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Look, I've championed him along with almost everybody on this site. It was incredible to tune into an hour like that, sandwiched among all the tunnel vision right wing crap.
Now he's managed the same pattern, the tendency that follows him around from job to job. Once he achieves a level of success and notoriety, the smugness soars and it overwhelms and betrays the competence level, and he becomes a sad shadow of his former self.
A year or more ago he was devastating, defining Bush and Co. with their own words and in brilliant presentation. The Special Comments were as close to remarkable as anything I've seen on cable political programs. Then he got cocky and the tone became snide and disrespectful. Along with juvenile tactics like "Fox Noise Channel" and "Bill Orally." When the facts are on your side you don't need word twisting put downs like that. They only define and diminish your agenda, beyond any impact. Now when he condescendingly wails against, "Mr. Bush..." it's so pathetic I have to turn the channel and shake my head. It's like a male version of Nancy Grace.
Admittedly I'm a Hillary supporter, above Obama. Originally I preferred Edwards. So let's get that in the open. But I really don't think it's slanted my assessment of this in the slightest. I've lived in Las Vegas for 20+ years, betting sports all year. You need an ability to balance in that environment, sensing the weaknesses of your favorite teams and betting against them all the time. I'm hardly anti-Obama. I simply have more confidence Hillary would be an excellent president.
Olbermann is the most blatantly biased cable analyst I've seen this cycle. When you tape show after show and watch them consecutively it's surreal what he gets away with, in terms of demeaning themes toward Hillary, particularly at the outset of every program. The facial expressions and tone are outright contempt. I've seen more balance in a one-legged chair.
The most obvious example was when he interviewed her after a major event a month or so ago. Not a debate or primary night. I forget the occasion but every outlet was covering it. Hillary chortled after an Olbermann question and he cut her off immediately with, "Beyond the laughter..." I absolutely couldn't believe it. It was the epitome of disrespect. Hillary wasn't mocking him or dodging the question. She merely injected her familiar awkward laugh before answering and instead of smiling alongside or waiting for her response, Olbermann rudely and unnecessarily injected himself in harsh tone, and changed the entire feel of the interview, and for the worse.
He summons the same familiar guests who agree with his diatribe, namely Dana Milbank. Seemingly every transition from segment to segment is an excuse to bash Hillary. But I will ease in one respect. When Olbermann includes a guest who is not normally on his show, like Dee Dee Myers this week, he attaches the same anti-Hillary slant to his questioning, but in less sarcastic tone and if they don't agree or take it elsewhere, Olbermann let's them continue and doesn't feel the need to challenge them. At those brief diversions he almost threatens competent journalism.
It was high hilarity on Monday when Olbermann was awkwardly defensive about the Saturday Night Live skit. He desperately said, "maybe they were trying to be funny." Meanwhile, SNL political skits have been a staple of MSNBC programming for a decade. Matthews runs them often, and every time when he's the subject, always accurately asserting that SNL political skits are reality based, an absurd exaggeration of the fundamental truth. For Olbermann to deny the premise demonstrates how far he has fallen, to Monty Python absurdity, to name a show he has fondness for.
Sorry for the marathon post. But one more thing, the guy has no business co-hosting the major event political coverage alongside Matthews. Someone with that type of relentless demonstrated opinion belongs on the commentary shows, not a high profile venue where Democratic/Republican outcomes are the focus.
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