Risky Business

SHUFFLING DECK CHAIRS

Sinking Ship Attracts Rats, Talk Fatigue Rising







Given Air America Radio's sleaze, scandals, disarray and overspending, who would be interested in working there? After all, constant paycheck worries must quickly get old.

Sure enough, though, the liberal radio network has found their new executive vice president for syndication from an even smaller, less stable "progressive" outfit: Democracy Radio.

Former CEO Tom Athans, husband of US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), has joined the sinking ship.

Beats doing nothing, one supposes.

While a news release claims his primary duty will be to develop syndicated and network programming, a Radio Equalizer tipster maintains Athans will actually be spending most of his time from their new Washington, DC office, raising sorely-needed funds.

Apparently, that's what nearly everyone is focused on now, it's a frantic race to keep the network afloat.

Working part-time until January, Athans will be paid $165,000 in 2006.

When there isn't any money, how much sense does it make to open a new office? Advice to Athans: on payday, get to the bank quickly and forget about the direct deposit option.



A new survey shows significant fatigue by talk radio listeners, tired of the same topics and hosts. Increasingly, they're simply tuning elsewhere, according to a Bridge Ratings research study.

Since we've been watching talk radio's ratings fall quite dramatically since the 2004 election, it's not a big shock, but does verify Arbitron's audience data.

Given such a large number of ill-advised recent programming decisions, made by novices entrusted with talk radio stations, it's no surprise the audience is abandoning this format.



Michelle Malkin provided an unusually candid look at the hate mail and vitriol directed at her, during an interview on Tuesday's O'Reilly Factor.

Bill also spoke more openly about the problem than I've previously seen. In addition, Air America's recent flaps were briefly discussed.

The left's hate does seem worse than ever, doesn't it? You don't need to look any further than my comments section below to get a good taste of the depths to which they've recently sunk.

To watch the video clip, click the above link, courtesy of the Political Teen.


Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of your final purchases, help to support this site's efforts. Thanks!