Written by Diane Straub   

We all know the story and I needn't repeat it. The hasty departure, the terse false sounding explanation, the quick reworking of a network line-up, the hiring, the shuffling, the covering up. You can almost imagine being in that board room "If we pull the band aid off quickly - it won't sting as much." "Don't give the viewers a chance to start writing all those damn letters and emails again." "They'll hardly notice - "

Well, I for one noticed. Sorry MSNBC execs - you never got it did you? You, the bean counters, the paper pushers, the suits. You could just as easily run a 24 hour Sarah Palin network if the business case supported it. You're in it for the ratings and the money, you really could care less about the format or the message. We get that - you are corporate media. You probably flog each other every day that you didn't conceive of Fox News before Ailes and Murdock. Now THAT is a cash cow with golden milk isn't it?

Naw, you jokers are just stuck with us. The liberals, the progressives. We aren't quite the captive audience that the Fox Sheeple seem to be, right? We like to get our information, views and opinions from multiple sources - most of us even like to read - books and Kindles, Internet stories, newspapers, magazines, hell, even graffiti. We watch multiple channels, NPR, network, cable and foreign channels. We are not beyond tuning into that other station to see what's up with the righties - sometimes it's better to get it from the horses mouth or whatever part of the horse is talking that particular day.

Keith was your marquee guy. His Countdown show had everything worth tuning in for. It was a nice format - pick five stories and hone it down for us. We're a busy lot and it's nice that Keith and his staff did a lot of the work for us. There were other things like "World's Worst" (you probably were happy to never see yourselves there) and "Oddball" that mixed it all up nicely and made for a must-see hour of TV. You have a lot of talent on your station, Ed, Rachel, Lawrence, Chris but Keith was the centerpiece, the star on top of the Christmas Tree, the eye of the storm, the anchor of the ship. Without him, it's no longer must-see TV but if I have the time TV.

We love the theater that is Keith. Here is a guy who doesn't mind wrestling with his demons in public, on the air. He admitted to being a flawed guy, even if he could come off on the pretentious side. That was the fun, he struggled with all those facets of his personality and we got to watch. He let you know how tormented he was by the plight of the poor, the powerless, the disenfranchised. He let you know when he was angry, and these became his finest moments - his special comments.

Keith brought to light so many issues that we need to address as a nation and he did it while introducing us personally to the faces of those issues. Whether it was the uninsured, the homeless, the family who lost their home in a fire that they wouldn't put out, the people being denied transplants, those who are facing long-term unemployment and foreclosure, the gay and lesbians being denied their rights or those suffering from the legacy of racism - he brought them all forward. He stated their case eloquently in his erudite manner but the point was always well taken by his viewers.

His viewers responded with generosity, caring and outrage when necessary. It's what us bleeding hearts do - we bleed on cue or so I've been told. Keith made it fashionable to be a liberal and a progressive again. He took the slings and arrows from the network whose name we dare not speak and he did it with the strength of a superhero. So, often when Palin or Bachmann or Limbaugh would say something egregiously outrageous, I couldn't wait to see how Keith would have a good laugh at their expense and put everything back in perspective - "see, consider the source". Keith wasn't afraid to call out the ridiculous idea that the violent rhetoric in the media was as much a problem on the left as the right. He sniffed and guffawed at this, as he should have. He admitted any culpability he might have had (as minor as any could be) and he apologized and corrected for it. The righties did no such thing. They whined, and played the victim and pointed the finger. So much for fair and balanced.

This network is now proving itself to be what we always feared. It is becoming the poster child of corporate media. It doesn't matter what the viewers want, nobody better ruffle the tails of the corporate establishment. It makes us all wonder who will be next. It goes against the grain of any progressive pundit to watch their words carefully lest they offend. This doesn't seem to be a problem for the network we dare not name or the 90-some percent of radio talkers - they offend with abandon and get rewarded by increased ratings. But, they are singing a tune that is appreciated by those in board rooms and the plush offices with the swivel chairs who run the media these days.

We will miss the voice of Keith Olbermann for many reasons. Some have to do with him as a person, some with what he stands for and symbolizes. Many people do not get MSNBC as part of their basic cable package but they do get that other network. Now, MSNBC is making decisions that will only serve to narrow the gap between them and the Faux noise machine. I will still watch the others on MSNBC - they are all good. But, something has been drained from that network, something unique, fun and important. It leaves a bad taste in this viewers mouth and I certainly won't watch as often or with the enthusiasm I had in the past.