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Ed Rendell, Former Democratic Governor, Signs On as NBC Analyst

2 years ago
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Within days of the departure of controversial talk show host Keith Olbermann, NBC News announced Tuesday that former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a blunt-spoken, partisan Democrat, has signed on with the network as a political analyst.

Rendell, who recently completed two terms as governor and also served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will start immediately at NBC News and its sister cable channel, MSNBC, the network said.

"Gov. Rendell has never been afraid to share his thoughtful analysis on national and local issues and he couldn't be a better fit for NBC News," said NBC News President Steve Capus.

Rendell, gruff-voiced but cheerful, recently derided fellow Democrats as a "bunch of wusses" for not rallying around health care reform. He used the same term last month to suggest the nation had gone soft after the NFL postponed a football game between the Eagles and Vikings because of a blizzard in Philadelphia.

Olbermann, an unapologetic liberal, announced Friday night on "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" that he was leaving his cable show, effective immediately. He offered no real explanation for his exit, and neither did NBC.

Rendell, 66, said that "the ability to have my voice heard and create an impact on the political discourse is exciting to me and is an extension of my continued commitment to public life."

Folo Tom Diemer on Twitter http://twitter.com/tomdiemer

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24 Comments

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good mourning

really , they are going to pay him. wow . doest he have enough money yet . i believe he was probally the most corrupt gov. we ever had . that right oopps that the requirement to be on the national barack channel . the the former IL gov. will be in their next .

January 26 2011 at 3:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bigpappanra1947

What the heck was NBC thinking putting the likes of Rendell on a national stage? They certainly don't seem to give a hoot about ratings and now all of a sudden they want to fill your wide-screen t.v. with the likes of a wide-screen politician? C'mon NBC....the people of the country deserve better than what you're dishing out. I guess FOX is about the only media outlet left that tells it like it is.

January 26 2011 at 1:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brennemanbelkin

"Gov. Rendell has never been afraid to share his thoughtful analysis on national and local issues" ............ Like how to drop money down a well. For the last eight years he spent like a depressed housewife. Sadly he never caught on to the fact that it wasn't his money. Typical politician.

January 26 2011 at 1:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DK

Another reason not to watch NBC News!!! Rendell hasn't done a thing for PA except rob us blind! Promises to finish Route 219 between Somerset and the MD line remains his albatross - and before he left he authorized more millions for yet another impact study. Meanwhile, he repaired every dirt road and back alley in the eastern part of the state. If and when the vision of finishing Route 219 ever comes to fruition, trust me - only union workers will have the jobs! Bye Bye, Rendell. You fit right in with liberal television!

January 26 2011 at 12:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rap Scallion

Kudos to the NBC News.......You have at least removed all doubt that you are totally biased when it comes to political analysis! You have hired the one person in the world other than Harry Reid who definately is non objective and totally one sided whith his views........I guess you must have been trying to catch up to ABC with Georgie Snuffleufegous, the Clintons boot boy!

January 26 2011 at 12:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
colfla

This is the same jerk who looked into the cameras during a 60 Minutes interview, grit his teeth and told America they were a bunch of morons and to think in reference to those who oppose more government spending and increased involvement in forcing medical coverage most will be unable to afford. Simply put, this pompous ass will be right at home on a network (MSNBC) that few watch, proven by last year's ratings that made it 28th most watched cable network.

January 26 2011 at 12:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tia121987

Ed Rendell was a great governor of Pennsylvania and he has an independent streak. He says what needs to be said.

He would make a great Campaign Director for Obama!!! Street Smart and Educated.

January 25 2011 at 11:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John V.

NBC has nowhere to go but up, now. And even if Gov. Ed (ED II) flops and does a backward summersalt in ratings, he can always have another politically correct place on the WEATHER CHANNEL doing global warming-climate change apologetics. NBC has everything to gain and barely little to lose.

January 25 2011 at 11:44 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to John V.'s comment
Hugh

What you people need to understand is that Global Warming is NOT a weather forecast. It is a series of climatic changes that result in drastic weather patterns across the globe. Winters become more severe, summers are hotter than usual. Anyone who doesn't understand this is a dope. As we pump more hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, the patterns of weather are affected.

"I think that the Earth's immune system is trying to get rid of us, as well it should." - Kurt Vonnegut

January 26 2011 at 1:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Christine

This guy is a complete jackass. He accomplished little to nothing yet whined about Americans being lazier than the Chinese when his beloved football Eagles had their game postponed. He is another worthless politician.

January 25 2011 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
johnschoenfelder

"Fast Eddy" is one of those old holdover Kennedy-type liberals who just doesn't understand we can no longer afford to add FDR-type social programs - and has not shown us how to pay for those we now have in place. I will switch channels.

January 25 2011 at 11:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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