Keith Olbermann calls out Richard Shelby for the blanket hold he put on 70 of President Obama's nominees unless he gets the earmarks he wants for his state. Anyone else notice the near silence on this issue during the bobble head shows this past Sunday? Very little mention of this happening. If a Democrat did something like this the Republicans would be screaming like banshees.

OLBERMANN: And now the second of tonight`s quick comments. I`ll handle this one. Once again, your Senate to the high bidder. "Inaction on these nominees," the senator said, "is a disservice to the American people exacted by members of the opposing party who," quote, "choose to block the process for political gain."

The complaining senator was Richard Shelby of Alabama. The year was 2005. The nominees were President Bush`s. The opposition senators choosing to block the process for political gain were Democrats. But now another senator is holding up President Obama`s nominees, choosing to block the process for political gain. This other senator has put a blanket hold on 70 to 80 of them, from appointees at Homeland Security to appointees to the Department of Justice Intel division, because he wants, of all things, an earmark.

A 35 billion dollar contract for tankers is going to the American firm Boeing. This senator is delaying counter-terrorism appointees because he wants the contract taken from Boeing and given instead to the makers of Airbus, a firm based in France. Airbus just happens to have assembly plants in the senator`s state. It just happens to have given that senator at least 34,000 dollars in personal and PAC donations since 2000. It just happens to use the lobbying firm that employs the senator`s former legislative director.

The senator deliberately keeping American intelligence under-staffed so he can get 35 million dollars to go to a foreign company from whose teat he sucks is Senator Shelby of Alabama.

The system of senatorial holds has outlived its usefulness. So have this senator for rent hypocrites, like Richard Shelby.

Markos Moulitsas joins Keith Olbermann to defend his Daily KOS/Research 2000 poll against the attacks of Bill O'Reilly. As Markos and Keith note apparently Bill-O and his buddies at ClusterFox aren't too happy about having a mirror put up to their face.

Keith's comment on the special kind of right wing crazy that is Michele Bachmann. Think Progress has more -- Bachmann Suggests Critics Of Health Care Reform Will Be Put On A ‘List’ And Denied Treatment:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) painted an Orwellian vision of health care reform yesterday, claiming that critics of the Democrats’ plan could be denied coverage. Citing an unnamed Japanese man who supposedly approached her in Washington, Bachmann suggested that critics of the Japanese government are placed on a “list” and prohibited from receiving medical care under Japan’s universal health care system. Saying “a government takeover of health care is the crown jewel of socialism,” Bachmann insinuated a similar situation could occur in “our future”. Read on...

Keith and Markos Moulitsas discuss the Republicans absolute refusal to cooperate with the Democrats on anything and the latest numbers from this poll done by Kos' research company -- The 2010 Comprehensive Daily Kos/Research 2000 Poll of Self-Identified Republicans:

MOULITSAS: Well, what we found with this poll—and we‘re releasing it tomorrow at around noon Eastern Time, and this is a nonpartisan independent pollster—is that about 1/3 of Republicans are what to be characterized as sane, about 1/3 think Obama was born in the United States, about 1/3 don‘t think Obama should be impeached. We‘re talking impeachment here, without a hint of scandal.

About 1/3 believe that sex education should be taught in schools and so on. I mean, this is a fairly comprehensive poll.

And the other 2/3 either are completely insane or just aren‘t sure. I mean, 1/3 think that maybe we ought to debate whether Obama was born in the United States; 1/3 think that maybe ACORN stole the 2008 election. I mean, it‘s pretty, pretty crazy stuff. And I think a lot of this is driven by FOX News and Rush Limbaugh and this incredible, reality-bending, ultimate media machine that the right has.

The results are nothing short of startling. Read on...

I agree. The numbers are pretty startling. You can check out the entire results here.

John Amato:

Ezra Klein has more:

About 39 percent of Republicans think Obama should be impeached, and 29 percent aren't sure. This might be because 63 percent think he's a socialist, and only 42 percent think he was born in the United States.

More than 50 percent of Republicans think Sarah Palin is better qualified than Barack Obama to be president. About 24 percent believe Obama wants the terrorists to win, and 21 percent think Acorn stole the 2008 election (55 percent aren't sure). A solid 31 percent think Obama is "a racist who hates white people" and -- the coup de grace -- 23 percent think their state should secede from the United States.

Republicans think Palin is more qualified than Obama. What a hoot. But my favorite is that about a quarter of them want to secede from the US. Do us a favor and move on that one.

Transcript via MSNBC below the fold.

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Countdown's Worst Persons for Feb. 1, 2010 with winner Bill O'Reilly -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: O'Reilly's math blunder: 4-year trial at $200 million a year equals "almost a trillion dollars"

Runners up James O'Keefe -- Clown Time: James O'Keefe Explains Himself and Mark Levin -- Levin suggests Sen. Patrick Leahy drunk on Senate floor.

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Sarah Palin confirmed on Greta Van Susteren's show last night that she's very much planning to show up and speak at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, despite the distinct odor of Scam the whole affair is giving off.

Palin: Oh, you betcha I'm going to be there. I'm going to speak there because there are people traveling from many miles away to hear what that Tea Party movement is all about and what that message is that should be received by our politicians in Washington. I'm honored to get to be there.

This, even as some of her fellow wingnuts are catching the same whiff -- namely, Reps. Michele Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn, who have pulled out of the event:

In separate statements, released by their congressional offices, the lawmakers said that appearing at the convention might conflict with House ethics rules. But they also said they are concerned about how money raised from the event will be spent.

Palin last night had no such concerns -- and said no one should be concerned about that big wad of cash the convention organizers are paying her:

Palin: The speaker's fee will go right back into the cause. I'll be able to donate it to people and those events, those things that I believe in, that will help perpetuate the message, the message being: Government, you have constitutional limits. You better start abiding by them.

Hmmmmm. It sounds like we're going to have to rely on Sarah's say-so when it comes to how she actually spends the money. Smells even more like Scam, doesn't it?

Of course, the whole scenario, as David Corn explored with Keith Olbermann last night, is developing into quite a fiasco -- mainly because Tea Partier and Birther J.D. Hayworth has decided to challenge Palin's former running mate, John McCain, in the Arizona Senate primary.

Palin is staying loyal to McCain. This has outraged the Tea Partiers, as Alan Colmes points out:

She has now chose to align herself with several bad actors. What should this be called, the Rinoization of Sarah Palin. [...]

She is certainly entitled to write a book and make money for her and her family, but other than what has she has done to support Republican and patriotic candidates. … Perhaps, Sarah was too busy talking to her agent about her Fox deal. Where the hell was Sarah?

This is what you get when you build a movement around paranoid right-wingers. There is probably no faction more historically famous for viciously turning on each other in struggles over money and power than right-wing populists.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.

Countdown's Worst Persons for Jan. 28, 2009 with winners being a whole host of right wingers for their response to the State of the Union address. Media Matters has the breakdown--The right-wing response to Obama's SOTU address: "jerk," "arrogant," cocky". Runners up Karl Rove for his appearance on Fox & Friends--Does Rove Think Reagan And Bush Were ‘Weak’ For Discussing The ‘Situation’ They Inherited? and Rudy Giuliani on the same show--Giuliani falsely claims Obama never said "war" in State of the Union.

Countdown's Worst Persons for Jan. 26, 2009 with winner Bill O'Reilly. Runners up Rush Limbaugh and Nancy Grace.

Bill-O -- O’Reilly jokes: Kidnap top Dems, waterboard Speaker Pelosi:

During a recent stop of the Bold & Fresh Tour with fellow Fox News personality Glenn Beck, right-wing talker Bill O'Reilly couldn't help but to spin a hypothetical.

In his fantasy world where Obama hires him as a presidential adviser, O'Reilly explained the first thing he'd do is lavishly decorate his office. Thing two would be having the CIA director kidnap top Democrats and "waterboard" Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

He was, of course, "joking" during the Jan. 23 appearance. The audience roared with laughter, even as O'Reilly had cautioned, "Don't tell anyone I said this, please."

Rush -- Defending Limbaugh, right-wing media smear Foxman:

After Anti-Defamation League (ADL) national director Abraham Foxman criticized Rush Limbaugh for his January 20 statement that "a lot of those people on Wall Street are Jewish. So I wonder if there's starting to be some buyer's remorse there" -- remarks Limbaugh later lied to defend -- the right-wing media has rushed to defend Limbaugh and to attack Foxman. Foxman has been smeared as a "terrible Jew" and a "plague on his people," and described as a "disgusting, craven little twerp."

Nancy Grace -- Nancy Grace Interview Contributed To Melinda Duckett Suicide, Professor Says:

A Harvard professor says CNN Headline News host Nancy Grace's relentless questioning of a Florida mother three years ago contributed to her suicide, according to a filing in the family's wrongful death case.

Grace launched aggressive nightly coverage of 2-year-old Trenton Duckett's case shortly after he disappeared in 2006, usually with a collection of analysts. When the boy's mother, Melinda Duckett, appeared by telephone two weeks into the case, speculation was beginning to narrow on her possible involvement.

Dr. Harold J. Bursztajn, a clinical professor of psychiatry, wrote in a filing this week. that Grace "struck a highly accusatory tone."

The professor saw "a distraught young woman who is subject to repeated and increasingly sharp questioning by a hostile interviewer who displays increasing suspicion and anger towards Ms. Duckett."

The next day, the 21-year-old Duckett shot herself in the head.

Keith responds to Jon Stewart who went after him for his hyperbolic comments of late which have been short and sweet and many times amounting to not much more than an F.U. out of Keith to someone who has drawn his ire. Keith to his credit agreed that he needs to tone it down.

OLBERMANN: Into each life, some rain must fall. You`ll often hear Rachel Maddow and I lumped in together with Jon Stewart of the "Daily Show" as the only truth tellers in mainstream television.

Now, this week, Mr. Stewart was critical, first, of Rachel, and last night, of me. So, the old truth telling list has gotten shorter by one name or maybe two or, I guess, maybe all three.

Seriously, my response to Mr. Stewart`s critique will not mean much unless you see it. So, I`ll show it with two prefaces only.

One, Jon, you invited me on the show in 2003 and I said I couldn`t make it because of the taping time. It didn`t mean I couldn`t make it forever. What, you can`t pick up a phone and give a jingle?

Two, I think it should be noted when Affleck did this, he didn`t have a teleprompter. That guy is a technician like Rembrandt was a technician.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JON STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: Obviously, with the stakes so high in this week`s Massachusetts Senate race, emotions ran high on both sides of the contest peaking on election eve.

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Keith talks to Rep. Alan Grayson who has introduced five bills in anticipation of this Supreme Court ruling which gives corporations the same rights as citizens in regard to free speech and 1st Amendment rights. You can also go sign Grayson's petition Save Democracy here.

OLBERMANN: In anticipation of today`s ruling, one Democratic in Congress, Alan Grayson of Florida, having introduced five bills last week, in an effort to prevent the expected flood of corporate cash. By title, they are: the Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act, the Public Company Responsibility Act, the End Political Kickbacks Act, the Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act, and last but certainly not least, the Ending Corporate Collusion Act.

Congressman Grayson joins us now.

Thank you once again for your time tonight, sir.

GRAYSON: Thank you.

OLBERMANN: You were in the courtroom when the Supreme Court announced this decision. What`s your reaction to the decision? What has the reaction been to your five bills?

GRAYSON: I`m shocked. I`m shocked by the decision. This is the most irresponsible decision by the Supreme Court since the Dred Scott decision.

OLBERMANN: Agreed.

GRAYSON: . over 100 years ago. The one that you referred to, the Dred Scott decision has some analogy to it. In the Dred Scott decision, the court decided that slaves and their free born children do not have any constitutional rights.

Today, the court, in effect, decided only corporations have constitutional rights. This will lead to a drowning flood of money from corporations in exchange for favors. And it basically institutionalizes and legalizes bribery on the largest scale imaginable. Corporations will now be able to reward the politicians that play ball with them and will be able -- they will be able to beat to death the politicians that don`t.

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Keith's Special Comment on the Supreme Court ruling to end limitions on campaign financing which will result in the purchasing of government officials--Special Comment: Pandora's Box:

OLBERMANN: In short, there are now no checks on the ability of corporations or unions or other giant aggregations of power... to decide our elections.

None.

They can spend all the money they want.

And if they can spend all the money they want -- sooner, rather than later -- they will implant the legislators of their choice in every office from President to head of the Visiting Nurse Service.

And if Senators and Congressmen and Governors and Mayors and Councilmen and everyone in between are entirely beholden to the corporations for election and re-election to office, soon they will erase whatever checks there might still exist to just slow down the ability of corporations to decide... the laws.

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Countdown's Worst Persons for Jan. 18, 2010 with winner Sean Hannity. Runners up Karen Hughes and Dean Zerbe.

Keith talks to Scott Horton about his recent article at Harper's Magazine--The Guantánamo “Suicides”: A Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle:

Furthermore, new evidence now emerging may entangle Obama’s young administration with crimes that occurred during the Bush presidency, evidence that suggests the current administration failed to investigate seriously—and may even have continued—a cover-up of the possible homicides of three prisoners at Guantánamo in 2006.

Keith blasts Robertson and Limbaugh for their hate filled, insane comments after the earthquake hit in Haiti.

Olbermann: Even the worst of us in this political mosh pit of the early 21st century can stop on occasion in grief and human sympathy in mourning or just in self-preservation. Not Rush Limbaugh and not Pat Robertson. We'll explore this at length later, but, Mr. Robertson, it is laughable now to try to call him Reverend, explained today that this earthquake is the result of a “deal with the devil” that he claims the nation made in the 19th century to gain its freedom from France. “True story,” Robertson says. Sir, because of your tone deafness, and your delight in human misery, and your dripping, self-satisfied, holier-than-thou, senile crap, I am now likelier to believe that you are the Devil.

Limbaugh, meantime, did not know when to just shut up. Today he blamed communism for the poverty of Haiti, blamed President Obama for holding a news conference the day after this cataclysm, when he did not hold one after the failed, half-assed terror attempt in Detroit, and said Mr. Obama would use Haiti to 'burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the Black community in the both “light-skinned and dark-skinned Black community in this country”.

Mr. Robertson, Mr. Limbaugh. Your lives are not worth those of the lowest, meanest, poorest of those victims still lying under that rubble in Haiti tonight. You serve no good. You serve no god. You inspire only stupidity and hatred, and I would wish you to hell, but knowing how empty your souls must be for you to be able to say such things in a time of such pain, I suspect the vacant purposelessness of the lives you both live now are hell enough already.

Countdown's Worst Persons for Jan. 12, 2009 with winner Rep. Gresham Barrett. Runners up Bill Cunningham and Tucker Carlson.