See other Dead Constitution Articles
Title: Great Keith Olberman rant - Slams Rumsfeld but good :)
Source:
youtube
URL Source: http://utube
Published: Sep 1, 2006
Author: Keith Oberman
Post Date: 2006-09-01 18:01:02 by Jethro Tull
Keywords: None
Views: 774
Comments: 72
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Comments (1-25) not displayed.
.
.
.
#26. To: All (#25)
Oberman never mentions that Murrow was a champion for Alger Hiss....Sins of omissions.
Oh. I didn't know that either. The transcript: Keith Olberman on Rummy's Speech Published: Aug 31, 2006 The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack. Donald H. Rumsfeld is not a prophet. Mr. Rumsfeld's remarkable speech to the American Legion yesterday demands the deep analysis--and the sober contemplation--of every American. For it did not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence -- indeed, the loyalty -- of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land. Worse, still, it credits those same transient occupants -- our employees -- with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration's track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve. Dissent and disagreement with government is the life's blood of human freedom; and not merely because it is the first roadblock against the kind of tyranny the men Mr. Rumsfeld likes to think of as "his" troops still fight, this very evening, in Iraq. It is also essential. Because just every once in awhile it is right and the power to which it speaks, is wrong. In a small irony, however, Mr. Rumsfeld's speechwriter was adroit in invoking the memory of the appeasement of the Nazis. For in their time, there was another government faced with true peril--with a growing evil--powerful and remorseless. That government, like Mr. Rumsfeld's, had a monopoly on all the facts. It, too, had the "secret information." It alone had the true picture of the threat. It too dismissed and insulted its critics in terms like Mr. Rumsfeld's -- questioning their intellect and their morality. That government was England's, in the 1930's. It knew Hitler posed no true threat to Europe, let alone England. It knew Germany was not re-arming, in violation of all treaties and accords. It knew that the hard evidence it received, which contradicted its own policies, its own conclusions -- its own omniscience -- needed to be dismissed. The English government of Neville Chamberlain already knew the truth. Most relevant of all -- it "knew" that its staunchest critics needed to be marginalized and isolated. In fact, it portrayed the foremost of them as a blood-thirsty war-monger who was, if not truly senile, at best morally or intellectually confused. That critic's name was Winston Churchill. Sadly, we have no Winston Churchills evident among us this evening. We have only Donald Rumsfelds, demonizing disagreement, the way Neville Chamberlain demonized Winston Churchill. History -- and 163 million pounds of Luftwaffe bombs over England -- have taught us that all Mr. Chamberlain had was his certainty -- and his own confusion. A confusion that suggested that the office can not only make the man, but that the office can also make the facts. Thus, did Mr. Rumsfeld make an apt historical analogy. Excepting the fact, that he has the battery plugged in backwards. His government, absolute -- and exclusive -- in its knowledge, is not the modern version of the one which stood up to the Nazis. It is the modern version of the government of Neville Chamberlain. But back to today's Omniscient ones. That, about which Mr. Rumsfeld is confused is simply this: This is a Democracy. Still. Sometimes just barely. And, as such, all voices count -- not just his. Had he or his president perhaps proven any of their prior claims of omniscience -- about Osama Bin Laden's plans five years ago, about Saddam Hussein's weapons four years ago, about Hurricane Katrina's impact one year ago -- we all might be able to swallow hard, and accept their "omniscience" as a bearable, even useful recipe, of fact, plus ego. But, to date, this government has proved little besides its own arrogance, and its own hubris. Mr. Rumsfeld is also personally confused, morally or intellectually, about his own standing in this matter. From Iraq to Katrina, to the entire "Fog of Fear" which continues to envelop this nation, he, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and their cronies have -- inadvertently or intentionally -- profited and benefited, both personally, and politically. And yet he can stand up, in public, and question the morality and the intellect of those of us who dare ask just for the receipt for the Emporer's New Clothes? In what country was Mr. Rumsfeld raised? As a child, of whose heroism did he read? On what side of the battle for freedom did he dream one day to fight? With what country has he confused the United States of America? The confusion we -- as its citizens-- must now address, is stark and forbidding. But variations of it have faced our forefathers, when men like Nixon and McCarthy and Curtis LeMay have darkened our skies and obscured our flag. Note -- with hope in your heart -- that those earlier Americans always found their way to the light, and we can, too. The confusion is about whether this Secretary of Defense, and this administration, are in fact now accomplishing what they claim the terrorists seek: The destruction of our freedoms, the very ones for which the same veterans Mr. Rumsfeld addressed yesterday in Salt Lake City, so valiantly fought. And about Mr. Rumsfeld's other main assertion, that this country faces a "new type of fascism." As he was correct to remind us how a government that knew everything could get everything wrong, so too was he right when he said that -- though probably not in the way he thought he meant it. This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed. Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute, I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow. But never in the trial of a thousand years of writing could I come close to matching how he phrased a warning to an earlier generation of us, at a time when other politicians thought they (and they alone) knew everything, and branded those who disagreed: "confused" or "immoral." Thus, forgive me, for reading Murrow, in full: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty," he said, in 1954. "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. "We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular." And so good night, and good luck.
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
I defy anyone to read this script and then say they have same feelings they had from listening to the tape. With his tone, Oberman, knew what he was doing. He conned people. Just as Hitler did, no difference.
Cloaking himself in Murrow rhetoric is akin to a street walker wearing coveralls.
He wasn't going to get it on the air w/o those coveralls.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers Shirer died few years ago. He was my favorite historian. He warned people about Hitler, no one paid attention. I cannot recall if he did or did not speak of connivance of Russia. That fails me.
You get an A+...You are exactly right. Realize he had a lot of help writing this rant.
His last book was the Greatest Generation?, a theme Tom Brokow also finished his career with.
Growing up we had a copy on one of the bookshelves at home; I remember reading it.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers Nothing could rival his "Third Reich" work. That was thing I learned from his book. Pay attention to what the speaker is saying, not "how" he is saying it. Big difference and I never forgot it. I watched Bobby Kennedy at a whistlestop campaign trip.. Afterwards I asked a very enthused lady what he had to say as she was leaving. Her answer, "I dont know what he said but he said it well"... Kennedy became senator from NY.
I was drawn to this thread while reading another poster's email to me at home. I have read the entire thread and my comment is merely, "Age brings history, if you retain your memory!" You and I have lived long enough to know who Edward R. Murrow REALLY was ... and anyone quoting that man's words is not to be believed on any level.
Murrow had an FBI file.
Reminds me somehow of that fun saying "Tell it to the Marines!"; it's all in the delivery, and timing. Maybe we need to generate some new phrases, for our dubious future.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers As a test, if you listened to the tape, and then read the transcript, did you have the same reaction??????
i can see that one is at a major disadvantage from having failed history in high school. ;)
No, of course not! The words are strong and clear. He was flippant and sarcastic. It was a beautiful twist on Rumsfeld's failed attempt to make us all enablers to the terrorists, blind to the enormous evil war machine in the middle-east. It might have worked 4 years ago, but 4 years ago they had the support of most Americans.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers When u read it, you have time to pause and consider, and perhaps detect half truth or omission. With live broadcast, he hurries u from one point to another as he does not want u to consider or think about what was said.
Just as Hitler did, no difference. I didn't give him enough credit to be that smart. But it was a rousing delivery that's for sure. After reading this thread, I thought you were going to get him for other governments complicity in re-arming Germany. That they are being given a pass. Much like the arms that found their way into Iraq at the start of it. So I wonder, why DID he leave the bit out?
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
That too, and we've come to expect witty, wry humor from Olberman, not a truly serious take.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers What a learning experience this thread has been. I'm going to the garage to build an effigy of Olberman. ;)
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
Jesse...thanks for posting the transcript.... Picture Olberman in uniform, behind a lectern...would you have been a little scared of his delivery? Not the content, just his delivery???
MUHAHAHAHAHA ... Can I help????
Jesse.. Sins of omission. Without the internet we would have little recourse to his rabid rantings. I and most here dislike Rumsfeld, Bush and the rest, but we keep it in proper context and understanding. Invoking Hitler at every turn, Nixon, McCarthy etc means you have nothing to carry your own ideas, you have to drag along others to carry the moment.
BTW, there's another earlier thread with the transcript:
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers Christine: Let what you read on your own site be the lesson that causes you now to pursue history. At an age, I might add, that you can appreciate its importance. (History ALWAYS repeats itself.) There are some excellent posters here, with good recall and/or sources for history that is omitted/disallowed on other sites like FR and LP. Hopefully, the interrupters do NOT interfere with that which is made available here.
People who disagree are allowed to debate, and indeed we do not agree on everything. But trolls, shills and disrupters are not here long.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers My HS history never got close to WW 1 much less WW11. A little odd, is it not, that the biggest events of the century are totally ignored by HS history classes?
i know and i treasure them too.
As do I, Christine.
Just as Hitler did, no difference. Who would have thought, Olbermann...another "great man"???
FDR said one thing that was truthful..he said something to the effect that..."Events that seemed to happen were a long time in planning".. Think of that in terms of WW1 and WW2.
Not mine! WWII and the Holocaust are taught throughout the Los Angeles Unified City School District, trust me. They may never learn to calculate the interest they will one day pay for their cars, but they know all about those years, and what happened in a few evil places in europe. Schoolchildren may not know their own family's history, but they know all about other people's history. sidenote: My 19 year old tells me that the History Channel is referred to as the Hitler Channel by his age mates.
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers Wellllllllllll, it depends. If he were screetching at me in another language, then yes. But, I have come to expect screaming now, after 6 years of polarizing rhetoric paraded before us as political debate. I tune OUT their blatent tricks to rile me around their fires. I can't stand it. If I see it on TV, hear it on radio, I turn it off. With all the spittin' that AlGore did, and you knew he was serious because he turned red, I equate spitting screeds with insanity. I take your point seriously though. The political climate has numbed me, but not dumbed me.
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
LOL! Be sure to bring some pitchforks and torches. ;)
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
i recall only the ancient world history. jeez, was it boring and so irrelevant to my life. the text book was 5 inches thick and heavy. you know, i still have a recurrent nightmare that i'm at school, have a world history test and i'm lost in the hallways and can't find the classroom! i wake in a cold sweat. :P
They fade eventually, give it another 7 years ;P
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers It was true... I forget the mans name that took Hitler in tow in the 1920s and taught him how to project himself onto the audience, not what he had to say. Hitler mastered it as we all have seen.
That is an EXCELLENT point Cyni. I think I FINALLY take the point here. We'll not know if he was unable or unwilling to bring his own thoughts for debate to the table.. as he cheats his audience by using flashcards, they will they fill in, with their own meaning.
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
http://freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=33630&Disp Thanks Robin! Great comments on that thread too...
"Persecution, whenever it occurs, establishes only the power and cunning of the persecutor, not the truth and worth of his belief." -- H. M. Kallen (1882-1974)
And then think of that in terms of what we are seeing now, both in Iraq and in Lebanon with Hezbowlalalala.
Now that is funny, humorous, knee slapper, a real laffer. Conscience is working at night.
Comments (67 - 72) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latestahhh.
#27. To: Cynicom (#26)
Oberman never mentions that Murrow was a champion for Alger Hiss....Sins of omissions.
#28. To: jessejane (#27)
Oh. I didn't know that either.
#29. To: jessejane (#27)
"We will not walk in fear, one of another.
#30. To: Cynicom (#29)
#31. To: Jethro Tull (#24)
Didn't he die a few years back kinda young? He looked to be in great shape & health and I remember it took me by surprise. He was a wonderful historian. LOved his appearances on C-Span with Brian Lamb.
#32. To: robin (#30)
He wasn't going to get it on the air w/o those coveralls.
#33. To: Cynicom (#31)
#34. To: Cynicom, Jethro Tull (#31)
"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich"
#35. To: Jethro Tull (#33)
His last book was the Greatest Generation?,
#36. To: Cynicom (#32)
You get an A+...
#37. To: Phant2000 (#36)
Edward R. Murrow REALLY was
#38. To: Cynicom (#35)
(Edited)
That was thing I learned from his book. Pay attention to what the speaker is saying, not "how" he is saying it. Big difference and I never forgot it.
#39. To: robin (#38)
; it's all in the delivery, and timing.
#40. To: Phant2000, Cynicom (#36)
#41. To: Cynicom (#39)
#42. To: robin (#41)
No, of course not!
#43. To: Cynicom (#28)
With his tone, Oberman, knew what he was doing. He conned people.
#44. To: Cynicom (#42)
#45. To: Phant2000 (#36)
You and I have lived long enough to know who Edward R. Murrow REALLY was ... and anyone quoting that man's words is not to be believed on any level.
#46. To: jessejane (#43)
So I wonder, why DID he leave the bit out?
#47. To: jessejane (#45)
I'm going to the garage to build an effigy of Olberman
#48. To: All (#46)
So I wonder, why DID he leave the bit out?
#49. To: Cynicom, jessejane (#46)
#50. To: christine (#40)
"... major disadvantage from having failed history ..."
#51. To: Phant2000 (#50)
Hopefully, the interrupters do NOT interfere with that which is made available here.
#52. To: christine (#40)
i can see that one is at a major disadvantage from having failed history in high school. ;)
#53. To: Phant2000 (#50)
There are some excellent posters here, with good recall and/or sources for history
#54. To: christine (#53)
i know and i treasure them too.
#55. To: Cynicom (#28)
With his tone, Oberman, knew what he was doing. He conned people.
#56. To: tom007 (#52)
My HS history never got close to WW 1 much less WW11.
#57. To: tom007 (#52)
#58. To: Cynicom (#46)
Picture Olberman in uniform, behind a lectern...would you have been a little scared of his delivery? Not the content, just his delivery???
#59. To: Phant2000 (#47)
MUHAHAHAHAHA ... Can I help????
#60. To: tom007 (#52)
#61. To: christine (#60)
i still have a recurrent nightmare that i'm at school, have a world history test and i'm lost in the hallways and can't find the classroom!
#62. To: Brian S (#55)
Just as Hitler did, no difference.
#63. To: Cynicom (#48)
means you have nothing to carry your own ideas, you have to drag along others to carry the moment.
#64. To: robin (#49)
To: Cynicom, jessejane BTW, there's another earlier thread with the transcript:
#65. To: Cynicom (#56)
Think of that in terms of WW1 and WW2.
#66. To: christine (#60)
i'm lost in the hallways and can't find the classroom! i wake in a cold sweat. :P
.
.
.