List of Special Comments
The links in this table are to transcripts or videos of the special comments. Special comment titles and summaries are those on the MSNBC website; Olbermann does not mention them on air.
| # | Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 30, 2006 | Feeling morally, intellectually confused? |
| A response to a speech by Donald Rumsfeld in which Rumsfeld characterized those who disagreed with the Iraq War as "morally or intellectually confused." Olbermann compares Rumsfeld's certitude to that of Neville Chamberlain's government. | ||
| 2 | September 5, 2006 | 'Have you no sense of decency, sir?' |
| A response to a presidential press conference in which then-President George W. Bush quoted a purported letter by Osama bin Laden that mentioned a "a media campaign to create a wedge between the American people and their government," which Olbermann alleges was an attempt to link the media to terrorists. | ||
| 3 | September 11, 2006 | This hole in the ground |
| From Ground Zero, a comment on the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the slowness to rebuild on Ground Zero. Olbermann goes on to accuse the Bush administration of failing to build on the unity following 9/11 and implies that the Bush administration has committed an "impeachable offense." | ||
| 4 | September 18, 2006 | Bush owes us an apology |
| A reaction to a Presidential Rose Garden address. | ||
| 5 | September 25, 2006 | A textbook definition of cowardice |
| A response to Bill Clinton's Fox News interview. | ||
| 6 | October 5, 2006 | A special comment about lying |
| The difference between terrorists and critics. | ||
| 7 | October 18, 2006 | 'Beginning of the end of America' |
| The Military Commissions Act and its effect on habeas corpus. | ||
| 8 | October 23, 2006 | Advertising terrorism |
| Alleged fearmongering by the Republican Party. | ||
| 9 | November 1, 2006 | Bush owes troops apology |
| In wake of John Kerry's misstated witticism and apology, Olbermann asserts that President Bush is stupid, dishonest, and that Bush owes U.S. troops an apology. | ||
| 10 | November 6, 2006 | Where are the checks, balances? |
| Accusation that President Bush has been "making it up" for too long, and the people have let him. | ||
| 11 | November 20, 2006 | Lessons from Vietnam |
| Response to President Bush's comparison of Vietnam and Iraq. | ||
| 12 | November 30, 2006 | Free speech, failed speakers, and the delusion of grandeur |
| Regarding former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's comments regarding free speech protections. | ||
| 13 | January 2, 2007 | Special comment about 'Sacrifice' |
| Reaction to President Bush's plan to send more American troops to Iraq, despite public opinion and the Iraq Study Group's recommendations. | ||
| 14 | January 11, 2007 | Bush's legacy: The president who cried wolf |
| Reaction to President Bush's announcement that he will send more troops to Iraq. | ||
| 15 | January 30, 2007 | Bush shoots for 'Jaws,' delivers 'Jaws 2' |
| Regarding evidence of President Bush's State of the Union claims about having stopped four terror plots. | ||
| 16 | February 26, 2007 | Condi goes too far |
| Regarding comparison of Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. | ||
| 17 | March 26, 2007 | DeLay's DeLusions |
| Regarding comparison of liberals to Adolf Hitler by Tom DeLay. | ||
| 18 | April 25, 2007 | Republicans equal life; Democrats equal death? |
| Accuses Rudy Giuliani of exploiting fear for power and personal gain. | ||
| 19 | May 23, 2007 | The entire government has failed us on Iraq |
| Reaction to "compromise" between Democratic Party leaders and the Bush administration on Iraq War funding. | ||
| 20 | July 3, 2007 | Bush, Cheney should resign |
| Reaction to Bush's commuting of the sentence of Scooter Libby, followed by a call for President Bush and Vice President Cheney to resign. | ||
| 21 | July 12, 2007 | All hail the prophetic gut! |
| Reaction to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff's remarks regarding "gut feelings" of possible terrorist attacks. | ||
| 22 | July 19, 2007 | Go to Iraq and fight, Mr. President |
| Response to a leaked Defense Department memo blaming Hillary Clinton and war dissension for failures in Iraq. | ||
| 23 | September 4, 2007 | Bush just playing us with 'troop withdrawal' |
| Reaction to statements made by President Bush on a surprise trip to Iraq earlier in the day in light of his previous comments in Robert Draper's book Dead Certain. | ||
| 24 | September 20, 2007 | Olbermann to Bush: ‘Your hypocrisy is so vast’ |
| Reaction to a September 20 press conference. Asserts that President Bush was the one who interjected Gen. David Petraeus into the political dialogue in the first place. | ||
| 25 | November 5, 2007 | On waterboarding and torture |
| A reaction to comments by President Bush and Michael Mukasey responding to allegations of waterboarding by the Bush administration. Accuses the Bush administration of conducting a "criminal conspiracy" to protect itself from prosecution for torture. | ||
| 26 | December 6, 2007 | Bush: Pathological liar or idiot-in-chief? |
| Reaction to President Bush's past statements toward the nuclear weapons capabilities of Iran compared to the National Intelligence Estimate issued on December 3, 2007. | ||
| 27 | January 31, 2008 | Bush put telecoms ahead of citizens |
| Reaction to President Bush's demands for a law which would clear phone giants from responsibility in law suits involving "national security" spying. | ||
| 28 | February 14, 2008 | A veto of the FISA bill endangers Americans |
| Reaction to President Bush's demands for telecom immunity and Republican congressmen staging a walk-out. | ||
| 29 | March 12, 2008 | Clinton's tepid response to Ferraro is shameful |
| Reaction to comments of Geraldine Ferraro and the ensuing response of the Clinton campaign and Senator Clinton. | ||
| 30 | May 14, 2008 | Mr. President, the war isn’t about you — or golf |
| Olbermann blasts President Bush for claiming to have given up golf in order to show support for the Iraq troops. | ||
| 31 | May 19, 2008 | Countdown clarifies ‘Special Comment’ |
| Countdown clarifies the Special Comment of May 14, 2008. | ||
| 32 | May 23, 2008 | Clinton, you invoked a political nightmare |
| Keith Olbermann reviews how many times Hillary Clinton has referenced Robert F. Kennedy in her campaign – and how the most recent mention of him and his assassination was inexcusable. | ||
| 33 | June 12, 2008 | McCain should know better |
| Keith Olbermann takes a look at the context of John McCain's "not too important" comment regarding the urgency of bringing American troops home from the Iraq war. | ||
| 34 | June 30, 2008 | Obama's FISA opportunity |
| Keith Olbermann discusses Senator Barack Obama's second chance to vote on the FISA bill and still show voters that he can stand on principle through the advantage of a loophole within the bill. | ||
| 35 | August 18, 2008 | Senator, Grow Up! |
| Keith Olbermann explains how John McCain and company repeatedly politicize the issues they address, especially the Iraq war, and blame the media for every hardship their campaign faces. | ||
| 36 | September 10, 2008 | Republicans have hijacked 9/11 |
| Keith Olbermann talks about the politicization of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, especially by the Bush administration and the GOP, who use the event to terrify Americans into thinking the only safe option is to vote Republican "or this will happen again and you will die." | ||
| 37 | October 7, 2008 | It's Palin doing the pallin' |
| Keith Olbermann points out in a Special Comment that while John McCain might want to use Sarah Palin to hit Barack Obama below the belt and accuse him of terrorist associations, he overlooked the unfortunate fact that "pallin' around with terrorists" is one area in which Palin has more experience. | ||
| 38 | October 14, 2008 | McCain, suspend your campaign |
| In a brief Special Comment, Keith Olbermann expresses his disapproval of what he characterizes as the McCain-Palin campaign’s "lynch-mob mentality" and what he alleges as their refusal to discourage surrogates and supporters from threatening Barack Obama at GOP campaign rallies. | ||
| 39 | October 20, 2008 | Divisive politics is anti-American |
| Keith Olbermann lists examples of hateful, divisive politics from the right that actually do more to undermine America than the bogus accusations of anti-Americanism being leveled against Barack Obama. | ||
| 40 | November 10, 2008 | Gay marriage is a question of love |
| Keith Olbermann disagrees with the passing of Proposition 8 in California and urges people to accept love between people of the same sex. | ||
| 41 | January 19, 2009 | Bush guilty of torture |
| Keith Olbermann outlines why the Obama administration ought to prosecute Bush administration officials who endorsed the use of torture. | ||
| 42 | February 5, 2009 | Cheney doing the work of terrorists |
| Keith Olbermann accuses former Vice President Dick Cheney of using made-up statistics and nonsensical reasoning in an effort to extend the Bush administration's reign of fear over Americans weeks after voters resoundingly rejected Cheney's un-American worldview. | ||
| 43 | March 19, 2009 | Time to get tough on bankers |
| Olbermann expresses outrage at Wall Street over their continuing misuse of federal bailout money; he calls for the firing of bank executives and more stringent bank regulation. | ||
| 44 | April 16, 2009 | Future of U.S. depends on torture accountability |
| Olbermann makes one more plea to President Obama to prosecute Bush administration officials who allowed the torture of prisoners to occur, to set an example for the future that America does not tolerate torture. | ||
| 45 | May 21, 2009 | Cheney's speech false to fact and reason |
| Olbermann marvels at former Vice President Dick Cheney's defense of the Bush administration torture practices while avoiding taking any responsibility for them. | ||
| 46 | August 3, 2009 | Legislators for sale |
| Olbermann criticizes members of Congress for acting more in the interests of donors in the healthcare industry rather than their constituents who favor health care reform. | ||
| 47 | August 10, 2009 | 'Death Panel' Palin dangerously irresponsible |
| Keith Olbermann decries former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's "death panel" invention in her criticism of President Barack Obama's health care agenda, pointing out that by peddling frightening lies to her mob of ill-informed followers she puts the safety and security of the nation at risk. | ||
| 48 | September 10, 2009 | Wilson’s factual failure worse than his incivility |
| Keith Olbermann calls out South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson not just for his shameful incivility in interrupting President Obama’s health care speech before Congress but for being so glaringly, stupidly, publicly wrong. | ||
| 49 | October 7, 2009 | Health Care Reform: The Fight Against Death |
| Program-length special comment about health care reform. Re-aired as a tribute to Theodore C. Olbermann on March 18, 2010. | ||
| 50 | November 30, 2009 | Olbermann on Afghanistan: Get Out Now |
| Keith Olbermann argues that in the face of political and financial opportunism, not to mention outright lies about the war in Afghanistan, and the stark historical warning represented by Vietnam, President Obama should make the change he promised during his campaign and pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. | ||
| 51 | December 16, 2009 | Ruined Senate bill unsupportable |
| Keith Olbermann stresses that he does not support the current “perversion of health care reform,” urging Senate Democrats to drop the bill. | ||
| 52 | January 21, 2010 | U.S. government for sale |
| Keith Olbermann envisions a future United States in which today's Supreme Court ruling permitting unbridled corporate campaign spending purchase all the power greed can afford. | ||
| 53 | February 15, 2010 | Beware fear's racist temptation |
| Keith Olbermann explores the relationship between fear and racism and encourages Americans who are distressed about the nation's future to avoid political groups that appeal to their less noble inclinations. | ||
| 54 | February 24, 2010 | An American cry for help |
| Keith Olbermann shares his personal experience with a real life 'death panel' situation and scorns the unfairness of health insurance in America. | ||
| 55 | March 22, 2010 | GOP self-destruction imminent |
| Keith Olbermann advises Republicans that clinging to obsolete ideas and resorting to extremist rhetoric will only undermine the party's relevance and America will move on without them. | ||
| 56 | May 4, 2010 | McCain's disturbing lack of faith in America |
| Keith Olbermann criticizes John McCain for opposing the application of American justice on Times Square terror plot suspect Faisal Shahzad as if America's system of justice is too weak for terrorists. | ||
| 57 | June 22, 2010 | Olbermann on the self-destruction of McChrystal |
| Keith Olbermann argues that President Barack Obama shouldn’t accept a resignation from Gen. Stanley McChrystal. | ||
| 58 | June 28, 2010 | GOP takes no pity on the unemployed |
| Keith Olbermann argues that Republicans are wrong for not giving benefits to the jobless. | ||
| 59 | June 30, 2010 | GOP introduces 'screw you' economics |
| Keith Olbermann talks about the Democrats’ struggle against the GOP to reestablish the unemployment safety net. | ||
| 60 | July 21, 2010 | The witch-hunt vs. Sherrod, and those who made it possible |
| Keith Olbermann compares the firing of Shirley Sherrod to the Dreyfus affair, criticizing the way the incident was handled in the media and the White House. | ||
| 61 | August 11, 2010 | Gibbs frustration understandable but misguided |
| Keith Olbermann comments on White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs criticism of the "professional left" for their criticisms of the Obama administration. | ||
| 62 | August 16, 2010 | There is no 'Ground Zero mosque' |
| Keith Olbermann comments on the need to clarify the statements of both mainstream media outlets of, and opponents against, Park51 (formerly known as the Cordoba House) who dubbed the building as the "Ground Zero Mosque" (although the mosque area is designed as residing inside the larger community center which constitutes the entirety of the site. He also tries to clarify misconceptions regarding the center. | ||
| 63 | October 27, 2010 | If the Tea Party wins, America loses |
| Less than a week before the 2010 midterm elections, Olbermann explains why voting for the Tea Party will mean a step backward for America. | ||
| 64 | November 15, 2010 | False promise of ‘objectivity’ proves ‘truth’ superior to ‘fact’ |
| Keith Olbermann discusses how the “false god” of objectivity in news reporting failed America in the lead up to the Iraq War, and points out that some of the most revered named in news were actually attacked in their times for being too partial in speaking truth to power. | ||
| 65 | December 7, 2010 | Obama turned his back on his base |
| Keith Olbermann criticizes the president and his Council of Economic Advisers for not understanding that the rich aren’t spending their money and the poor don’t have any money to spend. | ||
| 66 | January 8, 2011 | Violence and threats have no place in democracy |
| In the aftermath of the shooting of 19 people in an attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., Keith Olbermann reminds Americans that “violence, or the threat of violence, has no place in our democracy.” Aired on a special Saturday edition of Countdown. | ||
| 67 | January 17, 2011 | The nine days since Tucson |
| Nine days previously, Keith Olbermann asked every politician and commentator to renounce violent rhetoric and apologize for any use of it. Senator John McCain aside, Keith Olbermann thinks everybody else just got louder. | ||
| 68 | June 24, 2011 | |
| Pending the decision about legalizing same-sex marriage in New York state, Keith speaks on the moral and political reasons for legalizing same-sex marriage in America, emphasizing his previous point that like heterosexual relationships, gay unions are based on love. | ||
| 69 | July 11, 2011 | The Value of a Nation |
| Keith speaks about President Obama's proposed United States debt-ceiling crisis compromise with the Republicans to cut Social Security and Medicare. Keith describes these and other government support programs in simple terms of human beings looking out for one another. He explains why a social safety net is one of America's greatest accomplishments. Speaking directly to Pres. Obama, he reminds him of Jackie Robinson's statement "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." | ||
| 70 | August 2, 2011 | The four great hypocrisies of the debt deal |
| Keith speaks strongly about the resolution of the United States debt-ceiling crisis and the formation of the Supercongress committee. He concludes by reminding the audience that the American people are not powerless to change things. He exhorts them to "be organized and unified and hell-bent" in the spirit of the protests of the 1960s, stand up for their rights and take back the country from politicians and corporations. | ||
Read more about this topic: List Of Keith Olbermann's Special Comments
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