It's time for another of your special comments -- one discussing Hillary Clinton.
A few years ago I watched you become more and more stressed as you witnessed the actions of President Bush and his administration. I saw all of that anger and frustration come out in one glorious fell swoop in your very first special comment.
Now, it is time to channel your obvious dismay at the actions of Sen. Clinton into one of your five minute blocks of pure poetry. As you hold at MSNBC a platform which the vast majority of us could only dream of holding, it is your responsibility to stop Sen. Clinton's misguided rending of the Democratic Party by laying out a clear argument against the tactics that appear to be beneficial not to Sen. Clinton's campaign in 2008, but instead to her campaign in 2012.
Her audacity on "NAFTAgate" is the perfect starting point for such a comment. The fact that her campaign was able to turn the tide in Ohio by accusing Obama of a transgression that Sen. Clinton herself committed is the perfect example of her lust for power at all costs and her "anything goes" mentality.
Perhaps you could talk about the almost daily embarrassments that come out of Sen. Clinton's management of her campaign, and of her own conduct.
--Her trust in a campaign manager who squandered millions of dollars leading up to Iowa, yet still kept her job until after Super Tuesday.
--Her complete lack of a plan following the February 5th primaries, even when it became apparent that that day would not be the end-all for the campaign.
--Her embrace of the politics, the Clintonian politics, of the failed elections of 2000 and 2004, and her rejection of the "50-state strategy" that yielded so much for her party in 2006.
--Her embrace of what Obama calls the "politics of fear." When Obama first coined that phrase, it was a pointed attack at the politics of the Republicans. Now, it can be used as an attack just as effectively against Sen. Clinton. This speaks volumes.
--Her doublespeak -- one day saying she is "honored" to be sharing the same stage as Sen. Obama, and literally the next yelling the words "shame on you" at him in response to factually accurate attacks.
--Above all -- and this will likely hit hardest for you, Mr. Olbermann -- her praise of the Republican nominee at the expense of the likely Democratic nominee. This apparent willingness to throw Democrats under the bus, and your reaction to it on your show, was what led me to believe that you making a special comment against (gasp) a Democrat, might be possible.
So it's time. You've used your platform before. Do it again, for your party, and, ultimately, your country.
Update: Wow, this is my first rec'd diary.
To the comments below -- yes, I know that Olbermann has already spoken strongly about the Clinton campaign. But you and I both know that Clinton is going to do something in the next few days or so that will piss off all of us who want to see a unified Democratic party and a clean primary campaign. This letter is more of a request to give the special comment when that unknown, inevitable transgression occurs.
Of course, if nothing of that sort comes from the Clinton campaign, then the rest of the primaries will be constructive experiences and the problem will be solved. I definitely don't think it will be that easy.
Let me make this very clear, though: I do not group Sen. Clinton in with George W. Bush as far as being deserving of regular special comments. I simply feel that a special comment at some point during the next few weeks might coalesce the Democratic Party around the candidate that is going to win it all anyway, based on simple math. Call it a surgical strike.
Also, a tip jar can now be found in the comments.
Update II: Someone posted a valid argument against this diary: how on earth would a special comment by KO promote party unity? Wouldn't it split Democrats further? Wouldn't it lead to a decrease in ratings for Countdown?
These are hard-hitting questions. My response is posted below in the comments, and reposted here.
I absolutely disagree that a special comment would split the Democratic party further. I disagree that it would lead to the downfall of Countdown.
First of all, it is only a matter of time before KO delivers a special comment against the Democrats. Keith himself has spoken of this possibility. I think the relevant quote went something like this: "After the Democrats take total control of Washington, give them six months. Maybe then they'll be getting a Special Comment of their own."
Secondly, Mr. Olbermann does not have to fill his comment with the non-stop insults that he reserves for President Bush. All he has to do is to point out the unfair attacks Sen. Clinton has been making towards Obama. He does not have to say something like "You are a liar," or "You have no credibility on Iraq," as he has said to Bush. He can forcefully speak against Sen. Clinton's tactics without alienating her supporters. An effective way to do this would be to point out all of the actions that we find despicable, and then be gracious towards Sen. Clinton, saying something like "These are the actions of a desperate candidate, a candidate who has momentarily forgotten the broader goals of her party in a last effort to salvage a failed, mismanaged campaign. All of these transgressions would be forgiven in a heartbeat if Sen. Clinton would raise her campaign to the level of that of her opponent's. She herself actually campaigned with honor until she was convinced, by herself or her advisors, that the nuclear option of going negative against a fellow Democrat was the only way to go. My greatest hope, personally, is that Sen. Clinton will revert back to campaigning with honor."