Gotta give AAR credit

[littlebigradio]

In 1994, the newly elected Republican congress brought the drug addicted Rush Limbaugh up to Capitol Hill and declared him to be "The Majority Maker". In light of that, you have to give Air America and other Progressive radio stations and networks a lot of credit for the total whitewashing the GOP took in this election. House of Representatives, Governor races, and significant gains in the Senate (maybe even taking control of that too). All of the scare tactics of GOP shills like Limbaugh, Hannity, Ollie, Newt, Coulter, Bortz and others didn't work on the American people this time. "W" and his war and his blind trust in Rove, Cheny and Rummy is what scared the American people and they put a stop to his ongoing "power grab".

 

[NE Miss Radio]

I think much more credit is due to the constant negative drumbeat (re: Iraq and economy) on the major TV networks. If AAR was that great the Dems would have found a way to fund it.

By the way, it was not a "total whitewashing." Though it appears the Dems will take back both houses of Congress and there is no dispute that the people as a whole want change, the gains are below the 6th year average in two-term presidencies. I also think that it will not be a large enough majority that the new majority party will be able to "jam legislation through" over the Reps. I will also grant you that I think gridlock is better that the spending we have gotten from the Reps and would get from the Dems if they had a large majority.

 

[Meepster]

Okay..but by that same token, can we credit AAR and 680 with Harold Ford Jr.'s big loss? ;D
(hahahahahaha! I crack me up!)


Please...you want to give credit to AAR for being one very minute part of the media onslaught with which the liberals have smeared the Republicans nationally for 12 years?
Liberals control the media, thus, these things happen.

Rush was one show that stood alone in the liberal media circus that was going at that time, too.
Although I'm no "Dittohead", he certainly was a major part of the '94 elections.

AAR is simply one small insignificant voice in the Morman Tabernacle-like liberal choir that is the media in the United States.

The irony is that here in Tennessee, where the media bias toward democrats is SOOO strong..(if you read the CA, and the other major papers in Knox and even Chatt---watch ANY local coverage on ANY Memphis station or elsewhere--you KNOW how biased it was)
The obvious bias in the CA was enough to make me puke.
YET-It still wasn't enough to get HFL elected.

What makes you think that AAR deserves any of the "credit" when it was all done at every given moment by NBC,CBS,ABC,CNN, a large percentage of the print media, etc.....?

It's like trying to beat the other team AND the referees, and the band, and the announcers, etc...

"Credit" is a relative term also...it could be interpreted as "Fault" before it's all said and done.

My God! Nancy Pelosi will be speaker of the house...

At least the left-wingers DIDN'T get the Senate, too. (They DIDN'T did they?...or do we have to wait for lawsuits and such?)

Side note:
I watched part of Harold Ford, Jr.'s consession speech last night. From what I heard, it was dignified, respectful, and gracious. He is a MAJOR credit to his family, and if he can spend some time now politically distancing himself from his family, we certainly haven't heard the last of him politics-wise.
I hope he runs for mayor of Memphis. I might very well get back there and find some way to vote FOR him for that. That'd be a great stop on his way back up!

 

[CFKane]

Now Paul, you know your my buddy, so don't get mad at me bro. ;D

I credit none of this to AAR. It's just not much of a factor. I am now a democrat, and a big supporter of AAR, and I will be the first to tell you. They haven't made a dent, of any consequence. Unless you count the Lamont/Leiberman primary, and well, you see how that went.

That said, I think Rush lost a lot of respectability with his rant against Michael J. Fox. Rush pushed McCaskill over the top in Missouri. Thanks Rush! That slimey fat a**ed drug addict sent more security moms over to the "Dark side" than anyone did. That's talk radio in action. It was a photo negative of his affect on the 1994 elections.

Also, the idea that liberals dominate the media here in Memphis entirely? ( I honestly have no idea about other town's in the state...) Sorry Paul, I don't see it like you do. When Channel 3's News director sat on the story about Corker's Daughter? (a great story, and pics that would have won some seats in some "houses", I assure you... ) When the Memphis TV Media went after the Ford parking lot incident with intense zeal, and tons of immense airtime. (Ford truly blew it, with that, and sent momentum back to Corker) So much so, it was picked up almost instantly, on a national scale by those other liberal outlets. If the CA is so liberal, why was the "Habeas Corpus" story on A12 when it broke? I'm not saying it's not left leaning, but come on. It's not nearly as "librul" as you claim. The front page today, was all Corker.

Harold Ford Jr. is a class act. I was at the live debate at Channel 3. I have a great "contrast" story about the two camps, that's moot now. Harold really blew it with the parking lot incident. I am amazed that Tennessee, gave him 48% of the vote. In a state where the Ballot Measure 1 passed by 80%, he can pull 48%. That's pretty good. Of all the freakin' Fords to win last night, "Senator of the undead" Ophelia won, by a freakin' Landslide??? That's a travesty.

In the world of politics, I personally think that Rush's empire is huge, no doubt. I think the real hero of the Conservative talk side, is Glenn Beck. He's the guy cutting through now, in my opinion. Even though I disagree with him more often than not. I do like to hear him, and his TV show is good. He'll be a bigger factor, election wise, than Rush at this point. In my opinion. When a left leaning co-worker keeps telling me to check out his TV show, that's big. Of course, if you want to see a truly incredible guy who makes the case for Dems, nearly nightly, it's Keith Olbermann. His commentaries are great representations of left discourse. Even if you disagree with him, he makes an incredible case, from time to time. Wish he'd do AAR. Then maybe it would be a factor.

Take care ya'all. Before you flame me, see all the times I have left the AAR threads totally alone. Meepster, Radiosaur, you're my buddies, so take my left leans with a grain of salt. We can all celebrate no longer hearing "I approve this message", for a while longer. CFKane

 

[Meepster]

I'm not gonna rail on you, bro. That's why we all have opinions.
I think HFJ is a HUGE credit to his family, and I think he ought to seriously consider a run for Mayor of Memphis. If I still lived there, I'd vote for him in an instant for that office.
If he ran, he'd win. You heard it here first.
(At least I thought of it last night after his speech)

Next,
Larry, if you can't SEE the bias in the CA, then you've already given in completly to "the dark side". I'm pretty sure the editions for us in "podunk" weren't that different from the ones in the city proper, so I have difficulty seeing how someone of your intelligence doesn't see it. Maybe you're just "overexposed" and the Trees for Forrest cliche' will work.

My radio point was simply that if you want to attempt to give AAR any credit for any gains in the house; it should be VERY LITTLE credit. (I don't see it, but you know)
As for TV stations in Memphis..PLEASE!!!
The friggin' FOX channel-that I tried to watch for news in the morning because it was more local- drove me away with their COMPLETELY OBVIOUS HFJ bias. They even had a live interview with him one morning about senate races IN OTHER STATES!!! What a load! Since it ws about "other states", there was no need for them to give equal time to Corker! Pathetic!

Anyway, it's all water under the bridge...but even you have to be at least a little afraid that Nancy Pelosi will be speaker. Ha! I wonder whose job it will be to "Off" her if something happens to The President and Vice-President! hahahaha.
That's just a joke (for whoever may be watching us right now for the liberals)

Peace, Larry..and don't forget our trip to shoot some golfs!

 

[junkieoradio]

Of all the freakin' Fords to win last night, "Senator of the undead" Ophelia won, by a freakin' Landslide??? That's a travesty.

Now I am not in any way saying that Ophelia Ford was the best person...not by a long shot! BUT, let me just say that according to some folks I know...her opponent was WORSE!!! That is all I'm gonna say.

In this case I can say that those folks in that district got the "lesser of two evils" according to a lot of people I've heard from.

 

[Meepster]

The people in that district, ignorant enough to elect her, will get the representation that they desrve so well!
I know NOTHING about Terry Roland at all and don't claim to.
However, if I were unfortunate enough to live in that congressional district, I would have voted a hed of cabbage before I'd have voted for Ophelia Ford.

If you think John made those voters look like fools for so many years...wait and see what this woman (Who was chosen by God) does while she represents them.

Sit back and enjoy...the next few years in the state senate with this ignorant woman in it will be a hoot!

 

[CFKane]

Now, I did agree the media here, was leaning left, but not too much. I guess I didn't watch much, other than 3 or 5. I missed 13's coverage. What sucks is I can do a spot on Corker impersonation, and I can't do too much with it! ;D I must admit, it's an interesting equation with Pelosi, but I think there is a strong pull toward middle ground. A lot of the dems that won, are moving center of left, and my friend, that's a good trend. Pelosi, whatever her faults, sees this, she has to. Again, this is a good thing. Otherwise 2008 will be very bad for them. As much as Pelosi may scare you, think about Hastert, who very clearly knew about Mark Foley, he did nothing to stop it. (Very clearly, he HAD to know about the Page scandal, all partisan crap aside. )

I will take Pelosi over that, any day of the week. Bush knew how to rally his base. The dems hopefully now know to go for the issues we can find middle ground on. It only took them 12 years to learn where the real America is. I think dems have no one for 2008, as a presidential candidate, and the American people traditionally, like having checks and balances. As one character in "Tombstone" put it, "We gotta have SOME law." I see 2008 as dems staying in Congress, and Guliani or McCain being the big names that would win the Presidency. Both of those guys also know the middle is where we really are. Even Corker knows that, to an extent, and clearly Ford did, as well.

JunkieOradio, I have no clue about Roland. I know he owns a gas station up in my neck of the woods. That's about it. Ophelia, seemingly ran just with her name. She never did seem shamed after the last election, and the dead voters, that were associated with her campaign. She doesn't impress me at all.

Always fun actually talking with an intelligent side of the right. You'll have to teach me some kinda golf before I embarrass myself up there. We'll do it though, and let's get with our mutual buddy too. I am pushing to be a big part of his screen plays. We 3, over a couple of brews could write some killer stuff, we all could agree on! CFKane

 

[Meepster]

That should be "head" of cabbage. Typo.
(If I can spell "Ophelia", I reckon I can spell "head.")
Seriously, Pelosi is scarier to me than Hastert.
I am not a huge fan of his. It doesn't break my heart that Rummy is quitting, either.
I could think of some very fun things to do with a spot on Corker impersonation.
Leaving a voice mail to Ted Kennedy and Hillary would only be the beginning.

Did I tell you that Pat Boone called me TWICE during the campaign?
Pat friggin' Boone!

Junior only called and left a message once.

 

[DeadElvis]

> Pat Boone!

Pat Boone came out to Elvis Radio during Elvis Week. I didn't know what to expect of the guy -- he's unashamed about being conservative and evangelical. Fair enough, of course.

But, I must say, I was most impressed with the guy. The pinnacle of graciousness, to be sure. But, smart and very, very funny. He's also very tolerant of those from other walks of life -- he lived next door to Ozzie, after all, and came to really like the guy. And can immitate his walk flawlessly.

He looks great for a guy in his early 70s, too.

DE

 

[Meepster]

Hey DE!
You didn't even mention the "Metal" album Pat put out.
I remember seeing him on TV all dressed-up like a Goth Rocker!
Remember that? ;D

and...
I actually had dinner with Pat Boone many years ago as an 18 year old news director in Paris, TN.
I got to sit in between Lamar Alexander and Pat Friggin' Boone.

Of all my encounters with celebrities over the years...Pat Boone and Jim Dandy were the most surreal.

 

[MisterHonesty]

This is not below average during the 6th term of a president.

From Talking Points Memo:

"Here are the number of House seats lost by the President's party in the 6th year of his presidency during the post-war period. I pulled the numbers from the House website and quickly did the math:

1958: Eisenhower--Republicans lost 48 seats
1986: Reagan--Republicans lost 5 seats
1998: Clinton--Democrats gained 5 seats

So only once in the last half century has the President's party lost more than 30 seats in the second-term midterms.

The 1974 midterms, in which the Republicans lost 48 House seats in the aftermath of Watergate, occurred after Nixon resigned."

 

[Kent]

Gotta agree that Air America, or any radio program, had very little to do with these elections, unless, maybe, you consider political ads to be radio programs. As someone who lives in MO and jocks in MO, the political ads just about made me throw up, especially over this past weekend. However, the most venom on my station easily came from a state Senate race, where a political ad directly referred to the sitting senator as a "piece of work." That should tell you something since the race between McCaskill and Talent was pretty dirty.

While I can't speak for the Tennessee race, I can tell you what cost Senator Talent his job was Bush and Blunt (the governor). You have a President and a governor who are both in the mid-30 percent approval range in this state, and both are from the same party as Talent. Talent or one of his spokespeople essentially said the same thing, though much more cordially. The media had little to do with it.

 

[radiosaur]

CF, nothin' but love, man...I think you're wrong on some stuff, but we're civil about it....and that's what American is all about.

That said...LBR, you've gotta be kiddin' me! I don't even think Rush 'won' the 1994 elections. More people agreed with him, thus listened to him. But they voted GOP because of the former. AAR does well in liberal markets which would have voted heavily Democratic anyhow...nice try, though.

I believe in the people's voice...and they have spoken. I take all this 'working together' talk from the Pelosi crowd with a huge grain of salt, but the election's over and they won. Now we'll see what they'll do.

I think this was not so much a Dem victory as a GOP loss. We had nothing to show for GOP control but a war in Iraq that should have been won in 100 days but wasn't, a watered-down border "security" bill that probably won't result in a foot of fence, and the GOP appeared to completely abandon fiscal conservative values. I think we handed the Dems control. It is the GOP's total and complete fault.

I agree Bush screwed up the handling of the war...he should have gone in, kicked a$$, took names, and split. It's madness to go to war just to fight a holding action. If the Dems want to impress me they will pull out of Iraq by winning decisively and then getting the heck out. Same with border security. I could compromise on a guest worker program if it was coupled with an absolute closing of the borders to illegal entry.

If the Dems make good on their promise to work together and be civil, fine. If they don't and the GOP gets its act together and back to basics, this Democratic Congress will be short-lived. It's all going to depend on if the GOP takes the right lessons from this 'thumpin'..

End of Rant. Anyone want to talk about radio?