who are quite willing to give up their rational thought processes in favor of hate mongering against the president. To call the president of the United States a liar on national television is so insulting to the stature of the office that it alone is very alarming. But what is more alarming are the masses who thoughtlessly cheer such opportunists on, showing a complete lack of respect for the office.

I think it's very sad, and indicative of the worst traits in a free society. It is illustrative of the lack of clear thought process reflected in a herd mentality. That "hate Bush" mentality over-rides any reason and they react in mass with inflamed emotions, never taking into consideration the truthfulness of the opportunist, only seeking validation for the feelings of hatred that they have allowed to be planted and grow in their feeble minds.

"Hate Bush; hate the evil Republicans!" What's wrong with you people? For the record, I am a registered Democrat, but I would like see the Gooberman held accountable for his vitriole. It is completely unAmerican and dangerous, and people like him should be chastised and ostracized. (Tarred and feathered and run out of town on a stick would be nice.)

As for those who cheer such self-serving vitreole: Shame on you! Start reading more and thinking for yourself.

[lawton]

Hey SAK! You gotta play the same game they play or they will kick your weak ass right out of the ball park.

[Dennis from West Chazy]

Sorry Michael above, the only twisted tirade is yours. Hate Bush? That isn't written once up above (with the exception of your twisted tirade of course). The "hate Bush" meme originated out of the right wing for it's own purposes to nominalize the lefts' strong reaction to the take over of this country's government by the right wing movement starting back with Reagan, and the media stretched it, gave it legs because this country can only deal in "sound Bites". "Bush Haters" they said. Sure Bush himself rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, made em real angry, but he's just the puss at the tip of a blackhead that has formed on this country that is so 2003 unless of course you have a child/soldier who has died or been maimed in Iraq. Then I'd say that hatred is the least a parent might feel for Bush and company. This is 2008 and we have all moved on. The "impeach" meme has even gotten old because, I guess, it ain't gonna happen and that sucks. For the record, who cares if you are a registered Democrat? Democrats mostly suck, at least the politicos. You are entitled to an opinion about KO's commentary and giving it here (as long as Hoff isn't too offended) but you are one clueless, whitless and twisted fuck and I'm guessing you're a liar and a troll. What do you think?

[Squeaky McCrinkle]

I'm one of those people who enjoy looking at the crap crawling across the bottom of the screen on the TV - there's some real daily howlers there.

"Good Morning America" ran this: LAW GIVING GOVERNMENT POWERS TO EAVESDROP ON SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT AFTER HOUSE DEMOCRATS TOOK A STAND AGAINST EXTENDING IT.

There's a long way to go.

[CJ]

""Hate Bush; hate the evil Republicans!" What's wrong with you people? For the record, I am a registered Democrat, but I would like see the Gooberman held accountable for his vitriole."

Killing almost 4,000 of our soldiers in Iraq? Yes. I hate Bush.

Reading storybooks while America was under attack? Yes. I hate Bush.

Plunging us into a $9 trillion debt while giving wealthy corporations tax breaks? Yes. I hate Bush.

Mikey, you need to give me one - just ONE reason not to hate this man. You can't. You're just a troll, and we'll never see you again.

Good riddance, "registered Democrat."

[dennis in West Chazy]

my bad. I said Cindy Crawford instead of Cindy Sheehan. You can understand why I got the last name twisted in my head.... I hope.

[Steve]

I feel I need to remind people that the 2000 election results (I know, we've moved on) were handled like a clown circus, with the Supreme Court making the decision; that Democrats were attentive when the new President talked about working together; that the Democrats went out of their way to support Mr. Bush after 9/11 (he sure didn't reach out to them), and that to this day, Democratic members of the Senate are getting bludgeoned-- for doing what? For giving Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iraq.

It's hardly a "Hate Bush; Hate the Republicans" Strategy.

One more point. It doesn't matter if there had been a HBHTR strategy, because the Republican Party had control of all three branches of government. Democrats weren't even allowed to ATTEND many of the committee meetings where decisions were made. (Granted, it was payback for all those years the Dems were in charge, but they took it to a whole new level.)

They've got nothing to complain about. If they don't like what's happened during this decade, they need to take a look in the mirror.

Republicans were very fond of the question, "are you better off than you were four (eight) years ago?" Maybe they still like it. They just don't like the answer.

[SacredIntent]

I am so HAPPY to hear the fear of speaking up and out against one of the most atrocious attacks on America executed from the inside on our Constitution, our liberties, and We, The People, finally being shed!

It never fails to amaze me that so many people still think that going to war in Afganistan and Iraq mattered because really, if you stop and think about it, what the hell do those countries have that REALLY matters? Nothing - absolutely nothing at all - not even the oil. The country actually WORTH something is US - we have the military, we have the resources, we HAD international support and "America" is capable of doing almost anything. If I was going to go to war for "a country", it sure wouldn't be for Afganistan!

What has happened to our country in the name of "terrorism" has been a campaign of terror led against US - it has targeted US as the suspects, US as the criminals, all those new laws implemented to protect US were presented under the guise of having to protect "us" from "us" (you just never know WHO your neighbor is or what they are doing, do ya?).

The descent of America into fasicm is something that should concern everyone as a "government by the corportations, for the corporations, and of the corporations" leave NO ROOM for US and what we want or need. This isn't "business" that promotes OUR prosperity, this is robbing America of our heritage, of the PEOPLE'S prosperity, which I hope most will agree, is not always measured by a bottom line of quaterly profits.

This man had the courage to speak out against the crimes being perpetuated on the American people by a traitor masquarading as the President who was brought to power by an illegal electional coo by using impeccable logic and GW's own words to make the case. He IS a LIAR and HIS OWN WORDS AND ACTIONS TESTIFY TO THIS!

Our duty is to support the POSITION the President of the United State embodies, not the personality of the individual who temporarily holds it. If that individual fails to fulfill THEIR duty to OUR Constitution, which they SWEAR TO UPHOLD, to our laws, to our country and most importantly, to WE THE PEOPLE, then throw the bum out and demand our President HONORABLY represent "the principles for which it stands".

That is why THIS exercise of FREEDOM OF SPEECH, which is being denied to us through these unrelenting fear tactics, is a breath of fresh air in sea of suffocation. Mr. Olbermann has acted as a true patriot! God Bless and keep it coming!!!

[james w tucson az]

It,s about time somebody spoke up for the american people.(those of us who can still think).Bush has vetoed every and anything that could help the average american.If it dose,nt benefit his elite base,he,s against it.Yet you still have dirt poor Americans taking up for him and making excuses for him.He could,nt care less for your poor ass.hate bush,whats the point?The whole world hates him,and he dose,nt give a fuck.He,s now in Africa where those poor people are glad to get attention from anybody,and don,t realize what he has done to his own country.This man dose,nt seem to lose much sleep over all the people he,s murdered,(and still murdering),and the lies he told to get us to this point.I think keith Olbermann is a patriot 5 times over what bush could ever be.I think KO speaks from his heart.I know a real patriot when I see one.Bless ko