Posted on 03/15/2009 9:43:42 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Tune in to conservative talk radio in California, and the insults quickly fly. Capturing the angry mood of listeners the other day, a popular host in Los Angeles called Republican lawmakers who voted to raise state taxes "a bunch of weak slobs."
With their trademark ferocity, radio stars who helped engineer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise in the 2003 recall have turned on him over the new tax increases. On stations up and down the state, they are chattering away in hopes of igniting a taxpayers' revolt to kill his budget measures on the May 19 ballot.
No rush to measure Limbaugh's ratingsBut for all the anti-tax swagger and the occasional stunts by personalities like KFI's John and Ken, the reality is that conservative talk radio in California is on the wane. The economy's downturn has depressed ad revenue at stations across the state, thinning the ranks of conservative broadcasters.
For that and other reasons, stations have dropped the shows of at least half a dozen radio personalities and scaled back others, in some cases replacing them with cheaper nationally syndicated programs.
Casualties include Mark Larson in San Diego, Larry Elder and John Ziegler in Los Angeles, Melanie Morgan in San Francisco, and Phil Cowen and Mark Williams in Sacramento.
Two of the biggest in the business, Roger Hedgecock in San Diego and Tom Sullivan in Sacramento, have switched to national shows, elevating President Obama above Schwarzenegger on their target lists.
Another influential Sacramento host, Eric Hogue, has lost the morning rush-hour show that served as a prime forum to gin up support for the recall of Gov. Gray Davis. Now he airs just an hour a day at lunchtime on KTKZ-AM (1380).
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
That’s because they aren’t in Spanish.
Si
This sound LA Times sour grape article LOL!
On the other hand, the LA Times is ... well, they're tanking even faster.
A lot of this is dated...more Alinsky isolate and conquer...
The harder the LAT looks to place lies and fear is the amount of their own fear...
Talk radio is fine, the Lib side of media is dying.
Is the author in a TIME WARP? Melanie Morgan is BACK ON KSFO....what an idiot...
Well, local conservative talk radio may be down, but the article says it is being replaced by less expensive syndicated conservative radio. I.e., Rush, Sean, etc.
I don’t know much about the names on that list except Larry Elder. I liked him, but he really wasn’t that entertaining. Kind of reminded me of Air America. Bland with no real insights that made you think.
I’ve heard her do some ads. She hasn’t returned to her old slot unfortunately.
Looks like when Lee Rodgers finally hangs it up, Suss will be there to continue the assault of liberalism along with many others.
Just another example of the one-hand-clapping left, celebrating themselves.
That kinda takes the point out of having a local radio talker.
The syndicates usually cover the same stuff.
Most conservatives have given up on that sewer and have abandoned the joint. They are listening to conservative talk radio in the states where they are now living. Like the old Soviet Union, Cauliphonya is a hopeless, basket case. It now needs the U.S. taxpayers to pay for all of its social programs.
This is news?
There’s a lot more talk radio than there used to be. Probably too much. It exploaded over the last 10 years. It’s probably time they’ll start weeding out the weaker ones. The stronger ones will grow stronger, and the weaker ones will dissappear.
A lot of the “local” talk radio shows aren’t very conservative. Those shows aren’t going to last.
Except for Rush.
Melanie Morgan eliminated from a 3-person radio show, which is probably tough to justify, economically; tho’ I’m glad to have heard her sit in for Officer Vic last Friday, and she’ll be there Monday. I like Mel, Lee Rogers benefits from having her there, IMO.
Roger Hedgecock has been getting a little “diffuse” lately, to my ear.
And then there’s that Rush guy.
No mention of Sean or Levin or Boortz.
I have little doubt that some of the lesser names are getting weeded out, but in my completely unscientific opinion, the total conservative talk audience is rising and concentrating on the “front benchers”.
Oh yeah, did I mention Rush?
Who ya gonna believe? Ratings for talk radio or the LA Times?
She was back on full-time on....Thursday AM? I don’t know how that will last, but if Sussman takes over that slot, then I’m done with KSFO for good —I can’t stand that guy:
“I’m like a little kid in a candy shop...!!!”
He has used that one 100 times, and it drives me up a wall. He’s conservative, he does his homework, but he’s hokey, and not the list bit witty.
He also gets tongue-tied, and goes back and explains himself A LOT —painful to listen to.
This is just another smear peace. They would never write this crap about Air America, or if the NPR fundraisers were down.
But some talk shows are as exciting as watching paint dry. I still remember the lower tier of talk shows back in 1994, prior to OKC, which Clinton used to smear talk radio.
Chuck Harder, Jerry Hughes, Stan Major, and Mike Reagan were all pretty good. They had conspiracy theories galore, and were highly entertaining. Savage started on KGO weekends back then. I always had my radio on, but Rush was all about NAFTA.
Today’s talk radio is all about finances and taxes, with some GOP politics thrown in. They rarely even mention political correctness or social issues. So while Rush is entertaining, listening to the same GOP talking points with less entertaining people doesn’t have much appeal.
“Melanie Morgan is BACK ON KSFO...”
AFAIK, she’s ONLY there sitting in for Officer Vic who’s on a brief vacation. Last Friday, this coming Monday.
Do you know if there are plans to bring her back more regularly? I think she adds to Lee Roger’s show quite a bit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.