Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News is alluding to a feud between Tom Bauerle and David Bellavia. Anybody know what's up here?
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Bauerle VS Bellavia
- Thread starter Oldbloodandguts
- Start date
At Baurle’s behest, WBEN removes war hero David Bellavia from flagship talk show
February 5, 2020
In what is being described as a ‘dumpster fire’ at Western New York’s most listened to talk radio station, WBEN Newsradio 930 AM, removed David Bellavia as a co-host of the region’s leading Baurle and Bellavia program. Sources say that he was removed from the station’s flagship drive-home program at the behest of his co-host, Tom Baurle.
Bellavia is a war hero and recent recipient of the Medal of Honor.
The station has made no public announcements about the programing change but has already removed Bellavia’s name from the show’s promotional spots and social media page.
A spokesperson for WBEN says that Bellavia is still with WBEN.
“David Bellavia is still with WBEN. We have adjusted his duties to allow him the flexibility to continue with his Medal of Honor duties. We are incredibly proud to continue our relationship with him and will soon be announcing a new venture with him,” the spokesperson writes.
Political observers speculate that David Bellavia may be preparing to run for Congress.
Some have speculated that the station could be preparing to announce that Bellavia will replace longtime personality Sandy Beach in his three hour morning timeslot. It’s been rumored that Beach has been considering retirement in recent months — or, a more likely scenario, moving his morning show to Saturday and Sundays.
Bellavia has not been on air with Baurle since he received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House. Ostensibly, the on-air reason has been that Bellavia was temporarily recommissioned by the military for recruitment programs.
A source tells The Chronicle that the actual reason for Bellevia’s absence has been Baurle’s refusal to appear with him on-air. Bellavia asked the Trump White House to pull Baurle’s security clearance so that he would be unable to attend the ceremony. He later found out and has been irate with Bellavia ever since.
In recent weeks, Baurle has been lashing out at members of his audience, even leveraging law enforcement contacts to have charges laid against a caller to his show. After sexually harassing the man’s wife, Baurle claimed that the caller’s social media posting was ‘hostile’ and that he perceived it as a threat — despite language that clearly indicated that the banter in question was merely figurative juxtaposition.
February 5, 2020
In what is being described as a ‘dumpster fire’ at Western New York’s most listened to talk radio station, WBEN Newsradio 930 AM, removed David Bellavia as a co-host of the region’s leading Baurle and Bellavia program. Sources say that he was removed from the station’s flagship drive-home program at the behest of his co-host, Tom Baurle.
Bellavia is a war hero and recent recipient of the Medal of Honor.
The station has made no public announcements about the programing change but has already removed Bellavia’s name from the show’s promotional spots and social media page.
A spokesperson for WBEN says that Bellavia is still with WBEN.
“David Bellavia is still with WBEN. We have adjusted his duties to allow him the flexibility to continue with his Medal of Honor duties. We are incredibly proud to continue our relationship with him and will soon be announcing a new venture with him,” the spokesperson writes.
Political observers speculate that David Bellavia may be preparing to run for Congress.
Some have speculated that the station could be preparing to announce that Bellavia will replace longtime personality Sandy Beach in his three hour morning timeslot. It’s been rumored that Beach has been considering retirement in recent months — or, a more likely scenario, moving his morning show to Saturday and Sundays.
Bellavia has not been on air with Baurle since he received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House. Ostensibly, the on-air reason has been that Bellavia was temporarily recommissioned by the military for recruitment programs.
A source tells The Chronicle that the actual reason for Bellevia’s absence has been Baurle’s refusal to appear with him on-air. Bellavia asked the Trump White House to pull Baurle’s security clearance so that he would be unable to attend the ceremony. He later found out and has been irate with Bellavia ever since.
In recent weeks, Baurle has been lashing out at members of his audience, even leveraging law enforcement contacts to have charges laid against a caller to his show. After sexually harassing the man’s wife, Baurle claimed that the caller’s social media posting was ‘hostile’ and that he perceived it as a threat — despite language that clearly indicated that the banter in question was merely figurative juxtaposition.
That story reads like a laundry list of possible theories, but the only actual quote comes from the station spokesperson.
Here's a link to the Pergament story referred to in the OP:
https://buffalonews.com/2020/02/06/...ne-but-david-bellavia-still-working-for-wben/
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"Adjusted his duties..." What a steaming plate of horse puckey! Bellavia is calling the tune, not Entercom. Bellavia is on record, shortly after receiving his medal, as saying that his "duty is (present tense) to his fellow servicemen and women." He also opted out (at least through this writing) of running to fill the dishonored Chris Collins' NY27 House seat in a district where he'd be an automatic winner. Considering the chaos within the local republican party, it wouldn't be at all surprising if Bellavia changed his mind around August as the second election of the year for that seat approaches. Of course Entercom would like him back, he's a high profile personality, a veteran and "war hero." His presence dwarfs Beach, Bauerle and Limbaugh combined. But Bellavia, shortly after receiving his medal, said military service transcends allegiance to a political party. He solemnly noted that he served with white, black, straight and gay, republican and democrat, and on the battlefield there is no difference. So it may be that Bellavia has a new-found "center" that is unlike anything that's heard on 930 WGOP. Furthermore, the definition of "back" to Bellavia may be a far different concept than it is to Entercom. Perhaps he does a commentary. Maybe he does a weekend public service show that doesn't get buried at 5 a.m. Sunday. The ideal place for him is to replace Rush. That may be what makes Entercom weak and giddy. But again, if offered, Bellavia will be make that call on his terms. Does anybody think Entercom (corporate of local) is going to dictate terms to him? He'd laugh in their faces. Compared to the battlefield, doing radio is the kiddie pool. As to a feud between Bauerle and Bellavia. Rumor only at this point. Don't expect either party to confirm that it is or isn't a fact.
Could it be that David Bellavia has a mission that is far more important than blathering on a partisan radio show in Buffalo, NY? Rusty B. is right, if a tad hyperbolic.
What is the Buffalo Chronicle? The article is not exactly a Pillar of Journalism.
Poor WBEN. The demos are old and the hosts are old. All of this petty drama (if true) is irrelevant. Bellavia won't be "making demands" of Entercom. Entercom knows that the format is dying. They'll plug in the cheapest content they can find...
Poor WBEN. The demos are old and the hosts are old. All of this petty drama (if true) is irrelevant. Bellavia won't be "making demands" of Entercom. Entercom knows that the format is dying. They'll plug in the cheapest content they can find...
Buffalo Chronicle? LOL
A Bauerle/Bellavia feud? Highly doubt it. Those two seemed to be in love with each other.
This isn't that complicated. It was made VERY clear after Bellavia received the Medal of Honor that he would be much more involved in military activities and would be away from the show for a while. No doubt Bauerle either figured the show should simply be titled as a solo act again, since he IS doing all the work anyway, and/or because there maybe is a move to separate Bellavia from the show with the expectation that he is used to replace either Limbaugh or Beach in the not-so-distant future.
Several reasons why this may have happened. Doubtful ANY of it is because of a "feud". Unless you believe the esteemed "Buffalo Chronicle".
Personally, I feel Bellavia is much better off away from Bauerle. While David does tend to get into some of the silly rightwing nonsense, he definitely seems more "normal" and grounded than Bauerle ever does.
A Bauerle/Bellavia feud? Highly doubt it. Those two seemed to be in love with each other.
This isn't that complicated. It was made VERY clear after Bellavia received the Medal of Honor that he would be much more involved in military activities and would be away from the show for a while. No doubt Bauerle either figured the show should simply be titled as a solo act again, since he IS doing all the work anyway, and/or because there maybe is a move to separate Bellavia from the show with the expectation that he is used to replace either Limbaugh or Beach in the not-so-distant future.
Several reasons why this may have happened. Doubtful ANY of it is because of a "feud". Unless you believe the esteemed "Buffalo Chronicle".
Personally, I feel Bellavia is much better off away from Bauerle. While David does tend to get into some of the silly rightwing nonsense, he definitely seems more "normal" and grounded than Bauerle ever does.
For whatever the reason/cause of staffing changes, I'd think anyone with a reasonable modicum of concern for their reputation/legacy would want to distance themselves from Tom Bauerle... y'know, the guy that has had a fair amount of press (published by others) and commentary (on the pseudonym labelled - and now deactivated - Facebook page) about his experiences with alleged - and far-from-proven - invisibility/cloaking activity on/near his personal real estate. Seriously, would a Medal of Honor recipient wanna be associated with that stuff(?)... kinda sorta takes the edge off the honor, IMO. And imagine the campaign fuel that type of association would be for any political rival. LOL
Not sure that association would hurt any political aspirations, as that kooky conspiracy crap has become far more mainstream in the GOP than ever before.
Put simply and bluntly, the Buffalo Chronicle is a piece of crap website that'll spread fake news and/or promotional garbage....IF the price is right!
I find Bellavia tolerable. He doesn't worship himself like Bauerle. They always seemed like an odd pair...
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