I have a confession to make. I find Keith Olbermann of MSNBC’s “Countdown” highly amusing. I thought he was great on Sports Center with Dan Patrick. He is bright, articulate and very witty. I get a kick whenever he throws his papers in the air as he goes to a commercial. The finish to his “Worst Person in the World” piece is funny. The problem is, Keith is biased to the point of sheer hatred toward George Bush and all things Republican/conservative. Not only is his “Worst Person in the World” uniformly a conservative or Republican, but he can’t put two sentences together without crucifying his enemies.

Once you get past Keith’s partisan rhetoric, the next thing you notice about him is that he has a regular stable of left-wing commentators, many of whom are on his show almost every night. Folks like Rachel Maddow of Air America and Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post must sleep at the MSNBC studio. Other regulars are Lawrence O’Donnell, Dana Milbank (Washington Post) Howard Kurtz and Jonathan Alter, smug liberals all. Tonight he even had on Markos Moulitsas of the Daily Kos for some “impartial” analysis.

Sometimes, Keith gets so emotionally involved with his editorial pieces, usually calling Bush every name in the book that doesn’t have 4 letters, that one fears he is about to put a gun to his head and declare,”I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” It wouldn’t surprise me if someday Keith walks into the MSNBC studio and takes hostages.

If you look into Olbermann’s bio, it seems he has a habit of burning bridges, such as he did with the Sports Center Show. The man comes across as angry, with a host of issues. He also seems to relish collecting enemies. The most prominent is undoubtedly, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly (no shrinking violet himself), who Keith now attacks on an almost nightly basis. O’Reilly must hold the record for most “Worst Person in the World” awards. As for his part, O’Reilly treats Olbermann as a non-person, never mentioning his name-perhaps out of deference to Keith’s non-existent ratings.

To be fair, Fox News has its Hannity’s America show, which gives a one-sided conservative viewpoint (with which I agree). Olbermann, however, mixes his humor with genuine anger toward those with whom he disagrees.

I am not trying to make the point that Olbermann should balance his show with more conservative viewpoints. MSNBC is what it is. It is completely liberal, and I am not arguing for a fairness doctrine. We conservatives have our Rush Limbaughs and Sean Hannitys, and we will defend their right to say what they want on the airwaves. Olbermann can say what he wants about whomever he wants. That is his right. It is also my right to critique him. In my view, this is a pretty poor example of news analysis.

In addition, I have one final observation that both liberals and conservatives should consider. Keith Olbermann was the moderator on a recent MSNBC-held Democratic debate. Could we all not agree that such moderators at least have a modicum of impartiality? Keith Olbermann hardly fits that bill.

But I have to give credit to Olbermann. When I grow up, I want to be his “Worst Person in the Wooorld”.

gary fouse

fousesquawk

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