I can't get Liberals I know to try Air America! Some theories......

[FredStembottom]

There is a tendency among many Liberals I know to be upset by strong political speech. To the point that I can't get any Liberals I know to listen to AAR! They take about a 30 second sample listen at my urging, shudder and resolve not to be caught doing such a thing again. Why? I'll admit to being a little stunned by AAR at first, too but I was also absolutely exhilarated! Again, why?

I think for Liberals of my approximate age (48), who grew up with Liberalism as the default values system in most of America, it is unpleasant to think that we must now fight like hell for these values. The loud voices on AAR just drive that unpleasant reality home.

In addition, I think many of us survived the last 20 years by consigning Talk Radio to about the same level of sophistication as Pro Wrestling. With good reason - conservative Talk resembles Pro Wrestling's adolescent morality vignette's in many ways!

And so the shorthand for Liberals became too simple: Impassioned radio voice = stupid, deceptive speech. (There is more than a little class consciousness involved in that calculation!)

But to not recognize the vast and stunning improvement in content behind the impassioned voices at AAR is just wrong. I have hosts I don't like as much as others - Al gets too sleepy for me at times - Malloy doing angry baby-talk will never be my cup o' tea - but I still like (and listen to) them all for simply speaking! Speaking for us, dammit! And speaking up as accurately as possible against the totally unhinged fantasies of Right-wing Talk radio.

We must all stick together. Let the diversity of voice stylings on AAR be a little practice run for all Liberals as we learn to hear the _content_ of the speech no matter who the speaker is. Or how much anger, rudeness, silliness or artlessness it may be cloaked in.

We all get to talk. Truck drivers like me as well as college professors - and we're going to sound noticeably different to each other.

As we Liberals band together as never before, everyone will have to meet everyone else. And my Blue-collar life just might make me louder, angrier and more union-fixated in my Liberal speech than someone else's. But Liberal speech it still is. And so is Al Franken's, Mike Malloy's...and yours.

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note: this was a reply I posted elsewhere but felt it broad enough to open a new thread - my first ever. :blush:

[sasquatch]

1. Tell'em to listen to Jerry Springer, former mayor of Cincinnati

Then give'em a stiff drink and turn on the Malloy show.

[chalky]

10. Yeah, Jerry would be a good introduction...kind of like

pablum. But in a good way. If there is a "good way" for pablum.
Oh...you know what I mean.

[sasquatch]

15. Yeah, it's sort of like feeding babyfood to robocop

[Robbien]

2. As they said at the free speech conference

Progressives are playing touch while the GOP is playing tackle.

Progressive talk radio (whether it is AAR or interview style shows such as Bob McChesney, This Is Hell or Democracy Now) helps change the mindset from touch to tackle.

[napi21]

3. Of course they're all different. I listen to some, and not others.

Sometimes Randi gets a bit off the wall, and I listen to Ed Schultz, and sometimes Mike really does go way out there. I've not been a fan of reruns, so I tune to KGO at 1AM for Mike Ward. We all have preferences. All I'm saying is that there are other hosts out there. If you find one you aren't happy with, listen to another.

I used t live in Pgh. so I sometimes listen to Lynn Cullen.

[Mr_Spock]

4. I listen as a public service to America - it's patriotic!

Plus, they can be damned funny and on point at times :D

[bpilgrim]

5. i am having trouble with my friends, too...

most aren't political, though definitely libs, and our MARKETING culture has boiled everything down to IMAGE so if you don't have the information to actually JUDGE the content and context it comes off as the mirror image of rush & clones which will put anyone off.

i don't let it get me down though... i keep feeding them articles from M$M sources... i can't use DU because they think it's BIASED - which of course it is but we have strict rules for LBN + 0 editorializing the headline.

i know i am eternally grateful for EVERYONE on AAR :bounce: :toast:

peace

[FredStembottom]

6. This is a great point!

I have been something of a political junkie ever since I was shocked awake by that picture of James Watt on his knees praying in his office all those years ago! I forget how AAR might sound to someone who can't "follow along".
Maybe I should steer folks toward Ring of Fire on the weekends - it's so educational - and smooth.

[bpilgrim]

12. yeah, i hate to admit it but the NPR format is probably best to reach more

it's gotta be ALWAYS 'bright skies & sunshine' when presenting OUR MSG, to borrow a page from the reTHUGs playbook ;->

:hi:

peace

[dhinojosa]

9. Most my lib friends are not political junkies.

that's why they don't listen. I am addicted to the stuff.

Gimme gimme MORE MORE MORE!

[Roxy66]

7. Unlike most of us here at DU, many Liberals are just waking up to

the reality that our country is headed in a very dangerous direction. AAR is rather shocking to many of those people. If you havent had the time or taken the time to follow the Real News on blogs and other resources on-line, and only have been relying on the MSM for your daily fill of "News", than AAR is a big slap in the face. We have all been screaming at the top of our lungs about the lies and crimes of this Administration since the Right started to lable all of us "Un-American" for saying anything against the war or Bush. I think it started around the time the Dixie Chicks were chastised 24/7 by all of the media. Many of us who ended up here after that went "WHAT!!!!". I know thats when it started for me!!! So just keep opening peoples eyes..it will take a little time, but thats what we're all here for. Peace out :)

[Lars39]

8. I like to read my news, not hear it.

Might be as simple as learning styles. :shrug:

[dhinojosa]

11. I don't use AAR or radio for news...

just different angles and interpretation.

[FredStembottom]

14. Could well be a factor

I have great difficulties with reading and while I have trained myself around those limitations, I just LOVE:loveya: to get info through my ears whenever possible!

[Roxy66]

13. For the record.... AAR is a god-send. So, try to imagine not having it.

It kept me sane during the election. I found a place where they were speaking my words and I found out there are millions of us out there. AAR has changed many peoples minds already. Thank you Air America !!!!

[KharmaTrain]

16. There's Pacifica & APR As Well

Pacifica stations are diamonds in the rough for those who want a wide variety of information without the rhetoric...and is a great alternative to NPR stations. For years these stations were gems just kept to LA, San Francisco, New York and Washington...but now it's on the Internet.

Of course there's a lot of value still in NPR offerings and the many local community stations...many operating out of local colleges and running on shoe-string budgets. These people are an untapped resource as they're the ones scanning the foreign presses and the websites and bringing the truth to light.

AAR is fine for those who want a left wing version of hate radio. I travelled to St. Louis last weekend and after spending 3 days stuck with nothing but hate radio and religious wingnuts, it was a pleasure when the Chicago AAR affiliate came within range. But radio is a very personal thing...you have to feel comfortable with what you're hearing and the people you're listening to.

[burrowowl]

21. LONG LIVE AMY GOODMAN! eom

[Jane Austin]

27. "AAR is fine for those who want a left wing version of hate radio."

No way.

The huge difference between AAR and Right-wing hate radio is that AAR, for the most part, is fact-based.

Of course each host puts their spin on the facts, but at least they don't just make up their own set of "facts."

Listening to Al Franken a few times will show you how he counteracts the fictions of right-wing radio with real quotes and real statitistics.

[Ikonoklast]

17. It started with Reagan

with most of these former Democrats, white, blue collar, and comfortable. His anti-everything rhetoric struck a chord with this segment of scared middle-class suburbanites who voted for his tired ass and have stayed with the Rethuglicans ever since. It is fear, fear, fear that motivates them when they vote and the current criminals in power know that and play up to it. The radio whores realized a vast untapped potential for money-making and promptly created a message tailored to the feelings of these scared voters, and that is the only message that they have been hearing for the last twenty years. Now a new progressive voice is being heard, espousing liberal ideas that have lain dormant and are challenging their belief system. It will be painful at first, but reality is going to set in when they realize that all this time they have been lied to by these usurpers and the message from the Left will not sound as jarring as it is accepted as truth. Our side has a lot of catching up to do, and not always will progress be smooth, but the message is getting out and progressive talk radio is leading the way.

[KnowerOfLogic]

18. My reason - I just don't like talk radio. I'd rather read or watch

the sunday news shows.

[Roxy66]

19. Well, the sunday shows are the most informative you know...sorry

being :sarcasm:

[oldgrowth]

22. You will not find the truth on the electric tv machine!!!!!!!

Try The Rachel Maddow Show it can be downloaded or podcast from AAR!!!
They better wakeup very soon !!

[burrowowl]

20. Been there, heard or read

that. But I am not a liberal, see below. In Murika many don't know what a liberal is and Progressive scares the hell out of them. With respect to many countries a liberal in the U$ of A would be considered between far-right and right of center.
I do listen to RFK Jr. ring of fire, Franklin, ...
G. Shultz's has a Ru$h-like voice oh Hell!
We have to do with what we have. I would love a show with: Zinn, Chomsky, Vidal, etc. but ...:shrug: I don't think Murrikans or many registered with this board would understand.
Although I'm a French-type Socialist (and really an Anacho-socialist who loves the "I" rep. from Vermont) I used up 2 pairs of tennis shoes campaigning for Kerry/Edwards, not to mention cell-phone time, etc. and being unemployed to boot, I'm beginning to feel that I should have not spent a lot of separation pay to campaign, but the past is past.

[FredStembottom]

23. Thanks for using those shoes up!

I door knocked, contributed, called, wrote and signed petitions for Kerry, too. I'll be out in 2006 as well.

I like the idea of a Zinn, Chomsky, Vidal show:party:. Would be right up my personal alley. Although Vidal can be a bit obtuse.

Good luck with the employment! I have no idea what a good profession to be in these days would be. My wife is an Registered Nurse - that has seemed safe so far..............

[SmokingJacket]

24. I think you're at least partly correct.

I've listened to AAR a little, and I actually like it. But I don't want to listen to it regularly.

Why? I don't need my views confirmed. I think rightwing hate radio is popular among that crew is because they are insecure and need to be told how right and smart they are, over and over. I find it a little boring to listen to people I agree with so much -- without any opportunity to pitch in my own ideas, as I can on DU.

Plus, I don't drive much. I'm rarely in a situation where I'd want to listen to talk radio.

[Armstead]

25. One theory

In the big picture, alternatives like Air America are part of the solution, by getting out different information and opinions, and connecting people with others of similar views. That will be what will lead US out of the wilderness.

But listening to Air America can get really depressing, because at the moment the truth is depressing.It's part of the bigger dilemma of getting beyond pessimistic fatalism. Anger is a necessarey step, but only if it also leads to a sense of hope.

Whether one is a strident progressive or a moderate liberal, people know the administration is toally wrong, and probably worse. And enough of America has supported the GOP approach, and the Democrats have been ineffectual opposition to make poepel cynical about the political process. And the mainstream media gets worse instead of better.

So, unlike right wing radio, which makes listeners feel like they are riding an ascenent wave, hearing the truth on talk radio can be a depressing experience. It generates anger, but with no obvious venue to do anything about it. So apathy -- i.e. not listening -- seems to many like the only choice.

The mere fact that Air America exists and is available is a hopeful sign of a larger shift in the iceburg of public opinion. But getting over the wall of enial of liberals is probably as much a part of the process of change as anything else.

[Sooner75]

26. Let It Be

There will be an answer. Let It Be.

I love this post, because it poses an interesting situation.

I think those of us who've latched onto AAR often have a hard time understanding others who don't response to that particular stimuli.

Air America Radio is extending its reach and finding its audience. I think we need to spread the word about AAR, but trust that it'll find its audience. I think a lot of that audience will be YOUNG. You know -- the slice of the demographic pie that John Kerry actually won. I think young voters will carry AAR into a bright future.

(A few months ago, the only way I could get AAR was over the internet. Then, AAR bought a small Spanish language station in Dallas. So, NOW, I can listen on the local air waves. It's a weak signal and sometimes hard to get, but it's there. Now, it travels with me in my car, and I love it.)