Can you imagine that? -- I always thought that Alan Colmes looked like the Crypt Keeper. Having dinner with the undead... ewww.
Posted on 06/17/2008 10:57:48 AM PDT by raccoonradio
Fighting Ingraham's Battle, Activists Waste Valuable Time
At a time when conservatives face important political battles heading into November's election, one radio host would have the right waste valuable resources fighting for her lucrative syndication contract.
After playing her hand much too aggressively while courting a rival broadcast outfit, Laura Ingraham has found herself locked out at the Talk Radio Network, which has handled her show since an abrupt exit from Westwood One nearly five years ago.
While your Radio Equalizer certainly doesn't expect Ingraham to back down from her contention that she's done nothing wrong, attempting to drag the entire conservative movement into her contractual dispute is ridiculous.
Whether directly from Laura or via her lawyers and friends, this represents a profound misuse of the right's collective energy. Especially dubious are any assertions that the Talk Radio Network, a reliably conservative syndication outfit for many years, has shut her down for ideological reasons.
Not only is this absurd, it's frankly embarrassing. Already, some respected names on the right have been pulled in to this misguided "cause".
Today's Washington Post piece by Howard Kurtz underscores the silliness of this would-be crusade:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061602835.html
Laura Ingraham, the most popular woman on political talk radio, has been off the air for two weeks, and not by choice.
Ingraham's syndicator, Talk Radio Network, barred her from her Washington studio after talks about a new contract hit a snag, and some of her fans are mounting a campaign to get her back.
"The fact is, they took her off the air," says Eric Bernthal, her lawyer. "There's no doubt in my mind they did it as a tactic in contract negotiations."
Ingraham said on her Web site: "Rest assured, this absence is not of my choosing, nor is it health or family related. I am ready, willing and eager to continue the conversation we started seven years ago about politics and the culture. (Heck, if cancer couldn't keep me off the airwaves for long, nothing will.) . . . I would never voluntarily abandon you during such a critical time for our country." She declined a request for comment because of a confidentiality clause in her contract.
Neither Mark Masters, chief executive of Talk Radio Network, nor a lawyer for the company responded to requests for comment. Ingraham's five-year contract -- she previously worked for another radio company -- expires in September, and __she is contractually barred from negotiating with other syndicators until later this summer__.
-------------------------------------
Bingo! That's the apparent source of the dispute: early negotiating by Ingraham with Citadel- ABC stations based on earlier thinking that Sean Hannity's program would soon be leaving their stations. That alarmed Masters, who locked out Ingraham in a defensive move.
In a business where so many left- wing executives have moved to dilute conservative talk radio in order to suit their own partisan agendas, the last thing right- leaning activists need is a misguided crusade against a company that has done nothing to deserve it.
Ingraham has every right to push for the best deal she can within the conditions of her contract, but should leave the rest of us out of it.
from the Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061602835.html
“The Laura Ingraham Show” is carried by 340 stations, including Washington’s WTNT-AM. Since June 2, her voice has been heard only on taped promos and commercials. One week into the lockout, the industry magazine Talkers gave her its “Woman of the Year” award, with Masters standing nearby as she delivered her remarks at a New York party.
(snip)
It goes on to say that Talk Radio Network also
syndicates Michael Savage, Tammy Bruce, Jackie
Mason, and Mancow, and that Laura’s show ranks her
#5 behind Rush, Hannity, Savage, and Dr. Laura
Schlessinger (5 million listeners_
I wondered why she was off the air. I had thought maybe it was health or family, esp. since she just adopted a child.
But the details of these contracts are all “inside baseball” type information. Interesting that they can keep her off the air as part of contract negotiations, but apparently they can.
Who says? You Brian?
I'll be watching Laura tonight on Fox interviewing Rush Limbaugh!
Programming Alert: Today at 5PM ET, Rush will be a guest on Laura Ingraham's new Fox News Channel Show, "Just In."
Same thing happened with Boston’s Howie Carr last year.
Yesterday Fox News Channel started “just in” and one of
the possible permanent hosts (she’s being given a tryout,
for awhile) is Laura. It runs at 5 pm E.T. —and if you
have XM Satellite radio, you can hear it via Fox News
Channel audio (XM 121 I think)
I’m not Brian; the article above, except for the bit
of Kurtz, is from Brian Maloney’s blog. His opinions.
Dr. Laura was thrown off off her Chicago affiliate 5 years ago when she insisted on starting her TV show, which canabalized her radio show.
I haven’t listened since Monica Crowley took over. Just not fond of her.
There hadn’t been any discussion about it on her program by any of the substitute hosts and I don’t even recall seeing anything about it in her email “e-blasts”.
If the syndicate thinks that they are doing no wrong, they should have informed the listeners about this hitch rather than making it appear that she was out for “personal” reasons. Last week it was talk of “leaving” radio for tv (which does not appear to be her intention).
for later
OK.... :)
Yes, Crowley has said “Laura will be back” (but when,
and where? what if she sits out the whole summer and
then goes to a diff. outfit, poss. diff. time slot..?)
and she also assured listeners that Laura was well
(with no official announcement on air about Laura’s
status, many worried about her breast cancer)
He was afraid she'd leave his network so he locked her out? Makes no sense.
Laura's version of this, when it comes out, will be the one I trust.
Is Monica Crowley related to Candy Crowley of CNN? Just wondering, does anybody know?
Actually she may have bitten off more than she can chew. With a newly adopted child and the hour-long afternoon Fox show, when is she going to have time to host a three-hour long morning radio show?
Whew! Thanks for posting this, I thought her illness had returned.
Just a contract hassle.......that’s a good deal, that’s nothing compared to the big “C”.
And don’t forget..her sister married Alan Colmes...
Not sure, but she's Alan Colmes' sister-in-law. Love to be a fly on the wall at those family dinners ...
I listened for a while today ‘til she started harping about how “most Americans” agree that gays should have some sort of union...
I can barely tolerate Crowley.
I don’t think so. If she is, she probably doesn’t want to own up to it:)
She has the resources to hire the best child care, that is how she can juggle her busy schedule./Just Asking - seoul62......
Monica is one of those new fangled liberal republicans. All she does for me is irritate me.
So, I no longer listen.
That fact alone says her family leans toward the ugly left. Argh.
Can you imagine that? -- I always thought that Alan Colmes looked like the Crypt Keeper. Having dinner with the undead... ewww.
“I haven’t listened since Monica Crowley took over. Just not fond of her.”
I have my radio buttons in my truck set on Rush (AM radio) and Ingram (XM radio) and I go back and forth depending on whatever each may be talking about and my interest in either. So, I have been listening to Monica Crowley off and on while she has been filling in for Laura and I have to say that I like her as well and maybe even better as Laura tends to get off in the weeds from time to time...
That's not too surprising. I used to really like Laura, but she has become so full of herself that sometimes she's just unlistenable.
IMO, her show went south after Lee Habib left. That guy is good.
This too is a smoke screan. Laura and I have been playing John and Yoko on a Sleep Number Bed until John McCain steps aside to make room for a conservative to run for President.
Dr Jocelyn Crowley has degrees coming out the wazoo including her PHD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a Political Scientist who specializes in statistics based research (heavy on mathematical models) and writes research tomes on subjects such as Child Support and the Father’s Rights Movement.
Dr Jocelyn Crowley - Google Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Dr+Jocelyn+Crowley&btnG=Google+Search
http://bama.ua.edu/~sborrell/psc521/crowskocinterview.htm
She’s an egghead, and very beautiful (or so I’ve read).
I’m not sure how her marrying Colmes - as repulsive as I find Colmes and my revulsion is as much personal as political - proves that either she or Monica are Leftists.
Hannity has a nightly show with Colmes but disagrees with him on virtually everything. He insists that though wrong on the issues, Colmes is a good guy. I don’t understand Hannity’s relationship with Colmes or his kind words about him, but I know that this doesn’t make Hannity a Leftist.
In terms of marriage, Mary Matalin married Carville. I find Carville even more personally revolting than politically, but as little as I understand her choice I know it doesn’t make her a Leftist.
Whatever she was before marrying Carville, I’m not aware that she changed into more Leftist views after marrying him, which some might think would be the case even if not true prior to marrying him.
‘I haven’t listened since Monica Crowley took over. Just not fond of her’
Isn’t Monica Crowleys sister married to Alan Columbs (sp?)
wish I had read further before I posted my question
Well, I appreciate your information, I was just kind of joking. I still am not too fond of Monica.
Thanks
Seems to be a required trait to do a radio talk show. Maybe the one exception I can think of is Bob Grant.
BUMP!
The question then is, why adopt a child if you are going to hand it off to child care? Reminds me of those working professionals where the wife has a child and then immediately hires a nanny. I believe in the advice of that OTHER Laura, if you have a child, it is YOUR responsibility to raise it. The only difference is that she didn't use a sperm donor to get the child.
Unfortunately I think her show is pretty boring and just cannot listen to it. She’s better on TV, radio isn’t her thing.
The vibe that I get from her is that she would rather remain single with child. When you are that wrapped up in your career and in the limelight, it is hard to let go./Just Asking - seoul62.......
Let’s not start another ridiculous discussion about how wrong and evil it is that Laura adopted a child as a single mother. Look for volumes of other threads for that issue.
It is entirely possible to successfully and lovingly raise an adopted child as a single mother while doing so with minimal help AND having a career in broadcasting. It doesn’t mean “someone else is raising her child” or that she is in daycare all day long. Laura has plenty of financial resources to have a room specially made adjacent to her office at work with a wonderful nanny to help her in between being on the air. She is raising her daughter, and she doesn’t hate men.
I, as a single Christian first time, never married single homeschooling mother of four siblings, adopted all four through foster care, and we are thriving in every way. God is providing a husband/daddy very soon for us — a man who loves all five of us, and who is coming in God’s time and His time alone. I have some wonderful, stable, interesting, educated, loving dads / husbands through church and neighborhood and community who mentor and help me with the children in many ways — who provide examples of “real men” my children are learning from that I want in their lives. The Daddy will come soon. Until then, our circle of family and friends is rich and deep. And my four children have the focus of a Mommy 24/7, who gave up a career I could not juggle with keeping these four young siblings together. They came from hell, and no other two-parent family wanted them — not even 1 or 2 of them. They have no medical problems, and are happy, well-adjusted children who were deeply wounded, but who are responding to my love and care and affection very well.
I’m SICK of hearing criticism of Laura adopting this one little girl. Leave her alone. And be happy for this daughter from WHATEVER country she came from that Laura Ingraham is her Momma now. She is a fantastic example of the kind of woman that little girl will want to be someday.
Just be happy for them BOTH.
Obviously you haven’t watched Monica and Alan Colmes debate on FOX and she lets him have it.
I listen to her at 6am and she like Laura are great Conservatives
You might think so, I do not. I don’t consider McCain supporters “great conservatives”.
Hah, in fact that makes me laugh!
McCain is a democrat and will govern like a democrat.
Nice try.
Let’s be honest, she does have the resources to afford the best childcare, otherwise how could she work? Most jobs will not allow you to bring your children to work. All I voiced were my opinions, this is an open forum, correct? I was not being violent or racist, no? Critical and open discussion is an integral part in an open society. I have heard good and bad things directed toward me, because who am I to silence those voices? As a Fellow Sister In Christ, I hold no bitterness toward you, we are just of a different mind on this subject matter. Go In Christ, He Is The Light Of This World!!!!!!!/Just Asking - seoul62.......
To bad you didn’t read my tag line
Sounds like business, and not personal at all to me. An accurate headline on the Blog might be nice.
Fighting Ingraham's Battle, Activists Waste Valuable Time
Who's been doing that? The Blog is the first outside commentary I've even heard, so who's wasting energy?
At a time when conservatives face important political battles heading into November's election, one radio host would have the right waste valuable resources fighting for her lucrative syndication contract.
The only comment I've ever heard her make is that she can't and won't comment on it.
After playing her hand much too aggressively while courting a rival broadcast outfit,
source of the info, please?
Laura Ingraham has found herself locked out at the Talk Radio Network, which has handled her show since an abrupt exit from Westwood One nearly five years ago.
What's the point of saying she left Westwood abruptly? Was this improper in some way?
While your Radio Equalizer certainly doesn't expect Ingraham to back down from her contention that she's done nothing wrong,
Maybe she hasn't done anything wrong. Talking to other businesses about opportunities is not a contract negotiation by any stretch of the imagination. Do you have some proof there were actual terms and conditions discussed?
attempting to drag the entire conservative movement into her contractual dispute is ridiculous.
As are hyperbolic statements like this one. I don't feel dragged into the discussion, and I don't know any other conservatives who do. Exactly who is out there trying to drag the entire conservative movement into LI's contract negotiations? Names and examples, please.
I don't know anything about Laura Ingraham's contract circumstances, but this seems like a preemptive press release by her contractor, and little else to me. As for any of this being "personal" it sure doesn't sound personal at all: it's just business. This inaccuracy is particularly misleading because so many of her listeners have been speculating about whether her hiatus is personal: child or cancer related.
It is very clever to hide behind your faith while you say (as you are perfectly entitled to do in this country) “she does have the resources to afford the best childcare, otherwise how could she work?” and “The vibe that I get from her is that she would rather remain single with child. When you are that wrapped up in your career and in the limelight, it is hard to let go..”
All VERY judgmental statements cleverly hid behind “I’m only giving my opinion”. THAT is what a ton of threads have previously been devoted to the topic of Laura Ingraham’s adopting as a single parent, AND her current challenges with her contract. If we DO claim the name of Christ, we should at least be forthright about our opinions and accept responsibility for our speech.
Your statements about her are QUITE accusatory and judgmental — is all I’m saying. Oh, and also quite sarcastic.
I gave my opinion, if she wants to remain single and adopt a child, the best to her./Just Asking - seoul62.......
I was a Hunter supporter too. I cannot move on from Hunter to McCain, sorry. People who are in politics have to come behind the person chosen in order to still have a chance within the party.
Since I am not one of them, I don’t have to worry about a future in politics. There really is no way to go from Hunter to McCain. Hunter,
I am sure, really knows that, but he is doing what he has to do.
Monica and I are not on the same page, she is a McCain supporter, which turns me off. Why? McCain is no conservative and it does not take a rocket scientist to know it. I am sorry I cannot tow the GOP line. Problem is, the GOP has become something I can no longer support.
Heh heh heh, that comment was almost Laz-like!
Ed
Laz,....where have I heard that name, Laz?
Last time I saw Laz was the “Count The Silverware Inaugural Ball” in 2001. Great video he put together.
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