Ken Starr Rebukes Liz Cheney On MSNBC

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Liz Cheney has been under fire from both left and right after her group released a video that tried to paint Department of Justice attorneys as terrorist sympathizers for working on the defense of Guantanamo detainees. The ad refers to the DOJ attornies as "The Al-Qaeda 7"


One of the sternest rebukes comes from special prosecutor Ken Starr and it was especially ironic that Starr appeared on MSNBC's Countdown on Monday night, speaking with guest host Lawrence O'Donnell.

Starr isn't exactly a popular figure on the program, often criticized by and never making an appearance with regular host Keith Olbermann. But on this issue, Olbermann was happy for Starr to appear and refute Cheney. He relayed a message through O'Donnell, "that's how seriously we both take this, that even we agree on it."

Starr explained the role of lawyers in the American justice system and why it's considered appropriate for them to work in defense of an accused criminal. He drew both literary analogies, pointing out the judicial responsibilities felt by Atticus Finch, and historic comparisons, explaining how John Adams was once called upon to defend the British Redcoats in a court of law. As for the specific message being spread by Cheney and her organization, Keep America Safe, Starr did not mince words.

"This was very unwise, and really and out-of-bounds characterization and challenge to good, honorable lawyers."

WATCH:

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Liz Cheney Attacks MSNBC Top To Bottom Except For Dr. Rachel Maddow?

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Liz Cheney has started a political group to give the appearance of legitimacy to the tired old narritave that she's been reciting since her father's much anticipated term in office came to an end. She has ironically named her pet project "Keep America Safe," whose sole purpose is to rally opposition to the Obama administration's national security policies while promoting the stunning failures of the Bush administration.

The group's first project was a web ad attacking MSNBC and asserting that they're afraid to debate her on the "substance" of national security policy. You'd sware that the Cheney's have never owned a VCR or hadn't a clue what a DVR or TIVO was because they say things as if nobody will remember them saying something to the contrary a week, a month, or even a year earlier.

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The web ad produced by Ms. Cheney's group is devoted to making the case that Obama's reversal of Bush policies is radical and dangerous. The ad bashes Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as "afraid" to debate her on the "substance" of national security policy. The ad airs footage of Olbermann, Matthews, and Ed Schultz mocking the announcement of her group, and concludes:

"Why don't they want to talk substance? Why are they panicked? Why don't they want to debate the issues?"

The implication being, of course, that MSNBC is running scared from Ms. Cheney. It did not go un-noticed that while Ms. Cheney's ad was calling out Olbermann, Matthews, and Schultz, it doesn't say shit about the lovely and talanted Dr. Rachel Maddow whose criticism of everything that even rhymes with 'Cheney" overshadows the mild criticism of her "fellow" MSNBC counterparts.

Rachel has invited Liz Cheney onto her show many, many times, and yet, Cheney has declined every opportunity. Gee that's funny....why doesn't Liz Cheney want to talk substance? Why doesn't she want to debate the issues with Dr. Maddow

Randi Rhodes Blasts MSNBC's Keith Olbermann

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Liberal talk radio personality Randi Rhodes spent a good portion of her 3 hour slot today blasting MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann for his performance on last nights Countdown With Keith Olbermann.

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Rhodes said that Olbermann’s performance was hard to follow and that his ego was in overdrive. There were callers during the show that were not happy about Rhodes rant over Olbermann's hour long special addition of Countdown regarding the healthcare debate.

However, the majority of callers agreed with Rhodes that Olbermann's performance was off. One caller pointing out that Rhodes herself has a detectable ego.

Nevertheless, her critique of Olbermann has outraged some Southern California listeners who are already launching an effort to have Rhodes tossed from the line-up at KTLK AM 1150 in Burbank. Nancy Skinner seems to be at the top of the list to replace Rhodes’ 12:00 to 3:00 pm slot.

ChicoBrisbane.Com spoke with Southern California blogger Jerry Sifuentes who defended Rhodes and said that liberals who are angry over Rhodes rant about Olbermann have a right to be angry, but they had better think long and hard about launching any sort of boycott.

“Randi Rhodes is by far one of the most fair minded progressive talkers who does not march in lock-step with the liberal aganda. Like Rachel Maddow and Ron Regan, you’re not left with the feeling that liberals hold the key to all that is good in the world when you listen to Randi.” Sifuentes said.

Sifuentes ended our phone interview with a $100 bet that a boycott of Rhodes show in the Los Angeles market was not only uncalled for, but would be unsuccessful and send the wrong message about the freedom of dissent among liberals and progressives. He also said that KTLK AM 1150 would be foolish to drop Rhodes.

“Folks better think long and hard about launching any sort of boycott of Randi's show for speaking her mind. To do so is soooooooo Republican. Besides, It ain’t gonna happen and like comedian George Lopez would say. Homegirl ain’t going nowheres A!" Sifuentes said of Rhodes.

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Farewell Big Russ - Timothy J. Russert Dies At 85

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Timothy Joseph Russert, the father of the late Tim Russert affectionately known as "Big Russ," has died at the age of 85, his family announced Thursday evening.
Russert Sr. was the subject of his son's 2004 book, "Big Russ & Me: Father and Son--Lessons of Life."

The Russert family released the following statement about Big Russ' death:
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Timothy Joseph Russert. While he was affectionately known to the world as "Big Russ," he carried no more important nor meaningful titles than those of father, grandfather, great-grandfather, patriot and friend.

He passed peacefully with his family at his side from natural causes at the age of 85.We warmly thank all those who were inspired by his life and his lessons.In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer's Association so that the world may move closer to finding a cure for this sad affliction.We ask for privacy as funeral arrangements are pending.

Shortly before Tim Russert died in June 2008, Terry McAuliffe made an awkward reference to Big Russ' death on "Meet the Press," telling Russert that his father was "watching from heaven."

"Big Russ is in the Barcalounger still watching this," he replied. "God bless him."

Watch this video feature on Tim Russert & Big Russ from "NBC Nightly News" in 2007:

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/24/tim-russerts-father-big-r_n_299372.html

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Rachel Maddow Runs Rep. Ross Through The Wringer

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Tonight on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel featured a little rundown of what has become part of the political zeitgeist: real accountability.



While Republicans chase the media moment with astroturfed anger that has nothing to do with progress, and the Rahm Squad chases corporate donations with backroom deals that have nothing to do with hope or change, a group of committed progressives has joined with the voters who worked so hard in the last election to make a difference.

Groups like FDL Action and Accountability Now have taken the broad-based public indignation with Democrats who are all too happy to favor their corporate masters over their constituents, and focused it on some of Congress’s worst offenders.

Mike Ross represents a district where three-quarters of Democrats favor the public option being part of a health care reform package—yet Rep. Ross has worked tirelessly to keep that choice out of any House bill. Ross has taken big money from Big Insurance and PhRMA, and is under investigation for the overvalued sale of his own pharmacy business to a major pharmacy chain that was also a Ross campaign contributor.


FDL Action has started running ads in Ross’s district, and across Arkansas, asking fellow Democrats to hold their Representative (and their Senator, Blanche Lincoln) accountable to the folks members of Congress are supposed to represent—the voters. Ross’s friends in the pharmaceutical industry have now tried to counterpunch with ads of their own

The Young Turks Cenk Uygur Fans Rally For MSNBC Slot

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Could radio personality Cenk Uygur be making the leap from progressive radio to primetime cable television like Ed Shultz and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC. Uygur, a 29 year old attorney turned political talker is not shy about his desire to fill the 10pm slot at MSNBC following Rachel Maddow.

Needless to say, I don't care who you are, Maddow is going to be one tough act to follow. That being said, Uygur is no staranger to the cable news circuit and has made appearances on MSNBC, CNN's Headline News, ABC, Fox News, and Al Jazeera just to name a few. In spite of MSNBC being whisy-washy on looking to fill the 10pm slot, they won't have to look too far if Uygur's fans have anything to say about it.

In addition to his radio show The Young Turks, Uygur also host the internet show Meet The Bloggers. Currently The Young Turks YouTube channel garners more then 3 million hits per month and being a regular viewer myself, Cenk Uygur could very well be the missing puzzle piece to complete an awesome weekday lineup at MSNBC.

ChicoBrisbane.Com certainly hopes that when and if MSNBC decides to fill the 10pm slot, they realize that Uygur was made for that spot. It's got his name written all over it.

Matthews - Olbermann - Maddow - Uygur! - 5 days a week, what more could a progressive audience ask for?

Rachel Maddow's Positive Impact On Health Care Debate

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The newest kid on the block over at MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, is kicking ass and taking names. Among those names are former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and his braintrust Freedom Works. On Aug. 7 Maddow raised questions about Armey's day job at the lobbying law firm DLA Piper and the activities of his conservative political action group Freedom Works, which has taken credit for the disruption of public debate at townhall meetings across the country.

Maddow raised valid questions about a potential role for the law firm — and its clients — in the protests.

“The fact that Dick Armey and FreedomWorks are standing alongside regular Joes like Rick Scott to lead the charge against health care reform could be just a coincidence. Or it could be a stark reminder of who we're dealing with here. Who is actively organizing the campaign against health care reform? Scaring real Americans with increasingly paranoid and kooky lies about health care and then providing a script for how to express that fear.”

Today Mr. Armey resigned from DLA Piper amid a wave of negative attention his "grassroots" organization, Freedom Works, has drawn for helping to organize protesters at health care town hall meetings with members of Congress.

Today on MSNBC during the daily hand-off between Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show, Olberman introduced Maddow as the person who got Dick Armey fired and will now be making her first appearance on NBC's Sunday political talk show, Meet The Press, with none other then Dick Armey.

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Maddow didn't waste anytime downplaying the friendly banter and rightfully so. Armey was not fired, he resigned and the fact that he did so in light of Maddows reporting the day before is irrelevant. Since her debut on MSNBC, Maddow has stayed true to the reputation she held as a progressive talk radio host on Air America where she still holds a popular syndicated slot.

Maddow's commentary, while sometimes overly sarcastic, is always based on journalistic fact finding and truth in reporting. She has stayed above the fray and avoided the Fox News rivelry in spite of being singled out by many over at Fox News for her commentary as well as her sexual orientation. If anything, Fox News could learn a plethora of useful information from Maddow should they ever take an interest in honest commentary.


- Chico Brisbane

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Townhaller Katy Abram Member Of Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project

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Katy Abram cast herself into the national media by attending a townhall meeting hosted by Sen. Arlen Spector. Her over-the-top rhetoric about "awakening a sleeping giant" set her up for interviews with local media as well as national media such as her embarassing segment on MSNBC's Hardball and The Fox News Channels Hannity's America. On Hardball, Katy Abram praised her health insurance plan which she described as a "health savings account that has a $5,000 plus dollar deductable." yet she continued by saying that "over the course of a year "we pay all of our medical cost, doctor visits out-of-pocket." Abrams then mentioned that it has been tough this year because "my son had surgery and it looks like we have a second surgery, but we're almost at our deductable, so that's good." Abram said to my utter disbelief as well as, I am sure, the many millions that where watching and listening as the words left her mouth.

However, the most stunning part of the interview was when Hardball guest host Lawrence O'Donnell questioned Abrams about her claim that she was 35 years old and never had an interest in politics until now. When asked how she made it through 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with out taking an interest, Abrams replied. "To be honest, I didn't really care. I had other things going on. I was busy getting married, having kids. It really wasn't a priority."

On Fox News' Hannity's America, host Sean Hannity didn't really ask any substative questions. Instead, he used the segment to prise Abram and her husband who also took part in the segment.

We know know that Abrams wasn't as disinterested in politics as she indicated during that townhall meeting, or her subsequent interviews with Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. It is now known that Abram is a member of Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project and according to messages that Abrams posted on the 9/12 Projects Message Board, she was very active in hosting meetings and recruiting others to attend a meeting sponsered by her and her husband. I suppose you could say that Abrams is a community organizer. Rut-Row!

Now Abram is engaged in a media tour in protest of the wave of nagative criticism being hurled at her left and right, including myself. Like Heather Blish who also thrust herself into the media spotlight by claiming to be just a regular citizen and not affiliated with the Republican Party. It was quickly learned that Blish was not only affiliated with the Republican Party, but it's Co-Chair for the local committee.

If Abram didn't want the feel the wrath of the "real" outraged segment of the American electorate, she should have either said that she has only been interested in politics since Obama's election, or not given any indication of the length of her political interest. I admit that some of the criticism is mean spirited and as over-the top as her own rhetoric, but to that end I would like to quote former Vice President Dick Cheney by saying - "SO WHAT!" If you can't take the heat, stay out of the God Damn kitchen.

More importantly, what Abram is experiencing now should give her a good indication of how the Senators and Congressman feel when they encounter the very type of rude and hostile mob that she made herself a part of. She got up and tried to embarrass Sen. Spector with her right-wing talking points at a voice level that was far beyond necessary. So, I guess that settles it? Payback is a bitch........

- Chico Brisbane

Katy Abram's messages postings from Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project Members Forum.

Katy Abram
Posted Feb 28, 2009 4:09 PM
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if anyone would like to join us in Lebanon, PA please click this link to join our Qlubb.com group. Here we can keep in touch with eachother...'http://wesurroundthemlebanonpa.qlubb.com/show



Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:24 AM
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I am located in Lancaster County, Lititz, to be exact. I am looking for a "Surround Them" Get Together (Glenn Beck project) somewhere in this vicinity. Debbie I am hosting a party in down town Lebanon. We are only 25-30 minutes away. We are meeting at the Downtown Lounge on Cumberland Street.

Posted Mar 5, 2009 2:23 PM
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my husband and i are hosting a party in Lebanon, PA. I was going to have it at our home, but if we have enough attendees I will move it to a local restaurant/pub. Let me know if you're interested. We're 25-30 minutes from Hbg and 25 minutes from Manheim

Below is Abrams tearful radio interview with Glenn Beck, in which Beck tells Abrams that the nagative attention that she is getting is the result of the left not having an argument and than in those cases, they resort the the tactics of Iranian Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.






http://www.meetup.com/WeSurroundThemGathering/messages/boards/thread/6367531#25639298
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