God Bless Our Freedom of Speech...and Especially Keith's

Love him or hate him, but Keith Olbermann from MSNBC's "Countdown" last night just took President Bush to the woodshed for some of our Dear President's latest comments. And this "Special Comment" was nothing short of u-g-l-y. Can't say I've ever seen Mr. Olbermann come as close to yelling at the camera as he did last night.

Even if you think Olbermann's a bit of a left-wing nut (which I don't), even if you think he's a showboat (which he occasionally is, but that generally occurs when he's talking sports...which should be forgiven as he was a sports anchor and reporter for a few decades or so), even if you think he speaks too high-falutin' for this country (which is a crime against the populace how again?), you have to give the man his props: he's on a nationally-televised news program with millions of viewers and he's a proud American, albeit one who is angry as hell...and he's not afraid to say it or hide it anymore. And like all proud Americans (should), he understands and uses his right to free speech as often as he can.

Just when I think we're all being lulled to a slow asphyxiation of the brain and spirit, Mr. Olbermann strikes back with one of these gems...

One word, Mr. Olbermann: Bravo!


Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" from May 14, 2008. ©MSNBC, 2008.

If you'd like to read the transcript to this "Special Comment", The Huffington Post has it here, below the video embed.

The Glorious Wisdom of the Talking Head: Keith Olbermann's Special Comments

We are living in one of the most fearful times I, and that of any of living relatives and friends, have ever known. Fearful not only as citizens of the world community continually facing a litany of new and ever-more troubling problems within that world, but fearful as Americans. Americans, every one of us, whether we come from new immigration or from generations-long establishment as I have, are at a curious crossroads. The crossroads has landed us, very indecisively, between turning down a road that we are familiar with but will require a great cut in pride in order to follow again, or a turn down a road that is unfamiliar (to us anyway) that allows us to rewrite the rules as we only see fit, since we are currently the only remaining superpower...today, anyways. It's a kind of fear that while strong and justified immediately following the days of 9/11, it's a fear previous generations would have met head on, accepted the challenge, and shown the world the interior grit and eloquence as a nation...a grit and eloquence that brought us forward as a superpower to begin with.

I, for one, am weary of living in fear. But what's worse, I am more weary of the deception that I should be paranoid, distrustful, and/or flat out hate those who don't like my ideals, worship my values, idolize my money or my financial way of life, or look, think, and act like I do. I am one of the millions who harbour these concerns. The United States of America that my parents brought me up in has survived far more sinister Presidents than the current holder, but none as dangerous and unchecked. The United States of America that my relatives fought for, dating back to prior of its existence, is slowly eroding away in front of my eyes, away from my values, away from my way of life, away from my day to day actions.

Good news, though, folks: we do not walk alone. Keith Olbermann, from MSNBC's "Countdown" TV program can do what (it seems) like all three of our governing bodies in Washington and beyond cannot: he 'gets' it. Give this man a bullhorn and let there be great rejoicing throughout the land.

Olbermann's Special Comment on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 8/30/2006

Special Commentary on the Five Year Anniversary of 9/11, 9/11/2006

The Blazing "It's Unacceptable to Think" Commentary, 9/18/2006


The man has been on fire lately. May this wonderful voice become the chorus this country...this Western world even...so desperately needs to hear now. Good night and good luck, indeed.