A NY Times article, titled, Cable Channel Nods to Ratings and Leans Left reports that MSNBC network has been moving more and more left, more stridently critical of Bush and his administration. The article reports,
"Riding a ratings wave from "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," a program that takes strong issue with the Bush administration, MSNBC is increasingly seeking to showcase its nighttime lineup as a welcome haven for viewers of a similar mind." Lest there be any doubt that the cable channel believes there is ratings gold in shows that criticize the administration with the same vigor with which Fox News's hosts often champion it, two NBC executives acknowledged yesterday that they were talking to Rosie O'Donnell about a prime-time show on MSNBC. During the nine months she spent on "The View" before departing abruptly last spring, Ms. O'Donnell raised viewership notably. She did so while lamenting the unabated casualties of the Iraq war and advocating the right to gay marriage, among other positions. Under one option, Ms. O'Donnell would take the 9 p.m. slot each weeknight on MSNBC, pitting her against "Larry King Live" on CNN and "Hannity & Colmes" on Fox News.
Since Olbermann's begun doing his special comments, bashing Bush and right wing policies, the show has taken off. Even Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, who's taken over the slot that Don Imus used to fill, has moved much more towards the left of his far right wing position he used to speak from.