# Air America: Bankrupt Again. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 23, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111 "2010-01-23T14:34:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/81 "2010-01-23T22:13:29Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > BTW Randi Rhodes is not from Air America, she works at Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications. When I was listening, she was the drivetime home show on Air America. I tried for a couple months because I was disgusted with whoever else was on. Didn’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/82 "2010-01-23T22:26:41Z")
As someone who is moderately conservative, I will say one good thing for Air America. It got me to stop listening to all political talk radio. I use to listen to conservative talk radio on a regular basis. Then Air America came on the air and I thought, “Great, a chance to hear the point of view from the other side.” I thought they’d analyze ideas, proposals, bills, and so on proposed or passed by Republicans. Instead what I heard was hatred, name-calling, demonizing the other side, and if a Republican did anything wrong they’d jump on it, and if it was something very minor they’d try to make a big issue out of it. Meanwhile, if a Democrat did anything wrong, they’d either try to ignore it, down-play it, or justify it. I couldn’t stand Air-America so I went back to solely back to Conservative talk radio and slowly realized that they did the same same thing. So I am grateful to Air America for opening my eyes to the truth about Conservative talk radio. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/83 "2010-01-24T02:27:32Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s really as simple as the fact that liberals don’t need to be constantly reassured by hearing the soothing repetition of their own opinions all day. That’s why there’s no liberal equivalent of the right wing media compelex. Liberals like facts and don’t fear dissenting opinions. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Liberals like facts. It has nothing to do with the “message.” Liberals want information, not affirmation. You have repeatedly made this assertion. Rather than demanding other people DISprove it, why don’t you back up your own statements? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/84 "2010-01-24T03:01:49Z")
The subject of this thread backs it up. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/85 "2010-01-24T03:32:15Z")
> [@KLR\_650](#): > > Finnegan, > > Monopoly would indeed mean fewer decisions, and the market isn’t free where monopoly exists. But an entirely free market, free of any and all regulation, ends up being monopolistic overtime, by nature. Big companies swallow up smaller ones, merge, acquire, drive competition out of business by any means available. Corporations want \*less \*competition, not more. Competition might be good for the consumer, but it’s very bad for business. ETA : [QUOTE=Diogenes The Cynic] The subject of this thread backs it up. [/QUOTE] So… his post is your cite ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/86 "2010-01-24T05:23:27Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I’m not sure. I hate what Rush says, but his voice is very soothing. I listen to Randi Rhodes, and A: I may like female singers, but I can’t stand her, and B: about halfway through one of her diatribes, I hear her say something incredibly false or untrue, and boom, off she goes. I’ve only listened to her a few times and agree with most of what she says, but that voice . . . I want to toss her in a shallow grave on top of Fran Drescher and that “Oh! My! God!” bitch from _Friends._ ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/87 "2010-01-24T05:38:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Even now, their brilliance shines like the twinkle in Reagan’s eye, puerile leftists cringe in fear at their very names, and turn to morbid dust like Christopher Lee’s Dracula before Basil Rathbone’s improvised crucifix. DAMMIT! I can take any sort of political or religious dispute but I have to unleash my wrath at this! PETER FREAKIN’ CUSHING!!! THE MOST BAD-ASS VAN HELSING THAT EVER WAS OR EVER WILL BE! There! I feel better now. 😃 just in case any doubted ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/88 "2010-01-24T06:16:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’ve only listened to her a few times and agree with most of what she says, but that voice . . . I want to toss her in a shallow grave on top of Fran Drescher and that “Oh! My! God!” bitch from _Friends._ I wonder if I have a higher tolerance than many, I liked to listen to Randy Rhodes for the information, biased as it was, most of the items were usually never touched by the media here in Arizona. A similar issue was reported when Jim Hightower was mentioned before. [http://www.jimhightower.com](http://www.jimhightower.com) In the past some reported here that they could not stand his voice. However, many did not complaint as he became a 5 minute antidote at ABC to counteract the “soothing” right wingnuttery of Paul Harvey. As with Randy it was the info provided was I looking for, unfortunately Hightower complained about the Disney corp taking over ABC so he was canned. However, seeing that Jim continues getting financing to continue on the net and Randy continues getting radio time after being removed from Air America I think that there is still an audience that cares more about the information that is clearly missing on mainstream media rather than how a radio talent sounded for some. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/89 "2010-01-24T16:04:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The subject of this thread backs it up. The fact that liberals can’t run a business backs up the statement that “liberals like facts” how? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/90 "2010-01-24T16:14:03Z")
Air America was run by liberals? Cite? It failed because of how it was run, and not because nobody listened? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/91 "2010-01-24T16:50:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, I dunno. Maybe, maybe not. Seems to me, just from casual observance, that almost all the radio talkers have two chief sources of advertising, gold retailers and the ubiquitous Sleep Number Bed. On these topics, there is broad agreement amongst radio punditti: you gotta buy gold and hide it under your Sleep Number Bed. Goddammit this is so freaking funny. And oddly, also true. I listen to quite a bit of talk radio (because I am bored of my music collection and generally dislike my FM radio choices around here), and its true…there are a LOT of plugs for the Sleep Number bed and gold investment. That **elucidator** would tie the two together like he did is almost medal-worthy. Nice work. And Air America fucking sucked, just like Rush Limbaugh fucking sucks, like Hannity fucking sucks, and Olbermann fucking sucks, and O’Rielly fucking sucks, etc, etc. Its just too damn biased to be listenable. I don’t know how the coverage of the radio station I listen to (700 WLW) is nationally, but there’s a couple guys on their lineup that I like to listen to: Mike McConnell and Scott Sloan. Oh, and speaking of radio: thanks a lot Fox Sports Radio, for cancelling the Steve Czaban show (entertaining and funny) and putting Steven A Smith (horribly annoying) on for my drive to work. HORRIBLE move. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/92 "2010-01-24T17:45:29Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > …That **elucidator** would tie the two together like he did is almost medal-worthy… Awww, shucks, just another smart-ass peckerwood from Waco. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/93 "2010-01-24T18:03:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Air America was run by liberals? Cite? > It failed because of how it was run, and not because nobody listened? Cite? 1. Do you honestly believe it wasn’t? I don’t know how I could prove it. Maybe look up who was on the board of directors and see if they’re registered Democrats? Or if they called themselves progressive? It’s impossible, so I’ll concede the point. 2. You said it yourself. AA ran liberal content, which is by definition factual. Liberals like facts, therefore they liked and listened to AA to get them. Thus AA thrived. Oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![Silverstreak\_Wonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Silverstreak\_Wonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silverstreak_Wonder)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/94 "2010-01-24T18:14:06Z")
I just read their website, and it is not just bankrupt, it shuts down totally Monday Jan 25, 2010. Did anyone hear how Rush broke the news to his listeners? I would have loved to have heard that. I think I would have played the song “Celebrate good times, come on…”. I disagree with Rush on many things, but he did win this battle decisively. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/95 "2010-01-24T18:53:21Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > 1. Do you honestly believe it wasn’t? I don’t know how I could prove it. Maybe look up who was on the board of directors and see if they’re registered Democrats? Or if they called themselves progressive? It’s impossible, so I’ll concede the point. It’s your claim, you prove it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the money side of an enterprise like this gives a crap about the politics. You think everyone involved at the top of the right wing talk radio corporate structures is conservative? > [@](#): > > 1. You said it yourself. AA ran liberal content, which is by definition factual. No, Air America ran one-sided opinions and (as far as I know) truthful content, but did not provide information. That’s why liberals didn’t listen. Your definition is bogus. Factual and informative are two different things. Someone telling me over and over again that the earth is round is factual, but not informative. Ditto with someone telling me over and over agin that Sarah Palin is a moron. Tell me something I don’t know. I don’t need to to be soothed and reaffirmed. That’s for conservatives. The model that works for conservatives does not work for non-conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/96 "2010-01-24T18:59:49Z")
> [@Silverstreak\_Wonder](#): > > I just read their website, and it is not just bankrupt, it shuts down totally Monday Jan 25, 2010. > > Did anyone hear how Rush broke the news to his listeners? I would have loved to have heard that. I think I would have played the song “Celebrate good times, come on…”. > > I disagree with Rush on many things, but he did win this battle decisively. What battle? There wasn’t any battle. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/97 "2010-01-24T19:11:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’ve only listened to her a few times and agree with most of what she says, but that voice . . . I want to toss her in a shallow grave on top of Fran Drescher and that “Oh! My! God!” bitch from _Friends._ I like Fran Drescher’s voice! It’s like being home! ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/98 "2010-01-24T19:59:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s your claim, you prove it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the money side of an enterprise like this gives a crap about the politics. You think everyone involved at the top of the right wing talk radio corporate structures is conservative? What would you accept as proof? The fact that it was founded by a man who was pissed that Mike Malloy (former Creative Loafing editor!) was fired from his talk show and was willing to start AA to give him a job? That the same man called George Bush “Hitler”? The fact that the original CEO of the company formed to hold AA is a self-professed liberal? Everyone involved with starting, financing, and operating AA was a liberal. If I gave a list of cites documenting that you’d say “that doesn’t mean they weren’t only doing it for the money.” So, as I said, I concede the point. But to claim otherwise is disingenuous. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No, Air America ran one-sided opinions and (as far as I know) truthful content, but did not provide information. That’s why liberals didn’t listen. Your definition is bogus. Factual and informative are two different things. Someone telling me over and over again that the earth is round is factual, but not informative. Ditto with someone telling me over and over agin that Sarah Palin is a moron. Tell me something I don’t know. So tell me, where do you get your unbiased, factual, unopinionated information that you only listen to once? > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t need to to be soothed and reaffirmed. That’s for conservatives. The model that works for conservatives does not work for non-conservatives. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/99 "2010-01-24T20:05:05Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > So tell me, where do you get your unbiased, factual, unopinionated information that you only listen to once? I dn’t know what you mean by “only listen to once,” but I get my information mostly from the multiplicity of internet news sources that are available. Any editorial commentary I consume tends to be from right wing sources rather than left, because I’m more interested in hearing how the right is spinning things than how the left is. Drudge tends to be one of my first clicks of the day, since he seems to set the narrative for the rest of the right wing media. > [@](#): > > Cite? Liberals didn’t listen to Air America. Conservatives can’t get enough of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity telling them what to think. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111/100 "2010-01-24T20:11:00Z")
> [@KLR\_650](#): > > Magellan, > > I also have questioned Marley’s possible conflict of interests as moderator and poster. And you’re doing a bang-up job, for sure; now try supporting some of your assertions with reason. Rand was fond of that, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-america-bankrupt-again/526111.md?page=6)