Olbermann Special Comment: Obama's Second Chance On FISA

In a "Special Comment" on Countdown WIth Keith Olbermann tonight, the MSNBC host told his audience that Barack Obama has been presented with a second chance to make a first impression in an upcoming vote on the FISA bill:

And he damned well better take it. The Senate vote on this tortured and reckless piece of legislation has now been postponed until after the 4th of July break. The Democrats, completing their FISA experience, a collective impression of Homer Simpson falling off a cliff and hitting every bramble on the way down, didn't exactly plan this fortuitous delay.

Watch the entire Special Comment below:

Comments

[Marshall Lucky]

Bush is still going to pardon all his flunkies, as well as his own sorry self.

[jeg]

No one's been charged. No one's been prosecuted. He can't pardon anyone yet. He can try to pardon everyone, but that's going to be a tough act.

[dsbsh]

Unfortunately, the executive power to pardon is not limited to actual charges. Presidents can, and have, pardoned people before any charges have been filed. I'm not sure if a president can pardon himself though; it's never been tried.

[JimWalsh]

Olberman did a great job! In addition, he showed independence by calling Obama on the carpet for his flip-flop. I understood why Obama did the flip-flop, which Keith covered, McCain would say you are soft on terrorism.

I did not care about the public financing flip-flop because it was a politically smart move that did not make any difference to voters. The FISA is different. I remember his statement in the 2004 speech about not liking federal agents poking around in our libraries.

It will be interesting to see what Obama does.

[mikekev58]

Does this make up for the embarrassing dissembling with Jonathan Alter last week?

[smoo]

You are using the word flipflop rather loosly. Clearly you were not paying attentition to what KO was doing. He was sending a message to the naive progressives that there is more to the story. Political strategy has got to be honored. You can't just bulldoze change. You will end up like Karl Rove and envangelicals.

a). Flip-Floping happens when you take the otherside of the issue.
b). Progressing the issue is when you make a concession on your position (FISA).
c). Finally, one abandons a position once issue has been won (public financing)

Obama has yet to Flip Flop. He's principle never changed. In chess is called positioning. Sometimes you make a move that appears to sacrafice the game, when in reality it frees up a a line of attack.

[Titonwan]

Flip flop, concession, and abandon are all flowery ways of saying lying. Get with the program junior.

[IndependentMeans]

WOW, KO, you were outstanding. Best commentary ever. I hope Senator Obama takes your advice, because these last two weeks he has been horribly off message and direction. Thank you KO !!!

[presto]

If Obama has to stoop to taking Keith Olbermann's advice, he is in over his head.

[peterdangit]

I'm with you, he needs a little shakin'

[realtalk]

McCAIN'S FLIP-FLOP LIST:

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell, Parsley, and Hagee as "agents of intolerance" but later courted them to join his campaign, evn spoke at Falwell's college.

* McCain broke his own campaign finance reform rules, and committed a crime, in this election by opting INTO campaign finance, then borrowing millions from the bank against the campaign money, then decided to OPT OUT of campaign financing, breaking the law.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he"s pro-ethanol.

* And then he was for Roe v, Wade, NOW he is against it.

* John McCain was for the windfall tax on the oil companies, now he is against it.

* John McCain was against off-shore drilling, now he is for it.

* John McCain said he was for the DREAM act, NOW he was against the DREAM ACT.

* John McCain said that he was for Immigration Reform, but when Republicans showed anger at his decision, John McCain changed and decided to be against it, NOW John McCain is both for, and against it depending on who he is talking to.

* John McCain still lying about the possibilty of the gas tax holiday, even though we are 5 day into summer already.

* John McCain was against the Bush tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, BUT, NOW John McCain is for the tax cuts!

* John McCain says he's against diplomatic talks with Iran, yet in 2005, he voted to allow for Haliburton to do business with Iran


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLfsG8XKWfw

[goodtomeetyou]

Keep it real - talk!

[barackingthevote247]

that list was good... and so true

[peterg76]

Is that all of them, or just today?

[Mike4Obama]

Check out this link if you want a working copy that gets added onto continuously. Enjoy.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15924.html

[NYC07]

Or the last half hour ?

[Marshall Lucky]

About time Olbermann came to his senses.

[useyourbrain]

It doesn't matter anymore. Unless Obama joins the filibuster nothing will change. There are only 15 votes to remove the immunity portion. BO can say all he wants about removing it committee but it won't happen. On this, the SCOTUS decisions, campaign financing flip and throwing Wesley Clark (the best choice for VP) under the bus -- Obama has shown his true colors -- hypocrisy, ambition and politician.

[smoo]

Useyourbrain how about you try using it.

You have bought into the "empty suite" argument and you do not even know it. You presume that the Senator is unaware of what's going on. The finance thing is over with now, if he would have let the republicans pull him it to that dialogue we would still be talking about today. Obama clearly seen where this was going and he made a decision from the top. Many people complained and the Republicans kicked it around for a minute. Now that its over, we find out RNC has stashed tons of money. Obama knew and said "yeah... right"

As for Clark, a good but not the "best" VP choice, again Clarks comments had its sting. Obama's team let it go own long enough to have its impact. But everyone knows you can't insult the heroism of shot down pilot, who becomes an prisoner of war and later a Senator. You can question his judgment but not insult his heroism. That will not fly. As probably orchestrated, Clark did just enough and even Clark knows this.

So, useyourbrain, take your own medicine and try using your brain.

[Ignorancedestroys]

How about you first.

Please get a life.

[Querent]

Wow, look everybody. Ignorancedestroys has a new idea. He's going to illustrate the meaning of his screen name with his own behavior.

[chronic]

He never lost his senses so what are you talking about?

[presto]

Seriously?

[mikekev58]

Last week he and Jonathan Alter were spinning like spiders after the filibuster got busted.

It truly was embarrassing.

[realtalk]

"John McCain is a campaign finance criminal who is flouting the very regulations he championed­."

Sign the McCain FEC complaint. at the website below:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/03/john-mccain-is-campaign-finance.html

John McCain is a "campaign finance criminal." The Washington Post even reported on the potential for criminal behavior by McCain:

Knowingly violating the spending limit is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE that could put McCain at risk of stiff fines and up to five years in prison.
Now, based on McCain's latest campaign finance report in March, John McCain violated the spending limit. John McCain has spent $58.4 million on his Republican primary effort. Those who have committed to public financing CANNOT SPEND MORE THAN $54 million on their primary bid.

So, it's time to take it to the next level. Jane delivered a complaint about McCain's criminality to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) -- and gives the background:

If the press is NOT going to ask the necessary questions, then we have to do it ourselves.

Too hold John McCain accountable -- sign your name to the complaint at the website address I provided ABOVE. AT THAT LINK: you'll find a copy of the FEC filing and a list of signatories thus far.

Sign the compliant and get the word out . McCain needs to be held accountable for violations of the law especially the one that has his own name on it.


http://www.americablog.com/2008/03/john-mccain-is-campaign-finance.html

[WFV]

I am still waiting to hear what the candidate has to say about this. As I understand it, they revisit this July 8th, correct? When he explains his thinking, then I will weigh in on this issue.

[rextrek]

Hope OBAMA heard this and takes Heed. OBAMA 08

[phipho]

Olbermann is such a stupendously pompous ass. I wish Obama would stiff him just to see Olbermann blow a fuse again. He is hilarious when those little veins in his forehead start throbbing.

[mikekev58]

And Obama WILL stiff Keith, you can take that to the bank.

[Titonwan]

Obama seems to be getting in the habit of stiffing people. Hope that changes. If not, we'll see who gets stiffed.

[amiblueyoubet]

Just listened to Olbermans comment. Keep it up Keith, you're right as rain.

[adam56]

I don't know what the point of this Comment was. I think it was actually to all the lefty bloggers saying CHILL-OUT, Obama may actually know what he's doing. I've thought that all along. I knew there was no criminal immunity, I'm sure Obama did too.

[mikekev58]

And you don't think that Bush knows there's no criminal immunity..­.and you don't think that Bush doesn't have the balls to pardon the telecoms?

[adam56]

If Bush could pardon the telecoms (he cannot pardon future verdicts under another administration) he would imply that he is guilty as well. The telecoms could not have broken the law unless Bush broke the law too.

But if you think there will be an investigation, a trial and a verdict before he leaves office, you're mistaken.

[BigLib]

Odormann better practice his yoga stretches as he'll have to bend himself like a pretzel to justify Barry's latest flip flops:

bringing the troops home

NAFTA

gun control

death penalty

FISA

[olivia]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz troll zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz same old thing in every single post

[Titonwan]

Same pertinent observations in every single post. Go back to sleep. You need it.

[Mike4Obama]

BigLIb, do me a favor. Put on your favorite pair of flip flops, drag yourself out of your cave, put your beer down, and head over to your local IHOP. Get the McFlipfloppy special. 5 flip floppy flap jacks and two eggs flipped over easy.

Here print out this reading material on this site to keep you busy all day. You can thank me later.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15924.html

[mikekev58]

so where's your response to the examples he gives?

I mean what you wrote was amusing, but non-responsive.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Who would you voting for Mr. Big Lib?

[Alexandro]

i think he's spot on with his comment! It would be a smart move by Obama to once again "LISTEN"!!!!!