"You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of Blue."

[Libertas1776]

I thought that was a very clever invocation of the great orator William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech by Keith tonight.

"You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of insurance, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of Blue."

I am truly humbled, by that, and all of KO's commentary :patriot:

[Faygo Kid]

1. Powerful. I think we are now winning.

The Repukes have nothing. Nothing. In August they tried to intimidate America, and it worked for a while. They are toast now. Health care reform is coming. Period. Sorry, Betsy McCaughey. You lose.

[peace frog]

2. It was beautiful

and very moving. He couldn't help choking up and there wasn't a dry eye in my house. God bless you, Keith.

[virgogal]

3. He actually cried? And I hear Glenn Beck cries. What the hell?

[Libertas1776]

5. He didn't cry

but he did get sincerely chocked up. And he didn't "cry" like Phlegm Blech and by "cry" like Phlegm Blech I mean put Vick's Vapor Rub under your eyes.

[peace frog]

22. Read much?

Try again, this is what I wrote: He couldn't help choking up and there wasn't a dry eye in my house.
Keith choked up and we in the household watching him were teary-eyed. Got it now?

[lsewpershad]

4. After hearing Keith

only the deaf cold hearted bastards would not be moved. Healthcare is a human right and he/she who argues against it is not only inhuman but just might be nonhuman.

[SnoopDog]

6. Forgive my lack of insight on this but...

What would the 'blue' signify?

[Libertas1776]

7. Blue Cross insurance

[SnoopDog]

8. so simple...

thanks... did not make that so very obvious connection....

[anigbrowl]

9. OMG that is pretentious

:puke:

I'm for healthcare but have some fucking dignity. Between Glen Beck on one end and Keith Olberman on the other it's no wonder most people tune out of politics. If I want this kind of drama I can go to church, or the theater.

Sorry to harsh on you KO fans, I do think he's a good guy but this is sooooo pompous.

[Rude Dog]

10. Yes, we all see...

...how huge your e-penis is. Nobody cares.

[Libertas1776]

12. Yes

how pretentious of KO of expressing with absolute sincerity the wrongs of the atrocity that is our health care system. :sarcasm:

[anigbrowl]

13. Sorry, I just think this is what's wrong with American media

People editorializing direct-to-camera or radio mic like this are why most people are so apathetic about politics, and why most TV news is unwatchable. He looks sincere, but then so does the televangelist and the guy on Fox and so on. Even when I strongly agree with the presentation of the issue (as I do in this case) this kind of presentation sucks. As someone said elsewhere, it's very inspiring if you're in the choir, but it alienates people who aren't. I cannot understand why this society insists on elevating cheerleaders and demagogues, regardless of politics. It's unhealthy.

[WinkyDink]

20. I thought he appealed to the intellect, myself.

[peace frog]

23. No need to apologize

and your deep concern is duly noted.

[truedelphi]

26. Olbermann came into the game at that point when so many of us felt powerless against Bush

And most of the media would not even consider that there was anything but a handful of us opposed to Bush.

We were feeling alienated. And he came along. He was the only commentator of whom I am aware (At least on M$M media) who actually acknowledged the fledgling "Stolen Election/Election Machinery is Broken" crowd.

He ranted and raved against Bush's fascistic government and against Cheney.

When the issue is big enough, I applaud what he says. When the issue is smaller, as it was last year when he went on a huge rant against Senator Clinton, I am upset with him. (I am not a great Clinton fan, but how did she deserve the same style of condemnation that Bush received?)

He's not perfect, and right now I rate him below the esteemable Rachel Maddow, but for several years he was brave enough to take on the cause when many of us watching thought it would tank his career.

[anonymous171]

15. What? Bryan's speeches were anything but pretentious

[anigbrowl]

21. Yes, but KO isn't WJB and this isn't 1896

What can I say, I guess it's a style thing. I'd rather the BBC style of news :shrug:

[WinkyDink]

18. So sad. You could've watched the dancing show.

[mmonk]

24. Injustice creates righteous anger that sometimes is confused

with being pompous. It is how the mainstream media can equate Olbermann with O'Reilly and get by with it as they themselves become stenographers for the powerful.

[tridim]

11. I imagine Keith wrote that as he was sitting with his father.

Powerful stuff.

[anonymous171]

14. I love that speech so much.

William Jennings Bryan was truly a man of the people.

[DireStrike]

16. He was also an anti-evolutionist

But I suppose today, that would be a redundancy.

Man, why are historical figures never untainted?

[Libertas1776]

17. He also died almost 85 years ago

and his anti-evolutionary stances would have been more commonplace. What is truly sad, however, are our contemporary politicians (mostly Republican) who continue to think it is 1925, or hell, 1500, as far as science is concerned.

[anonymous171]

19. He was uneasy with evolution because of its support among proponents of eugenics

He also was a firm believer in majoritarian democracy, which meant that if the majority wanted evolution banned, he believed that it should be banned regardless of its scientific merit.

All great historical figures have some faults, like you said. Lincoln was a racist, FDR interned American citizens by their race, and LBJ was a warmonger. However, they should still be considered great men because of their overall positive impact on history

[Dogmudgeon]

25. Stranger still: Before the Civil War, Fundamentalism was Progressive

Ideology is malleable; avarice will use any philosophy it can sink its claws into.

--d!