[NYCVirago]

And they are not content to work slowly. Franken has signed only a one-year contract and has made it clear that his real goal is simply the unseating of George W. Bush. Maybe it's possible that he can charge away, on the air for three hours every day, for a few months. But, after the fuel of Election Day runs out, what?

The author is missing the point -- Air America is not intended to be a longtime radio mainstay. It exists for exactly one reason: to get Bush out of office. It's an easy way for Democrats to funnel money to that effort without worrying about campaign finance laws.

[backhoe]

This theory of course contradicts others about Rush advanced by critics, for one that he is a success mainly because he tells conservative listeners what they want to hear--

Nope. Rush simply gave voice to a lot of stuff I was noticing, and thinking all along. And for whatever it's worth, I probably agree less with Rush than with many other radio hosts- but he's informative, entertaining ( the parodies alone are worth tuning in for ) and always polite. I like that.

What so many commentators on this subject don't mention ( for whatever reason ) is that radio is a business, and business is about numbers, profit, and money- if Rush didn't attract a lot of listeners, sponsors would go elsewhere, and he'd fade away.

Whether the Voices of the Left will fall or prosper will be a very interesting and entertaining event to observe.

[RightOnline]

They'll fail miserably.......we all know exactly why.......and it will be fun to watch.

[TomGuy]

I watched about 2 minutes of Janeane Garofalo when she subbed on some program on CNN or MSNBC a few months ago.

The one notable thing about Janeane Garofalo's appearance was they she couldn't go off-script. She didn't seem capable of following the stream of discussion. She was constantly looking down at and fumbling with sheets of paper (her script?) on the desk in front of her.

---

So, what's Hannity, Larson, Rush, Savage, and all the other conservative talkshow hosts going to do now that the voice of radio is going to be Frankin's? [end sarcasm]

I doubt LibRadio will last much longer than Phil Donahoe's return to TV (MSNBC) lasted.

[giotto]

A lot of liberals listen to conservative talk radio. They listen, I believe, because there is a deeply felt human need to hear logical, reasoned thought expressed in words. And no one does this as articulately and with such insight as Rush.

But there is no reasoned, logical thought coming from leftists like Franken, Garafolo, or any other of the blowhards on tap for this network. There are a few liberals worth reading, such as Nat Hentoff and sometimes Christopher Hitchens, but I doubt that there will be many of those on Air America. So conservatives will give it a listen, out of curiosity, and then permanently stay away in droves.

But there are plenty of Bush haters out there, and there aren't a lot of talk stations for them to express that hatred, so I'm predicting this thing will go pretty well until after the election. Then, when Bush is re-elected, they'll not only still hate him, but they'll be even more frustrated. So who knows, it might really take off. Oh well, God bless 'em.

[auggy]

This could harm them, more than help them. When Alan Colmes was on the air, he was considered by most to be a fruitcake.

He was a fruitcake, because of his ideaology, his liberal beliefs. Very few people in this country actually think like a liberal. Most Democrats I know are way more conservative than liberal. They are in denial that their Democrat Party is actually as idiotic as, their liberal hosts might suggest they are.
If, the new liberal radio network is honest about who, they really are, it will only defeat their purpose and help re-elect President Bush.
I honestly hope it is successful. though , it won't be.

[reg45]

And who is going to advertise on this network,

1. Bungee Condoms? Sorry, Rush already has that account.
2. The Josef Mengele Womens Health Zenter - Combining womens needs with an eastern mystical respect for life
3. Bush Whackers - a drinking establishment for liberals - home of the Teddy Kennedy million dollar bar tab.
4. Pinque - a fun bathhouse for Barney and the boys.
5. etc.

[InvisibleChurch]

i can see franken being there everyday because he doesn't have anything else to do, but does anyone expect rappers and comediennes to show up everyday for work? my response reads as such: har har har

i'm guessing that the libs will keep this afloat until the day after the general election

[P.O.E.]

Franken was on Jon Stewart's Daily Show last night. I think he pretty much did his entire radio show in the five minute interview.

Basically, it boiled down to:

1)Conservatives lie.
2)Bush is stupid.

I can't believe this is all they can come up with - all these brilliant intellectuals on the left.

[guitfiddlist]

What libs don't understand, among many things, is the content. They are completely mystified by the success of Rush, attributing it all to his presentation, shtick or other gimmicks. What people are sick of, is the governing elite media's arrogant presentation of blatant lies and wacko philosophies - and Rush has an unmatched ability to lay them all out in clear and hilarious fashion, when he gets on a roll.

The leftist weenies think they can match this with a cheap-shot one-liner "comedian", in the form of Al Franken. The low-tone and fact-free zone that Franken brings with him will have serious listeners rapidly clearing their radio memories of his station settings, leaving only the dim-witted DUmmies calling in to spout, "Yeah, man, like I really hate Bush too, dude!" And that...will be that.

[reagan_fanatic]

Al Franken vs. Rush Limbaugh

That's a bit like comparing Paris Hilton to Stephen Hawkins, isn't it?

[Richard Kimball]

Franken is trying the same thing that Bob Guccione did when he started Penthouse. By painting himself as the opposition to Limbaugh, he is attempting to put himself on the same level as Limbaugh.

[A.A. Cunningham]

[TC Rider]

It may as well be Al Franken Vs Mike Tyson.

Either way Al is getting his @ss kicked.

[kevkrom]

Al Franken vs. Rush Limbaugh

In honor of "March Madness", let's label this properly:

(16) Al Franken vs. (1) Rush Limbaugh

[randog]

Franken has signed only a one-year contract and has made it clear that his real goal is simply the unseating of George W. Bush.

Aiming for "good enough" is a sure-fire plan for failure.

Air America is already in trouble. They've only got 3 stations signed up and the only advertisers are liberal NGO's and the DNC. Air America is just going to be one long campaign ad, as it was probably intended to be, but since they're only airing in liberal enclaves (singing to the choir) I highly doubt they'll be effective.

[capitan_refugio]

"The reason he might be the next Rush is that Franken, it is argued, has a singular bond with liberals."

Franken is a second-rate comedian witha third-rate political mind. The left will love him (for about 15 minutes, or until the next 'cause" comes around), but he'll never be "the next Rush." More likely, he's going to follow in the footsteps of Cuomo and Dershowitz.

[38special]

Rush is successful because he is right most of the time and has vision. He is a forward thinker. I can't wait until the conservative callers call in to Al's show and win the arguments with the facts. I think this liberal talk show will backfire. Will they allow conservative callers to the front of line?

[Bob J]

ping

[BSunday]

Rush vs. Franken ?

My first thought was "Rush wouldn't go into a battle of wits with an unarmed man"