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Olbermann: Chertoff Is a "Hunch-Driven Clown"

Posted by Guest Blogger at 5:13 AM on July 13, 2007.


David Edwards and Josh Catone: Keith Olbermann ridicules Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff's "gut feeling" we'll be attacked by terrorists this summer.
Olbermann on Chertoff

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This post, written by David Edwards and Josh Catone, originally appeared on Raw Story

"We used to have John Ashscroft's major announcements. We used to have David Paulison's breathless advisories about how to use duct tape against radiation attacks. We used to have Tom Ridge's color-coded threat levels. Now we have Michael Chertoff's gut," began Keith Olbermann in a scathing 'Special Comment' on MSNBC's Countdown.

Olbermann laid out five possible explanations for "Mr. Chertoff's remarkable revelations about his transcendently important, counter-terrorism stomach."

Of his conclusions, "bureaucratic self protection, political manipulation of the worst kind, the dropping of opaque hints, a gaffe backfilled by an instant report, or the complete disintegration of our counter-terrorism effort," Olbermann found the last to be the real "nightmare scenario."

"That we really have been reduced to listening to see if [Chertoff's] gut will growl, that [his] intestines are our best defense," mocked Olbermann. "All hail the prophetic gut!"

Olbermann concludes that Chertoff has "reduced [himself] to status of a hunch-driven clown" and that he should turn over his duties to someone who "represents that brain, and not the gut."

The video to your right is from MSNBC's Countdown, broadcast on July 12.

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Tagged as: olbermann, terrorism, homeland security, chertoff

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1st comment
Posted by: brimitch on Jul 13, 2007 7:06 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is my 1st comment on this site. Funny, because all I want to say is that, with Olbermann at his best, no comment is necessary, only a simple "thank you" to him for, once again, hitting the nail on the head.

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gold nugget
Posted by: brasilaron on Jul 13, 2007 7:34 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
my gold nugget was "hunch-driven clown" which i think can be applied broadly throughout the "administration". H-DC is a term to be used for all of those in the admin or Congress of either stripe who say "i believe that x policy will..." or "i don't remember...i can't recall.... i have no memory of that" or " i know what the Amerikan people want...".

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Another agent of fear
Posted by: outlander55 on Jul 13, 2007 8:12 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Chertoff is just another agent of fear. The Repugnants are trying desperately to regain control of their neo-fascist hold on America by instilling fear into us.

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spamm
Posted by: Bearzerker on Jul 14, 2007 1:27 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
need i say more

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The Sixth Estate
Posted by: eddie torres on Jul 13, 2007 9:22 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Olbermann listed five explanations for Chertoff's behavior. There's a sixth: Chertoff did what he did because for six years the news models at MSNBC, CNN, Fox, and all the other infotainment outlets never called 'shenanigans' on the GOP Kleptocracy.

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Keith Olbermann and the entire media are idiots
Posted by: Mojoe on Jul 13, 2007 10:26 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Chertoff's "gut" was taken completely out of context. If you watch the entire interview it hard to even notice he mentions his "gut." This was not a matter of diversion, scaring, et cetera. This was a matter of poor wording taken out of context by media outlets that just need something to get a rise out of people while Paris Hilton is not out getting locked up. Had this happened on the day Paris Hilton went to jail, you would never know about Michael Chertoff's "gut." Once again, Keith needs to take a chill pill, government officials need to choose their words more carefully, and the entire mainstream media needs to use some fucking context.

Now here comes the "You've got it all wrong, you're misguided, Keith tells the truth, blah blah blah" crap.

Spare me your typical replies and just give me the rating of "1" like you always do, sheep.

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» RE: "gut feeling" Posted by: TruthBeTold
» thank you Posted by: Mojoe
Better a sheep
Posted by: Ellie1 on Jul 13, 2007 10:33 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
than a sheep's anus (a-hole) like you. Democrats think , Repugs like you follow this administration to Hell, which is where you have brought this country.

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» RE: Better a sheep Posted by: Mojoe
jna
Posted by: jeanna on Jul 13, 2007 12:23 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Next they'll be reading chicken entrails. Are they warning us or threatening us???

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impeachment
Posted by: gsaephanh on Jul 13, 2007 1:24 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Call in your vote TODAY for impeaching Bush and Cheney at this number: 202-225-0100

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office is taking calls voting for Impeachment of Bush/Cheney at 202-225-0100. PLEASE CALL TODAY. At the toll free capitol switchboard #s below, you can also call your particular district’s congressional representative to insist that they support impeachment for Cheney. E.g., for Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s H Res 333 for Cheney; please say:

“In addition to supporting Kucinich’s bill H Res 333, I would also support a similar Impeachment Resolution against Bush, especially after the disgraceful Scooter Libby sentence “commuting” and the following issues: wiretapping, torture, numerous 9/11 intelligence misrepresentations, the continued occupation of Iraq, gross negligence during Hurrican Katrina, the Valerie Plame CIA leak, […list your other grounds…] ..”[see resolutions on tab #2 for other grounds for impeachment]).

LANIC requests that Americans call today…Not tomorrow or next week. Every call adds to the extraordinary grasswoots and nationwide movement’s pressures on House Speaker Pelosi to act now .before further innocent lives are lost in Iraq and elsewhere. Last week 28 Americans lost their lives. Over the July 4, 2007 weekend over 400 Iraqis lost their lives…

SEND MAIL TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI: Attn: Nancy Pelosi, House Representative/Speaker of the House, 235 Cannon H.O.B., Washington, DC 20515 ; Pelosi’s Fax # 202 225-8259

Pelosi’s e-mail address :

Americanvoices@mail.house.gov

CC her at: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov

Please send her a pro-impeachment email and a specific call to endorse H Res 333. Note: On Saturdays/Sundays, Pelosi’s office has a comment line at which you can leave a voicemail. Your message will be transcribed and relayed to her. Please do encourage your family/friends to contact the same number. Refer them to www.bcimpeach.com for the actual telephone #s & contact info.

Find out who your Congressional representative is and call that person. For toll free numbers to your Congress rep: (800) 828 – 0498; (800) 459 – 1887; or (866) 340 – 9281. You will be connected once you name your congress person. The staff aid should take detailed notes and provided to the Congressional representative.

Final Note: Please say “I support Impeachment based on ____. I’d like to know where “[representative name]” stands on this issue.” Let’s strike while the Libby fury keeps the iron hot! Please call and Act Now!

PLEASE ALSO CONTACT THESE KEY CONGRESSIONAL REPS RE IMPEACHMENT:
Representative Capitol Phone Capitol Fax
Howard Berman 202-225-4695 202-225-3196
& 818-944-7200 818-994-1050

MAILING ADDRESS FOR BERMAN
Congressman Howard L. Berman
14546 Hamlin Street, Suite 202
Van Nuys, CA 91411

Henry Waxman 202-225-3976 202-225-4099
Loreta Sanchez 202 225-2965 202-225-5859
D. Watson 202 225-7084 202-225-2422
LindaSanchez 202 225-6676 202-226-1012
L. Solis 202 225-5464 202-225-5467
A. G. Eshoo 202 225-8104 202-225-8890
L. Roybal/Allard 202 225-1766 202-225-0350

http://www.bcimpeach.com/

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Thank you Keith.
Posted by: Susan Kipping on Jul 14, 2007 5:40 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Keith, you were right on the mark.

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