Readers have voiced their opinions about this here and here.
At the end of Monday's program, Alan briefly explained his decision, and had a very charming exchange with his longtime co-host Sean Hannity (video embedded below the fold courtesy our dear friend Johnny Dollar):
COLMES: Finally tonight, it seems the word "change" is being used quite a lot these days. And at the risk of stealing President-elect Obama's buzzword, change is coming to this show.
My friend Sean and I -- that's you -- have been sitting next to each other for more than 10 years, five of them at No. 1, thanks to you. Recently, I started thinking about new and challenging ways to contribute to the growth of the network, so in the next few weeks, I will be stepping away from this desk.
(EXCLAMATIONS FROM CREW)
COLMES: Hold it, hold it. Now, unfortunately for some of you, I'm not leaving the FOX News Channel -- sorry. You can continue to hear all my liberal views night on my radio show, syndicated by FOX News Talk or on my Web site, Alan.com. And I'll be shooting a pilot or two. Maybe I'll call one of them "Alan's America." You like that?
HANNITY: I like that. That's funny.
COLMES: All right. Well, I am -- I just want to say I'm proud of the FOX News Channel. Thank you to the folks who run the joint. I'm proud -- as you know, we work for great management. They've always been terrific to both of us, to this show and to me personally. And you and I remain somehow unharmed by sitting side by side for so many years.
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: First, you get a Democratic Congress, and a Democratic president.
COLMES: Right.
HANNITY: And then you -- you leave it to -- you abandon me?
COLMES: Sean -- Sean, four words. My work is done.
HANNITY: Rub it in. Well, I want to say that this -- we are friends on and off the air.
COLMES: That's right. People don't believe that, but it's true.
HANNITY: People don't believe it, and it's true. And it's been a phenomenal 12 years with you. And I can't believe you're doing this to me. You're leaving Barack Obama with me.
COLMES: Lots of luck. Good luck.
HANNITY: All right. We'll talk more about it. But that's not happening any time.
