how has the msnbc coverage of the convention been?

[angus]

Not to bead a dead horse.  Or a dead whore.  But--

for example, right now, as I type, former US secretary of state Madelaine Albright--THE Madelaine Albright.  The one who famously said, "We are the indispensible nation."  (How's that for wilsonian imperialism?  The native of Denver, Colorado.  One of the most important foreign policymakers in the most recent Democrat Presidential administration--is giving a convention speech.  Madelaine Albright.  PBS, of course, is showing her speaking, just as it was showing all those who spoke before her, and all those who will speak after her.  Uninterrupted.  FOX?  Well, they're having Bill O'Reilly predict that Clinton will "undermine Obama's campaign."  MSNBC?  Keith Olbermann is pontificating about how the other half of the Clinton Duet "...did so marvelously by him last night."  CNN?  Well, they're trying to sell me a Chevrolet 3/4-ton payload pickup that gets about 12 miles per gallon from Rydell Chevrolet of Waterloo, Iowa. 

Why do we watch this crap? 

because listening to the opinions of others talk about speeches is easier than thinking as we listen to the important policy makers speak for themselves.  Well, that and Rydell has to pay its bills too.

[emailking]

Here's a great article on the situation at MSNBC...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12900.html

There's an interesting point in the article that apparently Matthews and Olbermann are at odds, despite being an on air team. Apparently Olbermann is also difficult to work with.

Show this guy the door, MSNBC. He's ruining your channel; I don't care what the ratings say.

Matthews has said on the air, enthusiastically, that he is Olbermann's "number 1 fan."

[YRABNNRM]

Here's a great article on the situation at MSNBC...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12900.html

There's an interesting point in the article that apparently Matthews and Olbermann are at odds, despite being an on air team. Apparently Olbermann is also difficult to work with.

Show this guy the door, MSNBC. He's ruining your channel; I don't care what the ratings say.

Matthews has said on the air, enthusiastically, that he is Olbermann's "number 1 fan."

And Bill Clinton is currently talking about how he wants Obama to win. People lie.

[emailking]

Here's a great article on the situation at MSNBC...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12900.html

There's an interesting point in the article that apparently Matthews and Olbermann are at odds, despite being an on air team. Apparently Olbermann is also difficult to work with.

Show this guy the door, MSNBC. He's ruining your channel; I don't care what the ratings say.

Matthews has said on the air, enthusiastically, that he is Olbermann's "number 1 fan."

And Bill Clinton is currently talking about how he wants Obama to win. People lie.

He was not lying. He was in his incredibly excited state and speaking to Keith directly.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's a great article on the situation at MSNBC...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12900.html

Here's the video of one of the incidents they're referring to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1yvpTL-vhw

[angus]

I'm watching MSNBC coverage just now.  Been watching the Hardball Guy for about 15 minutes.  It's mostly setup.  Howard Fineman's there.  And Steamboat Willie.  It's pretty lively.  Folks milling about, leaning over the barracade trying to get that "Hi Mom, I'm in Denver" shot on national television.

So anyway, Matthews is trying to talk and there's this guy coming on with a megapone saying "Nine-Eleven was an inside job!  Nine-Eleven was an inside job!  Nine-Eleven was an inside job!"  Over and over.  Oh, sheet, okay, get this, after a two minute or so commercial break, that guy's still back there.  "Nine-Eleven was an inside job!"  Over and over.  He's been going on for at least seven or eight minutes now.  Can't hear the host.  Tough to deal with that.  He does have rights, but man isn't he obnoxious.  Anyone catching this?  That guy just won't quit.

[angus]

okay, they cut to some big DNC thugs accosting the man.  I guess they decided they finally had enough.  Matthews was apologetic.  "We're not muffling intelligent dissent here.  Just so you know, the man they're taking out behind me on the screen seems to actually believe President Bush had something to do with the terrorist attacks.  Get rid of that guy.  Itellya, boy, that guy's IQ is an inside job.  What a jerk." 

One assumes he's referring to the dissenter.  Not to the President.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I like it when protesters want to exercise their first amendment rights by denying the first amendment to someone else.

[angus]

Classic case.  "One's right to swing one's fist begins where another's nose begins" and all that.

Funny thing, I actually used that metaphor once and was taken all wrong.  Musta been about 1999.  I was on a subway.  The Red Line.  Got on at Davis Square one morning on my way to work, heading for Park Street where I'd change for the Green Line.  I'd normally ride my bicycle but it was during winter.  So I get on and take a seat.  I was wearing Doc Marten's, black denim jeans, a heavy wool coat, and a scarf, so by the time the car pulled into the station, and I took a seat, I was pretty hot and sweaty.  So I sat down in an empty seat.  The guy next to me was sitting way forward in this seat, occupying maybe a quarter of the seat.  The front quarter.  He was having a conversation with a guy who was on one knee in front of him.  They seemed pretty intensely involved in their discussion.  So, without really thinking I put my arm casually on the seat next to me.  You know, the way you'd put your arm on the back of the sofa, next to you, when you want to spread out.  I didn't think I stank or anything.  Just glad for the chance to spread out for a few stops.  Anyway, not long after I put my arm up there this guy turns to me and says something like, "Take your arm from around me."  I was taken quite aback.  My arm was quite far from any part of his body.  In fact, my arm was much farther from his body than other parts of my body were from his body.  If he'd been in his seat properly, in fact, our legs would probably be touching, as is often the case on those seats.  As it was, his body was the farthest thing from my mind, and my left arm was farther away from his body than most of the rest of my body.  I didn't measure it, but I'd be willing to bet money that my arm was farther away from his body than most of my body parts.  My dick, for instance, was probably only ten inches or so from his ass, whereas my fingers were probably twenty-four inches away, at least.  Anyway, I thought about calling him an asshole.  Or saying, "WTF is wrong with you, man?"  Or a million other things.  But, in the end, I thought, this is one of those "personal space" issues.  Really, it isn't so much that my arm was any closer to him than it might generally be if it were at my side, and in fact if my arm were at my side it would probably be touching his thigh, and we'd both be uncomfortable.  No, in fact, he was playing the "it's my seat" card.  His ass in the seat tacitly implied that the entire seat, including all bits of plastic, metal, and the little bit of red and black cushion thereon, was temporarily his.  Not the Commonwealth's.  Not the guy keeling in front of him conversing with him.  Not mine.  Just his and his alone.  And it would be his until he disembarked.  I get that.  So, I casually removed my arm, smiled that slightly frustrated but wise and empathetic smile that one usually does in such situations, and said, "one's right to swing one's fist begins where another's nose begins, and all that, I suppose."  And I winked at him.  Immediately thereafter, he shot me a look of abject horror and confusion, and he and his friend promptly moved to a less crowded part of the car for the remainder of the ride, glancing over at me excitedly and with apprehension from time to time until we all got off at Park Street Station.  I'm sure he must have misinterpreted my cliché.  Hope you didn't.

[Torie]

Olberman is a bit different from the "great right wing conspiracy" at Fox News in that he deliberately tries to be outrageous. He is trying as a court jester to stick it to the right and Republicans in the most annoying and provocative way possible, in order to attract folks who enjoy a Jerry Springer act out on the tube, or his bashing of Fox News.  Olberman is often entertaining when he bashes his ersatz "enemies," but intolerable when he is sucking up to his "friends." Then he is not entertainingly outrageous, just oleaginously (sp) sycophantic and nausiating, eg, ah, Joe Biden was just so wonderful out there, and Obama will be even better, and I am coming in my pants just thinking about it all ... .

[Sbane]

  Olberman is often entertaining when he bashes his ersatz "enemies," but intolerable when he is sucking up to his "friends."

Well said. I loved him in 2006 and 2007 as he took swing after swing at Bush and Faux news. But his current love affair with Obama disgusts me because he is supposed to be fair. Rachel is better because she doesnt pretend to be something she is not.

[angus]

your thread has inspired me, waltermitty.  I'm watching MSNBC tonight, and I must admit it's more entertaining than the other two major commercial 24-hour news channels.  At least in my opinion.  For one thing, they have had Pat Buchanan on doing play-by-play every night.  Or at least every night since I started watching.  That guy's on the mark.  More so than any one on FOX or CNN.  And he seems to have a pretty good rapport with Butch, as well.  They're probably playing footsie under the desk.  Get a room, guys.  And frankly, she can be charming too.  In a ghetto bulldyke sort of way.  And a fairly good analyst.  Not unlike Pat.  I think I may stay with MSNBC tonight.  Slumming, I guess.  I'll still go to NPR and PBS for news, and CNN for immediate coverage of breaking events.  And FOX most of the time, since I like to be entertained.  But with Pat and Butch analyzing and flirting and bantering at the same time (not an easy thing to do), I'm absolutely taken with the MSNBC coverage.