Posted on 03/15/2009 9:43:42 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Tune in to conservative talk radio in California, and the insults quickly fly. Capturing the angry mood of listeners the other day, a popular host in Los Angeles called Republican lawmakers who voted to raise state taxes "a bunch of weak slobs."
With their trademark ferocity, radio stars who helped engineer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise in the 2003 recall have turned on him over the new tax increases. On stations up and down the state, they are chattering away in hopes of igniting a taxpayers' revolt to kill his budget measures on the May 19 ballot.
No rush to measure Limbaugh's ratingsBut for all the anti-tax swagger and the occasional stunts by personalities like KFI's John and Ken, the reality is that conservative talk radio in California is on the wane. The economy's downturn has depressed ad revenue at stations across the state, thinning the ranks of conservative broadcasters.
For that and other reasons, stations have dropped the shows of at least half a dozen radio personalities and scaled back others, in some cases replacing them with cheaper nationally syndicated programs.
Casualties include Mark Larson in San Diego, Larry Elder and John Ziegler in Los Angeles, Melanie Morgan in San Francisco, and Phil Cowen and Mark Williams in Sacramento.
Two of the biggest in the business, Roger Hedgecock in San Diego and Tom Sullivan in Sacramento, have switched to national shows, elevating President Obama above Schwarzenegger on their target lists.
Another influential Sacramento host, Eric Hogue, has lost the morning rush-hour show that served as a prime forum to gin up support for the recall of Gov. Gray Davis. Now he airs just an hour a day at lunchtime on KTKZ-AM (1380).
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
As are Seattle’s PI and Times.
For myself Limbaugh's show is the only one I find interesting and thought provoking.
..”they’ll start weeding out the weaker ones”
Exactly. I think (but do not know) the trends are going to concentrate and expand Rush’s/Sean’s/Levin’s/L. Ingraham’s audience.
IMO you are correct, most talk radio is moving to economics and away from social issues, though the two are linked.
As for the LA Times, they are barely long for this world, and they do not follow their premise, talk radio isn’t dying, it is controlling costs in an economic downturn.
And I must say, internet talk radio, live and streaming, is where it’s at, if a local host is blathering on and on, streaming guys like Liddy or Savage or even Miller is just a mouse click away.
Thanks for the tidbit that Melanie filled in for Ossifer Vic. I missed Friday, but will try and catch Monday.
I believe me.
I’m getting sick of talk radio. THere’s too much of it, and a lot of them suck. The good ones are still good and they won’t be going anywhere...probably get stronger in fact.
this is just the los angeles times,
now going bankrupt,
throwing rocks at conservatives.
they forgot to mention that rush is getting bigger.
they forgot to mention that john and ken are palin-hating liberals.
i like roger hedgecock.
Seeing as I live in the LA area, this article seems to be a moot point that is trying to sap the morale of conservatives. Ok, we lost Larry Elder, but as one commenter above said, he wasn’t that entertaining. What replaced him? Mark Levin. Darn, now I get to hear him at 3:00PM instead of 10:00PM. There is a legitimate story about talk radio in general in LA shutting down. 97.1 FM, which was the entertainment variety talk station went under because they couldn’t pay the hosts anymore. That sucked because I really liked Adam Corolla, but as far as conservative talk goes in LA, all is well.
That’s because most of the conservatives have long-since departed SF...thus, no audience.
You’re so right about John & Ken. John, at least, is faking it.
Frankly the only true conservative on KFI is Rush. The next one (who I think is great) is Wayne Reznick, and he says he’s a Dem - but his opinions are conservative. Bill Handel may gripe about being called socialist, but he’s definitely changed. Is he doing this deliberately, thinking that people want liberal talk radio in the Zero Era?
The takers outnumber the givers in CA by a wider margin every day. That is why the state is imploding. They don’t listen to conservative talk as much as they used to because they are too busy lining up to listen up.
I listened to a show yesterday here in the Philly area and it was hosted by Monica Crowley. I think she was filling in for somebody. Wow! What a sexy voice! I wanted to jump through my car radio and run away with her. More importantly, she was confident and bright and made one excellent point after another about “The Bama” and his hypocrisy.
I’ve lately gotten burned out on talk radio a bit—I’m a KSFO listener and I do miss Mel (maybe because I’m female?); but I do like the political analysts the KSFO hosts have as guests in the mornings.
I think KSFO talks about Islam/terrorists too much. I understand the threat that militant Islam poses to the US, and I know it is of utmost importance, but I like to think about other things too, and so lately I’ve actually been switching to NPR (oh the horror, I know) to listen to Fresh Air, and learn about things like education policy, the death of the music industry, wine tasting, the Episcopal Church, economics, agribusiness, Jazz—I have to take everything with a huge grain of salt as everything is oriented Left, but at least the topics are varied.
I think I also like the soothing tones of the Fresh Air hosts after a long day at work. I like conservative talk radio better in the morning, NPR better in the evening.
I wish there was something like “Fresh Air for the Right.” I’d never switch from that station.
I wish there were a Spanish conservative talk radio. That would be a great way to “extend” the tent and wake Hispanics up. As they listen, they will understand why so many in the conservative movement are opposed to open borders. It trickles down.
Sussman really gets to me as well. Speaking of getting tongue tied, Little miss Melanie Morgan cannot get through a phrase without the uh’s and ah’s. She may be well thought of, however I can’t stand to listen to either of them.
Lived in the Bay Area for 35 years. Sussman was in his true calling as a weather reader. He should have stuck to that.
you’ve hit a pet peeve of mine.
i used to like kfi.
btw, dr laura is a conservative and she has a son in the military.
bill handel is a pompous ass. he detests governor sarah palin and goes out of his way to attack her all the time.
what’s that tell us about sarah? she’s got a lot of potential for us.
i cannot stand reznick. he thinks he’s so cool.
thanks for allowing me to let off my steam.
“I’ve heard her do some ads. She hasn’t returned to her old slot unfortunately.”
She was on a few days this week since OV (Officer Vic) was out.
Mainly doing the traffic but she butted and asked questions of Rodgers’ guests.
Thats the whole point of good talk radio, they inspire deep thought about the issues and good discussions.
KFSO hired Melanie Morgan back?
How nice to hear that!
Did they realize they made a mistake, or she accepted a lower salary or different hours?
Thanks,
Ed
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