I'm tired of Air America, period!

[EstimatedProphet]

We used to live near Akron, and when the station came to Cleveland we thought it would be great. Well, the first station to come to Akron was not receivable for more than 5 miles from the city! If that wasn't bad enough, it was blotted out by a fundie station on the same frequency! Eventually they switched to a new frequency and station, and I thought it would get better - nope. Over half of their programming was local sports. If I wanted to listen to Randi, I got Canton high school basketball instead.

Yesterday I drove past Pittsburgh for an interview, and had the worst experience yet. I was looking for the station (WPTT - 1360 AM), and when I found it, who do I hear but LAURA INGRAHAM! The Pittsburgh station plays LAURA INGRAHAM on AIR AMERICA! Not only that, they don't have one single radio personality or show from Air America on their schedule! The Pittsburgh area freepers must be laughing themselves silly about this one! Where does this station get off calling itself an Air America affiliate if they have none of the programming? Doesn't Air America have someone that at least looks at what their affiliates are doing?

[KyndCulture]

1. I'm done with them.

completely.

AARepig Radio... fuck em.

[alarimer]

2. our station has done the same thing

We have a station in Corpus calling itself "We the people radio". Now John Kelly is a local Dem activist and a pretty good guy. He does the morning show instead of Rachel Maddow. Fine. But the last two hours of Randi Rhodes are taken up with another local guy just isn't very good at all. Then it is local sports sometimes instead of the Majority Report and Mike Malloy. I never could listen to him when he was on because it usually turned out to be baseball. This station, though is still (mostly) Air America programming but I have stopped listening because I miss having Randi Rhodes on during the drive home. So I have no idea how long this particular station will last. Get this, they are having a fundraiser so they can buy billboards around town. Apparently they are not doing too well yet.

[jedr]

3. No Air america in the 'Burgh; However;

If you had stayed tuned to AM 1360 until 9:00 AM , you would have listened to Lynn Cullen....One of the best local progressive shows in the country, followed by three hours of Thom Hartmann.

[EstimatedProphet]

6. I did hear Lynn Cullen on the drive back

and got to start to listen to Thom Hartmann. however, it still doesn't balance the fact that they have Laura Ingraham and Monica Crowley! They have no place on progressive radio, and frankly it seems like the station is trying to take progressive programming and ruin it instead of broadcast it.

[jedr]

10. Don't know why they run Ingraham in drive time;

Evening drive time is Doug Hearth, a libertarian, who avoids politics for the most part. Lynn's show is streamed on the internet, @Wptt The Point 1360 AM ( not sure of the exact address, so google it) if you want to catch it at home. I'm a Stern fan and have Sirius and find myself switching between Howard and Lynn. I understand your point on AAR, just trying to make your time in the 'Burgh more enjoyable. :toast:

[EstimatedProphet]

15. Appreciated!

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

4. RE: AAR in Pittsburgh

I live in Pittsburgh, but admit that I do not listen to ANY talk radio...I can't stand either the idiot callers or the idiot pontificating hosts or both.

Anyway, I found this on a blog re: Pittsburgh's AAR station:

(1-8-06) WAY OVERDUE UPDATE: I e-mailed WPTT and John Poister, the program director over there responded with this:
David:
We are listed as an Air America Affiliate because we carry The Thom
Hartmann Show which is distributed by Air America. We have a fairly
heavy schedule of locally produced programming and, at this time, we
have no plans to expand our (good) relationship with Air America.


http://2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/2006/01/airamerica-radio-on-wptt.html

[EstimatedProphet]

7. They could start by dumping Laura Ingraham

It's not like she doesn't already have a market for her vomit.

[butterfly77]

71. That is one ugly long headed bitch...

[deutsey]

5. It's been a huge disappoint for me for a while

This only compounds it.

[Ian David]

8. I'm very pleased with XM Satellite Radio.

Except that XM doesn't have Stephanie Miller, that is.

[MoseyWalker]

9. I've resisted answering in any of the AAR threads, but

my fingers just gotta type.

Reading about Malloy getting the boot STILL makes no sense to me unless the plan is to support the DLC positions, and withdraw support from anyone who announces they have emotions and disagree.

I listen to AAR periodically, but not often. I am sorry to say that I got bored with most of the hosts a long time ago. I'm about as "liberal" as a person can get, and don't feel much of a connection.

I want to, but just don't. Much less so today than a few days ago.

[ChazII]

13. Can anyone

tell me what happened with Mike Malloy? Here in Phx. they are putting petitions up for people to sign. I just started back to school and haven't been following what is happening. Or if there is a thread, please let me know. There is great support by the local businesses for AAR.

[B Calm]

20. I wish we knew.. AAR has the answer, but after this stupid mistake they

are to damn embarrassed to tell us!

[KittyWampus]

68. Oh for fucks sake. Does Rachel, Sam or Randi support the "DLC" position?

honestly...

[muesa]

11. Two choices in the SF Bay Area

1. KGO-810 AM with Bernie Ward, Ray Taliaferro, Karel, Jon Rothmann, and RJ Purimun. I can't take Berie's or Ray's emotionalism. Just too much that late at night.
   
2. KQKE-960 AM with much of AAR and Jones Radio Net (Ed Schultz). No I'm no youngster - I am a few years on the white beard side of the AAR Demographic - so I like Al Franken and Ed Schultz.
   

It's better then KGO and the RW talk.

And I do like Al's "Left side of an NPR editorial" style and content.

[benddem]

12. that's not AAR

that is your station you are angry with. They made the switch.

[EstimatedProphet]

16. I know, but Air America lists them as an affiliate

And IMO if they are an affiliate they should have certain standards, such as actually playing some of their lineup...

[Ravenseye]

64. I agree but it's AAR's fault not the local station

I saw it listed there on the site months ago and immediately tuned in only to hear the same shite you did. Turns out the owner of the station is right. I contacted AAR and they said that the affiliates listed are any station that carryes any amount of their programing. I complained about it to AAR that they should list the stations that carry full content, nad list the others as partial because people will tune in to hear crap otherwise.

They didn't care. I think they wanted to have it look like they had more stations than they actually have.

[high density]

14. The thing that annoys me the most

is that Al Franken said during his first days on air that Air America was not going to let stations cherry pick shows. They either took the full lineup or none of it... I don't know how long that lasted, but I don't think it was longer than a few months.

I used to listen to AA fairly regularly (between Franken at lunch and Malloy at bedtime) but talk radio doesn't really fit into my schedule any more.

[EstimatedProphet]

17. That's certainly not how they do things now

[LTR]

21. That model was a failure

Stations owners like to have control over programming. And most won't cede total control over to an upstart network like AAR. Realistically, if AAR kept the "all or nothing" approach, they'd be history by now.

Honestly, I think some of the best affiliates are the ones that cherry-pick shows. That philosophy has led to the rise of Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann and many others. I think it's also a good thing when affiliates have their own local shows. It's better in the long run for the format.

You should at least be thankful you have it at all. All I have in my hometown is Ed Schultz on a scratchy AM on the outskirts of town.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. Cherry picking is OK - this was way beyond that

Air America lists them as an affiliate, yet they have only one host that is only partly associated with their lineup, and a few hosts that are active against thier principles! That's a lot more than cherry-picking. That's just blatant misuse of the network.

[LTR]

33. Hartmann is a syndicated host

He can be picked up by whoever.

And with AAR trying to grow, they can't be too picky.

Better to be on somewhere than nowhere.

[EstimatedProphet]

59. See, I don't have a problem with them playing Hartmann

As a matter of fact, I'm all for it. What I have a problem with is them being called an affiliate when they 1) don't play any of their shows, and 2) play shows by people that publicly ridicule and demean the Air America network. There's not a lot of liberal networks out there, so IMO the ones that are there shouldn't be putting on programs bashing liberals. Ingraham, Crowley, Drudge - they're all on this station. Why can't they replace that crap with liberal voices?

[leesa]

18. Do you complain to them or just to us? Do you complain to sponsors

that they play Laura Ingraham? Get in their face.

[EstimatedProphet]

23. I did already

It's a little presumptuous to assume I didn't.

[zulchzulu]

19. A lot of AAR is programmed on Clear Channel stations...

Follow the money. It's not AAR's fault, it's Clear Channel, or in WPTT's case, Renda Broadcasting Corporation. The radio stations that own them can pick and choose whatever they want....whatever they think the market will listen to.

http://www.1360wptt.com/

Laura Ingram....but also Thom Hartmann...

[EstimatedProphet]

26. And I appreciate the fact that they also play Thom Hartmann

But with around a 50-1 conservafascist-liberal talk show format in this country on talk radio, I think it's a slap in the face for a self-proclaimed 'progressive' station to play vile crap like Laura Ingraham and Monica Crowley.

[LTR]

22. WPTT is kind of a throwback

They're a talk station with shows representing all sides of the spectrum. While it would be nice to have an all-liberal station, I do applaud any talk station that tries to even things out instead of going all-wingnut (I have a local station here (well, somewhat local) that tries to tow the middle with Ed Schultz, Alan Colmes and Lionel on the left, Bill O'lielly and Jay Severin representing the wingnuts, and local community-oriented shows the rest of the time. They contrast with two monster AM rivals that try to out-neocon each other.

At this point, AAR needs to get its act together before they can attract more affiliates. Schultz and Miller, on the other hand, seem to be growing, as is other shows not with AAR. Hopefully, this helps to bolster the format. But if you really want to see the format grow in your hometown, start harassing some dying AM station in your town (and not the big sticks like KDKA) to pick up some programming.

[rucky]

25. There's still Rachel & Randi

and since Bill Crowley's been filling in for Mark Riley, the early morning slot has been pretty good.

XM listner.

[EstimatedProphet]

29. And if I lived in Dayton maybe I could listen

[rucky]

34. I don't bother with the Cinci affil

the signal is barely audible in a good part of the Dayton area. Since they switched stations about a month ago, it's gotten even worse.

i'm afraid XM is the only way to go in most places, which really does suck. I don't know what's going on internally, but if Air America is going to sell the whole programming package, they need to stand behind all the programs. that was the whole thing behind the original concept, and they buckled to Ed Shultz almost from day one: now everything's in bits and pieces everywhere.

BUT there is still good quality programming, even after all the awful decisions they've made (Malloy being the latest).

Maybe everyone will be better off with the a-la-carte syndication? Each show seems to have its own following. Now they've all got their foot in the door, maybe the can all find their own homes - like conservative radio has done all these years.

:shrug:

[Hugin]

32. I agree about Bill Crowley...

I've enjoyed his sub-hosting.

But, I like Mark Riley as well.

[Hugin]

27. It could be worse...

You might have to put up with 'Lionel' broadcast in the 'Majority Report' time
slot like we do around here.

A note to the local Air America Programmers: The 'empty air ad space music' had me
consider digging out my ears with a spoon, but, 'Lionel' may make it actually happen.

[Quixote1818]

36. I like Lionel

Lionel is really fun to listen to and he picks Bush apart. Face it, not all American listeners want to listen to the programing DUers want to listen to. AAR has to do what they think will bring in the best ratings and Lionel is very successful on his own. Much more successful than the Majority Report.

I love the Majority Report but I can see why AAR would put Lionel in place of the Majority Report. Lionel has awesome ratings and he is one hell of an entertainer.

[Hugin]

37. Oh, yeah... I failed to mention it's also a FOX station.

How could Lionel have 'Awesome ratings' his gig started about a month ago.

He was whining incessantly about music coming in from some sort of street party outside.

"AAR has to do what they think will bring in the best ratings and Lionel is very successful on his own."
If ^^ is their philosophy then AAR should switch to Right Wing Talking Heads. They have an
established audience.

Oh, I forgot... The whole published premise of AAR was to get Franken sued by O'Reilly. Hell
of a premise to start a Progressive Radio Network.

[Quixote1818]

41. We have been getting Lionel for two years here in Albuquerque

The line up in Albuquerque is shown below. They don't stay with AAR all day long. They cherry pick from the best rated liberal talk. For instance Lionel and Ed Schultz are on the list but not with AAR.

Albuquerque line up:

Rachel Maddow - early morning
Jerry Springer - morning
Al Franken - late morning to mid day
Ed Schultz - starts at 1:00 pm
Randi Rhodes - 4 to 8
Lionel - from 8 to 11
Majority Report 11pm to 1am
Mike Malloy 1am to god knows when

The line up seems to work here in Albuquerque. If it works here I am sure AAR is taking notice of all the places Lionel is doing well and during which time slots.

[peaches2003]

28. Part of the problem with AAR

is that everyone seems to be getting a different program lineup. Local stations are carrying some AAR and some syndicated shows such as Thom Hartmann and Stephanie Miller. I listen on XM so get the actual AAR schedule.

But I notice that on these AAR threads everyone's experience differs and there is little similarity to what various posters are complaining about or what they like about AAR because local stations vary so much on what they carry.

[Hugin]

31. I have XM as well...

It made AAR tolerable until they inexplicably booted 'Malloy' last week.

I also have Sirius (Don't ask why... :shrug: )

During the week I'm within range of at least two AAR broadcast stations.
It drives me berserk when the hosts rush to cut to ads which turn out to
be 'the place holder music from Hell'. Why don't they just keep talking?

[3121guitarist]

30. Yea.

What's the point of listening to a network that doesn't even believe in its own ideals? They cannot damn Ford for firing workers, when they fire the great Mike Malloy, even when he wins awards and has to take care of a two year old daughter. Sick and tired of AA an its corporate America suckin. I guess the right had a point about them.

[Quixote1818]

35. Well, AAR is doing better and better in the ratings

We all thought it was a mistake when they dumped Morning Sedition for Jerry Springer but it's turned out to be a good move. Just because we may like someone like Malloy, it doesn't mean it sells to the mainstream, more moderate Democrats who make up the vast majority of AAR listening.

It's a business and they have to make money making decisions. The fact that they are still around and getting higher ratings means they are doing something right.

[B Calm]

46. After firing Malloy, I guarantee you their ratings are falling now!

[KittyWampus]

69. LOL! Cause everyone you know likes Malloy, right?

your theory would make sense only if Malloy really contributed to good ratings. And you have what proof of that?

And a lot of people I know, including myself, thinks Malloy sucks.

Very few want to listen to the Left version of Ann Coulter.

[B Calm]

73. cryingshame thinks Malloy is the left version of Ann Coulter!

Amazing....

[geomon666]

75. Since when does anyone care what cryingshame thinks? n/t

[B Calm]

76. For me, it's this point on!

[ariellyn]

38. I am beginning to think Air America was just a cruel hoax

I have gone out of my way to get reception as well. Buying more than three satellite receivers since they've been on the Air. Not really being able to listen in my home like you would any other station since I don't have the in home kit set up and don't want to be tethered to my computer.

Then the programming changes have been absurd. Moving to XM left half the audience out to pasture. Jeanine left. Mark Maron leaving. I heard a caller the other day tell Sam Seder in a voice dripping with sarcasm that he was glad Sam might be leaving. Mike Malloy is gone.

The other day did it for me when I heard the replacements for Jerry Springer. I forget their names--Kathy and Mike?--but they were as DLC/fake Dem as it gets. "Mike" (if that was his name--maybe it was "Bob") started out announcing he was no fan of conspiracy theories.

Satellite radio is not all it's chalked up to be and Air America is the worst.

No liberal radio is better than the crumbs that Air America is throwing out.

I am going to cancel my subscription.

One thing that I think they are trying to do is prove that nobody wants to listen to liberal radio. Of course the numbers have been off the charts up til now. I helped--I was an Arbitron listener and my whole booklet was filled with nothing but AAR programs for the listening period. However, if I and others like me stop listening, well, the point will be proven. Once the ratings are down, then I expect that we will hear that the ratings were bad--never mind that we don't hear how good the ratings were/are. We'll only hear how bad they are and nobody wants to listen to liberal radio.

[NYCGirl]

40. First of all, Janeane Garofolo leaving was no fault of AAR's. They were

not thrilled, I'm sure, because she was one of their marquee names.

Second, that's Marc MARON — Moran has a different meaning here. ;)

Sam is not leaving. In fact, he's been PROMOTED to the prime 9am - noon spot.

Replacements for Springer? Springer has been on here every day in the past few weeks— he was not on vacation recently. Who were you listening to?

No liberal radio is better than AAR? NO WAY, NO HOW.

[ariellyn]

42. The spelling of Maron--my mistake, thanks

The other things, I didn't know about.

The replacement for Springer I heard recently, as described.

As for no liberal radio being better...I have seen that there are alternatives while reading this thread and I will check those out. I would love for a stable liberal radio network to become a reality. Unfortunately, Air America is not it. So screw AAR. I hope to see some serious liberal contenders replace them.

[Hugin]

43. I've seen children manage Lemonade Stands better...

If what they are after is something 'different, yet, compelling'...

AAR should start by doing two things:

1. Dump the whole corporate mentality crapola... Listen to their listeners.
Remove the hard commercial breaks, keep the shows moving and only interrupt them
when they have a real ad to play. The behind closed doors decisions are killing
them... The Malloy thing isn't the first time. It's Paternalistic and Unproductive
alienating their audience.

2. Start a 'put-up-or-shut-up' donation program. Allow voting for favorite hosts
via donation.

[NYCGirl]

44. I agree that the management has been bad, but what you're proposing is

worse. Trying to survive in the radio business by "dumping the whole corporate mentality crapola" is suicide. This is not public radio (which I believe has to be licensed differently). This has to be run as a business and as a RUTHLESS one, at that.

[Hugin]

45. That's the same line I've been getting from the beginning...

"Oh, this is *such* a ruthless business..."

I submit trying to survive in the radio-business by playing by the established
radio-business rules is suicide. The cards are stacked against it... So, we do
what the DLCers say and 'play along to get along' instead of trying to break the
mold.

Same old, same old... So much for something really different.

[B Calm]

47. Then AAR management needs to got off their ASS and sell their

greatest talk show hosts to advertisers and quit blaming the hosts!

[NYCGirl]

49. It's the advertisers who decide on which show to put their ads. Ad costs

also vary by daypart and ratings.

[B Calm]

54. True, but at the same damn time management has to sale their product!

Don't expect the worker to to their job!

[NYCGirl]

55. No one is expecting the talent to sell the advertising. But if the sponsor

doesn't like you or your show, they won't place the ads on it — they'll go to someone else's show. That's how it works. Fair? Probably not. But the radio/TV business isn't fair.

Edited to add: If your show doesn't pay for itself in advertising dollars (and the higher your rating, the more money spent by advertisers for an ad), you get cancelled.

[B Calm]

56. Quit making excuses for the dysfunctional sales force at AAR!

[NYCGirl]

57. Quit making excuses for Malloy's bad ratings!

[B Calm]

58. Are you on Air America's payroll?

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[B Calm]

61. O'Reilly a fan of Malloy's..... I don't think so... But you taking the

side of the suits at AAR has me questioning why?

[NYCGirl]

67. Because O'Reilly WANTS Air America to go away. Just like you do. NT

[B Calm]

72. Air America has gone away and not of my doing!!!!!!!!#%#

[EstimatedProphet]

62. It's really beginning to seem that way at times

or maybe they have someone pulling strings in programming trying to ruin it from inside.

[Scout1071]

39. It's still better than Sirius Talk Left.

Although, I prefer the rest of the programming on Sirius. But, Alex Bennett? They need to let him go ASAP. Aside from the fact that I don't even think he is all that Liberal, he is completely lacking knowledge of current news, nor does he even show much interest. I know more about his feckin' health problems, doc's, and girlfriend than any "issue" concerning the audience or politics. He must go. Post haste.

And Lynn Samuels? Mildy entertaining at times. But, a little shrill. Not gonna win anyone over and still kind of lazy with facts and the news. Just seems like a regional show. We need a much bigger national presence in this time slot.

The Young Turks? Pretty decent show. It's improved over the last 1 1/2 years. I still have no idea where they got Jill. It's not that she's not smart, but it just seems like she's very young. Everything is a complete learning curve for her. She's nice enough and may evolve as she matures, but I'd rather have a woman with more experience at the mic with them. Not a knock on her, I just think the show would be much better with a more engaging partner.

I prefer the music channels over XM, but XM still has better equipment. I have the old Sirius car unit and it's quite a bit larger than my friend's XM unit. It looks older, but I kind of like it better because it is easier to read the screen. I'm looking forward to Sirius launching the new portable unit this fall. I'd love to be able to take a small unit from my apt, to work out, to the car.

More than you asked for, but there you have it.

[The Great Escape]

52. I Listen To Sirius At Work....

the routine I have developed is Michaelangelo Signorile on 106 from 2pm EST to 6...The Turks from 6 to 9 on Sirius Left and Stephanie Miller From 9 to midnight on Sirius Left. Typically I listen to the first hour of Thom Hartman at work and the second hour on my 40 mile drive home. Since Alan Colmes was put on the dedicated Fox Talk Channel, it has increased my satisfaction with Sirius Left ten fold. I agree with you on the Young Turks, as far as the improvement over the past year and a half. As for Jill, her growth has been tremendous as well. I suspect this is only going to continue.

[EstimatedProphet]

63. No, it isn't.

If they're putting LAURA INGRAHAM on during morning drive time, I'll take Sirius Left any day of the week.

[gulliver]

48. Pure "talk radio" won't work.

They need music and humor. Their best place in the entertainment puzzle is as the "serious side" of pop culture.

Right wing talk radio only works because it has a ready audience of "beta" males, angry with their lot in life. Those poor losers still have a little money to spend until the GOP finishes fleecing them.

[Change has come]

70. thanks for the laugh.

:rofl:

[PresidentWar]

74. Great point, actually....

Just like the DINOs in Congress think that making the country better equals acting like Repigs, it's very possible that liberals feel the way to get on top of the radio game is to out-hate the rightwing haters who already dominate the field.

Perhaps aping the Limbaugh format isn't the answer.

You know watching this site, plus those on indymedia.org, I am overwhelmed with how much talent and ideas the Left side possesses. We in fact could really turn radio communication into something intriguing and cool if we stopped trying to operate on the pond scum level of the rightards.

[Jazzgirl]

50. I've noticed the same thing in the DFW area.

Its got some other programming that sucks. I don't get it but I'm pretty much done with them too.

JG

[Horse with no Name]

51. In MANY ways

AAR is a direct reflection of the national party.
They want the grassroots money--but don't want to give them a seat at the table.
I keep reading that AAR is a business...however, it solicits private donations from their listeners to keep them on the air.
In so doing, they make the listeners their business partners.
THEN they want to flex their muscle and say it is all about the bottom line...well I am pretty certain that listeners contribute a pretty goodly sum towards Mike Malloy's salary.
THAT is why they should listen to us.

[NYCGirl]

53. No, it doesn't solicit donations. You pay for the Premium, which buys

you access to the podcasts. They, in fact, are selling a product.

[Cleita]

65. That's just your affiliate. I get programming I want to listen

to replaced by high school sports too.

[EstimatedProphet]

66. That's really what my point was

AAR gives their affiliates so much leeway that, in this case, they have a potentially anti-liberal affiliate.

[jazzjunkysue]

77. 35 min. N of NYC, and AAR won't come in on any of my radios. WTF?

I live just north of the Bronx, and I can't get them in clearly? How will their ratings do if most of the NYC area can't hear them?

I also get these wierd Jamaican guys on the weekend mornings. Not good reggae, which I love, but confused, incoherant jibberish.

I haven't left AAR, AAR's left me.

Someone please fire the management. When Al runs for the senate, he'll have to pull his support, and Randi will be left to attempt to stream on the internet. Preaching to the choir.

I guess the people who sang the death knoll for AAR a while back were right.

It's really sad.

[annabanana]

78. Is it Jamaican now? try 1600am

The station at 1190 am just reverted to it's pre-AAR Jamaican programming.

Actually, early Sunday morning on the new 1600 location, I got church services... They are discombobulated.

[bdamomma]

79. AM 1600 poor reception for me,

very unfortunate, I want to listen to AAR if not, we will all be playing into the RW airheads theories, we should have at least some left wing perspectives, instead of listening to all the BS out there.

[robcon]

80. Poor reception for me as well for AM 1600. (lower Weschester)

I changed my dial-set on my car to 1600 this weekend, but the reception has a very annoying whine as I drive my car. Unlistenable.

[jazzjunkysue]

81. I'm not on 1190. I'm on 1600 and it's mostly static. And jibberish,

on the weekend mornings.

I've switched to NPR. Liberal radio deserted me.

[NurseLefty]

82. The scene in Left of the Dial w/ Michael Moore was tell-tale

For anyone who has seen this (if you have not, rent it NOW), remember the scene in the movie where the AAR exec was schmoozing Michael Moore, but MM called bullsh** on him for previous two-faced statements the exec said about him? After this exchange as MM was in the elevator, he said something to the effect, that "if this how they are going to run AAR, it won't last." (That's as I recall, feel free to correct.)
My eyebrows raised w/ that scene, because it showed a rift even back then between liberal powerhouses Moore and AAR management.

At a time when the Left needs unity, it's just so very sad that we don't have it. Air America gave promise to be a pipeline of REAL news and discussion that Corporate Media does not allow. I have to say, I think I would have gone insane after the 2004 election had I not had Air America - warts and all - and its lame-o affiliate in my town. But, I really, really question the judgement of AAR management when it ditches its personalities - those who have cultivated a listener base. Moreover, AAR has YET to remove Mike Malloy's show information from its website - 5 days after they fired him! Not very professional.

I am conflicted - I want to see a liberal talk network survive, but at the same time it seems the execs at AAR are ineffective and clueless. I read that radio is a tough business but I dunno, I can't help but think that things could have been done differently - contractual rules for affiliates, better support and promotion of the on-air hosts, to start with.