Althouse: Olbermann's mini-exile is over.

November 8, 2010

Olbermann's mini-exile is over.

I hope MSNBC succeeded in proving whatever its point was to you.

69 comments:

kent said...: I hope MSNBC succeeded in proving whatever its point was to you.

"The Worst Network in the World."; 11/8/10, 10:10 AM
Rose said...: This is just so bizarre.; 11/8/10, 10:11 AM
Anonymous said...: PR stunt.; 11/8/10, 10:13 AM
traditionalguy said...: Maybe it was the new concussion rules applied to him as an NFL Sports Analyst that had obviously been hit on his head.; 11/8/10, 10:14 AM
Humperdink said...: Can't stand the guy, never watch the guy. Glad he's back though.....his behavior represents the opposition very nicely. Wish there were more like him on MSNBC.; 11/8/10, 10:14 AM
SteveR said...: There's no way they cared about the hypocrisy of Olbarmann's actions vs his words or that he gave money to those particular candidates. He violated a rule they took as seriously as a two day suspension.

PR stunt is right; 11/8/10, 10:15 AM
Clyde said...: Keith Olbermann is the 2010 Dallas Cowboys of cable talking heads. That means that there's probably someone worse than him, but you'd have to look damn hard to find him/her.; 11/8/10, 10:17 AM
Greg said...: I think he should be fired for still sporting a 70's porn star 'stache well into the 90's when he was on ESPN; 11/8/10, 10:18 AM
Robert Cook said...: As there are so few liberal pundits given regular airtime--much less their own programs--on major broadcast networks, (if MSNBC can be defined as such), it is a good thing that Olbermann is being returned to the air.

(I must admit, I don't watch his program, or Maddow's either, although I like both of them. I did watch the sorely missed BILL MOYERS JOURNAL every week.); 11/8/10, 10:18 AM
Unknown said...: Aw, the guy they had on his show last Friday was so ... rational.

This should double his viewership to 2.; 11/8/10, 10:20 AM
Kirby Olson said...: Did they want to say something about the Juan Williams incident by punishing a liberal commentator? If so, the penalty is rather liberal: two days off?; 11/8/10, 10:20 AM
Big Mike said...: shoutingthomas is right. Never anything more than a PR stunt.; 11/8/10, 10:23 AM
Rumpletweezer said...: Isn't MSNBC the network for liberals who want to feel like they are well-informed without having to be exposed to information that might make them uncomfortable?; 11/8/10, 10:24 AM
SteveR said...: KO had said that PBS was right to fire Williams for violoating a policy.; 11/8/10, 10:25 AM
Anonymous said...: Kookie, we can always count on you.

As there are so few liberal pundits given regular airtime--much less their own programs--on major broadcast networks, (if MSNBC can be defined as such), it is a good thing that Olbermann is being returned to the air.

Hilarious. You know, the "so few liberal pundits" bit. Well, guess since they don't invite Angela Davis on Fox, you might have a bitch there. Would you like somebody to hire Bob Avakian?

(I must admit, I don't watch his program, or Maddow's either, although I like both of them. I did watch the sorely missed BILL MOYERS JOURNAL every week.)

The "sorely missed BILL MOYERS JOURNAL!!!"

Jesus, Kookie, you've got a fucking weird idea of fun.

Kinky!

Please don't tell us about your sex life. That's gotta be grim.

Read the NY Times today. They've featured one of your comrade publications, The Nation. You've gotta love that old Stalinist rag.

That's just gotta give you a hard on.; 11/8/10, 10:25 AM
chuckR said...: Did MSNBC really need to prove that they were foolish? Isn't it obvious?

I'm pretty conservative and I'd like to keep Olbie on the air, soaking up time and resources. He's less dangerous than a rational-sounding and persuasive lefty.; 11/8/10, 10:27 AM
bagoh20 said...: The point I got was that he's just as unbalanced as I thought, and MSNBC is fine with it. What other message is there?

I also agree that like Pelosi and Reid, we are glad to have them, especially without much power now. Perfect outcome.; 11/8/10, 10:28 AM
Anonymous said...: As there are so few liberal pundits given regular airtime--much less their own programs--on major broadcast networks

You mean other than Katie Couric, George Stephanopolis, and David Gregory, right?; 11/8/10, 10:30 AM
El Presidente said...: Let me see if I can summarize:

For straying too far left and Olbermann is suspended for two days.

For straying too far right Juan Williams is fired.

Yeah, I can understand that.; 11/8/10, 10:36 AM
Fred4Pres said...: There is obviously more to this story than Olbermann giving money to Democrats.

Olbermann is a prima donna jerkoff in real life. It is not just a schtick. I suspect it is a bit of a power tussel at MSNBC. And I also suspect it is no coincidence this came after the embarassing spectacle of MSNBC's election coverage. This was a cannon shot not just for Keefy, but the rest of MSNBC's stable of "talent."

So with that, here is the last funny skit from SNL.; 11/8/10, 10:38 AM
TMink said...: I am glad he will return to his job though I consider him a loathesome excuse for a human being. That whole freedom of speech thing is important to me, no matter who is speaking.

Trey; 11/8/10, 10:43 AM
Anonymous said...: The point was publicity...

They nailed it.; 11/8/10, 10:55 AM
Big Mike said...: @Trey, you are right at one level, but I can't help but note the disparate treatment accorded to lily white Olbermann versus Black Juan Williams. Olbermann's violation of company policy was cut and dried, and he got a two-day suspension. Williams' violation of company policy was debatable at the very least, and he had numerous examples of other NPR employees who had done exactly as he did (not to mention his own previous visits to Fox that presumably drew not negative feedback from management).; 11/8/10, 10:57 AM
Robert Cook said...: "You mean other than Katie Couric, George Stephanopolis, and David Gregory, right?"

To the degree I am familiar with their work--which is slight--they seem like standard shills for the establishment line to me, particularly David Gregory.

(Please note: asking mildly probling questions of know-nothings like Sarah Palin and causing her embarrassment because she can't answer does not indicate the questioner is "liberal," only that he or she maintains some nominal journalistic responsibility to ask questions intended to elicit real answers.); 11/8/10, 11:02 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: I hope MSNBC succeeded in proving whatever its point was to you.

That Olbermann's a dishonest ass and MSNBC is insane? Yep:

Message received.; 11/8/10, 11:04 AM
Lincolntf said...: Can't wait to see (if I can force myself to tune in) Olby hanging on his cross Tuesday night.
Having just martyred himself for the Prog cause, he'll be extra insufferable for a while.; 11/8/10, 11:05 AM
Anonymous said...: To the degree I am familiar with their work--which is slight--they seem like standard shills for the establishment line to me, particularly David Gregory.

Well, Kookie, who does represent your "line?" You know, the class and race warfare bit?

Bob Avakian was too conservative?; 11/8/10, 11:05 AM
Anonymous said...: To the degree I am familiar with their work--which is slight--they seem like standard shills for the establishment line to me,

Well, Stephanopolis worked for a Democratic President and all.

But he is "establishment" for you, seeking to obfuscate actual facts.; 11/8/10, 11:06 AM
Anonymous said...: she maintains some nominal journalistic responsibility to ask questions intended to elicit real answers.)

Really?

And when did she, or anyone for that matter, ask "probing" questions of Candidate Obama?; 11/8/10, 11:07 AM
Original Mike said...: Bill Moyers is the reason I stopped contributing to my PBS affiliate.; 11/8/10, 11:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Kookie...

Are you over 25 years of age?

If so, what caused you to suffer this total mental collapse?

And, why should anybody take a nutjob like you seriously?

You are stark bonkers mad. At least, I hope so. Because, if you're not, you're an evil SOB.; 11/8/10, 11:10 AM
Robert Cook said...: "Well, Stephanopolis worked for a Democratic President and all."

And...?

The Democrats and the Republicans are both part of the political establishment, last I checked.

More woefully, the Dems have been capitulating to the Republicans for the last 20 years, if not longer. When they're out of power, they claim it's because they don't have a majority, when they're in power they claim they can't get 60 votes in Congress, or they simply redefine loathesome Republican policies as "practical" or "consensus" policies that are the best we can hope for.

Fuck 'em all.; 11/8/10, 11:11 AM
Anonymous said...: they seem like standard shills for the establishment line to me

So is the "establishment line" non-partisan?; 11/8/10, 11:12 AM
Robert Cook said...: "Bill Moyers is the reason I stopped contributing to my PBS affiliate."

I guess intelligent discussion of current affairs made your brain hurt. No surprise, that.; 11/8/10, 11:13 AM
Anonymous said...: And...?

And, he's a liberal.

But you're pretending that few liberal pundits given regular airtime--

You are a liar.; 11/8/10, 11:13 AM
Dark Eden said...: This two days in the penalty box definitely makes up for the election day coverage and proves that MSNBC is totally more mature, awesome and unbiased than those evil fascist racist demon nazis at Fox News and the Rethuglikkkan party they are the mouthpieces of.

I'm totally serial.; 11/8/10, 11:14 AM
Martha said...: Governor Christie called David Gregory on his partisan advocacy on MEET THE PRESS Sunday morning. Gregory was arguing forcefully for tax increase--- oh I mean doing away with Bush era "tax cuts". Blunt straight- talking Christie admonished Gregory ---yay!; 11/8/10, 11:16 AM
Original Mike said...: I guess intelligent discussion of current affairs made your brain hurt.

You mean like Olbermann's Countdown?; 11/8/10, 11:16 AM
Anonymous said...: the Dems have been capitulating to the Republicans for the last 20 years,

That's funny.; 11/8/10, 11:16 AM
test said...: " Rumpletweezer said...
Isn't MSNBC the network for liberals who want to feel like they are well-informed without having to be exposed to information that might make them uncomfortable?"

I think this is pretty much all the MSM. The MSNBC target market is lefties who need an outlet to express their hatred of those who disagree with them.; 11/8/10, 11:20 AM
William said...: Perhaps it was a publicity stunt, but, if so, it was a lame pubicity stunt. There was no narrative arc of disgruntled fans picketing NBC offices, of distraught women throwing themselves off of 30 Rock, of aloof executives finally relenting to the will of the people. This is of a piece with NBC's handling of Jay Leno. Simply lame.....I read that Olbermann's contract is worth 30 million. Aarghh. What kind of world do we live in where Olbermann gets that kind of money, and a true professional like Capri Anderson is lucky to make $12,000 on a good night.; 11/8/10, 11:29 AM
Anonymous said...: So, Kookie, I guess it's time to get back to hoping that racial warfare will break out, right?

That will break down the "establishment," won't it.

I alway get a kick out of the description of your ideology as "progressive."

Backward as hell.

The Soviet Union collapsed, Kookie. The Utopian dream turned out to be a genocidal nightmare.

Ground control to Major Tom.; 11/8/10, 11:34 AM
DADvocate said...: Thank God he's back. I need someone to mock.; 11/8/10, 11:40 AM
Trooper York said...: "Clyde said...
Keith Olbermann is the 2010 Dallas Cowboys of cable talking heads."

Fifteen yard penality for unsportsmanlike telling of the truth.; 11/8/10, 11:47 AM
X said...: Our long national nightmare is over. Joseph McCarthy can stop resting peacefully in his grave and the people who thought this was a 1st Amendment issue can breathe a deep sigh of retard.; 11/8/10, 11:48 AM
Trooper York said...: Did I tell you lately that the New York Giants are going to win the Superbowl?; 11/8/10, 11:52 AM
Robert Cook said...: "I guess intelligent discussion of current affairs made your brain hurt."

"You mean like Olbermann's Countdown?"

No, I mean like BILL MOYERS' JOURNAL.; 11/8/10, 11:52 AM
Anonymous said...: "I guess intelligent discussion of current affairs made your brain hurt."

"You mean like Olbermann's Countdown?"

No, I mean like BILL MOYERS' JOURNAL.

Jesus, Kookie, you're not only nuts, you're incredible pious and dull. You are possibly the only person left in the world who can sit through one of BILL MOYERS droning lectures.

What do you do for fun? Slowly torture cats to death?; 11/8/10, 11:58 AM
Original Mike said...: It wasn't how Moyers said it (I'm as big a nerd as anyone), it's what he said.; 11/8/10, 12:10 PM
Robert Cook said...: "What do you do for fun? Slowly torture cats to death?"

More perverse: I subject myself to the almost unceasing inanity and delusions of commenters on this site.; 11/8/10, 12:13 PM
Trooper York said...: I for one value your insights Robert. I am glad that you have properly indentifed Bill Moyers as the authentic voice of the left.

It helps me a lot when I am programing my DVR.

Keep up the good work.; 11/8/10, 12:17 PM
Trooper York said...: Programing note. They are rerunning "I Dream of Jeanie" and "Bewitched" on TVLand this week.

Set your DVR's boys for some fine femine pulcritude. Just sayn'; 11/8/10, 12:18 PM
Anonymous said...: ""I guess intelligent discussion of current affairs made your brain hurt."

"You mean like Olbermann's Countdown?"

No, I mean like BILL MOYERS' JOURNAL."

People's exhibit 1 re getting CPB/PBS/NPRs' collective snouts out of the public trough.; 11/8/10, 12:22 PM
Anonymous said...: Robert Cook -

More perverse: I subject commenters on this site to the almost unceasing inanity and delusions of myself.; 11/8/10, 12:40 PM
traditionalguy said...: IMO People watch NASCAR racing to see the crashes that are the highlight of going around in a circle for 4 hours. Olberman does the same thing for 4 hours of circular numbskull-liberal tripe on MSNBC . Viewers know that Olberman may at any time be involved in a major verbal crash.; 11/8/10, 12:42 PM
Revenant said...: Pretty simple, really:

1. MSNBC President makes snotty remarks about how MSNBC would never donate to politicians like Fox does.

2. Olbermann gets caught donating to politicians, thereby making the President of MSNBC look like a schmuck.

3. President throws a hissy fit, suspends Olbermann.

4. All 75 of MSNBC's devoted fans throw their own hissy fit over Olbermann's suspension and begin desperately searching for a Republican to blame.

5. MSNBC's President realizes he has pissed off the only people in the entire world who give a rat's ass about what Olbermann is doing.

6. Olbermann's suspension is ended.; 11/8/10, 1:15 PM
KCFleming said...: "Keith Olbermann's "indefinite" suspension from MSNBC turns out to be definitely short: two days."

A weekend off?

Exile on lame street.; 11/8/10, 1:20 PM
Scott M said...: A weekend off?

Exile on lame street.

Actually, they were going down Newly Irrelevant Blvd and made a right on Lame St; 11/8/10, 1:48 PM
Alex said...: Having just martyred himself for the Prog cause, he'll be extra insufferable for a while.

This. Olbermann got exactly what he wanted.; 11/8/10, 2:42 PM
Anonymous said...: It just screams "serious news operation," doesn't it?

LOL!; 11/8/10, 2:52 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: On Cruciverb I noticed a bunch of links to blogs with the names of people I used to converse online before our clique dispersed. I was interested in the blogs they took up keep so I read them. Among the gems is a page called

How To Be Persuasive.

Presented as real advice, the page is hilarious. It occurred to me the techniques described there are all on display right here embodied altogether in the remarks of our resident slavering mong wetting himself in the corner tossing turds, whom I no longer bother to read, it's a waste, but to whom you persist in responding. Check it out if you like, you'll see the obvious connections.; 11/8/10, 3:00 PM
TMink said...: Big Mike, you are completely correct. But then Juan (whose views I disagree with but who is apparently an honest man) got a big raise!

And I bet the Fox girls are SO much better looking than those at NPR.

8)

Trey; 11/8/10, 3:07 PM
TMink said...: Trooper, a few weeks ago I would have said you were delusional. Now I think you are spot on about the Giants.

Trey; 11/8/10, 3:08 PM
Trooper York said...: Trey,
The Giants are not like the Jets. They don't brag about it and huff and puff and tell everyone how great they are when they haven't won squat.

The are the class of the NFL along with the Steelers, Colts, Bears and yes even the fudge Packers.

Old school. Old line. Old NFL.

Have I told you lately that the New York Giants are going to win the Super Bowl?; 11/8/10, 5:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Oh, and details are emerging:

"In addition to an apology, Keith is demanding that the rules be changed," an executive tells me. "Keith thinks it's unfair that FOX News anchors can make contributions and support candidates and he can't. It's his money that he has earned, he should be allowed to do whatever he wants with it.... If they think they can slap Keith's wrist and have him to return a few days later like nothing happened, they are wrong. They picked the wrong guy."

I love indignant liberals...; 11/8/10, 5:12 PM
Methadras said...: MSNBC: Okay, Olbie, you can come out of time out now.

Olbie: Gee thanks, I wonder how much $10k will get me.; 11/8/10, 5:20 PM
Big Mike said...: I guess intelligent discussion of current affairs made your brain hurt.

There was never any "intelligent discussion of current affairs" on Bill Moyers Journal. The shows fundamentally consisted of an hour of the host finding endless ways to say "Democrats go-o-o-o-o-d, Republicans ba-a-a-a-d" over and over again.

I found it interesting that he devoted a BMJ show to denouncing the ways that American media allegedly helped promote the war with Iraq when he himself conned the American media into buying the notion that we were winning in Viet Nam -- or even had a strategy for winning in Viet Nam! -- during his time as Lyndon Johnson's chief of staff.; 11/8/10, 5:22 PM
Phil 314 said...: Suggested music for his return.

He can choose traditional

or a harder edge WARNING: EXPLICIT!; 11/8/10, 6:02 PM
rcocean said...: I was afraid MSNBC would replace KO with a "Journalist" who'd be just as Liberal but responsible & credible. Thank goodness that nightmare is over.

Its much easier to ignore the "journalism" at MSNBC when the lead anchorman is a total clown. BTW, how's respected newsman Larry ("Liar, Creepy Liar") O'Donnell doing?; 11/8/10, 10:23 PM