Meat with heat- it can't be beat: welcome larry o’donnell

Meat and heat, that’s what we like in talk media, right or left. Do they have to be mutually exclusive?

We’re bound to get both as Blatherwatch’s special friend, Lawrence O’Donnell gets his own MSNBC hour after Rachel Maddow. O’Donnell, 54, is a passionate progressive known for tiger-like responses to conservative foolishness on the teevee. He also can deliver the pith and feck- drawing on years of staff experience in the US Senate committees in the Clinton years. He can deliver unique insight on the legislative process. We’re always glad to see him as fill-ins for Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews.

In fact, we’ve long hoped he’d replace the fatuous Mr. Matthews, but instead, he’s got the 10 o’clock hour, a new position, the hosting of which has been subject to a year of stiff competition with such as Eliot Spitzer, and Alison Stewart. Launch date has not been announced.

Larry, (we always call him Larry) doesn’t mind calling himself a “practical European socialist.” He's known for confrontations like In October 2004, on MSNBC's Scarborough Country, O’Donnell shouted “liar” over and over again at GOP paid Swift Boat liar and spokesman John O’Neill. We love the hell out of that stuff, but Politico reporter Keach Hagey writes, “ … the real key to understanding his politics … was his time working for Sen. Daniel Patrick Moyhihan, the eclectic academic aide to Richard Nixon, and iconoclastic Democrat from New York.” He was the chief of staff for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. He left after the Republican surge of 1994.

Better known as a producer and writer on NBC's long-running The West Wing, O’Donnell’s also served on several political staffs, has been a frequent panelist on PBS’ The McLaughlin Group. He’s had a small role on HBO’s dramatic series, Big Love about a suburban, middle class, but polygamous Mormon family.

We welcome more political experience and brainpower to progressive media. Rachel Maddow emerged from talk radio and has shortly become an important voice, her smart interviews and POVs frequently break into the mainstream media. (Her clips are rerun on Fox more than anyone in media with the exception of Anna Nicole Smith whom they also categorize as a "prominent liberal voice").

Olbermann is funny, and entertaining for us irony-mongering libs, but the marketplace always needs more meat and with Larry (we always call him Larry) we’ve been given a big hunk of prime sirloin.

(Before the repetitive right-wing doo-dads who comment on this blog jump on their gloatation devices to gleefully shout once again that that Fox News ratings dwarf MSNBC’s, let us acknowledge that but point out that FNC's ratings success has been to right-wing talk radio’s ratings detriment. And oh yeah, MSNBC, and CNN (probably to their own detriment) haven’t resorted to FNC’s meatless tabloid approach which is replete with tits and ass, celebrity slobbering, apocalyptic fear-mongering, and edgy, but veiled racism).  

Comments

[sparky]

doo dads....heh..now that's funny!

[Puget Sound]

I like watching Lawrence. He's smart and knows his politics.
This will be must see TV come November and the tension mounts.

While Olberman is a sane guy who plays his crazy schtick on TV,
Lawrence is a crazy guy who plays like he is sane...when the mask falls off it is damn fine television.

[KS]

Mr. unhinged himself with the spittle on the corners of his mouth -

I have seen him when he has seemed sedate and normal at times, but he seems like he's got that Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde thing going.

[Johnny Sombrerro]

Well Socrates saw "meat with heat" and you know what happens there

[Gramps Flamboeski]

hahaha "lamestream media" that's a funny joke. never heard that b4 (x-cept 4about a hunnert billion times!!!) hahaha funny joke. Ju make that up yer self??? purdy funny. God bless America!!! hahaha

[Andrew]

O'Donnell's has an uncanny ability to not put emphasis on anything. He's like the human equivalent of ticker tape.

[Corporate Suit]

I had a very sober conversation with a high-ranking Bonneville KIRO employee on Thursday. There are changes coming, yes, but what they are, no one knows. R&D aren't going anywhere and the morning news block will remain as is. Pete Gammel coming back to KIRO is a good thing as Ursula Reutin will be able to have a life with her family but still manage the news operation during the day. Shiers, Ross, et al all stay the same. There really isn't any 'gossip' or anything like that going on. Everyone is doing their best to keep the station on the rise.

[joanie]

I really like O'Donnell. I always wondered why he didn't replace Olbermann. He is erudite and very, very savvy politically.

Also, I heard somewhere that Olbermann was the new Murrow? I think it's Maddow.

Mike on Ring of Fire interviewed Ed Schultz. If you missed it, you missed a good hour. Ed sounds midwestern meat and potatoes, but he's savvy as well. I wonder why the flip talkers are more impressive to some city folk than plain speaking regular guys? Kind of like the difference between Carter and Reagan. Carter was honest, brilliant and had integrity. Reagan was a showman. Carter's vision was energy independence by 2000. A smart man leading a stupid country.

There once was an island called Easter. There once was a country called America. There once was a planet called Earth.

[Puget Sound]

'Big Ed' Shultz appeals to those 'lo-information' listener types.
Thankfully, we only had 4 years of Jimmy Carter's 'brilliance.' The fact that a few lone nuts still try to make the argument that Jimmy Carter was an effective President is testimony to the above. But keep doing so, as even your fellow 'usual suspects' won't be touting that 'line O Crap.'

By the way, Lawrence O'Donnel married very well to a wonderful actress. So he's also got that going for him.

[Bill]

That would be the still-gorgeous Kathryn Harrold.

Hubba-hubba, Lawrence.

[Fremont]

O-o-oh, how "special" is "Blatherwatch’s special friend"?
We can't access the Scar link, Bla'M! Try again, please.

[blathering michael]

In other words, Corporate Suit, you got nothin. Hope he at least bought your coffee.