Rightie Talkers Look For Ratings Boost If Hillary Runs

[fred flintstone]

David Hinckley, NY Daily News:

Will talk boom burn out or heat up over Hillary?

While some radio people like WOR's Lionel argue that the conservative-talk boom of the last decade is burning itself out, the folks at talk giant WABC (770 AM) beg to differ. The proof, they say, can be found in two words: Hillary Clinton. Once Hillary's in, we're off to the races," says WABC program director Phil Boyce

(read more - David Hinckley-NY Daily News)

Hinckley also wrote Hannity and other rightie hosts see Hillary (and Bill) as "a two-headed anti-Christ - red meat they can't wait to serve up" for their audiences.

He reported that Boyce added WABC's ratings in the current trends have been helped by the Hezbollah fighting and the London terror attacks.

PS: Since the word "lefty" is so often use to describe "libtalk" hosts, in the spirit of turnabout is fair play, I have used the word "rightie" here.

 

[Holland Cooke]

Prediction: It won't happen.

You read it here first.
Senator Clinton will NOT be her party's nominee in '08.

But if she DID run, she'd be great copy alrighty.

IF the planets align properly...and IF both could raise the do-re-mi...the American people COULD actually end up with a set of debates that shed more-light-than-heat...and Talk radio would still get great material...if it ends up Joe Biden vs. Newt Gingrich.

And what a treat it'd be to have a campaign that wasn't just more mud wrestling business-as-usual, eh?

Good afternoon from Dallas,
HC
www.HollandCooke.com

 

[jcolletta275]

Biden vs. Gingrich? Excuse me while I hurl.

No, what would give talk radio great material is Hillary vs. Condi. THAT would be some great stuff to work with!

And with all due respect, Holland, this isn't the first place we've read Hillary won't be running. She's said it herself.

I just don't happen to believe it.

 

[Holland Cooke]

FINALLY...SOME respect!

You DON'T think a Biden/Gingrich debate would be more-thoughtful -- more-IDEA-laden -- than almost any other permutation of intended candidates?

Not that the primaries won't be a hoot.
They'll be a Talk radio bonanza.

How long has it been since a presidential contest was this-wide-open?
Eisenhower/Stevenson, right?
No incumbent or sitting VP running, for the first time since way-back-then.
So mud wrestling fans will have plenty of material long-before the general.

But wouldn't it be refreshing if, THIS time, the final show was about IDEAS?

If the right people stumble early-on, AND folks-who-seem-like-longshots-now can find the dough, it could happen. And Talk radio wouldn't be the only beneficiary. We could end up with a 3-digit-IQ leader.

 

[clichemoth]

The trick for both parties will be finding a candidate who hasn't already been dragged repeatedly through the mud. Gingrich and Biden definitely have been. The turnout for an election between those two would be abysmally low.

I think we'll end up with a contest between two little-known governors who'll actually be able to discuss the issues without all the baggage of the past decade. Good for the country, probably not so great for talk radio.

 

[gr8oldies]

In this corner......
ratings always ebb and flow dending on what's going on, be it an election, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina or anything else in the news that has everyone talking. I don't know about ratings for talk radio increasing on the right if Hillary were to run and win, but there'd be plenty of new material for show prep.

 

[clichemoth]

In this corner......
ratings always ebb and flow dending on what's going on, be it an election, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina or anything else in the news that has everyone talking. I don't know about ratings for talk radio increasing on the right if Hillary were to run and win, but there'd be plenty of new material for show prep.

The ratings would increase. Hillary as the Dem nominee would give Rush and Hannity an excuse to bust out their real grade-A jokes. They'd have a hard time getting up a head of steam over, say, Kathleen Sebelius or Dave Freudenthal. Just like AAR, Schultz, and Steph would have a time trying to make their base laugh at Bob Riley or Mitch Daniels, but Newt would be a freaking gold mine.

 

[starboy]

Hilary ain't runnin' so I guess they'll have to rely on Ann Coulter, Newt & Dick Morris to continue taking down their ratings.

 

[jcolletta275]

The trick for both parties will be finding a candidate who hasn't already been dragged repeatedly through the mud. Gingrich and Biden definitely have been. The turnout for an election between those two would be abysmally low.

Exactly my point. If they ran, no one would care, and talk radio would suffer because of it.

 

[raccoonradio]

Even if Hillary doesn't run she'll still be a prominent topic for conversation, since she'll probably be re-elected
for Senate this year and will be a major figure in the legislative branch.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: FINALLY...SOME respect!

How long has it been since a presidential contest was this-wide-open?
Eisenhower/Stevenson, right?
No incumbent or sitting VP running, for the first time since way-back-then.
So mud wrestling fans will have plenty of material long-before the general.

You heard it here first.
Look for Dick Cheney to resign ("reasons of health," "spend more time with his family," yada yada) after the election.
If possible, timing will have Bush appoint a new VP to take office after January 20th (in order to be eligible to serve two full terms as president). If the Republicans lose control of either house of congress, Bush will call the current congress back into special session to confirm a new VP.
This new VP becomes heir apparent and will run as a candidate in 2008.
Bush had wanted to appoint Jeb but may not have the pull anymore to get away with that.
Look for another amiable-dolt, Dan Quayle/Dubya type - easily controlled by the backroom Neo-con string-pullers inherited from the Nixon administration who are running things now (said group includes Daddy Bush).

 

[raccoonradio]

He can't resign! We need him to take office when the Dems impeach Bush :

But, oh, OK, Dick if you must resign...Maybe W will appoint Mitt Romney as veep and _he_ would take
over when Bush gets impeached. :

 

[fred flintstone]

He can't resign! We need him to take office when the Dems impeach Bush :

But, oh, OK, Dick if you must resign...Maybe W will appoint Mitt Romney as veep and _he_ would take
over when Bush gets impeached. :

Let's hope susceptibility to "brain washing" doesn't run in the family.

 

[evnlee]

Re: Prediction: It won't happen.

You read it here first.
Senator Clinton will NOT be her party's nominee in '08.

But if she DID run, she'd be great copy alrighty.

IF the planets align properly...and IF both could raise the do-re-mi...the American people COULD actually end up with a set of debates that shed more-light-than-heat...and Talk radio would still get great material...if it ends up Joe Biden vs. Newt Gingrich.

And what a treat it'd be to have a campaign that wasn't just more mud wrestling business-as-usual, eh?

Good afternoon from Dallas,
HC
www.HollandCooke.com

everyone is discounting with wild card.

Clinton could not win without Perot drawing votes in 1992. Bush could not have won if Nader didn't run in 2000. If a third party throws in early enough and with capital ( someone like Perot who had lots of $$, but isn't crazy ) THAT would make for some great talk radio. Especially if Clinton and Condi are on either platform!

Polls show that most people are anti-incumbent. That means they dont like much from either side. A good 3rd party candidate would be radio gold.

Which leads to the big question. one sure to get this thread moved to 'off the board' :

Who is that independant candidate, and why isn;t he making moves now?

 

[Radio_Realist]

"Who is that independant candidate"

From a radio/news talk perspective, I think the independent candidate who would most benefit ratings would be someone like the fictional character that Robin Williams is playing in his new movie. If someone like the former Governor of Minnesota (you all know who I'm talking about) were to mount a Presidential bid, that would be great news for news/talk radio hosts.

Based only on how well they'd improve radio talk show ratings, other possiblities would include well-known capitalists like Ted Turner, Bill Gates, or some other CEO with more money than he knows what to do with. Or, perhaps someone from the world of entertainment with a history of political involvement, like the former Mayor of Carmel, California (again, you all should know who I'm talking about).

Another possibility for a third party candidacy that would be a welcome gift for talk show hosts would be a former military leader like Norman Schwartzkopf or Air Force General Chuck Horner. Better yet, as grist for the talk show crowd on both sides of the spectrum would be if a large contingent of former military officers were to form an ad hoc "National Defense Party" and run candidates for the Presidency and a few key Senate races.

 

[threecount]

I think what right-wing radio hosts are most afraid of is a guy like John McCain or Rudy getting the Republican nod. After all, they aren't the stereotypical right-wing conservative that agrees with most of their views. It would be interesting to see if they talk them up when it comes time to a match up with Hillary or Gore.

 

[fred flintstone]

I think what right-wing radio hosts are most afraid of is a guy like John McCain or Rudy getting the Republican nod. After all, they aren't the stereotypical right-wing conservative that agrees with most of their views. It would be interesting to see if they talk them up when it comes time to a match up with Hillary or Gore.

These guys are mostly shills for the RNC - especially Rush.
They will follow the party line as they have been doing.

And the people behind Bush control the party apparatus. So they may put up a front man who looks different and sounds different - but he won't be different. Like politicians everywhere, he will say whatever it takes to win the election and then do what he wants when he gets in. And the GOP lackey talk show hosts will say what they are supposed to say. Heck, Rush sold out for a night in the Lincoln Bedroom. It doesn't take much with these guys.

 

[Holland Cooke]

NOW we're talkin' Talk radio GOLD!

Three things...

1. RE << The trick for both parties will be finding a candidate who hasn't already been dragged repeatedly through the mud. Gingrich and Biden definitely have been. The turnout for an election between those two would be abysmally low. >>

I agree with both points.
BUT...think-back to "You won't have Nixon to kick-around any more..."
In presidential politics, Lazarus walks.

2. RE << Look for Dick Cheney to resign ("reasons of health," "spend more time with his family," yada yada)...Bush had wanted to appoint Jeb but may not have the pull anymore to get away with that. >>

NOW we're talkin' Talk radio GOLD.
And don't sell Bush short.
This adminstration's hubris knows no bounds.

3. RE Ann Coulter: The only reason she can profit from her witchy hatemongering is because the media let her. Cable news channels know you’ll stop channel surfing when you land on her wild-eyed snarling. And Talk radio – always eager to ape cable topics – welcomes her carefully crafted book tour script, and generally lets her control the interview. If you’ve had-it-up-to-here with her shtick, you owe it to yourself to hear Adam Corolla hang-up-on-her on-air. Listen and laugh at www.HollandCooke.com (homepage, scroll down).

HC

 

[Radio_Realist]

"I think what right-wing radio hosts are most afraid of is a guy like John McCain or Rudy getting the Republican nod."

How could that scenario hurt the ratings of the right-wing talk show hosts? Rather than fear that happening, I would think that right wing talk show hosts would regard being able to attack both major party nominees as pure ratings gold.

What would scare right-wing talk show hosts would be if the Democrats nominated a true "middle of the road" moderate who didn't set off the right-wing's gag reflex and the Republicans nominated some only a little bit to the right of that. That would make for poor ratings.

 

[fred flintstone]

What would scare right-wing talk show hosts would be if the Democrats nominated a true "middle of the road" moderate who didn't set off the right-wing's gag reflex and the Republicans nominated some only a little bit to the right of that. That would make for poor ratings.

Which is what both parties generally do - or try to.
Except it works the other way around.
The Republicans try to nominate a "moderate" (code word for closet neo-con).
The Democrats try to nominate a "moderate" (code word for DLCer) slightly to the left.
The great undecided-uninformed-disinterested middle decides elections and the trick is to stake out a position that gives a party as much of the hump in the bell-shaped curve of American politics as possible.

The last true liberal to get a major party nomination was George McGovern.
The last true conservative was Barry Goldwater (no, Ronnie, was not a true conservative but he played one on TV).
Rock played straight guys and everybody said he couldn't act - like Ronnie played a conservative and everybody said he couldn't act.
Yesterday Notre Dame won over arch-rival Michigan State. Somewhere George Gipp heard about it and he was happy.
Meanwhile, Concordia beat Eureka 56-0. Somewhere Ronnie cupped his hand to his ear but couldn't hear the score, so he's still happy.
Contrary to popular belief, Ronnie neither went to or played for Notre Dame. But he played somebody who did.

When President-elect Ronnie arrived in Washington before his first inauguration, he paid courtesy calls on congressional leaders. Tip O'Neil was showing him around the Speaker's office and told him the desk once belonged to President Grover Cleveland. Ronnie replied, "Oh yes, I played him in pictures." "No, sir," Tip replied, "that was Grover Cleveland Alexander, the pitcher."
Yesterday the Phillies won (and moved in the NL wild card lead) and the Cubbies won; Cardinals lost. Two out of three isn't bad. Somewhere Alex The Great heard about it and was happy.
Somewhere, Ronnie was watching the Western Union sports ticker so he could "re-create" the play by play, not realizing Western Union went out of business (after selling the name and Moneygram trademark) 20 years ago.

Life isn't fair. Errol Flynn always got the girl, Ronnie got Nancy and the country got screwed.