Go Ahead Keith Olberman ........Maybe Now We'll Get Some More "Common Sense" Thinking Political Talk Show Hosts On Our News Channels

In the first quarter of 2006, MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann beat CNN's Paula Zahn Now in the 25-54 demographic. "This marks MSNBC's first quarterly primetime victory over CNN in the demo in almost five years (2Q01 MSNBC Investigates beat CNN at 8 p.m. ET)," MSNBC's press release said today. Countdown averaged 164,000 total viewers in the quarter, up 41% from Q1 2005. Zahn averaged 158,000 demo viewers (down 33 percent), according to MSNBC. Bill O'Reilly averaged 450,000 in the demo (down 24 percent).Olbermann also beat Headline News star Nancy Grace in the demo. According to program ranker data, Grace averaged 154,000 demo viewers...

Do you know what this means?
Keith Olbermann just made everyone's job easier and more simple. It wont be near as hard now to criticize the Bush administration on TV anymore. The TV Executives will have an easier time making decisions on their programming from now on. Plus, it will be easier now to get the truth to the American People without a doubt.
Remember the blog on Conservative Media from back in January, it was said then that TV execs are crazy not to put counter programming on cable news by putting an opposite alternative to all the hard hard right conservative talk shows on TV. Should I even mention that most of the country can't stand this Republican President now, what is his approval rating at ....34%?
Let's face it, the reason why Fox News became so popular was by opposing a President! Clinton was a way more popular leader than Bush! I can see TV Programmers trying to copy this now.
Olbermann isn't anyone's definition of a flaming liberal. He's just a reasonable voice of opposition to the insanity and incompetence of this administration. He doesn't make a big point about being a Democrat or a liberal (to my knowledge, he doesn't make this point at all, partly because it might not be true). From time to time he takes on the administration and the conservative talk show hosts. And, will you look at that? What do we see now, but much, much better ratings? His ratings have gone up 41% in the last year while O'Reilly's have gone down 24%. And he has just passed Paula Zahn.
Olbermann's ratings are the tip of the iceberg. TV execs are going to start rushing to the lifeboats soon and try to find liberal shows (if you're still uncomfortable with the word "liberal" because you have been brainwashed by the right into believing it is a dirty word, then use some other word to describe the majority of the country that does not support this administration -- but a rose by any other name smells just as sweet when the ratings come in).

Let me introduce to you a guy who has not always worn a shirt with an aligator, crocodile, or some kind of animal on the front of it. Jeff Parks

Below this is my good friend Jeff Parks's thinking and solution to improving S.C. Public Education. He is a S.C. native, graduate from Clemson University, and a Georgia school teacher.
Jeff last year arguably taught in the worst public school system in Metro Atlanta, and following that, teaching school in the richest zip code in Metro Atlanta. Yes, this is true, I've been down there quite a few times to visit him and have seen this for myself. This was his response to "Power Girl" and "Whitney", it was so good, I decided to make it a guest blog, So here it is----------

I want you to keep in mind that before you read this, I cannot run for South Carolina Superintendant of Education. I am a resident of the state of Georgia, therefore some residency requirements get in the way.

#1 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT---------As I have previously stated, South Carolina is a perfect example of the have's and the have not's. Spartanburg and Greenville County thrive. They are located on I-85. They have an international airport at their service. They are the only major stopping point between Atlanta and Charlotte. They have a nice middle class, relatively educated population that serves many new industries that come to the area. Their tax base is fantastic and it shows in many of their schools.Marlboro County is nowhere near an airport. They have a poorly education citizen base. They are not located near an interstate. In all honestly, it is not a place where business leaders want to flock. Now, I know what you are going to say..."If Marlboro County had better _____" or "If the people in Marlboro County would leave..." But it is not that simple. Let's stop the blame game and fix the problem.Let's pass a Constitutional amendment that takes some of that tax base from the richest segments of South Carolina, and help out the poorer counties. Get them the resources that they need. Get them the technology that they need. 1st graders cannot help what district they go to school in. So let's start helping out these kids.

#2 - INVEST EARLY-------Invest early, particularly in programs that are going to help kids before they turn 4 years old. And yes...this is (gasp) WELFARE. People do stupid things. They get pregnant when they are 16 years old. They spend all their money on drugs. They divorce. They don't go to college. But to be honest with you, I am not sure that I want to make the innocent kid pay dearly for the mistakes that his/her stupid parents made. The single biggest problem we have in education is that when some kids get to 1st grade, they pale in comparision to their counterparts. To correct this problem, we need to make sure that when they enter 1st grade, they are on par. Then they succeed at that same level, instead of trying to catch up and becoming discouraged.

#3 - BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE------We too often times try to be reactive. We wait until a problem occurs, and then we say..."Here is the solution." My proposal is that we start to anticipate problems, and be proactive instead of reactive to those problems. This is very general, but should be easily accomplished.I've got other ideas, but for the sake of your eyes, I will hold off on those.

- JP