MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” usually ends with the host saying “That’s [insert date], good night, and good luck,” a reference to Edward R. Murrow‘s sign-off. Over the years, Olbermann has also added commentaries noting the days since the start of the Iraq war, and earlier this year the Gulf oil spill.
Last night, Olbermann changed the sign-off once again, saying:
“That’s November 3rd, one day since Republicans took control of the House. Mr. Boehner, where are the jobs? I’m Keith Olbermann, good night, and good luck.”
Of course, Republicans won’t actually assume control of the House until January, but who’s counting?
Meanwhile, on Fox News Channel, Olbermann’s 8 PM competition Bill O’Reilly speculated about upcoming adjustments at MSNBC. O’Reilly was speaking to Dick Morris Bernie Goldberg, and the two spent a good deal of time bashing MSNBC’s election coverage:
Morris: I thought I was watching the view without Elisabeth Hasselbeck. And as bad as they were, the real villains are the executives at MSNBC who make no pretense anymore. There is no pretense anymore that MSNBC is a serious honest news organization. Because when you take a national election and have five liberal commentators being snarky all night with their comments and giggling like school girls half the time, the shark has been jumped. it’s over.
O’Reilly: Comcast takes over soon. I think they are going to change that whole thing over there. That’s what we hear anyway.
While Comcast executives are not known to be proud liberals, the idea that they would walk in and blow up MSNBC also appears unlikely. Straight news is not leading CNN to ratings wins, and turning MSNBC into a right-leaning network would only put it in more direct competition with FNC.
Most importantly: Comcast executives are in the business to make money, and MSNBC’s more partisan direction is increasing the network’s profits.