BlatherWatch

Lou dobbs for president

michael hood — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:25:50 -0800

Another self-important conservative media clown getting into retail politics?

Yet another right-wing candidate for candidacy who’s eschewing both political parties?

Hell, yeah- Bring on farty old Lou Dobbs, (KKOL m-f, 6-8p) and let’s throw him a tea party!

Dobbs claims to be “reaching out” to Latino groups, but put him on a ticket and his campaign would look like the Alamo. Hispanics would come out in droves to defeat the friend of Minutemen, the blithe, birther-agnostic idiot who now denies ever saying that undocumented immigrants are bringing leprosy to the US.

Glenn Beck is also making big third party noises. He's having, he says, a series of “conventions” next summer to educate us using those cryptic white papers with all the big words he can pay somebody to write for him.

The carnival that is Sarah Palin is up on the same horse. She and Beck are scrambling for ownership of the tea-baggers who are already split into at least two fractious factions.

The White House must be gleeful.

While we view the anger of the right as a serious development, the third party impulse could marginalize them even faster than nominating a Lou Dobbs, Sarah Palin, or a Glen Beck for anything.

We love the 2-party system only because, it’s what is, and it ain’t going to change. That’s more than conventional wisdom, it’s as near to a political truism as you can get. (We do love to shit in the hat of conventional wisdom, because conventionality is boring; but at the end of most days… it’s wisdom).

Never successful nationally or presidentially, third party jousts at the good order (at least in recent decades) help Democrats. Think Ross Perot, Al Franken, Pat Buchanan, and NY-23.

Ron reagan ain’t local and now… he ain't live!

michael hood — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:22:23 -0800

Ron Reagan, is a Seattleite who’s done his national show live on and from the insufferable, CBS-owned KPTK at 3p since he syndicated with Air America. But the live-part was bumped to 6p as of Monday, when the station injected the Norman Goldman Show. Goldman, a progressive lawyer who has the career advantage of having the dough to buy himself clearance on troubled talk stations in their drivetimes.

KPTK fits that description. (26th in the market, the only progressive station in one of the most progressive cities in America!)

(photo: Norman Goldman)

The station typifies everything we hate about consolidated, corporate radio. In one of the most liberal cities in America, KPTK is free of local programming, and has a famously tin ear for local sensibilities.

A new life for shannon burke- if he works it...

michael hood — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:19:56 -0800

Shannon Burke, 45, a once popular, conservative, mid-day radio host on Orlando’s RealRadio 104.1 was jailed last Spring after he ragefully, drunkenly, shot his wife's dog in their bedroom. The bullet wounded the dog and hit his wife, grazing her head.

Friday he pleaded guilty and was given a 6-month sentence.

Clear Channel who owns the station, was not charged, though it may be argued the media megalith was complicit by turning a blind eye to Burke's crazed behaviors.

Burke failed as a liberal talk host in Texas, then, after coming to Florida and flipping to the right, got some success. Unfortunately his emotions, let loose in the free market of rugged right-wing individualism turned mean and alcoholic.

Burke now says the ordeal is the best thing that ever happened to him. He got treatment and started a radio show dealing with drug and alcohol recovery on WORL-AM.

“I’m a little different person than I was 7 months ago,” Burke said. “I’m clean and sober. I know the recovery show is helping a lot of people getting them into recovery and that’s crucial, too, for my recovery.”

Burke must attend Alcoholics Anonymous, continue mental health counseling, complete a firearms safety course and 100 hours of community service at an animal shelter.

Burke was sentenced to 180 days, with 26 days jail time credit. The judge told him he would most likely be eligible for work release. Burke told reporters he would like to serve that on the air. “That’s my goal. That’s what I do,” he said.

Political therapy should be included here: remember extreme conservatism can kill.

The Orlando Sentinel's Gary Taylor chronicled the decline of a conservative of convenience who fell rather swiftly into a self-indulgent swamp of violent alcoholic behavior.

Burke was a free-wheeling, left-wing talk-show host in Austin, Texas, when Clear Channel brought him to Orlando in 2001. Three years later, after Burke cultivated a local following as a staunchly conservative — though not highly rated — host on 540 AM, the company promoted him. Burke moved down the hall to Real Radio 104.1 FM, a popular blue-collar show that did well in the ratings.

Clear Channel encouraged Burke to develop a "bad guy" image.

He took to it like a rat to cheese, getting tattoos, riding motorcycles, and drinking like a pig despite his well-known allergy to booze.

"They [managers at Clear Channel] enabled it by making excuses, and sending him to bar gigs, knowing he would drink, even if he knew he shouldn't have," [friend and talk host Jeff] Duncan said.

Taylor describes a suicide attempt and alcoholic acting out as far back as 2004 in a bitter divorce. His ex-wife is asking a judge to keep him away from their 9-year-old daughter after his "erratic, volatile and escalating behavior."

Another girlfriend accused him in court records of biting and choking her and firing a gun in her presence. He also "has issues with drugs and alcohol," she said.

Of course, Clear Channel, with their signature sociopathic, ratings-first, see-no-evil management fired him only after his shooting up his wife and dog went very public.

It's Shannon Burke's fault. He's the alcoholic, violent asshole. But we've seen this enabling too many times before: whether it's Entercom ignoring Mike Webb's deep problems and misdemeanors; or WTKK letting Jay Severin run at the mouth with violence-encouraging hate-speech.

We're joking, of course, about the dangers of embracing a right-wing philosophy, but not about radio management. Too frequently it lets outrageous stuff go until their bottom line is threatened or somebody gets hurt and it makes the papers.

And oh yeah: How many more talk hosts are out there, hollow and seared inside because they took up a political stance alien to their natures because the market seems to demand it?

KVI’s Peter Weissbach hires illegals, according to report

michael hood — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:48:28 -0800

It’s one of those tropes you always hear on right-wing talk radio: bust the employers of undocumented workers, and the problem will be solved.

But in a Seattle Times story today, an Obama administration strategy that does just that has backfired on far-right talkhost, KVI Peter Weissbach, 62, (m-f, 5-6p) who’s gotten very rich running Seattle Building Maintenance, a janitorial service that employs the very illegals he rants against the government not busting!. (At, of course, the miserly wages that corporations can get away with paying such workers).

According to Lornet Turnbull’s story, Weissbach, (rhymes with pies-rack) and his wife’s company cleans such downtown landmarks as Seattle Art Institute, Pacific Place, Metropolitan Park and the Dexter Horton and Westin buildings.

“The subject of an ongoing immigration audit by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, the company has been clearing its books by firing some of itseport janitorial staff — about 100 people so far — believed to be working illegally.”
The probe of Seattle Building Maintenance offers an early glimpse into ICE's approach to worksite enforcement — stealthily targeting employers rather than workers.

ICE’s new strategy is in lieu of dramatic workshop raids that make great teevee.

The article says the Weissbachs have been cooperating with ICE only since approximately last August.

The wealthy Weissbach has, what’s been described to Blatherwatch, as a “business arrangement” with the troubled KVI, giving him an hour of drivetime to indulge his hobby of being a right-wing talk host. A Canadian emigrant and naturalized US citizen, Weissbach is heir to a rich Vancouver family who made their money in recycling (garbage removal).

Weissbach was hired in 1999 when KVI removed Michael Medved (who loaths him) from their line-up (Medved was syndicated shortly thereafter but was not allowed to be heard in Seattle for a year when Fisher pressed his non-compete clause to its full extent).

After he was fired from KVI, his once-promising radio career declined. Weissbach has had weekend shows on KIRO, and done fill-in for Michael Savage, Art Bell.

As Weissbach has harped for years, and years,

The Weissbach Show has no false gods and no sacred cows. It's the show that looks behind the facade; pricks the pretensions; and questions the veil that we're told is reality. It's the show that encourages you to think - and once having thought - stand up and speak out.

Will this blatant hypocrisy and lawbreaking cost the "prick of pretension" his hour of right-wing drivetime radio?

We wouldn't make book on it.

Is linda thomas the new KIROFM morning voice?

michael hood — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:05:00 -0800

Linda Thomas is working the news this morning on KIRO. Is she the new KIRO morning newsperson sidekicking Gregg Hersholt?

16 year KIRO veteran Jane Shannon was fired rather abruptly two weeks ago.

Often mentioned for the job, Thomas won't face a tough learning curve- she’s been filling in on KIRO for years.

Thomas is the honey-toned radio pro, and one time blogger who gave up the profession to have a family before returning to the fray.

KBCS changes protested

michael hood — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:11:24 -0800

A group of former KBCS volunteer music producers, the people who love them will demonstrate against the paid staff they hold accountable for the station’s deep format changes next week.

A group who calls itself SaveKCBS, will protest Nov. 27th, 5:30-7p, outside a KBCS benefit with Amy Goodman at Seatttle's Townhall (8th & Seneca). Goodman’s Democracy Now! headlines the station’s new morning line-up.

They say, “Democracy Now in our Community Radio Now!” claiming the programming changes were made in anything but democratic manner, but rather in a top-down decision by paid (god no) staffers.

They write:

35 years of rich, unique, and diverse music programming which served the greater Seattle community, was cut at KBCS...and nobody asked for your opinion!
On August 24, 2009, KBCS management completed Phase 1 of their programming changes. This is a complete revamp of the weekday programming with 4 hours less music each weekday!

Station management announced the community station’s model was not a sustainable one. Owned by Bellevue College, the station was built on the notion that every cultural musical niche should have a place on the airwaves. As we wrote last summer:

While other sorts of public radio like news and news talk (NPR) has thriven, the eclectic, crazy-pants, hyper-local, easy access, volunteer-powered model that depends largely on listeners of jazz, folk, or classical music is declining all over the country, especially urban stations. These niches are being mined by satellite radio and on-line radio channels.

What’s causing the stink is the dumping of most of the venerable jazz, Latino, and folk music programs, and the installation of syndicated public radio news shows such as PRI’s smart morning news show, The Takeaway; Pacifica Radio’s Democracy Now!; The Michael Eric Dyson Show, and more.

Community radio is going through the same shrinking pains, consolidation and syndication as public and commercial stations. Community stations like this are classic farm teams for all radio, as well as venues where diverse programming can be heard no matter how arcane nthey may seem to a mainstream audience.

The talk radio monday-through-friday revolution

michael hood — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:14:20 -0800

Watching the historic health care debate on C-Span, we marveled at our senators actually working on a Saturday. (yea, Sen. Franken!)

But Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and the Mr. Doctor Michael Savage say this is “rape” of the Land of the Free by the president and the Democratic congress! Dori Monson says it's criminal. (Parenthetically, we love how conservative talkers- usually lacking for academics with credentials who share their views, pretentiously emphasize the “doctor” with the occasional PhD who walks through their shows. O’Reilly’s all DR. Lamont-Hill; Medved verbally underlines DR. Diane, and callers-in to Michael Savage always attach a pandering and deliberate-sounding, DR. to his name. In our experience only the most pretentious of PhD’s use the title usually reserved for physicians).

Yet dialing-up local radio, Saturday, to the places where we hear the weekdaily cries of rape, criminality, and treason, we heard only the chirps of the radio crickets that are syndicated reruns and brokered “shows” huckstering vitamin supplements, brake jobs, and floor tiles.

(KIROFM’s running the fascinating and important Adam Bold’s Mutual Fund Show®; Lofty Bob Brinker who dips his own financial oar in the water for three hours; and Gardening with Cisco (Jesus, and what more can he say this time of year except “Rake your leaves, already!) KVI is all brokered crap: something called New Vitality, two car shows back-to back starring the proprietors of two shops; and the creepy Dr. Mixon (who isn’t above mixing a little right-wing politics into his dubious infomercial). KTTH also lets Dr. Mixon sell for three hours; then Rajiv Nagaich, an advertising lawyer who hucksters “elder law.” Then it’s refried Rush or sporting games simulcast on their AM sporting game station).

(photo: Dr. Mixon "he's a real doctor!")

KOMO is news-business as usual, any wonder why this format is winning in this town when the non-music competition bows out for two days a week? Easy for PPM-ers to get stuck on a station that doesn’t stray from its m-f programming.

Besides that the alternatives we're given is terrible radio, how can these patriots be taking a day off while this rape is perpetrated so publicly on the land that they love??? Right in the well of the Senate!

We’re re-reminded just how removed and uninvolved these heat-seeking, ratings-driven gas-bags are in real politics and public policy.

For all of Limbaugh and Glenn Beck’s blarting about patriotism and service, and denunciations of liberals and Democrats for lack of same, they’re 5-days-a-week-weekends-and-holidays-off kind of revolutionaries. (thanks for your service).

Rush Limbaugh, makes more than $40 million a year, to lodge his large backside in an upright chair for a few hours day, to brilliantly identify traitors and thunder for insurrection. Then he backs away from his real gold-plated microphone, and hits the golf course. Weekends he heads out ‘cross the fruited plain for more challenging golf courses on his private jet… to be back Monday morning to lead the revolution.

Sarah Palin is building a constituency (unless it’s raining) and selling a shitload of discounted, best-selling books, by spouting right wing clichés from the 11 pages of “policy” she had written for her and addre$$ing clutches of billionaire Chinese business men in Singapore… Monday through Friday of course. She has a brilliant future as a Republican candidate (unless the GOP powers-that-be can help it).

No lean and hungry revolutionary is Glenn Beck whose chins grow in size and number by the day, and is said to be starting a third party for 2010. He announced his battle plans Saturday: the oft maddeningly objective Politico.com writes that it's “short on specifics and long on self-promotion…” as well as timed with the release of his 2010 book. What a surprise.

Politicians work so much more, are paid so much less and are held so much more accountable. It’ll be fun to watch the clash between the lazy giants of media entertainment who are leading this angry moment and those who are in charge of actually getting candidates elected.

Old Seattle Radio Saturday: lan roberts, "the breakfast pig is alive!"

michael hood — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:03:00 -0800

BBorn Lanny Lipford (Bonham, Texas) on December 18, 1936; died December 30, 2005).