Ace of Spades HQ

September 07, 2008

Drudge: MSNBC Relieves Olbermann and Matthews of Anchor Duties for Debates and Election
— Ace

I said "Drudge." What, you want a link?

Yeah.

You know the Godfather post I put up today?

Right. That.

Not a huge deal, as they really can't influence the vote on election night (well, I suppose a little). They've boosted Obama as much as they can.

Still, it's a nice little slapping down and a nice black eye for MSNBC. Chrissy and Bathtub Boy don't get to sit in the Big Boy Chairs anymore. Back to the kiddie table.

They covered things straight and down the middle? Riiiiiight. That's why Olbermann had to be taken of off convention duty, and both men have now been stripped of anchor duties.

Did I Say "Strippped"? Olbermann, polluting Football Night in America, made a "joke" that made no sense today. Narrating a pass interference call in the end zone, he said, "Pass interference? It was like he stripped his pants off... Stripped? I'm sorry, that's a poor word choice."

Quite frankly, it having made no sense at all but having been delivered with that knowing "This is code for my DKos peeps" tone of his, I wondered if there was some "SARAH PALIN WAS A STRIPPER!!!111!!11!" story on Kos he was alluding to (I don't see one on the front page).

Now I wonder if this is some kind of idiotic joke only he gets about being stripped of his role. Like he got into a fight over this, and said "You're stripping me of the anchor duties?," and management said "Stripping is the wrong word."

I know you think I'm crazy, but if you saw it, Olbermann's "joke" made no sense on its own and strongly smelled of a missing backstory.

Duh, I'm a Moron: MattM. slaps me with the moron-bat. The play involved Adam "Pacman" Jones. It was merely a reference to his having been arrested at a strip club. God, if I didn't already know I was such a fucking moron, I'd be feeling pretty stupid right about now.

Is This the Reason? Claim: MSNBC Rigged Questions at Supposedly Random Town-Hall Style Q&A.

Thanks to CJ. Darn, I wanted to link that for two days.

More: at Texas Rainmaker.

Brave Sir Bathtub Boy: Some small stuff here, like Brokaw finding it "increasingly difficult" to defend MSNBC from charges of unbridled partisanship.

But this should most dent Keef Murrow-Olbermann's self-created image as Hero of the Fightin' Netroots:

Some staff members said the tension led to the networks decision to keep Mr. Olbermann in New York for the Republican convention, after he ran the desk in Denver during the Democratic convention. MSNBC said that he stayed in New York to anchor coverage of Hurricane Gustav. But some workers say there were other reasons namely, that Mr. Olbermann was concerned about his safety in St. Paul, given the loud crowds at MSNBCs set in Denver.

Posted by: Ace at 06:10 PM | Comments (120)
Post contains 513 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Time to start the Countdown to Olbermann's job ending blow up.

I say before the election.

Hey, I'm an optimist.

Posted by: DrewM. at September 07, 2008 04:44 PM (hlYel)

2 MSNBC managed to find someone with even less dignity to replace them : David Gregory.

Well, maybe not less. But he'll give the Dynamic Duo a run for their money.

Posted by: Z Ryan at September 07, 2008 04:45 PM (PDeVA)

3 I'd dip my balls in that but they haven't dropped since Wednesday. They sent me a note stating: "Leave us alone!"

Posted by: runninrebel at September 07, 2008 04:45 PM (qAMnO)

4 It was only going to get worse in the coming weeks. That woulda been pretty good for us, really, to counter all the stupid Faux News shit, which is bullshit.

But, damage done to the NBC News brand, I suppose, which is nice.

Posted by: Bart at September 07, 2008 04:45 PM (h66Dm)

5 If MSNBC really wanted ratings they would put them both in a cage match and tell them the last one standing gets the slot. Fuck I would buy the PPV to see that shit right there.

K

Posted by: Kestrel at September 07, 2008 04:46 PM (gBnKJ)

6 The best thing that could ever happen to Olbermann's career is if McCain and Palin win. Then he'd have something to rant about with new and increasingly weirder conspiracy theories every night. Think of the ratings! Where else could 30 million or so mentally unbalnced voters go for solace?

Yup, Keith will be pulling that lever for John McCain this November. It's his only chance to keep his job now.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at September 07, 2008 04:48 PM (CEU6j)

7 One week ago, Palin looked like a potential problem, lbermann/Mathews were collectively caressing Obama's schlong while on the air and Andy was pushing trutheresque theories about a downs syndrome baby.

Today, Palin is the star of the GOP, Olbermann/Mathews have collectively been given a backand and Andy is still pushing trutheresque theories about a downs syndrome baby.

Posted by: RW at September 07, 2008 04:48 PM (IirzJ)

8 Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha Too late, assholes. You guys hired Olbermann in the first place. He was never respectable. He never had any insight or good questions. Matthews? I don't know. Did he ever have integrity? Man, it sucks that the good guys -- Tony Snow and Tim Russert --are gone. If they were still around, the lowness of Chrissy and Olber-whatever would be too painfully obvious. Who are their foils? I don't see much integrity in the MSM. And they wonder why their profits are going underground

Posted by: meep at September 07, 2008 04:48 PM (7uTCa)

Oh no...that'll be the end of us all. It will backfire...mark my words.

Unless nobody really gives a crap about those two hate-mongers. Which might be true. I certainly don't.

Posted by: connertown at September 07, 2008 04:49 PM (L+VQk)

10 Geez, must gonna be a really active hurricane season.

Next up: Andrew

Posted by: Dan Collins at September 07, 2008 04:49 PM (SohFK)

11 Wait! The best part is yet to come: Olberman's & Matthews reaction.

How will they respond?
a) Make believe it never happened
b) Say that rightwing Drudge is a liar and doesn't know what he's talking about
c) Admit their shameful behavior and apologize

Olberman will be on the NBC Sports halftime report in about 1 minute. Let's look to see sorrow and embarrassment on his face!

Posted by: Bart at September 07, 2008 04:50 PM (h66Dm)

12 The baby pulled a hat trick: NYT, bounce, and cleaned house.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 04:50 PM (7PWvE)

13 Ain't KARMA a bitch! Wonder who put a bug in GE's ear, 'cause it sure didn't come from INSIDE NBC or MSNBC.........................

Posted by: GarandFan at September 07, 2008 04:50 PM (HLrE4)

In addition to the new polling data, I think the MSM tide shift regarding Palin might also have a bit to do with this, where they get SLAMMED by the European press.

Neil Cohen of the UK Guardian calls them Berserkers!!!

Posted by: fake glasses nose and mustache at September 07, 2008 04:50 PM (0XpI7)

15 "stripped of . . ." is not good enough for me. "Fired" would be closer. Castrated would be good, but it is obvious neither actually had any balls to start with. If PMSNBC ever wants me for a viewer again they are going to have to go with "burned at the stake."

Posted by: jc at September 07, 2008 04:50 PM (E9BMW)

16 Personally, I think the best thing to do with those guys would be embed them with paratroopers in Afghanistan.

Posted by: Dan Collins at September 07, 2008 04:51 PM (SohFK)

17 What a week! What a motherfuckingly awesome week!

Posted by: Tushar at September 07, 2008 04:51 PM (PTWes)

18 Gregory is another little smirking piece of shit who thinks he should be IN the debate and not moderating it.

Posted by: PoconoJoe at September 07, 2008 04:53 PM (e7o2T)

19 S. Claus:

Fast work. In the future please notify our shipping department of early deliveries.

Regards.

Posted by: apotheosis at September 07, 2008 04:54 PM (xWk3U)

20 I don't understand this Drudge talk. Did AoS get linked on Drudge?

Posted by: Tushar at September 07, 2008 04:55 PM (PTWes)

21 The best thing that could ever happen to Olbermann's career is if McCain and Palin win.

Sean, you're right. I was thinking about this the other day. If Obama wins, what's MSNCB going to do now that they've moved far left and been unabashed supporters of Obama? The only thing they can do with the people they have is to become cheerleaders of an Obama administration, which would spell doom for the NBC News brand.

Becoming a leftwing newsite was a ratings gimmick that kinda worked for MSNBC. But they know that they can't keep that crap up and last in the news/tv ratings game. Liberal tv and radio are ratings failures, even more so between presidential elections.

Posted by: Bart at September 07, 2008 04:57 PM (h66Dm)

22 No, I just meant I wasn't going to bother typing in a link for drudge when everyone knows how to find Drudge.

Posted by: ace at September 07, 2008 04:58 PM (1WR4H)

23 Olbermann looks embarrassed on the halftime show.

Posted by: Rachel Maddow at September 07, 2008 04:59 PM (xFNQx)

24 Ace, please have some rest. And Cheetos is not technically food.

Posted by: Tushar at September 07, 2008 05:00 PM (PTWes)

25 Stupid sockpuppet!

Yeah, he looks embarrassed and a little wistful. I wonder if he's thinking about resigning.

Posted by: Kensington at September 07, 2008 05:00 PM (xFNQx)

26 I just turned off the football game because Olberdouche came on. There has to be an advertiser somewhere who gets it.

Posted by: jc at September 07, 2008 05:01 PM (E9BMW)

27 And I say GOOD RIDDANCE!

Posted by: Ack at September 07, 2008 05:03 PM (qhAlm)

28 I think this is how Col. Kurtz got started.

Stop and walk away while you still can.

Posted by: AD at September 07, 2008 05:06 PM (PeYVg)

29 HE'S GETTING HIS ICK ON MY BEARS! MAKE IT STOP FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S UNHOLY MAKE IT STOP!

Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't have had that last espresso.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 05:06 PM (ByYTn)

30 Didn't see it but I imagine Olby was talking about the pass interference call against Pacman Jones today, who has had some "trouble" with strippers. Either way he's a tool.

Posted by: Jeremy at September 07, 2008 05:08 PM (4YQKs)

31 Sunday night football is great, except for the pre game and half time use of the Olberdork. And since this will soon be his only gig...

Posted by: jimmytheleg at September 07, 2008 05:09 PM (PvG5E)

32 And Cheetos is not technically food.

Blasphemy!

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 05:09 PM (ByYTn)

33 alexthechick,

I thought you were a Browns fan.

Posted by: DrewM. at September 07, 2008 05:10 PM (hlYel)

34 I checked huffpo - nada. No poll numbers, no olby/chrissy got axed. Still trashing Trig.

Checked DUmmies- a mention of earlier poll number; no mention of the msnbc massacre.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 05:11 PM (7PWvE)

His "stripped" remark was at his superiors over his demotion.

Keefe has always burned his bridges due to his gigantic ego- an on air shot at them would be entirely in character.-heh!

I guess that whole "Murrow" thing kinda hit a pothole, eh boy?

Posted by: jjshaka at September 07, 2008 05:14 PM (wWGhQ)

MSNBC is covering their tail.

Is it coincidence that this news was announced on the same day McCain got an upper hand in the polls? I personally don't think so, and I'm not a conspiracy kind of person.

Can you imagine Matthews' and Olberman's behavior on Election night should McCain win? The Freak-Out would go down as the most embarrassing, violent, and histrionic moment in television broadcast history. That probably wouldn't be a good thing for a station that continues to try (and fail) to pass itself off as serious news.

Anyway, I'm disappointed. I would have wanted to watch the two of them as the results came in just to see the Turd Sandwich expressions progressively sour throughout the evening.

Posted by: Barbelle at September 07, 2008 05:15 PM (qF8q3)

37 They did their damage, now they'll get reassigned to another hot spot, Like Fairbanks.

Posted by: Wilhelm Klink at September 07, 2008 05:15 PM (GGhvX)

38 Now it's a NYT link at Drudge!

Posted by: Bart at September 07, 2008 05:15 PM (h66Dm)

39 Does incendiary mean leftwing shills? If so, I understand the NYT piece.

Posted by: Bart at September 07, 2008 05:17 PM (h66Dm)

40 Recheck the Drudge link, folks...now links to a NYT piece confirming the move.

Stick to sports, Keith. If you suck there, you don't damage anything.

Posted by: NoTheOtherOne at September 07, 2008 05:17 PM (ryrCE)

41 I just saw idiot Geraldo. Palin "owes the american people" to learn about her.

Maybe. but she doesn't owe the media one damn thing.

I caught this other guy telling wallace the same: she'll come out on her own terms and her own time.

She owns the media.

Posted by: kat-missouri at September 07, 2008 05:21 PM (io+Si)

42 Two brothers, sons of the peacock
in haste of wrath, desks depart
seek a golden nest
amid the lofty air of america

Posted by: nostradamus at September 07, 2008 05:21 PM (evdj2)

43 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 05:25 PM (7PWvE)

44 Hey... just remember... MSNBC... the place for politics.... bhwaaaaa! LOL

Posted by: Bobaloo at September 07, 2008 05:26 PM (CoOYX)

45 Mathews and Olberman gone, oh my god......... LOOKS LIKE DA WHEEL'S BE STARTIN COMMIN OFF BARACK'S ESCALADE!!!

Posted by: Steve at September 07, 2008 05:28 PM (hxdNN)

46 Oh, you have to fucking read the NYT article:

Some staff members said the tension led to the networks decision to keep Mr. Olbermann in New York for the Republican convention, after he ran the desk in Denver during the Democratic convention. MSNBC said that he stayed in New York to anchor coverage of Hurricane Gustav. But some workers say there were other reasons namely, that Mr. Olbermann was concerned about his safety in St. Paul, given the loud crowds at MSNBCs set in Denver.

That's right: he's a pussy.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 05:30 PM (7PWvE)

47 BWHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Sarah Palin killed MSNBC. Apparently all those chants of N-B-C after the media line in her speech embarrassed the hell out of them. It was viewed by over 40 million people.

This night has been awesome.

I am giddy.

Posted by: Stormy70 at September 07, 2008 05:31 PM (Y+o71)

48 They went gunnin' for Sarah. They came home in a box.

Posted by: Stinky Esposito at September 07, 2008 05:32 PM (MMC8r)

49 I thought you were a Browns fan.

I am a Browns fan but I had an uncle who played for the Bears so I'm still loyal.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 05:33 PM (ByYTn)

50 I've seen better content in colostomy bags than on MS/NBC. At this point, the networks either shed the other two thirds of Andy's circle jerks or claim the coverage on the (d)On(c)es campaign finance tally sheets.

These people are making me reconsider my stance on late term abortions except it'll be easier - their brains have long since been sucked out.

Posted by: Brian at September 07, 2008 05:35 PM (6CDOn)

51 Two mules for Gov. Sarah- appearing in a theatre soon.

Posted by: jjshaka at September 07, 2008 05:35 PM (wWGhQ)

52 Palin (1) Community Organizer (0)

Posted by: BOB at September 07, 2008 05:36 PM (hxdNN)

Bad news this.

The substitution of Gregory is less one of substance than of style. He is slightly better at hiding his bias, in the way that Cronkite was the master.

We have now begun to measure the convention bump, and the Palin backfire, and even the left could not fail to notice. They will switch off Palin and go after McCain on the economy, like the ad currently playing. The McCain campaign must be saving oil drilling for later.

The tough part begins: Obama will outspend McCain 3 to 1 from here on, not to mention Soros.

Only the ground game of the Republicans can make a difference. To that end I vow to spend a couple of days a week for McCain/Palin.

Regulars know that I have had little good to say of McCain, but his moves to the right, and Palin, have moved me to his side. A win this time would put Palin as the centerpiece of the party for a generation.

Posted by: Robert at September 07, 2008 05:36 PM (Rb4Qc)

54 Executives at the channels parent company, NBC Universal, had high hopes for MSNBCs coverage of the political conventions. Instead, the coverage frequently descended into on-air squabbles between the anchors, embarrassing some workers at NBCs news division, and quite possibly alienating viewers. Although MSNBC nearly doubled its total audience compared with the 2004 conventions, its competitive position did not improve, as it remained in last place among the broadcast and cable news networks. In prime time, the channel averaged 2.2 million viewers during the Democratic convention and 1.7 million viewers during the Republican convention. It's not working.

Posted by: topsecretk9 at September 07, 2008 05:37 PM (Om2yS)

55 Hahaha. He got in trouble for his 9/11 tape criticism.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 05:39 PM (7PWvE)

56 hmm, more marching orders from Obama HQ? night of the long knives indeed.

Posted by: george at September 07, 2008 05:39 PM (lgBl5)

57 I had an uncle who played for the Bears so I'm still loyal.

Jim McMahon! Please tell me it was Jim McMahon.

Posted by: DrewM. at September 07, 2008 05:39 PM (hlYel)

58 How does my ass taste Bathtub Boy?

Posted by: Tom Brokaw at September 07, 2008 05:39 PM (qAMnO)

59 KRYMB

Posted by: Jones in CO at September 07, 2008 05:40 PM (KOkrW)

60 Jim McMahon! Please tell me it was Jim McMahon.

It was Jim McMahon. Okay, no, it wasn't, but that would be totally kick ass. He did play for Halas though.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 05:42 PM (ByYTn)

61 I got a better one, and according to my sources, Drudge and the N-Enquirer is hot on it's trail..... Imagine, grainy live footage of Barack & Michelle clapping while the Brother Rev Jeremiah Wright declares WAR on those dirty nasty WHITE CRACKERS. But I ma told you can still make both of them out in the video.. And BHO's hiphop homeboy spilled the beans about one of his HOEDOWN'S he had, guess who was there and not in his official capacity as Community Organizer. Word on the street is that Kwame served him up like a bowl of black eye pea's to prosecutor's...

Posted by: BOB at September 07, 2008 05:42 PM (hxdNN)

Looks like the only people who watch Keefe and Chrissy are people like us, who only watch so we can make fun of them at places like this.

But take heart. Starting Monday the lovely Rachel Maddow debuts her new show immediately following Keefe on MSNBC.

Looks like Don Fowler was wrong.

Posted by: SlaveDog at September 07, 2008 05:43 PM (6Gy0q)

A couple of weeks ago, Fox News ownership sat down with Obama and made a truce. I cant remember the website that dove into it but it led directly to Obama going on Oreilly. Supposedly they were concerned about an Obama Administration and wanted to make nice and when he met with them he laid into them about the "smears".

With the polls moving, I see that management and ownership at NBC is seeing the same thing Fox News <about polls now moving>did and is trying to curry favor. But it REALLY seems like a hatchet job by someone at the McCain leadership that told NBC they will be screwed for the next 4 years if they dont shelve Olbermann and Matthews for the general.

I mean damn, no press passes. No white house interviews.

Dead in the water.

Posted by: Iwillnotsubmit at September 07, 2008 05:43 PM (iyoYC)

I think this is Tom Brokaw getting the ear of someone higher up and convincing them they better put on the brakes before Olberdouchenozzle drives the whole shebang off the cliff.

Brokaw may save the network, and probably thinks to himself 'I'm glad Tim isn't here to see this'.

Posted by: Jones in CO at September 07, 2008 05:44 PM (KOkrW)

65
"I am a Browns fan but I had an uncle who played for the Bears so I'm still loyal."

alex, I'm sure you don't want to say who, because that would blow your cover. But ... offense or defense? I'm guessing defense: the Bears offense has always sucked (excepting Walter Payton, of course).

Posted by: Brown Line at September 07, 2008 05:44 PM (OMiLl)

66 Guess they'll have to re-edit their "MSBNC - The Place for Politics" ad. You know, the one that had Keith on the screen all by himself, then two more screens with 4 pics each of all the rest of the underlings, like Brokaw and Matthews.

I wonder who had the final approval on that ode to Olberdouche's ego?

Posted by: wiserbud at September 07, 2008 05:45 PM (EW49d)

The funny thing is ... now their ratings are really going to tank. There's no reason whatsoever for anyone to watch MSNBC. Hell, a fair part of their viewership during the conventions was probably conservatives like those here ... looking to get outraged, make fun of them, etc. Others may have been watching for the trainwreck aspect.

And, of course, the bulk of their watchers are the completely insane partisans like those at DU, DKos etc., who will be very pissed off by this move. From a respectability standpoint, yeah, this makes sense. From a business standpoint, they should have come out of the closet, admitted their bias, and turned it up to 12 (it was already at 11).

Posted by: Hermit Dave at September 07, 2008 05:46 PM (WhFvm)

68 Back to the kiddie table! Bwahahahahaha, ha!

So no one will clean up Matthews piss puddles any more?
Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Gomer Olbermann's sent on backyard poop duty.

It's two birds with one stone. Pebble Palin.

^{This
day will the Lord deliver you into my hand. And I will strike you down,
and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of
the MSM Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild
beasts of the earth.}

(self to navigate festina lente)

Posted by: maverick muse at September 07, 2008 05:52 PM (F1b/5)

69 Listening to reporters bashing Matthews and Olbermann for being too in the tank for Obama. Said it was more an economic decision after these last polls came out. Didn't think anyone would watch msnbc because of bias. Advise to Obama was to get off the subject of Palin. So, yeah, I think the instructions went out.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 05:59 PM (7PWvE)

Campaign Spot has excepts from the Times story:

synopsis: the wheels are coming off at NBC

Posted by: Jones in CO at September 07, 2008 05:59 PM (KOkrW)

71 In interviews, 10 current and former staff members said that long-simmering tensions between MSNBC and NBC reached a boiling point during the conventions. MSNBC is behaving like a heroin addict, one senior staff member observed. Theyre living from fix to fix and swearing theyll go into rehab the next week....

Posted by: Jones in CO at September 07, 2008 06:00 PM (KOkrW)

72 Yup, he played defense. And this was back in the day, he played under Halas and was actually pretty famous.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 06:01 PM (ByYTn)

Alex, do you have an Uncle Butkus?

Posted by: Jones in CO at September 07, 2008 06:03 PM (KOkrW)

74 Hahaha. More and more reporters blabbing now about how much they dislike Olbermann and Matthews, especially Olbermann.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 06:11 PM (7PWvE)

75 Alex, do you have an Uncle Butkus?

While that would be uberkickass, sadly, no.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 06:12 PM (ByYTn)

76 I'll bet Keef is as mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore.

Posted by: Stinky Esposito at September 07, 2008 06:14 PM (MMC8r)

77 Maverick Muse: "So no one will clean up Matthews piss puddles any more?"

Put it this way Muse: MSNBC janitors just installed a drain on the floor of Chrissy's studio.

In the meantime though, it really was a shame Olbermann didn't go to the convention. I would have loved to see the delegates play Keep Away with his toupee.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 07, 2008 06:16 PM (RVqgr)

78 Reporter laughing about Olbermann's response to Palin's speech: She knocks it out of the park and Olby's response is, "well, it's okay if you like that thing." Said it was too much and an embarassement to the network.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 06:16 PM (7PWvE)

79 This didn't get any traction?

Sarah's still two under her limit

Posted by: JavaJoe at September 07, 2008 06:16 PM (Am6n/)

80 What did he think would happen, he'd be dragged down by the delegates and flogged? Brave Sir Keef indeed.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 06:18 PM (ByYTn)

Some staff members said the tension led to the networks decision to keep Mr. Olbermann in New York for the Republican convention, after he ran the desk in Denver during the Democratic convention. MSNBC said that he stayed in New York to anchor coverage of Hurricane Gustav. But some workers say there were other reasons namely, that Mr. Olbermann was concerned about his safety in St. Paul, given the loud crowds at MSNBCs set in Denver.

Olby should have been scared. After all, the lefty protestors dumped bleach on other old ladies in Minneapolis.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/09/leftist-protesters-attack-rnc-delegates.html

Posted by: Tim at September 07, 2008 06:20 PM (3Wewy)

82 Word is, that the campaign staff at the Eagle's Nest (Obama HQ's) was not to happy when there minyan's called to say that there Liason's at MSNBC had been AX'd....

Posted by: Ted at September 07, 2008 06:20 PM (hxdNN)

83 I'm thinking now's a good time to start donating to the Republicans. Fred PAC's sounding like a good plan.

Posted by: Ack at September 07, 2008 06:21 PM (qhAlm)

>Alex, do you have an Uncle Butkus?

While that would be uberkickass, sadly, no.

Ah, don't say sadly! If the man played for Papa Halas, that is old school NFL awesomeness.

Posted by: Jones in CO at September 07, 2008 06:21 PM (KOkrW)

85 Hmmm, played for Halas, alex? As in, Halas was the actual coach of the team? Halas coached his last season in 1967. Of course, he owned the team for a good bit after that .... need ... more ...clues.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at September 07, 2008 06:22 PM (WhFvm)

86 I think the "stripped" lunacy was Olberdork's inside joke about Sarah field stripping a moose. Yeah, I know. But I bet Keef doesn't.

Posted by: Reiver at September 07, 2008 06:22 PM (s7h/P)

87 I'm so happy.

<sigh> How long till the nutroots start screaming CENSORSHIP! FASCISTS! CHIMPYHITLERBU... oh, wait. Never mind.

Posted by: Rebecca at September 07, 2008 06:30 PM (NL+2l)

Mr. Olbermann was concerned about his safety in St. Paul, given the loud crowds at MSNBCs set in Denver.

He knew Sarahcuda would gut him like a steelhead and smile while she was doing it!

Posted by: robtr at September 07, 2008 06:31 PM (C6ME0)

89 Olberman should have been more scared about going to the Dem convention. He was sucking Obambi's cock so hard, he could have created a black hole and fallen into it.

Posted by: Hermit Dave at September 07, 2008 06:35 PM (WhFvm)

90 I waded into DU. They are going crazy over the msnbc news and not so much about the poll results. The reporters I was referring to early, pointed out that Obama was getting so much help by Matthews and Olbermann that he now has a problem.

Posted by: grc at September 07, 2008 06:42 PM (7PWvE)

91 This is the Mainstream Media throwing MSNBC under the bus. They think somehow this fixes the whole "bias" problem. Yeah, we admit MSNBC went too far, but all the rest of us are straight down the middle, baby!

Posted by: EnochF at September 07, 2008 06:50 PM (pTwSc)

92 Hurricane Sarah (now, category seven!) claims another victim, baby.

This is the storm of the century, and we've not even reached the peak of the tidal surge yet.

When it's finally over, all you'll find will be a few dazed survivors (read journalists) clinging to pieces of random flotsam, like the Sunday Book Review and what's left of Mother Jones.

Posted by: DelD at September 07, 2008 06:55 PM (FDAHM)

93 At least those two cocksuckers didn't get fired.

Posted by: Dan Rather & Mary Mapes at September 07, 2008 06:58 PM (EbR5o)

94

92 DelD wrote, "Hurricane Sarah (now, category seven!) claims another victim, baby.

This is the storm of the century, and we've not even reached the peak of the tidal surge yet.

When it's finally over, all you'll find will be a few dazed survivors (read journalists) clinging to pieces of random flotsam, like the Sunday Book Review and what's left of Mother Jones.

LOL!

Posted by: Looking Glass at September 07, 2008 07:02 PM (/j9WY)

95 Ace -

Olby is a tool - but I'm pretty sure he was referring to Pac Man Jones, who has had some problems in strip clubs in his career. Make it rain.

Posted by: Scott Martin at September 07, 2008 07:15 PM (D2ZFC)

# 53 Obama will outspend McCain 3 to 1 from here on

Don't be so sure. Check out this analysis at Patterico's site.

Posted by: sauropod at September 07, 2008 07:17 PM (J9J4M)

97 MediaMatters has been another one of Olby's defenders over the years. How long before they and Kos issue an "important action alert" to try to swarm 30 Rock and get KO back doing election and debate coverage?

Posted by: eddiebear at September 07, 2008 07:32 PM (IKBsn)

First there was Sarah!

Then 54-44!

Oprah's audience in uproar!

Mathews and Olby "transferred"!

Obama desperate as shit!

I'm beating it like Megyn Kelly smacking an US magazine reporter!

Posted by: teransolo at September 07, 2008 07:35 PM (biGgj)

You know what this means, right? - Sarah Palin is a one woman Surge.

...and once again, McCain saw it, right from the beginning.

Posted by: davis,br at September 07, 2008 07:36 PM (zewwG)

100

Ace,

#30 & #95 have got it right. Olberfool was talking about Pacman Jones comitting pass interference and "stripping" the guy. An oh, so clever reference to Pacman's strip club predilictions.

Posted by: AxL at September 07, 2008 07:36 PM (ol5nV)

101 It just hit me:

Brian Stelter wrote the NYT story. He used to work at that TVNewser site, and was a one-man PR machine for Olbermann over there. What a surprise he gets to write this story.

Posted by: eddiebear at September 07, 2008 07:40 PM (IKBsn)

102 Andrea Mitchell: Yesssss! I'm finally going to get a seat at the big-boy table!

Posted by: azlibertarian at September 07, 2008 08:05 PM (LHg/U)

103 Alex - I'm gonna guess that your uncle was the late, great Bill George (from my Dad's hometown of Waynesburg PA). And I'm a Browns fan, too, and we suffer.

Posted by: TimMI at September 07, 2008 08:09 PM (7DS5N)

104 Alex - I'm gonna guess that your uncle was the late, great Bill George

I can neither confirm nor deny.

The thing about the Browns is that there's hope, there's a decent roster in place. And there were flashes of excellence today. Then they ripped my heart from my chest and jumped up and down on it.

Posted by: alexthechick at September 07, 2008 08:23 PM (ByYTn)

105 One or both of these nutsacks will soon show up on CNN. You can take that to the bank.

Posted by: Anthony Baretta at September 07, 2008 08:52 PM (X7Ey1)

106

It would not shock me in the least if fucking CBS picked Chrissy to take Russerts job.

Brokaw is fucking GOD AWFUL. Dull, stupid, dry, dull, and lame. The speech impediment thing too.

Posted by: Mr. Happy at September 07, 2008 08:54 PM (/YM8H)

107 What - we won't be able to see any more cockslapping between these two little bitches....WAAAAAA FUCKING WAAAAAAAAA!

Someone at GE needs to pull the fucking plug on PMSNBC for good.

Posted by: Eeyore's Swinging Sack at September 07, 2008 08:56 PM (FmHHv)

108 Finally, even MSNBC has seen the light and now knows that Olbermann is a cocksucker.

Posted by: Hammer at September 07, 2008 08:56 PM (QtO87)

109 Thanks for clueing me in about the strip joke.

What a buffoon I am sometimes.

I am, however, incredibly sick. I have this rapid-fire powerful sneezing thing going.

This may partially explain how stupid I am.

I have the strength of ten men -- but only ten men.

Posted by: ace at September 07, 2008 09:02 PM (1WR4H)

110 Is this a strategy by Biden? To tack to the right while Obama does nothing? He keeps complimenting Palin and McCain and saying things like this at the same time...

Posted by: DoDoGuRu at September 08, 2008 12:23 AM (xBkZj)

111 dammit, wrong thread.

Posted by: DoDoGuRu at September 08, 2008 12:24 AM (xBkZj)

112

#96 Sauropod,

Thanks for the info on cash on hand. After your comment, I did some checking around and read your link.

Okay, I withdraw the 3 to 1, but paterico's analysis seems to be just as flawed as mine. Not much info exists because the campaigns and committees have not reported yet. Paterico added McCain's 84 million from the government to 120 million RNC, to get his 200 million. The 120 is the GOAL not the actual, and not yet reached. Since this is the goal for a long period, it is questionable if the RNC will raise paterico's estimate of another 100 million over the GOAL.

He estimates the Obama cash on hand fairly low compared to others who have it as high as 200 million plus the DNC which will be below RNC, perhaps 90 million. Obama can be expected to continue to raise funds which McCain cannot, probably for another 150 million or so.

As I said, this does not include the 527'a and Soros, who threw in a total of 150 million or so in the last election cycle.

This might put Obama and DNC (+Soros) as high as 500 million to McCain and RNC at, say, 250 million, now 'till then.

Who knows? Palin may have changed it, but it looks like the Democrats will again significantly outspend the Republicans as they have for at least the last 20 years.

Maybe 2 to 1 might have been a better guess.

Posted by: Robert at September 08, 2008 02:17 AM (Rb4Qc)

113 Is there a bag limit on media douchbags?

Posted by: Sarah Palin at September 08, 2008 04:41 AM (6L459)

114 About Olby Wan being "a-scared" ... he might have good reason to be scared just a little.

I won't say who but I know someone who would love a few minutes alone with Olby Wan. A set of brass knuckles would be nice to have but entirely optional.

No use pestering me, I refuse to divulge the identify of this bitter, clingy person.

Posted by: prairiemain at September 08, 2008 04:48 AM (uDqa7)

115 Hilarious. Keith Olbermann can't go to St. Paul because he's scared of the big crowds. Meanwhile, petite Michelle Malkin goes to Denver and mingles smack dab in the middle of the street with the protesters while they chant death threats at her.

Posted by: Zuke at September 08, 2008 05:02 AM (8X9tr)

116

#53:

The McCain campaign must be saving oil drilling for later.

Actually McCain is running an ad here in Ohio that gets on Obama for not supporting offshore drilling. They show him onscreen with Harry Reid (the picture of Reid they use makes Reid look like a less-handsome version of Gollum).

Posted by: Bud Norton at September 08, 2008 05:14 AM (6cOMd)

117 "This is the Mainstream Media throwing MSNBC under the bus."

Interesting- on bill maher's monkeyfest this weekend just past, the smirking dweeb from CNN made the statement (more or less) "Fox and MSNBC are on the fringes, but the rest of us are down the middle pretty much.".

Wondering if it wasn't an open secret even a few days ago that tingle pixie and the grimace were on their way out.

Eh, who cares- something about gift horses and looking in mouths comes to mind here.

Posted by: hey, wada minnit at September 08, 2008 05:50 AM (ez7V0)

118 Guys, you are missing the point. This is about general electric, not NBC. Jeff Immelt is going to lose his job over this fiasco. GE's stock performance has sucked and if the repub's win this thing, GE is going to pay a heavy price. Think jet engines, infrastructure, and the like.

Posted by: dan in michigan at September 08, 2008 07:57 AM (uSI6F)

119 This was an E-mail I sent to MTP@NBC.com, WT@nbc.com, Today@NBCUNI.com, Nightly@NBC.com, ateline@NBCUNI.com">Dateline@NBCUNI.com, Letters@newsweek.com, WebEditors@newsweek.com, and newstips@king5.com, four days before they removed the most bile-filled political commentators on T.V. (Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews) from their MSNBC political anchor positions. This is hope for everyday Americans in our stand against the elitist, patronizing, condescending "uppity' media complex who doesn't give a frig about our daily lives, our hard-work, or our heartfelt voices and opinions. I was only ONE E-mail, but my voice was tossed into a larger citizen-pot of opinions, and voila, we won! This is America! United we stand! Don't be reluctant to E-mail networks or advertisers and let them know how important facts, honesty, and integrity are to everday people. It's amazing what we can do together! God bless............ ----- Original Message ----- From: silversurfer11@verizon.net To: letters@msnbc.com Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:59 AM Subject: To the Editor
During the DNC your coverage was wall-to-wall with positives--there was nothing but good things to say. Every feature was trailed by a positive follow-up commentator or story. WHAT HAS HAPPENED? As the RNC progresses, each event or individual is followed by a searing criticism, or a scathing diatribe by either a MSNBC commentator or a Democratic spokesperson. This seems to me to be a violation of honorable journalism. If ordinary Americans ran their everyday lives with this type of disingenuousness it would deplete the spirit to the point where it wouldn't be worth getting up in the morning.

Posted by: kelcy allen at September 10, 2008 06:51 PM (XMDev)

120

This a response to the liberal website, "SLATE", after they asked bloggers "I dream of Sarah Palin. Do you?"

S-a-r-r-a-a-h-h-h A lilting voice calls haltingly through the dark rising vapors. A dimly lit image slowly appears from the calm dissembling mist. The subtle outline, once only a whimsical, chimerical conjuration, now gilded by flickering candescent northern lights and brushed with a rapidly glowing patina of tundric effervescence, radiates translucently and cohesively into a breathtaking efflorescent reality.Is it,I query?.........................Can it be,......I beseech?.......... Is it?...Can it?...Could it?...YES! Its a face!....a political face..with.with..LIPSTICK!!!

Holy crap, Im having a dream! I know its a dream because no one ever talks this slathery gibberish in real life! Why the heck do my dreams have to be so uppity anyway? I realize this dream started back in the late 1960s and early 1970s by Playboy bunny-turned-radical-feminist Gloria Steinem. I used to listen to this feminist-activist when she began her fight against patriarchy and for what she deemed was political, social, and economic equality for women. Having strong women in my family, I basically agreed with her, as did second generation feminists who have carried her banner for forty years crusading for the right to choose, for same pay, and for equal representation in board rooms, in the military, and in, of all places, the government, and for the right, all the while, to be respected and supported while raising a family. So as Im enjoying my dream, Im imagining the feminist crusaders are finally realizing theirs! ...................................................................NOT!!!. As a guy I just assumed that feminists, in fact all women, would be thrilled that finally a woman had reached their aspired goals and had achieved what they said they wanted to achieve. Today, September 10, 2008, I read that our womens rights advocate and supporter, Gloria Steinem, stated that the sitting Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin (ex-mayor, ex-sportscaster, ex-beauty queen, ex-state high school basketball champion, ex-chairperson of the Alaskan Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and current Alaskan U.S. Army National Guard Commander, church-goer, Bachelor-of-Science Degree holder, hunter and marksman, nominee for the vice-president of the United States, and married mother of five children) opposes everything most other women want and need!........................As Garth said, I think Im gonna hurl! Does Sarah Palin have to be the Messiah too! What does a woman have to do to finally become a REAL woman? Gloria PLEASE, tell me! Could it be that when Sarah Palin got her right to choose it didnt happen to be Glorias choice? Could it be that Governor Palins pay was the same as the last MALE governor, but its more than Glorias paycheck? Is it because Sarah Palin held her own, and even succeeded, against big-wig male corporate and government execs and Gloria never made a dent? Or is it because Sarah Palin has been a loving mother of five and Gloria has no kids? Could this be less about gender battles and more about character assassination because someone doesnt live THEIR life the way YOU want them to! Is this what America is becomingIts MY way or the highway? Didnt even Voltaire, the famed anti-big government French philosopher known as a civil libertarian and supporter of social reform say, I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY, BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT. Where the hell is that in todays political dialogue? Where is that in modern America? Where is that in my dream? WAIT..! Jeeze, Im still dreaming!!! Holy hanging chads, this isnt a dreamits a NIGHTMARE.a-g-g-h-h-h-h-h-h!