MSNBC and Countdown with Keith Olbermann

MSNBC and Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann’s Tactless Attack on an AP Reporter

I was checking out the Huffington Post when this story caught my eye. Keith Olbermann attacks AP reporter Charles Babington over his analysis of Obama’s speech. Olbermann culminates his ridiculous overreaction with “Charles Babington, find new work.” This is an awfully dangerous remark on a pretty minor error over the speech’s length and a difference of opinion between Olbermann and Babington over Obama’s speech.

I first started watching Olberman after he let loose with a harsh but deserving address to President Bush. The power of his words rested in the idea that he could no longer hold his tongue and I assumed this kind of verbal “smackdown” would be a seldom-used weapon. I was wrong, he has continued to use this closing speech on several occasions including a pretty rough response to Hillary Clinton’s persistence through the primary.

Now, I often agree with most of what he says in these attacks, but the repetition of this intense language makes him come off like the other talking heads–like his nemesis O’Reilly. I stopped watching Countdown because like many of MSNBC’s shows, it is far too slanted. The only difference between the reporting of MSNBC and Fox News is that the former generally gets the facts right, but both do have a tendency to report only what is agreeable to their political ideology.

There is still some good reporting done at MSNBC and I watch it often, but Countdown discredits MSNBC news by employing shock jocks. This unfair attack on the AP reporter is more powerful than Olbermann may realize. Generally, you don’t see a lot of criticism like this from fellow reporters, but then again Olbermann is not really much of a reporter.

Sadly, Olbermann has forced me to employ some famous words to reference the deterioration of quality, respectful news: “Good night, and good luck.”

Al Gore and Obama Live

CNN is transmitting the Al Gore and Obama speeches live, check it out here.

Russia and Georgia Clash

Please look at this story.  “Earlier in the day, Russian troops and armored vehicles had rolled into South Ossetia, supporting the breakaway region in its bitter conflict with Georgia.”  The reason this development concerns me is that John McCain has adopted stiff rhetoric toward the Kremlin advocating for their removal from the G8 in a foreign policy speech.  Also, the Cold War may have warmed up by now, but the tension is still remaining especially with an old hawk like McCain.  I understand the tough talk toward Russia, because their human rights still need improvement and they have fallen from super power status as China rises.  However, a more diplomatic approach is needed to prevent another Cold War.  It’s a little bit of a leap to assume another Cold War is coming, but NATO and the United States have condemned troops entering Georgia and it is definitely concerning.  Leave a comment, I’d like to know what your thoughts about this.