Keith Olbermann “suspends” WPiTW…
I’ve been too busy basking in the glow of San Francisco’s first and long overdue World Series win so I’m going to direct your attention to Mediaite’s Colby Hall who writes about Keith Olbermann deciding to suspend and possibly retire the WPiTW segment. Hall tries to draw a connection between John Stewart and Stephen Colbert’s rally last weekend and this move. I hope Hall’s wrong. Sacrificing the WPiTW segment is probably the the least effective way to respond to Stewart, particularly when you consider that WPiTW is not always political (mostly, but not always). If you buy Stewart’s argument that Countdown and shows like it are part of the problem with our society, our nation, and our politics, retiring WPiTW as an answer would be akin to trimming your nose hair when what you really need is a facelift.
Inside Cable News 
November 1, 2010 at 11:03 pm
As one of the few viewers of Countdown that is willing to accept that KO often overplays his hand, but, in general, thinks the show has a legitimate POV that is worth considering – IMO most people are either all in, or despise it – I think this is a lame move. It’s the “overplaying” that he needs to work on (and he has done so, as a recent rerun of a couple-year-old Special Comment proves), not the usually pointed and entertaining WPitW.
I’m not a fan of KO’s egostical – and sometimes obscene – selfserving rants, but much good gets done on Countdown, and WPitW is a major factor in that. Flame away, kids.
November 1, 2010 at 11:56 pm
At least he learned from the Ed Schulz display, and exhibited his sour grapes in a more measured, less maniacal tone. ”Notice me, notice me..”.
November 2, 2010 at 4:30 am
I agree with Joe that this move has little impact and will just draw derision from the Fox viewers who, like FNC itself, have no intention of changing their radical ways.
KO & MSNBC are, much like the administration they admire, the school yard nerds who think that the bullies will leave them alone if the just give them more lunch money. It ain’t going to work.
After dropping the news about WPITW KO & Jonathan Alter had a discussion about why FNC is different than MSNBC; in how they behave as news networks; and how unfair Stewart had been to them by saying they both were at fault. It was whiny and exactly the opposite of the FNC reaction which was to call Stewart a liberal and dismiss it out of hand. Fox, and its viewers, will be having a great laugh today at how wimpy KO was and how they just don’t get it; making up stories and pushing the Republican agenda works.
In the end it was left to Maddow to show the proper attitude to the cringing Democrats and liberal press in her first segment that listed all the accomplishments the Obama administration had produced in the last 20 months. She then expressed her and my frustration that the Democrats and liberal media had not bragged more about those accomplishments and the good they had done.
Obama and Pelosi will go down as one of the most successful legislative administrations in recent history but to hear Democrats you would think we had done nothing.
The Republicans have done nothing but obstruct and take credit for bills they voted against and yet they brag about how much they have accomplished.
It’s why Joe and I like Alan Grayson; he acts like a conservitive Republican. Being a bully works in politics; Republicans & the right-wing media have just proved it in this election.
End of rant.
November 2, 2010 at 8:42 am
I’ll reiterate my previous point. Olbermann is becoming irrelevant, and he was secretly delighted to be included in Stewart’s montage so he could piggy-back on to a national stage.
I think his numbers will continue to sink, his rage will continue to boil, and comcast will jump at the first chance to send him packing. We’ve seen it all before from Keith (much like we’ve seen it all from Hannity), and he lacks the ability to change. Removing a segment is not change, it’s just editing.
November 2, 2010 at 8:59 am
Joe, consider yourself flamed.
And fritz, what’s with this: “The Republicans have done nothing but obstruct and take credit for bills they voted against and yet they brag about how much they have accomplished.”
How could they have obstructed anything in the last two years, when they were in the minority in each part of Congress? The only reason some things didn’t get passed was that a few democraps had a sense of decency, at times.
And jwe, it sounds like with KO, any publicity is good publicity.
November 2, 2010 at 9:00 am
each “branch” of Congress (not “part”)
November 2, 2010 at 9:03 am
Joe, consider yourself flamed.
This “democrap” is honored. 😉
November 2, 2010 at 9:07 am
And in the end it all comes back to the poor little Democrats, how unfairly they’re treated, and how they just can’t manage to speak-up for themselves. I want them to talk all day long about what they did (which everyone knows, despite the whining to the contrary).
I admire the candidates who run on their record, win or lose. Joe Manchin’s gonna vote with the leadership, but stand there with his gun and talk about how independent he is. At least Patty Murray has the set to stand there and defend what she voted for, rather than ”What, who me?”.
And yes, you had a filibuster-proof-majority. Talking about ‘all you accomplished (or inflicted), while complaining about ‘obstruction’, is a tired little talking-point. I’m sure the unemployment-rate would be 6% were it not for those demon-like Republicans. I’m just certain of it.
November 2, 2010 at 9:15 am
And lauding Alan Grayson is pathetic. I would pay good money to have him as the most visible representative of the Left.
November 2, 2010 at 9:37 am
“I’m sure the unemployment-rate would be 6% were it not for those demon-like Republicans.”
The unemployment rate would be 9%-10-%+ if there were no Republicans and it would be the same 9%-!0=% if McCain/Palin were in charge and the Repubs controlled both houses of congress with super majorities too. And that’s sad.
November 2, 2010 at 9:49 am
Why would anyone change his show because of Jon Stewart’s Restore Sanity (or whatever it was called) rally? Stewart is such a hypocrite. He had Cat Stevens there as a featured performer. He announced him as formerly Cat Stevens now Joseph or as is otherwise known…Yusuf. And the crowd of hyenas went wild at the mention of the name Yusuf. Why? Cat Stevens, or Yusuf, agreed with the fatwa on Salman Rushdie. In a radio interview, Yusuf was asked if he would attend the burning in effigy of Rushdie. He replied that he would attend only if they were burning the real thing. An effigy, he explained, wouldn’t be worth his time. And THIS is a guy you want singing at your Restore Sanity concert?
November 2, 2010 at 1:27 pm
“She then expressed her and my frustration that the Democrats and liberal media had not bragged more about those accomplishments and the good they had done.”
So … your complaint is that Obama hasn’t told the ‘ditch’ anecdote enough?
Obama and the Democrats have done nothing but crow about their achievements. The reason they’re down in the polls is because the public doesn’t want what they’ve achieved.
November 2, 2010 at 2:20 pm
“Obama and the Democrats have done nothing but crow about their achievements.”
Actually they haven’t but I don’t expect you to understand that.