Injealetent and Keith Olbermann

Americans have been taught that they are supposed to have a range of views, but they are not being allowed that; Olbermann had been the exception.

Courtesy: CBS New York

(CLEVELAND / SALEM) - The loss of Keith Olbermann from the mainstream American airwaves was significant. In a nation of largely peaceful people who really don't support war as an ideal way of handling world problems, and who oppose unfair advantages for big business and low wages and adversity over religion and class structure; he was a lone voice.

It doesn't matter if you side with Olbermann's sentiments, the point is just that there is supposed to be balance.

The nation is and has been tipped heavily to the right in terms of loud sometimes obnoxious and demanding voices for years, and it continues to be.

Americans have been taught that they are supposed to have a range of views, but they are not being allowed that; Olbermann had been the exception.

Today more than ever, the networks are a product of big pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies. Welcome to America, the land of.... what was that again?
- intro by Tim King

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Injealetent and Keith Olbermann

What the heck’s this, searched Webster’s never seen or heard,
Okay, Incompetence and Jealousy combine to form this word,
A relentless barrage of interference from those who cannot do,
Their job & they are out to create obstacles so neither can you.

They only have primary characteristics the afore mentioned two,
And come hell or high water their only goal is not going through,
Because, if someone who knows what they’re doing ever gets in,
'Injealetent' are aware their next stop is the dreaded trash bin.

The most outlandish problems with the public sector of the U.S.?
It deprives the country of receiving leadership from the very best,
As elected officials will promote their family, lovers and friends,
Surely this is where the dirty deals and back door politics begins.

“Why Nothing Works” is a featured article by, William S. Lind,
He tells how the streetcar took you to work & back home again,
Truly those days are far beyond the nightmares of transit today,
Mechanical problems & route cuts leave cabs as the only way.

Supposedly there is factual evidence that 911 was an inside job,
From our political arena & not someone connected to the Mob,
The ability to do the job in today’s world makes you a liability,
This only adds to the chaos-energized confusion of the mystery.

Woe be unto the person who actually works eight hours a day,
As anyone who actually does a good job has gotten in the way,
Standards for performance are higher along with accountability,
Not to promote but whom to fire is what they are looking to see.

Bill’s right, back in the day people were rewarded not dismissed,
Good workers received a pat on the back, sometimes even a kiss,
You’d better be careful how you market your interpersonal skills,
The diagnosis is a terminal one as it’s a loosing, battle of the wills.

All jobs should be like the game of football and their quarterback,
If you always throw interceptions or fumble the ball under attack,
Performance, statistics & results are criteria positioning who will,
It should be like General Patton, “I’ll relieve them of duty until…”

Does anyone need an example? Okay, this is how it would be,
Investigate that fiasco between Keith Olbermann and MSNBC,
One of a handful who, “consistently” challenged the status quo,
Speaking justice this reporter & commentator had to be let go.

I can still remember his early days on Sports Center at ESPN,
That smirk of confidence via his knowledge the smile, his grin,
He could take a simple single and turn it into the greatest play,
Others tried to accomplish, for him it always came out that way.

Isn’t it amazing that a guy with this talent then again maybe not,
Could be cool as a cucumber discussing topics so politically hot,
Had Keith been the kind of guy to fear adversity and back down,
Not rock the boat, surely he and his show would still be around.

Keith led the rally for truth, our only solace against George Bush,
Unabashed, composed, eloquent, well versed, not afraid to push,
The sigh of relief among broadcasters, this guy was finally let go,
Relax, no more looking over the shoulder standing on their toes.

Neither Olbermann nor NBC are talking publicly yet and rightly so,
Because one wrong word, a law suit, he can forget another show,
Allegedly Comcast didn’t like the way he built castles in the sand,
Since his house wasn’t built on their foundation it could not stand.

This Keith guy was a real Maverick in the arena of talk show lore,
When everyone succumbed to pressure, “K.O.” would give more,
A knock out punch he know would get him thrown out of the ring,
So if he ever had a chance to do it over again? Same damn thing.

So, there you have it, those two words in action, prime example,
And unfortunately this incident is just one of too many samples,
As the hard facts are never fun or popular they must be relayed,
Taking back my basketball, by my rules only the game is played.

Now is it any wonder the system starting from the top is corrupt?
Until the jealous & incompetent are removed they will keep it up,
It goes way beyond the, “The Peter Principle” which has an end,
Only complete personnel replacements allows, change to begin.

Now forget all the rigmarole, how well you performed in the past,
Only what is completed today will make an impression that lasts,
I’ve come up with many combinations of words I’d like to invent,
None have even come close to the creative genius, “Injealetent.”

By Luke Easter & Tim King

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com

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