Olby should be naming himself WPITW tonight for that viral video fiasco.

Doug, MSNBC sells Olby's show as a newscast. You are correct; it is not a newscast. The lies start with MSNBC and continue with Olby.

I don't usually jump into the comments about my posts, but did want to point out that (if you'll dig back into the archives) I've always had a beef with the fact that MSNBC calls Countdown a "newscast". I don't call it a lie, because I know they're doing it so that it will be flagged in the Nielsen diaries as "news". Networks and individual stations are very careful about the way they ID programs, so there is a method to MSNBC's madness. I just don't agree with it.

Doug, you're a failed newsman. Bite it.

Doug,

hummm.... So the editing of the kick video, and Olbermann's response to it, is mssing the forest for the trees, on a blogsite that tries to analyse the mindset of a guy whose show has a segment labeling political opponents, time slot competittion, and old enemies and rivals as The Worst Person In The World?

In your compendium telling us to notice all the good and relevant things Countdown did that night, because well... heck....you see those issues that way too... could it ever possibly occur to you that "doing it well" and affording your audience to see "the whole forest" would be to include someone who might offer up the WH rationale to the troop pay increase, to Gonazales testimony about the wiretapping, and to the Wolfowitz matter?

Scarborough, Matthews, Cooper, Beck, O'Reilly, Hannity and Colmes, do manage to include these sorts of folks, my friend...eh....they report.. you decide...

Your screed might not be so galling if you ever managed to attach an iota of importance to THAT complete picture.

So once again the Olbyapologists come out in force. The argument seems to be because he "speaks for our side" then it's okay if he insults women, laughs when kids get hurt, etc. It's unbelievable what you people do to justify and excuse Olbermann's behavior. It has to be exhausting having to constantly apologize and justify for him not to mention nerve-racking waiting to see what he says/does next.

It has to be exhausting having to constantly apologize and justify for him not to mention nerve-racking waiting to see what he says/does next.

Posted by: Brandon at May 18, 2007 6:59 PM

Since Brandon elicits the same response in many conservatives, he'd certainly know whereof he speaks...

"Read back through the comments from Thursday night's post. Most people were all worked up about the Oddball segment and the missing words from WPITW segment. Let's see, that would be about three minutes out of the hour-long show.

"Let me suggest that some of the more vocal critics can't see the forest for the trees....or don't WANT to."

Doug, how many seconds of Imus' show did it take for him to say "Nappy-headed Hoz"?

"...whether from the Countdown airing or from folks like you racing to watch it so you can add it to your list of reasons to bash KO..."

Doug, you've got to be kidding me...Olbermann critics are the BAD GUYS for Oddball piece? I better get my union card, because I don't remember editing that deplorable piece with 10+ loops of a child getting kicked.

Dude, you had me with everything else...but then again, I do not think it is a stretch to lambast this pathetic administration.

I understand that Republicans/Republican pundits do not want to eat their own, and it takes quite a lot before they jump ship on towing the party line. But I'm not one of those Media Matters/Daily Kos Dems that wants to tow THAT party line either. I don't want to see it in the one left leaning pundit on cable (in Olbermann).

Paula Zahn, Anderson Cooper, and many others manage to report these very same issues/stories without the fanfare of being the left-wing media darling.

About a month ago New York Magazine called this guy "Rush Limbaugh for lefties". One Limbaugh is enough, we do not need or want a lefty version.

Nor another Don Imus. And one day, Olbermann will have his Imus moment.

Since Brandon elicits the same response in many conservatives, he'd certainly know whereof he speaks...
Posted by: Cecelia at May 18, 2007 7:04 PM

Brandon, why does Cecelia always seem to take a shot at you? Did you take her lunch money or something?

Brandon, why does Cecelia always seem to take a shot at you? Did you take her lunch money or something?

Posted by: at May 18, 2007 8:32 PM

The Olbermann interviewing Valerie Plame technique.

She's still pissed that I posted the link to Tur's videos at Currenttv.com. (Available here at: http://www.current.tv/community/people/KatyTur). It seems she thinks it was wrong to link to that as Tur is a "private" person, never mind it's a link to a website which invites comment on her videos. Never mind that Olbermann let that cow out of the barn a long time ago when he named her repeatedly in interviews. Never mind that Bob Cox was very clear on his position regarding the videos (and photos others posted of Tur). But hey, Cecelia's entitled to her opinion, even when she's wrong, which she usually is.

It's been a long week. Just a quick response to several posts:
RES: "Failed Newsman"? Let's see...30 years in the biz, #1 from time to time, Peabody Award...Nope. Not failed.
Cecelia: The problem is, on so many of those issues you mentioned, the WH doesn't have a response that rings true even with the Right. I honestly wish they did and I DO wish KO included more opposing views.
no name on May 18: The reference to going online to see the video was just a note that, in trying to see what all the fuss was about, they were (in fact) boosting interest in that very thing. Nothing more. I still don't like that segment.

She's still pissed that I posted the link to Tur's videos at Currenttv.com. (Available here at: http://www.current.tv/community/people/KatyTur). It seems she thinks it was wrong to link to that as Tur is a "private" person, never mind it's a link to a website which invites comment on her videos. Never mind that Olbermann let that cow out of the barn a long time ago when he named her repeatedly in interviews. Never mind that Bob Cox was very clear on his position regarding the videos (and photos others posted of Tur). But hey, Cecelia's entitled to her opinion, even when she's wrong, which she usually is.

Posted by: Brandon at May 18, 2007 8:38 PM

You could "publish" her website until your "three cars"...trot home, Brandon.

It was your parting shot about her talents lying elsewhere that I didn't appreciate.

You've made others since with the expressed purpose of "pissing off Cecelia". Keep it up, Einstein. It makes it easier to call you out when you talk about Olbermann "insulting women".

Cecelia: The problem is, on so many of those issues you mentioned, the WH doesn't have a response that rings true even with the Right. I honestly wish they did and I DO wish KO included more opposing views.

Posted by: doug at May 18, 2007 8:47 PM

On the contrary, Doug, you've said many times that this sort of politically targeted news cast is the stuff of the future and that you approve.

I think that viewpoint of yours goes hand-in-hand with the one you just stated that seems to suggest that Olbermann and you are the arbiters of what makes for a good defense from the WH, rather than just acknowledging that an audience should be informed so that they can weigh Keith's viewpoint with the other and then decide for themselves.

Definitely failed. Like Olbermann, everywhere you went.

reference to my cars was made when an Olbyloon accused me of flipping burgers somewhere. I flip burgers but it's on the gas grill on my deck. And as I've stated before and I'll state here again, Tur wanted comments. She got them. Her talents, or stunning lack thereof, speak for themself. I realize that you apparently have some personal issues that makes you particularly sensitive to the plight of golddiggers but someone has to speak out for them I suppose.

no name on May 18: The reference to going online to see the video was just a note that, in trying to see what all the fuss was about, they were (in fact) boosting interest in that very thing. Nothing more. I still don't like that segment.
Posted by: doug at May 18, 2007 8:47 PM

I guess I needed to parse that a little bit more..."so you can add it to your list of reasons to bash KO..." Perhaps a little more..."Bash KO" Can I have a little more "editoral" with that "news" of yours?

Doug

The good thing about OLBERMANN WATCH is that, unlike COUNTDOWN and other Olby sites that are totally one sided and hardly ever let any opposing views last beyond a few posts, Robert will let anyone say whatever they feel either pro or con KO.

Regarding your post:

"...that there IS a lot of good reporting on Countdown that gets lost in the criticism."
SPECIAL COMMENT: I choked when I read this riduculous statement! You must be joking, right Doug????? Please Sir, please give me EXAMPLES of "a lot of good reprting" on the Hour of Spin. This will be fun.

"The Richard Wolfe interview was (by virtue of both the questions and answers) slanted against the Administration.'
SPECIAL COMMENT: Please give me one example of anything EVER that Olbermann has said that is NOT against the administration. I'm only asking for ONE, Doug!!

"The White House's refusal to go along with the additional pay raise for our troops is darn difficult to defend"
SPECIAL COMMENT: Ok, this sounds really good BUT has KO made any attempt to get an opposite opinion on this as I'm sure there is one? Just because he and other left nuts say it is so doesn't mean it is.

"Worst Person in the World is a signature bit; a niche. Call it an attack, if you want, but the point is usually well-made and, most-often, deserved."
SPECIAL COMMENT: You're serious!! "the point is usually well-made and, most-often, deserved." What are you talking about? Basically this is simply a list of Olby enemies he wants to get back at. There is no other rationality for this segment!

GREAT THANKS!!

She's still pissed that I posted .....
Posted by: Brandon at May 18, 2007 8:38 PM

Thanks Brandon for the clarification.

reference to my cars was made when an Olbyloon accused me of flipping burgers somewhere. I flip burgers but it's on the gas grill on my deck. And as I've stated before and I'll state here again, Tur wanted comments. She got them. Her talents, or stunning lack thereof, speak for themself. I realize that you apparently have some personal issues that makes you particularly sensitive to the plight of golddiggers but someone has to speak out for them I suppose.

Posted by: Brandon at May 18, 2007 9:07 PM

Actually, Brandon, people think you flip burgers for a living because you're obviously an neanderthal inbred idiot.

But I suppose we should take into consideration that even inbred idiots could have found oil or coal somewhere under their deck.

Wonder of wonders...KO just used a quote from the Pentagon to present its side of the story about body armor for troops in the Middle East. Another step toward balance.

Cecelia: I think Countdown could remain politically targeted AND have opposing views. Again, I wish he would. That would prove whether or not he can handle such interviews.

Paul: Agreed. He hasn't said much (in anything) that wasn't anti-administration. As I've often said, I would hope that he would treat a Democratic administration with the same critical eye. We may get our chance to see. And, WPITW plays to his base. If MSNBC got a ton of negative feedback to the segment, don't you think there would be a change? It IS a signature segment and it works for KO. Maybe it is personal. His loyal viewers don't seem to care.

res: failed everywhere I've gone, huh? Let's see, I've worked in two markets in 30 years. I somehow don't think you "fail" and still survive that long in just two markets.

Cecelia: I think Countdown could remain politically targeted AND have opposing views. Again, I wish he would. That would prove whether or not he can handle such interviews.

Posted by: doug at May 18, 2007 9:28 PM

Doug, I've always thought that should be Countdown's M.O.

However, you've said nothing here to suggest that you haven't come lately to that position and by lately I mean in the last dayor so. In fact you've argued that FOX News, is comparable to Countdown in that conservatives viewers can go there and find just the same sort of one-sidedness that Olbermann offers, and that is just NOT the case. There is nothing on any cable channel that is comparable to the sort of one-view only poltical show that's Countdown.

But glad to see you've made it out of the wilderness, Doug.

Hey Doug, did you see your "shout out" from Daily Kos, I saw link posted here somewhere. I was a pretty fun, they think you are going to get kicked off OW for your views. We'd never do that, you actually make sense most of the time.

Yup, I saw the Kos link. I take it as a compliment! I emailed the author to assure him that I wouldn't be kicked off here!

Yup, I saw the Kos link. I take it as a compliment! I emailed the author to assure him that I wouldn't be kicked off here!

Posted by: doug at May 18, 2007 10:13 PM

An irony that's lost on that Countdown fan, I'm sure...

Dear Doug,

First calm down! There was a newsman, I do believe his name was Nolan Johanis. He worked apx. 30 years at one station! so he beats you. Oh course that station was Scranton Pa.

I don't think your a failed newscaster. But I also think Olby is nothing but a 3rd rate teleprompter reading hack.

Look, just listen to him on Dan Patrick's show compaired to Countdown. On his own? Not good.

It's not that he won't have opposing views on, he can't have opposing views on.

He is a scripted, teleprompter reading puppet

You name them. Zahn, Grace, A.C., Hannity, Colmes, Beck, O'Reilly. They have all gone somewhere to get a story.

Olby? He's been down to W.T.C. twice!

He sits behind his desk, night after night, with the same talking parrots. and there are lots of nights where Johnny, E Schatz, or Robert have shown that he has used talking points word for word from blog sites and tried to pass them off as his own.

Doug, HE'S LAZY!!!!!!!!!

Doug I'm sure you prep before going on. You want to make sure things are right to the best of your knowledge.

Not just go on like Ted Baxter.

Doug if he's the next Edward R. Morrow, how come they gave the weekend nightly news to Lester Holt? And by the more and more we hear. Olby is pretty much just going to read football scores on Sunday?

Doug, I'm sure in 30 years you've gone more places then Olby.

Here's the problem I have with the kid video. He showed it 15 TIMES! 10 the regular way and five in an arcade setting.

When he went past five it became 'this is wrong'. When the five in the arcade setting came on it became 'there's something mentally wrong!!!'

Nobody in pre-production said, this doesn't look right?

Or did they just keep yuking it up?

How many other newscasts are going to show that video 15 times?

How many other newscasts could show that video the way they did and NOT! end up on WPITW??????

If O'Reilly showed the video the way Olby did. Would Olby, Media Matters, Huffington Post, and on and on. Not have a field day with Bill?

Would we not have heard from the high and mightly Olby what a sick display of journalism was displayed by O'Reilly?

But doing Nazi Salutes and showing little kids getting kicked in the head over and over gets you a pass if your Keith Olbermann.

Doug you can have him!

Have a nice weekend

puck: I was disappointed tonight that he didn't say something about how wrong the Thursday segment was. As for the Lester Holt reference, they are two different people. I don't think KO would have wanted the weekend gig. Heck, he gets 4 million to do what he enjoys. Why work weekends?

Doug

You've won a Peabody award. They don't give them out like Candy.

Olby, they have to invent the 'Molly Ivins' Award.

And a few weeks ago I was watching the news while in Watertown, NY.

One of the reporters up there has recieved an Edward R. Morrow Award.

Well yippie skippy. Give that woman her own show on MSNBC!!!!

Doug....3 minutes of the show, 30 minutes of the show, the whole show, who cares.

You can't extrapolate the comments of one show like that....look at the whole picture. I have to admit, I am curious as to how KO will spin Bush's leftist stance on immigration as "bad for Republicans" (without agreeing with El Rushbo's comment today that this should be titled "The Death of the Republican Party in 2007" bill).

CD doesn't have to be, as you put it, "a 'newscast of record' product'. But lets look at the previous week's shows....

On the 14th, 15th, and 16th, Wolfowitz was the #5 or #4 story every night. On the 17th, when his resignation was announced, only 20 seconds or so was donated to the story. OK, so they had already "built their show with a solid piece on Comey as the lead, so Wolfowitz got nothing more than a brief mention." CD is live. Is KO so inept at breaking news (rhetorical) that the CD staff didn't have time to update the teleprompters so that he could give the story the time he was tried so hard over the last week to tell us it deserves?

Again, look at the body of work. Don't pull comments from one episode, which by your own implied admission contained the possibly serious injury of a child and an out of context quote in just 3 minutes, to rant on the KO haters.

Lastly, how long till Rush is WPITW again for today's comment that he suggested Sir Mixalot's "I like big butts"(sic) as Hillary's campaign song. Probably Monday since it was made around 1:30 and CD was already in the bag by then.

"built their show with a solid piece on Comey as the lead, so Wolfowitz got nothing more than a brief mention. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Comey's story is right out of a spy novel and deserves the critical attention it's getting"

A reasonable person would absolutely agree with you if your assertion that the facts are compatible with a 'spy novel', or to phrase it differently a soap opera melodrama.were true.

It is not.

Lets look at this from CBS. It was buried way back at the end after their melodramatic take, but they do give us some quotes.

"On March 12 at their daily briefing of the president, Mr. Bush asked Comey and Mueller for separate private conversations on Justice's concerns about the eavesdropping program. There, Comey said, Mr. Bush agreed to do "the right thing."

"We had the president's direction to do what we believed, what the Justice Department believed, was necessary to put this matter on a footing where we could certify to its legality," Comey said of the period after those private meetings. "We did that.".

Why let the facts get in the way of a tear jerker sob story.

Grammie

what is the point of this post? did someone hack into olbermannwatch?

Grammie,

Since when did facts get in the way of anything on Countdown?

But then, facts really aren't important as long as you are the Edward R. Murrow of our generation speaking truth to power, are they Doug?

Take a partial quote out of context to attack "comedian" Rush Limbaugh? Not important to the Olby defenders....it's only a minute out of his hour "newscast."

Show a kid getting kicked in the head 15 times? Again, not important, it's less than two minutes of the hour long "truth to power" fest" known as Countdown.

As was previously mentioned in these comments, the quote that got Imus fired, technically, was 3 words. Of course once those 3 little words were said, Reverand Al, and others jumped on the body of work.

KO laughs at a kid getting kicked in the head? KO manipulates quotes? Come on people, CD is great, KO is a hero, quit harping on 3 minutes of the greatest, hippest newshour on TV.

Doug, as a journalist, you surely must see the hypocrisy here. I don't expect to change your mind and make you abandon your Olbergasms, but dear Lord, it really looks as if you just decided it had been a while and you had a KO defense post due.

Surely, an award winning journalist as yourself can do better than (paraphrasing here, lest I be accused of making up quotes) "Well, KO can't be expected to cover breaking news on a live news show, even though he's been leading most of his program for the last two weeks with Wolfowitz, because hey, the show was already written, and the Comey story sounds neat."

All this post did was lend credence to the ideas that:
a. Olbyloons will reach for any straw to defend him. The majority of the comments, on which you based your post, were based on the two most obvious, egregious offenses of last night's CD. Were they the only two? Far from, but they were the two most inflamatory.

b. KO is weak with breaking news. With hours to prepare for a live broadcast (by your defense, if not reality) KO and the CD producers were unable to change the script to cover a story he had stressed for days. Instead, they covered what they had already written. Now I doubt that your opinion on this is based on fact rather than conjecture, as I doubt you have any real knowledge on the inner workings of the CD production process, but giving the benefit of the doubt that you may be correct, how does this speak well for KO?

Brit Hume was able to cover the story, with a correspondent's report, on his live newscast. KO? "Hey, Wolfie's gonna quit next month, but here's something else bad for Republican's that we had already written before I took Katy to the zoo, so who cares."

Doug, you've done much better, and probably will again. This was not one of your better efforts.

I was at the Personal Democracy Forum conference yesterday in New York and was unable to post the video of the baby being kicked until this morning. It's up now here:

http://www.olbermannwatch.com/archives/2007/05/keith_olbermann_43.php#comments

For those who might be interested, Tom Friedman was there along with Eric Schmidt from Google and the heads of the eCampaigns for Edwards (Joe Trippi), Romney (Mindy Finn), McCain, Hillary (Peter Daou) and one other campaign. The MoveOn crowd was there in force.

A tip of my hat to you, sir. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you've said in this post, and it sincerely needed to be said.

More apologies and excuses for Keith's deplorable behavior by his fans. That's as disgusting if not more so than Olbermann thinking video of a kid getting hit was absolutely hilarious.

Gonzales, McNulty, Wolfowitz etc. We need a few more Olbermann's on the air to keep us informed of all the rotten apples of the Bush administration falling from the diseased tree.

And the apologists all rush in to change the subject from the fact that Keith Olbermann thinks it's hilarious to watch a kid being assaulted. Y

but PLEASE step back and look at the "big picture" sometimes.

Great advice why don't You fucking follow it
dougie...First off what qualifies a failed sportscaster like keith to even have a show... any show???oh shit thats right liberals don't need them... just look at J.Edwards with his one stint in the senate and vast background as an ambulance chaser and presto he's qualified to be VP or how about that lawn jockey obama....so Keith has the one qualification that gets you instant credentials
in the media he is far left .....dumb as you
doug but at least he pushes the liberal line

That video has been around for years.
The girl is probably a teenager by now.

I think I first saw it on one of the primetime
"bloopers" shows way, WAY back.

This is much ado about zilch.

"This is much ado about zilch."

Exactly, David. I mean just lie on the floor and let someone kick you in the head and you will see it really don't hurt that bad and it really is kinda funny. it might sting a little but you will be laughing your ass off about a minute after it's over. So, what's the big deal about Olbermann goofing on a kid getting smakced in the head. Olbermann is a great journalist and is first class all the way. he doesn't need your shit.

A tip of my hat to you, sir. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you've said in this post, and it sincerely needed to be said.
Posted by: Your Kid at NYU at May 19, 2007 2:04 PM

Doug, your bringing in the Olbylovers---good for you! (maybe they stopped by" to find the Katy Tur pics), no no no, they really want to read your positive Olbermann critiques.

Special comment time tonight!