Olbermann Watch - MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann: Andrea Mitchell says GOP "coming to get" Keith Olbermann

Olbermann Watch, "persecuting" Keith since 2004

May 22, 2007

Andrea Mitchell says GOP "coming to get" Keith Olbermann

There was so much good (i.e., "bad") material to choose from in MSNBC's coverage of the first GOP debate we held back on this gem so it wouldn't get lost.

Keith is filling as the GOP candidates slowly walk down a corridor towards an MSNBC camera. Andrea Mitchell cracks wise and Keith gives a reply that was probably lost on most of the audience. Earlier in the broadcast Keith had referenced political novelist Michael Dobbs's character Francis Urquhart.

In the series Urquhart addressed the audience in asides, often quoting Shakespeare, or giving a knowing look to the camera. He would use the catchphrase, "You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment," or a variation thereon, as a deniable way of agreeing with people.

As OlbyWatchers know Keith is a fan of British humor and fond of quoting Shakespeare, even in the most inappropriate settings, so it should be no surprise Keith is quoting Dobbs. In fact-checking this post, I was reminded of the context for Keith's favorite line from Shakespeare and took note of the categories assigned to this particular quote by the curator of the eNotes web site - "Anxiety, Dramatist, Forebodings, Sickness".

The line comes from the opening scene of Hamlet (Act I, Scene 1)

Francisco: For this relief much thanks. 'Tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart.
Bernardo: Have you had quiet guard?
Francisco: Not a mouse stirring.

Posted by Robert Cox | Permalink | Comments (5) | | View blog reactions

5 Comments

By Anonymous on May 22, 2007 2:02 PM

This may be too dense for Olbermann, himself...whoa..

By merkle923 on May 22, 2007 4:59 PM

"For this relief much thanks." That quote should appear in this site's masthead.

By Billy on May 22, 2007 8:08 PM

Well, Karma does bite.

By Anonymous on May 22, 2007 8:10 PM

Former Rove aide pleads the Fifth on White House contacts with convicted lobbyist Abramoff
Michael Roston
Published: Tuesday May 22, 2007

Susan Ralston, the former executive assistant to top White House adviser Karl Rove, invoked her rights against self-incrimination while she was being asked to answer questions by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee's Chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, announced in a memo Tuesday. The deposition for which she sat concerned contacts between convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Rove, as well as the White House more broadly.

"The subjects this morning that she will be unable to testify to...are the subjects of the relationship between Jack Abramoff and his associates and White House officials, including Ms. Ralston, and the subject of the use by White House officials of political e-mail accounts at the RNC," Ralston's lawyer, Bradford Berenson said, during the May 10 deposition. "She has material, useful information about both of those subjects."

According to Waxman's memo, which was sent to Oversight Committee members, Ralston is seeking immunity from prosecution.

"She is more than willing to provide it to the committee. However, she will, as we have previously discussed, require a grant of immunity before she is comfortable going forward," Berenson also said in the deposition.

A spokeswoman for the Committee would not say whether or not immunity would be granted to the former Rove aide.

By Nick on May 22, 2007 11:59 PM

I really hope MC Rove ends up in jail.

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Olbermann Watch, "persecuting" Keith since 2004

5 Comments