Keith Olbermann Special Comment PT. 2: 'A Cry For Help; Damn Them to Hell'

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 04:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlK3Gi5mg78   Posted on YouTube: February 25, 2010 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 25, 2010 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 2019

 
MSNBC Countdown w/ KEITH OLBERMANN - 24 February 2010: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/24/840433/-A-Special-Comment-From-My-Father

PART 1 IS HERE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x437607

Special Comment From My Father
by Keith Olbermann

Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 05:24:33 PM PST

Last Friday night, my father asked me to kill him.

This is not the central fact around which tomorrow's health care summit at Blair House will, or should, revolve. But I'd like it on the record somewhere that I asked all those going there, including the President, to think more about people like my father - patients, in our hospitals, at this moment - and less about elections and political points and "crashing the party."

Keith Olbermann's diary :: ::

This is hastily composed while our show is delayed by what I was told was impossible (a time out, during Olympic Curling Overtime - as I asked, "a time out from WHAT?")I did not have time, between events at the hospital and here, to prepare an early diary, but now the fates (or the stones) have fallen in just the right order in Vancouver.

I'm focusing on one thing in tonight's Comment. The night my father asked me to stop his treatment:

I get his attention again. I ask him: do you want me to stop all of this? And he looks at me and mouths "yes." And I ask him: you understand what happens then. And he looks at me and mouths "yes." And I ask him: you realize you are not terminally ill, and if we do stop all of this, it might not be quick. And he mouths "stop this." And I say, trying to joke him out of it -- and trust me, gallows humor is your best defense in this situation -- "what? You want me to smother you with a pillow?" And he mouths "yes - kill me"...

And as I left that night the full impact of these last six months washed over me. What I had done, conferring with the resident in ICU, the conversation about my father's panicky, not-in-complete-control-of-his-faculties demand that all treatment stop, about the options and the consequences and the compromise - the sedation -- the help for a brave man who just needed a break... that conversation, that one -- was what these ghouls who are walking into Blair House tomorrow morning decided to call "Death Panels."

Your right to have that conversation with a doctor -- not the government, but a doctor -- and your right to have insurance pay for his expertise on what your options are when Dad says "kill me" or what your options are when Dad is in a coma and can't tell you a damn thing, or what your options are when everybody is healthy and happy and coherent and you're just planning ahead -- your right to have the guidance and the reassurance of a professional who can lay that out for you... that's a quote "death panel."

That, right now, is the legacy of the protests of these sub-humans who get paid by the insurance companies, who say these things for their own political gain... or like that one fiend... for money.

For money Betsy McCaughey told people that this conversation about life and death and relief and release, and also about no, keep treating him no matter what happens, until the nation runs out of medicine... she told people it's a death panel and she did that... for money.

It's a life panel.

A life panel -- it can save the pain of the patient and the family -- it is the difference between you guessing what happens next, and you being informed about what probably will, and that's the difference between you sleeping at night or second-guessing and third-guessing and thirtieth-guessing.

And it can also be the place where the family says 'we want you to keep him alive no matter what, we believe in miracles' and the doctor saying yes. Nobody gets to say no except the patient and the family.

It's a life panel. And damn those who call it otherwise to hell.

[peacetalksforall]

1. That was a remarkable and memorable tribute and plea. I will never forget it.

[vixengrl]

2. This reduced me to tears--

it reminded me of how my grandparents recently passed--my maternal grandmother, who was resucitated despite a DNR despite wasting and a chronic heart condition who died about 17 yrs ago, my paternal grandmother, who survived more than a decade past her quadrupal bypass, and deeply resented every sign of her body failing, who passed in her sleep, and my paternal grandfather, who at 95, declined surgery for colon cancer, and slipped away when the disease bled him out. They all knew they were dying, and to an extent, it was a blessing to the family that we could be prepared. They had their affairs in order and were ready to go.

The conversation is necessary. It isn't comfortable, but death is a part of life. I think I'll probably die someday myself(barring some science fiction intervention)--I hope I have a little choice in the matter and am totally kept comfortable with drugs and stuff. And pass on when and how I chose. It's sad, but--it is how it is. Our health care system should respect that.

[PatrynXX]

5. Yes it also reduced me to tears. Grandpa paased away Dec 13th 2008

He really wasn't there since mid 2007. But he held on that long. Just since then my dad got worse as he really took his Right Wing views and went hard core. So I've been unable to cope with the loss of our beagle, my job and grandpa all in one year :( and really couldn't watch Rachel after that and it looked like it also had her in tears because her eyes looked a bit off at the beginning of the show. I'd say I woke up at 5am or so because it reminded me so much of that particular moment Dec 12th where we went in (brother was working) I didn't know it would be the last day I'd see him, the next morning dad crashed into a guard rail distracted trying to get down to the VA. Had to take his Mustang (which is not a winter vehicle instead) which he totaled a couple weeks later. :( Bad month. Took up drinking too much Vodka that month. Last time I really ever touched Vodka too. Day after Christmas. 2 shots per orange pop. Did 5 of those. and passed right the fuck out. Been trying to stay above the quick sand ever since :(

Do wish Keith's family lots of love. First his mother now his dad. And I watched his show through all that. :(

and yes know all about the white cell blood count, and grandpa was very puffed up on dec 12th 08 and .... just gonna end this discussion..

[sam sarrha]

3. just a comment on calling health care Socialism.. what it isnt... Link>>

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

when the 80% of the people only possess 7% of financial wealth in the wealthiest country in the world. and about 70& of the debt.
this represents Fascism, a government of, by and for the Corporations/Robber Barron's.

Socialism is a Government of, by and for the PEOPLE. it is also public education, not Madrases. community police instead of Blackwater. fire departments.. clean water in a tap, a road without a toll booth.. it is freedom "FROM" Religion, not Sharia law. Foremost it is Voting. being able to vote.. we forgot about that, so we have Fascism. when we dont vote 'and' take a vacation day to drive other party members to the polls All Day who cant get there.. we are begging for Fascism.. and we got it.

i don't pray but i will say Mantras for KO's dad and all the other's without health care, 132 of which will die today because of the Rethuglican Death Panels. actually i always say my mantra when i see suffering of one sort or another..

the Four Immeasurable's

may all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness

may all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering

may all beings never be separated from the Happiness that knows no suffering

may all beings live in Equanimity, free of anger, aversion and grasping that cause us to
to hold some beings near and others distant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woIkIph5xcU

[cutlassmama]

4. He was amazing. I'll never forget it.

[Stuart G]

6. You must watch both parts..or link to watch all of it at Olberman's web site.

here is the link


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

[Stuart G]

7. Please take the time to watch this comment. It will touch you. nt.

[hmorehead]

8. There is no substantial argument against this commentary. Just denial.

[Dubiosus]

9. very touching, and hard to listen

but as long as you can not rely on your politicians he should watch and investigate the
Rick Simpson story and RANT about that!!!

Make it your grass roots movement, Mr. Olbermann. Make it an issue! You are the man who could do that!!

Is anybody around who can contact him?

:bounce: