MSNBC Bombs in Blogosphere

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 9, 2008; 10:17 AM

The decision by MSNBC to yank Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from anchor duty during live political events did not exactly send a thrill up the leg of liberal bloggers.

A number of them denounced the cable channel yesterday for making a change that had long been sought by NBC News veterans, saying MSNBC was caving into pressure from John McCain's campaign and the right wing.

MSNBC President Phil Griffin denied that complaints from either Republicans or NBC journalists were a factor. He said he reached the decision after "talking to my guys, mainly Olbermann," after the Republican convention. Olbermann and Matthews will remain as analysts during such major political events as the presidential debates.

"We came to the conclusion it was better not to restrain them" by making them wear "two hats," Griffin said. "It's not like we haven't talked about this all along. What Keith can say on 'Countdown' and what Chris can say on 'Hardball' is a little different" than what they could tell viewers in the role of news anchors.

In the liberal blogosphere, Olbermann -- an occasional contributor to the Daily Kos site -- is viewed as a heroic truth-teller who has now been undermined by network suits whose company is owned by General Electric. Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo called the move "pathetic," writing: "It seems pretty obvious that the network got cowed by complaints from the McCain campaign."

Much more at link...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090900956.html

truth favors liberals and they need to send out the right wing hacks to provide the lies to make it 'fair'.

I'll watch CSPAN or CNN (puke on that one, too), but MSNBC is off my list of networks to watch when important elections events happen.

I read yesterday that Dead Intern Joe had his eye on that show and when the slot was given to Gregory, Joe simply didn't bother to show up for his morning show. This tells me that the dissatisfaction at MSNBC goes a long way beyond Olbermann and may be rooted more in office politics and professional jealousies than in ideology. It's no secret that brokaw has resented Olbermann's influence at the network because Keith was a "sports guy" who never paid his dues as a reporter.

Gregory is a nothing. He'll put people to sleep. Brian Williams is a fucking airhead with no substance. Brokaw is suffering from senile dementia and is possibly an alcoholic to boot. TIm Russert is worm food and can do nothing to help his buddies anymore. I think these pieces a shit are resentful of Keith taking all the good gigs and this republicon whining was just an excuse for them to vent their professional jealousies.

with tim dead the political arm lost its focus and now there is infighting with people trying to step up and take over?

That has a ring of truth to it.

and sounds many times as if he's hungover.

If so, that's fine with me. When I first heard about this I thought they were being completely muzzled.

Keith was on fire last night calling the PUKES liars.

They just won't be the lead anchors of the debates.

as a commentator rather than anchor. I thought he looked like he was holding back (well, most of the time) during the PukeConFest.

As a commentator, he'll be free to just let it rip.

Bake

but the idea that there is a balance on all the other networks is a joke.

When they do things like purposely use camera angles to make mcsames crowds look bigger or purposely avoid covering protests during the RNC it leaves little doubt as to the direction of the bias of all of the networks including NBC.

When I would normally be watching MSNBC.

So, yeah, you could say that I'm disappointed.

I think Keith made this decision, if you watched him with Rachel last night it was pretty obvious. I think there is a battle going on between Joe Scar (who by the way has not been around the past 2 days) and Keith and Rachel. Joe hates them and is also jealous. Now Rachel has his old time slot and if she beats the ratings he and Dan once had he is in danger of losing his influence.
Also, for a short time there his morning show was actually watchable (very short time at end of 2007 early 08), now it's a train wreck. There is a battle for ideology going on there and the suits are letting it play out.

Therefore, please be honest about what those agendas are. Olbermann is honest about his, Buchanan is open about his. Brokaw, Gregory and Williams are NOT open and honest about the agendas that they pursue under the guise of "impartial journalist". GENBC, like the others, is clinging to the "two worlds" conceit, but we know that there are no impartial journalists as anchors in the Corporate News Entertainment industry.

That's why I'll be turning to CNN during the debates and for general election coverage. Let's show them what low ratings look like.