MSNBC says Olbermann, Matthews won't anchor

The enemy number one is the right wing fascists that have taken over this country. The neo-cons with their skewed vision of America have been an anathema to what true American values are. It takes true journalists with a sense of calling these liars in the administration and these liars that have co-opted the Republican party on their myriad of mendacity. These brown shirted thugs in the neo-con right shield their unqualified candidates from the press and the American people and hide behind so called slogans of country first. Please the only thing these people want first is themselves, their self interests and their rich friend's self interest. These people use the promise of America and the name of the lord in blasphemous, twisted ways. MSNBC is going to lose more than viewers if it attempts to squash Keith and Chris it is going to lose the long honored true promise of a free press in the mold of Winchell and Cronkite that seek to expose lies and liars to the bright light. Soon the neo-cons will begin handing MSNBC talking points as the regime in power does so successfully to Fox. Let's hope they don't ask you to sponsor a book burning (Oh right Palin tried to do this in Alaska). These are dangerous times for America that can't stand another four years.

This is censorship at its worst. These two dare the criticize the RNC and their jobs are in the tank over it. I just don't get it when people like Pat Buchanan and Bill O Reilly can spew lies about Barack Obama that's perfectly OK. I beginning to wonder if this is still the land of the free, or is just true if you represent the far right?

I am a huge fan of MSNBC and Keith Olbermann. I think that he probably does the best job of expressing my opinion on many issues. He is very intelligent and has a real command of the issues. The problem that I have, as a New York liberal, is that he has gone over the edge. I understand why, because I find myself yelling at the television when I listen to any member of or spokesperson for the Bush Administration, any conservative talk-show host/commentator, or some of the conservative pundits. And, the Sarah Palin pick by the Republicans was the last straw. The complete lack of addressing realities has become the norm for the Republicans. They think that all of the American people are stupid. But, even so, we cannot get to a point where we start behaving like them. Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews should never have been selected to cover the conventions. What was NBC/MSNBC thinking? Don't they watch their own network? Neither Mr. Olbermann nor Mr. Matthews has been able to stay even superficially objective for some time. And now they are bringing in Rachel Maddow? The coverage of the primaries should have been a red flag. Geez! As Michael Corleone said "It's not personal. It's strictly business." As soon as Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews get that through their heads, and start behaving accordingly, maybe they can get their impartial credibility back. Issues! Issues! Issues! We have enough nonsense each day from O'Reilly, Hannity and Rush. We don't need MSNBC giving us more. I hope that Mr. Gregory can handle the duties. If there was ever a need for Tim Russert, this is it!

It's interesting to me that the sponsors of Hardball and Countdown are Amway (Dick DeVos) and Chesapeake Energy (Aubrey McClendon) -- very deep Republican pockets. Need I say more? You have caved -- just like FOX -- in removing my two favorite commentators. It's too bad that having the truth spoken on the air is no longer a necessity to MSNBC who is supposed to be reporting the news. Shame on you! I had finally found two commentators who caused us to think and truly look at the issues, and now they are unable to do this. Sanitize everything, cave to the monied Republicans, and keep the truth from those of us who actually use the critical thinking skills we were taught in school. Oh, I forgot, people no longer are taught such skills. Gee. We have the TV to tell us all we need to know. And if I heard it on TV, it must be true. First there was Florida. Four years later, Ohio. And now we have MSNBC and Michigan. The new FOX/MSNBC has lost me.

This is rediculous. Censorship. Really? Liberals/Democrats hate Fox News precisely for the same reasons... yet they get their own network. You don't see us all up in arms at conventions chanting F-O-X.
Keith Olbermann may indeed be incendiary... I find his sarcasm and passion refreshing.
Who cares if he is incendiary? Maybe this is what the American people need - something to get passionate about - someone to stoke the fire. Maybe if people feel something, or get angry, they'll do something about it and show up in November and vote for the issues they care about.
I'm sick of Fox News and the uneducated, biased few deciding what we can and can't listen to when we want to watch the news or election coverage.
BRING BACK OLBERMANN! If I have to tolerate Fox News newscasters, the least they can do is allow me Olbermann.
This is rediculous. Shame on you NBC.

I love it...at least someone's being upfront with their opinions. The other "impartial" newspeople just do it in much more clandestine way. They don't just present the news; they say: "Maverick, John McCain said today...etc" or "Is Barack losing ground?" This is commentary...the "minute viewers" hear that and think "John McCain's still a maverick" (wasn't that his self-declared, campaign slogan from 2000?) or "Barack's losing". That is opinion news just like Keith's and, to a lesser degree, Chris'. I guess it's okay as long as you're hiding your opinion in sheep's clothing.

I think that NBC News has made a "corporate" mistake. The increase in MSNBC's viewership can, in large part be attributed to the refreshing, and most times, accurate commentary of Keith Olberman. He is usually, extremely well-informed, and has a basis for whatever position he takes. It is not like he just talks without substance. Unlike most of the other political commentators out there, he clearly walks to a beat of a drummer many viewers desire to hear that is different from the stuffy, shallow, and lemming -like approaches of other commentators. He asks the difficult questions, and notes the curious silence most media members take. Without his "voice" MSNBC, and the country as a whole loses.

I found myself a little shocked by the behavior of Kieth Olbermann during the Republican Convention coverage. He's definitely on top of his right-wing bashing. He could not let anything go unchecked by his radar. He's completely unobjective when speaking to or about any republican. He did not belong in the anchor position for either convention. People who agree with him know when to tune into his "show" and that is where his type of disdain belongs.

Why doesn't MSNBC change its name to MSFOX!! What an outrage!! As if we don't have enough right biased news on the air- MSNBC has kow towed to their corporate masters. I won't be watching you guys anymore. Doesn't anybody have any guts anymore? What ever happened to the Edward Murrows, the Walter Cronkites who would tell us like it is. Olbermann is from that mold. The media in the country is a major part of the problem for why things have gotten as bad as they are. Somebody needs to stop kissing a** and tell the real story.

A question to Penelope...how is it you "have to tolerate" FOX news? Thats what your remote control is for which gives you free will to not tolerate.

Mr Olbermann's analysis is expressed in the language of a college sophomore. Dick Morris, David Gergen, Howard Fineman, & so many others, are able to express themselves using adult language forms. I do not think that I have ever learned anything of value from his analysis. He certainly never surprised me. It is pretty much predictable what his take will be.

John Kelly

Olbermann was the main reason I loved MSNBC. Funny, erudite, always informative, Keith kept me laughing/crying every nite. Please reconsider and bring him back.

I'm new to cable news but had FNC for years on Sky Angel. I kept hearing about the bias on MSNBC but never expected the hate that flows from this man, (Olbermann). Why is he even being kept as a commentator? Unbelievable!! NBC should be ashamed!

I am stunned and appalled by the decision to remove Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from the political night coverage. Their gut reactions, their insightful commentary and their call for all of us to stay informed are DESPERATELY needed at this time. The American public seems ready, once again, to be duped by the Republicans. The Republicans have made a mockery of our election process, betting that we, the American public, won't know any better. What makes this even more incredible is that we've been here before. We've seen what 2 terms of Bush's presidency have done for us and we're lining up for yet another spanking. So, if ever there was a time for us to have 2 anchors unafraid to ask the tough questions, making sure that we keep our eyes on what really matters, this is it! When will this country stop punishing intellect and critical thinking? NBC, how could you?

The decision to remove Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from live election coverage is just another example of the frightening tactics used to stifle free speech under the Bush Administration, and now being continued by the same individuals that supported Dubya and company in their bid to see McCain and Palin in the White House. While I would have been disappointed by their removal from such coverage regardless, I at least would have understood it if it were true that there was a standard that no opinions or analyses are expounded by anchors covering the election. Everyone knows this is not the case. Fox News is a case in point, and one even right-wingers with half a brain must acknowledge (though not publicly). People watch Fox because they agree with the slant, or in my case, to keep a watchful eye on what the other side is thinking. Or, as has become clear during this election, how many outright lies will be disseminated. The bias oozes out of Fox, and it oozes out of other individuals covering live election events. While Olbermann and Matthews have strong opinions, they should NEVER have been removed given that so many others with the 'other' point of view remain. This is absolutely frightening, and what makes it even scarier, is that I have yet to hear either Matthews or Olbermann address this issue on their shows. Having been just one of millions to have suffered under the policies of the last eight years, and watched in horror the circumventing of our rights and the widespread campaign of fear and disinformation, I understand how it would be next to impossible not to interject your own thoughts when covering the election. This isn't American Idol, people. These are issues that will make or break our lives, and indeed, that of the stability of this country, much the less the world. I don't hear anyone calling for Fox to be off the air for espousing not just opinions, but lies as well. Keith, Chris, hear my plea: broach this subject on your respective shows. This is not just an injustice to you, but to all of the American people. Especially after Bill O'Reilly's disgusting talking points last night, you need to say something! The McCain campaign is using you as proof of their misguided and untruthful proclamation that the media is liberally-biased, when it is so much the other way around. But at best, people may not have time to dig for the truth, and at worst, may be sheep; as such, these people believe what they hear, and if they don't hear both sides, we may be defeated again by these 1984-esque politics. Take a stand Olbermann and Matthews! And to all of you out there committed to a free press, free speech, equal rights for all, and a united and strong United States of America: DO NOT LET THESE DISTURBING AND DECIETFUL TACTICS GO UNCHALLENGED. Change starts with we the people, not just our president, so stand up and FIGHT!

Keith Olbermann and Jim Cramer are the only reasons I ever watched MSNBC.
Keith's Countdown is absolutely fabulous. He has an editorial bent and I love it.

Chris Matthews is very neutral if not slightly conservative in my opinion. I don't see why they took him off as anchor. That makes no sense. I bet he will succeed Tim Russert on "Meet the Press".

Keith Olbermann is a witty, bright, relevant voice that gives me hope for journalism.

I was watching Obama's DNC acceptance speech at a large venue, and couldn't believe that MSNBC anchor's Keith Olbermann and Chris Mattews were reading Obama's speech aloud before he gave it.
Members of the audience boooed and insisted that the channel be changed to Cspan or KQED. I can't believe anyone could see that as anything other than a conservative attempt to ruin Barack's speech or just in completely poor taste.

I watch O'Reilly factor to see the extreme right, and Olberman for the left, and for a more neutral perspective I watch Jim Lehrer on pub tv. Cspan is great too but takes a long time to sift through.

MSNBC caving to the extreme right is no surprise since they are big corporate media. I would expect them to support the Republican party...the party of the wealthy and religious conservatives.

I am new to cable news. Since the beginning of this historical race, I have flipped from CNN, Fox and MSNBC to get the newest news of the day. Fox fell away quickly....CNN and Wolf Blitzer...pretty good!...then I found myself more and more impressed with Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann. I started watching the clock for their time slot by March and April of this political year. I also began telling my family and friends (also clients) to watch (I am a hairdresser). Then we started noticing the great pundit and commentator Rachel Maddow. Very impressed and thrilled when the news came out that she was getting her own show. To my family, friends and peers - MSNBC during 8 and 10 PM - has been, this year, "must-see TV".
I can speak for my group of watchers - we will have turn to CNN (certainly NOT FOX) during the debates and election night if Keith, Chris and Rachel are moved into the hall with their noses stuck in the corner as punishment for "telling it like it is". It is so obvious to us what is going on here and it is frightening to see it happen before our eyes! I am appalled. Stand up for your people MSNBC! Don't be afraid. You have a large group of viewers who will not support you in this! We will move over to Wolf and CNN if we can't see the people give us the news that we have invested all our viewing time with this year! No fair! But very little has been fair in this political year.

I'm so disappointed that Matthews and Olbermann have been replaced as co-anchors of political night coverage. If it was because of Olbermann's comments following the GOP featuring the 9-11 video, he could not have been as angry as I when they aired that video at a political convention. It was totally uncalled for and in my opinion politicized the unmerciful death of thousands of Americans. How common and how low could the GOP stoop! Words escaped me when I saw that and I was so very grateful Keith Olbermann had the compassion and the nerve to speak against it! Thank God for Keith Olbermann. And for you, MSNBC, to put him down in any way, shame on you!

I love David Gregory and believe he and Keith Olbermann are probably MSNBC (Racael Maddow running very, very close behind them) finest journalist. I'd love to see David Gregory as head of Meet The Press...don't care much for that old guy you've been have do it since Tim Russert's passing. Thanks...Sylvia Deerfield

Keith Olbermann and MSNBC are obsessed with their dislike of conservatives, Republicans, George Bush and anyone connected with the administration. In the not to distant past the news was disseminated fairly and without unbridled rhetoric and liberal sniping. I stop on occasion just for a good laugh and I like to see how pathetic their agenda has become. A few weeks ago the public was told of a new report from a conservative think tank that the terror problem should be solved by the police and civilian authorities and yes we need to give the perpetrators access to our court system. As I have heard the few times I have watched the show, RIGHT KIETH, all we need to do is let the police and civilian authorities in Somalia, Pakistan, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, the Philippines, etc. handle this world wide problem. Well, even a conservative think tank can be wrong at times, of course to hear them talk the liberal tanks are never wrong. According to Keith I guess we will have to defer the job to our socialist friends in Europe and the UN where Russia and others can invoke their VETO. I know Keith; it has been a long conflict, what ever it takes. Is MSNBC so desperate they have to slide to this type journalism to attract a few liberal listeners? Well I would guess they do since their ratings are down with the bottom feeders. Poor Keith would never admit it but the problem started long before George Bush. I believe it was his favorite president Bill who let the first World Trade Center bombing, the Cobar Towers Saudi Arabia, and the USS Cole not to mention our embassies go unanswered because the local authorities or police couldn't figure out what to do and neither could he, guess he had other things on his mind. I would like to mention that Bill did waste a few perfectly good Tomahawk missiles when he ordered the military to strike a few diverse empty huts in the desert. I will not stoop to calling Bill the worst person in the world. If that is all Keith can think of for a segment we can stick a fork in him, he is done. The New York Times, Washington Post LA Times etc. who he quotes with pride, they will all eventually go belly up. There are not enough liberals in the world to keep them afloat, they don't get it. Middle America is still out here and there are a lot more of us than the Post, the West coast, North East corridor and Hollywood would like to admit. I am not a far right extremist, but just a good ole boy who likes to go out on Saturday night and have a few beers. If Andrea and the crowd would like to call me a redneck from the South I will carry the name with pride and keep my head held high knowing people in the heartland give them heartburn. If you don't mind for now I will just cling to my guns and ride down the road, it don't get any better than this.
Good night Keith, good night Chris.

A third generation, misguided, brain washed, water boarded, military guy, and proud of it.

A retired 24 year Navy Vet

I just listened to Keith chastise McCain for his using 9/11 for political purposes. FINALLY!!! I have been waiting for someone, someplace on the main News shows to get real and call McCain on his dishonesty, his shameless use of 9/11 and NEVER talks about how he will help the people. People, you must listen to what is going on and not believe everything that is told you. You must think for yourselves. McCain and his side-kick are not only nasty but liars. I would have thought this was all beneath McCain but he is showing his true colors: he will do and say anything to gain the most powerful office in the world.

The leading news programs must call him on this or they will be allowing the "swiftboating" again of a very honorable man. Many Americans only know what they hear. They are busy working and raising their children and they may believe these lies. But surely they will see through the using of 9/11 for political gain.
Again, I commend Keith Olbermann for his honesty and fearless strait talk about the McCain scum.

MSNBC is bowing to pressure for sure. Can't we hear the truth?? We need to hear the truth or we will have another war-monger for president. I want to protest the removal of Keith and Chris. Ridiculous!!

Listening to Keith Olbermann is worse than reading the New York Slimes, he only has one side of his brain working - the far left side. He insults the intelligence of Americans by his twisting of the truth, and his use of ten cent phrasings. He will always say "Bush" instead of President Bush, "McCain" instead of Senator McCain, but lo and behold it is always "Senator Obama" or "Senator Clinton", it's the clowns way of giving Democrats a title in order to raise their level and non-titles to Republicans in an attempt to lower them, as if we can't see through his cheap shots. To him I say "forget-about-it", I flip over to MSNBC from watching CNN or FOX just to see what a real idiot sounds and looks like (Olbermann never lets me down), he is pitiful to watch, and his sneers remind me of a cheap Halloween mask. I never watch MSNBC for more than a few minutes, and then it is just to get a good belly laugh, then I switch back to one of the other cable networks and watch intelligent newscasters. I am sure that it won't be long before the higher-ups give the fool the long overdue ax.

Tim Russert's absence being felt all over.

While complaining over Olbermann and Matthews' bias, please don't forget to look at what FOX has been doing since the very beginning. With them the terms "fair and balanced" have taken on a new and disturbing definition. One person above said American news is pretty pathetic, I totally agree. We are being told - by BOTH sides - what to think about whom. We are a society that values style and appearance over substance. Otherwise we would be DEMANDING that Palin talk to us about stuff that matters. This could be our last chance to get it right...