memeorandum: Civility is nice; nonviolence is even better (A. Barton Hinkle/Richmond Times-Dispatch)

8:20 AM ET, January 22, 2011

Top Items:

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 …

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 …

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 …

Discussion: YID With LID, Mediaite, Z on TV, Pajamas Media, Michelle Malkin, Daily Kos, HotAirPundit, Patterico's Pontifications and Pam's House Blend

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, 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: TMZ.com and Informed Comment

Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight's Countdown As His Last Show

Discussion: Nice Deb

Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
Why Keith Olbermann Is Out (Update)

Discussion: The Wire, The BRAD BLOG and Weasel Zippers

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

Cbarney / A+E Interactive: Olbermann out at MSNBC — In a stunning late development …

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

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

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, Cubachi, The Wire, TPMDC, Washington Wire, Hot Air, Public Policy Polling, Pajamas Media, The Note, Riehl World View, Conservatives4Palin, FrumForum and The Hill

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Rudy and Palin — Piers Morgan just tweeted a preview …

Discussion: Swampland and Daily Kos

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, Weigel, National Review and FrumForum

Amy Krener / paracom.paramountcommunication.com:
Date sent — There are two very exciting developments I wanted …

Discussion: The Hill, Derek Wallbank, Politics Daily, The Atlantic Online, The Daily Caller, Hotline On Call, Hot Air, Washington Post and AOL News

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.

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

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

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

Shira Toeplitz / The Politico:

Tea party favorites skip Senate caucus — With less than a week to go before its first meeting, the new Senate Tea Party Caucus has just three members: GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah. — The three will headline the first meeting Jan. 27 …

Discussion: FrumForum

Alexander Mooney / CNN:
Presidential buzz surrounds Bachmann

Discussion: Firedoglake, The Note and The Impolitic

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: Prairie Weather, Balloon Juice and News Hounds

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 and The Foundry

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