Liberal radio is airing bad jokes and worst taste (Host Ask For Bush To Be Shot)

New York Daily News ^ | May 12, 2004 | Michael Goodwin

[PJ-Comix]

The United States "is on the slippery slope to theocratic fascism." "The Catholic Church has been secretly encouraging oral sex for years." Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld "ought to be tortured." President Bush should be taken out and shot.

Those are a few nutso nuggets from the hosts of Air America Radio, which calls itself the new liberal voice. The fledgling network is carried in New York on WLIB, 1190 AM. With the Iraq torture scandal everywhere, I tuned in, expecting to hear sober policy analysis mixed with glee over President Bush's political pickle.

Instead, I got 10 hours of rancid venom directed at the President, Rumsfeld, Rush Limbaugh, the Catholic Church and anyone else the hosts felt like slamming. If you're a card-carrying lib who likes crude sex jokes and a cartoonish echo chamber, Air America is for you.

Take one host's linking the talk of "pulling out" the troops with the claim that "that's what the Catholic Church says about premarital sex." Ha, ha.

The network aims to give Dems a media organization to counter Limbaugh and others on the right who dominate talk radio. (What, National Public Radio and The New York Times aren't enough?)

The signing of comedian and best-selling author Al Franken gave Air America a liberal drawing card. But if his three-hour show on Monday was typical, he could sink the ship instead of saving it.

Two attempts at humor were offensive. In his "oy, oy show," set to Israeli music, a sidekick reads news reports - in this case, the murder of the Russian-backed president of Chechnya. Franken's role is to pipe up with a lighthearted "oy, oy, oy." Yep, nothing tickles the ribs like assassination.

Franken also imitated a priest giving Communion, saying "Body of Christ" when an imagined pedophile priest was in line but "not for you" when pro-choice politicians came up.

The church was a day-long obsession, as was Limbaugh. He is an "awful man," "a pig" and "a Nazi."

Color me confused. If Franken & Co. hate the pill-popping Limbaugh so much, why imitate his tarpit tone? Sounds like Limbaugh has simply driven them nuts.

Missing was the tension that comes from honest debate. Only Franken had guests voicing even slight distance from the party line, which is that John Kerry is perfect except he should attack Bush more.

The queen of venom, Randi Rhodes, followed Franken in the host slot. Her imitation of a cracker military type telling a soldier to "insert this fluorescent light bulb into that man's buttocks" was revolting. She compared U.S. prisons in Iraq to the "Nazi gulag" and said, "The day I say thank you to Rumsfeld is the same day I'll say thank you to the 12 people who raped me."

Rock bottom came when she compared Bush and his family to the Corleones in the "Godfather" saga. "Like Fredo, somebody ought to take him out fishing and phuw," she said, imitating the sound of gunfire.

During a day of torture by radio, I heard ads for Hewlett-Packard, Greyhound and, especially, General Motors. I asked GM why it appeared in such shows.

Ryndee Carney, GM's manager of marketing communications, said the ads were wrongly picked up from an earlier deal with WLIB. She said the station was ordered to "cease and desist" yesterday, and added: "GM will not advertise on any Air America affiliates."

[Steve_Seattle]

A few years ago Franken did a semi-autobiographical (comedy) film about his dysfunctional family background. There wasn't a laugh in the entire movie, and it explains a lot about why Franken is the way he is. There's a lot of self-hate in the guy, a lot of anger, that goes way back before he even heard of George Bush. Franken is a man trying to exorcise his personal demons by lashing out at George Bush. IMHO

[ohioWfan]

More proof that President Bush's political enemies are working hand in hand with the Enemy.

And more prayers needed for the President. This isn't going to get any better before November.....

[hobson]

Let HP's CEO, Carly, know what you think.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/email/fiorina/index.html

[Ron in Acreage]

the same day I'll say thank you to the 12 people who raped me.
When did this happen?

She claims to be a rape victim. She has also bragged about all the time she spent on her knees and back backstage at conerts when she was a rock DJ. A rockstar groupie type.

[hellinahandcart]

I can't believe this guy listened for 10 hours.

I could only stand it for an hour and forty-five minutes.

[expatguy]

Randi Rhodes needs to apologize to President Bush and the listeners.

[PJ-Comix]

I think this article will spell the FINAL death knell for Err America. It has been on it's last legs almost from the start but now I don't even see this show making it to the end of the month (My Birthday!). In fact, I don't even see it lasting another 10 days. Randi should expect a visit from the Secret Service today. After her comments NO sponsor (except MoveOn.Org) will advertise on that station. GM won't even allow its commercials to be played for free.

[Phantom Lord]

AA hasn't been on the air long enough for quarterly Arbitrons to come out on them. Their listenership is not known at this time. It is low, that much is known. But from what some radio hosts and industry people I have heard speak to political groups (one this past Monday), they say it is going to be the most spectacular failure in radio history.

[NYC Republican]

Looks like a ugly guy in drag.

[PJ-Comix]

She has also bragged about all the time she spent on her knees and back backstage at conerts when she was a rock DJ. A rockstar groupie type.

While Randi was on just Palm Beach radio, she once claimed that her biggest fantasy in life would be to perform a "Monica" on Clinton aboard Air Force One. Since Hillary is now her senator in NY, I wonder if Randi will discuss her fantasy with Senator Clinton.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The Bush and America haters feed off this.

[ohioWfan]

Is it true that they haven't even been able to pay their bills??

I wonder if the demise of this marvelous new station will be as heralded as it's beginning? LOL!

[doug from upland]

As a public service, it has been reported to the field office in Los Angeles.

[Uncle Miltie]

250 pounds and wigged?

[PJ-Comix]

While Randi was on just Palm Beach radio, she once claimed that her biggest fantasy in life would be to perform a "Monica" on Clinton aboard Air Force One.

BTW, Randi's fantasy involved Bill, not Hill.

[PJ-Comix]

I am predicting that Err America's last day on the air will be this Friday, May 14.

[keysguy]

She is having Gen, Taguba on today. I just e-mailed her and told her to watch out he is one guest who will actually talk back. She is not used to that. The only way she wins arguments is to cut her challenger off. Lets' fact it she is a lib, they have no arguments that make sense.

[Ron in Acreage]

She has photos of herself hugging Clinton on a stage in south florida. Boca fundraiser I think. I,m sure she made it "backstage" with him.

[zook]

"The day I say thank you to Rumsfeld is the same day I'll say thank you to the 12 people who raped me."


She's gonna need the "Make a Wish" Foundation for that to happen.

[Pikamax]

Anyone else here Air America shut down their advertisment offices in L.A. and Chicago? I was half listening to Neil Rogers quoting some story this morning.