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:
Washington Monthly, Tower Ticker, Don Surber, The Other McCain, Sky Dancing, Comments from Left Field, Talking Points Memo, Politics Daily, Liberal Values, Wonkette, The Reaction, American Power, Poynter, Firedoglake, JammieWearingFool, Left Coast Rebel, TPMDC, Sister Toldjah, Pajamas Media, The Daily Caller, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Daily Kos, WyBlog, The Democratic Daily, skippy the bush kangaroo, Instapundit, The Gateway Pundit, Conservatives4Palin, Donklephant and his vorpal sword, more at Mediagazer »
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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:
Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
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
Richard Adams / Guardian:
Keith Olbermann abruptly dropped 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:
Washington Post, Liberty Pundits Blog, Raw Story and Firedoglake
Colby Hall / Mediaite:
Coincidence? Keith Olbermann Departs MSNBC The Day After The FCC Approves Comcast Takeover — 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
Sam Schechner / Wall Street Journal:
MSNBC, Olbermann Call It Quits, Cancel Show — Cable host Keith Olbermann and news channel MSNBC abruptly parted ways on Friday night, as the network announced it had agreed to end his contract and the last installment of his show would air that evening. — The surprise announcement strips MSNBC …
Discussion:
Verum Serum, No Left Turns, Doug Ross and Speakeasy
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
David Bauder / Associated Press:
Keith Olbermann gives abrupt goodbye to MSNBC show — NEW YORK - Keith Olbermann was MSNBC's most popular personality and single-handedly led its transformation to an outspoken, left-leaning cable news network in prime time. Despite that, he often seemed to be walking on a tightrope with his job.
Discussion:
Moonbattery
Alex Dobuzinskis / Reuters:
MSNBC and anchor Keith Olbermann abruptly part ways
Discussion:
Informed Comment
Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
Why Keith Olbermann Is Out (Update)
Discussion:
The Wire, Weasel Zippers and The BRAD BLOG
Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight's Countdown As His Last Show
Discussion:
Nice Deb
Glynnis MacNicol / The Wire:
So Why Did MSNBC Just Dump Keith Olbermann? Hint: COMCAST
Discussion:
TMZ.com, New York Magazine and First Draft
The Huffington Post:
Final Countdown: Keith Olbermann And MSNBC Announce They Are Parting Ways (VIDEO)
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org blogs, Jesus' General and Poynter
Bill Gorman / TVbytheNumbers:
Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC, Final ‘Countdown’ Broadcast Is Tonight
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Egrinberg / This Just In:
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC part ways
Discussion:
iOwnTheWorld.com and Atlas Shrugs
Big Journalism:
Washington Post Organizes News Boycott of Sarah Palin; Starts Twitter Campaign Against GOP Star — The Washington Post is engaging in online political activism by encouraging its readers to boycott news coverage of Sarah Palin. — The Post has picked up the call initiated this morning …
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Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
I'm declaring February a Palin-free month. Join me!
Discussion:
Guardian, Outside the Beltway, The Wire, Ross Douthat, The Huffington Post, The Reaction, Hot Air, The Daily Dish, newsfeed.time.com, The Nation, Cubachi, Mediaite, skippy the bush kangaroo, Pajamas Media, The Democratic Daily, Weigel, New York Magazine, The Impolitic, Riehl World View, Classical Values and Poynter
Brian Stelter / New York Times:
Spotlight From Glenn Beck Brings a CUNY Professor Threats — On his daily radio and television shows, Glenn Beck has elevated once-obscure conservative thinkers onto best-seller lists. Recently, he has elevated a 78-year-old liberal academic to celebrity of a different sort, in a way that some say is endangering her life.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Balloon Juice, Prairie Weather, Hullabaloo and News Hounds
The Politico:
President Obama pressured to keep energy focus in SOTU address — In two previous big speeches on Capitol Hill, President Barack Obama planted global warming and energy near the top of his agenda, prodding lawmakers to get moving despite reservations about the sour economy.
Discussion:
Pirate's Cove and Wonkette
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
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:
Hot Air, Fox Nation, CNN, Weigel, Online NewsHour, TPMDC and FrumForum
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
Discussion:
The Hill
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, The Blast, Fox Nation, Pajamas Media and JammieWearingFool
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, Pajamas Media, Politics Daily, National Review, Weigel and FrumForum
RELATED:
Jordy Yager / The Hill:
Who's your seat buddy? Congress pairs off for State of the Union — Dozens of lawmakers are getting a second dose of high school as they venture across the aisle and ask colleagues to sit with them for President Obama's State of the Union address next week.
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool
Erik Wasson / The Hill:
Obama: Hu meeting showed he's ‘serious’ about fighting for jobs — President Obama in his weekly radio address Saturday touted recent White House efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters aimed at tackling the stubbornly high unemployment rate. — The address can be seen as part of Obama's quest …
Discussion:
The Politico
James Horney / Off the Charts Blog:
House GOP Group Would Decimate Key Services — The new proposal of the House Republican Study Committee (RSC) to cut and then freeze non-defense discretionary spending at 2006 levels from 2012 through 2021 would mean cuts of more than 40 percent in education, environmental protection …
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Gail Collins / New York Times:
The Week of Speaking Pleasantly — Congress really has been looking a little more civil. Not quite Athens in the age of Pericles, but it's very possible that this year we'll get through the State of the Union address without anybody jumping up to scream insults at the president. — Going for baby steps.
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Kyle Drennen / NewsBusters.org blogs:
MSNBC: Rep. Cohen Compares Mike Pence to Goebbels, No Challenge From Ed Schultz — On MSNBC's Ed Show on Thursday, despite initially regretting his comparison of Republicans to Nazis, Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen later doubled down: “[Indiana Congressman] Mike Pence talked …
Discussion:
Hot Air
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