The story starts off well:
MSNBC is removing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as the anchors of live political events, bowing to growing criticism that they are too opinionated to be seen as neutral in the heat of the presidential campaign.
David Gregory, the NBC newsman and White House correspondent who also hosts a program on MSNBC, will take over during such events as this fall’s presidential and vice presidential debates and election night.
The move, confirmed by spokesmen for both networks, follows increasingly loud complaints about Olbermann’s anchor role at the Democratic and Republican conventions. Olbermann, who regularly assails President Bush and GOP nominee John McCain on his “Countdown” program, was effusive in praising the acceptance speech of Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
However, if you look closely it doesn’t appear that the failing network is making the kind of substantial change that would be required to restore its reputation (“restore” is a bit generous given that MSNBC has never had much of a positive reputation):
Olbermann and Matthews will remain as analysts during major political events, and officials at both networks, who declined to be identified discussing personnel moves, said Olbermann had initiated the discussions to clarify his role. They said Olbermann’s influence at MSNBC would in no way be diminished and that the shift would enable him and Matthews to offer more candid analysis during live coverage.
In Olbermann’s case bias doesn’t even adequately describe his unique brand of progressive nutiness. Just look at the stories on his Countdown with Keith Olberman website:
Is McCain overplaying the P.O.W. card?
Olbermann chastises McCain: Grow up!
Swiftboater tries to sink Obama
Olbermann: RNC ‘tribute’ inappropriate
Keith also poses the question on the mind of progressive conspiracy theorists everywhere:
Did terror alerts suspiciously follow bad publicity about the White House? Check out this timeline and draw your own conclusions.
But there’s more than McCain bashing and downright kooky conspiracy theories on his site. Look at this :
Others Blogging:
Michelle Malkin
MSNBC, the left-wing basket case cable network, is in full meltdown mode. After several weeks of on-air sniping and tantrums from the Spittle Twins, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, executives at NBC apparently staged an intervention. They will no longer anchor political coverage or the debates. The fair and balanced savior?
Pittsburgh: Female McCain Supporter Attacked – “B” Carved Into Face with Knife
I’m betting that we won’t see this repeated every five minutes on CNN: Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard tells Channel 4 Action News that the victim was robbed at knifepoint...
Video: Countdown with Keith Olbermann – Special Comment on Hillary Clinton’s Assassination Remarks
I’m not exactly fond of Olbermann. I think he’s a tool, actually. But watching him go off on Hillary is entertaining enough: This, Senator, is too much. Because a senator...
A Post for Chris Matthews
It’s just a creepy fan video – which is exactly why he’ll love it. Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share on Posterous share via Reddit Share...
Video: Chris Matthews Lusts After Erin Burnett – Creeps Out Viewers
NewsBuster’s P.J. Gladnick’s has posted a transcript and warning for Matthews: Chris, I know it was Friday night and Erin Burnett is indeed a knockout. However, perhaps you could be...
MSNBC Releases Photo Included in Cho Seung-Hui’s Package
We’ll be seeing that photo for the rest of our lives. More details are coming to light: The package included a long, “rambling, manifesto-like statement embedded with a series of...
Kudos to MSNBC to finally canning those two jackasses. I am happy to hear them rant and rave about Religion and Palins Church, because I know where there going to be when they die and they will not be with me. So let them yap about the Republicans and their faith. I know what God has in store for them. How can they even call themselves Americans. I am embarrassed to have them on our airwaves. They are not Democrates they are the new party the jackass liberalists.
I still can’t understand why there can’t be a liberal network if there is allowed to be a “conservative” network.
There is a campaign put together to try to persuade MSNBC to bring the two back: http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/bring-back-olbermann-and-matthews
For all of the false charges O’Reilly is responsible for, why is Olbermann not allowed to object to something like the use of 9/11 imagery for campaigning purposes?