"Special Comment" Goes Nightly

[filkertom]

Hang on to your hats. As the esteemed Mr. Olbermann puts it:

When I wrote the first Special Comment more than two years ago, I had no idea if there'd be a second one, let alone an irregular series. Flatly, I didn't know if I'd still have a job the next day - or even a country.

But as the premise evolved (and my bosses asked, shyly), I was adamant that they would never become a regularly scheduled feature.

And tonight, with Bill Hurt's line in Body Heat fresh in my mind ("Sometimes [it] comes down so heavy I feel like I should wear a hat"), I may have to break that self-imposed limitation.

If they're going to pile it on for the next two weeks, I'm going to have to throw it back.

Barring the pleasantly unforseen outbreak of common sense and restraint, the Special Comment will briefly become a nightly feature.

The very first one is on what we've been talking about here all weekend: Hatred Repackaged As "The Real America".

Fifteen more days. Keep your arms and legs inside your democracy at all times.

Comments

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

That...seems fraught. Obviously, Olbermann knows what he's doing, else he wouldn't be, well, doing - but it seems to me that going nightly, making it a regular affair, lessens the impact considerably. Instead of being "This is something so far out of line, so troubling, that I must comment" it becomes "This is another part of the show, just like Worst Person in the Worrrrrrld!"

Well, not quite. But you see what I mean, I hope.

[james-the-evil1.livejournal.com]

I see his point tho. There's a new lie coming out every day. If he did it weekly there'd be too many lies to respond to in 1 segment.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I certainly see what you mean... except that what Keith said addresses that point directly. He doesn't want to make the Special Comment a permanent fixture; it wouldn't be special.

We're in the final stages of possibly the most important and certainly the most ugly and divisive presidential campaign in my life, at least, and the scabs and scars racism has inflicted on our country have been ripped open by the Repubs in their desperate attempt to cling to power. Keith has a platform, and why shouldn't he use it? My only hope is that, this time, the wounds heal more cleanly.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't disagree with Keith using his platform. (I'd be surprised if he didn't.) I guess I just feel that he normally uses the rest of the show to do that, and brings out the Special Comment only when something is REALLY WTFridiculous - and that such a model is still viable.

I see what you're saying (well, what he's saying); I'm not 100% convinced, but hey! It's his show after all. I'm just the dude who sits back and cheers. And the inaugural special-special comment was mighty powerful.

[emiofbrie.livejournal.com]

I can see his point...until the election there will likely be something to rant about every night.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't get me wrong! I see his point, and as I said - he knows what he's doing, or else he wouldn't be anchoring his show :) I'm not convinced, but hey! It'll play out in the next few days, and I'd very much like to be proven wrong.

(I'd really like it if he had no occasion to make Special Comments during the next two weeks...oh, and while I'm at it, a pony too.)

[singingpatient.livejournal.com]

hey maybe one day the special comment will be- nothing WTFridiculous today!
a girl can dream

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*nice* icon.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Glad you like! You're welcome to yoink, if you'd like - just please credit Saves-vs-DM from RPGnet for the icon; he made it, not me :)

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

But..but...if they happen every night, are they still special?

One Word Answer Man says: Yup.

[singingpatient.livejournal.com]

is a sunset special? is a sky full of stars special? is my dog special (she's very special, every day)
alright, maybe a bit much. But KO... i do not watch him every day because the things he brings ot light are so infuriating i can't take it daily. but he is a "real american" if ever there was one (ridiculous term- a true statesman, a true patriot).

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Hoo boy. Mr. Keith, bringin' it, pop tart.

Keep your arms and legs inside your democracy at all times.

Sheeee... part of me wishes this were just some Disney ride.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Why not.. sure is a Mickey Mouse kinda Presidency so far!

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, not a good idea. Worst Person in the World has degenerated into a "slam the right, especially FOX News" segment, and now Special Comments for the sole purpose of attacking the Republican election campaign.

I really think Keith would be better served by attending the World Series.

[singingpatient.livejournal.com]

hmmm good point. he runs the risk of becoming the very thing he despises. hopefully after 15 more days... he'll have less to rant about.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, honestly... if some stuff like this has been going on in 2002, maybe some of the things that happened in 2003 might have been avoided. I'm not saying Keith Could've Stopped Iraq, but there would have been at least one US news source doing some fact-checking of BushCo's propaganda barrage.

Again, this is an extraordinary circumstance. I and a lot of other people (and, from his own words, Olbermann himself) will not be happy if the Special Comment becomes a regular fixture. I suspect it will indeed die down after the election.

And, re: WPitW, so? Think of it as yet another humor/snark piece in an ocean of them if it bothers you. One guy's opinion. Although I suppose I can see your point -- it's not like right-wing radio has a few dozen nationally syndicated broadcasters and hundreds of local ones spewing irrational hate on a regular ba-

Oh.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

I agree with another commenter- I don't want Keith to turn into the mirror equal-and-opposite of the hate-radio crowd...

... or worse yet, Al Franken, who I've never thought was funny.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

They won't. They can't. I know you worry about Keith turning into Al as well as him turning into a mirror of the right, but there is one huge, huge thing in favor of both Keith and Al: They use facts. This really does make a lot of difference.

Agreed on Al not being funny. He's clever, witty, which he thinks is funny. Occasionally he wanders into the realm of funny by accident. On the other hand, he is also a very good and passionate and smart man, who cares deeply about making things better in this country. I'll forgive him his belief that he's funny in light of the other stuff.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

May or may not be on topic but I thought everyone would find this at least a little amusing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081022/ap_on_el_ho/minnesota_congresswoman

[baphnedia.livejournal.com]

Quotes a part of the post and xposts to his POOP forum.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Figures...the BS has reached Agean stables kinda levels after all..

[singingpatient.livejournal.com]

T.K.O., KO!
i really wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

Is there a video up anywhere of this latest commentary?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Just posted links to it. The YouTube vid is complete; the C&L link has a full transcript.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

WHAT democracy?