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A bumpy takeoff for Air America liberal radio network (Lib Spin - I hope)
Star Tribune ^ | 5/15/2004 | Deborah Caulfield Rybak

Posted on 05/14/2004 6:08:17 PM PDT by wjersey

NEW YORK -- Last week, Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher basked in the warm spring sun outside the Park Avenue skyscraper that serves as hub to the Air America radio network. Their distinctive laughs bounced off the courtyard wall as the pair relaxed after their 3-hour show.

"The O'Franken Factor" had been good that day. Good guests. Good energy. Things were looking up.

Fifteen minutes later they went upstairs for a staff meeting, where they learned that two of the network's top executives had resigned, the second management shake-up in as many weeks. The good news was that their paychecks, delayed for 24 hours, would now be distributed.

"There was a glitch," Franken acknowledged later. "There was a little gallows humor, then everyone was sort of anxious to get back to work."

Air America's erstwhile 'Minnesota Mafia'Keith BedfordSpecial To The Star TribuneThings are kind of weird at Air America these days. No one disputes that the network, now in its seventh week, has had a rocky lift-off and continues to be buffeted by financial and managerial turbulence. It has lost key stations in two of its top three markets, Chicago and Los Angeles, and this week closed its sales offices there and laid off staff.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: liberaltalkradio
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To: wjersey
"When they pay you to hate this [Bush] administration and to expose the lies, it's the best job in the world," said Lizz Winstead, the former Minnesotan who has taken over as programming chief in addition to her five-day-a-week show.

"When they pay you to hate..."

It sucks to be you, Lizz.

41 posted on 05/15/2004 5:02:34 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Ed_in_NJ
LOL! "Ditto-Heads" versus "Air-Heads". I hope Rush reads your post.
42 posted on 05/15/2004 5:07:00 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: wjersey

Why do the libs need a network when they have NPR???


43 posted on 05/15/2004 5:11:44 AM PDT by stocksthatgoup (illegitimo noncarborundium)
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To: VisualizeSmallerGovernment
You have to seriously suck to tank the ratings of a 250 watt blowtorch. It's estimated that in some markets, Air America's ratings are less than one listener per watt the station runs. If you could get 40 people in your house to watch a light bulb, it would actually be a more efficient use of energy than Air America (and much more entertaining).

Couldn't stop laughing at that one.

44 posted on 05/15/2004 5:24:39 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian
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To: Tacis

I don't think Chomsky has much dough, nor Wellstone.


45 posted on 05/15/2004 5:45:35 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Uday and Qusay are ead-day)
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To: Redcoat LI

I thought you were trying to convey a certian enigmatic mood of tension and menace, fraught with ambiguity and nuance. Not that it was working, mind you. Sorry to hear it was just bad typing.


46 posted on 05/15/2004 5:52:42 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Uday and Qusay are ead-day)
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To: Former Proud Canadian

"250 watt blowtorch"

250 Watts isn't a blowtorch, it's not even a votary candle. More like a damp wick.


47 posted on 05/15/2004 5:56:39 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Uday and Qusay are ead-day)
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To: T'wit

As an accountant I can tell you that it has long been debated: "How do you know at what point a company has gone bankrupt?"
The common consensus seems to be that you know when a company can no longer meet it's payroll. I would say that Air Head America came within a whisker of meeting that definition this past week.


48 posted on 05/15/2004 6:20:14 AM PDT by finnigan2 (My more advanced)
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To: finnigan2
>> ....when a company can no longer meet it's payroll.

Such was my instinct, but I'm no businessman. Thanks, very glad to hear this from a professional!

49 posted on 05/15/2004 5:57:05 PM PDT by T'wit ("To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society" - Theodore Roosevelt)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

You give me entiely too much credit.

However,if there was the odd chance that I,a humble plebian could approach the level of nuance exibited by our mutual Junior Senator,I would tear the shift buttons off my keyboard and eat them.

I shall remain as un-kerry-ish as possible.


50 posted on 05/15/2004 6:57:26 PM PDT by Redcoat LI (What Is Man That Thou Art Mindful of Him)
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To: TruBluKentuckian

No,not whiny at all,it's gotten to the point where I have to remember not to do it.

Most distressing.


51 posted on 05/15/2004 7:00:00 PM PDT by Redcoat LI (You Can Trust Me , I'm Not Like The Others.....)
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To: wjersey

Our local station, one of 4 started broadcasting Air-Ab America. I listened for 5 mintues before I turned the no talent Grafalo off. They will not last long at all.


52 posted on 05/16/2004 6:25:52 PM PDT by New Perspective (Proud father of a 5 month old son with Down Syndrome)
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