We Don’t Need Another Zero
May 28, 2008 at 7:53 am
Interesting equation in today’s Howard Kurtz story on MSNBC going left.
Do these two elements add up?
This:
Olbermann has also unloaded on the presumed Republican nominee, sometimes with the on-screen headline “Double Talk Express.” When McCain missed a vote on legislation to expand educational benefits for veterans, Olbermann accused him of “political opportunism.” When the Arizona senator suggested that as president he would regularly answer questions before Congress, Olbermann said: “John McCain would last 11 minutes doing it before he swore or punched somebody or stormed out or all three.”
And this:
But news and opinion often seem to merge on primary nights. MSNBC’s coverage is anchored by Matthews, a onetime Democratic operative, and Olbermann, the “Countdown” host who recently finished one anti-Bush commentary by instructing the president to “shut the hell up.”
On election nights, Griffin says, Matthews and Olbermann “put on different hats. I think the audience gets it. . . . I see zero problem.”
Zero problem, perhaps, if there’s zero problem with a presidential nominee being called the worst person in the world?
Bill Kelly said,
May 28, 2008 @ 10:05 am
Keith Olbermann doesn’t make me change my mind, he makes my stomach turn.
His disrespect for everything except his own bloated opinion of himself makes him impossible for me to watch.
As for Chris Mathews, he is the only one who is breathlessly waiting to hear what he has to say next. Chris pines for the resurrection of the Democrats who upon arrival will save the world.
Korla Pundit said,
May 28, 2008 @ 10:30 am
Now if they could just bring Zell Miller into the mix, THAT would be entertainment! Where’s that duel we were promised in 2004?!
Chris said,
May 28, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Olberman is hilarious! His man crush on Obama makes him do the craziest things! Matthews just gets the tingle up the leg, but Olberman positively reaches climax when discussing the relative merits of his girl, Barry. And I thought he’d never recover after Cindy Sheehan broke his heart! Good for you, Keith! Don’t listen to the haters! Sure, Dan Patrick used to carry your gorky little girl ass on Sports Center, but you just go out there and be the best feminized shill for socialism you can be!
Andrew said,
May 28, 2008 @ 10:43 am
I still remember the e-mail from a former girlfriend of Olbermann’s who was telling her friend that his”equipment” wouldn’t be adequate to satisfy a chihuahua.
Robert Cox said,
May 28, 2008 @ 10:45 am
We at Olbermann Watch are especially enjoying watching the so-called media experts suddenly noticing that just maybe the antics of Keith Olbermann and the far-left pull of Olby, Matthews, Abrams, etc. might be a problem for the journalistic reputation of NBC News. We’ve been making this point since 2004. The difference? Olbermann is now attacking Democrats (Hillary and her supporters).
Shameless plus here…
Four Years Later, Media Gurus Play Catch Up with Olbermann Watch
http://www.olbermannwatch.com/archives/2008/05/four_years_late.php
Korla Pundit said,
May 28, 2008 @ 11:12 am
So, has he gotten over his man-crush on O’Reilly? No more loufa/falafal fantasies?
Tertium Quid said,
May 28, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Be careful who you hate. You might become just like them. Olbermann is a left-wing version of Bill O’Reilly. Neither contributes anything intelligent to public dialogue.
Fen said,
May 28, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Its a catch-22. We need people like Mapes and Olbermann as evidence that our “information brokers” are corrupt and in the tank for the Dems. We also need to limit the amount of damage they can do. One can only imagine the outcome if FR and LGF had not been in play to counter CBS.
I’m also concerned what kind of people these demogogues mold through their rants. McCain can’t even exercise his free speech without being shouted down by these facists.
Chris said,
May 28, 2008 @ 11:29 am
“Olbermann is a left-wing version of Bill O’Reilly.”
No he’s not. They’re two completely different kinds of a-hole:
O’Reilly is a pompous loudmouth jerk who stumbled into his success.
Olbermann is a shrill partisan dingleberry who gets trounced every night by a pompous loudmouth jerk who stumbled into his success.
In either case, you’re better served watching a test pattern.
Ed Cabaniss said,
May 28, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Who are these people Olbermann & Matthews Have they ratings numbers? Have they a serious quotient?
Squid said,
May 28, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
On election nights, Griffin says, Matthews and Olbermann “put on different hats. I think the audience gets it. . . . I see zero problem.”
Griffin’s (accidentally) right. The audience does “get it,” and has for the most part abandoned MSNBCs lineup. If Olby bloviates, and nobody watches, does he make a sound?
Liz S. said,
May 28, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
I will always remember Keith Olbermann when he started at KCBS in Los Angeles in the 80s as a sportscaster. They had to give him a total image makeover because he was so dorky looking. Big bushy mustache, crappy haircut, bad clothes. Well, you may be able to clean the guy up, but he’s still a dork, through and through.
Abe Lincoln said,
May 28, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
Picking on Olberman for his looks demeans us all: Mike Moore may be heavy, Olberman dorky and so on, but its this type of non-substantive criticism that takes us down to Olberman’s sewer -like level. (I suppsose you’d call Alender Hamilton a dork too?).
Olbermann is substantively horrible: only bitter people wanting their prejudices rebooted nightly listen to Olbermann. O’Reilly has some balance and substance to his show; Olbermann has none. He’s a ranter for those that like rants.
MSNBC’s decision to leave Olbermann on the air, spewing ill informed rants is a disgrace. Imagine if FOX put Sean Hannity on alone after 10 red-bulls–that would be almsot a Keith Olbermann.
All in all, I am glad to see no one else can stomach Olbermann either. 5 minutes is like watching a religious zealot.
section9 said,
May 28, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
Insta-Lanche, btw…
Look, I love Matthews. I can’t help myself. He has this deeply corrupt strain about him which gives you the impression that he’d rather be in the room counting the envelopes filled with Walking-Around Money for the Black Preachers in Philly when he runs agains Specter next cycle. You have to hand him that much. Matthews is just an old-time pol who’s trapped in some liberal conventional wisdom and really just admires the guys who figure out how to Win the Game.
Olbermann is objectionable for one reason: his fanaticism and dripping partisanship hides his mediocrity. The man is constantly trying to become the next Edward R. Murrow. However, there is actually a requirement: that one be as talented as was Edward R. Murrow.
O’Reilly actually beats Olbermann on substance. His interview with Hillary Clinton will go down as one of the more perceptive and revealing interviews of the woman. O’Reilly is actually a much more substantive journalist, despite the egoism and the bombast.
Vita said,
May 28, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
When Olbermann called the president a “fascist” (he had just recently apologized twice to Clintons for something or other, so he must have needed to lash out at someone he knew would not make him apologize again) I wrote GE and told them I was considering buying their PROFILE line for my new kitchen and mud room, but was getting turned off by Olbermann.
When Olbermann told the president to “shut the hell up,” I wrote to GE again and let them know that I would NOT be buying all of those appliances from them. I’ve had enough. I don’t exactly boycott, but I don’t need to give my hard-earned bucks to a company that supports his crap.
Craw Craigford said,
May 28, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Hey Now, PMSNBC is actually Very Fair To Faries: they have all butt-buddy replaced me on Heave Overbite/Chris “Spit On Ya” Matthews’ “Hairyballs”/Dan ” I Wear A Squirrel On My Head” Abrams’ “The Vermin”, et al with another “Gay” (”And we all know how painfull that can be”), albeit one not like me ’cause she’s “Outta The Closet”: Rachel “Let Me Be Frank” Maddox. So let’s see now, of the last three “Editors” of The Hotline (all liberal Demonrats), at least two of the three were “Gay” (me & Mercurious) as well their precious Ms. Maddox’s Faux Lipstick Buddy Amy Walters. No wonder we can only expect objectivity when the “Talking Heads” (depends on who giving what) of the PMSNBC/Hotline/MSM axis on cable and/or network programs when discussing issues like “Gay Marriage” (funny Rachel or me don’t pipe up their “preferences then), President Bush, and anything conservative (which, to them, is only interesting when it deals with guys like Craig, Vitter or Foley). But then this post will never make it ’cause “His Extremeness” still likes to rub elbows with the likes of the “Gals” and “Fellas” at media gatherings. Ugh.
AP said,
May 28, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
How can anyone compare O’Reilly to Olbermann? How many Republicans or conservatives does Olbermann book on his show? How many Democrats and leftists does O’Reilly book on his show?
O’Reilly is willing to debate with lefties, Olbermann is afraid to debate righties. Olbermann has the most brain dead show on cable news.
bud said,
May 28, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
” Olbermann is a left-wing version of Bill O’Reilly.”
The problem with that statement is that it implies that O’Reilly is “right-wing”, whatever that means.
No, he just another ego with a teleprompter.
Nicky Carpathia said,
May 28, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Here’s how delusional Olbermouth is: in his intro, he plays the Beethoven music that Huntley and Brinkley used as their theme. It is to laugh to consider him in the same league with Huntley and Brinkley.