Slog - Comments on What A Difference Five Months Makes http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes As Glenn Greenwald points out today, MSNBC hack Keith Olbermann used harsh language to condemn the Bush administration for supporting warrantless wiretaps and immunity for telecoms in this year's FISA bill. In a ten-minute "Special Comment," Olbermann referred to FISA (inaccurately, but whatever) as "literally a textbook example of fascism, the merged efforts of government and corporations that answer to no government." Then, noting Bush's coziness with telecommunications lobbyists, Olbermann continued: This is no longer just a farce in which protecting telecoms is dressed up as protecting us from terrorists' conference cells. Now it begins to look like the bureaucrats... Copyright 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:21:18 -0800 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:32:21 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Ziggity "inaccurately, but whatever"

Does not compute.

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061691 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061691 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:43:01 -0800 Comment by elenchos The National Journal is going to be so embarrassed when this gets out.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061693 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061693 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:47:15 -0800 Comment by meanie oh man, screw obama then, this convinced me. lets vote for McCain!

]]> meanie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061699 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061699 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:50:54 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi OK, except on all those votes Obama supported the death penalty as punishment for actual murder, not for the rape of children.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061702 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061702 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:57:37 -0800 Comment by Hello. I have a question for either (in order) Ari, Amy, Dan, or Tim Why isn't elenchos, a regular Slogger for ages, listed under Friends or Enemies of Slog, yet Ms. I Never Even Knew Slog Existed Until I Was Asked To Slog And Shortly After Slogging I Gave Up And Came To The Conclusion That I Hate Slog is?

]]> Hello. I have a question for either (in order) Ari, Amy, Dan, or Tim http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061704 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061704 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:58:59 -0800 Comment by Andy Niable Yes I Can... disagree with Obama on a few issues, and still enthusiastically support him, work for his election, and vote for him in the fall.

And so can a whole lot of other people.

]]> Andy Niable http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061706 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061706 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:03:11 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo Okay, Olbermann is definitely a pundit, but "hack?" Because he has a political axe to grind? Wouldn't painting with such a broad brush also tend to condemn the sort of advocacy journalism that is one of the Stranger's trademarks?

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061710 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061710 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:06:03 -0800 Comment by also Hmmf, well, I actually agree with ECB for once. Facism means the state controlling the means of production; that the ruling party and power also runs the largest businesses. Getting cozy over (clearly unconstitutional) wiretapping is evil and wrong, but it is not facism.

But then she starts talking about Obama, and as usual, loses all perspective and intellectual honesty. Let's see, we shouldn't be surprised by Obama's stance on the death penalty for child *rape*, because he supported it for *murder*, *murder*, *murder*, and *murder*. Obviously, anyone who supports the death penalty for murder is bound to support it for other crimes.

By ECB's twisted and incoherent logic, we shouldn't be surprised if Obama supports executing jaywalkers. It's just part of his larger pattern, after all.

And she actually used the word "hack" with no sense of irony.

]]> also http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061715 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061715 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:12:48 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I agree, ECB, we should be outraged and not vote for Obama, just to spite ourselves.

And while we're at it, how much do they pay you from the Clinton 2012 campaign for hit pieces like this, where you try to help Dems defeat themselves?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061723 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061723 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:24:55 -0800 Comment by brett oh please, Will. it's not a hit piece, it's a valid point to make. yes, obama's support of FISA is pure craven political ass-covering (he previously opposed it) and no, it doesn't mean anyone who points that out is secretly trying to rally liberals for McSame.

]]> brett http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061729 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061729 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:31:25 -0800 Comment by AMB Hillary Clinton's opposition to FISA, the war in Iraq, and the death penalty is, of course, well-documented!

Oh wait...

]]> AMB http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061744 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061744 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:52:05 -0800 Comment by elswinger It takes a hack like you to call someone as brilliant as Keith Olbermann a hack. What shred of respect I had for you has at long last evaporated.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061764 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061764 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:21:38 -0800 Comment by V Obama is a pretty moderate candidate on many issues, but he has a strong record on death penalty reform in Illinois, where 13 later exonerated people had been scheduled to be put to death. As you know, one of his biggest victories in the state Senate was passing legislation that requires all interrogations and confessions to be videotaped to discourage coercion or intimidation.

In contrast with McCain's statement, "Today’s Supreme Court ruling is an assault on law enforcement’s efforts to punish these heinous felons for the most despicable crime", Obama's is sensible:

"I have said repeatedly that I think that the death penalty should be applied in very narrow circumstances for the most egregious of crimes... I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime and if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that that does not violate our Constitution."
]]> V http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061787 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061787 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:55:48 -0800 Comment by pragmatic Why is this a surprise? Keith Olbermann is the Bill O'Reilly of Democrats.

]]> pragmatic http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061810 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061810 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:02:53 -0800 Comment by Sad Comment @12 said it best!

Ok, ok, I get it you hate men, they are all mean and evil, they stole The Primary election from Clinton. You will not be satisfied until they are made to pay, Obama and Olbermann must be made to pay for all of the perceived slights against Clinton. Can we move on now?

]]> Sad Comment http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061812 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061812 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:07:28 -0800 Comment by vooodooo84 @12 Even as a fan of both Obama and Olbermann I can see how colored and biased Keith is when it comes to Obama. His whole speaking truth to power Murrow/"Network" schtick is far more powerful if he holds his friends to the same standards that he holds his enemies to.

]]> vooodooo84 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061827 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061827 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:50:03 -0800 Comment by cochise. I knew you read NO QUARTER. Your copycat post came 9 minutes after Larry Johnson's post:

"Keith Olbermann’s B.O. Problem"

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/06/27/keith-olbermanns-bo-problem/

]]> cochise. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061849 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061849 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:12:15 -0800 Comment by clintonsarmy We won't support NO-Bama whatsoever and will re-defeat him in November!!!

]]> clintonsarmy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061872 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061872 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:35:44 -0800 Comment by Sad Comment @18
Ralph Nader is that you?

]]> Sad Comment http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061883 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061883 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:04:56 -0800 Comment by pablocjr Hack? Fuck you, ECB.

I can't wait to read your post that attempts to justify your McCain vote.

]]> pablocjr http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061888 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061888 2008 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:37:35 -0800 Comment by Mr. X ECB's post is a textbook example of what happens when big-time hypocrites get all worked up over someone else's hypocrisy.

That said, I agree @16 - this wasn't Olbermann's best work by a long shot.

But "hack"? Please.

]]> Mr. X http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061906 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061906 2008 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:32:09 -0800 Comment by danfansarewarmongersupporters Say "YES" to War on Iraq by Dan Savage Oct. 2002

"War may be bad for children and other living things, but there are times when peace is worse for children and other living things, and this is one of those times."

"The War on Iraq will make it clear to our friends and enemies in the Middle East (and elsewhere) that we mean business: Free your people, reform your societies, liberalize, and democratize... or we're going to come over there, remove you from power, free your people, and reform your societies for ourselves."

Washington Post June 27, 2008

"Bomb Kills Marines, Iraqi Tribal Leaders
At Least 40 Die in Two Separate Attacks"

]]> danfansarewarmongersupporters http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061959 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061959 2008 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:45:53 -0800 Comment by danfansarewarmongersupporters Say "YES" to War on Iraq by Dan Savage Oct. 2002

"War may be bad for children and other living things, but there are times when peace is worse for children and other living things, and this is one of those times."

"The War on Iraq will make it clear to our friends and enemies in the Middle East (and elsewhere) that we mean business: Free your people, reform your societies, liberalize, and democratize... or we're going to come over there, remove you from power, free your people, and reform your societies for ourselves."

Washington Post June 27, 2008

"Bomb Kills Marines, Iraqi Tribal Leaders
At Least 40 Die in Two Separate Attacks"

]]> danfansarewarmongersupporters http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061973 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061973 2008 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:58:25 -0800 Comment by Clinton 2012 Wow, you are so right ECB! Thanks for opening my eyes, I'll vote for McCain just like you! That'll leave 1 liberal judge left on the Supreme Court, but it's worth it right?

By the way, I'd love to hear you address the coincidence cochise points out above.

]]> Clinton 2012 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061979 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061979 2008 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:12:33 -0800 Comment by Good Grief The irony of ECB referring to Olbermann as a hack made me laugh out loud. I've not been able to read the slog that often lately, but I am happy to see that ECB's inanity is alive and well.

]]> Good Grief http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061980 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1061980 2008 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:17:25 -0800 Comment by Big Sven I guess what I'm supposed to learn from this thread is that the 49% of us who supported Clinton but switched to Obama are NEVER supposed to say ANYTHING bad about him. Ever.

Do any of you Erica-haters honestly believe she would vote for McCain? Dumbfucks.

Oh, and Keith Olbermann *is* a hack. Read the latest New Yorker piece. He's a twitchy prima donna.

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062028 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062028 2008 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:02:58 -0800 Comment by montex Earth to ECB! Earth to ECB!

Hillary is out of the race. Get used to it.


]]> montex http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062242 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062242 2008 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:01:49 -0800 Comment by Allen Is there an ECB filter that I can turn on so that I don't have to see her hate-filled posts any longer? ECB, are you related to E.B. Hill?

]]> Allen http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062379 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062379 2008 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:40:44 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways hacks who live in glass houses...

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062635 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/what_a_difference_five_months_makes#c1062635 2008 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:32:21 -0800