[rayiner]

Folks like Oliver hate Weiss because her path to success—building a real business that meets a customer demand, generates revenue and employs people—is one that can’t be gifted upon someone based on their checking boxes and playing office politics. The weasel word here is “qualified.”

[oa335]

How and why did a news business that makes $18 million in revenue get valued at $150 million? That sort of multiple is typically only seen by high growth tech firms .

[tptacek]

This doesn't make any sense. No part of Oliver's career --- I'm not a fan --- has been based on checking boxes and "playing office politics".

[rayiner]

I didn’t say his viewpoint was self-serving. It’s ideological. A system based on box checking and politics makes it easier to achieve liberal social and political goals.

[tptacek]

Seems like a just-so story. You could have just said Oliver has it out for Weiss over politics and ideology, and I'd have agreed. But you came up with this weird specific story instead.

[rayiner]

I’d say that elevation of box checking and paper credentialism over accomplishments is one specific, relevant aspect of that ideological difference.

[kasey_junk]

I’m not sure I understand your argument. Are you suggesting that John Oliver got where he is via box checking and credentialism?

[rayiner]

I’m suggesting that, as an ideological matter, Oliver values box checking and credentialism in hiring someone to run CBS News, and devalues business accomplishments.

[TimorousBestie]

Maybe he’s got a bone to pick with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? Deleterious to the social order and all that.