A change in the zeitgeist?

I for one doubt it. More likely just a rare opportunity for progressives to be served up some red meat on the cable networks. Nevertheless, at least there's a voice being heard.

It was the first of now five extraordinarily harsh anti-Bush commentaries that have made Olbermann the latest media point-person in the nation's political divide.

"As a critic of the administration, I will be damned if you can get away with calling me the equivalent of a Nazi appeaser," Olbermann told The Associated Press. "No one has the right to say that about any free-speaking American in this country."

Since that first commentary, Olbermann's nightly audience has increased 69 percent, according to Nielsen Media Research. This past Monday 834,000 people tuned in, virtually double his season average and more than CNN competitors Paula Zahn and Nancy Grace. Cable kingpin and Olbermann nemesis Bill O'Reilly (two million viewers that night) stands in his way.

I'll be interested, also, in seeing the demographics. My understanding is that Fox News -- and expecially O'Lielly -- is skewing old.