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Keith Olbermann announces tonight's Countdown as his last show!

Whovian said:
You can suspect anything you like. Probelm is, since the merger has not completed, Comcast has not legal right or ability to have the liberal ball licker KO fired, promoted, or anything in between. Comcast has already said publicly they had nothign to do with it.
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Of course they have said that. So what? For you that is enough? I have no doubt that Comcast has made their feelings about KO known to NBC for months now while the merger was awaiting approval and details finalized. I suspect that these talks between KO and the network were as a direct result of BOTH PARTIES realizing that a very big change was coming as soon as Comcast officially took over. I have no doubt that both NBC knew what was in store for KO and I also have no doubt that KO knew what was in store for himself. And all was because of the impending takeover by Comcast - a far more conservative company with owners with strong ties to the Republican Party. So both parties sat down over the past weeks or months trying to do something about it before Comcast officially had their name etched on the windows.

from NYC

So you're saying Olbermann is a ***** who would sit by and let this happen in order to get paid a few extra million?
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You have such a way with over the top hyperbole. I am saying that I suspect KO could see the writing on the wall with the changes coming in the Comcast takeover, NBC saw the writing on the wall with the changes coming in the Comcast takeover, and talks were initiated so that this entire matter was resolved by the time Comcast took over. Comcast did not want the publicity that would come with an outright firing of KO once they had taken over. I am sure that they were afraid of a boycott or other things such as charges of muzzling progressive pundits. I have no doubt that Comcast may indeed have made this entire scenario a behind the scenes proviso that they insisted be done before their takeover. So this was done now to mitigate such fallout.

Consider that KO will be paid the balance of $15 million dollars due to him for the two years remaining on his contract. He loses nothing in money. MSNBC loses their number one draw on the nighttime five day a week block. MSNBC loses their only star who generates a million viewers. They clearly lose while KO clearly has won.

Comcast, with their denials and refusals to be part of this, can go in with what they claim are clean hands and KO is out of their hair. And it only cost them $15 mil over two years. A small price to pay for getting rid of the most aggressive progressive on the airwaves who is a constant pain in the ass to their Republican Party friends. It also eliminates the one figure who would most likely take to the airwaves and make a very public mess of any later Comcast effort to turn the station more to the center or right.
 
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haymarket said:
You have such a way with over the top hyperbole. I am saying that I suspect KO could see the writing on the wall with the changes coming in the Comcast takeover, NBC saw the writing on the wall with the changes coming in the Comcast takeover, and talks were initiated so that this entire matter was resolved by the time Comcast took over. Comcast did not want the publicity that would come with an outright firing of KO once they had taken over. I am sure that they were afraid of a boycott or other things such as charges of muzzling progressive pundits. I have no doubt that Comcast may indeed have made this entire scenario a behind the scenes proviso that they insisted be done before their takeover. So this was done now to mitigate such fallout.

Consider that KO will be paid the balance of $15 million dollars due to him for the two years remaining on his contract. He loses nothing in money. MSNBC loses their number one draw on the nighttime five day a week block. MSNBC loses their only star who generates a million viewers. They clearly lose while KO clearly has won.

Comcast, with their denials and refusals to be part of this, can go in with what they claim are clean hands and KO is out of their hair. And it only cost them $15 mil over two years. A small price to pay for getting rid of the most aggressive progressive on the airwaves who is a constant pain in the ass to their Republican Party friends. It also eliminates the one figure who would most likely take to the airwaves and make a very public mess of any later Comcast effort to turn the station more to the center or right.
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And rather than speak out about this unconscionable silencing of the left's most powerful voice, Olbermann is shutting up and taking it from behind for filthy lucre.
 
RightinNYC said:
And rather than speak out about this unconscionable silencing of the left's most powerful voice, Olbermann is shutting up and taking it from behind for filthy lucre.
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Apparently, not speaking about the terms of the termination was a condition imposed on both sides by mutual agreement. That does not mean he cannot speak up in other venues or formats about other things. You do have a flair for over the top hyperbole designed to deflect from the true picture. Money due to KO under a legal contract willingly agreed to by both sides is "filthy lucre" in your parlance. Interesting. Do you consider your agreed upon wages as "filthy lucre" also?
 
From haymarket
Comcast, with their denials and refusals to be part of this, can go in with what they claim are clean hands and KO is out of their hair. And it only cost them $15 mil over two years. A small price to pay for getting rid of the most aggressive progressive on the airwaves who is a constant pain in the ass to their Republican Party friends. It also eliminates the one figure who would most likely take to the airwaves and make a very public mess of any later Comcast effort to turn the station more to the center or right.
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Why cost them $15 mil just to please the Right. I thought the money was with pleasing the Left.
Now they will go to the right just like Obama. This is not going to work with the left because that's not what they want to hear, the Left needs some kind of support. What happened to loyalty????
 
haymarket said:
Apparently, not speaking about the terms of the termination was a condition imposed on both sides by mutual agreement. That does not mean he cannot speak up in other venues or formats about other things. You do have a flair for over the top hyperbole designed to deflect from the true picture. Money due to KO under a legal contract willingly agreed to by both sides is "filthy lucre" in your parlance. Interesting. Do you consider your agreed upon wages as "filthy lucre" also?
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I know this is difficult to understand, so I'll spell it out for you.

When two parties decide that a contractual relationship is not working, they can enter into a new agreement that provides for an end to the first one. In so doing, neither party is entitled to anything beyond what they can negotiate. In exchange for his willingness to not speak about the circumstances of his break with MSNBC, Olbermann received compensation beyond what he would have received had he retained the right to speak about the break. If Olbermann actually thought that his break was influenced by a right-wing plot to silence him, then he sold his ability to speak out about it (and his integrity) for that additional incremental compensation.
 
RightinNYC said:
I know this is difficult to understand, so I'll spell it out for you.

When two parties decide that a contractual relationship is not working, they can enter into a new agreement that provides for an end to the first one. In so doing, neither party is entitled to anything beyond what they can negotiate. In exchange for his willingness to not speak about the circumstances of his break with MSNBC, Olbermann received compensation beyond what he would have received had he retained the right to speak about the break. If Olbermann actually thought that his break was influenced by a right-wing plot to silence him, then he sold his ability to speak out about it (and his integrity) for that additional incremental compensation.
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Let me spell it out for you since you have trouble comprehending what happened here. (see NYC - don't you appreciate it when somebody adopts a smartass posture and treats you like an imbecile simply because you see it differently than they do?)KO was due $15 million dollars over the next two years from NBC. In return, he did his TV show. They wanted him to STOP doing his TV show and he agreed to do so as long as they upheld their end of the bargain.

The rest of your opinion ... is .. well .. its just your opinion shaped by your own ideology which is intended to attempt to smear KO because you do not like his politics.

Or were you an attorney on the other side with NBC and you have some inside information that nobody else has on this?
 
haymarket said:
Let me spell it out for you since you have trouble comprehending what happened here. (see NYC - don't you appreciate it when somebody adopts a smartass posture and treats you like an imbecile simply because you see it differently than they do?)
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It was apparently warranted.

KO was due $15 million dollars over the next two years from NBC. In return, he did his TV show. They wanted him to STOP doing his TV show and he agreed to do so as long as they upheld their end of the bargain.

The rest of your opinion ... is .. well .. its just your opinion shaped by your own ideology which is intended to attempt to smear KO because you do not like his politics.

Or were you an attorney on the other side with NBC and you have some inside information that nobody else has on this?
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No, I'm capable of understanding basic logic and reason. I also don't deny things that are plain on their face, as you make a habit of doing.

As part of their agreement to separate, Olbermann agreed to a gag order. In order to induce him to agree to a gag order, NBC had to offer him something (additional money). Whatever that thing was (additional money), he took it.
 
from RightinNYC

In order to induce him to agree to a gag order, NBC had to offer him something (additional money). Whatever that thing was (additional money), he took it.
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Could you cite the source of this additional payment please. Every report I have seen makes no mention of it at all.
 
Did Comcast force Olbermann out? Of course Jon Friedman's Media Web - MarketWatch

Jon Friedman's MARKET WATCH column sums it up very clearly and succintly

By Jon Friedman, MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Did Comcast, which is acquiring NBC Universal from General Electric, force MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann out?

Of course it did. See full story on Olbermann’s departure from MSNBC.

It can’t be a coincidence that the bomb was dropped as soon as Comcast’s (CMCSA 23.53, +0.27, +1.16%) takeover of the GE (GE 19.74, +1.31, +7.11%) unit was set in stone.
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And for those who may take umbrage, the rest of the article is pretty much ANTI KO with a lot of harsh things to say about him. But at least Friedman has the integrity to admit the obvious.
 
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haymarket said:
Did Comcast force Olbermann out? Of course Jon Friedman's Media Web - MarketWatch

Jon Friedman's MARKET WATCH column sums it up very clearly and succintly



And for those who may take umbrage, the rest of the article is pretty much ANTI KO with a lot of harsh things to say about him. But at least Friedman has the integrity to admit the obvious.
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So... your 'proof' is a Commentary piece in Market Watch saying "Of course it did."?

Really? You're gonna go with that?
 
haymarket said:
Of course they have said that. So what? For you that is enough? I have no doubt that Comcast has made their feelings about KO known to NBC for months now while the merger was awaiting approval and details finalized. I suspect that these talks between KO and the network were as a direct result of BOTH PARTIES realizing that a very big change was coming as soon as Comcast officially took over. I have no doubt that both NBC knew what was in store for KO and I also have no doubt that KO knew what was in store for himself. And all was because of the impending takeover by Comcast - a far more conservative company with owners with strong ties to the Republican Party. So both parties sat down over the past weeks or months trying to do something about it before Comcast officially had their name etched on the windows.

from NYC



You have such a way with over the top hyperbole. I am saying that I suspect KO could see the writing on the wall with the changes coming in the Comcast takeover, NBC saw the writing on the wall with the changes coming in the Comcast takeover, and talks were initiated so that this entire matter was resolved by the time Comcast took over. Comcast did not want the publicity that would come with an outright firing of KO once they had taken over. I am sure that they were afraid of a boycott or other things such as charges of muzzling progressive pundits. I have no doubt that Comcast may indeed have made this entire scenario a behind the scenes proviso that they insisted be done before their takeover. So this was done now to mitigate such fallout.

Consider that KO will be paid the balance of $15 million dollars due to him for the two years remaining on his contract. He loses nothing in money. MSNBC loses their number one draw on the nighttime five day a week block. MSNBC loses their only star who generates a million viewers. They clearly lose while KO clearly has won.

Comcast, with their denials and refusals to be part of this, can go in with what they claim are clean hands and KO is out of their hair. And it only cost them $15 mil over two years. A small price to pay for getting rid of the most aggressive progressive on the airwaves who is a constant pain in the ass to their Republican Party friends. It also eliminates the one figure who would most likely take to the airwaves and make a very public mess of any later Comcast effort to turn the station more to the center or right.
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Translation: The facts do not fit with my opinion, so I will alter the facts.
 
Mellie said:
Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC | Countdown | Mediaite

Hooray!!! :mrgreen:
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Why Hooray?
I never watched his show but I don't see the joy in someone leaving their program for whatever reason.

I've seen enough 'I want to end my opponent's voice-time' crap over the years that I don't support any of it ending - so in the least I'm not thrilled that, for whatever reason, he was given the axe - or chose to take the high road.
 
Whovian said:
Translation: The facts do not fit with my opinion, so I will alter the facts.
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And you are the inside man who has the "facts' on this?

Eagerly waiting to hear them from the horses mouth.

Somehow I think I will have more success waiting for Godot.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Why Hooray?
I never watched his show but I don't see the joy in someone leaving their program for whatever reason.

I've seen enough 'I want to end my opponent's voice-time' crap over the years that I don't support any of it ending - so in the least I'm not thrilled that, for whatever reason, he was given the axe - or chose to take the high road.
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Olbermann left of his own ego fueled reasons.
 
MrVicchio said:
Olbermann left of his own ego fueled reasons.
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We are all awaiting the inside scoop that you apparently have. Please, lets hear the facts from inside the MSNBC boardroom.
 
haymarket said:
The power of right wing corporatism strikes again.
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LOL!

Deadline is shedding some new light on the details behind Keith Olbermann’s departure from MSNBC. According to their report, Olbermann wanted out, and it was his choice to leave. An MSNBC insider claims the Comcast had no impact on the deal, and that this was all between Keith Olbermann and Phil Griffin.

An MSNBC insider told Deadline, “This was all Keith’s choice. He has several times over the years said that he wants out of his contract. He never meant it until this year. He started lawyers negotiating twice this year. He stopped them in the spring. Then, about a month ago with the guidance of his new ICM team and a new LA manager (who were making zero $ on his current deal), he once again said he wanted to leave and this time they negotiated the full package.”

According to the Deadline update this was all about Keith Olbermann and Phil Griffin. Comcast had nothing to do with the decision. “Comcast has had no impact at all on MSNBC [yet]. Phil Griffin has complete authority. He makes deals without having to consult with anyone…MSNBC is Phil Griffin’s network and no one at NBC thinks they have a better idea than Phil about what to do next.” If anyone helped to push Olbermann out the door, it was Phil Griffin, not Comcast.
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Keith Olbermann Wanted Out of MSNBC
 
The Prof said:
LOL!



Keith Olbermann Wanted Out of MSNBC
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ummm - I posted that same speculation yesterday. We will see in time as all is revealed. If Olbermann did want out I would bet he could read the writing on the wall and I would also bet that overtures were made to him. Remember, it was not that long ago that he was suspended.
 
apdst said:
Keith who??

Wait! Is that that guy on MSNBC that had the lowest rated talk show on cable?
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As opposed to O'Reily, who has the highest rated and least educated audience.
People like Oprah, people like bad television (which really is most tv)
 
Sean_H said:
As opposed to O'Reily, who has the highest rated and least educated audience.
People like Oprah, people like bad television (which really is most tv)
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the least educated people don't watch any political shows. Most people who are educated don't limit themselves to one show.
 
TurtleDude said:
the least educated people don't watch any political shows. Most people who are educated don't limit themselves to one show.
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I'm actually inclined to agree with you more or less here.
 
Sean_H said:
I'm actually inclined to agree with you more or less here.
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well that would indicate you are more or less an educated Man:mrgreen:
 
haymarket said:
from RightinNYC



Could you cite the source of this additional payment please. Every report I have seen makes no mention of it at all.
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Yea, I'm really surprised that your knowledge is limited.

*blank stare*
 
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RightinNYC said:
Yea, I'm really surprised that your knowledge is limited.

*blank stare*
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I can understand the blank stare. You had all day to come up with what you claimed existed and you have produced nothing at all to support your claims. Were I in your position I too might have a blank stare on my face... along with the egg which you may want to wipe away.
 
haymarket said:
I can understand the blank stare. You had all day to come up with what you claimed existed and you have produced nothing at all to support your claims. Were I in your position I too might have a blank stare on my face... along with the egg which you may want to wipe away.
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Spoken like a true legal scholar.
 
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