Tuesday Links & Open Thread
Latest cable news links [updated through the day]:
Inside Cable News: MSNBC, the place for partisanship.
Maddow in, Abrams out! Jossip analyzes, Rachel speaks. Keith takes credit!
Monday's numbers. Weekend numbers; Saddleback. Obama doc rocks.
Q&A: Bill Hemmer (via TV Newser).
Barber bashing continues (featuring the c-word).
FNC's convention experience.
Alan's website revamped.
Exhausting hours. The unseen war.
David Shuster: "introverted and quiet"?
Hotline quotes.
Obama doc "totally fair"?
FNC permit squabble settled.
Aaron Brown resurfaces.
Is MSNBC reavmping its set?
Use our valuable bandwidth to post your comments on any and all cable news topics in today's open thread. Standard rules apply. fox news cable news
Mark
So glad to see Aaron Brown, the great voice of 9/11 live broadcasting, resurface .... He deserved more than cable news, and I am pleased he is finally getting more.
August 19, 2008, 7:43:01 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
I made the committment to set through the Special Comment last night, always an onerous undertaking. But, I have to say, Keith is getting this genre down pat. I agree with the substance, more-or-less, but the style is what impressed me. Still passionate, but far more controlled. Good work, Mr. Olbermann.
In more substantive and relevant commentary:
Gretchen wore a solid blue blouse and Steve wore a red print tie on F&F this morning.
August 19, 2008, 7:48:14 AM EDT – Like – Reply
cornycob
I watched the Obama special last night. It was good.
August 19, 2008, 8:23:17 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Unfair and unbalanced
Fox and Friends was really good this morning David Briggs gives the show some balance and did anyone hear Doocy and Carlson cut him off when Frank LUntz was there pushing and I mean that man was pushing that book, also when david bought up the fact that Tim Pawlenty might not bet the vote getter McCain thinks he might be in mInnesota. They cut him several more times when he was trying to make a point. Way to go David
August 19, 2008, 9:40:48 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Olby Sucks
Mark | 08.19.08 - 7:53 am | #
So, you don't "loathe" him, anymore? Jeeeez.
Edited By Siteowner
August 19, 2008, 10:35:55 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Unfair and unbalanced
Did anyone last night hear Olberman actually stand up for McCain last night when he made Corsi the worst person in the world, Corsi said McCains campaign had connections to al queda and that he made his fortune through mob contacts. Would Hannity have done that for Obama. I hardly think so
August 19, 2008, 10:54:14 AM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
From the HOTLINE quotes: "It's a totally bogus issue. It's challenging the integrity of the Secret Service, challenging the integrity of my security staff, and challenging the integrity of John McCain of which both Barack..."
Rick Warren has it right and the Obama campaign with their shills at MSNBC like Mitchell and Olbermann are simply being partisan in their attacks.....Anything is ok when one has the ambition to become President.....
And in relation to Olbermann's SPECIAL COMMENT....I think attacking one's patriotism is akin to attacking one's integrity.
Edited By Siteowner
August 19, 2008, 11:21:46 AM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
From the HOTLINE quotes: "It's a totally bogus issue. It's challenging the integrity of the Secret Service, challenging the integrity of my security staff, and challenging the integrity of John McCain of which both Barack..."
Rick Warren has it right and the Obama campaign with their shills at MSNBC like Mitchell and Olbermann are simply being partisan in their attacks.....Anything is ok when one has the ambition to become President.....
And in relation to Olbermann's SPECIAL COMMENT....I think attacking one's patriotism is akin to attacking one's integrity. So in suggesting McCain would "cheat," the Obama campaign and the radical left is in the gutter here. VERO POSSUMUS!
August 19, 2008, 11:21:46 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
I'm still waiting for Olbermann to apologize to McCain for the John "Chezchoslovakia" McCain comment.
But, as we all know, Olbermann will never apologize for any bonehead comment he ever makes.
August 19, 2008, 11:23:45 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
Jeff:
I don't have warm feelings for the current president, but I watch or listen to his press conferences; John Madden drives me up the wall with his incessant, mind-numbing clatter, but if I am interested in a particular game, I watch it, Madden notwithstanding; Olbermann is, indeed, loathsome, but if he has an interesting point to make, I'll bite the bullet and watch and listen. See, a man with a probing mind and with some element of discretion can transcend personality for substance. To such a man, there is no conflict. The conflict arises in the minds of others.
Edited By Siteowner
August 19, 2008, 11:33:34 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Olby Sucks
Just watch how she takes Corsi apart on Friday nights show...
HaggisFarmer | 08.18.08 - 7:07 pm | #
Was Corsi present?
Olby Sucks | 08.18.08 - 8:26 pm | #
Third time, haggy. Not too hard.
August 19, 2008, 12:30:39 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
I assume, Ashely, your repeated misspelled use of Czechoslavakia, in quotes, refers specifically to something Olbermann wrote, or something in graphics. I missed that, and I guess I am missing the meaning of your post as a result. What is it?
August 19, 2008, 12:38:01 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
Mark - my repeated misspelling is because I can't spell the word. I like to use it for K"C"O because it's a reminder of his hypocrisy and lack of class.
I recommend you go to Olbermannwatch for the details. It's a recent incident where KO ridiculed McCain for using the name, however KO has done the same thing as well.
August 19, 2008, 2:05:56 PM EDT – Like – Reply
HaggisFarmer
Olby Sucks | 08.19.08 - 12:35 pm |
No he was not....But she showed some of the false claims he made(no time to show all of them)...Then told the viewers the true facts....If you had watched it...You'd have known what I was saying.
August 19, 2008, 2:23:31 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Olby Sucks
She "told" the viewers the facts? Oh, I see. Must be true, then.
August 19, 2008, 3:07:26 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
I am aware of the McCain and Olbermann miscues on that. And, I have to say, I have done the same think several times. An easily enough understood mistake, rather cheesey to even point out.
The last time I crossed over from Germany, a little under two (2) years ago, the new name of the Republic was painted over a faded, but uncovered "Czechoslavakia" (part of a multi-lingual sign).
Other miscues concern me far more.
BTW: You'll note I misspelled or mistyped your name, as well. Spelling can be tedious.
Thanks. I thought this might be another graphics issue I had missed.
August 19, 2008, 3:17:54 PM EDT – Like – Reply
HaggisFarmer
Olby Sucks | 08.19.08 - 3:12 pm |
What ever...I'm not interested in your little games.
Edited By Siteowner
August 19, 2008, 3:41:08 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Unfair and unbalanced
Keith was being totally honest, about his comments about Corsi, I guess some people in here dont want to think that Keith does have a heart, would Hannity admit to someone mispeaking about Obama (yeah right)
August 19, 2008, 3:46:48 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
Not only he would, but he has.
http://tinyurl.com/59nx2f
August 19, 2008, 3:53:23 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Unfair and unbalanced
Johnny show me when, I want video proof
August 19, 2008, 3:55:33 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Unfair and unbalanced
I stand corrected
August 19, 2008, 3:57:58 PM EDT – Like – Reply
GrandpaD
I was surprised to see an increase in numbers for the McCain hour of the Saddleback debate on MSNBC. I'd like to see a breakdown of the hours on the other channels.
August 19, 2008, 4:09:03 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
I'm curious - does anyone know if Keith Olbermann finally paid his taxes, or is he still trying to become a successful tax cheat?
Last I heard, the amount that he owed was nearly $100 thousand. He was trying to stiff the American Taxpayer out of this money, refusing to pay for so long that eventually the state and the feds had to issue tax warrants on the matter.
August 19, 2008, 4:54:53 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
Delighted to see Martin Frost as a FNC contributor at the convention .... About as conservative as it is possible to be and still be a Democrat, but an astute and honest man, with lots of good, good experience. We lost him in the Delay redistricting sham, and Texas is much the worse for it. FNC and its viewers are fortunate to have him.
August 19, 2008, 4:58:53 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
I don't know about other places in the country, but Lawrence Welk repeats on PBS ended just as McCain started. I suspect that may have something to do with it.
August 19, 2008, 5:07:49 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
> About as conservative as it is possible to be and still be a Democrat
What do you base that on? The last ADA rating he got was 95%, which was more liberal than Dennis Kucinich.
August 19, 2008, 5:24:40 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
So now MSNBC is replacing Abrams with Maddow? Since she seems to get better ratings than Keith "Check-oh-slow-Vakia" Olbermann, it will be interesting to see the competition build between the two.
How long until RM is WPITW?
August 19, 2008, 5:31:14 PM EDT – Like – Reply
vstol
An easily enough understood mistake, rather cheesey to even point out.Mark | 08.19.08 - 3:22 pm
"Cheesey" an excellent description of Whatzizname.
August 19, 2008, 5:46:41 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Unfair and unbalanced
Ashley you need to get over your hate for Olberman, are you really a closet Olberman Lover.
August 19, 2008, 5:51:55 PM EDT – Like – Reply
vstol
Any information or speculation on what the title of MzMad's show will be?
August 19, 2008, 5:53:08 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
... gosh, Johnny, an intimate, personal knowledge of his voting record throughout most of his political career .... Not as reliable as an ADA rating, I know, but he probably got "marked down" because he was a big supporter of civil rights legislation.
Frost is a bit of a populist, to be sure. He supported a number of important poverty initiatives.
I just don't measure the make, worth or beliefs of a man or a woman by ratings. Same with television. PBS is the best, but, I am sure, the least popular.
August 19, 2008, 6:06:00 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
UU -
No, I am not a closeted Olbermann lover. I'm an outspoken critic of Olbermann. I may also be one of the few people on this board who have actually met him and formed an opinion of him before there was MSNBC, the internet, or a J$ Place. Regardless, I will continue to do what I do and continue to enjoy your insightful analysis of the current state of cable news which leads the reader to believe that you don't know Olby from shinola.
August 19, 2008, 6:09:05 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
Very clever, but the ADA rating is not a survey of public opinion. It's a measure of how he has voted on the most important liberal issues. Frost also got a 100% from NARAL on a similar study.
I know why you want to claim he is the most conservative Dem who ever walked the planet, but this time the ploy failed.
August 19, 2008, 6:10:49 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
An easily enough understood mistake, rather cheesey to even point out.
Mark | 08.19.08 - 3:22 pm | #
More than cheesey, it was demeaning and an overt attempt to humiliate McCain.
August 19, 2008, 6:13:23 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Ashley
For Frost - NEA and NARAL rank is 100%, NRA gives him an "F".
As conservative as Michael Moore.
But I welcome him to FNC, Fair and Balanced, the #1 Network in Cable News.
August 19, 2008, 6:26:18 PM EDT – Like – Reply
All News is Fixed on Fox
Ashley
You can continue to rip on the Great and Powerful Olberman and listen to the Great and Power Oreilly its your choice, but just remember that your guy wanted a nuclear bomb dropped on San Francisco (due to some difference with the millitary) still (metaphor or not) it was cruel to say, tand regardless of what any of you Fox lovers say there is and will never be an excuse for what he said.
August 19, 2008, 6:33:33 PM EDT – Like – Reply
vstol
This must have been said by a KO hating, MSNBD loathing, right-wing, closed-minded, lying, rabid FNC Fan:
"But Maddow, as an omnipresent guest and sometime fill-in anchor, has lent her expertise to Olbermann's crusade against the Bush administration and John McCain."
August 19, 2008, 6:34:28 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
Sorry, Johnny, way, way to many state party conventions with Frost on the wrong side for the oil companies, the insurance companies, guns, etc., etc. And, no, you are decidedly wrong about my motivation. In fact, my motivation is to compliment FNC in this decision and to give Frost a well-deserved pat-on-the-back. Not everyone, not everything is ideologically driven, Johnny. You know that. Your just prickly because I don't share your inexplicable (to me) enthusiasm for morning programming and personalities. Lighten up. I don't have to like the program, and my disliking it changes nothing in FNC programming. No threat here. Once you've chilled a bit, take the compliment. FNC made a very good, and to me somewhat rare good choice here. Bravo!
And, Ashley, if Olbermann can humiliate McCain, it says more about McCain than Olbermann.
FNC is not the Holy Trinity or the flag (flying upright). It's a damn cable news network viewed by precious few people (more than CNN, more than MSNBC, but still just a handful). Enjoy FNC, but don't lay down your lives, don't end your respective pursuits for hapiness over it. Perspective!
August 19, 2008, 6:35:35 PM EDT – Like – Reply
HaggisFarmer
Now Rachel and Keith will be on back-to-back...I'm e-mailing MSNBC to demand they give viewers in the UK the opportunity to watch MSNBC.....But will Murdoch play ball...I can then dump FNC.
August 19, 2008, 6:56:19 PM EDT – Like – Reply
GoCards
Oh So true Mark, you are the man
August 19, 2008, 6:56:35 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
So, Ashley, I just watched Hume (in abstentia) again. The Panel? Birnbaum, Krauthammer, Sammons. Virtually identical to last night. Three of the most right wing people in America, with not a single dissenting voice, not a note of moderation, goose-steppers stomping on Obama, uninterrupted. Fair and balanced, you say? Do you want to reconsider?
August 19, 2008, 6:57:10 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
> your guy wanted a nuclear bomb dropped on San Francisco
I thought we went through this same diversion the other day. O'Reilly didn't say he wanted a nuke dropped on San Francisco. But that's been beaten to death so let's not revive it again.
August 19, 2008, 6:57:43 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
Amen!
August 19, 2008, 6:59:14 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
the Washington post's Jeff Birnbaum is one of the most right-wing people in America? The mind boggles.
I especially like the Nazi analogy: "goose-steppers stomping on Obama". Having just watched the discussion myself I know what utter drivel these words are; it's worthwhile for everyone else to see them.
In the future, I would advise against the use of Nazi imagery, comparisons, or analogies about people who are Jewish.
August 19, 2008, 7:03:22 PM EDT – Like – Reply
HaggisFarmer
J$...When you starting up MaddowWatch?
August 19, 2008, 7:06:23 PM EDT – Like – Reply
KeithO
J$,
Where do you get your photos of your MSNBC personalities and why are they all non-portrait studio quality?
August 19, 2008, 7:10:26 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
They aren't.
> J$...When you starting up MaddowWatch?
I have no interest in Maddow Watch.
August 19, 2008, 7:11:10 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Olby Sucks
FNC and its viewers are fortunate to have him.
Mark | 08.19.08 - 5:03 pm | #
How long will it take for Frost to be labeled a "house boy" or a "shill?" Not long, I suspect.
August 19, 2008, 7:18:14 PM EDT – Like – Reply
HaggisFarmer
Listening to Rachel on Air America right now....I've got a tickle running up my left leg...Can't wait for 08/08 to come around.
August 19, 2008, 7:19:23 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
> How long will it take for Frost to be labeled a "house boy" or a "shill?"
OS, that's already happened:
http://tinyurl.com/5vjg5a
August 19, 2008, 7:21:45 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mark
Nazi imagery is your inference, Johnny. The world's been full of goose-steppers since its inception. Mussolini was a goose-stepper, the Russians, the Ukrainians .... But, it may be we shouldn't come close, as you suggest.
As for my view of the panel: Did you hear anything positive about Obama? The entire segment was pure, unadulterated Obama-bashing. You're too honest to deny that.
And, my point? I don't object to it. In fact, I agreed with much of what Birnbaum and some of what Krauthammer said (Sammons is such a light-weight I just disregard him). No, my point is you can't watch this two nights in a row and claim fair and balanced applies. It was right wing, perhaps far right wing programming, and it was by design. It was reasonably good right wing programming, and I am glad we have it. It's just not fair and balanced.
And, that's it for me tonight. This entire experience is far less than enjoyable. I'm going to go make some fresh peach ice cream and put on a pot of strong French Roast. I leave the tit for tat and the acrimony to others for the remainder of the evening.
August 19, 2008, 7:21:54 PM EDT – Like – Reply
SteveMG
Geez, Martin Frost is a rightwinger, Jeff Birnbaum is a rightwinger, O'Reilly wants San Francisco nuked...
This isn't a website. It's a day care center.
J$ has the patience of a Saint putting up with some of this.
Sheesh.
August 19, 2008, 7:22:34 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
> Did you hear anything positive about Obama? The entire segment was pure, unadulterated Obama-bashing.
Just keep repeating that and maybe it'll become true. It wasn't even about Obama per se. It was about the tactics of his campaign. And there were plusses and minuses.
Here endeth this diversion.
August 19, 2008, 7:26:18 PM EDT – Like – Reply
david smawley
Maddow is just the first of several msnbc shake up's. KO's #'s tanked right before the Olympics and he has not received the bump ratings legs that were anticipated from the Olympics.
FoxNews has put together the best of their best for the convention coverage. If they remain competitive with the other cable news outlets come release of convention coverage ratings, look out because CNN and MSNBC don't have a third act to follow post conventions and election.
August 19, 2008, 7:48:58 PM EDT – Like – Reply
vstol
"...overt attempt to humiliate McCain."-Ashley
And, Ashley, if Olbermann can humiliate McCain, it says more about McCain than Olbermann.
Mark | 08.19.08 - 6:40 pm | #
Mark,
Attempting to humiliate someone and the ability to humiliate someone are two totally different, noninclusive things. And they say a great deal of two totally different and mutually exclusive things about both Whatizname and McCain.
The tactic that Whatzizname excels in is the identical tactic used by abusive spouses, abusive parents, schoolyard bullies and charlatans. It says nothing about the intended target and everything that anyone ever needs to know about the perpetrator of the tactic, the tactic of ridicule.
"I just don't measure the make, worth or beliefs of a man or a woman by ratings."-Mark
August 19, 2008, 9:10:19 PM EDT – Like – Reply
ashley
Mark | 08.19.08 - 7:02 pm | #
I'm glad to discuss the issues, but I don't think I want or need to take advice about perspective from someone whose analytical skills seem to have gone south as evidenced by (j$ covered this).
August 19, 2008, 9:19:13 PM EDT – Like – Reply
ashley
To follow-up on my comment the other day, MSNBC has better ratings for Countdown without KO than with him. More evidence shown today, where "The Great and Powerful Olbermann" (funny that someone actually believes that!) was 10 points less in "THE" demo than same day last week.
MSNBC loves Olby because he is their number one. When he becomes their number two then number three.........
But in defense of Olby, he may be the number three in the 8/5 PM race, but whatever happens, he'll always be a big number two in my mind.
August 19, 2008, 9:35:19 PM EDT – Like – Reply
