I really do think that Franken would do better hosting a show with conservative counterpart rather than just a “me too” sidekick. I really do think that ben Stein would be an ideal cohost. He’s an informed and thoughful conservative with a sense of humor. I think he would be a great compliment to Al, it would make the show into an honest, two-sided but humorous take on national politics and the name “Franken-Stein” is just too perfect (brilliant, **rowrrbazzle).
Incidentally, Ben Stein had perhaps the best line of the debut broadcast when he said that Nixon had deviated from Stein’s original speech with the “I’m not a crook” line. Stein said that what he originally wrote was “I am a crook.”
So obvious, in fact, that they already talked about it on the show during the call. (Apparently Al & Ben do a lot of debates & lectures billed as “Franken & Stein.”)
No, I think it has probably to do with the fact that journalists tend to vote Democratic, which really doesn’t say much about how and what they cover. They are subject to economic pressure from the audience and from the executives, and from their own sense of duty and conscience. May be, once upon a time, they had more freedom and the issues they covered had a liberal slant but I just can’t see it anymore.
I have watched enough CNN to realize that it is just a dull, mindlessly sensationalist, run-of-the-mill news channel with its fair share of partisan snipers.
While reporters do tend to vote for Dems, editors vote Republican. They are the ones who steer the tone of the papers. The hard core right perceives a liberal bias in the press, but it’s really just a liberal bias to reality. When the Pubbies do something stupid, it’s not bias to report it.
Just bumping this thread and see what people thought of Air America Radio now that it’s had its first two weeks.
Of course, the ironic part is that I discovered this morning that the L.A. affiliate has switched back to Hispanic talk/radio programming. Not that I have anything against Hispanic radio, but given the large crater Bush’s press conference last night made, you just know it’d be ripe for fodder…
Statement Regarding WNTD in Chicago and KBLA in Los Angeles
Statement of Evan Cohen, Chairman of Air America Radio:
"Air America Radio is temporarily unable to be heard on WNTD in Chicago and KBLA in Los Angeles, but Chicago and Los Angeles listeners can still hear our broadcast on the web at airamericaradio.com and on XM Satellite Radio (channel 167).
“MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting’s conduct in this matter has been disgraceful. To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on without warning and in the middle of discussions is the height of irresponsibility and a slap in the face of the media industry. In addition, it is a clear violation of their contractual obligations, and we are seeking legal remedies against them in court.”
