A Repubs's thoughts on air america in his town.........

[Polethebear]

Thought you guys might like this.


We Will Eventually Get Our WDOD Back - And Replis

posted October 2, 2005

Since it seems that WDOD management is ignoring a groundswell of opposition to send Air America to less-than-enthusiastic Chattanoogans, I wish to offer this message.

To my fellow Chattanoogans, a warning of what's ahead:

Be prepared to cringe when you hear Randi Rhodes screech for the first time in her Fran Drescher-ish voice, mixing equal parts sedition, tinfoil conspiracyism, and hateful death wishes (her producers once concocted a piece hinting at assassination). Then a dash of shock radio, as her favorite song is apparently a tune that talks about bouncing one's... well, a prominent portion of the female anatomy.

Steel yourselves for Sam Seder's vicious, nonstop attacks on the Christian religion and Southerners during "Majority Report."

If you can survive these two, you'll have the mettle to stick it out until Air America inevitably crashes and burns in our beautiful city.

To the owners of Air America and WDOD, I say this:

Chattanooga is representative of the people who voted against your agenda last fall, and have been doing so for a generation. Look at the Chattanoogan website and see all the advertisements and announcements for churches and Christian-related events. What is your vision for Chattanooga and all those red state places you so heartily deride? Is it gay pride parades up and down the riverwalk, same-sex marriages in Baptist churches, and Federal troops rushing southward to forcibly reopen abortion clinics in the Scenic City? Do you honestly think that ridiculing our faith and our values will win us over to your side? Do you come to our city, just to torture us? We have endured your values on our TV sets for two generations. It hasn't turned us into what you want, and neither will Air America. We will get our WDOD back, someday.

Pete Thurston
East Ridge




Now my question is this....If he hates it so bad,how come he knows so much about it???? How does he know so nuch about sam seder's voice,has he listened?????


Pole:

[Autonomy]

1. I once had a job where I had to listen to Limbaugh

and Hannity all day. I have

NO

sympathy for Pete from East Ridge.

[Matariki]

2. how come he knows so much about it?

same way so many folks here know the going ons at free republic ;-)

[rfrrfrrfr]

12. Well its obvious from what he said

That he either isn't really listening, or he is only hearing what he wants to hear and not what is actually said.
As most of what he said was untrue.

[Polethebear]

3. Here's some more.......

WDOD Is About To Make A Big Mistake
posted July 20, 2005

I regret very much the apparent decision by management at WDOD to change their format from so-called "nostalgia" music to liberal talk radio. It is unfortunate that advertisers in the Chattanooga are so unaware or ill-informed concerning the large following of WDOD AM listeners.

We represent a relatively large, silent, and significant audience who have been content to simply listen to the excellent programming offered by WDOD AM. Our voices have not been heard, and I strongly suspect WDOD management and/or their prospective advertisers are wholly ignorant of the preferences of their listeners (young, old, and otherwise) in the Chattanooga region.

As a 35-year resident in this area, I have never been polled, surveyed, queried, or asked to express my preference regarding radio stations or formats.

Frankly, the transition from "nostalgia" music, with its significant and loyal following in this area, to liberal talk radio, that has a miniscule if any following in the Chattanooga area, is totally irrational. It is indeed unfortunate that such foolish decisions by radio stations only serves to force their listeners to seek their CD players and satellite radio as their only alternatives. The end result is that both the advertisers and WDOD lose the quality and quantity exposure they need in order to survive in a very competitive market.

Stan Keown
[e-mail]

* * *

I agree with Stan. I listen to WDOD all the time on my vintage 1938 Philco AM radio at home. They are the only radio station in this area that still plays nostalgia music and it will certainly be sad to see them change.

After a stressful work week and with all of the craziness in the world today, music representative of a simpler time and life is always a comforting relief.

We have enough talk radio stations in town and I have resorted to satellite radio in my auto just because of the obnoxious opinions and silliness on our other local stations. I considered WDOD the only good station left. If they change, I guess the old Philco will be retired once and for all.

D. Smith
[e-mail]

* * *

Our office also listens to WDOD and believe that they are making a mistake. I understand they need to make a profit for their shareholders but going to Air America is not the way to do it in Chattanooga.

They are going to lose more listeners with this new format than they curreltly have. Enough said.

Richard Elrod
[e-mail]

* * *

As the leader of Chattanooga's Big Band - Sweet Georgia Sound I was saddened by the 7/19 article on Chattanoogan.com about an upcoming format change for WDOD-AM.

Because of Sweet Georgia Sound I am frequently involved in activities and
publicity for the music and dance community. These activities have allowed me the honor of being an occasional guest on Earl Fruedenberg's show. In addition, I have been the voice for commercials on WDOD for the Legionaries
Big Band monthly dance for the last five years. Every time I am a guest or one of my commercials plays I am amazed by the people that come up to tell me that they have heard me on WDOD. These people are from just about every age group which tells me that WDOD has a respectable size listening audience of all ages. If there is a problem advertising then this audience needs to stand up and be counted.

Each year, on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, WDOD-AM has been a sponsor of Swingfest on Coolidge Park. One look at the huge crowds that come out to see four local Big Bands show that there is a large, diverse audience of all age groups for this type of music.

The loss of this format on WDOD would be a true loss for Chattanooga. I
urge everyone who feels the same to make your opinion known.

Mike LaRoche
Band Leader,
Chattanooga's Big Band - Sweet Georgia Sound
[e-mail]

* * *

As a civic-minded native Chattanoogan, I leave my radio tuned to WDOD-AM nearly all day every day. I love Earl and the beautiful music.

I urge management to re-think their position. Liberal talk radio has failed elsewhere and Chattanooga is a conservative city.

Rather than to destroy what WDOD now has, how about aggressively promoting the station to attract new listeners and advertisers?

Remind advertisers that seniors spend a lot of money and provide much ot the money spent by their children and grandchildren.

All the other stations are shooting for the young audience. WDOD can dominate the remaining audience.

We love "Hey Earl" and WDOD. Please don't ruin it - PROMOTE IT!
Bob Elmore
[e-mail]

P.S. I made a living in advertising and received the Ad Federation's top award, so I understand the problems facing management. Hopefully, they will find a better solution.

[Marr]

4. Poor Pete. I can't imagine what it must be like to hear an

opposing political view on the radio.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. RLOL

this is funny

[Maraya1969]

6. Once again some fanatical Christian thinks everyone else should

be like him. They are their own worst enemies. When the say that other programming besides Christian based is "ridiculing them" or some other outrageous statement they are basically saying nothing else is acceptable except THEM.

Then they say they are persecuted for their beliefs. Hate to break it to you but it is not your belief in Christ that causes the persecution. It's the belief in superiority and monopoly that causes your downfall.

And I am NOT referring to all Christians so please don't flame me. It is that small but loud fraction that causes problems.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I agree with one qualifier

I was having a talk with a cousin of mine who said, to get rid of the hate we need to get rid of all religions. As I poited to her, what we need to get rid of is FUNDAMENTALIST religion, any religion... Fundies are full of hate, regardless of principles of faith... and it is the same across the world... our curse is the Christian Right, but Jewish fundies or Jihadist are not better.

;-)

[Maraya1969]

9. In this country the only ones clamoring for superior status is the fundy

Christians. Of course they way out number the Jews and personally I don't think fundamental Judaism is inclined to converting everyone into their particular sect. And their religion is also a heritage. Some Jewish groups in the US cling together and do not allow their members to marry outside the Jewish religion.

But if anyone has watched "Sex in the City" it is true that when a person wants to convert to Judaism they are turned down a few times. I asked a friend who converted and she said she experienced something similar. I think it is because they want to make sure the person really wants to convert and is not just doing it on a whim.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. my hubby converted easy

no problem there

Trust me when I say this, jewish fundies can be just as bad (and though they don't want to convert people) they are BAD.

Talking from experience here

;-)

[bluestateguy]

7. Sounds like he listens a lot

All Air America needs is for 2% of the people in that media market to listen and Air America will be around a long time. Somehow I think that at least 2% of the people in Mr. Thurston's little red state paradise do not share his vision for the country. Those people deserve to be represented too, and that's where Air America comes in.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

10. The old "poor oppressed me" routine.

Why the hell is he complaining about AAR's presence in a non-liberal area? Here in Los Angeles (not exactly a RW hotbed), you can find Savage, Rantell, Prager, Ingraham and various other RW nutjobs on the radio dial.

I know L.A. didn't vote for their racist, homophobic, kleptomaniac asses, so why do they get to spew their venom here, Pete?

[McKenzie]

11. sounds like an emotional response to an intellectual problem

emotion does not always have to be left out of the equation, of course, in any debate where emotion is one of the parameters. In this case though the rant reads as little more than soundbite drivel devoid of anything substantial that one could discuss sensibly.

I think I can help him a little - I believe in giving to the poor - "We have endured your values on our TV sets for two generations". That's the problem my friend...maybe if people turned it off and started looking for the real deal rather than sitting slack jawed in front of the idiot box they'd realise the real world is somewhat different to the fantasies peddled on the flickering screen.

[fasttense]

13. He does not represent all of Chattanooga as his letter implies.

I know a lot of liberals in Chattanooga and they voted for a liberal agenda. I also know a lot of repukes who have changed their support of the brush brothers. He pretends to represent the opinions of all the people in Chattanooga when he barely represents 35% anymore. Move on Pete Thurston, you are in the minority now. And we listen to Air America and love it.

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[ET Awful]

19. Randi has a "Fran Drescher-ish" voice?

I never would have known that. . . I'm not sure what "ish" means in this case, I always thought it meant "like", but I guess I'm mistaken, as Randi sounds nothing like Fran Drescher (if she did, I couldn't stand to listen to her).