October 31, 2005
How Appropriate
No Olby on Countdown tonight. Apparently he gets Halloween off.
OlbyWatch Housekeeping
For those OlbyWatch readers wise enough to also read The National Debate, you know I have been working on various "clean up" projects with my computers, my servers, my blogs and my life.
I just got around to cleaning up OlbermannWatch over the past few days. To do this I exported all of the posts as of last week, deleted all the spam comments and trackbacks by hand, change all the settings so that comments=closed and trackbacks=not enabled. I then changed the default settings so that trackbacks and comments are always off. I left every legit comment - no matter how inane.
The biggest impact on readers is that some threads that were active are now closed. I got one request to open a comment thread and will do that once the reader tells me which one. What I would want to do here is open and close comments more selectively.
You will also notice that after a long absence I have put a few posts up here myself. Now that I have things organized the way I want I intend to get back to posting here and get back into the business of "persecuting" poor Keith.
OlbyKooks still at it: National
OlbyKooks still at it:
National Election Archive Project - Math Logic Proof that Vote Fraud Cannot Be Ruled Out.
George W. Bush could have won the 2004 presidential election due to large-scale vote fraud without election data showing the patterns that the Election Science Institute and pollster Warren Mitofsky claim must exist if vote fraud had occurred.
October 30, 2005
'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for
'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Oct. 25th - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - MSNBC.com
OLBERMANN: And that gets us back, as a last point, to where I started this segment. You were good enough to come on this newscast with me late in the summer of 2003. It was August or September. And by coincidence, either the next day or the day before, Jeanine Garofalo had been a guest on the newscast. And I got called into a vice president's office here and told, "Hey, we don't mind you interviewing these guys, but should you really have put liberals on, on consecutive nights?" That's just over two years ago. Al, can you believe that the country was actually at that point that recently?
FRANKEN: I can believe that. And I can believe - see, when you hear that there's this liberal bias to the mainstream media, I mean, you're attesting to the fact that a vice president at MSNBC was, you know, two nights in a row, to have two liberals, if you can and this is a crude way to do it but if you put divide people into liberals and conservatives, the chances of that are one-half, I mean, essentially, aren't they, or are they one-quarter? I guess it's one-quarter that you would have two of any kind on two consecutive nights.
OLBERMANN: Right.
FRANKEN: But over the span of how many years have you been on now?
OLBERMANN: This is...we're about two-and-a-half.
FRANKEN: OK. After two-and-a-half years, you'd think that might happen a few times.
OLBERMANN: Yes. Thank goodness we have steered out of that time...
October 29, 2005
Reader Mail
A Childers of Duluth, MN writes:
Dear Bob,
Your kidding right? Is this a serious website or some kind of joke?
Dear A,
Nothing could be more serious work than monitoring the activities of Keith Olbermann. The only joke is that Keith is described by MSNBC as a "news anchor".
____________________________________________________
Jon Snyder of Eria, PA writes:
Dear Bob,
Have you noticed a change in Olbermann's gig fairly recently? I used to flip by his show months ago and always hated the goofy title tune and his occasionally silly liberal-slanted comments, but lately he seems to have tacked hard left. He's been more vocal. Like Matthews he's always slanted left and that has always intruded, but it's been a lot more noticeable lately. Tonight he had on Al Franken, for example, and they both made fun of the right. Do you think maybe his bosses asked him to go "out there" more so that he can appeal to people who might be turned off by O'Reilly? In other words, to turn him into the resident air america guy as a way to separate himself from the pack.
Just seems like he's being repackaged a bit. Thanks.
Dear Sny,
Congratulations on coming out of that coma. Now...what was your question?
____________________________________________________
MoonlightEagle from Tulsa, OK writes:
Dear Bob,
I've been reading OlbermannWatch for quite some time and I have a question for you: do you ever allow "guest bloggers"? I've been getting more and more irritated at the anti-Bush pieces being run on Countdown, and have been wanting to see if you would be interested in having someone new submit a review of the show?
Dear Moonlight,
As a longtime OlbermannWatch reader and someone irritated with Keith you are obviously a thoughtful, intelligent person. We are always happy to have enlightened individuals such as yourself submit a guest post.
Looking forward to your first post.
____________________________________________________
Reaganite of Dixon, IL writes:
Dear Bob,
Olbermann GRATES on my nerves... I can only stand to watch his show after I've exhausted all other options, so I thank you for doing the dirty work! Olberman should have to register as a special interest group with the FEC!
I'm a regular reader and I've started a new blog and was wondering if you would consider blogrolling me. I already have you locked into mine and will keep you there regardless of your decision.
Reaganites Unite!
Dear Reaganite,
Couldn't agree more. Sorry but 501-3c non-profit corporations are prevented by law from endorsing partisan web sites. Keep up the good work.
____________________________________________________
Paul Sonderman of Ipswich, OH writes:
Dear Bob,
You were premature in accusing me of hijacking your site. Looks like you riled a real hacker. Or perhaps you're exploring an alternative, albeit annoying, revenue stream. After you asked me to stop posting at TND, I stumbled across a link pertinent to our original argument (before it veered off course). Cecelia suggested I post it there, which I did, but it quickly became mired in a cesspool of spam.
Cheers and good luck eradicating your vermin. Rest assured, I don't intend to post on TND again. I had blocked email from you, but have removed the block temporarily, should you care to respond.
Dear Paul,
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
____________________________________________________
PB Worthy of St Cloud, MN writes:
Dear Bob,
I asked a friend of mine who owns a construction company - and who knows a lot about construction - doing it, what it costs, etc. He tells me that with a general estimate he made regarding the costs - which I am sure could be calculated and verified - at NBC Humanity Plaza – staff, utilities, food, union wages, on and on – for a week - that all those costs could have probably built another 15000 - not 1500 but 15000 - Habitat for Humanity homes. He tells me these are the standard first time buyer southern ranch - approximately 1000-1200 square feet, 2-3 bedrooms.   They are being collapsed - then shipped south -  put back up and finished. It seems to me -  in 10 years (more likely 10 days, no make that hours)  - few of us will remember Couric and her yilk showboating at 30 Rock -  but 10000+ more families might have been living in their own home - with possibly a legacy - for the very first time - to leave their children - if it weren’t for the MSM’s need to applaud themselves and make themselves do-gooders for everybody to see.  The spirit of giving and volunteerism is loose in this country right now - especially the south - Habitat needs but to ask once for volunteers….but I guess what would be needed here is for the media to do some good, quietly, generously – when the cameras weren’t running – they weren’t congratulating themselves – and nobody was looking…Don't hold your breath.
Dear PB,
The folks at the broadcast news divisions and cable news channels covered Katrina as if it were a reality show so why should it surprise anyone they covered the Superdome as if it were "Big Brother", Bush dealing with Mike Brown as "The Apprentice" (as in "you're fired, Brownie!") and the rebuilding effort as an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Keep an eye out for New Orleans Idol, Desperate Louisiana Housewives and Survivor: The Convention Center.
So much for spelling
The Malcontent has some thoughts on Keith's spelling skills.
Rehabilitating Larry
On Friday, after referring to Valerie Plame as a "covert operative" (something neither the indictment nor prosecutor Fitzgerald was willing to do), Olby reveled in the indictment of Scooter Libby. The entire Hour of Spin was dedicated to The Great Leak Case. Not satisfied with a supposedly "impartial" viewpoint (VandeHei of the Post, again), KO turned to two heroes of the far left: John Dean and Lawrence O'Donnell ("Liar! Creepy Liar!").
The choice of O'Donnell, the discredited hack who was fired by MSNBC, is particularly rich. O'Donnell laid out a preposterous theory of the upcoming trial that displayed an appalling ignorance of evidentiary and criminal law. Why exactly does Olby continue his attempts to resuscitate the career of this deranged snake? Let's look at some of Lawrence O'Donnell's Greatest Hits, as documented in his hysterical rantings at Arianna Huffington's Blogarama:
- Speculating that Fitzpatrick will charge not just perjury but the leak case as well: All the judges who have seen the prosecutor’s secret evidence firmly believe he is pursuing a very serious crime, and they have done everything they can to help him get an indictment.
- Forecasting serious indictments for Karl Rove: When the prosecutor tells his story, don't expect him to accept Rove's currently uncontested claim that he does not recall who told him that Wilson's wife was a CIA agent and don't expect the "old news" spin to work. When the prosecutor has his day, he is going to make new news.
- Engaging in wish-fulfillment fantasies masquerading as analysis: The prosecutor has every right to expect that Rove's final under-oath grilling will either add a count or two to the indictment or force Rove to flip and testify against someone else.
- Demonstrating his understanding and insight of the case: Prediction: at least three high level Bush Administration personnel indicted and possibly one or more very high level unindicted co-conspirators.
Somehow Keith didn't manage to bring up any of these prior inconsistent statements to O'Donnell. Olby also pitched softballs to convicted felon John Dean, ever eager to smear anyone in the Bush administration, who asserted Libby lied without even bothering with "allegedly".
But analysis from Joe DiGenova? Victoria Toensing? Pat Buchanan? Even Chris Matthews, who all but salivates on screen at the thought of indictments, puts on people who occasionally disagree with him (even if he doesn't let them get in a word edgewise). But Keith Olbermann is above all that. He doesn't care about balance, or fairness. He doesn't even have to listen to his bosses at the network. The Hour of Spin is his own little fiefdom, and Keith Olbermann is not going to disappoint his 300,000 viewers with anything but Soros-approved propaganda.
October 27, 2005
So Much for the First Amendment
If Countdown makes The Great Leak Case its top story on days when there are no developments whatsoever, it's no surprise that on Wednesday night, Olby was once again beating that persistently vegetative equine. Jim VandeHei returns yet again for another exercise in bloviation and tea-leaf reading.
Having served up several fawning profiles of Fitzgerald, Olbermann ran a piece on Rove attorney Robert Luskin, which gleefully pointed out that Luskin is a liberal Democrat, and referred to him as "Rove's brain".
After noting some very strained analogies to Watergate (did you know Thursday is H.R. Haldeman's birthday?) KO gave gratis air time to a publicity stunt from Congressional Democrats asking Fitzgerald to extend and widen his investigation. Their claim is that the administration's speeches in favor of the Iraq War were illegal. Yes, the ultimate criminalization of speech.
Maurice Hinchey (D) was invited in to give this preposterous theory some faux credibility. Olby fancies himself a journalist, but the words "first amendment" didn't pass his lips. His inquiries boiled down to asking if these arguments were really a crime, based on the technicality of their not having been made in testimony to Congress. None of the alleged "lies" were themselves critically examined, let alone challenged. So while pretending to question the theory, Keith at the same time put forth its underlying thesis as something assumed to be true. Spin is always most effective when it is subtle.
October 26, 2005
Hack Meets Hack
We're dealing with family matters for much of this week, so sometimes (like tonight) our reports will be abbreviated. Not that there will be anything unpredictable from Olby and Company; these reports pretty much write themselves. Please use the comments to flesh out these brief outlines and fully develop the latest outrages from the Hour of Spin.
Tuesday night's focus: The Great Leak Case. Blather with Howard Fineman, the shape-shifter of pundits, exploring all the different ways Libby, and especially Dick Cheney, could maybe, possibly, be indicted. Typical Olbermann: bring on yet again the discredited, scandal-ridden Air America hack Al Franken. And not in the worthless final segment, but right after the first commercial break. We hit fast forward whenever that repellent sissy threatens to appear on our orthicon tube.
What Republicans made "worst persons in the world" tonight? Bill Frist. What Democrats or liberals made the list? Yeah, right. Only on Bizarro Planet.
October 24, 2005
An Elegant Way to Lie
Monday was a very busy news day. Major developments included Hurricane Wilma, Baghdad explosions, and the appointment of the first new Federal Reserve Chairman in nearly 20 years. A reputable news program could lead with any of these stories. But then there's the Hour of Spin. No way does Olby consider these insignificant matters worthy enough for the coveted opening segment, not when he can talk about The Great Leak Case!
And talk about it he does. Keith tries his best:
Is there any news, even scraps?
The Post's Jim VandeHei tries to let Olby down gently:
I'd like to say there is, but there really isn't.
So what if there's no news? KO can still spend the first ten minutes of the program talking about the fact that there's no news, and wondering if there will be news tomorrow. The key to propaganda is repetition, even where there is nothing to repeat.
For the second time in as many weeks, Olby shocks his audience by interviewing a Republican (Terry Holt). He brings up (for the third time, and we're still only in the first segment!) Sen Kay Bailey Hutchinson, who offended Keith by suggesting that an indictment for lying wouldn't be as serious as an indictment on the underlying crime.
Oh, and the appointment of Mr Bernacke to the Fed? KO disposed of it with a few sentences at the end of the segment, noting it was "another case of Mr Bush promoting from within".
#4 was the Baghdad bombing, handled with a recycled NBC report. Keith failed to note that this was another trick by Karl Rove to distract from the fact that there was no news about The Great Leak Case. #3 was the hurricane, #2 something about a CEO who spent a lot of money at a strip club, #1 baseball.
And then the "worst persons in the world". Who would KO bash tonight? Republicans? Conservatives? Fox News employees? How about all three? Yes, it's an Olby trifecta! Second runner-up: the Department of Homeland Security. First runner-up: Ann Coulter. Hmm, that leaves only some Fox news employee for the top spot. Now who exactly might that be?
Olby quotes Bill O'Reilly as saying:
Now in the Great Depression, every American got spanked. And those Americans went to war during World War II and won the very intense conflict and showed bravery across the board, the Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation, almost down to the man, was spanked, 'cause that's the way we did it in America. OK?
Olby picks up the spin from the George Soros website that highlighted this statement, ripping away the context and putting his own (actually George's) frame on it:
The Big Giant Head again, explaining to his radio audience that we won the Second World War because of spanking.... He's about four minutes away from being committed.
It turns out that O'Reilly was talking about corporal punishment. His point (not unreasonable) was that kids got spanked in the 1920s and 30s, yet they grew up to be The Greatest Generation and won World War II. So it's wrong to suggest that corporal punishment, done responsibly, causes some sort of psyche-warping trauma. This becomes clear with O'Reilly's very next sentence, which Olby conveniently omitted:
So I'm not believing all these sociologists, these fruitcakes, who run around going, you know, you look at a kid cross-eyed, he's going to grow up to be a heroin addict. I'm not buying that.
Bill O'Reilly did not say "we won World War II because of spanking". Selectively editing his comment makes it look that way, but such dishonest propaganda tricks are merely an elegant way to lie. And that is the evil of Olbermann--loathsome villainy is disguised with a facade of faux sophistication. He isn't even truthful about himself.
October 21, 2005
Maximum Speculation
The least suspenseful question in all broadcasting: wondering what story will lead off the Hour of Spin. It is, of course, the latest collection of gossip and speculation about Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, and the Great Leak Case. Fitzgerald launched a website; the NY Times says there is jeopardy; the LA Times claims Libby plotted to counter Joe Wilson. And before you can say "George Soros", it's time for C4--Countdown Crony Craig Crawford:
It's hard to imagine he would launch a website just as he was ending the case.
Olby, proving again that the MS in MSNBC stands for Maximum Speculation, asked about leaks:
Who might be defending themselves in this matter?
Crawford theorized that it's "practically the entire high command of the White House", and added, "the floodgates are opening". Keith made a big deal about Andrew Card spending the weekend with the President; Crawford obediently giggled in agreement. Olby, moving in for the kill, decided to play Chris Matthews and paint some suspicion on a favorite target:
This campaign against Wilson, that supposedly faded in Spring of 2004, meaning the talking points email they sent me might have been the last shot fired, coincidentally, this was supposed to be Scooter Libby's idea, all by his lone self, and his boss didn't know about it?
Yes, that's all one sentence. After C4's obsequious response it was on to Tom DeLay, and of course Keith talked about The Mug Shot. Chip Reid told KO that the Dems don't have an overriding agenda. The #4 story was weather, followed by a segment on a child custody battle in Pennsylvania. Olby's guest was Wendy Murphy, a bit of a surprise as she appears regularly on The O'Reilly Factor. It was a highlight because Murphy spoke so much that Mr Humility barely got a word in edgewise.
Seeing that the #2 story was about baseball, and #1 is invariably worthless drivel, we were tempted to skip out early. But duty required us to stick around for the "worst person in the world": former FEMA Director Michael Brown. We thought maybe, just this once, Keith might just sneak a liberal or a Democrat in for this honor. After all it's Friday, and his meager audience is probably approaching negative numbers--George S won't even notice. But Olby always lives down to expectations.
Burning Man
The Hour of Spin opened Thursday night with Olby detailing all the latest leaks (from an investigation of leaks):
The President of the United States today dismissed the growing controversy over what his political brain and the Vice-President's Chief of Staff had to do with the CIA leak as "background noise"...background noise can quickly get loud enough to eliminate all of the foreground.
But then it wouldn't be background noise, would it? No matter, Olby couldn't contain his enthusiasm; he sounded like he had drunk 87 cups of coffee and a few bottles of Jolt Cola. Does anybody remember how Keith behaved back when it was Ken Starr investigating a Democrat administration? Peabody, set the WayBack machine for 1998:
We'll be beating that dead horse again this evening. Round up the usual suspects, it is, God help us, day 301 of the Clinton-Lewinsky investigations.
What a difference a change of administration makes. But back to the present. Olby's nonpartisan description of the President's statement:
Not dissimilar to sticking your fingers in your ears and saying, "La-la-la-la-la-la-la".
KO brought in crony John Harwood, and pitched a typical Olby softball:
Does this story go, has it already gone, will it never go, from being merely a leak investigation story, to a the administration deceived the country story?
Harwood knocked it out of the park:
No, I think it is that, Keith. I think you're exactly right.
Ah, music to Keith's ears; just what Olby wants and expects from his interviewees. KO's next guest on the same topic: Leon Panetta. That's Keith: fair and balanced all the way. He makes sure we hear every point of view from A to B. Olby's observation:
This page in the rundown for tonight's show was given a title by our producer that shook me. The title simply was, "White House in Crisis". I already hosted a news show on this network that had that title some years ago. Is it applicable now? Is in fact, in your opinion, this White House in crisis?
There's a tough one. How would Leon Panetta, one of the most partisan of partisan Democrats, possibly respond to that tough, challenging, take-no-prisoners question? We won't keep you in suspense any longer:
You've got a White House in crisis.
After a few cracks about Tom DeLay's mug shot, Keith moved on to the #4 story, about the ongoing operations in Afghanistan. Hold the phone! How did Afghanistan suddenly appear on Olby's radar? When was the last time he even had a report from there, let alone make it one of his top stories? Don't bother checking. The war, and the US troops, couldn't be less important to Olbermann, judging by how he has routinely ignored them week after week. But the allegation that American forces had burned the bodies of Afghan terrorists immediately whisks Afghanistan to full feature prominence on the Hour of Spin. And they wonder why people sometimes think the media really do loathe the military.
#3 was a bunch of true crime reports (sort of like the Rita Cosby hour compressed into five minutes); the weather was story #2; basketball stuff was #1. With half the show taken up by this sort of drivel, and the other half larded down with Olby's spin and unfunny asides, it gives you an idea how much real news makes it into Countdown.
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