Snort Notes – November 2010
MSNBC ANCHOR KEITH OLBERMANN SERVES TWO DAY SUSPENSION FOR VIOLATING NETWORK POLICY REGARDING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Olbermann — who has made a none-too-subtle transition from news anchor to media darling for the liberal left — was revealed to have made several financial contributions to Democratic Congressional candidates for the mid-term elections. MSNBC — in a fit over their ethics being harmed - suspended Olbermann for an indefinite period of time without pay on Friday, November 5. As of Monday morning, November 8, the network announced that Olbermann would return to his evening Countdown show on Tuesday, November 9.
Once again, network television justice is swift. Admittedly this latest incident didn’t occur as fast as CBS acting as Paul Reubens' judge/jury/executioner when they pulled Pee Wee Herman off the air just hours after Herman’s alter ego was arrested for jerking off in an adult theater, but it was swift nonetheless. Still, the 180 degree turn exercised by MSNBC was also fast.
The network should be commended for having a standard of ethics at a time when ethics is largely absent and bias is commonplace throughout the rest of American media. Olbermann was within his First Amendment rights to contribute money, but he just forgot to ask permission to do so. So the network smacked his wrists even as they endured criticism about the suspension from everyone including conservative pundits and their own Rachel Maddow.
Did the stinging comments from outside force MSNBC to reconsider? Doubtful. More likely the top network brass realized that Olbermann is their biggest success. He is a major draw for viewers, which translates into higher ratings, which translates into massively major ad revenues. The whole incident was an interesting coda to the money-drenching, mud-smearing election last week. Proof once again that ethics be damned, money wins again.
TEA PARTY HEROINE SARAH PALIN DRAWS REBUKE FROM FORMER REAGAN SPEECHWRITER PEGGY NOONAN AFTER PALIN MAKES STATEMENT THAT SEEMED TO MOCK THE GIPPER’S MEMORY
This latest brouhaha started when former GOP Darth Vader wannabe Karl Rove made some unflattering comments about Palin’s reality show not giving people the impression that she is suited to occupy the Oval Office. Palin countered by comparing her show to Ronald Reagan’s film career, specifically mentioning his role in "Bedtimes for Bonzo, Bozo or something". The GOP Old Guard, led by Noonan, went bonkers.
In her Wall Street Journal opinion column, Noonan recounted that Reagan’s Hollywood and political career rose above Palin’s pithy dismissal of his life. She summarized that he was more than just “an actor”, and suggested that Palin was a “nincompoop”. Take that, Sarah! This will teach you to misquote a movie title!
(The actual title is Bedtime for Bonzo, and even then it’s probably not his most notable role. That honor should go to his portrayal of the doomed George Gipp in Knute Rockne – All American.)
PERSONAL NOTE: Okay, it’s obvious to me now that my entire world has been upended. Let’s briefly recap my life recently: I was laid off and I am at a major crossroads of my career; my beloved Phillies did not make it to the World Series; now I find myself AGREEING with Karl Rove that Sarah Palin is not suited to be President of the United States. Imagine my horror: Karl Rove and I seeing eye-to-eye on a subject, any subject! And I’m defending Ronald Reagan’s film career!
This scares the hell out of me! Help me, Keith Olbermann, you’re my only hope! That aside, I am just tickled pink to see all this conflict between the old and new Republicans fighting it out in public. The Gipper would have none of this, if he were still alive. Yes, despite my personal tribulations at present, the weather is nice and sunny, and life is good any day a Mama Grizzly is smacked down and gets put in her place.
(Thank you for reading. Welcome back, Mr. Olbermann!)
Olbermann — who has made a none-too-subtle transition from news anchor to media darling for the liberal left — was revealed to have made several financial contributions to Democratic Congressional candidates for the mid-term elections. MSNBC — in a fit over their ethics being harmed - suspended Olbermann for an indefinite period of time without pay on Friday, November 5. As of Monday morning, November 8, the network announced that Olbermann would return to his evening Countdown show on Tuesday, November 9.
Once again, network television justice is swift. Admittedly this latest incident didn’t occur as fast as CBS acting as Paul Reubens' judge/jury/executioner when they pulled Pee Wee Herman off the air just hours after Herman’s alter ego was arrested for jerking off in an adult theater, but it was swift nonetheless. Still, the 180 degree turn exercised by MSNBC was also fast.
The network should be commended for having a standard of ethics at a time when ethics is largely absent and bias is commonplace throughout the rest of American media. Olbermann was within his First Amendment rights to contribute money, but he just forgot to ask permission to do so. So the network smacked his wrists even as they endured criticism about the suspension from everyone including conservative pundits and their own Rachel Maddow.
Did the stinging comments from outside force MSNBC to reconsider? Doubtful. More likely the top network brass realized that Olbermann is their biggest success. He is a major draw for viewers, which translates into higher ratings, which translates into massively major ad revenues. The whole incident was an interesting coda to the money-drenching, mud-smearing election last week. Proof once again that ethics be damned, money wins again.
TEA PARTY HEROINE SARAH PALIN DRAWS REBUKE FROM FORMER REAGAN SPEECHWRITER PEGGY NOONAN AFTER PALIN MAKES STATEMENT THAT SEEMED TO MOCK THE GIPPER’S MEMORY
This latest brouhaha started when former GOP Darth Vader wannabe Karl Rove made some unflattering comments about Palin’s reality show not giving people the impression that she is suited to occupy the Oval Office. Palin countered by comparing her show to Ronald Reagan’s film career, specifically mentioning his role in "Bedtimes for Bonzo, Bozo or something". The GOP Old Guard, led by Noonan, went bonkers.
In her Wall Street Journal opinion column, Noonan recounted that Reagan’s Hollywood and political career rose above Palin’s pithy dismissal of his life. She summarized that he was more than just “an actor”, and suggested that Palin was a “nincompoop”. Take that, Sarah! This will teach you to misquote a movie title!
(The actual title is Bedtime for Bonzo, and even then it’s probably not his most notable role. That honor should go to his portrayal of the doomed George Gipp in Knute Rockne – All American.)
PERSONAL NOTE: Okay, it’s obvious to me now that my entire world has been upended. Let’s briefly recap my life recently: I was laid off and I am at a major crossroads of my career; my beloved Phillies did not make it to the World Series; now I find myself AGREEING with Karl Rove that Sarah Palin is not suited to be President of the United States. Imagine my horror: Karl Rove and I seeing eye-to-eye on a subject, any subject! And I’m defending Ronald Reagan’s film career!
This scares the hell out of me! Help me, Keith Olbermann, you’re my only hope! That aside, I am just tickled pink to see all this conflict between the old and new Republicans fighting it out in public. The Gipper would have none of this, if he were still alive. Yes, despite my personal tribulations at present, the weather is nice and sunny, and life is good any day a Mama Grizzly is smacked down and gets put in her place.
(Thank you for reading. Welcome back, Mr. Olbermann!)
posted by todd gunther | 7:16 AM
1 Comments:
Yes, RTG, your life has been "upended", but at least you weren't caught jerking off in a porno theater, like Pee Wee Herman! :-)
Wishing you all the best as you regain balance!
Love, Janey
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