MATERGRAVY

I'll bet her ratings are wonderful.

jpb wrote:

Better than Rush's first years, I'm sure. She's much more entertaining and better informed than any of the conservative crows. And the radio station is actually a Fox affiliate.

I'm glad you found someone to listen to JPB, that you agree with.  Fox also has some other Liberals on their Radio network.  Alan Colmes for one.  Your gal use to be on Air Amrerica I think? You might have seen this, its a posting someone made on her website...his opinion about why Progressive Talk shows have failed......I might mention like Progressive Policies in the polls too.

S’Long Air America, We Hardly Heard Ye.

By Steve Young

Those of you who didn’t know the liberal talk-radio network Air America was actually broadcasting for the past six years shouldn’t start looking for it now. Last month, it filed for bankruptcy (again) and closed its mouths for good.

While liberal talk continues, listeners in many parts of the country can’t hear left-of-center voices without a good helping of Internet. Air America ’s talkers had no foothold in the Delaware Valley other than a short, scattered stint on WHAT-AM (1340). Sure, there are some talented progressive talkers, but I challenge you to name one.

There have been assorted explanations for Air America ’s failure. It “was undercapitalized and overmanaged,” said Jon Sinton, the network’s first president and COO. “New money came with strings. There was no stability in programming, and weak distribution made it tough to compete.”

Some attribute it to attitude. “Most of liberal talk has been angry and agenda-driven, not entertainment-driven,” said Andy Bloom, program director at WPHT-AM (1210), the broadcast home of conservative talk superstars. “Despite what most liberals think, the truth about Rush Limbaugh and the conservative talkers with large audiences is that they are entertainers first and conservatives second.”

All that may be, but the crux of liberal talk’s inability to match up to right-wing talk isn’t the business plan or the lack of a Limbaugh. It’s a failure to understand its audience.

Sure, there are those on the left who will buy 24 hours a day of “we’re right, they’re wrong.” They may appreciate the intellect and snark of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow or the near-Shakespearean pique of a Keith Olbermann. But they don’t come anywhere near the number that tune in for Glenn Beck’s weepy demagoguery or Bill O’Reilly’s deceitful scolding.

Before Limbaugh, talk radio was about wanting to know what you think. Today, it’s telling you what you should think. The liberal audience doesn’t work that way; reaching a consensus on the left is like herding cats.

Wouldn’t it make sense to go to your strength, not try to mimic your opponent’s? The left needs to pay attention to the success of Comedy Central’s one-two punch of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. They don’t necessarily reach the numbers of Limbaugh, Beck, or Sean Hannity, but they have cornered the market on political satire, and there’s no denying their influence.

About the only progressive radio voice who seems to understand that is Dial Global’s Stephanie Miller. A radio veteran and former standup comedian, Miller understands political satire and uses it splendidly. Her comic point of view has made her a darling of the cable news circuit. It’s also gotten good ratings in major cities such as Los Angeles , Chicago , and Atlanta .

Of course, the left also has to use the Internet and other new media. But if it wants to compete in radio, it’s more likely to succeed by satirizing rather than Hannitizing.

Steve Young is a former liberal talk-radio host and the author of “Great Failures of the Extremely Successful.” He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

PS....go to her website and click on the Sponsors link.  Make sure you have lots of time to read the long list......

She's a comedian, which helps when you are trying to sell the liberal agenda. She was ranked the 36th radio talkshow host in 2007. I'll bet Rush is shaking in his boots.