From Randi's show - just now

[DancingBear]

"Unless I go back to Florida, which is looking more and more likely.."

Uh oh.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

1. This network is doomed

better sing the doom song

[SheepyMcSheepster]

3. care to explain how it is doomed? nt.

[Frodo]

6. The outward signs seem to indicate it.

If the talent starts to go it's all over.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

7. and these "outward signs" would be? nt.

[Frodo]

28. Ok, the short list

They claimed they had enough money to opperate for two years without any advertising. Now they're missing payrolls and "desperately" trying to raise millions more. Perhaps they misspelled "months"?

They're harldy expanding their markets. Until just a day or two ago they still had stations listed as "coming in May" that had turned them down.

They spun us a tale about LA & Chicago. It looks more and more like they were the ones to blame and their promise to be "up with a new station in days" was made well over a month ago.

The "fifteen more stations coming in May" haven't appeared so far and May is almost over.

How many cofounders and senior management and investors have bailed the company? Two months in?

And their biggest boast (unproven at this point) is that in one liberal market among one demographic in one carefully chosen timeframer they outperformed another station who included oxyboy during that timeslot (but not exclusively).

Yes, the station's audience size improved, but not up from their 24th rating in NY. Yes, some of their other stations did even better. And Yes, startups have lots of these types of problems...

BUT - we forget that they have substantial "talent" (not necessarily talent that converts to a radio format - other than Randi - but real talent nevertheless). This talent is expensive... it is not the kind of thing that you can afford to pay from the revenues of the 24th ranking station in NY.

They need to grow FAST or die. They do not APPEAR (I could end up wrong) to be growing.


And that's the short version.

If the rumor of Randi leaving (I'll believe it when I see it) turns out true it will be all but over.

[LuCifer]

48. What about the new (within the last month) AAR stations in...

...Anchorage, Honolulu, Chapel Hill, Portland ME, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz PLUS Sirius? What about the stations coming soon (May's not over yet!) Boulder/Denver, Memphis, Reno, Santa Fe, CO Springs, Dish Network, Northampton MA, Nashua NH, and who knows what else? Not bad at all for an upstart network. I think what they (AAR) will learn in the long run is that they should have gotten more radio pros, like Randi. You mean to tell me they couldn't make a fone kall to Neil Rogers, Mike Malloy, Lynn Samuels, Peter Werbe, Guy James, etc. and say "Hey wanna get syndicated?"?

Lu Cifer, stirring up the shmit for sure! Loookowt!

[Frodo]

68. I haven't seen a press release since 4/20

for the Alaska station.

Oh yeah, those large Inuit metroplexes in Alaska have finally got AA.

I was excited about the Chapel Hill station till I was told it's the old campus radio station and can't even be heard a few miles away.

I think the station in Colorado is the one they had on their website that turned them down a week or more ago because their finances were uncertain.

[mzmolly]

58. Ive never listened to Randi, as I don't get her show in Minneapolis

I dont think if she leaves it spells doom?

[Frodo]

70. She's just the only one with any track record of success in radio.

Three hours a day in front of a microphone is HARD. Success in semi-scripted five minute segments does not translate to success in radio - particularly talk radio.

Yeah, they need her.

[mzmolly]

79. I honestly hope she stays, but it's gotta be a win/win. If she isn't

happy, she needs to handle it privately.

[BigDaddyLove]

128. Then why does she suck so badly?

And why with all of her 'success in radio' is she the only one who can't seem to figure out how to use a phone?

Seems to me that a real pro wouldn't huff and puff and bitch and complain about things not going exactly her way and do the best with what she has.....she knew what she was getting into, and certainly didn't say no to a national audience when one was offered.

If she leaves it will make AirAmerica that much better.

[Lou_C]

75. Someone just bought several of the stations in the big cities

They are not doomed at all.

[Frodo]

80. Whew. Was that two generalizations where we need specifics?

Or was it three?


Got a link?

[K-W]

14. Outward signs seem to indicate... its doing ok.

air america is doing fairly well considering the setbacks it has faced. The O'Franken Factor seems to be fairly successful. The management still seem to be a bit over thier heads, but so far things still seem ok. Randi seems to be fairly uncomfortable with the whole situation which is something they very much need to remedy.

Anyone claiming doom are being pessamistic, maybe correctly pessamistic, but the facts dont show doom.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

9. Simple

Losing both their top management and staple talent right off the bat is a very bad sign. Add in their financial and legal woes, it does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

13. can you site any of these specifically? nt.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

17. Sure

"First, the network's programming was kicked off the air in two major markets, Los Angeles and Chicago. (A federal judge later ordered it back on the air in Chicago, but after Friday, it'll be gone from Windy City airwaves.) Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune reported that two of Air America's high-ranking executives, CEO Mark Walsh, a former AOL exec and Democratic National Committee operative, and David Logan, director of programming, are stepping down.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48096-20...

Losing top management so early in the game is a very bad sign.

If they lose a major attraction like Randi it will be another nail in the coffin.

They can recover from their screwups, but it'll be a long, difficult slog.

[onehandle]

18. These are expected growth pains.

Got anything positive to say?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

22. Sure

Garafolo looks really cute with blonde hair. Too bad it's radio.

[neverborn]

44. Garafalo is always cute! And Randi's voice is sexy :D

[Wells]

74. Rumsfeld Doctrine - EXPOSED -

Rumsfeld Doctrine suggests complicit participation
of advice givers at Cabinet level.

Rumsfeld Doctrine flawed at least 3 ways:
Aspects of Iraq War Plan indicate poor 'Economic' advice taken.
Aspects of security privatization indicate 'Civil Rights' violations.
Which other Cabinet Secretary must be complicit?
Not Powell. The problem is Economics and Information.

Bush Cabinet combined to produce Rumsfeldian Thought.
The Cabinet together produced countless, inexcusable failures in judgement, no self-respecting conservative can accept.

The Bush Yearz are a question of the president's "failure
to plan" for "expected and foreseen consequences".
His policy is completely negative on every front,
combined with Media Manipulation of the worst order.


I suggest rank Promotion of Capt John Kerry to Major or above. His diplomatic strategem shown at end of Vietnam led the process.
An effort deserving Award Medal.
Major John Kerry. I like it.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

29. what i have read about that situationn is.....

the management was asked to leave, it had something to do with them packaging AAR as an all or nothing deal, ie. stations that run the programming would have to run all AAR shows and not just a single one.

as for the network being "kicked off" the air in los angelas and chicago i am sure you have read about the guy they were doing business with in those markets was selling time they paid for to other clients. they felt that this was unlawful, so they stopped payment on their checks and then took the guy to court and won.

i guess it is all how you look at it. i don't see it as being that much of a problem and i think AAR will do fine in the future. we all have our opinions.

[Frodo]

35. Almost none of that is true.

They didn't "win" in court. Had they won, they would still be on the air. They never even WENT to court on the station in LA, so they obviously didn't have a leg to stand on. So at least in LA they WERE "kicked off" and didn't even put up a fight. In Chicago, they didn't "win" a case. All they got was a virtualy automatic "cease and desist" order that would allow them back on the air while the actual meat of the case war argued. Their CLAIM was that he was bilking them, HIS claim was that they weren't paying. Rather than actually ARGUE that case, they settled and were off the air again in a couple days. They said they would be back on "momentarily" then "this week" then "within days" now "shortly" and it's been well over a month. And the fact that they DID run out of money makes thei story seem less genuine.

They also lied to us. There's a huge difference between having all the funds necessary to run the network for two years WITHOUT ANY ADVERTISING and running out of money in less than two months.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

38. so which parts are true?

i was wrong about the "win" in court. they did settle and decided to no longer do business with the defendant's company.

but when did they run out of money?

[Frodo]

41. "When did they run out of money"?

Obviously I don't do their books, but they've missed a couple payrolls (per Randi and the news) and were reported as "desperate" to raise more funds before some new investment came in a day or two ago. They still haven't finished their website BTW.

What was correct?

Management was asked to leave (not that this is a "good" thing since the company picked them in the first place) AND it IS "all in how you look at it".

They ain't dead yet, Jim. But they're sick.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

43. i only heard about payroll being delayed once.

and it was because of the management switch, check signing and what not.

i guess only time will tell.

[Puglover]

61. Where exactly

are you getting all these facts from please.

[Frodo]

62. Straight out of the press releases & threads here.

Which point are you looking for?

[Cascadian]

142. They simply need radio people.

Radio people in management and radio people on the air. Randi is the only real radio person. They need Guy James, Mike Malloy, Thom Hartmann, Alex Bennett, Mike Webb, and Bernie Ward. Not comedians. If they carry on like this, then Air America WILL fold.

John

[Frodo]

4. OK, I'll bite

What's the "doom song"?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

12. The Doom Song

is from the cartoon "Invader Zim". Very funny cartoon while it lasted.

[Ripley]

15. How can that be?

I heard they beat out Rush in his time slot.

[mountainvue]

119. They did.

http://liberalmediaconspiracy.blogspot.com/2004_05_23_l...

Air America beat Rush Limbaugh in New York!

Arbitrend Spring Phase 1 Numbers

25-54 year olds
WLIB 3.4 share in April (AA's flagship station in NYC, 10a-3p, includes O'Franken Factor and Unfiltered)
WABC 3.2 share (Rush Limbaugh's station in NYC)

Other stats:
#1 provider of streaming audio on the Internet
6.5 million distinct streams
average listening time 51 minutes

WPOJ (Portland affiliate) nearly quintupled the 'cume' (cumulative total of listeners)

[wyldwolf]

23. I wouldn't say doomed -- but in peril, for sure

[bedtimeforbonzo]

25. doomed was a bit of hyperbole

but it is kind of a clusterfuck

[AlCzervik]

36. Why is it doomed?

I think people forget they have started up a whole network, not just 1 or 2 shows. It's going to take time.

[Cascadian]

87. The way the network is going....

there maybe a kernel of truth to this. I have said it before and I will say it again, AAR is really shooting themselves in the foot. First of all they need real radio people running the network and real radio people like Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Guy James, Alex Bennett, and Mike Webb to get on there. Alex Bennett described Air America as "Comedy Central on the radio". I must concur with this. It is not that great and they better change some things around or they will lose it.

John

[Cascadian]

141. dupe this.

[Frodo]

2. I heard a rumor about that yesterday

But it was from the freepers (who were all excited about the failure of AA) and was refuted elsewhere that she was just taking a long weekend.

[Puglover]

5. So let her go back to Florida......

and broadcast from there....it's 2004; I don't know what the big f'n deal would be.

[DancingBear]

11. If that is what was meant by the comment

then I'm all for it - and quite relieved.

It didn't come across that way, however.

[Gothic Sponge]

8. I heard AAR here in New York is doing good

as far as ratings go. AAR beat WABC (right wing radio) last month. I hope there is no doom song.

[Frodo]

37. It isn't

And it didn't.

WABC's ratings were almost three times WLIB's. They were the #1 AM station in NY, while WLIB came in 24th overall.

[linazelle]

42. Was Rush #1 in his market in the first quarter of his start? Is he #1 now

You seem hellbent on trying to forecast anything bad for AAR. Why is that?

[Frodo]

56. Different story - different results.

No, he wasn't - nor did he have to "draw" to justify the salary he has now right away.

I think he failed several times in more than one format.

But he didn't have to pay for millions in start-up costs to justify a network.

[Donny247]

52. Correction

AAR was beating WABC in the 10AM - 3PM time slot. Seeing that both Limbaugh and Franken are on from 12-3, it follows that Franken was beating Limbaugh. While Limbaugh did have more TOTAL viewers, Franken won in the crucial 25-54 demographic, which is key for advertisers. For an upstart, this is AMAZING!

[Frodo]

55. Correction to your correction.

A does not imply B. It simply means that whoever is on from 10-12 beat the ABC guy/gal in the same slot by more than limbaugh beat franken. Their website says it's some guy names "John Gambling" who I'm sure is just a ratings barnburner but I've never heard of him.


If they were up from 12-3 they wouldn't have said 10-3. If they were up overall they wouldn't have said "25-54".

And this is NY we're talking about.

[Donny247]

89. Hahahaha

Hahaha...you can try to spin it all you want, it doesn't change the fact that those are impressive numbers for an upstart against the great WABC! Also, AAR is the most streamed audio on the net! Not bad considering its been around for less than 2 months.

[Frodo]

97. I'm sorry - I've been shown no "impressive numbers"

Nothing but spin. Going from a 1.3 to a 1.4 is NOT "impressive". The ABC affiliate gained three times as many listeners in the same timeframe. These kinds of numbers are precisely the kinds of things that losing stations shout about because it's all they have ("sure, we're in last place, but in the 6-12 age group on Sat from 4-6am we got twice the listeners the replay of "neverending story" got AND it's six more people than last month... please please please extend my contract??")

They were 24th in NY before AAR took over and they're 24th now. Except they pay a LOT more for their talent. This is not a recipe for success. It does NOT mean "failure", just "concern". It certainly isn't the stuff of joyfull press releases.


And the streaming numbers, while impressive, are not particularly relevant. They are a nationally known network (if in name only) with a national potential audience BUT almost ZERO coverage. What percentage of people in the country can turn on their radio and hear AAR?

5%?

So OF COURSE they have a big streaming number. Nobody else has a reason to get those kinds of numbers - they either have a national presence already or they don't have a large group of people looking to listen to them. If I could get AAR on the radio I wouldn't stream at all - but I don't have a choice. Neither do the bulk of people who would like to listen to the programing.

[Donny247]

109. Blah blah blah

They had a 3.4 compared to WABC's 3.2 cume (cumulative total). You dismiss demographic ratings, but that is what advertisers look at. When you say "12 year olds on weekends" you are deliberately trying to distort the issue. 25-54 year olds are the KEY DEMOGRAPHIC, and 10-3 is not an obscure time slot. What's your issue? Clearly something bothers you about AAR.

[Frodo]

134. "honesty" is what bothers me

They haven't been honest with us, and this is just more evidence.


I suspect the truth would have been impressive enough. As you say - for a startup to come close to the "master" is pretty impressive. But they have to go and hide the numbers to do it.

Their overall rating wasn't very impressive and will not bring in enough revenue to support the salaries of people like Franken (who muct be working harder now than he has in years).

They get numbers broken down any which way they want. If they want to say they beat limbaugh - why don't they give us the ratings for 12-3 on weekdays?

Yes, I know I exagerated to make the point. But that WAS the point - they exagerated too.

[yankeedem]

91. John Gambling has only been on the air 40 years

so obviously he has no audience.....

and please stop distorting the facts. The 24th in market in Arbitrends reflects preliminary numbers for February, March, and April. Did you intentionally leave out that April was the only month that AA was on the air, or is that just an oversight?

When you take some time out from bashing AA, please research how many stations jump the ratings book ONE MONTH after hitting the airwaves. I can help you, the number is about ZERO.

Did you know how many years it took WABC's "All pukes all the time" schedule to hit number one? It took about 4 years. This with a clear channel signal and huge presence in the market.

How is WOR doing? It is a close relative of WLIB, and it is only 3 places below them in the ratings book you cite. This despite a clear channel and 80-years in the NY market.

I really have to wonder why it is so important for you to make everyone understand that AA is failing. I've wondered similar things in other threads you've participated in also.


Edited to correct myself, John Gambling Jr has only been on the air since 1978 in NY. Obviously he's a piker.

[bagnana]

95. me too n/t

[LowerManhattanite]

110. Further correction on Gambling...

...you were half right on your initial post. Gambling is the THIRD generation of Gamblings to broadcast in NY, an unbroken string of 40-plus years, the beloved dad and grand-dad on WOR and the present Gambling on WOR and then WABC. They are as venerable as Chicago's Irv Kupnicet and San Fran's Herb Caen.

They are a New York institution. I oughtta know. Look at my handle.

[mountainvue]

121. Please see

post #119.

[benburch]

10. Don't write them off yet!

I really think that they will pull it together and be even better than people hope for!

[vetwife]

16. I hope they get Guy !

[benburch]

19. Guy James would make a great weekend show, I think.

If I could wish my wish, they'd have Mike Malloy, Peter Werbe, and Thom Hartmann on too, but you know, everybody wants to get on the air, and there are only so many hours in the day.

[vetwife]

34. He really would, wouldn't he Ben?

He could fire up the base while being the professional to go for the throat with a velvet glove thing when the wingers call in and then fall back to kind when his listners on the left call. Yup..he has what it takes...He in my opinion could do Network TV !

[Must_B_Free]

86. Guy James?

I hear his demo disc is unsolicited and not even worth opening

[vetwife]

90. You heard wrong.....Unsolicited and not worth opening..Big difference

Have you even heard The Guy James Show?

[BigDaddyLove]

129. Yeah, 'till I fell asleep........

After listening to him, I really wonder why anyone would want him on AirAmerica....he'd be just one more person to the 14 or so who say the same things all day long; at least with the lineup they now have it's entertaining and funny (aside from Rhodes, who is just obnoxious).

[Must_B_Free]

132. was joking

[Puglover]

137. ROFL!

Good one!

[Delano]

33. I got flamed for running a poll picking the "weakest link" on AAR.

But it's okay to predict its demise?

I think AAR is fine - just needs some fine-tuning.

Of course, I don't have the books in front of me...

[Gothic Sponge]

20. Even with set backs

Think of the good. At least they are getting real ads now and not PSAs.

[Walt Starr]

21. BFD, if she walked,m it might actually help the network

She could easily be replaced with any number of Liberal Radio talk show hosts waiting in the wings.

Rhodes is not AAR.

[rucky]

24. I'd follow Randi.

& listen to her stream rather than tune into my AAR station if that were the case.

[Walt Starr]

26. Yeah, and for every one of you, there would be two Mike Malloy

fans tuning into AAR.

Just the way the radio biz works.

I'm about to turn Rhodes off. I get sick of her bitching.

[neverborn]

46. Whine whine! I hate Randi! OMg!

The same group of you that hates Randi is loud and vocal about it... it gets really fucking old.

[Walt Starr]

49. I don't hate her

I just don't like listening to her. I have better things to listen to.

[neverborn]

53. Why do you feel the need to vocalize that constantly>

[Walt Starr]

143. Maybe because this tis a thread about rhandi Rhodes on a public

message board.

Ya think?

[neverborn]

47. Hell yes, so would I

[ldf]

107. Rhodes is not AAR. ??

that's funny...

she is the only one that i must listen to.

[Renew Deal]

27. She should stop whining.

Her behavior is unprofessional. Then again, she might be working on ratings.

[tomreedtoon]

30. Rhodes is terminally depressed.

Of all the AAR hosts, she is the one most in need of Prozac. No one else on the network speaks with as much despair as she does. Most of the others speak with righteous anger, but she seems to be convinced that everything is lost, we're all doomed...and she laughs at it!

I would not shed a tear if the people from Buzzflash, or Bartcop, or even the Plaid Adder, were to replace her on the air. Let her make guest appearances where she can play the female version of Dana Carvey's Grouchy Old Man.

"We cast our worthless ballots for Democrats, and they were torched by the Republicans, and they stomped like Nazis all over us...and that's the way it was and WE LIKED IT!"

[rucky]

31. WERE YOU IN FLORIDA IN 2000?

yes, I'm yelling.

[robbedvoter]

67. Good for you! I wasn't in Florida - but it seems Randi was your ONLY

source of truth. A long time ago I decide to judge people (media , politics) by what they did durinmg the coup. So, Randi rules!

[bagnana]

96. Randi told a guy from NY that people elsewhere were sick of

hearing about 9/11. I love her fire and find her well read and strong and funny. I also get irritated by her apparent resentment that she is not the star of the network. She feels eclipsed by Franken and Janine. Well, they are stars in another, more well known medium, and have a built in audience. Sorry. She shouldn't let it get to her. Sometimes she reminds me of those long term public interest attorneys who are sick and tired of their jobs (and their clients) but hate the other side even more. I listen to her whenever I can, but it is a bit depressing sometimes -- she's much more jaded than Al or Janine, (which in Garafalo's case is saying a lot!) Janine's pissed, while Randi just sounds disgusted.

[rucky]

32. Waaaaah! Randi whiiiinnneees sooo much.

The difference is, she's made it into an artform.

That's why she's on the radio & we're not.

[napi21]

39. OH, get a grip! If the equipment has the problems she talks about

she should be SCREAMING! A talk sho host without a functioning phone is like a limo driver without a car!

The sky is falling attitude is her way of trying to get lazy Dems off their a** and vote. Sometimes it takes this overboard tactic to get through to people.

After years of only being able to hear junk like Limbaugh and Boortz, I LOVE Raandi. I hope she stays!

[sophie996]

40. great

those who like her overwrought style can tune in to the stream from florida, the rest of us can ask them to divide up that time among calmer folks like mike malloy, thom hartman, amy goodman. nobody loses.

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. BUT, but, but

they just beat Limbaugh in the NY market!!!!! They can't be doing poorly!

[Frodo]

50. They didn't.

It's a common radio gimick. Read between the lines and they did nothing of the sort.

[robbedvoter]

51. yeah, here's a sign that the end is near - but whose?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Frodo & a few others are here EXCLUSIVELY to bash AAR. As for the DU-ers who hate Randi, bite me. Just because you are ennamored of other talk shows is no reason to rain on our parade. I didn't hear her getting your guys fired. get them already wherever you used to get them before and let us enjoy AAR and Randi.
I am sick and tired of the moaning and the bitching.
You are perfectly entitled not to listen, But why obsess on it? Please, take your Guy, Molloy whomever love them dearly for the rest of your life, post threads on them. I promise I won't visit. Bye now. Randi is talking!

[0007]

59. I hear ya! Wish those basher would take a hike or go lope their mule

Love the Randi show.

[ibegurpard]

63. Some of the posters you mentioned

have a history of raining on LOTS of parades on varying topics. Keep that in mind.

[Puglover]

64. thanks I agree robbedvoter

Did you read the whining screed that Guy James (or someone from his station) post about how RUDE AAR was? Jesus....all the replies sounded like a bunch of Heathers kvetching....
I read the thread and the only thing that occured to me was what POSSIBLE reason would someone post a thread like that except to bash Air America.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

54. can't she tough it out a bit?

and quit whining. she should put the cause of establishing an alterntive to clear channel above her own petty ego.

[robbedvoter]

57. Without her own "petty ego" there wouldn't be an AAR!

This woman went and lobbied with Senators and congressmen and anyone who could help. She is more AAR than Al Franken is.
She is reserving her toughness for Bushco. On herself she can be as soft as she wants for all I care - I get from her all I need and more.
TRhink Howard Stern - 60% of his ranting is personal stuff - didn't kill him in the ratings. She knows what she is doing - look at the long threads she generates! Love her! hate her! No one is indifferent - all listen!

[sendero]

73. You get the gold star....

... for figuring out what seems to go right over most folks' (here) heads.

[mountainvue]

122. No.

That's the ever loving point. She's bithcing so SOMEONE will do something about it. Otherwise, nothing would ever get done about it.

[mzmolly]

60. I've not heard her show, but her constant taunting is unprofessional

[robbedvoter]

65. Jean Luc Goddard, is that you? "Haven't seen MM's film, but it's stupid

and will help Bush"
All this "hadn't listened but I am compelled to attack her" reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where he wouldn't admit to watchimg "Melrose place..." He cracks under a short interrogatory...Don't worry, i don't want to know. Just fascinated here.

[mzmolly]

69. Every week I hear a threat that she is leaving AA. I actually have listen

-ed once via stream (upon further reflection) does that qualify me to have an opinion?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that her weekly declaration *that she is leaving AA* is detrimental.

[Must_B_Free]

88. That is unprofessional to complain about your job on air

She does a detriment to the station by fueling rumours. SHe is funny and has a large command of facts, but perhaps she doesn't realize that she's NOT the cetner of the universe.

[mzmolly]

71. dup

deleted

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mzmolly]

72. Am I ...

misinformed? Or does she say she is leaving AA about every night? If so I find that unprofessional no matter who the F is doing it.

And, what does Florida have to do with RR bitching about a lack of Air conditioning?

Oh no!!! The wrath of the Randi listner has descended upon me!

LOOK, I AM GREATFUL FOR ANYONE SPEAKING OUT AS SHE DOES, BUT I AM ENTITLED TO SAY I FEEL HER ACTIONS IN THIS REGARD ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL.

Her actions in this regard, weaken the goals of AA radio! If she is unhappy, she should leave.

[Malikshah]

77. Use all the emoticons you want

But if you state flat out that you've not heard her, and yet make a judgement based upon others

Then, well...the opinion is worthless as it is, at best, based upon the views of others.

As for the Florida rant-- it's tied to the issue of Randi-- someone who was a lone voice in this state while all others lambasted it. Someone who on the day of the election had more information about the shit going down than anyone else (except the perpetrators)

Unprofessional? Please, it's unprofessional to spout off without all the information.

[mzmolly]

78. As I clarified I have listened to her show via stream. Does that give me

a right to an opinion?

BTW, professionalism relates to one's work environment. I am not representing my employer on DU, so the professionalism issue is not related.

[Malikshah]

83. The issue here is your initial post.

You state flat out that you have not heard her.

If you have then said you did-- you will need to clarify that in the initial post.

It *is* unprofessional in terms of debating an issue to change one's stance mid-way and then act as if one may have been wronged.

BTW-- I'm not an avid Randi supporter (i.e. your lovely little emoticon Guernica against rabid randi listeners) I think she's wrong on a few issues and called her on it--she then hung up and changed the subject. She does have her faults, but she's got the nerve to stand up and voice her informed opinion.


As for the rampant use of emoticons to change the subject of professionalism, I'll leave *that* one alone.

[mzmolly]

84. LOL

Touche' I have one last emoction for you.

[Malikshah]

92. So glad you're amused

[mzmolly]

94. So glad your glad.

[Malikshah]

98. In an homage to the Lion in Winter

I'm glad you're glad I'm glad.

We're a glad group.

[DancingBear]

76. Randi Rhodes is the best thing that could have happened to AAR!

There.

I said it.

So there.

Whaddya think - I got Sirius in both cars and the house for Morning Sedition?????

[theoceansnerves]

81. i just absolutely love

the people (not you, poster) that mysteriously come out of the woodwork when anyone mentions either
1. randi rhodes, or
2. that air america is doomed/failing/off the air in a matter of days.

this is getting to be worse than peta threads. it's amazing to see people falling over each other to be the fastest and loudest to proclaim air america is a sham and is DOOMED!

meanwhile, the shows keep going, guests keep coming on, and i'll still be listening.

[merkins]

82. why can't she remote it in from Florida ?

Seems to be her major gripe is the crummy studio
and the semi-skilled helpers .. and hearing her
talk about her fab studio in Florida, it seems
like a natural to just let her work from home.
Well anyways I just got to hope she will atleast
grit it out till the election.
I still think AAR is going to take off gangbusters
and Bernie Ward will get a slot!

[patricia92243]

85. She needs to stay and quit gripping or go and never be syndicated again-

her choice - but she needs to "fish or cut bait".

[buddhamama]

93. Randi's not going to leave

She's dealing with some inexperienced people, and has some adjusting to do of her own but it'll be fine. And, her numbers are great!

[gauguin57]

99. i WANT Randi to leave.

She's the female Rush ... she combines using her big mouth to further the progressive cause (which is fine) with throwing out quasi-facts -- embellishing things to give herself a wider jumping-off point (which is NOT all right) ... I've heard plenty of stuff come out of her mouth that is just plain WRONG -- and she just goes blathering on, making us look bad, IMHO. Just like Rush -- don't let the truth stand in the way of a good rant. We're the good guys ... we shouldn't be copying Rush and O'Reilly and his ilk.

And Randi NEVER lets ANYONE talk. She takes calls, and then starts screaming and cuts everyone off. O'Reilly, in spades.

Franken running sound bites past the "resident dittohead" was tired after the first week. We want FRESH programming, not programming that uses the worst sins of the repugs, throwing it back in their faces. And quit calling it the O'Franken Factor. The joke is tired.

I hope Air American survives, of course, but not as a left-wing mirror image of the evil right-wing radio.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

100. Good for her!!! I want a LIBERAL RUSH!!!! Rush showed how well....

he could promote the Right Wing agenda and now we have TWO Left Leaning Rush's, Randi and Ed Schultz!!!

This is a good thing!!!

[gauguin57]

101. not if she's a liar like Rush

And she is sometimes. She throws stuff out there sometimes without having her facts straight.

I don't mind her being a bulldog. Just not a lying bulldog.

[robbedvoter]

103. Randi never lies. Sorry she makes you feel small. Might not be HER

problem.

[robbedvoter]

102. There, there - the big bad uppity female is gone now (until tomorrow)

You can restore your badly damaged masculinity for 24 h now.

[gauguin57]

104. um ... if you're talking to me ...

I'm an uppity, big-mouthed woman myself. And I agree with most of what she says. I'd say "you go, girl!" if she kept her facts straight.

But, particularly as a former journalist, I just don't like people using the media to put out false information (or repeat news stories that have already been retracted or proven to be false, which, sorry if you don't like it, she does) even in order to push the left-wing agenda. We don't need that. That's for low-lifes like Rush and O'Reilly and the rest of Faux news. We can be something BETTER.

[robbedvoter]

105. I saw no false information from Randi. "Former journalist" does not

carry any authority with me. Let's see; Randi - "journalist" - who do I believe?
Buh bye.

[gauguin57]

111. I can see why you like Randi.

When someone calls her to bring up a point, she cuts them right off, talking louder and louder.

"Buh bye."

OK. Whatever.

If you'd prefer to believe someone who sounds like she reads all the usual source materials, then puts out what she wants to be true, at the expense, sometimes (and only sometimes) of what IS true ... if you believe her over any journalist (and I'm certainly not talking about myself) just because they ARE journalists ... well, you're creating your own little world, where only what you want to be true is true ... just like the Rush listeners do.

And that makes me very sad. It has made me sad for years that all journalists are automatically suspect in the minds of idealogues of all stripes. Without journalists, we wouldn't know jack shit about what's going on. Without journalists, Randi Rhodes wouldn't know jack shit about what's going on.

But the Democratic party is a Big Tent, so though we disagree, I will certainly sit and break bread beside you, for the cause.

[robbedvoter]

113. The only journalists I believe are Conason, hersh, Palast partially

and maybe a few more. Unlike a dittohead, I do read myself - and so far I found everything Randi says grounded in reported facts. Of course if you are sitting there hunting for mistakes, you may get lucky with some detail - it's 4 hours a day after all.
And you are right, I am myself a big mouthed, angry new Yorker just like Randi, her style suits me so perfectly - I sometimes wonder if we weren't separated at birth.
For you to compare her with Limpballs it shows either bad faith or a Jean Luc Goddard size case of jealousy .

[gauguin57]

115. neither of those, I assure you ...

only my wish that this much-needed network succeed ... and that those representing our side not play fast and loose with the facts -- ever (a point on which, regarding Randi, we obviously disagree). I just want us to be so much BETTER than THEY are.

[robbedvoter]

120. So you call Randi a Rush equivalent because she is not" better" enough

for your unattainable standards?
That's the DU logic by wich Dems are demonized and A*hole like Mccain admired - dems for occasionally neing less than pergect, Mccain for occasionally not lying of thugging... Makes sense.

[gauguin57]

125. what do we always complain about ...

with Rush? That he plays fast and loose with the facts. I don't want ANYONE to be able to say the same for the liberal radio network. And I don't think being careful what you say -- to make sure a given news story hasn't changed -- that more information hasn't come out the day before yesterday that changes what you're saying today, etc. -- when you have a national audience (or even if you're writing for a 1,000-circulation weekly) is an unattainable standard! I think it's the minimum of what should be expected!

But since you disagree that Randi plays fast and loose with the facts, this particular conversation is at an impasse.

And besides, General Zinni is on "Charlie Rose." So ... mmmm ... buh-bye!

[mountainvue]

124. As a former

journalist, I guess you would know about keeping facts straight. you didn't work for Faux did you?

[gauguin57]

127. Faux and facts

have very little relationship whatsoever.

And yes, I do know how most journalists work hard to get the facts stright (yeah, there are lame-o's and irresponsible people in journalism as there are in every profession). But the majority of journalists I've met care passionately about the truth ... I know what long, strange hours they work, how they sacrifice their health and their personal lives to keep the public informed, how seriously they take every sentence they write ... there are a lot of hard-working journalists out there who take their mission very seriously, and kill themselves to get the facts straight. It's a very noble profession. And the public repays those hard-working professionals, who disseminate vital information and sometimes put their lives on the line in the pursuit of the truth, by shitting on them all the time. Makes me sick.

If you use the failings of a large chunk of the White House Press Corps (that weird, insular little world) to judge the entire profession of journalism, I don't blame you for skepticism. They fell down on the job, big time. But DON'T judge the entire profession by those who aren't doing the job properly. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. And leave me my right to be bothered, for chrissakes, when I hear Randi spewing inaccuracies because they suit her rant-of-the-moment, and taking calls only to cut our fellow progressives off in mid-sentence if they're saying something she doesn't like.

When you've decided not to listen to THOSE EVIL JOURNALISTS anymore ... well, I pray that the day your local government is creating a toxic waste dump behind your house and you don't know about it because IT WAS THOSE EVIL JOURNALISTS warning you about it ... well, luvvies, enjoy the glow emanating from your backyard.

[Puglover]

139. I simply do NOT understand the problem here.

I loath Rush, O'reilly et. al. so (novel idea) I don't listen to them! Period. You Randi haters should try that. Trust me it works.

[buddhamama]

138. you have the option of ignore

not listening to the show.

Randi gets under my skin sometimes. yeah she can be rude etc etc...
However, I think listeners forget that when Randi presents a "fact"
it is subjective. She expresses her opinions based on subjective facts. It doesn't make her wrong,though.

[LowerManhattanite]

106. I work for WBAI-FM (Pacifica) in NY...

...and previously for Inner City Broadcasting ( ICBC-the license holder for the WLIB 1190 AM/WBLS 107.5 FM frequencies), so I feel I can speak on this with a certain level of authority...

Air America is fine. The payroll issue is a long-standing one with ICBC. Air America is run out of the old 33rd ICBC/ WLIB floor studios which were heavily renovated (by broadcast engineer friends of mine). They went from analog with a few CD players to a full digital format using NO tape. This quick switch (done in a span of three weeks--amazingly fast!) took place with almost NO shakedown/test-run of the equipment. Thus, the occasionally choppy air sound. They lost a major sponsor in GM when a vendetta-addled former editor-now columnist for the Daily News named Michael Goodwin mounted an immediate campaign against the network. (He won a Pulitzer while editor for his vendetta against the one-time Inner City Broadcasting-owned Apollo Theater and it's management---yes...he has a bug up his ass about the African-American Sutton family that owns AAr's flagship frequency)
He personally called GM's ad sellers and complained about Randi's comparison of the Bush family to the Corleones and her direct comparison of W to the dim Fredo. GM blinked and yanked the account, biting into the direct revenue stream--thus the payroll hiccup.

They have secured other investors which have been named---and some prominent ones who have NOT been named. Money isn't the problem. Ad sales are. And those problems have abated considerably. Various pharmaceutical companies have recently signed on, nearly ALL of the free Ad Council ads are gone and believe it or not two of the newest advertisers to sign on are Shell Petroleum and...wait for it...Sam's Club AKA Wal-Mart. Ford stepped into the breach for GM based on the web stream numbers. Marketers can tell a lot about a target market that has computers or daily access to them where they can be listened to (white-collar jobs translates into people with money). As to the ratings numbers, they mean what they say. In the most desired demographic, Limbaugh got beat by a two-month old baby upstart in the biggest media market. That covers New York, New Jersey and Connecticut---a listener base of nearly 12 million people and in the city of the lionized-for-no-good-reason repug Giuliani, the present mayorlty of the trollish repug Bloomberg and the smirking three-term GOP governor Pataki. How does this affect the competition?

Here's how. AAR's direct competition namely the NPR affilliates WNYC/WNYE and my present employer WBAI-FM are scared sh*tless. We have been from the moment AAR announced it's impending existence. These are the progressive stations in the NY area and from the moment of the announcement we all knew that fund-raising was gonna take a massive blow to the head. If those listeners are listening to AAR (and unfortunately, they are), that means they're not listening when we have fund drives---which translates into diminished revenue. The vast bulk of public radio listeners don't pay in anyway, so any slip in the audience means a loss of potential wallets. And the audience has slipped. (In addition to the loss of a lot of behind the scenes local talent AAR has hired away)

Sorry to ramble, but as something of an insider, I felt I could tell you a bit more than you're hearing via the rumor mill and freeper-provacateurs. The station isn't perfect, but it's doing better and is on a serious upswing. Watch soon for the weekend gaps to be filled with new programming in lieu of the repeats. The recent ratings are excellent--proof of the pudding? The sad faces here at WBAI and at WNYC and in the invite of Franken to speak at the influential "Talkers" conference.

Thanks for reading,
LM

[PROGRESSIVE1]

108. Could please post this in the General Discussion forum so that...

all who are in doubt know that AAR is fine. Also, they had very strong numbers for their first quarter! AAR beat Rush for the top place in NYC!

[robbedvoter]

112. Thanks for writing it! A lucid true account. My respect for WBAI just grew

because of this.

[HootieMcBoob]

114. Thank you.

Finally a person in the business who actually sounds like they know what they're talking about instead of the "I'm in the business and I can't say much, but there are a lot of bad things going on with AAR, it's a shame they could have been good -- can't say any more" posts that are getting really stale.

So, thanks again!

[LowerManhattanite]

118. No sweat...

...and trust me..Phil Boyce (the WABC Programming Director) is boiling mad about the ratings book numbers. The period Franken cited is the midday block (as opposed to morning drive and evening drive which sandwiches it). Boyce has already got his little anti-union attack poodle and weekend host Steve Malzberg (the whiny little f*ck who was on Scarborough-"how'd-that-dead-intern-get-in-my-office" Country last week) foaming at the mouth about it. The progressives in NY radio all get along in spite of the competition. JoAnne Allen who does the midday news on AAR is still on good terms with her buds at WNYC and all the Pacifica "Democracy Now" folks have a standing invite on Majority Report.

That said, there are some glum faces at NYC and BAI with the hit they've taken listener-wise. (Although with NYC's rightward drift, their pain I can live with.)

[Wapsie B]

116. Thank you as well.

Very good post.

[bpilgrim]

131. thanks for the straight dope

any word on the talent in mind for the weekend slots?

peace

[yankeedem]

133. No No you are wrong!!!!

But they have had TWO MONTHS to succeed, and they are not even #1 so obviously they are doomed!

Another dynamic to consider is that while Limpballs station goes all the way through the NY market, WLIB unfortunately only covers the fat part of it. WLIB's signal only goes to about Woodbridge in Central NJ, and I can't imagine it being a decent signal in Suffolk County either. So Frankens' success is even more striking considering that 30% or so of the market area can't even tune in.

[buddhamama]

135. thanks for 'rambling' , LM

i, for one, appreciate your insightful insider info.

it is as i suspected. thanks again.

[Puglover]

136. Thanks very much for your very informative post

refreshing to see some credible information rather then all the speculation that comes up everytime AAR is discussed. Thanks again!

[mountainvue]

117. She's not happy

in New York at all.

[LowerManhattanite]

123. Randi's issues are as follows...

...1.) She was pressed to make the move (and had the pot sweetened a little to do so) after an initial agreement to broadcast from the Florida studio fell through. The Florida studiio was home and she was used to it. The new place still has bugs to be worked out.

2.) From day one she had a bee in her bonnet about Franken's instant credibility and higher profile without payng radio "dues". Radio people are verrry twitchy about that kind of thing as most who've made it start in the radio hustings of a Sioux Falls, Akron, Reno or Louisville. Franken's first slot? The biggest radio market of all and he has access to monster guests via his SNL and Hollywood contacts. Randi feels a bit slighted as every profile of AAR has a pic of Al (or Janeane) and none of her---the most seasoned radio vet of all on air there.

3.) Kvetching is part of her shtick. And her shtick is verrrrry good! Is it working? How many of us here are discussing Franken as opposed to her? She's sparked your interest folks. She's gotcha. How many more tuned in today just to see if she'd show? Jack Paar did it. Tom Snyder did it. And Conan O'Brien still does it from time to time---namely use one's insecurity as an audience attraction. Yes she's insecure...but she also does brilliant radio. She's like the wild professor you had in college who you knew hated the school but when she had your attention would fill your head with so much knowledge in one burst that your temples would hurt. She's damned good and she's the queen of what folks call driveway or pull-over moments---namely periods when you're in your car and you simply have to STOP the car and listen to what she says. The good ones can do that, and she's one of the good ones.

Hope this helps.
LM

[Must_B_Free]

126. #2

gee, maybe the fact that she doesn't have 1/30th of his career or credentials has something to do with it?

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

140. It's a different ballgame

Randi's been in radio for years and two Hollywood-types come along and suck all the PR out of the room. I sometimes get a little tired of her act (but worship her nonetheless), but I can understand her feelings on the subject.

[Cat Atomic]

130. I'm sick of hearing her whine, honestly.

Seriously. If she wants to leave, then she should leave. Not moan endlessly about how unstable the place is.

The impression I get from Randi Rhodes is that she's a little fish in a big pond. The snide remarks about Al Franken and Jeneane Garofalo getting top billing are annoying, too.