Chicago Sun-Times "'Progressive' Talk Could Be On Its Way"

[Edgewater_Joe]

BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Liberals rejoice: Chicago finally could be getting a "progressive talk" radio station showcasing such prominent voices as Jerry Springer, Al Franken and Ed Schultz.

Nothing is official yet, but the bosses of an AM station in the market are shooting to launch the format by March 31 -- the one-year anniversary of Air America Radio's aborted attempt to bring its left-wing syndicated lineup to Chicago listeners.

In its new incarnation, Air America's Franken and Randi Rhodes would be part of a programming mix of liberal talk shows that also would include Springer, whose Chicago-based radio show is syndicated by Clear Channel Radio, and Schultz, whose "Democracy Radio" show is distributed by Jones Radio Networks.

Air America lasted two weeks on WNTD-AM (950) before it was yanked in a nasty payment dispute with station owners.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/feder/cst-fin-feder251.html

It makes sense for the station to carry Springer, who tapes his show in Chicago - but why Ed Schultz would be allowed to cut into Randi's show is a puzzle. Plus, what about the other shows?

Oh, well, at least they'd be back on the air ...

[hedda_foil]

1. Damn! That means we won't get Malloy

Even though he has a HUGE Chicago audience from his WLS days when he was #1 in his timeslot, and they fired his ass because the rightwingers complained so much.

[Edgewater_Joe]

4. We Don't Know That

What's odd is that Springer and Franken overlap an hour (which I would think means the station won't carry UNFILTERED) while Randi and Schultz flat-out run on the same time slot -- yet the station would run both shows?

I HAVE to think that, given his time slot and his former following, that they'd carry Malloy. Makes no sense not to.

[livetohike]

2. I listen to Ed Schultz over Randi every day

Part of his "schtick" is he is a meat eating, gun toting liberal. Maybe the station feels he would appeal to more listeners. If you haven't listened to him, give him a try. He usually has good guests on and while I don't agree with everything he says, he makes some good points.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[stray cat]

11. Ed Shultz is a moderate who appeals to those ultraliberals don't reach

I don't care if he is in it for the money - how many people don't work for an income?

[woosh]

14. I'm a big fan

Of Ed Shults. We get him here on Boston's progressive talk. He's by far the best show on that station.

I REALLY wish they would put him on cable, he'd be the perfect answer for O'Reilly. IMO CNN needs to embrase their "liberal" lable and dive in head first. Eddie would be a great start!

[Edgewater_Joe]

5. I've Heard Him. To Me, He's Boring.

Plus, last week he was talking about Mr. Death Squad, John Negroponte, in glowingly positive terms.

That ain't no liberal in my book.

[livetohike]

7. As I said, I don't agree with everything he says

but Randi has her own "schtick" too. Bounce Your Boobies??

[woosh]

15. really?

I must have missed that show. Are you sur he wasn't playing devil's advocate? He does that a lot.

He's also not close minded, he was pretty anti-blog as a source of news, and after a few days, came over to the other side of the arguement.

[madrchsod]

6. i hope they get a station that will reach

further than the suburbs and reach at least 100 miles west. there is a big need for liberal talk to reach out here in the cornfields. Schultz is heard in the quad cities area now so if Chicago can reach out here then northern IL would be covered completely

[DARE to HOPE]

8. No! to Ed Schulz!

This is a blue, blue, BLUE state, after all! Put him in the red states where he's needed.

Thank God they are working out something FINALLY! But don't forget "Morning Sedition."

Also, could they steal Nate Clay away from WLS? He's the BEST.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Uh, DTH, Ed Schultz DOES broadcast from a "Red" state. . .

Fargo, North Dakota.

Frankly, after reading his book, I do wish we in the NYC metro area can get a station to air his broadcasts.

(snip)
"Americans don't want condescension and platitudes. We know a mistake when we see one...The president forgets that we don't work for HIM. He works for US. With the job comes accountability. All the American people want from this administration is a little reassurance. Instead, Bush is flipping us the bird and Cheney is mooning us from the back seat."
(snip)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060784571/qid=1109098948/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8372218-0199934?v=glance&s=books

:kick:

[woosh]

16. streaming ed shultz

I think he has a web site that streams his shows on the net. If not, one of the satations that caries him is sure to.

[KoKo]

20. Here's the Net Stream for Schultz....

from DU's Home Page where there's a list of Progressive Radio streams. There's a link at the top of Ed's page. It always works for me and I'm dial-up on a 56-K modem. :D

http://www.bigeddieradio.com/

[stray cat]

10. Chicago is blue but is rural IL?

[Edgewater_Joe]

12. These Days It Is

Remember, the Repunks are in such disarray in IL that Alan Keyes decided to move to IL permanently -- and in doing so became both the highest-profile and biggest vote-getter amongst the Repunks. The only person in the ball park is Judy Baar Topinka (she's the only R state-wide office holder, and she's the treasurer), who is socially moderate but knows if she is forced to try and move up she's toast.

[MikeG]

13. If I was living in Chicago, I'd be listening to Steve Dahl.

I used to listen to him while I went to law school in Chicago in the early 80's.

I always thought that he was more talented than Howard Stern.

[Edgewater_Joe]

18. Dahl's Lost A Lot Of Steam

And frankly, all of Chicago radio has gotten so boring I was one of the first in line to get a satellite radio (Sirius) - and I don't regret it for a second.

That said, it's good that AAR/et al is coming back on the 'free' frequencies.

I need something to listen to in the shower.

[Barkley]

17. I'm in L.A. and I really enjoy 1150AM (Air America) talk shows especially

Randi Rhodes.

She's the bomb!

[xxqqqzme]

19. I am sooooo happy

AAR is back in SoCal. Occasionally I could get the San Diego station but there was so much static @ certain times, I had to shut it off.