MSNBC President Griffin: David Shuster Suspension “All About Loyalty”

By GottaLaff

By now you've all noticed that David Shuster is still missing from MSNBC. Insert sad face here.

There were reports that he shot a pilot for CNN while still under contract to MSNBC, which is a no-no, of course. But questions still linger, and Mediaite provides a few answers:

“I said all along that this was about loyalty and looking out for this network and not our competition,” [MSNBC President Phil Griffin] told Mediaite, who said in an email Thursday afternoon (obtained by Mediaite today), “We don’t pay David to help CNN figure out how to beat us.”

“Really, what upset me about this whole thing was how unfair it was to people who were loyal to the company,” he said. “That’s at the heart of this thing, that’s what makes it so difficult to get beyond.”

Yes, it was unfair and probably hurtful, too. It's show/news business, and professionalism is mandatory. David threw a wrench into things, if all the reporting is accurate, and it needed to be addressed. But... I'd still like to hear his side.

So will David be back?

... Griffin said, “Dave and I have to work that out.”

Let's hope they do... amicably.

I'd like to give Griffin kudos for engaging viewers. I have e-mailed him, and he responded immediately. Others I know have done that, too, with the same result. That's highly unusual for a person in his position, so again, kudos.

That said, I sure miss David.

H/t: MADNews101

David Shuster may not be back on air for remainder of contract

By GottaLaff

I was just witness to Pat Buchanan defending slavery on MSNBC (I'll post the video when it becomes available). Yes, resident Old White Racist Punditiot Guy still has regular work as contributor while David Shuster gets the cold shoulder for shooting a CNN pilot before his contract with MSNBC was up in December.

I guess contractual issues trump despicable ratings-inducers:

Now that David Shuster has been suspended indefinitely by MSNBC, it looks like he may not be back on the air for the remainder of his contract – up at the end of this year.

The pilot that led to his MSNBC demise was just the latest in a series of run-ins with management.

According to Mediaite, Shuster also got into a scrape or two over at ClusterFox when he erased one of Rita Cosby's scripts about the disbarring of President Clinton.

Whether David is guilty of these things or not (which I do not condone), we do know one thing: Buchanan's disdain for anyone who doesn't look like him is egregious enough to pull him off the air permanently. Where is the logic?

And where is the logic in CNN's exposing their viewers to RedState's Erick Erickson?

I mean other than jacking up ratings at any cost. I mean other than money. I mean other than selling out.

Never mind.

David Shuster Suspended Indefinitely

Ayup, it's fer real. Via Media Bistro.

Just In: MSNBC's David Shuster has been suspended from MSNBC "indefinitely" according to a spokesperson.

The action was taken this morning by MSNBC president Phil Griffin after it was revealed that Shuster had taken part in a pilot for CNN.

Shuster's MSNBC contract expires in December. Over the weekend, an MSNBC executive told TVNewser's Gail Shister, anything less than a suspension "sends a message from management that this is OK."

MSNBC Could Keep David Shuster Off the Air Indefinitely

Ugh, I'm not awake enough to think this thru, but thought you guys should know. A lot of people over in the comments at Media Bistro seem to think this leaves an in for Lawrence O'Donnell. Don't really like sacrificing one good one for another, but hey, there's still no caffeine in my veins yet.

MSNBC bad boy David Shuster may be on his third strike.

Shuster won't be on the air today for his 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. shows, according to MSNBC insiders. Whether he returns before his contract expires in December is up for debate.

Shuster's last appearance was at 10 a.m. Friday. MSNBC boss Phil Griffin pulled him from his 3 p.m. gig after learning, via The New York Observer, that the anchor had recently shot a pilot for CNN without having informed his bosses.

Griffin, vacationing in Florida, ripped Shuster a new one over the phone, network sources say. A repeat performance is expected today in the office.

David Shuster To Be “Punished” By MSNBC If He Filmed CNN Pilot

By GottaLaff

This will answer the questions I've been getting on Twitter. Yes, he's M.I.A., and yes, the two issues were connected. This is in reference to my earlier post about David Shuster's filming a pilot for CNN.

MSNBC didn't approve. He's grounded:

David Shuster isn’t anchoring his 3pmET hour – which is significant, because he was there for his 10amET hour.

It appears Shuster may be in the MSNBC doghouse again after reports he shot a CNN pilot recently, which apparently happened without his MSNBC bosses knowing.

There are a few more details at the link.

David keeps getting in hot water over there. He's had his Twitter account yanked (it's still up, last I looked, but he's not allowed to use it), and he's had a couple of other run-ins with the powers that be at MSNBC.

He's too good to lose. Someone will snatch him up, and it's too bad MSNBC hasn't (apparently) treated him with the respect he deserves, despite the, er, scrapes he gets into. From what I've seen, he's done nothing egregious, he's one of their best, and they should be rewarding him for his good work.

UPDATE: His website, which was up two hours ago, has been removed.

You can contact MSNBC here.

H/t: MADNews101

Report: David Shuster taped CNN pilot

By GottaLaff

Oh how I wish David Shuster would stay at MSNBC. I try to avoid the Worst Political News Team on Television as often as possible. I really don't want a reason to tune into CNN unless I have to.

Now I may have to:

CNN has shot a pilot for a new news show featuring MSNBC anchor David Shuster, the New York Observer's Felix Gillette reports.

According to Gillette's report, Shuster and NPR host Michel Martin co-anchor the news show pilot, which "also featured medical and opinion segments, and included appearances by several current CNN contributors, including [Reuters Global Editor at Large] Chrystia Freeland...and Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker."

Now if there is one thing I know, it's the Tee Vee Machine. This pilot is a toe in the water and no guarantee of anything. But it is clear that David is thinking about a move, and CNN is entertaining the idea, too.

Gee, if he does end up there, maybe they'll allow him to start tweeting again.

At least that would be a perk for the Twitterverse.

H/t: MADPolitics101

Rep Eloit Engel just announced on David Shuster's show he is a yes vote

He was an undecided before, now in the yes column. Yeah Eliot! Here's the latest whip count.

VIDEO- David Corn bets Brad Blakeman $1000 that he, Karl Rove lied

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Dee-lish! David Corn offered to bet former Bush spokesman Brad Blakeman $1000 that he and Rove were lying about the WMD inspectors being denied access to inspection sites. Right there on the Tee Vee Machine.

March 20, 2003:

Bush urged journalists to leave the country in his television address late Monday. "For their own safety, all foreign nationals — including journalists and inspectors — should leave Iraq immediately," the president said.

Bush ordered the inspectors out. Blakeman owes David Corn $1000.

VIDEO- Breitbart in tussle with David Shuster: O'Keefe was slandered.

By GottaLaff

David faced off in a huge way with Andrew Breitbart. If only they hadn't overtalked each other, this very heated exchange would have been a little easier to understand:

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Update on ACORN Pimp O'Keefe

By GottaLaff

MSNBC's David Shuster is reporting the latest on ACORN Pimp James O'Keefe and his band of merry felons (earlier post here, original post here):

There was no phone tapping equipment ON the felonious lads.

The so-called "listening device" in the van was actually a walkie talkie.... or cell phone.

Their motive? They were trying to shame Mary Landrieu, but too late... She did that on her own during the health care "debate".

They still face felony charges.

UPDATE: It is not a wiretap case, it is a federal trespass case, per Shuster just now. Additional charges could be brought, and plea deals are possible.

The people upstairs were communicating with the guy in the truck, via walkie talkie or cell phone.

O'Keefe had an exclusive deal with Andrew Breitbart for writing. Breitbart claims he had no idea O'Keefe was up to this, hadn't spoken to him in weeks.

But the question is, did O'Keefe have any financial incentive? They won't just take the word of the 4 guys.

On Keith Olbermann's Countdown, John Dean:

He says it's no prank, pretty serious, more of O'Keefe's entrapment journalism. They went beyond what is legal.

Karl Rove was one of the "early tutors" of this kind of thing, says Dean. Plus, he says, O'Keefe has been enouraged by his elders in the party. "Stupidity.... You'd think we'd evolved in our political intelligence..."

This was a classic criminal conspiracy... but we don't know who all the co-conspirators are. This may be more than 4 people.

This kind of thing has been embraced by the Republican right, although they're distancing themselves now.

MSNBC changes line-up

By GottaLaff

Shuster has his own spots, as does Tamron Hall:

TVNewser has learned that effective Monday, David Shuster will anchor at 10amET and 3pmET, Tamron Hall will anchor at 11amET and 2pmET and Contessa Brewer will anchor at 12N.

Chuck Todd and Savannah Guthrie begin the dayside hours at 9am ET. Andrea Mitchell remains at 1pmET and Dylan Ratigan at 4pm.

Norah O'Donnell and John Harwood have been canceled, along with CNBC's Melissa Francis

And so it goes...

VIDEO: Shuster responds to "fact-free" Limbaugh calling him a "schlub"

By GottaLaff

Earlier today, I posted a video that, when he saw it over at Media Matters, made David Shuster very, very happy.

His response:



Then he tweeted:

I can't imagine how the Media Matters folks don't go nuts. I'd lose it if I had to listen to Beck, Limbaugh... each day

Boss Limpdong and Beck lost it years ago. Media Matters is documenting it for posterity.

VIDEO- Limbaugh: David Shuster is "one of the hapless, genuinely ignorant schlubs over at MSNBC"

By GottaLaff

David Shuster, thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing this Boss Limpdong clip to our attention:

VIDEO- Brit Hume: Tiger Woods must become Christian to be forgiven

By GottaLaff



Of course, we all know that Tiger is a Muslim terrorist, because he's, you know, black:

Buddhism is inferior to Christianity when it comes to forgiveness of sins, according to Fox News pundit Brit Hume. Tiger Woods should turn his back on Buddhism and become a Christian to be forgiven for cheating on his wife, Hume told Fox News' Chris Wallace Sunday.

David Shuster tweets:

I respect everybody's faith, different from mine or not. But don't use a sunday news show to preach your faith. Analyze the news.

In the interest of fairness, that sunday show should make time for a member of Bhuddism given Brit's criticism of that religion.

David, David, David, have you forgotten? There is no room for fairness on ClusterFox.

As for news analysis, that's becoming an anachronism, having been replaced by polarizing shouting matches passed off as balanced discussions that give each side equal time.

David Shuster's Twitter fight with anti-gay church that picketed Obama kids’ school

By GottaLaff

Earlier today I posted about David Shuster's disgust at a group of picketers from Westboro Baptist Church outside of the Obama girls' school. Tomorrow they plan on protesting again.

David Shuster said all the right things, so I guess the truth hurt these revolting bunch of vulgar maniacs' widdle feelings:

But Shuster's Tweet set off an argument between the MSNBC reporter and Phelps-Roper.

"Don't forget our Tuesday Sidwell picket," Phelps-Roper Tweeted at Shuster, in reference to the group's plans to picket the school again. "Put away your idols and obey God!"

"Go ahead," Shuster Tweeted back at Phelps-Roper. "Show the entire world the vile, crude, and disgusting protest you put on this [morning] at the Obama kids' school."

Thank you, David. They are targeting children with their hate. Un. Ac. Ceptable.

As Terkel notes, this isn't the first time that an activist group has used the Obama girls' school as a setting for political exposition. In September, the group Operation Rescue held a protest outside Sidwell Friends where they reportedly displayed pictures of fetuses.

"Showing pictures of fetuses to young children will surely convince Malia and Sasha to be anti-choice, and warm hearts everywhere," liberal Fox News commentator Alan Colmes quipped at the time.

Two of my favorite Twitter pals nailed it, David Shuster for directly calling out this despicable group of zealots, and Alan for his snarky truth-telling.

This so-called "church" is shameless. Maybe someone should start picketing them.

H/t: Novenator

David Shuster: Tea baggers protest outside of Obama girls' school

By GottaLaff

Every time I think the tea tantrumers have gone too far, they go even too farther. This is despicable and completely unacceptable:

(click on image to enlarge)

David said it all. This was beyond the pale. The Obama girls are just kids--with feelings-- for goodness sake, and they are also not the only students who would be negatively affected by such hateful behavior.

Love the fetus, disdain the children.

H/t: muttlikemeblog

UPDATE:

Turns out they're from the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group that travels around the country holding anti-gay rallies:

H/t: GreeneMeansGo

VIDEO- Jonathan Turley recalls what Dick Cheney can't re: CIA leak case

By GottaLaff

Thank you, David Shuster, for tweeting the link to this. I've been looking everywhere for it:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Dickless McHeartStent: Big fat old, white, lying tattered bag of amnesia.

For more details, read Jason Leopold's excellent piece here.

VIDEO- Alan Grayson: "America lost its bid for the Olympics... The Republicans are celebrating. Isn't that great."

By GottaLaff

I liveblogged this earlier. Here's the video:

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Lerve this guy!

VIDEO- Our own Cliff Schecter: "This is a party that makes Kanye West look humble"

By GottaLaff

CliffDoggie's back, and he goes after Joe "You lie!" Wilson... and more:



Cliff Schecter is a very talented political analyst, Democratic consultant/strategist, and author (The Real McCain). He's also a good friend... so good, in fact, that he convinced me to co-edit this very blog with him and Paddy a couple of years ago.

He's been busy working on Very Important Things, so he had to leave The Political Carnival (he may pop in again, though, stay tuned...)

I nicknamed him "Bulldog" because of his ability to go up against any political talking head, sink his teeth into him/her, and not let up. When given the chance, he devours his opponents. This video doesn't get quite as wild and woolly as usual, but he still gets to strut his stuff.

It's so good to see him back on air, especially on my Twitter pal David Shuster's show.

VIDEO-- Countdown: The 9/12ers' "fomenting of hatred"

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

David Shuster subbed for Keith tonight, and tried to figure out what's left of the Rushpublic party.