MSNBC: The Place For Politics (And Taped Programming)

I'ts 8:00 pm on the day of primaries in Nebraska, Washington State, Louisiana and Kansas, and MSNBC just started its live coverage. During the day, while CNN was covering the ongoing voting via "Ballot Bowl" and Fox News was doing the same with "You Decide 2008," MSNBC was running taped programming like "Sex Slaves in America" and "Lockup: Holman" and "Born in the Wrong Body," up until 6pm when Tim Russert's show began, followed by a taped documentary on the career of Hillary Clinton, narrated by Lester Holt. Now the coverage is in full swing, anchored by Norah O'Donnell along with Chuck Todd, Lee Cowan, Alex Witt, Eugene Robinson, Pat Buchanan and Rachel Maddow, but earlier today, when Mike Huckabee took Kansas and when Washington — a state where Obama has led in fundraising and endorsements and which has almost as many delegates as New Jersey — was caucusing (in a voting system that tends to favor Obama) and even the U.S. Virgin Islands was getting in on the act, American Samoa-style, MSNBC was off the case. Why, with so many correspondents in the field and what could be a decisive day for the Democrat side going on, was the decision made to go to tape? I asked MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines, who pointed out that the network would be running three hours of live coverage tonight. "We're always live when there's breaking news to report as there is tonight when there are election results to report," said Gaines. (Though I can't help pointing out that Huckabee's win in Kansas sort of counts as news.) Gaines declined to give any other reason for the decision to go to tape; it should also be noted that MSNBC was live during the day of the South Carolina primary.

What MSNBC missed during the day: Huckabee's Kansas win; live coverage of Huckabee addressing CPAC, including this already-widely-quoted line about why he's still in the race: "I did not major in math. But I did major in miracles. And I still believe in 'em!"; Fox News being sure to mention David Shuster's suspension from MSNBC because of his comment about Chelsea Clinton — but did not, however, mention that David Shuster had formerly been at Fox News.

Related:
'Significant Saturday': Three Things to Watch [Newsweek]
Not Super, But Still Important [Forbes]

Comments

[bayman]

On Friday, I went to the MSNBC website to check out their programming schedule for Saturday, in anticipation of primary/caucus coverage. It was nowhere to be found! How can a major cable network not have their programming schedule on their website? This is utterly unbelievable.

[MNmommy]

I think they are *regrouping* because of the Capus smackdown. It didn't stop the Morning Joe crew from starting out snickering about Clinton.

*The Place for Politics* is the most biased place on cable TV, they bought into their own *press*.

[kroses98]

It's only biased, when they are not fawning over your candidate!!!!

[StrayTalk]

Love to see a news channel where I can watch Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann! What a breath of fresh air after years of crap on CNN. Larry King are you taking notes?

[chocco]

I only watch Keith on MSNBC. He's the only honest "journalist" on the tellie. If it weren't for Keith, I'd swear democracy is dead. CNN is pure, total crap. And of course, Fox News is a cartoon channel

[loki]

Maybe MSNBC has come to the same conclusion many Americans have. This whole process is a farce, so why the hell bother. There were just giving alternatives to the endless and mind numbing coverage to the dog and pony show. We dont get to choose anything , except between the corporate selected candidates.

[MinYee]

This is pretty sad to me. By watching the recent primary coverages, and moving from channel to channel, I have discovered that MSNBC is indeed farcical. It's simply that they don't have the budgets to compete with CNN or FOX. This weekend (I am a resident of the state of Washington) there was little or no reporting on our state caucus or, of course, other Saturday caucuses. FOX had more coverage even, but as for yesterday and Super Tuesday, CNN totally kicked MSNBC's butt: John King with his great map presentations; Bill Schneider
with his exit polls. Wolf Blitzer reporting evenly without all the blatant bragging historical allusions of a Chris Matthews. All in all, MSNBC's primary coverage is aenemic.

This is sad for me to say because I've previously posted here that my favorite news is the first half hour of the Keith Olbermann show; also that MSNBC ought (as other posters suggested) to hire Rachel Maddow (which they did recently --not just because of me but I'm sure because of the many who find her commentary extremely interesting, insightful and informative.

I am retired, age 69, and a former reporter and editor. My favorite other commentators on political issues are Pat Buchanan, David Gergen, Chris Crawford, Joe Scarborough, Chuck Todd, Eugene Robinson, Bill Press, Larry O'Donnell, James Carville, Paul Begala, Bill Schneider, Candy Crowley, and John Roberts.

I must admit to being a political junkie but the best news show is, of course, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Thank Nature that the writers' strike is about over, and that they basically got what they wanted, if I believe the early headlines.

[realpolitic]

Jon Stewart is very well written and insightful. Olbermann is really good, especially the first half hour, as you say. Don't you think Fox is unwatchable, though. I can not stand the right-wing propaganda. I may listen to O'Reilly's talking points just to note the ideological bias and falsities.

MSNBC should develop a B team to support their A team of Matthews, Olbermann, and the rest of the gang. Tucker is unwatchable, as well.

[kroses98]

There are a few good ones on CNN, but they come with the bias and the bad ones, including the idiots James Carville, Paul Begala, Wolf Blitzer, Candy Crowley, John Roberts, Rick Sanchez, Amy Holmes, Larry King, and some whose names escape me. I will take MSNBC ANY day, over those biased and/or incompetent blowhards! As for Fox, my remote goes right past it!

[floydmcc66]

Dear Loki,

It is understandable that you feel the way you do. I am a Midwesterner too. I also have given up politics many of times. This time its different. Its ok to talk politics and now we have the forum where all may have the chance to speak.

This is not the twentieth century. The world is full of risks. Take one. Right here right now.

[samuraijack]

MSNBC, where, uh, you can, uh, hear, uh, Nora, uh, O'Donnell, uh, say, uh, about, uh, every, uh, fucking, uh, word, uh. uh uh uh uh. Write her some cue cards, uh uh uh uh uh uh!

[VOTER]

Followed by her "horse" laugh.

Unbearable.

[realpolitic]

She has the worst laugh.

[ginnypoo]

I noticed they took almost all their 'live' programming off after the Schuster stuff....they have barely been on for a few days. In the middle of the evening news hours when they usually go great guns, Holman was on for 4 hours.....they are hiding trying to figure out how to go on the air without being sexist/racist/ slanted when they've been so called out on it lately.

[john44]

Someone explain to me what MSNBC's rationale is for all the stupid prison shows and awful true crime crap? I like politics and hearing people talk about politics. I don't care about prisons, murders and the rest. MSNBC forces me elsewhere. Also, they don't respond to letters and e-mails regarding this. Long before Imus fatally shot off his big mouth, MSNBC was hearing complaints from viewers, and they did nothing until forced to. Who is in charge over thee?

[Meah]

Mr. Abrams calls those shots. Wouldn't it be nice if they just did the news in the evening. It is pretty weird that they think people want to watch the murder, prison, sex offender stuff. It gets old, and it is not presented in a way that would make viewers have interest. For heaven sake, hire Aaron Brown and do the news. I would love that!

[BloodNGutts]

Dan Abrams is the General Manager.

[kroses98]

No more. He is long gone.

[EricArthurBlair]

On the one hand, I get sick and tired of the endless campaign coverage. Still 9 months to go, and I've already had about as much as I can take (I'm one of those people who likes having something else to watch when the State of the Union addrass is on). Just the numbers, please, and let me form my own opinions. On the other hand, I've never been inclined to watch a lot of MSNBC's other programming. If it's not sexual predators it's life in prison. There must be something newsworthy out there that isn't related to MSNBC's three P's: politics, perverts and prisoners.

[ReelBusy]

It's cheap filler programming to help their bottom line.

Informing the public is not part of MSNBC's "business model".

[intuition]

MSNBC has a thing for violence -- perhaps they are using subliminal tactics with all the "Locked Up" weekend segements, when they have no anchors, to keep Americans living fear-based lives. They are part of the problem, the conspiracy to feed us fear 24/7.

[Gdebs]

Yes, the first half of Keith is very good but admit it, the last half is junk. I didn't know who PARIS WAS OR WHAT American Idol was until I watched Countdown.
I mainly watch Link TV, Free Speech TV, Documentary TV, Research TV on Dish Satellite TV. They show stuff you will never see on MSM. They are worth the cost of satellite television.

[NeverRepublican]

Right the hell on! Link, Free, Documentary, and Research TV are all on Dish Satellite TV. I have it...I watch it. It whould be mainstream! But we couldn't have that now, can we? Dish R-U-L-E-S!!!

[NC4Obama]

I feel sick, i had to turn on Fox to get news... i almost threw up after a min but CNN was busy talking about money and MSNBC i guess isnt allowed to have news anymore. CNN now is just doing there BALLOT BOWL shit repeatably, it seems like Fox is the only one having normal coverage. Even though Fox's normal is bad.

[realpolitic]

Fox would even attempt to make weather forecasting biased and pro-Republican.

[Aristedes]

Why, because FOX REpubliguns LOVE Oblama or something?

[realpolitic]

I like MSNBC a good deal. They are least afraid to go after Bush and often poke fun at Fox, which is a caricature of the news. But this taped programming is reducing their brand name. If they are going to run a news network then run one and get away from this low-life, trailer park taped programming on prison life. (No offense to trailer parks where many fine peole live.)

[kroses98]

AMEN!

[realpolitic]

God bless you!

[Friday025]

Very unfortunately, MSNBC is doing EXACTLY what they criticize Fox News for doing. They've largely given into editorial-based news casts, obnoxious commentating (Olbermann is great, but he better watch himself before he too falls of the wagon), and outright unprofessionalism (Scarborough, Shuster, Matthews).

I know this election season is exciting and it's probably very hard to stay neutral with all that's happening, but come on, be professional at the VERY least.

Fox News has modeled unprofessionalism for years, and instead of MSNBC using this election season to rise above sensationalism, they instead chose to participate in it.

[realpolitic]

They do not lie as Fox does.

[ReformedRepublican]

I wonder if others out there feel the way I do. I know this thread is about MSNBC but I want to inject a note about CNN. If I have to hear Wolf Blitzer say one more time that they are the best political team on television or, even worse, hear one more talking head talk about Ballot Bowl 2008, I think I might just hurl. Really, if CNN has the best political team on television, we will know it. We are not stupid so repeating something to us does not make it true.

Second, since when is a national election on a par with an NFL playoff game or the Sweet Sixteen tournament that it needs hyped? It is serious business and the networks have a great task ahead of them give us information and opinions and to differentiate between the two. It is bad enough they chose to allow the national polls to dictate who they believed were viable candidates and relgated everyone else to insignificance, thus adversely affecting the campaign of John Edwards and giving excess coverage to Rudy Guiuliani.

I don't think I am alone in this view, and frankly, around my house, we are starting to consider limiting our election and political news coverage to Keith Olberman and Jon Stewart. If I were a journalist working for CNN, I would be embarassed that their efforts were begin shilled to the point where people would rather get their information from a sportscaster and a comedian. That is not a negative about either Olberman or Stewart. They have become credible which says a lot about them and precious little about those who would view themselves as a television journalist or newsperson.

[LarBear]

Let's see if the Good Ol' Misogynist Boys start back up again on Monday beginning with rude, nasty, RePugnant Joe Scarborough... I suspect they are simply lying (or LIE'ing) low...
I think David Shuster is a basically good person and reasonably good reporter, who got caught up in the Corporate Climate... Working with Chris Matthews, etc, who (Chris) constantly projects and spews his hate onto the Clinton's, especially Hillary... David could no longer perceive Chelsea for whom she actually is... Matthews never actually apologized for bashing Hillary and now gets advertised and promoted by Corporate as a Political Expert instead... His bias, and hate is blatant and obvious... Constant nasty Hillary digs...
David Shuster may have made the remark, but clearly upper Management creates the attitude and belief (atmosphere) that produced (spawned) the remark... MSNBC and NBC have clearly become a fertile spawning ground of bias and disrespect... At the end of the day, I want to be able to NOT even guess who a Host/ Reporter, etc would vote for... Clearly MSNBC comes off as Obama Campaign Headquarters... Obama gets a Free Pass on ALL and the Clinton's equally get bashed and spun the opposite...
Chuck Todd, "Political Director MSNBC has said numerous times vote for Hillary is a vote for McCain... Snicker, choke, No Bias there... Matthews, Carlson, Scarborough, Russert clearly get the Corporate sponsorship to spawn their hate and disrespect of others (including viewers) prolifically... Clearly, others Hosting get the Corporate message... Mika blatantly gushes her support of Obama... Andrea Mitchell is obviously anti Hillary...

I went to MSNBC with a desire to get Neutral News Coverage... Olbermann, Abrams stay much more (not perfect) Neutral... Invited guest commentators such as Pat Buchanan, Rachael Maddow, Ron Reagan, give us intelligent insight... Craig Crawford does his best to give a Neutral assessment... I don't want to have a clue as to whom any of them would vote for personally, or are against...

[realpolitic]

I do not like Joe Scarborough at all either, and that early in the morning is far too early to listen to his conservative, hateful rants.

[ParacleteofKavorka]

Pat Buchanan is one of my favorites. He's funny and seems to be fairly objective in many ways even though he's a conservative. Although I voted for Hillary, he made me laugh when commenting on her voice in front of large groups. "Every husband in America has heard that sound".

[MNmommy]

Spot on assessment.

[kroses98]

Craig Crawford is for Hillary, which annoys me no end. The network tries to balance itself out. What about the obnoxious Winger Tucker Carlson? I think they are attempting, sometimes, to be the opposite of Fox. But who knows? I do enjoy their coverage of the Primaries and the elections, etc. I would not think of switching to the CNN coverage, except maybe during a commercial!

[swift goat pet for truth]

MSNBC Puzzles me.

They could give Rachel Maddow her own program.

They could give Huffington Post their own hour (I think that might even be fun to watch).

And that would give them a solid line-up of diverse political programming. Just, what is the deal?

[frappe]

I agree with you totally. MSNBC would then attract a much larger, passionate audience who would become loyal viewers. Adding both Rachel Maddow and Arianna Huffington to their resume would go a long way in building a strong presence on cable news.