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Keith Olbermann's departure from MSNBC creates headache for Comcast









-- Joe Flint



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Mr. Olbermann's nightly broadcast is something I will miss. I am a politically progressive, native Arizonan and believe the network was justified in suspending Mr. Olbermann if he indeed did not disclose his personal political contributions per policy. His nightly broadcast, however, was intellectually stimulating, informative and entertainig. If this "parting of the ways" has anything to do with Mr. Olbermann's edgy opinions, or "lefty" proclivities, then shame on network management (whom ever that is now and next week) for cutting bait. If for other non-public reasons, then I wish Mr. Olbermann well. But, I wonder whether other corporate circumstances such as these would prompt the acquiring entity to question continuation of, say, Rush Limbaugh's, Bill O'Rielly's, Glenn Beck's, or Sean Hannity's shows. I don't want to espouse cynicism, but I think anyone reading this posting understands what isn't expressly written here, but embedded between these lines.

I don't know whether the cable network will give me a political ulcer in this strange situation. = WWWAAAHHH!!! =





All cable-news networks are down in ratings but CNN is down 36% in viewership.

Despite their differences in the past, I'm pretty sure CNN will greet Keith and his million a night viewers with open arms.

So disappointed with one more honest voice being shut down. There is nowhere to go anymore for honest news and unpopular opinions. Shame on MSNBC. Don't think I'll trust them very much as a news source in the future.

Well I am without a shadow of a doubt disheartened that Keith is gone from television (momentarily). Mr. Olbermann is a HIGHLY valuable commidity in political journalism so instead of stating how comcast/msnbc screwed the pooch (the fallout will be seen very shortly with ratings and fan loyality).

I say let's borrow the slogan from MSNBC and lean forward and get Keith's talented ass back on the air ASAP. I hear Uncle Ted (Ted Turner) is itching to get back in the network business, well Mr. Turner you have your opportunity right now. Please don't make the mistake you did with AOLTimeWarner and WCW and leave a bird in the hand for 2 in the bush. Let's get the ball rolling.

Since 2000 Olbermann has been the only political commentator I could stand to listen to.

Keith I hope you haven't hung up your microphone for good. As far as I am concerned you have the greatest delivery in the business.

Without you on the air the Faux Noise will we even more nauseating.

Olberman's departure creates a headache for Comcast in the headline, yet removes a potential headache for Comcast in the closing paragraph. Nice work.

The head honchos at Comcast haven't merely "donated to Republicans on occasion." One of them infamously brought her to that hockey game where when boos greeted her introduction ordered that the music be brought up to drown them out.

Olberman's firing is one skirmish in a long battle between an informed public and corporations run by jack-booted fascist thugs.


That's the opposite of what the story headline says...

Unless Comcast decides a particular program is not really a "news" operation, in their opinion.

Olbermann will certainly land somewhere. Whether his new employer allows him to have the same bully pulpit and format remains to be seen. Unlike O'Reilly, over at FOX, who would actually interview others with opposing viewpoints only to shout them down, Olbermann's show was a pocket universe that only had him interviewing like-minded individuals who were essentially a parade of talking head "yes" men to Keith's positions on issues. He was the Yang to O'Reilly's Yin.

To all the Progressives out there:

You have 'left' Rachael, "I'm going to torch this bleeping place" Sergeant Schultz, Lawrence O'Donnell (you remember him and Obee giving the worst election day analysis ever) and about (10) third teamers attempting to hit major league pitching.

Too bad Al Frank isn't still around.

Update: Al's show was cancelled also via AIR AMERICA.

Darn: It's getting almost impossible to find a leftee when you want one!

Olbermann is a windbag. He's not a true lefty, either, because real lefties vote, something he does not do.

MSNBC: that network is an idiot.

Keith sometimes got a little to pontifical even for a hard core lefty like me. That being said, he found truth through the deception and out right lies perpetrated on us by the right mostly, also the left which to me are two heads of a dying soon to be prehistoric beast, consuming itself through lies, fictitious wars, lobbyists, and arrogance. The end is near for this faux two party system, but to Keith. He rocked my, my wife's, most of my family's, and many of our friends world's. MSNBC and its new fascist owners most likely would do a wholesale gutting if this was a politically motivated maneuver. Gone, would be Chris Matthews, Rachel, Ed, and Chris O'donell. These folks emit their political bias as they draw and exhale each breath. I think it was a personality thing with Keith. He is a big man with an ego like us all. How much that played a roll is yet to be seen. We all love him as he was a near nightly guest in our home for many years. This is not good bye, simply farewell. We'll soon meet again.

KO should take over for Regis

In the end the media and its pundits will continue their game, beef up their cheering squad team and come up with the occasional human interest story while a comatose America sits home and wonders to itself why the country is going to the dogs and there is no one left to offer a subjective discussion, irrespective of idealogical dogma of what is actually going on in this nation, what it means and how we arrived at that moment.

Instead we will all be resigned to pointing fingers, applauding Hollywood stars who resemble action heroes with perfect haircuts and jawlines and the commiserating the continued liberties of this nation and those brave enough to inspire and engender said discussions. What a bloody shame.


Keith was a breath of fresh air in a market rift with cow touing and screeming. As most of these comments have brought out he will end up somewhere in a year. I hope he does something like what Conan did and get a web site. His show was the only one that actually reported the news. His take on the news and the right was always accurate. I don't blame him for leaving now before the knives started to fly. How long will Rachel and Lawerence stick around? He made MSNBC. Cudos to Chris last night tring to follow Keith's announcment.

No! I love MSNBC and their commentators and programs. I enjoyed Keith most of all. No BS! I do love Ed and Rachel too though. Why couldn't it have been Chris Matthews. That guy, is so unnerving. Really, promoting your actor son on the air?! And your constant interruptions, oh man. Too bad. Wherever Keith turns up, I'm there! Networks suck.

Mr. Flint: Did you ACTUALLY just use the word 'lefty' ? Wow.


FYI - Al Franken's show was not canceled by Air America as you state. Senator Franken voluntarily left so he could run for the Senate to represent his home state of Minnesota. Facts may have a liberal bias, but they are facts just the same.


I did indeed use the term "lefty" to describe Olbermann and if I was writing about Sean Hannity I'd say "righty."

It's hard to believe that they would fire a guy like Keith. The man is what America needs. I will be here to support you Keith. I will not no longer watch MSNBC anymore. I can't believe it. Your story has to washed down the corporate who owns this country and Keith was not for and will never be. Keith, I am ashamed by this. I can't seem to comprehend this world that we live in.

The FCC is reopening the merger. Comcast was given a license based on a promise NOT to interfere with the news department.

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