Is Keith Olbermann Trying to Banish Tom Brokaw From MSNBC?

NewsBusters ^ | August 27, 2008 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

It appears that Keith Olbermann might be vying for the title of Most Annoying Anchor On Television. First we had Olbermann dissing Joe Scarborough during a live broadcast on Monday from the Democrat convention. Then a day later, Olbermann managed to enrage Chris Matthews during another broadcast. And now it looks like Olbermann is going for broke in the insult department by pushing to have Tom Brokaw banned from appearing on MSNBC as reported in Page Six of today's New York Post:

At a forum on Sunday, when Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell called MSNBC "the official network of the Obama campaign," Brokaw said, "I think Keith has gone too far. I think Chris has gone too far."

Insiders say Olbermann is pushing to have Brokaw banned from the network and is also refusing to have centrist Time magazine columnist Mike Murphy on his show.

This could be payback by Olbermann not only for what Tom Brokaw said at a forum on Sunday but also for Brokaw's criticism of him back in June. Here is a partial transcript of the June 3 MSNBC Democrat primary interchange between Brokaw and Olbermann (emphasis mine):

[PJ-Comix]

It has to be blackmail. No other organization would put up with the likes of Keith Olbermann. Both Scarborough and Matthews have been insulted by Olbermann and now he is supposedly proposing the banishment of Tom Brokaw. Can anything other than blackmail explain why MSNBC tolerates Olbermann?

[Red Badger]

As long as he gets ratings..................

[bpjam]

I was so enjoying all the PMSNBC hosts attacking each other recently but it didn’t hit me until yesterday that the new tension in the place comes not just from their effort to out-Obama each other but also to replace Tim Russert.

They all think they are the one to get the Russert seat at the end of the year and they are knifing each other as violently as possible.

[wireman]

Olbermann is a self-absorbed moron who has been fired from every other job he's ever had in television.

I don't think this will end up differently.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

Oberman is living proof that as long as you appease the left-wing lunatics out their you can have a job. His audience is composed of well, compost. And there's waste products will support anyone that buys into their crap. Oberman has not talent, he was horrible on sportscenter.

[Devilinbaggypants]

The Olbermarxist better be careful what he wishes for...he may just end up in the can!

[kingattax]

i really hope people are smart enough to see through this moronic nonsense that is an attempt to get people to watch that pathetic excuse for a news network.

[Red Badger]

I’d LMAO if Joe got the gig!.................

[Red Badger]

...he was horrible on sportscenter.

He was the "worst person in the world"...............

[The_Reader_David]

It appears that Keith Olbermann might be vying for the title of Most Annoying Anchor On Television. WTF?!! I thought he already held that title. Who's the challenger?

[Devilinbaggypants]

Someone really should come up with a process to convert they’re `waste’ into biomass...that would sure help the energy situation!

[montag813]

I predict Olbermann will be unemployed (and unemployable) by the end of next week.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

What's he doing on sunday night football? How the heck does he add anything to the show? I say replace him with a spotlight on an NFL teams cheerleaders. Cheerleaders of the week would be far more insightful than his idiotic segment.

[K-oneTexas]

Inquiring minds want to know ... Do we care?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

If these cat fights do not get more viewers,
they will hire Mad Halfbright and Helen Thomas
in a wet Tee shirt contest.

[Huck]

Isn’t this the well-established pattern with Olberd**k? He doesn’t get along well with coworkers? He used to be a pretty funny newsreader in tandem with Craig Kilborn on ESPN(15 yrs ago?). If memory serves, he spread dissention over there also.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

Soylet green is people right? Well instead of eating the stuff we can use your option and save the environment. A win-win for mother earth and mankind.

[Red Badger]

I always used his segment to go pee...........

[kempo]

When Obama loses the General in November the Democrats will realize they nominated the wrong candidate. Democrats always have to have someone or group to blame for their defeats and they will be pointing their finger at MSNBC as one of the main reasons Obama was their candidate.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

That’s very productive and certainly more of a benefit to the world than his segment is.

[okie01]

If memory serves, [Olbermann] spread dissention over there also.

When Olbermann left ESPN, they threw a party.

[Grams A]

Why does MSNBC tolerate KO? Why do all those “men” put up with Pelosi?

[bamahead]

I predict Olbermann will be unemployed (and unemployable) by the end of next week.

I bet once USSR State Television kicks back into gear, they might be able to find a slot for him.

[Deb]

Since giving leftist, lesbian Rachel Maddow her own show, they should just go ahead and call it Air America TV.

[Liberty Valance]

I read that the new President of pmsnbc is a big Olbermann fan. From all outward appearances it seems they don’t want conservative or even moderate viewers. Rush is right that they are DNC-TV. OK by me. Closest I get to them is PJ’s or Mark Finkelstein’s coverage of them. If they’re not even trying to be a news outfit then their only real value is comedy.

RIP Jerry Nachman.

[Red Badger]

LOL!!.......I think Jay Mohr is mucho better!.....

http://www.jaymohr.com/

[SECURE AMERICA]

(It appears that Keith Olbermann might be vying for the title of Most Annoying Anchor On Television.)

Wow are you behind the times. Olbermeister has been the most annoy person in American for at least a year now. Took over from fatboy Moore when he sort of faded from the limelight.

[aculeus]

We should all call him General Electric's Own Kieth Olbermann.

The corporate types may eventually get the message.

[San Jacinto]

I don't think it is blackmail. I think MSNBC has traditionally got it's ass kicked in all rating in all time slots and has decided the best business model for them is to become a boutique network for lunatic fringe moonbats. They will still have relatively low in ratings, but it is a consistent and loyal audience, and I think that can be a selling point for advertisers.

They know that if the head lunatic, KO, is cut loose, there would be hell to pay in FruitCakeville-- so maybe that IS a form of blackmail afterall.

[sheik yerbouty]

Olberman often appears to be floridly opsychotic..

[Molly T.]

Hmmm....looks like Olbermann is taking his cue from his idol...Barrack Hussein Obama...and is finding his footing as a little dictator....why would MSNBC put up with such gall...why would so many American voters fall for nonsense Barrack Hussein Obama dishes out and never take the time to see where this guy is coming from , what his TRUE beliefs are....why don't these people wise up? Good grief, talk about an inflated ego...I doubt BHB even knows the word humble....he's just awful....almost as awful as his wife's expression thru most of Hillary Clinton' speech last night.....what a hateful, spiteful glare...if looks could have killed,old Hillary would have been toes up right there on the stage. What has become of our country,,our people? There is an underlying bitterness, hatred, almost evilness that comes from the people who have hijacked the Democratic Party...and what a shame for those who still have their clear minds...they've lost their Party and I don't think a lot of them are even aware.

By the way, I'm a Conservative...and I realize my Republican Party has left me.

[I still care]

It’s something about the left. They like really obnoxious people. I think it has to do with all their internalized anger.

Whenever I see a superlib, they are always seething inside over some slight. They reek with discontent.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

I saw a clip of his new show, it looks like it might be fun so I’ll check it out.

[Secret Agent Man]

I would guess he’s trying to get fired so he can get paid the rest of whatever contract he has, and move on to another network and more power.

[freespirited]

[paudio]

If these cat fights do not get more viewers, they will hire Mad Halfbright and Helen Thomas in a wet Tee shirt contest.

I hope that's not something that you long for... LOL

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

LOL, I do not watch PMSNBC but I was trying to help
them like I tried to help Barrack Hussein 0bama VP
search by pimping Sheila Jackson-Lee for her great
knowledge of outer space.

[bpjam]

I’d LMAO if Joe got the gig!.................

Sure, you and I would be LMAO but there would be a few people in MSNBC would would be facing their first murder charges....

[Red Badger]

I think Joe would be the perfect replacement for Tim Russert. Certainly not that nutcase Olberman. And definitely not David Gregory. Of all the people at NBC, Joe is probably closest to Russert’s style and abilities........

[bpjam]

no chance a former republican can get ahead at NBC. No chance in hell.

[tophat9000]

I think MSNBC has traditionally got it's ass kicked in all rating in all time slots and has decided the best business model for them is to become a boutique network for lunatic fringe

The "Kootique" business model?

[tophat9000]

Uberdouche and Crissy are turning MSNBC in to a left wing version of "Waynes World"... but with lower rating's