Regarding Demise of Air America: I don't expect anyone to agree with me...

[Imagine My Surprise]

But I speak as a former broadcaster, so I have some clue about radio formats. The reason right-wing radio has worked so well, and will continue to do so, is because the format lends itself perfectly to those who would be prone to participating and listening.

In other words, right-wing lunatics have a perfect forum to air their crazed notions, under the guidance of a host such as Rush.

Meanwhile, progressives are sensible people. What we have to say does not especially lend itself to a radio format. It sounds too much like preaching to the choir. In other words, boring. I frankly cannot fathom an engaging "progressive" radio discussion among progressives talking to other progressives. (And I have hosted numerous talk shows.)

I said this ages ago when the progressive radio format was in its infancy.

And I believe that blogs and other internet or even as yet unexplored media options will lend itself more to progressive voices.

Anyway, that's my take on it.

[NVMojo]

1. I understand. But aren't they just reorganizing like the majority

of corporations get to do in America?

[Lex]

30. For instance, Chrysler Corporation did this in the 1980's

if I recall correctly.

[Freddie Stubbs]

88. Chrysler was bailed out by the federal governrment

For some reason, I don't forsee the feds bailing out Air America.

[Lex]

91. Nope. He got a government backed *loan* which he paid back early---

7 years early.

I just looked it up.

[onehandle]

2. Bankruptcy is not a demise.

I do agree with you about the preaching to the choir aspect.

They need to mix it up more. Franken is popular because he has a sense of variety.

[ronnykmarshall]

4. YES IT IS!! YES IT IS!!!

The sky is falling!! The sky is falling!!

Rove strikes again!!! We're DOOMED!!!!!!

[sendero]

10. I'm sure you think you are funny..

... but consider this. A business, like a relationship, a career, damn near anything - is growing or failing. While it is certainly true that this is not the end of AAR, it is not good. It means that there is poor management, a lack of a listener base, or both.

Laugh your ass off but don't kid yourself, this is bad news.

[ronnykmarshall]

12. I'll do just that.

And I'll still be laughing when AAR is still on the air.

[Hugin]

3. I've found several experiments on AAR to be entertaining...

But, due to the fact that for some odd reason (I'm guessing peer pressure)
they kept tending toward the established RW radio format, it's killing them.

Be different and live is my advice to AAR.

[ShortnFiery]

74. I believe Air America is doing just fine ...

I really don't understand why you are so ticked off at them.

They'll emerge from this bankruptcy stronger - it's growing pains.

They're new and doing their best. :shrug:

I ENJOY listening to the Air America Radio. Also I'm thrilled that we have an AM station here in D.C. :-)

[Hugin]

100. I am absolutely *not* ticked at Air America....

Well, other than their oblique management style.

Otherwise, I've been a faithful listener.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Being preached at by anyone doesn't interest me.

Even if I agree with them.

I much prefer BBC's online radio programming. Full of very interesting and well researched information without the screaming.

[ComerPerro]

6. I don't listen to liberal radio, because I don't need to hear

my opinion reinforced every day, every hour.

Wingnut Dittoheads do, though.

They listen because they need to be told what to think.

[Imagine My Surprise]

15. Thank you!!! My point exactly!!!!

}(

[hfojvt]

41. the trouble is, it goes beyond that

RW radio reaches alot of people who were not dittoheads at the start and it makes them meaner and stupider. LW radio was supposed to make them nicer and smarter. Before RWR ('I don't like or am ambivalent or uncertain about Clinton, democrats, liberal issues, etc.) to after RWR ('I hate Clinton and liberal "traitors", and want to abolish the death tax, etc.) It replaces ignorance with falsehood, with RW spin and talking points. With liberal radio we hoped to reach a large audience of moderates and promote progressive values and provide information, true information but negative, about the Republicans.

[ComerPerro]

63. That it does. RW radio reaches where no other signals will

and they have been exploiting the uninformed.

It amazes me, even today, that these Dittohead morons think Rush is "one of them" when he is, in reality, a multimillionaire living in Florida and living a life of luxury.

[ShortnFiery]

75. I promise that you will learn a wealth of information from just

ONE episode of the Thom Hartmann Show. His knowledge of current events and politics in general is encyclopedic. ;)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. What demise? What did I miss??

Are they closing down?

[MoonRiver]

105. Only in some people's fantasies.

:eyes:

[CatholicEdHead]

8. State of Belief is the only AA show I listen to

abeit via Podcast. Otherwise besides the Ed Schultz podcasts, I mix it up with international news network podcasts from ABC.au, CBC, BBC, and National Radio New Zealand with a few NPR and APM Public Radio podcasts mixed in.

[tularetom]

9. If you want a big audience the message must be dumbed down

or at least delivered with some passion. That I believe is the reason for the popularity of Malloy and Randi Rhodes. I don't want to listen to some cerebral policy discussion, I want to hear somebody say these assholes are screwing up the country and it's time to throw their asses out. And dumb as I am there's a shitload of people dumber than me and they'd eat this up. Hell they do right now - listen to Michael Savage sometime.

[VolcanoJen]

11. Agreed, 100%.

I just posted a similar opinion in another AA thread.

If AA actually fails, I don't think it's indicative of anything at all. Talk radio just isn't suited to liberals. We'd rather exchange ideas and talk, instead of being talked to for hours on end.

It's no secret that there are far more lefty sites, blogs and resources on the internets than righty stuff... and there's a reason for that.

[physioex]

14. I haven't listened to AA in a long time.....

I prefer hosts like Nate Clay on wls. I think we would do better to dominate the blogs............

[BuyingThyme]

13. Yes. Pukes need talking points. Dems think.

[Nikki Stone 1]

22. But we need a way to counter their talking points, their soundbites

without confusing them too much. That's what AAR can do very well. Try explaining a traditional NPR news story or, god forbid, Amy Goodman, to the average talk radio listener. Yes, they are too narrow or too "moran-ic" to understand sometimes. And even the more moderate listener of talk radio (who just needs something on in the car) doesn't always have the time to counter when s/he has been listening to on the way home. People have lives, and often more than one job.

Edited for typo.

[BuyingThyme]

29. Yes, we need them, but we don't rely on them.

So it's a different game for us. We (AAR) have to entertain in a nonfiction environment. That's a high bar. Over on the other side, entertaining is easy (because they live in a fictional environment). It's much easier to entertain with Mark Twain than with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

[Nikki Stone 1]

36. Yet, the real gift of the Left is comedy. Look at the Daily Show, Colbert

Those things work really well. Even NPR has "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" which is a news quiz with comedians answering questions (some obscure) about the week's news. Perhaps some shows of that nature could help.

[BuyingThyme]

43. Yes, but if you're too funny, you're often not taken seriously.

Which is unfortunate because reality is the only thing that is really funny.

[Nikki Stone 1]

50. Don't most 20-somethings get a lot of their news from TDS?

I remember seeing a poll to that effect.

Really I think it's a problem of personality.

[BuyingThyme]

55. Yes, I've seen similar numbers. It drives Pukes crazy.

They try to retort by making the case that the likes of John Stewart are dumbing down the population, when in reality they're doing just the opposite.

That's not a good sign for the fiction-based community, so they try to marginalize not only the messengers, but he messengees as well.

[Nikki Stone 1]

59. Guess one needs entertainment to fight political fiction.

Remember the Court Jester could get away with saying what the courtiers could not because it was entertainment.

[BuyingThyme]

107. Just like Fox.

[Marie26]

16. Maybe emulate NPR

Liberals want news & perspective, not talking points.

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. But news & perspective aren't enough to fight the onslaught of simpletons

from the right. The one thing AA does well is challenge the simpletons with facts. I can drive during rush hour, pick up a few facts and throw them back in my neocon friends' faces. NPR (at least back it really WAS NPR) was always too complicated to break down for the "morans".

Edited for spelling.

[Imagine My Surprise]

26. My experience has been that facts mean absolutely NOTHING...

to these people. One cannot win an "argument" with them any more than one can "win" a religious debate.

[Nikki Stone 1]

34. But for the less lunatic listeners, a fact here and there is helpful

Not all of talk radio's listeners are rabid right wing nut jobs. A lot of them are folks are who mildly annoyed by government red tape or politicians in general--they don't always know who to blame. They often end up listening to talk radio in their cars or as background noise. The RW talkshows give them a place to direct their general anger.

A true fact for these people might actually do some good.

[BuyingThyme]

37. You've nailed it. The idiocy of Pukes is the key

to a successful progressive radio format. Fiction is much more entertaining than reality -- even if you're simply debunking it.

[Nikki Stone 1]

17. Imagine, what kind of format WOULD work for the liberal audience?

I personally like Randi Rhodes being and doing exactly as she is. And Franken provides a forum for lots of liberal print journalists. Ed Schultz I could do without (although he has some good interviews) and Jerry Springer was just wrong on so many levels. Stephanie Miller was popular in LA before AA ever existed and I hope she will continue to be. (She used to be on the right wing KFI (Clear Channel) in LA; she replaced police chief Darryl Gates in the mid 90's--imagine having that gig! And she had her share of right wing wackos call in. I was a regular listener of hers back then. I think I gave better grades to my students when I listened to her. :))

I think the talk format is actually not a bad one, there are just not as many compelling personalities and maybe there need to be some format differences. Liberals are not knee-jerk followers, unlike the right wingers who seem to love being spoon fed and burped. But a good talk show host could actually work with the audience.


What format would you actually suggest? A more debate oriented format?

[Imagine My Surprise]

23. Debate would be one possibility...

though, as the old saying goes, "a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion, still."

I believe, in all honesty, that radio will go the way of the Dodo bird, at least in its current form. I am 51 years old and was working at a CBS affiliate when I was 17 and was an weekend radio anchor on an NBC affiliate when I was 19.

I have seen a LOT -- that's not even the word for it -- of format changes in the past 35 years.

I remember, as some of you may, when FM was just taking over as the popular medium for music choice (Hence, the movie "FM" in 1978.)

Most cities have had some version of a call-in radio talk program for the past 50 years.

But I think the format is dated.

I'm not even sure about podcasting, though I've described it as "radio in reverse."

I know that I get practically all of my info from multiple internet sources. (and certainly NOT just American sites.)I do not watch TV at all. Zilch. None.

I'm not sure how radio can be "improved upon." It just is what it is. And I think, as one of you pointed out, more and more people just don't have time to sit and listen to radio.

[Nikki Stone 1]

31. I think the biggest radio audiences are people stuck in rush hour traffic

That is why the drive time shows have to be really compelling. There is something about rush hour--especially in LA where is practically 24/7--that makes you mad enough to need an outlet. And something like the John and Ken show on KFI really speaks to that. John Kobylt is one angry critter and it's his energy that keeps that show moving. That is why Randi Rhodes is a good rush hour choice--she can get angry and be entertaining. That seems to be the ticket.

Radio is also background noise for a lot of folks. An entertaining personality really helps. I don't think AAR has found someone of the calibre of Bill Handel in LA, for example.

[The Wielding Truth]

62. Yep,yep,yep!

[Nikki Stone 1]

72. That's the audience that has to be won over

:kick:

[Nikki Stone 1]

39. Radio may evolve, but FAUX news is essentially "talk radio" on TV

If you actually look at the format and the manner of delivery, FAUX is very much a visual "talk radio" sometimes even with the callers. They even share the same personnel: O'Reilly, Hannity for example.

If you generalize the format outside the media (mediums?), it's essentially very biased, emotionally charged information (propaganda) with entertaining personalities with some humor and occasionally actual news.

[hogwyld]

18. There's not enough passion at AAR

I love to listen to Bernie Ward and Ray Taliafaro on KGO in San Francisco. Every night, you can just feel their passion coming across, and you can't help but get caught up in it. Now, if AAR got them on air, I think they would bring a large audience with them, and that would improve ratings, ad revenue, etc.

[Nikki Stone 1]

21. I beg to differ, at least in reference to Randi Rhodes.

And the just fired Mike Malloy.

[LSK]

25. and Sam Seder

[Nikki Stone 1]

32. Yes

:)

[napi21]

35. I listen to both of them every night too! I also used to listen to Malloy

every night, up to the time when Bernie comes on in EST. I miss Mike, and I sure HOPR Bernie and Ray don't go away!

I have to say, AAR isn't filing for Bankruptcy because of listeners like ME!

[Nikki Stone 1]

42. Me neither. I am a regular Randi Rhodes listener. (RRRL)?

And I was beginning to get addicted to Malloy as well. I like Al Franken's many guests--especially Joe Conason--and listen to "Ring of Fire" every weekend. And I've liked Stephanie Miller since her days at KFI.

[LSK]

19. WRONG

Right wing radio has always worked because they have always had their OWN STATIONS.

Left wing shows were sometimes put on these RIGHT WING NETWORKS and they failed because people tune in to hear right wing radio.

AAR was a new concept that SUCCEEDED IN RATINGS because it was a LEFT WING NETWORK.

AARs bankruptcy is not an indication of left wing radios popularity. There are deeper issues with AAR stemming from financial problems in its 1st year with the Evan Cohen situation and mismanagement from its executives ever since.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

80. "failed" may not always be the right term

Ski & Skinner on WLS some years ago always did well in normally dead slots. They were pushed off the air (as I heard it) because management got tired of the freepers complaining.

[LSK]

101. thats my point about left wing shows on right wing stations

They dont last because right wingers dont like them and complain to get them off the air.

Its like watching ESPN and having them play soap operas. People go to ESPN for sports.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

106. So we agree that "failed" isn't a ratings issue but a

"holyshitthefuckingfreeperswon'tstopcallingandbitching" issue?

[napi21]

24. I DON'T understand. What's the difference between blogs and

radio? I understand that some blogs don't allow comments, but lets assume most do. What do you see as the difference between a conversation on theair waves and a similar of not like conversation online?

[VOX]

33. The difference is the **automobile**. Too many folks are on the road...

for obscene hours, commuting each day to a workplace that is increasingly farther from where they can now afford housing.

The commute is, of course, excruciatingly boring, and talk radio fills a kind of "loneliness gap" that occurs.

IMO, having a progressive station and/or programming available on the radio is essential.

[napi21]

38. Oh I agree! At least I don't fall into that catagory. I work P/T at home,

and stream liberal radio all day long! I was asking the OP why HEfelt there was a diff. between radio & blogs. He stated that liberal info isn't suited to radio!

[Nikki Stone 1]

40. Yes yes yes yes yes

That is what I have been trying to say over several posts. It's the rush hour traffic, stupid!

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. Where's George Soros? Ted Turner?.....

Maybe Mike's dismissal really was a financial issue after all.

[Eric J in MN]

83. Yes, why couldn't a single billionaire who is a Democrat...

...step forward and prevent the embarassment of AAR declaring bankruptcy?

Ideally, a billionaire who is a Democrat would be putting AAR on FM in every big city in America.

[VOX]

28. I disagree. It's healthy to have the alternative message available...

With the demise of the Fairness Doctrine, things have devolved into a one-sided arena favoring the right wing. In radio, on cable, and all the associated spin-off publishing.

One of the big reasons that the right wing has done so frighteningly well in this country is that there is no significant opposition message available in the media. A person can now spend his or her days without hearing a single word from a loyal opposition.

As long as something other than the right-wing party line is being broadcast, there's a chance that the uninitiated will listen in, and perhaps begin to form some questions about what's going on.

[Nikki Stone 1]

45. Exactly! The message needs to be out there

I think the problem has chiefly been the personality factor of some of the hosts. Springer, for example. Shudder!

[warrens]

44. I agree with you

My take is that BBC and CBC meet my needs perfectly. I just want the facts and the news; I am perfectly capable of understanding the implications. Until the GOP got taken over by fascists in the 80s, I wasn't particularly partisan, and I'm still more anti-Republican than anything else. People who listen to Rush et al just aren't smart enough to spin hard news to their own advantage; they need Rush to tell them how to interpret news, since intuitively, most news is bad news for wingnuts. They have to do acrobatics to spin it back around.

[RedStateShame]

46. I know ONE reason why I don't listen to progressive talk radio:

Unlike the retirees and spoiled brats who have 3 hours to eat in the middle of the afternoon for the Rove camp's broadcast marching orders, I WORK A JOB. Most of the Democrats' truest followers are too busy getting something done to listen to radio. I'd love to hear AAR in the afternoons, but I have to watch MSM news for a living. No, seriously, I do.

[Nikki Stone 1]

49. My sympathies at your job duties.

And LOVE your sig line. :)

[JHB]

66. Testify, RSS! Testify!

I've thought the same thing myself many times: Who has time to call these jokers in the middle of the workday?

[cally]

47. I quit listening to Air America

because I prefer reading to listening to a host pontificate. I sometimes listen when I drive, but I prefer music and sometimes news. So, I agree with you. If you want facts and information, radio is not where you will get that. I'm opinionated all on my own and outraged enough. I don't need a host telling me what to get angry about nor what to think.

[Nikki Stone 1]

52. For me, AAR is a comfort that I am not the only person out there

who is pro-union, pro-choice, anti-spying, etc. and who thinks this whole "War on Terra!" is political theater. I don't need them to tell me what is going on. I need them to be there to represent what I know is true.

And if some moderates get wise along the way, that is great. Ed Schultz is actually good for that. And I like him for that reason. And his electric car--I forgot to mention that before.

[sandnsea]

48. Progressives haven't mastered radio writing

First of all, I'd have to say Garrison Keillor has proven your premise wrong, right out of the gate. Granted, he doesn't do talk radio or straight progressive programming, but he does present radio that doesn't lend itself to a right leaning audience. Liberal personalities, in general, might want to delve into his body of work to figure out what he's doing that they've missed.

The problem with liberal talk radio is the same problem with the Democratic Party, we don't have an "Americana" vision and our writers can't express our values in words that convey favorable images of life in America. Liberals build cases, conservatives paint pictures - they "create reality".

There's a very simple reason the right has succeeded in the war of words the last 20 years, all their best pundits have come out of radio and have had to learn to use words that are succinct and visual.

[Hugin]

53. Yes, it's the old 'bucket full of bait crabs' phenomenon...

The left is rife with it... As soon as one crab has almost escaped from the
bucket five will grab hold of it and drag it back in.

This may be due to the fact left wing hosts tend to sympathize with their audience
and contempt isolates the right wing talkers from feeling anything, but, their message.

[Nikki Stone 1]

54. Yeah, why doesn't Garrison have a show on AAR?

His political monologues on Prairie Home Companion are some of the best out there.

[Cameron27]

76. That's a very good question.

I'd love to listen to GK in the afternoon-evening traffic blitz.

[Imagine My Surprise]

78. And if he were to be placed into a BLATANTLY POLITICAL...

radio program, he would die.That's the reason it works so well for him. Entertain them! Don't pontificate!!!

[Nikki Stone 1]

81. Then we find a way to make it entertainment

More people should hear Garrison.

[Cameron27]

82. I wouldn't want him to start spouting politics on AAR either.

I was thinking something along the lines of his Prairie Home Companion.

But he probably wouldn't get hired for that type of thing, so sadly, I guess you're right.

[sandnsea]

94. It's all in the writing

Whether one is writing radio ads or radio news or radio stories - or talk radio - it's all the same principles. Succinct and visual. I agree with the "don't pontificate" - but I disagree that the goal should be mere "entertainment". That's the problem with cable news, they don't know the difference between entertainment and Keith Olbermann either. It also isn't about wit for the sake of wit or rant for the sake of rant - again, mere entertainment. Talk radio has to be more, it has to express a vision within a safety zone that allows people to join in. Until liberalism can create a zone where everybody would truly feel comfortable, we're going to have a tough time influencing thought and policies.

[bridgit]

51. that along with the fact the americans are, if not 'ring-wing lunatics'...

then lunatics of some kind i.e. Jerry Springer 'springer-cam lunatics', we've allowed the discourse to be overruled & pushed into a corner where exists no option but to await 'the smack down', the in/out, up/down, back/forth without civil resolution...america is all about the smack down, the 1st & goal, the vinte double white mocha, the bobby socks, the vanilla malted milkshake. in that vacuum, so-called talk radio never stops talking read here: obfuscating, and it is done. advertisers trend toward the mindset that will purchase their products...america is as well a commercial & merchandising endeavor, and it has become a shock to progressives when i have suggested that obvious

i was in the business if at another end of it: music; music has been likewise pushed into loops of homogeneous pulp...it is sad to me, but it is true, there is no more Barry McQuire, Eve Of Destruction

'progressives talking to progressives about how progressive they are while pooh-poohing anyone who seems not progressive enough' it may seem an easy sell, but it is not imo

[Marr]

56. Some liberal radio is very engaging. Bernie Ward, Thom Hartman...

both take on conservative callers and humiliate them. Especially Bernie.

[bridgit]

60. most agreed, we lost Ronn Owens for a time after 9/11 as he tried...

to schmooze up against what he thought was the future, but Bernie & Ray Taliaferro have always been spot-on imo http://www.kgoam810.com/home.asp love me some Ray

:headbang:

[sandnsea]

95. Humiliating people - woohoo!

that's the way to expand your listening audience and bring in advertisers to pay the bills.

[Marr]

98. Read the original post.

The OP said that right-wing talk fit the radio format, while suggesting left-wing radio is a boring collection of 'progressives talking to other progressives'.

And by the way, if you're suggesting that generating or even fostering anger is an unworthy goal for liberal radio, I'd suggest you take a look at pretty much any of the successful, populist movements of the last century.

[sandnsea]

102. "humiliate" conservative callers, YOUR words

Which is what I responded to and is a whole lot different then using legitimate anger to rouse the population.

[Marr]

103. The word is accurate and appropriate.

If someone is combative and wins, they've humiliated their opponent. But if you'd like to take offense at something this evening, feel free.

[Cleita]

57. So how do you explain years of radio programming that

was progressive in tone before Rush and the rest of the conservative radio Morlocks hit the airwaves? There really is room for all of it and the behemouth radio companies like Clear Channel need to be put to the task of running these programs as well.

Randi Rhodes tells the story that she worked for Clear Channel in Palm Beach and beat out Rush in the same time slot ratings so much that they had to put her on in a different time slot so that she didn't steal Rush's audience.

However, Clear Channel seems to have a RW bias and will not run LW programming unless it's so popular it beats out their liar's club. I think bringing back the fairness doctrine will bring back unbiased radio programming.

[Nikki Stone 1]

61. Good point about Randi

And about the Fairness Doctrine.

[Cleita]

64. The real problem is that they need to get their sales department

out there agressively soliciting sponsors. Maybe they are also being too politically correct in filtering the sponsors. The conservative radio stations take money from across the board. This is how radios make money. The ratings game is only to assure sponsors that so many people are listening to the show and therefore their commercial. I know they have the ratings, now they have to light a fire under their sales division.

[Nikki Stone 1]

65. That could be. I don't know enough about their inner workings to know

...

[Cleita]

68. It's like any business, you have to make the sales.

You can't wait for the clients to drop in. You have to aggressively go out and pull them in any way you can. I managed a restaurant once and I spent about a third of my time on promotions and getting advertising out and other gimmicks to get people inside the doors. Having good food and a a pleasant atmosphere wasn't enough until we got so well established that we were able to coast on word of mouth advertising most of the time.

[Nikki Stone 1]

71. Sounds like they need a shakeup in management then

Hmmm

[sandnsea]

96. That could be it

There is a lot more to convincing a buyer than just numbers, I know that for sure. They have to not only weigh the numbers, but also weigh what it says about them to be on liberal radio. For varying reasons, there just isn't as negative a connotation with advertising on right wing spew. So yeah, it could be that a new sales strategy is needed.

[earth mom]

58. Air America needs more passion!

If AAR wants to survive and kick ass, they need passionate and truthful people like Randi and Mike! And yes, some political comedy along the lines of Colbert and Stewart would be great too. Maybe even throw in some David Letterman audio clips, since he often dogs the thugs in office out on his show. But first, get rid of the BORING DINOS like Franken!

[ronnykmarshall]

69. And that "BORING DINO" ..

was one of the people that STARTED AAR.

[tkmorris]

84. True enough but.......

As a radio host, well, he writes great books, know what I'm saying?

[ronnykmarshall]

90. Yeah I see your point.

He's not my favorite, but I don't think he's boring as some people do. He's got the "star power" to get AAR up and running and also to promote it.

I get pissed with posts like the one I reponded to that have tunnel vision about Franken because he's a "DINO" or a "DLC Lap Dog" and other bullshit like that.

[StraightDope]

67. Air America was about as entertaining...

As watching paint dry. I prefer NPR or BBC radio over AA any day of the week.

[ShortnFiery]

70. Whaa? I like Air America Radio and listen to Thom Hartmann each day ...

IMO, you're wrong about intelligent conversation being boring for others to listen in on.

I love "The Thom Hartmann Show" and don't think Air America is doing bad. It's still only in it's infancy. :hi:

[ContraBass Black]

73. When did it die?

[Generator]

77. Fine

Then let's have the unlimited conspiracy planet newstalk station. WHY the hell not? They call us conspiracy nuts no matter what. All election fraud, all 9/11, all the time. Anything to counter the other side. SOME of it may even be true. And imagine getting another version of reality out there. Do you think what America hears from Rush Limbaugh or Katie Couric or John Stossel or ABC News is the TRUTH?
America doesn't GIVE A SHIT about the truth. It lives in some fantasy denial of being "the greatest country on earth" and we are helping ourselves be more free by pick one-killing Iraqi's so they don't kill us or liberting Iraqi's by killing them. Also, freedom isn't free you know! That means you must send your sons and daughters to die for Halliburton and globalist fantasies of rich chicken shit white men every 30 years. When the fuck is America ever going to stop lying? Until then, I'm
m so fucking sick of the moral highground of "progressives." We need to fight any way we can.

Oh and George Soros and Ted Turner go fuck yourselves. Bill Gates? Oh great you are building a hospital in Africa? Guess what? I don't fucking care. I care about America. Save THIS fucking country first.

Where the hell are you? NO the fucking where. Those with billions-yeah fbillions are letting this country die.

[Imagine My Surprise]

79. I like you

}(

[CarlVK]

85. I agree with you 100%.

I think that rightwing hate radio speaks to the angry white males mostly, going to and from the auto repair shops. They can flick on their AM radio and cheer on their favorite hatemonger because they are angry, miserable people themselves.

Progressives/Liberals generally have a more positive outlook on life and the future, and therefore would be a lousy audience to try the hate-rant thing on. It doesn't compute.

[dr.rock]

86. This thread is totally wrong

in every way just delete it

[Lex]

93. Welcome to DU, dr. rock.

We don't just delete threads at DU unless they break the rules here, which can be found at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html


If you think a post violates one of our rules, please hit Alert and the Moderators will take a look at it.

Thanks!

[SmokingJacket]

87. I agree with you, unfortunately.

I do think the internet is going to be much more helpful to us.

I like the people on Air America, but I find it irritating to listen to -- like others have said, it's what I already think, repeated, and repeated, and repeated in a circular way.

I much prefer the internet, where research and links are available and arguments are more easily built on and developed.

[msmcghee]

89. I think you are basically right. However, I would state it a little . .

. . differently.

The right (and much of the middle) has become effectively emotionalized thanks to 9/11. They have bought in to (well designed) RW narratives of patriotism, un-American liberals, etc. Living in a RW mind is a passionate process as conservatism is based on psychology of the fear of death, fear of ambiguity, association with authority and other well documented orientations.

Some have said that a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged. Well, 9/11 mugged a lot of liberals. (Political Conservatism as Socially Motivated Cognition)

http://www.wam.umd.edu/~hannahk/bulletin.pdf

Liberalism however is an orientation of tolerance, of acceptance of ambiguity, etc. - an orientation that is more dispassionate than passionate in its orientation.

Radio is a medium that must provide an emotional experience - otherwise it's just sound coming out of a box. There are no pleasing pictures to delight us. (See McCluhan.) Those who are regular listeners of Air America are mostly from the far-left. These folks are really quite il-liberal in outlook - as a scan through many of these DU forums where some of these folks gather will show. In fact, they frequently express their disdain for more moderate leftists like Al Franken - in DU forums.

These are actually psychological conservatives who identify with (some) LW causes. They despise and hate their RW opponents just as much and have as little use for reason and moderation in their political views as freepers (the far right) have for the left, generally.

That far left demographic is only a small part of the whole left - whereas that attachment to strong passion in political views has consumed much of the right since 9/11 - due to Karl Rove's masterful ability to connect the RW with more legitimate passionate causes - like patriotism, protection of American lives from terrorists, etc. - i.e. something beyond just hating liberals.

But liberalism is generally a dispassionate endeavor that will not find comfort on a medium that must provide passion to exist. That's why there will never be enough on the left to turn Air America into a real success.

The good news is that veneer of legitimacy is peeling away and many former Repuke voters are now taking another look at the left side of the ballot.

The bad news is some of them are going to see things like the far left calling for withdrawal of US support for Israel and accustaions that Israelis are war-criminals for defending themselves from terrorist attacks. They will not like that look - and they'll probably go right back to identifying with Repukes - who of course are doing everything possible to look reasonable and dispassionate in this voting season.

[Swamp Rat]

92. That's why we need radio hosts like Mike Malloy and Guy James

AND wacko hosts, like Art Bell, who are willing to talk about any number of right-wing conspiracies, including the alien lizard invasion. ;)

[NotGivingUp]

97. r-w radio will operate at a loss just to get their message across!

i never got sold on the idea that progressive radio is boring. i think it's just another sound bite that right-wingers threw out there.

[Hugin]

99. My point EXACTLY!

RW radio is a write-off for the corpratists they serve... I don't believe any of them
make money.

[gollygee]

104. I agree

I don't listen to any talk radio - I prefer listening to music. My husband, a definite liberal, likes listening to right-wing talk radio. He already knows what he thinks about things. He's curious to see how the right spins it.

[MzNov]

108. Air America was doing very very well.

Doesn't anyone think the timing of this "demise" is just a little too coincidental??

Come on, AAR is and was doing really well. They do have passion, and great hosts. I refuse to believe they just will go out in bankruptcy without some help from right wing corporate bush-loving facist neo-com influences. It just doesn't make any sense, even for the radio business.

[CarlVK]

112. Umm, no they're not.

They are planning to file for bankruptcy. That does not fit the definition of "doing very very well".

[trudyco]

109. Lefties aren't always sensible... I think some of the hosts can't take

talk from the opposition. RW radio doesn't allow it. They just talk to the choir and everything is harmonious. Some of the AAR hosts get all angry and I have to switch the station. Also, they often repeat themselves - like they don't have enough material to keep going their whole time slot. And the hosts will often cover the same topic. Al Franken has great guests to cover different items, but the other hosts mostly just talk.

[GreenTea]

110. Shit, one 3 hour installment of Thom Hartmann or Peter B Collins

will prove you wrong...as well as Randi & Malloy on a great day...

Even Lynn Samuel's on Sirius Left is funny and entertaining as fuck!

[Heewack]

111. AAR is done unfortunately.

They have no cash. Franken says he hasn't been paid for a good while. Here in Autin they don' have any viable commercial income.