“But sometimes it feels like for every person who likes what I do, there are a dozen who hate me for it,” whines Jim Kramer in this week’s New York. “Mad Money has spawned legions of haters, people who write about the show and my character in really negative, sometimes pretty nasty ways. These people accuse me of being a clown or an idiot. Usually, I agree with them. When people ask for my autograph, I instantly hate myself. Half the time I don’t believe I even deserve a television show, and the other half I spend believing that no one is more deserving of a show.”

As you know about Jim, he’s a fella with a lot to say. In addition to his CNBC “booyah-ing” thrice daily and managing TheStreet.com, Jim also writes a regular finance column for Adam Moss’ weekly rag. Somehow, this week, they also gave him the cover.

It’s a worthwhile read, in fact, but probably only if you’re interested in media and money. (And if you aren’t, get the hell off this site).

Cramer explains his process (it’s not too well formed, we gathered), his secret weapon (his witty nephew), and his qualifications to dish out stock advice (he made himself rich off the advice he preaches; ‘nough said). He also, knowingly, solicits the very criticism he claims not to understand.

Says Kramer:

No one with a television show who attacks people and companies as relentlessly as I do has any right to complain about this, but don’t you think the whole thing is a little strange? Why do people care so much about this Cramer bozo? Why do so many people seem to enjoy watching me act like a lunatic on television, and what the heck are so many young people doing watching a 52-year-old man talk about stocks? I’m not cool or charismatic, but those auditoriums full of college students all chant “Booyah” and scream when I make my big entrance. This cannot be just because I make people money, or because I talk about Shakira on the show sometimes. Something bigger is going on.

“Something bigger,” according to Kramer, has to do with Americans’ feelings toward the stock market, and how they get their news. That, or all those noisemakers he’s always using. And the constant glow of sweat.

Related Stories

• Kelly Osbourne Has Morals
• Battlestar Galactica Coming to a Close
• Breaking: Donald Trump Is A Fame Whore
• Does “Entourage” Need Expanding?
• OCD TV- ‘Little People, Big World’
• OCD TV: “So You Think You Can Dance”
• Drew Carey To Oversee Plinko And Showcase Showdown
• JUST ASKING
• Play Nice: A Note To Our Beloved Readers
• Hair Product Addict To Take Daughter Pimping To Television