Look, I like KO a lot and totally oppose the suspension, but...

[Naturyl]

Isn't it kind of odd that we're going completely apeshit over an event in an MSM we *claim* to hate and pay no attention to?

Seriously, it's great to try to get KO back on-air, but maybe a little perspective is order today as well.

[thunder rising]

1. Sometimes I hate the fact that the ratings don't go negative.

[Robb]

2. The MSM lies every time

...except for when they say things we want to hear. ;)

[Naturyl]

3. Yeah, funny how that works, eh? (n/t)

[johnfunk]

4. I pay plenty of attention to the GOP-biased lamestream media

Betcha CNN buys out Olbermann's contract.

[gateley]

5. They could sure use him. nt

[napi21]

6. We have so few progressive talkers on TV, we can't afford to lose even ONE!

You may think everyone going "aopeshit" over this is over the top, but step back a moment and think how this affects the Dem side of the coin. We have/had 4 Dem leaning talkers on the tube...Keith, Rachel. Lawrence, & SOMETIMES Chris. I can't even count high enough to tally the RW talkers AND an entire network! We can't afford to lose him!

[Ineeda]

10. Ed, too. n/t

[madfloridian]

7. We haven't gotten upset enough over anything for so long.

We all just sit and take it, and those of us who do speak out are silenced by a herd of voices putting us down.

That's why our country is screwed right now. We have a president who would rather be "bipartisan" than stand for anything important.

And we are denounced loudly if we disagree.

[Naturyl]

9. Alright, fair enough, good point.

I have to agree I'm glad people are finally going apeshit about something.

[aquart]

8. "We"?

I'm pretty sure I pay attention to Olbermann's show.

As for your dismissive and condescending call for perspective, GET SOME. This is not a small deal no matter how desperately you try to make it so.

[Doremus]

11. Is KO MSM?

Didn't realize that. I thought he was one of the rare handful of progressive commentators still left amid a veritable army of rightwing shock jocks, pundits, mouth breathers and foamers.

By all means let's try to gain a little perspective. You first.

[Naturyl]

12. Of course he's MSM.

His viewpoint is progressive and that's fantastic, but of course he's MSM. His contract was for $30 million. Do you really want to try to imagine he's some kind of "outsider?" Okay, go for it.

[Doremus]

22. Your definition of MSM and mine differ.

I think you are mistaken in throwing all cable "news" shows into your "MSM" pot.

Is salary your criterion? Better not tell the police beat reporter at the Plain Dealer s/he doesn't qualify for the "mainstream media" club by virtue of a pauper's salary, comparatively speaking.

Your definition of who qualifies is silly.
KO is no more mainstream media than Joy Behar or Nancy Grace.

[Johonny]

15. I agree

Most people don't consider KO or countdown MSM. Even the MSM doesn't consider him professional news. Hence the reaction of people like Tweety to having to co anchor with him. His show started as a funny hip young countdown of the daily weird and wacky (with a mix of real news). It slowly transformed into a opinion/news show. He's always been more Jon Stewart than MSM.

Well ok on ESPN he was MSM :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. You go ahead and make this a minor thing

yes he is a millionaire

Yes he works for a major company.


You think anybody else would do the Free Clinics?

We have VERY FEW VOICES... and this is just as big as Donahue.

And UNTIL we have an ALTERNATE press, which for the record we really don't... the few we have is all we have.

But go ahead and diminish it.

Oh and it is also about fucking DOUBLE STANDARDS... sometimes it takes relatively "minor" things to break a camel's back... (not that this will)

Listening to Norman Goldman...

[Naturyl]

16. Nobody's knocking him down

As far as I can tell, KO is about as fine a human being as we could ask for in a millionaire. He's top-notch as far as I'm concerned.

I'm just pointing out that DU has written entire encyclopedias worth of anti-MSM sentiment, and then we go nuts over something happening in the MSM. I'm not saying it's wrong (and I want KO reinstated, personally), but it's just one of those things where DU seems to have forgotten itself.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. No it has not forgotten itself

until we have an alternate press... count yourself lucky for having four voices on the tube that reflect your views.

I think I cannot explain myself, but I will leave it at that.

[Naturyl]

18. Yeah, exactly. As long as we keep "counting ourselves lucky"

Setting up an alternate press is exactly what we DON'T have be bothered to do.

Thanks for helping me clarify that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. That is why I have done my part

by BUYING from the sponsors on the Hartmann Show...

But I don't have billons. If I did I would set one.

But I don't.

What have you done?

In fact, the COMPUTER I am posting from is from Small Dog Electronics, a Hartmann Sponsor.

[Naturyl]

21. Yeah, the old "let's compare merit badges" ploy

Look, I'm on your side. I've seen your posts. You're a solid leftist contributor. Let's not do this.

[pacalo]

19. I do get what you're saying, Naturyl, but this is like having our votes stolen.

Keith was the first one there for us in the msm, & with the news that Comcast now owns MSNBC, there's a danger that this "indefinite" suspension will be permanent.

Just as voting gives us a voice, so does rebelling against an unfair suspension, considering what Keith did is standard practice at other "networks".

It must be annoying to see all these threads for those DUers who may not like him, but most DUers seem to like him. For the time being, the "ignore thread" option available on DU can help those who don't care about the issue.

[MiniMe]

14. I think what makes it look bad is that the people he contributed to were

guests on his show. I really don't believe that Keith would donate to a campaign to get them as a guest on his show, but it could appear that way.