Posted on 03/10/2010 11:58:24 PM PST by raccoonradio
Gov. Deval Patrick says he’s “open” to doing battle in the lion’s den of conservative talk radio as he struggles for traction in his re-election bid - and the Hub’s hottest hosts say they’re ready to rumble.
Patrick has long refused to enter the studios of right-wing talkers who mercilessly mock him to the delight of their listeners.
He’s had a change of heart as the polls tighten, declaring to the Herald, “In the last campaign, I was all over anybody who would take me, and I will do the same this time.
“I’m proud to be a Democrat. But I didn’t run to be governor of the Democrats. I’m not running to be governor of the Democrats this time.”
A Patrick aide said the governor’s advisers are even considering putting him on with Howie Carr, the Herald columnist and WRKO-AM (680) afternoon-drive gabber who many Bay State liberals and Patrick backers consider public enemy number one.
“Sure, I’ll have anybody on,” said Carr. “He has to call me. That’s the deal.”
Patrick’s campaign team is also mulling booking him as a guest on other top conservative shows, expressing a new willingness to brave the unpredictable call-in environment to tout his success with pension reform and other measures that could appeal to independents who voted for U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.)
Brown’s support on right-wing radio showed the medium’s power.
Said a top Patrick aide, “These are good opportunities to get the word out on the governor’s record of accomplishments to listeners that may normally not get a chance to hear about them.”
WTKK-FM (96.9) host Michael Graham offered Patrick an “open invitation.”
“My listeners would be excited and it would be a lot of fun,” the Herald op-ed columnist said.
But Patrick will not be in for an easy ride should he grace the previously banned shows.
WTKK afternoon-drive host Jay Severin said he’s never invited Patrick on his show. “No, this governor has never appeared, nor has he ever been invited to appear on my show. The reason: candor,” Severin wrote in an e-mail. “Should he ever appear, my duty to my audience (and myself) would be a series of brutal questions.”
Gerry Callahan of “Dennis & Callahan” on WEEI-AM (850) said, “Absolutely we’d have the governor on our show, and we can thank Scott Brown for that, can’t we?”
Callahan, also a Herald columnist, added, “Is it too late to get Martha Coakley on?”
The governor’s radio forays have been limited to a monthly confab with WTKK hosts Jim Braude, an avowed liberal, and Herald columnist Margery Eagan, and occasional appearances with Dan Rea of WBZ-AM (1030).
But Patrick hit the airwaves Monday for Republican Charley Manning’s first show on WRKO.
Will the governor’s new open microphone strategy work?
“If I can get one ear that says, ‘He wasn’t as bad as I thought he was,’ then I think that’s important,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, a Democrat, referring to his own radio visits. “I’d advise (Patrick) to look at any possible radio outlet. If you look at the strength of the governor, his speaking ability, people like it.”
Howie Carr list ping—and a column
Sure enough, Deval Patrick needs me . . . now
By Howie Carr | Thursday, March 11, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists
You want to come on my radio show, Deval?
Here’s the deal. You call me, OK? I’ll get back to you. Maybe.
I’ve already got my first question ready for you:
“Where’s my property tax cut?”
Funny, though, how times change. I remember a few years back on a show nobody listens to, a local disgraced, disbarred, stripped-of-his-pension felon who should still be in prison for his racist gerrymandering redistricting scheme made a “joke” about putting me in the trunk of your new Cadillac.
You chuckled. You guffawed.
Not that I’m bitter, you understand. Just like the day after the primary in 2006. You and I were both out at the Big E in West Springfield, and you’d told WHYN, my Springfield affiliate, that you’d stop by and appear on my remote broadcast. And then...you blew me off.
But that was then, and this is now. Then you had a 20-point lead over Muffy in the polls, and you knew she’d never get any traction because Christy Mihos was going to kamikaze her in every debate, while giving you a free pass.
And now you’re, well, you’re roadkill. And guess what, you’ve decided to celebrate diversity, as it were, reaching out to that 52 percent of the electorate that voted for Scott Brown.
How did Rod Stewart put it? “I know you’re thinkin’ that he must be sinkin’ or he wouldn’t get in touch with me.”
That’s exactly what I’m thinkin’.
I’m tempted to give you the brush-off. As Fat Tony Ciulla once said to me, “They didn’t invite me to the wedding, why should I come to the funeral?”
Not that I’m suggesting that this election is going to be your funeral, Deval, but....
So yeah, I’ll be glad to have you on the show. We can discuss the pressing issues of the day.
Why exactly did you want to give Sen. Marian Walsh a $175,000 job?
How much money does Doug Rubin need?
How’s the book coming along?
Does it ever worry you, that $21,690.47-a-month mortgage payment on the mansion in Richmond, and does that include real-estate taxes too, and is the monthly payment in Milton still (approximately) $9,496 a month?
What were the payouts you got when you walked away from Coke and Texaco, and how do I get me one of those sweetheart deals?
This new judge who was confirmed by the Governor’s Council yesterday, David Barretto - you were kidding, right?
In your considered opinion, who was the greater public servant, Jim Aloisi or his sister Carol?
When does Rep. Garrett Bradley’s wife get her judgeship?
Do you think you’ll start crying when the Globe goes out of business and isn’t around to protect you anymore?
Do you have a life insurance policy on Tim Cahill, just like you had on Christy in 2006?
How’re those new curtains working out for you?
We’ll have a great time on the radio, Deval. And I mean it, or my name isn’t Sal DiMasi.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1238864
Meanwhile, kiss off, he’s Imus: no WTKK Imus on air St Patty’s breakfast show this year in Boston
by Jessica Heslam
WTKK-FM gave radio relic Don Imus the big kiss-off this year and didn’t invite him to the Hub to host his annual St. Patrick’s Day broadcast - now that the station has shrunk his tired morning show to a mere two hours.
Imus has been hosting his live “Kiss Me, I’m Imus” special in Boston for the past decade, but last year’s event turned bizarre when Imus threatened to shoot WTKK afternoon-drive host Jay Severin.
WTKK-FM (96.9) program director Grace Blazer wouldn’t comment on the 2009 dust-up. She said WTKK isn’t airing Imus’ show in its entirety anymore, so having him host his St. Patrick’s Day show in Boston “just didn’t make sense for us this year.”
In October, WTKK cut Imus’ show to two hours, from 5 to 7 a.m., and moved afternoon-duo Jim Braude and Margery Eagan to the coveted 7 to 10 a.m. slot. Imus used to be heard from 5 to 9 a.m.
“Because the show is now on 5 to 7, it’s just not an event that we have chosen to do this year,” Blazer said.
During last year’s Hub broadcast, Imus threatened to shoot Severin if he didn’t get off the Wilbur Theatre stage. Imus later insisted he was joking. The showdown came a few months after Severin publicly said he would no longer appear on Imus’ show because he was tired of his insults.
On Wednesday, Imus plans to host his St. Patrick’s Day show live from the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. Severin and a spokesman for Imus declined comment yesterday.
Come into my parlor says the spider to the fly.
Go Cahill !
Howie would crush him. Coupe Deval would have to cut the interview short.
Heeeheeeeee, come on deval, I dareya, call Howie, come on now do it, I dareya, grow a pair, pick up the phone,,,,,,,,(psssssst, I won’t hold my breath waiting.......)
10-4!
The phrase “slice and dice” comes to mind.
I’ll have to take the day off.
Popcorn. Beer. Noise-makers.
Note to self: make a tape to send to John F’n Kerry.
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.