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Posted by johnny dollar at 6:05 PM | Comments (0) | View blog reactions

We now have official documentation that Olbermann is using parody sites for his "news" sources on Countdown. Of course we here at Olbermannwatch have long documented Olbermann's use of questionable blog sources for his "newscasts" and know that without Media Matters, Huffington Post, and Daily Kos, Olbermann wouldn't have any show material whatsoever. But until Thursday night, we had no idea that the writing staff at Countdown were so dumb they couldn't discern from what was a real news source and what was a parody website.

Let's go to the transcript! Olbermann reports:

First here are COUNTDOWN's top three newsmakers of this day. Number three, Fox television is trying to one-up CBS's "Kid Nation" reality show, you know, set up a Lord of The Flies thing and see if they really will kill each other. A mid-season replacement on the Fox Network next January, Kid Army; 40 children, aged seven to 15 training and planning a military mission all on their own. Well, it does sound like it will go better than Iraq.

One tiny problem however with that "source". Turns out it was from a parody site. Two commercial breaks later, Olbermann was forced to. . .gasp! Issue a retraction and apologize, to Fox!

And let's get a correction out of the way immediately here. In the newsmakers segment tonight, we included an item about Fox trying to top CBS‘ show Kid Nation with something called Kid War. The source of that story turns out to be a satirical website. Somebody here didn't notice that. The ultimate responsibility for that falls to me. My apologies to Fox and to you for the lousy vetting.

This would not be the first time the brain trust over at MSNBC had difficulty detecting satire and parody. Only a few short weeks ago, MSNBC.Com was caught posting a story attributing a quote defending Michael Vick to the Rev. Al Sharpton, citing what they said was Sharpton's website.

In a story that MSNBC.com ran last Friday on how the legal troubles of disgraced NFL star Michael Vick are dividing African-Americans, Web site editors apparently fell hook, line and sinker for a parody Web site that made up a quote from the Rev. Al Sharpton. In the first version of the story that appeared on MSNBC.com, Sharpton was quoted as having written on his personal blog, "If the police caught Brett Favre (a white quarterback for the Green Bay Packers) running a dolphin-fighting ring out of his pool, where dolphins with spears attached to their foreheads fought each other, would they bust him? Of course not. They would get his autograph, complimenting him on tightly spiraled passes, then bet on one of his dolphins." In an updated version later in the day, MSNBC.com had retracted the quote and added this "correction" to its report. "An earlier version of this article quoted from a blog entry purportedly by the Rev. Al Sharpton. MSNBC.com has determined that the blog is a hoax." The correction also noted that Sharpton had in the past issued a statement condemning dogfighting. But the 24-year-old founder of the parody site Newsgroper.com, where the Sharpton parody first appeared, thinks that's a bit strong. "It's not right to call it a hoax," said Newsgroper founder Greg Galant. "We didn't put something on Sharpton's letterhead and mail it to them. "We label ourselves a parody and market ourselves as satire," he said. "They just made a mistake. I think they should be apologizing to their readers for reporting parody as fact."

Ouch!

But the best coda on this story is from my favorite Olbyloon, the psychotic and multi-named BerryBush, Tru, Orinenglish, Kathy, Dorrie, Psych101. You see, as we've reported here before, BerryBush aka the Loon of 1000 Names, tapes each and every Olbermann broadcast for her own little personal "archive". I guess she thinks the Smithsonian is going to knock at her door any day and beg for her collection. Witness the following meltdown where Berry loses it over the aforementioned Olbermann apology. Seems she thought that he'd go back and name a new "newsmaker" in the Midnight show, thereby deleting and retaping that segment of the show to cover his error. Naturally, Berry had to have BOTH versions of the broadcast for her "collection". And hilarity ensues.

I am so goddamned stupid, I can't get anything right.

Finally, an Olbyloon has seen the light! And provided ample explanation as to the mindset of his audience!

Before I take myself out back and shoot myself, did anyone catch the re-air last night? Did anyone see Keith's replacement Newsmaker? I set my machine to record it but despite VERY CAREFULLY CHECKING to see that the time I set on it was correct, I didn't get it. Then I look at the time set and it's set to FUCKING PM INSTEAD OF AM! I can't even tell you how angry I am. How many times do I have to look at something and see an A where there's a P...Anyone see it at all? I'm just curious.

Just curious? No dear, you passed the "just curious" stage a long time and are clearly in full-blown psychotic meltdown.

Sometimes I think I should just give up and throw all my recording equipment out the window. Other days I catch adorable things like Keith playing air guitar.

Oh yeah, that Keith, he's "adorable" isn't he? How low must this woman's standards me if she thinks Olbermann is a sex symbol? And Berry aka Loon of 1000 Names? If anyone knocks at your door for your "collection", trust me, it won't be the Smithsonian calling, it'll be the men in white suits with a straight jacket waiting just for you!

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Posted by BCoates at 12:09 PM | Comments (84) | View blog reactions

In the wake of Dan Patrick's departure from ESPN Radio, Keith Olbermann's PR agents have been hard at work floating this preposterous notion:

Keith Olbermann, whose return to radio with Patrick help boost both of their profiles the last few years and recreate the chemistry from their "Big Show" days on "SportsCenter," said Thursday's announcement was the first he had heard of The Content Factory.
"I told Dan directly that I've been exactly where he is, and I'll support him any way I can, and that he needs to do whatever works best for him," Olbermann said Thursday. Olbermann added that ESPN has "been terrific and I'm very torn" about whether to continue on the network radio show - either hosting it by himself, as the network has offered, or do a shorter version. He could also join Patrick somewhere down the road at another syndicated show. "I don't think with my other jobs I could give it as much as the company and listeners deserve," said the MSNBC "Countdown" anchor said of taking Patrick's ESPN Radio spot. "Plus, my motivation has been working with DP. In short, we'll see."

Yeah, sure Keith, you do realize of course that you'd actually have to talk about a sport other than baseball if you took over Dan Patrick's radio show right? Olbermann's dead silences when anything other than baseball were being discussed reveal Olbermann knows as much about other sports as he does about news, which is to say, little or nothing.

But wait--there's more:

From today's New York Daily News:

Match made in hell: When NBC Sports added Keith Olbermann to its Sunday "Football Night In America" pregame show, questions were raised about the Peacock bringing in another anchor to team with Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas. There was speculation a studio configuration would be devised where Costas and Olbermann would work at separate desks. According to an NFL spy that won't be the case. "They will be together and will be encouraged to, well, debate," the spy said. This could be interesting. Olbermann is a loose cannon. Costas ain't. Kind of like mixing Vodka with Yoo-hoo.

Oh yeah, that's why viewers tune in to NFL football-to watch Olbermann and Costas "debate". It ain't a political forum folks, it's supposed to be a sports show.

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Posted by BCoates at 11:49 AM | Comments (53) | View blog reactions

Heroes
A piece of my mind

I'm sitting on Woody's couch watching some whore of an intern trying to fill in for Keith Olbermann, and failing miserably. But that's beside the point.

Liveblogging Olbermann
The adventures of Princess Megling...

Crap! No Keith tonight. And when I heard a girl's voice, I thought it might be Allison Stewart. She has subbed a million times. I recognized her from somewhere- but I wasn't interested. Lately though, I've been seeing her on 'The Green.' So my ears kind of perked up. But it's not. This Allison Notivotny (sp?) chick looks A LOT like Christy Harvey.

Heroes
It's the Patriarchy!!!

In email this week, my mom posed the question, who are your living heroes? Here was my response: media figures Michael Moore and Keith Olbermann.

Fort Dix Six: Keith Olbermann, Kos, Left Work to Change Image
Post Chronicle

In his "style" of continuing to play down any and all Islamist threats, we have MSNBC's Uber-leftist Keith Olbermann telling his handful of viewers on the same day the on-our-soil Islamists were arrested: "The FBI arrested six morons." As other leftists, Olbermann seems genuinely angry that the would-be terrorism plotters did not accomplish their goal.

Today's starter, Keith Olbermann
Times Herald-Record

The injury bug has spread from the Yankees' clubhouse to the press box. Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," reported to last night's game on crutches. He is battling a stress fracture in his right foot. "I'm ready to pitch for the Yankees," Olbermann joked.

Email to MSNBC
maeghanmcnamara

My mother has watched [Imus] on MSNBC since it was first put on the network. Because of this, we were introduced to other programs that we came to love and watch regularly, specifically Countdown. Much like Imus' program, we found that Olbermann's program was unlike any other on television today...She is especially upset by Keith Olbermann's lack of support in this matter. They obviously host two very different programs, but it is because of each host's choices to say things that everyone doesn't always what to hear that makes both programs so entertaining. This is why I am so upset that Keith Olbermann did not support a man on his network who truly made an impact on broadcast journalism.

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Posted by RCox at 11:17 AM | Comments (3) | View blog reactions

Fort Dix Plot: Right Wing Cheers, Left Wing Jeers
Leaning Straight Up

If you peruse the right wing blogs the details and congratulations to law enforcement are universal. But on the left....I wouldn't say the lefties are as mean spirited as they are about Cheney and Bush, but the general attitude is either a yawn, or some minimizing of the plot to make it no big deal...The Main Stream media has contributed to the jeering: Olbermannwatch.

Olbermann: Jersey Jihad a Hoax!
Red Alerts

The problem Keith has with the F.B.I. story is that the six men arrested are "morons" and thus, in Olbermann’s mind, not dangerous. Olbermann Watch presents the best argument against Olbermann and his moonbattery in this post.

Seditious Keith Olbermann Derides Ft. Dix Six Plot
tmq2

Olbermann is proof that any liberal wacko can get a TV spot. I'll bet he sprang from the same alien space pod Rosie O'Donnell sprang from. I'll also bet he dresses up in women's clothing and make-up and pretends to be Barbra Streisand while singing show tunes during his evenings at home.

Keith Olbermann is the new Johnny Depp
opinionitis

Smart, fearless, dapper, intense, funny. I forgive him for not being a pirate.

Lady Raiders Coach Talks About Recruiting
The Williams and Hyatt Show Blog

A smattering of thoughts from the back of the media hospitality room while wondering how long it will take ESPN RADIO to dump Keith Olbermann from the Dan Patrick Show.

Olbermann: Bush Only Wants White Voters
JammieWearingFool

To help make his case he brings in Rachel Maddow from Air America. Fair and balanced as always...

Jossip
We Had the Time 100 of Our Lives

It was in this pre-event hour (sponsored by Cartier! it must be mentioned) that MSNBC general manager Dan Abrams, unsolicited, reminded us that he created Keith Olbermann's star (a joke, or at least a halfway joke)

THURSDAY'S LETTERS: Olbermann, Civilian Death Payouts, 9/11 Newspaper
Editor & Publisher

In today's letters, praise for Keith Olbermann, and comments on Greg Mitchell's recent columns about the newspaper on the morning of 9/11/2001 and payments given to the families of dead civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Featured Blog Of The Week: OlbermannWatch.com
Political Vindication

Olbermann Watch is our Blog of the Week! Robert Cox, managing editor of Olbermannwatch.com has fashioned a powerful resource for those who want to do more than ignore the political nerf balls fired off by Keith Olbermann every day. In a media landscape that rewards shock and awe political commentary, it’s good to have a TV host who regularly offers his ample ass for an aura - cleansing kicking. Robert Cox and his crew of sardonic soldiers pillary and pulverize the arguments and grooming habits of KO with both insight and humor - especially humor! It’s worth your time - go there!

Olbermann Equals O'Reilly. Huh?
Huffington Post

Another touch o' drivel from our sterling mainstream press, as noted by various commentators: Yesterday AP ran a story about Giuliani's complaint over Keith Olbermann's participation in the GOP "debate" broadcast. I guess since Olbermann hammered America's Mayor for going demagogic with 9/11 speeches (Giuliani, ole Mr. Police Riot Instigator, a demogogue?

Olbermann Not a "Democratic Partisan"?!
Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels

I'm always amazed when liberals try to tell you with a straight face that some journalist or other isn't liberal but is being "objective." In this instance, Walsh tries to whitewash Olbermann's screeds about the president by calling him a "Bush critic." This would be like saying Jeffrey Dahmer was a carnivore. Olbermann isn't just a "Bush critic." There's a website devoted to his nuttiness.

Keith Olbermann's Republican Debate Coverage Pulls in Loads of Viewers, Complaints
Jossip

Keith Olbermann may be MSNBC's shining star - the shining star that network GNM Dan Abrams takes credit for - but he's also the source for their biggest headaches. The higher ups obviously thought having Keith host their Republican debate coverage would be a great idea for ratings. And it was: While Fox News won Thursday evening's overall ratings, MSNBC's 1.76 million was a win for The Peacock. But perhaps what they didn't expect is the same backlash Fox News receives when it lets Brit Hume anchor a newscast: Why the hell is the most infamous liberal show host anchoring what should be objective coverage of the Republican presidential debate?

Wait, Keith Olbermann Dated Stalked Rebecca Lobo?
Awful Announcing

This is one of those stories/rumors that you automatically do not believe, but I guess anything is possible. Keith Olbermann, who has taken a random hiatus from the Dan Patrick Show, has some issues with stalkers. That's not the crazy part....the crazy part is that Keith is complaining about her when he used to do the same thing (I learned it by watching YOU Keith!!!)

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Media Double Standard Dept: Can you imagine what the reaction would be...
The Cable Game

Welcome to the world of double standards: MSNBC uses Keith Olbermann in last Thursday night's debate, and the MSM doesn't so much as notice. That left Rudy Giuliani to complain about Olbermann's role at the Reagan Library debate as reported by the AP's David Bauder.

Brit Hume is a "journalist"; Keith Olbermann is "partisan"
Salon/Glenn Greenwald

On Friday, the Associated Press -- in the course of reporting that the Giuliani campaign complained to NBC News that Keith Olbermann was assigned to cover the GOP presidential debate -- made certain statements which brightly reveal the current state of our political press. Think Progress has highlighted several misleading aspects of the AP story, and Joan Walsh today dissects several other glaring flaws with the story. I want to focus on what this episode so potently demonstrates about modern "journalism."

Olbermann's Anti-Bush Debate Coverage, Republicans 'Belligerent' Toward Iran
Newsbusters

During Thursday's Republican presidential debate, which was dominated by questions that sounded like they were made up by liberal bloggers, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, known for his many anti-conservative and anti-Bush rants, got to anchor the cable network's debate coverage.

Did AP Stretch Traditional Notions Of Objectivity When It Repeated Giuliani Talking Points?
TalkLeft

This line in an AP news article is, in itself, stretching traditional notions of journalistic objectivity past the breaking report. This sentence is an opinion, namely, the opinion of the Giuliani campaign repeated as a fact by an AP news report. It also misspells the word ideologue. Can the Associated Press, after this egregious breach of journalistic ethics, continue to cover the Giuliani Presidential campaign? Of course it can. It screwed up. It should admit its error and move on. Keith Olberman, by the way, did not screw up. He labelled his Special Comment um, a special comment, not news. AP did not label its editorializing as opinion. The AP needs a lesson in journalism it seems to me.

Time Magazine's List of Entertainers Who Shape Our World
I Am a TV Junkie

Surprisingly also not on the list, probably because MSNBC has a partnership deal with Newsweek, is Keith Olbermann. Also not listed, neither Colbert nor Stewart.

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Why I Didn't Watch the Debates
Low Man on Totem Pole

If the Democrats are afraid to face Brit Hume on a debate held on Fox News, then why in the world should I give any credence to a Republican debate held by Olbermann, and Matthews on MSNBC? Doesn't seem very "balanced" to me.

Can Keith Olbermann straddle the line between news and opinion?
Associated Press/Boston Herald

Olbermann’s popularity and evolving image as an idealogue has led NBC News to stretch traditional notions of journalistic objectivity. The danger for MSNBC is provoking the same anger among Republicans that Democrats feel toward Fox News Channel.

Get off it Bill O'Reilly
Cindy Sheehan

I have mostly kept silent about Fox and their role as co-conspirators with the Bush Regime because I believe that the organization is too ridiculous to even waste ink or breath on. MSNBC, CNN and the networks are not much better, but they are not as openly pro-war or pro-BushCo as Fox. There are also fabulous internet sites (Media Matters and Sweet Jesus I Hate Bill O'Reilly) that do a great job of pointing out the errors and outright lies of Fox News. Robert Greenwald's Outfoxed and Al Frankens' Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them are great commentaries on the 'fair and balanced" network. O'Reilly is regularly Keith Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" for his hateful and idiotic rhetoric.

MSNBC ignores Congressman Paul's opposition to the Iraq war
Ron Paul 2008

Olbermann continually ignores Congressman Ron Paul’s position against the Iraq War. HE continually insinuates that all conservatives are for the war. When Olbermann May 2: Most Americans reject the war, but many conservatives do not. They vote in primaries, and they'll be watching Thursday's debate. "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann talks with Chris Cillizza of washingtonpost.com.

Keith Olbermann is so dreamy
The Screaming Giraffe

I was a bit confused when I tuned into MSNBC to watch the Republican Presidential debate tonight and found Keith Olbermann co-hosting with Chris Matthews. Matthews is only a sometimes liberal bias kind of guy. But if you want to talk about extreme political bias...let's talk about middle aged teenager Keith Olbermann. Many months ago this contemporary, well groomed, Abbey Hoffman wanna-be gave a four minute on-air hysterical inditement of George Bush for telling the American people not to think.

Thanks, Liberal Media
Most boring site on the web

"Ohh...Steve, there is no Liberal Media Conspiracy. That's just wing-nut delusional paranoia." Yeah? Then why won't the company that employs Keith Olbermann let me watch the Republican Debate? Conspiracy, I tell you! It's getting close to my early bedtime tonight (many things to do tomorrow) but I thought I'd checkout part of the Republican Debate before I went to sleep. Fire up a browser and head on over to MSNBC, click on the link... DENIED

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Posted by RCox at 6:36 PM | Comments (1) | View blog reactions

In the FNC-MSNBC Turf War, Nobody Loses, But Nobody Wins
Jossip

Fox News features MSNBC's Keith Olbermann in b-roll footage. Keith Olbermann puts the footage in Countdown. Any questions on how the self-referential news cycle works? Didn't think so.

We're All Mad Here
Calamity Menagerie

It's the same thing at Media Matters; every article is either "[name of commentator/politician] is a lying jerk," "Keith Olbermann says [name of commentator/politician] is a lying jerk" or "[name of commentator/politician] attacks us for calling [him/her] a lying jerk."

Keith Olbermann Is Jesus
We Love America More Than Anyone

If I had a wife, I would want Keith Olbermann to impregnate her so I could pretend the kid was mine.

Sweetie, I almost forgot our anniversary
Newspeak

Keith Olbermann -- the man who ends every show with a tally of the days since the declaration of "Mission Accomplished" -- celebrated the 4-year anniversary of that infamous day in true style yesterday. Keith, on this anniversary, I would marry you all over again, man.

"Mission Accomplished"
The Krile Files

...heard an interesting factoid about Olbermann this morning. Monica Novatny was on the Stephanie Miller show, talking about working with Olbermann. She mentioned that he writes almost all of his show himself! That's impressive.

Phil Giraldi on Hannity & Colmes Tonight
No Quarter

Phil Giraldi, who signed the letter to George Tenet along with Larry Johnson and other former CIA officers, will be on Hannity & Colmes tonight at 9pm ET on FOX News. Here's what Mr. Giraldi said on Countdown with Keith Olbermann Monday.

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Michelle Malkin Creams Olbermann in Ratings - AGAIN
186kperSecond

I'm sure the folks at Obermann Watch will have something to say about Michelle Malkin easily beating "Mr. NFL / NBC Contributing Analyst / Countdown Host" Keith Olbermann.

Vernon Lee
Tempest in a Teapot

I've been engaged in an experiment. For some time, I've felt that daily immersion in the blogosphere and friendly media outlets (hello, Keith Olbermann; nice to see you, Bill Moyers) produces a strange tunnel vision that could perhaps be the equivalent of what many in Left Blogistan suspect to be a miasma of smug, clubby insiderhood that settles over Georgetown like a pestilent fog.

Who's Running The Show?
The Yankee Despiser

At a visit to the owner's suite when the guest was former President Bill Clinton in June 2005, Steinbrenner demonstrated to Clinton how much he knew of Olbermann's career. "What I saw was the sharpness, but he couldn't remember my name," Olbermann said. According to a recent piece in the New Yorker quoted by "Gawker", George has Alzheimer's. This would explain the Olbermann incident.

"The Gates" to Close Tribeca Film Festival
ARC Magazine

The Gates is a site-specific art installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The artists installed 7,503 metal "gates" along 23 miles (37 km) of pathways in Central Park in New York City...They received a great deal of their nationwide fame as a frequent object of ridicule by David Letterman as well as Keith Olbermann, whose apartment was nearby.

Analyzing Bill O'Reilly...
Inside Cable News

Indiana University media researchers did a study of Bill O'Reilly's O'Reilly Factor program which will no doubt be controversial. But will O'Reilly comment on it? I'm sure Olbermann will.

You are music to my ears, Keith Olbermann
Relevant or True

And then it's the end of the show, which is lucky because - hey - they've got a Dodgers game to get to. Keith "Good night"-s us, and "Good luck"-s us as well, and then he lets Bateman throw the balled up piece of paper at the camera. Damn fine show tonight.

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