The “Progressive Talk” label misnomer

[keys2]

At the risk of beating a dead horse, I’ve been considering the arguments made on this board regarding the “progressive talk” label. According to their own definition, “progressives” would be considered part of the liberal camp, yet not all liberals are necessarily “progressives.” Therefore, the “progressive talk” label applied to libtalk stations is a misnomer unless all of the hosts are truly “progressives,” which is doubtful.

Using the term “progressive” in a broad sense to define liberal talk radio is to wrongly define the format. Moreover, the term sounds haughty and elitist and would not seem to cater to the masses, especially the working class and welfare recipients that liberals claim to care about. And I won’t even pretend to understand how left-wing ideology can be considered progressive at all. There is nothing new about left- or right-wing thinking. It is all just a repackaging of the same ideas that have been around forever.

Still seems to me that liberals tend to be afraid of the L word.

 

[FightingIrish]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/pvsmack/assorted/AwJeez.jpg

 

[fred flintstone]

At the risk of beating a dead horse...

Not risk. Absolute certainty.
Besides, the term comes from Clear Channel management - not from "liberals." Air America Radio from the beginning positioned itself as a "liberal talk network". It's a station positioning statement. Like "greatest hits" (are they afraid of "Oldies?"). Or "memories" (are they afraid of "Standards?). Or "Urban" (are they afraid to say "Black" or "African-American?").
Because liberals may care about certain groups does not mean a radio station targets them as listeners.

And lets talk about the "conservatives" - who aren't really conservatives. Are they afraid to say "neo-con?"
Or "social conservatives;" are they afraid to say "religious right."
And all the conservative candidates who run ads using the word "independent" and downplaying the word "Republican."
And these people are the ones who spent millions of dollars to convince the public that liberal is a "dirty word."
Now liberals have to live with that and advertise to people who have that association (apparently including some on this board).

I will give you this: All progressives are liberals but not all liberals are progressive.
And liberal talk radio really does not reflect most of the viewpoints of the progressive faction.
It's really "moderate" talk radio. Moderates - people like Gore and both Clintons - also avoid the word "liberal".

 

[keys2]

Besides, the term comes from Clear Channel management - not from "liberals."

But that doesn’t stop you and others who post here from broadly referring to it as “progressive talk,” even though by “progressives’” own definition the word is being wrongly applied to the format.

And lets talk about the "conservatives" - who aren't really conservatives. Are they afraid to say "neo-con?"
Or "social conservatives;" are they afraid to say "religious right."

Not applicable. These are terms first coined by liberals to describe certain conservative factions. On the other hand, conservatives did not coin the term “progressive” to describe a certain liberal faction. So to reiterate my point, based on THEIR definition of themselves, “progressive” is a misnomer when broadly applied to liberal talk radio because not all liberals are “progressives.”

And these people are the ones who spent millions of dollars to convince the public that liberal is a "dirty word."
Now liberals have to live with that and advertise to people who have that association (apparently including some on this board).

Darn those mean and nasty conservatives. Liberals never play dirty like that. As you’ve said before on this board, only liberals have good intentions.

And liberal talk radio really does not reflect most of the viewpoints of the progressive faction.

Yet another reason why the term “progressive talk” is a misnomer, no???

It's really "moderate" talk radio.

Oh, so now its “moderate” talk radio. It’s not liberal OR progressive.

Moderates - people like Gore and both Clintons - also avoid the word "liberal".

Really…..you crack me up. This is what I see as the problem with many liberals. They see themselves and their positions as moderate instead of left-of-center. I completely respect a liberal who openly professes to being liberal, but am amazed by how many liberals actually believe themselves to be moderate and mainstream. One of the things I like about liberal talk radio is that it is blatantly liberal and does not pretend to be moderate, like so many other liberal factions of the media and entertainment industry. Libtalk radio is rather refreshing in that regards.

 

[fred flintstone]

You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?
Both about radio and about politics.

 

[Lando Griffin]

Of course, "Progressive Talk" as a format was invented by the Suits who thought "Liberal" might be too much of a dirty word.

The term "Progressive," when refering to a very left-leaning point of view, has been taken up by the Socialist wing of The Left, who are trying to market their views as more mainstream. This is why many self-proclaimed Progessives refer to Liberals who haven't advocated Kim Jong Il's line of thinking all the way as "moderates." A good example would be taking a peek at the activities the SEIU 1199 Labor Union (whose leadership call themselves "Progressive") take part in conferences with the National Socialist Workers Party.

 

[FightingIrish]

Of course, "Progressive Talk" as a format was invented by the Suits who thought "Liberal" might be too much of a dirty word.

The term "Progressive," when refering to a very left-leaning point of view, has been taken up by the Socialist wing of The Left, who are trying to market their views as more mainstream. This is why many self-proclaimed Progessives refer to Liberals who haven't advocated Kim Jong Il's line of thinking all the way as "moderates." A good example would be taking a peek at the activities the SEIU 1199 Labor Union (whose leadership call themselves "Progressive") take part in conferences with the National Socialist Workers Party.

And you know this how?

My theory is that Clear Channel just wanted a distinct name for the format when they put it on KPOJ. They neglected to TM it, though, and other companies picked it up. Hell, the CBS libtalkers (KPTK Seattle and KFPT in Fresno) look almost like exact replicas, even snagging KPOJ's logo.

I'm guessing that the stations that picked up the moniker wanted to emulate KPOJ's success. And that's all I'm gonna say about this oft-discussed, tired as hell topic.

 

[Lando Griffin]

Of course, "Progressive Talk" as a format was invented by the Suits who thought "Liberal" might be too much of a dirty word.

The term "Progressive," when refering to a very left-leaning point of view, has been taken up by the Socialist wing of The Left, who are trying to market their views as more mainstream. This is why many self-proclaimed Progessives refer to Liberals who haven't advocated Kim Jong Il's line of thinking all the way as "moderates." A good example would be taking a peek at the activities the SEIU 1199 Labor Union (whose leadership call themselves "Progressive") take part in conferences with the National Socialist Workers Party.

And you know this how?

Researching the Union when it came to an area hospital (I hosted a talk show at the time). You will find some of the events 1199 sends its leaders to rather interesting -- all on the union members' dime.

Socialists have been calling themselves "Progressives" for some time now. It sounds nicer and it was naturally moved into the radio world with the same name.

 

[Radio_Realist]

"Of course, "Progressive Talk" as a format was invented by the Suits who thought "Liberal" might be too much of a dirty word."

Actually, it was invented by a suit who wanted to create a brand name for his company's liberal talk offerings. What the company that started using the term was hoping for was to create the impression that Progressive™ Talk Radio was better liberal talk radio than all the other brands of liberal talk radio.

 

[kaufcom]

Actually, it was invented by a suit who wanted to create a brand name for his company's liberal talk offerings. What the company that started using the term was hoping for was to create the impression that Progressive™ Talk Radio was better liberal talk radio than all the other brands of liberal talk radio.

Now we know the answer to the great "liberal" vs. "progressive" nomenclature discussion that you have been pushing on this board for weeks now. Some "suit" invented the name for "his company's liberal talk offerings." I knew that you had some primary information on this provocative topic. Now is the time for you to reveal who the "suit" is. If you can't, at least you can tell us the name of the company that the suit works for. Please let us know. You have made us follow this thread so long. You owe us an explaination.

 

[fred flintstone]

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Republican.
What's Republican? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So a progressive would, were he not a progressive call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Liberal, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
:

 

[evnlee]

"Of course, "Progressive Talk" as a format was invented by the Suits who thought "Liberal" might be too much of a dirty word."

Actually, it was invented by a suit who wanted to create a brand name for his company's liberal talk offerings.

that's because " bad radio, all the time " was already taken.

Boy, want to get some 'progressive' thongs in a bunch? Ask them why they are ashamed of the term 'liberal'.

For you guys that just can't stand this question being asked for the millionth time, if it really did not matter to you, why do you keep responding? If it doesn't really matter, quit defending the 'redifinition'. :

One thing that you cannot argue against : the term 'liberal' in a political sense is negative in nature, at least nowadays. One can speculate on why/ how this happened, but the fact that some are scrambling to re-label themselves is quite proof enough!

 

[Radio_Realist]

Some "suit" invented the name for "his company's liberal talk offerings."

If one takes note of events that happen, and compares them to similar events in similar cirumstances for which the cause is know, then one can extrapolate that the similar event occured for similar reasons. One need not know the precise identity of which individual in a company's marketing department made a decision to take an action that is straight from a Marketing 101 text book to know that someone did, in fact, make such a decision, and that it wasn't pure random chance.

The decision to attempt to make Progressive™ Talk Radio into a pseudo brand name was no different of a business decision than the decision to position Seven-up as the UnCola™.

 

[fred flintstone]

Liberalism: A political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties

Liberal: Of or relation to the liberal arts. Not literal or strict. Broad-minded; esp. not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms. Of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism.

Hey, sounds pretty good to me.
OK, you guys win. Let's go back to "lib-talk."
Anybody who still has a problem with "progressive talk" can take it up with Clear Channel.

 

[Herb999]

"And liberal talk radio really does not reflect most of the viewpoints of the progressive faction.
It's really "moderate" talk radio."

Wow, if running promos implying that the president should be shot is moderate then please tell me what you would call extremist.

 

[Radio_Realist]

Anybody who still has a problem with "progressive talk" can take it up with Clear Channel.

Actually, it's more like Clear Channel will take it up with you if you insist on calling other brands of liberal talk "Progressive™". Calling any liberal talk show "Progressive" that isn't a Clear Channel product would be like calling a Curad adhesive bandage a "Band Aid™" or referring to a Puff's Facial Tissue as a "Kleenex™".

 

[keys2]

You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?
Both about radio and about politics.

I think you know that's not true. You just don't know what else to say when you've been backed into a corner. My being right or wrong is not determined by your obviously superior, yet one-sided views.

You have made some good points and enriched the discussion on this board at times, Freddie. It's when your deep-seated contempt and intolerance of conservatives starts oozing out that you stumble.

 

[Radio_Realist]

"It's when your deep-seated contempt and intolerance of conservatives starts oozing out that you stumble."

He reminds me of the news/talk host who hasn't mastered steering discussions who has to over use his cancel button on callers that he disagrees with since he can't deal with them head-to-head. That's why he attempts to make threads where he has made himself look like a fool disappear by launching large numbers of redundant threads on the same topic. Look at how many threads he's launched about AAR's going bankrupt. Look at how many others he launches with nothing but a cut & paste clip from somebody else.

He's trying to make other threads in which he was embarrassed by being out-argued go away.

 

[evnlee]

"It's when your deep-seated contempt and intolerance of conservatives starts oozing out that you stumble."


He's trying to make other threads in which he was embarrassed by being out-argued go away.

Im beginning to think your right about that

 

[keys2]

He reminds me of the news/talk host who hasn't mastered steering discussions who has to over use his cancel button on callers that he disagrees with since he can't deal with them head-to-head. That's why he attempts to make threads where he has made himself look like a fool disappear by launching large numbers of redundant threads on the same topic. Look at how many threads he's launched about AAR's going bankrupt. Look at how many others he launches with nothing but a cut & paste clip from somebody else.

He's trying to make other threads in which he was embarrassed by being out-argued go away.

So it would seem. Notice too that others who have insisted on using the term “progressive talk” have quietly let this thread go away. Instead Realist, they just fire back for harping on this topic. However, they have yet to logically defend their incorrect use of the term when broadly referring to liberal talk radio.