Your opinion: Would Air America do better if Al Franken was replaced?

[Imagevision]

Yes/No/maybe/ (Jeanine Garofalo?)

[chicagolefty]

1. I think they need better management

It's not one person at fault here, I think they lack any serious management skills. They have the talent, we know their message is popular (look how Democrats are polling this election season)... All they need is some business minded leadership to work with the talent they have already to make the concept fly.

[hsher]

8. Agreed

:thumbsup:

[DTinAZ]

2. Nope

Franken's show is great, even if some of the DU denizens think he's too centrist. His show is educational *and* entertaining, and features good guests and lots of information. He don't keep vamping and ranting on the same things ad nauseum, "preaching to the choir" in an unproductive manner (that's what some other AA hosts do). He's a keeper, as long as he's available (IOW, until he decides to run for Senate and doesn't have time to keep doing the show).

DT

[still_one]

9. I agree with you

Seder is also unique and entertaining in his own right, and so are The Young Turks, if you ever had the opportunity to hear them

In my view a show has to be made more than "bashing" the other side. Randi Rhodes actually encourages a dialog with them, as does Seder. That not only makes for good radio, but educational as well. Some did not like Springer, but in my view he also approached an exchange of ideas in the right way, as does Ed Schultz, but I know many here do not share my views. Many on DU worship Malloy, but it sure isn't me. If you want to convince people to your point of view, insulting them, like many personalities do on right wing radio, will do nothing for your cause, but cause more polarization.

[Ronnie]

25. What you said.

Also, some people seem to forget what it was like before Air America. It was a little miracle. It still seems like that to me.

[eallen]

3. I think the concept is flawed.

Dedicated talk radio works for Christians and Republicans, because they want talking-points fed into their heads on a daily basis. I just don't think there is a demand for liberal talk radio. I'd rather listen to news shows on NPR or other stations that occassionally provide more in-depth coverage, than to Air America. Maybe I'm strange, but it just doesn't do it for me. It has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing with any of the particular shows. The format just isn't interesting. In fact, I find right-wing radio more interesting, because it provides a sort of sociological glimpse into a strange segment of the population. The evidence that it's not just me is that I don't know any liberals who really care about the fate of Air America. That seems more heatedly discussed by the right-wingers, who naturally think that there is a parallel with right-wing talk radio.

[LWolf]

4. I have no clue.

I've never listened to air america. If it were available from my car antennae, I might have tuned in now and again; that's really the only place I listen to radio. Even in the car, I usually prefer to play CDs to avoid having to listen to advertisements and all the talk that goes on.

[Cleita]

5. Franken is fine thank you. He has the best guests

on AAR. If you ever had to listen to Ed Schultz you would so appreciate Al.

[still_one]

10. As far as knowing the facts you are correct about Franken

over Ed Schultz. Nevertheless, Ed Schultz is also a positive force for progressive ideas

and know many on DU require a specific mold in order to be accepted into the "club", but most people cannot be painted with one broad brush.

[Cleita]

13. Excuse me but I am not a fan of Ed Schultz. He comes

across as Republican Lite to me. He's good on labor union issues but other than that comes off as a rednecked conservative to me. Unfortunately, my AAR affiliate prefers to run him instead of Sam Seder, who is a far superior talk show host IMHO.

[still_one]

27. I know you are not a fan of Ed Schultz,

you in as much said so. I was commenting on the exclusions that many, use to determine who is or is not "worthey" to be a Democrat. This is not personally directed at you, but made as a general comment.

A perfect example is Casey verses Santorium. There are many on DU who detest Casey because of his moderate positions, and no question about it, his anti-choice position troubles me, but that is NOT the only issue. He is extremely progressive in most social issues.

Not to start an argument on Schultz, but he also is for choice, stem cell research, and supports the Murtha plan on Iraq.

Personally I think the best talk show host for our cause is Sam Seder, IMHO also.

Just want to clarify, I was NOT accusing you of being a fan of Ed Schultz, however, you are obviously objective enough to listen to him

[Cleita]

28. Not that objective. Sometimes he just happens to be on

my car radio when I go out and I'm too lazy to switch the station. I turn the radio off when I am at home when he comes on.

[still_one]

32. LOL nt

[Eric J in MN]

6. No, his show has the most listeners of any AAR show. NT

NT

[Mike03]

7. I Don't Think So

Al is a good talkshow host, and the people who are complaining about his "six figure salary" are being quite ridiculous. Oprah is getting over fifty million dollars for less than a half hour of work a week for XM radio and obviously Howard Stern is making a hundred million a year for five years. I'm not sure I even understand why Franken's show has become the nexus of suspicion and controversy with respect to AAR's failure. Others here at DU have offered far more complex and convincing explanations.

[still_one]

11. Some people just need a reason why something suceeds of fails

Sometimes things just happen, and timing is a big factor

In the long term this will turnout fine for AAR, and progressive talk

[Johnny Appleseed]

15. Last I heard Limbaugh makes 30 million a year (nt)

[papau]

21. And Scafie's subsidy has move from 25 m/yr to 55m/y for the infomercial?

I once had to review these sorts of contracts - and I found they often were announced as $100 million over 10 years, but the reality was the fellow was given a 60 million dollar life insurance 10 year term policy worth maybe a total of $500,000 over the 10 years, plus a one year property insurance with a maximum of $10 million, plus a 1 million dollar max per year very limited as to cause of disability disability policy worth another million over the 10 years, plus a one year non-renewable life insurance policy for another 10 million, plus a series of one million dollar payments for 10 years that began 20 years out, plus an actual signing bonus and an actual salary.

But of the $100 million over 10 year contract, the 60 m life ins plus the 10 million one year life insurance plus the 10 million disability policy all were included in that number at face value, reducing the payment for a salary and bonus to $20 million with $1 million paid the first 10 years each year and one million paid each year beginning 20 years from now until 31 years from now.

Now $1 million a year is a great wage - but it is not $10 m. So add the value of that annuity beginning 20 years out of perhaps 3 m plus the ins premium values of perhaps a million over 10 years and we find that the kid was worth 1.4 m per year for the next 10 years- and I had to work with that real number in doing the financial planning - and not the fake 100 million PR number.

Indeed since the contract usually was not a personal services contract (Doug Fluties Canadian contract was a personal service contract that could not be broken - an amazing contract), there were usually no guarantees of any payments after 2 or 3 years.

So I suggest "Limbaugh makes 30 million a year" is bull - and until I see the contract I will consider it PR Bull put out to make Freeper folks feel good about themselves.

[KoKo]

12. Al isn't my "cup of tea" but I think because I'm so Lefty I would be

biased. I think there are alot of progressives that would get his Liberal Jewish humor and he does have some great guests.

I caught him occasionally...but he seemed to be too nuanced in his "style" for me.

I think he DEFINITELY had a Good Place. The rest of AAR never turned me on
because I was beyond that....but thought that for Younger Folks it did have good staying power as the "Anti-Rush" antidote. :shrug:

BTW since I now live in a Fundie Red State...I was more interested in how Ed Schultz's show was doing because he DEFINITELY was the ANTI-RUSH...Crossover...

Schultz has good guests but isn't so Liberal that it would "turn off" the folks that don't like Limbaugh anymore...looking for something different...but just can't deal with Franken, Kennedy and the others on AAR ...

Those Fundie Power Houses when they "TURN" need a "Safe House" until we can get them under our "BIG DEM TENT" and Franken and AAR...was too BIG a LEAP. But "Ed Schultz" gave them a place that seemed to THEM only a STEP or too away. Schultz is underestimated by most of us on the "Radical/Activist Left"...He really get's to the heart of FOOTBALL COUNTRY..who like their "MEN" ...FISHING AND HUNTING AND PLAYING SPORTS.

[Imagevision]

14. I'm simply asking, couldn't someone much better replace him for more

punch, clout, affect, success (jokes?)

[NYCGirl]

16. Why would you want to replace the show with the highest ratings?

Makes no sense at all.

[Imagevision]

17. Don't replace the show, replace Franken with someone better, it isn't

undo-able

[NYCGirl]

18. Franken is the show. If you replace him, it's a different show. He gets

the biggest audience.

[Stardust]

19. Al's the reason I tuned in initially, then I stayed around for Randi

Rhodes, Sam and Janene, and then finally Mike Malloy entered my life....and a radical was born. I've listened to hundreds of hours of AAR and gradually became too angry about politics to listen to Al, although I do think he was appropriate for the time slot. Would AAR have succeeded had they not had to pay Al such a huge salary? We'll never know (they had to sell a whole lot of Ovaltine commercials!)

AAR had to walk the tightrope of appealing to progressives and at the same time, reaching out to the other side. Mistakes have been made, but I for one, will always be grateful to AAR for being a beacon in the storm.

[Cooley Hurd]

20. Franken's gone in a year, anyway...

He's running for Senate in '08.

I think Al does a fine job. His humor isn't quite suited for radio (most of Al's humor is ironic, and uses his face to accentuate his jokes - that's lost on radio), but he has GREAT guests and has contributed GREATLY to the cause of exposing conservative liars and hypocrites.:patriot:

[Rosco T.]

22. Their only problem is management, and Al will be gone in less than a year.

Sen. Franken.

[yurbud]

23. it's not on air talent but the suits that are fucking things up

[yurbud]

24. How long was Amazon.com going before it turned a profit?

I think I read somewhere that Murdoch's NY POST and Moon's WASHINGTON TIMES have always run in the red but kept open for propaganda purposes.

Air America has had some serious management problems, but the primary issue is being underfinanced to get through the first couple of years.

[Rosco T.]

30. It took FOX NEWS almost 4 years IIRC... n/m

[zulchzulu]

26. Define "do better"...

I like Al a lot...he's fairly moderate for my tastes on some issues, but he does a great job and has strong ratings in many markets. Replacing him with __________ would not necessarily make AAR do better in terms of management...that has been the big issue to me.

[Pirate Smile]

29. No. I like Al. The business plan to own stations instead

of syndicating shows made their plan different, harder to pull off and much more expensive.

[leftofthedial]

31. they need much better management

and more of Sam Seder and Rachel Maddow and bring back Mike Malloy and give him a drive-time slot

and ditch Franken.

I don't even know what their lineup is anymore, my local stations has so many other shows and plays the AAR shows on delay.

[GreenTea]

33. Thom Hartmann, cheaper, more entertaining and an ego not caught up in

the stratosphere.

So, I've been a Premium member of AAR, though I have never used it...It becomes my little monthly 11 buck donation to help keep them on the air...besides listening - it's something...Can't live without AAR...it would be devastating for all of us if they were just gone.....

[ladjf]

34. Yes.

[Marr]

35. Not by me. I love Franken's show.

He's my favorite liberal host, to be honest with you. Close seconds are Bernie Ward and Tom Hartmann.