David Shuster talked to MSNBC staff about KEITH

[coolhip33]

From Reliable Sources on CNN this morning

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1101/23/rs.01.html

KURTZ: OK.

What are you hearing from your former colleagues? Is there anything that we haven't heard beyond Olbermann perhaps sometimes going over the top, Olbermann being in a virtual state of war with the top executives and NBC and MSNBC? Is there any other factor here that may have led him to jump even as maybe he was getting a gentle nudge?

SHUSTER: Well, a couple of things. I mean, all the staff that I have spoken with have suggested that this whole event of him giving donations and the reaction to him being pulled off the air was a much bigger story than people think. Not so much in terms of how MSNBC and NBC executives viewed Keith, but in terms of how much Keith viewed his own sort of following.

Keith was mesmerized and flattered beyond belief by the 250,000 people who signed the petition. And he and his new agents who he picked up for the last year felt that that had certain value. And that when MSNBC made it clear that, no, it does not have the value that you think it does, Keith and his team felt like, OK, let's try to take this base of support, let's try to take this loyal fan following, and let's take it to a forum where I'll have the kind of independence that I've always wanted, and I'll be able to do the sort of reporting and analysis without having my wings clipped by NBC News.

KURTZ: Independence, but he was being paid $30 million over four years. Did he want more money from MSNBC?

SHUSTER: Keith has never been about money, and he's not somebody who's sort of obsessed with it.

KURTZ: I would agree with that.

[coolhip33]

1. Shuster is his friend... I'm really trusting what he said....

I'm sure he has talked to Keith and Keith approved this but of course he has to say "staffers" so that Keith doesn't violate the non-disclosure portion of his contract.

[cutlassmama]

2. no doubt

[roguevalley]

25. the remark from kurtz about money and David about integrity shows

you the divide we face. Kurtz has no clue. David does. Those two need to work together again.

[coolhip33]

3. k

[sabrina 1]

4. This sort of confirms the FB message from Keith

say he would be 'back on the air soon'.

Keith Olbermann I am sure I will be back on the air very soon, but as I am sure you all have heard by now tonight was my last "Countdown" show.

And I assure you, this is not a joke.

That was his FB page ~

I agree with Shuster, I doubt it was ever about money, but if he is going to start something on his own, I hope he got enough money out of MSNBC to be able to do so.

He really is at a point where he doesn't need to be living in fear of having his material censored or having to deal with people who have a completely different agenda.

I hope he gets a lot of backers for whatever he decides to do and I hope he does it soon.

I'm sure he'll have a place for Schuster also ~

[coolhip33]

6. I would invest in anything he does!!! Where do I sign up?!?!

[sabrina 1]

14. Me too ~

Hoping we hear soon ~ :-)

[lsewpershad]

40. So would I

The little that I have would always be used for a progressive agenda.

[pacalo]

10. Wouldn't that be great to have Shuster back with him!

I hope Keith literally meant "very soon" about his returning to the air. Perhaps he got all his ducks in a row after the first sign of trouble (suspension) & was more prepared when the inevitable came to pass.

[sabrina 1]

13. It would be great. I'm sure he's been thinking about since

the suspension as you say. He most likely realized then that he would always be facing restrictions on his work, especially after the merger.

I don't think Schuster would be talking like this if there wasn't something in the works.

I hope he did 'get all his ducks in a row'. He apparently didn't realize how people felt about him, how much of an audience he had until that petition, which is surprising considering he's supposed to have such a huge ego ~

Whatever he does, I will support him and I hope it is really successful.

[Tx4obama]

19. That is NOT Keith's FB page

Keith said on air a couple of months ago that he does not have a FB page and that he has only a Twitter account.
Also, that same person on FB that impersonating Olbermann is the same person that put up the 'Bring Keith Back' FB page.
It is NOT Keith.

[Tunkamerica]

23. i thought that facebook page was fake

this was discussed here earlier. If I wasn't at work I'd search for it.

[patricia92243]

32. I still say it will be Comedy Central. Add a little more comedy to make it fit their format - and

bingo - he's ready to roll.

[lonestarnot]

36. Hurry Keith hurry! I need a fix!

[Joe Fields]

45. Geez, of course it was about money. The contradiction is in plain sight.

First Shuster says that Keith had a new sense of what he thought his value was from the petition signed by a quarter of a million people. Then MSNBC said that they didn't see any extra value there. So, they negotiated an exit strategy.

Now Shuster says he didn't think it was about the money.

I call bullshit. It's always about the money.

[blucaller]

50. The money is for his new agency

which does not enjoy any cut from the contract he was currently under, as it was negotiated by his old rep. While KO is not primarily motivated by $$, staff sources say he and his new reps tried to quantify the support that was registered during his suspension.

[W_HAMILTON]

5. KURTZ: "Independence, but he was being paid $30 million over four years. Did he want more money?"

LMAO.

That just about sums up the current state of television news right there.

[hlthe2b]

8. Of course Kurz would think that...

money grubbing, brown nosed, corporate sycophant that he is.

[hlthe2b]

7. I read the entire transcript... first, what an ass is David Zurawik...

I don't know the name, but had to google him. Baltimore Sun tv critic? Sounds like a Faux wannabe.

Good to hear from Shuster and to see him breaking through some of the BS spin being put out there.

[davidwparker]

9. The petitions were signed due to the indefinite

suspension. For the indefinite suspension, grounds needed to be used. This was the political donations which would be violations under NBC, but not clear about MSNBC.

It remains: KO is a thorn in the side of the right and brings the people with him. He has a following, and this was going to end. People at MSNBC can bite me.

Again, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0URCqniVTOY">this clip with Moore and KO, along with the context, is the reason (7 minutes into it is where it is specific, telling about when KO's show would be cancelled).

It's a new political season with right-wing owners acquiring MSNBC. KO is, and has been, targeted (suspension) and fired.

[Stardust]

31. Well, the people haven't exactly gotten up off their asses to force

Congress to enact changes. Interesting clip but I don't think that's what's happened. I suspect Keith made a demand that they wouldn't meet.

[bdamomma]

11. Well I hope Keith has something it the works, time will tell

hopefully I have the patience to wait, cause Keith will be back.

[Zorro]

12. Wonder if he and Oprah are friends

[The Wielding Truth]

16. She needs shows,but does she want to go political?

[Tx4obama]

20. I want KO to start up his own network :)

With his clout Keith could find the money backers to start up a new 'left leaning news network'.
The new network could give everyone their own two hour shows: Keith Olbermann, David Schuster, Rick Sanchez, Phil Donahue, Roseanne Barr, Sam Seder, and also swipe Rachel Maddow and Cenk Uygur from MSNBC - that would add up to 16 hours and then have 8 hours of international and national news mixed in. Maybe even give HuffPo a show to highlight the stories of the day!

That would be pretty awesome :)

[The Wielding Truth]

26. That would be PRETTY AWSOME!

[Lugnut]

30. Indeed!

I could live with that. :)

[Enthusiast]

35. I could go for that. nt

[Hannah Bell]

33. doubt it.

[JI7]

15. Kurtz is such a jealous asshole bitter loser

he was trying to get Shuster to say Keith was just about himself.

[purrFect]

17. thanks for the link, this rings much truer than a lot i have read

If he starts a web presence, I would love to work for him and his team... i am tired of hiring my self out to fortune 100 companies who don't provide me with the spiritual currency i crave more and more as i get older.

wow. what a dream job it would be to work with him and his team. i would love to head up a team to give him a bullet proof, auto scaling (up/down) web site that ensures his show reaches millions world wide, desktop/laptop, tablets, phones, game consoles, and teeVees!

the future is now! :bounce:

[fishwax]

18. very interesting, thanks!

:kick:

[southernyankeebelle]

21. KO wore his liberal standards with pride and so do we. Nothing wrong with that. If fox can why

not MSNBC? KO spoke the truth and never lied. They were going to shut him down one way or other.

[aquart]

29. He did not lie. But I didn't always agree with his opinions.

However, I don't need people I admire to agree with me 100% of the time.

[otohara]

22. 250,000 became 300,000

way to slip in another 50,000 David. :yourock:

[Poboy]

24. Recommend

[Cass]

27. This sounds like Keith has something in mind...

from the article ---- "...let's try to take this loyal fan following, and let's take it to a forum where I'll have the kind of independence that I've always wanted, and I'll be able to do the sort of reporting and analysis without having my wings clipped by NBC News."

I wonder if this is just speculation by Shuster or if he actually does have some personal knowledge of the situation. His quote above is very interesting.

[thereismore]

38. Yes, I think Keith has a big plan. We'll have to wait and see. News commentary for Oprah network? nt

[Raine]

28. Very interesting

THANKS so much for posting this! :thumbsup:

[tavalon]

34. Wherever he goes, I will go

and so will 249,000 fellow liberals.

[samsingh]

37. i will subscribe to whatever news organization Keith puts together.

[coolhip33]

39. Keith's first tweet tonight at 8pm EST!!!!!

[keith the dem]

41. Have you noticed that the media rarely reports

who those political contributions that got him in trouble last November went to?

Gabby Giffords! The media has now made her out be some kind of saint, well guess what, KO knew that long before they did, and it didn't take a near assassination for him to realize that. (She may be as close to being a saint as a congressperson from a red state can be.)

[NYCGirl]

42. I've seen that mentioned in almost EVERY aired report

on Olbermann.

[keith the dem]

44. Who do you watch?

ABC made no mention this morning.
I hope I'm wrong and your right.

[NYCGirl]

46. I saw a report on CNN when I was at the gym. NY1 and

Local Channel 11. Also saw many online articles that mentioned her re: his donations.

[Poboy]

43. No shit? I did not realize that. Thanks for mentioning it.

[emulatorloo]

47. Makes a hell of a lot of sense. Thanks for Posting

[delightfulstar]

48. If he's in a non-compete TV clause...

Satellite Radio might be a good option, for the time being, and this was mentioned by someone in another thread, too. I don't think he'll stay away long - he's too important a voice in our media.

[AngryOldDem]

49. What kind of arrangement does Dan Rather have? Could KO follow suit? nt