11:39 am
Olbermann and Matthews
I like Keith Olbermann. I watch Countdown whenever I can. I’m not a fan of Chris Matthews. I never watch Hardball.
I’m not that upset that they are no longer going to anchor MSNBC’s election coverage.
Why? Because the reality is (was) that they were’t doing a good job. They talked over one another, they expressed opinion as fact, and they mocked other analysts and guests. That works on shows like Hardball and Countdown, but it doesn’t really work when reporting live events.
It is easy to see NBC’s decision as a conspiracy against progressivism. It also would be a mistake. Had Olbermann and Matthews excelled at their job — or even if they had done it with more professionalism and objectivity — the regulars at NBC — particularly Brokaw and Williams — never would have agitated for their removal. And had Brokaw and Williams supported Matthews and Olbermann, MSNBC would have ignored the pressure from the McCain campaign.
Let’s face facts: Olbermann’s ego got the best of him — he angered too many people too often, and took too much credit for Rachel Maddow’s new show (which starts tonight). Matthews, was supposed to act as a counterweight to Olbermann, largely devolved into Olbermann’s straight man.
If you have doubts about Olbermann’s inability to speak objectively, go back and watch his most recent interview with Michael Moore, which took place on the Friday that John McCain chose Sarah Palin. Moore gloated that Hurricane Gustav is going to hit New Orleans in the middle of the Republican National Convention, saying it was “proof there is a God in heaven.” Olbermann never calls him on it.
Finally, let’s stop arguing that just because Fox does it, it’s okay for the left to do it. To paraphrase my mother, if Bill O’Reilly jumped of the roof of the house, would that mean it’s okay for you to do it?
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