It doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyway. There is no replacement for Keith Olbermann and Countdown on MSNBC. Last week I was shocked and awed by the announcement that the show was over and Keith was done. Quits. I was unimpressed with the announcement that Lawrence O'Donnell's show The Last Word was to replace Countdown in that time slot. But after his first week on the job of anchor and leader of the network, Larry is doing alright. I'm learning to really like him. He is affable, professional, and thoughtful.
I especially liked his interview with NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg last night. The topic was gun control and both gentlemen had good points about what needs to happen in the country to keep us safer. The mayor had very pointed observations which he delivered in an exacting way. O'Donnell was just as correct in his commentary but his delivery lacked punch.
It is O'Donnell's lack of verbal punch that led to my skepticism of him in the first place. As a commentator, he's cool. As an anchor, he just lacks power. In fact, he delivered some sort of commentary at the end of the show last night with what was supposed to be passion, but I can't recall now what he said. That's the difference between him and Olbermann. At the end of a Special Comment on Countdown, I was thinking about the subject for days. At the end of commentary by O'Donnell I can hardly recall what was said.
Nevertheless, O'Donnell is learning and growing as a leading man. In time, I'm sure he'll find his motivation. Also, I really like his charity, which works with schools in Malawi. Really worthy cause.
I'm not in love with Lawrence O'Donnell, but I'm learning to really like him. As long as the good work continues at MSNBC, it really doesn't matter so much who is doing it.
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They have nothing now as far as I am concerned..:(
rated with hugs
I also like Chris Matthews and I guess you could call me an Ed Head.
I agree on Larry...more spark, please. As you, I listened to his comment at the end of his show and did not know what it was about.
I'm thinking reasoned, rational, no-yelling news is ... do we really want to be yelled at?
I don't care for Jake yet. I'll give him another week but if he doesn't get good quickly, I'm dropping him. Chris Mathews is still very very quick and good. MSNBC is still very good. Not excellent without Keith but very very good. I have hope. And I can't wait for Keith to resurface somewhere. :)
After reading this post, I will give Larry a try.
Thanks for the info.
R
Is MSNBC loud? Yes. But riteous rage is loud. Is it impolite? Sometimes. But necessarily so. I think there is good work to be done with Progressive media and MSNBC does a pretty good job doing it so far.
There's a fundamental shift out there with most viewers, save for the most strident, being turned off by what became the de facto standard for such commentary shows. Talking over one another, escalating voices, etc do not resonate, save for the outliers. The broad majority wants something a tad more thoughtful and civil. Stewart, Scarborough/Brezinski, Brokaw, Chuck Todd, etc draw. O'Donnell got launched from regular appearances on Scarborough.
O'Donnell is not the show. He is the vehicle. The guests are the show. As it should be.
You have a point about the Iraq war. MSNBC did have a liberal voice who spoke out against the war. His name was Phil Donahue. Where is he now? I saw him on Bill Moyers a couple of years ago. He had made a film about the challenges returning veterans and their families were facing. It was difficult to watch, but not in a way that made me angry. They should not have canceled Phil.
I can't say too much about LO, because I don't watch that often. But I heard about the Koch brothers from NPR and the New Yorker, though I know Keith O covered them. MSNBC is just not for me.