Howard Kurtz gave the lion's share of his Monday "Media Notes" column to MSNBC, which "has seen the future, and it is politics. Delivered with plenty of opinion." Except that opinion is usually liberal, sometimes fiendishly so. Near the end of his piece, Kurtz captures all of the recent MSNBC spin lines, proving these are no fluke, especially MSNBC chief Dan Abrams reciting his horror-movie line about Keith Olbermann's Countdown:
"His program could become a model for the newscast of the future," Abrams says. "It's a mix of straight news reporting with lighter fare and occasionally with some opinion."
Kurtz reacted:
Some opinion? Not only does Olbermann steer clear of conservative guests, he has added an occasional "special comment" segment in which he recently urged President Bush to apologize to American troops for starting and mishandling the war, going on to suggest that "you are not honest" and "you are far more stupid than the worst of your critics has suggested."
Olbermann said last spring that he is not ideological but that his growing conviction about the administration's failings puts him "in the same part of the ballpark as a lot of liberals."
Kurtz's quotes were not the strongest ones, such as Krazy Keith saying President Bush's reign represented "the beginning of the end of America," and that "the leading terrorist group in this country right now is the Republican Party." Kurtz also recaptures Joe Scarborough doing his I'm-almost-as-hard-on-Republicans-as-Keith routine:
Scarborough, for his part, says: "I see my job now as someone who holds both parties accountable, and I think I've proven that over the last year. Probably I've held my own party to a higher standard than Democrats. The burden is on me to prove I'm fair and down the middle." Both Olbermann and Scarborough did put aside their views while anchoring campaign news shows.
Abrams, who was no shrinking violet back when he hosted his own show, says CBS is edging in a similar direction in trying to make Katie Couric "accessible and personable. . . . In cable news, the most honest thing we can provide for our viewers is the sense that you know where the host is coming from."
Except that Olbermann doesn't seem to be honest enough to really declare where he is coming from -- the howling-at-the-moon Daily Kosmonaut left.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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I guess Dan Abrams not only d
November 20, 2006 - 07:50 ET by RangerTomI guess Dan Abrams not only drinks the kool aid but passes it out as well. Drinks for everyone!
Screw diversity, celebrate competency
"It's a mix of straight
November 20, 2006 - 07:53 ET by msh1973"It's a mix of straight news reporting with lighter fare and occasionally with some opinion." Who is he trying to kid? What a joke.
Tim,I read the article, but a
November 20, 2006 - 07:59 ET by Indiana JoeTim,
I read the article, but almost felt it was a waste of time because you posted the salient points about Olbermann's bias. But I did find the following very interesting:
"In October, MSNBC's ratings were up 14 percent over a year earlier, while Fox News was down 17 percent and CNN was down 8 percent. Of course, the NBC channel started from a much lower base. Fox averaged 792,000 viewers for the month, CNN 491,000 and MSNBC 287,000. (CNN scored a rare ratings win between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. on election night, drawing 2.54 million viewers to Fox's 2.39 million and MSNBC's 1.58 million.)"
I may be the last person on the planet to find out, but I never DREAMED that Fox regularly beat CNN by such a wide margin. Through circumstances that I won't bother going into, I rarely watch any TV except "entertainment" television.
But it warms my heart that the once "upstart" FNC is resoundlingly leading the ratings race among these three, especially out-pacing CNN by over 61% more viewers, if my calculations are correct ( I know that figuring "percent more" can be tricky... "more that what?" being the point).
Mr. Abrams best not hope Ol
November 20, 2006 - 08:07 ET by SixStringBassPlayerMr. Abrams best not hope Olbermanns "show" is the future of "news", at least as far as MSNBC goes. A recent AOL poll concluded that 60% of respondants didn't know who Olbermann was, and the balance stated they hated him and his "show".
Doesn't sound like a formula for success to me.
SixStringBassPlayer,SIX strin
November 20, 2006 - 08:21 ET by Indiana JoeSixStringBassPlayer,
SIX strings??? I've heard of FIVE strings, but SIX is a new one on me, bro. I'm just an over-the-hill FOUR string bassist. Never even touched a Five-by. That's not by chance an acoustic "Mexican" bass, is it?
Been out of the scene for YEARS, btw, so forgive my ignorance of current trends, tech, and terms. ... ;^)
Indiana Joe...thanks for as
November 20, 2006 - 09:10 ET by SixStringBassPlayerIndiana Joe...thanks for asking..I have a Hohner B-Bass VI.. a six string bass tuned B-E-A-D-G-C its neck trhu solid body and is incredible to play,,American made from my understanding,,,about $1000 list, $700 street
Six
Interesting. I knew the 5 str
November 20, 2006 - 18:36 ET by Indiana JoeInteresting. I knew the 5 strings had the low B, I wondered where they put the sixth. Man, that throws MY fingering patterns right out the window, LOL. And prices....well, mine was $800 retail....in 1978, yet!
I have a '78 MusicMan Sting-Ray bass. The MusicMan is easy to spot, it has three pegs on top and one on the bottom. The Sting-Ray has a big, oval pick guard, and only one dual-pole (or, I suppose eight-pole, depending) pick-up. Kind of unique, last time I paid attention. Sorry to say, I've let it go, the metal is getting bad in spots.
MM is the company Leo Fender started when he sold out the original Fender brand. He went back to hand-making them. Mine is second year production, S/N B00006575. Had a buddy with a CHERRY '63 Fender Jazz bass! AWESOME AXE!!! Although the Sting-Ray is more like a Precision, he said he'd never played another bass as like to his as mine.
So, I thought I'd keep it. ..... ;^)
Regards,
IJ
P.S. In my experience, the only musicians crazier than bassists are DRUMMERS!!! LOLOL! ;^D
The chronic problem -- and
November 20, 2006 - 08:22 ET by Red JeepThe chronic problem -- and it will likely happen again in the days ahead -- is a big drop-off back to unpleasant, distant-third reality," says Erik Sorenson, a former MSNBC president.
Third? How about fourth in cable 24-hour news even at times during the election? CNN’s Headline News with Glenn Beck at 7:00 and 9:00 and Nancy Grace at 8:00 more and more beat MSNBC in the 25-54 demographic.
After this last election given the obscenely shrill shilling for the Dims by the MSM I am sure many will be turning all TV political news off and take a year or so vacation from watching them. Yesterday I could only take 5 mins of John Fn on Fox and that was it for the Sunday shows for me. (Don’t cha just love John Fn’s non-apology apology for his”joke”, non-joke?)
If Abrams thinks that Olbermann’s show is a role model for the future he has to be drinking something.
Olbie is a role model for dysfunctional lefties
November 20, 2006 - 08:26 ET by PlaceboLoL! Olbie is a role model, for what, all the dysfunctional lefties. Everything gets curiouser and curiouser in Blunderland – I’m sure Abrams sees Bubba as the role model for fidelity. Lefties such as Abrams are so astute it boggles my mind… one can only imagine what this wiener thinks of Hillary; I’d rather not go there.
After carefull consideration
November 20, 2006 - 08:40 ET by Dave RAfter carefull consideration I have come to the conclusion that Keith Olbermann, in my opinion, is suffering from some sort of mental illness.
If Dan Abrams really believes Olbermann is the role model for the future, then perhaps we witnessing the first case of a contagious mental illness.
Well, look at Scarborough. He
November 20, 2006 - 08:58 ET by eddiebearWell, look at Scarborough. He's turned into an MSNBC Republican (ala David Gergen and Ed Rollins) who is way too willing to pound his party. I think he is doing that to keep his job. How sad.
Abrams
November 20, 2006 - 09:23 ET by pocomocoOlbermann, the wave of the future will be more like a ripple.
How's about a tsunami in a pe
November 20, 2006 - 09:41 ET by FastEdHow's about a tsunami in a pee cup? After testing it's flushed!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
MSNBC is a waste of air time.
November 20, 2006 - 09:38 ET by lehmanMSNBC is a waste of air time. And why do they show MSNBC Investigates during primetime instead of showing live broadcasts. Maybe soon they'll run out of the likes of Matthews, Scarborough, and Olbermann. I'd rather watch a blank screen.
Like CNBC, MSNBC primetime is
November 20, 2006 - 09:48 ET by Chris NormanLike CNBC, MSNBC primetime is a recycling bin for NBC.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Wow...Abrams really is a moron...
November 20, 2006 - 11:51 ET by spiderdanIf these comments are factual, and I have no doubt they are, Abrams is certifiable.
Olberdunce is a clinical buffoon -- don't expect Abrams to be at the helm of that leaky toilet network much longer should he continue to provide "forecasts" of this sort.
In cable news, the most hones
November 20, 2006 - 13:58 ET by bigtimerIn cable news, the most honest thing we can provide for our viewers is the sense that you know where the host is coming from."
Is anyone really surprised by Abrams remarks..... really?
MSNBC is just a delusion all the way around...a maddening delusion, but a delusion just the same...fits right in with the delusional critters that can't see that...intentionally.
In cable news, the most hones
November 20, 2006 - 16:50 ET by Chris NormanIn cable news, the most honest thing we can provide for our viewers is the sense that you know where the host is coming from."
BT,
If that's their noble goal, perhaps Mr. Olbermann should broadcast from a padded cell, then the viewers will have no doubt about just where he's "coming from"...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Sounds like Abrams was merely
November 20, 2006 - 17:29 ET by GalvanicSounds like Abrams was merely plugging Gruppenfuhrer Olbermann's show. There's nothing original about its format or its message.
"There's nothing origina
November 20, 2006 - 17:41 ET by Chris Norman"There's nothing original about its format"
But, but, but Galv, he counts down the stories!
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Doh! You're right, Chris. I
November 20, 2006 - 21:26 ET by GalvanicDoh! You're right, Chris. I stand corrected. :-)