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On his first show in the 8 PM time slot on MSNBC previously occupied by Keith Olbermann, Lawrence O’Donnell last night talked about what Olbermann’s tenure meant for the channel and for him personally. “I know that I now occupy a platform built for me by Keith Olbermann,” he said. “Had he not built this show and welcomed me to it, I would be at home tonight watching, I don’t know, the Real Housewives of somewhere.” Here is the video:
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With not a scintilla of evidence, Olbermann was one of the first out of the gate to blame the derisive language of Conservatives, Republicans and talk radio for the recent tragedy here in Arizona.
However, I am old enough to know that Liberals (Progressives) have been in attack mode since Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980. He was ridiculed and mocked by Liberals all across the media spectrum to stir disrespect and hatred. I was a student at ASU and witnessed cheers in the student union building when news hit that President Reagan had been shot. A film was produced that depicted the assassination of George Bush called “The Death of a President.” Can you imagine the uproar if a similar film was produced about Barack Obama?
Keith Olbermann’s program was filled with vicious ad hominem attacks that are a staple at Liberal websites like the Daily Kos and The Huffington Post.
Here is a collection of just a handful of his “colorful” language.
“If you believe in the seamless mutuality of government and big business, come out and say it! There is a dictionary definition, one word that describes that toxic blend. You’re a fascist! Get them to print you a T-shirt with fascist on it!…You, sir, have no place in a government of the people, by the people, for the people. The lot of you are the symbolic descendants of the despotic middle managers of some banana republic to whom ‘freedom’ is an ironic brand name, a word you reach for when you want to get away with its opposite.”
— MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann addressing Bush in a “Special Comment” on Countdown, February 14, 2008.
“…the total mindless, morally bankrupt, knee-jerk, fascistic hatred — without which Michelle Malkin would just be a big mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it.”
— Countdown host Keith Olbermann talking about the conservative columnist and author, October 13, 2009.
“In Scott Brown, we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees. In any other time in our history, this man would have been laughed off the stage as unqualified and a disaster in the making by the most conservative of conservatives.”
— MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann on Countdown, January 18, 2010, the night before Massachusetts’ special election.
“As a final crash of self-indulgent nonsense, when the incontrovertible truth of your panoramic and murderous deceit has even begun to cost your political party seemingly perpetual congressional seats….When somebody asks you, sir, about the cooked books and faked threats you foisted on a sincere and frightened nation; when somebody asks you, sir, about your gallant, noble, self-abnegating sacrifice of your golf game so as to soothe the families of the war dead; this advice, Mr. Bush: Shut the hell up! Good night and good luck.”
— MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann in a “Special Comment” on Countdown, May 14, 2008.
“What was the more likely cause of the Oklahoma City bombing: talk radio or Bill Clinton and Janet Reno’s hands-on management of Waco, the Branch Davidian compound?…Obviously, the answer is talk radio. Specifically Rush Limbaugh’s hate radio….Frankly, Rush, you have that blood on your hands now and you have had it for 15 years.”
— MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann naming Rush Limbaugh the “Worst Person in the World,” April 19, 2010 Countdown.
Keith Olbermann is a despicable character and got what he deserved. Make no mistake. He may have quit, but he was finally shown the door. Now lets hope the snarky Rachel Maddow and Chris “Obama gives me a thrill running up my leg” Matthews are next.
Anthing Keith said is MILD in comparison to the numerous hateful, dangerous and downright untruths spewed on FOXNOISE each and every day and night.
Anyone understand the point of this post?
To recap. Fox cannot go an hour without calling someone a Nazi, a fascist, or both. Keith Olbermann reminded viewers that words have consequences.
Was that the point of this post? If so, this post took too long to get there. If not, well, my morning constitution has more intellectual depth than this post.
Little Larry O is confessed socialist. My youtube channel has more viewers than MSNBC. Liberalism is best used peripherally. It’s the true party of HATE
First off, liberalism isn’t a party. Second, that’s a pretty broad brush you’re using. There are liberals who hate and liberals who don’t. Just as there are conservatives who hate and conservatives who don’t. Your comment suggests that you’re one of the ones who hate. Which is unfortunate.
As for Lawrence O’Donnell being a socialist—when did this become a crime? Having socialist views is no more wrong than having conservative views. It’s just a different ideal in a country full of many ideals, none of which are perfect, and none of which are always correct.
I would think that any true patriot in this country would celebrate its diversity rather than condemn those who don’t agree with your point of view. Are you not a patriot? Do you not believe in freedom of thought and speech?
Sweeping generalizations like the one you’ve offered do nobody any good. And exaggerations of the truth (“My youtube channel has more viewers than MSNBC”) do nothing to bolster your comment. MSNBC has several million viewers.
So if you want to make a point, how about a) telling the truth; and b) avoid hateful generalizations. They do nobody any good.
It looks like the Drudge report loonies are out again…
@Sophia: So true.
I am sure privately Larry is very happy Keith is gone. He was just saying this to bring home Keith’s fans. From what I have read, the people around MSNBC hated Olbermann because he was so weird and difficult.
And off their meds. Free speech is not to be trusted to liberals, money’s the only thing that gets to talk.
Loonines? Name calling? Yep, the Liberals are full of hatred. Bill Maher is another icon of left-wing uncivil discourse. As Mark Whittington, contributor to Yahoo! News pointed out, Bill Maher came out against civil discourse. This is not surprising, since if civil discourse were to become the required mode of behavior for TV personalities, Maher would be out of a job. Maher’s stock in trade is the sneering cut down, delivered with an air of self-important pomposity that calls for more uncivil discourse right back at him.
Bravo.
what is wrong here? this is just creepy…..
This is a little creepy, I agree. And comparing Keith to Aaron Sorkin is a really huge reach. Countdown wasn’t a particularly stimulating show, not because I’m a conservative, I am not but because I never thought for a moment I was hearing the opinion of someone who was particularly wiser than I was. Or someone who knew much more about politics, like say Chris Matthews. There was a lot of pomp but not a lot of horsepower.
Very classy, Lawrence. Keep up the good work.
Hi crazy, you forgot to take me today
Remember, a lithium a day keeps the evil liberals away.
O’Donnell is LIAR. He is a big LIAR. Nothing but a LIAR.
I’m reflecting on a few years ago when O’Donnell was ‘interviewing’ one of the swift boat veterans and could not contain himself from calling the man a ‘liar’ every 4 seconds. It’s on YouTube. And, it took Pat Buchanan – really, Pat Buchanan – to calm Lawrence down. It is hilarious.
Just wait – O’Donnell will have another meltdown soon and Comcast will kick him to the curb. Where he belongs.
Could it have been because the swift boat veterans WERE liars?
Nice to see an intelligent and articulate voice for social democracy (democratic socialism) on U.S. television. Hopefully he’ll have a real impact and help America come to its senses and embrace social democracy sooner rather than later. Come on my American friends, all you have to loose are your chains and your rampant gun crime, grinding poverty, polluted environment, and unaffordable healthcare. It’s time to catch up with the rest of the democratic developed world.
Since comments are moderated on this site, why do so many of these political comments from conservative nut jobs, that have nothing to do with the article at hand, make it on here.
And before any of the conservative tea-bagging cry babies whine about name-calling, they can dish it out but can’t take it. These conservative kooks can’t ever address a point without using the word liberal as a pejorative, or using the words socialist (when none of them even know what it means).
I guess it’s all about money. All about ratings. political opinions are almost seondary. Societies well-being is last.
In my opinion, the words “Liberal” and “Progressive” ARE pejoratives. You nailed it!
You know, I think the name “Aaron” is a pejorative. I mean, really, if we judge it by your comment, it just smacks of empty-headedness.
AaronSch-
YOU ARE A ROCK STAR. Thank you for posting some of the KO classics! That you would spend the time to collect and share his prose and then post comments to your own comments sums up everything inspiring and extraordinary about Keith Olbermann.
Olbermann was just about to blow the lid off the 9/11 WTC7 government cover up. They had to silence him.
The problem with so many right wingers/tea partiers that keep throwing around the term “socialist” in referring to liberals/democrats, is that they consciously (to continue to foster their ideals of hate) or unconsciously (too dumb to differentiate, as ‘informed’ as they THINK they are,) intermingle or confuse socialist policies or ideals with old-school soviet communist hardcore hammer-fist governing. Don’t you want all (or at least as many as is possible) the citizens of THIS country to be taken care of even in the smallest way for those that deserve even just a little help, and for those that CAN’T help themselves?! They aren’t curfewing you, throwing you up against a wall and patting you down and interrogating you if you even walk funny or look sideways at someone, rationing your food or cigarettes, etc., etc…You’ve fallen much too much for the hate speech from conservative politicians/pundits who merely CLAIM to be looking out for you.
“…conservative politicians/pundits who merely CLAIM to be looking out for you”, is absolutely correct. What Keith Olbermann did every night was to out these people for the liars they are – talking out of both sides of their mouths, then doing something totally different than what they either said they’d do, or did. That’s what pissed off conservatives so much.
Did he go too far? Sure, sometimes. And those times are the only thing conservative media (notice I didn’t say “news”, especially when referring to FOX) can show – the only instances you conservatives saw – when he was a little over the top.
If any of you conservatives and/or Republicans had watched the show, you’d have a footing to stand on when criticizing KO. But you didn’t watch the show, did you? Why would you – it’s a show for people who believe differently than you. I don’t listen to Rush, watch O’Reilly or Beck or anything from FOX at all. But I did watch someone who would regularly make his point using what these people said and lied about. This is EXACTLY what Keith did to FOX, O’Reilly, Rush, Beck, Palin, Boehner, McConnell… The difference is that KO called these people out, with video, recorded or printed evidence backing up his point(s). He constantly showed them all saying one thing and doing something else. Lip service and lies that most conservatives ate up with a spoon. All conservative media can claim is “we don’t like Keith Olbermann!” (And for obvious reasons.)
In earlier DH stories about Olbermann’s exit there were over 1,450 posts (at my last count). That’s one HELL of a lot of interest for someone who is supposedly so derided and bad at what he does. Sounds to me like he had a MUCH larger impact than you’re all claiming.
To this story – I have a great deal of respect for Lawrence O’Donnell. I’ve met him and he is a gentleman and a professional, not to mention extremely intelligent. He also has both White House and TV Producer experience. Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, Drudge, etc. should all have such an experienced point of view.
You are an uninformed, divisive, arrogant nonrealist. Keith was/is a voice for the common people of this country. He may not have “played well in the sanbox” however one can only have so much sand thrown in their eyes before they no longer can see. I, along with many other persons, will miss his “Special Comments”. Keith had a platform to speak the truth (allbeit in a passionate way) where most of us “little people” cannot afford the platform.
Ever heard of fact check? Take a moment of your time to read, be informed, about the many good strides that the previous Congress as well as the President made during times of crisis in this country. Tune in to Racel Maddow and she will catch you up on your facts.
Lawrence O’Donnell – yet another (MSNBC) bland white guy.
Are there no modern day versions of Malcolm X besides Rachel Maddow? Are there no militants on the left? It could explain why the left is in so much trouble these days.