Air America Continues to Defile AM Radio
by Riley HunterTuesday night I lost my way on AM radio and accidentally stepped into a steaming pile of Air America. Preoccupied with traffic, my Bluetooth and a mango smoothie while driving home, I neglected to switch stations upon the conclusion of my beloved Phil Hendrie Show. I realized trouble was afoot when I heard an unfamiliar voice mutter, “From eight years of an abomination, to eight years of an Obama nation.” Oi vey.
After the requisite Obama orgasm, the voice, belonging to show host Richard Greene, explained that this show was the West Coast launch of something called Hollywood Clout, a forum for Hollywood celebrities to use their influence on the radio to “celebrate the New America” (translation: to peddle the predicable, de rigueur political agenda of mainstream Hollywood). Finally! Where has this Richard Greene, this visionary pioneer, been all this time?! At last, refuge for displaced, left-leaning celebs to speak their mind! Free at last. Free at last… and so forth. The inaugural celebrity of the inaugural West Coast show was announced as Daphne Zuniga, former Melrose Place tart and occasional Gavin Newsom plaything. I switched to sports talk.
This was Air America, or whatever carrion remains these days following the October 2006 bankruptcy filing of the leftist radio network. Like most people who were ever aware of Air America in the first place—and there weren’t many—I long ago forgot about its existence. Evidently it’s back… or it never left… or whatever. Following reorganization, downsizing and a change of ownership, from the ashes of Air America Radio has risen the glorious house fly of Air America Media. Now it’s Media, not Radio… Get it?
This second generation Air America has been moping around national airwaves for nearly two years, serving up programming piecemeal to its mish-mash of lowly, ratings-deprived affiliates (including Phil Hendrie’s new LA home, KTLK AM 1150). I gathered from my brief, unintended exposure that the network’s new, image-defining buzzword is progressive. This is not a network of bitter, enraged liberals prattling on about stolen elections and missing WMDs. This is a network of empowered, high-minded progressives prattling on about stolen elections and missing WMDs. Same pig, different lipstick.
On this night, Richard Greene wasn’t just progressive, he was giddy—giddier than even Keith Olbermann when he first heard Tim Russert was dead. For this was more than simply the launch of Hollywood Clout West, this was the beginning of a week-long pre-party leading up to the Inauguration of The Great Man, and the concurrent tacit validation of the network’s existence. The operating theory, as I gleaned from Mr. Greene, seems to be that Obama will be the defibrillator the sinking network has long sought, and Air America will ride his Apollonian coattails into relevance. With Obama finally in office, Air America can reposition itself as a community of love for Obama, instead of bile for George Bush, then reap the succulent fruit of the Obama tree. Sounds good on paper, why not? This isn’t your father’s Air America. This is Air America 2.0.
This brings me to the most interesting aspect of Air America (yes, there is one): its catastrophic failure. As far as I’m aware, an adequate, satisfying postmortem on the first incarnation of Air America has yet to be produced. How did this liberal wet dream become such a nightmare? Democrats are the ruling class of Hollywood and the mainstream media. What was so tricky about radio that they couldn’t figure out? They entered the market with a daunting war chest and a comprehensive national marketing campaign in the form of gushing, buttery media coverage, but still flamed out. Why couldn’t they simply apply all of the lessons learned over the years from selling bad movies, bad TV and bad acting into selling bad radio? Selling is selling, right? Ultimately, the product should be irrelevant. Certainly it must be more difficult to convince the moving-going public that Ben Affleck isn’t a talentless hack but a viable leading man worthy of a $14 ticket than it is to convince a radio audience that Janeane Garofalo can make you hate George Bush even more, and at no charge.
So what happened? One leading theory blames Air America’s ill-conceived top-down marketing strategy. Instead of doing the whole populist, grass-roots thing and building an audience from the ground up, Air America used its bloated coffers to ram its way into the big, coveted markets and simply assumed people would listen. A fortune was spent on market entry, but then the product—completely untested—couldn’t deliver. Air America bought the best hooker in town but forgot all about the Viagra.
Here the situation gets murky. What made the product so useless? Perhaps there never was a place for new liberal talk radio to begin with because that function was already served by NPR and complemented by the mainstream media? Maybe the Bush-bad-Bush-dumb-Bush-kill mantra 24/7 became tedious too quickly? Maybe heavy-handed urban elitism doesn’t appeal to Middle America, liberal or otherwise? Perhaps the problem was the talent chosen to deliver the message? “Uninteresting, un-engaging, whiny, shrill and didactic with little to no prior radio experience” were probably not the best job requirements in retrospect. Could the problem have been with the audience? Surely liberal listeners are too full of sunshine, rainbows and hope to sully themselves with the vitriol inherent to partisan talk radio the way conservative listeners do? Or, maybe the problem was a more practical one – a message consistently chastising corporations and the institutions of capitalism might have frightened off major advertisers, hampering the network’s long-term sustainability?
Fortunately for Air America, it may never have to figure out precisely what went wrong. The marriage of the new President to the new Congress could spawn a return to the Fairness Doctrine, sparing Air America the indignity of having to produce a desirable, market-worthy product. After all, what’s our government for if not bailing out incompetence and propping up failed business ventures at taxpayer expense?
For now, Air America will be drunk on Obama and enjoy a spiritual renaissance. Whether or not this translates into a palpably different product remains to be seen. Likewise, there is no real evidence to suggest that a shift from the “Bush lied, babies died” model to an Obama worship paradigm will prove economically effective. Despite their profound efforts to parrot conservative talk radio, liberals never understood what actually made it work. My guess is they still don’t understand. That knowledge-gap, new administration or not, will keep Air America a wretched, un-listenable mess relegated to the squalid fringe of AM radio.
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61 Comments
It is so sweet to hear you connies finally getting a dose of your own medicine. Here in KC all we have is right wing radio. From sunup to past midnight it is the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Savage, and on and on. You get a little bit of liberalism in your drive and you cry like a baby without their favorite blankie? After putting up with eight years of a failed presidency the pain you endure is nothing compared to what this nation and the world has felt. Bring on Obama!!!!!!
Jadedsage
http://www.jadedsage.com
Riley:
Excellent post. Reference your comment “Perhaps there never was a place for new liberal talk radio to begin with because that function was already served by NPR and complemented by the mainstream media?”
One of the key things I learned working in radio back in the 80’s is that people listen to radio in two places:
1.) The car,
2.) At work.
Since liberals are less likely to be employed they have less need of either of these two locations. Thus, Liberals such as Oprah seem to RULE daytime TV but those who pitch a mantra of larger social programs at the expense of those who work, suffer on the radio.
I have tried to listen to Air America and KPFK many times and could not get passed the endless one note whining – BORING!! I love hearing calm intelligent debate, which just happens to be on (gasp) conservative talk radio. Trying to get used to the idea of the coming “Fairness Doctrine” which will put an end to one of the only sources of true open mindedness.
Timely indeed. Scare America radio never worked, it won’t work, and it should be given a place in history with other liberal failures. It is not pleasant to listen to screechy whiners, who cannot articulate a way forward. The left recycles old and calls it new. Obama’s tax reform (earned income tax credit) is WELFARE. “Change you can believe in” is “Welcome back to the Clinton White House.” It’s all babble-speak, and George Orwell is spinning in his grave. Air America is another pipe dream from the left that never could work. We actually don’t like propaganda – Who could have guessed that?
Mr Hunters article was a masterpiece, it does what the
common man like myself cant do, it presents arguments to
the left that are so compelling they are hard for the
lefties to counter. I honestly tried to listen to Air
America but the hate spouting was too much. There is really no hope for America’s economic future until they
( Congress ) learn to stop spending more than they take in.National debt 11 trillion, enough said.
Check your assumptions. Aren’t Stephanie Miller, Rachel Maddow, Thom Hartmann and Ed Schultz doing just fine? I know they’re not all part of Air America, but they each have a successful liberal radio show. Liberal talk competes just fine with conservative talk in Reno.
Speaking of KPFK…I used to listen to KPFA (Berkeley) in the car just for the comic value. They used to have a movie review program delivered by a daft old Berkeley communist lady who never seemed to have seen the movies she spoke of. But best of all was the “health” program about why drinking Korean snake grass tea makes your hair fall out… apparently a wide spread problem in Berkeley.
Among Air America’s numerous problems, I think, has been one of balance. Rush and Sean, for instance, would never just accept blindly the policies of the Republican administration. On the other hand, would the Air America “personalities” veer from the viewpoint that the administration might have somehow, just maybe, gotten something right? Maybe nobody wants to hear the same song played over and over, changing only the volume and the vocalist.
Also, they had Al Franken and Janeane Garafolo, two reasonably funny performers, and they weren’t amusing. Their bigotry towards Conservatism overwhelmed their ability to be amusing. Remember Dick Gregory and Godfrey Cambridge? They could make you laugh while making their points about racial inequity and then later, you would ask yourself, “Why is this funny?” You’d re-examine your own views, maybe work towards changing yourself inside. With Air America’s celebrity voices, you might ask, “Who thinks all this hate is funny?” Well, other than AA’s dozens of listeners, that is.
If nothing else, let’s see how long it takes for Air America to turn on the new President once he starts governing from the Center. But I have no hopes to think Air America’s deejays will see that they call us “the RIGHT” for a reason.
Limbaugh is at his best when he goes after Republicans like McCain, Graham, etc. He’s far from just an echo chamber for the GOP. Air America is just 100% a Barack Obama fan club.
Air America simply hired the most obnoxious, over the top, far left wing loonies they could find. If they had put on some personalities that even remotely inspired thought provoking dialogue it might have worked.
Wish I could see a show co-hosted by Randi Rhoades and Keithy Olbermann. Man, what a cat fight would ensue. The carnage would be Armageddonish if those two thimble-brained idiots were ever unleashed on one another. MSNBC, think about the ratings bonanza. It would make Jerry Springer look like Mr. Rogers Neighborhood!
This was an excellent article on the Air America subject. I too have an obsession with mulling over AA and why it has failed consistently.
There are many correct points that all help to explain this, but to me the bottom line is, there is no hunger, no desire from the public for what AA does. For the far left, NPR and Pacifica radio fills their needs, and for the average Democrat, virtually every media outlet, with the obvious exceptions, provides this 24/7.
But for conservatives, they seek out and follow the talented conservative talk show hosts, since they have no where else to get this perspective.
Air America’s (and all left-leaning radio endeavors) problems are simple ones. Liberals would rather listen to music or NPR. If they listen to NPR, they only have to listen to commercials at the top and bottom of the hour, and during pledge drives. NPR killed Air America as much as anything else.
Riley,
You had me at “steaming pile of Air America.”
==a steaming pile of Air America. ==
That’s pretty good.
If the Fairness Doctrine gets through, Libs will interfere with, manipulate and violate the Free Sppech Rights of conservatives on their own stations.
Of course, if it works that way, it will work the other way, too, and we can mess with their flow. See how easy that will be?
It sounds like Air America did what liberals always do:
1. Come up with a theory that you know just HAS TO work.
2. Kick start it with a bunch of money.
3. Watch it fail.
4. Enjoy an non-fat soy mochachino while assessing the situation.
5. Reassure self that the initial theory, although now proven wrong, is actually correct.
6. Blame Americans for not being “ready for it.”
7. Throw more money at it.
8. Rinse… repeat…
Heh. How exactly do you *defile* AM Radio. That’s like adding stink to a pig sty. And as for the Fairness Doctrine, pay attention. President Obama is already on the record, multiple times, as opposing its return.
==…as for the Fairness Doctrine, pay attention. President Obama is already on the record, multiple times, as opposing its return.==
So what? He can change the record, particularly in view of the fact that Pelosi and Reid want it. He’s not gonna butt heads with them.
Who is Riley Hunter?
“How did this liberal wet dream become such a nightmare?”
I’ll take a stab at it. If NPR wan’t taxpayer supported do you think it would be viable? I don’t think so. The only way modern liberal ideals are sustainable is through stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. When they have to be supported by advertising and the free market, they fail. Here is a good example of that. I listen to our local college station sometimes. This DJ would rant about Bush and Iraq every time it went to any sort of “news” segment. Well, he changed his tune when he graduated and went to commercial broadcasting. Some might say he is doing the smart thing by keeping his mouth shut because it isn’t the right market for him. I say, if he really believed this garbage, he is a coward for not telling people except when he is safe in a taxpayer funded institution. Maybe he just grew up.
I stopped reading at the Keith Olberman crack. Olberman is a piece of human waste, and I have stopped watching the NFL on NBC because I refuse to let him spoil my Sunday night football, but an offhand joke about the death of Russert is the essence of low-class. It reminds me of the jokes we had to endure when Tony Snow died.
I thought the point of this site was showing that Conservative ideas were better than the Left, not that Conservatives could be just as juvenile.
==I stopped reading at the Keith Olberman crack. Olberman is a piece of human waste, and I have stopped watching the NFL on NBC because I refuse to let him spoil my Sunday night football…==
So, you won’t watch the SuperBowel on NBC.
However, I’ll tell you now what the outcome will be so you don’t have to watch: CARDINALS WIN.
There. Aren’t you glad you don’t have-ta watch now?
The left and their messages are EVERYWHERE. I can’t avoid it. If a media forum has conservative messages, the content usually involves swipes, distortions, and lies. The message is painted in a very glib or dark manner. If we don’t hurry-up and do something to counter these messages, we’re going to lose every cultural battle.
The cultural landscape is made to believe the liberals and their life philosophies are all delightful, charming, and enchanting—they cause warm fuzzy tingling sensations to run down your legs. If the world would just embrace their beliefs, everyone would live happily ever after. On the other hand, every thing republicans stand for is bad, evil, and corrupt. The left is angelic and the right is demonic.
These messages are pounded into the minds of millions of American’s daily. It doesn’t stop there; I haven’t even mentioned the public schools, colleges and universities, church leadership, etc. Think of the myriad PC commercials advertising left-wing junk. Everyone is involved.
Who is to blame for this left wing epidemic sweeping the nation? Not the democrats, it’s the republicans. The RNC wants to do play nice with the devil. It can’t happen. Dems loathe everything the reps represent. They have no qualms with reneging on agreements. They’ll sure as look us in the eye, smile, shack hands, and agree with us, only to turn the corner and do the exact opposite. Sadly, reps continue to be shocked and suffer a state of disbelief by this type of behavior. Get over it republicans! Fight the good fight and stop trying to cozy up with the political faction that despises you.
You’d think that with all the intelligent, successful, and highly accomplished republicans in the workforce, we’d never lose an election. I’m baffled by how many smart people come out of business schools with advertising, sales, and marketing degrees in hand then go to work for a company where they’re required to practice their acquired skill set, yet don’t produce conservative messages for their audience. Nearly every commercial advertisement on television or the radio has a PC message in it. Despicable!
We republicans have the same tools as the democrats, but we’ve lost our way or forgotten how to use them. Our current leadership lost its compass. Nobody is leading us through this cultural battle, but the left.
Until we learn to fight back and deliver our message effectively and continuously to the masses, we’ll never win back the majority of any government branch– at both the state and national level.
I’m heartbroken by the so-called leadership of the Republican Party. In fact, I’m beyond heartbroken, I’m angry. Let me remind you, anger usually stems from fear. I fear that the republicans have allowed the liberals to beat us down so deep into a hole, that it’s nearly impossible for us to dig ourselves out of this abyss. When I hear, fellow republicans blame the democrats my palms get sweaty. An actual republican is blaming someone else for our losses?! We’re doing the same thing they dems always do—blame others for our misery.
This mind-set and behavior will only result in more liberal leadership. Wake up and splash some cold water on your face. See the world through conservative lenses. Take accountability for your own failures, recognize it, and take the necessary steps to correct your faults. Don’t blame your neighbor. We don’t have room for crybabies and whiners. There’s no crying in politics.
The left and their messages are EVERYWHERE. I can’t avoid it. If a media forum has conservative messages, the content usually involves swipes, distortions, and lies. The message is painted in a very glib or dark manner. If we don’t hurry-up and do something to counter these messages, we’re going to lose every cultural battle.
The cultural landscape is made to believe the liberals and their life philosophies are all delightful, charming, and enchanting—they cause warm fuzzy tingling sensations to run down your legs. If the world would just embrace their beliefs, everyone would live happily ever after. On the other hand, every thing republicans stand for is bad, evil, and corrupt. The left is angelic and the right is demonic.
These messages are pounded into the minds of millions of American’s daily. It doesn’t stop there; I haven’t even mentioned the public schools, colleges and universities, church leadership, etc. Think of the myriad PC commercials advertising left-wing junk. Everyone is involved.
Who is to blame for this left wing epidemic sweeping the nation? Not the democrats, it’s the republicans. The RNC wants to do play nice with the devil. It can’t happen. Dems loathe everything the reps represent. They have no qualms with reneging on agreements. They’ll sure as look us in the eye, smile, shack hands, and agree with us, only to turn the corner and do the exact opposite. Sadly, reps continue to be shocked and suffer a state of disbelief by this type of behavior. Get over it republicans! Fight the good fight and stop trying to cozy up with the political faction that despises you.
You’d think that with all the intelligent, successful, and highly accomplished republicans in the workforce, we’d never lose an election. I’m baffled by how many smart people come out of business schools with advertising, sales, and marketing degrees in hand then go to work for a company where they’re required to practice their acquired skill set, yet don’t produce conservative messages for their audience. Nearly every commercial advertisement on television or the radio has a PC message in it. Despicable!
We republicans have the same tools as the democrats, but we’ve lost our way or forgotten how to use them. Our current leadership lost its compass. Nobody is leading us through this cultural battle, but the left.
Until we learn to fight back and deliver our message effectively and continuously to the masses, we’ll never win back the majority of any government branch– at both the state and national level.
I’m heartbroken by the so-called leadership of the Republican Party. In fact, I’m beyond heartbroken, I’m angry. Let me remind you, anger usually stems from fear. I fear that the republicans have allowed the liberals to beat us down so deep into a hole, that it’s nearly impossible for us to dig ourselves out of this abyss. When I hear, fellow republicans blame the democrats my palms get sweaty. An actual republican is blaming someone else for our losses?! We’re doing the same thing they dems always do—blame others for our misery.
This mind-set and behavior will only result in more liberal leadership. Wake up and splash some cold water on your face. See the world through conservative lenses. Take accountability for your own failures, recognize it, and take the necessary steps to correct your faults. Don’t blame your neighbor. We don’t have room for crybabies and whiners. There’s no crying in politics.
Conservatives will be taking up arms again when it comes to antiquated things, only this time it will be the FM band as HD Radio starts becoming the big thing. With each station having 4-5 subchannels, Conservative Talk will be moved to the forefront, like KTLK-FM in Minneapolis.
Republicans know how to take old systems and make them profitable again. Liberals are the ones who test out the new stuff, then dispose of it when it becomes old and antiquated. Kinda like how a cobbler turns old soles new again, while the kids throw their $150 Nikes in the garbage when the color fades.
I’ll tell you who Riley Hunter is, he’s a genius! This is the best piece I’ve ever read on this laughable subject. This will be filed in the “all time” op-ed columns folder.
Mr. Incredible said…..So, you won’t watch the SuperBowel on NBC.
However, I’ll tell you now what the outcome will be so you don’t have to watch: CARDINALS WIN.
There. Aren’t you glad you don’t have-ta watch now?
That’s what sports bars were made for.
That or I’ll just flip over to the Lingerie Bowl during half time.
Neither NPR nor Pacifica have more than 3% market penetration in any radio market. They are hardly the reason Air America was not successful.
Maybe it’s because people like me are so successful at scamming guilty white liberals’ daughters at the bars. Isn’t liberal relativism fun?!
Conservatives. Always playing the ignored, underdog victims.
Grow up, kiddies.
ED AS VIEWED BY FRED – January 19th, 2009 at 11:18 am
ED,
Dont you have to take out your OBAMANATION mat and bow down to MECKKA now? Or go whip youself or something special and precious like that?
Doesnt your OBAMA KOMUNIST KOLLECTABLE KURIO OF FUN INAUG TRIKETS NEED DUSTING?
How were the crops at the Kollective farm Kommarade? How is the selecvtive breeding going Josef? HUMMMM? How is the missus. does she still do the animal husbandry classes at the DETOIKT POLITEKNIGUe
Thanks for helping me prove my point. Crude and simplistic: looks like your specialty.
I noticed the “progressive” mantra as well. I sometimes channel surf durung Rush Limbaugh’s commercials, and if there is one word you will hear at least once a minute with these people it’s “progressive”. As though we are too stupid to not see that it’s the same crap with a different name. “liberal” has been rebranded to “progressive” in much the same way that “global warming” has been rebranded to “climate change”. It’s not about ideas with these people- it’s all about marketing. I am sure that all of the poor minority children suffering in the abominable inner city schools of Chicago, Baltimore, Philidelphia, Detroit, and New York appreciate how the “progressives” have kept them trapped there because they are opposed to vouchers, accountability, and school choice for parents. If the libs really cared about “progress”, of course they would put the welfare of the kids above that of the Teacher’s unions, but of course they dont. These so called “progressives” are , in many cases, regressive,staunch defenders of the status quo and outdated, failed socialist ideology. But hey- if you change what you call yourself, I guess that changes what you are right?
And for the record, I’m no longer “fat”, I am now “horizontally challenged”.
I listened to Al Franken a bit when Air America was on in NYC (Is it still? Who knows or cares?).
I never regarded it as anything but SNL style comedy which, I must admit, gave me a chuckle from time to time.
He had a few conservative guests and tried to engage in discussion but whenever his silly politics ran up against empirical evidence to the contrary or better informed opinions (most of the time) it quickly devolved into sarcasm and schtick.
The NYC station could never keep listeners over the course of the work day because Franken was preceded by the Chuck D. and Rachel Maddow show (both are inarticulate and boring) and followed by Randi Rhodes who was such a shrieking harpy that I rarely made it through the opening tirade.
The first iteration of the network failed partially because of financial fraud and partially because Franken (love or hate him) departed and whatever small listenership they did have, evaporated instantly.
I also forgot to mention that part of their mission was to “prove” liberals were under-served by talk radio by helping to elect John Kerry in 2004. When that failed the network deflated like a morning after party balloon.
I have had similar run-ins with this tripe-talk network when pulling a run between Phx and Denver. It is amazing how it tries to pull the same style of approach, yet the typical talk-jobs cannot refrain from their overhyped approach. Instead of having a topic, they have a method: hate. They spew this filth and all their callers are nothing more than reprogrammed tape reels (my wife and I wondered if these are the same people within the station call to make it appear real).
Once, a person called in as a “Conservative Republican” spilling their frustrations with the party. This person left the call as a committed agent to change. This was so amusing that these loons actually think they are providing a service. It reminded me of the first time my brothers and I had my father’s cassette tape recorder resulting in nothing but pure potty talk. These people must celebrate each of their days through some masturbatory glossaliac ceremony.
And they wonder why they are doing so poorly on the radio waves?
Man, I’m getting pretty tired of searching for Air America radio shows. Here in San Diego we had all of the Air America clout they can muster. Wham, they leave town. A new station starts up and an Air America local type host gets a prime time slot, Wham.. In less than a year he’s gone. Then Mexico buys a station to spew it’s socialist hate America crap on SoCal and guess what ? Ed Schults hits the top slot,,, Wham.. Three months along the way he’s he’s gone.
Where have all the Air Americas gone ? I guess their message and advertising don’t mix.
Any way Show some spine radio, support heavy metal music… stop by
Fred:
Enjoy the inauguration. Then begin therapy first thing Wednesday morning, because you write as if you are nuts.
Riley, i have been a fan of yours for the past few years…your columns never fail to amuse and inform me – in that order!
[...] mission? I thought it was to entertain. Jump to Comments So, I was reading THIS article about how Air America now parses its shows out to different radio stations, much like [...]
Please God, Andrew Schwarz and the rest of America need to realize that every plural noun in the English language does not require an apostrophe as though it was a possessive noun. The lazy abuse or outright ignorance of the English language has become so bad now that even major signs on freeways and large bold text on commercials on television are glaringly and painfully incorrect. But when even the article itself is replete with missing words and bad syntax, we are probably beyond the point of no return for understanding the mistakes we make to begin with. Good article otherwise, but too many gratuitously big words and overblown turns of phrase. Too much effort to sound clever. Better to leave that facade to the nitwits at Air America, where they go for (bad) style to cover no substance. But keep up the exposure.
The liberals don’t give a hoot about the fairness doctrine. Only dweebs listen to talk radio, and the ratings show the right wing has far many more dweebs than the left.
AM is a dead band, perfectly appropriate for a dead political movement. The Neo-Cons look to go the same way as the Whigs, the Federalists and the Tories. But it is not amazing, because the right wing fantasy goes something like this.
Start with a grain of sand. BS that grain of sand into a whole beach. Then add sun on the beach and you got any WACKO talk show radio on the dial.
It must be a horrible job to be one of those blah blah blah out of touch with reality guys. I can’t say that I hate to see your imminent demise.
==The cardinals win??? You are such a funny boy!!!!==
They said the same thing before each of the last three games.
[...] Breitbart, Riley Hunter (not to be confused with Rielle Hunter, the New Age tart John Edwards was schtupping) does a [...]
==The liberals don’t give a hoot about the fairness doctrine.==
Nice try.
In fact, the Libs want the Fairless Doctrine.
== Only dweebs listen to talk radio, and the ratings show the right wing has far many more dweebs than the left.==
More are attracted to being right and correct.
==AM is a dead band…==
Actually, it’s not.
==…the right wing fantasy goes something like this.
Start with a grain of sand. BS that grain of sand into a whole beach. Then add sun on the beach and you got any WACKO talk show radio on the dial. ==
We cannot discount the beer factor in that statement.
If anger and rage were all it takes, Air America would be No. 1 on the dial. Radio is an art, one becoming lost. I’ve talked to many friends in the media, many liberal and working in the radio business, and they admire the hell out of Rush Limbaugh simply because he’s so good at his craft.
Sure, you can throw around invective and hold phoney war trials or just bitch and moan. Relatively few people, whether on the left (AA) or right (Michael Savage) will suck that up.
AA’s problem is they think Limbaugh is all about fire and brimstone. They clearly don’t have a clue.
==If anger and rage were all it takes, Air America would be No. 1 on the dial. ==
However, they’e gonna have to find a different focus now that their guy is “da man.”
The nice thing about all this is that Libs don’t listen to Lib radio; they flock to conservative radio.
Conservatives don’t listen to Lib radio.
Regarding ratings, you do the math. With that metric, Lib radio cannot survive.
Glad to see a Phil Hendrie reference! You can get his podcast for free on itunes if you can’t hear it in your area. Not as funny as “back in the day” (can not be topped), but he’s got a good take on a lot of things.
Best conservative blame of the week –
That Hannity guy, nice looking but not much between the ears, blames environmentalists for the crash landing in the Hudson last week.
If it weren’t for environmentalists protecting birds there wouldn’t have been a crash.
=== The nice thing about all this is that Libs don’t listen to Lib radio; they flock to conservative radio. ===
You said it. Number one place for unintended humor anywhere. Even better than Fox News.
==/== The nice thing about all this is that Libs don’t listen to Lib radio; they flock to conservative radio. ===
You said it. Number one place for unintended humor anywhere. Even better than Fox News.==
It’s just part of the Lib MO to make up excuses so they can justify doing what they say they don’t wanna do.
FRED: Like ED says, enjoy the inauguration tomorrow because Tuesday morning you will start having your wallet emptied by the Obamanation so he can pay off his voting block (ie: The nonworking breeding class, the inner city breeding class, the minority breeding class, you get the idea). It’s time to “spread the wealth around” and the only people working a 40+ hour job are conservatives.
IGNATOV:
That would be Clinton & Spitzer, right?
“Progressives,” enjoy your moment. This is as good as it’s going to get. You are at your zenith. It’s all downhill from this point forward – better grow a thick skin.
TV is a visual medium. It is passive. Anyone can “veg” out in front of the TV. Talk radio is more cerebral – in order to capture and hold a listener’s attention it must appeal to the mind, i.e. through ideas. Conservative talk radio runs the gamut of topics: from news, politics, culture, history, economics, religion, etc.- as long as it’s interesting The successful talk show host must combine personality, intelligence, humor. entertainment, a wide knowledge of various subjects, great interview/debate skills. It is much harder than it seems. A big part of the appeal is the interaction between callers and host.
I think that’s why liberal talk radio cannot compete; it seems to be based on (reactionary) emotions, perpetual outrage, hatred, snarky and sarcastic humor. A steady diet of that is depressing and draining. Conservative talk radio is more reasoned, rational and far more upbeat and optimistic. I listen because I learn new things every day. Plus, it’s funny.
Conservative talk radio offers differing points of view on the right, including self-criticism. Why listen to liberal (“progressive”) talk radio such as Air America when the same message can be heard on CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, and all the rest of the MSM?
==Why listen to liberal (”progressive”) talk radio such as Air America when the same message can be heard on CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, and all the rest of the MSM?==
And THAT is the major point?
“After all, what’s our government for if not bailing out incompetence and propping up failed business ventures at taxpayer expense?” HAAA!yeah, isn’t that the American Dream? Brilliant peice of writing, Riley…I love it when you wax sardonic. But I find it interesting that no ‘Progressive’ ever explains specifically…what they are progressing towards.
==Phil Hendrie is a comedic genius.==
Well, he’s really good, but he’s not genius.
Not everybody who is funny is a genius.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kcur/guide.guid... 89.3 in KC for leftist prop if your crystal radio can get it.
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I believe the intent is to entertain while informing so we don't come off as "stodgy old conservatives". Who wants to hear philosophical preaching 24/7? (Apparently not AA non-listeners) A little dollop of infotainment won't kill you. As the movie says: "Lighten up, Francis."
If Riley "whoever' this jerk is, matter to anyone but his mother, and possibly not even her, I'd give a rat's ass what he thinks, but . . . NOT!
Your clarity of thought; lucidity of retort and unparalleled mastery of English syntax certainly leave no doubt in the reader's mind as to your credentials to critique "Riley". Thanks for sharing your views in such a professional manner-it really adds impact.
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