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Keith Olbermann special comment - Afghanistan

Posted: Dec 1, 2009

This is for those who like and understand Keith Olbermann. It's about our occupation and war against Afghanistan. There's very little, if anything, that I disagree with him about.

I hope those who do not care for Olbermann will at least listen to the comment and then give their opinions so we can have a real debate on this thread and not just drive-by one-liners like "I hate Olbermann" or "I hate MSNBC" or other comments along those lines. This is an OPINION piece by Keith Olbermann, and I hope we can share our own opinions once we have listened to his special comment.

Thanks in advance, and here's hoping for a smart debate.

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/countdown-special-comment-declare-vic

;

The so-articulate Mr. Olbermann! - wordlady

[ In Reply To ..]
I absolutely adore this man... I am reading now of course after last nite and before Obama's speech tonite. Tonite is the first time I did not listen to Obama, because I also think pretty highly of him as well. I am a big news junkie and sometimes could just scream with all the politics of it all, all the corruption and greed. I feel SO badly for these young men and women that are serving in Iraq and now Afghanistan. We are just playing into their hands of the Jihad (spelling). I fear things will continue to get worse wth terrorism, our economy, and really think the end is coming just like Revelations says. Now, mind you I am not a big Bible thumber but I remember reading about all of the things that are happening today exactly as it says in Revelations.

Do you Keith Olbermann writes his own stuff? I like that he is not afraid to say it like it is. Rachel Maddow as well, though I like Keith better because he was the first to be so outspoken and seems to hit the nail on the head. Wish he were the Secretary of Defense. It was so nice to see you pitch this and this is what I am always looking for, is a debate about the issues, not just fluff. I may come back later and hope some others respond to this as well. I will have to at some point tonite listen to obama and then listen to Keith after his brillant centerpiece last night!

God Bless you, Wordlady; alas, you will not find - emanon

[ In Reply To ..]
many admirers of Mr. Olbermann on this board. Indeed, I am shocked you have not gotten a load of negativity in response to your post, for MSNBC and anyone associated with it are considered the devil on this forum.

I, however, do very much agree with you. I could only hope that Pres. Obama might tune in to Keith sometimes, especially during his special commentaries. My admiration for KO grew greatly after he spearheaded -- and donated a substantial amount of money personally -- setting up the free health clinics across the country.

I share your fears as well about the state of the world. I did not get to hear all of Obama's speech because I was working, but I don't agree with sending yet more troops into what seems like a hopeless situation in a region that has had such volatile political and religious conflict for thousands of years. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution and I fear Obama's decision is one based on pressure from certain "opinions" about how to handle this situation. God bless him -- he has the hardest job on the planet and has had to endure the most atrocious criticism while trying to figure it all out. I have faith in him and, while I may not agree with everything he does, I will continue to support him and give him the benefit of the doubt.
Rationale says we expect way too much from one man trying to fix such a mess in less than one year!

Wonderful post! I agree 100% with everything you wrote. (nm) - Nikki

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:-)

Speech - Vikefan

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The president is much like an NFL quarterback - they get too much blame when they lose and too much credit when they win.

The president gets the same - too much blame when things are going bad and too much credit when they're going good.

I honestly do not like Obama's policies and all of his spending but I have a substantially lower opinion of Congress and the Senate than I do of Obama. They're drunk on power with a blank check book and a seemingly endless amount of power and corruption. Do ya honestly think they're more concerned with your health or is it with gaining control 1/6 of the budget?

I've been anti-Obama since day one (I do respect him, just not some of his policies), but the slams about last night's speech (I only saw part of it) from the left *and* right kill me. He tried to please everyone, send troops, set deadline, etc. Now everyone is unhappy about something. It makes me roll my eyes. Grow the heck up. Maybe before we worry about anything like the budget or health care, we ought to get the corruption and spoiled rotten little crybabies out. I think what we may be starting to see is the libs distancing themself from the president in case the health care plan passes so they can come out of it smelling like roses and leave him in the dust. They're more into self preservation as far as their jobs than they are standing by a man who could get them voted out. Eh, where's Jimmy Traficant when you need him? At least he was entertaining to watch on CSPAN and lived in the area I grew up. Actually, since he was released from jail, he's back and funny as ever.

Excellent post Vikefan, hit that one on the nose..(nm) - DBnine

[ In Reply To ..]
:)

Thank you - Vikefan

[ In Reply To ..]
I try to call them as I see them. I'm all for fairness and nobody was fair to him regarding last night's speech. Now both sides are crying foul. Yes, I am a conservative thanks to Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan but that doesn't mean I like libs being treated unfairly.

I got slammed for sticking up for the Packers' organization (Huge MN Vikings rival) because I thought they did a great job handling the Favre situation in 2008. He told them he was officially retired and never showed up for camp. Then, he calls right before preseason telling them he wants to play??? Hello? He'd been pulling that retirement stunt since 2003. They let him come to camp the same day he called and promptly traded him not only out of the division but out of the conference. Packers fans cried foul. What was the Packer GM supposed to do? Go thru training camp every year without knowing if the guy you're developing is even going to play?? "Sure, Aaron, you've been named starter again but you see, beloved Brett is back so you'll have to take a back seat. Again.

And I'm also a huge fan of FOX News and watch it a lot but if I feel they have given misinformation, they will hear about it. For me, it's about loyalty and honesty.

to you - browser

[ In Reply To ..]
It is nice to see a conservative separate their dislike of policies with that of the person. Fist bump for you. I just dont get why you would want to get rid of a bunch of guys you suspect are corrupt and replace them with a man who was convicted of corruption! Its the toupee.

As far as getting rid of the corruption, it is too firmly entrenched. I think Obama would like to change that, but he hasnt a chance with being one against the rest.

Traficant - vikefan

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh, I don't want Jimmmy T. back in office, just on the local news. He has always been very entertaining - a dry sense of humor. He'd been busted for corruption/racketeering in Youngstown long before he was elected to congress. Amazing.

Great analogy, Vikefan . . . . - emanon

[ In Reply To ..]
You can only be as good as the support you get from your teammates. I say we get rid of all the advertisers (the lobbyists and special interest groups), as well as all those weak "teammates", and concentrate on getting back to what the "game" is supposed to be about in the first place: Representing the "fans" (that would be us, The People).

Bingo! - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Great discussion... see what you started Nikki. Hey Vikesfan!! - lindawordlady

[ In Reply To ..]
Remember me... you and I have e-mailed back and forth a couple times about the Vikes... my home town doncha' know.. haha. I like that we can talk in a civilized manner yet respect each other's opinion.

As far as FOX news and the conservatives... That is ONE station I never watch. Can't stand O'Reilly, Beck and Limbaugh. Yes, I am a liberal, but more of a centrist I guess in the scheme of things. In the overall scheme of things, whether it be football or politics it's all about greed and "what can I get out of it." It's too bad these rich owners (Wilf) are all crying for a new stadium or moving my vikes away from Minnesota, while they all fatten their backs. They don't care about the average Joe blue... Hey, who can even afford to go to a viking game. My God, the parking alone is $25. That is outrageous isn't it. They want public money while our housing and education keeps falling by teh wayside, while people are losing their jobs and lining up either soup lines or homeless shelters. This IS America... my Gawd, we can do better!!

Great discussion, thanks to you and the others. (sm) - Nikki

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm glad I had a part in this thread, but it was really you and the others who kept it civil, and that's a great thing to see on this board. I've often suspected we might have more in common with each other, instead of our differences defining us.

You had wondered if Keith Olbermann writes his own stuff. I believe he does. I remember hearing of him hearing of something on the news that upset him, and he began to write his first "Special Comment" on a train. I believe he's been writing them ever since. Given his persona, I doubt that he would ever let someone else's words escape from his lips. (I've noticed that he doesn't even have the "Worst Person in the World" segment on if there is a guest host instead of himself.)

It's really nice to see your posts, and I hope you keep posting. You're downright delightful!! :-)

Ben Affleck doing Keith Olbermann on Saturday Nite Live - lindawordlady

[ In Reply To ..]
Hey Nikki... did you see that bit when Ben Affleck did him on Saturday Nite Live? He really had him down pat. I remember it so well because I was in the hospital last year recovering from my car accident and when it came on I swear to God... that is the first time I had gained some respect for Affleck. I used to think he was just another glamour boy who really had "nothing" but that guy rocked that nite. The bit was quite long and he just rocked it. It was repeated once and I saw it again. I was just howling on the floor with laughter the more he got into it. Yes, it was a good nite. See, guess it doesn't take much to make me happy especially after the year I have just had. Cheers!

Ben Affleck - Nikki

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, I did see that on Saturday Night Live, and I completely agree with you!! He did a great job impersonating Keith Olbermann, right down to the camera swings Keith does. You know, he kind of moves his entire body from one side to the other when speaking for a new camera. (I've often wondered if those camera shifts were equivalent to a "new paragraph" in his special comments. (Gosh, I hope you understood what I just wrote; I'm kind of here shaking my head at myself!)

I'm very sorry you had a bad year and hope that next year is 100% better for you and that all your injuries heal completely.

Well said Emanon! FOX is the devil, NOT MSNBC - lindawordlady

[ In Reply To ..]
You know it reminds of two people looking at a piece of art and how both would interpret it differently, OR like siblings that grew up in a dysfunctional family and they see things that the other does not. Some are in denial and oblivous and some are in reality and straightfoward talking, feeling, thinking. I think that's how the 2 major political parties are in our country. The sad thing is, that this government "for the people, by the people and of the people" doesn't seem to even us, "the people." It goes back thousands of years where greed is the almight God.. it is in sports, politics, and for our own humanity. Where is the compassion? The only compassion I see for the most part comes from those people that have nothing, but yet give to their fellow man. I just think that is what is wrong with our country. It's like one alcoholic helping another; they can help because they have been there, they have walked in those shoes. The rich and powerful have no concept of what our reality is. I think Obama is/was our only help. Somehow, he seemed to rise up out of all this nonsense and have true empathy. I think he is truly a decent, caring, articulate man who is obviously is an intellect, and that is why I voted for him and so many others did, because we truly wanted change like he promised. We are sick of the corruption and lobbyists running our country. I fear though, that he is just one man and he is practically fighting a losing battle isn't he?

God bless him though and people like Keith Olbermann who are least trying and not afraid to stand up for their beliefs. Well, I could go on and on, but I must now retreat to the tale of woe about Tiger Woods! Hate to admit that I listen to that trash but I do... gotta have something for entertainment!!

Thank you - it's nice to have another like-minded . . . . - emanon

[ In Reply To ..]
voice on here. I think about all the conservative "buzz" words that have somehow become "dirty" words -- like if you're intelligent, then you must be an elitist, and if you're compassionate, you must be a socialist. I don't get it. We're all here trying to accomplish the same things and live our lives right, and trying to maintain as much sanity as possible at the same time.

As for Tiger, oh, well, he's only human and, as a human, deserves some sort of forgiveness for being just another human -- flawed and imperfect. We put them on those pedestals, and then we are shocked when they fall off!

Tried to watch Olbermannnnn,,, but he is - DERANGED.. So, dream on.nm

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x

Nah! You just don't understand the big words. - NM

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This was an intelligent conversation until now.

Actually they both are - anon

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Neither one is better or worse than the other. They both give you what you want to hear. I can't stand either and have gone back to catching news on CNN and my local station. Why anyone things one or the other is giving you the truth. They are basically both run by the same people. They feed you what you want to hear.

Trust no one.

Very true Anon... they do feed us don't they? - lindawordlady

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it's all propaganda no matter how you look at it. It keeps them having a job and keeps the rest of the country at odds with each other. Never-ending...

With regards to Revelations, I think what we are - Colleen

[ In Reply To ..]
seeing is more self-fulfilling (sp) prophesy than anything. But I too am a big fan of Keith Olbermann. No mistaking what he thinks, no political doublep-speak there!

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