It's still the media - the only thing on radio is right wing talk

[Patiod]

at least in Philadelphia. A "blue" city, with no ARA and no Pacific. Nothing but right wing talk (and a few African-American talk stations).

My book club is made up of a mix of Dem's and Republicans, and someone last night said "I was listening to Micheal Smerconish yesterday - does anyone else listen to him?" and I was the only one who didn't. He's a right wing ranter of the O'Reilly ilk (he has subbed for O'Reilly).

Katrina and 3000+ casualties are finally getting people to just begin to think that maybe, just maybe, this particular administration might possibly not know what it's doing.

But meanwhile, the O'Reilly and Smerconishs will continue to hammer home the conservative agenda, and mainstream outlets like "Good Morning America" will present people like Glenn Beck as legitimate news analysts, and when this evil, corrupt regime is gone, the hard right agenda will keep moving forward, thanks to its ironclad grip on the media.

[fasttense]

1. Well I can understand it here in the red, red zone of TN

but Philadelphia? I had no idea it was as bad as that. Monopoly media is just so very, very boring.

[maxrandb]

5. When I was stationed in California

I was driving down the "five" one day and was at a spot where you could get Rush' show on three different AM stations, all at the same time.

It's the same no matter where you are. And I'm not sure how you fix it. Think of the "Bluest of Blue" places...New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Bangor, Boston, Seattle, etc...and you will find a monopoly of "right-wing" hate on the radio. Hell, even the local hosts are wing-nuts.

It's the "cookie-cutter" factor. Just like the explosion of reality TV shows, radio stations saw that a blustery host railing against "LIE-berals" and parroting Repub talking points could pull in a steady audience. Soon every station was looking for someone who could "out-wingnut" the "wing-nuttiest".

It's something that I just "can't get my arms around" (as we say in the Navy). Why are radio stations willfully ignoring 50% of the consumers in this country. It seems to me, that "liberal talk", for lack of a better word, would be much more successful in San Francisco than O'Reily.

It's either dumb business practice, or purposeful propaganda. I'm thinking it's the latter.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Irony My Dear

Despite the constant stream of marching orders and instructions spewed forth nationwide, conservatives lost big time in the last election. Right wing hate radio has roared ever since ray-gun did away with that nasty fairness doctrine. Now there is talk of bringing it back and the right wing haters are whining in unison - If we have to be fair we won't be able to survive. Helluva campaign slogan.

I remember way back in the early 60's when WIBG and WFIL were the rock and roll powerhouses in town. My granpa got me a transistor radio in 63, about the size of a loaf of bread. I was the king of the universe.

[Patiod]

3. I was a little girl then, but I remember my brother playing them

in my mom's Dodge Dart convertible.

Now WFIL is "The Big Talker" and home of Micheal Smerconish -- so much power you can probably get the signal down there in Mississippi!

[NI4NI]

4. I tune the Smurf in early

on 1210 AM for a few minutes, before I switch over to the "oldies" or to "Opie & Anthony".
We have the same radio problem down here in Delaware, Right Wing Republican Radio of as I consider it "The Media Madrassa".
Regarding books, I'm currently reading David Brock's (MMFA) "The Republican Noise Machine". It's very disturbing to read about how the Media Madrassa's with it's many mouthpieces came into power, where they came from, and who finances them; But even more, it's sickening to read some of their quotes.

[Patiod]

6. That's a great term for it!

Media Madrassa.

I get frustrated that WFIL is the radio station that carries the Phils, so we have to listen to ads for all the rightwing loonies on "The Big Talker" when we just want to hear a game.

I got to meet David Brock and hear him speak at a Bartcop party - as you know, the guy knows the Machine from the inside.