Franken beats Limbaugh & O'Reilly in top markets

Email received from Air America Radio:



Dear Friend of Air America Radio,

It’s Halloween and the right-wing is terrified…of you.

Want to know why? Here are just a few examples:

On October 17th, Rush Limbaugh said this to Sean Hannity:
“In my mind they don’t even exist…for a moment you almost feel sorry for then. Then you realize no, they don’t exist. And they don’t pose a threat.”

But on October 28th, less than two weeks later, Al Franken, broadcasting on a network that Rush once called “Dead Air America,” beat him like a drum:

"Air America Radio announced today that 'The Al Franken Show' beat 'The Rush Limbaugh Show' for the first time in San Francisco and Portland, Ore., two of the top twenty-five markets, in the target demo of 25-54, according to Arbitron Summer 2005 Metro. The two shows air at the same time ( 9am-12pm ) in both markets.'

While poor Rush is whistling by the graveyard, his fellow ghouls are out screaming and shrieking and rattling their chains:

Bill O’Reilly recently predicted this to a group of advertisers:

'[Air America ] is about to fold ... because Americans don't want to hear that their country sucks 24 hours a day."

But somehow those pesky facts never seem to get inside the "No Spin Zone." Here are a few:

• The ratings for the Bill O’Reilly radio show in New York were worse in the demo of A25-54 than those on Air America that he described as “catastrophic.”
• In the key 25-54 demographic which talk radio offers to advertisers, the Summer 2005 Arbitron ratings showed that Monday-Friday from 2-4 PM when O’Reilly is on WOR-AM and which at Air America’s 1190 WLIB-AM contains the last hour of “The Al Franken Show” and the first hour of “The Randi Rhodes Show,” that O’Reilly had a 0.6 share and Air America a 1.8 share. O’Reilly had a cumulative audience of 45,800 and Air America had a cumulative audience of 95,700 .

Last month, we launched the Air America Associates program and the howling of the right-wing hypocrites was nothing short of hysterical:

Ann Coulter, the undisputed queen of self-promotion, was cackling with glee at the prospect of using Air America Radio as a marketing device for her latest right-wing screed:

"That money you were thinking about donating to become an 'Air America Associate' – Air America Ass' for short - why not do something useful with it? Buy my book for friends and loved ones."

Sorry, Ann. People just don’t seem to be paying attention to you the way they used to. As of this morning:

Al Franken’s “The Truth (with jokes)” was at #7 on Amazon while the paperback edition of “How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) is at #1,042.

But while we may enjoy the right-wing’s fear and loathing of Air America Radio’s success, we can’t afford to sit back and take it for granted. The dramatic growth of Air America Radio over the last 19 months – we’re now on in 70 markets covering more than 60% of the nation – only happened because of you.

And we need to keep growing just as quickly, because only this morning, President Bush's idea of "Trick or Treat" was to nominate Judge Samuel Alito, Jr. for Sandra Day O’Connor’s seat on the Supreme Court. Often referred to as “Scalito” because of his extreme right-wing views, if confirmed Alito could well change the balance of the high court for a generation to come.

We at Air America Radio make you this promise. We won’t let them get away with this without a fight. But we will need your help to do it.

How can you help? Three ways:

If you are currently listening to Air America Radio on your local station, call them and thank them for carrying Air America programming. A list of stations is available at http://www.airamericaradio.com/stations.

If you don’t have an Air America Radio affiliate in your area, let us know: http://www.airamericaradio.com/feedback

Join the Air America Radio community! We need you! http://www.airamericaradio.com/associates

Thank you for all you do for our country.

Danny Goldberg
Air America Radio CEO

That'll do Fitz, that'll do

Well, I didn't get to dance in the streets, but that's ok. The indictment of Scooter Libby is a start. Like many others are saying, I believe if this goes to trial, the lies of the Bush administration regarding the reason for war, will be exposed. We all know that they are a bunch of corrupt criminals, but airing their malfeasance in court is another story.

Fitzgerald had restored my faith in the justice system.


And, I must say, he's a very handsome man.

Anticipation

I'm on pins & needles waiting for the upcoming indictments. Just think, in less than 12 hours (but probably more) some of our wishes might come true.

If Karl Rove gets indicted, it will be the best day in politics since Clinton was sworn in all those years ago.

If Cheney gets indicted, I'll be dancing in the streets.

Word

Photo-art by Damien

Wellstone, my African Grey parrot, is starting to talk! He said his first word, "Hello," on Sept 30. Since then he's said it only a few times - until yesterday when he said it about 10 times in a row. Tom thinks he sounds like me, but I think he sounds like himself. I can't wait to hear what his next word will be. With all the news we've been watching lately, maybe it will be "indictments."

Spin, spin, spin

When Fahrenheit 9/11 came out, I made my sister, Laura, a deal. The deal was that if she agreed to see the film with me, I would watch a week of Bill O'Reilly. She watched the film with tear-filled eyes and came out of it slightly shocked. I know it moved her.

For my part of the deal, I tried, I really tried. After watching the first 10 minutes of O'Reilly, my fiance said that I better turn it off before I smash the TV in.

Now here we are a couple years later, and my sister is still a huge fan of his show. She keeps telling me that I have to give him another chance - that he really does give both sides.

So, after hearing that Ed Schultz was going to be on his show, (which he wasn't) I decided to give in. While I do agree with O'Reilly on border security and partially on Jessica's law, the rest of the show was maddening.

When you have a guest like Dick Morris saying things like, "I love Karl Rove, he's a great man, he got Bush elected" and then not challenging that statement, O'Reilly's fair & balanced crap goes out the window.

Or, how about the author of a book called "The War on Christmas" who argues "The ACLU keeps saying to Christians to 'shut up,' and this is another attempt to say you can't even have a secular symbol like the tree or Santa in public" (like schools, for instance) Um, yeah, duh...ever hear of the separation of Church & State?

Bill's response: "It's the far left, the loony left, the secular progressive ACLU America-haters. That's who's doing this."

No spin zone, my ass. Sorry Laura.

Cheney Directly Involved In Leak Scandal

Like I said in my last post, Fitzgerald's investigation may go to the top:



From The New York Times:

A lawyer who knows Mr. Libby’s account said the administration efforts to limit the damage from Mr. Wilson’s criticism extended as high as Mr. Cheney. This lawyer and others who spoke about the case asked that they not be identified because of grand jury secrecy rules.

On July 12, 2003, four days after his initial conversation with Ms. Miller, Mr. Libby consulted with Mr. Cheney about how to handle inquiries from journalists about the vice president’s role in sending Mr. Wilson to Africa in early 2002 to investigate reports that Iraq was trying acquire nuclear material there for its weapons program, the person said.

Dems, don't blow the moment

Hi everyone. I was feeling kind of crummy last week, but I'm feeling better now. It's good to be back.

So, where are we? Bush's poll numbers are falling fast -- 38% approval rating last I looked. Delay is going down, and Frist is in trouble. Rove is about to be indicted and Fitzgerald's investigation may go to the top.

Except for a sound bite here and there, I'm still not hearing anything substantial from the Democrats. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I fear they're blowing it.

Everyday I get solicited for donations from one campaign or another. Whether it's John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, or the DNC asking for money, I'm finding it very hard to give right now. Two things need to happen before they get another dime: quit being wimps and do something about the voting machines.

Been under the weather for a few days. Will post soon.

Uncle Richard rules.

Other than my sister, the Bill O'Reilly fan, I come from a long line of proud American liberals. This administration in particular has made us all more politically active because we hate what they have done to our country.

After reading this ridiculous column by well known rich ad executive and restauranteur, Jerry Della Femina, my Uncle Richard wrote a wonderful letter to the editor.

As much as I hate to reprint stupid articles on my blog, you have to read what this ignoramus wrote to understand my uncle's reply. Here is that column:


BASHING BUSH
By Jerry Della Femina
East Hampton Star

I was flying. I was late for a meeting with one of my clients so I was speeding on the Saw Mill River Parkway. The last time I looked at the speedometer it said 75 - then I stepped on the gas.
The first thing I noticed in my rear view mirror was the flashing red light. Then that loud piercing beeping sound that says, "I've got you, sucker." Followed by the voice of God that says ominously, Pullover: Naturally I complied and sat in my car as the police officer ambled over in his best John Wayne walk.

The officer came up and said, "License and registration."
"It's not my fault officer," I said.
"You were speeding at 83 miles per hour and it's not your fault?"
"No, sir," I said, thinking fast. "It's George W. Bush's fault.
"What did you say?" asked the officer, his eyes narrowing. I said, "It's George Bush's fault."
He thought for a second."Of course, you're right. These are federal roads - the fact that you can speed on them is because they are here thanks to the federal government. Bush is President. He's at fault. He's at fault for everything that's wrong in this country. Change that - he's at fault for anything that's wrong in this world. Why didn't we listen to Barbra Streisand and Rosie O'Donnell before the last election?"

Then he poured his heart out to me. "I had a fight with the misses this morning and we were really screaming at each other. She said she's had it with me sitting home on Sunday drinking beer, smoking cigars, and belching while I watch the Jets losing like dogs."

All of a sudden we stopped and looked at each other and said, "Why are we fighting? It's not our fault. It's Bush's fault."
"Oh," I said. "Those miserable Jets. I watched that game, too. Weren't they terrible? But you know I don't blame Herman Edwards who was a gutless coach even when he had a quarterback
with a working arm. You know who I blame?"
"I know," said the policeman. With that we both shouted out "BUSH"and highfived each other.

"Good to meet you," he said, handing me back my license. "And Jerry, you can drive as fast as you want - just tell anyone who stops you that it's Bush's fault. They'll understand."

Getting stopped by my policeman made me even later for my client. When I got to his office, he was steaming. "You have some nerve showing up here late and keeping me waiting..."
"Before you say anything," I interrupted,
"It's Bush's fault."
"Of course it's Bush's fault," he said, "I should have known that." His mood changed. He smiled warmly. "Isn't this the best stretch of fall weather you have ever seen?"
"Global warming," was my terse reply.
"Bush's fault," he said.
"We've had global warming for the last thousand years. You would think Bush would end it this week," I said, sadly shaking my head. "He just doesn't care. The least he would do would be to call a conference in a Third World country," my client said.
"Or look real sad and bite his lower lip like the last guy did," I added.
"Let's forget Bush," I said changing the subject. 'How's business?"
"Never been better. Our stock is up."
I smiled and nodded.
"We are turning our greatest profit."
I smiled and nodded.
"We're hiring another thousand employees."
I smiled and nodded
"The only problem," he added, "is we're doing so well we can't keep up with
the demand so we're out of stock and that can hurt us."
"That's Bush's fault," I said. .
"That's exactly what I told my board of directors this morning. Remember how great we had it before we re-elected Bush. Imagine if we had Kerry as President."
We both were quiet for a second.
"No Bush, no Katrina." ,
"Katrina. Bush's fault," we both said.
"No Bush, no Hurricane Rita."
"Bush's fault," we mumbled.
"Gas prices."
"Bush's fault," we both chanted.
"That bombing in Bali."
"Bush's fault."

I left my client's office and came home. My wife, the beautiful Judy Licht, was fit to be tied.
"JT (our son) got a 58 in a Geometry test," she muttered.
"Bush's fault," I said. "No child will be left behind, indeed. The government should have to pay for his tutor. Bush is responsible although 58 is 20 points higher than I ever got in geometry."
"You only got a 38 in Geometry?" Judy screamed
"It wasn't my fault," I whined. "It was Eisenhower's fault. I settled down with a drink in my
hand and smiled.
"What's so funny?" Judy asked.
I can't wait until after the next election when we can all proudly say:
"IT'S McCAIN'S FAULT"


And here is my Uncle's letter to the editor:

Once again we see the use of a newspaper column to further one man's silly and dangerous political point of view. Della Femina writes in his most recent column that "Bashing Bush" is all the rage these days and Mr. Della Femina doesn't like it one bit.

Well, let us see if there is enough Bush Bashing or not....

He gets in as President when the Supreme Court overrules (5 to 4) the Florida's Supreme Court on a strictly State issue involving a Florida election law - an unprecedented act. Then...

1. He immediately gives a tax cut, which threatens the trillion dollar surplus of the Treasury. The surplus goes west and now we have the largest deficit in our country's history. (But Don't Bash Bush!)

2. We are savagely attacked on 9/11 and the world lines up with us to fight back against international terrorism. So what does he do? He leads us into war on a phony pretext. He starts a war against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. Now 2,000 young Americans are dead (and counting) and thousands are crippled & wounded. Our National Treasure is pushed further over the edge and the world wonders who is this faux cowboy in the White House? (But Don't Bash Bush!)

3. He appoints cronies and incompetents to posts of sensitivity and importance then praises them when they screw up the jobs they should have never had in the first place. Remember
"You're doing a great job Brownie? He replaces the "Color Chart Alert" Homeland Security Director with the former hatchet man for the Impeachment Committee - who knows less about security than Jerry Della Femina does about being a restaurateur. (But Don't Bash Bush!)

4. He continues on his money raising, political bull throwing around the country while one of the states of the United States of America, the country he swore to protect, goes underwater. Then makes 7 photo-op trips in shirtsleeves to show he cares. (But Don't Bash Bush!)
Only 1200 to 1500 dead...but they voted Democratic.

5. The country may be threatened by a dangerous form of Avian Flu. Bush proposes violating long standing laws against using Federal troops in domestic affairs, and transferring Congressional appropriated funds for epidemic protection to - THE PENTAGON. The jerk wants Martial Law if we get sick. Is that just an excuse like WMDs? Maybe what he really wants is Federal troops rounding up people with colds (poor people and minorities especially) and putting them in guarded quarantine? (Remind you of anything that happened in Europe from 1932-1945?) But Don't Bash Bush!

6. Gasoline prices go thru the roof. Oil Companies record the greatest excess profits in the history of corporate earnings. BUT DON'T BASH BUSH!

7. Hey, appoint your personal attorney to the Supreme Court. "I know her," he says. Maybe the people of this country should, too. Seems like a hard assed, born again, Christian Right Fanatic who thinks her boss walks on water (except in New Orleans.) But Don't Bash Bush!

You know whom to BASH? Bash JERRY DELLA FEMINA and his fellow Republican knuckleheads. They voted for this rich, spoiled, military shirker, lunatic, sub intelligent, ex-drunk. The grandson of a Hitler lover and a guarantor of the safety of the Saudi Royal family whom he allowed to fly out of here after 9/11 after 15 of their countrymen terrorized our country.

The President is absolutely scary.
Absolutely Corporate Minded.
Absolutely Crony Afflicted, unread, uninformed, unaware and a dangerous joke...unfortunately the joke is on US!

Richard Higer
East Hampton, New York

Is there such a thing as a...

militant liberal?