Has Keith Olbermann burnt his last bridge?

[Syrinx]

I like to watch Keith Olbermann on TV. I've been watching him on Countdown for several years now, almost every night.

And years before that, I would catch him on SportsCenter, and he was amusing.

And I think he deserves a lot of credit for waking up the left during our collective malaise during the early-to-mid Bush 43 years. I thank him for that.

And without him, we probably would have never had Rachel Maddow on TV.

From everything I've read about him, Keith has issues with authority. He doesn't like people ordering him what to do or say.

Someone posted something earlier from MediaBistro, I think it was, that said KO will probably not be on the air again on MSNBC. MSNBC says he's on "indefinite suspension without pay." Isn't that what they said about David Shuster?

I'm trying to think who else would hire him. I can't think of anyone, unless it was HBO.

Not worried about the man. I'm sure he's got a few million saved up.

But I worry about voices like that getting muzzled.

[ipaint]

1. Most Americans have a serious issue with the authority...

The inability to question it at all levels.

Olbermann didn't have that problem.

[Syrinx]

2. I get it

:)

[Gaedel]

3. There is a difference

Some people question authority when there is a need.

Some people question authority just because they like being difficult

Some people question authority because their ego thinks they are the ultimate authority.

[ipaint]

27. There is always a need. Always question authority.

Always follow the money. This country used to attempt to do that and the result was corporations and their hoarding elite owners where tamed. Now, like you list in your post, there are new mushy middle rules when questioning and challenging those who rule and hoard. All of a sudden it's those who question authority, not those who claim authority over others, with the giant egos and difficult attitudes.

Bullshit rules and if followed we get bullshit pro corporate results.

[lib_wit_it]

4. And he stands up to bullies, unlike theTeapers and most all Rs, who seem to adore seeing powerless

people bullied.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Who would hire him ?

Quite possibly one of the major UK news services. I think he'd fit in well over here. BBC has already got Jeremy Paxman so maybe one of the others.

[NotThisTime]

11. I have to agree

[LaurenG]

6. Why would you think that. He has plenty of options and Keith is from a generation

that does not "appreciate" authority, though in this case he probably just screwed up. He'll either go back on the air or get another job, like the rest of us he'll live and learn but he has tons of bridges and the only one that was set afire was Fox.

[OHdem10]

7. In other words, this is a RW Country.

[Enthusiast]

9. Our information source is RW.

As with the health care reform discussion, some ideas are just not welcome.

[sabrina 1]

8. If CNN was smart, which it isn't since Ted Turner sold it,

they would jump at the opportunity to make an offer to Keith and Rachel. I rarely watch CNN anymore. They are good with disaster coverage, but some of the bimbos they have on, one of which I saw tonight for the first time (since we are boycotting MSNBC). She was so bad, so fake blonde and painted, and so dull and boring, I didn't even bother to catch her name. But she did her stenography job well, prepared questions, most likely handed to her, she read. There was no interest, but an obvious effort to appear 'fierce' or something.

Anyhow, there is no one interesting on CNN right now, no one I feel compelled to watch every night, they way people do with Keith to see what he has to say about the latest issues, or Rachel, or Ed.

But CNN is terrified of 'appearing' to be too far to the left. They wonder why their ratings are not great. Maybe they should go back to the way they were when Ted Turner ran it, he never worried what anyone thought. He just covered the news.

[Enthusiast]

10. Plus one...nt

[Jamastiene]

12. Correction: since Ted Turner was pushed out and FORCED to give up CNN.

CNN was his baby. He did not want to give it up. He was FORCED out.

Otherwise, I could not agree more with the rest of your post.

[sabrina 1]

32. I didn't know that, I thought he just wanted to do something else.

I know he has said that he sometimes regrets selling it seeing the direction it has taken. He definitely would have hired people like Rachel and Keith and probably given them more real journalism to work on.

[MA Mom]

13. Just sent CNN an email

Just sent an email to CNN suggesting that they hire Keith. I'm not holding my breath, of course -- but maybe they will figure out that there is money to be made by presenting a counterpoint to Fox.

[Skidmore]

25. CNN lost me during the primaries.

As long as they have neocon enabler, Wolf Blitzer, or John King on, I will not be a consumer of their product

[Supersedeas]

14. it might explain Maddow's sudden change of heart on the false equivalence argument

Originally, she agreed with Stewart's criticism of Schultz and KO.

Now that KO is suspended, suddenly and conveniently Maddow has a change of heart.

[tblue37]

20. Did she really agree with him on KO? nt

[sabrina 1]

29. I think she got it finally. For the past two nights her

show was definitely a message to Jon Stewart. 'Not like Fox'. She probably didn't believe he could cause any harm with that false equivalency nonsense but she's way too smart not to know they way things are in media regarding liberal voices.

The night before, her show, which was a classic and should be required viewing on the decline of intelligence in this country, explored the mindset of teabaggers and their followers, the indoctrination by the Rightwing Noise Machine and the sheer stupidity, the cultlike trance those subjected to appear to be in as they repeat and circulate some of the most bizarre information which no one can convince them is simply, not true. And she ended the show with the question, (was Jon Stewart watching?) 'How, how can anyone talk to these people'?

If there is a purge again of liberal voices on Cable, she must know she will also be targeted. The more effective they are, (Donohue and Banfield, Aaron Brown, Bill Maher) the more likely they will be let go.

If we are aware of what is going with MSNBC, so is she. I hope she isn't forced to 'watch what she says' as Ari Fleischer once warned.

[Swede]

15. Suspended,not fired. He'll be back soonest.

[Gin]

16. the word "indefinitely" is the clue (imo)

[lonestarnot]

17. didn't you mean indefinitely?

:P

[backscatter712]

30. Rachel used the word "temporarily".

I'd think that if Keith was going to be canned permanently, Rachel would have been muzzled from talking about it, but since she did talk about it, I think this means that Griffin decided to give Olbermann a spanking, but not fire him.

I predict he'll be back in a few days. Of course, I could be wrong.

[Dappleganger]

26. He was sent to Shusterland.

[tavalon]

18. Um, you should really save your worrying for Phil Griffen

This was a mistake of monumental proportions and he will likely be out of a job by Monday.

Olbermann will be back and soon. We are a force to be reckoned with and we have spoken. I am boycotting MSNBC until he's back and so are hundreds of thousands of others. If he isn't back within the week, I'm going to boycott their advertisers and so will hundreds of thousands of others. The advertisers will not tolerate the removal of him, not after we get through with them.

[demgrrrll]

33. I agree I think it was a huge knee jerk tactical error

[donco]

19. Hhmm... Larry kings

getting long of the tooth.I wonder if.....

[tblue37]

22. Nope--Piers Morgan has already been signed to replace Larry King. nt

[donco]

28. Sigh,it would have given CNN a smidgen

of the creditability that they once had. Maybe they can squeeze him in somewhere else in the lineup.

[goldcanyonaz]

21. From what I remember he was the only one NOT invited back for ESPN's 25th anniversary.

I think he would be an excellent replacement for Larry King.

[JitterbugPerfume]

23. I would have a problem with Big Brother

telling me how I could spend money I had earned, and who I could support in the election too.

It is just crazy to compare Olbermann to the trash on Fox

[Cleita]

24. Maybe HBO would be a good place for him.

It has done well by Bill Maher, who no longer has to wear a corporate muzzle. Also, I would also like to see Shuster and Olbermann challenge this in court. I too would have authority issues if my employer could suspend me for looking for another job on my own time, or told me that I had to ask permission every time I donated to a campaign. This shouldn't be allowed legally no matter if in a contract or not. I believe it borders on slavery, on being owned by the master who employs you. Fuck that!

[RavensChick]

34. Not a bad idea.

In fact, Rachel should consider that too because she's going to be scrutinized as well.

[Recursion]

31. Keith seems like a hard man to have as an employee

And, as laughably transparent as MSNBC's fig leaf is, this is not the first job where he's pissed off enough people above him to get pushed out. C'est la vie, unfortunately.