Rachel Maddow Finishes Blagojevich's Poem (VIDEO)

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HuffPost   |  Dan Duray
First Posted: 12-19-08 09:15 PM   |   Updated: 01-19-09 05:12 AM

I Like ItI Don’t Like It



As if declaring his innocence when America knows that Patrick Fitzgerald has tapes of him sounding like Tony Soprano weren't bizarre enough, Rod Blagojevich decided to make his press conference even more uncomfortable today by reading a portion of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If." Rachel Maddow pointed out that Blagojevich showed diplomacy when to choosing how much of the poem he would read. Video can be found below, along with the full text of the poem.


WATCH:

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:


If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:


If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"


If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!


--Rudyard Kipling

As if declaring his innocence when America knows that Patrick Fitzgerald has tapes of him sounding like Tony Soprano weren't bizarre enough, Rod Blagojevich decided to make his press conference even ...
As if declaring his innocence when America knows that Patrick Fitzgerald has tapes of him sounding like Tony Soprano weren't bizarre enough, Rod Blagojevich decided to make his press conference even ...
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- larry278 I'm a Fan of larry278 49 fans permalink

Rachel has shown the danger of using poetry. Be careful if you use Ozymand... about W. Poetry has a wicked back draft.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:46 AM on 12/20/2008
- DEEMA I'm a Fan of DEEMA 6 fans permalink

I love you Rachel, but please stop talking about Rick Warren, we get the point.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:32 AM on 12/20/2008
- kimleehan I'm a Fan of kimleehan 31 fans permalink

Yea Rachel don't look to good, nor talk to wise. I heard that somewere.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:59 AM on 12/20/2008
- xargaw I'm a Fan of xargaw 31 fans permalink

People like Rick Warren need to have the spotlight on them. Warren is more dangerous than Dobson, Perkins, Robertson, Parsley, et al because he slinks behind this folksy charm of "who me, I just want to get along" but then he preaches discrimination and intolerance. If you are gay, you cannot belong to his church. You are ostracized. You wear the scarlet letter. Adulters, felons, etc are forgiven, but heaven help you if you are gay or pro-choice. Obama campaigned on inclusiveness and is now welcoming intolerance. He was a member of the United Church of Christ which is an "open and affirming" denomination meaning people of all orientations are welcome. This is a 180 for Obama and as much as I support him as President, he needs to be called on this. I am an old straight person that finds this invitation on this significant day offensive. RIck Warren has been very successful in California by taking a southern fundamentist belief system and packaging it in a media savy way that deludes a bunch of intellectually and theologically lazy Californians. Many of these people flock to Saddleback for the same reasons they visit Starbucks, the "in" health club, or the "best" shopping centers.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:04 PM on 12/20/2008
- thisisntme I'm a Fan of thisisntme 2 fans permalink
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I disagree with you on the notion that inviting Warren is offensive. Warren may not be the popular pick, but I don't in any way think Obama is slighting gays. Obama has always said he would be inclusive, so he is being consistent. Also, in Alabama, gays aren't even allowed to adopt children, I believe that is more of a cause for outrage than who Obama wants to pray at his inauguration.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:37 PM on 12/20/2008

When can we ever get viewpoints changed if we never confront them? By Obama choosing Rick Warren it has allowed the opportunity for supporters of gay marriage to publicly advocate for their cause. We didn't go through the civil rights movement without confronting the KKK and the establishment. We didn't get through the women's suffrage without confronting those that opposed it. We didn't get through obolishing slavery without confronting it literaly head on. I think his choice of Warren along with his choice of Lowery is to force us to discuss this. The more we discuss same sex marriage and gay rights, the more those that oppose it have an opportunity to hear our view. Eventually, they will listen but they can't listen if we don't speak.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:55 PM on 12/20/2008
- IamPhenom I'm a Fan of IamPhenom 27 fans permalink

Exactly. I'm so sick of the hysterical reactions to Rick Warren. The guy is one of the more moderate evangelical leaders (anti-war, believes in global warming, AIDS charities, etc.), and was chosen to do a very brief invocation. He wasn't placed in any position to choose policy. To say you shouldn't "give him a platform" also makes no sense because he's not going to say a thing about gay people or abortion during the invocation. He is NOT being given a platform to spread the views the gay community objects to.

I am 100% for gay people's rights, but their hysteria over Warren doing an invocation is hurting their cause in my opinion. It IS a form of "agree with us or be shunned". In other words, they are doing exactly what they accuse Warren of doing; shunning people who don't agree with every one of their positions. That is a slippery sloap. I mean, maybe we should complain about Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid being involved since he is anti-abortion. Doesn't that mean Obama is "endorsing" his views and giving Harry a platform to spread his anti-choice views? How about some of the old civil rights leaders invited? What if one of them doesn't support gay marriage, should that disqualify all the good they have done? Should they be shunned and not allowed on the stage for their opinion about gay marriage? Does their opinion on one issue (gay marriage) shape who they are?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:27 PM on 12/20/2008

Well put. Thanks............

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:35 PM on 12/20/2008
- kevinmcd I'm a Fan of kevinmcd 2 fans permalink

You don't get it. It's not just opposition to gay marraige, The guy says being gay is like pedophilia or bestiality. Big difference. Obama did not just ask Warren to have a dialogue. Warren was chosen to play a key role in the event. Obama had a choice about who to perform at HIS inaguration. He chose someone who CONDEMNS the very essense of Millions of his greatest supporters. I, for one. flew from California to NH last January to assist the campaign. So I was and am still trying to be a huge supporter. Warren's role in the inauguration means that the day I have waited for for decades will not be the same. It's hard for many people to understand it because who they are, not just whom they marry, has not been condemned over and over again throughout their lives. And just when we finally get a president who actually uses the word "gay" in his CAMPAIGN speeches and reaches out to them making them feel a part of the country, they get this. Again, dialogue was what he campaigned on, but not placing them in a position that suggests condoning their condemnation of millions of people. Just imagine if he had as a focal speaker someone who compared blacks or Jews to those who engage in bestiality or sex with children.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:37 PM on 12/20/2008

At first I was bored with all the protests about Rick Warren. I'm an athiest, could care less about who reads a prayer, official function or not. I'm not gay so I didn't get it until Rachel disclosed that Warren's Saddleback Church states on their web site that they don't accept unrepentent homosexuals into their church. To an athiest, that is typical Christian self rightous bigotry.

I know a person can't help the prejudices they were taught while growing up - I'm sure roasted insects are nutritous and maybe even tastey, but I'm going to eat one- but it's important to remember that it is a prejudice not founded in fact. Jesus excluded no one. According to the stories, he would leave the whole flock, to find the lost lamb. He didn't then give the lost lamb a list of rules to follow before it could rejoin the flock. I don't think Warren is kind of person to honor before the world.

Go get 'em Rachel.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:30 PM on 12/20/2008
- TrueThis I'm a Fan of TrueThis 33 fans permalink

No you don't! Rachel sit down and shut up when it comes to Rick Warren. We get it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:52 PM on 12/20/2008

Whether they allow gays in their churches or not is their right - religion is protected under the constitution. But what the churches are trying to do is impose their beliefs on the rest of the population, and THAT is unconstitutional. If they are bigots, everyone who doesn't like it can simply boycott their churches. But they should not be allowed to make their bigotry into law, by refusing civil rights to a segment of the population that obviously does not believe as they do. The rest of the population does not have the right to tell them who they have to have as members of their churches, either, they can exclude gays, divorcees, people of color, science fiction fans, whatever - it is a religion and therefore the state cannot make a rule establishing or disestablishing it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:15 PM on 12/20/2008
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Rick Warren awarded George Bush his Peace Prize and Obama invited Warren to give the Invocation at his Inauguration. There's a disconnect there somewhere....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:41 PM on 12/20/2008
- kimleehan I'm a Fan of kimleehan 31 fans permalink

I like Churchill's " A politician needs the ability to foretell whats going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year, and to have the ability afterwards to explain why it did'nt happen.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:22 AM on 12/20/2008
- Invox I'm a Fan of Invox 10 fans permalink
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I've had this poem on a wall somewhere in my home(s) for over 40 years so it's etched in my memory. I was wondering when someone in the media was going to enter the next line for Blago. Thanks, Rachel!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:00 AM on 12/20/2008

That Rachel guy is great. I never miss his show.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:30 AM on 12/20/2008
- ohioan73 I'm a Fan of ohioan73 24 fans permalink

Yeah. I'm sure the fact that she's not dressing to get the sexual attention of men is getting under your skin. That's what Palin was for. All women do not have to exploit themselves by appearing to be what horny men think is 'feminine'.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:27 AM on 12/20/2008
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Besides, Rachel has a brain and knows how to use it...unlike the future inlaw to the Wasilla Meth Queen.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:32 AM on 12/20/2008
- kimleehan I'm a Fan of kimleehan 31 fans permalink

Talking about dressing, she's not the best dressed newsperson. I swear I've seen her inthe same outfit at least a hundred times, I mean there clean and neat but she needs to get some more outfits so she won't have to wear the same outfits all the time.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:26 PM on 12/20/2008
- isisdawnra I'm a Fan of isisdawnra 3 fans permalink

gay a phobic I'd say

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:38 PM on 12/20/2008
- isisdawnra I'm a Fan of isisdawnra 3 fans permalink

phobic I'd say

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:39 PM on 12/20/2008
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A trannie Talking Head? I love it!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:44 PM on 12/20/2008
- missjabez I'm a Fan of missjabez 18 fans permalink
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Is Rachel not the cutest thing? I have a girl crush on her.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:10 AM on 12/20/2008

I am crazy about her also...

love her..

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:09 PM on 12/20/2008
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That ices it. She IS a trannie....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:45 PM on 12/20/2008

Love Rachel.

Terrific post on Obama's appointments and selections--including the Rick Warren invocation--in the LT, the new 24/7 Obama News Site (so cool!):

He Means It:

http://www.lipmantimes.com/?p=1146

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:00 AM on 12/20/2008
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I personally prefer The Rime of The Ancient Mariner by Coleridge.

Is it just me or is Rachel completely delicious?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:29 AM on 12/20/2008
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I personally prefer The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

No, it's not just you and yes, she is.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:33 AM on 12/20/2008
- quasar I'm a Fan of quasar 4 fans permalink

"If" you had understood Kipling's poem you wouldn't feel the need to bother the rest of us with your "preference" for pedantry.

The blog is for Blago. Not you.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:38 AM on 12/20/2008
- johnnynyc I'm a Fan of johnnynyc 34 fans permalink

I told you the posts on this site are actually ghost written by the help desk in India:

"Rachel Maddow pointed out on her show that that had Blagojevich showed diplomacy when to choosing how much of the poem he would read."

Yeah, OK.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:25 AM on 12/20/2008
- mi I'm a Fan of mi 13 fans permalink

spot on Rachel!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:13 AM on 12/20/2008
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she tells it so well
good job

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:20 AM on 12/20/2008
- shastaman I'm a Fan of shastaman 4 fans permalink

Rachel I SUBMIT to your every whim! I for one think you should be the new press sec! you're so smart quick and effective. Please reconsider your genetic disposition and marry me! sexy thang!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:17 AM on 12/20/2008
- Softnsweet I'm a Fan of Softnsweet 9 fans permalink
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Rachel, give me a break. You guys at MSNBC are so upset over Obama and Rick Warren, give it a rest.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:51 PM on 12/19/2008
- editorjuno I'm a Fan of editorjuno 30 fans permalink
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Non sequitur.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:36 AM on 12/20/2008
- TrueThis I'm a Fan of TrueThis 33 fans permalink

You're so right Softnsweet. She's making a big thing out of nothing. This one Democratic she can't speak for. Of lately she has been too..... cocky, over the top and very condensending. Rating are going down.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:40 AM on 12/20/2008
- Jahmekyah I'm a Fan of Jahmekyah 6 fans permalink

What are you talking about? Of Course ratings are down, its the same for all of cable news in general. This once in a lifetime election gave cable news networks out of this world ratings that everyone knew would not last post election. Her show is still one of the best ratings wise in cable news, and now beats Larry King regularly (its not even a competition anymore) Not bad for a four month old show. Her ratings have fallen a lot less than everybody else

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:24 AM on 12/20/2008

Making a big thing out of nothing?
Obama chooses someone who believes that homosexuals are sinners to speak at his Inauguration.
That is not "nothing."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:27 AM on 12/20/2008

Rachel has been very professional.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:56 AM on 12/20/2008
- iswideopen I'm a Fan of iswideopen 73 fans permalink
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oscartucker:
Yes Rachel has; FOX NEWS PROFESSIONAL.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:12 PM on 12/20/2008

John Wayne just had to smoke and drink to be a man

Insight takes many lifetimes

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:44 PM on 12/19/2008
- lyingtruth I'm a Fan of lyingtruth 16 fans permalink

He wasn't addicted, he could take take it or leave it, he did it just to be macho?

Give us break!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:15 AM on 12/20/2008

Yup, nicotine and alcohol sure a man makes.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:42 AM on 12/20/2008
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