Keith Olbermann Says Farewell to Countdown.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Keith Olbermann says farewell on his last taping of Countdown. He will be sorely missed.
December 18, 2024
Thursday, August 3, 2023
The Quitter Returns! -Monday, March 21, 2022
Putting the goober in gubernatorial -Friday, January 28, 2022
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Keith Olbermann says farewell on his last taping of Countdown. He will be sorely missed.
I’m “a plant” because I dare to voice an opinion that doesn’t agree with yours?My primary objective is to “stir hate” because I think it was inappropriate for Obermann to call a defenseless,immature,poorly supervised adolescent,Worst Person in the World on national t.v. Correction:I should of said I “stopped” watching Olbermann after the Pres.election,except for scanning segments on the internet.Even though it’s none of your business,I listen to & prefer NPR & the BBC to MSNBC.Does that meet your morally superior standards & approval?Am I allowed back into The Mudflats inner circIe?I prefer commentators that don’t attack children,swear on camera,& call people derogatory names.I wasn’t raised that way.Olbermann often referred to Edward R. Murrow on his show.I’ve read Murrow,respected his brilliance,talent & integrity as one of the last of the great investigative journalists.I just re-watched Good Night & Good Luck the other night. I felt really sad watching it,as I was reminded that the art form of true investigative journalism that Cronkite & Murrow practiced are a dying art form.Murrow,& Cronkite didn’t resort to name calling & calling attacking children news stories.Thats not journalism.Murrow & his superb reporters were too busy,meticulously researching stories,& enmassing ironclad evidence to back them up.It’s how they took dowm McCarthy & got CBS pres.William S. Paley,(a conserv. Repub.),to back them up vs his own best financial & business interests.I rarely agreed with William F. Buckley,but my mother (a tireless civil & human rights activist, who was also a single parent with 9 children, & taught full time in the inner city of Cleve.for 20 yrs) taught me to use objective, critical, open minded evaluation when considering both sides of political & social issues.I enjoyed listening to Buckley’s tv show as a teen, especially when he would interview someone like Gore Vidal.My mother taught how to think,& make critical decisions based on informed choices.She encouraged us to avoid allowing emotions & personal biases cloud our thinking & reasoning.We weren’t allowed to verbally attack a sibling that disagreed with us.She didn’t agree with Buckley most of the time,but she admired his intellect,read his books,& admired his ability to debate someone like Gore Vidall politely & civilly.She found it intellectualy stimulating because it made her think.You’ve proved my point by calling me names,infering that I am a “plant” (for whom exactly?) & dismissing my opinions because they disagree with yours.I didn’t ask for you or anyone to “change my mind”.It’s my mind,thank very much,I’m rather fond of it.I didn’t know that Mudflats was closed to independent thinkers.
I never watched Olbermann’s show because I think he often acted like the lefts version of Glenn Beck or Bill O’Reilly.He was often self-indulgent,rude,& said really offensive things about someone he didn’t like.Calling Palins’ adolescent daughter,The Worst Person in the World,was abusive.Hold the parents accountable, it’s their job to monitor their childs Facebook & address offensive statements or descriptions of dysfunctional behavior.Placing a child,whose parent’s are obviously not supervising her or reading her Facebook as a lot of parents do, (1 of their kids did get pregnant to their stated SURPRISE,even tho Levi was staying in Bristol’s bedrm.) in the same category as Hannity & Limbaugh is abusive and shaming to a kid who is probably having a hard enough time at school.This kid didn’t need someone ridiculing her on National t.v.,even if few people in Wasilla watch MSNBC.Kids deserve to have adults advocate for them.Keith should have put the parents in Worst… for neglecting their kid. Olbermann did a lot of good,but I think his professional objectivity & integrity got overruled by his emotionsl & personal biases.His anger seemed mis-directed a lot over the last 2 yrs. & his credibility suffered for it.Maybe losing his dad took affected him more deeply than he realized.Wouldn’t be unheard of.Maybe he chose to take a well needed break to re-think how he wants to spend the last part of his life. I hope he finds something that will bring him joy, & feeds his passion & lets him use his talents & intelligence.
Kiksadi50—You say: “I never watched Olbermann’s show because I think he often acted like the left’s version of Glenn Beck or Bill O’Reilly.”
Your statement begs a question: Well, if you never watched him, how in the world can you so adamantly espouse that: “I think he often acted like the left’s version of Glenn Beck or Bill O’Reilly” or provide such detail into the indiscretions you allege he manipulated into the news regarding members of the Palin family?
Perhaps, some other source suggested to you that be the case or that you trumpet that. No? As one who did watch him and one who watched O’Reilly/Hannity to the point of ad nauseam , I say you are flat wrong.
Anyway, too late, obviously, to convince you. Sort of curious, care to share who you do watch with us? My guess, is that you are a plant on this thread. Primary objective to stir hate against Mr.Olbermann. Shame on you.
So sad.
I have no idea what to do about this sad turn of events,but we can’t just hand the battlefield over to the far right and biased Faux Noise crowd. That is what they want,they want no opposition to trying to take over all of America’s media and MSNBC may have had a large ,helping hand.
Seems to me KO is a man of principle and could not stomach working for comcast … So he quit. I’ve seen no indication that he was fired. But if that is true, his principled stand will in the end deprive us progressives of our strongest voice, just when we need it
most.
Or Olbermann quit because he wanted more money, as is being reported by several sources. Quite the opposite of taking a principled stand against the Comcast merger.
I’m interested to learn which principled sources reveal that Olbermann was holding out for more dough. Please provide a link or two. Not from FAUX connections I hope.
The way I understand it, was that Keith had two more years to run on a contract. To the tune of 15 million. What was he doing then? Wanting to extend the contract? Or renegotiate in mid term? Even if he did want more, which I think he did deserve, why would one say that due to that he wasn’t taking a principled stand as well?
Rather, I believe, Keith was out no matter what. Keith Olbermann was fired from MSNBC due to “Commiecast’s” impending takeover of NBC Universal. Hardly any question that Comcast is a right-leaning, big media entertainment corporation which desires to control content, television, telephone and Internet service, all through one multinational conglomerate.
Brian Roberts is CEO of Comcast. He co-chaired a host committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention. Comcast has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectator, which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team, and an arena in Philadelphia, the Wells Fargo Center.
The chairman of Comcast Spectator, Ed Snider, is funding a right-wing cable channel/Internet site called “RightNetwork”. It was Snider who invited Sarah Palin to drop the hockey puck at the Flyers’ season opener in 2008, and “Palin’s been dropping pucks ever since. There’s little reason to doubt that Olbermann’s abrupt exit from MSNBC was the first puck to drop as Comcast slap shots MSNBC away from being a progressive beachhead.”
Maybe I’m naïve, but I was taught, if it talks like a duck, walks like a duck, looks like a duck, Hey, maybe it is a duck.
It is completely understandable for Comcast to want to acquire NBC and gain severe leverage in the marketplace. Why the Obama administration approved the deal is not at all understandable, and vaporizes yet another of the positions Obama voiced during the campaign. Now he’s turning anti-regulation as well. If his betrayals continue, look for him to hang Elizabeth Warren out to dry the way he did Dawn Johnson.
Looks like Olbermann is just a greedy evil capitalist. Olbermann quit because he wanted more money.
http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/nbcu-statement-msnbc-and-keith-olberman-have-ended-their-contract-last-show-tonight/
One of the things that I find most distressing about Keith leaving, even though I didn’t always like his delivery, is that it was so nice to hear from someone who is intelligent. Keith and Rachel and Lawrence and even Chris are bright thoughtful people. There are so many on the right who aren’t much smarter than I am and I don’t think they have as much education.
I like listening to someone who knows more than I do, and Keith certainly fit that description. I also appreciated that he was willing to admit when he made a mistake and apologized. I had noticed that he had toned it down quite a bit after Arizona. I would have thought that would have been enough for the powers that be at MSNBC but maybe not. I’m sure we’ll never know all the details, as it’s probably part of ending his contract that he can’t talk about it.
Very sad, and I hope we hear him some where else soon.
I tried never to miss his program. He showed a lot of bravery, calling out a lot that was happening in the Bush years when no one else was. There were a few things about him that could irritate me, but not enough to keep me from watching. Lawrence O’Donnell is going to replace him. I don’t think that will work for me. I like him well enough, but he irritates me more than Keith did.
The right talking heads keep spewing their garbage, and we on the left have had one of our best voices silenced, at least for a time and in some way.
It was a sad night for me last night when I heard him say it was his last program.
I can’t believe it! What the hell!! Last night I missed his saying he was leaving, but as we were watching the last bit about Ferber I commented about how much I enjoy watching him–. He showed real class after Obama’s AZ speech by saying he apologizes if he had said anything that would cause violence–I am just sick about this !!!!!!!
And yet none on the right would do the same!!!!!!!
There are already almost 27,000 comments about this story on HuffPo. I didn’t always agree with Keith (there’s no one I’m aware of I always agree with), but I loved watching his take on things, I adored Worst Persons, and I absolutely adored that the left had its own loudmouth — although, unlike those on the right, an intelligent and well-spoken loudmouth who respected his viewers.
Goodbye, and good luck.
argh “unfortunate”.
I’ll miss Rachel as I am committed to no longer watching msnbc. Shannyn should have something to say about this unfirtunate turn of events.
Isnt it interesting…..
“As was often his habit on Friday nights, he read a Thurber short story, this one titled “Scottie Who Knew Too Much” and published in 1940.
The story’s final line: “It is better to ask some of the questions than to know all of the answers.””
Keith knew how to ask those questions…prompt us all to think! In addition to his comments, reports, worse person, etc….he also brought to our attention those with little to NO voice….like those without health insurance as he highlighter the medical free clinics….and then the very people who were affected by Arizona taking them off of the transplant list….he was much more a true voice of the people!
Interesting as well…that last fall he was suspended for donating money to several democratic party candidates….that were in the cross hairs….including Rep Giffords!
There are several fb pages…keep keith is one….lots of petitions, phone number and email addresses. I also heard due to his contract he cannot be on tv for two years….
now…we will wait to hear from Keith….we all know they cant shut him as much as they might try
I’ve watched KO since the primaries in 2007. I appreciated him for exposing the lies that are so prevalent on the right. I can’t imagine how much worse it would have been without him forcefully pushing back and giving voice to the Democrats.
I am a true fan and will miss him terribly.
I’m at a loss for words. This is a huge disappointment, yet I firmly believe he will find a way to get his message across. Will just have to wait and see how.
gwb appointed Clinn Powells son,Michael,as head of the FCC and then they opened up the way for Fake Noise and others to buy up and sew up media news outlets at an alarming rate. I hope Keith lands quickly and gets back to slaying the dragons or the country is in a real mess as far as what is considered news reporting.
I am distressed that Keith is gone. I love Rachel but cannot stand Matthews. I can’t believe a progressive voice is silenced and the likes of Beck, hannity and o’really aren’t.
This is really sad. Before we know what has happened, there will be only one message. Don’t forget they are trying to take control of the internet too. I think I need to re-read 1984.
The Worst Person(s) in the World: Comcast.
Well, one thing for sure, I’ll be watching MSNBC a lot less. Even though Keith’s tone was sometimes too strident for me, I wanted to hear what he had to say. He had a way of cutting to the heart of the matter and I did find that refreshing.
Rachel really is my favorite. I’m always amazed at her in depth coverage and find it very helpful in understanding the craziness that politics has become. And I like Lawrence because of his fairness and insistence on people sticking to the facts.
There haven’t been enough in the news who actually present facts that have been researched. There are too many out there just making things up and too many who follow along.
The one that I don’t like is Chris Matthews. He and Joe Scarborough, though they are on different sides of the fence, really like to hear themselves talk and they don’t really listen when they do an interview. I too am afraid that Chris will take over. His show is already repeated at least 3 times in the Seattle area, while Rachel’s is hard for me to find. Keith and Ed were at least on later so I could watch them.
I find the audio podcasts the best way to go, but sometimes they aren’t made available for 24 hours. Sometimes only an hour or two. I like Odonnell, I like him because he normally speaks slowly and doesn’t shout at his guests. (Usually). Rachel is the best, so analytical. I like it that she asks her guests if they have any problem with her intro. I remember when she pointed out that the dems don’t even use graphs to point to the improvements in the economy, and with health care… a picture is worth 1000 words, yet the dems blew it the way they didn’t explain what they were doing nor the reason for it. I have to disagree with you about Matthews, I think he’s the real thing. No one else on MSNBC nor FOX has the sense of political history he does, I learn a lot from him. He was unfair to Clinton during the primaries, calling her the “president’s wife”, instead of senator. But all of these personalities have stepped over my own lines from time to time. Witness Schuster claiming that Sen Clinton was pimping out her daughter during the election. I can just hear it if some TH said that Palin was doing the same with her daughter on DWTS, which she was, IMO. Oh Well, I hope Olbermann doesn’t disappear, but he kind of blew it by bringing on Maddow, he’s not anywhere near her league.
I agree about Chris Matthews…I don’t watch him.
But, Keith and Rachel were/are a different story. Loved hearing Keith read to us every Friday. Enjoyed/enjoy the degree of research and truthfulness of both of them. And, the fact they would/will apologize if they state something incorrectly. Do we ever hear the group at Fox News do that? Never!
I would so love seeing Oprah pick up the two of them….Keith and Rachel.
No one from Faux will ever ever admit to being in the wrong after all they are not news they are entertainment and can lie and use half truths.
Who knows? Maybe MSNBC will get Todd’s massage therapist and then everything will have a happy ending.
This is a sad day. As our news options shrink, we must be mindful. Please protect NPR.
New options shrink? Olbermann wasn’t a newsman. He had an opinion show. He’s no more a newsman than Sean Hannity or Glen Beck.
I usually watch “Countdown” late on my DVR and was stunned by Keith’s news. We are losing such an important Progressive voice. If it’s true that he can’t take another TV slot for 2 years, he really must have wanted to get out of his contract. I suspect he’ll end up on Sirius or XM radio. That would be too bad because it’s audience is so limited, but I understand they pay well. Sigh. I read over on HP that Cenk Uygur is taking over Ed’s spot at 6pm, which should be interesting. But some people there said that Chris Matthews is going to become a more important player at MSNBC, and I really can’t stand him. He is such a know-it-all and is so Pennsylvania-centric, it’s annoying. Someone mentioned that Comcast is headquartered in Philadelphia, which is why they like CM so much. Yuck. What a crummy start to the weekend.
What I do not like about Chris Matthews is that he never shuts up…he talks over top of others and most times does not give anyone a chance to give a full answer.
I like Cenk Uygur as he reminds me of Keith but not enough to ever replace him in heart and kindness…
What a waste to have Beck, Hannity, Palin and O’Reilly spew filth and lies and no one to stop the insanity. I have lost my drive to even care anymore about fairness in anything…what good does it do anymore when even “our” voices are silenced buy the bigger voice of greed.
I love your comment. The blowhards on the right (Beck, Hannity, and especially Rush) always whine about the Fairness Doctrine yet look whose voices are quieted. It is the Progressive voices. Keith always dealt with FACTS and the truth. The same cannot be said about Rush and the Faux crew.
And your comment as well….”FACTS”…is that not what we all strive for…truth in advertising…do not tell me one thing by omitting some small detail and making it somewhat true.
Whole truth and nothing but the truth, that is what we all need to strive for in everything.
My thoughts exactly
I agree. I watched Countdown pretty faithfully because Keith was a good interviewer – asked pertinent questions, allowed his guests to reply fully. He was passionate but brought truth and facts to the issues he reported. I will miss his take on those issues.
Beth- I understand what you are saying about your reaction to his “style”. I enjoyed it….compared to what I heard on the other side (and I’m a speech pathologist, so I was probably enamoured on a more visceral level than just the words)…Keith was a refreshing voice as opposed to the shrill monotonous tones I heard on faux. You may have heard similar “ranting”…I heard a true BROADCASTER. I enjoyed his “rants” most of all. That was when that rich voice was use best! He knows how to “turn a phrase” if you will…as opposed to Beck, who simply knows how o whine. (voice quality monitor alert!)
Great comment.
Keith did connect viscerally, as well as intellectually, with his viewers. Although he’s not perfect (he’d be the first one to say that), he has a brilliant talent which I hope to see and hear again.
Deb – Paul Anka has a lovely voice but “You’re Having My Baby” did nothing for me (except make me want to gag! repeatedly! with every nauseating line of it!); Bob Dylan’s voice is, ummm, not so melodious, but I can’t think of a song he wrote/performed that didn’t touch me. Keith has an old-timey commanding presence of a voice, but his tone -continually- was, to me, the exact same as was coming from the other ‘side’. To me, it isn’t the method of delivery, it’s the character, the tone, of what is being said.
Both Keith and Rush/Glenn/BillO were basically singing the same song — Keith’s was scored and packaged for the Left and Rush/Glenn/BillO’s was scored and packaged for the Right. The ‘message’ each conveyed to their listeners might’ve been polar opposite, but the tone with which they conveyed it was the same. IOW: the north pole and the south pole are, ultimately, indistinguishable in their ‘pole-ness’. That’s what I was getting at. beth.
Did not mean to post it that way: This all makes me sad.
dowl 0 minute ago (12:43 AM)
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After watching Glenn Beck on the TODAY show recently, what is happening to NBC and it’s new management?
Keith Olbermann’s departure will adversely affect the decent (fact checked) information that distinguishes MSNBC from other cable news shows. The loss is to the intellectually curious who seek out various views that do not always include ‘talking points’ and rallying cries full of red meat and dog whistles.
Being able to legally lie (FoxNews) does a good job of dumbing-down viewers to the advantage of corporate personhoods–not so much for those whose earnings are less than $250K a year.
Good luck, Keith, in your next endeavors. Speaking truth to power is heroic though fraught with danger. Carry on.
Hopefully he goes to internet radio or some other form of webcast as there aren’t many people that actually tune into the TV these days.
I find my views and Keith’s were almost always totally in sync. About 99.9% of the time, I’d say.
I had trouble watching him with any regularity, though, because –even though I agreed– he always came off as so darned militant. To me, it’s one thing to have all the facts and lay them out logically to refute and/or expose some wrong, and another thing, entirely, to do that exposing using the same ‘tactics’ that the right uses in creating the ‘wrong’ in the first place. He seemed to me to be a left-speaking version of the right-speakers — his tone and theirs were identical; whip up the followers, tally-ho!
I’d be interested to hear his reasons for not continuing the relationship. I know that since Tucson, he’s been calling for a ‘new’ tone from all…including from himself. He even “mea culpa”-ed a couple of things that he’d done. Obviously, those he called on to dial it back with him, didn’t…that must’ve been disappointing, if not downright discouraging. He was trying to do the correct thing, the noble thing, by asking for volunteers to join him, but no one wanted to play. I wonder if he, personally, just had had too much of what he’d been doing for so long, weigh on him too heavily. You know what I mean? Yup, I do want to hear what *he* has to say about the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ and ‘whatnots’ and all – I hope he doesn’t make us all wait too long.
That said, I will forever be grateful to him for the poignant series he did when his father was so sick and (eventually) dying. His impassioned pleas for healthcare revamping during those weeks and days was wonderful and timely, but even more magnificent was his incredible and evident respect and love for his father. And that he would take that love and respect and Transpose it onto each and every father (and person) out there who was, is, or will ever be, hospitilized and facing death, showed me the humanity of the man. It wasn’t just his father and family he was navigating ‘the system’ for, it was for all of our fathers and families. He was passionate without being militant or strident and compassionate beyond measure…he was superb. beth.
I agree, I found him agreeable, but his style was too agressive. He was never going to convert anyone. Yet since not impartial, he was never a ‘newsman’.
Although I agreed, I prefered Colbert/Stewart, which may be one reason for their success – they speak to a certan constiuency, e.g. me.
Surely he doesn’t need TV to find his audience! Welcome to the 21st century, it’s called the ‘interweb’.
Beth, I completely agree with everything you said. There are so many times I agreed with what Keith was saying but the way he said it made me really uncomfortable. His style is very different from mine. But I have so much respect for him. He took a stand on things that matter, issues that could improve the lives of others. His presence will be missed. I hope that there is some way his voice doesn’t have to be silenced until after 2012.That particular stipulation really smells like dirty politics by the right.
I agree with you completely. I pretty much quit watching him because he so frequently slipped over into the pompous and bombastic, yet I did agree with nearly everything. But he seemed so obsessed with Beck and O Reilly. Unfortunately Rachel is becoming more strident, yet I agree with what she says too, her whole show is a learning experience, she taught me all I know about the history of filibustering. I just hope she has a producer play back the tone she used to use compared to the stridency of now. I noted that she completely stayed away from the Palin crosshairs business, I wonder if she is toeing the line. I wish Olbermann was still on air, but I did quit watching him in favor of Chris Matthews. I remember that recently Olbermanns chief producer jumped ship for O Donnell, there’s probably a lot of in house drama that we’ll never hear about.
Yes he was and I hope he also reads here at least some of the time and sees these comments
So when all that is left of so-called “news broadcasting” is far right, will the right be reduced to eating their young or cannibalism? After all, from what I have seen of the conservative broadcasts, we MUST have a “TARGET” with no target, I assume it implodes?
The evening line up on MSNBC just lost its heart.
Lee, what a lovely and spot-on comment. I think Keith would like hearing that!
I am stunned! It is a sad day for America when Sarah Palin is allowed to spew her venom on every street corner (figuratively, of course) and Keith Olberman is quietly “shut down”. I am truly dumbfounded by this.
I fear we are entering the Age of the Corporation, and it will take ingenuity and persistence, but we can do without them better than they can do without us, the consumers.
Yes it is and believe me I let new outlets know how I felt about that especially Bill O and his Dr Tiller comments.I think he should have been sued
Just wanted to add: Thank you, Keith, for years of sanity. Your humor and your bursts of righteous indignation kept us sane during the Bush-Cheney reign of insanity. Your compassion for those less fortunate than yourself led us all to help those needing health care, those needing rebuilding help, and those facing death in Arizona. You were a champion for those who had no voice yet needed one. Who will fill that void?
Few have a heart as big as yours and a voice as strong as yours. Thank you so much. We hope you will find a way, and keep alive the desire, to keep speaking out, to keep us apprised of corruption and help us put the insanity into perspective with humor and a path to action.
I really never watch TV so I am not familiar with Mr. Olbermenn directly, mostly just bits and pieces on line.
Anyway, I was wondering…could he be thinking about…running for office…???
Just a little nagging thought bouncing around in the back of my mind.
M. Paul
Oh – that would be great – ! and he would be able to talk, I would think, even if he was bound by contract not to do broadcasts – which is the concern I posted above. That would be so funny, if they canceled his show but kept him under contract so he couldn’t go on the air in any form, but he ran for office and would end up getting all kinds of media coverage – OK – I am totally fantasizing now – but I love that possible scenario so much I might have to make it into a storyline – ha!!
I heard he could still do radio or go on the net maybe on fave book like palin does if anyone can he can
Good thought! Hope he’s writing a book.
First let me say I loved watching him, and strange as it may sound, I have never voted in an election and he moved me along with Obama to vote finally for a President.
I do like Ed and they are moving him from 6pm eastern to 10 eastern and O’Donnell to 8pm eastern…with Rachael in the middle.
I so looked forward to his coverage of the upcoming elections, now who do I listen to with just those that are left?
Com Cast sucks!!!!!!!!!!
Forgot to say…I do not have ComCast..but Time Warner sucks too LOL
Yeah, does it ever. My cable bill just shot up. My husband are reviewing what to cut. It has become insane.
I just hope we keep reasonable rates to access the internet and that net neutrality isn’t forsaken or we are all sunk because the newspapers are on the way out or controlled by corporations like the Murdoch-backed NewsCorp.
I pay $50 a month for internet through cable…no dial up available that works…can not go dish or direct as no clear line of sight….I am at their mercy.
Cable and internet goes down at least twice a day and no rebates from them at all, just rising costs and less service….so goes the way of all products these days.
And nothing ya can do about it if ya want cable and the internet
Mr. Olbermann,
You sir, are a hero.
Yes, I agree: Keith Olbermann is a hero, and Comcast just enhanced his appeal and influence. I think it is a decision they will come to rue, and the folks who came up with the idea may see themselves being kicked out without any pity.
I have …both privately and publicly informed comcast that I am discontinuing service for this. ( and for CONTINUOUS rate increases over the 7 years I have been with them) But, I would pay MORE for BALANCED line-up rather than comcast”s apparent censorship of Keith.
Wow, we’re really devalued the word hero. Used to be people were called heros because they rescued a baby from a burning building or charged a machine gun nest. Now you give your opinion on TV for $7 Million or teach for above average wage and you are called a hero.
We can always rebel. Just stop paying. Make do, do without. There are alternatives.
Exactly.
Keith will be sorely missed, now I only have Rachel.
Here’s a petition
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6006/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3151
Check huffpost if you haven’t http://www.huffingtonpost.com (David Shuster now this!)
Thanks, signed it!
Could he make a deal so that he can talk sooner? I would have laughed if he said, “I will not shut up!” Put that man on the radio. I actually like to watch his show. Jon Stewart hire the man!
I am crushed — a voice of sanity silenced
And what really burns my buns is someone
in Wasilla is no doubt having a great time because of it.
Keith will not be silenced for very long.
He may be constrained from moving to another network for a time, but he will NOT be silenced.
Keith will be kept off air through 2012, but can do radio, per David Shuster on CNN now. “Money’s not an issue for him…. I can’t believe he’ll be quiet about it. He’s an outspoken guy.”
Well now…. looks like we need ourselves a little internet radio station don’tcha think?
If he can do radio, he can probably do internet. Podcasts? that could be interesting. I think there will be many venues he could look into and I don’t think his voice will be silenced for long.
That would be a real loss for our 2012 pre election viewing and information. I think this is appalling.
Yeah, I don’t think this is an accident or a fluke. I think it part of a strategy to shut people off from progressive voices or voices of dissent against the GOP.
Probably so. Here in Phoenix, when liberal talk radio came on the air several years ago, someone bought the station to silence the message and turned the station into yet another Christian Radio station ( like Phoenix needed another one). Fortunately, they were able to find another station and come back on the air like a true phoenix. But there is only one liberal radio station in the area and it is low wattage and also has to power down at night.
Through 2012? Holy crap! Can’t see getting through the next elections without Keith. That’s just crazy, and a sign of how determined he must have been to get out of his contract to go along with such a long exclusionary period. I’m just sick.
Maybe he’ll start a blog. Or become a regular on one, like Huffington Post.
I am just wondering, if he is still ‘under contract’ though he may not have his show – what would he be able to do? They could keep his contract active which would prohibit him from doing other broadcasts – but cancel his show so he has no venue. Just hypothetically hyperventilating….
This is really a blue evening for me. Comes right on the heels of IBEW throwing in the sponge and turning almost all of Alaska AM radio over to right wing radio in Alaska (lone exception, S. Moore, from Homer). Let us admit it, Limbaugh and gang has won the day. I sent the following email to MSNBC just after Keith gave us the news on channel 209 (Dish TV). Wish I had expressed my feeling a little stronger. The magnitude of this crap is just beginning to set in.
On a lighter note: Notice that I recall and plagiarized comments from “Mudflats’ ” first impressions of Palin’s first chapter in her recent stupid book.
To: MSNBC
Who? Who! Who, in the hell—-forced Keith out?
Was it your new owners?
Rotten, Rotten, Rotten, I cannot believe that somehow things and events have turned so lousy this evening for me. Like eating a crap sandwich, except, the bread is crap too, and a side of crap to go with it.
Hope someone in NBC and MSNBC is happy this evening, I sure as hell am not.
Signed, one pissed off Alaskan–71 years an Alaskan.
Yep. I remember, and didn’t like it the first time.
I’ll mourn with you, I feel exactly the same….sad beyond sadness.
There have been plenty who have been wondering if Com Cast’s first act would be to fire Olbermann.
This is a direct attack on a major liberal voice, and very scarey in terms there being fewer and fewer sources of MSN on cable (I catch the reruns on internet), where most people get their news, that are not blatantly conservative.
Wonder how long Rachel will last?
She is the only reaming contact with MSNBC, or NBC.
Al Franken talked himself blue in the face to try and stop the Comcast merger. It seems nobody listened. We need to roll out the Anti Trust Action book before we only have a few hands in control of all media. Clear Channel own most of the strong radio signals. With no Net Neutrality we will be on the back water of the Internet.
From the New York Times story:
“Mr. Olbermann did not discuss any future plans, but NBC executives said one term of his settlement will keep him from moving to another network for an extended period of time.”
I am heartsick. He is so bright, funny, and not to mention on the right (left) side of issues.
I know the possibility of this has been talked about in anticipation of the Comcast merger, but it’s still feels like a body blow. 🙁
If you are just coming here, go to comedy central right now.
I can’t! No cable tv here. Tell me what’s happening.
Boy, I would love to smack my phone. I meant HBO, but when I was trying to delete comedy central, the phone and I came to a parting of the ways, and it posted. What I get from trying to watch two things at once and post at the same time. Interesting Bill Maher tonight. I didn’t get to watch all of it – just got home from visiting Miss Suzie (my mother) in the hospital, but what I did see was incredibly interesting. Frenzied discussion, and Rachel’s eyes were everywhere. Stressed to the nth degree. I have no idea what was on comedy central, because I won the penny toss and that channel got the small screen. Sorry!
How strange to be watching the movie Good Night and Good Luck when I hear that KO is leaving MSNBC. Hope he finds a new and friendlier place to land. Glad Comcast doesn’t get any money from me.
Well, that’s gonna leave a big hole in the programming. He was so spot-on during the health care debates. I am going to miss him.
If they are reprogramming to a more conservative lineup, I expect Rachel may need to look around as well.
One of the guys with Commie-cast, is a republican who was involved with Ws’ campaign or presidency in some way….this is an evil omen….a bad portent that does not bode well for that crappy company..I wish a pox upon them…
I’ve been away from my computer all day till just now. WTF? How do they get rid of someone like Keith and keep people on the air like O’Reilly and Beck? Are we all doomed? Is the take-over at hand?
Welcome to mega-corporate owned America, courtesy of the SCOTUS.
O’Reilly and Beck help keep the right in power and the right keeps the corporations (and therefore their own campaign accounts) rich and happy. Keith exposed the lies of the right and held their feet to the fire and therefore had to go.
Scary times that we live in…
Yes, I believe we need to research the people who gave the green light to this merger. The industry is regulated, after all, It is a bad idea for the media to become vested in only a few corporate hands. After all, Murdoch sucked up so many media outlets (newspaper, radio stations, television stations and networks). Do we really want Comcast to follow that model?
I fear fascism may be here and we just haven’t realized it yet as distracted as we are by our toys and minor crazies such as Palin. Government and corporation in bed together begets the opposite of a free society. We really need to start focusing on net neutrality, folks, or blogs such as mudflats may one day be silenced.
I hope I am overstating the problem, but I don’t think so. There has been a patient and persistent strategy to allow Big Business (aka corporations) to dominate our culture. The appointments of Alito and Roberts were not accidents. Bush (or his backers) knew exactly what was going to happen if a case such as Citizens United ever came up. Roberts threw over proper judicial protocols and ignored precedent to reach down and take that case so he could hand over the keys to the kingdom to its new “people” (the corporations).
Except for Rachel and Ed, MSNBC is dead to me. If I ever move to an area where Comcast is the cable provider, I will simply not buy cable. I hope everyone who is outraged will contact MSNBC and express their outrage and disappointment. Not that it will do any good – but who knows, the petition for Keith worked last time. It might just put a scare into the powers that be at that network and make them think twice before they go after Rachel, Ed or Lawrence.
End of rant. Sorry, but my husband and I have watched Keith faithfully for years. He kept us sane during the Bush years with his humor and his outrage, and he gave us the gift of Rachel Maddow. Plus, his heart was huge and he put his money to use helping others unlike almost every other host on news networks. I know he will survive this. The question is how well will we.
How is the Comcast-NBC merger creating unfair competition?
O’Reilly & Beck having three times the audience may have something to do with it. The main reason is Olbermann is known to be a huge jerk off the air. There is a reason he has left ESPN & Fox Sports on bad terms, the guy has burned more bridges than General Sherman.
A reasoned voice in a sea of tears. They have you surrounded.
No Oprah, please. Really. Ick. I just watched CNN a little bit, and Anderson Cooper said – along with someone else whose name I did not catch – that this might go back to the suspension. Well, fine. I will miss him, and hope to the dickens that he can be back on the air soonest!
I’m really tired of Oprah and her pontifications or projections of “Look at where I came from.. If I can survive that crap and become a multi-millionaire, why can’t you?” . Gah.
Keith’s a smart guy, he’ll figure it out.
It’s twu, it’s twu.
Agree or disagree (I mostly agreed), he is a force to be reckoned with. He won’t sit down and shut up.
He won’t sit down and shut up.
Just like Sarah. But he speaks the truth.
What the ??????
Because he criticizes the right?????
No, because he has fallen in love with the sound of his own voice.
^ Like.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Oprah hired Keith Olbermann!!! As much as I like Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell and Chris Matthews — I will no longer watch MSNBC.
Oprah would be smart to grab him up as soon as he can do TV again.
Yes, it would be a smart move for Oprah if she is looking to severely limit her TV channel’s audience. Oprah had always stayed out of politics and then threw her support behind Obama and her ratings have never recovered. So yeah, hiring Olbermann seems like a great way to kill her new network.
I’d like to see Oprah jump right back into news and politics. She can get good ratings if she does it right.
This would be a great opportunity for Oprah to expand her network. I mentioned it on another blog…then Rachel could follow. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the butt!!! Yea, Keith!!!
Is there a facebook page for him yet? Oprah or CNN hire Keith Olbermann!!!!
Wait this stinks, petition please!
I’d heard speculation that if the Comcast merger was approved that Keith would probably be let go.
He can probably go somewhere else, and his viewers will follow him. Will they also let go other more liberal commentators and go in the way of other news organizations towards the right? It wouldn’t really surprise me. Think CNN.
They’ll end up losing viewers over this and whomever picks him up with probably also pick up the liberal viewers, who feel no loyalty to MSNBC itself, but more to the personalities that they employed.
Oh yes…the liberal voices are being silenced, one by one….I will not watch Commie-cast- I for SURE
will not watch Fox…
I agree. Comcast will not go after Rachel or Ed right away (unless they are truly and deeply insane), but I think they will give them a choice to tamp down their liberalness or go.
What an opportunity this is for someone to step up and offer a home for liberal commentators and investigative reporters.
I can’t see CNN doing this as they are too into “entertainment” news.
If the powers-that-be at CNN have any integrity or desires to bring up CNN viewership, they would do well to make a decidedly and progressively left turn and hire Keith and other Progressives.
We need BOTH sides and fighting against Faux Noise is a daunting task as nobody at Faux Noise is told to quit lying and/or use violent rhetoric.
That, or bring back the Fairness Doctrine. We cannot live in a country that has become so corporately owned that the voices of We The People are silenced.
I agree and we all know that Faux noise will fight it tooth and nail
I have been a comcast subscriber for a number of years now. I have recently begun looking for other service providers. With the news about Keith’s ‘firing” tonight, I will definitely find another provider, even at a higher cost, and let Comcast know that their decision to fire a very talented man was the last straw in a number of issues I have with their service.
I REFUSE to cow-tow to the millionaires (i.e. the “lamestream” media as Lady sarah would have us believe) that OWN what is and what is not considered news. My money will go elsewhere.
I believe that his release will include no working for other networks for xxxx amount of time. I would follow him and I would stop watching MSNBC but I need to see Rachel and Laurence at the very least. I am very angry at Comcast/FCC/SCOTUS for this turn of events however.
I read the termination agreement was that he could not be on another television show for some time but he can be on print or radio or internet.
Apparently Keith can’t go else where for an undisclosed amount of time. It is part of his severance.
Wow- Missed the broadcast. Guess I will have to catch the web version as to what is up.