"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Howard Fineman, Newsweek senior Washington correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Chris Kofinis, John Edwards' fmr. communications director; Eugene Robinson, Washington Post associate editor and columnist and MSNBC political analyst
• WAL-MART HAS YET TO TURN OVER JIM SHANK'S ACCOUNTS: Jim Shank, the husband of former Wal-Mart employee Deborah Shank
• AMERICAN IDOL: Maria Milito, Q104.3

My oh my, Edward R Olbermann faces a conundrum tonight. Jeremiah Wright is still front and center, but Olby desperately wants to echo the Obama campaign talking points and pretend like it's yesterday's news. So will he spin it, or ignore it? Let's check the opening spiel: Who's got the super delegates? Hillary hasn't bought gas lately! Obama resurges in the polls! The nightly McCain attack! Wal-Mart fraud! American Idol News! We didn't hear the name Jeremiah Wright in there. Hmm, could Oralmann be taking orders from the Obama campaign again? It's hump day at Olbermann Watch where the word of the day is "testicles". Plus a special bonus: Bathtub Boy goes the extra mysogyny mile, comparing a woman to an equine animal. You just don't get that kind of high-toned discussion on that other 8:00 pm program. UPDATED: with equine video!

#5: Horrors! Scandal! A supporter referred to Hillary's "testicular fortitude". Hillary at a gas station a "stunt" nitpicked, ridiculed, and sneered at. We told you that the attacks on Hillary would escalate to punish her for entering the no-spin zone. Which we wish we were watching right now. The super delegates are running to Obama! Then to Obama's "resurgence" in a poll cited by Oralmann: he's three points behind Hillary. Yep, that's resurgence all right. (Um, isn't there another poll out today? Heh, remember, this is OlbyPlanet. See Canines, below.)

Merkle continued to ridicule the gas station photo-op with the Pundit for All Occasions, and complained about testicles again! With Sen Clinton burning up the ratings on the eeevil Fox, maybe this was Bear's genius notion of counter-programming. Howie was Great Thanksed.

Back to the super delegates again, with another in the carnival of Democrats that Countdown laughingly calls a guest list. What a shock, he was there to argue that Florida should not be seated! Who woulda thunk it? CC was, shockingly, Great Thanksed.

Well now we know what course Fat Ass decided to take. Amazing. Obama's campaign tells MSNBC that we've heard enough about Rev Wright, and Edward R Olbermoronn grovels, bows deeply, and...obeys. Hence, we get #4: Who gave "one of the great answers ever in a political interview" today? Remember, we are on OlbyPlanet. Right, not Hillary. In a stunning upset, it's Obama: the Mrs. And her exceptional, brilliant answer "pretty much closed off the topic" of Wright. Gad, could "Man on Fan" Olbermann be more of a slovenly political hack? What was her mind-boggling answer? We have to move on to funding education. Herr Olbermann was so impressed he yelled: "Check, please!" Only Edward R Olbermahn would think ducking a question was "one of the greatest answers ever given". It's a good think Obama has a big tank, because it has to have room it in for Fat Ass Keith.

Then it was off to play Blame the Media! With the help of lefty Robinson, we learned the wind is "out of the sails" of this "alleged issue", so Oralmann and his sock puppet could slobber even more over Obama and his "resurging" polls numbers. Oh yes, and bringing up testicles again! Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Maybe "Man on Fan" Olbermann suffers from testicle-envy. Sock puppet was Great Thanksed.

#3: Tonight's Wal-Mart attack, exploiting the Shank family for ratings that will not be realized. They could go on The Factor for 30 seconds and get more exposure, and results, than if they co-hosted The Hour of Spin. #2: plug for #1: #1: Keith's Misogyny Korner, as He-Man Woman-Hater Oralmann makes fun of Paula Abdul. Besides tossing around such terms as "cringe-worthy" and "stammering", Monkeymann surpassed himself by comparing Ms Abdul to a horse. No, we're not making this up. We hope you're reading this, Rachel Sklar!

In the Media Matters Minute, Olbermoronn rounded up the usual subjects. John McCain (Blue Blog Source: Daily Kos, Keith's favorite charity), and of course O'Reilly (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress): virtually ripped word-for-word from the website to the teleprompter, with the added twist of Krazy Keith's funny voices because, you know, those never get old.

Quiescent Canines: After bitter-gate, Oralmann cherry-picked poll data to claim that the comments actually helped Obama. It was big news, even made it into the opening spiel. On Monday Bear neatly skirted any mention of the AP/Ipsos poll that shows that Hillary would beat McCain by nine points, with Obama's edge is so narrow as to be a statistical tie. The slovenly political hack did it again. No mention whatsoever of today's poll numbers that again show Hillary a stronger candidate, with her negatives going down, and Obama's going up. Way up. Not to mention that 70% of the American people believe The Pastor Disaster has damaged Obama's campaign. Shhhh! Not so loud! On OlbyPlanet, not only are contrary opinions forbidden, so are contrary facts.

Tonight's MisterMeter reading: 1 [LOW]

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 723rd day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

UPDATE: Video of Olbermann gleefully comparing Paula Abdul to a horse:

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst
• Mark Benjamin, Salon.com national correspondent
• Christian Finnegan, comedian and VH-1's "Best Week Ever" contributor

Herr Olbermann wasted no time and launched into Save the Obamamessiah mode. Total repudiation! Cuts all ties! Obama's "Wright turn!" Clinton can't "straight forwardly" win the nomination. Quixotic (that's quicks-otic to you) quest, it is! Super delegate endorsement along with DailyKos lifted story (from another blog) about Hillary's latest super delegate calling Rocky a homosexual. Gasp! Oh wait, he just said pansy. No - wait again. He's a Hillary supporter, he must have been insulting homosexuals. Of course. Oralmann is deeply offended. Al Gore and John Edwards not choosing sides - aka Obama. "Lame Duck Performance" that was "sad" and "embarrassing" by the President at the news conference. All consuming Olbsession O'Reilly who apparently, at least according to Keithy, has pedophile attraction and gets "sweaty" over the Miley Cyrus photos. Wait, hold on, who's the one dating someone nearly half his age? Oh right, that's Hauptmann. Faux News [Ding!] Spin cycle, engage!

#5: The "Wright Response." Fat Ass gives a litany of all the Obama proclamations regarding the so called Pastor Of Disaster. They were, of course, all the nice things he said trying to distance himself from his spiritual mentor. Never mind the fact that Obama attended this guy's services for twenty years. Keith reminds of Obama's "seminal" speech in Philadelphia on race. Remember that one? When Obama said there was no way he could disown Rev Wright anymore than his own "white grandmother?" Yeah, that one. What did Obama do today? Disown him? Close. No one asked him whether or not he was doing that. Though the Senator did just "change his mind." More clips. Bring in the Wolffe Man to suck up to Jabba's new hero. Some would argue that Obama's race speech last month worked "brilliantly" opines Der Fuhrer. What would the Wolffe Man say about this latest speech putting all of this to rest? Would it do it? *drum roll* Yes! He moved "decisively" and Wolffie had never seen Obama express this kind of "anger" and "dismay." It was a "complete denunciation" and "break." Moving. Of course, when in spin mode, Mr. Merlot thinks that it is possible that Wright helped Obama by acting like a loon because it's impossible to take him seriously! Follow? I don't. It was "gutsy." Baseball reference that doesn't relate. Great thanks.

Pansy story. It jumps "right off the pages at you." Emily Heil from Roll Call. Doesn't think much of the pansy remark. Awww....bear. Who was scouting guests? I hate it when they don't agree with you. Next.

#4: John Edwards has not endorsed anyone. Nor has his "popular" and "respected" wife, Elizabeth Edwards. Bring in committed lefty E.J. Dionne. Edwards is an "electable Democrat" claims Dionne. Olby isn't convinced that Edwards isn't endorsing anyone because he wants a cabinet position. Dionne doesn't believe it either. Pansy reference again.

BUSHED! Blackwater-Gate and the "mercenaries." Health Care-Gate! Nexus Of Politics and Terror-Gate! There's a "guard and a torturer" at gitmo. What torture do you speak of? Well, frankly, I don't know. I mean, I can't actually name any torture. But I know it goes on. It has to. Bush and Cheney enjoy it. Olby told me so. Angry blathering.

Baseball, Oddball, Best Persons.

#3: Bushonomics. "Bush recession." AP hates Bush. "Mister" Bush is a lame duck. "World's Most Powerful Failed Oil Man" who "lusts after" ANWR. God forbid we try to expand domestic production. No one honestly believes we can drill our way to independence but it seems the left has no interest in increasing our supply. The lovely sounding Democratic bill the "Price Gouging Prevention Act" has been blocked by the eeeevil Mister Bush. No mention about what that act actually does.

Fox Noise! [Ding!]

#2: The Media Mattes minute. Wolfowitz gets Worse via the HuffNPuff. Sean Hannity of Fixed News [Ding!] thanks to Hillary Clinton's Media Matters. The Gold goes to the Olbsession O'Reilly.

#1: "Comedian" Christian Finnegan. Republicans hate black people. Snore.

Tonight's MisterMeter reading: 4 [GUARDED]

COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.)
Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• REV. WRIGHT AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Howard Fineman, Newsweek senior Washington correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Jonathan Alter, Newsweek senior editor and MSNBC political analyst; Rachel Maddow, Air America Radio host and MSNBC political analyst
• BUSH'S FINAL WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT'S DINNER: Joel McHale, host of E!'s "The Soup"

Tough call for Herr Olbermahn tonight. What's the Wright thing to do? Turn the spin up to "11" and claim Wright is actually helping Obama? Or show a little tough love, cut the Reverend loose and throw him under the bus? [Ding!] Perhaps the opening spiel will show the way: Wright throws Obama Under The Bus! [Ding!] Obama and Hillary tied! McCain attack #145. Bush is a lame duck! It's a Blue Monday and Olbermann Watch is back--in style!

#5: Wright throws Obama under the bus! [Ding!] Clip from Fox News Obama interview with that "monkey" Chris Wallace. (What? No "Fixed News"?!?) Olby thinks the new Wright clips could be bigger than the sermon clips! The Wolffe Man simpered and was Great Thanksed. Oralmann was worried sick about what can Obama do? Right back? Brush it off? More Throw him under the bus. [Ding!] The Pundit for All Occasions was grim at seeing no good solution for Obama, even as Monkeymann purported to see a "silver lining" (surprise!) in it all. Olby went on to sneer that Wright is just doing PR for himself so he can sell a book. Uh oh, looks like we know which line Oralmann decided to adopt. He's tossing the Reverend under that bus! [Ding!]

#4: More on the Dem race, including the rundown of the latest polls (except for one: see dogs below). KO ridiculed Hillary's debate proposal. Krazy Keith tried to make the fact that Barack went up one point in a poll into his rebounding, but even Lefty Alter wasn't buying that as he said Obama's been going through a rough patch.

#3: Is it the nightly McCain attack slot again? Yes! He's "crossing ethical guidelines"! What's up now? Since Obama said Wright is a legitimate political issue, McCain took him at his word. Ooooh, that's eeevil. And he's riding on his wife's plane! Since this is the McCain attack slot it must be time for comedian Rachel Maddow, who tonight played an expert in political ethics. Falwell! Hagee! Keating! Extremists! (S)he recommended Obama attack McCain over the people who endorsed him.

#2: Plug for #1. #1: Yucks about the Correspondents Dinner.

In the Media Matters Minute, Fat Ass attacked some guy from Burger King (Blue Blog Source: CMD), and the "stupid witches" at Newsbusters (Blue Blog Source: Hillary Clinton's Media Matters). The "worst" was especially notable, because it was apparently an exclusive scoop for Edward R Olbermann. He declared that nobody "has said word one about it", so this oughta be really good breaking news. It was NPR reporter Ken Rudin who compared Hillary Clinton to Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Um, this is new? Nobody has said anything about it? You know better than that. Nothing on Oralmann's show is fresh or original. This, like every other WPitW segment, goes straight back to a Blue Blog Source: Hillary Clinton's Media Matters. And in fact, a Google search shows dozens of sites parroting the MM attack. So why does Bear claim this is new news that nobody has said word one about? Because he's a liar!

Dogs That Did Not Bark: Remember how, after the bitter-gate comments, Oralmann went off in a delusional tizzy about how the gaffe would actually benefit Obama, and trumpeted some poll showing Obama creeping up a point or two? It was big news, even made it into the opening spiel. We noted on Friday how Edward R Olbermann and his sidekick Maddow somehow forgot to do their nightly recitation of Obama's soaring poll numbers. Oddly enough, it happened again tonight. Turns out the AP and Ipsos collaborated on a highly respected survey and the results don't exactly bolster Barack. You see, it shows that Hillary would beat McCain by nine points, while Obama's edge is so narrow as to be a statistical tie. Now we must admit, Oralmann did not attempt to spin the results of this poll tonight. Not at all. He simply spiked it! Ignored it as if it didn't exist. Countdown: all the news that fits the tint. Just another feather in the peacock of the paradoxically partisan MSDNC.

Tonight's MisterMeter reading: 1 [LOW]

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 721st day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

As regular readers know we had all sorts of problems getting the registered commenter feature in Movable Type 4.1 to work in a reliable and secure manner. Since the whole point was to manage trolls I was not prepared to move forward until we were 100% locked down. We believe we are now at that point.

So, we are going ahead and opening up comments to a limited group of two dozen registered users as a sort of beta test to make sure everything works right. Once we are satisfied that all is well we will add some more commenters and then grow the membership of the site over time.

The expectation here is that the number of comments on the site will decline initially. In fact since switching to MT 4.1 a few weeks ago comments have been ZERO. However, our hope is that once non-troll readers realize we have a handle on the loons they will be more inclined to participate and hopefully a few months from now the comments section will be more active than ever. I suppose a short-term metric for us will be hitting 100 comments on a particular post. We had been doing that almost as a matter of course but I expect we will struggle to hit that number in the beginning.

Presumably some non-registered readers will see the comments are now active but require registration and want to get into the next group. So, same message as before:

If you would like to be considered for the next batch of commenters send me an email at robert_a_cox at yahoo dot com. Trolls needs not apply. To validate you I will want an email from an ISP account (not hotmail or yahoo or whatever but an email from an ISP like verizon or cox cable). I need to know the display name you want. Also, there is a feature where you can have an image next to your name so you can attach an image file as well - something fun, interesting or that makes a point and is not impolite.

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Eugene Robinson, Washington Post associate editor and columnist and MSNBC political analyst
• RUSH LIMBAUGH CALLS FOR RIOTS: Rachel Maddow, Err America Radio host and MSNBC political analyst

It's Friday and it's the last Rachel Maddow Show Countdown of the Week. The opening spiel: Clinton's trying to sabotage Obama! An unrepairable breach! McCain is old attack! Comedian! [Ding!] Can Rush be prosecuted? (Whaaat?! Has Oralmann completely lost it? Prosecute a comedian?) It's casual Friday at Olbermannn Watch, and not only do we get all this, we also get a wonderful bonus. Keith Olbermoronn served up one of his trademark commentaries, the kind that have made him the rage of all the blue blogs. Yes, tonight Keith delievered another of his Special Apologies.

#5: Clinton's secret plan: sink Obama so even if he gets the nomination, Hillary can run in 2012. James Clyburn (D) blue dress interview (you must visit The List) who says he may not believe it but it's what he's "hearing". Is there any reason to believe this conspiracy theory is true? Remember, this is OlbyPlanet. Evidence? Schmevidence! These are "traitorous acts"! For these wacky speculations Clyburn was Great Thansked!

For more spreading of Clyburn's rumor-mongering, Olby pimped out Robinson. Yeah, two Obamamaniacs engaging in the sort of mutual onanism that passes as "analysis" on a program where no dissent is allowed.

And then we got another Olbermann Special Apology. Was this for Rachel Maddow's lie about Fox News last night? Oh no, it was something far more important. You see, Bear bruised the feelings of one of his Blue Blog Sources: HuffPo. So he let the lie stand but asked HuffPo to forgive him. Fat Ass is really a man of courage, isn't he?

#4: More Dem politics, but what happened to Krazy Keith's nightly recap of the current poll numbers? Why wouldn't he want to mention this? (Somewhere, a dog is not barking.) Richard Wolffe simpered and was Great Thanksed.

After a pair of comedians [Ding!] [Ding!] came #3: Yes, the nightly attack-McCain slot. He's having "memory loss". He didn't travel to Katrina. It was more mutual onanism as Fat Ass brought in a hack from Hillary Clinton's Media Matters! Eliminate the middle man. Send Brock's spin straight into the camera! No need for a detour through Oralmann's teleprompter! It saves energy. Must be part of MSNBC's "green week".

#2: Plug for #1: #1: Attack on Limbaugh based on the dubious claim that he's "calling for riots" in Denver (Blue Blog Source: Crooks & Liars). Maddow was the ideal guest for this, given that it's been, what, all of 24 hours since she she last lied about something on The Hour of Spin. You will forgive us if we just couldn't take looking at her two-faced mug as she railed against Limbaugh, but like "Man on Fan" Olbermann having never said one word about the vile rancor of her pal Randi Rhoades. There was a bonus attack in the Media Matters Minute, Herr Olbermann attacked Bill Hemmer of Fox "Noise" [Ding!] (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress).

If it's Friday, it's our weekly assessment of Krazy Keith's masculinity. During this four-day week, Monkeymann attacked Fox and other broadcasters 24 times. Olby's source (Hillary Clinton's Media Matters) criticized (MS)NBC 16 times, but Keithy protected his corporate masters with zero criticisms. That makes this week's Olbermann Manhood Quotient: -80 [sissy limp].

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 718th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

What lie would that be? This one.

UPDATE: Blue Blog Source Huffington Post turns on Oralmann!

The infamous, deplorable Keith Oralmann, who apparently believes any mention of Jeremiah Wright is ipso facto raaaacist, got slapped this morning, and we have the video for your viewing pleasure:

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.)
Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Chuck Todd, NBC News political director; Howard Fineman, Newsweak senior Washington correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Rachel Maddow, Err America Radio host and MSNBC political analyst

Uh oh. For weeks Herr Olbermann has been screaming that Obama's gaffes aren't gaffes at all. He's gaining in the polls. Those non-gaffes have actually given him a bump! He's more popular than ever! But then the inconvenient truth: the voters of Pennsylvania had a different idea. It's desperation time on OlbyPlanet, and it showed in the opening spiel: Hillary won "with smoke and mirrors"! Obama's delegate lead now clinched! Daily McCain attack! Crank the spin dial to 11, it's Damage Control Night at Olbermann Watch. And watch out, there's another Great Moment in Olbypocrisy coming that will stun you.

#5: Hillary said she's ahead in the popular vote; Oralmann ridiculed that endlessly. It's "basically over". Hot Toddy again counted the delegates and said it's over. More Fat Ass whining about the popular vote. Hot Toddy concluded that it's over. We get the impression that tonight's talking point is: it's over.

Olby rushed to quote the NY Times anti-Clinton editorial. Why? Because it agreed with OlbySpin. When he reads from an editorial it always parrots his views. Olbermahn went on to threaten "retribution" to get her out of the race because, you know, it's over. Besides, Hillary keeps losing voters (yes, he said this after she won by 10 points!). The Pundit for All Occasions did his usual pliant job.

#4: More spin for Hillary about neighboring states, kitchen sinks, yada yada. Olby wondered what Obama's next move should be, which is odd, since, after all, it's over. The Wolffe Man simpered and concluded that: it's over. He was Great Thanksed.

After a penis joke (that delighted The Laughing Stagehand) came #3: a "racist" (natch) Republican ad against Obama. Except that it's not against Obama, it's against a couple of local candidates. Such fine distinctions are irrelevant on OlbyPlanet. Yes, the #3 story, traditionally the McCain attack spot, and regardless of the fact that McCain had nothing to do with it, and asked that it not be shown, it's still McCain's fault! Don't try to make sense out of it. It's OlbyLogic. Right-wing water carriers! [Ding!] Comedian Rachel Maddow tonight played a political analyst and dittoed all of Monkeymann's spin, but neither exactly pointed out what was inaccurate or "racist" in the ad. Comedian! [Ding!] Oralmann ridiculed McCain's emotions, making fun of "the catch in the voice" when McCain talked about it.

Stop the tivo! This is Worst Person material! Remember when John Gibson made fun of Jon Stewart for crying? Fat Ass had a cow:

no matter what kind of administration propagandist I think you are and how I'll mock you for it, I would never doubt the sincerity of your pain. You've got a lot of damn nerve doubting the sincerity of anybody else's. John Gibson of Fox Noise [Ding!], today's Worst Person in the World.

So if Gibby does it he has "a lot of damn nerve". But Olby would "never doubt the sincerity of your pain". Yet tonight he does exactly that. A lot of nerve indeed. Keith Olbermann: Worst Person--and Biggest Damn Hypocrite--in the World!

We couldn't bear to look at his duplicitous mug after that, but we did force ourselves to sit through the Media Matters Minute. John Ashcroft (Blue Blog Source: FireDogLake), and an obscure pastor, in which Oralmann disturbingly showed a far-too-intimate acquaintance with the names of gay porn actors. Of course worst: John McCain (Blue Blog Source: Carpetbagger Report), for something John Hagee, McCain's not-pastor, said. Um, wait, Obama's pastor is irrelevant, bringing him up is eeevil, as both Oralmann and Mandow said moments earlier, but a pastor who endorsed McCain makes McCain worst person? Don't try to make sense of it. It's OlbyLogic.

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 716th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.); Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Eugene Robinson, Washington Post associate editor and columnist and MSNBC political analyst

Tonight we break from our usual format to bring you an OlbyWatch Special Report on the towering, unrivaled, monumental hypocrisy of the infamous, deplorable Keith Olbermann. We focus in particular on tonight's interview with Hillary Clinton, the latest chapter in the parade of Democrats who have appeared on The Hour of Spin. Krazy Keith has walked into a propeller yet again, and you won't believe how bad it really is.

To set the scene, this key fact must be established. Oralmann's connections with the DailyKos run strong and deep. It is, of course, a recurrent Blue Blog Source for his writers. In addition, Monkeymann himself blogs there. What's more, he raises money for them.

Now let's get to the good part.

Last week Herr Olbermahn erupted in outrage over the fact that Sean Hannity suggested a debate question to Stephanopoulos, and George had the outright nerve to use it:

The real story of his debate may not be found where they found the answers, but where one of the moderators found his questions: Sean Hannity of Fox News, and separately a local New York right wing radio host [presumably Steve Malzberg], each insisting during interviews this week with George Stephanopoulos of ABC that he ask Senator Obama about his tenuous past link to 60s and 70s terrorist radical William Ayers. Tonight Stephanopoulos did that.

ABC asking not a single question about Afghanistan or Pakistan, but abdicating journalistic decision-making of its own to take dictation, literally, from Sean Hannity on Tuesday, writing Stephanopoulos a question for Obama.... From the journalistic standpoint view, this actually was no joke the worst presidential debate in television history... What was the George Stephanopoulos role in this thing? Was it to gain ratings or was it something else? Because - he relied on Sean Hannity's journalistic judgment which is just sounds like a bad thing to begin with even if you're asking, how's the weather.

Stephanopoulos felt it appropriate to ask questions on behalf of Sean Hannity this week...

OK so Fat Ass thinks it's terrible to take questions from an outside partisan source. Which brings us back to the Daily Kos once again. They were kind enough today to permit their readers to write questions for Keith to ask Hillary Clinton. Hmm. Outside questions from a partisan source. Did Edward R Olbermann actually execute a double-reverse flip-flop and do exactly what he yelled at Stephanopoulos and Hannity for doing? We report you decide.

Krazy Keith asked six questions in his pre-taped interview with Hillary Clinton. Let's look at five of them and compare them with what the Daily Kos wanted him to ask:

Example 1
DAILY KOS: Ask her about that comment she made about hitting Iran. I'd like to hear an answer to that. [ source ]

OLBERMANN: You were asked about a hypothetical Iranian attack on Israel... Which hypothetical middle east conflicts would incur massive retaliation from this country?

Example 2
DAILY KOS: I have talked to a couple of women, very intelligent women, who totally think that the media has been sexist and biased against Hillary and that this is a stand for women. One gave me a link to a video which started with the implication that Keith Olbermann is a sexist pig. [source]

OLBERMANN: Do you believe criticism of your campaign is necessarily sexism or largely sexism?

Example 3
DAILY KOS: I do hope he asks her about why she decided to use Osama bin Laden in her latest ad. Is she playing the fear card on purpose? [source]

OLBERMANN: This new ad you put out today, and that ad flashes a very brief image of Usama Bin Laden. For nearly six years now that tactic has been a bloody shirt for many Democrats. Is it not just as much of a scare tactic for a Democrat to use it?

Example 4
DAILY KOS: There is no way I would go on Faux News or talk with Mellon Scaife. [source]

OLBERMANN: Richard Mellon Scaife is utterly unforgivable. I realize you have a primary to win by why did you meet with him and why did you not reject his endorsement of you?

Example 5
DAILY KOS: Ask her about attacking Obama for saying McCain would be better than Bush when she went around for weeks saying Obama wasn't CIC material and McCain was. [source]

OLBERMANN: Obama said all three of the present candidates would be better than "Mister" Bush. Last month you said you thought it was imperative that we can cross the Commander-in-Chief threshhold and you said Senator McCain had done that. In those remarks, hadn't you already "cheered on" Senator McCain at Senator Obama's expense?

Wow. Keith Oralmann, who railed for three days about ABC using one question from Sean Hannity, lifts question after question from the blue blog he writes for, a site just as partisan as Hannity himself. And would you believe it, not a single question about Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Olbermoronn...you're busted!

COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION/ABC's DEMOCRATIC DEBATE: Dana Milbank,
• The Washington Post; Rachel Maddow, Air America radio host and MSNBC political analyst; Rick Perlstein; American historian and journalist
• IS BULGARIAN IDOL BETTER THAN THE AMERICAN VERSION?: Maria Milito, Q104.3

No recap for you tonight. We'll try to update the post over the weekend to document Oralmann's worst lies and embarrassments. In its place, we have a special treat: a tag-team smackdown of the infamous, deplorable one, featuring John Gibson and Mark Levin. Their shows air simultaneously, and they both siezed on Wednesday night's special post-debate Hour of Spin. Our clip is in three parts. Part one: Gibson nails Keithy's dazzlingly self-unaware Olbypocrisy: Extreme Edition. Part two: Mark Levin piles on and turns it up to 11. Part three: Gibby is back for a special bonus. Dramatic recitations from the blue blogs who were Olby's source material and inspiration. Enjoy...

UPDATE: OlbyWatch Pal Howard Mortman was there at the dinner and files this report.

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Chuck Todd; NBC News political director
• LIEBERMAN MAY SPEAK AT THE GOP CONVENTION: Howard Fineman, Newsweek senior Washington correspondent and MSNBC political analyst 
• MCCAIN CAMP BLAMES AN INTERN FOR RECIPE PLAGIARISM: Rachel Maddow, Air America Radio host and MSNBC political analyst

The opening spiel is starting to get a wee bit predictable: Obama up in the polls! Obama is more electable! McCaIn campaign controversy! Lunatic Fringe! [Ding!] C-in-C threshhold test Rerun! It's hump day at Olbermann Watch.

#5: Tonya Harding again? Again. Clinton continues to sink. The Boss endorsed Obama! Obama's numbers are up! Hillary not honest or trustworthy! The Wolffe Man again? Again. He simpered on script and was Great Thanksed. More people call for Hillary to drop out if she's behind after June 3rd.The growing "backlash" could force her to quit! Hot Toddy nattered that Obama has more delegates and was Great Thanksed.

After a plug for the "proverbial" [Ding!] Commander-in-Chief test came #4: Horrors! Joe Lieberthal may speak at the GOP convention! McCain "groveled" before the "fundamentalist right-wing pastors". The speech, of course, would be a terrible, disastrous mistake. (So why is Oralmann so upset about it?) Lieberthal's "reason" has gone "out the window"! The Pundit for All Occasions said Joe is "bitter"! He was Thanksed.

After a "comedian" [Ding!] we got #3: Cindy McCain's recipe for squash--Day Two! It's now a question of "ethics"! Comedian Maddow to analyze again? Again. OK, that does it. Skipping ahead to:

#2: (after a "lunatic fringer" [Ding!], "comedian" [Ding!] and Fixed News [Ding!]) Keith Richards, Stephen Colbert. #1: Rerun of the so-funny C-in-C test. In the Media Matters Minute: comedian [Ding!] Limbaugh (Blue Blog Source: Hillary Clinton's Media Matters), Shepard Smith (Blue Blog Source: Hillary Clinton's Media Matters) Fixed News [Ding!], and lunatic fringer [Ding!] Hugh Hewitt (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress) Fixed News! [Ding!].

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 709th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Jonathan Alter, Newsweek senior editor and MSNBC political analyst; Rachel Maddow, Air America radio host and MSNBC political analyst

Keith Oralmann bellowed the first opening spiel of the week: Obama is not unelectable! Obama rises in the polls! Clinton tries to regroup! Obama will get a bump in the polls for his gaffe! He's a Teflon candidate! Plus the secret Marilyn Monroe sex tape! Crank the spin dial up to 11, it's Damage Control Night on The Hour of Spin!

#5: Obama's remarks are merely a "supposed" controversy. Oralmann hails remarks by Ed Rendell that Obama's gaffe won't affect the outcome in Pennsylvania by more than a few points. Um, is this the same Ed Rendell who was Bear's "worst person" just days ago? Yup! But today he's a sage political analyst. Olbypocrisy on the march! Clinton criticizes Obama (how dare she?) with "talking points". Hillary downs shots; Obama ridicules. Hillary's new ad. Obama hasn't suffered in the polls according to the one cited (Gallup). All the attempts to "manufacture the outrage" aren't working, declared Fat Ass; Obama could be the next Teflon President! The Wolffe Man simpered that the momentum had shifted in Hillary's direction (uh oh) and besides the Teflon theory is basically bunk (uh oh again). Even he couldn't cooperate with Monkeymann's desperate spin cycle.

Oh, Herr Olbermahn also took time out to feign outrage over a Congressman (R, of course), who made passing reference to Obama as "that boy". It appeared to be an innocent slip, but it was enough to get Olby in high dudgeon.

Stop the tivo! Is this the same Olbermoronn who:

• Referred to a Jewish journalist as a "monkey"?
• Was reprimanded by the Anti-Defamation league?
• Parodied a Hispanic governor with "pass the guacamole"?
• Calls black football players "Chicken and Waffles"?
• Smeared a Hispanic attorney general as a "houseboy"?

Answer to all of the above: yes.

#4: Hillary throws Gore "under the bus"! [Ding!] Not really, it was Hillary talking about the reasons Gore didn't win, but that's close enough for OlbyPlanet. Hillary's strategy is all wrong (of course). Dana Milbank, without weird wardrobe, nattered on about it's really Hill who's an elitist so naturally he was Thanksed.

#3: The attack McCain segment, right? Right! A dem lawsuit against McCain on campaign finance issues was presented as if Richard McCain had broken some law, but that has yet to be shown, let alone proved. But on OlbyPlanet, it's fact! McCain borrowed money using his public financing as collateral, said KO. Oops, that's the opposite of what McCain said happened. But McCain's side doesn't get told. They name streets after guys like Oralmann: "One Way". Then "Man on Fan" Olbermann predictably took Obama's side in the public-financing spat with McCain. Another shocker. Lefty Alter said the voters don't care about this inside baseball stuff, adding that Obama is the first candidate evah not "owned by Big Money". In an extraordinary moment, Lefty noted that Obama did publicly commit to public financing--completely contradicting Oralmann's point!--and then swerved to justify Obama's going back on his word because he made the commitment before he realized how much money he has coming in. Well yeah, that's the best kind of commitment: the kind you only keep when it suits you.

After a Fixed News [Ding!] and a Fixed News [Ding!] came #2: Will Spens plus a plug for #1. #1: Marilyn Monroe sex tapes! In the Media Matters Minute, Fat Ass mounted a particularly lame attack on Brit Hume (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress) of Fixed News [Ding!]. Plus he ridiculed Alexis Glick (Blue Blog Source: HuffPo), suggesting she was stupid and ill-informed. Um, is this the same Oralmann who doesn't know who's in the President's cabinet? Who thinks the House of Representatives can mount a filibuster? That Edward R Olbermoronn? Answer to both: yes.

Tonight's MisterMeter reading: 2 [LOW]

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 707th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

SPECIAL FEATURE: Hear tonight's OlbyWatch recap recreated through the mircle of TextAloud/AT&T Natural Voices software:

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst
• PR FOR AMERICAN IDOL: Maria Milito, Q104.3 Radio Host and Countdown's American Idol Princess
• IMAGE IN DICK CHENEY'S SUNGLASSES: Dana Milbank, Washington Post national political reporter and MSNBC political analyst

Finally, the last opening spiel of the week--it couldn't come soon enough: Bill Jefferson brings up Bosnia again! The torture club, and Cheney's sunglasses! Another O'Reilly attack! Another McCain attack! It's casual Friday at Olbermann Watch.

#5: Obama comments about "small town Pennsylvanians"! Conveniently omitted from the opening spiel. Hmm. Oh wait, the "context" is all important. Well, that changes everything. "Context" is vitally important with any Obama quote, while it can be dismissed, and even deliberately edited out, when it's Mr Bill or a McCain supporter. Oralmann continued the damage control, calling Obama's comments too "intellectual" for the average dunce to grasp. How dare Hillary go after Obama "with guns blazing"? Naturally Bear questioned the timing [Ding!], but neglected to mention that it was HuffPo who broke the story. The Wolffe Man dared to describe Obama's comment as a "misstatement"; even that is regarded as overly harsh on OlbyPlanet but Wolffie was nonetheless Great Thanksed.

On to attacking B.J. Clinton for reviving the Bosnia flap, comparing him to an over-the-hill Walter Winchell handing out mimeographed flyers on street corners when he couldn't get work. How dare B.J. "blame the media"? Re B.J. and Hillary: "What happened to these two people?" Fat Ass was close to tears when he asked Chuck Todd how serious Barack's "intellectual" statement was. Toddy, one segment early, stammered empty phrases and was Great Thanksed.

#4: Olbermann's Criminal Rehabilitation Group met again with its star pupil: John Dean. The disbarred lawyer was there to--surprise!--accuse the Bush administration of being eeevil criminals. Well, he should know what being a criminal is about. Watergate! [Ding!] Nixon! [Ding!] Watergate! [Ding!] He got Great Thanksed before even saying a word! Some flap about subpoenas, but the felon went out on a limb: the White House could lose. Unless they win. Another new Olbyword: "hyperthetical". Watergate! [Ding!] The Ford pardon! For his drivel, the criminal was Great Thanksed again. Double Great Thanksed! Great Thanksed squared!

#3: Cheney analogized to "the abyss". Was there a naked girl reflected in Cheney's sunglasses? Of course, because naked women are always hanging around when people go fly-fishing. Supposed-to-be-funny pix of various objects reflected in the Veep's glasses were shown. Dana Milbank, absent absurd accoutrements but sporting goofy black sunglasses (didn't this sort of thing get him into trouble once before?) nattered away but was not Great Thanksed.

#2: plug for #1. #1: American Idol discussion, with Oralmann bashing McCain (Blue Blog Source: Daily Kos, Oralmann's favorite charity). Through the entire show he kept saying Obama and Clinton asked for charity donations while McCain just made jokes. Another Olbermann Lie of course. McCain made a couple of slight jokes but appealed to the audience to donate as well. Finally during the segment itself that slight fact is revealed, but of course by then he's had 50 minutes to smear McCain by planting the thought.

In the Media Matters Minute, worst persons were John McCain (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress), Cheney (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress), and worst: yep, Mr Bill, for criticizing the all-holy David Brock.

If it's Friday, it's our weekly assessment of Krazy Keith's masculinity. This week, Monkeymann attacked Fox and other broadcasters 16 times. Olby's source (Hillary Clinton's Media Matters) criticized (MS)NBC 16 times, but Keithy protected his corporate masters with zero criticisms. That makes this week's Olbermann Manhood Quotient: -32 [mama's boy limp].

Tonight's MisterMeter reading: 3 [GUARDED]

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 704th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

As an invited guest of Matt Sheffield of MRC's Newsbusters, I had the pleasure of attending the Media Research Center's 2008 DisHonor Awards. For Olbermann Watch readers the highlight was certainly Keith Olbermann's hands-down victory of the coveted "Damn Those Conservatives" Award (video), beating out NBC's Matt Lauer and Fox News Channel's Geraldo Riviera.

The big winner on the night was Chris Matthews who received numerous nominations, sometimes more than one per category and ended up with 2 of the spots in the final four audience voting. The Hardball host won for his comparing Bill Clinton's speech at the funeral of Corretta Scott King to "Jesus in the Temple".

A high point for me personally was chatting with one my favorites, ABC Radio Host Mark Levin, who praised Olbermann Watch as a "great site". Despite his occasional bombast on the radio, Levin could not have been more pleasant in person. He promised more criticism of Olbermann to come so look forward to some clips from the "Great One" here on OlbyWatch.

Mingling with folks at the event it became clear pretty early in the evening that there mere mention of Olbermann's name elicited strong negative reaction from partygoers while the good work we do here at Olbermann Watch was roundly praised. Other folks I had a chance to chat with briefly included Tony Snow, winner of the William F. Buckley Award, John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, Brian Mulroney of Radio Equalizer, Ann Coulter, former Hardball producer Howard "Extreme" Mortman, Larry Kudlow, Alex Yuriev the guy who keeps OW online, Rick Santorum, Tom Tancredo, Brent Bozell, Cal Thomas as well as many folks from MRC/Newsbusters including Matt, Tim Graham, Seton Motley, Clay Waters, and Warner Todd Huston.

The revelry came to close on a more serious note when MRC Chief Brent Bozell introduced a video homage to U.S. Navy SEAL, Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who last fall was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (posthumously) for his bravery in leading his group of four Navy SEALs in a firefight with over 150 al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. The video presentation on Murphy's heroism included, incredibly, captured video of the engagement shot by the al Qaeda fighters. Murphy's father and bother were on hand to received a $50,000 donation by T. Boone Pickens to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. To the surprise and delight of the audience Pickens announced that after watching a preview of the video presentation he upped the donation to $100,000 and that after meeting Murphy's father and brother that evening he upped it again - to $1 million.

It begins with a classic example of Olbypocrisy, laid bare. But that's just a warmup for Gibson's main act. Hear for yourself how Edward R Olbermann smears a war hero for the crime of backing John McCain. Is comparing someone to Tiger Woods racist? It is when you are "Chicken and Waffles" Olbermann, and you don't tell your audience of gullible lemmings that the comparison to Woods was made by the Obama campaign itself! Then you slice-and-dice the quote, rearranging it to make it sound worse, and... well, listen and be amazed again at the irresponsibility of Keith Oralmann, slovenly political hack:

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Pick three from this list: Milbank, Todd, Maddow, Fineman, Wolffe, Robinson.

Oralmann bellowed the opening spiel: Lanny Davis strikes! Pennsylvania polling! McCain's "hundred year war" [Ding!]. Why don't the Democrats pound McCain's health plan? Oh wait, one of them will, tonight! It's hump day at Olbermann Watch.

#5: Stumbling over a city name, Oralmann called out Lanny Davis for an op-ed in the "Murdoch owned" WSJ. Polls narrowing in Pennsylvania. OK, check off Fineman from that list. The Pundit for All Occasions bloviated and was Thanksed. Then the blue-dress interview with Edwards:

• Does that presage an endorsement?
• Dems' health plan compared to McCain's is like comparing an emergency room to a band-aid. How come that hasn't gotten more attention?
• Why is the McCain "evisceration" plan getting a pass?
• Are Clinton and Obama plans essentially the same?
• What if you not endorsing helps one candidate more than another?
• It would be a wonderful thing if McCain would just endorse a universal health plan.

Needless to say, Edwards was Great Thanksed.

#4: The Iraq debate is "fake". Petraeus hearings "landed with a thud". Tour reductions are phony! Oh look, it's the Wolffe Man! Check another name off. Wolffie simpered and was Thanksed.

#3: Isn't this the spot for the nightly McCain attack? You are correct, sir! Bear was loaded for bear as he laid into the "pro-war" candidate. Back to the "100 years war" smear [Ding!], which Olby insisted isn't a smear at all. What do those lunatics at fact-check.org know anyhow? Ace elocutor Oralmann invented another new word: "prosperousness". Way better than that stodgy, but genuine, term "prosperity"--so much better that Monkeymann used it twice! McCain deserves what he's getting because he brought it on himself! Goodie, another name to check off the list: lefty Eugene Robinson.

#2: Plug for #1. #1: Hillary's unpaid bills. In the Media Matters Minute, Monique Davis (for criticizing atheists), Ari Fleischer (Blue Blog Source: baseball card collector geek site Lion in Oil), and Joe Lieberthal (Blue Blog Source: Oralmann's masters at DailyKos).

Tonight's MisterMeter reading: 1 [LOW]

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 702nd day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

Ed Rendell, and now Lanny Davis. Keith Oralmann's former buddies are lining up to throw him under the bus [Ding!]:

testing ability to post from my iPhone

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• Decision 2008: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Chuck Todd, NBC News & MSNBC political director; Joel McHale, ex-funnyman and host of E!'s "The Soup."

It's another opening spiel to delight the credulous lemmings who infest OlbyPlanet: Clinton fires Mark Penn! Or does she? Hillary's "delusion" about criticizing Iraq! McBush! Hillary's "siege mentality"! It's a blue Monday at Olbermann Watch.

#5: Mark Penn fired over Colombia, only he's still around. Hillary acts like Reagan! The Wolffe Man's simpering reverberated through the Countdown echo chamber and he was Many Thanksed. Hillary lied about when she opposed Iraq! (Blue Blog Source: Oliver Willis.) And don't forget Bosnia! She's a serial exaggerator! Milbank, minus multicolored mufti, nattered.

After a McCain is "a liar" plug comes #4, which if the pattern holds should be another exposition of how Obama is still leading in delegates. Bingo! How dare Hillary's people bring up Rev Wright? Hot Toddy bloviated.

Now what usually comes in #3? That would be the nightly McCain attack, right? Bingo again! The way Oralmann does show after show in exactly the same way, with the same people, the same segments, is almost robotic. We wouldn't be surprised to learn he is the 12th Cylon. So tonight it was McCain's "malarkey about Iraq". Because there was a mortar strike today in Baghdad while McCain was speaking that proves he's a liar! Then it was clips from McCain with Oralmann interrupting to set him straight. Because Olby knows way more about the situation there based on all his trips in country and reporting from the scene. Yawn.

After a correction to Rachel Maddow's lie of Friday night, rattled off so fast Keith sounded like a tobacco auctioneer--except for when he enunciated that it all happened "in my absence"--and a "metaphor" [Ding!], came #2: baseball. #1: Alleged "comedy".

In the Media Matters Minute, Olby babbled about a "mummo" (which is something very much like a "memo") involving Douglas Feith (Blue Blog Source: Crooks & Liars), plus the "troglodite" James Imhofe and Glenn Beck (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress); both were described, with Olbermann's sophisticated, rapier-like wit, as "dumb animals". Worst was as predictable as a Cylon battle plan: Mr Bill. The Blue Blog Source was The Smirking Chimp: a delightful piece wherein the writer fantasizes about people attacking O'Reilly with physical violence. Is that what attracted the attention of Fat Ass. After all, we know Keith fantasizes about knifing Bill O'Reilly. You weren't aware? Then we present an OlbyWatch flashback for your listening pleasure:

Dogs That Did Not Bark: When a radio talker made inappropriate comments introducing John McCain, it was Big News on The Hour of Spin. A whole segment devoted to how McCain knew all about it, even though he wasn't even there when it happened. Flogged night after night. But when a radio talker made inappropriate comments introducing Barack Obama, all we got from Edward R Olbermann was crickets. Geraldine Ferraro got an entire Special Education Komment for remarks about Barack Obama. But what about Randi Rhodes and her vile comments about Hillary Clinton? More crickets. What about the Obama campaign having to apologize for calling McCain a "warmonger"? Oops, Olby ain't gonna touch that one. "Warmonger" is one of Herr Olbermann's own attacks on the former P.O.W. and war hero. If this were 1972 Keith would be Jane Fonda.

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 700th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted."

He's only the Governor of Pennsylvania and former head of the Democratic National Committee, and he has Olbermann's number:

At least when it comes to a signature element of The Hour of Spin: lifting "news" from blue blogs without bothering to fact-check or verify. Edward R Olbermann wasn't there Friday night, but obviously his writers were still populating the teleprompter.

Rachel "Rip 'n' Read" Maddow railed against a Congressman (R, of course) for calling a U.S. soldier a "two-bit security guard". Outrage ensued. But, oops, the blue blog source (Think Progress) got it wrong. The guy wasn't a U.S. soldier. He was a contract worker: you know, what comedian Maddow and her pals derisively refer to as a "mercenary". What's more, the true facts were published many hours before Maddow began The Hour of Spin.

That's just the beginning of the latest Countdown embarrassment. You'll find the entire sordid story at Just One Minute, complete with the entirely hypothetical question of whether Keith himself will correct this error or utter any criticism about it whatsoever. Those familiar with the Olbermann Manhood Quotient know the answer to that one. (See also HotAir.)

I was recently cleaning out a file cabinet and came across an old tape I had of Hillary Clinton appearing on Chris Matthews' Hardball College Tour at SUNY-Albany in upstate New York shortly after the 2002 mid-term elections. In light of recent events with the presidential campaign I thought folks might be interested to hear what Hillary had to say about George Bush (she was generally supportive), her decision to vote for the Iraq War Resolution, and her evasive answers about a run for president on '08 ("I'll be in Hawaii", she tells Matthews). I think what jumps out most is how reasonable Hillary sounds. So reasonable that she is repeatedly heckled by student protestors.

As you may know, Obama recently appeared on the Hardball College Tour. McCain has agreed to appear and they are currently trying to make it a "trifecta". Given Matthews attitude towards the Clintons its hard to imagine she will agree to appear but one never knows. Until then these clips from '02 will have to suffice.

I broke the tape up into 4 videos of 5-10 minutes each so they fit within the limits of YouTube. Besides, who wants to watch 35 minutes of non-stop Hillary!. To make them fit, one segment is out of order but it does not impact the viewers ability to follow the conversation. The other three segments are below the fold.

BTW, I might mention the reason I taped this was because I was there. I was sitting behind the SUNY Albany Glee Club, dressed in green t-shirts, stage left.

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Guest Host: Rachel Maddow

Maybe Keith needs to work on his tan.
Or he's out with Merlot and a fan.
The spin musn't stray far,
So Keith picked his guest star.
For tonight, Rachel Maddow's his man.

Yes, MSNBC rewards Err America for the high intellectual level of their programming by letting one of their comedians host Countdown. With Randi Rhodes unavailable, the infamous, deplorable Keith Olbermann has decided to let the lovely Rachel Maddow sit in his chair.

If it's Friday, it's our weekly assessment of Krazy Keith's masculinity. During a four-day week, Monkeymann attacked Fox and other broadcasters 26 times. Olby's source (Hillary Clinton's Media Matters) criticized (MS)NBC 15 times, but Keithy protected his corporate masters with zero criticisms. In addition, a five-point penalty for Oralmann's shameless refusal to even mention, let alone utter a syllable of criticism of, the vile remarks of Err America's Randi Rhodes. That makes this week's Olbermann Manhood Quotient: -87 [eunuch limp].

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 697th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

As folks have noticed, we had a series of hiccups in getting our new software up and running. We appear to have sorted the template issues that were preventing us from posting to the site and, as you can see, J$ was able to post last night. We continue to experience problems with getting the commenting feature to work correctly and until we get that sorted out comments are, in effect, disabled. The bad news here is that we are still not clear on the cause of the problem(s) with commenting so I cannot say when it will be fixed. There is always the option to enable commenting for anyone but I refuse to do that; we are biting the bullet and ending the ability of trolls to disrupt the site. I'd rather have the site go through a period with no comments than go back to what we were experiencing before.

Again, for folks who sent in requests for logins to comment. I have them and once we get things squared away I will set up a group of beta testers for the commenting feature. Eventually we will open that up more but for now we'd roll out slowly with registered commenters.

I apologize for the problems. I share your frustrations. All we can do is chalk it up to "more fun with computers"! :-)

"COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN" (8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. ET)

Host: Keith Olbermann

Topics/Guests:

• 2008 ELECTION: Richard Wolffe, Newsweek senior White House correspondent and MSNBC political analyst; Howard Fineman; Rachel Maddow, Air America radio host and MSNBC political analyst
• PUPPETTHEATERAMA

Olby bellowed the opening spiel: Obama gets more endorsements! Bill Jefferson Clinton shouts! Polls show Obama stronger than Hill! McCain driving away voters! Attack Tony Snow! And a Puppet Theater Extravaganza, just like Edward R Murrow used to do! It's hump day at Olbermann Watch.

#5: Lee Hamilton endorses Obama. Why is it daylight out the window behind Monkeymann? B.J. Clinton screams at super delegates! Clinton recycles a Reagan joke! Why is there no "live" on the screen? Hamilton has so much credibility! The Wolffe Man simpered and was Great Thanksed.

Ah we get it. The Hour of Spin is on tape: recorded earlier for broadcast at this time.

On to Talking Point #2: Hillary Clinton is not electable: she is "finished". It's a "steamroller" for Obama! Why aren't these super delegates falling into line anyhow? The Pundit for All Occasions was suitably pliable.

After a Comedian [Ding!] came #4: Conservatives are rebelling against McCain! It's a bloody disaster! His campaign is shipwrecked on the shores of right-wing outrage!!! "Key conservatives" aren't supporting him, you know, people like Alfred Regnery. Olby rattled off a list of fringe types as if they were names from Mt Rushmore. Lunatic fringe! Lunatic fringe! [Ding!] [Ding!] Reminder: McCain is "in his 70s". Comedian Maddow, today playing an expert on Republican politics, was Olby's left-hand man and suggested McCain would run an anti-gay campaign!

After bellowing "Jesus Christ on a Spoon!"--twice--plus another Comedian [Ding!] and a plug for puppet "journalism" (yes, he used the J-word), Oralmann gave us #3: reruns of old Iraq coverage. Yep, it's tape on tape! Tape squared! More of Olbermann's double-taping! #2: plug for #1. #1: More tape on tape: puppet theater journalism highlights.

In the Media Matters Minute, Fat Ass attacked Steve Doocy (Blue Blog Source: Raw Story) of Fixed News! [Ding!], comedian [Ding!] Rush Limbaugh (Blue Blog Source: Hillary Clinton's Media Matters) who has a "robot audience" and has been "married three times" with "no children" (who needs substance when personal attacks are the bestest attacks on OlbyPlanet?), and worst: cancer patient Tony Snow (Blue Blog Source: Think Progress), of Fox Noise [Ding!] (bzzt, wrong!). Of course Bear called Snow a liar.

Tonight's MisterMeter reading [not counting all the tape-on-tape rerun segments]: 1 [LOW]

And that's The Hour of Spin for this, the 695th day since the declaration that "Karl Rove will in fact be indicted".

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