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Philly Talk Forums

• Jerry Long of the Sturdy Beggars in today's Inquirer -- Rockfor, 09:40:31 04/08/03 Tue
  Think you know what patriotism is?
  
  By Jerry Long
  
  I've always had a fairly simple definition of patriotism: You can take pride in being an American and still dislike Lee Greenwood songs.
  
  While Americans may not know the nationalities of the Sept. 11 hijackers, let alone the members of the Carlyle Group, we all claim to know what is or isn't patriotic in time of war. But do we?
  
  If people incinerate Dixie Chicks CDs while remaining uninterested in the number of innocent lives our bombs have incinerated, are they patriots? Second-tier celebrities Mike Farrell and Janeane Garofalo are vilified for their positions, but third-tier celebrity Ben Stein can declare Iraq would be a "cakewalk." Is that patriotic?
  
  If Gen. Richard Myers labels criticism of the battle plan by retired military men concerned for the safety of our soldiers as "harmful to our troops," what of the Perles and Wolfowitzes and Kristols who did so much to bring about this war while painting scenarios of a flower-strewn frosting trot? Did that support the troops?
  
  Many who have never seen combat have found a fail-safe way to prove they are patriots: They tell us they are. William Bennett, who never fought for anything more consequential than grant money, writing a book titled Why We Fight might not be as morally leprous as the jingoistic professor in All Quiet On The Western Front, but is it patriotism?
  
  As for the media, in the months preceding our invasion, there was so much laughter at Pentagon press briefings reporters should have been charged a two-drink minimum. Was that patriotism?
  
  Cable news programs will exhibit our weaponry, they will explain the ingenious capability with which it can kill... but they will not show us the dead. They will not show us the blood-spattered marketplace, the chunks of flesh, the severed head, the liquefied remains. Those images are reserved for the rest of the world.
  Yet these same news organizations, which don't give a moment's thought to how the average Egyptian may view "situation room" set designs of Americans literally walking all over a map of the Middle East, will invariably ask themselves in sonorous tones: "Why do they hate us?" And nothing in the conclusions they draw will discourage an average citizen from believing that an Iraqi teenager who lost his entire family in a bombing raid hates us because he, in the words of our President, "hates our freedom." Is that patriotism?
  
  Saddam is a butcher... but he always was. And it would have been nice if tough-talking Don Rumsfeld, during one of his early '80s grovels to Baghdad, in lieu of warm handshakes and canape nibbling, had shot him. It would be even nicer if so many of our leaders had not chosen to embed themselves with profit.
  
  Dick Cheney amassed a fortune peddling connections made during the first Gulf War. Did he give any of that money to the families of the 148 Americans who died to win it?
  Henry Kissinger and George Mitchell fled the 9/11 commission rather than reveal, or discontinue working for, their international clients. Vast bipartisan armies of retired politicians are fanned out over Capitol Hill, dedicated to maintaining the status quo on the security of our nuclear plants, food and water; representing the interests of foreign governments and multinational corporations, with no greater concern for future ramifications beyond their billable time for the next quarter. Is war profiteering by lobbyists the same as patriotism?
  
  Just before his Oval Office speech announcing war, President Bush was shown joking with the makeup assistant, pumping his fist, and exclaiming, "I feel good." And while I'm unconditionally uninterested in how he feels, I do care what he thinks.
  
  Does he truly think God has called him to fight evil? How does God tell him which evil to fight? How much evil will God sanction to destroy a great evil? And... if he knew this war would result in only one dead Iraqi child and one brave 20-year-old's casket on the tarmac at Dover, would Jesus "feel good" about starting it?
  Or aren't those the thoughts of a patriot?
  
  Jerry Long (JerryBeggar@aol.com ) and his brother Joe are known as the satirists the Sturdy Beggars
  

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  Replies:

  • C'mon, this board loads slowly enough as it is. Can't you lefties just provide a link to this stuff like the rest of us do? E-mail me and I'll provide you with the HTML tags. Is it just me or is this guy one of the most tedious reads anywhere? I can just imagine what his 'satire' is like. On his own we'll call him "Ruddy Whiner". (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 15:47:52 04/08/03 Tue
    • Scott... Oh if only I had such a closed mind as you do, my life would be so easy - I would just tune into my leaders to see how I'm supposed to think. When Clinton was in office, there was just no way to show the extremists, the "true-believers", the Clintonites, just how bad his policies or actions were. Now we have the other side of that coin - we have a president who the rightists, the "true-believers", the Bushites, say how dare you condemn this man!! -- Richiep, 18:24:52 04/08/03 Tue
      • Richie, you've trumped me in the closed mind sweepstakes - I don't recall locking step with Bush on this board. But bitter liberals who profess hatred for Bush and the administration, and then expect their political views to be taken seriously are going to have to try a little harder. You're free to condemn Bush, but you'd better come up with a better argument than "they're only in it for Haliburton!" That stuff don't flush with the thinking classes. (NT) -- Scott Tilde - A mind is a terrible thing... and it must be stopped!, 18:50:49 04/08/03 Tue
        • You sound just like the "liberals" who you claim are nothing but bitter. No matter what I say, or any point I make, your answer would be "Oh you're just a Bush hater" instead of their line of "Oh you're just a Clinton hater" Clinton was a lousy President who cared nothing about the Constitution, Bush is a lousy President that cares nothing about the Constitution. But you and the Clintonites will never see it because you refuse to. (NT) -- Richiep, 20:22:01 04/08/03 Tue
          • Richie, I'm getting your point that neither Prez is perfect. Being a 'small L' libertarian at heart, I'm not totally happy with either. But I maintain that Bush is far more accountable to the Constitution than Clinton. Unfortunately, both the Democratic presidents of my adult lifetime - Carter and Clinton, weren't stellar examples of accountability. Both sacrificed American security to political correctness. [click for more... if you dare] -- Scott Tilde, 00:55:14 04/09/03 Wed
    • I once watched their TV show and I was amazed that grown men in their 50s would be still be trying to imitate saturday night live, second city, monty python. Add that to the crappy production values and you have to wonder how much these guys have to pay the inquirer for space on their editorial page. (NT) -- Bring back Mort Sahl, 13:31:54 04/11/03 Fri
  • By the way, I never heard these guys when they were on... what, WPHT? Were they entertaining? Strident like this piece? Anybody ever hear them? (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 18:55:21 04/08/03 Tue
    • They were great on 'PHT (NT) -- Chad, 20:40:51 04/08/03 Tue
      • No, they sucked! Liberal pointless humor at its best (sic) (NT) -- The Rock - back to deal with the dolt Liberals of the world, 23:42:21 04/08/03 Tue
        • No, they were great! (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Okay, your turn...), 00:38:16 04/09/03 Wed
          • Oh this is just great! Could you guys list your political affiliation when you shoot your one-liners out? Can anybody go two sentences here? What was good? What sucked?? (NT) -- Tilde - Lookin' For Truth, 01:02:57 04/09/03 Wed
            • Sorry, that was too good of an opportunity to pass up. ;) Anywho, I'm conservative/libertarian, but I like any clever political satire, no matter who is being skewered. During the SNL's 2000 Presidential Debate, I was laughing equally hard at the Bush and Gore impersonators. And while the Brothers Long aren't ready for a network sitcom, I liked their schtick, even when I disagreed with them. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Skewer Clinton? Parody. Bush? Disrespect.), 06:44:31 04/09/03 Wed
            • Scott, they were part of the "return to talk" format, including "Scoot," Jay and Hilarie, et al. They were on Saturday nights. Most of their "bits" were long and tedious. Long bits, bad song parodies, weak impressions...kind of like SNL in the early 80's. Their return last year was much the same. (NT) -- Pseudonyms Uck, 07:19:56 04/09/03 Wed
              • Sounds like The Beggars would be a natural for NPR or PRI... I still miss 'Scoot'. He's the one host I could listen to regularly on the newly revived WPHT. The Inquirer TV critics on Saturday were a blast too - Gail Shister got out a line about lesbians about once every five minutes. Don Lancer's talks show was also a hoot. I should've airchecked those days. (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 11:57:21 04/09/03 Wed
  • The beggars were great with observational humor but when they veered off into politics they morphed into boring instantly. The humor was forced and message filled. A sure recipe for the unfunny. (NT) -- Freddy, 10:41:58 04/09/03 Wed
  • Ramblings in reply to Jerry... -- Rebut, 17:16:33 04/10/03 Thu

  ---

• There’s No Fool Like An April Fool! -- Pseudonyms Uck, but I still use mine., 15:40:47 04/03/03 Thu
  I am not now nor have I ever been a Michael Smerconish fan. I find him self-serving, self-promoting and now…self-destructive.
  
  Michael staged a Phil Hendrie-like April fool’s prank. Not having Hendrie-like talent, he used another person as the “phony voice.” Someone pretended to be a U.S. Senator who was supporting a ludicrous bill to make people plug up one nostril to save the planet’s oxygen. Insipid, but innocuous enough, until…
  
  The next day he accused his listeners of being stupid for not realizing that it was an April Fool’s prank. He went on and on about how he thought his audience was smarter than that. He wasn’t kidding this time; he took some real digs at his audience. Way to boost that 2.9 into the stratosphere, Mike! Yeah, yeah, the trends are up, welcome to wartime talk radio.
  
  It’s interesting to note that after Michael’s show, Jeff Katz sounded embarrassed when he said he wasn’t doing a April Fool’s bit because of the “tone of the times.” It sounded like he was embarrassed at Michael’s version of Hendrie Light.
  
  It was a bad bit followed the next day by a thoughtless assessment of Michael’s audience. As someone with current inside contacts, I can tell you he is pretty universally disliked among most ‘PHT employees, along with his “overqualified intern,” for acting better than everyone. Pity, he could have been a great leader of a great talk team. Maybe he’ll go to CNN full time.
  

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  • Very insightful and well-written post. I wish these stupid April Fools gags would go away, except radio personalities keep doing them (rather unsuccessfully I might add). It's the one day of the year non-funny radio personalities try to be humorous, and the unfunny streak remains unbroken. Katz got it right. Maybe the "Coalition to Ban Rich Now" can re-group and focus their energies on abolishing stupid attempts at April Fools humor. (NT) -- Jay, 17:50:34 04/03/03 Thu
    • The Coaltion to Ban Rich Now believes that Rich was fooled by the joke, yet still insists he was just playing along when his friends and family ridicule him. (NT) -- Paid for by the Coalition To Ban Rich Now, 02:43:15 04/04/03 Fri
      • The Coaltion to Ban Rich Now cannot claim nor does it confirm that he has friends. (NT) -- Paid for by the Coalition To Ban Rich Now, 02:46:39 04/04/03 Fri
  • You guys do know that Irv Homer did that same bit several years ago. My wife recongnized it before Michael even launched into the full premise. I guess stealing bits that work is standard. Nothing new under the sun. What is disturbing is not that some didn't realize it was a joke, but that based on some of the stuff that comes out of Congress, it is so easily believed. (NT) -- SurveyGuy, 09:49:46 04/04/03 Fri
  • Why is that everytime P.U. posts I shudder and wonder, "Oh no, what now?" I'd like to remind people posters are responsible for their own posts and do not always reflect the opinions of the Board Moderators. Having said that let me say I didn't hear the bit but the aftermath / audiance critique made me squirm in discomfort. (NT) -- Surf - Can I take the tissue out of my nose now?, 14:50:07 04/04/03 Fri
  • I must add that the "joke" was soooo un-funny. The more I listen to MAS the more conceited he sounds. I half expect that he has a hand imprint on his shirt so he knows where to pat himself on the back. (NT) -- Jason, 18:41:28 04/04/03 Fri
  • I have also noticed how MAS and Katz do not speak to each other in the croos-over between their shows. Katz and Dom G do. MAS and Katz must really despise each other. (NT) -- Jason, 18:45:32 04/04/03 Fri
    • Wrong...several times MAS and Katz have done the crossover. Can you blame Katz for being jealous, he was only spanked by MAS, booted to a lesser spot! (NT) -- J. Mostel, tired of these lame posts, 11:35:46 04/05/03 Sat
  • Perhaps if the lifespan of a PHT employee was longer than 9.3 months, they could get to know Smerconish better. Don't try to turn him into an IMUS tyrant, the shoe just doesn't fit. (NT) -- J. Mostel, 11:38:29 04/05/03 Sat
    • Josh, the people I know inside WPHT have worked there for much longer. than 9.3 months. Michael isn't IMUS, he's just not a nice person. And the last "crossover" between Jeff and Michael was almost a year ago.Jeff spanked? Not at all. Michael was at the right place at the right time. He "left" because he refused to settle a lawsuit. Viacom management was wrong (according to the ratings) when they brought him back. (NT) -- Pseudonyms Uck, 11:53:50 04/05/03 Sat
      • mas (NT) -- Mark--He used to be great entertainment, TWO years ago., 18:08:43 04/05/03 Sat
        • inside scoop -- henry, 12:13:54 04/08/03 Tue
          • That's pretty incredible stuff. That place sure sounds dysfunctional- please post more!Is the situation similar at KYW where mas does his commentaries? Sure would like to hear from a KYW insider. (NT) -- Jay, 15:20:13 04/08/03 Tue
      • there are 4....only 4 (and one may be quitting soon) who have been there more than 18 months..... (NT) -- sick-to-my-stomach, 08:53:41 04/07/03 Mon
    • Mostel gets zero right -- henry, 13:15:20 04/08/03 Tue
  • April Fools -- Gerry, 15:19:09 04/05/03 Sat

  ---

• Changes at Philly's second talk station, WABC: Monica Crowley 6-7PM, Michael Savage 7 - 9PM, ABC's Larry Elder 9 - 10PM (New York Clearance! raise the ad rates, ABC!!) Richard Bey is gone. Well, he was a liberal. Maybe if he'd whined less. Funny. I want Alan Colmes to be more of a liberal because he can articulate his positions without whining. Yet every other liberal talk show hosts fails the 'whine' factor. Shame we don't have Colmes accessible on the radio down here. -- Scott 'what, me opinionated?' Tilde, 18:48:09 04/07/03 Mon
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  • WHERE is Alan Colmes? -- Bubbles, 00:19:55 04/08/03 Tue
    • Colmes's current syndicated show is quite good as well, and Tilde's right-on about the whine-test: Alan doesn't, and that's a big reason why I respect him so much, even as I vehemently disagree with him. ;) (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (See? Liberals CAN make it in talk!), 00:58:01 04/08/03 Tue

  ---

• Glenn Beck Responds to the NY Times Pro-Troop Rally 'Right Wing Conspiracy' Article -- Scott Tilde, 17:45:24 04/07/03 Mon
  Glenn Beck writes a letter to the editor of the New York Times in response to the Clear Channel pro-troop rally 'right wing conspiracy' article. Credit Cheap Channel with degrading radio, but attributing the proliferation of pro-troop rallies to them is simply another attempt to belittle the true genesis of the rallies a.k.a. the listeners and independent hosts. The thinking classes understand what happened here. Getting The New York Times to be comfortable with it might be damned near impossible.
  
  Note: The link is to the New York Times website. Registration may be required, but it's free and, at least when I registered, spam-free.
  
  ~
  

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  ---

• Hannity In Philly -- Uncle Sam, 09:07:11 02/24/03 Mon
  Now that Sean Hannity IS comming to WPHT, which local show gets the boot? Has to be either Jeff Katz or Dom Giordano. Sad, sad, sad. What are they thinking over there?
  

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  • Actually, they're canning EVERYBODY...it'll be all Hannity around the clock...except for the two hours of O'Reilly... (NT) -- Jim "What, Me Cynical" Walsh, 22:32:23 02/25/03 Tue
  • I'd rather hear ANYBODY than Dom Giordano -- Greg Stone, 17:16:30 04/04/03 Fri

  ---

• Snopes.com and Phil Hendrie -- MD, 12:14:01 04/04/03 Fri
  Check it out:
  
  Claim: A Corona, California, man sued Secretary of Homeland SecurityTom Ridge for emotional distress after duct-taping his "privates."
  
  Status: False.
  Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2003]
  
  
  Man Sues Tom Ridge Over Duct Tape Fears
  
  Corona, CA - Tom Ridge's advice to Americans to stock up on duct tape and plastic has sparked a lawsuit which has been filed against him, the Department of Homeland Security and President George W. Bush.
  
  Steven J. Bosell, the owner of B & B Construction in Corona, California, has filed a lawsuit claiming emotional distress, personal injury and sexual disfunction after he wrapped his "privates" in duct tape to protect them from a biological attack.
  
  "After watching Mr. Ridge on television advising us to stock up on duct tape and plastic, I went to the local Costco and bought $100 worth of duct tape to protect myself", Bosell said. "When I got home, I taped up my windows and doors. After I did that I realized if survivors like myself are going to reproduce and populate the Earth after a biological attack, we have to protect our privates as well."
  
  Bosell claimed in his lawsuit he wrapped his "privates" in duct tape as test of "Homeland Security". When he tried to remove the tape, Bosell injured himself when the tape began peeling off skin and body hair. After calling an ambulance, Bosell was taken to the hospital where the doctors and nurses laughed at him.
  
  "I told the doctors and nurses at the hospital if they laughed, I would file a lawsuit against them and the hospital. They laughed anyways and I now have another lawsuit pending" Bosell said with tears streaming down his face. "They went out their way to make me look like a fool. Once I saw the doctors scalpel go toward my privates, I totally lost it and blacked out".
  
  Also named in the lawsuit is the President of the United States, George W. Bush. "President Bush is just as liable for injury to my reproductive future because he hired Mr. Ridge to run the Department of Homeland Security and Mr. Ridge gave the nation bad advice. They also make me look like a fool." Bosell sobbed.
  
  
  
  Origins: No resident of Corona, California, filed a lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge for emotional distress after duct-taping his "privates." This piece is a spoof of the craze set off during the "Code Orange" security alert in February 2003 by the advice for U.S. residents to have duct tape and plastic sheeting on hand to create sealed-off environments in their homes in case of chemical or biological attack, as well as a jab as litigious cranks who file all sorts of frivolous lawsuits.
  
  Steven Bosell, putative owner of B & B Construction in Corona, California, is a fictional creation of talk radio host Phil Hendrie. Hendrie's stock in trade is inventing outrageous "guests" with whom he converses on his show (the guests are actually voiced by Hendrie himself), and one of his recurring characters is Steven Bosell, owner of B & B Construction, who regularly "appears" on Hendrie's show to discuss his latest loony lawsuit.
  
  http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/bosell.asp
  
  
  I love Phil Hendrie's show.
  

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  • I guess I can cancel that boat order now. I hope it's not too late to get my deposit back. I don't mind being fooled into joining that class action suit. The painful part was pulling off the tape. (NT) -- Surf, 14:38:34 04/04/03 Fri

  ---

• You Say You Wanna Boycott: Savage vs GLAAD -- Tilde, 14:30:12 03/13/03 Thu
  Forget about French boycotts. Those companies just have the disadvantage of being under the wrong flag right now. No, the companies to boycott are the truly spineless, evil wimps: Now I can't get that Dell computer I was going to pick up. Looks like the cowards at Dell and Procter & Gamble have backed out of sponsoring Michael Savage's MSNBC show - and they weren't even specifically sponsoring the show, but apparently they instructed MSNBC not to run their ads during the Savage broadcast. Why? Because the tender ears of GLAAD (Gays Lashing out Against Accurate Discourse) can't tolerate any speech that might question their 'gays are always persecuted and always the underdogs and we won't stop until you admit that heterosexuality is a cop-out and is going out of style...' agenda. What are they afraid of? A weak case that people might not buy into if it was disputed often enough?
  
  Christ, what are gays, 2 - 5% of the population tops? What the hell is wrong with the spineless morons at these companies anyway? They believe what GLAAD is alleging? Have they ever listened to Savage? This GLAAD group wouldn't be able to articulate the truth if it was shoved headfirst up their... well, let me get to the point here before Surf electronically flushes this...
  
  According to a story at advocate.com (the website of the gay-oriented The Advocate), the following companies have stated that they will not support Savage's program: Procter & Gamble, Dell Computer Corporation, Casual Male, Idea Village, Cole Media Group, and the Sharper Image, Kraft Foods and General Mills.
  
  Supposedly this is due to their being informed, courtesy of GLAAD, of Savage's "attacks on women, people of color, immigrants, and gay men and lesbians." People of color?? What the F is that? If you could see my usually-pink face right now, you'd call me a 'person of color', but I don't think that's what these offensive simpletons had in mind.
  
  At any rate, if you want to boycott someone who richly needs to be boycotted, don't worry about the Frenchies. They'll be paying for their particular brand of graft-driven arrogance for years to come. (Won't it be rich when we're deconstructing the French-Iraq business relationship from the US Directorate in Rumsfeld City [formerly Baghdad])
  
  No, these slimy, spineless excuses for companies, these impediments to free speech, these principle challenged weasils have it coming. Sorry, Dell. I've gotta go find out if Gateway has a spine. I already know where you go down.. - I mean 'come down', on this issue.
  
  I have to go take a cold bath now. See you Sunday at Valley Forge.
  

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  • I guess nobody knows who Savage is. Gosh, I love Philly radio.... (NT) -- ., 11:02:35 03/21/03 Fri
  • I've had it -- 1210er, 07:37:27 03/22/03 Sat
    • Finally! Some Reaction! Granted, Not The Best Specimen We Could Have Come Up With, But We Have To Start Somewhere! -- Scott Tilde, 21:28:59 03/22/03 Sat
      • Great post Scott !! Gays who travel now have far more to worry about being an American than being gay. How's that for paranoia?! (NT) -- SurveyGuy, 10:09:31 04/04/03 Fri
      • Found this article with some Savage quotes. There's undoubtedly a lot of hyperbole here. But still, some of these quotes are pretty astounding. He sure has the constitutional right to say whatever he wants. He does not have the constitutional right to be sponsored by Proctor & Gamble. -- Rockford, 13:28:53 04/04/03 Fri
  • Amusing... these companies make a decision to boycott Savage. You get mad at them for boycotting, and what do you suggest as a reaction? A boycott. Personally, I think the companies AND you are both right: you've decided not spend your money to support things you disagree with. Sounds like the American way to me. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Can I boycott boycotts?), 10:07:02 03/23/03 Sun
    • I think my motivations are purer! (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 11:09:32 03/24/03 Mon
      • So do they. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Recursion is fun!), 03:26:52 03/25/03 Tue
        • The companies don't necessarily agree or disagree; they just avoid controversy. So while my stand is based on my principles and what I believe is right, the 'fraidy-cat advertisers' bailout is based on fear. Fear of diminished sales maybe, but fear nonetheless. So by showing the companies that merely avoiding the situation does not automatically shield them from a negative sales impact, they may be forced to confront the issues. And wouldn't ~that~ be fun to watch! (NT) -- Tilde from MontCo, 14:43:16 03/25/03 Tue
          • Not completely sure, but that might be the silliest thing I've seen here. You want to boycott companies for NOT sponsoring a show. Let's all let that sink it for a minute shall we? Maybe we should also insist that that pay double the normal rate in order to avoid this boycott. Better yet, lets just insist that they send Savage the money directly, and sell the time to somebody else! (NT) -- Rockford- (whew), 15:10:35 03/25/03 Tue
            • 'Whew' is right. If this is over your head, when we start debating war specifics over the next few weeks, your head's positively gonna explode. Just as a refresher course, the companies concerned here actively requested that their previously scheduled ads not be run during Savage in response to threats by GLAAD. This was not an act of omission, but commission. Feel better now? I didn't think so. (NT) -- The Tilde Files, 17:24:15 03/25/03 Tue
              • I'm still not sure why you care what copanies do? Do you fear being fired? I don't think Burger King will mind you voicing your oppinion. (NT) -- 1210er, 07:16:58 04/01/03 Tue
                • And you should be thankful that Wal-Mart doesn't require you to be able to spell (NT) -- Sam Walton, 12:01:45 04/01/03 Tue
                • It's like this: Companies pull ads from show taking on hypocritical BSers, due to pressure from same hypocritical group which distorts truth to push agenda, and then whines 'discrimination" when people don't buy into the hypocrisy. Show puncturing hypocrisy goes away, group lives on to whine "discrimination" another day. You want that? I don't. Pussy-ass companies could care less, taking path of least resistance. Plan: make path of least resistance look less attractive. (NT) -- Scott "attempting to 'splain it all to you" Tilde, 00:46:29 04/02/03 Wed

  ---

• A great article about Bush and this "war" -- richiep, 13:35:21 04/03/03 Thu
  From: http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20030320-75800736.htm
  
  A reckless path
  
  Paul Craig Roberts
  
  We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it. And we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into a trial of the causes of the war for our position is that no grievances or policies will justify resort to aggressive war. It is utterly renounced and condemned as an instrument of policy.
  — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, U.S. representative to the International Conference on Military Trials, Aug. 12, 1945.
  
  Will Bush be impeached? Will he be called a war criminal? These are not hyperbolic questions. Mr. Bush has permitted a small cadre of neoconservatives to isolate him from world opinion, putting him at odds with the United Nations and America's allies.
  What better illustrates Mr. Bush's isolation than the fact that he delivered his March 16 ultimatum to the U.N. concerning Iraq from an air base in the Azores, where there was no prospect for massive demonstrations against his policy. Standing with Mr. Bush against the world were Britain and Spain.
  The U.S., once a guarantor of peace, is now perceived in the rest of the world as an aggressor. Its victim is a small Muslim nation unable to defend its own air space, much less to project power beyond its borders. If Iraqis attempt to resist invasion, they will be slaughtered.
  On the eve of Mr. Bush's ultimatum, it came to light that a key piece of evidence used by the Bush administration to link Iraq to a nuclear weapons program is a forgery. Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has asked the FBI to investigate the origin of the forged documents that the Bush administration used to make its case that Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction.
  Secretary of State Colin Powell denies that the Bush administration created the phony documents. "It came from other sources," Mr. Powell told Congress, but he could not identify the source.
  As George Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it." The administration's use of forged evidence opens Mr. Bush to unflattering comparisons that his enemies will not hesitate to make. They will point out that it was Adolf Hitler's strategy to fabricate evidence in order to justify his invasion of a helpless country. He used S.S. troops dressed in Polish uniforms to fake an attack on the German radio station at Gleiwitz on Aug. 31, 1939. Following the faked attack, Hitler announced: "This night for the first time Polish regular soldiers fired on our own territory." As German troops poured into Poland, Hitler declared: "The Polish state has refused the peaceful settlement of relations which I desired, and has appealed to arms." The German High Command called the German invasion of Poland a "counterattack."
  Thanks to his neoconservative cadre, outside the U.S. Mr. Bush is now a disliked and distrusted politician. Mr. Bush's enemies will exploit parallels to "naked aggression." After many decades of U.S. leadership in building an "international order," Mr. Bush's enemies will hold him accountable for his defiance of this order.
  As much as those of us who prefer national sovereignty to world government lament the fact, the many decades of appealing to "world opinion" and enlisting it in behalf of our foreign policies has resulted in considerable authority being poured into that nebulous concept. In setting Mr. Bush in opposition to this American creation, neoconservatives have exposed him to serious charges. Democrats, who intended to use allegations about the 2000 Florida vote to destroy Mr. Bush's presidency as illegitimate, now have more deadly ammunition.
  Mr. Rockefeller will not be the only one to ask if the forged nuclear documents are part of a Bush administration campaign to deceive the public. Polls show that 50 percent of Americans believe it was Iraqis who hijacked the airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Towers and Pentagon. Inattention or media incompetence are the likely explanations for this extraordinary misinformation, but some will now blame deception.
  Others are already thinking the forged documents are part of a neoconservative campaign to deceive President Bush and win his support for their Middle Eastern policy.
  Many perceive Mr. Bush as following a reckless path, one that politicians normally try to avoid at all costs. If Iraq resists and devastating new explosives, which our military has been testing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, are dropped on Baghdad, there will be massive civilian deaths and charges of war crimes fueled by anger at American arrogance.
  Mr. Bush and his advisers have forgotten that the power of an American president is temporary and relative. The U.S. is supposed to be the world's leader. For the Bush administration to pursue a policy that sets the U.S. government at odds with the world is to invite comparisons with recklessness that we have not seen in international politics since Nikita Khrushchev tried to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. Is Saddam Hussein worth this much grief?
  
  
  Paul Craig Roberts is a nationaly syndicated columnist.
  

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• I'm Against The War -- Jim Walsh, 23:33:47 03/27/03 Thu
  I think this war is a mistake. I'm not a Communist, a pacifist, or an America-hater. I don't burn flags and I don't lie down in traffic to make my point. I just think this particular war at this particular time is a terrible mistake. I say this because I'm tired of the ad hominem attacks (by people who assume I'm some kinda Commie rat) or the straw-man attacks (by people who try to discredit the opposition to this war by singling out it's worst elements). Unfortunately, demagoguery is as American as apple pie - and talk radio (in some cases) is among the worst offenders.
  
  Just wanted to speak my piece. Thank you...
  

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  Replies:

  • OK, Jim - Why is war at this point a mistake, and what would you do to solve the Saddam Hussein problem instead of going to war? (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 00:10:04 03/28/03 Fri
  • Why War with Iraq is not the smartest thing..... -- Sam (Bucks County), 11:46:52 03/28/03 Fri
    • You make good arguments, but... -- "Vince From Villanova" (And no, you're not un-American.), 01:49:03 03/29/03 Sat
    • I suppose the 22 nuclear bombs that we found Saddam with from a tip from his son-in-law were just to decorate the palaces, eh? Of course he had his son-in-law shot while welcoming back with "all is forgiven." ....(click to continue) -- SurveyGuy, 22:37:44 03/29/03 Sat
      • Okay, I'm pro-war, but I'm also pro-facts. Where in tarnation did you read that Sadaam once had 22 nuclear bombs? Not even ultra-liberal Peter Jennings would bury THAT one... (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Maybe I missed something, but...), 02:01:57 03/30/03 Sun
        • I forget who I heard discussing Saddam and his history a few weeks ago -- maybe it was Tim Russert -- maybe not. That was one of the items that flew by that caught my attention. Maybe I should search for the details. They might have "only" been warheads. I'll get back to you. (NT) -- SG, 17:53:01 03/30/03 Sun
        • OK -- that discussion went pretty fast. From what I can tell it was 122 nuclear-capable missles (which we had destroyed) and an active secret nuclear program running at full steam. The point is still the same. Some rumors of underwater uncoupled nuclear tests to hide seismo evidence. (NT) -- SurveyGuy (getting back as promised), 10:19:17 03/31/03 Mon
          • Made-Up Stories -- Harry Kalish, 15:01:36 03/31/03 Mon
            • Real Stories -- Scott Tilde, 23:53:11 03/31/03 Mon
      • My point is not whether we should be fighting those who attacked us, my point is where we should be fighting them... (more) -- Sam (Bucks County), 18:07:42 03/31/03 Mon
        • You're partially right, but... -- "Vince From Villanova" (I love this... it's making my brain sweat!), 04:08:26 04/01/03 Tue
  • Sam's response is pretty much on the mark. (NT) -- Jim Walsh, 13:49:45 03/28/03 Fri
  • It seems to boil down to one simple question... -- Rockford, 16:18:46 03/28/03 Fri
    • One "Simple" Question, One Complex Answer -- Scott Tilde, 23:10:57 03/31/03 Mon
  • SUPPORT OUR TROOPS -- Kenny, 18:10:26 03/30/03 Sun
    • Fear thought and dissent too. You left that out. (NT) -- Noam Chomsky, 18:22:18 03/30/03 Sun
      • The above post is not linguist Chomsky, even though the poster faked his email address. It was posted from a PA Comcast backbone. Mumia supporter Chomsky (the real one) has no credibility any more. Don't bother to reply to the supplied (fake) email and changeable handle. The real Chomsky is now emeritus and not living in PA. (NT) -- Just saving someone the embarrassment if the address is live., 10:34:14 03/31/03 Mon
    • America, love it or leave it? Sorry, but disagreeing with America's policies does not mean you don't love America. Try actually READING Jim and Sam's posts. These guys DO love the USA. Don't automatically lump them in with the nut-job protestors that are shutting down NYC and staging vomit-ins in San-Fran. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Good people can disagree, folks...), 01:43:29 03/31/03 Mon

  ---

• Anybody catch Phil Hendrie the last couple of nights (790 WAEB 10P - 1A)? He's doing a straight show during the war, and doing a great job of it; kind of like a mellow, reasoned Michael Savage (who precedes him). If the comedy schtick 'gets old' as some here have opined, Hendrie would have no problem going straight, though he claims he doesn't like to do a straight talk show. Hendrie alleges he's a Democrat, but he makes a lot of sense. Oops. -- Tilde, Out-of-Market Talk Radio Enthusiast, 17:39:57 03/25/03 Tue
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  Replies:
  • Yeah, I heard Hendrie the other night on WGY 810 AM out of Albany. Phil is pro-war all the way. This of course assumes that it's not all part of Phil's schtick... (NT) -- Jim Walsh, 23:02:03 03/25/03 Tue
    • Well, it is his own voice! (NT) -- Scott "Kayfabe" ~, 11:41:09 03/26/03 Wed
  • Phil Hendrie (NT) -- Bubbles I heard Hendrie's show Wednesday, was he live?, 18:29:27 03/26/03 Wed
  • In addition to the serious bent, he's also temporarily expanded to 6 hours: 7pm-1am Eastern. Many stations normally run him at 10pm on a tape-delay, but this gives those stations a chance to air Hendrie live, rather than running an hours-old show with stale news. (*cough*PHT*cough*O'Reilly*) I can catch WFLA out of Tampa down here, and they're grabbing him 8pm-1am right now. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Nice to hear Phil using more of his brain.), 06:20:38 03/27/03 Thu
  • Hendrie -- Superman, 00:00:22 03/30/03 Sun
  • Phil Hendrie: Phil is not on at 7:00 on waeb, they have been running Michael Savage, the savage nation, from 7-10 followed by Phil from 10-1 btw Savage is a great addition to the waeb lineup (NT) -- Mitch, 01:16:57 03/31/03 Mon

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• Catholic Point of View -- Dennis De Florville, 12:28:01 03/29/03 Sat
  www.catholicnexus.com is a global catholic news source/resource .... a bit like Matt Drudge. No commentary just news articles taken from over 4,500 worldwide news papers, updated as need be daily (at least 2 times per day) The War, The Crisis in the Church , Church News PLUS .... audio & video sources as well.
  
  Pay a visit , Inform Yourself!!!!!!
  

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  Replies:

  • Catholic Church -- Kia, 21:13:01 03/29/03 Sat
    • The site has some good fodder for talk radio. Especially see their crisis page. Apparently there is much more going on than priests molesting youths. Disturbing. (NT) -- SG, 17:49:35 03/30/03 Sun
  • Given that the Delaware Valley is probably the second-most Catholic populated area in the world (Second MAYBE only to Rome), where else should it be posted? I didn't know it existed until now. Thanks, Dennis! (NT) -- Joe, 09:41:11 03/30/03 Sun
  • Wake me up when everyone stops plugging their sites. (NT) -- Larry King for Ester C, 16:53:09 03/30/03 Sun

  ---

• New Talk FM in Baltimore -- Jim Walsh, 20:59:04 03/26/03 Wed
  FYI: There's a new FM talker in Baltimore at 105.7 (the former WQSR). Stern, Don & Mike, Tom Leykis at night. Haven't heard mid-days yet. Good luck in pulling it in...
  

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  Replies:

  • Baltimore FM -- Stan, 08:41:55 03/27/03 Thu
    • If I were Katz, I would jump. It's not like WPHT's been terribly loyal to him. It's a step-down in terms of market size, but Baltimore's still bigger than Las Vegas, his last market. And if the Baltimore station gives him a better slot than 6-8pm, all the better. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Quality usually trumps quantity.), 02:01:53 03/28/03 Fri
      • Where's Katz Going -- Stan Lee, 09:37:04 03/28/03 Fri

  ---

• Smerconish's new website... -- josh Mostel, 07:27:13 03/28/03 Fri
  I had a chance to check Michael's new site yesterday. I have to say it is a nice update. I don't know who was in charge of the video clips, but they did a nice job,very professional, very moving.
  
  By the way, is this still on Smerconish's dime? or did the reach a little to get this done?
  

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  Replies:

  • ....never type a post before that first cup of coffee.... -- Josh Mostel, 07:29:38 03/28/03 Fri

  ---

• wpht's drops the ball, as usual -- Karen, 02:45:31 03/25/03 Tue
  Several people on my 10pm to 7am shift were interested in hearing the war news on Sunday night. I suggested Drudge on WPHT. I even secretly hoped that maybe an International event like the war might inspire Miss Gracie to flush her disgusting infomercials and offer real talk radio. Every radio was tuned to PHT til Drudge went off the air. The minute the info hype introduction started the dash for the dial began. WPHT was gone. Grace, are your cheeks red yet? Wpht's coverage of the war is the absolute worst.
  

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  Replies:

  • Don't Worry -- Billy, 10:32:52 03/25/03 Tue
    • Yep. I hear WIP went first, with the GM out. Maybe KYW(AM) will end up running the whole show... (NT) -- Scott ~, 14:53:07 03/25/03 Tue
    • WPHT uprising? -- Karen, 07:33:31 03/26/03 Wed
      • You're kidding me? -- Saddam Hussein circa 1979, 02:05:27 03/27/03 Thu

  ---

• Questionable Timing/Questionable Taste -- Louis, 11:17:34 03/22/03 Sat
  In the midst of war, in the thick of drive-time, WPHT replays their Rally for the Troops...an event they did not feel it warranted to be broadcast live. Instead of getting up-to-the-minute information on the war, we get an event that was five-days old. They should have also done some editing on the rally. On Sunday before the conflict, Smerconish's "jokes" would have been acceptable, but with American marines dying this week in the war, the jokes seemed inappropriate and awfully out of place. After the first joke, the rest fell flat (Jay Leno has NOTHING to worry about), judging by the overwhelming silence. They could have run snippets through the week, but wasting nearly 90 minutes of drive time for a stale promotional event when war news was breaking at the same time is ridiculous. Who's making these decisions? Please explain the strategic rationale, because I guess I'm too stupid to realize brilliant radio management when I see it.
  

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  • PHT -- Chuck, 14:50:59 03/22/03 Sat
    • The more I hear Beck, especially at the rally, the more impressed I am. S-can Imus and see if a better lead-in might help Beck. Run a Best-of Imus on the weekend. 2-3 hours a week should do it. I'm pleasantly surprised 1210 ran the rally at all. And their grand effort toward war coverage was to add 3 hours of Jeff Katz Saturday morning. Whoopee. Brokered time rules! (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 20:48:43 03/22/03 Sat
      • Beck................ -- Captn Hank, 17:54:58 03/25/03 Tue
  • I just hope this doesn't give them the idea to replay Temple football or basketball games a week later. You're right- news does tend to get stale very quickly. This definitely should have been broadcast live. (NT) -- Bogey, 18:38:38 03/23/03 Sun
  • Wow, I need to cover my eyes because the light from your halo is blinding me. Sorry not everyone is a crepe-hanger. Michael's remarks were designed to find humor in the midst of this tragedy. These are the same tired complaints about KTC, and what you need to realize is if we all crumble emotionally during tragedies like this, then the terrorists win. Of all the rally speakers, Michael was the only one who was entertaining. We need to laugh in times like these. (NT) -- A. Fan, 12:51:39 03/25/03 Tue
    • "Of all the rally speakers, Michael was the only one who was entertaining"?? I think you need to listen to that tape again. Everybody was entertaining. Beck went on just a bit longer than I would have liked, but he was entertaining nonetheless. I still think these guys need to interact a little more, like a radio 'family', but this event did nothing but help the station to be taken more seriously. (NT) -- Scott ~, 14:50:32 03/25/03 Tue

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• WPHT Ratings Up By 24% - 65% DueTo War In Sampling Last Week -- Scott Tilde, 16:19:00 03/24/03 Mon
  From All Access:
  
  "Early results of Arbitron's Portable People Meter showed impending war pumping up ratings at Talk WPHT on MARCH 17, with exceptional boosts in ratings for afternooner Michael Smerconish (up 65% last Monday as opposed to an average Monday) and midday Premiere (Syndication) hosts Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Listening was up overall in every hour 5a-10p, with a 24% jump 9a-4p."
  
  Hmmm. I'd love to know what the morning numbers look like. And of course the O'Reilly rerun is DOA. Nice to see 1210 put Dom on Friday night in the O'Reilly slot. They ought to move Rollye up and can O'Reilly until the war situation settles down.
  
  And the rally couldn't have hurt Beck, even if those of us who couldn't make it didn't get to hear it until Friday.
  

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  Replies:

  • WPHT -- Pat Donnelly, 17:03:49 03/24/03 Mon
    • Pat: Halle-freakin-lujah! -- Rockford, 17:47:36 03/24/03 Mon
      • Well, in defense of Dom, Mike Farrell is polite and well-spoken, but like ~all~ anti-war protesters I've heard, he has ~no~ solutions to the problem. Yet he's still out there insisting he's right. Based on what? That's the textbook definition of a blowhard. (Did I miss the part where he described a workable solution?) (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 00:25:24 03/25/03 Tue
        • I don't think that anything in that post really does much to defend Dom's hypocrisy on this. Speaking of which, last night he decried that war protesters were being "disrespectful to the president". From a talk radio host, THAT is truly priceless. (NT) -- Rockford, 10:36:24 03/25/03 Tue
  • Well Actually -- Billy, 10:34:54 03/25/03 Tue

  ---

• Glenn Beck's Rallies For America Hits The New York Times, As If They'd Know What A 'Rally For America' Is... -- Scott Tilde, 00:40:26 03/25/03 Tue
  The article's at
  
  http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/international/worldspecial/24RALL.html
  
  Registration may be required, but it's free.
  
  Favorite quote: "What brought me here was seeing all the war protesters on TV," said R. C. Witt, 54, an electrician from Gloucester, Va., who served in the Marine Corps for two years and who drove 50 miles to the rally. "It's got to be disheartening for our troops over there, and it's got to be disheartening for the president.
  
  "I'd expect it in places like France," Mr. Witt said. "But in New York and places like that, right here, it's embarrassing."
  
  Amen.
  

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• From the Chicago Tribune - Politics, Clear Channel, and the FCC -- Rockford, 16:52:18 03/19/03 Wed
  -The Tribune article pasted below raises some interesting questions. Not just about the recent rallies, but also about the big picture ethical questions of political commentary by media companies with pending regulatory business before congress or the FCC. If Mr Powell's folks were soon going to make decisions that would impact your company's bottom line profoundly, how hard would you find it to criticize the administration he and his father were part of?
  
  Media Giant's Rally Sponsorship Raises Questions
  by Tim Jones
  
  Some of the biggest rallies this month have endorsed President Bush's strategy against Saddam Hussein, and the common thread linking most of them is Clear Channel Worldwide Inc., the nation's largest owner of radio stations.
  
  In a move that has raised eyebrows in some legal and journalistic circles, Clear Channel radio stations in Atlanta, Cleveland, San Antonio, Cincinnati and other cities have sponsored rallies attended by up to 20,000 people. The events have served as a loud rebuttal to the more numerous but generally smaller anti-war rallies.
  
  The sponsorship of large rallies by Clear Channel stations is unique among major media companies, which have confined their activities in the war debate to reporting and occasionally commenting on the news. The San Antonio-based broadcaster owns more than 1,200 stations in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
  
  While labor unions and special interest groups have organized and hosted rallies for decades, the involvement of a big publicly regulated broadcasting company breaks new ground in public demonstrations.
  
  "I think this is pretty extraordinary," said former Federal Communications Commissioner Glen Robinson, who teaches law at the University of Virginia. "I can't say that this violates any of a broadcaster's obligations, but it sounds like borderline manufacturing of the news."
  
  A spokeswoman for Clear Channel said the rallies, called "Rally for America," are the idea of Glenn Beck, a Philadelphia talk show host whose program is syndicated by Premier Radio Networks, a Clear Channel subsidiary.
  
  `Just patriotic rallies'
  
  A weekend rally in Atlanta drew an estimated 20,000 people, with some carrying signs reading "God Bless the USA" and other signs condemning France and the group Dixie Chicks, one of whose members recently criticized President Bush.
  
  "They're not intended to be pro-military. It's more of a thank you to the troops. They're just patriotic rallies," said Clear Channel spokeswoman Lisa Dollinger.
  
  Rallies sponsored by Clear Channel radio stations are scheduled for this weekend in Sacramento, Charleston, S.C., and Richmond, Va. Although Clear Channel promoted two of the recent rallies on its corporate Web site, Dollinger said there is no corporate directive that stations organize rallies.
  
  "Any rallies that our stations have been a part of have been of their own initiative and in response to the expressed desires of their listeners and communities," Dollinger said.
  
  Clear Channel is by far the largest owner of radio stations in the nation. The company owned only 43 in 1995, but when Congress removed many of the ownership limits in 1996, Clear Channel was quickly on the highway to radio dominance. The company owns and operates 1,233 radio stations (including six in Chicago) and claims 100 million listeners. Clear Channel generated about 20 percent of the radio industry's $16 billion in 2001 revenues.
  
  Size sparks criticism
  
  The media giant's size also has generated criticism. Some recording artists have charged that Clear Channel's dominance in radio and concert promotions is hurting the recording industry. Congress is investigating the effects of radio consolidation. And the FCC is considering ownership rule changes, among them changes that could allow Clear Channel to expand its reach.
  
  Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) has introduced a bill that could halt further deregulation in the radio industry and limit each company's audience share and percent of advertising dollars. These measures could limit Clear Channel's meteoric growth and hinder its future profitability.
  
  Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, said the company's support of the Bush administration's policy toward Iraq makes it "hard to escape the concern that this may in part be motivated by issues that Clear Channel has before the FCC and Congress."
  
  Dollinger denied there is a connection between the rallies and the company's pending regulatory matters.
  
  Rick Morris, an associate professor of communications at Northwestern University, said these actions by Clear Channel stations are a logical extension of changes in the radio industry over the last 20 years, including the blurring of lines between journalism and entertainment.
  
  From a business perspective, Morris said, the rallies are a natural fit for many stations, especially talk-radio stations where hosts usually espouse politically conservative views.
  
  "Nobody should be surprised by this," Morris said.
  
  In 1987 the FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to cover controversial issues in their community and to do so by offering balancing views. With that obligation gone, Morris said, "radio can behave more like newspapers, with opinion pages and editorials."
  
  "They've just begun stretching their legs, being more politically active," Morris said.
  
  Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune
  

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  Replies:

  • Oh my God! A company doing it's best to endear themselves to the current goverment administration. I guess no one has ever done THAT before. Wake up man, they're feathering their own nest. It called Capitalism and survival of the smartest! (NT) -- Bill, 19:44:00 03/19/03 Wed
  • This article's hysterical! Glenn Beck starts a couple of rallies as a promotional idea and all of a sudden, it's a Clear Channel conspiracy to support the government? Yikes! Another right-wing conspiracy. C'mon guys. Not that Clear Channel didn't bring this level of scrutiny on themselves.... (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 10:59:18 03/21/03 Fri

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• Support our troops - March 28th -- Michael T. Foy, 10:20:39 03/21/03 Fri
  Tired of all the disgraceful protesting by ignorant Americans and
  uneducated, cowardly citizens of other nations?
  
  It's time to protest the protesters and show our troops that we support
  and treasure their service in this phase of the war against terrorism,
  our battle for freedom in Iraq and continued freedom in the United
  States. Next Friday, March 28th, wear or display RED, WHITE and/or BLUE!
  
  Yes, everyone (in this country anyway) has the right to protest, but I -
  we - have the right to detest their actions.
  
  Although the significance of the red, white and blue of our flag have
  been debated through the years, in 1782, the Congress of the
  Confederation gave the following definitions for the red, white and
  blue of the Great Seal of the United States: white for purity and
  innocence, red for valor and hardiness, blue for vigilance,
  perseverance, and justice.
  
  Next Friday, March 28th, support our troops and our nation by wearing
  or displaying the colors of our country and our flag proudly. Most
  places of business host casual days on Fridays, so it really is the
  perfect day.
  
  Spread the word. Send this e-mail to everyone. Call your friends and
  family. Call and e-mail radio and TV stations.
  
  If you have friends or relatives currently serving, tell them what we
  are doing. Let them know that the MAJORITY of AMERICANS and FREEDOM-
  LOVING people in the WORLD support them NOW AND ALWAYS.
  
  Break out the colors. Break out the flags. Break the efforts of the
  protesters.
  
  God bless America!
  
  -Mike Foy
  Bensalem, PA
  

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• Valley Forge Rally -- Gerry, 17:32:43 03/16/03 Sun
  Does anyone else find it strange that 1210 WPHT did not broadcast the Valley Forge Rally today live after promoting it widely, even on KYW 1060?
  

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  • It's baffling. They do a 3-hour Smerconish broadcast from a Philly charter school that nobody cares about, yet days later, a rally that really struck a chord with people is unworthy of coverage. Another exceptionally questionable management decision. (NT) -- Louis, 18:05:31 03/18/03 Tue
  • Baffling.....? -- Captn Hank Jackson, 22:58:33 03/18/03 Tue
  • What was baffling was how just about every meida outlet stripped WPHT's name from any mention of the rally. That was either ignorant, lazy or deliberate. (NT) -- Surf, 15:58:29 03/19/03 Wed
    • My money's on deliberate. A guy down here used my former station, WMEL, to announce his candidacy for a special election a few weeks ago, and the local paper simply said the announcement was made "on a local radio show." Why give a competitor free advertising? (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Just spell my name right, please.), 03:45:13 03/20/03 Thu
      • Deliberate. The Inquirer's not smart enough to understand that radio exists. If it was TV, they would've had TV "critic" Jonathan Storm cover it in a column. Oh, wait, this was a "conservative" event. And we're talking about the Inquirer. Never mind. By the way, the rally's being played back on 1210 Friday (tomorrow) at 5PM, but you already knew that, didn't you. (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 20:42:22 03/20/03 Thu

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• WPHT Dodges a Bullet on War Night -- Louis, 18:06:33 03/20/03 Thu
  PHT must be thanking their lucky stars. When the news broke that the U.S. had begun military operations around 9:30, it was sheer luck that they had a live host, Dom Giordano, who continued with coverage until 12 midnight. It would have been embarassing if it had started around, say 10:20 when they would have been running the taped version of the Bill O'Reilly program. It just re-enforces in my mind the stupidity of running a taped, syndicated program. During a crisis where listeners want breaking news, you're serving up stale radio leftovers. Like the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, it shows how vulnerable WPHT is when it comes to breaking news. With their minor market approach, a competitor could come in and quickly exploit their many weak points.
  

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  • Lucky.....! -- Captn Hank, 20:14:18 03/20/03 Thu
  • That's nothing ... Imagine if the war had started on a weekend! They'd be stuck with a lawyer, a financial consultant, or an Itialian music host responsible for their war coverage. I guess they could just punt and simulcast sister KYW(AM), but, hey, where's the money in that? (NT) -- Scott Tilde, 20:29:56 03/20/03 Thu

  ---

• Smerconich is the man! -- Rich from T.J.(Yes, I'm still around), 18:16:25 03/14/03 Fri
  If Ben Franklin had a Radio Show to do his thing, I bet he'd sound a lot like Michael Smerconish. Support for our troops.....education.....humor. Mike has awards.....T.V. Gigs.....and the BIG talker(Mike) is here in Philadelphia(and South Jersey).
  It's time to say it.
  I've been away too long. I hope that Surf keeps you who post without repsect for the craft, off this site and let some good talk radio discussions follow.
  

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  • Okay, when I was in Philly I liked Mike too. But Ben Franklin? Holy mother of dog, Rich, aren't you taking this a little far? (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Talk about overstatement...), 16:42:25 03/16/03 Sun
  • I mean he has range. He's certainly not as important as Ben Franklin to America but he is important to Talk Radio. Nice work! (NT) -- Rich from T.J., 09:29:33 03/18/03 Tue
  • If Ben Franklin had a radio show...'PHT's management wouldn't be smart enough to put him on their station (NT) -- Vic, 13:02:51 03/18/03 Tue
  • What are you smoking? This is embarassing (if it wasn't so funny). It's time to say it: you need to increase the dosage of the medication. What's next- comparing Mike to JFK...or Ghandi? (NT) -- Louis, 18:12:30 03/18/03 Tue
    • Let's see. Sits in for Jim Bohanan .... On CNN X 2 ...... M.C.'s some great events .... T.V. shots locally .... And, has a great show(most days) I know I'm missing something??? (NT) -- Rich from T.J., 20:07:33 03/18/03 Tue
      • Amen! CNN's grooming Mike to take over for Larry King. They treat MAS like the star he is, not like WPHT. Why/how did Beck hijack the rally? It was supposed to be a station/Mike event. Instead, it's stolen in broad daylight by a guy who has 1/4 the ratings of MAS. It's time to say it- Mike is the greatest broadcaster in Phila history. Unless the Ft. Fumble-heads at WPHT start treating him like the franchise player, the station will soon be in his rear-view mirror. (NT) -- A. Fan, 12:48:25 03/19/03 Wed
        • Rich seems to punctuate every post with "It's time to say it,...". It looks like other posters are picking up on it. I plan on getting it trademarked so that I can make some money every time the phrase is used here. It's good to see that the start of hostilities is not limited to just Iraq; Surf's message board is a close second. (NT) -- Jay, 16:00:08 03/19/03 Wed
          • It's time to say it ... Good One Jay (NT) -- Surf, 16:06:49 03/19/03 Wed
          • I have to say it ... Good One Jay (NT) -- Surf, 16:15:17 03/19/03 Wed
  • Mike also has a sense of self-importance bigger than the collective egos of all the French people. Smerconish a modern day Ben Franklin? A bit too heavy on the hyperbole. Maybe the comparison would be accurate if Ben stayed in the tallow shop making candles his whole life. Otherwise it falters. (NT) -- Freddy, 10:39:16 03/19/03 Wed
  • Oy Vey -- Moe, 11:09:11 03/19/03 Wed
  • All these posts have a kernal of truth but is laced with some sort of mind altering substance. In your eagerness to either trash or praise you continue to push the other side even further ... and like many times before it winds up in ...
    
    This thread is closed unless there is some return to normalcy (NT) -- Surf .... well said Vince, 15:41:16 03/19/03 Wed

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• Tell me why a CBS owned Radio station whould now run NBC's top of the hour news? -- Rich from T.J., 19:13:35 03/18/03 Tue
  Grace???? KYW was smart. That connected CBS properties. Great.
  Why the CNN feed, and not CBS, prior to this switch?
  NBC must pay a lot of money to run their news and SPOTS on the BIG talker? Right!
  Frankly, after all that I've listened to, the CBS radio news is about the best.
  Could it be that another CBS station in Philly is runnig the same CBS feed? If so...SO WHAT.
  Just something I don't get about the BIG radio picture.
  Please Sil or Grace or Sales Manager Baldini, tell us how this happens?
  Thanks.
  

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  • 'NBC' News Is Distributed by Westwood One, which is partially Viacom owned (Viacom also owns WPHT). On WPHT, NBC will replace Fox News, which is moving from WW1 to independent distribution. I assume CBS News will remain at night as NBC is only distributed through 10PM. (NT) -- Tilde, 23:36:24 03/18/03 Tue

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• Message To Beck -- Angry Insiders, 22:06:10 03/04/03 Tue
  The WPHT Rally For America on Sunday March 16 is NOT a Glen Beck rally despite what he's saying on the air! Its a station event featuring all of the big talkers.
  

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  • Beck is unlistenable! Between the loud and obnoxious bumpers and his “Rush Wannabe” persona, his ratings are in the toilet in this market as well as many others. I, too, heard him tout “his” rally in Valley Forge. You’re a guest at the rally, Glenn; it’s not all about you…unless you’re taking lessons from another self-promoting Viacom “talent.” (NT) -- Pseudonyms Uck, 07:43:45 03/05/03 Wed
  • Did I hear the name Beck?...Grrrrrrr -- Captn Hank, 22:22:16 03/05/03 Wed
    • Why do people say that liberal talk radio CAN'T work? There are plenty of failed conservative hosts out there too. (Fine, fine, add me to that list for now.) But there are a handful of successful liberal talkers: Alan Colmes, Randi Rhodes in West Palm Beach, pretty much the entire roster at Real Radio 104.1-FM in Orlando. I'm sure there are others too. Liberal, conservative, doesn't matter. First and foremost, you have to be ENTERTAINING. The hosts I mentioned are. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (wannabe talk-show host extraordinaire), 15:46:32 03/06/03 Thu
      • Vince.......!!!!! -- Captn Hank, 19:10:25 03/06/03 Thu
        • Alan Colmes "WOULD fare better on radio"? He already is on radio, and has been for a while in New York City, and he's just been rolled out for some small-scale national syndication as well. (WMEL here in Melbourne just added him.) I rarely agree with him, but he actually makes me think, unlike the parade of syndicated conservative clones that masquerade as talk show hosts on many stations. Just because I agree with a host doesn't mean I like to listen to them. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Don't make me nod. Make me think.), 06:03:36 03/07/03 Fri
          • Colmses -- Captn Hank, 11:40:30 03/07/03 Fri
            • As I heard it, he was once on an AM talker in NYC that format-flipped on him. I'm hardly an expert on his career, but I've heard he's not at all a ratings lightweight. That's why Fox News paired him with Sean Hannity. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Liberals are people too...), 17:18:38 03/08/03 Sat
  • John & Ken filled in today. Pretty good, despite the subject matter which was more of the same old right-wing crap... (NT) -- Jim Walsh, 21:47:37 03/06/03 Thu
    • John and Ken -- Chereese, 08:10:59 03/08/03 Sat
  • My worst nightmare -- Captn Hank, 20:21:28 03/16/03 Sun

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• French military victories -- MD, 12:54:56 03/13/03 Thu
  Check this out:
  
  To these small countries that are inexperienced in the intrigue of international politics, I offer this suggestion: Jump on the Internet and go to the Google search website. Type in the keywords "French military victories" – then hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.
  
  http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31499
  
  This is what you get:
  
  Did you mean: french military defeats ?
  
  No standard web pages containing all your search terms were found.
  
  Your search - french military victories - did not match any documents.
  
  Suggestions:
  - Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
  - Try different keywords.
  - Try more general keywords.
  - Try fewer keywords.
  
  Also, you can try Google Answers for expert help with your search
  

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  • I know that most people are not serious students of history, but I can't beleive that I'm the only guy on the planet who is familiar with a guy named NAPOLEON? Maybe you've heard of him? Little guy? Ringany bells? Had a few military victories on his way to CONQUERING HALF OF THE FREAKIN' WORLD? (NT) -- Rockford -History by google (sigh), 16:13:02 03/13/03 Thu
    • Another funny link: The Complete Military History of France -- MD, 15:58:13 03/14/03 Fri
  • napolean -- Kenny, 20:14:29 03/14/03 Fri
    • Besides, Napoleon wasn't even French. He was Corsican. So there. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (If Google says it, it must be true, right?), 05:00:59 03/15/03 Sat

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• "LA LA LAND?" -- The Wanderer, 16:51:15 03/06/03 Thu
  I have a question. Why is Michael Smerconish in Los Angeles? So far (Thursday) all of his interviews have been via telephone. Tomorrow, he's going to have the man in charge of "Extreme Fighting" in the studio. So...he went to LA for that? Great use of station resources.
  
  A lesser person might think they wanted him out of the building for a while. Nah, that couldn't be it...could it? (If he says "La La Land" again, can we key his SUV?)
  

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  • Oh, come on, like you weren't planning on keying his SUV anyway. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (Don't forget the sugar in his gas tank.), 15:38:15 03/07/03 Fri
    • Vince, if "The Wanderer" wasn't an advertiser well known to the station I never would have allowed that post. No, he won't key his SUV but he is expressing a valid concern about return on investment. While out there they should have invited the "Stars" to the rally and see what they would say. PHT needs to think outside the box. SOME of the sponsors are but that's falling on deaf ears. (NT) -- Surf, 14:42:04 03/09/03 Sun
  • MS in La La land -- Chereese, 08:06:06 03/08/03 Sat
    • LA LA Land -- Captn Hank, 15:04:49 03/09/03 Sun
      • CNN has expanded his role in other areas now. He only filled in on that show a couple times, his main role was on Sunday mornings. (NT) -- LA LA Land Loather, 18:04:47 03/12/03 Wed
    • mike smerconish in LA -- stephen didovich, 09:44:49 03/12/03 Wed
  • Radio & Records Talk Radio Seminar -- Tilde, 13:38:54 03/10/03 Mon

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• Cost to advertise on MS's show. -- Kia, 18:00:24 03/01/03 Sat
  Does anyone know what spots are going for in MS's show? Just curious.
  

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  • Contact me to discuss. -- Adam, 17:05:48 03/07/03 Fri
    • Or bypass Adam and go straight to the sales manager....that is where the account will end up anyway... (NT) -- Studious Maximus, 14:25:35 03/09/03 Sun
  • Cost to advertise on MS's show -- Kia, 15:07:12 03/09/03 Sun

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• 50,000 watt clear channel stations in Philly -- Julius May, 18:53:54 03/08/03 Sat
  Why does Philly have only one 50,000 watt clear channel station WPHT and should KYW be the 2nd clear channel station since it is 50,000 watts? What can 1060 or the other radio stations do to make KYW a clear channel station so that it can be heard in 38 states and what does the term clear channel mean?
  

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• I am DONE with Philly Talk Radio!!! -- MD, 12:29:00 02/28/03 Fri
  Why? I will be moving to Lakeland, Florida. I have to relocate if I want a job with the Fortune 500 defense contractor that employs me. I will be moving down there sometime in mid-March. I’ve lived in this area for 6 years and loved Philly talk radio. On my way to Florida, I bring with me fond memories of Phil Valentine, Irv Homer, Dom. G, Tom Marr, Susan Bray, Kent Voss, John Ziegler, Jeff Katz (underrated and under appreciated), and Michael Smerconish (overrated but still good). I hope I can find a radio station that carries Howard Stern and Phil Hendrie (both shows I first heard in Philly). I also want to thank the almighty webmaster “Surf” for this website. It was ALWAYS the place to go to if you wanted the scoop on Philly talk radio! I probably will stop visiting this website as I won’t know what is going on in Philly talk radio. I know Jeff Katz claims that WPHT can be picked up in 38 states but I doubt Florida is one of them.
  

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  • You CAN pick up WPHT in Florida sometimes, but most nights it's drowned out by a Miami station on the same frequency. You'll find Stern and Hendrie both on Real Radio 104.1-FM, one of three Orlando talkers. (The others are AM-540 and AM-580.) There's also a talker in Lakeland, but I've seen their lineup: all syndicated, all the time. Bleah. Stick to the Orlando stations, and you'll be fine. You can probably also get AM-970 from Tampa there. (NT) -- "Vince From Villanova" (who now resides in Palm Bay, FL), 02:15:45 03/01/03 Sat
    • Thanks for the tip, Vince. Much appreciated. (NT) -- MD, 08:48:02 03/02/03 Sun
  • Check out WTKS "Real Radio" 104.1 out of Orlando. (NT) -- Jim Walsh, 13:44:43 03/02/03 Sun
    • Awhile back, when WYSP had the Howard Stern/Don & Mike/O&A block, I emailed the program director to suggest that they add Phil Hendrie at 7. I wonder how many other stations carry both Stern and Hendrie. (NT) -- MD, 12:58:36 03/04/03 Tue
  • Fla -- Barry R., 17:52:18 03/02/03 Sun

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