The other day I happened to look the word crass up in the dictionary, and lo and behold if I didn't find a picture of Rupert Murdoch next to the entry! -Kevo

Sure it's easy to believe that Murdoch finds O'Reilly embarrassing. Murdoch probably does not spend much time considering the effect his policies have had on the print and broadcast media over his years of doing everything possible to lower the lowest common denominator.

O'Reilly is a natural extension of the Murdoch ethic. The fact that Murdoch does not see himself in O'Reilly just makes Murdoch's ignorance that much clearer.

It's nice to know that both Murdoch and Ailes can't stand the man; let's hope they have to spend a lot of time with him.

On the other hand, I doubt O'Reilly gives a crap what anyone thinks of him.

The culture warrior has infidels - will O'Reilly unleash his security folks on Murdoch?

O'Reilly isn't the only prima donna cash cow tolerated with eyes rolling and nostrils pinched by corporate honchos. Try to imagine Hollywood functioning without this kind of detente.

Murdoch and Ailes nurtured O'Reilly for years. If they are embarrassed now, it is because he failed to do his job and they now have to deal with Democrats in Washington.

Why does Sky news seem to be a bit less corrupt than Fox News?

Former coach and current sportscaster John Madden is fond of saying, "Victory is a great deodorant."

Substitute "buckets of cash" for "victory" and that pretty much says it all for Murdoch and company.

Ailes and Murdoch, neither are a personification of intregity.

This hardly reflects well on Murdoch. If he sees O'Reilly for what he is and continues to give him a forum anyway, it's much worse than if Murdoch actually believed that supporting the Fox News viewpoint was right and beneficial. In the latter case, Murdoch is a deluded-but-sincere force for bad. In the former, he's simply a malign force.

I canceled by cable in no small part because I wouldn't tolerate paying a fee (however small) to Murdoch every month.

Funny, I feel the same way about Ailes and Murdoch as they feel about O'Reilly.

Not that that makes me feel any fonder of O'Reilly of course. I'd rather they all took long hard looks into their souls and then crept away in embarrassment.

Compare the Murdoch/Ailes position on O'Reilly and the Big 3's position auto design, manufacture, sales and marketing. In the short term, the profits seem to justify the continuation of the formula that has been working for decades. It takes a while to feel the effects of bad policy, but they will be felt. The longer we live in ignorance and denial, the harsher the return to balance will feel. All around us both within the U.S. and around the world, the chickens are coming home to roost, and the smell of C*****nS**t is becoming suffocating. Rev. Wright said it with regard to 911, but no one listened because they wanted to discredit him and link him with Obama. Now, we get to see the consequences of living in the era of limited thinking and political cowardice. O'Reilly will continue to bring the house of Fox News and Rupert Murdoch down; he and Ailes will not react quickly enough because they are entrenched in old thinking. Change is inevitable and it will not be kind to those who resist it with force and violence.

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation
peace,
st john

O'Reilly's pal Sean Hannity just signed an extended contract with FOX. $20 million a year. Now there's a serious misallocation of resources for ya...

If memory serves, didn't Hitler feel similarly about Mussolini???

Murdock is like the big cigarette makers. We're so sorry that our product, if used as intended, will likely kill quite a few of you, but we get lots and lots of money, and that's the important thing. And we're investing those proceeds in health care and big pharma, so we are covered all the way around. Thanks.

C*****nS**t? Umm, can I buy a vowel?

tomeck: there are 3 vowels: i, e, i. Do you want to solve the phrase?
peace,
st john

because the money is the money; success trumps all

It's a safe bet he wouldn't hire Olbermann, even if he could double the ratings.

o'reilly is simply more proof that assholes put fannies in seats..[the barry bonds effect]..for murdoch and roger to put money above "principle????"

rick, i'm shocked! shocked!

There's no accounting for tasste, but just who does like O'Reilly? He boasts this huge audience but really I've yet to meet anyone who actually likes his show or would be in the least bit disappointed if he were canceled.

Why would he hire olbermann and lose viewers & money

Bill O'Reilly's a dick. Nuff said.

I'm reminded of a French play called Huis Clos.

All we need is a way to slip a letter opener into the next Murdoch/Ailes/O'Reilly meeting and lock the doors...

Cap'n Phealy had the best take.

This IS the product of Murdoch. Ailes and O'Reilly. May they all drown in their own shit.

Sounds like a case (or two) of self-loathing-- much deserved. The three of them and Hannity belong together... for eternity.

"That Murdoch might find O'Reilly personally offensive, but nevertheless helpful to the network's bottom-line, strikes me as fairly easy to believe...."

Yep, and it sums up Murdoch, and his definition of success, better than anything.

On the other hand, I doubt O'Reilly gives a crap what anyone thinks of him.

He'd probably make noise to that effect. But considering that, as recently as 2008, scientists the world over have yet to discover an object in the universe larger than O'Reilly's ego, you can take it to the bank that this will torture him. Here's a guy who reacts like he has flesh-eating bacteria whenever some small-town newspaper says anything other than fellatingly positive about him.

Did anyone ever like him? Likely he had few friends growing up because I doubt his basic personality has changed all that much.

He boasts this huge audience but really I've yet to meet anyone who actually likes his show or would be in the least bit disappointed if he were canceled.

His demographic skews male, white (of course), blue-collar/no college and averages 69 years of age. To sum it up simply, Reagan Democrats. Low-information, go-with-my-gut bitter old guys like O'Lielly, so easily stoked into resentment of "commies" and "darkies" that they'll vote for their own economic decimation. A lucrative audience for advertisers, given their demonstrated propensity to believe complete bullshit if it's delivered with authority.