I miss Martin Bashir but he made a mistake.

[Are_grits_groceries]

However, what he said was unprofessional. I was very shocked by what he said. Sarah Palin is a loathsome person but using that language only drops you to her level and that of Fox Noise. I was surprised by it too.

If he had retained his job, a lot of people who watched him would think of those words. I am not just talking about RW nutjobs. What he said was beyond what a lot of people hear or want to hear. If they aren't, then they need to watch another channel besides Faux. That said, I am not saying that losing his job was appropriate.

Keith Olbermann is one to model yourself after. When he went after somebody, he sliced and diced them with sharp commentary and sarcasm. It's so much better to listen to his takedowns.

A lot of people bring up other instances where people used intemperate words and were either fired or weren't punished at all. Many of these stories are about RW crazies. I generally don't consider those unless the same type of comments were made and an organization punishes one and not the other.

If your standard is 'Well we weren't any worse than Fox or some other idiot such as Gohmert', you have a very low bar. I think the standards we adhere to should be well above theirs.

[Paladin]

1. Sorry, I'm not buying that "higher standards" thing anymore.

Adhering to rules of play that conservatives discarded years ago just hands them victories they don't deserve. The right wing relies on this sort of "fair play" attitude from liberals to prevail. Martin Bashir should still have a job.

[LeftofObama]

16. A freakin' Men, Paladin!

I am absolutely sick to death of hearing, "We have to have higher standards than them lest we sink to their level." They know exactly what they're doing and if they want to get down and dirty it's time for us to play by the same rules.

[searchingforlight]

2. I agree with you. I think Martin was losing his edge.

The last six months have been hard to watch. He over talked his guests and tried to put words in their mouths. He said some strange things in defense of his point. I was embarrassed by his remarks also. I miss Keith.

[politichew]

3. I cheered and laughed and thought nothing of it until he issued an apology the following Monday.

I am a firm believer in fighting fire with fire and believe the whole taking the high road thing is bullshit.

And with all the double standards in the media, it makes it even more bullshit.

[Squinch]

4. I agree. I liked the guy, but it's a real mistake to stoop to that level.

[Demo_Chris]

5. I'd have fired him on the spot. nt

[99Forever]

6. Those of us with actual spines...

... don't agree.

You don't stop bullies by cowering and capitulation, you knock them down and kick 'em in the teeth. (No, not physically, metaphorically.) Being "gracious" wimps is exactly what got us in this weak ass position. If you don't have the guts for the fight, fine, just quit using your passive/aggressive whining to backstab those of us that do.

[Paladin]

7. Bullseye, 99Forever.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Spines? You are saying your ethics and action choices are decided by the ethics and

actions of those you claim to oppose. If the right is vicious, you will be vicious. How is that 'having a spine'? It strikes me as purely situational ethics with metrics provided by the worst of the worst.
In addition, Bashir is a media entity with a long and somewhat sordid history. If you want to defend him for yet another low point in his career, feel free. I'm not Martin's agent nor wold I be for double fees. That's your job, insulting your peers to prop up some chat show talking head who worked last for Comcast at rates that would make 99% of your head spin.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. I didn't say you need to be gracious.

Did you read my post?
I said that using the words Bashir did isn't necessary to criticize someone. Saying what he said loses the message that Palin is horrible on the firestorm about sh****** in her mouth.

Watch Keith Olbermann's old commentary. He is blistering to people and what they did. He doesn't have o be crude to do it.

[99Forever]

20. I read your OP.

Duh.

That's what I responded to. Just because I don't agree with your opinion doesn't mean I don't comprehend it. Nor does it mean I don't appreciate KO, he rocks.

But I ALSO agree with The Rude Pundit and those of us that take a similar approach. Got no stomach for that kind of fight? Then get out of the way. But your sort of back-biting NEEDS to stop.

Don't like it? Fucking sue me.

[Are_grits_groceries]

22. Well your language certainly is a pleasure to respond to me.

Some people don't read OP's thoroughly. If you did, then I stand corrected.

I live in SC and have dealt with these kinds of people for years. I have and can attack them with flaming rhetoric. That's exactly what they want. They want you to get in the mud so they can drag you around.

I nail these people with a 'come to Jesus' sermon that they do understand. They have heard them for years in whatever church they go to. My sermons just have a different message that is direct and Delivered with passion.

As for back-biting as you call it, I am stating an opinion based on experience. If that's too much for you to handle, then get out of my way and don't listen.

I never said you can't handle it any way you want. Have at it with your method. You will probably feel a lot of satisfaction using it.

I'm sure you felt very righteous telling me to sue you with emphasis. That may be for your satisfaction and it really only made you feel better. It only made me think less of you, and I don't even know you. That is one reaction these kinds of attacks elicit from a lot of people.

[Marr]

12. +1

Enough milquetoasts.

[txwhitedove]

23. Exactly. Bully behaviour continues because the bully thinks you are too nice/powerless to do

anything back to them. Just standing up to a bully is defiance and you have to be ready to fight back word for word, punch for punch. That doesn't mean ugly or on their level, but surprise them, engage, don't back down.

[Are_grits_groceries]

10. If anybody reading my OP thinks I said that

you have to be gracious missed the point entirely.

I said that using the words Bashir did isn't necessary to criticize someone. Saying what he said loses the message that Palin is horrible in the firestorm about sh****** in her mouth.

Watch Keith Olbermann's old commentary. He is blistering to people and what they did. He doesn't have to be crude to do it.

[G_j]

11. it was unprofessional no doubt

and sort of dumb.

[TheKentuckian]

13. Not in love with Bashir but namby - pambyisim is out and failed and the buying power of

Adultintheroomism has proven to be so overstated as to be nonexistent.

[Iggo]

14. I miss Bashir, AND he made a mistake.

[HipChick]

15. Free speech...The only mistake he made

was working for a network with no spine..

[WinkyDink]

17. Palin used slavery to her ends. MB read from historical sources of what slave-owners did. THEN he

merely stated that perhaps Ms. Palin ought experience some of what the slaves did so she would better understand her analogy.

For that he got fired.

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. When Bashir said 's******* in her mouth',

everything else was lost in the kerfuffle over his words.

I understand what he was trying to do and his right to say it. If losing your message is worth it when you put somebody on vulgar blast, have at it. The point about Palin was not the primary message that got through.

He has every right to say it.MSNBC has every right to fire him. Whether they should have or not is a different argument.

I stand by what I said and about using the Keith Olbermann technique. Being just as crude as your opponents isn't a winning strategy IMO. You become just another person willing to as nasty as you can. You do get attention, but not the right kind.

If you want to get lumped in with all the jackasses using degrading, racist or vulgar language, good luck. I wish you well swimming in that ditch.

[mfcorey1]

19. Well, I refuse to kiss Sarah Palin's a** to sacrifice Martin Bashir!

[Are_grits_groceries]

21. I said firing him was debatable.

Appeasing Palin might not have been the best step. That I wonder about.