VOTE & GET INVOLVED

“Are you part of the solution, or are you part of the con?”

 

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RIP AIR AMERICA – The Diaspora Will Continue!

There are quite a few progressive talk stations still on the air and being run successfully. The important thing is to support them, especially now that AAR is gone and now that the corporations can pour unlimited funds into politics.

Progressive stations exist in Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, Madison, WI, San Francisco, CA, Anchora, AK, Los Angeles, CA, Monterey, CA, Chicago, IL,Minnesota, Northampton, MA, Boston, MA (it took us 2 1/2 years to get a new independent progressive station back on the air after our Clear Channel affiliate was canceled back in 2006 after the election. And btw, the existence of AAR and progressive talk radio in general had a huge role in activating progressives and taking the Congress blue which is why Clear Channel started canceling stations all over in late 2006 & early 2007), there’s even a new channel in Maine supported by Stephen King, XM/Sirius Channel 167 (and Randi Rhodes on 165 3-6pm), and Marc Maron has his own  “WTF” podcasts now. Ring of Fire will get syndication and continue as well.

Now you can even stream some of these stations from your i-phone and blackberry as well as from your computer.

If you hear loads of advertising, that is a GOOD thing as it pays the bills!

I miss some of the great shows and talent from AAR, particularly Morning Seditionand Sam Seder…
Al Franken’s in the Senate and Rachel Maddow’s show – not to be missed- is on MSNBC!

So, RIP Air America! But let us all continue to support the progressive media still out there!

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It’s The Media, Stupid!

“I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends… that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.”
Adlai E. Stevenson

An important article by Robert Parry over at consortium news Why the Right’s Propaganda Works

“Many on the Left are blaming President Barack Obama and middle-of-the-road Democrats for maneuvering health-care reform into a fast-approaching head-on collision. And some of that criticism is well deserved for foolishly letting Republicans get their hands on the wheel at all.

But American liberals and progressives – especially the wealthy ones – should take a hard look in the mirror when assessing blame. For three decades now, the Left has sat back and done next to nothing to build a media infrastructure while the Right has put together a truly powerful media machine.”

Some of us, in fighting for local progressive media outlets, have continually hit our heads against the wall after approaching those with money or influence to help us, only to be turned away again and again and told it’s unnecessary!

When we asked for help at procuring a local radio outlet they were only interested in the “new, sexy” media… the internet. When we said that the demographic we need to reach doesn’t use the internet, it fell on deaf ears!

After the ’06 elections I sat in my congressperson’s office and listened to his top Aide tell me “What are you worried about? we have the congress now!” Robert Parry correctly calls this Magical Thinking! When said Aide left a few months later for a job with a big oil company in Texas (& my congressman is considered one of the pre-eminent liberals in a leadership position in Washington) it helped underscore the problem of corporate control and influence in government, media, and frankfully, almost everything else. Given Obama’s internet savvy and understanding of organizing the grassroots, I have been surprised at how toned deaf the whole healthcare strategy has been! The administration has continually let the rightwing frame and control the entire debate. Something has got to change! The White  House has launched another fact checking site, but it may be too little, too late:SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Again, they need. to. control. the. audio. media. message!

Tell Obama that the public option is not optional.  Please sign (credoaction).

Robert Reich calls for ‘march on Washington’ in support of public option
Again, if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it…?!

“…an effective communication system should have been built. Not for dictating what to say, but for creating a system of effectively trained spokespeople, who can get the basic progressive values out there every day to compete with the very effective conservative system. It should not work issue by issue, but in addition to the issues of the day; it should promote general values that apply to all issues.

The elements are all in existence. The money is there. Indeed it would be a lot cheaper to build than spending tens of millions of dollars on health care ads. What it would accomplish is laying the groundwork in advance of any particular issue. The work of such a communication system would be to activate ideas already there in the millions of citizens who have progressive as well as conservative worldviews in their brain circuitry. The idea would be to make progressive ideas stronger and conservative ideas weaker, balancing what the conservative communication system is doing now.

It is rather late in the game for the stimulus, cap and trade and health care, but better late than never. And it would be indispensable for future policy campaigns. Framing a powerful message is a lot easier when the groundwork for it has already been laid. Without the groundwork, it is much harder.”
– George Lakoff
The Policy-Speak Disaster for Health Care

Wendell Potter: Is Obama Planning to Sign Congress’ Health Care Reform Bill with Lipstick?

Former Governor Don Siegelman has launched a new online campaign: www.FireRovesProsecutors.com, “dedicated to seeing those Rove-vetted U.S. Attorneys and appointees still poisoning the Department of Justice removed from their positions — ending their ability to threaten our democracy.”

Contact the President’s Senior Adviser, Valerie Jarrett, today. Tell the President it’s time to remove Rove’s cabal in the Justice Department!

Rove Op-Ed Reveals He Had Inside Information About Probe Larisa Alexandrovna 8/20/09

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Revolution Boston New Home of Progressive Talk! WWZN 1510 AM Boston!

I’m proud & thrilled to announce that starting Monday May 4th,
we are expanding our Boston Progressive Talk Radio 
Programming on WWZN 1510AM from 6 am through 7 pm daily,
Monday through Friday.

The new lineup will include Jeff Santos, Stephanie Miller,
Ed Schultz. Thom Hartmann.

Look for more details at http://www.revolutionboston.com.
It’s been a long road to get here, but vision, hard work and
committment pays off!

Thanks to everyone who made this possible, including of course,
Jeff Santos, Alan Frankel, Samantha Clemens, Nancy Weinberg,
George Barrett, Jim Amatucci, and so many others!
Now everyone, support the station, call in to the programs
(617-237-1234 & 617-237-1230), and especially – support the sponsors!  
Let’s make our station the #1 Progressive Talk Station in the country!

Kick off CELEBRATION:
Thursday May 7th 6-9 pm
Revolution Rock Bar
200 High St
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 261-4200
(across from Rowes Wharf, just off Atlantic Ave.
& the Greenway.) All Welcome!

Come Celebrate!!! This is for all of you!
http://www.revolutionboston.com

   

Jeff Santos & Yours Truly broadcast live: Kick-off celebration, Revolution Boston 5/7/09

 

 

 

Thanks to Matt Shear, posting in this weeks Democratic Dispatch:

  

I’ve just gotten back from tonight’s celebration at Revolution Rock Bar of the return of Progressive Talk Radio to Boston on WWZN 1510AM. It’s been a long time since we last heard a full day’s lineup of progressive voices over the Boston airwaves, and it’s long overdue. Congratulations to Jeff Santos and Robin, Alan, Nancy, George, and Samantha from “Save Progressive Radio Boston” for seeing this process to fruition. It was great to meet other enthusiastic supporters, and there’s a lot to celebrate.

The revival of Prog Talk in Boston comes not a moment too soon. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Our people, merely for want of intelligence which they may rely on, are become lethargic and insensible of the state they are in.” I believe that right now Media is the battleground in advance of the 2010 bielection. The prize is domination of the terms of debate as we go forward. We need media outlets like AM1510 to give our Democratic message a level playing field on which the strength of our ideas will surely triumph.

Democratically yours,

Matt Shear

 

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Not Neutral

Senator John Kerry speaking at the Third Annual Three Towns & Two Cities Breakfast, 4/12/08.
Image: Nancy Weinberg.

Today, the Senate conducted a Commerce Committee hearing about the future of the Internet. It’s important for the committee to hear from us! Kerry has asked for our input. I saw my Senator at the “Third Annual Three Towns & Two Cities Breakfast” up in Newburyport a week or so ago. His challenger, Ed O’Reilly was one of the invited speakers, so he had an incentive to come out and speak with us. He spoke for about half an hour and then took another half hour of questions from the floor. Although some important issues were brought up (voting machine problems, impeachment, etc), unfortunately, Net Neutrality NEVER CAME UP and Kerry did not think to speak about it. I wish that our elected officials would do a better job of coordinating their activities to give their constituencies opportunities for input into these issues before the last minute. Kerry missed a great opportunity! (Looking at his past fundraising and actions regarding Media, it’s easy to understand his ambivalence at being too outspoken on these issues. This is one of the places where issues of money in politics overlaps media issues.) To give Kerry credit, he has recently been getting more vocal about these issues:

Kerry to FCC: We Weren’t Bluffing

Kerry Challenges Martin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ironically, everyone is able to wait until the last minute by utilizing the Internet as the main notification tool! This is an apt example of something that might be lost in future without an open internet. The company selling you internet service might be able to (legally) censor what information comes your way. There have already been some battles over content control and censorship by Verizon, Comcast and others. (Also see Senate Committee Tackles Net Neutrality Today, from Infoworld 4/22/08)

Many of us take the openness of the internet for granted. If it were not for the internet, I’m not sure in how much worse shape this country would be (can it be worse? The economy in a meltdown, our civil liberties eroded, infrastructure crumbling…) all of the grassroots organizing, fundraising, dissemination of information, would be much more difficult. We must work to keep “Net Neutrality” – the openness and evenhandedness of the internet. As Comcast and other large corporations have demonstrated (Homeless? Comcast Will Pay to Attend FCC Hearings & John Kerry: They Took Your Seat), they want to carve up the internet more and more, controlling speed, innovation (or lack thereof), content, access and keep an iron grip so they can make even more billions $$$.

There was a second FCC hearing last week- April 17th- on Internet “Net Neutrality” at Stanford, which was quickly scheduled after the embarrassing fiasco of a hearing in Cambridge in February. Stanford Law Professor (and founder of the Center for Internet and Society) Lawrence Lessing spoke eloquently on the need to maintain a free and open internet. I recommend that you watch the videos of the hearing. Not surprisingly, the big telecommunication companies (Comcast, Verizon, etc) boycotted the event. The big companies are always looking for ways to charge more, for example for faster speed and extra features, and control more – not to mention the blocking that they’ve already been caught doing. This would squelch innovation and true competition. The big companies would become “gatekeepers” much as the big companies owning the rest of the media -like radio and TV- are gatekeepers blocking access for those who don’t support their agendas. Lessig also gave testimony at today’s Senate Hearing.

Besides today’s Senate hearing, a bipartisan group of five Congresspeople introduced legislation March 14, 2008 to overturn the recent December FCC ruling allowing even more cross-media consolidation, and there is a Senate Resolution of Disapproval S.J. Res. 28 as well. The ACLU has also written a letter to the Senate about the resolution.

[Update from FreePress.net: Today (4/24/08), the Senate Commerce Committee passed a “resolution of disapproval” that would veto the Federal Communications Commission’s latest attempt to dismantle longstanding media ownership limits. Last December, the FCC voted to remove the longstanding “newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership” ban that prohibits one company from owning a broadcast station and the major daily newspaper in the same market. The ruling still must pass muster in the federal court that reversed the FCC’s previous attempt to lift media ownership limits in 2003.

But the Senate is intervening right away. The resolution of disapproval (Senate Joint Resolution 28), introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) in early March, serves as a “legislative veto.” If passed by Congress and signed by the president, it would nullify the FCC’s new rules.

Today’s vote follows news that Murdoch’s News Corp. is close to completing a $580 million deal to purchase the Long Island daily Newsday from Tribune Company. News Corp. already controls the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, and two TV stations in the New York market — and the new deal would violate longstanding media ownership limits.

The legislation has 25 bipartisan co-sponsors including Commerce Committee ChairmanDaniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Sens. John Kerry(D-Mass.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

The Senate had 60 legislative days to pass the resolution from the time Congress was notified about the rule in late February. Last month, a House version of the resolution — which is not limited by the legislative shot clock — was introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Dave Reichert (R-Wash.).

“Permitting further media consolidation goes against the core values the agency was created to protect,” said Joseph Torres, government relations manager of Free Press. “The FCC did not heed the overwhelming public opposition to its decision. The Senate appears to be listening.”]

I am extremely uncomfortable with the idea that my ability to speak my mind to whoever wants to hear is a matter of corporate grace rather than constitutional right, and I suspect other Americans will feel equally uncomfortable if the FCC abandons its responsibilities and fails to act.”

That is what Harold Feld from the Media Access Project told the five members of the Federal Communications Commission at its Stanford hearing last week.

 

For more information, articles, video and actions you can take, check out:

• Save the Internet
• Common Cause Media and Democracy Program
• Stop Big Media
• National Conference for Media Reform
• Don’t Let the FCC Cover Up Facts on Media Ownership
• ACLU: Help Restore Net Neutrality
• ACLU: Future of Communications

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Give Sam Seder a Daily Show!

From Robert Greenwald:

Air America’s Sam Seder has a chance to take over the time slot created by Randi Rhodes’s departure.  It was just about a year ago that Air America made the foolish decision to move Seder from a daily show to Sundays; he a vital progressive voice on the radio, one that should be heard  daily.  No one fuses humor with political insight quite like Sam.

Sign our petition to bring Sam Seder back into Air America’s daily lineup

Sam has the right mix of serious politics, great interviewing skills, intelligence, humor and rightful indignation about his subjects. I know that Sam has been a great champion of both exposing important issues to the light of day and inspiring activism. He, of all the hosts who started on Air America, really came into his own and flourished. He has truly built a community (even though everything was stacked against him, as his various shows kept getting moved around, cancelled, diminished). Isn’t this part of what the network should be striving for? Loyal, devoted listeners who will listen to the network all day? I believe that the network takes him for granted, and us (the listeners) for granted. Please help give Sam the real chance he deserves, with real support from the network! Sign the petition and send them email:

pcollin@airamerica.com

 

Sam Seder fills in for Randi Rhodes last October!

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RANDI RHODES JOINS NOVA M RADIO

“If we don’t believe in freedom of speech for people we despise,
we don’t believe in free speech at all” – Noam Chomsky

Randi Rhodes calls in to Marc Maron subbing for Mike Malloy, 4/10/08

 

FsqpM]

Randi Rhodes on Larry King Live, CNN, 4/10/08
  
 

BREAKING NEWS: Randi Rhodes will appear on CNN’s “Larry King Live” tonight (Thu, 4/10) – 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific

 

For Immediate Release April 10, 2008

 

RANDI RHODES JOINS NOVA M RADIO

The Nova M Radio Network is thrilled to announce the addition of “The Randi Rhodes Show” to its nationally syndicated talent offerings beginning this Monday, April 14, 2008. Randi Rhodes is the #1 rated progressive talk radio host in the nation. Nova M CEO John Manzo says, “I just can’t stop smiling – Randi is simply the biggest and the best. Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy under one roof – talk about TALENT!” Randi Rhodes adds, “With Manzo at helm of Nova M, I am truly going to work for the best of the best. He is radio elite…and I am too <laughs>. I’m home, I’m home, I’m home!” “The Randi Rhodes Show” will air live Mon-Fri from 3-6pm Eastern on The Nova M Radio Network. AFFILIATE, MEDIA, ADVERTISER & INVESTOR INQUIRIES: John Manzo, CEO Nova M Radio Network jmanzo@NovaMRadio.com

*******************

Oh, and to quote Crooks And Liars:

“I, like many, think that Sam Seder deserves his own show again. Write to pcollins@airamerica.com and let them know you want Sam back full time. We wish Randi all the best in the future.”

[4/24/08 Update on Randi Rhodes via ltradio.blogspot.com:

XM fans may be able to satisfy their Randi Rhodes fix soon.Orbitcast is reporting that Rhodes, who left Air America earlier this month for Nova M Radio, is in talks to return to XM Radio’s so-called Air America (ch 167) channel.]

 

[Further Update:
Rhandi Rhodes will be returning to her old slot of 3-6pm on XM radio, Monday, May 5th.]

 

 

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It’s Official, Randi Quit AAR…

STATEMENT OF CHARLIE KIREKER, CHAIR & MARK GREEN, PRESIDENT, FOR AIR AMERICA MEDIA

By Tim Einenkel

Last week Air America suspended Randi Rhodes for abusive, obscene language at a recent public appearance in San Francisco which was sponsored by an Air America affiliate station. 

Air America Media was informed last night by Ms. Rhodes that she has chosen to terminate her employment with the company. 

We wish her well and thank her for past services to Air America. We will soon announce exciting new talent and programming that will accelerate Air America’s growth in the future.

 

More on Air America webpage http://airamerica.com/

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Sign Petitions to reinstate Randi Rhodes on AAR

You may not know that talkshow host Randi Rhodes was suspended indefinitely for making off-color remarks at a private event (in a nightclub – NOT on the air) at an affiliate event in SF at Green960 AM.

As of now, there are 2 petitions up, so please sign both:

PETITION TO REINSTATE RANDI RHODES

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Reinstate-Randi-Rhodes

and send letters to Air America:

 

http://airamerica.com/contact

feedback@airamerica.com

Contact: Anne Strahle
astrahle@airamerica .com

STATEMENT OF AIR AMERICA RADIO, FROM CHAIR CHARLIE KIREKER
By air america
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2008
New York – Air America has suspended on-air host Randi Rhodes for making inappropriate statements about prominent figures, including Senator Hillary Clinton, at a recent public appearance on behalf of Air America in San Francisco which was sponsored by an Air America affiliate station.

“Air America encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our Hosts,” said chair Charlie Kireker.

for more information, see these links:

Huffington Post has more on this as well as the youtube video of Randi’s appearance in SF.

No reports yet as to how long the suspension will be.

Rhodes Says Air America Breached Her Contract

“It is not yet clear if the popular host will be back to work for Air America by then — or ever. At a critical moment in its evolution, the network has put itself in an untenable position. Ultimately, does Air America, or does it not, stand for free speech? At this moment, it clearly does not. That’s not very progressive.”

Updates and more article links, plus the full video of Randi’s performance are at

Green960

 

Stephanie Miller sticks up for Randi Rhodes

Janeane Garofalo sticks up for Randi Rhodes

 

dailykos diary: I will proudly stand up for Randi Rhodes

 

Here is my own letter to Air America, as a sample:

I am writing in support of Randi Rhodes! She is one of the bright lights on your network! (BTW, Sam Seder is another bright light and I cannot fathom, still, why you diminished his role to a once a week show).

I have been a passionately committed listener to Air America since the beginning and have continued to stand up for the network even after many mistaken decisions that in my mind have diminished the stature AND the programming (among them, firing Marc Maron, Mike Malloy, Kent Jones, reducing Sam Seder & Laura Flanders to weekend hours). I may not always agree with everything Randi says, but she has the right to speak her own opinions, especially when she’s not on the air – she is a talk show host, not a newscaster! As a matter of fact, I write this, even though I have not been in total agreement with her “bashing” Clinton. I know she can sometimes be a little “over the top” but it is because she is so passionate about her views. It is her toughness and passion that I admire.

As she was not on the air at the time of her remarks, I do NOT think it appropriate to fire her, or keep her off the air. Whether or not you think her remarks were inappropriate, I would think that an apology or a disclaimer would be sufficient! People also know that her opinions are her own and not necessarily the opinions of “management.”

I did see part of her routine on youtube, and frankly, I thought it was funny. And believe me, whatever your view of the language used, it is nothing new to most people… in a good way, these words have lost some of their power to offend, are in the general every day lexicon and are certainly frequent in comedic acts.

Please uphold the progressive values that the network claims to represent! Fight to retain Freedom of Speech and the Constitution! Reinstate Randi ASAP!

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Milestones

Happy 5th Birthday Countdown with Keith Olbermann!Happy 4th Birthday Air America Radio!Happy Cesar Chavez Day! Viva La Causa!Happy 60th Birthday Al Gore!

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