NationStates Jolt Archive

Apparently Al Franken's and Janeane Garofalo's new talk-radio project is in trouble, as the following shows:

"CHICAGO, April 14 (UPI) -- Air America, the new liberal talk-radio network that premiered in six cities two weeks ago, was off the air in Chicago and Los Angeles Wednesday.
Air America programming featuring comedian Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo was pulled by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Inc., which owns WNTD-950 AM in Chicago and KBLA-1580 AM in Los Angeles, after a check bounced, the Chicago Tribune said.
MRB owner Arthur Liu said an Air America check bounced and they are in default owing more than $1 million. The Chicago and Los Angeles stations substituted Spanish language talk-radio programming."

Is anyone really surprised? Other media reports show that hardly anyone is tuning in to the new network, or at least not in enough numbers to attract paid advertising.

When liberalism is pushed by 90% of the media anyway, why would anyone want a liberal talk-radio network? The whole point of conservative talk-radio was to counter the insidious bias of the liberal mainstream media.

Hopefully, Franken's monster will soon be off the air entirely and will cost its liberal donors huge amounts of money. Now, wouldn't that be good.

From your name, I take it you're into Aryan supremacy?

From your name, I take it you're into Aryan supremacy?


Quite how a pre-1918 flag and a name which means "North Land" marks me out for that is in question. There and again, left-wing bigots always like to tarnish anyone who disagrees with them with the aryan/nazi/fascist insult. You and Al Franken have a lot in common.

no doubt its just a form of economic terrorism by rightwing vermin terrified of having truth on the airwaves

Yes, Air-America flopped, prolly because no one is really interested in liberal radio. But I don't know how you say 90% of the media is liberal, I'll give you CNN and thats about it. Ad hominin arguments aren't really good debate styles, you might want to drop that. Oh, and as a parting shot, 5 bucks you like fox news and consider it the only true news source. If you don't I'll be suprised. Look up the facts before you make insurections.

Apparently Al Franken's and Janeane Garofalo's new talk-radio project is in trouble, as the following shows:

"CHICAGO, April 14 (UPI) -- Air America, the new liberal talk-radio network that premiered in six cities two weeks ago, was off the air in Chicago and Los Angeles Wednesday.
Air America programming featuring comedian Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo was pulled by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Inc., which owns WNTD-950 AM in Chicago and KBLA-1580 AM in Los Angeles, after a check bounced, the Chicago Tribune said.
MRB owner Arthur Liu said an Air America check bounced and they are in default owing more than $1 million. The Chicago and Los Angeles stations substituted Spanish language talk-radio programming."

Is anyone really surprised? Other media reports show that hardly anyone is tuning in to the new network, or at least not in enough numbers to attract paid advertising.

Actually, it is literally impossible in every way to track how many people are tuning in through car or stereo radios. I have several family members who have worked in TV and Radio for decades.

Secondly, anyone with the right program and a knowledge of code can check how many people have been listening online through streaming audio, and since it's premiere the station has had over 2 million unique listeners who have listened on average for 30-50 minutes.

When liberalism is pushed by 90% of the media anyway, why would anyone want a liberal talk-radio network? The whole point of conservative talk-radio was to counter the insidious bias of the liberal mainstream media.

Hopefully, Franken's monster will soon be off the air entirely and will cost its liberal donors huge amounts of money. Now, wouldn't that be good.

90% of the media? Like who? CNN? FOX? CBS? They're the biggest news networks in the country and they're sickeningly pro government. They're always pro govt. and always have been. The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

I listened to it, for a couple of hours today. It's the usual anti-Bush stuff you can pick up on tv or in the NY Times or anywhere else. There's nothing new there at all, just stale liberalism. I give it a couple of months, unless the left continues to subsidize it.

I will agree with that. It's nothing super-compelling. But i tune into Franken's show because he is a political satirist, and is a very humorous guy.

Yes, Air-America flopped, prolly because no one is really interested in liberal radio. But I don't know how you say 90% of the media is liberal, I'll give you CNN and thats about it. Ad hominin arguments aren't really good debate styles, you might want to drop that. Oh, and as a parting shot, 5 bucks you like fox news and consider it the only true news source. If you don't I'll be suprised. Look up the facts before you make insurections.

its a little early to say it flopped since its only been on the air for a month so far--when the corporate beast sponsores rightwing liars like Bill O'Lielly they give them tons of money and unlimited time to build a listener base

From your name, I take it you're into Aryan supremacy?


Quite how a pre-1918 flag and a name which means "North Land" marks me out for that is in question. There and again, left-wing bigots always like to tarnish anyone who disagrees with them with the aryan/nazi/fascist insult. You and Al Franken have a lot in common.

I was actually basing my assumption upon the name "Nord Land", since many Nazi (note that Nazism and fascism are not the same thing) nations try to emphasize "Nordic" and all that in their names. My apologies if I caused any offence.
And I dislike Al Franken, by the way.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Quite the idiot, aren't you?

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

the myth of the "liberal media" was started by rightwing nazis who used it to hijack the media and use it to spread their pro-corporate and anti-human lies on it--thats why the people thirst for shows like air america as the antidote

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Pfft. Politics in America are like this

PERSON 1: I feel the puppet on the right shares my beliefs

PERSON 2: I feel the puppet on the "left" shares my beliefs

Hey! There's one guy holding up both puppets!

Every 4 years it's just garbage in, garbage out. This is probably the first time in a long time an election and a difference of what party is in will make a real difference (only because of the war and post 9/11 effects).

The major networks like CNN are mere years from being fully privatized. That means a lot more money for them. Who can stop them? Only the FCC, headed by Michael K Powell son of Colin Powell who was APPOINTED as such by the government.

Mainstream media is a whore for whatever party is in office. Look at the Waco incidents. They specifically helped the ATF deny that the bradley tanks shot fire, yet if you looked or watched public access you could see TAPED FOOTAGE of the tanks doing just that. That's a great example.

I'm no Pro Bush guy, but when it comes to the media, the bias comes from what party is in power, and frankly there isn't a HUGE difference.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Quite the idiot, aren't you?

Well, I'd rather be an idiot than a paranoid left-wing nut like this Tayricht character. The things he writes are way out there on the far-left fringe.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Quite the idiot, aren't you?

Well, I'd rather be an idiot than a paranoid left-wing nut like this Tayricht character. The things he writes are way out there on the far-left fringe.

He's actually quite moderate compared to many people I know.

And you'd rather be stupid than have any sort of independent political thought. Pangs of rightism.

Well, I'd rather be an idiot than a paranoid left-wing nut like this Tayricht character. The things he writes are way out there on the far-left fringe.

Funny that i actually argue my side with valid if debatable points and you just dismiss me as radical with no good debate hey? No, not funny. Predictable.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Pfft. Politics in America are like this

PERSON 1: I feel the puppet on the right shares my beliefs

PERSON 2: I feel the puppet on the "left" shares my beliefs

Hey! There's one guy holding up both puppets!

Every 4 years it's just garbage in, garbage out. This is probably the first time in a long time an election and a difference of what party is in will make a real difference (only because of the war and post 9/11 effects).

The major networks like CNN are mere years from being fully privatized. That means a lot more money for them. Who can stop them? Only the FCC, headed by Michael K Powell son of Colin Powell who was APPOINTED as such by the government.

Mainstream media is a whore for whatever party is in office. Look at the Waco incidents. They specifically helped the ATF deny that the bradley tanks shot fire, yet if you looked or watched public access you could see TAPED FOOTAGE of the tanks doing just that. That's a great example.

I'm no Pro Bush guy, but when it comes to the media, the bias comes from what party is in power, and frankly there isn't a HUGE difference.

actually the media has a republican bias

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Pfft. Politics in America are like this

PERSON 1: I feel the puppet on the right shares my beliefs

PERSON 2: I feel the puppet on the "left" shares my beliefs

Hey! There's one guy holding up both puppets!

Every 4 years it's just garbage in, garbage out. This is probably the first time in a long time an election and a difference of what party is in will make a real difference (only because of the war and post 9/11 effects).

The major networks like CNN are mere years from being fully privatized. That means a lot more money for them. Who can stop them? Only the FCC, headed by Michael K Powell son of Colin Powell who was APPOINTED as such by the government.

Mainstream media is a whore for whatever party is in office. Look at the Waco incidents. They specifically helped the ATF deny that the bradley tanks shot fire, yet if you looked or watched public access you could see TAPED FOOTAGE of the tanks doing just that. That's a great example.

I'm no Pro Bush guy, but when it comes to the media, the bias comes from what party is in power, and frankly there isn't a HUGE difference.

actually the media has a republican bias


HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have got to be kidding! The media has a Liberal bias.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

Quite the idiot, aren't you?

Well, I'd rather be an idiot than a paranoid left-wing nut like this Tayricht character. The things he writes are way out there on the far-left fringe.

He's actually quite moderate compared to many people I know.

And you'd rather be stupid than have any sort of independent political thought. Pangs of rightism.

Hmmm... you accuse nord land of being a nazi because of the name but I see you have a communist flag. Is this just idealized communism for the sake of the game or do you have real communist sympathies? I know lots of leftists routinely excuse mass-murder when it's done in a good cause, i.e. by communists.

Anyway, I'd like to know, because the idea of having to seriously debate with someone who believes in a philosophy that has killed millions of people is rather repellent, you know?

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:
Not all liberals are this delusional, just the ones that breath oxygen.

Well, I'd rather be an idiot than a paranoid left-wing nut like this Tayricht character. The things he writes are way out there on the far-left fringe.

Funny that i actually argue my side with valid if debatable points and you just dismiss me as radical with no good debate hey? No, not funny. Predictable.Is calling everyone who disagrees with you and "idiot" or a "moron", your idea of valid points?

Liberals are like conservatives, they spend too much damn money.

Is there any redeeming value to this thread? Any? I mean, the other one on this subject sparked a little meaningful debate last night, but this one is nothing but flame throwing.

Nope, its all become a flaming contest now.

"You stupid neo-con idiot with basless claims, its all the media's fault isn't it?"

"Go hug a tree you communist hippy! It can be blamed on bill clinton and the liberal media."

and so on and so forth. . . .


*Puts on flame helmet*

When liberalism is pushed by 90% of the media anyway, why would anyone want a liberal talk-radio network? The whole point of conservative talk-radio was to counter the insidious bias of the liberal mainstream media.

:roll:

Uh huh. No reliable study has ever found a bias in either direction for the media (except, of course, those analyzing Fox News). However, it's good enough for some people if Hannity and Limbaugh say it enough. This is the real purpose of these neoconservative talk shows - to reaffirm their listeners' beliefs by truth-through-repetition and reinforce their self-righteousness.

sits back and waits for screams of "dirty Librul!"

Hopefully, Franken's monster will soon be off the air entirely and will cost its liberal donors huge amounts of money. Now, wouldn't that be good.

Yeah, we need to get those alternative viewpoints off the air once and for all!

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have got to be kidding! The media has a Liberal bias.

Uh huh, prove it. Show me numbers, rather than yet another one-or-two-line reply with no factual basis. I'll wait.

Is there any redeeming value to this thread? Any? I mean, the other one on this subject sparked a little meaningful debate last night, but this one is nothing but flame throwing.

And certainly it will only get worse - but what do you expect from yet another partisan thread?

"[political group] sucks! Ha!"

"No, [political group] sucks! Ha ha!"

"I am self-rightous in my indignation at your comments! ARGH!"

"And I, yours! ARGH!"

"ARGH!"

"ARGH!"

etc.

air america is like a breath of fresh air in a media wilderness dominated by rightwing lies for the establishment

Long Live Pacifica!

Long Live Pacifica!

Democracy Now is their best show as well as their news--but theres alot of nonpolitical airtime that gets wasted on pacifica and I wish theyd become more political like air america and drop the cultural crap which is mind numbingly boring

Mainstream media is a whore for whatever party is in office. Look at the Waco incidents. They specifically helped the ATF deny that the bradley tanks shot fire, yet if you looked or watched public access you could see TAPED FOOTAGE of the tanks doing just that. That's a great example.

I'm no Pro Bush guy, but when it comes to the media, the bias comes from what party is in power, and frankly there isn't a HUGE difference.

Exactly... the media is pro-establishment every time!

Think of them as the propaganda wing for the military/industrial complex.
ABCBSmsNBCNN-AOLTIMEWARNERFOXNEWSREUTERS is a collection of interconnected trillon-dollar companies...

Notice how over 10% of all senators are demanding to know why "civilian contractors" are conducting "special operations" in Iraq and are telling Rumsfeld that they are fearing the growth of "private militaries that operate outside of the government" and the News media buries the story?

Then, I put it on Fox and who do I see but Oliver (Iran/Contra) North:
"The insergents have a very minimal presence, everything is under control -- the media is blowing this out of porportion"

(But the fact remains that several key cities are no longer under Coalition control, and that this month carried the highest casulty rates since the "end" of the war)

and I flash back to Baghdad Bob:
"There are no Americans here, the Royal Guard has everything under control"

First the resistance was dead-enders or Baa'thist loyalist, then they were being financed by an underground system linked to Saddam, then they were foreign instigators, then they just a few isolated incidents... and I can't even count the number of times the talking-heads of the media have told me that, "the media is just focusing on the negative, the majority of Iraq is peacful -- good progress is being made!"

The media is trying to create the appearance of a media bias to cover another bias... the end effect is a people starving for a bias!! A pro-establishment bias is far more sinister than any other...

I don't know who is worse, you liberals or you democrats. :roll:

Since no one has mentioned it on this thread yet, I should point out that the original point is in fact incorrect. Turns out that the guy Air America was leasing airtime from was cheating them and they stopped payment on a check and then sued him. They'll be back on in Chicago soon if they aren't already and they're still working the legal options in L.A.

Now, back to the flame fest.

I don't know who is worse, you liberals or you democrats. :roll:

Expanding governments, distruction of the middle class, compulsory volunteerism for the state, federalizing the National Guard, increased surveillance of the populace -- these are the hallmarks of Sovietism and is shared by the Neo-Cons in charge... the conspiracy goes beyond the party lines.

Why is the destruction of the Middle classes so bad, out of interest? I'm genuinely interested to know what you think on this..

Why is the destruction of the Middle classes so bad, out of interest? I'm genuinely interested to know what you think on this..

The Middle class is foundation of America and our Democratic-Republic...

The Hallmark of the Middle-class is general commoradery and mutual respect for individuality -- it typifies the American Spirit, it cultivates the American Dream of prosperity and it tempers our society...

Without the Middle class a civilization ceases to flourish and returns to a despotic state of feudalism...

(all great inventions are made by members of the Middle class)

I'm with Tex on this one--if you want social, political, and economic security, the best way to accomplish that is to have a flourishing middle class. The wider the divide between rich and poor gets, the more likely someone without economic advantage is going to be to turn to violence as a means of making advances. This can be in the form of political violence or criminal activity, but either way, you have violence and violence is a detriment to a secure society. That's part of the reason that any time the divide between rich and poor has gotten too wide--throughout history and across cultures--there's always some sort of violent revolution. They have various outcomes--everything from violent overthrow to a brokered peace to ruthless suppression--but in the end, the society is generally weaker for the near term and the powerful end up relinquishing some of their power in return for security and a middle class appears. Funny how that works, huh.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though.

The Liberal Media Myth came from when they sucked up to Clinton, and now they're sucking up to Bush, because quite simply, the government control of the news networks through the FCC. So technically it is now a Conservative Bias. Also: The Democrats are moderates, not leftists. If you actually believe they are left go buy yourself a flag with a swastika.

Or at least declare your intention to keep all women in the home where they "belong."

By the way, Katherine Lanpher co-hosts the show moron.

And finally, you're calling Al Franken a "liberal monster" but calling people here bigots? And supporting right wingers like Limbaugh who have openly made racist comments? Boy oh boy you must love Bush.

Are liberals all quite as hysterical and delusional as this, or did this guy forget to take his meds today? You're good for a laugh though. :lol:

the myth of the "liberal media" was started by rightwing nazis who used it to hijack the media and use it to spread their pro-corporate and anti-human lies on it--thats why the people thirst for shows like air america as the antidote

Where do you get this stuff from? :roll:

Apparently Al Franken's and Janeane Garofalo's new talk-radio project is in trouble

[url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4749010/]Clicky[/quote]

So much for your Viewpoint.

Apparently Al Franken's and Janeane Garofalo's new talk-radio project is in trouble

Clicky (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4749010/)

So much for your viewpoint

Why is the destruction of the Middle classes so bad, out of interest? I'm genuinely interested to know what you think on this..

because if the republicans are successful in destroying the middle class then the entire concept of America will be destroyed

Why is the destruction of the Middle classes so bad, out of interest? I'm genuinely interested to know what you think on this..

because if the republicans are successful in destroying the middle class then the entire concept of America will be destroyed

Maybe I can attempt to bring this thread back to topic, after a week involved in some serious capitalism.

Why is Air America paying stations to carry its programming? Ask any programming director at your local radio station (if they carry syndicated programming, of course.) Normally, the stations pay the distributor for the right to broadcast a syndicated show, be it Mr Limbaugh's, Mr Medved's, Mr Reagan's, Ms Komando (the digital goddess herself), Mr Savage's, Mr Hannity's, etc. Like I said, NORMALLY that is what happens. After all, that is how the syndicators make their money, and how they pay the talent (I am sure you are aware of Mr Limbaugh's mammoth $270 million contract.) If a syndicator like Air America is paying stations, that tells you something is wrong...and they did take a long time from their initial announcement to actually going on the air.

Now, all indications I have received from my colleagues in cities where Air America is on the air (or was on the air,) (or has been forced back on air by judicial fiat,) tell me that, on average, 30 to 50 minutes is how long they (my colleagues) can tolerate the shows...that seems to confirm the earlier post I saw here indicating people tend to listen to web streams for 30-50 minutes. According to my sources(and my upcoming trip to Southern California will give me a chance to confirm or debunk the claims,) the shows are simply repetitive litanies of "we hate Bush", "Bush is evil", and the ever-favorite "Bush is stupid." Jonah Goldberg has more on the "material" from Air America on this column. (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jonahgoldberg/jg20040416.shtml)

So, again, bringing the topic back to the forefront, while putting on my asbestos suit (always have to protect against flames, you know,) why is Air America paying stations to carry its programming? If there was really such high demand, wouldn't stations be paying Air America for the programming?

On 2 separate notes:

- Sup Blarg?

- Any Clone out there can tell me who won the Jim Rome Smackoff today?? I got to listen to a few calls while in traffic to the airport in the Rent-a-Wreck, but didn't get to listen to who won. :(

*whispers to self, maybe it's all just a right-wing conspiracy to keep the truth off the air* :D

I have no idea why air america was paying to get put on the air. Maybe there wasn't enough demand, maybe they took a risk to push themselves and it didn't pay off. The problem I saw with air america was that it was basically a collection of people who are very very far left wing (like myself) but they don't put organized fronts of election issues up front. Now, from what I've heard (from other people, I don't get it here and for some reason the streaming audio doesn't work) they also don't rant on idiotic things such as why gays are bad for society. Anyway, I need to check further into it.

Hey Pan.

The difference, Panny, is that this is a startup and thus has to prove itself as a broadcast able to bring in ratings. Once that happens, then the financial situation will change, and there are signs that it's already starting to happen, as they've moved from 6 stations to 16 in just 2 weeks.

Honestly, I'm not surprised that your colleagues can't listen to more than 30-50 minutes of Air America programming--I can't listen to a tenth of that much of any of the right-wingers. On a good day, when he's especially loaded, I can listen to a half-hour of El Rushbo, but when you get down into the dreck if Savage, Hannity, Liddy or Ollie North, then I'm good for about 3 minutes at best. That's when my ears start bleeding.

I have no doubt that to a person who automatically disagrees with anything the opposition has to say, Air America will sound like a litany of "We hate Bush." It isn't, but if you're coming to it with that attitude, that's what you're going to hear. All I can say is that it's not that--there are plenty of targets for the hosts, and the corporate media is one of the biggest.

The difference, Panny, is that this is a startup and thus has to prove itself as a broadcast able to bring in ratings. Once that happens, then the financial situation will change, and there are signs that it's already starting to happen, as they've moved from 6 stations to 16 in just 2 weeks.

My turn...link to prove it. And, when they pass 100 stations, then we can talk about it bringing in ratings.

Honestly, I'm not surprised that your colleagues can't listen to more than 30-50 minutes of Air America programming--I can't listen to a tenth of that much of any of the right-wingers. On a good day, when he's especially loaded, I can listen to a half-hour of El Rushbo, but when you get down into the dreck if Savage, Hannity, Liddy or Ollie North, then I'm good for about 3 minutes at best. That's when my ears start bleeding.

So much for being "open-minded." At least us in the Right aren't just giving the leftist drivel a chance, but many of us actually hope Err America succeeds. Not that we think it will, but we would like to see if it can make it.

I have no doubt that to a person who automatically disagrees with anything the opposition has to say, Air America will sound like a litany of "We hate Bush." It isn't, but if you're coming to it with that attitude, that's what you're going to hear. All I can say is that it's not that--there are plenty of targets for the hosts, and the corporate media is one of the biggest.

The problem with that statement...it isn't just me who is saying so, and it isn't just conservatives who are saying that Err America is a "we hate Bush" litany. Leftists (the primary target audience,) are saying it too! Just the same way that the Savage show can get old really quickly (and it does...I usually listen, just to see if I can make it to his next outburst), Al Franken can only be taken in small doses, if at all. Maybe that is why he has to have a handler when he is on air.

Apparently Al Franken's and Janeane Garofalo's new talk-radio project is in trouble, as the following shows:

"CHICAGO, April 14 (UPI) -- Air America, the new liberal talk-radio network that premiered in six cities two weeks ago, was off the air in Chicago and Los Angeles Wednesday.
Air America programming featuring comedian Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo was pulled by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Inc., which owns WNTD-950 AM in Chicago and KBLA-1580 AM in Los Angeles, after a check bounced, the Chicago Tribune said.
MRB owner Arthur Liu said an Air America check bounced and they are in default owing more than $1 million. The Chicago and Los Angeles stations substituted Spanish language talk-radio programming."

Is anyone really surprised? Other media reports show that hardly anyone is tuning in to the new network, or at least not in enough numbers to attract paid advertising.

When liberalism is pushed by 90% of the media anyway, why would anyone want a liberal talk-radio network? The whole point of conservative talk-radio was to counter the insidious bias of the liberal mainstream media.

Hopefully, Franken's monster will soon be off the air entirely and will cost its liberal donors huge amounts of money. Now, wouldn't that be good.
yep, it amazes me that if the media was so damn liberal it would be reporting that air america is growing fast! Really fast! They are about to add about 10 new stations, isn't that great! The liberal media should be loving that, guess not. Oh by the way I am an Air America Junkie

You wanted proof, Panny, you got it. (http://www.airamericaradio.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=resPressRelease&htmlId=717) And that press release doesn't include WHCL in Chapel Hill, SC (http://www.airamericaradio.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=resPressRelease&htmlId=720) who just joined.

As far as your claim that I'm not open minded, that's mistaken. I can't listen to Limbaugh, et al, because I get so pissed at the misstatements and outright lies that I go into a rage. That's bad for my health. I look at the transcripts instead, or even better, I go to the original news sources and stay away from the spin doctors as much as possible.

And Franken has a co-host mainly because he's not an experiences broadcaster and Lanpher is. Franken would be a disaster on his own, but he's getting better thanks to having Lanpher there to keep him focused and on track. And I don't seem to have any problem with listening to 3 hours of the O'Franken Factor mainly because it's not just a litany of "I hate Bush." They have good guests on for interviews and interesting segments. Hell, they're having John McCain on next week--that should be very good, and since McCain is still supporting Bush in the 2004 campaign, there won't be too much bashing going on, I would imagine.

You wanted proof, Panny, you got it. (http://www.airamericaradio.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=resPressRelease&htmlId=717) And that press release doesn't include WHCL in Chapel Hill, SC (http://www.airamericaradio.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=resPressRelease&htmlId=720) who just joined.

As far as your claim that I'm not open minded, that's mistaken. I can't listen to Limbaugh, et al, because I get so pissed at the misstatements and outright lies that I go into a rage. That's bad for my health. I look at the transcripts instead, or even better, I go to the original news sources and stay away from the spin doctors as much as possible.

And Franken has a co-host mainly because he's not an experiences broadcaster and Lanpher is. Franken would be a disaster on his own, but he's getting better thanks to having Lanpher there to keep him focused and on track. And I don't seem to have any problem with listening to 3 hours of the O'Franken Factor mainly because it's not just a litany of "I hate Bush." They have good guests on for interviews and interesting segments. Hell, they're having John McCain on next week--that should be very good, and since McCain is still supporting Bush in the 2004 campaign, there won't be too much bashing going on, I would imagine.

I will be more impressed when the lineup includes more "Flyover Country" stations. And, once the stations pay Err America, and not the other way around. No station has to be paid (or has at any point been paid) to carry Rush, or Hannity, or Boortz or even Savage. Stations spend lots of money getting that programming.

I stand by my statement about your lack of open-mindedness. If Err America aired here in my area, I would listen to it, even though I know full-well I would spend the time yelling or laughing at the radio. Even when John Francois Kerry is on the TV, I listen to what he has to say...reading the transcripts tends to lose the non-verbal hints about Kerry's lies.

As for McCain being a guest on Err America...of course they won't bash him; they want him to finally close the deal and cross the aisle to the left side. Of course he won't do that, since he knows he would lose his Senate seat on the very next election (if he runs.)

But back to the point I started with...why is a network paying stations to carry its programming? And, how can Err America afford to pay for airtime on 16 stations, if they're bouncing checks to 2 of the original 6?

Also...Err America engaging in name-calling? C'mon...is this grade school, or political radio?

Look up the facts before you make insurections.

An "insurrection" is a rebellion against a government or organization. And it's got two Rs.

Look up the definitions before you type a word with more than two syllables ;)

I will be more impressed when the lineup includes more "Flyover Country" stations. And, once the stations pay Err America, and not the other way around. No station has to be paid (or has at any point been paid) to carry Rush, or Hannity, or Boortz or even Savage. Stations spend lots of money getting that programming.
I'm sure Air America is horribly hurt that you aren't impressed yet. It's got to be tearing them up inside.

But in all seriousness, the problem is that you don't understand what Air America is trying to do. They don't want to syndicate their network, like Limbaugh and the others do. They want to own the stations It takes longer that way, and has far greater startup costs, but in the end it provides greater control of the product and the long term benefits outweigh the original costs.

I stand by my statement about your lack of open-mindedness. If Err America aired here in my area, I would listen to it, even though I know full-well I would spend the time yelling or laughing at the radio. Even when John Francois Kerry is on the TV, I listen to what he has to say...reading the transcripts tends to lose the non-verbal hints about Kerry's lies.
You don't understand what open-mindedness entails. I can read The Turner Diaries with an open mind and yet still have it enrage me. An open mind means that you're willing to explore alternate points of view--I do that. I also recognize crap when I read it or hear it. I read the transcripts because I know that emotionally I might leap to a judgment about something Limbaugh says without examining the point he's trying to make. I'd rather get it right.

As for McCain being a guest on Err America...of course they won't bash him; they want him to finally close the deal and cross the aisle to the left side. Of course he won't do that, since he knows he would lose his Senate seat on the very next election (if he runs.)

But back to the point I started with...why is a network paying stations to carry its programming? And, how can Err America afford to pay for airtime on 16 stations, if they're bouncing checks to 2 of the original 6?

Also...Err America engaging in name-calling? C'mon...is this grade school, or political radio?McCain isn't crossing over, but it has nothing to do with his political viability in Arizona--he'll be elected as Republican or Democrat in that state as long as he wants to run. He's bigger than politics there now. They won't bash him because he's an honorable man, and they respect that, regardless of party affiliation, as do I.

As to the check-bouncing--you really should pay more attention. They never bounced a check--they stopped payment on a couple of them because the guy they were buying airtime from was cheating them. They're apparently back on the air in Chicago already and they're working on LA..

And as far as name-calling is concerned, as long as people like Savage aren't dismissed by the conservative movement for his rabid anti-gay comments or his discussion of "turd-world countries" then the conservatives have no right to complain about the mild teasing they get from Air America. (And neither do you, with your John "Francois" Kerry and Err America.)

Long Live Pacifica!

Democracy Now is their best show as well as their news--but theres alot of nonpolitical airtime that gets wasted on pacifica and I wish theyd become more political like air america and drop the cultural crap which is mind numbingly boringYour conception of what is 'political' is very narrow. What you refer to as 'cultural crap' cannot be seperated from politics and vice versa.

Not that it really is relivant over all, but Pan is comparing syndicated talk-shows to a full radio station. Limbaugh is a single program that is syndicated and carried by a variety of radio stations, Air America is a station which must pay for the outlet, like ClearChannel.

Secondly, his Limbaugh example is only one of the models used in syndication. The other is that the syndicated show will pay for the airspace and then sell the advertising themselves, which is common for shows that have a specific audience (liberal radio) or start-up shows.