Daily Kos

Propagannon: Olbermann Covers the Story

by captnjaq

Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:14:10 PM PDT

Keith Olbermann is running the Jeff Gannon story ("Gannon Fodder") in Countdown's first slot tonight, describing his questions as, "Ali G without the satire."

Catch the repeat later tonight, it's 9pm Pacific.  (Not sure about the east coast time.)

He does a great video compilation of Jeff's press conference questions.  He also framed the story as not only a media scandal, but a security concern.  He covered most of the major angles: the phoniness of Talon, the hot military studs, the Plame leak, the McClellan lifeline, and a nice segue into the official 24-hour Pentagon TV propaganda network.

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Permalink | 264 comments

  •  Did you view the segment? (none / 0)

    It sounds like Olbermann really did a good story.

    .

    by MKS on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:12:41 PM PDT

    •  RECOMMEND THIS DIARY (none / 0)

      Reporting like Keith's needs to be encouraged.  Let's give him a nice long run on the Kudos.

      Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

      by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:44:04 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Absolutely (4.00 / 2)

        Share the love. Tell him how much we appreciate his courage, integrity and humor. Watch his show, write MSNBC, and read his blog. Give the execs no room to squeeze him out in favor of more GOPTV.

        I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward freedom and democracy. But that could change. -Dan Quayle

        by tf cappello on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:57:06 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  olbermann takes down gannon (4.00 / 11)

      round one.

      tonight, mr. olbermann officially started the first "main stream media take down" of " gannon" in the most comprehensive way to date.

      it included a mix of the best of parody and fun factual visuals that most kos writers and readers could only dream about.

      his eye-opening piece consisting of several dated clips of "gannon" asking the president and scott mcclellan leading questions in official white house briefings was almost too much to see all at once. it was very effective.

      he brought up the dubious sex for hire websites, the fake talon news agency, gopusa.com and more importantly, the valerie plame connection.

      then he had dana milbank from the washington post on to opine.

      for the sake of journalistic integrity, they both agreed to refer to "gannon" as "mr. g".

      milbank spoke of seeing "gannon" with what he believed was a "real, permanent" press pass not the "daily press pass" that the white house press office today insisted it has been issuing him.

      milbank and olbermann also implied that scott mcclellan was complicit in "playing along" with the story that "gannon" was a real journalist.  

      i think that is where the story is going..

      transcript will follow shortly.

      by mott street on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:16:01 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  hard pass (4.00 / 3)

        you'd think that would be fairly easy to verify.  someone with a shitload of time on their hands needs to go through the gaggle videos on c-span.  if gannon is in any of the frames, his pass should be visible.  i saw a picture this morning of gannon in the gaggle - does anyone have a link to it?  can you see his pass?

        John Cornyn is an asshole with shoes. Support Rick Noriega!

        by anna on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:18:07 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  This SHOULD be a smoking gun... (4.00 / 14)

        "milbank and olbermann also implied that scott mcclellan was complicit in "playing along" with the story that "gannon" was a real journalist."

        And it should be coupled with the many other examples of this administration's disinformation and secrecy campaign, such as:

        -holding no press conferences
        -appearing only before friendly audiences.
        -having Cheney with him when he spoke to investigators.
        -payola for right wing commentators

        It's the most Un-Amerian thing they do.

        Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

        by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:20:21 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  you forgot the fake news segments (4.00 / 9)

          they've done at least two, one on the Medicaid bill, the other on drugs.

          Only Democrats need to "pay for" any of their proposals; it's just understood that Republicans are "fiscal conservatives." - Atrios

          by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:43:44 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Our Democracy is Broken (4.00 / 2)

          It makes you wish we had a parliamentary system where the government is forced to stand up and get grilled by the opposition on a daily basis.  Our system is broken.  We need to face that fact right now if we are going to fix it.  We have an Imperial Presidency and there are no checks on the system, not from the press, not from the courts, and not from the Congress.

          by ortcutt on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:25:38 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Can you imagine Bush getting grilled by... (none / 1)

            the Brittish Parlament?  He'd have had a nervous breakdown within about 30 minutes.

            Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

            by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:38:01 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  EVERY week.... (none / 1)

            ...as I watch C-SPAN's coverage of Blair getting grilled in the House of Commons, I think about how our current mush-mouth would fare under similar hostile questions.

            Think of it, W. rarely even lets reporters ask follow-ups.

            "Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing glove." P.G. Wodehouse

            by gsbadj on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:41:19 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  On the other hand... (none / 1)

              ...there's much more centralized power in the British system than here.  Heck, the GOP controls both houses of Congress, the White House, and, effectively, the SCOTUS, yet the Bush administration still can't get everything they want.

              In Britain, if you have a Parliamentary majority (which can often be achieved with well under 50% of the vote), you not only control the national government (without a written constitution and judicial review as a check), but you essentially have veto power over local government. When Thatcher clashed with London's local government in the '80s, she literally abolished it!  

              Things have gotten a little less centralized of late, especially with the semi-devolution of power to Scotland and Wales.  But especially given the current political lay of the land in this country, I'm very glad we have our system instead.  I favor pretty radical reforms of the way we conduct elections, redistrict congress, elect presidents, and so forth. But I'd never trade our system in for the UK's.

              This nicely summarizes what's wrong with American political life today. (Source)

              by GreenSooner on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 09:27:40 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Germany and Canada (4.00 / 2)

                You can have a government which is both federal and parliamentary.  Germany and Canada are examples.

                The UK is also a strange case in that they have no written constitution so there are few explicit curbs on the government's powers.  However, most parliamentary systems have a written constitution with judicial review.

                by ortcutt on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 10:59:31 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

          •  Pardon my ignorance of American presidencies (none / 0)

            But have presidents stood in congress or the senate to debate the house on certain topics?  Or is the POTUS allowed free reign without grilling questions from the other branches?

            "now this is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." W. Churchill

            by Thor Heyerdahl on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 10:11:35 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Presidents do not stand in either House nor (none / 1)

              in joint sessions to debate.  They may be invited to address the House and/or Senate, but not as a debate.  Congress has investigative powers and may do oversight of the administration, but the President has Executive Privilege which allows him to protect any info he uses to make decisions.  Congress may not demand to see such info.  Congress may request administration appointees come before them for questioning during hearings.  I believe they have subpoena powers when they do oversight.

              "The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them." ~Mark Twain

              by PoliSigh on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 10:56:21 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

            •  no, but (4.00 / 2)

              when Pres. Clinton did his town hall meeting presentations on issues, he made a point of INCLUDING people opposed to his proposals.

              of course, that's because Clinton actually understood the issues, could articulate his position and welcomed debate.  3 characteristics our current President is pathetically lacking

              by pitbullEmily on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 08:01:20 AM PDT

              [ Parent ]

      •  press pass (none / 0)

        There is a picture at the very top in the
        Propangannon Rogues Gallery showing Gannon wearing a pass around his neck. The around the neck part has the same blue ribbon color as one further down the page (Bush 1/26/05 conference, C-Span photo) of Gannon at a White House press conference.
        Is it possible to find out from the photo if this pass is a daily one, or a real permanant one like Milbank refers too?

        The opposite of war is not peace, it's creation --Jonathan Larson

        by MaggieEh on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:33:21 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Rats.. (none / 0)

          Correction: I was thinking this top photo was also taken with Gannon at a White House related function, from what I remebered of its original context. But if that isn't true, and I can't seem to find if it is or isn't, then it's no help at all.
          Would have been nice...

          The opposite of war is not peace, it's creation --Jonathan Larson

          by MaggieEh on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:04:02 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Don't focus on the lanyard (4.00 / 3)

          Most credentials in DC, be they press pass IDs or government access IDs are hung on lanyards that are supplied by the user. Most of the IDs come with a cheap, uncomfortable chain or a clip  that's almost immediately replaced with something much more comfortable. Hell, I've got four or five different lanyards laying around that I can think of. (They hand 'em out like Mardi Gras beads at military trade shows.)

          More important is to figure out if his pass has a photo on it (which means its permanent), or just a generic daily V badge.

          Formerly, a voice of objective reason in the partisan din of the U.S. National Security community.

          by mustang dvs on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 09:56:56 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  If this story breaks wide... (none / 1)

        ...it would be a hilarious Saturday Night Live spoof.

        Hey, all you GE guys...wanna re-build your audience for SNL?  How about having your newsies break one for your entertainment guys to make fun of?

        "The beginning of thought is in disagreement -- not only with others but also with ourselves." - Eric Hoffer www.InTheArena.bravehost.com

        by Thinking Republican on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 10:06:54 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  kurtz swallows.. and then weighs in (none / 1)

        finally:

        kurtz plays catch-up and then looks to Kos for blame

         

        Howie Kurtz
        WASHINGTON POST

        Among the domain names registered by Gannon's company several years ago, but never launched, were
        Hotmilitary-stud.com, Militaryescorts.com andMilitaryescortsm4m.com, along with Exposejessejackson.com.

        The bloggers also have linked to a since-withdrawn America Online photo of a man who appears to be Gannon, posing in his underwear, with a screen name bearing the initials "JDG."

        Markos Moulitsas, a San Francisco liberal who writes the popular Kos site, said of Gannon: "He has been extremely anti-gay in his writings. He's been a shill for the Christian right. So there's a certain level of hypocrisy there that I thought was fair game and needed to be called out."  

         Asked if digging into someone's personal and business activities was proper retaliation, Moulitsas said: "If that's what it took to really bring attention to him, it's one of those unfortunate facts of reality in the way we operate today. It's sex that really draws attention to these things."

        ... In a letter to Bush, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) said that "it appears that 'Mr. Gannon's' presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your administration." She asked the president to explain why Gannon "was repeatedly cleared by your staff to join the legitimate White House press corps."  

        White House spokesman Scott McClellan dismissed the propaganda charge as "just a wild conspiracy theory." As for whether Gannon should be admitted to White House briefings, McClellan said Slaughter "must not have been watching the briefings lately, because she'd see a number of advocates in that briefing room."  

        Several White House correspondents say they saw Gannon wearing what appeared to be a permanent White House pass with his picture and pseudonym -- legal names are generally required because of the Secret Service background check -- and that McClellan sometimes called on Gannon when he  wanted a softer question. McClellan disputed this, saying he calls on reporters "row by row." He also said Gannon did not have a permanent pass and was admitted on a day-to-day basis like many other journalists, adding that he does not meddle with the process on political grounds.

        by mott street on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 10:16:03 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I saw the segment on Wolf Blitzer with Kurtz (none / 1)

          They still don't have a clue--the whole thing was spun that liberals don't like Gannon because he's conservative, not for any wrong doing and that there is no link to the White House. And horrible liberals are sending him death threats so that's why he quit.  Kurtz kept emphasizing that the liberal bloggers have gone too far looking into Gannon's background. So once again liberals are unreasonable, mean, and intollerent of the poor conservative's point of view--oh yeah and out of touch with reality.  I just sat and screamed at the TV screen.

          "The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them." ~Mark Twain

          by PoliSigh on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 11:02:26 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  this should be easy, shouldn't it? (none / 0)

          Several White House correspondents say they saw Gannon wearing what appeared to be a permanent White House pass with his picture and pseudonym -- legal names are generally required because of the Secret Service background check -- and that McClellan sometimes called on Gannon when he  wanted a softer question. McClellan disputed this, saying he calls on reporters "row by row."

          is there any evidence from the gaggle videos that McClellan really does this, or is this just his story, like Bush "driving too slow" to explain away his DWI?

          I'd look myself, but I've moved to Singapore, where my internet connection is slooooow.

          how can i turn italics off in my signature?

          by fightcentristbias on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 07:03:51 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  Follow the money (4.00 / 2)

        It will be interesting to see if the money trail (ie payola) leads to mr. g.  

        there are none so blind as those who will not see...

        by penglish on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 04:33:17 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  uh oh - did Olbermann slip up a bit? (none / 0)

        His e-mail alert just came out. Looks like he's going with the sloppy vetting angle. NO KEITH.
        It wasn't sloppy - it was deliberate. They knew all about what this guy was up to.

        Call and write Keith!

        * Jeff Gannon, uh Guckert, you know, whatever his name ends up being: Did the White House Press Secretary admit him without much of a vetting process... essentially, yes.
        Despite the ruse, "Gannon" still managed to gain access to many White House briefings and was one of the few reporters allowed to ask President Bush a (very friendly) question at a press conference two weeks ago. http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000796790

        by compass rose on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 10:20:06 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  OLBERMANN (none / 1)

    HAS JUST MADE HIMSELF A DEMI GOD

    It's a neighborly day in this beautywood. Relentless!

    by ablington on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:12:45 PM PDT

  •  You know I love the guy (4.00 / 5)

    But its a sad day for our country when Keith Olbermann is the most trusted name in not fake news.

    "I just had the basic view of the American public -- it can't be that bad out there." Marine Travis Williams after 11 members of his squad were killed.

    by Steven D on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:13:27 PM PDT

    •  Olberman might help make it safe... (4.00 / 5)

      for the SCLM to tiptoe back to reality.

      Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

      by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:17:56 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  He was a great sportscaster in LA (4.00 / 3)

      I remember him being overweight and wearing these sweaters on a set that was made to look like a dorm room.  He used to end his broadcasts by balling up a piece of paper and trying to throw ii into the waste basket, etc.

      He did get realy bent when they did not cancel the World Series the year of the Northridge Earthquake.  Sometimes his smart-alek routine can be a bit wearing but he is bright as can be...

      .

      by MKS on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:18:33 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  n/t (4.00 / 8)

        Yes, great on sports.  And great on history.  He's practically a walking encyclopedia on history.  And he does so love having fun with the language.  

        He still ends his broadcasts by throwing a wad of paper.  With the sound of glass breaking.

        He began on MSNBC as a sub for Jerry Nachman's show.  I think Nachman was a fan.  Nachman was an old-fashioned newsman. .. rather conservative politically but I still enjoyed him.  I kept writing to MSNBC that they should keep Keith -- he was such a welcome contrast to the fluffy heads.  And they DID keep him!

        I'd be proud to be his mom.

        Susan (my cat)

        by SusanHu on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:29:33 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  You just made me laugh, thanks! (none / 0)

          "I'd be proud to be his mom."

          I'll just bet you would be!!!!!

          "The first duty of government is to protect the powerless against the powerful."
          Code of Hammurabi, 1700 B.C.
          www.caringbridge.org/visit/brittany

          by CodeTalker on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:08:07 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Paul Harvey Sub (none / 1)

          He has filled in for Paul Harvey, and is the only person I have ever heard who could do the show justice.  I actually wrote to Paul's office, pitching for KO to get the gig full time if/when PH decides to hang it up.

          Talk about a Bully Pulpit, I would trade the Paul Harvey show for any cable news show.  I am sure when Paul leaves there will be a drop off in listeners, but 20 minutes a day syndicated to hundreds of stations would be a fabulous way to shout out THE EMPORER HAS NO CLOTHES.

          www.dailykos.com is America's Blog of Record

          by WI Deadhead on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 08:20:32 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Paul Harvey (none / 1)

            Is a dependable shill for the Republicans.  I still remember how he attacked Jimmy Carter daily back in the run up to the 1980 election.

            And after the day in which Harvey made fun of fans upset over the shooting of John Lennon ("Just wait until you see how upset they'll be when McCartney gets killed," said Mr. Harvey), I couldn't hear his voice without cringing.

            I'd take Keith in that spot in a second.

            by Devilstower on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 09:09:34 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  He also left sports (none / 1)

        for a while and went into cable. After months of all Monica all the time he threw in the towel in disgust.

        That was when I knew he had integrity and our country was sliding down urinal. A sports caster with more integrity than a front page reporter at the NYT.

        by Mike S on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:47:54 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Another Olbermann gem was (none / 1)

        his interview with Elizabeth Edwards, remember? He was so respectful and, well, smitten by her.  When she said she watched his show--and remembered him from ESPN, which one of her kids (I 'think' she said her son) loved, because he (Keith O.) was funny and smart, you could practically see Olbermann blush. He dropped his gaze and smiled with pleasure-- because it was genuine, you see-- not media pros gilding the lily, saying whatever, basking in a pool of reciprocal compliments-- but simple, straightforward, sincere... you know, like Elizabeth Edwards is.  And he dropped his wiseguy thing and was just, amazing, smart and gentlemanly.

        Man, it was sweet to see.  Along with the political substance of the interview, of course.

        Along with last night-- which was heaven!-- my favorite Keith O. moment.

        by Tulip on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 09:26:46 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  That was so sweet! (none / 1)

          I thought he got a little choked up when she talked about how she and her late son used to watch SportsCenter together. On his blog, he said he was honored to be part of her memories of her son.

          And he was smitten with her. Like a schoolboy. It was so cute.

          by hamletta on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 09:33:38 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  What _isn't_ fake news? (4.00 / 2)

      Isn't that the whole point of Shillgate?

      You can't be on the team, if you're not in the choir. Sorry.

      by peeder on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:20:32 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Olbermann on Our side before (3.83 / 6)

      You forget Olbermann was the ONLY guy covering Election irregularities as well.

      Olbermann is my most trusted Anchor on Cable News right now

      We have no desire to offend you -- unless you are a twit!

      by ScrewySquirrel on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:24:12 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Olbermann is not on "our" side (4.00 / 7)

        Or anybody else's...except The Truth.

        The man's a national treasure.

        by hamletta on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:05:32 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  The Truth IS Our side (4.00 / 5)

          unless some day conservatives are able to take over the Republican party.

          It would take a literal revolution of that kind before the "side" people are on would be a matter of trivialities like philosophy.

          We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King "Beyond Vietnam"

          by Gooserock on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:02:50 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Speaking of fake news... (none / 0)

      ...I wonder if Stewart will take this up.

      Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler - Proverbs 17:7

      by BarbinMD on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 07:28:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Countdown coverage (4.00 / 5)

    Bravo to Olbermann--real coverage,perhaps the first on mainstream media.  Make sure to let his network know his bravery is appreciated!

    ...the White House will be adorned by a downright moron...H.L. Mencken

    by bibble on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:13:45 PM PDT

  •  Yeah (4.00 / 4)

    I missed the beginning but from what I saw he did a good job.  Still some points were missing, but I don't think we can expect him to devote an entire hour to it and it would probably take that long.

    Interesting about Dana Milbank (?) saying that him and other reporters thought that they saw Gannon with a hard pass.  That is important info.

    Florida Redistricting Petition - Don't let Florida be Delayed

    by Liberalpalooza on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:14:50 PM PDT

  •  Oh. MY. GOD. (4.00 / 3)

    That was fucking AWESOME!!!

    He covered it ALL! Fake journalist, fake news org, tied to Plame Memo, other web sites...

    He interviewed Dana Milbank who asked to be addressed by his new professional name "Dirk Diggler."

    Keith Olbermann is a Golden God!!!

    "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag carrying the Cross" Sinclair Lewis -7.25, -7.23

    by Baseballgirl on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:14:55 PM PDT

    •  Holy s***! (none / 0)

      Milbank said that! That's the funniest thing I've seen from a journalist in years.

      Damn, now I wish I actually watched cable news.

      Dirk Diggler. Damn.

      disclaimer: I'm John Kerry's Internet Director

      by BriVT on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:40:24 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  ATTACK AD OF THE DAY- BUSH'S MEDIA (4.00 / 13)

        Film Clip from 2000: Bush Giving a Speech, "I'll bring integrity back to the White House."

        Fade to recent video of "Gannon" smugly saying to Bush, ""Harry Reid was talking about soup lines.'"

        Cut to Newspaper Headline: "Gannon" a fraud, exposed as front for GOP"

        Fade to Armstrong Williams talking on Fox.

        Superimposed headline: "Williams paid $241, 000 to support White House programs"

        Fade to black with caption: "With integrity like this, who needs scandal?"

        Next Caption: "Clean Up Washington. Vote Democratic."

         

        Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

        by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 06:57:30 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Thank goodness for the DVR (none / 0)

        I thought I was going to suffocate after the "Dirk Diggler" remark I was laughing so hard. That one is a keeper. ;)

        I think I'll go back to my old sig...

        BUSH: Like a rock...but dumber.
        Stewart/Olberman 2008!

        by mugsimo on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 12:57:43 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  he had Dana Millbank of WashPost on (4.00 / 10)

    and Millbank used the word "scandal"  -- making clear that it was not so much the content of the questions, which were almost comic relieif, and that it was obvious that Scott McC turned to him as a lifeline, but that McClellan called him by his fake name, that he was included in the process, and allowed to ask the president a question.  The clear implication of Millbank's remarks is that "Gannon" could not have functioned without the clear  and active inovlement of people at the White House.

    do we still have a Republic and a Constitution if our elected officials will not stand up for them on our behalf?

    by teacherken on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:15:51 PM PDT

    •  Clear as a bell (none / 1)

      He linked this guy to the White House and Olbermann slammed the scam home with his video of "Gannon's" greatest hits.

      Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

      by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:24:30 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  yep ... (3.16 / 6)

      Millbank added that 'of course Mclellan knew this guy's real name all along to give him a hard pass to the White House.'  They not only smashed Gannon but they implicated Scotty and the White House.

      Yummy!!!

      Can I get another Amen? (Amen!) There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!) A gag, a plastic bag on a monument

      by iowasteele on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:25:20 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Milbank (4.00 / 2)

      may be one of the reporters seriously put out by being so dissed by this administration.

      With luck, the bloggers and Keith will give disaffected "real" reporters the opening they need to pile on. And they have lots more DC contacts than we do.

      This gets more and more interesting . . .

      The degree to which you resist injustice is the degree to which you are free. -- Utah Phillips

      by Mnemosyne on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:31:08 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  We need to reinforce Milbank (none / 0)

      There is an important element here, which is to reinforce to Milbank the value of showing up on the show (in multiple ways) and to the Washington Post itself.

      My letter to Milbank:

      When flipping through the television channels after a long day at work, I saw your name on the screen with the Olbermann show.  My surfing started -- someone who I read almost daily in the Post, this I'll watch.  

      I am very glad that I did.  To be honest, I hadn't really picked up on the Gannongate scandal very much before this.  I am outraged that -- like paying for people to push programs secretly and setting up fake news stories -- the Administration seems to be working so hard to propagandize Americans.  And, at the same time, to be denigrating a profession -- journalism -- for which I normally have a profound respect.

      It was important to me that a journalist of your caliber and standing was able to, so articulately (and, to be honest, amusingly -- laughed a few times), help highlight the ethical and moral improprieties at play here.

      As a loyal Post reader, I appreciated your appearance the other night and the voice that you brought to this issue.

      By the way, I have now read Howard Kurtz's perspective on GannonGate.  Seems to me that he is blaming bloggers when the real improprieties are with "Gannon" and the White House.  Perhaps you should talk with your colleague.

      ----------

      If you chose to, here are some e-mail addresses

      milbankd@washpost.com

      ombudsman@washpost.com  (Ombudsman -- Michael Getler)

      Howard Kurtz: kurtzh@washpost.com

      The clock keeps ticking ... Osama bin Forgotten

      by besieged by bush on Thu Feb 10, 2005 at 10:23:54 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  He is the Sexiest guy in Broadcasting! (4.00 / 2)

     Not only does he have the title but with today's newscast he proved it.
      He didn't just drop a line he did full coverage. Even covered the Planne angle.  Only thing I missed seeing was the picture of Mr. G in his shorts.

      I already sent him an email to thank him.

    Lunch Lady

    by Lunch Lady on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:15:53 PM PDT

  •  Best thing I've seen on the SCLM in a looong time (4.00 / 3)

    Keith bludgeoned the guy and the White House with his montage of horseshit questions, one after the other, in rapid fire sequences.

    It was reminiscent of the flogging of Dean's scream, but this time, they got the right guy.

    Democrats Will Win if We Are The Party of the People see: Progressive Populism

    by jsmckay on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:16:22 PM PDT

  •  He Gets It (none / 0)

    and covered the story from a point of view that it deserved.

    http://dumpjoe.com/

    by ctkeith on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:16:41 PM PDT

    •  Getting the context and frame right (none / 0)

      Yeah, exactly--Olbermann was on point, not a word wasted, and several threads of the scandal touched on--a really good beginning.  Milbank was relaxed and deft in asserting the significance of the related issues--felt as if the planet tilted back into place for a few minutes (as opposed to Bizzaro World filter of the WH).

      ...the White House will be adorned by a downright moron...H.L. Mencken

      by bibble on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:28:00 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  BTW for those of you who missed it. (none / 1)

    In my area in the East it repeats @ 12am The story is the first one so don't be late!

    Lunch Lady

    by Lunch Lady on Wed Feb 09, 2005 at 05:20:15 PM PDT