Air America Radio Comes to Washington, DC

Air America Radio, the liberal radio network featuring Al Franken is coming to Washington, DC on radio station WRC 1260 AM. In addition, Al Franken has signed a three year contract to continue his broadcasts on Air America Radio through 2007. Air America Radio has grown from its very weak status with only a handful of stations, some of which it lost shortly after startup, to over 40 stations nationwide. Click here to find a station near you.

WRC, a Clear Channel Communications, Inc. radio station will change its format from sports talk to all political talk radio with many of Air America Radio's liberal talk show hosts and some of its own liberal talk show hosts, as reported by Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post on December 9, 2004.

From the article:

"Air America's Beltway debut will be Jan. 20, with Franken broadcasting from President Bush's second inauguration. WRC . . . hope[s] to have many of their liberal . . . hosts broadcasting live that day from the Mandarin Hotel."

. . .

"Asked for comment, Bennett Zier, who oversees WRC . . . as Clear Channel's regional vice president, said, 'We broadcast what the people want to hear. After the election, people in this area have a lot to say and we want to make sure we're providing outlets for all opinions.' "

. . .

"The lineup, which includes actress Janeane Garofalo and radio veteran Randi Rhodes, who has also signed a new contract, has drawn respectable ratings in a medium long dominated by the right. Among listeners ages 25 to 54, Air America says, it has been in the top five in San Diego, Miami and Portland, Ore."

" 'Air America has been something of a phenomenon,' said Michael Harrison, editor of the industry magazine Talkers. 'Their accomplishment has to be measured in more than revenue and ratings. They've had a tremendous impact on changing the culture of talk radio and the way talk radio is perceived by the public. They've really opened the door to major industry licensees and program producers recognizing that talk radio has a huge potential market beyond just conservative hosts.' "

Education Legislation PR

My first cousin, once removed, Broadway Danny Heller, has authored a good piece about how the Bush administration uses your tax dollars to promote his legislative agenda. Below I quote from Danny's email to our family. Note that in addition to Danny's complaints and charges I must add that it probably was also an illegal expenditure by the US Government.

"It emerged today that the Bush Administration paid a conservative radio talk show host (Armstrong Williams) $250,000 to pimp its agenda on the air. There is no dispute that he received the money and that it came from the federal government. Of course, it's completely unethical on Williams' part to accept the money, but more importantly it shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Bush Administration has paid stooges in the media to do its bidding.

Now, if a liberal talk show host was found to have accepted a bribe from the Clinton Administration, the right-wing would scream bloody murder. But since it was a right-wing talk show host who was caught in an ethical transgression, you can be sure they will circle the wagons and attempt to weasel out of it. Because the watchword of this Administration is: Never accept responsibility."

Welcome

I take this opportunity to welcome you to my new blog. As stated in my comment at the top of this blog, I started this blog at the urging of several of my friends with whom I have been communicating about the presidential election of 2004.

Anyone wishing to read my blog may do so by going to myweb-blog.blogspot.com. Or, you can follow the link in any email that I send so that you can read a new post to my blog.

Anyone wishing to comment on any of my blog messages may do so by clicking on the "Post a Comment" below the message. You will be asked to log in to the blogger and if you already have an account, you may use it. Otherwise you may either sign up for a free user account or you may post anonymously. If you post anonymously, I would appreciate it if you put your name in the posting.

Comments may be made that are contrary to what I say, concur with what I say, ask for clarification, comment on someone else's comment, or present new facts and opinions on the subject.

My next posting will be about something going on in politics today.

Once again. WELCOME!