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Farewell, Air America, when we need it most (Ron Reagan Barf)
salon.com ^ | Jan. 22, 2010 | Ron Reagan

Posted on 01/23/2010 7:26:00 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

The conservative wing of the Supreme Court has brazenly revealed its corporatist agenda; President Obama may have found a populist voice with which to hector Wall Street; having given away Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat to a former Cosmo centerfold, Democrats are preparing to roll over on health insurance reform; and without doubt, Rush Limbaugh is making a complete ass of himself. Yet, for the first time in over a year, I won’t be able to talk about any of this on the radio. Air America, the long-suffering progressive talk radio network that carried my show, is no more.

They pulled the plug Thursday afternoon, but the patient was a perennial intensive-care case. From its inception, the network faced an uphill fight. While right-wing talk radio enjoys enormous corporate support, lefty chat has always been a harder sell. Charlie Kirecker, the chairman of Air America Media, did his best to move mountains over the last few weeks, but it’s tough shoveling with a teaspoon. At times it looked as if investors might be found who could accept losses over the midterm in hopes that the company would eventually turn around and show a profit. In the end, though, what Charlie somewhat euphemistically called “a very difficult economic climate” combined with the tenuous prospects of talk radio in general and AA’s admittedly checkered history gave even the most promising suitors pause.

So, just when the left could use it most, a platform for progressive thought and opinion disappears.

These are strange days for the nation, the Democratic Party and progressives in particular. Having elected a fresh, dynamic, forward-thinking young president with a mandate for real systemic change, we’re seeing way too much of the same old same old.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airamerica; failure; farwell; liberaltalkradio; roadkill; scrapheapofhistory; trash
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Why would any corp want to waste thier money on a station that cant get ratings and sell product. Dont ya know liberism is a mental disorder


21 posted on 01/23/2010 7:41:08 PM PST by weldAllday (Elections have Consequences)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

If they wanted to get creative they could make it into a hobbyist supported micro-powered national network, tied together by internet links. The license costs for such a thing are minimal. They would have to forego music, but they could play canned lefty yak 24/7.


22 posted on 01/23/2010 7:42:16 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Well, all those former affiliates who have been making big bucks selling air time on Ron’s show will be more than happy to buy the show in syndication. That would result in it still being heard in... uh... no markets.


23 posted on 01/23/2010 7:42:41 PM PST by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: Balding_Eagle

Ah, to hear the lamentations of their women!

an can We call Ahnold ‘Girlie Man’?


24 posted on 01/23/2010 7:42:46 PM PST by bravotu (Have a Nice Day !)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Air America would have remained in business if enough people were interested in listening in.

Oh, this anti-corporate rant is BS. A non-profit took a case to the SCOTUS over the government decided to pass a law that limited political speech. The left would have been outraged if it was a Bush or Palin bash that was banned within the window and rightly so. Congress cannot enact laws that interfere with people speaking out. PERIOD


25 posted on 01/23/2010 7:44:15 PM PST by misterrob (Have you tea bagged a liberal today?)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

What company wants to advertise on a station that constantly says companies are EVIL? And what kind of lefty who thinks everything should be paid for by the government is willing to listen to commercials?


26 posted on 01/23/2010 7:46:53 PM PST by gaijin
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Didn’t they plunder the coffers of some home for retarded old folks in order to pay the salary of Al Franken?


27 posted on 01/23/2010 7:48:14 PM PST by gaijin
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To: Free ThinkerNY
"While right-wing talk radio enjoys enormous corporate support,"

It's called "advertising," based on the millions of listeners.

"lefty chat has always been a harder sell."

Because lefties are to busy listening to rap while smoking crack.

28 posted on 01/23/2010 7:48:58 PM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Ron Reagan

Proof that genetics can only be responsible for so much.


29 posted on 01/23/2010 7:50:00 PM PST by MAexile (Bats left, votes right)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

The only reason they need it is that they can’t find a paying job without it. Certainly, no one listened to it.


30 posted on 01/23/2010 7:50:22 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: Balding_Eagle
Ah, to hear the lamentations of their women!

Mourning Becomes Electra... but not Ron.

31 posted on 01/23/2010 7:51:01 PM PST by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Mostly, he misses a paycheck.


32 posted on 01/23/2010 7:51:44 PM PST by depressed in 06 (Tea parties today, Lexington tomorrow.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Next up, pulling the plug on MSNBC.


33 posted on 01/23/2010 7:52:48 PM PST by dfc1 (Rush Limbaugh - a man, a legend, a way of life)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

How in the he— did Ron Reagan ever have such a spoiled idiot for a son?
Obviously corporate America will not back a loser station moron, it is called capitalism!


34 posted on 01/23/2010 7:53:55 PM PST by ohiogrammy (12)
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To: Stepan12
If he weren't the president's son his claim to fame would have been working seedy San Francisco street corners.
35 posted on 01/23/2010 7:54:14 PM PST by Tail Gunner John
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To: Free ThinkerNY

These knuckleheads have the house, senate and the executive, they already got a supreme court pick and they still whine like little ****ies.

Are liberals ever happy?


36 posted on 01/23/2010 7:55:52 PM PST by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 Halfbaked: 50c)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

I’m still trying to figure out if he’s Prancer, Dancer, or Vixen.


37 posted on 01/23/2010 7:59:53 PM PST by DoughtyOne (God, Family, Friends, Home, Town, State, the U.S., Conservatism, Free Republic & a dollar a day...)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Could it be that leftie-progressive ideas are just as bankrupt as Air-America...?? Nah.


38 posted on 01/23/2010 8:01:06 PM PST by marjiwoj
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Air America (Communist Propaganda) = ABCCBSNBCMSNBCCNNCNBC


39 posted on 01/23/2010 8:02:14 PM PST by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: LikeLight

From both your mouths to God’s ear!


40 posted on 01/23/2010 8:08:49 PM PST by Category Four (Joy, Fun, the Joke Proper, and Flippancy ... Flippancy is the best of all.)
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