Howard Stern Show (today 3/5/04)

[dmr]

We started listening to Howard Wednesday after reading a thread here on DU.

This morning he said he is going to reveal information as to why his show is doomed, and may no longer be on the air after next week. He has also spoke of the culture war in the US, and how the minority of the religious right and Bush* is taking over. Right now he is saying our country is dangerously close to be no different than Iran, etc., how we have lost our freedoms .... etc.

Tune in if you can. In the NYC area, it's 92.3FM. He's in the fight against Bush* mode.

You may be able to find a broadcast station here, which is how I found him:
http://www.koam.com/list.html

[TheWebHead]

1. he's got a source/friend at the FCC

telling him the sh** is hitting the fan soon. His time is short.

he's reading this story:

http://www.quicken.com/investments/news_center/story/?story=NewsStory/dowJones/20040305/ON200403050405000148.var&column=P0DFP

[bearfartinthewoods]

50. hardly a secret...

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=ao7f1SmQRTug&refer=us

FCC Planning Two Dozen Indecency Fines Against Radio (Update2)
March 5 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Communications Commission is close to levying about two dozen fines for indecency against radio companies, including Viacom Inc.'s Infinity Broadcasting and Clear Channel Communications Inc., FCC documents show.

``At the end of 2003, we had pending more than two dozen cases in the final stage of investigation, and anticipate enforcement action in all or most of these cases within the next few months,'' FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a letter to Representative John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat. The March 2 letter was released today.

One show that has been the target of complaints is shock jock Howard Stern's program, produced by New York-based Viacom, said FCC spokeswoman Suzanne Tetreault. The FCC has given preliminary notice that it intends to impose fines against San Antonio-based Clear Channel, the biggest U.S. radio broadcaster, and Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Inc.

snip

The FCC's biggest indecency fine ever was the $1.7 million levied in 1995 on Infinity for material on the Stern show. Shares of Clear Channel fell 33 cents to $44.63 at 11:54 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Viacom rose 6 cents to $40.63. Emmis slipped 17 cents to $25.63 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading.

The FCC's intention to impose additional fines on radio companies was reported in this morning's Wall Street Journal.

[dno]

2. He's saying Vote for Kerry!

He's asking his 17 million listeners to vote bush out of office!!
This is so kool! Check out the picture on www.horardstern.com

[dno]

3. Sorry

The link is www.howardstern.com

[Lone_Wolf]

11. Is there more to his website?

It just seems like a show like his would have more than a webpage with a picture and an email address on it.

[LTR]

36. Looks like jsut a placeholder

Has been that way for years.

you'll have to go to the fan sites, like http://www.koam.com .

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Hope he can help rid us of these holier-than-thou hypocrites...

who spring into action when it comes to imposing their idea of morality on all of us, while dragging their feet on getting at the truth of 9/11.

[dmr]

5. Anyone know anything about the C Street Center?

six senators, including Sam Brownback of Kansas, are living in a home owned by this Center. It is disconcerting that members of Congress are given housing perks by this religious group.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

6. Here is an article from Harper's on that. Strange, strange stuff.

http://www.harpers.org/JesusPlusNothing.html

It doesn't really explain what the link is between the Senators that live there and the organization. I was surprised to read that John Baldacci lived there. He is currently the governor of Maine, a Democrat, and was a liberal congressmen while he was in Washington, so I don't know if some of them just live there or if there is an ideological link or not.

On edit: was Howard talking about this organization? What did he say?

[ithacan]

7. he's right about the religious right

here are the details: How the Religious Right took over the Republican Party: http://www.TheocracyWatch.org/

[dmr]

8. Power of the government

He is saying that even if Infinity Broadcasting tries to go to court over imposed fines, (fining them for something apparently that happened months ago - I'm not really sure) the government will just shut them down.

Howard seems resigned to the fact that his show is over, and there is nothing that can be done, saying the whole system is rigged and the religious right has won, comparing the US to Iran.

I guess he is now seeing what we've known all along. Better late than never, I suppose.

[Corgigal]

9. It's all politics this morning

no wonder Bush and friends want him gone. Stern might be alot of things but he's not a dummy. No one stupid could have lasted in radio as long as he has.

[Bombtrack]

10. And neither are his fans

one of whom I am. I have to listen on an illegal internet feed my friend in New England is sending me.

[Guaranteed]

24. Hmmm....I might be interested in

hearing that feed, if someone would send it to me.

Not that I'm asking for something illegal. :)

[Beetwasher]

12. Stern Has Totally Seen The Light

He even said, "It's like the Matrix, I've taken the blue pill and now I see everything."

Absolutely slamming Bush and the religious funamentalists.

[Guaranteed]

21. It might be too late now.

Hopefully we've got another well-known spokesman on our hands, though, now.

[rman]

38. he has some explaining to do

not so much in order to apologize, but to provide insight as how one can stay in the dark for that long, and how one manages to find the light after all this time.

[burythehatchet]

51. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[StlMo]

13. Despite differences many of us have with Stern, WE MUST TAKE A STAND

Free Speech is under attack - pure and simple.

WE MUST FIGHT THIS CENSORSHIP, GODDAMN IT!

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

14. Can somebody tell me what Stern said about Sam Brownback and that

religious group that calls themselves "The Family," please? I posted an article from Harper's a few posts up. It is a very strange group with connections to high-powered lawmakers. The article is long, but interesting.

I'm curious to hear what Stern said about it and they don't have him in my area.

[Beetwasher]

15. He Said

That they guy is part of of some secret group and living in housing provided by a religious group that is funded by secret donors. As a lawmaker this is a conflict of interest. He said this guy has a secret radical religious agenda that is being implemented.

He compared this type of thing to the rise of the Nazi's and fascism. He said the Nazi's also set up these secret cells groups of radicals.

[dmr]

22. Right, and

he also mentioned that he was told not to talk about them, and briefly said that it may be dangerous to him to continue.

Thanks for the link, Calamity Jane. I've been trying to google some of the things mentioned in the link, to see what I can find out. In my mind, this is a special interest group because it involves money and power. If you find something, please share.

On another note, Stern said he couldn't sleep last night because of what is going down, and in an earlier thread, I said he seemed resigned, and there was nothing he could do to fight this. As the program continues, he appears to becoming more energized - I think from his listeners.

He mentioned a web site that was started in his defense, did anyone catch what site that is?

[JPJones]

20. He said one of the guys in that house called Mel Karmazin

President of Viacom. Asked why he is broadcasting indecency.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

42. Thanks all of you

I don't recall having seen anything else about this group than this article. They sound very theocratic, judging from the article.

[nostamj]

16. in a related act of repression | NYT removes Ted Rall

NEW YORK—NYTimes.com said it canceled the use of Ted Rall's editorial cartoons effective March 1 because they didn't fit "the tone" of the popular Web site.

When asked why the decision was made, New York Times Digital Spokesperson Christine Mohan said in an e-mail: "After two years of monitoring cartoons by Ted Rall we decided that, while he often does good work, we found some of his humor was not in keeping with the tone we try to set for NYTimes.com ... While NYTimes.com and its parent company support the right of free expression, we also recognize an obligation to assure our users that what we publish, no matter what its origin, does not offend the reasonable sensibilities of our audience."

much more on Rall's blog here:

http://www.tedrall.com/rants.html

[Corgigal]

18. does not offend the reasonable sensibilities of our audience."

What a bunch of crap. Don't forget the book burning tour showing soon at a local Walmart near you.

[Guaranteed]

19. He's been telling the truth.

Some of the best articles I've seen written recently have been written by Ted Rall. This is ridiculous.

[Bombtrack]

29. Ted Rall is a scumbag

he's right up there with Ramsey Clark of leftists who give a bad name to the left.

Utter garbage. He's a loon and a hypocrite, and an anti-patriot. A person who advocates for those who murder American soldiers in Iraq, and someone who berates the families of 9-11 victems should have his testicels ripped off if he has any, much less not be published in the vanguard of all American newspapers.

[K-W]

33. Free Speech

is about protecting the rights of people to say things that may make your blood boil. And I think you are missing the tone of Rall entirely and not getting the point of some of his cartoons.

[Bombtrack]

39. The times is justified in looking for new talent by canning that idiot

They are the premier newssource in America. And there is really little to suggest that he was helping them at all.

It's not even anything close to having congress force it's hand at political censorship of the number one radio personality in the country. It's not in the same stratosphere.

[K-W]

43. We cannot selectively defend free speach.

We are talking about a website here. They certainly could have added new talent without dropping Rall. Now if they can show that they were actually losing readership, and that Ralls comics were offensive and/or didnt entertain people enough for them to read it. If the hits were way down on his pagesr or something like that, that is one thing.

If he has just been the target of conservative complaints because he is a liberal and thats why he was canned it is utterly inappropriate and we cant just let it slide because we think his point of view isnt right.

I looked at the three comics linked to in his blog and, while I can see how they might disturb some people, they certainly dont strike me as aweful.

[bearfartinthewoods]

52. free speech does not mean protecting the fat paychecks of assholes

[StlMo]

17. For much more info about Clear Channel, go to Salon's Clear Channel site:

Radio's big bully


A complete guide to Salon's reporting on Clear Channel, the most powerful -- and some would say pernicious -- force in the music industry.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
For the past few months, Salon reporter Eric Boehlert has been tracking the story of Clear Channel Communications, the little-noticed media giant that has quietly taken over the country's radio and concert industries.

The company owns nearly 1,200 radio stations and effectively controls the rock radio market. It also owns SFX Entertainment, the nation's dominant concert-venue owner and touring promoter.

...

http://www.salon.com/ent/clear_channel/

[randr]

23. Narcissistic jock has no interest in free speech

Over the last few years Stern has been noticeably missing in the fight with the FCC and patriot act.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[StlMo]

25. It doesn't matter whose free speech it is -

If we don't fight threats to free speech where we find them,
those threats will some day find us.

[Papa]

26. EXACTLY

[dmr]

27. We've been trying to wake people up for the past 3 years

he finally woke up. What's wrong with that? Are we on the left not to embrace those who are finally waking up? I say, "welcome aboard, Howard!"

[Bombtrack]

30. Do you even know what "narcissist" means?Stern is the complete opposite

This is a guy who is completely self deprecating about everything regarding his acctractivness or lack thereof

[jeffrey_X]

28. what a crock of shit

Take Stern off the air, but yet allow garbage like Jerry Springer, Temptation Island and other morally corrupt shows to pollute the air ways. American Hypocrisy at its finest!

Fuck you Bush*!!!!!!!!!!

[fob]

45. You forget the admitted drug addict and rat bastard rush limpballs

who had the audacity to coerce his maid to score for him

[StlMo]

31. Clear Channel & The White House: A tale of two Texas dynasties

Clear Channel & The White House: A tale of two Texas dynasties


Another Texas dynasty with political influence on par with the media influence of Clear Channel is that of the George Bush family. Former president George Bush senior, and two sons -- current president George W. Bush, and the less-visible governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. Unfortunately, the ties between the two families don't end with nepotism, their home state of Texas, or a common goal of world domination.

Political donations by US television and radio stations almost doubled in the last year and Clear Channel was among the the Republican party's most generous financiers. The Republicans have also received significant sums from NBC, Fox TV and News Corporation. All four companies were veritable cheerleaders for the war in Iraq.

Consider the following from UK-based radio2xs.com:

Clear Channel's founder, Lowry Mays, ensured the majority of the half-a-million dollar donations made in 2001/02 landed in the Republican party's coffers. His company's links with the Bush family run deeper, as media watchdog takebackthemedia.com showed when it recently published the elaborate web of connections that further align Clear Channel with the Bush family. Mays, who took advantage of radio deregulation and transformed Clear Channel into a global multimedia player, is associated with the president through the University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO). Mays sits on the governing board, alongside Clear Channel vice-chairman Thomas Hicks, whose family is believed to have contributed over 500,000 dollars to Bush campaigns over the years.

Hicks, a long-time friend and supporter of President Bush, heads the UTIMCO board but his position was recently embroiled in controversy when it emerged he awarded UTIMCO-funded contracts to firms politically associated with the Bush dynasty. Hicks also bought the Texas Rangers (baseball) team from Bush for $250 million in 1998 - three times the amount that Bush and his partners had originally paid.

...

http://www.ask-steve.com/2003/06/clear_channel_t.html

[dmr]

46. Thanks, StlMo

This should just piss all American's off. If the FCC seriously and honestly cared about our airwaves, they would not allow this collusion. Sadly, they collude with them, hurting the rest of us.

[karabekian]

32. so people suddenly like him

just because they hear he is bashing Bush, I think a lot of his views on the world would be unpopular here. I would probably classify him as a libertarian and opposed to much of what is championed here.

[rman]

37. i don't think he is opposed to free speech

Also it isn't so much a matter of liking the man as it is a matter of him doing the right thing.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

41. I don't see why a person has to agree with me for me to like them

I know lots of people that I don't agree with, but I still like them. I have always found Stern funny, even though I don't always agree with him.

[K8-EEE]

47. I Don't Like Him -- But I Don't Like BushCo Censorship

and I'm not gonna wait around for it to happen to "someone I like.." actually it already has!

I'm glad to have Howard Stern or whoever else blow a whistle on their agenda.

[Mountainman]

56. The enemy of my enemy is my friend

I think Churchill was in the same position when Germany attacked Russia.

[NJCher]

34. I don't think it's a good idea to pick on Howard

He has a large audience and they are likely to be very irate if he is taken off the air. I predict the removal of Stern from the airwaves could be a turning point for an element of people previously uninvolved in politics.


Cher

[sendero]

40. Exactly...

... if they do manage to get Stern off the air, I think they will live to see the day they realize that was their undoing.

But on the other hand, if Stern stays on the air, he will swing the election to Kerry. 18 million loyal listeners is a lot. If he can change only a fraction of them to vote Kerry, Bush* is done.

The enemies of free speech are going to lose in the long run either way.

[K8-EEE]

48. Excellent Point Cher

I think they will live to regret this ploy -- it might enlighten a lot of people to the reall effect that the control freaks at BushCo have on EVERYONE....

[Merrick]

49. I was so surprised

I'd been a casual fan, tuning in occasionally on my way to work, but tuning out in disgust when the topic shifted to politics, since he's maintained a wholly uninformed, vapid "love it or leave it" sort of pro-Bush, pro-war disposition until waking up recently, after which, to my astonishment (after being out of the country a couple weeks) I hear him praising the likes of Michael Moore and Nader. I thought I'd flown through a vortex. How tragically ludicrous such a conversion has led to this persecution/suppression (and so quickly!). what bullshit. At least we'll either have a potent ally with a large fan base on the air, or at least a martyr who's proscription will anger and enfranchise a lot of marginalized people. Stick up for Howard.

[Mandate My Ass]

53. This is likely to backfire

like picking on Mayor Street did last November before the Philly mayoral elections. People who didn't like Street rallied behind him in droves because he, and they, saw through the bogus investigations and saw instead the misuse of power.

I think this is a recipe for disaster for them. I'm hoping so anyway.

[StlMo]

35. More Links To Clear Channel's Agenda

http://www.google.com/search?q=Salon.com+Clear+Channel

[libertad]

44. I'm offended by Rush Limbaugh's overt "hate speech" when will

he be taken off the air????

[tjwash]

54. Check out these links to faux news...

...mancow is blaming the "criminal liberal media" for it.

click here and scroll to the bottom right of the page and it's under "Mancow is worried about the freedom of speech"

While there check out the creepy little brainwashing case called "Meet the littlest Fox Fan!"

wow...

[spindoctor]

55. The simple problem with ClearChannel

The matter is really quite simple.
ClearChannel needs FCC regulation to change in order for it to grow any further than it is today. If any of its shows offend the Administration and subsequently influence the climate in the FCC, they will pull the plug on it.

That's all.

[dmr]

57. True, but it's not just Clear Channel anymore.

They are going after Infinity as well. Stern said today that if Infinity tries to fight the fines, the collusion between Bush*, the right wing religous sectors, and Powell's FCC will shut Infinity, or anyone else down. They want his Bush dissent off the air, using, all of a sudden, his shock-jock antics as the reason.