Olbermann To Bush: "This War Is Not About You...Shut The Hell Up!"

Tonight, Keith Olbermann unleashed what may well have been his angriest, most blistering Special Comment yet, aimed squarely at his favorite target: President Bush. Olbermann was responding to Bush's claim that he had given up golf in honor of the Iraq war — and his assertion that a Democratic president withdrawing from Iraq would "eventually lead to another attack on the United States" — a statement Olbermann called "ludicrous, infuriating, holier-than-thou and most importantly bone-headedly wrong." Olbermann continued in that vein for a full 12 minutes (or 2,000 words), frequently raising his voice and spitting out his words in disgust.

Olbermann turned Bush's reference to "cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives" around and threw it back at him, saying that such killers were "those in -- or formerly in -- your employ, who may yet be charged some day with war crimes." It didn't get any milder — saying that, to Bush, "freedom is just a brand name," and pointing out that al Qaeda in Iraq was a result of the invasion: "Terrorism inside Iraq is your creation, Mr. Bush!" Olbermann also criticized Bush's statement that he was "told by people" that there were WMDs in Iraq: "People? What people?... Mr. Bush, you destroyed the evidence that contradicted the resolution you jammed down the Congress's throat, the way you jammed it down the nation's throat."

Olbermann saved his most vicious scorn for Bush's no-golf pledge. "Golf, sir? Golf sends the wrong signal to the grieving families of our men and women butchered in Iraq?...You, Mr. Bush, let their sons and daughters be killed. Sir, to show your solidarity with them you gave up golf?" He then went on to lambaste Bush for failing to keep to that pledge — ostensibly made in August 2003 — and showing photos of Bush playing golf in October 2003. "Mr. Bush, I hate to break it to you 6 1/2 years after you yoked this nation and your place in history to the wrong war, in the wrong place, against the wrong people," said Olbermann (using slightly odd math), "But the war in Iraq is not about you....It is not, Mr. Bush, about your grief when American after American comes home in a box." The directive to "Shut the hell up!" came soon after.

Watch the video below; the full transcript is available here.

Mr. President, the war isn't about you -- or golf [MSNBC]

Related:
Bush Warns of Iraq Disaster [Politico]

Comments

[DesertLight]

For such blatant abuse and negligence, it looks like impeachment is a slam dunk. Why not start it now?

[DesertLight]

Fast forward two years: I wonder what the Obama voters are going to think of Keith when he tears apart Obama, then his policies. Or, will he have enough courage to admit to any of Obama's mistakes?

[Barbarossa03]

I would prefer a Olberman to idiots like O'reilly, Hannity, or Coulter to criticize the inactions of the Obama candidacy. Every society needs a voice like Olberman to make apparent the errors (that are not being resolved) of the government.

[enoughalready13]

Regardless of whether you like Keith or not, he is the only one to be brave enough to call out the Bush administration for what it is ... fascist dictator freedom-squashing ingnorant criminals.

THANK YOU KEITH!

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Keith had the balls to say what the other chicken hearted, so called media talking heads won't. BRAVO!!!. This is what ALL of the media should be doing. They should be asking the hard questions, voice thier rights to free speech without fear of retribution. What angers me most about this, unless you have cable, most Americans won't see what he did. Network television won't air these kinds of news programs. God forbid if the propoganda would stop. I am sad to say, my own brother works for the worst of the propoganda machines, that is VOA. I hope when a dem gets in the propganda machine is put out of business and real journalism is allowed to take over. Its time the public is allowed to hear the facts about what Bush and Co have done to our own troops and fellow Americans. Its an utter disgrace that the networks cater to such bastards as this administration. Keith, Keep up the great work, and don't stop.

[orianna]

75,000 people in Portland Oregon to listen to Obama, share this same viewpoint... I'd read it before, but reading it again... how far down has our presidency fallen.... it wretches at my heart.... we are hurting, in pain, without trust and so much need leadership once more..... Thank you Oblerman, for the courage to look squarely at what has been happening in American politics... please be on the committee to arrest and indict the criminals in the white house...

[Deidroni]

Kudos once again to Keith Olbermann.

Too bad msnbc was too timid to air him during the run up to this tragic war.

[KSFARMBOY]

over the top

[cyberbian]

That could only have been better, if he had bush sitting in front of him when he said it. I would dearly love to see the look on Bush's face if he has to sit through that!

[LilyMaskew]

Most Democrats do not hate our soldiers; they respect and admire them. If you hated the telephone company, does that automatically mean you hate all the folks who work there? Some of them could be your friends and neighbors. Don't jump to conclusions about our soldiers; it does no one any good.

As to Keith Olbermann, he gives his opinions passionately, boldly, and courageously. How many of us would have the guts to do what he does? Oh, I say I would; but in reality my voice would be shaking and everyone would see that I was afraid; I'm honest enough to admit that. For what it's worth, I think he is exactly correct to give back some of the distain and disrespect that Bush and his administration gave to WE THE PEOPLE for the past seven years. He and his ilk deserve it, plus a whole lot more.

[Michaelvin]

It took Olbermann 12 minutes to read 2,000 words? He must have went to public school. I'm sure the person who actually wrote them could have read them much faster.

[unscum]

Way da go Keith, you are the best thing on television. You and my internet connection are the only reasons why I keep my Comcast account. I catch you every day after work (I stopped watching CNN). I know you got evil FOX beat, but I hope your ratings clobber the ratings Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer combined!

[stephenswain]

Never expected to hear this said publicly. It needed to be said. There couldn't be more than 1 person in a thousand who hasn't thought these very thoughts at some point. It just took Olbermann to finally peel the scales off our eyes.

Could not agree more. We have been had. If you don't think so, sit still and listen to Olbermann's indictment of this president and his chief co-conspirators. If you're still in denial, go out and buy yourself a malted. You're definitely in need of some brain food.

This is the slam-dunk that the previous Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader should have taken to the White House before, that is B-E-F-O-R-E they allowed this fraud to be foisted upon us. Let's see, the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ... US."

Somebody please take this clip over to Senator McCain's bus? Sit down, play it, and say:

"Sir, the world has changed. Olbermann has told us the Truth. The emperor's new clothes don't exist. You agreed that they looked good. But we both know he's really quite mad. If you persist in agreeing with him, the voters'll know that either you are also quite mad, or you are blind and deaf. Come clean while you can. Otherwise, you might as well hand over the Oval Office Washroom keys to Obama right now."

What's it gonna be?

[scarab23]

RIGHT F*CKING ON. And it is about time. How is it that only Keith is blasting the airwaves with these truths? Almost all the other talking heads are much too civil for a president who could give a sh*t.

[jazkiljok]

really, not fair- getting angry at George W. Bush-- he was sent to a second term by the wise folks of our great nation- many of those serving and dying in Iraq voted for him. an administration as obviously incompetent as this one- and to the detriment of their own good, they sent him back to create more havoc cause kerry was a dull elitist- i little too intellectual, and despite the obviousness of the verity of his service record and decoration for his wartime service- had a bunch of draft dodgers beat him-- so also direct your anger to the military which still supports the republican half-wit to democrats of any caliber.

it's like Paul Weller sang

"What you see is what you get
You've made your bed, you better lie in it
You choose your leaders and place your trust
As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
Youll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns

And the public wants what the public gets
But I dont get what this society wants-"

[SayLessDoMore]

If 50 million people voted for cancer, should the rest of us not still fight it?

The notion that "we" get what we deserve is flaccid reasoning. The fact that a proportion of the electorate are susceptible to skilled political manipulation does not change the reality that the son of one of America"s premier political families, with degrees from two Ivy-League universities and business opportunities beyond the dreams of most of us, after seven years as President of the United States, will forever be one of the most substantively incompetent Americans ever to stain that office.

[scootmandubious]

Has anyone noticed that, when the right-wing attacks Keith Olbermann, they never factually dispute any of his charges. They just call him a whiner and ranter.

How refreshing to have Mr. Olbermann speak for us. There are countless among us who would love to say "Shut the hell up" to Mr. Bush, but Olbermann does it, after reminding us of the truths that the vast majority of news commentators have deliberately chosen to surpress and bury.

The truth is there, but Olbermann is one of the rare few brave enough to put it out there for public consumption.

So, all you GOP plants trashing Olbermann, either back up your slams with facts that refute his or, a word of advice, shut the hell up yourselves.

[Redrover666]

You really ought to reread those "right-wing attacks".
Conservatives don't hate him. Conservatives think he's a goof and opportunist.

He isn't saying anything original and he's not being brave and he's not a Journalist.
He's just an entertainer. You've had lots of folks say this sort of thing for a long time.
Conservatives here aren't plants, they are visitors like you. You just damn well wish they'd go the hell away and stop interrupting the rapture by coming here and pointing out that he's just an, what for it now..................................

Entertainer.

[SayLessDoMore]

Goof and opportunist? You're referring to W. right?

Olbermann's show skewers NeoCon knuckleheads with intelligent satire, but don't let the format mislead you. Anybody with legitimate conservative bona fides has at least as much disdain for what Bush has done to our country as Keith Olbermann, whether or not they reflect his anger.

If you're a real "Conservative," take a look at Buchanan's magazine . . . The American Conservative. Even THEY couldn't bring themselves to endorse George II in 2004.

Face up to it. There's nothing particularly conservative about today's right-wingers.

[research]

Face up to it: BushCo is the fruit of the conservative agenda now revealed to be fascism.

[research]

KO, Stewart, Colbert, NOW, Air America.

That's it. That's all the "liberal" media.

They are all exceptionally brave given the fates of so many whistle blowers and outspoken liberal under conservative fascism.

Speak out and risk: losing your job, being framed and jail by GOP controlled DOJ, Being declared an enemy combatant and "disappeared", endless baseless smear campaigns.

Keith Oberman IS entertaining, but, more then that,

Keith is a true patriot.

[research]

Jailed Journalist: http://www.democracynow.org/2007/2/12/exclusive_imprisoned_journalist_josh_wolf_speaks

Don Sieglman framed by the GOP infiltrated DOJ.

The destruction of the careers of the generals, soldiers and government employees that have been destroyed for their anti Iraq views.

Google: damage to careers of dissenting generals

Then add in all the "little people" without the fame of means to defend themselves. They just quietly lose the promotions and the jobs.

Would you deny that this is a vindictive GOP administration?

[Redrover666]

That was truly inspiring.

Now would you mind listing all the left-wing pundits that have gone to prison, been framed, been declared an enemy combatant etc...

[bobseay]

Amen.

[Redrover666]

Good grief!

It was just a predictable, histrionic, anti-Bush rant from an entertainer who found a niche. He works on a network that has declared itself liberal and an unabashed supporter of Obama. News flash kids. He's going to give you guys another rant next week. So try to contain yourselves till then.

Now, I will concede, if he gets your liberal little hearts all aflutter and makes you feel giddy, I suppose that's a good thing . Sort of. But just to be safe... get some fresh air from time to time.

[Shayrae]

Redrover666...Don't tell me you voted for Bush. Keith is the only anchor willing to tell it like it is. I wonder if all those millions who voted for Bush are happy at the way things have turned out in Iraq. I didn't vote for him, but for the people ( dummies who did) you should feel as guilty as he is. I feel so bad for our service men and women who are so noble and dedicated. They are the true patriots here. I seethe with anger when I see this idiot tap dancing while parents, fathers, sons, daughters are getting visits from the military telling that their loved one has been injured or worse. I would hate to be GWB when devine judgement is meted out. My love and prayers to these brave men and women and to heck with our ''fearless leader''. I am thankful that his nightmare tenure is almost over.

[Redrover666]

It's besides the point here who I voted for.

I'm going to say something that will shock you now, so sit back in your chair.

O'Reilly and Olbermann are entertainers.

There. I said it!

Are you OK?

[BobEvansZombie]

*factual basis of Olbermann's special comments.

(We need an edit button)

[BobEvansZombie]

I notice that people never attack the factual basis of Olbermann's . They just whine about him ranting.

I wonder why that is.

[Redrover666]

Who's whining. He's just an entertainer, like O'Reilly, or Hannity, that's all.
Don't take it so seriously. He has found a market and sells well to it.

[Redrover666]

To Al and Mairs:

Well god bless you!

I know that Olbermann and the sponsors of his show really appreciate your dedication.

[al]

Olbermans articulated commentary has a great deal more substance than anything O'Reilly or Hannity could put forth.

[mairs]

He's telling the truth, that thing, remember from waaaay back? Before Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter? Reality? I remember it well. Haven't heard it in ages. Olbermann has simply stepped out of the Alice in Wonderland of our political landscape and told the truth, that anyone with any sense thinks about daily.

[BobEvansZombie]

If that's what you take away from it, then good for you.

[RoseMerry]

What a great American! What a wonderful Patriot!.

Barack Obama! We have your Vice President!

And is the 6 and a half years not an obivous reference to Sept. 11, 2001?

Me, I count the start of the MidEast War to January 17, 1991, 2:38 a.m. Baghdad time.

but the history can be sorted out later, right now the important thing to restore the Republic, then

IMPEACH (or arrest if the Decider is out of office)
CONVICT
and then EXECUTE the traitors for their mass murder. Megadeath cannot be forgiven.

[emmaspeaks]

Keith Says what i would like to say.

[RoseMerry]

...and with passion and fire and yet still mets FCC standards. I have such trouble restrainting myself, I could not do the job he did.

Every citizen near voting age and above needs to hear this and understand that every single word is the pure, awful truth.

[JaneW]

Well, let's hope that President Bush has to listen to this, preferably two or three times. Maybe something would sink in, but probably not. He is certainly leaving the next president the responsibility of cleaning up the results of his irrational policies.

[TAC]

"Well, let's hope that President Bush has to listen to this, preferably two or three times."

They would never let him hear it...