Liberal talk-radio network Air America gets off the ground today, broadcasting on five stations in Southern California, New York, Chicago, and Portland. I'll be astounded if they ever seriously compete with Rush Limbaugh's Excellence in Broadcasting network -- which airs on more than 600 stations nationwide -- but we'll find out!
From the article, it sounds like they're half-filling their line-up with B-list comedians.
For example, its midmorning show, which begins tomorrow at 9, will have as its hosts Lizz Winstead, a comedian and a creator of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, and Chuck D, the frontman for the rap group Public Enemy.Eh, come on.They will be followed at noon by Mr. Franken, the "Saturday Night Live" alumnus who has evolved into a satirist, and whose co-host is Katherine Lanpher from Minnesota Public Radio. Martin Kaplan, a communications professor at the University of Southern California, will be the host of a one-hour show about the news media in the early evening.
He will be followed, from 8 to 11 p.m., by Ms. Garofalo, whose main experience in radio was playing the role of a talk-show host for pet owners in the 1996 film "The Truth About Cats and Dogs," and by Mr. Seder, who has worked as a comedian, screenwriter and filmmaker.
Meanwhile, the sometimes amusing (but often bizarrely irritating) Janeane Garofalo apparently mocks herself by uttering some vitriolic comments and then pontificating on how "nice" liberals are.
Among others, Ms. Garofalo and Mr. Seder poked fun at Mr. Bush's former spokesman Ari Fleischer ("Is he not shoveling coal in hell now?" Mr. Seder asked); Karl Rove, the president's senior adviser and political strategist (said by Ms. Garofalo to be pursuing "the elusive 18-25 Klan demo"); and Vice President Dick Cheney. (Mr. Seder said he felt sure that he could see Mr. Cheney's hand moving Mr. Bush's mouth on "Meet the Press" earlier this year.) ...I listen to Rush, Sean Hannity, and some local conservative hosts (like John and Ken) for a few minutes here and there while I'm driving, and I've never heard any of them condemn anyone to Hell. They never compare anyone to Nazis or bring up the KKK (except when mentioning Democratic Senator Robert Byrd who actually was a Klan recruiter). I think the reason some people see conservatives as "uncompassionate" is because we don't promise the impossible and then rob other people to try to pay for it."It's not like we're here to say we're going to be as nasty as right-wingers," Ms. Garofalo said in an interview. "On the left, traditionally, you've got a nicer type of person. You've got a person who is more willing to engage in conversations that have context and nuance, who tend to have more educable minds."
Good post. I came across this subject yesterday, and had heard the buzz about it a few months ago, I didn't think it would amount to much.
I don't personally claim either camp (Republican or Democrat), but honestly fall more agreeable with the right. To some extent, I believe they each act like arguing children on a regular basis- but I have observed liberal pundits as much more likely to incite hateful themes and arguments.
I too listen to Rush, Hannity, and I dig Michael Savage.
Here's the one problem I forsee with the liberal talk radio:
I have observed that a majority of listeners that I know, regardless of political affiliation, seem to agree with the comments of conservative talk radio. If you don't tell them who they're listening to, they might be surprised to find out they're rooting for "the other side's" spokespeople. When the liberals start talking, it may backfire on them when radio listeners begin to notice that they have plenty of fire and brimstone, and absolutely no solutions. Throw in the typical acceptance of hotbed issues like "gay marriage" and "pro-choice" (oops, I meant murder), and I would betcha 5 to 1 odds these stations die on the vine.
All in all, I do respect this turn of events- radio needs to be a fair market, and every viewpoint should have the right to be expressed. That being said, I am sure that is exactly what will be their un-doing.
Sean Hannity's book "Deliver Us from Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism and Liberalism" clearly implies that Hannity thinks liberals are evil, as well as equates liberals with terrorists. Hannity also can't mention Ted Kennedy without immitating a drunk. Hannity is nicer than Limbaugh, Savage, and Coulter, though.
From NewsMax.com:
"...In Rush Limbaugh's liberal radio network parody "The Tom Daschle Show," the Senate Minority Leader-turned-temporary radio host is frustrated when his only caller turns out to be none other than former Vice President Al Gore.
On Wednesday, Limbaugh's radio parody seemed to come to life with the debut of the "O'Franken Factor" on the brand new liberal radio network "Air America."
Despite a stellar guest list that included 9/11 Commissioner Bob Kerrey and radical filmmaker Michael Moore, callers for Franken and co-host Katherine Lanpher were few and far between. And when the board did light up near the end of the broadcast, it was Al Gore on the line.
"We have a call," a relieved-sounding Franken announced.
Lanpher quickly corrected him, declaring, "We have more than just a caller. Former Vice President Al Gore joins us from Nashville, Tennessee. Hello, Vice President..."
Need I say more?
JT: Some aspects of modern liberalism are evil, but that's a far cry from demonizing specific individuals. Plus, Ted Kennedy is a drunk, who's directly responsible for at least one untimely death, even if you don't want to consider it manslaughter. That's just a fact.
Following Hannity's example, every time I mention first lady Laura Bush I should remind people that she once negligently caused the death (auto mishap) of another human being.
Every time Newt Gingrich made a policy proposal, I should have mentioned that he served divorce papers on his wife while she was in the hospital. Every time Bush speaks on terrorism I should bring up that he used to be a drunk.
Joel, you obviously don't listen to Sean Hannity. He has said repeatedly that you can be friends with liberals, go to dinner, etc. It is when they have power that they and their ideas are dangerous. He attacks their ideas, not the individuals. Yes, he makes jokes about some liberals but he doesn't wish them ill (or as some liberals have stated, dead). Surely you can see the difference between that and what we're hearing from the new liberal talk network.
Actualy, Karen, you are a liar, for I listen to Hannity almost every day on AM 690 out of Independence, Kansas. And don't tell me that Hannity doesn't wish Byrd or Kennedy ill. No, he doesn't wish them dead, but neither does he treat them as human beings. Yes, Hannity is friends with Colmes, but that's because Colmes is a pushover.
I get your point, though. It is about how close we come to the edge of disrespecting someone's humanity. The title of Hannity's book comes close to equating the person to the belief. One of the reasons the North was so vicious againt the South by way of the "reconstruction" was that it came to confuse opposition to slavery with personal righteousness, such that they saw themselves (Northerners) as good, and Southerners as evil.
Joel,
It is truly disturbing that you are willing to argue that there is some sort of moral equivalence between divorcing someone or being involved in a car ACCIDENT and driving a car off a bridge while drunk and leaving your passenger to drown in order to further your own political ends.
Lance,
Hopefully and prayerfully, God will have more grace toward your 35-year-old sins than you have toward others.
JT: It's not about grace, it's about moral character. Ted Kennedy has never apologized, never been punished, never admitted any wrongdoing. He's totally and amazingly unfit for any position of leadership. I'd never trust him alone in my house or with my family. It's not a long-past issue, because he's never dealt with it.
Michael,
I doubt that you would leave your family alone with me, either. Whatever.
Nice, adult rebuttal, Joel. What are you going to tell us next, that her pants are on fire?
JT: Well I don't know you, but you seem like a reasonably trustworthy person. Based on what I know about you, and a favorable face-to-face meeting, I wouldn't have many reservations leaving my hypothetical family with you.
Xrlq -
Your response to Joel has made me laugh on an otherwise dull day. :)
Rush Limbaugh called 13 year old Chelsea Clinton "the White House" dog.
Oh sure he apologized later, but the set-up to the "joke" made it obvious that it was no mixup.
Limbaugh said "everyone knows the White House has a cat, Socks, but did you know there is a White House dog, too?"
He then flashed a picture of Chelsea, wearing braces and looking awkward, in that 13 year old way, to much laughter from his conservative audience.
Now, you tell me, what was he going to flash up there on the screen instead?
JA: I didn't hear about that, but assuming what you say is true, it wasn't very nice. When did Rush ever "flash" anything up on any screen? During his short-lived television show?
"Rush Limbaugh called 13 year old Chelsea Clinton "the White House" dog."
False.
"Oh sure he apologized later, but the set-up to the "joke" made it obvious that it was no mixup."
False. There was no "set up" to this. Rush was doing a segment on In/Out lists that were coming out by the dozens at the time in magazines, newspaper columns, etc.
"Limbaugh said "everyone knows the White House has a cat, Socks, but did you know there is a White House dog, too?""
False. Limbaugh said no such thing.
"He then flashed a picture of Chelsea, wearing braces and looking awkward, in that 13 year old way, to much laughter from his conservative audience."
False.
"Now, you tell me, what was he going to flash up there on the screen instead?"
Transcript of the Rush Limbaugh tv show from lexis nexis (Rush was doing a segment on In/Out lists that were coming out by the dozens in newspaper columns and magazines):
Copyright 1992 Multimedia Entertainment, Inc.
RUSH LIMBAUGH
SHOW: RUSH LIMBAUGH (9:00 PM ET)
November 6, 1992, Friday 11:15 AM
LIMBAUGH: Thank you. This show's era of dominant influence is just beginning. We are now the sole voice of sanity, the sole voice of reason. We are the sole voice of opposition on all television. This is the only place you can tune to to get the truth of the opposition of the one-party dictatorial government that now will soon run America. Oh, I mean, we are only beginning to enjoy dominance and prosperity. Most of these things on the in-out list are not even funny, but a couple of them--one of them in particular is.
David Hinckley of--of the New York Daily News wrote this, and what he has--he's got--it's very strange. He says, In: A cute kid in the White House. Out: Cute dog in the White House.' Could--could we see the cute kid? Let's take a look at--see who is the cute kid in the White House.
(A picture is shown of Millie the dog)
LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) No, no, no. That's not the kid.
(Picture shown of Chelsea Clinton)
LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) That's--that's the kid. We're trying to...
Ausman is indeed a liar.
Doing a google search reveals that Jim Ausman is all over the internet spreading his phony version of events, claiming that he saw the incident in question "with his own eyes". Baloney.
I watched Limbaugh's show 5 days a week for the entire 4 years it was on and Ausman's description of events simply did not happen.