Keith Olbermann, who was hardly reticent during the conventions to express his far-left opinions, told David Letterman on Wednesday that he's pleased about being relieved by MSNBC of anchor duties for upcoming debates and on election night since it will enable him “to be on more than I was previously and I can say what I think.” On Wednesday's Late Show, where he filled in at last-minute for his nemesis John McCain, Letterman asked about his removal from the anchor slot along with Chris Matthews. Olbermann expounded:
We're not the anchors any more. We're just going to be commentators...I'm actually going to be on more than I was previously and I can say what I think rather than sit there going “now here's more from such and such over there.”...Basically, I can just sit there between appearances and eat ice cream for 20 minutes at a time and then come back and go “that's the crappiest answer I've ever heard in a debate.”
Amongst things Olbermann said on MSNBC during the conventions when as a co-anchor he was, apparently, feeling refrained from revealing what he thought:
-- Enthralled by Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic convention (NB item with video):
For 42 minutes not a sour note and spellbinding throughout in way usually reserved for the creations of fiction. An extraordinary political statement. Almost a fully realized, tough, crisp, insistent speech in tone and in the sense of cutting through the clutter. Akin to the words that were given to the fictional title character in that Aaron Sorkin film, The American President, only this "cut the crap!" moment is not the stuff of fiction. This is the real thing out here. I'd love to find something to criticize about it. You got anything?
-- NB post, with video, from the last night of the GOP convention, likely the rant which cost Olbermann and Matthews their anchor slots:
MSNBC's Olbermann Has Angry Breakdown Over 9/11 Video TributeJust moments after MSNBC aired the Republican convention's 9/11 video tribute, shown at about 8:40pm EDT Thursday night, Keith Olbermann offered an angry rebuke of his own network for doing so (CNN and PBS also aired it) since it included aftermath video from September 11, 2001:
If at this late date, any television network had of its own accord showed that much videotape, and that much graphic videotape of 9/11, and I speak as somebody who lost a few friends there, it, we, would be rightly eviscerated at all quarters, perhaps by the Republican Party itself, for exploiting the memories of the dead and perhaps even for trying to evoke that pain again. If you reacted to that videotape the way I did, I apologize. It is a subject of great pain for many of us still and was probably not appropriate to be shown.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Letterman and Olbermann, Olbermann and Letterman...
September 25, 2008 - 01:57 ET by jawebster1when are those two going to marry one another? As far as I can tell, it would be a marriage made in...Liberal Land. Jim Webster
Olbermann follows the chicken across the road
September 25, 2008 - 01:13 ET by wdhorningOlbermann was relieved of anchor duties because NBC, despite being all out for Obama, knew Olbermann had crossed the line too many times and was a real embarassment.
In the vein of "Why did the chicken cross the road?", then:
"Why did Olbermann cross the road?"
Ans: Because the side he started on was full of rational people.
Why did Olbermann cross the road?
September 25, 2008 - 18:01 ET by RESTLESS 1Because his crank was stuck in the chicken. :)
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
"We're not the anchors any
September 25, 2008 - 02:17 ET by kg"We're not the anchors any more. We're just going to be commentators...I'm actually going to be on more than I was previously"
I hear Olbermann is being moved to the 2am - 4am slot to try to see if his ratings can top Fox's Red Eye which is a satorial, comiocal look at the news.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Imaginationland
September 25, 2008 - 03:22 ET by DoktorFrankenThat's where Letterman and Olbermann actually live - Imaginationland (see the South Park episodes for details). Only they're in the 'evil Imaginationland' that the IslamoFacist terrorists want to unleash.
No kidding. These guys really weird me out. Together they have just about the strangest vibe in the world. Sort of like if Rosie and Sandra Bernhard had a kid (don't ask how!) and it mated with the spawn of Whoopi and Hillary. Excuse me whilst I go hurl.
Cue The Wilhelm Scream
»→ But Olby
September 25, 2008 - 04:55 ET by Cool ArrowBut Olby, why did you take the anchor chair in the first place?
Was it to deliberately make a fool of yourself?
Was it to deliberately buffoonerize your Network?
Were you just trying to see how long before Brokaw would go to management about you?
"Don't taze me bro" - Joe Biden
There is absolutely no
September 25, 2008 - 05:17 ET by ThisnThatThere is absolutely no evidence that Obermann can think.
"I can say what I think".
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Send out the clowns
September 25, 2008 - 05:42 ET by KC MulvilleSeeing those two together last night - the ultimate media cheap shot artists - was kind of scary.
What world are they living in?
Olbermann bragged that he
September 25, 2008 - 05:58 ET by motherbeltOlbermann bragged that he really didn't want an anchor slot anyway, and this was a move to free him.
And that, folks, is a textbook example of the "sour grapes" reaction.
What world are they living in? The World of Magical Thinking. Whatever you think, is true. Like the kid who hides his peas under his plate and really believes that they are gone.
Motherbelt, Olberdork opens his mouth...
September 25, 2008 - 06:45 ET by goldenthroat...and removes all doubt.
"Mediocrities everywhere! I absolve you! I absolve you!" - Antonio Salieri in "Amadeus"
BathTub boy
September 25, 2008 - 06:19 ET by DontFeedTheTrolls...Basically, I can just sit there between appearances and eat ice
cream for 20 minutes at a time and then come back and go “that's the
crappiest answer I've ever heard in a debate.”
Well, I see Olbermann has his response to the Republican side already canned and ready to deliver.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Olbermann and Letterman
September 25, 2008 - 06:44 ET by Pasco Conservativeleftwing hacks. I stopped viewing Letterman years ago. He is more assclown than a comedian.
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any
man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
Rudy Giulianni
September 25, 2008 - 07:40 ET by TexndocWas in John Gibson who had a beautiful piece when he played clips of Letterman close-to-tearfully praising "The Mayor" in the weeks post-9/11 for his calm, inspired leadership interspersed with clips of Olbermann and his latest "speshul komment" Rudy rant? Here is a classic case of two douches who play well with the crowd at their Manhattan cocktail parties and thus they think they play well in Peoria.
YES IT WAS GIBBY...
September 25, 2008 - 07:56 ET by danybhoyHe played his comments about Rudi's leadership on 9/11 from Letterman about a week after, Dave's 1st show back...I think.
He also played Jon Stewart's comments after 9/11, tearing up on air about what happened, & then using that against him when Stewart was being pissy about Bush & the war. His butt kissing leftist "friends" were pissed at Gibby for that. Media Matters went nuts at him for that.
As for Olbermann, he really needs to step up his game. He needs to be more critical of Bush, Cheney, McCain, Palin, Rove, & Halliburton. He needs to give America more "Special Comments", with more eye-bulging rage, more spittle, more flopsweat, & more over the top sarcasm. The higher BathTubBoy's profile, the louder he is, the greater his visability to the masses, the more he hurts the very cause he advocates. People see his bias, even libs have said he's biased, & works against him.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
MST3K
September 25, 2008 - 07:58 ET by inquiringmindI'm telling ya' NB, put together a MST3K type of short clip of Olberman. He's so bad he's actually kind'a fun to watch. Like pulling a band-aid off. You know you have to do it and it's going to hurt but you do it anyway and glad you did once it's over.
Just Imagine
September 25, 2008 - 07:55 ET by ChasvsWhen these two will be the leading pundits on American Culture!
If you don't think we are F*cked now, just wait until the Empty Black Suit Barack Hussein Obama is crowned King of the world!
God help us all!
»→ Joe slams Mika
September 25, 2008 - 08:05 ET by Cool ArrowMorning Joe was funny with Mika claiming there was no way CBS News let sit (for 6 hours) the knowledge that Katie was going to be used as a spoof prop on Letterman. She went on and on adamantly denying CBS News would allow it, and then Joe drops "It was on Drudge all evening" on her.
Slam
"Don't taze me bro" - Joe Biden
and how about Mika getting
September 25, 2008 - 09:21 ET by Seashelland how about Mika getting that award for being "one of the most influential women in New York". Now her "big head" will be even bigger.
KO's denial of the facts is
September 25, 2008 - 08:46 ET by marpelKO's denial of the facts is a symptom of his mental illness.
Please keep on talking even
September 25, 2008 - 09:35 ET by MES41067Please keep on talking even if it make me sick we need a village idiot.
Olbermann thinks?
September 25, 2008 - 09:44 ET by wnaegeleI have yet to see any indication of it...
So, Olbermann having more time to say what he thinks...
September 25, 2008 - 09:50 ET by ThalpySo, Olbermann having more time to say what he thinks is supposed to be a good thing? What arrogance! We had too much exposure to his flatulent diatribes before; we don't need more. He's a fool.
Letterman
September 25, 2008 - 11:10 ET by UtherpendI find it amazing that people still watch Letterman. The main reason Carson didn't pick Letterman to take over the tonight show is excatly what he has become today, an opinionated, bitter shadow of himself. Carson knew that Dave didn't have the control to keep himself neutral on politics or let his outside life interfere with his hosting abilities. It shows.
I applaud McCain for blowing off a talk show for his job.
Olberman's comments reminded
September 25, 2008 - 12:42 ET by EvokeOlberman's comments reminded me of the, "tough guys", in grade-school who feigned joy over their 'F' grades on quiz scores...sad really.
Oberman...
September 26, 2008 - 07:07 ET by Uncle Don...is like the High School girl that didn't get asked out by the Quarterback..."I didn't want to go out with him anyhow"....
"I didn't want to be the anchor anyhow, now I get to sit for 20 minutes then spill my dribble"....
Olberman and Letterman
September 26, 2008 - 12:46 ET by east tennessee johnSure, Olberman doesn't want to anchor just like Letterman didn't mind losing out to Jay. I"d like to give both of them a punch in the mouth, but my mother always told me not to waste my time on assholes.