Top Items:
Bill Carter / Media Decoder:
Olbermann Leaves ‘Countdown’ on MSNBC — Updated Keith Olbermann, the highest-rated host on MSNBC, announced abruptly on the air Friday night that he is leaving “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” immediately. — The host, who has had a stormy relationship with the management of the network for some time …
Discussion:
The Wire, Tower Ticker, Politics Daily, Don Surber, Talking Points Memo, Firedoglake, New York Magazine, Liberal Values, The Daily Caller, Poynter, American Power, TPMDC, Left Coast Rebel, WyBlog, JammieWearingFool, Daily Kos, The Democratic Daily, skippy the bush kangaroo, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Pajamas Media, The Gateway Pundit, Conservatives4Palin and his vorpal sword, more at Mediagazer »
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Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Breaking: Olbermann announces the end of “Countdown”; Update: Settled contract with MSNBC “late this week”; Update: “Stealth move”; Update: Real reason revealed? — Why? No idea. There was no inkling of it on Google News earlier today. It sounds from the clip like he was let go …
David Neiwert / Crooks and Liars:
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann out at MSNBC, last broadcast tonight — From A+EInteractive: … More as we get it. — UPDATE: We've now posted Olbermann's thoughtful and well-done farewell. Transcript below: — I think the same fantasy popped into the head of everybody in my business …
The Politico:
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC part ways — Keith Olbermann took an unexpected bow from MSNBC on Friday, announcing on air in the last 10 minutes of his show that it would be his final episode of “Countdown.” — The mutually agreed-upon departure was a stealth move, MSNBC insiders told POLITICO …
Discussion:
CNN and Pajamas Media
msnbc.com:
Olbermann signs off msnbc — ‘Countdown’ over as commentator, cable news channel end contract — Below: — on TODAYshow.com - — More from: - TODAY - Nightly News - Meet the Press - Dateline - Morning Joe - Hardball - Countdown - Rachel Maddow - msnbc tv — msnbc.com staff and news service reports
Discussion:
Verum Serum
Howard Kurtz / The Daily Beast:
Keith Olbermann Quits Countdown — MSNBC's liberal crusader abruptly resigned on air tonight, ending a provocative eight-year run. Howard Kurtz on Olbermann's career highlights and his clashes with network brass. — The cable channel confirmed his unexpected departure as Olbermann …
Discussion:
Poynter
Colby Hall / Mediaite:
Coincidence? Keith Olbermann Departs MSNBC On The Day Comcast Takes Over — Shockwaves were felt through the cable news world late Friday night when word broke that Keith Olbermann and MSNBC would suddenly be parting ways. In some ways this news wasn't terribly surprising …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh and News Hounds
Cbarney / A+E Interactive:
Olbermann out at MSNBC — In a stunning late development, MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann has been ousted by the cable news channel. And he's gone without much of an explanation. — MSNBC just released this terse statement: … MSNBC announced that “The Last Word” with Lawrence O'Donnell would replace …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland
Richard Adams / Guardian:
Keith Olbermann abruptly fired by NBC | Richard Adams — Keith Olbermann, the controversial MSNBC cable news host, has his contract abruptly terminated by parent company NBC — Keith Olbermann, the liberal, outspoken anchor of MSNBC's Countdown show, had his contract dramatically terminated …
Discussion:
Firedoglake and Raw Story
Egrinberg / This Just In:
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC part ways
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC part ways
Discussion:
iOwnTheWorld.com and Atlas Shrugs
Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight's Countdown As His Last Show
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight's Countdown As His Last Show
Discussion:
Nice Deb
Bill Gorman / TVbytheNumbers:
Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC, Final ‘Countdown’ Broadcast Is Tonight
Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC, Final ‘Countdown’ Broadcast Is Tonight
Discussion:
Mediaite, Weasel Zippers and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Matt Viser / Boston Globe:
Romney keeps away from Tea Party — Possible presidential contender isn't courting activists — Tea Party activists in New Hampshire say the former Massachusetts governor has been largely inaccessible to them. (Mary Schwalm/Associated Press) — WASHINGTON — New Hampshire Tea Party …
RELATED:
Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
New Hampshire GOP faces Tea Party takeover
New Hampshire GOP faces Tea Party takeover
Discussion:
The Impolitic, Ben Smith's Blog, GOP 12 and Wonkette
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
A rival SOTU response — The Tea Party Express emails supporters that Rep. Michelle Bachmann — passed over for a leadership spot, much less the response to the State of the Union — will deliver her own response: — Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has confirmed with us that she will broadcast …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Politics Daily, Pajamas Media, National Review, Weigel and FrumForum
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Amy Krener / paracom.paramountcommunication.com:
Date sent — There are two very exciting developments I wanted …
Date sent — There are two very exciting developments I wanted …
Discussion:
Politics Daily, Hot Air, The Daily Caller, Hotline On Call, Washington Post and AOL News
Chris Good / The Atlantic Online:
Michele Bachmann to Deliver SOTU Rebuttal, Too
Michele Bachmann to Deliver SOTU Rebuttal, Too
Discussion:
The Caucus, The Politico, The Hill, Hot Air, Washington Monthly and Outside the Beltway
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
I'm declaring February a Palin-free month. Join me! — Though it is embarrassing to admit this in public, I can no longer hide the truth. I have a Sarah Palin problem. — I have written about her in 42 columns since Sen. John McCain picked her as his presidential running mate in 2008.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, The Wire, Ross Douthat, The Nation, The Daily Dish, Outside the Beltway, newsfeed.time.com, The Reaction, Gawker, Cubachi, Hot Air, Mediaite, skippy the bush kangaroo, Weigel, Classical Values, The Democratic Daily, Pajamas Media, New York Magazine, The Impolitic, Riehl World View and Poynter
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
DeMint joins CPAC boycott — South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint will skip this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, making him the most prominent conservative figure yet to express objections to what critics see as a pro-gay, libertarian tilt to the 38-year old event.
Discussion:
CNN, Hot Air, Fox Nation, Weigel, Online NewsHour, TPMDC and FrumForum
Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Giuliani vs. Palin in 2012? — (CNN) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he's more likely to run for president if former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin runs. — In an interview on CNN's “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Giuliani, who dropped out of the 2008 Republican presidential primary …
Discussion:
The Politico, The Wire, Washington Wire, Cubachi, TPMDC, The Note, Hot Air, Pajamas Media, The Hill, Conservatives4Palin, Riehl World View and FrumForum
RELATED:
Jparkercbs / CBS San Francisco:
Oakland 2nd Graders Reportedly Engage In Sex Acts, Teacher Suspended — OAKLAND (CBS 5) — A teacher at Oakland's Markham Elementary School has been suspended indefinitely after school officials said a pair of second-graders performed sex acts on each other in class - with the teacher present.
Discussion:
AOL News, Fox Nation, The Blast, Pajamas Media and JammieWearingFool
Political Correction RSS:
Rep. Broun: Mixed Seating At SOTU Is “A Trap” To “Silence Republicans” When “Barack Obama Spews Out All His Venom” — 1 hour and 16 minutes ago — Matt Finkelstein — The tragic shootings in Tucson prompted calls for civility from politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Sen. Mark Udall's …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Washington Monthly, Mediaite and Daily Kos
RELATED:
Zaid Jilani / ThinkProgress:
Refusing To Sit With Democrats, Rep. Broun Warns Of Obama Spewing …
Refusing To Sit With Democrats, Rep. Broun Warns Of Obama Spewing …
Discussion:
No Labels, Crooks and Liars, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and AOL News
Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Pelosi issues rallying call — Cambridge, Maryland (CNN) - Trumpeting the American dream-theme “Make it in America,” House Democrats gathered for their annual retreat Friday to focus on fulfilling the pledge that Democrats will make it back in 2012. — In a press conference following …
Discussion:
The Politico
RELATED:
Jake Sherman / The Politico:
Joe Biden reaches out to House Democrats at retreat
Joe Biden reaches out to House Democrats at retreat
Discussion:
The Hill
Myglesias / Yglesias:
Free Market Health Care — Rep Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) sings the praises of the healthcare status quo and explains the problems with a government takeover of the health care system: … Hensarling is 53 years old, so his mother is, of course, eligible for Medicare.
RELATED:
Richard Dunham / Texas on the Potomac:
Promise kept: All Texas Republicans vote to repeal health reform; Democrats cry foul
Promise kept: All Texas Republicans vote to repeal health reform; Democrats cry foul
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Daily Kos
A. Barton Hinkle / Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Civility is nice; nonviolence is even better — The frenzy surrounding Jared Loughner's rampage in Tucson this month has finally died down. As tempers cool, perhaps distance could turn reflection toward some bigger questions. Many Republicans and Democrats have lamented the frequency of violent rhetoric in politics.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
Hersh rebuked on ‘crusaders’ — Legendary journalist Seymour Hersh has uncovered some sinister conspiracies during his long career, but his latest revelation is drawing some puzzled reactions and angry denunciations. — In a speech this week in Doha, Qatar, Hersh advanced the notion …
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org blogs, PostPartisan, FP Passport, Gawker and Poynter
RELATED:
Jeff Schogol / Stars & Stripes:
McChrystal denies claims of secret military crusade against Islam
McChrystal denies claims of secret military crusade against Islam
Discussion:
Raw Story and Jihad Watch
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Sen. Murkowski questions approach to health repeal — Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Thursday cast doubt on the manner in which Republicans have attempted to repeal the healthcare law. — Murkowski (Alaska) said that she would vote to repeal the law if a vote was held in the Senate …
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, The Note, Weasel Zippers and KTVA-TV
RELATED:
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NICER TO MURKOWSKI. …
MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NICER TO MURKOWSKI. …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway
Geraldine Fabrikant / New York Times:
You Think Houses Are a Slow Sell? Try a Yacht — What is tougher than having one sleek mega-yacht for sale in a glutted market? The answer, for the moment at least, is having two mega-yachts on the market. — In boom times, yacht enthusiasts would order a new dream boat and keep …
Discussion:
Runnin' Scared and Gawker
Michael M. Gleeson / The Hill:
Roberts, Alito face tough choice on whether to attend State of the Union — Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito face a difficult choice on whether to attend President Obama's State of the Union address next week. — Alito and Roberts, who were both nominated …
Discussion:
The Note and Prairie Weather