Dear Chris, it is - as you probably know - impossible to satisfy all of us. As of now you are doing a superb job! I enjoy the mixture of your articles, and getting to know you is a great privilege. Sharing the turbulence of life is courageous but also helpful to many people. Much love from the other side of the pond:
Substack empowers all of us to be multidimensional, regardless of where we are on the political spectrum. It is good for society to find things in common with people we disagree with, such as dislikes of cruises and enjoying parenthood while unemployed. Count me as another reader who came to challenge you on your political leanings, but enjoys your personal pieces. I mix everything together on my Substack as well.
I decided to subscribe because of the personal stuff. I think we all need breaks from the current soul sucking state of political discourse. And the better thevdiscourse is, your’s included in the better, the more depressing it can be. You’re providing a bit of an antidote with your commentary and I thank you!
Keep writing! Politics, sports, music, parenting, etc etc.... We are all three dimensional persons, and conversations on a variety of subjects keep us from going totally crazy with all the political news.
This week certainly has not been slow aa evidenced by Fulton County empanelling a Grand Jury for some of Trump's criminal Behavior in 2020 and and Biden's Biden's Bidenomics showing positive results, like inflation coming down now at 3% from 9.1% this time last year, stock Market doing great and unemployment also trending down. It's being a very newsy week. And yesterday , Director Ray appearing before the House committee. Also , Chris Christie just qualified for the Republican debate in August. I agree ,it shouldn't just be all Politics and Trump. Good to springle it with some Sports, Music and Movies stories every once in a while.
Chris - I hope you do not take comments like those personally - they are commenting on what you write about, and not about you. Even if they sound personal, I am sure in most cases they are not meant to be.
I sense you write for you, because the topics are things you are interested in, and because writing about them provides you with a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and if others like it and want to read what your writing, great. If they do not, they do not have to read it. If you are trying to write only to please each individual reader, my fear is you will end up pulling all of your hair out. My sense is you would be writing anyway, even if there were not a Substack or other methods of sharing what you write.
Your part of the bargain here is to create the product you want to create, and put it out for others to read. Our part of the bargain is to be a consumer of your product, as long as we want to, and if we want to, pay for the subscription; and if we do not want to consume your writing, we can go somewhere else. And as a consumer, I can choose for myself - if I like what you are writing about, I can read it; if I do not like what your writing about, I can ignore it and move on.
I am a consumer because your writing makes me think, often times adding more depth and color to those topics than I was aware of previously. It is why I consumed your writing at CNN, and am glad to have found you at Substack. I do not always agree with your conclusions, however, appreciate the opportunity to receive them anyway.
BTW, I laughed out loud when I first saw the cruise article. And I have to thank you for the baseball article, for two reasons: 1. I stopped watching the homerun derby years ago, for all of the reasons you stated, and was glad to see I was not alone in feeling the way I do about the HR Derby; 2. You reminded me of my Dad, who I lost many years ago, however, in his day, was a real baseball fanatic, as it sounds like you are. Those memories made me shed a tear, and for that, I am grateful.
My suggestion is you do what makes you happy, and make the best decisions you can about the topics you think are appropriate to write about. I am grateful you allow me the opportunity to continue to be a consumer of what you write.
Loved this column. I have read you for many years at both the Washington Post and CNN, primarily your political columns. I thoroughly enjoy the columns you are now writing on Substack. I would like to think that most of us are three-dimensional, and have interest other than politics. Frankly, the political climate right now is simply soul sucking and will most probably get worse in the next year and a half. So keep those columns coming on parenting, sports, travel, anything you want to write about.
One of the great writers is Tom Archdeacon of the Dayton Daily News. Some may have seen him He has a huge moustache and suspenders He is equally as good at personal interest and sports He has been doing it for 5o tears
Dear Chris, it is - as you probably know - impossible to satisfy all of us. As of now you are doing a superb job! I enjoy the mixture of your articles, and getting to know you is a great privilege. Sharing the turbulence of life is courageous but also helpful to many people. Much love from the other side of the pond:
Those folks are just trolls...it’s about them and not you. Probably jealous bc your piece on cruises was awesome!
:)
David Foster Wallace wrote the best piece on cruises called "Shipping Out": https://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/HarpersMagazine-1996-01-0007859.pdf
Substack empowers all of us to be multidimensional, regardless of where we are on the political spectrum. It is good for society to find things in common with people we disagree with, such as dislikes of cruises and enjoying parenthood while unemployed. Count me as another reader who came to challenge you on your political leanings, but enjoys your personal pieces. I mix everything together on my Substack as well.
I decided to subscribe because of the personal stuff. I think we all need breaks from the current soul sucking state of political discourse. And the better thevdiscourse is, your’s included in the better, the more depressing it can be. You’re providing a bit of an antidote with your commentary and I thank you!
I switched to a paid subscriber just for those non-political posts :-)
THANK YOU! I loved that piece!
Keep writing! Politics, sports, music, parenting, etc etc.... We are all three dimensional persons, and conversations on a variety of subjects keep us from going totally crazy with all the political news.
This week certainly has not been slow aa evidenced by Fulton County empanelling a Grand Jury for some of Trump's criminal Behavior in 2020 and and Biden's Biden's Bidenomics showing positive results, like inflation coming down now at 3% from 9.1% this time last year, stock Market doing great and unemployment also trending down. It's being a very newsy week. And yesterday , Director Ray appearing before the House committee. Also , Chris Christie just qualified for the Republican debate in August. I agree ,it shouldn't just be all Politics and Trump. Good to springle it with some Sports, Music and Movies stories every once in a while.
Chris - I hope you do not take comments like those personally - they are commenting on what you write about, and not about you. Even if they sound personal, I am sure in most cases they are not meant to be.
I sense you write for you, because the topics are things you are interested in, and because writing about them provides you with a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and if others like it and want to read what your writing, great. If they do not, they do not have to read it. If you are trying to write only to please each individual reader, my fear is you will end up pulling all of your hair out. My sense is you would be writing anyway, even if there were not a Substack or other methods of sharing what you write.
Your part of the bargain here is to create the product you want to create, and put it out for others to read. Our part of the bargain is to be a consumer of your product, as long as we want to, and if we want to, pay for the subscription; and if we do not want to consume your writing, we can go somewhere else. And as a consumer, I can choose for myself - if I like what you are writing about, I can read it; if I do not like what your writing about, I can ignore it and move on.
I am a consumer because your writing makes me think, often times adding more depth and color to those topics than I was aware of previously. It is why I consumed your writing at CNN, and am glad to have found you at Substack. I do not always agree with your conclusions, however, appreciate the opportunity to receive them anyway.
BTW, I laughed out loud when I first saw the cruise article. And I have to thank you for the baseball article, for two reasons: 1. I stopped watching the homerun derby years ago, for all of the reasons you stated, and was glad to see I was not alone in feeling the way I do about the HR Derby; 2. You reminded me of my Dad, who I lost many years ago, however, in his day, was a real baseball fanatic, as it sounds like you are. Those memories made me shed a tear, and for that, I am grateful.
My suggestion is you do what makes you happy, and make the best decisions you can about the topics you think are appropriate to write about. I am grateful you allow me the opportunity to continue to be a consumer of what you write.
Thank You!
Loved this column. I have read you for many years at both the Washington Post and CNN, primarily your political columns. I thoroughly enjoy the columns you are now writing on Substack. I would like to think that most of us are three-dimensional, and have interest other than politics. Frankly, the political climate right now is simply soul sucking and will most probably get worse in the next year and a half. So keep those columns coming on parenting, sports, travel, anything you want to write about.
I like that you cover all topics, not just politics. There are enough Substacks out there that deal exclusively with the political world/sphere.
Thanks, Ian. I am hoping people responds to me -- as opposed to just politics.
I certainly will!
I love the "other" pieces, Chris; keep 'em coming along with the political stuff. Love it when we get to hear you on Tony's show too.
Thanks, Beth!
I read your stuff and found you on the internet for your thought out opinions based on facts that you actually back up. So keep doing your thing.
Keep doing what you are doing...it's great! I look forward to your posts every day.
Yes! to you writing about a variety of topics that interest you in addition to politics.
I enjoy all your insights! You be you!!!!
One of the great writers is Tom Archdeacon of the Dayton Daily News. Some may have seen him He has a huge moustache and suspenders He is equally as good at personal interest and sports He has been doing it for 5o tears
I never saw that surname in English.
When I lived in California, I knew a couple of sisters named "Arcideacano."
Get to know YOU....65/35 split....perfect! I'm on board.