LIB-eral talk network draws community's ire

NY Daily News ^ | 3/31/04 | David Hinckley

[jimbo123]

The progressive talk network Air America kicks off today, hoping to give nonconservatives a daily place to roast their ideological opposites.

Just the way conservatives do now.

Air America can be heard locally on WLIB (1190 AM), over XM satellite radio or by Internet at airamericaradio.com.

While the network hopes to stir controversy, it already has some here that it probably doesn't want.

A community rally is planned tomorrow night at 7 at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 Odell Clark Place, to protest the loss of WLIB's talk and Caribbean programming. The Coalition of Artists and Activists wants a boycott of the new network.

"Air America is in no way offering a satisfactory substitute for local community programming," says Bob Law, a veteran radio personality and long-time activist.

He says the Coalition has two major concerns: "the scapegoating of the black community" for the financial problems that led WLIB to make a lease deal with Air America, and the way he says Air America has taken advantage of a situation created by racism.

"We have no doubt WLIB isn't making money," says Law. "But that's not because the community isn't listening. It's because Arbitron does not record that listening and because advertisers won't pay what they should to reach those listeners.

"It's a system that leaves AM stations like WLIB vulnerable, and Air America is taking advantage of that vulnerability."

The least Air America should do, says Law, "is hire a prominent, respected, forceful host from our community."

He also says that if WLIB ends up being sold, "It should be offered first to buyers from our community."

Air America's lineup includes Marc Maron, Sue Ellicott and WLIB's Mark Riley, 6-9 a.m.; Lizz Winstead, Chuck D and Rachel Maddow, 9 a.m.-noon; Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher, noon-3 p.m.; Randi Rhodes, 3-7 p.m.; Marty Kaplan, 7-8 p.m.; and Janeane Garofalo with Sam Seder, 8-11 p.m.

Chuck D is reportedly signed for the first three months.

WLIB will carry local programs midnight-5 a.m. Nationally, Air America will be heard in about 20% of the country, including Chicago and Los Angeles.

[jimbo123]

Liberals protesting liberals. Gotta love it.

[FreedomPoster]

There are deep divisions just waiting to fully form in the Left. For just one instance, in general, blacks are not at all keen on gay marriage, yet this is being pushed pretty strongly by the Left.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

You haven't hear the good part. In order to hear live audio streaming of the shows, they make people sign up at their site. Hannity doesn't even make people do that. Trolling the lib sites, I find that they have to send an email back to the new user. It seems the site is so overloaded, it's taking a while.

[Guillermo]

Heard this morning that Vernon Jones may run for Congress.

Anyone But McKinney!

I'd much rather vote in the GOP Primary this year, although I may still get my chance because there will probably be a run-off in the Senate Primary race. Are we allowed to vote in the GOP run-off if we didn't vote in the regular primary?

[smiley]

Station letters should be: WLIE.

[mware]

LOL this is going to be sweet.

Marc Maron, Sue Ellicott and WLIB's Mark Riley, 6-9 a.m. going against Curtis and Kuby at WABC radio NYC

; Lizz Winstead, Chuck D and Rachel Maddow, 9 a.m.-noon going against John Gambling

; Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher, noon-3 p.m. going against El Rushbo

; Randi Rhodes, 3-7 p.m.going against Sean Hannity

; Marty Kaplan, 7-8 p.m. going against THE GREAT ONE, "hold on now"

; and Janeane Garofalo with Sam Seder, 8-11 p.m.going against Monica Crowley, Laura Ingram and John Alexander.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It even gets better. Leftists are having problems logging in and the server may have crashed. One even suggested that we did a DOS attack on them. LOL.

[mewzilla]

Talk about pouring (someone else's) money down a 'Rat hole...

[Shut up and take it]

The show slogan could be "All anger-- all of the time!"

[Loyal Buckeye]

There is no way that some of these individuals are in this for the long run. After the election, they will be gone.

The question is, will this network be called "hate radio"?

[alrea]

The progressive talk network Air America kicks off today, hoping to give nonconservatives a daily place to roast their ideological opposites.

are these guys are trying to put Rather Jennings Brokejaw CBS ABS NBS CNN Ted Turner and all out of business?

[MattMa]

Got this from when I tried to connect to the server.

Server Error
The server encountered an internal error and was unable to complete your request.
JRun Connector Protocol Error.

[FreedomPoster]

I think if you vote in the Dem primary, you won't be able to vote in the Rep run-off.

Right now, we have Jihawd Cyndy and a Lesbian. Great.

I've been pretty underwhelmed with Vernon Jones.

I'm not sure we shouldn't just put Cyndy back in, to discredit anyone remotely associated with her politically. Not really, but I'm so disgusted with the whole thing, I just can't take it.

[TomGuy]

I have a feeling that 2-3 hours of "Bush is bad. Kerry has a plan. Bush is bad. Kerry has a plan. Bush is bad. Kerry has a plan." will get old in short order.

Unless they have some substance other than ranting and spewing the dailyDemtalkingpointsmemo, they won't have enough listeners to pay the bills in 4 months.

I watched for 2 days as J Garofolo subbed last summer on either CNN or MSNBC. (I seldom watch either of those networks). With the live audience, Garofolo couldn't even follow the discussion. She was constantly fumbling with her script. When the discussion got off script, she was lost. Of course, the lib radio can always bring out the heavy guns is necessary. Remember how Phil Donahue brought throngs of viewers to MSNBC. Remember? Lib radio may last a bit longer than Phil's return to talk, but the radio probably won't last much beyond 6 months--a lack of listeners = a last of revenue = a loss of stations.

[Drango]

Pssssst....spread the word....Al Franken is a racist.

[StriperSniper]

and John Alexander.

That's John Batchelor, it was Paul Alexander. ;-)

I just heard about two minutes of John last night and he was saying something about it being very possible that WMD stocks have been found, but not secured, thus no official word. Some speculation that Israel may end up destroying at least some of them this summer since they are so close to their border (hint, hint, Bakka Valley). I know, sounds like Debka, but who knows, it makes more sense than 'they didn't exist'.

[SwatTeam]

I find it hilarious that the libs named their network Air America. Wasn't that a CIA cover during the 60's? Are they showing some subtle humor here? Naaahhhhhhhhh

[StriperSniper]

but the radio probably won't last much beyond 6 months

I give it nine, it will last until after the post election fight.(You know it's coming) :(

That is all they want, an end around of campaign finance rules.

[Musket]

Yup, putting all those fine Caribbean-Americans(NY), Korean-Americans(LA) and Mexican-Americans(Chicago) out of work. Just literally throwing them out on the street! Those COLD HEARTED B*STARDS! WHA - I thought the Democrats were FOR the minorities? Oh Lord what is going on here??? LOL!!!!!

[mware]

I stand corrected. I never could sort those two out when they were on the radio, a conservative democrate and a liberal republican, what a hoot.

Being serious though, even John Loftus said that the Dem's should steer clear of making comments on WMD. He thinks they exist.

[Guillermo]

At least Vernon Jones has a name.

I do not want McKinney back in, But I simply doubt that a non-Democrat movement like the one we saw last election could be mobilized.

[wtc911]

Libs fighting libs....just wait until the ability to identify a "gay" gene is realized, if that turns out true. The left will implode once the first abortion to avoid having a gay child occurs. Gays, using the threat of extinction and using words like holocaust, will fight for the rights of unborn gay-gene-identified feti. The feminists will be forced to take the opposing position or else acknowledge that any gay fetus and by extension all feti do have rights...bye-bye RvW....or Hello to the newly Conservative pro-life gays.

As for Bob Law, this is sour grapes. He's as liberal as Fidel Castro. WWRL, the outlet over which he broadcasts, is even smaller than LIB. LIB is owned by inner-city, a broadcasting conglomeration founded by Percy Sutton with folks like David Dinkins and Jesse Jackson on board from the beginning.

Black politics in NYC is split into two long-fighting camps, Brooklyn and Harlem. There are generations of bad blood between the two camps which is why NYC is not another Atlanta or Detroit. Bob Law and his protege Gary Byrd (an incredibly self-absorbed idiot who was fired by LIB) are in the Brooklyn camp.

Mark Riley is a sophomoric boob who is worse at follow-up than Sean. Riley's typical response to any statement that should lead to a line of further questioning is "Hmmmm, interesting". He will impress nobody.

Lib radio has one goal and it is not long term survival. They need, in their plan, to be around only until third week November.

[Loyal Buckeye]

"I find it hilarious that the libs named their network Air America. Wasn't that a CIA cover during the 60's? Are they showing some subtle humor here?"

Yep, Air America is short for Air Head?

[StriperSniper]

I know, it took me months to get them straight, you never knew who was on which side of what. ;-)

You know, it might have been Loftus that he had on.

[FreedomPoster]

Hey, don't compare ATL to Detroit. There's actually a mayor who's trying to clean things up down there, and there is still have a substantial white residential presence in the city limits.

[Pharmboy]

I agree with them: they need voices from the African American community. They can start with Larry Elder, Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell (Sowell actually grew up in Harlem, IIRC).

[mware]

By the way did you ever hear why they dumped Paul Alexander from the show???

[Crazieman]

Yeah, but then Batchelor had on the guy who wrote the House of Bush and didn't challenge him, and THEN he had on someone from The Nation magazine.

I stuck a CD in instead. They replaced Laura for this guy? :/

[Musket]

We just heard Bob Marley's "Get Up Stand Up". Now playing "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" Yeesh. These people are stuck in a time warp. Yawn.

[TomGuy]

Now, doesn't this make you excited? Look at these faces. TG they went radio and not TV. They look much better on radio.

Drug-Free Radio Liars beware: Al Franken, co-host Katherine Lanpher and Team O'Franken invite you to spend three hours a day in the Zero Spin Zone. Weekdays noon-3pm Repeat: 11pm-2am

The Right has had its say for the last three years. Now, on "The Majority Report", co-hosts Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder have theirs. Our side just got a little bit louder. Weekdays 8pm-11pm

Randi brings her own brand of provocative and infectiously humorous talk to Air America Radio. Weekdays 3pm-7pm Repeat: 2am-6am

Unfiltered is co-hosted by Lizz Winstead, Chuck D, and Rachel Maddow. This uncompromising program puts politics and culture through the ringer, uncensored and unfiltered. Weekdays 9am-Noon

[Pietro]

Yes, its beautiful when the libs are forced to live in the upside down world they created.

Just so I understand what's going on: 1) the existing radio station caters to the "Carabean community" and is losing money (d@mn those racists at Arbitron),2) so they sold it to a fabricated liberal network which is a wholly owned subsidary of the DNC that has no plans to make money, and 3)the "community" feels that instead of being sold to out of town losers, the local losers should have been given a shot at not making money first.

I'm hoping that the local losers make life extremely hot for the out-of-town losers to the point that the entire circus tent collapses on their collective heads.

All in all this is an excellent way for the libs to piss away valuable campaign contributions AND alienate a sizable portion of their base at the same time. What's not to love?

[SwatTeam]

Yep, Air America is short for Air Head?

That's a given. I was thinking more like their desire to undermine and sabotage conservative talk radio. But I doubt they have anyone with that type of humor.

[Musket]

Now Marvin Gay's "What's Goin' On". Their choice of music really says it all, they're reliving the '60s. How sad.

[StriperSniper]

He was going on the political trail or writing a book or something. It was his decision to move on.

[NYC Republican]

Thanks. Just a couple of minor corrections

Sean's on from 3-6 in NY, The Great One, Mark Levin's on from 6-7, Luara from 7-9, and Monica Crowley from 9-10.

[reagan_fanatic]

Actually, I think AirAmerica will be a resounding success (as long as you don't factor in things like profitability or number of listeners.)

[Riley]

Lib radio has one goal and it is not long term survival. They need, in their plan, to be around only until third week November.

You are an astute observer. I think you're dead-on. This whole thing is an arm of the campaign. No other explanation that I have heard makes any sense.

Who is funding this thing?

[StriperSniper]

and didn't challenge him,

I know, he never really does, to keep them coming back. But to be fair, he doesn't challenge CATO scholars either. When he has foreign corespondents on, that is when his show is best.

They replaced Laura for this guy? :/

No, Laura does 7-9, he has been on at 10 since 9/11(or 12)/01. Laura is on vacation this week and Mark Levin does her 7 o'clock hour when there isn't a Devils game.

[7.62 x 51mm]

This is going to be like watching the deck hands re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, as it was sinking.

Okay, okay, that's not a nice analogy, but you know what I mean. I need some more coffee...

[Crazieman]

I meant replace Laura as in my station.

Although I wonder how the show is doing without Kevin Delaney adding remarks.

Does she still insult Lee?

[StriperSniper]

We just heard Bob Marley's "Get Up Stand Up".

A gentle transition from the old format? ;-)

Hey, I like Bob, but Peter Tosh more. :)

[keysguy]

The only true radio person they have in the whole group is randi rhodes---she was booted out of Miami and landed guess where---West Plam Beach.--ring any bells. She is slick--wont' let any right wingers on her show and twists and turns every possible topic there is to seemingly look good for lefties. IN the end she is so biased left her show falls flat.

[StriperSniper]

as in my station.

I didn't know he was on more than WABC.

Does she still insult Lee?

Once in a while, some day more, others less. ;-)

without Kevin Delaney

I've only listened recently, so I can't say.

[kidd]

[Ax]

I accidentally rolled on to Randi Rhodes' program when I first moved to Palm Beach County in 2001. The first thing I thought was "this lady is Paul Begala with PMS." She's on WJNO and follows Rush. I won't even listen to Rush on WJNO lest I leave it there and RR pops up. I listen Rush on WIOD Miami.

[kidd]

"Air America" is also a Mel Gibson movie

[Paleo Conservative]

There are deep divisions just waiting to fully form in the Left. For just one instance, in general, blacks are not at all keen on gay marriage, yet this is being pushed pretty strongly by the Left.

It'll be fun if union workers call complaining about jobs sent overseas due to overzealous environmental regulations and prohibitions. I'd like them to fight on the air about prohibition on drilling in ANWAR.

[wtc911]

Funding source? Good question. I'm sure someone here knows.

[SwatTeam]

Yeah, I liked the movie.

[keysguy]

I bought the 24/7 but am having e-mail problems reaching him.