Politico's Playbook (their daily emailed news brief on politics) says it was ego that slayed the jackass:

Network sources tell Playbook that Keith Olbermann was suspended because he refused to deliver an on-camera mea culpa, which would have allowed him to continue anchoring "Countdown." Olbermann told his bosses he didn't know he was barred from making campaign contributions, although he is resisting saying that publicly. Olbermann may not hold as many cards as he thinks. He makes $7 million a year and MSNBC's prime time is not as dependent on him as it was before the addition of Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell, who make considerably less.

Speaking of emailed morning political news briefs, I rather like Jim Geraghty's Morning Jolt best, but Politico's Playbook ain't a bad second, if you're into that kinda thing. I like 'em 'cause it's easier to read email on the metro than get the web.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:17 AM | Comments (102)
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Say hello to my leetle thread...

Hippest horror movie theme song ever, daddy-o:

Posted by: Genghis at 06:10 PM | Comments (760)
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Bumped for Gloating [Gabe]:

Dave, you were saying?

UPDATE [DiT]: I was sayin, I think I owe you fifty bucks.

Crap. Shoulda known better.

Original Post:

It is a glorious November morning here in Texas. Sunny, 40 degrees, high will be around 68.

Perfect. Perfect day.

Wow. Being number one in the college rankings is a lot like being the top dude in the Taliban, you last more than a week you're ahead of the curve. Ranked head to head action today: Baylor (22) at Okla. State (19) at 12:30, I predict another good day for the Baptists (hahaha Gabe, wanna bet $50?), beeg game between TCU (4) and Utah (6) today at 3:30, Alabama (5) and LSU (12) at 3:30, Arkansas (17) vs. SC (1 and Arizona (13) vs. Stanford (10).

It's gonna be a great day morons. Try not to shoot each other in the face with those bb guns, okay?

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 12:45 PM | Comments (242)
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Really? Is this what we're crowing about? That Democrats managed to hold on to a demographic they've owned since the first Shivouas?

I guess take your sweet, sweet victories where you can find them.

Remember New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow's worry, expressed here, that President Obama's alleged unpopularity with Jews was going to (finally) undo the more than 80-year association between Jews and the Democratic Party? How'd that go, Mr. Blow?

Hah! Mr. Suck more like it, huh, Eric?

...

Interesting, while Sestak could not squeak out a victory, he did even better with Jewish voters than did most Democrats, which was pretty damn good. Sestak polled 71-23 percent among Pennsylvania Jews over his Republican opponent Pat Toomey, according to a J Street poll; the same one that showed Jews, nationally, embracing Democrats by a 66 to 31 percent margin. Now compare this to 37 percent Democratic vote for white voters in general in House races, according to a CNN exit poll.

Booyah!

Now, I searched in vain in Alterman's piece for some context for these numbers; that is to say, in previous years, how have Jews voted?

There's a reason Alterman omits numbers that might show you the trend.

And the coalition, placing ads here and in the Jewish communities of other battleground states, is attempting to play on those doubts, attempting to drive up a Jewish vote for Republican presidential candidates nationally gauged at 11 percent in 1992, at 19 percent in 2000 and 25 percent in 2004.

22% of Jews voted for John McCain (as opposed to 78% for Obama), which is what I expected, that is, Obama grabbing a bigger share than other recent candidates.

So Obama had the Republican vote share down to 22%, and this year it zooms back up to 31%, consistent with the basic trendline of Jews moving away from the Democrats bit-by-bit every couple of years.

And for Eric Alterman, this is a big success.

Look, Jews are not going to prefer the GOP over the Democrats for at least 30 years or so. Yeah, every two years, Republicans put out our typical "Hey, maybe this year Jews finally abandon the Democrats" articles, but we know that's not true -- it's an advocacy type thing, letting persuadable Jews know that more and more Jews are voting conservative, but we don't believe that spin. I push these inevitable articles every election cycle mostly just to use one of the oldest headlines I've posted on the site: DNC Rues Clues It Might Lose Jews.

But while outright victory isn't coming anytime soon, every cycle, yeah, a nontrivial 3-5% of Jews do move rightward.

Take your victories where you can, Eric Alterman. Tell me in your next piece how the Democrats managed to hold on to the crucial demographic of young unmarried female hipsters.

And I'll raise you: The GOP continues to do surprisingly well with the next of kin of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Posted by: Ace at 12:10 PM | Comments (186)
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Want a great way to cap this historic week for the GOP? Spend a little time with Marco Rubio as he gives the GOP response to the President's weekly address.

I'm glad to see the GOP wasted no time in getting their newest superstar out front. On the big picture messaging stuff...he's a stud, plain and simple.

Speaking of plain and simple, notice the setting...just Rubio and a void space. No Greek columns, no adoring throngs. Just a man with heartfelt beliefs telling you what he thinks. He's not promising the world, he's admitting fault and asking to be held accountable.

Electing a young guy, with no real experience was a bad idea 2 years ago and it's not any better now but imagine it...Rubio and The Big Man in '12. I'll be in my bunk...Like a Viking.

Posted by: DrewM at 10:38 AM | Comments (208)
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It's a beautiful fall day where I live: bright sun, crisp air, dead leaves being pushed around by a soft wind, not a cloud in the cobalt-colored sky. Old Man Winter has decided to wait awhile before dropping the hammer on us this year. (Though he's lurking somewhere nearby, I have no doubt.)

It's a good day at the end of a very good week. So consider this an invitation to discuss the good things in your life: things that make you happy, things that have gone well for you, things you have achieved, lucky breaks, unexpected miracles. There will be time enough for doom come mean old Monday morning; for now, let's count up the good things in our lives.

Life is good. Whatever trials come our way, whatever pains and sorrows we may bear -- life is good. Be glad of it.

Why, just to take an example from my own life: a big band of hobos just set up an encampment under a railroad trestle nearby. Fresh game, and not more than a couple of miles from my house! And here I was worried that I'd have to start venturing further afield for my braised hobo brisket and bum shank with parsley and onions.
more...

Posted by: Monty at 07:00 AM | Comments (416)
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There are two camps on this that I can see, not counting genuine Olbermann viewers who are so alien to me I can't meaningfully describe their minuscule brain activity.

Camp One is made up of folks who think that Olberdouche is a horrible person --- and bad at his job, to boot --- and conclude therefore that bad things that happen to him, especially job-related bad things --- like getting suspended or fired --- are good. The end.

Camp Two is made up of folks who also think that Olbermann is bad at his job and not all that good a person, but think that he shouldn't be suspended or fired just for giving monetary contributions to people that everyone already knew he supported.

Camp Two people object to the pretext. They'd be cool with it if Olbermann were fired because he's bad at his job. But it's just not fair if he gets fired based on the silly idea that he was supposed to be impartial.

William Kristol is in Camp Two:

MSNBCÂ’s suspension of Keith Olbermann is ludicrous.

First, he donated money to candidates he liked. He didnÂ’t take money, or favors, in a way that influenced his reporting.

Second, heÂ’s not a reporter. ItÂ’s an opinion show. If Olbermann wants to put his money where his mouth is, more power to him.

Third, GE, the corporate parent of MSNBC, gives money to political organizations. GE executives and, IÂ’m sure, NBC executives give money. Why canÂ’t Olbermann?

Kristol ends with a rousing call for Republicans to show they support free expression and "Keep Keith."

So how much of a pretext is NBC's firing? Details, details:

On Friday, MSNBC announced that Nation editor Chris Hayes would temporarily replace suspended host Keith Olbermann on its prime time “Countdown” program. Then it learned that Hayes, too, has given money to political campaigns. Oops.

The reality is that quite a few cable news opinionators have given money to political campaigns, including several who host shows owned by NBC, including MSNBCÂ’s Joe Scarborough and CNBCÂ’s Larry Kudlow. Fox personalities, including Sean Hannity and Mike Huckabee, have done it too. Is this a problem? Not really.

It looks to me like NBC pulled the trigger on Olbermann before they even examined how common it is for commentators to make political monetary contributions aside from their obvious nightly political expressive contributions. Which puts this in the Shirley Sherrod --- "rush, rush, fire her before the teabaggers react" --- category. If they really have a rule that applies to a commentator like Olbermann, it's a stupid rule. We already know he supports libtards. Duh. I hate to break it to the NBC execs, but no one expects journalistic integrity from Keith Olbermann and no one's is upset that he doesn't have any.

Which also puts his suspension and possible firing in the Juan Williams category. They were looking for a reason to ditch Olbermann. Could be his low ratings, his embarrassing on-screen behavior, or his treatment of others at NBC. Could be a combination of all three. But its probably not his support for Democrats. That was obvious before.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 07:00 AM | Comments (165)
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I know I posted about this earlier. so pardon my indulgence.

A memorial was held today at Ft. Hood. Local news covered it. Somebody put this on Youtube. Staff Sgt. Zachary Phillip talks about how he tried to save the life of Michael Cahill. Cahill's daughter Kerry, thanks him. And somehow, even in her grief, she comforts him.

Michael Cahill went after Hasan with a chair. He had suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks before this day, a year ago.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 07:42 PM | Comments (86)
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Now ribbed/barbed for your pleasure/horror.

Flamethrower vs. Fire Extinguisher:

Cletus and Jeb havinÂ’ a go of it in the backwoods. No pigs were squealed in the production of this video. At least as far as we know. A little more about the uber-expensive cameras involved in the video shoot here, if youÂ’re into that sortaÂ’ thing. Sick bastards.

Some other stuff down below. Much like LeonidasÂ’ queen, you will not enjoy this. more...

Posted by: Genghis at 06:08 PM | Comments (780)
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At Hot Air, "insiders" say that Keith Olbermann won't be back.

Which insiders? MSNBC insiders or Olbermann insiders? Because of course the latter claim he won't back; he's an Important Personage whose Majesty must be Respected and Feted.

If it's his "insiders" claiming this, it's bullshit. Keith is just in a snit and wants a public apology and affirmation of how valuable he is to the network.

Like, where could Keith Olbermann work, if not MSNBC? CNN wouldn't touch him. (Or... would they? Parker/Spitzer is a disaster. Nah, even CNN won't touch him.)

And Kos doesn't pay a salary.

If it's MSNBC, it's probably bullshit too. MSNBC is barely eking out living over there in beautiful Seacaucus, NJ; they can't afford to fire the guy who delivers them solid-gold 1.1 ratings every night.

Posted by: Ace at 02:27 PM | Comments (607)
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