Pitchforks and Torches!

[H2O Man]

I think that the single most important thing we can do to show support for Keith Olbermann is to buy copies of his book “Pitchforks and Torches.” In my opinion, the corporate machine responds to how we spend our money; in this case, it may be more important than boycotting MSNBC. There are other shows I enjoy in the evenings on MSNBC, though I definitely will not tune in on the hour Countdown is scheduled for.

Buy copies of this book. Christmas is coming up: if you have a right-wing relative that you are tempted to slap at family gatherings, do the next best thing – give them the book as a gift. If you have a niece or nephew you love, give them the book.

I'm going to be going to some area book stores this weekend, and hope that you are, too.

[lonestarnot]

1. Adding to my shopping cart toDay.

[livetohike]

2. A great , constructive idea!

:hi:

[babylonsister]

3. Excellent idea! Rec'd. nt

[nc4bo]

4. I would if I could afford to

but transmission failed in my car and we need every penny we can get our hands on to fix that.

[eleny]

12. Here's an idea...

Ask your library to get the book. If they do obtain it, check it out. After a while books get degraded and they often order a replacement.

Good luck with your situation. I hope things get better for you. Car repairs can be so costly.

[nc4bo]

15. That's an excellent idea eleny, thank-you!!

Thanks for the good vibes w/our car. Man...something we just didn't need to deal with right now.

[Ninga]

5. Support "Truthout" with a $35 dollar donation and get Keith's book. Truthout features

great writers including Will Pitt.

http://www.truth-out.org/

[druidity33]

6. good idea! K&R. nt.

[malaise]

7. Super idea

K & R

[mmonk]

8. Good idea. Let our actions speak for themselves.

[AC_Mem]

9. I bought it -

Its a really good book! I recommend everyone get a copy.

Annette

[Me.]

10. It Was A Stupid Move Financially

First, Keith leads in the ratings at MSNBC and is a strong lead in for Rachel and O;Donnell. Secondly he scores high in the demo which is the 18-34 crows, the one advertisers want, and often beats Faux in this regard. Phil Griffin does not like Keith and so when he saw an opportunity he jumped and took his pound of flesh. A key thing to do is to stop watching MSNBC altogether but especially at night because if the numbers tank the advertisers go with them.

[Poboy]

17. If one decides to take this course of action (stop watching NBC & MSNBC)

I think it is VERY NECESSARY to email Comcast, and NBC/MSNBC advertisers and explicitly tell them why you are doing this. Tell them all, tell them often. Each and every one.

[xchrom]

11. recommend

[HughMoran]

13. Much better idea

Thanks.

[H2O Man]

14. .........

[Wind Dancer]

16. Excellent idea!

I'm anxious to read it.

K&R

[nolabear]

18. Good Point! Thanks for reminding me that I can at least do that.

I wonder if Keith's contract keeps him from voicing his side of things. As someone pointed out earlier, being bound by one's ethics is a terrible thing when dealing with the inherently unethical.

[Naturyl]

19. Olbermann's great and the book is probably quite good

But how does padding the man's personal bank account really help?

[calimary]

29. It's the numbers.

All these bean-counters really care about, be they political bean-counters, media bean-counters, advertiser bean-counters, corporate bean-counters, sociological bean-counters, pop culture bean-counters, legal bean-counters, or WHATEVER.

And it's numbers. Numbers of dollars/earnings, viewers (which means advertising dollars/earnings). It's a value-added thing. The more, the merrier. It's a measurement of his clout even off the air.

Running up the numbers on his book sales accomplishes a number of interesting things:
1) It provides fodder for a news story, especially for reporters and writers searching for a second-day lead.
2) It reinforces the notion that Keith Olbermann has a following - maybe a deeper and wider and more solid base than anyone expected (especially the guy who decided to suspend him).
3) It keeps Olbermann marketable. NOBODY wants to turn down a source of revenue, which the numbers of sales suggest would be hard to ignore. It demonstrates that his fan base will follow him. If they can't find him on TV then they'll buy his book. This in turn strongly suggests that said fan base will find him if he should pop up somewhere else - maybe some syndicated high-profile radio thing or another show somewhere else, CNN or Headline News looking for some place to add him in, especially at the latter where they could book him in as a staging area for giving him the next prime time hour on CNN. Or he'll go in with Dan Rather or something? It's well known what demographics he attracts. That's the age range advertisers covet most. So the advertisers will find their way to whatever he's doing because it's exposure to a highly-desirable demographic group. Might not be at MSNBC because Management does not like losing face, and it'd take a lot of fancy talking and spinning for the MSNBC brass to, in effect, admit making a mistake by reinstating him. Unless Phil Griffin winds up paying for it by getting bounced himself. And even then, it might not make any difference. I've seen (and been part of) too many cases in which a popular on-air talent got the axe for what many observers felt was bogus reasoning. But then again, MSNBC did bring back David Shuster after his "Chelsea's being pimped" suspension. If Shuster hadn't fucked up again by sneaking out to do a CNN audition he'd still be there, and probably on the short list as a permanent replacement if such was needed.
4) Hey let's not forget - Olbermann's on ice at the moment and probably even with his ego he's feeling a little puny. What better way to send a message to him that he's still appreciated and his perspective is still desired?

Hey, I hate to blather on like this (well I KINDA do :D ) but I really want to share this. I think it might help. I've learned a TON about this stuff since I started managing my son's band (please go see - www.acidicband.com). Numbers are REALLY important. Numbers of fans on Facebook and Myspace, numbers of downloads, numbers of plays and profile views, numbers of purchases, it's all about the numbers. I've seen that consideration weigh VERY strongly when bands consider each other for partnering on tours. A bigger band needing support bands for multiple stops across the West or the Southeast or the whole country won't be looking at bands with hundreds of fans when there are bands with thousands or tens of thousands of fans available. That means they're more likely to be an asset to the lineup. Labels and promoters and people look at numbers. It's almost a pecking order. "Well, they haven't cracked five-thousand yet, so..." "Yeah but those guys have more than 160-thousand plays." It can mean the difference between getting signed to a record deal or being invited onto the lineup at some big upcoming concert or festival or having an agent pick you up because you look like a good risk - and not achieving those things.

Numbers count. Racking up those numbers. It's as good as votes and it IS money in the bank.

[mzmolly]

20. K and R.

:hi:

[felix_numinous]

21. K+R

[mod mom]

22. great idea!

[spanone]

23. holidaze are comin'.....it's a twofer

r

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Got it in electronic form

I have run out of bookshelf space.

And if you have an Ereader and are tight for cash, it is a good alternative

[wakemewhenitsover]

25. Brilliant idea!

[CLANG]

26. I bought the hardcover of that and his Worst Persons book yesterday!

And I think it's a stupendous idea!

[calimary]

27. Excellent idea!

Put our money where his mouth is! And yeah - the holidays ARE coming, aren't they?

:evilgrin:

[DemocraticPilgrim]

28. I like the idea of boycotting the Countdown slot than Rachel or Ed good one. Great idea to support..

him.

[RagAss]

30. Bought !

[apocalypsehow]

31. I definitely intend to buy the book, but so many OP's are acting as if KO is not going to return.

He hasn't been fired - I predict he'll back in his chair by close of business Monday.

[pacalo]

32. That's not a bad idea -- good reading, too!