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, Sky Dancing, Don Surber, Comments from Left Field, Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine, Politics Daily, Liberal Values, Wonkette, The Reaction, Poynter, American Power, Firedoglake, TPMDC, Left Coast Rebel, JammieWearingFool, The Daily Caller, WyBlog, Zandar Versus The Stupid, First Draft, Pajamas Media, Daily Kos, Sister Toldjah, skippy the bush kangaroo, The Democratic Daily, The Gateway Pundit, Conservatives4Palin, Instapundit, 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 …
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:
NBC sacks Keith Olberman — 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 by the US cable news network's parent company NBC on Friday night.
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
Alex Dobuzinskis / Reuters:
MSNBC and anchor Keith Olbermann abruptly part ways — * Suspended briefly in November for donations to Democrats — * No reason given for move (Adds MSNBC, Comcast spokesmen, details, background) — U.S. cable news television network MSNBC and its top anchor, Keith Olbermann …
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
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
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, Weigel, CNN, Online NewsHour, TPMDC and FrumForum
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, Weigel, National Review and FrumForum
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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, TPMDC, Washington Wire, The Wire, Public Policy Polling, Hot Air, Pajamas Media, The Note, Riehl World View, Conservatives4Palin, FrumForum and The Hill
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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:
Guardian, Ross Douthat, The Reaction, The Huffington Post, Outside the Beltway, Hot Air, The Wire, The Daily Dish, newsfeed.time.com, skippy the bush kangaroo, The Nation, Cubachi, Pajamas Media, Weigel, Mediaite, The Democratic Daily, New York Magazine, Classical Values, Riehl World View, The Impolitic and Poynter
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
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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
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
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
RELATED:
Alexander Mooney / CNN:
Presidential buzz surrounds Bachmann
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Note and The Impolitic
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, RSC and The Foundry
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
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
Jgalloway / Political Insider:
Newt Gingrich tells Georgia Republicans he'll be a candidate in '12 — In the last 24 hours, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich has touched base with several prominent Republicans in his former home state, telling them that he intends to make a run for president in 2012 using Georgia as his base …
Discussion:
The Politico, Hot Air, msnbc.com, Ballot Box, TPMDC, FrumForum and Human Events
Ken Auletta / New Yorker:
Skip to content — NEWS DESK - THE BOOK BENCH - CLOSE READ - PHOTO BOOTH - HENDRIK HERTZBERG - SUSAN ORLEAN - LETTER FROM CHINA - THE FRONT ROW
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Epicenter, Felix Salmon, TechCrunch, New York Times and DealBook, more at Techmeme »
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
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.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Texas on the Potomac
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