Will liberal talk radio succeed?

[Fixated]

Poll question: Will liberal talk radio succeed?

[Wickerman]

1. I think the time is right

there is a groudn swell of disgust and and general feeling of helplessness by the RW control of our country. I think the turnout at the primaries are good examples of how much people are ready for a change. Liberal radio may be the right thing at the right time.

[gander2112]

2. I hope so.

I used to listen to a wonderful show on KGO in the SF bay area, Bernie Ward. It was great to hear some balance to the opinions proffered, contrated to the Michael Savage and Rush that was predominantly on the airwaves during the day time.

Geoff

[still_one]

3. If you cannot take the so-called liberal media

This link gives a refreshing counterpart to right wing radio :

http://www.ieamericaradio.com/listen.asp

[rock]

4. A failure

If you want to win by propoganda, then you have to lie. This is not the liberal strong point.

[StClone]

19. I think by having a good time

Poking fun like a radio version "Daily Show" at the outright wrong ideas, hypocrisy, lies and manipulation would alone create a draw.

[BeachBuckeye]

25. You do not have to lie

I never lie on my program. The truth is the best weapon.

[leftyandproud]

8. I don't think we can force this..

the other conservative networks sort of arose naturally...executives found that they get the largest audiences when playing conservative shows, so they began hiring conservative people to do the shows...nearly every major liberal show has failed and I think a "liberal exclusive" network..while great for hardcore folks like us, will turn off the mainstream. I also think we on the left take ourselves too seriously much of the time and don't know how to have fun when it comes to politics. To the right, it's a game...a distraction..something they can joke about...but to us, it is a major thing..the centerpiece of our daily thoughts...at least it is to me.

[StClone]

20. And maybe not

The Right wing radio developed a strategy to manipulate and propagandize radio following a pre-proven plan. Professionals in the field will tell you it was no force (except the force behind it: money) all it needed was a medium -- AM Radio and repetition.

And too, many station with a Right wing voice actually loose money but remain because they attract and harden wing-nuts through support of deep Right-wing pockets.

The book industry proved that the truth can overcome the lies...

[politick]

24. have you seen

the Daily Show? They're clearly more liberal, and they make fun of EVERYBODY, and I find it a great way to unwind, shake my head and laugh, whiole also enjoying pointed political commentary. Do you read "the Onion"? Same idea there, with fresh satire about daisy cutters and Daschle. These are both great examples of liberals having fun. And true No spin zones.

[newyawker99]

29. Hi gander2112!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[justgamma]

12. Radio

It took me a long time to find a liberal radio station. All my google searchs turned up Rush and his ilk bashing us. Finally found this site. It helped.

geocities.com/liberalprogressivetalk/

[newyawker99]

30. Hi justgamma!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dbt]

5. It will do very well, provided that

the gloves come off.

:bounce:
dbt

[eaprez]

6. Clear Channel

All of the big radio stations both AM & FM are clear channel stations in the Columbus, Ohio market. Until there is different ownership -- liberal talk radio won't even be heard. Since the people own the air waves I don't understand why these places aren't compelled to air other view points. Our big talk station aires nothing but the conservative voice -- Limbaugh, Glen Beck (claims he's a moderate but he's actually worse than Limbaugh).

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. If you look at all the people buying books

by Suskind, Williams, Moore, Franken et al that's a pretty good market for a liberal show--an audience starved for a product. But the host still has to have talent or no one will watch/listen. People forget, Rush Limbaugh used to actually have talent, even though it was a talent for nasty propaganda, otherwise he never could have gotten the whole conservative radio thing going.

[DAGDA56]

9. only if it makes money for somebody...

the secret is delivering an audience willing to consume a sponsor's product...most of the left leaning talk is on public stations sponsored by annual begging sessions or, as in the case of I.E. America, sponsored by a big group like the UAW (which reportedly will not be keeping I.E. on the air much longer)...it's tough to attack corporate America and then turn around and ask them for money. Clear Channel has it much easier, by comparison...being a cheerleader for the money people in the first place.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

10. I really enjoy having streaming internet liberal radio available!

It's so nice to have ie america available at work- there are times where I'm trying to find articles from research databases (sometimes very tedious!) and having a liberal wonderful streaming ideologically left of center stream is just brain candy!

[IUBloomingtonLIBERAL]

11. ...

if it happens EVERYONE better listen

[newyawker99]

31. Hi IUBloomingtonLIBERAL!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[indepat]

13. I'm afraid it will largely fail for it is easy to sell hatred and fear

as do the pigboy-types, but hard to sell ideals and solutions to real problems.

[eleny]

15. Well, I have hatred and fear of the current administration!

n/t

[Eric J in MN]

22. Good point. The Bush Administration's policies on civil liberties provide

Good point. The Bush Administration's policies on civil liberties provide reasonable people with something to be alarmed about, and there is one news story after another of the Bush admin hurting civil liberties to talk about:

1) bogus prosecution of GreenPeace
2) Bush claiming he can hold Jose Padilla, an American arrested in Chicago, indefinitely without charges and without access to an attorney.
3) FBI spying on liberal activists.

[eleny]

14. People out of work won't want to hear the party line

I think the fact that Randi Rhodes has such amazing numbers while Rush is being propped up says a lot. Given a national audience, Randi would start a tidal wave of success for liberal radio.

[onecitizen]

26. Absolutely!!

BTW, Randi will be a guest on Bill Moyer's NOW program next week.

Randi is never boring. She always has her facts. Can out-talk anyone with her facts. She frustrates her Conservative callers on air. It's wonderful!

[philosophie_en_rose]

16. Maybe

But being liberal isn't enough to draw listeners. It has to be funny, diverse, and aggressive. The shows have to be harsh politically. Get Franken and Moore to do a "Liberal and Radical Liberal" point/counterpoint. Have Chappelle or Chris Rock rant a lot.

And hire all of the ex-Daily Show folks. Or, better yet, just copy the whole show.

I want liberal radio. However, I also want entertainment. If liberal radio is interesting, it will succeed.

[Taeger]

17. LIBERAL Radio

Well, there is TONS of liberal radio out there. It's called RAP, ROCK and POP.

But I do think there is PLENTY of room for liberal talk radio.

[brainshrub]

18. Randi Rhoads, Thom Hartman, Mike Malloy.

When they get a national audience, they will kick butt.

[leesa]

21. Does anyone listen to the radio? I know I don't.

[fleetus]

28. Yes! Especially car commuters.

[OneTwentyoNine]

33. Yeah,more than I set glued to a computer....

[politick]

23. there's a market for it

as long as it's entertaining, and offers a real alternative to all the conservative talk, it will do well. It helps that Central Air has already signed Al Franken, and Kennedy, too - so I hear. The problem with liberl radio in the past has been that the shows were sandwiched b/t Rush and Sean Hannity. That just doesn't work from a marketing standpoint. Plus, maor networks tend to be more conservative, though wone thing I've learned is that if it makes money, they'll go with it: (look at Fox with all that trashy rality TV, the family Guy, Simpsons, which are mainly liberal shows.) The idea with Central Air is to provide ONLY liberal radio, so people know why they're going there. It;s going to take some time, and critics will declare it DOA if it doesn't do well right away, but it will catch on. America's too big and diverse.

Truth be told, I'm subscribed to their newsletter, and I haven't gotten anything yet. They have no programming listed on their web site, and it's supposed to strt next month. We'll have to wait and see.

[fleetus]

27. The RW talk radio format and tone is a turn-off to many liberals.

I posted a thread last week asking for some good internet Liberal Talk Radio.

Most people suggested Randi Rhodes, so I gave it a try.

Although it was cool having someone talk about things avoided by mainstream media, her overall tone and format reminded me of the right wingers I despise. Generally argumentative, mocking of different viewpoints, etc. I think there is definitely a market for liberal talk radio, but I just think liberals don't take as much pleasure in bashing down the other side to their face as the right does. So the opinionated talk radio format with a liberal message may never be as popular as it's counterpart.

I know there are plenty of arguments that the left needs to take off the boxing gloves and start fighting back (Michael Moore, etc) and I really do agree we need to stand up to the right. I just wonder if we have to go about it the same way they've done to us.

P.S. I'm not trying to say anything bad about Randi Rhodes. I like what she has to say.

[camero]

32. I was reading about the ratings of WMNF

And they have a spike in listeners at the times of thier liberal talk shows. You're right RW radio does turn off alot of liberals.

[drdigi420]

34. corporate america will not support it

lets face it, in order for it to survive, it needs money, and money tends to support the right wing infrastructure that keeps the rich, well, rich