"Nobody Can Believe How Much Keith Olbermann Is Getting Away With"

Meanwhile, in the past few hours we've spoke to a number of 30 Rock staffers in Denver, New York, and Washington -- some of whom thought it more productive to speak to us than attend to the on-going live DNC coverage -- and the common wisdom is: 1) Nobody can believe how much Keith Olbermann is getting away with, even if he does draw ratings; 2) As an Olbermann protege, Rachel Maddow is attracting negative feelings from staffers, since she stays mum on many of these catfights, but "there's still time" to represent; 3) MSNBC head Phil Griffin is alienating staffers by publicly defending Olbermann while privately bashing him, and it's left many wondering when that will leak (oops); 4) MSNBC publicist Jeremy Gaines appears increasing stressed out and can be seen "shaking" with a phone attached to his ear dealing with reporters; 5) You don't want to run into Chris Matthews anytime soon, especially en route to the bathroom, because he has zero pleasant things to say right now; 6) Joe Scarborough is definitely stressed, but he's managed to calm down a bit today and can be seen laughing and gabbing; 7) None of this is helping ratings, with MSNBC scoring the lowest numbers against Fox News and CNN in convention coverage.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[duze]

Olberman is ruling media these days. After we watch CNN, boring passive, passionless, momentum of not stepping over the line, as well as the radical scaries at FOX, Keith Olberman is just right for most even minded americans. Keith is the news, he tells it straight, honest and informative. Everyone that watches the news is not totally informed about the lead story, but Keith always brings us up to speed while never failing to inform about the subterfuge going on in the respective camps. There is no reason in the world that Keith should leave or MSN even entertaining the idea of it. if the rats at FOX can run aground and not be chastised, than Keith should be crowned King, for putting everything in a realistic, understandable way. Keith has a way that conservative may find uncomfortable, but most conservatives are always uncomfortable anyway. Keith rules and MSNBC would be making a major mistake to even entertain the thought of getting rid of Keith. In all acutuality they would lose half of their viewers and wherever Keith went, they would be there. Keith Rules!

By the way, if Keith has shown you yet,
Former POW "John McCain "not fit to be president.

www.yutube.com/watch?v=KjsEs46C70

How's that for straight talk?

[AngloAmerican]

Whatever you think of him, KO has broken the first rule of journalism and made himself part of the story. KO has a very very big ego, an unhealthy love of his own voice and often makes snap statements on his live tv appearances before getting all the facts Essentially he would be a great pundit for MSNBC. Pundits are given much more leeway with the occasiona rash statement, and among the pundit class, KOs ego and love of his own voice would be mild

[All57States]

I like when he makes faces into the camera. Genius.

[DuPageDem]

MSMBC's coverage of the GOPer Show is pathetic. GE clearly decided to sacrifice ratings for its corporate interests by benching Olbermann and orchestrating softball coverage of McSame's propaganda fest. I've actually switched to watching the Corporate News Network's coverage, where they at least try to pretend they're 'liberal.' Sometimes. Olbermann loses cred by sitting this one out when he's needed most. And Obama's snub -- doing O'Really before Keith -- doesn't help either. No good deed goes unpunished.

[AdultFilmLegend]

He was pretty good on SportsCenter. That's about it. Kenny Mayne was pretty good, too. MSNBC should give him a show.

[DELCOPA]

Warning - Conservative View

Olbermann has no one to constrain him and he has gone off the deep end. It is certainly fair to voice opposing view points and we count on our media to do the research we don't have the time or resources to do ourselves. But Olbermann is mean spirited to say the least.

I wonder if Olbermann would have the courage to be interviewed by a fair minded conservative on camera? I'd sort of like to see someone confront him with is vitriol and ask him to explain it.

[jdenham]

We only have 2 voices on Primetime I see on the progressive side saying what most of America is thinking. I think the right does protest to much, I guess they cant listen to the truth.
Hey the republicans start policing Hannity, Limbaugh, ORielly, and Beck, or at least calling them on their lies we will ask Keith to back down. But republicans do not talk back to their pundits, why is that?
When Keith says something that is a wrong we will tell him. And he will correct it. I have not seen that on the right.

Keep it up Keith.

[danton2000]

If the American people need to turn to the likes of Keith Olbermann to be told the truth the hole we are in just keeps getting deeper. I was glad the left had a counter to Fox in him...For about a week!
He is Bill O's evil twin. That why he can't stop razzing him. I am sad to see the American people subjected to this tabloid journalism masquerading as the real thing. It's for people that can't decide to read People magazine or Us weekly.

[JRA821]

Keith Olbermann: What did your parents do to you? You have got to be one of the angriest human beings alive...but typical of a liberal/socialist who dances on the fringes of communism. Perhaps the bump on your head which distorted your depth perception also created frontal lobe damage which controls impulses.

Like most lefties, you preach about freedoms, entitlements, equality, etc yet are intolerant of any opinion that differs from yours....not only intolerant, but RUDE which equates to IGNORANCE. As if you scream loud enough it might penetrate our thick conservative skulls. I listen to Fox (GASP) and CNN who are pretty balanced. Then I tune into MSNBC for a laugh. I am trying to listen to all sides but you're intolerable. You're part of a respected news organization and you've turned into a bunch of bullies. You're a third class commentator (not a journalist) who has been given a dangerous amount of power in a major news organization and you blur the lines to those who do not know better.

Liberals are a flock of sheep following the "chosen one" because Oprah came down from heaven and said "Vote for Obama". Then you get actors who are grossly overpaid to "pretend" for a living thinking their celebrity makes them politically saavy and gives them some kind of clout. Box Office does not equal Oval Office. Again...you're a joke.

Allow me to cut a lime for that electric Kool-Aid you're drinking.

[JD_Warfield]

How much more angrily and with how much more partisanship can you accuse someone of being angry and too partisan? If you have a problem with Keith Olbermann that's fine. That's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but to bash him like that is completely uncalled for. As far as the Kool-Aid joke that you and O'reilly keep peddling, do you realize comparing liberals to a cult only works if you could say that no one on the conservative side of the coin still thought the earth was flat? You ought to respect other people, instead you belittle them at every move they make in a frail attempt to make yourself look educated and respected in the political community. As a democrat, I think it's funny that you would go after Olbermann in such an over-the-top fashion. However, as an American citizen, I am ashamed that another American citizen would attack anyone else in such an appalling fashion. Oh well, I guess not everyone understands the fundamentals of respect in America nowadays.

[ccpostman]

Wow!
Sounds like Mr. JRA821 is the angry one. Need some anger management there? Something happen in the last few days to light your short fuse?

Better claim down and take some valium or you'll end up blowing a rod like this guy -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/12/bill-oreilly-on-inside-ed_n_101267.html

[psmealey]

"I listen to Fox (GASP) and CNN who are pretty balanced."

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

[cheferic]

Fox was sued for false advertising for using the phrase ' fair and balanced reporting' as their slogan ,and they lost! It pretty sad when you cant describe your news as fair and balanced.
To be fair ,Huffington Post has also been awfully slanted ever since the Democratic National Convention , over exaggerating ,blowing things out of proportion -( a 17 year old pregnant girl is not a scandal and a woman being grabbed by the arm is not a violent arrest).
Keith Olbermann not wanting to sit next to armed protesters or not believing every spin he hears is not "getting away with something" .
Lets all stop spinning before this site and this election spin out of control.

[priestessja]

Keith Olbermann is getting away with being one of the few program hosts who actually do RESEARCH. After switching between several shows yesterday to get the scoop on the new Repub VP pick, I stopped knowing Keith would deliver. And he did.

Now, during this critical dash to the elections, Rachel will also be there to help give real info instead of regurgitating the email talking points that normally passes as journalism.

Great job, MSNBC!!!

Joe simply cannot stand anyone disagreeing with him and is constantly shutting up dissenters on his show, including Mica or Schuster. I wish Mica could get a little more backbone instead of looking adoringly into Joe's eyes so much but that seems to be what he insists on and maybe she's afraid of losing her job... I've stopped asking them to do basic research even if it's to just watch KO's show each evening... and they never did take up my idea of bringing on Rachel often to help balance their show... ;-)

KEEP giving us the real stuff, Keith and Rachel and Chuck Todd!

And keep on trucking David Schuster and Chris Matthews!

[Bluejay00234]

AGREED! Love David.

[HTN]

Well said!

Very well said, indeed!

[Kwamo]

Bet the majority of the naysayers are FAUX staff or Bill orally folks! Keith,,so MANY MORE of us like you!! That's my Special Comment!

[iggy06]

"How much Olberman is getting away with"? Are you friggin kidding me? For years now I've had to listen to the dozens of neocon radio and tv talking heads issue death threats and Olberman is bad?? Give me a break. From Michael Reagan discussing how Muslim babies should have grenades shoved up their rears, to Reagan telling his listeners to kill all 911 truthseekers, to the webmaster of informationclearinghouse.info and aztlan.net being threatened and stalked by neocons with agents actually threatening his wife and children, and on and on and on. There are literally a dozen websites that are packed with the daily lies we are told. And Olberman is bad for simply telling the real truth? This is FASCISM folks.Wake up! 40 percent of Female soldiers are raped? Did you know that? Georgia started the war with Russia by murdering 2000 civilians in one night of carnage..Did you know that? Of course not because our media is a complete joke. The US media makes the old Soviet Pravda look like kindergarten.

[foxfan]

Keith would be perfect for "The Daily Show", but he didn't think of it. Now he's just annoying. It's not even whether he's right or wrong anymore. His attitude is pompous and self important. He's just a left wing O'Reilly, someone he is obviously jealous of.

[DJ23]

I like Keith and Rachel.

[StephenJK]

You're one of the few. I'm as liberal as they come and their pomposity rooted in "intellectualism" is extremely hard to stomach. They are giving liberals a bad, real bad, name. It doesn't matter if they are right or wrong. What matters is their approach and delivery of their points. Both exhibit WAY too much self-importance in their opinions and it comes across as grating.

[ccpostman]

Define "rooted in intellectualism"

This will be real good!

Keith is NOT a Intellectualist, he used to be a frinkin sports caster! I suggest you don't watch him if you can't take his sharp witted delivery.

You sound like a closet Republican. You can come out of the closet it is 2008!

[JRA821]

Thank you! I agree totally. I don't think liberals are wrong in general and I even lean a little left myself at times. But I have listened to so many left extremists who try to drill their opinions into my head and all they do is come off as bullies who whine and act like petulant children. If you don't agree with them, then you have no business existing,.

[miladyfair]

C'mon. Aren't we making mountains out of molehills here?

I love KO and most of the MSNBC commentators and pundits. Yeah, they get on my nerves, but so what? What is all this pushback all of a sudden?

Also I saw a promo last night on MSNBC that said they beat Fixed Noise in the ratings. Is that not true? I'm not saying it is, but I don't have any proof that it isn't either.