Greenwald On Olbermann

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:33:18 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Glenn Greenwald writes:

On January 31 of this year, Keith Olbermann donned his most serious face and most indignant voice tone to rail against George Bush for supporting telecom immunity and revisions to FISA. In a 10-minute "Special Comment," the MSNBC star condemned Bush for wanting to "retroactively immunize corporate criminals[.]" . . . Olbermann added that telecom amnesty was a "shameless, breathless, literally textbook example of Fascism -- the merged efforts of government and corporations that answer to no government."

. . . . Now that Barack Obama supports a law that does the same thing -- and now that Obama justifies that support by claiming that this bill is necessary to keep us Safe from the Terrorists -- everything has changed. . . . There wasn't a syllable uttered about "immunizing corporate criminals" or "textbook examples of Fascism" or the Third Reich. There wasn't a word of rational criticism of the bill either. Instead, [Olbermann and Jon Alter] hailed Obama's bravery and strength -- as evidenced by his "standing up to the left" in order to support this important centrist FISA compromise . . . [MORE]

What's . . . notable is Olbermann's full-scale reversal on how he talks about these measures now that Obama -- rather than George Bush -- supports them. On an almost nightly basis, Olbermann mocks Congressional Democrats as being weak and complicit for failing to stand up to Bush lawbreaking; now that Obama does it, it's proof that Obama won't "cower." Grave warning on Olbermann's show that telecom amnesty and FISA revisions were hallmarks of Bush Fascism instantaneously transformed into a celebration that Obama, by supporting the same things, was leading a courageous, centrist crusade in defense of our Constitution.

Is that really what anyone wants -- transferring blind devotion from George Bush to Barack Obama? Are we hoping for a Fox News for Obama, that glorifies everything he says and whitewashes everything he does?

Well said in my opinion, and speaking for me only.

< CS& N Benefit Tonight, Open Thread | David Addington and John Yoo Testify on Torture >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Greenwald On Olbermann | 193 comments (193 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

He has blatant contempt for his viewers. (5.00 / 5) (#1)
by Lysis on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:35:44 PM EST

Nothing more, nothing less.

Olbermann is not alone (5.00 / 15) (#95)
by talex on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:12:57 PM EST

There are a host of bloggers who refuse to address the elephant in the room. Go to any popular Lefty Blog and you won't find much personal criticism. The problem is that once people publicly buy into Obama and tell readers he will be a Great President then they are not strong enough to admit that maybe they were wrong.

Matt Stoller at OpenLeft makes an attempt and then in his next breath cheerleads for Obama. His sidekick Chris Bowers is spineless to say anything about it at all. Seems like Greenwald is the only one with balls to say anything about Obama which is why you see him referenced so much in the blogosphere. You know - 'Glenn said it, not me'.

Al this past talk about holding Obama's feet to the fire seems like, well, Obama talking. Know what I mean?

[ Parent ]

It is angering to no end... (5.00 / 13) (#116)
by AX10 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:33:15 PM EST

to see these tools cover for Obama when all the while they accused Hillary of being "manipulative" and "decietful". Now that their guy is CLEARLY doing what they accused HRC of, we have every excuse in the world being made.

[ Parent ]

: It will be impossible for (5.00 / 1) (#132)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:05:44 PM EST

Obama to respect succubus type supporters. If you act that you are going to be seen as contemtuous by your leader. Especially since OBama has the press and corps on his side.

[ Parent ]
: I have defended HRC's Iraq authorization vote (none / 0) (#187)
by magnetics on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:44:48 PM EST

on the grounds that she went along because very few people were willing to take a principled stand on this. And the intelligence (so called) was off the wall: at one point we were warned that Iraq could bomb NYC with a remotely guided drone aircraft. I kid you not.
Nonetheless, I defended her for being a politician; and if I myself was not roundly thrashed for it, others were who did.
Look where it got us.
Plus an off topic stomach discomfort alert: the Obama campaign is planning to unleash 'persuasion squads' so called, in recalcitrant neighborhoods. Sheesh!

[ Parent ]

It's the Bush (5.00 / 9) (#126)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:57:27 PM EST

syndrome. The left has it just as the right is losing it. Perhaps it's an infectious disease that moves around.

[ Parent ]

: It's the type of people moving (none / 0) (#205)
by splashy on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 01:57:55 PM EST

Around. They are the ones that cheer lead regardless of what the leaders do. Quite a few have abandoned the Repubs because they have lost some of their power, and jumped on the Obama bandwagon because they think he will have power.

[ Parent ]

He's O'Rielly (5.00 / 5) (#2)
by mrjerbub on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:39:32 PM EST

with giant "manscaped" eyebrows.

he's our o'Reilly. (5.00 / 4) (#15)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:55:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]

: O'bermann? (5.00 / 7) (#51)
by suki on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:27:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Except O'Reilly gets better ratings (5.00 / 12) (#41)
by davnee on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:17:08 PM EST

and can actually conduct a credible interview. Must be tough for KO to be consistently pwned by somebody as craptastic as O'Reilly. My heart bleeds.

[ Parent ]

O'Reilly also confronts people F2F... (5.00 / 4) (#145)
by Dawn Davenport on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:53:04 PM EST

...as he did in his interview with Clinton, while Olbermann was a coward who didn't challenge her until after he was done interviewing her, and she had no way to respond.

[ Parent ]

I just loved how (5.00 / 2) (#153)
by Leisa on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 08:20:35 PM EST

he kept repeating what a defender of Bill he was back in the day the last time he interviewed Hillary...

OMHO, KO is unhinged and his credibility is zero. He rants and drools way too much to be taken seriously. I believe this man does not deserve airtime.

[ Parent ]

: Totally unhinged (5.00 / 4) (#172)
by lmv on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:21:46 PM EST

His coworkers at ESPN said in the New Yorker piece that he didn't burn bridges, he napalmed them.
He's so narcissistic, that he says he has warehouses full of every show he's ever done. (He admitted this on the air one night. And added that he watches the tape of his show when he gets home.)
We took him off our TiVo months ago. Sure, you can call it hypocritical that we watched him bash Bush. His was the only show doing so, sadly, at the time. And, yes, it took his overt sexist rants against Hillary for us to get fed up with him. At least we stopped watching.
Now, when will the internets start examining Tweety's issues? (Haven't watched him since NH.)

[ Parent ]

Hmm. (none / 0) (#178)
by shoephone on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:45:22 PM EST

I don't recall O'Reilly ever conducting anything close to a credible interview. He always seems to be screaming over his interviewee, which makes it more like a monologue than a dialogue.

[ Parent ]

: I pretty much agree with that (5.00 / 2) (#183)
by shannon on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:07:14 PM EST

except KO doesn't have to scream over his interviewee because he only invites people who agree with him.

[ Parent ]
: Hillary interview (5.00 / 4) (#191)
by lmv on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 11:04:04 PM EST

You couldn't have seen his interview with HRC.
I was really impressed with O'Reilly. And don't think that didn't bother me! But, I have to give credit where it's due.
Strangely, he was very respectful towards her. He definitely asked her tough questions but he didn't steamroller over her like he does to most of his guests.
HRC did great. She is so smart. If only ...

[ Parent ]

Whether we want it or not, that's what we got (5.00 / 18) (#3)
by goldberry on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:40:58 PM EST

Some of us caught on back in late January. Not that it will make any difference now. For many of the Obama supporters, the conditioning is complete and long since over.
How did it ever happen? Bob Altemeyer will have to pass this question onto his graduate assistants. Hopefully, it won't take another 40 years to figure it out.

I find the ferocity (5.00 / 13) (#8)
by vigkat on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:45:45 PM EST

of his devotion to Obama downright scary.

[ Parent ]

: It is scary and his superiors need to keep (5.00 / 12) (#34)
by PssttCmere08 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:10:44 PM EST

it in check....I suppose what he does in his off time is his business. I watched him for many months and then noticed his complete turnaround to being in the tank for obama. What scares me as how KO and many obama followers make excuses for every wrong thing he does...no questions asked.

[ Parent ]
: Olbermann the ferocious. (5.00 / 12) (#61)
by lentinel on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:35:41 PM EST

He has to be ferociously for Obama to cover up the fact that all he really cared about was his nutty sick inverted perverse sadistic all-consuming obsession with Hillary Clinton.

[ Parent ]
: Once you're THAT far out on the limb ... (5.00 / 4) (#142)
by RonK Seattle on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:48:12 PM EST

... there's really no point looking back.

[ Parent ]

we are sorta stuck with it though. (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:57:01 PM EST

It's like complaining about a bad General. You just have to hope they win or get sacked quickly once the lack of courage or talent becomes self evident.

[ Parent ]

What does this remind me of? (5.00 / 14) (#27)
by Joelarama on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:04:07 PM EST

"We are sorta stuck with it though. It's like complaining about a bad general."

Sounds like a lot of Republicans who stuck with Bush after WMDs were not found, after Abu Ghraib, after Katrina.

[ Parent ]

well yeah (5.00 / 2) (#36)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:12:35 PM EST

C'est la Vie.

[ Parent ]

more aptly (5.00 / 1) (#90)
by Ovah on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:08:17 PM EST

c'est la guerre

[ Parent ]

: Even more aptly (5.00 / 2) (#138)
by Nadai on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:38:18 PM EST

C'est ridicule.

[ Parent ]
: c'est la merde (5.00 / 4) (#144)
by RonK Seattle on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:49:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Well, for now he's winning (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by andgarden on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:13:37 PM EST

and people like winners.

[ Parent ]

If he thinks he is winning he's losing. (5.00 / 2) (#52)
by Joelarama on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:28:36 PM EST

I question whether Obama is "winning" and especially whether he wins in November.

[ Parent ]

: phat book deal (5.00 / 1) (#124)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:51:22 PM EST

[ Parent ]
: We're only in June (none / 0) (#171)
by SoCalLiberal on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:18:57 PM EST

As we've seen thus far this year, conventional wisdom in campaigns can fail. And political situations can change quickly.
Obama is helped though by the fact that the media still worships him. If he can maintain this same level of worship through till election day and the economy continues to tank, he may very well win.

[ Parent ]
: He's winning, but (none / 0) (#202)
by mg7505 on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 01:07:42 PM EST

we're losing. That's politics. The only question is which candidate makes us lose more.

[ Parent ]

He's winning.... (5.00 / 6) (#57)
by lentinel on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:31:33 PM EST

But what is he winning?

[ Parent ]

Most people don't like all winners, because (5.00 / 1) (#100)
by DeborahNC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:18:03 PM EST

there's almost always an alternative view than that held by the "winner." In this case, I want a president who is willing to stand up for the civil liberties of the country's citizens.

[ Parent ]

You go (5.00 / 4) (#53)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:29:03 PM EST

into the election with the candidate you have not necessarily the best one or the one you wanted.

[ Parent ]

Isn't that (5.00 / 1) (#64)
by mrjerbub on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:39:42 PM EST

a "Rummyism"? ;p

[ Parent ]

: Rummy was right on that score (5.00 / 1) (#70)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:49:02 PM EST

although you clearly didn't need to invade Iraq. So that political point sorta overrides technical questions about military capability.

[ Parent ]

Olbermann (5.00 / 14) (#4)
by vigkat on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:42:39 PM EST

A hack and a tool; nothing more, nothing less. A pompous and arrogant man, incapable of true self-reflection. I no longer watch him, and wonder why I ever did.

I hear ya! (5.00 / 3) (#68)
by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:45:18 PM EST

I'd shake my head, but if I did that every time Olbermann and MSNBC ticked me off, I'd probably have whiplash by now.

[ Parent ]

Or maybe... (5.00 / 2) (#128)
by Lou Grinzo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:59:21 PM EST

...you'd develop the condition KO has. The recent New Yorker profile said that some time ago he was running into a subway car and banged his head. Ever since, he can't drive more than about 15MPH or he loses his depth perception.

[insert painful irony joke here]

[ Parent ]

Yeah (5.00 / 2) (#136)
by Lil on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:28:03 PM EST

so happy I gave up on him a long time ago. After a short withdrawal period, I'm living a much happier life.

[ Parent ]

Man, my wife and (5.00 / 3) (#141)
by mikeyleigh on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:46:04 PM EST

I didn't even have withdrawal pains. We've been KO free for four months now.

[ Parent ]

Yes, (5.00 / 3) (#149)
by Lil on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 08:06:22 PM EST

and TalkLeft is like my 12-step group.

[ Parent ]

Same here -- I was surprised (none / 0) (#184)
by Cream City on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:28:37 PM EST

as we had been KO regulars in this house. But we looked at each other at a certain point -- some time ago, 'way before primary season, we found we turned it off earlier and earlier . . . and then I just stopped coming in to join the spouse for it, with no withdrawal at all on my part. And then a while later, the spouse said that I had awakened him to realizing he had better things to do with that hour.

I've been enjoying History Channel, National Geographic Channel, some good CDs and books. . . .

[ Parent ]

: My very conservative friend (5.00 / 2) (#186)
by A little night musing on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:32:40 PM EST

... urged me, about a year ago, to think about how occasionally irrational KO was.
I hate to admit it, but he had a point. (And we're still friends.)
This isn't a new thing. It's just that I liked his rants against Bush.

[ Parent ]

Olberman seems to suffer from pathological (5.00 / 7) (#96)
by DeborahNC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:14:00 PM EST

narcissism. Seriously. From his perspective, he is always right, despite evidence to the contrary. If he changes his position on an issue, one that directly contradicts a former position, then in his view, everyone should now accept his new position as the correct and acceptable one. Yet, if someone else (not in agreement with him) did this, s/he would be harshly criticized. It would be amusing if it weren't such a serious problem.

I really don't understand how viewers can think that he is a credible source of "news." There is so much commentary that masquerades as news in multiple and diverse media sources in the US that is has become really disturbing to me.

Olbermann is just part of the problem. Unfortunately, he has a broad public forum and uses it to broadcast his rants.

[ Parent ]

: His use of Neville Chamberlain (5.00 / 2) (#107)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:24:56 PM EST

has always bugged me. It was very ideosyncratic theorizing about Neville being arrogant and secretive--rather than bargaining from a weak position.

[ Parent ]

Well, I'm sure he'd love to do (5.00 / 12) (#5)
by andgarden on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:43:04 PM EST

a special comment on Obama, but, you know, time constraints, people to see, places to go. And that segment he has to do on lindsay lohan.

I'm gonna have to pull out my wading boots (5.00 / 9) (#6)
by kmblue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:43:10 PM EST

to make it to November.

Blind ambition + denial =
"let the rationalizations begin!"

Rationalizations r'us (5.00 / 15) (#24)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:02:25 PM EST

Crazy Howard's bargain basement DNC firesale. Now with added Evangelists.

[ Parent ]

: ROTFLMAO! (5.00 / 4) (#56)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:30:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
: That comment (5.00 / 6) (#75)
by Cream City on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:54:58 PM EST

caused a mess on my screen. Bad, bad Salo.:-)

[ Parent ]
: Too funny! (none / 0) (#204)
by mg7505 on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 01:11:10 PM EST

I could use a new job...maybe Crazy Howard's is hiring? Do you have to be a member of The Joshua Generation?

[ Parent ]

Well (5.00 / 6) (#11)
by Steve M on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:49:01 PM EST

The Beltway media is the Beltway media.

The only way for a Democrat to be praised as strong is by standing up to the rabid left-wing hordes and supporting the GOP agenda.

MSNBC is treading a well-worn path here.

I'm not sure how that really relates (5.00 / 3) (#12)
by andgarden on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:49:46 PM EST

to Greenwald's complaint.

[ Parent ]

Really? (5.00 / 10) (#25)
by Steve M on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:02:51 PM EST

You think Greenwald is only talking about the hypocrisy, and not the bizarre claim that Obama is somehow being "strong" by capitulating to the GOP? I disagree.

[ Parent ]

If I were obama i'd (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:04:20 PM EST

cut my ties with Dkos Pronto.

[ Parent ]

Actually, he did that years ago (4.76 / 13) (#76)
by Cream City on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:56:06 PM EST

But the boyz at DKos just haven't caught on yet. Shhhhhh.

[ Parent ]

: oh yes the famous roberts comment. (5.00 / 1) (#84)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:04:10 PM EST

Who was it that called Obama an Idiot btw?

[ Parent ]
: Whothehell is "hairspray" (none / 0) (#197)
by creeper on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 09:16:51 AM EST

and why is (s)he laying a 2 on this comment?

[ Parent ]

Ok, that does make sense (5.00 / 3) (#37)
by andgarden on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:12:51 PM EST

I just didn't see what you were driving at.

[ Parent ]

Greenwald is reality-based (5.00 / 5) (#14)
by kmblue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:53:19 PM EST

I've read him for years. I'll have to venture into his comment section--I'm sure daring to question Obama and Keithie has drawn fire.

That's true and. . . (5.00 / 2) (#19)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:59:40 PM EST

although I don't read Greenwald directly, when I see him quoted he often makes good sense.

Of course, a few months or a year ago, everyone was saying the same thing about Olbermann as you're now saying about Greenwald. I guess it just depends on whose candidate is getting Gored.

[ Parent ]

: Who's everyone? (5.00 / 2) (#22)
by pie on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:01:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
: Greenwald is more consistent than me. (5.00 / 2) (#26)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:03:20 PM EST

He's a bit pedantic at times but he's well worth the time to read.

[ Parent ]

It's unbelievable (5.00 / 10) (#21)
by pie on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:01:01 PM EST

that those who criticized Bush daily, condemned and ridiculed his supporters, and cheered Keith for speaking out have now themselves turned into the very people they despised...

all without a second's hesitation. It's sad and scary at the same time.

[ Parent ]

It's magic, (5.00 / 6) (#29)
by kmblue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:06:14 PM EST

pie!

A wave of the wand and presto!
Cowering becomes a clever strategy.

[ Parent ]

In the blink of an eye (5.00 / 6) (#30)
by vigkat on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:06:25 PM EST

I think it's being described as "the pivot," or "pivoting." All those in the know realize the importance of a well-executed pivot. It's all the rage; like a new dance step. Doing the pivot.

[ Parent ]

They might like the pivot now, but remember (5.00 / 1) (#148)
by DeborahNC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 08:05:08 PM EST

the pivot can also be made in the opposite direction. (I'm thinking basketball.) People should be careful with their terminology, because the next "pivot" might be in an unacceptable direction and will they continue to acclaim the pivot then?

Irrespective of the the direction, a pivot is still a pivot--at least when I played basketball.
And as we all know, we've seen many political pivots in the recent past, enough to make me feel like I've been in (or at least watching) the NCAA finals for years now. And sadly, both the Democrats and Republican are equal opportunity pivoters--maybe the Democrats even more, since Republican, of late, seem to be in a holding pattern.

[ Parent ]

: Exactly (5.00 / 1) (#175)
by vigkat on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:31:05 PM EST

The direction of the pivot cannot always be predicted.

[ Parent ]
: Guys he plays hoops with say he's got ... (5.00 / 1) (#182)
by RonK Seattle on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:01:20 PM EST

... a wicked crossover move.

[ Parent ]

Too Funny! (5.00 / 3) (#17)
by This from a broad on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:57:32 PM EST

It's too funny! I mean really ... it's too funny! (I have to go and have a good cry now).

cowering before the right = (5.00 / 10) (#18)
by ruffian on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:58:46 PM EST

Bravely standing up to the left . I love that Greenwald highlighted that. He always nails it.

lol. (5.00 / 4) (#33)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:10:29 PM EST

standing up to the left? I see no left wing in the US. It's projected simulacra.

[ Parent ]

: The Holodeck Left (5.00 / 6) (#129)
by Lou Grinzo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:00:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]

This is a sign of the times. (5.00 / 17) (#20)
by Joelarama on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:00:51 PM EST

The same is happening/has happened at Daily Kos, The Hufffington Post, TPM, and AmericaBlog, to name a few.

Obama can do no wrong (or a wrong deserving of strong criticism) for these people, just as George W. Bush could do no wrong for Republicans.

The Democratic dittoism, particularly at the left blogs, at Air America, and on MSNBC, makes me sick.

Remember when leftwing blogs (5.00 / 12) (#32)
by kmblue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:09:27 PM EST

said about Mister Bush "Up is down, right is left..."

Talk about deja vu.

[ Parent ]

: The reality-based community (Blogosphere 1.0) (5.00 / 12) (#35)
by Joelarama on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:11:07 PM EST

breathed its last breath around December 2007.
R.I.P. Blogosphere 1.0.

[ Parent ]
: yep kmblue....deja vu all over again!! (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by PssttCmere08 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:17:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Take a look (5.00 / 5) (#39)
by andgarden on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:14:33 PM EST

at Bowers's latest whopper.

[ Parent ]

Heh (5.00 / 2) (#43)
by Steve M on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:19:32 PM EST

Bowers seems to have a reasonable point, no?

Now, instead of those annoying arguments that represented a 180 degree shift from where the majority of the blogosphere was just one year ago, the prevailing sentiment is "yeah, FISA shows that Obama isn't that great, but let's work to elect him anyway." There have been at least 50 diaries on Daily Kos over the last week expressing this sentiment. While it isn't an invigorating message, it is at least one that, as a progressive, I have grown used to being thrown at me for the last decade or so. It feels familiar, and like the long awaited removal of the bullsh*t blinders has finally taken place.

Well, yeah, but where was he last month? (5.00 / 8) (#48)
by andgarden on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:24:05 PM EST

or the month before that?

[ Parent ]

Heh (5.00 / 16) (#54)
by Steve M on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:29:38 PM EST

I dunno, maybe they figure it's bad for business to insult the readership. Jerome Armstrong is about the only one who spoke out directly about the Kool-Aid in his own comment section, and he took a ton of guff for it, too.

The question of how progressives can persuade the Democratic Party to show more spine is a challenging one. It doesn't help if people adopt the Olbermann approach of simply relabelling cowardice as courage.

I confess that I'm sort of taking Bowers' word for it regarding the general tone of things at the orange place. From where I sit, I still see quite a bit of "gosh, maybe he'll work really hard to remove immunity once the election is over!"

[ Parent ]

He admits the Kool Aid has been flowing since (5.00 / 10) (#65)
by Joelarama on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:40:28 PM EST

late January.

I don't recall Bowers doing much about it. I don't recall anyone else bemoaning the scores of progressives who were essentially run off of Daily Kos and other blogs, for no greater sin than supporting Hillary.

These guys are a bunch of hypocrites.

[ Parent ]

The social dems will return (5.00 / 2) (#72)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:52:02 PM EST

and bury the bums if Obama doesn't win.

[ Parent ]

Don't you know that all Hillary supporters (5.00 / 1) (#174)
by SoCalLiberal on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:31:04 PM EST

are racist? And so is anyone who would dream of not voting for Obama in the general. It's immoral to not vote for Obama!

More likely than not, I will vote for Obama but this "you're a racist if you don't support Obama" sets a rather dangerous precedent.

I just quit blogging at Daily Kos and left without any fanfare. It's pointless to argue with that group. They are into group think and screaming. I admit I did that on occasion participated in the screaming rants but I'm older now and a little less crazy.

[ Parent ]

I'm another refugee (5.00 / 1) (#195)
by Radiowalla on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 08:48:25 AM EST

I quit after Markos frontpaged his "darkened" photo accusations. For months I had endured all manner of name calling by the Hate Hillary set and finally decided that my self-respect demanded that I leave.

MyDD has now become infested with some of the same Obama Thought Police and I will need to get out of there as well. I had the audacity to mention that Obama has a "thin resume" and was called a racist and a traitor. Never mind that I plan to vote for him anyway.

[ Parent ]

: Now computer monitor gamma is racist?!? (5.00 / 1) (#199)
by Ellie on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 10:13:59 AM EST

That ginned-up outrage was inexcusable for a self-defined, allegedly "reality first" club stepping up to the trough as NuSkool kingmakers in the digital age.
I work in multi-media with other specialists and work off a portable drive plugged into five different monitors. Everyone on my team keeps hard copy color wheels to tweak displays of our workto match because monitor settings fluctuate.
Even two identical makes and models of a monitor at factory setting will display the same graphic differently.
The collective madness was Delusional Digitalis. What is with people.
(If it isn't apparent by now, Club Obama isn't interested in sharing the truth but in replacing RoveCo and PoliCoke with Axelrod and PoliPepsi. Not my preferred suds.)

[ Parent ]

Me too... (none / 0) (#188)
by Jjc2008 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:45:26 PM EST

quit dkos. Strange place now. I remember reading some of your comments.

KO has now posted there and ragged a bit on Glen and spun some more. Now he is getting his ego stroked and so he will be good for a while.

[ Parent ]

Me too... (none / 0) (#189)
by Jjc2008 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:45:41 PM EST

Am I a 'typical white person' (?) per Obie's own (none / 0) (#200)
by Ellie on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 10:41:12 AM EST

... phrase, which he used negatively and condescendingly to describe his own grandmother and for which he was given a pass by cowering media.

They allow themselves be held hostage by impending charges of racism if they slightly question Obama's words and actions that are on the public record.

They won't even stop to question the mindset and integrity of a someone who's main selling point is Unity he he cavalierly dumps on someone who raised him (and sent him to a great prep school) that way.

Using the handy nutcracker:lawn jockey ratio, it's obvious that it was open season to subject HRC to a historically unprecedented torrent of bigotry which by far exceeded -- in the mainstream -- what Obama has had during the campaign.

Neither is right nor should be condoned, yet the former appeared routinely and even increased after candidate and campaign were directly ask to "respond" to "some" people's "belief" that it was occurring.

[ Parent ]

Exactly. (5.00 / 8) (#71)
by shannon on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:49:41 PM EST

I really do appreciate this Greenwald column and other recent criticisms of Olbermann. But I have to wonder why it's taken so long for the subject to come up outside of places like TalkLeft. It has been obvious for the past several months. Olbermann has the same blatant bias for Obama, it's just gotten even more pronounced and nearly insane. And let's not forget Jonathan Alter. He's always been right there with KO in his overboard promoting of Obama, regardless of facts.

[ Parent ]

As Picasso (5.00 / 3) (#73)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:53:03 PM EST

was fond of saying, something new and good is rarely recognized in it's own time. Howvere Picasso did make a good living from his art while he was alive.

[ Parent ]

: I love that Picasso story about how he paid for .. (5.00 / 1) (#201)
by Ellie on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 10:58:30 AM EST

... everything, even a cup of coffee, by cheque after he became famous. He knew no one would cash it because s/he'd want to hold onto his signature.
Brilliant man.
Some guys try to pick up girls and get called a@@ho'
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers
Click over for his seminal punk bio.
Since Friday's cat and music day in the blogosphere, I'm sending this musical SHOUTOUT and putting some money* in the Talk Left jukebox to offsent the great work the moderators, proptrietrix and barkeep -- BTD -- do to clean up after the likes of me.
* what's good, five bux a tune? Three for ten? I'd be happy to put up a separate diary proposing a model for Friday fun(d) raising this way, perhaps in open threads so I hope one of the pezzanovante let me know.

[ Parent ]

Media legitimization theory at work here (5.00 / 5) (#81)
by Cream City on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:00:05 PM EST

as these gutless wonders like Bowers had to wait for the msm to do so first. Look back and see.

So much for the brave new blogzworld. Pffffft.

[ Parent ]

Because. . . (5.00 / 0) (#170)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:18:09 PM EST

But I have to wonder why it's taken so long for the subject to come up outside of places like TalkLeft.

Whatever else he was before, Olbermann didn't become a hypocrite until he abandoned his strongly held anti-immunity position in favor of sycophancy.

[ Parent ]

Amen to those words! (5.00 / 11) (#40)
by Radiowalla on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:16:57 PM EST

I've been away on vacation for a few weeks and it's amazing to witness what has happened on the leftie blogs. Even the faintest word of criticism for Our Dear Presumptive Nominee is instantly shouted down with cries of "racist" or "traitor." I was called both of those today for simply mentioning that Obama has a thin resume.

All along I've said that I'm planning to vote for Obama because McCain is totally unacceptable. After today, I'm thinking that I will have to abandon the blogs for the duration of this campaign. Otherwise, I'm afraid I will be pushed over the edge and decide not to vote at all. And that would not be right.

[ Parent ]

: it'll infect teh general population... (5.00 / 3) (#110)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:26:39 PM EST

...and you'll see a few Auto da Fe's before november.

[ Parent ]

Obamabots know they've been conned (5.00 / 4) (#109)
by Josey on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:26:29 PM EST

And so, they're doing what Bushies did in 2004 when they learned Bush had duped them on the war - they dug in deeper and worshipped Bush more.

[ Parent ]

The more I study Obama (5.00 / 1) (#163)
by SoCalLiberal on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:08:08 PM EST

The more I see him as basically a Democratic and black version of Bush. That's why I really don't like him.

[ Parent ]

Obama -"standing up to the left"... (5.00 / 6) (#45)
by lentinel on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:22:04 PM EST

How brave.

"Standing up to the left".

Everybody is standing up to the left -
and nobody is representing our point of view.

Why pretend otherwise?

When I hear Kucinich speak, I feel I am listening to a democrat.
The same with Feingold. It is not only the content, but the straightforward manner with which they speak.

The rest of them, I don't know what they're talking about or where they stand on anything.

: Feingold is more complex (5.00 / 1) (#86)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:05:55 PM EST

and I consider him a good cop in a Gcop Bcop routine. Kucinich is a cantankerous, but he'd fit easily into labour or the German SPD.

[ Parent ]

I think there are quite a few of us (5.00 / 11) (#46)
by Radiowalla on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:22:47 PM EST

who would like to seek refuge from the kind of mind control that is being practiced on the left these days. Frankly, I find it pretty scary.

Clown (5.00 / 2) (#47)
by suki on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:23:31 PM EST

A big one who every night paints his face, dons his huge, red bulbous nose, and straps on his over-sized Bozo shoes.
Are you listening SNL... Jon.... Colbert?
Please, this is too good to pass up.

too much (4.75 / 4) (#59)
by Edgar08 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:33:35 PM EST

demographic overlap. Skewering olbrrman would be like jon and Stephen telling 90% of their audience that theyre stupid for watching okvrrman.

[ Parent ]

A girl can dream, can't she? (5.00 / 3) (#67)
by suki on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:44:40 PM EST

: yes (5.00 / 13) (#105)
by Edgar08 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:24:06 PM EST

Just not of being president.

[ Parent ]

He's having to prompt them into laughing (5.00 / 1) (#111)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:28:00 PM EST

about/at Obama. Frightening really. Bob Robert's meet the Young Democrats!

[ Parent ]

: i can see obama's foot (5.00 / 2) (#115)
by Edgar08 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:32:54 PM EST

tapping.

[ Parent ]

Thank You BTD (5.00 / 7) (#49)
by IzikLA on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:24:32 PM EST

For supporting Obama with a rational head and for skewering the people like Olbermann who deserve it.

I support Obama now as a Democrat who could never vote for a Republican, but I still have serious problems with his campaign and even more serious problems with the media's treatment of it. Anything we can do to hold them accountable should be done, so I commend you for continuing to do just that.

From the same article BTD linked (5.00 / 6) (#50)
by Dave B on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:26:19 PM EST

A quote from Russ Finegold:

It's the latest chapter of running for cover when the Administration tries to intimidate Democrats on national security issues. It's the most embarrassing failure of the Democrats I've seen since 2006, other than the failure to vote to end the Iraq War. . . . It's letting George Bush and Dick Cheney have their way even though they're that unpopular and on their way out. It's really incredible.

I wonder how Finegold feels about his support of Obama now...

Thought the same thing ... (5.00 / 2) (#87)
by lmv on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:06:30 PM EST

I've been wondering if the Reid/Pelosi/Dean strategy had been to make the Republicans look as bad as possible so they could ride in and save the country.

Guess not. They're just spineless.

Good for Feingold to see the light again.

[ Parent ]

: Complicity is not spinelessness (5.00 / 3) (#102)
by hookfan on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:20:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]

About the way I felt about supporting Russ (5.00 / 2) (#104)
by Cream City on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:22:13 PM EST

and then watching him vote for Ashcroft and Roberts.

Feingold gets to have feet of clay in his home state, where we've watched him for decades -- he is the definition of a maverick, and he gets things more right than wrong from what seems to simply be naivete.

But when he's wrong, he's very wrong. And this time was another case.

[ Parent ]

I don't like that statement (5.00 / 2) (#114)
by Edgar08 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:30:42 PM EST

what is feingold captain universe?

He's just being a pol.

[ Parent ]

I imagine Feingold. . . (none / 0) (#169)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:14:13 PM EST

has a broader view of Presidential politics, and Obama, than any single issue.

After all, a heck of a lot of people here (including me) voted for Clinton, but I doubt any of us were particularly thrilled with her vote on the AUMF. Show me someone who agrees with me 100% of the time and I'll show you someone I wouldn't trust as far as I can throw myself.

[ Parent ]

Olberman (5.00 / 4) (#55)
by mmc9431 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:29:56 PM EST

Fell so in love with the sound of his own voice and the adulation of his admirers that he decided that he was the story, not the other way around.

Well, they all bet (5.00 / 8) (#58)
by kmblue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:32:14 PM EST

on Obama. I'm talking about the media and the Democratic party. Everything--reputations, cash, and the quest for power--is riding on the choice they made.

As a Hillary supporter, I'm constantly being told "I'll get over it" and "I have nowhere else to go."

Seems to me that the same can be said of those supporting Obama.

That's how Bill won (5.00 / 3) (#98)
by lmv on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:15:55 PM EST

Bill won by running in the center. He knew the left had nowhere else to go. And the left got mad, took it out on his wife, and rallied behind their True One. They got played. Ooops.

If I were still a Dem, I'd be pretty upset ...

[ Parent ]

: The thing (5.00 / 6) (#131)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 07:04:47 PM EST

is though you knew what you were getting with Bill. Obama sold them a bill of goods that they are still buying into.

[ Parent ]

Maybe its the only way we could do it (5.00 / 4) (#60)
by blogtopus on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:35:36 PM EST

If I recall, a few years ago we were talking about how in order for an African American to get elected POTUS, he / she would have to be conservative enough to get a certain population past their racial insecurities.

I just now woke up to what Obama is; he is the realization of a dream; an extremely cynical and pragmatic one, but many of us thought it might have to happen this way*.

Maybe we need to have Con woman in the WH before a Lib woman, no? I hope not, but look what's happening now.

*of course, that was before the US was screwed beyond belief (and possibly repair), and now is not the time for a newbie, no matter how historical.

: it'll be some type of maggie thatcher. (5.00 / 2) (#113)
by Salo on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 06:30:37 PM EST

Palin is a good candidate for that if she so chose.

[ Parent ]
: Obama is far to the left. . . (none / 0) (#166)
by LarryInNYC on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:11:14 PM EST

of the kind of person I think a lot of intelligent commenters would have thought would have a chance of being the first black President.

[ Parent ]

Thanks for posting this, BTD (5.00 / 6) (#66)
by kempis on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:43:37 PM EST

Greenwald's observations are right on the mark--and important. Th