Things that I don't like about Air America Phoenix

Posted By: Johnny Green
Posted on: Aug. 28, 2006 at 2:49 PM

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Air America is supposed to give us an alternative to the right wing talk shows that monopolize the airwaves. All in all they do a good job but here's a few things that iritate me.

1. I'm tired of hearing the same (word for word) newscast over and over.

2. I'm tired of tuning in and finding re-runs to their programs. (The best of Rhandi Rhodes etc). These programs require current information and if it's a day old it's old news.

3. Their commercials are irritating and poorly produced. I understand that that is the way they get revenue but come on..........

4. Weekends are the most important time for programs that depend upon the news for their content and AAP puts on too much fix my car, real estate, and re-runs.

5. Al Franken. It's probably just me but I think he keeps stating the obvious and thinks it's humorous and, while I like a good joke, I don't think it's funny.

Other than that Mrs Lincoln how did you enjoy the play?

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AZ Moderate

Aug. 28, 2006 at 04:28:52 PM

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“Al Franken. It's probably just me but …”

No Johnny Green, it’s not just you. I have been a staunch supporter of Air America, but it seems to me that there might be a few places where it could tighten up its act.

The only place I listen to the radio is on the road. I have one of my AM bands set to Air America Phoenix, which is my first choice. Because my listening pattern is contingent on my driving activity, and that activity consists of short hops, I tend to catch pieces and parts of the various commentators’ programs.

I happened to tune in the other day as Al Franken was deriding Lou Dobbs for his exposure of the Illegal Alien crises. I don’t know who the woman was who was on with him, but she was accommodating him as he dis'd Lou Dobbs.

All I can say to that is don’t tread on Lou Dobbs, Al and Co. I consider Lou Dobbs to be the only fair and balanced voice for me and a lot of Average Americans on cable or broadcast television. If it comes down to a choice between you and Lou ...

Lou Dobbs exposes crap that would lie covered up if it were up to the politically correct press to uncover it. He’s my man, and I think that goes for the large number of American citizens that have been disenfranchised by this system that panders to select special interests rather than the interests of America!

All in all, I am a supporter of Air America, and I hope it prospers as a counter weight to the NeoCoNazi propaganda mill.

But keep your derisive commentary off of Lou Dobbs, the true light in the wilderness.

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Phaedrus

Aug. 28, 2006 at 05:24:35 PM

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I agree with 2, and really disagree with the Al Franken thing. He brings on some of the most knowledgable guests on a subject available, and gets the story straight from the horses mouth.

As for Lou Dobbs, the only issue I agree with him on is the Illegal Immigrants/ Outsourcing of American Jobs thing. Because really all the illegals only work in industries that can't move off shore, like hotels, restaurants, construction, etc. Do you see illegals in call centers in the USA. No, why? Because we can ship those jobs offshore, and therefore don't need to bring people here to do them. But otherwise Dobbs is a Republican apologist and I hope he goes down with the whole conservative movement.

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Pinb@ll Wiz@rd

Aug. 28, 2006 at 06:34:55 PM

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Phaedrus,

I have a few questions for you, because I'm a little confused after that comment.

Are you saying it's okay for illegal immigrants to possess those jobs that can not be outsourced? Do you support outsourcing? AND are you implying that people here in the US aren't willing to do the jobs that are being taken by illegal immigrants, making it ok for them to illegally possess them?

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AZ Moderate

Aug. 28, 2006 at 07:41:34 PM

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“As for Lou Dobbs, the only issue I agree with him on is the Illegal Immigrants/ Outsourcing of American Jobs thing.”

What about the ongoing “War on the Middle Class” series Phaedrus? Of course outsourcing is part of that, but not the whole story as told by Lou. Do you agree with Lou on that?

I remember when Lou Dobbs was strictly a business reporter. He is an economist, and does come from a conservative background to be sure.

But he has evolved over the last three or more years into a champion of those that have been ignored by the politicians who pander to
• their “base”
• minority sub-groups of Americans they perceive to be their ticket to re-election
• and of course the corporate interests.

He speaks out for those that have no representation on critical issues, and that encompasses pretty much the invisible majority of American legal citizenry.

What is it that you disagree with him on?

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www.MoronInCharge.com

Aug. 28, 2006 at 08:27:47 PM

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I think you should put your critique in perspective.

1. I'm tired of hearing the same (word for word) newscast over and over.

AAR does not have the budget of cable news, TV news, or even NPR. Not even close. You have 3 hours of Franken, 4 hours or Rhodes, 3 hours of Seder, and 3 hours of Malloy each weekday to discuss the days news from a liberal perspective that you will not find elsewhere. Consider the the brief news snippets during the commercial breaks as a welcome respite from Merry Maids commercials.

2. I'm tired of tuning in and finding re-runs to their programs. (The best of Rhandi Rhodes etc). These programs require current information and if it's a day old it's old news.

I just accounted for 13 hours of new programming every weekday. That's a lot of original content, and if they want to rerun the daytime shows for the graveyard shift workers, they earned the right. As for daytime reruns, I don't get the impression that this occurs as much as you might think. You remember when it does happen, because you were tuning in hoping to catch up on the latest news. That just goes to show you how much you miss them when they're on vacation. But they are there and live the majority of the time, and when they are not they often line up talented guest hosts.

3. Their commercials are irritating and poorly produced. I understand that that is the way they get revenue but come on..........

Have you listened to the other AM stations? How about that annoying gold commercial on 1100AM telling you that gold's going to $8000/oz? Once again, it's AM, and our local station just arose from the dead. They can't exactly turn away paying advertisers at this point. Why do you think you hear the cloying Pat Boone commercial for 1-800-BUY-COIN . . . on liberal talk radio?

4. Weekends are the most important time for programs that depend upon the news for their content and AAP puts on too much fix my car, real estate, and re-runs.

Local programming is featured during the weekends. The shows are of variable quality, admittedly, but that reflects the accessibility of this station to local voices. You have an idea for a show? You just might be able to get a weekend time slot. BTW, KPHX has more homegrown original liberal talk programming than any other AAR affiliate. That's quite an accomplishment for supposedly conservative Phoenix. Maybe the next national talent ready to destroy Rush will come out of this market. And I do agree that I don't tune into AAR for Real Estate Matters, Calling All Cars, and The Home Inspector.

5. Al Franken. It's probably just me but I think he keeps stating the obvious and thinks it's humorous and, while I like a good joke, I don't think it's funny.

Yeah, I think it's you. He's cerebral, quick witted, and great guests, doesn't yell at or insult you, and humorous.

There are lots of things I like and dislike about all the national and local AAR hosts, but I am grateful to each and every one of them for being there doing what they are doing. It's not easy, and for most of the local hosts, it's done gratis. Yes, I miss Charles Goyette and even Ed Schultz, despite any bad blood there may be between them and the current incarnation of AAR-Phoenix. I also lament the absence of Stephanie Miller, not aired in Phoenix because of contractual network ties to Schultz. However, currently AAR is the only liberal game in town, and they have my complete support. But if in the future, a competing liberal radio network forms, I would be elated and we will all be the better served by another voice on the dial as an alternative to conservative dominated talk radio.

Oh, and my real complaint about AAR: the piss-poor AM reception of 1480AM in the North Valley. Until they can afford a repeater antenna, there is nothing they can do about the limitations of physics imposed upon their modest little station.

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A Proud Liberal

Aug. 29, 2006 at 01:12:35 AM

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Posted by: www.MoronInCharge.com

Oh, and my real complaint about AAR: the piss-poor AM reception of 1480AM in the North Valley. Until they can afford a repeater antenna, there is nothing they can do about the limitations of physics imposed upon their modest little station.

Of course the other real solution is to obtain a FM frequency. We would elminate static caused by power poles and old cars.

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Beth

Aug. 29, 2006 at 08:19:46 AM

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Air America radio in general, and specifically KPHO, are still in their infancy. While there are limitations and of course always room for improvement, Air America Phoenix is the only thing that keeps me sane in this era of insanity. I cannot get this perspective on network or cable news, any FM radio programming and certainly not in the print media in Phoenix. I think the important thing is that we all continue to support AAPHX so that it can continue to improve.

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bella_apolonia

Aug. 29, 2006 at 10:45:34 AM

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I also agree with MIC and Beth. PL has a great point on the FM airwaves; that would be a great step so that the public at large can tune in and be informed and realize that they often hear their news in a sanitized and filtered form. Most often with Rush and the gang, their lies tend to be repeated because the right wing cons are afraid of hearing the truth, (except for AA). ;)

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www.MoronInCharge.com

Aug. 29, 2006 at 11:14:57 AM

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I was under the impression, and I may be wrong, that FM stations are substantially more expensive than stations on the AM band. KPHX will have to get on much more financially solid ground before we see them moving to the FM dial or broadcasting on both bands. One can dream though.

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Johnny Green

Aug. 29, 2006 at 02:38:11 PM

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I started off this article by stating that all in all I think they do a good job at what they do.

One of my problems about AM radio is that I live in an area where reception is almost nil and I only listen to the radio when I'm in my car. Therefore, almost all of my listening is done online and that has to be when I'm not using my computer speakers for something else.

I do however listen at various hours of the day and night and unfortunately it's mostly late at night which probably effects my opinion somewhat.

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