Keith Olbermann: Internet Television Tough Guy

Olbermann is rapidly turning into one of my favorite talking heads ever. He's like Jon Stewart on steroids.

The headline for the original link:

"Keith Olbermann appreciates the sacrifice that Bush has made for the troops by giving up his golf game. Just kidding, he rips him a new one and almost drops an F-bomb at the end"

I guess my headline for that special comment was right on the money. Damn I'm good.

the people getting antsy pants over Olbermann should keep in mind that he was responding to the President of the United States saying he supported our troops by giving up golf, except he was photographed playing after the date he said he gave up.

Stoj: Keith Olbermann: Internet Television Tough Guy

Pretty much.

quickdraw: Olbermann is rapidly turning into one of my favorite talking heads ever. He's like Jon Stewart on steroids.

Way too partisan for Stewart. Jon Stewart will have no problem mocking the Democrats when they're in power the same way he mocks Bush. Olbermann is a Democratic partisan. Maybe part of the more vocally anti-war "netroots" (*gag*) wing of the party, but still a partisan.

Jon Stewart will attack the Democrats because he sees them as for the most part just part of the problem that we're being governed by fools. Olbermann attacks the Democrats when they don't advance his political priorities with enough vigor. I'm not saying he's wrong on all those priorities, but to equate him to the genius of Jon Stewart is incorrect.

CravenMorehead: I guess my headline for that special comment was right on the money. Damn I'm good.

Darn skippy, you are.

Churchill2004: Jon Stewart will attack the Democrats because he sees them as for the most part just part of the problem that we're being governed by fools. Olbermann attacks the Democrats when they don't advance his political priorities with enough vigor.

I don't see where there's a difference. Olbermann wants to be governed by competent people as much as Stewart does.

Churchill2004: to equate him to the genius of Jon Stewart is incorrect.

Genius does not equal steroids. No question, Jon has a great deal more finesse - he's also a comedian - which gives him a lot more freedom.

Olbermann used to be much more of a party hack. He came out strong against the Clintons though and as far as I'm concerned he definitely spoke for me. I think he learned something from the Clinton's and I doubt we will ever see the kind of blind loyalty that he used to have for them transferred to the Obama's. Time will tell.

Also, Jon definitely has a bias, he is just more subtle about it. I kinda like Keith's naked passion. I have no doubt as to where he stands on an issue. I don't have to parse him.

cameroncrazy1984: I don't see where there's a difference. Olbermann wants to be governed by competent people as much as Stewart does

Olbermann wants to be governed by competent people who agree with him. His primary goal isn't "good government", it's advancing his agenda. He's just loud and boisterous about those currently in power because he disagrees with them. There's no way in hell he'll call President Obama to task when he inevitably screws something up.

quickdraw: I think he learned something from the Clinton's and I doubt we will ever see the kind of blind loyalty that he used to have for them transferred to the Obama's

I really doubt that. Coming out against Clinton is indicative of no more than becoming an Obama partisan.

quickdraw: Also, Jon definitely has a bias, he is just more subtle about it

People actually keep the numbers. 98% of his coverage of Republicans is negative. 96% of his coverage of Democrats is negative. And, remember, the Republicans have been the ones actually in power.

Churchill2004: There's no way in hell he'll call President Obama to task when he inevitably screws something up.

You do realize this is sheer conjecture on your part - right?

People do become disillusioned and wiser as they age. I have noted a decided difference in Olbermann's coverage. I really doubt he will go back to what he was before Hillary and Scaife had their little tea party. I think something cracked inside Keith when he saw that.

Stay classy, Keith

Olbermann is an idiot. If he had more than a couple dozen lefty tards watching him, then he would be worth talking about.

Olbermann was better on SC.

Churchill2004: People actually keep the numbers.

yes - his coverage in non-biased but he definitely has a bias. He has to. He's human and while his bias may not be partisan it is still there. He has made no secret of his feelings about Bush.

Partisan politics as we know it is dying. The evidence is everywhere. Even here on fark.

I'm pretty sure Olbermann will go after Dems even when Obama is Prez. Its good for ratings to be non-partisan now.

quickdraw: Olbermann is rapidly turning into one of my favorite talking heads ever. He's like Jon Stewart Bill O'Reilly on steroids the Left.

FTFY.

/Both are douchebags

Churchill2004: cameroncrazy1984: I don't see where there's a difference. Olbermann wants to be governed by competent people as much as Stewart does

Olbermann wants to be governed by competent people who agree with him. His primary goal isn't "good government", it's advancing his agenda. He's just loud and boisterous about those currently in power because he disagrees with them. There's no way in hell he'll call President Obama to task when he inevitably screws something up.

You must not watch when he goes off on Obama's "foolish," "stupid," etc. comment that led to Bittergate. He's made mention of how dumb that was regularly.

quickdraw: yes - his coverage in non-biased but he definitely has a bias. He has to. He's human and while his bias may not be partisan it is still there. He has made no secret of his feelings about Bush.

Partisan politics as we know it is dying. The evidence is everywhere. Even here on fark

You're a lot more optomistic than I am. Stewart may have his policy position biases, but that's not what his focus is on. His focus is the fact that we have idiots running this country on both sides of the aisle.

quickdraw: I'm pretty sure Olbermann will go after Dems even when Obama is Prez

Yeah- whenever the don't push his own liberal opinions hard enough for his satisfaction. That's not non-partisanship.

tomWright: FTFY.

Well - I dunno. I have heard that comparison before but I don't see it. Although Olbermann himself might.

FWIW that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bill certainly did pull the ratings and he spoke for a large number of people who don't have their own show.

I don't happen to like what he said but that doesn't make it bad television. If Olbermann can do for Progressives what O'Reilly did for Regressives then it's hard for me to complain about that.

Churchill2004: liberal opinions hard enough for his satisfaction. That's not non-partisanship.

"Liberal" is not a political party. I am a non-partisan liberal as are most people I know here in NorCal Hippyland, USA

quickdraw: "Liberal" is not a political party. I am a non-partisan liberal as are most people I know here in NorCal Hippyland, USA

"Partisan" doesn't just mean political party. It can also be for a political bloc- like young Kos-type liberals.

Olbermann is interested in pushing his agenda on issues like the war, healthcare, etc. Stewart may have his subtle biases, but that's not his overarching theme. His theme is that the people currently in government, of both parties, are generally idiots. That's what makes him so amusing and insightful- because he's pretty much right about that.

Churchill2004: quickdraw: "Liberal" is not a political party. I am a non-partisan liberal as are most people I know here in NorCal Hippyland, USA

"Partisan" doesn't just mean political party. It can also be for a political bloc- like young Kos-type liberals.

Olbermann is interested in pushing his agenda on issues like the war, healthcare, etc. Stewart may have his subtle biases, but that's not his overarching theme. His theme is that the people currently in government, of both parties, are generally idiots. That's what makes him so amusing and insightful- because he's pretty much right about that.

So your objecting to the off-hand comment that Olbermann is Stewart on steroids? Have you ever met anybody on steroids?

I think Stewart and Olbermann agree on most things - they just have different kinds of shows. It is Olbermann's job as a commentator to express his opinion. It is Jon's job to make things funny. If you gave Jon a job as a commentator I think their shows would be very similar.

As I said before though. Time will tell. If Olbermann turns a blind eye to the Obama's failings then I will stop watching him. Meanwhile I have not seen a tremendous amount of pro-Obama footage from him. Just comments against Clinton and Bush. Comments that are the echo of what has been posted here on fark ad-nauseum.

He has said nothing controversial at all from my perspective. If anything, he was late to the party.

As there is a right-wing media machine, Olbermann is filling the vacuum created on the left. I think the right is most annoyed with Oblermann not because of what he is saying, but because he has a rapidly growing audience. That growing audience challenges the myth "more Americans are conservative than liberal" that they have been repeating since the 80's.

Code_Archeologist: That growing audience challenges the myth

Good point.

quickdraw: Olbermann is rapidly turning into one of my favorite talking heads ever. He's like Jon Stewart on steroids with ROID RAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!


FTFY.

I used to like it when Olbermann was next to Joe Scarborough. I am more of a fan of Olbermann, but at least I felt I got both sides with Joe's nighttime show.

Did you ever notice that when someone makes fun of general stupidity, conservatives call them "liberal?"

I don't even disagree with Olbermann, and I still wish he'd STFU. His presentation quality is EXACTLY the same crap that Jon Stewart so memorably biatch slapped Tucker Carlson over. Olbermann is making America a worse place than it was when he was on SC.

filth: I don't even disagree with Olbermann, and I still wish he'd STFU. His presentation quality is EXACTLY the same crap that Jon Stewart so memorably biatch slapped Tucker Carlson over. Olbermann is making America a worse place than it was when he was on SC.

Correct me if I'm wrong but you're saying that you largely agree with what Olbermann says but the way he says it is making America worse? Please explain.

Confabulat: Did you ever notice that when someone makes fun of general stupidity, conservatives call them "liberal?"

Yup. That's because conservatives don't consider government stupidity a bad thing. They embrace their incompetence.

Keith Olbermann is one of the small handful of modern journalists who have the balls to speak Truth To Power. The media has been full of wishy-washy mamby-pamby milquetoasts who only serve their corporate leaders and business partners.

If there were more journalists like Olbermann when this stupid war started, then maybe we would have taken a good look at the motivations of our government leaders.

Instead, we sit back and let the the people WE elected roll over us and pat us on the head and tell us they know what they are doing.

Keep it up, Keith. Try not to get fired again.

Churchill2004: Olbermann wants to be governed by competent people who agree with him.

And, conversely, you would rather be governed by competent people who disagree with you? Right.

I think we all vote for people we agree with.

filth: I don't even disagree with Olbermann, and I still wish he'd STFU. His presentation quality is EXACTLY the same crap that Jon Stewart so memorably biatch slapped Tucker Carlson over. Olbermann is making America a worse place than it was when he was on SC.

So, how do you want it?

The media has allowed an terminal right wing bias, complete with horrid journalism as well as personal and unfounded attacks, and applauded when idiots like Coulter and Limbaugh and the rest embarrassed the hell out of Conservatives like myself, but there can't be a reaction?

That is Hot House Flower thinking that likewise embarrasses me. If Conservatives wants to reserve the right to act like bratty five year olds, they can't then pull the "Ohhh, you're a meany-face!" card too.

It stuns me that there is such a thin skin to folks who regularly bash their political opponents when they dare to lash back.

You want to change the tone? It has to be done at home first. It has to be done with fairness, not terminal whining. Waaah, they were mean! Waaaah, they weren't nice! Yeah, they were right, but they made me feel bad!

Conservatives can either get a tougher skin, or STFU, and we need to formulate better policy.

I am sick unto death of the Rah Rah Boy mentality in my own party. It is just fanboyism, not integrity. And the GOP is in dire need of some integrity and real character right now, and if it means we are shamed into it, then so be it, but we cannot afford to let the idiots and chickenhawks define us any longer.

We need to take a step towards an oft mentioned, but rarely accepted piece of the rhetoric: responsibility.

Own our mistakes. Own the mistakes and correct them, not cry or whine because someone pointed things out. You want the respect of the world? We need to accept take responsibility for our actions, and the actions of our leadership, and we NEED to make the leadership understand that they aren't in CHARGE of the Party, but representing the needs of the party.

We haven't done that for a while. And that skewing of the system has damaged our credibility, and the machine to try to artificially manufacture the semblance of "unity" has done our party a great deal of damage.

I am NOT a Republican who shrinks from accepting that WE farked the pooch. We allowed the idiots to take the stage, thinking we could just shuck them of cash, but instead, we let the inmates run the damn asylum, and it has gutted us intellectually and spiritually bankrupted the party--and if it takes lampooning on occasion to remind us of that, THAT'S their farking job.

Get over it. Man up you, Sally. farking grow a goddamn pair, and get to the real work of getting this party back to where it should be, instead of a life support system for special interests who have taken the GOP far from where we NEED to be, for the party itself, and for the country in general.

CarolynLibrarian: And, conversely, you would rather be governed by competent people who disagree with you? Right.

I think we all vote for people we agree with

Of course. I openly and honestly press my own agenda, too. I was just pointing out that Stewart's genius is more an attack on partisan idiocy than anything else, and Olbermann isn't like that.

Perhaps Olberman has the look of a partisan because the people he attacks are uniformly incomeptent, criminal idiots. Just a hunch.

But by all means keep giving Fox News a free pass, but attack someone like Olberman.

As for the "14 libtards who watch" I noticed Countdown ranked ahead of O'Reilly last week. Weird how the truth and the snark don't match up.

Olbermann's not really liberal. He just seems that way because everyone is so used to the conservative bias in the media.

In other words olbermann is still a douche.

Olbermann is farking awesome.

I wish he cut the goofy pics of animals, the constant jabbing at Fox and Bill O (they both deserve it, but it just gets boring) and the theme music for "worst person in the world" but otherwise his show is ace

I like Olbermann, that might change if he starts claiming his talent is on loan from God and starts plating his name in gold.

Lionel Mandrake [TotalFark] Quote 2008-06-15 04:26:07 PM
Olbermann's not really liberal. He just seems that way because everyone is so used to the conservative bias in the media.

Agreed, dude is pretty centrist. Maybe left of center, but not some far left liberal by any means.

I detest Olbermann's constant appeal to emotions. It's overly dramatic and makes him appear insincere and annoying, which is a shame because the contents of his commentaries are often excellent. I much prefer to read transcripts of his commentaries rather than watching the show itself.

Churchill2004 [TotalFark] Quote 2008-06-15 02:03:57 PM

Olbermann is interested in pushing his agenda on issues like the war, healthcare, etc.

Why is that a bad thing?

Olbermann's show is like the equivelant of a NYT opinion column, except better written, better researched and most honest.

He isn't Tom Brokow. He doesn't pretend to be giving equal time to all opinions or presenting the news in some detached objective way.

You need BOTH detatched objective journalists and people with opinions who argue for them. One isn't superior to the other. They are both needed.

This proves that for all our fake piousness, we Americans are not really religious.

In all languages, naughty words refer to disease, death, body fluids, sex, or religion. Whatever shocks.

"Pox" used to be a very bad thing to say. But few people are afraid of infectuous disease nowadays.

Saying "Hell" and "Goddamn" used to be shocking. But as religion has lost its pull, people have become less shocked.

Now it's sex.

Hetfield: I much prefer to read transcripts of his commentaries rather than watching the show itself.

Agreed. He's be a great editorial columnist, but at this point he has been sufficiently labeled. Not that he didn't earn it, though. While I agree with most of what he says, I can completely see why a lot of folks question his objectivity.

Bill Frist: Lionel Mandrake [TotalFark] Quote 2008-06-15 04:26:07 PM
Olbermann's not really liberal. He just seems that way because everyone is so used to the conservative bias in the media.

Agreed, dude is pretty centrist. Maybe left of center, but not some far left liberal by any means.

It will be interesting to see how his commentary goes if Obama gets into office--which will be the real kicker. Right now, it's easy to point at the POTUS, with a track record. A new President, and if he keeps feet to the fire, then that will perhaps exonerate him in the minds of the Rah Rah Boyz who dislike it when "their" boy is held up to scrutiny by someone who doesn't draw a paycheck from a supporter...

hubiestubert: filth: I don't even disagree with Olbermann, and I still wish he'd STFU. His presentation quality is EXACTLY the same crap that Jon Stewart so memorably biatch slapped Tucker Carlson over. Olbermann is making America a worse place than it was when he was on SC.

So, how do you want it?

The media has allowed an terminal right wing bias, complete with horrid journalism as well as personal and unfounded attacks, and applauded when idiots like Coulter and Limbaugh and the rest embarrassed the hell out of Conservatives like myself, but there can't be a reaction?

That is Hot House Flower thinking that likewise embarrasses me. If Conservatives wants to reserve the right to act like bratty five year olds, they can't then pull the "Ohhh, you're a meany-face!" card too.

It stuns me that there is such a thin skin to folks who regularly bash their political opponents when they dare to lash back.

You want to change the tone? It has to be done at home first. It has to be done with fairness, not terminal whining. Waaah, they were mean! Waaaah, they weren't nice! Yeah, they were right, but they made me feel bad!

Conservatives can either get a tougher skin, or STFU, and we need to formulate better policy.

I am sick unto death of the Rah Rah Boy mentality in my own party. It is just fanboyism, not integrity. And the GOP is in dire need of some integrity and real character right now, and if it means we are shamed into it, then so be it, but we cannot afford to let the idiots and chickenhawks define us any longer.

We need to take a step towards an oft mentioned, but rarely accepted piece of the rhetoric: responsibility.

Own our mistakes. Own the mistakes and correct them, not cry or whine because someone pointed things out. You want the respect of the world? We need to accept take responsibility for our actions, and the actions of our leadership, and we NEED to make the leadership understand that they aren't in CHARGE of the Party, but representing the needs of the party.

We haven't done that for a while. And that skewing of the system has damaged our credibility, and the machine to try to artificially manufacture the semblance of "unity" has done our party a great deal of damage.

I am NOT a Republican who shrinks from accepting that WE farked the pooch. We allowed the idiots to take the stage, thinking we could just shuck them of cash, but instead, we let the inmates run the damn asylum, and it has gutted us intellectually and spiritually bankrupted the party--and if it takes lampooning on occasion to remind us of that, THAT'S their farking job.

Get over it. Man up you, Sally. farking grow a goddamn pair, and get to the real work of getting this party back to where it should be, instead of a life support system for special interests who have taken the GOP far from where we NEED to be, for the party itself, and for the country in general.

A big fat THIS! This country would be in a lot better shape if we had more people like you on all sides running it.

/I'm neither a Republican nor a Democrat, but I sure as hell approve this message.

Someone needs to do Murrows old job. The only people that have kept America on track are the adamant. All you sheep wanting get along go along are the cancer that is killing your country.

DarnoKonrad: I like Olbermann, that might change if he starts claiming his talent is on loan from God and starts plating his name in gold.

I seriously doubt he's that full of himself. Glad to see there's still journalists left who call it like they see it. Coupled with the fact that we're fixing to get a president who treats us like we're adults, I'm really wondering if this country is going to start stepping in the right direction and maybe renew a lot of people's faith in our government again.

Like I said before, its getting to the "Its too good to be true" point for me.