The Howard (Stern) Factor...(WP) How Stern has become a GOP nightmare

[farmbo]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/columns/kurtzhoward/

Could President Bush pay a price for the FCC crackdown on airwaves indecency?

He's made a powerful enemy, it seems, in Howard Stern.

Scoff if you must, but the guy has millions of listeners, and he's furious at Bush.
<snip>
Salon's Eric Boehlert has the goods:

"Declaring a 'radio jihad' against President Bush, syndicated morning man Howard Stern and his burgeoning crusade to drive Republicans from the White House are shaping up as a colossal media headache for the GOP, and one they never saw coming.

"The pioneering shock jock, 'the man who launched the raunch,' as the Los Angeles Times once put it, has emerged almost overnight as the most influential Bush critic in all of American broadcasting, as he rails against the president hour after hour, day after day to a weekly audience of 8 million listeners. Never before has a Republican president come under such withering attack from a radio talk-show host with the influence and national reach Stern has . . .
<snip>

Sure he's a sonofabitch...but (like it or not) he's OUR sonofabitch now.

[Beetwasher]

1. Stern Has Now Effectively Become the Anti-Rush

Look at what's #1 on his must read list:

http://www.howardstern.com/hsc.nsf/requiredreadinglinks?OpenPage

[TheWebHead]

12. he's much better than anti-Rush

Rush preaches to the choir, Howard's audience isn't particularly partisan.

[huckleberry]

17. That Katherine Harris video is great!

thanks for posting!

http://www.ericblumrich.com/gta.html

[0007]

58. I think they pulled the website, I can't access it.

Do you happen to save it? If so I'd appreciate it if you could send it to me.

[Ruby Romaine]

2. Go Howard!

Can't believe I said that!
:)

[jamesinca]

13. People powered Howard

A few months late to join the team, but there is always '12 :-)

[Blue-Jay]

3. I hope he can have a positive effect for us at the polls.

and I hope that BushCo is shitting their collective pants over this.

Go Howard!

[bozo299]

23. Bush & Howard changed my vote

As one who voted for Bush in 2000, I looked the other way while they began stepping on the rights of terrorists, since I'm not a terrorist. But when they took Howard off some of the stations I listen to while I travel, Bush stepped on me. And lost my vote. I may not vote democratic because I'm anti-union, but I won't vote for Bush. GO HOWARD.

[Arugula Latte]

24. Glad you've changed

Good for you for having your eyes opened to Bush. Welcome to DU!

But one question. You say you are anti-union. Okay. Did you know that union members make up a tiny percentage of the workforce? Their influence on the legislative agenda is next to nill compared to the corporate lobbyists, who often write legislation and hand it to Congress to pass -- often at the expense of public health and well-being. Also, have you looked into some of the things corporate management is getting away with? Their CEOs often receive 500 TIMES what the working stiffs in the company make. They rail against paying taxes, yet reap government subsidies -- that's your money as a taxpayer. It's just a suggestion, but you might want to think about some of the true outrages in our current system. :hi:

[Lorien]

29. Welcome to DU, bozo299

:hi:
You've been more than stepped on, you've been stomped, bludgeoned, and decieved. Maybe this is your first awareness of the kind of censorship the Bush* administration is enforcing, but read the Patriot Act and Patriot Act 2. They are burning the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the very documents that have made America the great Nation it has been!

[Blue-Jay]

30. Welcome, bozo299!

I hope you decide to stick around DU for a while. I've found a wealth of information here that have opened my eyes a lot wider to the Bush Administration antic, despite the fact that I usually voted Democratic anyway.

We have many ex-GOPers here that have become valued members of the community, even if they're still not marching in lock-step with the Democratic Party. That's the beauty of us versus the typical Republican. We're aware that opinions vary and we accept that, whereas the average Republican is frowned upon by their party for questioning ANY policies that they might disagree with.

That said, your ability to actually *think* should be commended. Stick around and continue to keep an open mind, OK?

[Ruby Romaine]

35. "stepping on the rights of terrorists?" What on earth are u talking about?

[trixie]

39. ????????

Hi Bozo :hi:

I just have to aske why anti-union? Shouldn't people be able to collectively ask for benefits etc instead of each person begging for their particular share?

I am in management and am very pro-union. I was once part of a horrid union that was very self-serving and on the brink of illegal. Sure I was shaken in my pro-union upbringing but my grandmother (who was quite the AFL-CIO organzier) suggested that I get involved and change things. How right she was. It is easy to stand on the sidelines and complain, jump in, run, get involved, change things.

[bozo299]

59. unions

Perhaps I shouldn't be so broad. I have to support unions for people who can't fight for themselves, like farm workers...

But when people like teachers and college professors join unions, and then the lowest paid district goes on strike each year, that's not collectively asking for benefits, that's extortion.

but, hay, I'm just your basic small business owner, capitalist tool...don't get me started...nothing is black or white.

[On the Road]

43. Welcome, Bozo299!

:toast:

[dennis4868]

48. welcome

to DU :-)

[llmart]

50. Welcome to DU!:)

I used to be somewhat anti-union back in the '80's (I was in management then), but when I saw what the guys at the top can do to middle management without any recourse on their part (during the Bush Sr. years), I took a second look at unions. Now, believe it or not, I belong to a union and am very, very glad I do. My husband was in a union for awhile and then offered a mid-management position, which he took and now he's sorry he ever left the union. The union people have much more job security and benefits than he does. Every day he goes to work wondering if he's going to get laid off.

[PragMantisT]

52. Welcome to the good side bozo!

Love your hair :toast:

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

4. He is hardly a sonofabitch

Smart and funny as hell. I like him even more now.

[BootinUp]

5. I love it -eom-

[montanacowboy]

6. On Imus this morning

he called Michael Powell "that nitwit son of Colin Powell" hahaha. I almost fell off the couch! wow - go Imus - he has turned into a Democrat for Kerry -

such a quirk of fate - Clear Channel turning Stern into the biggest megaphone the left can have - and even Imus who I never liked is another voice for reason...

who woulda thunk?

[Bushfire]

19. Imus last week mentioned he was the first major media person to endorse JK

so he must of jumped on the bandwagon before Stern if its true. I don't care for Imus much, but the more endorsements the better. Wierd that MSNBC would allow such commentary.

[joeunderdog]

20. Like a Greek tragedy gone Jewish. Even the local mega-station

is crusading for Stern, against Shrub and for free speech. They're playing soundbites from a hotline they have set up, and people are ripping GW a new one ALL DAY LONG. WBCN covers most of New England--huge station.

pssssst...the secret's out. They have awakened a sleeping giant by overplaying their hand (as usual).

[mikehiggins]

32. One thing you can count on. People like Stern and Imus may play

buffoons on radio, but that's their job. And they are very good at their jobs.

They can see what's coming down the highway and there won't be much room on the airwaves for them once the bible-thumpers get their way. And all the promises from Bush and Powell and others won't change a thing. These guys KNOW what liars the GOP whores are. They aren't about to get fooled.

Enlightened self-interest is what that's called.

Now, if the working class would wake up to THEIR own best interest Bush wouldn't have a chance.

[JPace]

38. Clear "Channel turning Stern into the biggest megaphone the left can have"

the one thing we can always count on with repugs....
they eventually overreach and lose their support
because of it.

They are natural hogs and cannot stop their ravenous
behavior, others must do it for them.

Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy
more more more more more more more more more more more
Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs
Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy
more more more more more more more more more more more
Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs
Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy
more more more more more more more more more more more
Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs
Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy Piggy
more more more more more more more more more more more
Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs Repigs

[no_hypocrisy]

7. * WH: "We have wakened the sleeping giant."

Guess they picked on the wrong victim.

Go Howard!

[ixion]

8. Go Howard!

I always suspected that Howard was a closet Progressive, even though he was claiming to be a repug. I think, perhaps, he was conservative in the fiscal sense, but is stunned by the misadmins attack on 'indecency'.


Glad to have Howard on board with throwing the neocons out of office. :bounce:

[LoZoccolo]

9. I actually listen to him now.

I've been curious to hear what he's been saying since people started posting about it here. I still think his show is too slow-paced (I used to be a Mancow fan before I got so infuriated with all his right-wing stuff - basically he's a big reason I started going to anti-war protests and stuff to counter all the bullshit), but it's on in the morning when I'm getting ready.

And remember...if you don't want to support Howard you can support Bababooey.

[tridim]

10. Should we thank Janet's boob?

I hate to say it, but Ms. Jackson's (if you're nasty) breast is what started this.

Strange times..

[dave29]

45. Boob beats Bush

I love it

[delete_bush]

49. Or....

Boob beats boob. Come to think of it, it was her RIGHT boob beating a RIGHT WING boob!

[0007]

60. ....and now that boob must drink mother's milk -

So long sucker!!!! Now he can go back to that bitch of a mother, Barbara Bush, and suck her tit.

[mouse7]

62. Well, if there's ever been a champion of boobies...

... it's Stern.

[wyldwolf]

63. and, if I might add, Janet is rumored to be a democrat

...

[deutsey]

11. I'm rooting for Howard

I'm not a fan of his (and haven't been since I heard him on DC101 in Washington, DC back in the '80s), but I've always liked his defense (however exploitative) of free speech.

Go Howard!

[DulceDecorum]

14. Johnson's Maxim

It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out,
than outside the tent pissing in.
(Reason given for not firing J. Edgar Hoover.)

HOWARD STERN,
YOU ARE WELCOME INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC TENT.
Sit down, stay a spell.

[Merlin]

41. LOL -- Thanks for reminding me of this great trueism n/t

:-)

[cprise]

15. Howard Stern is against things that hurt Howard Stern

Now that he is politicized, he will have years to rail against a President Kerry that no doubt will be doing things that are against Stern's interests.

Rush Limbaugh is already figuring out ways to periodically use Stern as an echo chamber.

[maggrwaggr]

25. I'm not gonna look this gift horse in the mouth

We wanted someone in the major media to tell the truth about Bush and, whether you like him or not, Howard Stern's filling the void.

It's about fucking time SOMEBODY in the media got angry.

[SemperEadem]

55. LOL! Like "be careful of what you ask for, you might get it"...

details... it's always in the details...

I agree with you. We have our voicebox with electronic platform and distribution---let's get on with using him to get the message out to those who would not have necessarily listened under other circumstances.

Stern has the talent to connect with 8 million people every day. That is a mighty weapon, as the GOP well knows with all of their mouthpieces on the radio. But one thing is for sure: if Stern goes down, when the balance of power shifts, as it will, they stand to go down on even less than what Stern has demonstrated.

I like the constitution just the way it's written. If the GOP doesn't like it, then perhaps they all need to go find another country to live in. America--love it and leave the constitution alone.

[mikehiggins]

33. Stern doesn't give a hoot about politics because his target audience

doesn't give a hoot about politics. He's only in this fight because he can see the way the cards are falling. If Bush gets back into office Stern is finished, and he'll be lucky to scratch together a career once he's off the air.

Whatever his reasons, if he's against Bush he's on my side.

[SkipNewarkDE]

37. Stern's Target Audience DOES care about politics

It is a common misperception that Stern's listeners are primarily the boorish working class yahoos that love the potty humor and sex talk.

The fact of the matter is that there is an amazing cross section of people that listen to Stern, from all walks of life, income levels, races, sexual orientations, etc. Infinity has done some demographics, and it has shown that there are a lot of people with a lot of disposable income that are Stern fans. This is why the show can charge so much for their commercial time.

Years ago I went to a Stern book signing, and was amazed at the mix of people that were there.

[hyphenate]

61. The enemy of my enemy

Is my friend. Not always true, but right now, we take our supporters any way we can get them.

[devilgrrl]

16. More discussion on Howard

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x891356

[patricia92243]

18. Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! What are some of the things he's said?

[plurality]

21. from further down in the article (good news)

"Chatterbox had the honor and privilege to interview Judge Roy Moore, the Alabama chief justice who got fired for refusing to remove a marble Decalogue from his courtroom. Moore's firing was entirely just, given his defiance of a federal court ruling undergirded by a half-century of Supreme Court decisions and the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution. Installing Moore's brand of religious fanaticism in the Oval Office would be ruinous to the country and dangerous to the world.

"But this is no time to dwell on such trivialities. What's important is that Moore is thinking of running for president on a third-party ticket. He is a charismatic figure who has the potential to siphon a great many Christian right votes away from the pitiful Sodomites now occupying the White House. George W. Bush talks a good game, but can he even name all Ten Commandments? (Too bad the president is a teetotaler. This would be a great bar bet.)

Looks like there might be a fundie third party to siphon votes from the Repubs. Maybe if we can get all these parties to stay around we can get a REAL democracy where parties have to form coalitions to govern.

[belle]

40. I really don't like the idea of a fundie third party, siphon or not.

Longterm, I mean. Yeah, they're a minority and always will be; but you could say the same about the Nazis.

[Merlin]

44. Let them form a third party. They'll split the US Nazis.

It would be fantastic if that would happen. The Republican party would then face the result JFK warned demagogues about in his innaugural:
"Those who ride the tigers back inevitably wind up inside."

[Fovea]

51. I think I like

the racists and theocratic whack jobs to have a fifth party than to be a
third column of the second party, if you get my drift.

[plurality]

54. Yeah, but think of it turning out the way it is in Europe

Where there will never be an outright majority of electoral votes going to a single party in the presidential election. Then it would go to the House to decide the president. If there were real viable alternate parties that had representatives, then parties would have to form coalitions to pick presidents like they do in Europe to pick prime ministers. Who would vote for the Republicans if the only way they could build a coalition would be to include the "Christain Kingdom Party" and the US Nazi Party?

[ConcernedCanuk]

22. I never heard of this guy before, but I'm starting to "like" him anyways !

.
.
.

More from the posted article:

"Stern had strongly backed Bush's war on Iraq, but in the past two weeks, he has derided the president as a 'Jesus freak,' a 'maniac' and 'an arrogant bastard,' while ranting against 'the Christian right minority that has taken over the White House.' Specifically, Stern has assailed Bush's use of 9/11 images in his campaign ads, questioned his National Guard service, condemned his decision to curb stem cell research and labeled him an enemy of civil liberties, abortion rights and gay rights.

"In other words, it's the kind of free campaign rhetoric the Democratic National Committee couldn't have imagined just one month ago.

"'Our research shows many, many people in the 30- to 40-year-old range who were Bush supporters are rethinking that position and turning away from Bush because of what Howard Stern has been saying,' says Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine...

"Anecdotally, those daily phone calls from listeners -- mostly men -- who tell Stern they usually don't vote, but this year they're definitely going to vote against Bush (and it's usually against, Bush not for Sen. John Kerry) cannot be comforting to the Bush/Cheney '04 strategists."

..............................................................

Yuppers, Bush made an irreversible "boo-boo' on this guy !

I gotta go back and read the rest of the article, it's a long one (requires registation, short though)

Finally - Bush is getting around to the "uniting" part !

:bounce:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

26. Basically what we are seeing

is that shrubco overreaches and offends into so many areas of American life that they can't help but set off these kind of firestorms of anger.

They would've been fine with Howard, except when he came out telling everyone to vote against Bush (because of the gay marriage biz), Clear Channel dropped the hammer the next day, Mikey Powell started sniffing around about FCC fines and the rest is history.

In other words, if they were not so determined to be a fascist dictatorship and suppress every bit of dissent, this would not have happened. Howard would have made a few pleas to vote against Bush and then back to his usual frat humor. But no. They had to "Dixie Chick" him and make and example. And now he's on a crusade. The guy is fundamentally not political except on free speech issues and liberal social mores.

This is a different issue that attracts a different voter from the usual ones angry about the Iraq War or the economy. Many Stern listeners are young people not much directly affected by either of these (while there is no draft and they are students not looking for work) but will care very much about the right to free expression and the right to listen to entertainment like this. Please everyone do not underestimate the potential usefulness of this. It's actually beyond potential at this point. These votes, and this kind of support, is GOLD. The guy is even calling on people to donate money to JK at this point on most shows, calling attention to shrubco's "Pioneers" and "Rangers". How could this be a bad thing? It is not. It's a great thing, while it lasts.

Even if Stern's motives were purely cynical and self-serving (I was VERY unhappy about his cheerleading the Iraq War), and I don't think they are this time, we need every bit of support we can get. And 10+ million listeners hearing the BAD news about shrubco, hearing an UNEQUIVOCAL message to vote them out, and hearing a message about contributing to JK and voting for him, is GOLD. And even better, as a poster above pointed out, he is NOT preaching to the DU choir here, unlike people listening to streaming liberal internet radio, or Rush to his Repub choir. There is just no way we could spontaneously generate something like this if we tried.

The fact that he is already off the air in most or all(?) of FLA could be a goldmine issue--devoted fans who are now "censored out" of this show might be P*SSED and turn out in droves.

[Coventina]

27. I really, really dislike Howard Stern

However, I will admit that this makes my heart smile.

[Squibbie]

28. Run, don't walk, to check out "Private Parts."

I think that you will find Howard to be a real champion in this autobiographical movie where he plays himself. I especially loved Paul Giamatti as "Pig Vomit". "Private Parts" might really make you proud that Howard has turned from the dark side to our side.

[Nlighten1]

53. I love that movie.

Pig vomit was the "everyman" boss...who hasn't worked for an asshole like that...

[Ravy]

31. I think this is backward (seriously)...

I can't read the full article, but the clips make it sound like Howard was not anti-bush until they started cracking down on him. His distaste with Bush, although it is certainly solidified now, had nothing to do with the FCC crackdown. His rantings are the cause of the crackdown, not the result of it.

This makes Stern look like he is simply fighting back in his own self-interest, when actually he started being anti-bush DESPITE of his self-interest.

I think it is a very important distinction.

[tinanator]

34. Im guessing because Im too busy to do Stern stuff

but that is exactly what I would expect. For a minute I thought you were making the opposite case. Spin Span Spun.

[Ravy]

36. Yes, evidently Howard read Al Franken's book and

saw the light, and when he started talking about his conversion on the air, ClearChannel started the harassment.

[tinanator]

46. and they are the enemy

we need to pick these big names out and take our cases to the people. The government and the media (go figure) aint gonna listen. Stir it up!

[SemperEadem]

56. that's right... he's fighting back in his own self interest

because when he yells, 8+ million people hear him--as opposed to you or me who don't have means of electronic dissemination and distribution when the government decides it doesn't like what we're saying and wants to shut us up.

His self interests are my self interests are all Americans' self interest, ultimately. He can bring the focus of the culture to this so that we may witness and be forewarned.

[qb]

42. I am so glad Howard is speaking out.

I enjoyed his show for a while when he was on the air in Minneapolis, but eventually got bored with his sexual antics. I did like the way he went after hypocrisy in politics from time to time.

It's funny how the neocons never learn to temper their knee-jerk reactions, and they inevitably end up kicking themselves in the ass!

Go Howard!!

[neverforget]

47. I'm giving my first $20 to Kerry tonight and I'll put my occupation/Stern

fan in the field. I'd give more, but I'm tapped out.

[nodehopper]

57. It's true, politics do make the strangest bedfellows

[mtnester]

64. Usually turn the dial...

but now, I have been listening, and he is SCATHING in his reports, AND when he uses quotes, he provides the "links". He started reading support mail today from ex-bushco supporters.

Seems to me they have no real way to shut him down without appearing ulterior. It also seems to me that the grudge he bears will not get less as time goes on, he sounds determined!

[osaMABUSh]

65. I live in Pgh and HS was pulled here. Is it on E! cable TV?

Clear Channel pulled Howard from 105.9 FM the X here Pittsburgh but I do get E! on cable. Has anyone been watching E! lately and are (parts of) the current shows on?

[osaMABUSh]

66. I bet many of Stern's listeners are/were Bush supporters

Stern can attract and repulse at many levels. I bet there are a fair amount of young (and no so young) white guys who are the cocky, flag waving, kill the "sand nigger", America Love or Leave it type who really dig Howard Stern and can turn on Bush if someone who they like better tells them to.

[bagnana]

67. Howard Stern can be scathing AND hilarious

Big distinction from just being an angry hot air bag. I think anyone who makes Bush look ridiculous wins half the battle. When people start laughing at him they wake up to the fact that he is not fit for his office.