And that’s why I gladly pay to subscribe. I don’t need advocates or partisans - I know what I believe. I seek information & people to bring up things to challenge my beliefs.
As you note - he’s very talented & smart but he’s chosen a different role.
Keep doing what you do - clearly a growing audience believes in you.
Chris, I would look at this a bit differently. That he watches you so closely and needs to pipe in shows that, for some unknown reason, he's threatened by you. To evidently be in his head 24/7, you are doing something right. Take it as a 'compliment', it's his 'problem.
IMHO this didn't need a column--don't feed the bully. Simply responding back to his post, "Thanks Keith! I appreciate you, and all my readers!" would have non-aggressively highlighted his obsession, and pissed him off as a bonus....
Keith is an interesting example of audience capture. Started as a regular newcaster with a goofy gimmicky show ("Countdown"). Got pissed about something, did a "special comment." It did well. Cool. Soon he started doing more. Soon that became his whole show. Soon that became the whole network. Except he was no longer part of it.
Like Trump, who he despises (quite rightly, IMO), Olbermann needs someone to fight with. So today he picks you. Both of you are former cable TV guys trying to make things work in a decimated media landscape. You should be commiserating, not fighting.
Twitter thrives on conflict, and that's why people like Olbermann (and Trump) thrive on Twitter. You're better ignoring him, and, for that matter, anything people say on that stupid platform. It's algorithmically designed to bring out the worst in people. It's a scientifically-designed hate machine.
Olbermann's Twitter account honestly makes me kind of feel bad for him. He's a deeply unhappy, lonely man.
I wonder if he has any self-awareness about why his relationship with every media outlet for whom he's ever worked ended badly, or whether it's everyone's fault but his.
Hmmmm, " I’m indifferent to him." is kinda what Chris also said about the election when he said he didn't care who wins and didn't vote. Keith Olbermann did care who won and, I'm pretty sure, he voted his convictions. Me, too. Just sayin'.............Not caring and note voting are things that are NOT acceptable with me.
I listened to Keith's podcast and found it to be entertaining. Sure, he's partisan, but Keith argues that the left needs more partisan media voices to counteract the 24/7/365 blowtorch of the right-wind mediasphere that helped to get Trump elected.
Honestly, I had no idea that she was Pat Summerall’s daughter until Chris posted it on X, so there’s that. Also, while I certainly don’t hate KO, I do believe his thought process is the thought process that contributed to Kamala Harris losing , or at least didn’t help. Just my two cents.
I agree Patrick. I think that style of advocating turns off a lot of voters. I was always going to vote Harris, but felt like if i raised a question or concern, it was seen as supporting trump. Smart people learn from differing viewpoints, dont change what you are doing Chris 🍻
You claim that your goal is “to offer context. Fact checking. Reality checking. And, above all, to make sure that I am putting objective facts — not just my opinion — behind what I write and say.” But you did precious little of it. Sure, you called the race as if it were a horse race. But, when, for example, did you offer context as the implications of Trump’s tariff plan or as to Biden’s economic performance vis a vis the rest of the G7? You didn’t.
An entire piece on a guy you’re indifferent to doesn’t seem worthwhile. I liked Keith Olbermann on MSBNC but his departure was no crushing blow. I did not like him enough, I guess, because I did not bother to follow him after that. Keith has always been a sports guy, so his thinking that “everybody “ knew that Summerall was Wiles’ dad is a bit of a reach. I didn’t know it,and it is an interesting “fun fact”. I don’t think that he probably hates you, and he is assuredly quite pleased that you devoted a piece to him, as he doesn’t get attention too many places these days. Maybe he hates that you comment on sports too, and he feels threatened. Just let him go.
Why are you wasting a column again on your role? You've been doing it a lot lately and it is starting to wear a bit. I don't always agree with you but that is also part of the reason I read you. You take care to explain basis for why you think this and I always appreciate that. Let Keith be Keith and you be you.
And that’s why I gladly pay to subscribe. I don’t need advocates or partisans - I know what I believe. I seek information & people to bring up things to challenge my beliefs.
As you note - he’s very talented & smart but he’s chosen a different role.
Keep doing what you do - clearly a growing audience believes in you.
"I spend very, very little time paying attention to Keith."
Then why did you write a 1200+ word column on this?
I felt like I should do SOMETHING. But, you are right, back to ignoring.
Chris, I would look at this a bit differently. That he watches you so closely and needs to pipe in shows that, for some unknown reason, he's threatened by you. To evidently be in his head 24/7, you are doing something right. Take it as a 'compliment', it's his 'problem.
IMHO this didn't need a column--don't feed the bully. Simply responding back to his post, "Thanks Keith! I appreciate you, and all my readers!" would have non-aggressively highlighted his obsession, and pissed him off as a bonus....
threatened, yes. making someone feel uncomfortable in this public space makes up for his feelings of inadequacy.
Yes, go and sin no more.
You’re just fine the way you are, Chris! Carry on doing what you do… we like it.
I would go a little further & say we LOVE it.
and that Chris is why I pay the sub
Keith is an interesting example of audience capture. Started as a regular newcaster with a goofy gimmicky show ("Countdown"). Got pissed about something, did a "special comment." It did well. Cool. Soon he started doing more. Soon that became his whole show. Soon that became the whole network. Except he was no longer part of it.
Like Trump, who he despises (quite rightly, IMO), Olbermann needs someone to fight with. So today he picks you. Both of you are former cable TV guys trying to make things work in a decimated media landscape. You should be commiserating, not fighting.
Twitter thrives on conflict, and that's why people like Olbermann (and Trump) thrive on Twitter. You're better ignoring him, and, for that matter, anything people say on that stupid platform. It's algorithmically designed to bring out the worst in people. It's a scientifically-designed hate machine.
Olbermann's Twitter account honestly makes me kind of feel bad for him. He's a deeply unhappy, lonely man.
I wonder if he has any self-awareness about why his relationship with every media outlet for whom he's ever worked ended badly, or whether it's everyone's fault but his.
Hmmmm, " I’m indifferent to him." is kinda what Chris also said about the election when he said he didn't care who wins and didn't vote. Keith Olbermann did care who won and, I'm pretty sure, he voted his convictions. Me, too. Just sayin'.............Not caring and note voting are things that are NOT acceptable with me.
I listened to Keith's podcast and found it to be entertaining. Sure, he's partisan, but Keith argues that the left needs more partisan media voices to counteract the 24/7/365 blowtorch of the right-wind mediasphere that helped to get Trump elected.
Honestly, I had no idea that she was Pat Summerall’s daughter until Chris posted it on X, so there’s that. Also, while I certainly don’t hate KO, I do believe his thought process is the thought process that contributed to Kamala Harris losing , or at least didn’t help. Just my two cents.
I agree Patrick. I think that style of advocating turns off a lot of voters. I was always going to vote Harris, but felt like if i raised a question or concern, it was seen as supporting trump. Smart people learn from differing viewpoints, dont change what you are doing Chris 🍻
This is really hard to believe… it’s pretty hard to work up an anger at you, Chris!!! (That’s a compliment - just to be clear)
Something must be lost in translation somewhere. FWIW the two of you should really work it out in private.
You claim that your goal is “to offer context. Fact checking. Reality checking. And, above all, to make sure that I am putting objective facts — not just my opinion — behind what I write and say.” But you did precious little of it. Sure, you called the race as if it were a horse race. But, when, for example, did you offer context as the implications of Trump’s tariff plan or as to Biden’s economic performance vis a vis the rest of the G7? You didn’t.
I’m my mind, not rooting for a side is the problem. I guess you’re ambivalent about democracy.
An entire piece on a guy you’re indifferent to doesn’t seem worthwhile. I liked Keith Olbermann on MSBNC but his departure was no crushing blow. I did not like him enough, I guess, because I did not bother to follow him after that. Keith has always been a sports guy, so his thinking that “everybody “ knew that Summerall was Wiles’ dad is a bit of a reach. I didn’t know it,and it is an interesting “fun fact”. I don’t think that he probably hates you, and he is assuredly quite pleased that you devoted a piece to him, as he doesn’t get attention too many places these days. Maybe he hates that you comment on sports too, and he feels threatened. Just let him go.
We need facts and unbiased journalism now more than ever. Thank you for the work you do!
Keith has an extremely fragile ego. He blocked me on Twitter years ago because I called him out for begging for attention on his birthday. 🤪
Keep it real, give us facts and call out both sides as needed.
keith who? so last decade... stay positive, ignore, stay focused
Why are you wasting a column again on your role? You've been doing it a lot lately and it is starting to wear a bit. I don't always agree with you but that is also part of the reason I read you. You take care to explain basis for why you think this and I always appreciate that. Let Keith be Keith and you be you.