Randi hasn't been on the air for over a week now

[Cyrano]

While I occasionally find her a pain in the ass, she's OUR pain in the ass.

Does anyone know why she hasn't been on? Perhaps it's already been explained, but if so, I missed it. And I miss Randi.

[babylonsister]

1. From yesterday...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5038013

[Cyrano]

11. Thanks, babylonsister. That thread is informative but not conclusive.

I guess the real injustice/crime/abomination, is that there is more than enough room on radio, countrywide, for Limbaugh than there is for Randi Rhodes.

Limbaugh-World is not a place I want to visit or live in. My real dilemma is how we go about getting voices like Randi Rhodes' as much of a megaphone/microphone as that which the doped up, wingnut, blowhard lunatic has.

And we all know the answer. Clear Channel owns far too many stations. And that, in and of itself, damages freedom of speech and democracy.

The "Fairness doctrine" must be reinstated, as well as the rules that limit how much media (TV, radio, newspapers) any single corporation can own in a given area/region.

[Cato the Younger]

2. From the CEO of Nova M Radio

I can send you the actual e-mail from Anita at Nova M

"i can only tell the truth and not tell the actual issues as randi has complete control of what i say...so, today, after we tell the affiliates and the advertisers by calling them, it should be up on the website today in the morning...my husband has suffered a breakdown because of all this and is in the psych unit at evanston hospital...i'm so sorry we have failed all of you .... our dream was to have progressive talk so the nation could hear another voice...i guess we've failed...i'm so sorry.....anita"

It sounds like this is game over for NovaM radio.

[hlthe2b]

3. Geebus!

Whatever to say? My heavens...Is this for real? How is that you received it?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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

[Maat]

9. Oh, that is sad.

Best wishes, positive thoughts and prayers headed the Drobnys' way.

[Xenotime]

10. We need to legislate the Fairness Doctrine NOW!! This has to stop!!

[mountainvue]

13. That's horrible. I had no idea it had come to this n/t

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[Sebastian Doyle]

21. If Shelly Drobny's health is actually impacted by this, then I imagine there's far more to it.

I would imagine that the Drobnys are a a bit frustrated by the fact that Thom Hartmann recently signed a new deal with Dial Global, who bought the Jones radio network. Thom will be with them, and not Air America, effective April 1, I believe.

So from the Drobnys view, this would be extremely frustrating. Imagine you are the original founders of Air America. That company is ripped away from you and systematically ruined by right wing corporatists and DLC tools. Then you form a second company, and take a different approach, starting completely over, eventually landing the two veteran talk radio hosts that you started out with at the other place (that would be Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes). You resolve not to do much too fast and build this company slower.

Meanwhile some other company, which also broadcasts right wing "talent" (that would be Jones) is grabbing up all the advertising and affiliates. And then, the one remaining radio veteran who joined Air America early on, Thom Hartmann, signs a deal with these guys instead of you. And maybe, just possibly, they're trying to take Randi away as well?

Granted, this is all speculation on my part. But given the timing, it's a good theory.

Shelly & Anita seem like good people, from all I've heard of them (most of it from Mike Malloy) and I'd hate to see them lose a second network. :evilfrown:

[bdamomma]

25. oh my that is terrible. Can we do something to help.

[Cato the Younger]

27. Call into the show and ask on the air where Randi is at

Say where you are from and mention you want to talk about the plane crash. As soon as you get through just ask "WHERE IS RANDI?!?!?"

Storm the Bastille!!!!

[arthritisR_US]

28. I'd be asking about/for Jeff Farias before I'd ever ask for her. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

31. The Drobnys have spent a lot of time and sweat on all these networks

Radio is imploding right now. Many companies are on the verge of bankruptcy and the little guys don't stand a chance. Sheldon and Anita have poured a ton of their money into making Progressive Radio happen, I really wish them all the best. They deserve better.

Quick take...sounds like Randy took what she could...and no guarantees she'll stick with WJNO. Not because of Randi, but the situation all these stations are facing. I know she needs the insurance and the fact she actually got Cheap Channel to bring her on full time is surprising considering how they let 10% of their staff go on inauguration day.

Cheers and welcome to DU...

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. There is a somewhat vague statement on the NovaM website

STATEMENT ON THE RANDi RHODES SHOW

Nova M continues its efforts to rectify the technical problems that have caused an interruption in Randi's ability to broadcast THE RANDI RHODES SHOW. Randi has made every effort to assist Nova M in order that the show can be returned to the air immediately. However, despite her daily concern and intervention, there is nothing more that Randi and her team can do. We truly regret the inconvenience resulting from this situation, and hope to have it solved without further delay.

Thank you for your continued support.

- Randi Rhodes and Anita Drobny

So the problem apparently originates with the radio station in Florida from which Randi's show is broadcast. On Randi's board some people have said that Mush Limpdick has been "on vacation" lately as well, and his show comes from the same station in Florida, which is a Clear Channel affiliate. I don't listen to the Oxycontin Eater, so I don't know if that's the case or not.

[Cato the Younger]

5. I got my e-mail Friday Morning

Keep checking the Nova M radio website it should be updated today.

I am not a huge fan of Randi but I am a huge fan of Mike Malloy. What worries me is that should Nova M go down they will take Malloy with them. And he is the only true hard-core lefty on the radio. Dark days are coming boys and girls, dark and dismal days......

I don't have enough posts but e-mail me at [e-mail] and I can forward the actual e-mail from Anita. Mike Malloy forwarded me another e-mail from Anita earlier this week so I am pretty sure it is legit.

[MADem]

12. This is what it says...it makes no sense to me.

STATEMENT ON THE RANDi RHODES SHOW

Nova M continues its efforts to rectify the technical problems that have caused an interruption in Randi's ability to broadcast THE RANDI RHODES SHOW. Randi has made every effort to assist Nova M in order that the show can be returned to the air immediately. However, despite her daily concern and intervention, there is nothing more that Randi and her team can do. We truly regret the inconvenience resulting from this situation, and hope to have it solved without further delay.

Thank you for your continued support.

- Randi Rhodes and Anita Drobny
http://www.novamradio.com/live/

Time to bring back the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE. Bill Press has something to say about that:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602511.html

[Arkansas Granny]

26. I checked the NovaM site just a few minutes ago and that statement is now gone.

It hasn't been replaced with anything else at this time.

Edit: I just saw that someone else had posted that info below.

[TheUnspeakable]

32. is this for real? people on Randi's board think it's fake

did you you really get this email? I don't know the Drobnys personally, but I live in the same town and have seen them give a lecture-we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude

[Garbo 2004]

20. That statement was posted earlier this week. It was just removed from NovaM's site.

What that signifies... :shrug:

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. Hopefully, it means Randi's back?

We'll know, if the Boobies start bouncing in about 10 minutes.

[Cato the Younger]

23. I hope she is back

But her website is not updated and less than two minutes to going live.........

Nevermind, I just shut off the live stream. At least Nancy is talking about the plane crash again; we haven't heard enough about that in the past day.....

So what day are we going to agree that liberal talk radio died? I think it was Wednesday of last week?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. I'm a cynic but I thought that they were using these "technical difficulties"

as a cover for Randi's "illness." With all of her coughing, time off, etc., I actually think Randi is sick. (She is has had more days off or out of work due to illness than any talk radio host I know.)

At any rate, I love Randi. I think she is rude sometimes to people and has some ego issues, a la Franken and Schultz, but I do love her. I think she is one of the most brilliant minds on radio today.

[dflprincess]

14. If "technical difficulties" are keeping Randi off the air

why are the able to broadcast the person sitting in for her? :shrug:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. Exactly. But I think the "technical difficulties" claim is directed at her

Clear Channel broadcast in Florida. This would explain why these same difficulties are not hindering Malloy's show. There's something going on down there in Florida.

[Orsino]

17. Right. "Technical difficulties" aren't keeping her from calling in on a cell...

...to assure us she's all right. I suppose that whatever is really going on is, technically, a difficulty.

I hope it's nothing more serious than a bad case of contract negotiation--which, according to Randi, is essentially why she left AAM.

[soothsayer]

7. contract renegotiation. relax. she will return.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. I'm relaxed. Just speculating...

:shrug:

[pnutbutr]

19. good

she's gotta be the worst of the worst radio hosts out there. She didn't last a month in the local market here. Two stations tried to air her show but nobody, and I mean nobody, listened. O'Reilly didn't last long either. :rofl:

I was gonna make a joke about her getting her teeth knocked out but figured I better not since my odd sense of humor doesn't go over well on DU most of the time.

[Cato the Younger]

24. AARRHHGG!!!! It's FRIDAY!!! And NO BOOBIES!!!!

GGRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

Let's storm the Bastile my friends!!! REVOLUTION!!!!

[Phoenix-Risen]

29. Check out the date of this lawsuit

and match that up with Randi's "technical difficulties".

John Manzo was Randi's executive producer, and had been Nova-M's CEO.

http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/CivilCourtCases/caseInfo.asp?caseNumber=CV2009-003470

[MiniMe]

37. But what is the lawsuit about?

[Occam Bandage]

30. Must be on a hell of a bender. nt

[Cato the Younger]

33. Statement that Anita at Nova M sent me

Yes, I am in the loop at this point. Here is what she asked me to post:

"thank you..... hope this sounds ok...so tired of people thinking that shelly and i did anything bad...we've tried so hard...anita

to all of randi's listeners....you are all right....i have not had
> the option to disclose what has been happening between randi and
> nova m....you see, it's in her contract that she has total
> control... but, after wednesday night, i want you all to know that nova
> m has done everything we can to get her back on the air...all, this
> is her choice...if she wants to tell you all what the issue is, then
> i hope she does...but i can't according to her contract rules...
> ....thank you all for all of your support and now randi has to make her decisions as
> to what she must do with her career...i just heard that she will be back on the air at her local station in florida....i didn't know that myself until the people at nova m just called and told me... anita"

Again, I think this is totally legit and certianly fits the facts. Since Mike Malloy has read my posts before on DU I hope he can shed some light on his show tonight if he can.

Bottom line, love her or hate her, this is a kick in the gut for Liberal Radio. I think we should try to do Co-op radio but I haven't a clue how to do that......

Of course, if you want the message forwarded to you let me know and I will.

[Garbo 2004]

35. Malloy read your posts on DU before? n/t

[spiderpig]

34. NovaM's updated their website (link)

http://www.novamradio.com/live/rhodes_about.php

[spiderpig]

36. Here's some info from Randi's SF Bay Area station's website

http://green960.com/pages/blog.html?feed=313154&article=5009873