Liberal Angst Isn't Selling For Air America
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The New York Post reported this week that all-liberal, all-the-time radio network Air America is fixing to file for bankruptcy.
The network denies the report, but I must say I wasn't the least bit shocked when I read it.
Frankly, I was surprised the network has survived this long.
Air America Radio, billing itself as a "full-service, progressive talk radio network," went on the air March 31, 2004.
At the time, I gave it a year.
See, I'm just not sure that kind of blather plays all that well, even in big, blue markets - the only markets that carried Air America.
Apparently, most liberals don't ascribe to acerbic nonsense no matter how far left it leans.
This does not seem to apply to conservatives, however, because no matter how acerbic Rush Limbaugh is, he still gets ratings.
In fact, there are several popular conservative barking heads out there.
But for whatever reason, the ardently liberal stuff just doesn't sell as well as the ardently conservative stuff.
Which seems to confirm a notion I've always had with regard to politics - the only way a liberal can get elected in this country is to talk like a conservative.
No liberal politician ever comes out in favor of higher taxes and big, intrusive government programs.
They talk about things like "reinventing government" and then sneak in the big programs later.
Air America certainly didn't get that. There was nothing sneaky about their programming.
Here's an example.
Back in summer of 2005, during the debate over what to do about the impending Social Security implosion, they broadcast an opening monologue featuring an old man, saying: "We saw America through the Great Depression and hot and cold wars. Our muscles boosted this nations' economic superiority to dizzying heights. And then our time came to enjoy just a little of the comfort and security we brought to the U.S. of A. So we joined with others of our era to protect what's rightfully ours. But now we've learned the AARP isn't enough. Our pensions have been stolen, our health benefits cut and those of us with homes too often have to choose between heat and food. A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [Sound effect of 3 gunshots.] The AAARP: the American Association of Armed Retired People. Just try it, you little b******. [Sound effect of gun being cocked.]"
Of course the "spoiled child" in the bit is W.
"Even joking about shooting the president is a crime, let alone doing it on national radio ... we are taking this very seriously," a government source said after the broadcast.
The United States Secret Service reviewed the broadcast and decided not to pursue further investigation or action.
Air America apologized.
I know it seems unfair. I know it's a double standard. But somehow, liberals just can't get away with being snotty like conservativesÊcan.
Honestly, Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo can't make a go of it on talk radio and Ann Coulter's liberal-bashing book "Godless" makes the New York Times best-seller list?
Go figure.
And one would think liberals would take note and absorb this phenomenon.
But they don't.
Just the other day on "The View," noted liberal geopolitical analyst - or stand-up comic, depending on the venue - Rosie O'Donnell said, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America."
Now, if you wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, you could say that perhaps she was talking in broad terms about separation of church and state in a Constitutional Republic.
But the context was a discussion about Iraq, Afghanistan and terrorism, so she came off sounding like a whacko.
I don't know who O'Donnell perceives to be a radical Christian, but the usual suspects would probably be Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
And as radically Christian as those guys are, I don't recall seeing either of them on grainy video holding up the severed head of a hostage in one hand and a bloody knife in the other while shouting "death to Satan liberals."
I'm not aware of any Christian suicide bombers either, but then, maybe I'm just not as well read as O'Donnell.
Whether Air America files for bankruptcy protection and reorganizes remains to be seen.
If they do reorganize, I have advice for them.
They should probably drag themselves, kicking and screaming, a little bit toward the center of the political spectrum.
For whatever reason, it just seems to play a bit better across America. [[In-content Ad]]
The New York Post reported this week that all-liberal, all-the-time radio network Air America is fixing to file for bankruptcy.
The network denies the report, but I must say I wasn't the least bit shocked when I read it.
Frankly, I was surprised the network has survived this long.
Air America Radio, billing itself as a "full-service, progressive talk radio network," went on the air March 31, 2004.
At the time, I gave it a year.
See, I'm just not sure that kind of blather plays all that well, even in big, blue markets - the only markets that carried Air America.
Apparently, most liberals don't ascribe to acerbic nonsense no matter how far left it leans.
This does not seem to apply to conservatives, however, because no matter how acerbic Rush Limbaugh is, he still gets ratings.
In fact, there are several popular conservative barking heads out there.
But for whatever reason, the ardently liberal stuff just doesn't sell as well as the ardently conservative stuff.
Which seems to confirm a notion I've always had with regard to politics - the only way a liberal can get elected in this country is to talk like a conservative.
No liberal politician ever comes out in favor of higher taxes and big, intrusive government programs.
They talk about things like "reinventing government" and then sneak in the big programs later.
Air America certainly didn't get that. There was nothing sneaky about their programming.
Here's an example.
Back in summer of 2005, during the debate over what to do about the impending Social Security implosion, they broadcast an opening monologue featuring an old man, saying: "We saw America through the Great Depression and hot and cold wars. Our muscles boosted this nations' economic superiority to dizzying heights. And then our time came to enjoy just a little of the comfort and security we brought to the U.S. of A. So we joined with others of our era to protect what's rightfully ours. But now we've learned the AARP isn't enough. Our pensions have been stolen, our health benefits cut and those of us with homes too often have to choose between heat and food. A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [Sound effect of 3 gunshots.] The AAARP: the American Association of Armed Retired People. Just try it, you little b******. [Sound effect of gun being cocked.]"
Of course the "spoiled child" in the bit is W.
"Even joking about shooting the president is a crime, let alone doing it on national radio ... we are taking this very seriously," a government source said after the broadcast.
The United States Secret Service reviewed the broadcast and decided not to pursue further investigation or action.
Air America apologized.
I know it seems unfair. I know it's a double standard. But somehow, liberals just can't get away with being snotty like conservativesÊcan.
Honestly, Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo can't make a go of it on talk radio and Ann Coulter's liberal-bashing book "Godless" makes the New York Times best-seller list?
Go figure.
And one would think liberals would take note and absorb this phenomenon.
But they don't.
Just the other day on "The View," noted liberal geopolitical analyst - or stand-up comic, depending on the venue - Rosie O'Donnell said, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America."
Now, if you wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, you could say that perhaps she was talking in broad terms about separation of church and state in a Constitutional Republic.
But the context was a discussion about Iraq, Afghanistan and terrorism, so she came off sounding like a whacko.
I don't know who O'Donnell perceives to be a radical Christian, but the usual suspects would probably be Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
And as radically Christian as those guys are, I don't recall seeing either of them on grainy video holding up the severed head of a hostage in one hand and a bloody knife in the other while shouting "death to Satan liberals."
I'm not aware of any Christian suicide bombers either, but then, maybe I'm just not as well read as O'Donnell.
Whether Air America files for bankruptcy protection and reorganizes remains to be seen.
If they do reorganize, I have advice for them.
They should probably drag themselves, kicking and screaming, a little bit toward the center of the political spectrum.
For whatever reason, it just seems to play a bit better across America. [[In-content Ad]]