« July 2006 | Main | September 2006 »
Did Bush, Clear Channel conspire to fire Mike Malloy?
That's the question that liberals throughout the land are asking themselves today with the sad news that Air America Radio's late night host Mike Malloy has been fired. What clearer evidence do we need other than the gloating from the "Radio Equalizer"?
Current speculation from many in the liberal community is that Karl Rove and George Bush put pressure on Clear Channel to only put Air America on lower-wattage stations, leading to a vicious cycle of lower ratings. Together with talking up Al Franken leading to him being paid more, this led to the "financial decision" that Malloy says this was on his website.
But, AAR co-founder Sheldon Drobny has a different take:
He is the lowest paid of all the regular hosts on AAR and they put him in an awful time slot, 10pm-1am ET... I suspect Malloy's termination was more about personality than performance. It certainly was not about money...
"Personality"? Or... something else?
Sign the petition to bring Malloy back, save off the comments here before "they" delete them, and stay tuned to DU for all the late-breaking details on this conspiracy by the flying monkey right and the Bush crime family to silence America's leading truthseeker.
UPDATE: In comments, "Raccoon Radio" links to the quite curious piece "Air America Network in Turmoil". Of course, that article raises additional questions. Is Cliff Kincaid a Rove operative? Or... could he in fact be a Soros operative? What of Malloy himself? Should we assume complete innocence on his part? What if he is in fact an operative of the shadow government? Are there lists of truthseekers compiled somewhere? How do you know that Mike Malloy is not a turncoat to the cause? Could Rove operatives have arranged for former Lyndon LaRouche associate Webster Griffin Tarpley to appear on this show, then have a feigned "firing" by George Soros in order to make Malloy into a "martyr" of some sort in order to draw true truthseekers into a trap?
Posted in MikeWho at 11:27 AM | Comments (5)
Randi Rhodes at Hempfest 2006 (Seattle)
The sweet smell of Washington's state flower the magnolia was in the air as Air America host Randi Rhodes visited Seattle on or about 4:20PM on August 19 or 20 or so for this year's Hempfest. The "Fest" - as it's known to regulars - celebrates one of America's original crops, a versatile plant that can be used as both a food source and for industrial uses as well. Whether used to make animal feed, oil, moisturizer, clothing, twine, ropes, or even a storage pot, it truly is a plant of a thousand uses. And, it was even used to make the barrette that the gentleman in the video uses to tie up his hair! It truly is a superplant, and like the good environmentalist that she is, Randi Rhodes was there to celebrate its 1001 uses.
Seattle, of course, is also home to AAR's own KPTK 1090 AM, which has higher ratings than all other Washington state radio stations combined.
A note from the editor: "hemp" is not marijuana and just because Randi supports the cultivation of this wonderplant doesn't mean that she advocates the use of or even uses on air such mind-altering chemicals. No, there are other explanations.
Also, be sure and look out for the purple acid.
Posted in RandiRhodes at 10:50 PM | Comments (3)
Sheldon attacks Bill "Mr. Huffington" Maher
I really don't know exactly what is the dynamic between Arianna Huffington and Bill Maher, but I do know it takes great big brass ones to call him "Another Hollywood Sellout" in a post at the Huffington Post. My congratulations to Sheldon....Everyone that is doing business in Hollywood entertainment is first and foremost promoting their own financial interests. The latest example is Bill Maher.Will Sheldon go the way of Melvin Duchovny?
I read that his first guest on his new season starting tomorrow is Ann Coulter. I do not mean to interfere with Bill's sex life, but give me a break. Either she is totally self promotional or she is a psychopath spewing hatred across the media. In either case, Maher's audience should cringe at the sight of her on his show. Maher's explanation about his "libertarian" views requiring him to portray all points of view is a cop-out. He calls himself a libertarian because he does not have the courage to say that he may be a progressive. Most of the people who call themselves libertarians don't even understand what a libertarian believes in. But "Mr. politically incorrect" wants you to think that he is a libertarian.
Maher became a sellout when he apologized for making "politically incorrect" statements about the 9/11 hijackers. When you have a show called "Politically Incorrect" there should be no need for apologies since that is the name of your show. And don't give me that crap about the world was very different after 9/11. What Maher did was to suck up to his corporate masters and he was fired anyway...
UPDATE: Am I being taken in and are all of Shelly's posts and almost all the posts at the HuffPost simply linkbait? Oh well, two more won't hurt. First, Shel issues a "Bill Maher Retraction":
I just got a call from Arianna Huffington. She told me that Ann Coulter is not a scheduled guest on Maher's show tomorrow.Then, he gives out his phone number. A few posts from others later, he issues forth "Bill Maher: A Retraction Clarification":
I want to make it clear that the retraction of my previous post only applies to the inaccuracy as to Coulter being a guest on his premiere show. Since Coulter has been a frequent guest on previous Maher shows, I do not retract any opinions about Mr. Maher and his hypocracies. Evidently I really struck a nerve with Maher and his producers to have gotton a call from Arianna.
Since others had the same "erroneous" information I had about her being a guest, I suspect that Maher had second thoughts about her being on the premiere show. I know that last year she was a premiere show guest.
It is bad enough that Maher has Hitchens on his show. I am a friend of Sidney Blumenthal and I cannot imagine a more disgusting back stabber as Hitchens who during the Clinton impeachment caused lots of problems for Sid because of his insane hatred of the Clintons. I put Hitchens in the same category as Coulter in terms of borderline psychopathic behavior...
Posted in Sheldon Drobny at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)
"They" put Randi Rhodes on the no-fly list
Via this we learn that mysterious forces known only as "they" apparently put Randi Rhodes on a no-fly list, causing her inconvenience on fun a weekend getaway to Seattle which turned into tragedy.
While there's some possibility this was a mistake, or it was political payback, or it was due to various questionable things featured on her program, I know one thing: they don't need to worry about Randi launching a liquid bomb.
Unless, of course, there's a Christmas Tree on the plane.
Posted in RandiRhodes at 08:05 AM | Comments (3)
Air America Radio loses Chattanooga affiliate WDOD
Our speculation was correct and it's official: Air America Radio has lost their affiliate in Chattanooga Tennessee.The decision to drop Air America talk show programming grew out of the format's failure to attract adequate advertiser support, [Danny Howard, director of programming and operations for WDEF and WDOD] said.Their new format is described in a letter to the editor:
The fact that Air America is only a few years old and has been through some tumultuous times made it more difficult to attract advertisers and listeners, he said.
"I think they will continue to do well in some markets, but we thought it was time to try something else here," he said.
Late yesterday afternoon my wife returned from running errands and asked, "What's the deal with WDOD? They are playing good music this afternoon." Since I haven't listened to WDOD in many weeks, I was pleasantly surprised to tune into some very nice music.If you know anyone who owns a radio station and could help Air America, please call 212-871-8100. Please.
Far be it from me to even hint of "I told you so" along with dozens of others last year when the format was rumored to be changed, but I think it was mentioned that the liberal talk format would be a financial disaster in this radio market, and far worse would mean the elimination of the peaceful, tuneful, harmonic music of the big bands, great pop soloists and choral groups from the local airways...
Posted in Meta at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)
Pat Buchanan on Al Franken show: Wed 1:30pm Eastern
On Wednesday August 23 at 1:30pm Eastern/10:30am Pacific, Al Franken will be speaking to Pat Buchanan about his latest book "State of Emergency: The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America."I predict that Franken will be slightly serious for about a minute, and will offer the now standard "moderate" Democrat line: he opposes illegal immigration and those who employ illegal aliens should be fined and we need the mass amnesty known as "comprehensive" immigration "reform". In other words, Franken will support massive illegal immigration.
That semi-serious tone will go on for about a minute, then Stuart will spend the other 29 minutes calling Buchanan names and race-baiting.
What you won't hear from someone who wants to be a United States Senator is a clear-headed understanding of the massive dangers of illegal immigration.
Meanwhile, "FlyingMonkeyIsRight" has posted the following on Franken's blog, but I don't expect any of his staffers to bother even considering thinking about it:
How could we deport 1 million illegal aliens if we had to? What are Franken's contingency plans and his worst case scenario of what might happen?
And, what do his conclusions say about the situation we're in?
Posted in StuartSmalley at 02:23 AM | Comments (0)
Sheldon Drobny is all over the place
When confronted with a huge mass of verbage from Sheldon Drobny, how does one figure out what he's talking about? The last thing you want to do is - like me - try to watch TV and listen to the radio while scanning his latest entry. That means I lost his segue from intriguing topic to next intriguing topic. It went something like this:
I have known for years that a smart wealthy person could keep control of all his assets without estate or income taxes through cleverly structured charitable foundations... The Gates Foundation and the Catholic Church have the same goals... The great problems of the world today are a direct result of the wide disparity between the rich and poor... The governments that keep their people in abject poverty while their leaders are obscenely rich from oil revenues cause many of the problems in the Middle East... The movie was not great but it did emphasize the point I am making in this piece...
The movie? Wasn't he talking about foundations? How'd he get around to the Middle East? Who is he and why is he there?
I do know this: I've read and recommend The Rich and The Super-Rich, and Sheldon is no Ferdinand Lundberg.
Posted in Sheldon Drobny at 08:53 PM | Comments (0)
Air America off WDOD 1310 AM Chattanooga?
In October 2005, Chattanooga, Tennessee's WDOD 1310 AM summarily deprived Earl Fruedenberg of his morning show (he'd been working there since 1965) and replaced him with Al Franken and company.
Now, despite being unable to find anything about this elsewhere and despite that station still being listed as an AAR affiliate, it appears that WDOD has dropped Air America. From a letter to the editor:
We believe that this decision is a serious blow to democratic access to freedom of information and our ability to access alternative viewpoints. This decision also reveals a serious right wing bias in local media and undermines Chattanooga's reputation as a cosmopolitan city. Clearly, the decision was not motivated by listener desire, but rather by transparent political ideology. (Think Corker vs. Ford)
Doesn't anyone else besides that writer care about this? If Air America falls in Tennessee, does it make a whimper?
If you would like to add Air America programming to your station, please call 212-871-8100. Please.
Posted in Meta at 09:43 PM | Comments (2)
Goodbye Al Franken, hello Shirley Caesar and Hezekiah Walker
There's about a 99.9944% chance most Air America fans have never heard of Shirley Caesar, Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin or Yolanda Adams before. But, come Sept. 1, those and other gospel artists will be featured on WLIB, New York City's newest 24/7 all gospel all the time station. That station was formerly AAR's flagship, but - among other things - management thinks they stand a better chance with the "Praise and Inspiration" format:
"[Talk radio] is already too crowded," says [Vice president/general manager Deon Levingston]. "With seven or eight stations, it would just be too hard to establish a new one. Look at Air America: Its ratings were lower than our old Caribbean format, and it never got the advertising it needed to make money."
Posted in Meta at 09:29 PM | Comments (1)
Who said these insane Air America quotes?
The article here (via this) offers some quotes gleaned from two 90 minute Air America Radio shows. While, admittedly, I don't listen to AAR all that much for someone whose mandate is monitoring it, I believe I can match up the quote to who said it.
1) "The entire Bush crime family should be executed."
[All together now: Mike Malloy]
2) "George Bush is a g.d. lying s.o.b." (by the host) There was no use of initials in this quote.
[On this, I'm torn. It sounds a bit like Randi Rhodes, but would she use such strong speech before 10pm? I'll go with Malloy again.]
3) "Bush and Cheney are gleefully causing gas prices to go sky high to benefit their big oil friends."
[Randi!]
The rest are left as an exercise.
Posted in Meta at 10:38 PM | Comments (3)
Al Franken, Tucker Carlson to dance at NKU
The Northern Kentucky University Alumni Association Lecture series enters its seventh year with a debate between Tucker Carlson (MSNBC) and Al Franken (Air America Radio). It will be held October 12. We're guaranteed that it will be "engaging". Do you care?
Posted in StuartSmalley at 10:48 AM | Comments (2)
Top ten Janeane Garofalo mistakes
Here's my entry in the contest:
10. Quitting Air America just as it was on the imminent verge of massive ratings success.
9. Getting tattoed, something better reserved for sailors, strippers, and drug-addicts.
8. Joining Air America Radio.
7. Not getting help when she could.
6. Not getting anywhere near as much money out of George Soros AAR as Al Franken and Randi Rhodes did.
5. Featuring a Sc|ent0l0gist-linked organization on AAR... twice!
4. Going to blonde.
3. Dressing funny.
2. Not dressing more preppy with the glasses and the plaid skirt and maybe some books or something.
1. Getting a breast reduction.
Posted in Satire at 11:37 AM | Comments (8)
Jerry Springer on Dancing with the Stars
In what is probably his cleanest, most reputable gig yet, Jerry Springer will be appearing on the show 'Dancing with the Stars' alongside Tucker Carlson and a host of other nobodies, also-rans, and no-talents. This is at least a more honorable gig than working on Air America Radio or - of course - shoveling sleaze into America's living room on his TV show.
Springer's partner will be Aussie professional Kym Johnson, pictured right. Joining the "Mayor of Hell" and the bow-tod pundit will be:
football great Emmitt Smith, actress Vivica A. Fox and former "L.A. Law" star Harry Hamlin... The eclectic talent lineups of the show's first two seasons included supermodel Rachel Hunter, former child actress Tatum O'Neal, soap opera vixen Kelly Monaco, boxing champ Evander Holyfield, actor John O'Hurley and rapper Master P.
Wait, it gets better: the host is Tom Bergeron of America's Funniest Home Videos and Hollywood Squares.
No, wait, it gets even better: another celebrity will be Joey Lawrence from Blossom.
Posted in PureClass at 10:46 PM | Comments (1)
Please support the Majority Report!
Air America's Majority Report is in trouble, and they need your help. In case you've never heard of it, that was the show that Janeane Garofalo used to co-host, and which is now hosted by her former co-host. His name is "Sam Seder". (I know most of those names will be new to 99.999% of those who read this, but this is important.)
In order to keep their show on the air, they need you to send letters to supporttheshow@majorityreportradio.com. They'll then send that to George Soros or someone else with money. Plus, if they stay on the air then I'll always have fresh material. So, please send that letter.
UPDATE: MRR has been saved! No less than 23 anonymous Kossacks have stated in the completely non-scientific poll that they sent letters to AAR. Of course, four more indicated a future willingness to send the letter, but for all we know they got distracted due to all the pot they smoke. And, there are five mean-spirited NeoCon disruptors that said they won't be sending a letter; Force DK will have already dealt with them by the time you read this.
Note that that plea is from Comrade "Kujo AAR", who is not Seder himself. The latter already has an account under his own name.
Posted in AlsoRans at 07:42 PM | Comments (7)
Thanks for stopping by
Now, please explain what the hell you were thinking:
Posted in Blog at 07:52 PM | Comments (5)
John Carroll called Sheldon a "crackpot"
The AAR co-founder sent a nastygram to former Los Angeles Times editor John Carroll, and got one in return:
Dear Mr. Drobny,
I'm sorry you think my father wouldn't approve of my working for Tribune Company. I'm also sorry you went to so much trouble researching his writings from the 1940s to make your point. Fortunately, my father lived a very long life -- long enough to see me take the job in Tribune Company and to express his deep pride.
In my job as a newspaper editor, I receive quite a bit of mail from crackpots. So far in 2005, you're leading the pack. Keep up the good work!
John Carroll
And, because he's who he is, he decided to tell us all about it.
Posted in Sheldon Drobny at 07:40 PM | Comments (0)
Post embarassing Franken/Rhodes/Malloy quotes here
It looks like I'm out of town for a few days, so please leave a comment with embarassing recent quotes from Air America's personalities.
UPDATE: Since people do obviously visit this site and comment on entries, and since an hour can't go by without an AAR personality saying something embarassing, I am forced to assume that the lack of comments simply means that no one is willing to listen to AAR.
Posted in Meta at 12:27 PM | Comments (4)
Air America Radio New York City: WWRL 1600
This site extends a hearty congratulations to Air America Radio on the announced launch of their new sinking New York City flagship, WWRL 1600 AM. AAR is being transported via lifeboats from their previous sinking flagship, WLIB, and will be starting on the new station September 1.
Those who've followed AAR will have a twinge of deja vu. As with some of their other stations, listeners might have problems hearing it at night. And, as they did before, AAR will be displacing not just African-American programming, but programming for the Caribbean community:
We invite you to tune in every Sunday for a joyous celebration of the African American and Caribbean American experience.
WWRL has been serving the community since the 60s. Now, that joyous celebration will be snuffed out and replaced with Al Franken replays. For the greater good.
This site is going on record - feel free to jot this down - that the new outlet will share yet another similarity with the old: during at least one future ratings period, AAR's ratings will be lower than the ratings for the current programming.
Posted in Meta at 09:11 AM | Comments (7)
"Liberals" to have voice in Palm Springs area
Finally, "liberals" will have a voice in the Palm Springs valley area in California. On August 7, "RR Broadcasting" will launch KPTR "Progressive Talk AM 1340", which will feature luminaries such as Stephanie Miller, Ed Shultz, Randi Rhodes, Alan Colmes and Al Franken (shown right in a file photo).
Posted in Meta at 08:53 AM | Comments (2)
Sheldon Drobny breaks Huffington Post
To celebrate the creation of a new category just for Air America Radio co-founder Sheldon Drobny, here's his latest post on the Huffington Post. I just love sight gags, don't you? Note that the link just goes on and on, being obscured by the sidebar on the right and then finally appearing from behind it.
Posted in Sheldon Drobny at 09:15 PM | Comments (1)
