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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLawrence O'Donnell on Dealing With Trump Grief-And Making Nice With MSNBC
http://www.thedailybeast.com/lawrence-odonnell-on-dealing-with-trump-grief-and-making-nice-with-msnbcLawrence O'Donnell on Dealing With Trump GriefAnd Making Nice With MSNBC
Lawrence O'Donnell is 'completely horrified and uncomfortable' that his contract fight with MSNBC became public--but, with it resolved, is focused on scrutinizing President Trump.
Lloyd Grove
06.02.17 6:32 PM ET
snip//
Repeating what has become his personal maxim since he survived a terrible car crash in 2014, ODonnell declared: Im lucky to be alivethat never goes away. I now feel lucky to be doing this show because of our times. This kind of show has never been more important. Before the last election, if youd asked me about the importance of this kind of show, I would answer, That would depend on the day. Now there is no doubt about the importance of the kind of coverage were doing.
In the aftermath of the shocking election outcome, ODonnell said, he was in a state of mind thatin his description of itsounds very much like grief.
He had been telling his viewers for years, ever since Trumps noxious birther campaign in 2011 that questioned the legitimacy of President Barack Obama, that the reality show billionaire was a liar and a clown who never had any intention of running for the presidency, let alone any chance of winning it.
I really did not know how to do that show after that electionand I knew I had to do it, ODonnell said, explaining that he didnt even recognize his own country, a strange and disturbing nation that could put such a man in the White House. I also knew I didnt feel like talking about it. I would have preferred talking about anything else.
But, working his way through his stages of griefmoving from sorrow to anger to acceptanceI made the discovery that doing the show every night was pretty good medicine, ODonnell recounted, because I really didnt have time to slip into the mood of loss.
ODonnell said his breakthrough moment came on Jan. 12, when a Quinnipiac Poll was released indicating that a plurality of Americans, even some Republicans and Trump voters, didnt much like, respect or trust Obamas successor.
It was hugely important to me when I saw that poll. It crystallized for me how the country saw this presidentand, in early January, people did not know that they were not alone, ODonnell said, noting that, after all, Hillary Clinton received three million more votes than Trump, who became an accidental president courtesy of the quirks of the Electoral College. People had gotten overwhelmed by a country they did not understand, that elected this person they dont understand.
That night, Jan. 12, ODonnell devoted the top of his show to the theme, Youre not alone; channeling the resistance to the 45th president has been his organizing principle ever since.
Now we dont have to tell anyone in America that youre not alone if you disapprove of Donald Trump, and now the country is living with a suspense in their presidency that it has not had since 1974when Nixon was forced to resign to avoid impeachment amid the escalating Watergate scandal.
The dynamism of the news day is unlike anything that has ever existed in the history of cable news, said ODonnell, sounding genuinely energized by the prospect of owning a ringside seat and bully pulpit over the next couple of years. Ive often wondered what it would have been like if wed had cable news during the Vietnam War and Watergate, he said. And now we know.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)I'm so happy MSNBC has heard us, and has signed Lawrence on to continue his "The Last Word"!
malaise
(269,157 posts)Go Lawrence
MontanaMama
(23,337 posts)voices that can calm my nerves at the end of a harrowing day. Seems we used to have a harrowing day once in a while, now every day is awash in stress and random deplorable shit storms. Lawrence can talk me off the ledge.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)A feeling of complete despair and outrage
Texin
(2,597 posts)It's like taking an antidepressant - well almost. Both he and Rachel (and I love Chris Hayes, Ari Melber and Joy Reid as well) are can't miss television for me now. I used to make fun of the Fox viewers for keeping their televisions on that channel 24/7, but I seem to have drifted into the same pattern after this installation. The shock and despair were salved a bit in the subsequent months by MSNBC to a large extent. I don't know if there's anything for it, because it doesn't seem the GOP plans to do anything but this orange cretin firmly in place, so I certainly don't have high hopes, but just leave me to my nightly lineup and I'm at least coping with the new reality.
kag
(4,079 posts)They watch fox to have their hatred and bigotry confirmed, and they get exactly that. We watch the MSNBC nightly lineup to hear the truth, and to hear intelligent commentary from adults. Remember, the truth has a liberal bias.
Madam45for2923
(7,178 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,450 posts)from his colleagues, very calm and without a lot of bombast.... But what he speaks is the truth and I am glad that they kept him on.
zentrum
(9,865 posts)Different Drummer
(7,642 posts)not fooled
(5,801 posts)Yea, Lawrence. Thanks for posting that.
If only more of the media had done the same, no way would the orange madman be squatting in the White House.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)Very lucky-- for all of us
kag
(4,079 posts)I think he was in Africa when it happened, and as I recall it was him and his brother in the car. He used to have (I don't know if it's still around) a non-profit to get desks for schools in Africa.
Someone can correct me if I have that all wrong.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)After I posted that, I Googled it and that's exactly what happened.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)You're absolutely right. He was in the (British) Virgin Islands according to Wikipedia. Well, at least I remembered the brother part right.
3catwoman3
(24,044 posts)...and goes by the acronym K.I.N.D - Kids In Need of Desks. It is associated with UNICEF.
I can't find a current total on what has been raised, but I do know Lawrence's donors have been quite generous.
sellitman
(11,607 posts)Just not mean enough.
eleny
(46,166 posts)eta: I hope he writes a book about all this, too.
He wrote, Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics. I look forward to reading it when it comes out later this year.
https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Fire-Election-Transformation-American-ebook/dp/B06W2J86JB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496510700&sr=8-1&keywords=lawrence+o%27donnell
So I hope he gathers his thoughts and observations on these times, too.
leanforward
(1,077 posts)I thought you might be a goner. We (3) did what we could in concert with others of like mind.
I listen/watch a lot of news shows. What gets me with the current elected GOP Senators and Representatives is their willingness to go along with dRumpf. Silence is acquiesce. In this circumstance they are traitors to the constitution.
Cutting to the chase, my uneasiness is his kissy face with the Russians. Couple that an idea of accounting and business organizations confirmed what I thought. The Russians are heavily invested in dRumpf. dRumpf knows it and is willing to sell the rest of us down the road, in order to maintain a "rosie secenario" for his aggrandizement.
I am a loyal/citizen/patriot in opposition to pRezident dRumpf and any GOP lemming. I spent some time in the Army. As I watch dRumpf he is repulsive in what he has to say and how he presents himself in public. The military make the supreme sacrifice, and he goes through meaningless (to him) show and tell. It is as if their sacrifice is for nought.
Finally, follow the money.
Mountain Mule
(1,002 posts)Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)hand, we have Rachel and Lawrence and Chris Hayes.
yellowdogintexas
(22,270 posts)He absolutely was like a dog with a bone about that incident. He kept talking about it every night, with new info daily and repeatedly asked why nothing was being done, until finally something was done.
That is what journalism should be. Truth
Racygrandma
(109 posts)I remember after getting the election results like at midnight, I was up again at 5 am cleaning the kitchen. I did the floor, cleaned the kitchen table and chairs and even got behind the stove. I was in total shock. I know a lot of people here in Kansas can not even get themselves to talk about it. Believe it or not. They say oh that buffoon, and that is the end of the conversation. I personally worry about Rachel and Lawrence and the political pressure they must be under. The work they are doing right now is very brave. I wonder at times if they are receiving threats, the ratings of their shows have skyrocketed.
3catwoman3
(24,044 posts)...disbelief and denial. I know incredulity is not one of the official stages, but I am stuck there, too.
onecent
(6,096 posts)If I miss it I play it in the morning. He has such a way with everything he talks about. Never says
anything cross about anyone, but you still know he cares about what we are worried about. He reminds
me a lot of my father, who isn't here now. 2 more years isn't enough....
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)and a gang of Congressmen too afraid to do anything about it.
Cha
(297,655 posts)invaluable contribution to our struggling Democracy.
Kool Kid
(2 posts)Well Written Artical
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Since we'vee always lived in conservative towns and most of our friends are conservatives, it wasn't QUITE that unrecognizable. My surreal moment was the day before the Republican convention when I realilzed rump would be one vote away from the presidency. And on Nov 8 I turned off the TV very early and went to bed, unwilling to watch.
And yet... yes. Still very shocking, if not unbelievable.
Welcome to DU, Kool Kid.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)in the Edward R. Murrow vein..... God I just hope he won't be reporting to us from some kind of 'blitz' aka London bombing by nazis, WW2.
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)MiddleClass
(888 posts)No made-up scandal,
no super hype,
no flashing lights.
Just Lawrence and pals talking, giving wonderful insight to today's issues.
I like what Keith Olbermann stated many years ago about his show, I plan to shed light not heat.
Keep up the great work, Rachel exposes, Lawrence discusses, Brian + Nicole explain.
Who can ask for more. Hardball starts me up. Back to a great rundown with Chris maturing