M
mwebster
Guest
Looking at this board and seeing the thread about Imus and all the various threads about Air America Radio got me wondering. How come nobody on this board got their shorts in a knot about The I-man and his ranch?
Last March, the Wall Street Journal did a story alleging Imus made "personal use" of his New Mexico ranch. The ranch was built using charitable contributions from listeners and corporate sponsors. New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer (the very same Spitzer) investigated. Imus filed some additional paperwork, according to the Journal, and Spitzer closed the investigation. And, oh yes, Imus endorsed Spitzer for governor (no known connection).
Imus, according to various articles and his own on-air statements, did far more self-medicating in his day than any formerly rotund conservative talk show host.
Yet, not one mention of Imus'"kerfuffles" on this board. (There was one post on the C2C citing an article reporting that Spitzer had closed the investigation.)
This demonstrates to me the posts about AAR's "loan" and Rush's pills are mostly politically motivated cheap shots and have little or nothing to do with radio. Imus, while he does have and does express political opinions on the air, has managed not to be a target for either the left or the right. His program airs on both conservative and progressive talk stations (replacing Morning Sedition on some Air America Radio affiliates). It still is open season here on Imus' performance as a broadcaster but no political tirades aimed at him.
It seems to me Imus has not become a political whipping boy for either side because he is independent. He has been known to agree with conservatives and liberals, and to criticize both conservatives and liberals. He has not locked himself into a party line as have Rush, Hannity and Company on one side and the AAR/Democracy Radio crowd on the other. Most conservative and liberal hosts "root, root, root for the hometeam" even when the home team's position is highly questionable. They are partisan cheerleaders and thus they make themselves political targets.
It would be refreshing to see more talk hosts with strong viewpoints plus the personal integrity to go after their own side when their own side is off-sides, and to acknowledge once in a while that the other side might have a point about something.
Last March, the Wall Street Journal did a story alleging Imus made "personal use" of his New Mexico ranch. The ranch was built using charitable contributions from listeners and corporate sponsors. New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer (the very same Spitzer) investigated. Imus filed some additional paperwork, according to the Journal, and Spitzer closed the investigation. And, oh yes, Imus endorsed Spitzer for governor (no known connection).
Imus, according to various articles and his own on-air statements, did far more self-medicating in his day than any formerly rotund conservative talk show host.
Yet, not one mention of Imus'"kerfuffles" on this board. (There was one post on the C2C citing an article reporting that Spitzer had closed the investigation.)
This demonstrates to me the posts about AAR's "loan" and Rush's pills are mostly politically motivated cheap shots and have little or nothing to do with radio. Imus, while he does have and does express political opinions on the air, has managed not to be a target for either the left or the right. His program airs on both conservative and progressive talk stations (replacing Morning Sedition on some Air America Radio affiliates). It still is open season here on Imus' performance as a broadcaster but no political tirades aimed at him.
It seems to me Imus has not become a political whipping boy for either side because he is independent. He has been known to agree with conservatives and liberals, and to criticize both conservatives and liberals. He has not locked himself into a party line as have Rush, Hannity and Company on one side and the AAR/Democracy Radio crowd on the other. Most conservative and liberal hosts "root, root, root for the hometeam" even when the home team's position is highly questionable. They are partisan cheerleaders and thus they make themselves political targets.
It would be refreshing to see more talk hosts with strong viewpoints plus the personal integrity to go after their own side when their own side is off-sides, and to acknowledge once in a while that the other side might have a point about something.