So now it appears that Chris Hayes will not be filling in for KO, because Hayes gave donations a couple years ago.
An old NCO once told me that as a leader of men- never make a rule you can’t enforce, never make a rule you won’t enforce, and never make a rule that makes you look like an idiot if you do enforce it.
NCO’s are smart people. Phil Griffin? Not so much.
Dusty
From Hayes’ twitter feed:
So he’s claiming it was his decision and not because of the “no contributions” policy.
General Stuck
From reading about this today, it seems there is more benieth the surface, as is usually the case. Apparently, MSNBC’s parent company of NBC and GE, have long been uncomfortable with not only Olberman, but MSNBC’s left wingish programming slide in general, and were not unhappy with the outcome, at the very least. Of course, GE sent uber cash to various wingnuts, and that is just fine, but an out in the open liberal commentator doing that, calls for getting axed. coupla days after the GOP is once again been voted rightful rulers of white American realm. Notwithstanding the fact they don’ t have the WH, or the senate, but these things of course, are relative.
Southern Beale
Hey hey, ho ho, Pat Buchanan has got to go ….
Bob L
NCO have to deal directly with the results of their bad decisions, CEO have layers and layers of middle management to protect them from their own screw ups.
This really is a microcosm of the whole whinny ass titty baby attitude from the upper class we have been seeing from years. Griffin has had his fee fees hurt because Olbermann won’t validate Griffin’s politics so Griffin has to have his revenge even if it costs his company.
che
nope, Chris Hayes himself says it had nothing to do with his own campaign contributions. Said he wasn’t comy subbing tonight considering all that has happened. per his tweets.
Zifnab
$5 says the guy they finally pick to be Olbermann’s replacement has given over a grand to the GOP in the last four years.
Southern Beale
@General Stuck:
NBC Universal soon to be purchased by Comcast pending FCC approval….
Zifnab
@General Stuck:
Isn’t NBC owned by Comcast now?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/media/04nbc.html
I would like to point out that Net Neutrality backers got butchered in the last election. It could be that Comcast and AT&T are just picking off anyone else who might voice dissent.
MikeBoyScout
An investigation by my better half has uncovered a donation made by me to another professional liberal blogger.
To avoid controversy I am voluntarily suspending my commenting without pay for the next 30 minutes in sympathy with KO.
Brian S (formerly Incertus)
Hayes might be telling the truth when he says it has nothing to do with the donations. He caught a lot of shit on Twitter right after the Olbermann news hit, and might have realized how much damage his reputation would take if he did the show.
lamh32
I posted this in the early thread that was getting a bit too long in the tooth.
Did Keith Olbermann even violate NBC policy?
soonergrunt
There is only one answer that actually makes sense here, and we all know what that answer is:
IOKIYAR
HyperIon
My father is the exception that proves the rule, I guess.
sherifffruitfly
I love you Cole, but either keep up with latest-breaking tweets, or just don’t post.
lols
General Stuck
@Zifnab:
oops, forgot about that, but Comcast is even wingnuttier than GE, which of course, per it’s pending purchase of NBC, I am sure had no impact on this event.
smacks self up side head
lamh32
So I know it’s no big deal, but does it wig anyone else out, that no one from MSNBC has even commented AT ALL. I really wonder if Rachel will. I suspect she won’t, even though it was her substituting for Keith and his “championship” of her that got her in the door at MSNBC right? Cause ya’ll know Joe Scar cannot stand Rachel M.
But not word the first.
It’s funny, cause with the suspension, MSNBC has made itself the story.
Did NBC Nightly News even mention it?
lamh32
BTB,
I’m with Melissa Harris Perry on twitter:
Ok but sorta wish u woulda gone & pulled a Kanye. @chrislhayesnot
eemom
as noted earlier, there are a lot of very happy zillion dollar an hour media lawyers heading out to the Hamptons this evening.
And a lot of sad little associates toiling away back at the office. : (
Zifnab
You know, Olbermann did idolize Edward R. Murrow. And Murrow did get fired for being a lefty sympathizer. I suppose one could argue that Keith is getting exactly what he’s always wanted.
Ash Can
Maybe Phil Griffin is a Rupert Murdoch mole.
Roger Moore
@soonergrunt:
The real offense is disagreeing with the boss. If you want to donate to somebody the boss approves of, everything is OK. If you want to donate to somebody the boss hates, tough luck. If NBC is putting partisan restraints on Olberman’s political donations, I’d expect him to have a pretty solid wrongful termination case.
El Cid
O/T, but this look back to 1961 for that era’s Beckite TeaTard ‘movement’:
The difference then was that mainstream Republicans condemned the movement as extreme and as scandalous for continually accusing various political and civic leaders of being Communists or Soviet or Chinese agents. (Eisenhower, for example.)
Southern Beale
Here’s a headline for ya:
“Shortly After Major Bush Donor Takes Over MSNBC, Network Selectively Applies Rules To Suspend Olbermann”
Omnes Omnibus
@eemom: It is near the end of the year, I am sure that some of the associates welcome the opportunity to hit or exceed their billable hour quota.
You Don't Say
I know this is an unpopular sentiment, but I’m loving Chris Matthews tonight.
soonergrunt
@lamh32: Yeah. Brian Williams noted it at the end of the broadcast, but didn’t make any observations out of those strictly necessary to report the event.
'Niques
Am I the only one who sees this as the beginning of the end of ANYONE contradicting the RW message machine? Net Neutrality has been an ongoing fight we are destined to sooner or later lose. If MSNBC cans Rachel, we’ll be left with only comedians to tell the truth.
The networks are sitting on a boatload of money from the recent campaign ads, so they can do anything they want.
Fuck.
chadwig
Actually, Hayes just tweeted:
OK: I’m not filling in on Countdown tonight because I didn’t feel comfortable doing it given the circumstances.
1 minute ago via Brizzly
My not hosting tonight has *nothing* to do with several donations I made to two friends *before* I ever signed an MSNBC contract
http://twitter.com/chrislhayes
lamh32
The funny thing is I have no idea who the dude is that’s subbing in Chris and Keith’s place?
Do we all agree, that this is probably the end of Countdown?
I’m guessing CNN is ecstatic, they can def beat MSNBC now, what with the “boycott” to come (/snark)
lamh32
@soonergrunt:
Ah, so they can claim that they did not “blackwash” the story.
Southern Beale
@El Cid:
Oh.
My.
God.
That is amazing.
Cat Lady
@You Don’t Say:
Why? I don’t watch any cable news anymore. Tweety occasionally pulls something unfiltered out of his ass. (sorry for the imagery.)
Zifnab
@General Stuck: Not discounting the general theory, but given the turnover it does make sense that Olbermann would be canned now rather than four years ago when GE was in charge and could have just canned him for some bullshit reason prior to his gaining popularity.
Comcast doesn’t give a shit about ratings. They’re more interested in cornering the market on Internet TV. And with Comcast owning NBC and News Corp owning Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube and Hulu split between them, it looks like an internet takeover from where I’m sitting.
Let the privatization of the interwebs begin in earnest.
General Stuck
With the supreme court working like little wingnut beavers undoing any and all restraints on corporate power, including the outright purchase of elections. And liberal voices getting scrubbed off the waves. Well, all I can say is.
Punetang!!
Southern Beale
@‘Niques:
Nope. We’re back to communicating on fliers tacked on telephone poles.
Alternately, the overreach by the right wing corporatists to control the message could be the spark that ignites a real rebellion.
But probably not.
MikeJ
@Southern Beale: I’ve been chalking H’s in sunrays all afternoon.
Joseph Nobles
The Wall Street Journal piece does not actually say Hayes won’t be hosting because of the donations. It simply inserts the information into the copy in such a way to lead its readers to make the erroneous conclusion.
Southern Beale
Is this the future?
Egypt Keeps Blogger In Jail Past Release Deadline
soonergrunt
Bill in Portland, Maine has a great idea:
http://www.amazon.com/Pitchforks-Torches-Worst-Posturing-Republicans/dp/0470614471/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288992100&sr=1-1
Which our host could add to his Amazon store. I’m just sayin’.
wasabi gasp
This is good news for John McLaughlin.
General Stuck
@Zifnab:
Yea, I see that happening too, on a lot of fronts. I think we are witnessing a grand play for an Oligarchy of sorts, with what appears a multi front assault on any and everything uncorporate and unprofit maximizing. And by extension, unGOP.
But putting up a lot of roadblocks on the internet at this stage of it being largely unfettered for over a decade, is not going to go over well with the public who has grown used to paying a fee and surfing at the speed they paid for. Not to mention censoring pol content and the like.
I may be a pollyanna, but I really do see a major backlash coming in the years to come, even for apathetic Americans on learning about their government and how it is fucking them royally. Of course, by that time, there may only be a ruling class, and peasant class, and a police class to keep the rif raff in line for the plutocrats/ For a schilling, we might can visit the Middle Class Museum though.
El Tiburon
How forcefully does Maddow denounce his? I think she should go full-throttle and lay into mgmt.
If they can Olbermann, how can they not can the much more liberal Maddow?
You Don't Say
@Cat Lady: He hammered some Republican. (Sorry, don’t know which one, they all look alike to me.) Mostly about taxes and taking cheap shots at Pelosi. I know a lot of people don’t like him, and I certainly get tired of him, but he has his moments when he calls an asshole an asshole to his face.
Southern Beale
Well it’s been fun. Maybe now is the time for me and the hubby to move to Costa Rica.
Dave C
I don’t particularly like KO, so I won’t shed any tears if it turns out that this firing wasn’t bogus, but I really hope that whatever standard is enforced here ends up being enforced fairly and across the board (I’m looking at you, Joe Scarborough!).
Southern Beale
Did anyone watch Ed Schultz? I didn’t … don’t know if he addressed it …
You Don't Say
@Southern Beale: He wasn’t on. Cenk Unygar (sp?) guest hosted.
BGinCHI
With a fake nose and mustache:
“I’m Phil Griffin, and this is the News!”
Napoleon
@lamh32:
I thought her last name was something like Lacewell?
AhabTRuler
SRSLY? No way in hell. It would take something like a dead intern to get rid of Joe Scar.
Eh, maybe if Mika “hits her head on a desk”.
lamh32
@Napoleon:
She got married to the guy who was running for Mayor of New Orleans; James Perry last month or the month before I believe
Southern Beale
Cenk guested for Ed Schultz? I’m sure they won’t make THAT mistake again! I love Cenk.
Okay, this wins the prize:
“I think Stew Beef had it right.
“Right now, MSNBC has been trying to win a game of Calvinball. And FoxNews is Calvin. Well, they’re not going to win (duh!).
“The solution is to not play FoxNews’ game. Play their own damn game. Like a rousing game of “We’re not going to just talk about American politics and fill time with American puff pieces like CNN.”
“Take a cue from the Beeb and NPR. Give good coverage on politics, fair, neutral, direct – you know, like Cronkite used to do – and when you’re out of politics, talk about brown people getting killed in countries that don’t contain the words “United,” “States,” or “America.”
“Also, cancel “Lockup.” In fact, cancel it, feed all the tapes to a shredder, and then destroy the VCR that plays it on an endless loop all weekend long.
Finally. Good. I’m glad to have an Olbie-free vacation. He’s become a crank and a blowhard.”
Someone longs for the good ol’ days. Sigh.
Allan
Time for an update based on Chris Hayes’ tweets, which have greater credibility than a WSJ blog.
Seriously, the last thing we need to do right now is slag on Chris for being put in an awkward situation by his incompetent employer, and then making the wise decision to extricate himself from it.
Southern Beale
@Napoleon:
Melissa Harris Lacewell, now Perry ….
arguingwithsignposts
No offense, but I have *never* been able to watch Cenk on television or internet video. If that’s who Ed has filling in when he’s off, the bench is pretty damned short.
Allan
@AhabTRuler: You’ll never appear on my network! Joe Scarborough will not be mocked!
– Phil Griffin
You Don't Say
@arguingwithsignposts: Me too. He’s a firebagger of the first order.
arguingwithsignposts
@Southern Beale:
Apparently someone (i.e., the commenter in quotes) doesn’t realize that the Beeb and NPR are not-for-profits and aren’t in the eyeball chasing business.
Fucking business models, how do they work?
dlnelson
Welcome to corporate owned right wing media. There is no room for commentary, only fire breathing, scandalous mongering, no facts reporting. It is what sells. Forget the facts folks, get used to republican sound bites, and Joe Schmo leaning back in his chair pooh poohing they both (the sides) do it. How anyone can be that gross so early in the morning, with his sidekick mugging for the camera – can even get a rating is beyond me. I cannot stand those weasels. I would rather play with raccoons in the daytime. The Washington J on C span and all C span programming is quickly becoming a right wing 24/7 event. We need to protect the internet at all costs. We are all servants now.
FlipYrWhig
It’s a good think MSNBC didn’t just sink a lot of money into branding their network based on their lineup of prime-time stars!
FlipYrWhig
@dlnelson:
Joe Schmo’s agent told him his name was too ethnic, so he changed it to “Jon Stewart.”
I keed, I keed…
ruemara
@You Don’t Say:
Ugh, Cenk.
JenJen
As per usual, Digby FTW.
calipygian
@elcid
The last paragraph of that 50 year old Time article is depressingly relevant:
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,895749-6,00.html#ixzz14SJo1daS
You Don't Say
This should be interesting. “We’ll have more on that later.”
Linda Featheringill
I wonder what Keith will do. I wonder if this is something up with which he will not put.
eemom
@Omnes Omnibus:
how I wish I had lived a life where I would have no idea WTF a “billable hour quota” was.
arguingwithsignposts
@Linda Featheringill: win
eemom
also, too — apologies to all those who take this as a serious omen of RW censorship armaggeddon……but in my evil opinion it is all just funny as shit.
If (1) there really wasn’t a “policy” that KO violated, and/or it was applied unequally, and (2) he has a contract that was violated by this “suspension,” he is gonna either (1) be back on Monday or (2) sue NBC’s corporate ass from here to kingdom come. That’s really all there is to it.
MattR
@El Tiburon:
I just want to know in advance if Rachel does not denounce this on her show does it mean that she is a corporate shill or does it mean the situation is not as egregious as the blogosphere is making it.
Cacti
I’m the only one who won’t miss his pompous ass?
JenJen
@arguingwithsignposts: Seconded, maybe even thirded.
freelancer
@Cacti:
He was a hero to me back in the day, but nowadays, with more voices out there, he’s kind of revealed himself to be kind of a left wing hack, blinded by his hate for all things Murdoch. He did give us Rachel.
Jay
Alison Stewart, whom I love, should guest on the condition that she can share the anchor’s table with Jon Meacham, then, the minute the cameras roll, she should do what it is clear she has wanted to do since they started working together on PBS, and punch Meacham in the face.
I would enjoy that, as would many readers of this blog.
Larry Bird
I kind of like people who say they are conducting objective interviews to not have any tangible ties to the subject of the interview. Thats just me I guess. Why are people pissed? Is it because Fox would never do it? Fox is shameless. Why is that organization being used for comparison? MSNBC set a policy (stupid or not) and enforced it. All this “Here comes the end of anyone contradicting the right wing message machine” is honestly hysterical and delusional. Politico called them on it knowing the contributions were a story and MSNBC had the choice to look like Fox News hypocrites and protect people their base of viewers love or do the right thing and suspend (not fire) a guy who violated company policy.
On a unrelated note…. I like everyone on MSNBC but that guy who screams at the tv, Schultz. Please fire him.
Polly
My e-mails to the NBC/MSNBC honchos are all bouncing back. Does any one else have this problem?
JenJen
Matt Taibbi’s take on this is not to be missed (none of his writing should be missed, if you ask me).
Pancake
Here’s a sampling of some of the correspondence that has been sent to the honcho over at MSNBC. The arguments made for bringing Olbermann back are compelling and well made in a surprisingly professional manner. In fact, the correspondence is so persuasive that Olby will be brought back in a New York minute, without any doubt.
freelancer
Maddow has teased an editorial on the KO suspension twice now. Should be good.
TooManyJens
@Larry Bird:
It would be one thing, and eminently reasonable, to have a policy saying that a host can’t interview someone they’ve donated to.
It’s another thing to have a policy that your on-air personalities can’t donate to any candidates, except when they can. And lo and behold, the times when they can turn out (so far, at least) to be the times they’ve donated to Republicans.
I’m not pissed that Olbermann got suspended, exactly — if he knew he was breaking the rule, then what did he expect? But I’m getting pretty leery that there’s selective enforcement going on here. I also think it’s pretty stupid in general for MSNBC to try to claim that Olbermann and other hosts don’t have a political point of view. They were hired to report on the news from their particular points of view. And that’s fine, and MSNBC should just be honest enough to embrace it.
Larry Bird
@TooManyJens: @TooManyJens:
What selective enforcement? Joe Scarborough promoting starbucks looking like a idiot on a morning show isn’t the same as a anchor on a election night broadcast interviewing the opponent of a guy he gave money to two hours before polls closed. If you want Olberman in the same class as Scarborough fine but I bet Keith doesn’t consider it that way and would probably be pissed at the association. On-air personality and objective news anchor who covers elections and other topics in a supposedly straight manner are not apples to apples. Olberman put himself out there as a guy giving you the straight dope. The campaign contributions coupled with the interviews looks kind of unethical.
You all have way too much faith in Olberman and people in the news you are fond of. Is it possible some day some how Keith would support something you do not? Wouldn’t you call him out for giving a softball interview to a group or person he gave money to that you dislike?
mclaren
If those principles were enforced, no laws in America would exist. The American so-called “justice” system would disappear tomorrow.
TooManyJens
@Larry Bird: I don’t even like or watch Olbermann, and I have no idea what you’re talking about re: Starbucks. Scarborough gave money to Republicans’ campaigns.
I agree with you about the interview; it’s skeevy, and that’s the kind of thing that there should correctly be policy against. I don’t agree that Olbermann is supposed to be giving the news in a “straight” (read: nonpartisan) way. He’s a liberal who gives the news from a liberal point of view. Which, again, I don’t think is a bad thing.
ricky
I am so glad Rachel stood up for Keith, MSNBC, wishes he were back, there’s no double standard as so many have screamed cuz Joe asked real nice, and this proves we are better than FOX. Now that I have demonstrated my integriloyalty, can I haz 8-9, pls?
ricky
@TooManyJens:
So many have commented there is a double standard without the slightest clue anyone else violated the policy.
Why is that, exactly?
Mnemosyne
@Pancake:
So have you stopped watching NPR yet?
TooManyJens
@ricky: Why do people keep replying to me with comments that have nothing to do with what I said?
Joseph Nobles
Of course someone at the Daily Kos has discovered a large donation made by Joe Scarborough this campaign season, made after Joe flew down to Alabama to campaign for the guy.
Tomorrow’s going to be fun to watch.
JenJen
@Joseph Nobles: The Scarborough question is pretty big, I think. Rachel Maddow tonight was most certainly referring to Scarborough when she said she understood and accepted NBC’s policy, she just wanted it to be applied equally and consistently. (If anyone missed her show tonight, do try to catch a repeat and especially the last five minutes where she addresses the Olbermann suspension.)
I guess we’re going to have to wait till Monday to see how this all shakes out, though. I’m pretty sure that’s why they always let you go on a Friday…
El Cid
@calipygian: People would be surprised how much they’d notice about today’s situation if they dipped back into the Times or other archives, say in the 1930s, or 1950s, or 1960s.