To support Keith Olbermann, the following MSNBC hosts,

[Cleita]

Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell should strike in solidarity. When the ratings disappear on those evening time slots MSNBC might rethink their snit about KO not asking permission to do his civic duty by donating to candidates of his democratic choice.

On edit: Also, kudos to Chris Hayes for refusing to be guest host under the circumstances. We need more principled people standing against this kind of demagoguery.

[SalviaBlue]

1. I agree

[LSparkle]

2. They should all suddenly get the flu and sick out ... n/t

[Cleita]

3. Something, anything like that for sure. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

4. +1

[Ozymanithrax]

5. Or it will give them a chance to hire someone a little farther to the right.

Imagine Count Down with Juan Williams.

[Cleita]

7. Yeah, but nobody would be watching.

Those hosts have good ratings and that's the name of the game.

[Ozymanithrax]

12. I agree, but they would not be the first to rebrand themselves. n/t

[liberalmuse]

6. I'm so damned ashamed...

I said I thought he had jumped the shark (re: the Jon Stewart thing), even though I still loved him, then this happens. I even made light of it. Jesus. The guy has been there for us through the worst - the Bush years. He was the ONLY ONE who was speaking out against the atrocities - after MSNBC got rid of Donohue, that is. Keith kept me going, and gave me hope when I was screaming and crying about the war, and out of frustration at what was happening to America. This shall not stand!

[rox63]

8. I don't think Tweety would join

He's been jealous of Keith for years now.

[WA98296]

9. That would be awesome! We'll follow where ever they go!

[otohara]

10. Don't Record These Shows

on your DVR's or Tivo

[B2G]

11. Ed was out tonight

Was he scheduled to be?

[Cleita]

13. Yes, he said yesterday he was going fishing or

something like that. It would be nice if he stayed out until this is resolved.

[Big Blue Marble]

14. If the point of of Keith's suspension

is to begin to silence what's left of the left on cable, how is boycotting these hosts helping? I am beginning to understand
as the backstory develops that this move is most likely directed from the top, i.e. Comcast. Reducing the ratings of the
other hosts will just justify the cancellations of their shows as well, as will their even appearing to violate their contracts.

[Cleita]

15. It will kill their evening ratings.

KO's show alone won't keep the sponsors away, but a whole evening of unplanned crappy TV will. It's always better to stand as a group for your principles as well because I believe KO may be only the first domino to fall and they intend to take all of them out piece by piece, but if the whole evening programming falls at once, it will slam them in the face and that's what is needed.

[Big Blue Marble]

16. Sadly, I think it would just make Comcast's job easier.

Sometimes profits are not as important as a deeper political agenda.

[Cleita]

19. This is what's been wrong all along, Democracts

folding up and walking away with their tails between their legs when bullied by the right and the corporations who are running this country. We have to start fighting back instead of begging for a seat at the table.

[ladjf]

17. I think that such a strike would play right into the hands of the Republican

leaning company officers. nt

[Cleita]

20. Read my post #19. n/t

[Democratic Purist]

18. Keith Olbermann

send separate emails to Ed, Rachel, Lawrence, Dylan asking them to not show up in solidarity with Keith. No employer should demand to know who their employees donate to. That's un-american.

We need a list of their sponsors asap!

We need to turn off MSNBC until Keith is reinstated. I know it's hard but buck up!

We need to demand from MSNBC headquarters that Phil get fired.

Where is are the Lone Gunmen when we need their expertise?
This goes for Politico's web site too.

[Cleita]

22. Welcome to DU.

Unfortunately, the Lone Gunmen got cancelled after one season. :-(

[AsahinaKimi]

21. +1

agree

[RandomThoughts]

23. A boycott is like a strike.

It depends who can last longer. They are gambling it will blow over and they will get there way.

For boycotts to work, it requires talking to friends and letting everyone know what is going on at media corporations.

They are in it for the control and power, if it cost them short term profits, that can get shareholders against them, but only if the shareholders are a large diverse set of population. So if a boycott happens it must be sustained and painful.

But a better effect is to educate people on what the media corporations are doing.