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Jan-22-2011 03:52
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Keith Olbermann's Countdown Hits Zero Time
Tim King Salem-News.comOlbermann won't be missed by the right, however for progressive Americans he was a light in the darkness.
 Keith Olbermann |
(SALEM, Ore.) - One of the few in American media who has consistently challenged the status quo; Reporter and Commentator Keith Olbermann, is no longer with MSNBC.
He abruptly and surprisingly signed off to his viewers Friday night with a moving grand finale.
During the Bush years Olbermann was the only solace at times; seemingly the only dose of sanity you were likely to see from mainstream media any day of the week.
I suppose we should have always figured it would end this way. Those who rally for truth in this country often end up dead or discredited.
I'm glad this reporter will leave with his reputation more than intact.
Helen Thomas, the most respected and longstanding US reporter to cover American presidents and White House affairs, was almost immediately let go from her position for sharing her thoughts on Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine.
When we refer to Olbermann, we're talking about a guy who was unabashed, who was composed, eloquent and well versed, and also on his toes and in the know.
Criticism of the Bush AdministrationIn Olbermann's "Special Comment" segment on July 3, 2007, he called President George W. Bush's commutation of Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison sentence the "last straw" and called for the resignation of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. On his February 14, 2008 "Special Comments" segment, Olbermann castigated Bush for threatening to veto an extension of the Protect America Act unless it provided full immunity from lawsuits to telecom companies. During the same commentary, Olbermann called Bush a fascist. In a special comment on May 14, 2008, Olbermann criticized Bush for announcing that he had stopped playing golf in honor of American soldiers who died in the Iraq war. He stated that Bush never should have started the war in the first place, and he accused Bush of dishonesty and war crimes. |
It is likely that many are breathing a sigh of relief that this anomaly among national broadcasters was finally let go.
Keith Olbermann had two years left on his contract.
Neither he nor NBC are talking publicly yet about the surprising separation, though sources connected with the network told TMZ, "Comcast honchos did not like Keith's defiance and the way he played in the sandbox."
They pointed out that Keith had not just two remaining years on his contract, but that he made around $7 million a year.
TMZ addded, "We don't know if Comcast will let Keith make a deal with another network as part of an exit agreement, but it's a good bet he'll be benched for a minimum of 6 months, and probably longer."
We live in a time when stereotype right wing politicians like John McCain try to use the term 'political maverick' while he extols the wishy-washy militaristic thinking that favors big corporations and oppressive regimes that talk about 'smaller government' as they try to strip away a woman's right to choose and implement a 'homeland security' program designed to strip away a person's basic rights.
If you want to see a real political maverick, look at Keith Olbermann, he didn't walk in step with the brainless sheep, instead he brought the hard facts to us, and they are never fun or popular, but they must be relayed.
Keith, you should join us, I think we could change the world in online news with just a small fraction of your time. Bring Helen Thomas with you, and never stop working for the right causes, because the things you care about and the things we care about, greatly overlap.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Sources:
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann -- Fired By MSNBC TMZ
Keith Olbermann - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer
Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.
Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 65 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com
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Daniel January 26, 2011 5:23 pm (Pacific time)
Charlene or who ever you are today , If you read my posts I refer to all who get their new exclusively or mostly from the TV talking heads on all the mainstream networks . A truly informed person get their news from many sources , mostly by reading it and doing research behind the headline . Your whole post reads like gossip and false innuendo . Please if I wanted cheap shots I would listen to FOX , your inspiration .
Charlene January 26, 2011 9:18 am (Pacific time)
Daniel the demographic background on FOX network viewers is no doubt info you do not have. It seems from your posts that you think if people get their info in a different manner than you that they are being disinformed. To each their own I guess. Do you even know what congress is doing? There has been a power shift, and the Obama progressives are slip sliding away. Have you heard what the governor of Hawaii went on record about Obama recently? Be informed that he is a big booster of Obama, and has known him since he was a small boy. This revelation will give fodder to many groups, including state legislatures. Have you seen what Arizona did the other day? Read that in a history book...
Daniel January 25, 2011 4:40 pm (Pacific time)
Corrie I hate to tell you none of the network news show have value to the intelligent consumer . They do appeal to those with no understanding of history and limited education who need talking heads to fill up theirs . BTW Corrie Russia is no longer Communist as you posted on the China story . Maybe its time to stop watching and read a good history book . The intelligent progressive does not support talk shows on the left because they get their news from reading , the right are huge supporters of talk radio and fox news because it is their main source of information because they do not read much .
Corrie January 25, 2011 12:58 pm (Pacific time)
the cable news rating game, FOX News has the top 12 shows. So from a business perspective, I guess Olbermann could have been consideed the tallest midget in the room. Like Air America, it was in the tank commercially, but for propaganda purposes they kept funding it until it just could no longer grab any type of audience. MSNBC is essentially just kept alive because it still has some propaganda value, but it is sinking every day. America votes with their time and money, these kinds of programming have no big appeal to the intelligent consumers.
Editor: Don't worry, I believe it is a ship and that I can hear the band playing right now...
Daniel January 24, 2011 8:54 am (Pacific time)
Tim I agree with Robert s and scallywag , do progressive americans watch TV , I sure do not . I have seen Keith Olbermann a few times on youtube clips . I mostly agreed but found his presentation a bit melodramatic , kind of a Edward R Murrow light . Most of what he said was expanded upon in greater detail on Democracy Now without all the drama . I find all the mainstream news unwatchable from the glamor queens to raving clowns . More people on the right and left need to turn this crap off and start reading from multiple sources and maybe start thinking for yourself . .
scallywag January 22, 2011 10:50 pm (Pacific time)
In the end the media and its pundits will continue their game, beef up their cheering squad team and come up with the occasional human interest story while a comatose America sits home and wonders to itself why the country is going to the dogs and there is no one left to offer a subjective discussion, irrespective of idealogical dogma of what is actually going on in this nation, what it means and how we arrived at that moment.
Instead we will all be resigned to pointing fingers, applauding Hollywood stars who resemble action heroes with perfect haircuts and jawlines and the commiserating the continued liberties of this nation and those brave enough to inspire and engender said discussions. What a bloody shame.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/01/the-lynching-of-american-media-and-keith-olbermann/5/
Editor: Thanks for dropping by
Thomas January 22, 2011 10:26 am (Pacific time)
Another mono-focused, prejudicial individual gone.
Now all we need is Rush, Glenn Beck, Donahue, Matthews, and O'Reilly to follow, and maybe we can get back to intelligent, unbiased journalism.
Oh wait, we have to get rid of Katie and Diane, and try and find a Rather or Cronkite type again... Oh, but wait again.. Journalism schools no longer teach non biased reporting!
Editor: Media has gone to sides Thomas, the enemy of mainstream media is the truth. Olbermann spoke the truth, he was limited from the day he started because he spoke out against the greedy tactical practices of big corporate interests and the military industrial complex. I too would appreciate a media that stayed in the center but it isn't possible these days because those same interests try ti run everything. You are visiting one of the only truthful news groups that exists right now.
Robert S January 22, 2011 9:06 am (Pacific time)
"Olbermann won't be missed by the right, however for progressive Americans he was a light in the darkness."
This is a very sad statement. I need to ask: What exactly is a "progressive American" these days? Do progressive Americans actually watch TV?
Editor: If you need that explained you are wasting your time trying to figure it out.
I don't know who the hell this guy is - not having a TV. Am I really missing anything? I'm certainly not going to miss him.
"If you want to see a real political maverick, look at Keith Olbermann." Oh, please, get rid of your brain-numbing TV and get a life!
Editor: Robert, this is Salem-News.com, be insulting if you have to be but at least TRY to make sense. In conclusion I see you are a damned idiot.
NotoriousRambo January 22, 2011 12:46 pm (Pacific time)
I like watching Keith's show it is very informative and is very straight forward unlike Fox News which many of you foolishly watch even though you know you are being lied to makes me think of the war in Iraq a war started basically on lies and was proven so yet we continue to fight there JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I respect Keith's journalism so much that I got hooked onto his show i was flipping through the channels a year and a half ago seeing what all the major news networks are talking about off course Fox news just made me switch the channel right away then same thing happened with CNN but not as swift as fox I then turned to MSNBC watched the whole episode of "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" and was immediately hooked not only can I see the true sense of journalism from this guy I can also see what he was bringing to the show was the Truth something foxnews is the opposite of. I am very disappointed with Keith's decision cause hes one of the last few real journalists around that will tell it like it is much less so with Jon Stewart who although chooses the satirical route with his show yet he tell you the news without covering up the truth like foxnews yes foxnews. One thing that comes to mind that may be the reason for his sudden unfortunate departure might be the Gabrielle Gifford's shooting and the not surprising post response from our very patriotic politicians. I couldn't be more disgusted when Sarah Palin and the likes thereof acted like they had no accountability for what happened even though she proudly used terms like RELOAD! I can see why Keith might not want to be any part of such a corrupt and atrocious system of government where blame is passed onto each other instead of claiming accountability like Keith did and surprisingly John McCain. Although they are not directly responsible for the Arizona shooting they stood up and said something out of their hearts instead of their behinds like Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh have been doing. I wish Keith all the best kind of like how i did the same with Dan Rather who was also a journalist I had huge respects for its a shame how we just keep sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss where the truth is very hard to come by its all up to Jon Stewart Now.
Mary January 22, 2011 12:20 pm (Pacific time)
I'm so looking forward to where Mr. Olberman finds himself next.
Mike January 22, 2011 11:13 am (Pacific time)
Yes Tim, there is a Santa Claus! This wonderful surprise comes just days after FCC approved the NBC/Comcast merger. Perhaps this a sign of things to come at the traditionally left-wing cable news network? Oddly enough, I predicted two months ago, that within a week after Comcast taking over, Olberman would be gone. Now I realy know how Chris Matthews feels. I'm getting a tingle down my leg. Goodbye to a hack who had nothing to offer but the love of the sound of his own voice. Not to be harsh, but come on. This guy cannot justify the existence of his own show. Just because the blogosphere hangs onto his every word doesn't mean 99 percent of the rest of us could care less about what he had to say. The collective IQ of cable news just increased. Don't worry Keith, there's always YouTube. Considering shows like his, just like liberal radio programs, lose money, maybe you're now seeing business leaders taking over control from the propagandists. A new dawn in America began 11/2/10, and it is hopefully spreading. Listeners and viewers want facts, just look at how the scammers are losing market share and are losing advertisers, fading away. Even those like Soros are reducing their funding because of diminishing impact. Americans are wising up. Of course some never will.
Tim King: I disagree fully but glad you were able to celebrate...
The comcast merger January 22, 2011 10:44 am (Pacific time)
The merger is likely behind the issue of his separation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/comcastrophy-comcastnbc-m_b_810380.html
Editor: Thanks for adding this.
Luke Easter January 22, 2011 6:25 am (Pacific time)
BOLO Tim, because they want you too. As for the sandbox, is it not sand in order to create your own castle and not reside in someone elses? What was the real, "Factor" behind this? And I do mean, "Factor!" It's just like the big 3, axe the good programs and continue promoting crap.
Joey January 22, 2011 4:41 am (Pacific time)
By by MSMBC your off my TV
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