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Keith Olbermann Sticks Fork In Sarah Palin

by Tommy Christopher | 11:05 am, February 6th, 2010

» 29 comments

There’s a neat symmetry to the fact that, the day after Keith Olbermann responded to gleeful rumors of his own demise, he posits the end of the line for Sarah Palin. Emboldened by the release of thousands of Palin emails, the inauspiciously racist kickoff to the Palin-headlined “Tea Party Convention,” and Palin’s truckling response to Rush Limbaugh’s cowardly “retard” litany, Keith asks if the countdown is on to the end of Palin’s political career.

Here’s part one of Keith’s gleeful Palin prebituary:

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First, Keith goes through descriptions of some of the emails that MSNBC obtained, including this one about the tanning bed. Don’t take his word for it, though. You can search through the emails yourself, and evaluate Olbermann’s characterizations for yourself.

On the tanning bed, for instance, the actual email is both less damning and more embarrassing than Keith lets on. Palin’s request that the tanning bed arrangements be kept close to the vest makes sense, given the attention paid to such expenditures in the past. There doesn’t appear to be anything fraudulent about the request, but rather, a desire to avoid unnecessary embarrassment.

Her instinct proves correct, as Palin’s attention to the tanning bed, and Todd’s assistant exclaiming “On a day like today-I wish the bed was ready to go for you to use right away!!”, don’t serve Palin’s cultivated image as a down-to-earth friend of “Joe Sixpack” and serious political mind. On the other hand, not many of us could likely survive an outing of our inboxes with dignity intact.

Potentially more damaging is Palin’s association with the now-toxic Tea Party convention. She’s scheduled to speak today, and anything less than a full-throated denunciation of Tom Tancredo‘s nostalgia for literacy tests will seriously hurt her with all but the most dedicated Palinistas. If Palin has any true friends, they will tell her to skip this event.

Worst of all, in my opinion, is Rush Limbaugh’s description of his interaction with Palin’s chief spokesperson, Meg Stapleton:

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The scene that Limbaugh describes is revolting enough to disappoint even the most jaded Palin critic, let alone a supporter. Her failure to call Limbaugh out for directly insulting “all of God’s children” was a damaging sin of omission, but one which supporters could rationalize as a matter of pragmatism.

This supplicating phone call to the “retard”-bandying poobah, though, is not only humiliating, it reveals the inauthenticity of Palin’s outrage, and settles the question of whether she is trading on her child’s disability. As a human being, I fervently hope Limbaugh is lying about this, as this betrayal is at least as heartbreaking, to individuals and families dealing with disabilities, as the insult that started it all.

Does this mean Palin is finished? Probably not. The lines have long been drawn on public opinion of Palin, and this is not likely to change much. Palin is fortunate to belong to a political movement whose die-hard base seems willing to forgive anything. I imagined, for a moment, what would happen had Palin delivered Tancredo’s speech, and I could already hear the rationalizations. Palin could waterboard kittens, and the Palinistas would explain that Mittens and Fluffy know stuff!

This is the kind of blinkered worship that the right often accuses Obama supporters of, but Olbermann himself punctured that notion not long ago. Palinistas have remarkably long fuses.

Countdown, keith olbermann, meg stapleton, retard-gate, Retardgate, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Tea Party Convention, Tom Tancredo, Tommy Christopher, waterboard kittens

writer

Too bad Olbermann couldn’t puncture his own inflated ego. Palin, like any of us, isn’t perfect, but Keith’s obsession with her is bordering on demented. He tells us she’s an unimportant idiot with little to no following, yet feels it necessary to attack her at every turn. And the height of hypocrisy would be a discussion between Keith and Arianna Huffington on the evils of name calling. But like Hitler in the bunker, issuing orders to armies that no longer exist, Keith will push on…tuning his radio to Air America while checking the Daily Kos for his guest list.
JimW

I guess that if I were relegated to to covering the “Olbermann Beat,” I too would become as comatose and boring and uninspired as Tommy Christopher.
SteveMG

Why doesn’t Mr. Christopher just go to work for Olbermann? Cut out the middleman.

Saying Olbermann sticks a fork in Palin – he’s been doing that for over a year – is like saying that Limbaugh sticks a fork in Obama. Both are preaching to ideological crowds that detests Palin and Obama, respectively.

Olbermann and Limbaugh are ideologues who never let the facts get in the way of their views.

And for what it’s worth, I think Sarah Palin is a completely unqualified candidate for national office. She’s as far in over her head as Tommy is in the tank for Olbermann.
SteveMG

Let’s see: the Iranian nuclear weapons problem seems to be entering a new phase with the diplomatic process failing; the President’s budget has more than $1.5 trillion in red ink; unemployment numbers increase; China rattles our fiscal cage with threats; but Keith Olbermann – with Tommy Christopher cheering on the sidelines – is right on top of e-mails about a tanning bed for the governor of Alaska.

Yes, that’s vital news for the Republic.

This is what Dan Abrams and NBC are paying for?

Again: Sarah Palin is nothing more than a talkshow host. She’s unbelievably unqualified for office. She’s a joke.

And so is this discussion about tanning beds.
DEO

Ok, you guys DON’T LIKE Olbermann because he opposes people like Limbaugh, Palin and Tancredo? I am WITH Keith all the way.
Go ahead and back the ugliness, I am behind Mr. “inflated ego” because he is still talking sense.

Nope. Palin is wrong, Tancredo is wrong, Fat Boy is wrong…that makes Keith Olbermann right.
SteveMG

Nope. Palin is wrong, Tancredo is wrong, Fat Boy is wrong…that makes Keith Olbermann right.

No, they’re all wrong.

Palin is a unqualified nothing. Tancredo is a bigot. Limbaugh is a bomb-throwing jerk. And Olbermann is a fanatical zealot.

See how it’s done? Holding all people to a single standard and not using one standard for those on “my side” and another standard for those on the “other side.”
TfT

The only fork being stuck in anyone is the fork Olbermann is sticking in himself with his over-the-top outrageous and absurd commentary.

Let’s see: Newsworthy stories being ignored by Keith and his followers on this board:

Climategate
Pelosi having the military transport her kids/family back and forth between CA and DC at tax payers expense
the over 100K$ of tax money spent on booze on her flights
The fact that Obama admitted that the dems put in language in Obamcare wherein the govenment would intervene between doctor and patient
The Illinois LT GOV nominee and abuse

and those are just off the top of my head.

As I said: Countdown=Meltdown
shootfromthehip

Keith for the win. How anyone can continue to support Palin’s glaring hypocracy here is beyond me. I love it how all cons shift to attack Keith mode (and the writer of this story) instead of defending Palin.

Shoot the messenger, that’s all the right can try to do these days.
SteveMG

Last week Olbermann was irresonsible for his outrageous smears directed at Senate-elected Brown and First Amendment scholar Floyd Abrams.

But all is forgiven today because he is now going after the “right people”.

That’s not how it’s supposed to go.

Single standard. Not one for “my guy” and another for the “other guy.”
sarainitaly

I didn’t get the big deal wrt the emails. And the tanning bed? Big deal! Isn’t it common in places like Alaska to use them to fight depression from lack of sun light?

I think Palin should bow out of the tea party.

The Rush kerfuffle is fabricated and ridiculous. As I said before, Rahm Emanuelle is the Chief of Staff to the POTUS – “The second most powerful man in Washington”. Extremely high profile and he is now a part of our history books. They act more like Animal House than the White House.

I think we should expect more of Rahm than Rush Limbaugh. Not saying he should be fired, because of freedom of speech, but for crying out loud, to compare Rahm to Rush is ridiculous. Palin was right to call Rahm out. And her comment that it is demeaning for anyone to use is enough.

The Left, including Obama, called for Imus to be fired, why are they burying their heads in the sand wrt Rahm?
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

Does Sarah Palin have a political career or future ambitions?

She rose to be Governor of her home state; The Wonkette called her a GILF and that brought her to the attention of those in the Lower 48. John McCain named her to be his running mate because he had problems with the evangelical right and she probably accepted because McCain didn’t have a snowball’s chance, which meant that she could use the post-campaign for her own gain.

I’m not overly familiar with her personal finances, but the appearance was that they were upper middle class and now one year later, she’s a millionaire, who is getting some icing from speaking engagements and by leasing her name to Fox.
SteveMG

now one year later, she’s a millionaire, who is getting some icing from speaking engagements and by leasing her name to Fox.

Yes, and how and where she gets her money is a legitimate question. As is her experience and knowledge (or lack thereof) on issues. Or who is advising her.

Those are all important areas to examine.

But instead, we have this insipid story about e-mails and a tanning bed when she was governor of Alaska.

All done by Olbermann not to enlighten but to belittle and make smart aleck comments about. Which is his MO. Smears or attacks or ridicule. No substance. And Mr. Christopher praises this type of stuff when KO does it but (correctly) condemns it when it’s the irresponsible Beck or Limbaugh.

As Lincoln once said, for those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they’ll like.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

@SteveMG: I’m assuming that most of her recent fortune has come from her book deal and I don’t have any reason to think that she’ll run for any future office, unless maybe Beck or the Tea Party folks were to recruit her for their efforts and then, she’ll have to ask if whatever future income that might produce would be worth becoming a Nader or Perot.

As for the allegations from the emails, thus far I haven’t seen anything troubling or out of the ordinary. Continued focus on these non-issues could backfire on a few fine public servants and I trust, if something is ever found, it’ll make its way to mainstream media and then Alaska can request, whatever, they feel they may be owed.
SteveMG

Continued focus on these non-issues could backfire on a few fine public servants and I trust, if something is ever found, it’ll make its way to mainstream media and then Alaska can request, whatever, they feel they may be owed.

In the constellation of issues of national import, this matter is absolutely silly. Of all the of the more serious – and correct – criticisms of Palin’s, it is mind-boggling to focus on it.

And the media critics at this site think Olbermann should be applauded for focusing on it. The same critics who complain about the dumbing-down of political discourse in America.

Yeah, well if you want to stop “defining discourse down” (to borrow from the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan), stop contributing to it.
liberalontogeny

What is a ‘Palinista’? Is it a supporter that would vote for her regardless of scandal or just support her? Are there McCainistas or Clintonistas or Obamaistas? What the Hell is an politician/political party ‘ista?
liberalontogeny

Thinking about ‘ista’ maybe it means zombie politician/political party supporter. Support regardless of scandal and/or hypocrisy.

So the antithesis of that could also be zombie. Won’t support a politician/political party even if they did some good along with the bad. My mind all politicians (99.9%) have hypocrisy including both major political parties.
sarainitaly

personally, I don’t think she will run. I don’t know why the heck she would even want to. Half of the country was so beyond ugly to her, I certainly wouldn’t want to serve them.

I feel bad for her. She was a very popular and well liked Governor, and McCain came to her and asked her to serve. She accepted. Who wouldn’t? And for that, she has been subjected to the most horrific, ugly attacks I have ever seen in politics. Even worse then those launched at Bush. She, despite all the personal attacks, was brutalized for her lack of experience, while people completely overlooked Obama’s lack of experience. And she was only the VP candidate, running because she was asked.

Quitting her Governorship and taking a job on TV, instead of running for Senate or something, makes me believe she has no intention of running. She’s only a year or two older then I, and I can not even imagine taking the beating she has. ugh!

The more people, like Olby, beat her up, the more people defend her, and look down on those who attack her.
sarainitaly

I can’t recall a time when someone so “stupid” and “insignificant” was paid SO much attention.
TfT

Sarainitaly: She will be on with Chris Wallace tomorrow morning on Fox News Sunday. From what I heard about the interview, she doesn’t shut the door on a possible run. But that was just a hint from Carl Cameron this afternoon.

It will make Chrissy, Keith and Rachel (and probably Tommy) goes berserk. Their hatred for strong conservative Christian pro-life women knows no bounds.
SWWT

Maybe Olbermann should debate the merits of Palin’s rise against a Palin supporter on his show…

… oh wait.
writer

Yeah, Olbermann having on someone to debate. That’s gonna happen. Instead of having on Markos Moulitsos all the time, why doesn’t he just get one of those plastic birds that dips its beak in water, then nods till it needs more water?
sarainitaly

TfT says:
February 6, 2010 at 6:48 pm

Do they ever? hahaa

I don’t think she should…. I would have liked to see her run for something, and gain more experience, but since she isn’t, i don’t think she stands a chance. At least not in 2012. She has a huge base, but she has a very huge base of haters. She needed to buckle down like Hillary and work hard. People are just so ugly towards her I think she would be destroyed (again) before she could even finish her announcement to run. It’s sad, really. I pity the next woman who dares to enter.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

@SteveMG: It looks like we’re in agreement.

Tough I’d add that I personally have no problem with MSNBC requesting the emails and posting them on the web, somebody was going to do it anyway and I have no problem with people looking through them. But right now, unless she announces some kind of candidacy, the past is mostly between her and Alaska and they’re as “important” as the records of any other former Governor.

@TfT: Of course she’s going to leave the door open. It’s what keeps her in the game.
TfT

Yes, the media was hard on Hillary as well, but only because of their love/lust/adoration/adulation/cult mentality for teh one. Keith Olbermann even suggested that Hillary should be taken to a room and beaten so as not to be able to come out of the room (and yet Tommy still admires Keith).

I pity anyone who runs against Obama — the liberal media will attempt to destroy them in a heartbeat. MSM are Obama cultists.

I don’t know if I want her to run or not; I’ll reserve judgement until I hear her decision. I love however how she is stringing the media along. She drives the news agenda from her face book page. Imagine what will happen when she starts campaigning, if she does.
sarainitaly

TfT says:
February 6, 2010 at 7:25 pm

My friend sent me her book for Christmas and it is a good read. Puts so many of the bs into perspective, and the story about Trig was very touching, and real. Like I said, being so close in age to her, I get exhausted reading about her life…her accomplishments, her family, and she jogs? I need to do more… haha

Keith is just an ugly human being. angry, mean and unstable. and maddow is throwing away her brain, becoming Olby Jr. she is just like him now. instead of being a brilliant political analyst, she opted to be a biased hack. They deserve each other, alone at the bottom of the ratings board.
sarainitaly

I just watched her speech and am now really glad she gave it.
Anna

“She’s scheduled to speak today, and anything less than a full-throated denunciation of Tom Tancredo’s nostalgia for literacy tests will seriously hurt her with all but the most dedicated Palinistas.”

LMBO! You’re as nuts as Olbermann is, Tommy Christopher. Tancredo lamented the fact that there is not a CIVICS literacy test before being allowed to vote in this country – you know, like the kind immigrants are required to take and pass before they can become citizens? It’s a fact that many natural born citizens in this country who do vote know far less about our government and our nation’s history than do immigrants who have passed said test, and that they cherish the right to vote because they know how important it is to the future of this country. I’m not advocating a test like that, but you are intentionally misrepresenting what kind of “test” Tancredo was talking about.

As far as Palin and the tanning bed – I can’t believe anyone is making a big deal over the fact that she wanted a 220 plug installed during the renovation of the governor’s mansion to accommodate her tanning bed! Obviously she was correct in not wanting it to become public knowledge, because she knew idiots like you would trash her for using a tanning bed in Alaska! Good grief.
puck30

Get your kicks in now Tommy Boy. Your man crush Olbermann has a little over a year left on his contract. I don’t think Comcast will be giving him O’Reilly money.

Good or bad Sarah Palin’s name will still be mentioned, while you & Olbermann will be become a ‘whatever happen to’ trivia question.

I listened to the speech tonight, it was like warm Vanilla pudding. In the begining I was looking for Steak, red meat, shrimp, something? At the end I was just hoping for a mini-burger with a shot of ‘Hot Sauce’. It was another general stump speech, but a ‘Masterful Exercise…in Paranoid Politics’ as your pal big Ed & whoever that was with him said? The only people that believed that are the ten basement dwellers that watched it on MSNBC.

Here’s the thing that gets me, MSNBC does nothing but tell you how Palin and the Tea Party people are homophobes, racists, bigots, far-right wing nuts, and more dangerous then the taliban. But they broke away from their Prison Docs to show her speech?

Olbermann has to talk about tanning beds and a 220 volt plug? Well yeah Keith, ya can’t just plug it in an old 120 there ‘Redi-Kilo-Watt’.

Norah O’Donnell has to prep herself with the home office before she debates a 16 year old. It happens at 1:36 kids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUgfizk4BHI

Schuster? Well…..oh that’s right. They took his twitter away from him.

Just who is Paranoid here?
kit9

The writer reveals just how out of touch HE is with the ‘Joe Six Packs’ with his analysis of the tanning beds. The idea that tanning beds are ‘high class’ or some such is just absurd. It’s been mainstream for decades. My decidedly lower class friend in HS was addicted to them…in 1986.