Olbermann Watch - MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann: Holes in the Head

Olbermann Watch, "persecuting" Keith since 2004

February 16, 2006

Holes in the Head

There was Big News on Countdown Thursday night. Keith Olbermann even put it in the opening tease:

The Vice-Presidential announcement that he has the right to declassify secret stuff!

It's another victory for Olbermann Watch! No sooner did we ridicule KO for glossing over this important piece of news, than Keith suddenly makes it a headine 24 hours later. But Olby had more important fish to fry in Thursday's #1 story, namely:

...the vast holes in Vice-President Dick Cheney's explanation of how he accidentally shot a man last Saturday.

This ought to be interesting, but instead of telling us what all those "vast holes" were, it was off to bash the Sheriff and his investigation. Why all of a sudden is the Sheriff in KO's sights? Remember that yesterday Olbermann Watch reprinted the sheriff's quote that he decided when he would interview the Veep. So Olby can no longer pretend like the time was set by Dick Cheney. Olbermann Watch scores another success. What's a sports guy to do? Shift the gunsights! The new target: Sheriff Salinas!

Thomas DeFrank came in to speculate about friction between the President and the Veep. Neither Mr DeFrank nor Keith documented any "vast holes" in Cheney's explanation, but they both seemed to agree that it raises questions about "who's running the store".

Then it was back to bashing the Sheriff again, as well as witness Armstrong. According to Keith, she didn't see everything. Cover-up! What's more, she said they had Dr Pepper at lunch, but Cheney said he had a beer. Liar! Creepy Liar! Olby cited a New York Times report that a deputy had been sent to the ranch that night but did not stay. Keith made no mention of the more detailed article in the Washington Post explaining that the deputy went there to escort the ambulance, but it had already left. Neither did he say just what those "vast holes" in Cheney's description of the shooting were.

For a legal opinion, Keith brought in attorney Stanley Brand, longtime Democrat partisan (a fact unmentioned by KO). Brand's purpose was to rip the sheriff's investigation and to make insinuations. Even Presidents should be investigated the same way as "normal people". It's so easy for witnesses to "compare notes" and fabricate a story. Then it was off to the races with "secretive to the max", Katrina, and the like. Neither Brand nor Olbermann detailed any of the "vast holes" in Cheney's explanation.

In the #4 slot, Olby again did a rehash of where Cheney gives his interviews, and then lied, claiming that in the Fox interview "follow-up questions seemed to be almost nonexistent". All of this was preparation to KO getting around--24 hours late--to Cheney's authority to declassify (illustrated with a clip from the interview that included one of the nonexistent follow-up questions). Richard Wolffe had to set Keith straight (for the umpteenth time): No, Cheney's declassification power does not affect the Libby case.

In another triumph for Olbermann Watch, Keith finally read a verbatim, undoctored version of what Fitzgerald wrote in that letter about Libby and leaks. For the first time his audience was informed that the authority Libby had from his superiors was about the leak of a single document: the National Intelligence Estimate. And it only took us a week of hectoring Olby to get him to report it truthfully. (As in all other examples in tonight's Hour of Spin, there was no admission or acknowledgement by KO of his earlier falsehoods.) By the way, Mr Wolffe did not delineate any of the "vast holes" in Mr Cheney's report of the shooting.

After "oddball", we're at #3: Jack Abramoff. This is one of the top five stories of the day? Only on Countdown. You see, Abramoff arranged a meeting with some Malaysians by contacting Karl Rove. And 31 Senate Democrats want Attorney General Gonzales off the investigation. David Shuster, who we know lied about that Fitzgerald letter, talked about all the people Abramoff "might know" in the White House. Neither Shuster nor Keith specified what those "vast holes" in Cheney's explanation of the shooting might be.

It's the #2 slot, and why is Olby talking about a 96-year-old murder case? Oh we get it, another of Keith's pretentiously obscure historical allegories. The segment was really a regurgitated network tape about the Entwhistle case. Then celebrity news, and a wisecrack implying that Cheney witness Armstrong is a liar. Finally, a dog missing from the dog show. The owners were Olby's guests. Much to our surprise, neither they nor Keith Olbermann explained just what were those "vast holes" in Cheney's account of the shooting.

Posted by johnny dollar | Permalink | Comments (33) | | View blog reactions

33 Comments

By Anonymous on February 16, 2006 10:37 PM

There is a "vast hole" -- the place through which Olby both shits and eats.

The Scoreboard: Wednesday, February 15

8pm:

1. O'Reilly: 2,095,000
2. Zahn: 598,000
3. Grace: 545,000
4. Countdown: 463,000

Losing to two of the most annoying women on the planet is a feat in itself. The sanctimonious Zahn, a liberal nut job on the air, but a fierce bitch off the air who evicted a couple of hawks from her building for the crime of making a nest, and the obviously gender-challenged "Nancy" Grace, who looks like the lead character in "TransAmerica."

Keith loses to them both, as he is infinitely more assholian and annoying. I do love to hate him, though. Would somebody please write an in-depth profile of this freak? I need to know how something like Keith lives.

By Cecelia on February 17, 2006 8:09 AM

Chris Matthews was on Imus today talking about how the VP story has changed since it orginally came out.

The changes are that Mr Whittington is worse than orginally thought (Matthews had no concept of the a bullet can migrate through the body) and that the VP had a beer with lunch though Katherine Armstrong said no one had been drinking.

So much for collusion in order to get their stories straight... Is this stuff a smoking gun or what....

I'll be so glad when Chris proves that Cheney was high on crack and drunk, while having sex with a male prostitute, when he decided to shoot Whittington "just to watch him die".

Imus and Matthews praised David Gregory's press conference demeanor. Anyone who watches knows Gregory contorts his face and all but screams "Out of order! You're out of order!" at McClelland. It's interesting to me that though both Matthews and Gregory say that Brit Hume did a good job with the Cheney interview, neither one have the judgement right now that could afford them the ability to contrast Hume's behavior with their own. When Hume did the interview he knew he was being watched by hundreds of other reporters, first string and second string like Matthews and Olbermann. But there Hume was, as laid-back and professional as he could be. No Gregory-style mugging for the camera. No try-outs for the next cinematic rendering of All The President's Men...

Imagine doing an interview and not making yourself the focus of attention.... These guys are so rabidly against the WH they are completely unable to see themselves as the rest of the country sees them.

By Olbermann Fan Club on February 17, 2006 10:27 AM

URGENT MESSAGE FROM THE OLBERMANN FAN CLUB

We have run the data through our microprocessor computers, analyzed the results, and the definitive analysis of the data has been performed. We at the Olbermann fan club are proud to supply the public with our results:

Basic facts about the Cheney massacre:

1. Pellets hit the victim's heart

2. The man was shot on the right side of his body

Game, set and MATCH! We all know that the heart is on the extreme left side of the body! We have seen this in every vampire movie ever made! It is so obvious it is frightening!

So, HOW DID THE BULLET HIT THIS MAN'S HEART! He was shot on the right, yet the bullet made it all the way to the extreme left of his chest?

We can tell you this much. Cheney is lying. What is left is to determine just HOW MUCH he is lying!

Assuming Cheney did shoot him on the right, then there MUST HAVE BEEN A SECOND SHOOTER on the left. We all know that this is a common ploy among the far right maniacs (that's how they killed JFK). Why the shooting? Maybe the man knew too much. Maybe he knew about Cheney and Valerie Plame, or Cheney and Halliburton or Cheney and Iraq (the list goes on and on).

A second possibility is that this is all a massive cover-up, and the man was shot at point blank range. While always likely, we will not know untile we see the alleged victim.

A third possibility is that the man was shot on the right side, but knows too much. A convenient way to eliminate your enemy is with a heart attack! Another classic right-wing ploy.

A fourth possibility is that there was no shooting, there is no man in the hospital, and this is all a plot by Karl Rove to hurt the White House Press Corps and make Cheney look sympathetic.

A fifth possibility is that the man is already dead, and the White House is buying time, training an imposter to take his place. A faux "heart attack" conveniently kept the man unavailable to the press.

There are seven more scenarios, but we feel they warrant less attaention than the obvious front runners above.

By Dave on February 17, 2006 10:46 AM

By KfK on February 17, 2006 11:15 AM

Here's a thought for ya!

What does "worst person in the world" really tell us about Olby? There is the obvious -- that he is a hateful prick, a jealous prick, a nasty jerk and a small minded dope. But there is more.

Olby never has anything good to say. When given the choice of "Best Person in the World" or "Worst Person in the World," he will ALWAYS chose the worst. In fact, Olby represents the typical Democratic power broker (without the power). They are angry and negative by choice. Just look at Howard Dean.

Now what the Hell kind of a news man is negative all the time? How can you be "objective" when your personality prohibits you from thinking positively about anything?

Just how many positive stories have any of you seen Keith cover? I don't mean jiggly Hollywood celebutards or dopey dog stories. When has he highlighted a brave person sans sarcasm, or pointed out the triumph of someone or something?

Olbermann's paranoia, anger, negativity and difficulty speaking concisely all make him unwatchable.

Unfortunately, MSNBC is on a mission to find people with grating voices (Rita Cosby), huge unmanageable heads with foaming mouths (Chris Matthews), and severe personality disorders (Keith) to do the news.

By Cecelia on February 17, 2006 11:41 AM

KfK,

That is such a good point!

As polarized as the war and Republican political domination has made Howard Fineman's American Mainstream Media Party members, Olbermann is in the Lawrence O'Donnell/Paul Begala/Joe Conason bitter ideologue class.

I don't know whether the others like Matthews and Gregory are not there yet, or if they hide it well.

But Olbermann is front and center with his bitterness. Maybe as politics becomes increasingly polarized he'll have a larger audience.

I'm pretty sure that's what he and MSNBC are banking on.

By BLUEFIRE on February 17, 2006 12:37 PM

I noticed on the first comment of this page gives alleged viewer numbers. I was just wondering if there is really a place I could go to confirm those numbers or are they just typical right wing lies to make the clown that put them there feel better about himslef even though he knew he was lying to bolster his own belief system. but if there is a place I could go to confirm these #'s I'd like to know where it is. But I don't think that place is real.

By Jim on February 17, 2006 12:47 PM

Here's a good site for both current as well as historical ratings numbers.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/default.asp

By Cecelia on February 17, 2006 12:48 PM

BLUEFIRE,

Try http://mediabistro.com/tvnewser/-- look halfway down the page, darling.

By johnny dollar on February 17, 2006 12:51 PM

I honor Jim and Cecelia for admirably restrained responses to a crude, juvenile post.

By Cecelia on February 17, 2006 1:03 PM

http://www.indcjournal.com/cgi-bin/mt/MoNkEyTrAcK.cgi/2357

This is cute.

By Cheevy on February 17, 2006 1:14 PM

I love how Keith is openly mocked on his ESPN radio gig with Dan Patrick. Yesterday, he said that the Cubs traded Harold Baines for Sammy Sosa. It was George Bell that Sosa was traded for. Another KO blunder. I thought he has Mr. Baseball? A listener wrote in and mocked him for getting it wrong and said that Keith must be concentrating too hard on bashing the President every night to pay attention to sports now. Even Patrick mocked Keith's liberalism and says he watches Fox News.

Keith was forced to take it and barely said anything. He must know that MSNBC is close to finally pulling the plug on his ratings disaster show. I mean, the guy is getting beat by CNBC now. It seems like he is trying to het ESPN Sportscenter job back. Poor guy. He fails at everything. A great poster boy for the Left.

By Jim on February 17, 2006 1:27 PM

I honor Jim and Cecelia for admirably restrained responses to a crude, juvenile post.

Thanks Johnny - It's funny, I am so used to the vitriolic postings of the left on this site, the childishness, the obscenities, the improper grammar, spelling, etc. that I didn't even notice. But maybe if we continue to stick to the facts, to remain civil, that this site may actually sway the "Others" back to the proper course.

By OlbyFan on February 17, 2006 2:10 PM

Doesn't look like your prediction will come true Jim.

Look at this from your own website!

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/default.asp

MSNBC Enjoys Eight Days Of 25-54 Demo Wins At Seven & Eight O'Clock

MSNBC beat CNN in the 25-54 demographic at 7 and 8pm last week, and the trend has continued so far this week.

Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann have outperformed Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn for eight straight weekdays

By Jim on February 17, 2006 2:16 PM

OlbyFan:

I am not sure what you mean. First, I did not make any predictions. And I am not sure what MSNBC beating CNN has to do with not bringing civility back to political discourse. Unless you equate MSNBC with incivility.

By Dave on February 17, 2006 2:26 PM

Bill O'Reilly doubles his numbers. And overall numbers still has MSBNC behind Fox and CNN.

Comparing Keith to Paula is like France saying to Germany,"your 05' unemployment rate is 11% and ours is %10.

By KfK on February 17, 2006 2:45 PM

I was waiting for this!

The leftist community has discovered TVNewser! Now the intellectual elite can use their massive mental talents to work the numbers!

For the opening salvo, we have the argument, "Keith only has 200,000 viewers, but look at all the 25-54 year old viewers!"

Ever notice that TVNewser tries to talk up any gains Keith has in the ratings? Could it be because Keith personally lobbies the TVNewser crew, writes them email, and otherwise debases himself? Inquiring minds already know!

By Olbermann Fan Club on February 17, 2006 2:54 PM

OLBERMANN FAN CLUB ALERT!

WE WERE RIGHT! DICK CHENEY KILLED THE OLD LAWYER WITH BIRDSHOT!

Scenario five has been proven! You remember the scenario: The man Cheney shot is already dead, and the White House is buying time, training an imposter to take his place. A faux "heart attack" conveniently kept the man unavailable to the press.

The man who emerged from the hospital today is NOT the man who was shot. First of all, speech patterns analyzed in our home office show discrepancies between Mr. Whittington's voice before and after he emerged from the Hospital. Two confidential sources also tell us that a mole that used to be on Mr. Whittington's left neck is now mysteriously missing! In addition, he was holding things preferentially with his left hand, even though he is RIGHT HANDED!

Another cover-up by the Bush-Cheney crew. Good Lord when will it end!

By johnny dollar on February 17, 2006 3:06 PM

KfK, speaking of TVNewser and his reports of the ratings, I've noticed lately that there is a change in how he reports them. He used to just report the numbers. MSNBC in 3rd or 4th place. Then he started adding in the "demo" numbers for younger viewers. Now he actually posts the demos first, and adds the actual total numbers as an afterthought.

By puck on February 17, 2006 3:10 PM

WAIT! mslsd wins 25-54, but Fox News had the most 18-54. But mslsd won. Is this a product of outcome based education?

By KfK on February 17, 2006 3:18 PM

I noticed that as well. In addition, he does not place the shows in order. If I post ratings, I put them in order (highest to lowest). Keith would always be last however, and TVNewser wants Keith to play ball with them.

I wish I didn't have to get the numbers this way. Whay isn't the system transparent?

By Cecelia on February 17, 2006 3:20 PM

Olbermann Fan Club,

The plot is more nefarious than you've imagined!

MUST READ-- MUST CREDIT OLBERMANN WATCH--
Here is a 'hidden in plain sight' clue from a CNN story:

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (CNN) -- Harry Whittington said Friday he was sorry for what Dick Cheney and his family has "had to go through" after the vice president shot him in a weekend hunting accident.

The 78-year-old Bush-Cheney campaign donor spoke briefly to reporters upon his release from a Corpus Christi hospital, but he took no questions."

Mr Whittington is a "BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN DONOR"!! He's a partisan wingnut! Mr Whittington abetted the VP in this cover-up by conspiring to live!

Dick Cheney has more power than the combined power of all the VPs in history! This means that Cheney's super powers are just a shade less than Sen. Hillary Clinton's when her husband was in office! Cheney conspired to shoot a supporter rather someone who would have had the decency to die and expose the VP to the full force of the Democrats in congress!

There are calls for a Special Counsel investigation right now from several Washington cocktail parties and from Plaines, Georgia!

Good night and good luck...

By Penglose on February 17, 2006 4:14 PM

All of the fucked up wingnuts on the air and you have some twisted thing for Keith Olbermann. Now that's funny, maybe you can watch Zahn and see fluff stories or O'Reilly bullshit for 40 minutes... but nah, you'll fixate on someone who has the balls to call this administration on its claims. Thanks for the entertainment every day!!!

By Dave on February 17, 2006 5:05 PM

Why don't you debate an issue? When you can't you rant and rave.

This isn't a partisan comment, it goes for both sides.

If you want to continue to hear Olbermann call out this administration you may have to get you fix online. It's only a matter of time before he gets sacked for his anemic ratings:)

Again, either liberals don't own TV's or liberal make up a small percentage of the population. Wait, calling Olby a liberal is an insult to real liberals.

By Penglose on February 17, 2006 5:14 PM

Sacked? He's on MSNBC... and he and Hardball are have beaten CNN this past week...

I know most people on both sides admit that Cheney is more involved and yes more powerful than most VPs. He is also more secretive. Shit, he hid behind his other hunting buddy, Scalia, to protect his "right" to keep secrect energy "policy" meetins with Ken Lay and Co., secret... Now I'm sure meetings with Enron had the American people's interests in mind........

By Jim on February 17, 2006 5:39 PM

Penglose:

Hatred, profanity, poor grammar, poor spelling, overall incivility, I just mentioned this a few hours ago ... What causes that in liberals posting on this site?

By Olbermann fan club on February 17, 2006 6:06 PM

OLBERMANN FAN CLUB UPDATE

Profanity has been shown to improve the force of arguments!

We have done the analysis. The more foul the language, the stronger the argument. In fact, cursing has been shown to increase the force of an argument by 3.2x.

In addition, words like "wingnut" and "faux news" have been shown to change the minds of people and alter the course of an argument.

By Jim on February 17, 2006 6:10 PM

Penglose's arguments were so powerful, I shall no longer watch Fox News. I have seen the light, and will now look to Keith for my inspiration!!

By Cecelia on February 17, 2006 6:42 PM

Jim,

I @###$@@@!!!!&&&# agree with you, mother####%%%&#!

I'm becoming a big fan of %!%%$$$@@@ Olby Fan!

By BLUEFIRE on February 17, 2006 10:10 PM

I WAS JUST WONDERIN IF DICK SHOT HIS BUDDY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BODY AT 30 YARDS, THAN HOW ON EARTH DID THE BIRD SHOT REACH HIS HEART ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS BODY?????

By Anonymous on February 17, 2006 10:15 PM

Bluefire, you can't be serious!

By johnny dollar on February 17, 2006 10:38 PM

He's serious. People who get their news from Olbermann think the pellet penetrated to the heart. People who get their news from reliable sources know that all of the doctors on the case say that the pellet migrated and found its way to the heart. That's the kind of thing Olby doesn't like to bring up because it might mean he is dipping a toe into the water of accuracy.

By Olbermann Fan Club on February 17, 2006 10:49 PM

Olbermann Fan Club invites BLUEFIRE to join our ranks! See our posts above!

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