...in which we present Keith Olbermann with a Howardly

There's an update about Tanner at puddle's blog

I did record Howard Dean's appearance on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and may transcribe some of that to share with you a little later. Howard Dean did a good job, but we've heard him say similar things recently.

Tonight, instead, I will be presumptuous enough to speak on behalf this community in presenting Keith Olbermann with a "Howardly" for his closing commentary on tonight's show. If, after listening to the commentary, or reading it in its entirety here, you agree with me, you might consider sending Mr. Olbermann a note to that effect at KOlbermann@msnbc.com

Here is the conclusion of Keith Olbermann's closing commentary (but I do recommend reading the whole thing).

This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed.

Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute, I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow.

But never in the trial of a thousand years of writing could I come close to matching how he phrased a warning to an earlier generation of us, at a time when other politicians thought they (and they alone) knew everything, and branded those who disagreed: "confused" or "immoral."

Thus, forgive me, for reading Murrow, in full:

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty," he said, in 1954. "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law."

"We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who fea"ed to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular."

And so good night, and good luck.

Update from floridagal...

Video up of Dean at MSNBC, and probably the KO one as well. I don't see any blogs putting up the Dean video, so glad they got it up so quickly.

He was truly very good tonight. I don't think I have heard him just call the situation "nuts" before. Beautifully done.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/

Scroll down to the Countdown section.

And Holly J points us to the Washington Note, which has both text and video of Keith Olbermann.

Who you should write to here KOlbermann@msnbc.com and say nice things.

And, lest the post scroll off the page, please don't forget about getting Subway's song played on the Dr. Demento show. Details here.

Alternate link for comments