MSNBC reporters love Obama, hate each other
The drama at the Democratic National Convention this week has been whether the Democrats can muster up a rousing display of party unity. The drama at MSNBC this week seems to be whether the anchors and correspondents can muster up any network unity.
"At a forum on Sunday, when Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell called MSNBC 'the official network of the Obama campaign,' Brokaw said, 'I think Keith (Olbermann) has gone too far. I think Chris (Matthews) has gone too far.'"
They love Obama more than they love themselves, and tension is spilling onto the airwaves. Angry old Pat Buchanan has been reliably hilarious - on Monday, he kvetched that Michelle Obama's speech lacked credibility or something because it had been written in advance (like, uh, just about all political speeches) - but that's just Pat Buchanan for you. The other anchors and analysts have been squabbling amongst themselves, as well.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: There's such a contrast between what these campaigns are saying now and what they were telling me off the record two weeks ago perhaps because of Steve Schmidt's new leadership in the McCain campaign. The fact that the McCain campaign has been leaning forward with one message and their...
KEITH OLBERMANN (interrupting): Jesus, Joe, why don't you get a shovel?!
SCARBOROUGH: According to some McCain people...a a shovel?
OLBERMANN: I mean seriously, Joe. ... The man just lost seven points in the likely voter poll. McCain did from last month's USA Today's Likely Voter poll. The higher level one. The supposedly more sophisticated one. It was 49-45 McCain last month. It's 48-45 Obama. Back up what they're saying with what you're saying.
(Thus it was ever so: A lithograph of MSNBC's coverage of the 1860 Presidential campaign.)
OLBERMANN: Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the Democratic Leader, has been kind enough to stand by with us inside the Pepsi Center and has listened to us go off at the mouth [making the talking-too-much hand motion] on the subject of Sen. Clinton's speech tonight. I gather you had something...
MATTHEWS (interrupting): Well, if you make that sound, Keith [making the talking-too-much hand motion], I can do the same to you. That's what I thought. All right? And I said it. That's the point!
Olbermann seemed to be referring to both Matthews and himself, while Matthews thought Keith was dissing him and replied in turn.
"I will let you know that 'my party,' my party loathes me much more than your party, the Democratic Party, loathes me," Scarborough replied. "What about your party? What's your party, David Shuster? David, what's your party?"
Shuster said, "I have no party. I'm a complete independent."
"Oh, I feel so comforted by the fact that you're independent. I bet everyone at MSNBC has 'independent' on their voting cards," Scarborough shot back, and this went on in this vein for some time.
(MSNBC anchors and reporters after the convention - what's left of them, anyway.)
"It's unfortunate that a news organization with a great tradition like NBC has been taken over by those kind of antics. ... I'm not going to be lectured on how to be a good Democrat from them."
These little psycho-dramas are the main reason to watch MSNBC during its convention coverage, as otherwise, it's gotten way too cheerleader-y even for staunch Obama supporters. Olbermann even admitted he was sounding like a sycophant after Michelle Obama's speech Monday. They could achieve the same affect by dialing it down by half. As Stephen Colbert famously observed, truth has a well-known liberal bias, so the MSNBC folks don't have to push their opinions so stridently.
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About this blog
David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place.
It is embarassing to watch the nightly ravings of Olbermann and Matthews. They sound like junior high girls at a sleepover talking about boys they have crushes on. I long for the days of Tim Russert.
I have quit watching MSNBC due to their blatently rude treament of Hillary.I am a supporter of Obama however..
I quit watching MSNBC full time after they let Don Imus go, but continued watching MaTthews & Olbermann until this past May. I now watch CNN for the news, and have been watching the convention on CSPAN. The ONLY time I have tuned into MSNBC (to monitor more or less) is right after Hillary gave her talk, and immediately after the other 3 major speakers and then turned the channel.
MSNBC is tanking because of their anchors and in my opinion here's why:
Joe Scarborough is completely obnocious absolutely and never shuts up, he is by far worse than any of their anchors and one of the worst on cable.
Keith Olbermann has gotten way too full of himself since his ratings soared. He may be sharp, but I cannot take him, even though I tend to agree with him quite often.
Chris Matthews lost my favor when he decided he was personally going to do all he could to make sure Hillary was not nominated, and Obama was. Too bad about Chris, because I really like the guy and enjoy his love & knowledge of politics. I would love to see him get a handle on himself so I could again watch him.
I thought it was obvious that he was upset over something when I last checked him on air a few days ago...maybe its all the bickering I hear going on between the pundant/anchors? Too many Chiefs with overbearing opinions is my bet!!!
The assets at the network seem to be:
Andrea Mitchell & Norah who are pros,
Rachael Maddow seems like she can hold her own, and I love Pat Buchanon though I seldom agree with him.
What I want to see and hear honesty and forget the bias..AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE AND I BELIEVE THE MEDIA HAS
SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN HELPING THE VOTING PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO DECERN BETWEEN TRUTH AND DISHONESTY!
A good decision today, a better future tomorrow!
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