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."

[PJ-Comix]

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.

It looks like the moronic Randi Rhodes can be expecting a visit from the Secret Service today.

[finnman69]

Al Franken is a Big Fat Idiot

[finnman69]

Hear it here:

http://www.cynicalnation.com/randi1.mp3

http://www.cynicalnation.com/archives/2004_05.html#000122

[God luvs America]

I listened yesterday afternoon to that polluted womb Randi Rhodes...in 30-minutes I never once heard anything about Nic Berg rather the American military lost the battle in Fallujah and the b!tch actually said Iraqi's were better off under Sadaam.

[keysguy]

Monsoor Ijaz was just on the Tony Snow show(radio worth listening to) and he said that all Arab leaders are afraid to express outrage at the beheading incident. Does that let us know where we stand and what to expect?

[w1andsodidwe]

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."

Anybody need a new car?

[.cnI redruM]

But Al Franken is sooo funny....At least his face is...

[Riley]

Somebody on another thread coined the term 'Tokyo Rhodes'.

[Auntie Mame]

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.

This author is a genius. Looks like we need to contact HP and Greyhound. He's already taken care of GM.

[jocon307]

"It looks like the moronic Randi Rhodes can be expecting a visit from the Secret Service today."

Let's hope so, she might get some better material out of it, at least.

If anyone here wants to listen to GOOD liberal radio, tune into the Brian Lehrer show, on NPR station WNYC 880 AM in the NY area (I'm not sure how strong the signal is), or you can listen to the stream on www.wnyc.org. The show airs from 10 am to Noon Eastern time.

It's really a good show, covers any imaginable topic, from politics, to art, to entertainment. Lehrer is even pretty good about having conservatives on, lots of National Review writers have been on with him.

And he does three or four topics a day, so you don't get bored. And you can call in! So listen, and call in, and fight the good fight, and hear good radio, not the drek that Al Franken and his stupid crew of stupid idiots would inflict on us.

[PJ-Comix]

The nuttiness of Randi Rhodes is well known in Palm Beach county where she broadcast for years. She is so far out wacko that I was surprised when she was picked up for national (not anymore) Err America. I think the Err America offices will be getting a visit from the Secret Service very soon.

[Adder]

"Instead, I got 10 hours of rancid venom "

It took him 10 hours to figure out it wasn't going to get any better? I figured that out in 5 minutes...2 of which were commercials.
Err America will flop shortly. I know they are desparately trying to hold on to try to influence the election but I don't even think they will make that. Seems like "no one" is listening to their drivel....certainly not in numbers to turn a profit. Maybe charity can keep them going. I am betting Franken and Garafolo work for next to nothing if anything....

[jla]

Can you imagine the type of person that not only tunes in to Al 'n Miz Rhodes' sophomoric ranting, but actually listen attentively?

With that said, I hope the folks at Air America can make payroll this week. LOL

[w1andsodidwe]

This author is a genius. Looks like we need to contact HP and Greyhound. He's already taken care of GM. My thoughts exactly.

[Fintan]

The lovely Ms. Rhodes.

 

[Old Sarge]

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

When did this happen?

Since the Left is so fond of orgiastic pics nowadays, howzabout posting some of your own, Honey?

[The Mayor]

as soon as this show dies it will be blamed on the vrwc

all they can do is spew venom..

[Trueblackman]

Well you have to say anything to appeal to the remaining 4 listerns that you have. Air America is a joke just like DU and shows that liberals have no talent and are failures in life.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Bin Laden and the boys are gonna have a field day slicing "fat" Al Franken into Kingdom come! When they find out he is Jewish, they are really going to get off doing him in! Yep, Al, go right ahead with your left-wing American Jews and vote John Kerry and the "traitor" Democrat Party into power. You will be signing your own death warrant. What a moron!!

[The_Victor]

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."

Now that's funny!