Political Ruminations

Morning Quote

Olbermann called out Jessica Yellin, CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent (hard to believe she is that) for this utterly stupid comment, emphasis mine:

“If this is as dire as the White House says it is, and as it would seem the capital markets are suggesting it is, why not just give the Republicans want they want? Why not just cave and say, "you know what? You want only cuts, fine. To save America and save the economy, we'll give you cuts, we'll raise the debt ceiling, and we'll fight another day on the other issues that matter to Democrats.”

Watch:

John Dean: Rehnquist and Mitchell Forced Justice Fortis to Resign

Olbermann discusses the Walmart ruling and the resignation of Justice Fortis with former White House Counsel under Nixon, John Dean,  on Countdown last night:

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Morning Quote: Keith Olbermann

In a reaction to the Wisconsin debacle yesterday, Keith Olbermann, last night on his blog:

Still having never learned to be calm, retract their claws, and sit around and act rationally in a situation that calls for panic, Wisconsin’s Republicans and their Corporate Puppeteers tonight guaranteed themselves an unprecedented and disastrous recall next January.

More over, they also guaranteed themselves that any cloak of stealth under which they have operated in their attacks on teachers, firefighters, policemen, unions, and the settled law of collective bargaining, has been stripped away. If you pass a supposedly urgent “budget repair” bill with key budget components cut from it, you forfeit the fiction that you are doing anything remedial, anything essential, anything except a naked power grab on behalf of corporations who will get the money stolen from organized labor – civic or private.

And further, when you accomplish all this by parliamentary trick – after your national party has spent two years and more decrying Congressional reconciliation – when you deny the minority the right to participate in the outcome whether by compromise or protest, you cut through the cacophony of political-speak in this country and you transmit your sneering indifference towards democracy to ordinary citizens who do not normally pay attention.

VIDEO: Who the Tea Party Candidates Really Are & What They Want

Keith Olbermann's special comment last night was too excellent and informative to pass up. It isn't short, but it is well worth the time to listen. [hey, I should be packing, but I took the time to listen, and to post the vid] Please do listen. Please, please, vote.

VOTE. And drag everyone you know along with you. FYI, Olbermann was one of those who has been highly critical of the pres, and was going to sit out the vote. He will be voting now.

Via Bob Cesca

VIDEO - Olbermann: There is no "Ground Zero Mosque"

Precisely right. So why does our media persist in validating this false notion?

Steve Benen [emphasis added]:

I realize that Olbermann's special comments don't resonate with everyone. But even if you don't find his analysis especially compelling, pay particular attention to his description of the facts in the case of Park51 -- it's not at Ground Zero, it's not a mosque, and even characterizing it as two blocks away is generous. The community won't be "in the shadow" of Ground Zero; it won't even be visible from Ground Zero. Hell, developers aren't even calling it the Cordoba House anymore, in the hopes that a more generic name -- Park51 -- will set minds at ease.

Everything about this debate is largely a sham, cooked up by conservatives who hope to pit Americans against each other in advance of an election cycle.

The bare minimum of a sensible, constructive public discourse is a base of reality to build upon. At this point, we're not even close.