MSNBC Needs to Bring Back Olbermann

[Doctor Jack]

This election coverage is fucking awful. It seems to be "Lets bring on Rick Santorums 2012 junior coffee runner to talk about how great trump is and after that we will turn back to our panel of right wing commentators and failed republican strategists to yell over everyone else." There was a time where we didnt have to deal with this shit from MSNBC. Kieth Olbermann never would have put up with any of this "well trump didnt use the n word in his speech tonight so i guess he might be ok" nonsense.

[tallahasseedem]

1. That and Brian Williams is terrible...

I liked it when Rachel was at the help with Chris, Ed, and Al.

[Doctor Jack]

9. When did Rachel become such a pushover?

The republcians talk over here and disagree with her and she almost apologizes to them each time. What happened to this network?

[tallahasseedem]

14. You know,

I was wondering the same thing. I took some much needed time off from politics around the time they took Ed and Al off the air and when I recently returned, she seemed like a whole other person. I think maybe she'll venture back...hopefully!

[Exilednight]

21. she changed after Keith left.

[Different Drummer]

2. They never should have let him go, imo.

n/t

[FrodosPet]

24. Keith's ego is his biggest liability

If he ever figured out how to dial that back, he would be A LOT more successful.
[hr]
Olbermann Split Came After Years of Tension

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/business/media/24olbermann.html?_r=0

By BILL CARTER and BRIAN STELTER - JAN. 23, 2011

MSNBC never had any doubt about what it was getting when it made Keith Olbermann the face of the network in 2003: a highly talented broadcaster, a distinctive and outspoken voice and a mercurial personality with a track record of attacking his superiors and making early exits.

Even his own boss, Phil Griffin, offered this assessment in 2008, when Mr. Olbermann was being heavily criticized by supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton because he was urging her to drop out of the race to become the Democratic presidential candidate.

For Mrs. Clinton’s supporters, Mr. Griffin said in an interview with The New Yorker magazine, “It was, like, you meet a guy and fall in love with him.” But, he said, “then you commit yourself to him, and he turns out to be a jerk and difficult and brutal.”

~ snip ~

[PJMcK]

27. That's always been obvious

I admire Keith Olbermann and always found his "Special Comment" feature a powerful addition to his broadcast. But throughout his career, earlier in sports and then in politics, his ego jumps in front of the story. Still, I long for the kind of no-holds-barred, left-wing commentary he's known for. There are few like him.

[spanone]

3. nicole wallace, steve schmidt, hugh hewitt. god help us

[madamesilverspurs]

10. At least they haven't trotted out Coulter.

Not yet, anyway.

[spanone]

11. tweety trots her out occasionally, it's sickening.

[chelsea0011]

4. And Hewitt getting time is a disgrace.

[Doctor Jack]

13. Its sad when he is the reasonable one they are talking to

When Hugh Hewitt is the one criticizing trump something is wrong

[PJMcK]

28. There's a bright side

Having Hugh Hewitt trash the Republican nominee sows discontent among the Republican electorate. This could help us by depressing the Republican voters.

Always look on the bright side!

[Doctor Jack]

5. Its just one republican after another

Why? Is that what their viewers want to see?

[merrily]

6. Not happening. MSBNC is going further right, not further left.

They got rid of Olberman and Cenk in the first place because they were too far left, even when MSNBC was trying to be left (sih)

[KeepItReal]

15. Then Ed Schultz and Melissa Harris-Perry were bounced outta there

[Doctor Jack]

17. When did that happen?

I stop watching for what only feels like a few months and all of the good people are gone

[merrily]

18. The reason was clear in Schultz's case, less clear in the case of MHP.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. I think he's far too good for that mediocre backwater.

nt

[libdem4life]

8. I miss the sh##-stirrer. He made political TV worth watching.

Now I just read and post about it. God Bless DU. Can't stand the noise or the hype...even if "we" were winning. It's hyperactive gym class.

[MFM008]

12. On this we agree 100%

God I miss Keith Olbermann..

[C_U_L8R]

16. They're praising a steaming pile of Trumpoo !!??

good god that was the lamest most vacuous speech in all of political history
and these poor folks have to sit on camera and pontificate its great greatness ??

Geez how do they sleep at night with short fingered fake haired cheeto encrusted demons
haunting their dreams with pursed lips and signature donald whiiiiiiiiiiiining. ew.

We need Keith now more than ever.

[Doctor Jack]

19. Are there any online shows that have good election coverage?

I cant deal with msnbc. Its like trying to drink a cup of coffee that someone has peed in. This is too awful

[bigwillq]

20. No, thanks (nt)

[DeltaLitProf]

22. Nicole, Steve and Hugh seem more critical of Trump than supportive

. . . but I find that Nicole and Hugh are too often allowed to get away with passing along Republican talking points as if they were facts. It seems like MSNBC is making a point of including Republicans who are highly critical of Trump. This seems a sly choice akin to the way Fox used Fox liberals like Susan Estrich against Gore, Kerry and Obama. It probably also is an effort to satisfy the suits at Comcast that MSNBC is trying to be more accommodating of conservative voices and potential conservative viewers.

[nadine_mn]

23. Love me some Olbermann, but he wouldn't last a second on MSNBC today

MSNBC has moved so far right (Fox Lite) that I think poor Keith would have a serious meltdown before getting to his desk.

MSNBC was at its best with Ed Schulz, Martin Bashir, Cenk Yugur, Melissa Harris-Perry etc. You actually heard news and diverse opinions.

I followed Olbermann to the Current and even upgraded my damn cable to make sure I could watch him. I want Olbermann back on the air doing political commentary - but with him being able to have to freedom to actually speak his mind.

[Paladin]

25. We need KO back on the air. If not MSNBC, then somewhere else. (nt)

[Hoyt]

26. Olbermann certainly helped me get through the worst of the bush years. But, I just don't think he

has it anymore. He was awful on ESPN. I tried to watch, but it was awful. Maybe he'd be better back with politics, but I'm doubtful. Plus, it appears he's tough to work with.

[procon]

29. When Comcast bought MSNBC they had their own agenda.

They have implemented been a slow, insidious change starting with cutting back on POC. Then far less coverage of Democrats and more reporting that was critical, suspicious and questioning, while soft soaping Republicans. There are more rightwing hosts and more broadcast time devoted showcasing Republicans in glowing praise, and fewer hosts with less air time that present liberal a POV. Most of the so called "contributors", the guest panelists, and invited pundits are well known Republican apparatchiks. I thought I was at Fauxnews when I saw Ann Coulter and Hugh Hewitt doing color commentary for the GOP on the same MSNBC show.

Olbermann won't ever be back at MSNBC, he doesn't fit the profile of the Comcast host model.

[Iggo]

30. Somebody does. (n/t)