Political Crossfire Forums

[Bull]

Keith Olberman and Lou Dobbs...the best men on TV today!! It's about time we have some people on TV that's saying what everyone else is thinking. Read this great op-ed from the San Francisco Chronicle...

Olbermann Taps a Well of Discontent as the Anti-O'Reilly

Quote: Keith Olbermann just needed to find his voice. He'd been a droll sportscaster, a serious news anchor and a bickering critic of Fox News host Bill O'Reilly. But none of those personas really clicked.

Then he found one. A little over a year ago, as the White House fumbled and botched the Hurricane Katrina recovery, Olbermann finally blew up.

He concluded a broadcast of his MSNBC cable news show, "Countdown,'' with an indignant rant in the rat-a-tat-tat cadence of his idol, Edward R. Murrow. He called it a "Special Comment.''

And just like that, Olbermann found his voice -- the angry everyman. He became a liberal counterpoint to conservative media ranters like O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh, and an Internet star, too.

The result has been a cultural earthquake.

"Here's what happened,'' Olbermann said in a phone interview this week. "Five years ago (on Sept. 11), 50 percent of the country went quiet. There was this self-imposed censorship. Suddenly it became unimaginable to criticize the administration. And no one else was brave or stupid enough to say, 'I don't remember signing that document.' ''

Today Olbermann is hot, in every sense of the word. He likes to say that the first step to creating one of his blistering editorials is to "get pissed off,'' and that's certainly how he sounds.

But there's something more to it, too. Conservatives may hate his attacks, but no one doubts that he comes across as one of the smarter guys in the room. When he laid into then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Aug. 30, he threw in references to Neville Chamberlain and the policy of appeasement. Let's see NBC network anchor Brian Williams pull that off.

Not that he would try it.

"Broadcast networks are not interested in the controversy,'' Olbermann says.

Well, maybe they'd better start thinking about it.

"I think,'' says MSNBC General Manager Dan Abrams, "that Keith Olbermann may become a model for the newscast of the future.''

And sure, Abrams is going to say that because he's Olbermann's boss. Besides, the MSNBC ratings have been on a roll lately -- helped by the 67 percent jump in viewership for Olbermann's show in the year since he began channeling Howard ("I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more!'') Beale from the movie "Network.''

But there's something more at work here, a possible new model for the next age of electronic media. Olbermann isn't just getting more viewers. He's getting more views -- lots and lots more.

It may have been the Rumsfeld piece that struck a nerve. Captured on YouTube, it was e-mailed all over the country and watched again and again. A month after it appeared on "Countdown,'' it had been seen more than 100,000 times.

"I was told that this thing was flying all around to various places,'' he says. "To hear that as many, if not more, people were seeing it there than had seen it in the original was amazing.''

Not only was it a rock-solid indication that Olbermann was pulling younger viewers, but there was legitimate proof that he could move product as well. The day the Rumsfeld piece aired, pre-orders for Olbermann's new book, "The Worst Person in the World,'' placed it 19,000th on Amazon.com's best-seller list, according to mediabistro.com, a media news Web site. After the commentary aired, the book moved to 19th.

It's tangible evidence of what Olbermann calls the "proverbial ripples on the pond.'' Not that he needed the book sales to convince him. Wherever he goes, people rush up to tell him that they've seen one of his "Special Comments'' and that he speaks for them.

"Six weeks ago,'' Olbermann says, "a woman burst into tears. I was at a restaurant with my girlfriend and she came up to me and started crying.''

Suddenly, everyone wants Olbermann. Last week, he and political veteran Chris Matthews teamed up to anchor MSNBC's midterm election coverage.

The result? Abrams called it "a major turning point for this network.'' Ratings were up across the board and the coveted 25-to-54 age demographic increased 111 percent from the 2002 midterm election.

What's next? Expect to see Olbermann in even more mainstream settings. The one thing he is resisting, however, is pressure to produce more "Special Comments.'' He has to feel them, he says. "Otherwise I will turn into a cartoon of myself.''

Certainly it is the passion that carries the day. As Abrams says, "Keith isn't faking this, and the viewers can see that.''

But now that he has everyone's attention, everyone is asking Olbermann the same question: With the result of the election and the resignation of Rumsfeld, where will he find targets?

"I'm giving the Democrats six months,'' he says. "And then they may be in for some 'Special Comments' of their own.''

Don't think he's kidding. He has found a point of view and he isn't afraid to use it.

It's good his boss is backing him...which increases his survival factor. The article also talks about the great ratings the show has been getting because of his "Special Comment" segment.

[mr.snruB]

Olbermann is amazing

[maddessa]

mr.snruB wrote: Olbermann is amazing

Colbert is amazing, Olbermann is a clown. I felt bad for Chris Matthews when I was watching the mid-term elections. Matthews is a solid host and having to deal with Olbermann's stupid comments was rediculous.

[Zadoc]

Keith is the more serious version of Jon Stewart, and he wull have a stunning career.


Here is the only thing that's sad about this.



She was fired for making a speech, on her own time, that negatively portrayed US news orginizations coverage in Iraq and specifically attacked Fox News.

[sLiPpY]

maddessa wrote: mr.snruB wrote: Olbermann is amazing

Colbert is amazing, Olbermann is a clown. I felt bad for Chris Matthews when I was watching the mid-term elections. Matthews is a solid host and having to deal with Olbermann's stupid comments was rediculous.

Actually I thought MsNBC's whole coverage of the mid-terms s*cked chit...

1. The graphics were confusing
2. The stupid table of commentators looked awkward and uncomfortable
3. The best part of the whole show, was the segment where Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams and the NBC crew popped in

Otherwise it was giddy and "ick!"

[CountryGuy]

Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

[mr.snruB]

maddessa wrote: mr.snruB wrote: Olbermann is amazing

Colbert is amazing, Olbermann is a clown. I felt bad for Chris Matthews when I was watching the mid-term elections. Matthews is a solid host and having to deal with Olbermann's stupid comments was rediculous.

Well, I never saw the MSNBC coverage of the election, so you could be right. I just really like what little I've seen of Olbermann

[Bull]

Zadoc wrote: Keith is the more serious version of Jon Stewart, and he wull have a stunning career.


Here is the only thing that's sad about this.



She was fired for making a speech, on her own time, that negatively portrayed US news orginizations coverage in Iraq and specifically attacked Fox News.

Who is she?

[maddessa]

mr.snruB wrote: maddessa wrote: mr.snruB wrote: Olbermann is amazing

Colbert is amazing, Olbermann is a clown. I felt bad for Chris Matthews when I was watching the mid-term elections. Matthews is a solid host and having to deal with Olbermann's stupid comments was rediculous.

Well, I never saw the MSNBC coverage of the election, so you could be right. I just really like what little I've seen of Olbermann


JMHO, but I thought Gibson and Stephanopoulos were giving the most neutral presentation of the stations I was flipping around (MSNBC, CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS) and also won the ratings the ratings for the night. Although you could argue that was due to Dancing with the Stars.

[Bull]

CountryGuy wrote: Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

Olbermann has a sense of humor...he's not uptight.

[maddessa]

Bull wrote: CountryGuy wrote: Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

Olbermann has a sense of humor...he's not uptight.

Olbermann is O'Reilly Lite. The two of probably get together and have a good laugh at how much money they are making.

[Bull]

maddessa wrote: Bull wrote: CountryGuy wrote: Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

Olbermann has a sense of humor...he's not uptight.

Olbermann is O'Reilly Lite. The two of probably get together and have a good laugh at how much money they are making.

I guess you haven't seen the attacks they've spewed at each other...

[mr.snruB]

maddessa wrote: Bull wrote: CountryGuy wrote: Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

Olbermann has a sense of humor...he's not uptight.

Olbermann is O'Reilly Lite. The two of probably get together and have a good laugh at how much money they are making.

Does Olbermann yell over his guests and tell them to "shut up" like O'Reilly does?

[maddessa]

Bull wrote: maddessa wrote: Bull wrote: CountryGuy wrote: Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

Olbermann has a sense of humor...he's not uptight.

Olbermann is O'Reilly Lite. The two of probably get together and have a good laugh at how much money they are making.

I guess you haven't seen the attacks they've spewed at each other...

I have, I dont think either one of them believes what they are saying. Would say anything to get one more person to watch their sitcoms

[Heinz]

Liberals who cling to Olbermann are like Conservatives who cling to Rush Limbaugh; Mindless drones who have to rely on the voice, and views, of someone else because they lack the capacity to do it on their own.

You'd sell your soul to radio if it meant you had a figurehead to pose as your champion.

[Bull]

Heinz wrote: Liberals who cling to Olbermann are like Conservatives who cling to Rush Limbaugh; Mindless drones who have to rely on the voice, and views, of someone else because they lack the capacity to do it on their own.

You'd sell your soul to radio if it meant you had a figurehead to pose as your champion.

I don't worship Olbermann like many neocons worship talking heads on the Right. I like the FACT that a news anchor can speak his mind (a la Marrow) instead of following the guidelines of what to say, and what not to say on TV. Olbermann has NEVER spewed hateful virtriol at people he doesn't agree with and try to label people as terrorist sympathizers and the such. There's NO comparison between Rush and Keith...whatsoever. He was talking about the habeus corpus issue LOONG after the other MSM talking heads gave up on trying to spin it and moved on to another subject. We don't have many people like him in the media...and we need more!

[Zadoc]

Bull wrote: Zadoc wrote: Keith is the more serious version of Jon Stewart, and he wull have a stunning career.


Here is the only thing that's sad about this.



She was fired for making a speech, on her own time, that negatively portrayed US news orginizations coverage in Iraq and specifically attacked Fox News.

Who is she?

Ashleigh Banfield. After 9/11, she did such an amazing job covering the story (because she was live on the scene when it happened - she was injured by the debrits and resuced a police officer - all live on the air), that she was given her own prime time show on MSNBC called Ashleigh Banfield - On Location.

She had been more or less blacklisted for a while after Fox News made a big deal out of a speech she made at Kansas State.

Here is the full text of the speech: http://www.alternet.org/story/15778/

She basically said that cable news was too interested in ratings and was not as objective as they should've been, and attacking, "cable news operators who wrap themselves in the American flag and go after a certain target demographic."

[Heinz]

Quote: I don't worship Olbermann like many neocons worship talking heads on the Right. I like the FACT that a news anchor can speak his mind (a la Marrow) instead of following the guidelines of what to say, and what not to say on TV.

What are the guidelines to be said on TV? Me thinks they may just all be in your head. It is hard to apply subjective thinking to reality. Also, something tells me it has nothing to do with the FCC.

Oh, by the way, you like him enough to start a thread about him.

Quote: Olbermann has NEVER spewed hateful virtriol at people he doesn't agree with and try to label people as terrorist sympathizers and the such. There's NO comparison between Rush and Keith...whatsoever.

I wasn't comparing them....I was comparing their fans. Sheep.

Quote: He was talking about the habeus corpus issue LOONG after the other MSM talking heads gave up on trying to spin it and moved on to another subject. We don't have many people like him in the media...and we need more!

No we don't......Think for yourself. Why do you need a media figurehead for your argument to be legitimate?

The herd is calling.

You don't.

[CountryGuy]

Bull wrote: [I like the FACT that a news anchor can speak his mind (a la Marrow) instead of following the guidelines of what to say, and what not to say on TV. Olbermann has NEVER spewed hateful virtriol at people he doesn't agree with and try to label people as terrorist sympathizers and the such.

Umm, there's been quite a few times that he's gone ballistic on subjects -- And again, its not news(Marrow he ain't), its opinion.

I'm NOT saying he doesn't have occasional solid points -- But they all do. I'm just saying that equating him as a journalist when he's doing his opinion piece is no less dangerous than the dittoheads.

[cap'n queasy]

mr.snruB wrote: maddessa wrote: Bull wrote: CountryGuy wrote: Olbermann is just another entertainment spin doctor, a la Rush. He just happens to present himself as liberal.

Don't delude yourselves that he's some form of journalist.

Olbermann has a sense of humor...he's not uptight.

Olbermann is O'Reilly Lite. The two of probably get together and have a good laugh at how much money they are making.

Does Olbermann yell over his guests and tell them to "shut up" like O'Reilly does?

I've never seen O'Reilly do that.