Comments on: Was That a Backpedal?

By: redtoots

redtoots — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:54:17 +0000

Keith has posted a Daily Kos diary about this:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/26/222646/124/440/542648

By: Chicating

Chicating — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:48:28 +0000

Not belaboring yesterday’s comments, but, Mr. Olbermann, we are counting on you to be strong.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:38:10 +0000

I have to say, I don’t… really care? I mean, anyone who pays attention to politics knows that Obama flipflopped. Anyone who watches Keith’s show knows he’s pushing for the Democrats. 1 + 2 = Keith’s not going to call out Obama for this.

That’s cable news. Is Keith loads better than anyone else? Absolutely. But he’s not going to always be our liberal crusader and I don’t expect him to. I mean, remember Kucinich being cut out of MSNBC’s debate? Not a peep out of anyone even though KO had railed against FOX for doing the same thing.

So… it’s wrong. But other people are doing worse. And since I know better than to get my news just from Keith, it’s no biggie. He’s done it before, he’ll do it again, and c’est la vie.

That’s why I listen to Rachel, read Newsweek/Time/NYT, and get news from the IAVA. :shrugs:

That’s my two cents.

By: rafismom

rafismom — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:12:22 +0000

Absolutely. Well and thoughtfully written, Becky, and SIG, great comment: “You can’t speak truth to power when you forget to bring the truth.”

What I found most bizarre a day or so earlier was Keith speculating that Obama might be taking this stand because he also might be considering going after the Telecoms criminally once he is Prez.

That some phone companies, including mine (A rare opportunity to praise Qwest), knew that this was illegal and refused to do it shows that they all should have known.

It is not as if there was not an immediate remedy under the FISA law in terms of emergency action.

I cannot help but wonder what the current administration has shared with so many congressional leaders to cause them to cave like this as I find it impossible to believe that they have enough embarrassing stuff on so many of them as to force the issue through blackmail.

I note that Jon Stewart has had no problem going after Obama.

By: Sig

Sig — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:47:29 +0000

I understand the political necessity the Obama camp may see in forging a compromise. I don’t agree with it — don’t think it’s right, nor necessary, when you’ve got the numbers on your side (but God knows that hasn’t stopped Pelosi and Reid from snatching surrender from the jaws of victory at almost every opportunity) — but I can understand how they might perceive it. But this doesn’t let KO off the hook. Barring further explanation (and if he’s willing to clarify or even revise his stance, I’m willing to listen), this is far too contrary to his previous stance (and Special Comment), tastes too much like pandering to the would-be president. I cannot reconcile this disconnect. It’s inconsistent, and it’s wrong, and at the moment I’m having trouble figuring out which is worse.

From both him and Alter, I expected a great deal better. You can’t speak truth to power when you forget to bring the truth.

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:07:28 +0000

I’ve taken Keith to task in the past, but yes. This was the most difficult. Always before it was because I was a little pissed off. This is far worse. This is disappointment.

By: Sig

Sig — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:33:46 +0000

Becky, that couldn’t have been easy to write.

Unfortunately, you’re exactly right.