Thank you, Keith Olbermann

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As a "child" of an 85-year-old in the hospital this week, bearing witness to families around us in the ICU unit who are dealing with the trauma of trying to figure out arrangements for their loved ones and what will be allowed by insurance and what won't as they cope with the challenges of medical conditions....

As one who saw too much of the trauma of families dealing with the harshness of the healthcare coverage system amid their traumas of medical circumstance and care during the long years of my husband's illnesses which finally claimed him last July, I have just two words for Keith Olbermann's special comment:

Thank you.

It can't be easy for Mr. Olbermann to talk so publicly about his father's situation. And I thank him for his courage. It can't be easy to advocate so rawly for the reform the American healthcare system so desperately needs. So I thank him for his fortitude. It can't be easy to contain the full extent of the passion he brings to the table. So I thank him for expressing via his microphone what so many of us know and care about and do whatever we can, too, to advocate for.

We may not win this battle—the lobbyists and entrenched interests and too many gutless, selfish politicians and fools weigh against us.

But the cause is just, the need is real, and the people we love deserve no less than our full effort.

So thank you, Keith Olbermann. You honor your father.
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And for one day, this day, my heart is a bit lighter because we've stepped back from the brink, Mom's out of ICU and into a regular room. Go, Mom!
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crossposted at firedoglake's Seminal

Prairie Recommends: Olbermann on Death Panels

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Tonight Keith Olbermann in Special Comment eviscerated the opportunistic and cynical Republican Anarchist Thugs who are fearmongering health care reform and egging on the basest of human darkness.

Example: the power junkie Glenn Beck who goes from tellin' his listeners not to do anything like...oh, what he's talkin' about...to fantasizing about poisoning the female Speaker of the House in some sort of snuff porn lollapalooza.

Beck is one sick mofo. Mrs. Beck best watch her own safety.

And Sarah Palin's crazitudinous griftin' speaks for itself.

So Olbermann reaches out to the ordinary people, and even the muttonheads who might yet listen to reason, and implores them to think. To reason. To use common sense.

When the rabid RATs are determined to destroy this presidency, this president at any cost, one hopes the nation of muttonheads will realize that they've been listening to wolves in sheep's clothing.

And the flock that will suffer most if they continue closing their eyes, their ears, theirs hearts to that reason, that common sense, is their own.

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UPDATE: LINK HERE to Keith Olbermann's Special Comment to Palin, Beck and the rest of the RATs...oh, and the rest of us.

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crossposted at firedoglake's The Seminal

Prairie Postcard: Gramm's Fairy Tales

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Last night, mainstream media in the program of Keith Olbermann's Countdown showed that true investigative journalism is alive and rarin' to go despite the best efforts of a tiny band of corporate overlords co-opted with Team BushCo to stifle anything that might discredit or otherwise expose the naked corruption of the Republican brand.

The short story: Former Texas Senator Phil-the-pill Gramm, who never met a regulation he didn't try to stomp into the dirt, was a paid lobbyist for UBS, a gigagantic Swiss bank with heavy investments deep in the U.S. mortgage market while also serving as John McCain's key economic advisor...and lobbying Congress for industry-friendly legislation.

Oh, the tentacles of corruption and cronyism they do run deep. While you're over at Keith's place, take a look at this picture and tell me if it doesn't make you think of the Brothers Grimm...and likely to get grimmer.

The moral of the tale: choose your friends wise, and your advisors wiser.... or you're liable to end up with: it's the economy--stupid.

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This is one of three stories poppin' already today. Scotty McClellan's book release is stirring the pot about how Team BushCo lied us into Iraq. Obama methodically added another three superdelegates this morning.

Go ahead and cruise around the blogosphere. here. here. here. here. Read what the msm will be talkin' about...tomorrow...maybe....

40 Years Ago Today....

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Earlier today, I had this to say in a comment at Firedoglake in a thread led by Pachacutec's post, The Ferraro Fiasco.

Revising and extending my [previous/yesterday? it seems like a lifetime ago] remarks:

I denounce and reject Hillary Clinton.

It is too convenient by half to lay this on Geraldine Ferraro…that ol’ Gingerbread Boy fable has it… she is what she is, and demonstrably was in the past.

This is on Hillary Clinton. This divisiveness was her choice of campaign tactic. Her minions should all be called to denounce and reject her and this tactic as well. I’m lookin’ at you, Bill Nelson, Ed Rendell, Gov. Spitzer Corzine, et cetera, et cetera….

Just heard a conversation on MPR reminding us that 40 years ago today, Gene McCarthy upset the “rules” in the New Hampshire primary. I worked for Gene McCarthy’s national field staff. On this date back then, the outlook was positive, uplifting even. Before the darkness and hate set in. Spawned by purveyors of division.

On this date today, there’s still time to stay together, to be positive, uplifting even. But the fork in the road is coming up awfully fast.

The pattern of racist tactics of the Clinton campaign is clear. Unconscionable. And no smarmy half-assed wink and a nod smirking “tug back the reins” response from Hillary Clinton will suffice.

She should do as another politician has done today. Resign. Her campaign is on the wrong side of history. And the wrong side of honor.

This evening, Keith Olbermann spoke out in a powerful Special Comment.

The voices of the people must be heard. If not by Hillary Clinton, then by the Super Delegates, and the voters in the remaining primary states. Do not ally yourselves with one who divides, who chooses staff and advisors and advocates who carry out politics of hate and division. Do not let yourselves be brought down to the level of this campaign.