Niall Stanage, Salon: "Goodnight, good luck, & good riddance: Why I'm glad Keith Olbermann is gone"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Sunday, Jan 23, 2011 01:23 ET
War Room
Why I'm glad Keith Olbermann is gone
By Niall Stanage

http://www.salon.com/news/keith_olbermann/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/01/22/stanage_olbermann



First reactions to Olbermann’s exit have broken along lines as partisan as they were predictable. That the New York Post would respond to the news with glee and The Huffington Post with a gnashing of teeth was hardly a shock.

But back in the real world, I cannot imagine I am the only viewer who is basically simpatico with Olbermann's worldview, but who had come to find him and his show utterly insufferable. The glibness, the pomposity, the narcissism -- all these foibles had, of late, reached gut-wrenching proportions.

***

The blogosphere is already aflame with suggestions that Olbermann’s departure is linked to Comcast’s impending takeover of NBC. Maybe it is. Petitions for his reinstatement are growing as I type. Maybe they’ll be successful -- though I doubt it.

In any case, for me at least, Olbermann’s act has long been threadbare. Goodnight and good luck, Keith -- and good riddance.

Update: Olbermann has responded on Twitter by blocking me and tweeting, "Your article embarrasses you and your site."

[plumbob]

1. Niall Stanage attempting to raise his profile by attacking someone

with one?

OLD tactic. He writes long and not particularly interestingly.

Sorry, Niall, I still don't care about you....

[wtmusic]

2. agree.

Somehow Rachel is effective without the "glibness, the pomposity, the narcissism".

[msongs]

3. olbermann is an entertainer. he was a lousy sports announcer back in so cal lol nt

[Kurovski]

4. The author says would agree with Olbermann 99%, just doesn't like his style.

Many don't.

But "good riddance"? that seems a bit strong, particularly since there are enough supporters to bring him back in another venue.

A more interesting article might have been: why is Olbermann the only high-profile liberal in media today? Why do I have so few choices as compared to the Right wing?

That would have been an article, I tell you what.

[zeemike]

5. I guess that is the difference between right and left.

The left can note someone's glibness and criticize it....the right on the other hand may notice it too in their commentators.but they would NEVER criticize them in public as long as it was working for them.
I wonder how many liberal commentators that have broke with their side for such flimsy reasons are not somehow compensated for their efforts by the right.

[bemildred]

6. Dang, show biz people have big egos? Who knew?

Can a twitter war be far behind?

[Kurovski]

12. LOL

Imagine having a camera or microphone pointed at you for one, two, three hours. Most "normal" people would find it unbearable.

Yes, egos. :D

[purrFect]

7. must not have noticed that style is the only way to get noticed anymore

especially on teeVee.

he's a genius in that regard, who we are lucky to have, and his legacy which has opened doors for even more progressive commentators on the network, should not be over looked either.

he deserves a lot of recognition for that alone, and will be missed by millions.

[yurbud]

10. try blogging a thoughtful analysis and then the same thing with fewer facts and more attitude

and see which gets more hits.

[Lint Head]

8. So, I guess KO is wrong and Dick Cheney and George Bush are not war criminals.

Let just go on with our happy lives. La dee da.

[w4rma]

9. That article is worthless. There is no information value to it at all. Stanage is whiny. (nt)

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. I dont have to say good riddance to YOU, because happily I've

never heard of you before now. Enjoy your 15 seconds. Its all you'll ever get.