Official Top Five Things OW Readers "hate" About Keith
To hate someone is to invest in them a power they do not have and so to that extent Olbermann Watch readers cannot be said to "hate" Keith because they do not perceive him to be a serious person and thus not someone worthy of such an investment. A review of the responses to our recent request of readers to list the things they "hate" most about Keith Olbermann show a definite pattern. As one reader put it "I don't hate him...just the character he portays on TV".
Rather than "hate" Keith, our exhaustive research shows that Olbermann Watch readers despise what Olbermann stands for, that unique form of political hubris found consistently among those on the far-left not content to simply advocate their own beliefs but to arrogantly project those beliefs on their opponents because they cannot imagine a world where anyone genuinely disagrees with them; therefore, any expression of disagreement is disingenuous and those who profess contrarian opinions are liars and hypocrites. In Keith's case that political hubris appears to be rooted in a personal hubris borne out of a psychological insecurity and need to "belong" which manifests itself in a constant obsession with judging what is "cool" and a deep-seated need to be perceived by "cool" people as being "cool"; in Keith's case a form of narcissism based on childhood traumas related to his self-described utter lack of this quality.
So, here it is, the official Olbermann Watch list of...
"Top Five Things We Hate About Keith Olbermann"
Number Five: Keith's refusal to book guests who disagree with him or who disagree with any of the shills he books on his show to parrot his take on a particular topic and his unwillingness to to present any perspective on a story that does not comport with his own world view.
Number Four: Keith's unquestioning reliance on political propaganda from groups like Media Matters, the Center of American Progress, the Democratic Party and far-left blogs as the basis for so-called "news" stories.
Number Three: Keith's narcissistic attempts to invite comparisons between himself, a sports and news new anchor who does occasional commentary, and Edward R. Murrow, an icon of broadcast journalism; most notably his mocking use of the phrase "Good night and good luck" to end each broadcast of Countdown.
Number Two: Keith's disturbing and oddly sexual obsession with Bill O'Reilly and the Fox News Channel.
Number One: Keith stole Ashleigh Banfield's glasses.
The complete list of entries, culled from this post, is below. I want to thank all who submitted entries and, in particular meng, for that last one.
Raw Research Data
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1. The total lies told on Meltdown.
2. His constant distortions of the facts.
3. His demonization tactics used on his enemies.
4. He is a total shill for Hillary Clinton.
5. His use of hateful partisan left wing blogs as "factual" information that he does not source.
Posted by: The Factor at January 4, 2008 12:34 PM
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1. How everything he hates is coincidently against the Constitution.
2. Impeccible smarm.
3. Worst Person in the World award given daily and to Republicans exclusively for flimsy reasons.
4. Champion of websites to the left of Castro.
5. Facts for him are needless things.
Posted by: pickles at January 4, 2008 12:55 PM
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1. Claims he is either and TV host or 'journalist' as he see fit.
2. Stole his entire closing act from Letterman (breaking glass with paper or pencils) and Murrow's signoff
3. Cry's poor after signing a multi million dollar contract.
4. Fully engaged in the early ESPN culture of stalking/harassing women and continues to refer to them in an assortment of degrading terms.
5. Those glasses! Not only are they the immediate hipster doofus fad of the moment wait and see how ridiculous they'll seem 10 years from now.
Posted by: ? at January 4, 2008 1:08 PM
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His absolute refusal to debate anybody he fundamentally disagrees with. That's called cowardice. You got that, Bill Moyers?
Posted by: Scott at January 4, 2008 2:02 PM
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(1) Mr. Olbermann and his producers repeatedly use stories garnered from liberal (or even non-ideological) non news-accredited web sites or blogs without either: (a) properly attributing those sites as the source of the item or, more important (b)
undertaking any original reporting that verifies the substance of the story.
(2) Following on from (1), Mr. Olbermann and his producers continually fail to allow
critical subjects of news stories to appear on the show to respond to their criticism.
It's a basic rule of journalism to allow the subject of a news story to respond to the allegations in that report.
(3) Mr. Olbermann repeatedly fails to separate his opinion on issues from the new stories he is reporting on.
Since he identifies his commentaries as just that, "Special Commentary", he obviously understands that news anchors are required to leave their own views and opinions outside of the news room when engaged in hard news reporting.
Opinions must be labeled as that: opinion. To mix opinion and fact violates another
basic rule of journalism.
(4) Related to item (2) above, Mr. Olbermann regularly covers contentious issues by inviting only guests with one view - almost alway his own - on his show to discuss that topic. That is not balanced or fair reporting.
As we all know, the very contentious issues of the war on terror, Iraq, treatment of
alien detainees, along with other related subjects are enormously complex ones.
Men and women of goodwill and sincerely held beliefs come down on opposite sides
of these issues.
Mr. Olbermann, however, apparently does not believe that those with views he
disagrees with argue in goodwill. Or even have an argument worthy of being
presented.
(5) After listing items (1) through (4) above, one can only conclude that
"Countdown" fails in providing its viewers objective, balanced news.
The program is simply not a news show.
Mr. Olbermann is simply not a news anchor.
If Mr. Olbermann and his producers wish to broadcast an opinion show where topics
are only covered from one perspective, where the host uses the program as a
platform to personally and professionally attack those he dislikes, where opinion and
fact are mixed, then please advertise the program as just that: an opinion show.
Steven M. Galbraith
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1. How he truly hates America, and always takes the time to demonize anything the Bush administration does to fight terrorism.
2. How he distorts the facts so blantantly to fit into his anti-American views.
3. How he always attacks Bill O'Reilly on his show, as he knows O'Reilly is one of the true Americans who has been against everything I believe in.
4. How he never has an opposing view on his show, knowing full well that any opposing view would expose him as the incompetent shrill that he is. (Allah forbid!)
5. How he takes such glee in noting every American killed in their fight against my most loyal subjects.
5 (a). How he has influenced so many Americans to go against their own country with his clever disguise of being a "concerned citizen."
Yes, for me Mr. Olbermann has been one of my most deceitful and powerful cells carrying out everything I've asked of him.
He has done more harm to America than any other being on this planet,
which makes it impossible for me to make a list of even 1 thing I hate about him.
Akuba!!! Ayeee!!!!
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden at January 4, 2008 4:17 PM
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The top thing I hate about Olbermann is that running his anti-Republicans Stories have destroyed the campain of Laz Fred. I want another President I can lead into a pointless conflict so I can kill as many americans as possible and recruit muslims to drive out the crusader. Olbermann is helping elect a compent president one less easy to lead around like a fool. this upsets me much.
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden at January 4, 2008 4:48 PM
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For me it all boils down to one simple category: bias. Olbermann's show reeks of it, yet he wants to be portrayed as an alternative to Fox and their alleged biases. So Olbermann seems to think that the way to address what is perceived as Fox's bias for the GOP is to respond with MORE bias in favor of Democrats. That is such an insult to journalism that I don't even know where to begin. And yet, he holds himself out as a journalist when he's clearly nothing more than a sports anchor with a huge chip on his shoulder. His natural arrogance and ego have come together to create a program that is anti-anything that Fox is. In the process, Olbermann has trashed what journalism is and should be. I can't applaud that. It's like pronouncing that a criminal is guilty of murdering a person and trying to make it better by going out and murdering two more people. He ignores any facts that aren't flattering to the Dems. He ignores any facts that are flattering to the Republicans. His rabid fans can't seem to get that it is this willful and blatant disregard of the facts is what is truly wrong with Olbermann's show. I'd condemn it with Fox, I'll condemn it with anyone, but Olbermann seems to have taken this approach for one reason and one reason alone: to score attention and viewers (and possibly comely young viewers into his bedroom). Deplorable.
Posted by: Disgusted at January 4, 2008 4:58 PM
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For me it all boils down to one simple category: bias. Olbermann's show reeks of it, yet he wants to be portrayed as an alternative to Fox and their alleged biases. So Olbermann seems to think that the way to address what is perceived as Fox's bias for the GOP is to respond with MORE bias in favor of Democrats. That is such an insult to journalism that I don't even know where to begin. And yet, he holds himself out as a journalist when he's clearly nothing more than a sports anchor with a huge chip on his shoulder. His natural arrogance and ego have come together to create a program that is anti-anything that Fox is. In the process, Olbermann has trashed what journalism is and should be. I can't applaud that. It's like pronouncing that a criminal is guilty of murdering a person and trying to make it better by going out and murdering two more people. He ignores any facts that aren't flattering to the Dems. He ignores any facts that are flattering to the Republicans. His rabid fans can't seem to get that it is this willful and blatant disregard of the facts is what is truly wrong with Olbermann's show. I'd condemn it with Fox, I'll condemn it with anyone, but Olbermann seems to have taken this approach for one reason and one reason alone: to score attention and viewers (and possibly comely young viewers into his bedroom). Deplorable.
Posted by: Disgusted at January 4, 2008 4:58 PM
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The top 2 things that I hate about you, Mr. Olbermann, is that you need to
A) Concentrate more on actual issues! Though the occasional calling out of Rush Limbaugh or Michael Savage comments are amusing, there are more important things in the world to talk about. Leave the right-wing douches alone. And even though Fox News reports on celebrities three times as much you do, it would be better to drop the celebrity news altogether.
-and-
B)Stop giving out any details on your personal life! There are really deranged haters on this site that obsess over any small fact you leak out. I'm not sure if the obsession is with you or your girl but better safe than sorry.
Sincerely your humble viewer,
Trent the Anarcho-Syndicalist
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1. Olby is a pathological liar.
2. Olby is a misogynist.
3. Olby is a hypocrite.
4. Olby is an egomaniac and pompous ass.
5. Olby is a moonbat, libnut, socialist, insane, creepy orange loon!
Posted by: at January 4, 2008 7:35 PM
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How he closes his show.
Olbermann always closes MSNBC COUNTDOWN by stating the number of days since President Bush held his now infamous MISSION ACCOMPLISHED rally on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. The reason is obvious, Keith Olbermann has been a critic of the administration and its policy in Iraq for sometime now. This position is his and he has every right to take it and express it.
However, there have been instances when this little dig, follows such discussions as Britney Spears' breasts with regular contributor Michael Musto or even more disgusting and adolescent segments. If one watches the online video resources of these closings, one still sees the prepubescent smirk on Olbermann's face as he disrespects the ongoing sacrfice of Americas true heroes and patriots. Sometimes he is even chortling from the last segment as he says "mission accomplished."
The next regular aspect of his closing is the Edward R. Murrow quote, "Good night and good luck." The famous line from the McCarthy era show SEE IT NOW has great dramatic effect and once again it is obvious to the informed viewer why Olbermann uses it. As a critic of the administration in regards to the use of covert operations and worry over unconstitutional activity, Olbermann has been vocal and has devoted much of his show to analyzing and commenting on the President's policies. In addition, Olbermann has expressed his great respect for Mr. Murrow and using his famous concluding line is a fitting tribute.
However, to the informed viewer, Olbermann cannot claim any connection or resemblance to Ed Murrow. Mr. Murrow was an objective journalist who investigated his own stories and did the actual labor and foot work that such great accomplishment demand. Olbermann is a desk jockey who has never done the investigative journalism Murrow was known for.
Murrow also allowed the subjects of his investigative work equal time to address what he had uncovered. This ethical journalistic practice even was afforded to Murrow's most famous target, Senator Joseph McCarthy. SEE IT NOW publically announced it would allow Senator McCarthy total and uninteruppted access to its time slot to counter any or all of what Murrow and his fine staff presented.
Keith Olbermann has never made such an offer and has never allowed the subjects of his stories time to respond to his accusations. From former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld to President Bush to former POW and Navy pilot Senator John McCain, Keith Olbermann has made wild and crazy accusations but has never allowed them, or their easily found public defenders, access to him or his program to refute the same.
To end COUNTDOWN like Murrow ended SEE IT NOW suggests Olbermann is acting like his idol. He is not. He is a partisan pundit who pushes the agenda of the establishment Democratic Party. He is not an independent, objective voice and to use the words of a great journalist to end his broadcast is an injustice.
Just this past Wednesday, 1/2/08....the official MSNBC transcript reads:
"OLBERMANN: And the premise on this, perhaps, dating a paparazzo is “if you can‘t beat ‘em, join ‘emâ€, so to speak?
"MUSTO: Oh, talk about sleeping with the enemy, this is like Olivia de Havilland sleeping with Joan Fontaine or Hillary with anybody. It‘s just ridiculous.
"OLBERMANN: All right, I‘ve got an Olivia de Havilland-Joan Fontaine reference. I‘ll close it out with Lindsay Lohan—three make-out sessions reported in 24 hours, three different guys. Is it refreshing that her sobriety has not impeded her joie de vive? Or, is she just figuring out that at least one of them had to have a drink and she didn‘t get a contact guy.
"MUSTO: Yes, she was sucking on her tongue a little too intensely. But it is amazing that it‘s just an energy drink and some Altoids—that kind that gets you zingy and have you scoring anything with facial hair, short of Queen Latiffa.
"OLBERMANN: That‘s right. Garron, give me a kiss and a lime. The one and only Michael Musto. Thanks, Michael.
"MUSTO: Thank you.
"OLBERMANN: And that‘s COUNTDOWN for this, the 1,708th day since the declaration of mission accomplished in Iraq. From New York, I‘m Keith Olbermann. Remember, throughout the day tomorrow, join us here for the best coverage of the Iowa caucuses. We‘ll probably get the first results, maybe even a call of Iowa when I join you for COUNTDOWN at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific. Chris Matthews then joins me and we will caucus the night away with you until midnight Eastern. That‘s tomorrow night. For now, good night and good luck."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22488624/
Along with smearing the continued accomplishments of The United States armed forces by counting up the days since Iraq had been officially liberated (sometimes with the rhetorical residue or laughter of stories mentioning celebrity undergarments, genitalia and/or breasts), the foreboding, "Good night and good luck" phrase illustrates an imposter of ethical journalism. Keith Olbermann is guilty of hubris and sanctimony everytime he concludes COUNTDOWN.
And this is my post today, the 1,710th day since the declaration of Mission Accomplished in Iraq.....
I am cee, good night and good luck.
"Al Qaeda really hurt us, but not as much as Rupert Murdoch has hurt us, particularly in the case of Fox News. Fox News is worse than Al Qaeda--worse for our society. It's as dangerous as the Ku Klux Klan ever was."
KEITH OLBERMANN
Posted by: cee at January 4, 2008 8:05 PM
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The top thing I hate about OlberLimp is his way of brushing off all the interupted terrorist attacks (i.e. Fort Dix) as a being perpetrated by a bunch of morons. Of course, if these morons happened to be successful, Limpy would be the first to blame the Bush Administration.
Scott Benner
Canton, MI
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The most revolting thing for me is the use of Murrow's sign-off.
1) it sounds as if Olbermann isn't imaginative enough to come up with one of his own.
2) He's planting the idea in his audience's mind to view him as another Murrow, and there is no comparison there. Not even close. No investigative work, no real job insecurity in pushing the envelope, no traveling to dangerous areas, no legacy of war coverage, and the list goes on.
Posted by: at January 4, 2008 8:25 PM
5. Won't allow rebuttal
4. Won't allow rebuttal
3. Won't allow rebuttal
2. Won't allow rebuttal
1. See 5-4...
Posted by: Cecelia at January 4, 2008 8:30 PM
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Let me add #6.
When Republicans claim that Democrats are weak against terror, that's shameless scare mongering.
"How dare your, sir!"
When Democrats claim that Bush and the Republicans have made the terror threat worse through their policies (Iraq, harsh interrogation techniques, alienating our allies), that's okay.
Apparently you can criticize the Republican policies on terror but can't criticize the Democrats.
Y'now, somewhere that makes sense. But not on this planet.
Posted by: Steve at January 4, 2008 8:33 PM
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1. He's a Liar - When Rosie O'Donnell called American Soldiers fighting in Iraq terrorists with this quote: "655,000 Iraqis are dead, who are the terrorists"?, Keith defended Rosie by lying about her quote, he said that Rosie said "655,000 Iraqis are dead, who is the terrorist"?. He lied about Rudy Giuliani when he said that Rudy said that one of the candidates would invite a certain person to the White House, when Rudy never said such thing.
2. He's a Hypocrite - He has named people "Worst Person in the World" for doing the exact same things he has done, such as comparing people to Nazis or Al Qaeda, not informing viewers that you have done fund raising for a certain guest, and calling people names.
3. He's a Terrorist Symathizer - He's always taking the side of the terrorists. He defends Al Qaeda terrorists in Gitmo. He defends terrorists who attack or threaten Israel. He rails against pretty much every terrorist fighting program such as listening to terrorist's phone calls or tracking there financial transactions.
4. He's Biased - His show has been on the air for five years, and he has yet to invite one conservative to his show. His "Worst Person in the World" list never includes any liberals.
5. He Steals Material - He's always lifting material from left wing blogs. He hardly ever does any of his own research like a real journalist such as Edward R. Murrow.
Posted by: James at January 4, 2008 8:38 PM
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5. Thinks being an unhinged liberal nutbag and hosting Sportcenter qualifies him for the next Edward R Murrow mantle
4. Is to hack sports "journalists" turned unhinged self important liberal nutbags what Bill Maher is to hack comedians turned unhinged self important liberal nutbags.
3. Stole glasses from Ashleigh Banfield.
2. Shaved off The 'Stache and Mullet.
1. Buys his suits at Chess King.
Posted by: meng at January 4, 2008 9:33 PM
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1. The hypocrisy: Claiming to be a journalist with no agenda, when he clearly is left-leaning.
2. His sourcing: He got caught spectacularly with his misquoting Giuliani right after he and guest Huffington supposedly watched and listened to him. KO then tried to shift the blame for his deception to AP.
3. His Media Matters connection: What KO says gets amplified by Hillary's website, regardless of the truth. I especially remember the Limbaugh caller who told he was upset about "this Cindy Sheehan thing", meaning how liberals were supporting the lady who lost her son in Iraq. Rush said "this Cindy Sheehan thing" is all phony, clearly meaning that the liberals were not supporting Cindy Sheehan for her loss, just using her. Both KO and MM claimed that Rush doubted the death of Sheehan's son, something he clearly did not do.
4. His obsession with his timeslot competitor who has 3 times the overall ratings. This obsession is getting freakier the longer it goes on.
5. The whole schadenfreude thing: KO seems to get a kind of sadistic pleasure with his misrepresentations of his targets. Again, freaky.
Posted by: Missouri Show Me at January 4, 2008 9:38 PM
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The extremely arrogant and ignorant manner of righteous indignation he conjures up nightly.
Posted by: McCool at January 4, 2008 10:24 PM
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he's a phony
Posted by: Steve at January 4, 2008 10:31 PM
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MISTER Bush!!!! I love that one, he doesn't have enough respect for the office to call him President. What balls, what a hero, what a way to stand up to the evil govt.
Posted by: McCool at January 4, 2008 10:38 PM
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What I hate about Keith is
1. His big fat ass, orange face, and young girlfriend.
2. He never reads any hilarious limericks on his show that people take the time to post out here
3. He has never had RK on for a debate.
4. He acts like Phony Soldier doesn't even exist, when we all know he is just afraid of what a real man thinks
5. He's a chicken shit with an orange face, big fat ass, young girlfriend, orange face, no tolerance for limericks, orange face, and big fat ass.
Posted by: Wasted Keystrokes at January 4, 2008 11:00 PM
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I hate the 'funny voice' stuff.
I hate when he thinks he is being 'cute'.
I hate when he speaks with all the authority of Dana Carvey's "Church Lady"
Posted by: Cat in the H at January 5, 2008 2:05 AM
1. Keith's ultra-weird obsession with Bill O'Reilly and FoxNews
2. Keith's ridiculous claim of "I'm not politically biased" and "I am politically neutral"
3. Keith's "Good night and good luck" is an insult to Edward R. Murrow (a man who actually reported from the war)
4. Keith's sophomoric insults and name-calling of fellow colleagues
5. The fact that Countdown is billed as the "news show of record" for MSNBC
Posted by: merkle923 at January 5, 2008 10:00 AM
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Here are a few things I hate about Keith Olbermann:
1. His pathological obsession with Bill O'Reilly and the flimsy excuses he uses to attack him.
2. His reliance on Media Matters as gospel.
3. That he uses his Worst Person in the World segment as a vehicle for personal attacks on political opponents.
4. The inappropriate and embarrassing sexual references used to attack Bill Orally, er... I mean "O'Reilly".
5. That he sincerely believes in much of what he says.
That's all that comes to mind at the moment...
Posted by: John-O at January 5, 2008 6:54 PM
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5 dislikes:
1. He's a proven liar
2. He's a partisan hack
3. He's very immature
4. He's very unprofessional
5. He has no credibility
Posted by: royal king at January 5, 2008 7:21 PM
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1.) retractions/corrections:
whenever he doesn't "have to", he doesn't. doesn't present both sides of an argument or extremely rarely, only when it happens by mistake. underreports what he want's, focuses on stories that support his "progressive" agenda. all in all he is either the worst journalist ever, or an opinion commentator who doesn't bother to explain both sides of a story. you hear the "pros" but not the "cons". instead of defending his opinion against a good counter-argument, he just avoids the argument. i just realized i've never heard the man go maddog on anyone other than straight into the camera, yelling at bush... far, far away. to summarize, he's a poor journalist. it insults my intelligence, and i hate that.
2.) derangement syndrome:
if you don't agree with his worldview, your stupid and he hates you. if you're perceived as a threat to him, maddog olbermann really puts on a display. real or not, who knows, the man's largely an act. and surely he has the talent to "act". i hate it when he looks at 3 different cameras in the span of 60 seconds, so he can dramtically look over his own shoulder with those "oh so smart" glasses, with that important looking expression. i love to hate it. its so bad.
3.) insensitivity:
olbermann is insensitive. he hurls slings and arrows all over the place and doesn't even care if he's telling the truth. even if it is true, is it appropriate? what good is it to call paris hilton a whore? why focus on that? it reveals more about keith than it tells us anything about paris hilton. he just gets his kicks like that. thats not even a good example. theres so many examples of smear attacks with no merits at all. meanwhile, olby is so sensitive of his own image that he never corrects himself, he is just trying to project an illusion. if he werent so sensitive, he'd try to correct himself instead of hiding. (like in a tub.) hate it.
4.) willfull dishonesty:
others can do a better job of documenting this area. sometimes he uses blatant misquoting to defend rosie while attacking "fox noise." he figures it's a two for one special lie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxPkq8TCOJ8 johnny dollar has documented a few examples, but there are many more that i just can't remember. but i do remember one thing: i hated it because he was lying.
5.) legacy:
keith has trashed his legacy. instead of the funny guy who entertained us, he became the guy who pissed us off. the guy who seemed to blame america first. the man who belittled so many accomplishments made in the wars. the man who seized on any story that made a conservative look bad, and who ignored any story that did the same for a liberal. the man who humiliated us because we disagreed. not that i ever gave a rats ass about olbermann's legacy,you just gotta hate the fact that one more act you listened to decided to soil itself. as good as he might be at recappin' the highlights, you can't get past who he is anymore. in my mind he is a dishonest liberal activist news pundit with much credibility within nbc and none with me. now when i watch the nfl, feelings of hate wash over me. i hate that.
i don't hate him (till i run into him, im sure) just the character he portays on tv,
olbyhater
Posted by: olbyhater at January 5, 2008 10:52 PM
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I hate that fricking Olberman is a "commentator" on Monday night football!
Football is a man's game and I can not figure out how that commie bitch got the spot?? Oh yeah NBC ...never mind...
Posted by: Michael at January 7, 2008 2:41 PM
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One more thing I can't stand about Keith:
1. That he'll mischaracterize and stretch the truth of something in the worst possible way in order to smear someone he dislikes.
Posted by: John-O at January 7, 2008 10:14 PM
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1. His eyebrows (hey Groucho Marx wants them back) 2. His attempts at humor (makes him look stupid) 3. His remarks about Bill 'O (way to much jealousy) 4. His political analyst's (same people everyday) 5. His opinions (always negative)
Posted by: Jerry at January 8, 2008 5:21 AM
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