Was MSNBC Already Backing Down Friday Night?

[DemocracyInaction]

I've read a lot of responses here that the going after Olbermann was in "preparation" for a ComCast take over. However, why wouldn't MSNBC/GE just wait and let ComCast do whatever it's plans are and not do this "favor" for them; and, thus risk people getting pissed at NBC and/or GE? One thing caught my attention on Friday night. The guy sitting in for Keith not only brought the issue up but after "explaining" the suspension made a statement about how we are all looking forward to his return. Now, this dude was totally reading a script in front of him (and he has no standing--like a Rachel or others--at MSNBC and with something this hot button would not dare interject any personal "wish"). MSNBC wanted that message out and they also let Rachel have her say and didn't tell her "you must be silent on this", etc. She said they were bombarded with messages at MSNBC. I'm thinking that, literally, by Monday night's show, they are going to have to put out more info or even put Keith back in the chair because they cannot get by just having "guest hosts" forever. AND, if they intended to really dispose of him, we would not have had a live broadcast of his show Friday. It would have been a "Lock Up" moment instead.

[Bluzmann57]

1. He got suspended

He did not get fired. I have not read anywhere that they fired him. People get suspended from jobs a lot. But they don't always get fired. So let's jump to any conclusions, like he's already gone.

[DemocracyInaction]

5. That's not what I'm saying

The guest host used the words suspended and about all of us waiting for his return, blah, blah. The question is how long and if things blow up and Olbermann leaves or something. I'm just saying that MSNBC wanted us to get a message Friday and having his show on they were sending it.

[movonne]

10. It doesn't sound like a suspension when it is indefinitely and without

pay...but I hope you are right...

[NotThisTime]

13. David Schuster was suspended as well, where is he?

[JI7]

2. i hope he is back on air quickly

[JI7]

3. i hope he is back on air quickly

[AmericanMan1958]

4. Check Rachel's statement....

Did you catch that Rachel said "Temporarily" suspend? Instead of "Indefinitely" suspend.. I checked her tape a few times..

[RKP5637]

6. Yeah, I noticed that too when she said it... I don't think it was a mistake. n/t

[DemocracyInaction]

7. AmericanMan---that's interesting

Rachel, too, would have been reading from prepared script. I'm trying to think if the guest host used any descriptive adjectives???? I would assume that it would have to be VERY temporary because it would be utterly idiotic to think they would keep his show on and him gone for months!!!!

[JI7]

8. i hope so, if he was gone for sure wouldn't they give him the Rick Sanchez

treatment that CNN gave which was just no mention of it at all and taking is name off the show.

but there is a difference in that i don't think Rachel Maddow would go along with just not saying anything about it .

[JI7]

9. i hope so, if he was gone for sure wouldn't they give him the Rick Sanchez

treatment that CNN gave which was just no mention of it at all and taking is name off the show.

but there is a difference in that i don't think Rachel Maddow would go along with just not saying anything about it .

[DemocracyInaction]

11. One other point

He is "without" pay while Shuster is kept around "with pay". Could it be that a few days "without pay" will be able to be passed off as "well, that's enough punishment" so that they can get him back and not totally piss off the right wing?

[WA98296]

12. We need to blanket the place on Monday w/emails, calls

And, we could add in putting those emails into the in boxes of ALL the other hosts, etc.

[niyad]

14. interesting--went to phil's page on msnbc--had to shut my computer down, it went completely nuts

[Samantha]

15. A few random thoughts

Even if Keith does come back, there is the public humiliation of the incident. I think he is a big enough person to ignore that, but certainly those who decided to do this intended to put a black mark on his record, as well as cause him public embarrassment. The situation with the question as to whether or not he breached his contract by ignoring the policy is not really relevant since the language has been posted and it is clear he could have been given a warning. But, no, someone somewhere decided to publicly humiliate him, and so they suspended him indefinitely without pay. To me, that means some retribution should be directed toward "the decider" and I personally have settled on the small thing I am cable of doing. I just can't let this slide.

Bill Press, who hosted a show in 2000 and 2001 and often referred to the illegal selection of George W. Bush (was that show called The Spin Show?), also was released because of Republican objection. He eventually landed in radio and still is an ace commentator, but it has taken him a long, long time to make appearances again on cable. This could happen to Keith Olbermann or any other broadcaster who refuses to pull his or her political punches when it comes to Republican commentary.

We need to come up with a plan to protest. We need to hit back. I don't know what that plan should be, but I would be interested in reading others' suggestions.

Sam

Postscript: Okay, I think that show was called The Spin Room. I loved it.

[GoCubsGo]

18. LOL!!!

Anyone who thinks that "public humiliation" and "black marks" will have ANY effect, whatsoever, on Keith Olbermann needs to go back and look at Keith's work history, as well as the BS certain tabloids have spewed against him in the past. If this is really what's going on, the people who are doing this really have no fucking clue as to who they are dealing with.

If y'all really want to help Keith, contact your Congressperson and Senators. Ask them to deal with this Citizens United decision while the Democrats still control Congress. If they don't none of your efforts here are going to make a bit of difference in a few years.

[Samantha]

20. I am totally aware of Olbermann's history, thank you very much

That does not negate the fact there was intended public humiliation in this suspension.

I doubt very seriously that while the lame-duck Congress in still in session anything can be done about Citizen's United. If they could have passed something, they would have before the election, right? And although there are over 100 bills passed by the House the Senate did not take up, and the suggestion has been made for the lame-duck Congress to quickly ram these through, I take Harry Reid at his word when he said the votes were not there in the Senate for passage.

[monmouth]

16. Keith, after suspension is over, should state he won't be back until

Griffin is gone. That'll do it.

[GoCubsGo]

19. No.

But, he WILL say that he won't back off until Congress does something about the flood of secret corporate donations into our elections. And, I'm sure he's hoping everyone else does same.

[Cal33]

17. Your reasoning sounds correct. Olbermann ought to be back

pretty soon.