The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

30 April 2006

Bill O'Reilly, MSNBC, Keith Olbermann

ANOTHER 'HATE' BOOK

From The Left, Emotions At The Forefront





With such a consistently emotional choice of language, why do left-leaning political book authors work so hard to undermine their own efforts?

For whatever reason, something routinely compels so-called "progressives" in the book business to use words like "hate", "fat" and "idiot" in their titles.

As a result, even without opening the cover, the reader already has a strong indication that sound arguments will be lacking.

Otherwise, why resort to these playground- level emotional antics?

Now, following on the heels of such dubious titles as The I Hate Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity. . . Reader: The Hideous Truth About America's Ugliest Conservatives, by Clint Willis and Al Franken's Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot comes Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly.

Yes, we're going to retake Congress this year by pointing out that our ideological opponents are "fat" and "idiots". Go ahead guys, give it a try.

To see how well this strategy has worked, we'll meet you on the other side of election day.


Sure enough, obsessed O'Reilly-hater Keith Olbermann couldn't wait to get the authors of Sweet Jesus on his MSNBC-based Countdown program. But when Joseph Amann and Tom Breuer actually appeared on Friday's show, they unsurprisingly had little to say about much of anything.

What was made clear, however: Amann and Breuer are Wisconsin-based ideologues with backgrounds in "alternative" leftist journalism.

Primarily emphasized in the segment was a recent error made on O'Reilly's show, where a newspaper publisher was confused with his deceased father.

While it's a bona fide mistake, we all make them. Because it opens up your own product to future criticism of a similar nature, however, it isn't a recommended road to travel.

Most in the media know that already, but not the increasingly- unhinged Olbermann.

Like Franken, Amann and Breuer foolishly push the "parody" concept, hoping it will stick. But what is funny about hate?

A glance at the book's index finds it thin in the references department, so don't expect a lot in the way of content. And because it leans left, Sweet Jesus benefits from undeserved attention by reviewers that often ignore conservative counterparts.

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How I Learned To Love Keith Olbermann: Pete At IHillary for the Radio Equalizer

29 April 2006

Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh

IT'S RUSH-BASH 2006!

For Mainstream Media, Unhinged Anger Exposed





Like drunks crashing a frat party just as the first kegs arrive, wire service reporters and cable news anchors had a blast tearing talk host Rush Limbaugh to shreds Friday evening. Disregarding any remaining journalistic standards in their partisan newsrooms, details of Limbaugh's plea deal with Florida prosecutors were savagely twisted to serve their political purposes.

While early AP reports focused primarily on Limbaugh's "arrest", later versions were changed to more closely follow what had really taken place.

Same reporter, wildly different copy throughout the evening.

What happened? Did a managing editor later show up to read Brian Skoloff the riot act?


From the first version (Palm Beach Post):


Rush Limbaugh surrenders on prescription drug charge


By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Rush Limbaugh was arrested Friday on a prescription fraud charge after reaching a deal with prosecutors that will see the single count dismissed if he continues treatment and doesn't violate the law, Limbaugh's attorney said.

The subject of a three-year investigation, Limbaugh surrendered to authorities on a warrant charging him with fraud to conceal information to obtain prescriptions, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.

The 55-year-old conservative radio commentator came into the jail at about 4 p.m. with his attorney Roy Black and left an hour later after being photographed and fingerprinted. He posted $3,000 bail, Barbera said.

"He just kind of came in and he left," Barbera said.


Second version (Seattle Times):


Limbaugh reaches settlement in drug case

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Rush Limbaugh reached a settlement with prosecutors Friday in a fraud case involving prescription painkillers, though the conservative radio commentator maintains his innocence.

Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities about 4 p.m. on a warrant for fraud to conceal information to obtain a prescription, the first charge in the nearly 3-year-old case, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the state attorney. He was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black, said his client and prosecutors reached a settlement on a charge of doctor shopping.

Under the deal, Limbaugh would eventually see the charge dismissed in 18 months if he continues treatment for drug addiction, Black said.


And look at the differences in this third version (Fort Worth Startle-gram):


Deal in Limbaugh's case lets him avoid guilty plea

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and prosecutors in the long-running prescription fraud case against him have reached a deal calling for the only charge against him to be dropped without a guilty plea if he continues treatment, his attorney said Friday.

Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities on a warrant filed Friday charging him with fraud to conceal information to obtain prescriptions, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Jail. He and his attorney Roy Black left about an hour later, after Limbaugh was photographed and fingerprinted and he posted $3,000 (?2,390) bail, Barbera said.

Prosecutors' three-year investigation of Limbaugh began after he publicly acknowledged being addicted to pain medication and entered a rehabilitation program. They accused Limbaugh of "doctor shopping," or illegally deceiving multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions, after learning that he received about 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors in six months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion.


Note: despite the time stamps on these pieces, as best as I can tell, they are in the correct chronological order.


Meanwhile, pro-terrorist news agency Reuters was up to its usual dirty tricks, even bringing unrelated racism allegations into the story (excerpted here):


Limbaugh charged in Florida drug fraud probe
Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:48pm ET165


MIAMI (Reuters) - Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh turned himself in to police in Florida on Friday and was charged with prescription drug fraud as part of a probe that began more than two years ago, authorities said.

Limbaugh, best known as a brash and often moralistic talk show host, admitted an addiction to prescription painkillers in October 2003 after reports he was facing an investigation for allegedly using a housekeeper to illegally obtain drugs.

He was released on $3,000 bail after being held about one hour at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation came to light in October 2003 while Limbaugh was embroiled in a controversy that forced him to quit his job as a television football commentator.

The controversy stemmed from comments some people saw as racist. Limbaugh said the media wanted Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to succeed because he is black.


What in the world did Limbaugh's McNabb comments have to do with this case?


On the telly, Newsbusters and Expose The Left cover especially outrageous cable and broadcast news coverage, where "Rush arrested" was instantly plastered on screens.

Some of the unhinged graphics they captured from CNN and MSNBC are featured in this post. In addition, we've thrown in some kooky Air America anti-Rush propaganda just for kicks.

On MSNBC, Keith Olbermann seemed to react with particular glee at the thought of having a Limbaugh "mugshot". On one side of the screen, CNN also used that word.


Meanwhile, some liberal bloggers couldn't seem to decide whether they were thrilled ("Limbaugh arrested") or depressed ("Limbaugh gets off easy"). In reviewing sites, you'll find examples of each.

Don't expect this issue to soon go away.

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28 April 2006

Rush Limbaugh, Florida, AP

MSM: LIMBAUGH 'ARRESTED'

Rush Reaches Deal To Settle Drug Charges







In what is sure to disappoint liberal opponents everywhere, radio talk show king Rush Limbaugh and Florida prosecutors have reached an agreement concerning charges related to his abuse of prescription medications.

In an extreme example of mainstream media spin, however, it has quickly been portrayed as an El Rushbo "arrest", rather than a settlement.

Announced late Friday, the deal allows for Limbaugh to escape a charge of "doctor shopping" if he agrees to continue visiting the same primary care provider that has successfully treated his addiction for more than two years.

Was Limbaugh really arrested? Yes, but only as a procedural element of the deal, it's not as though he was rounded up and slapped with handcuffs. For news agencies to focus on and twist this aspect shows astounding bias, as it's not a central element of the story.

From Danny N at the New York Radio Message Board:

I love how the media is portraying this as if Rush was taken down by a SWAT team, cuffed, and thrown in the back of a cruiser. Basically, as long as he stays clean for 18 months, the charges will all be dropped and this entire situation will be behind him.


Friday evening, Limbaugh syndicator Premiere Radio Networks issued this (excerpted) press release:


In response to media and other inquiries, Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh’s attorney, released the following statement today concerning a settlement agreement with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office to end the investigation of Mr. Limbaugh:


"I am pleased to announce that the State Attorney’s Office and Mr. Limbaugh have reached an agreement whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months. As a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of his addiction without relapse.

“Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of ‘Not Guilty’ to the charge filed by the State.

“As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of “supervision” and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.

“Mr. Limbaugh had intended to remain in treatment. Thus, we believe the outcome for him personally will be much as if he had fought the charge and won.”

The actions taken today are as follows:


The State Attorney has filed a single charge of doctor shopping with the Court. The charge is being held in abeyance under the terms of an agreement between the State and Mr. Limbaugh.

Mr. Limbaugh has filed a plea of “Not Guilty” with the Court.

The formal agreement between Mr. Limbaugh and the State Attorney will be filed with the Court on Monday. The terms of the agreement are substantively as follows:

Mr. Limbaugh will continue in treatment with the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years.

After Mr. Limbaugh completes an additional 18 months of treatment, the State Attorney has agreed to drop the charge.

Mr. Limbaugh has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation.


Within minutes, news outlets across the country began to report this highly misleading version of the story, with emphasis on a Limbaugh "arrest":


(ABC 7 Washington)

Rush Limbaugh Arrested On Prescription Drug Charges
Friday April 28, 2006 6:29pm

West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP) - Officials in Florida say radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been arrested on prescription drug charges.

A spokeswoman for the State Attorney's office says Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities at about 4 p.m. Friday.

The conservative radio commentator arrived at the jail with his attorney, Roy Black, and was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

Black says his client and authorities reached a settlement on a single count charge of doctor shopping filed by the State Attorney that will be dismissed in 18 months.

Prosecutors contend that Limbaugh engaged in "doctor shopping," or illegally deceived multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions.

Limbaugh maintains he's innocent. He has acknowledged he became addicted to pain medication, blaming it on severe back pain. He took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a rehabilitation program in 2003.


As we'll be updating this later, be sure to check back for more details. This is sure to very quickly become a major controversy as Mr. Limbaugh seeks prescription drug treatment for his addiction.


UPDATE: A slightly more honest version from Bloomberg News.

Drudge kicks in: "Not Guilty"

Hot Air has more, as does National Review Online.

The Palm Beach Post can't keep insults out of an item on Limbaugh's charitable giving:


RUSH'S GENEROUS SIDE

Rush Limbaugh must be getting soft, especially with causes that touch him.

Recovering drug addict Limbaugh — who, believe it or not, now spends hours on the air defending oil companies, in addition to the White House — has donated $20,000 to the Miami-based nonprofit Friends of Drug Court Inc. The organization helps first-time drug offenders who've gone through Drug Court and need to get back on their feet. And he's given another 20 Gs to a Miami youth program.

"I'm holding a $40,000 personal check from Rush Limbaugh right now," said Miami lawyer Rick Freedman, who's charged with distributing the funds. "I'm stunned. I didn't ask him for money."

Freedman said he recently played charity golf with "El Rushbaugh" (PBG lawyers Bob Gordon and Adam Doner completed the foursome). A week later, he e-mailed Limbaugh to ask for auction items for the charities, and Limbaugh sent the check.

"You're doing God's work," read an e-mail Limbaugh sent Freedman.

Plus, the Post ran what appears to be the most slanted version of events.

Late Update-- Rush's boss issues statement:


Statement on Rush Limbaugh from
Kraig T. Kitchin, President/COO Premiere Radio Networks

LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2006 – “I’m pleased that a settlement has been reached between Rush Limbaugh and the state of Florida that finally brings this matter to an end. Rush’s not guilty plea is consistent with the position he has taken all along. Throughout it all, he has continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to his listeners, affiliates, and advertisers. We have always stood by Rush – for good reason – and will continue to do so.”

Late Update: Palm Beach booking information here.

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27 April 2006

State Of Radio, NAB Convention, Dan Rather

I SAVED MONEY

...By Switching To Industry Convention Non-Attendance




Just to hear Dan Rather, of all people, explain why bloggers need to be held more accountable for what they write, would you willingly shell out gobs of hard-earned money?

At this year's National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, that's precisely what many industry professionals found themselves forced to endure.

Beyond brutal dollar slots and suspiciously potent "free" drinks, attendees heard the same great points that are expressed annually about radio's sad state of affairs.

If only the corporate suits were paying attention to something other than the cocktail waitresses.

In my latest Inside Radio column, how I filed a convention "report" from far, far away.

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Rather photo: AFP via BBC

26 April 2006

Air America Radio, WLIB, Randi Rhodes, Al Franken

DRUDGE: AAR MELTDOWN

On Temporary NYC Station, Leaked Ratings Show Huge Drop





After someone with access to early Winter 2006 Arbitron radio ratings results leaked them to Matt Drudge, Air America Radio can't possibly be happy. **Update below: Drudge understated losses**

While basic, overall audience figures will be released at 5pm today, Matt was slipped a copy of specific breakdowns this morning, bringing bad news for Franken & Co. For setting advertising rates, these quarterly numbers are especially important.

Normally, much of this information isn't disclosed to the public.

Almost immediately after the Drudge flash was posted, the Radio Equalizer's in-box was stuffed with readers wondering if we had the rest of the story.

For WLIB-AM, Air America's temporary New York City home, Drudge reports this:


the just released radio Winter Book [Jan-Mar 2006] from ARBITRON shows AIR AMERICA in New York City losing more than a third of its audience -- in the past year!

Among all listeners 12+, it was a race to the bottom for AIR AMERICA and WLIB as mid-days went from a 1.6 share during winter 2005 to a 1.0 share winter 2006.

During PM drive, host Randi Rhodes plunged to 27,900 listeners every quarter hour, finishing 25th place in her time slot, down from 60,900 listeners every quarter hour in the fall.

A network source says the radio ratings released today do not reflect the overall growth of the broadcast.

"The demos are better, and listerners trust AIR AMERICA to give them the real truth on issues and the Bush presidency," says the insider.


Just who is the crazy "insider" who won't put a name to these outlandish claims?


Later, another leaker posted this on the New York City radio board, where broadcast professionals chat about the business:


The numbers I am hearing for Air America are worse than that.

The figure I have for 12+ is that they dropped to a 0.8, from a 1.4 in the last book.

They lost almost half their audience in every daypart.

The 25-54 numbers are just as bad, with huge drops around the clock.

As far as Rhodes, here are the 25-54 numbers for afternoon drive:

WABC - Hannity -- 2.6

WLIB - Rhodes -- 1.0

WOR -Hennican/White -- 0.7


What Drudge didn't mention: Air America's temporary lease extension for WLIB-AM runs only through August, while options for a new Big Apple home range from bleak to hopeless.

Still being considered: Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen's failed Sporting News Radio outlet, with a signal far weaker than WLIB's.

Please return for a great deal more on this still-developing story.

Update: Confirmed -- WLIB falls to an overall 0.8 from 1.4. This is ugly.

Slight gains for Air America in Los Angeles, but still just a 1.0 share. Flat in Chicago with a miniscule 0.7. These are tiny, tiny numbers for a network that's now had plenty of time to catch on.

Small piece of good news for Air America: the 1.0 Los Angeles finish slightly cuts the amount it has to pay Clear Channel to have its programming carried on KTLK.

New York radio poster takes on the pro-AAR spin here. Plus more at BoreAmerica.

Some bloggers such as Viking Pundit and others are wondering why Drudge actually understated Air America's New York City losses.

John in Carolina adds his take here.

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Lefty Lemon, AAR Spin: David A Lunde for the Radio Equalizer

Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary

MEDIA SNOW JOB

FOX Anchor, Radio Host Faces Low-Blow Oppo Tactics






For the FOX News Channel-hating "mainstream" press, it's too good to pass up: with Bush poised to select the next White House Press Secretary from the ranks of the Murdoch- owned outlet, here's a fresh chance to skewer his administration.

Suddenly, mild-mannered TV news anchor/ radio talk show host Tony Snow has become Insta-devil to the left, while previously not a major target.

Why not? Because rather than readily engage in partisan bomb-throwing, Snow has always been far more cautious.

While that has sometimes made his radio talk show a bit on the tame side, it's an excellent quality when performing under pressure at the White House.

Given his substantial background in politics and broadcasting, it's hard to imagine a better possible pick. That may be what has Democrats so up in arms over his selection. Take a look at his background:


Snow previously served as host of FOX News Sunday (FNS), the FOX Broadcasting network's Sunday morning public affairs program. As host of FNS from 1996 to 2003, Snow interviewed numerous world leaders, including National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice; Secretary of State Colin Powell; Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Sen. Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.; Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.; Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf; and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before joining FOX News, Snow was a nationally syndicated columnist with The Detroit News from 1993 to 2001. He was also a columnist for USA Today from 1994 to 2000. Earlier, he served as an editorial writer at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, VA; editorial page editor of The Daily Press in Newport News, VA; deputy editorial page editor of The Detroit News; and editorial page editor of The Washington Times. Snow's career in journalism began in 1979 when he was an editorial writer for The Greensboro Record in North Carolina.

In 1991, Snow took a sabbatical from journalism to work in the White House for President George H. Bush. He first served as the deputy assistant to the president for communications and director of speechwriting, and later as deputy assistant to the president for media affairs.


Because his radio talk show never really took off (and often competes against Rush Limbaugh where it is heard), giving up that side of his media career shouldn't be too big of a sacrifice. In addition, he could likely return to FOX News at the completion of any White House stint.

One major consideration: his health. Snow has been battling colon cancer for some time, how this might factor into the situation isn't clear. Reuters is reporting he's now been given a green light, after tests conducted earlier this week.


Neither Snow's mild-mannered behavior nor his cancer battle will quiet lefty critics, who reflexively dislike anyone connected with Bush. With just a quick search, look what turned up:


(Kos commenter) This is a huge gaffe, and now the cork can't go back in the bottle. Think of it. "Ex-Fox anchor" will follow Snow around, wherever he goes. Attention will be paid to his vile lies of the last 5 years, which he will now have to publicly defend. I think Ailes thought the free publicity would be good, but this is about to become a train wreck for Fox whether Snow accepts or doesn't.

It's lose-lose for Fox all the way. If he turns down the "offer," he looks like a chicken sh-- wimp too afraid to defend der Führ fearless Leader for the loss of free bagels in the green room. If he accepts the offer, he becomes the story and may rival Kerik in terms of the speed of his resignation.


On Snow and race issues, more Kos crapola here.

From Blatherwatch:


Snow has had a recent bout with colon cancer- (not uncommon for clench-sphinctered Republicans) which accounts for his hollow-eyed, narrow-foreheaded, Frankenstein look lately.

It's probably a good move for the beleaguered White House, whose fearless leader's approval ratings dropped to 32% today in the new CNN poll. That's a point drop from the weekend's Fox poll which gave him 33%.


The left-leaning TVNewser with a warning:


Tony Snow Is About To Be Scrutinized

Question from The Note: "Can you name the news organization or interest group that has already done the most thorough analysis of Tony Snow's columns and television and radio appearance transcripts, on not just gas prices but the full range of topics? Answer: OH, YES, WE CAN."


At David Brock's O'Reilly/FOX-obsessed Media Matters, Snow is an outright liar (but curiously, Al Franken isn't):


Even more Tony Snow falsehoods

Summary: Media Matters for America documented a number of Tony Snow's false or misleading claims when it was reported that he was on the shortlist for the position of White House press secretary. Following are numerous additional claims advanced by Snow in print and on the air.


With Snow's likely selection, today could be Day One of a true turnaround in the Bush Administration's fortunes. That's the last thing these guys would like to see happen.

UPDATE: New York Times reports Dems using Snow's recent criticism of Bush against him. Nice BBC spin, Snow is reduced to merely a "radio presenter".

Newsbusters has an excellent round-up of Snow-related commentaries, including some nasty words from the left.

Get a load of the anti-Snow Frankenspin at this ABC story!

Welcome Wizbang, Michelle Malkin, National Journal Hotline's Blogometer, National Review's Media Blog and Hot Air readers!

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Top Snow image: David A Lunde

25 April 2006

MP Andre Arthur, Canadian Parliament, Canada, Freedom Of Speech

FREEDOM OF SPEECH-LESS

Over 1998 Talk Show, Canadian MP's Heavy Price





With the world's recent focus on Chinese freedom of speech suppression, in more subtle and rarely-publicized ways, it also afflicts supposedly "free" countries.

Need a nearby example? Look no further than Canada, where for apparently insulting Arab and Haitian cab drivers, former radio talk show host and current independent Quebec MP Andre Arthur has been slapped with a huge fine.

Though the once-popular host's station, CKVL, no longer exists, its former parent company Metromedia CMR will share responsibility with Arthur for shelling out C$220,000 plus court costs to the cab drivers who filed suit.

Yes, in Canada, group defamation can cost the "perp" plenty of loonies.

Think vegetarians are disgusting? Saying so in public can bring unpleasant legal action from organizations acting on behalf of our non-meat eating friends across the country.

What a way to curtail freedom of expression! Perhaps the Chinese government should be taking notes.


While some of Arthur's comments are clearly racist in nature, should Arabs, Haitians or anyone else really have the right to sue for damages? Other than hurt feelings, how has anyone been harmed?

Canadians seem so accustomed to this type of silly excuse for litigation that these questions rarely appear to be addressed.

Excerpted from the Canadian Press story:

Mr. Justice Jean Guilbault of Quebec Superior Court said remarks Mr. Arthur made in November of 1998 when he was working for now-defunct radio station CKVL were racist and defamatory.

Mr. Arthur and Metromedia CMR, which owned CKVL at the time, will have to pay more than $300,000 including interest and costs after a taxi association launched legal proceedings on behalf of 1,100 Arab and Haitian drivers.

The host said the Montreal taxi drivers speak only creole and Arabic, in a city that is French and English.

He also said all the garbage on the street ends up in taxis driven by Arabs and Haitians, making the vehicles dirty and foul smelling.



Here's where Canada enters a legalistic Twilight Zone:


The Superior Court originally rejected a request from Fares Bou Malhab, president of the Quebec Association of Professional Taxi Drivers, for permission to launch a class-action lawsuit. The judge ruled defamation is, by definition, a personal attack.

But the Quebec Court of Appeal overturned that ruling.


One problem: Arthur never defamed any particular Arab or Haitian cab driver. Rather than making false statements of fact against any individual ("Jean-Claude bribed local officials to obtain a permit"), he gave personal opinions about the entire lot, based on past interactions.

As a result, any fine imposed seems especially unjust, yet quite typical in Canada's legal system.


Meanwhile, in an attempt to damage new Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Angry In The Great White North reports the Canadian media seem to be resorting to possible dirty tricks. Read the story here.

Update: sentence structure these kooks don't like. Why this doesn't bother them?

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Some images: Canadian Press, others: unknown

24 April 2006

Hot Air

INTRODUCING: HOT AIR

Site Takes Video Blogging To Next Level





At the newly-launched Hot Air, The Radio Equalizer is proud to be among the website's first group of affiliates.

Created by Michelle Malkin, Hot Air is a next-generation video- blogging site, with a key emphasis on breaking news and in- depth coverage.

In addition, viewers will have their own opportunity to become commentators.

Take a look!

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23 April 2006

Santa Cruz Sentinel, Michelle Malkin, FOX News Channel, UC-Santa Cruz

'WE'RE MOVING'

After UC-Santa Cruz-Inspired Threats, Malkins Pack Up





Days after receiving threatening emails and finding personal information plastered across the Internet by campus thugs, FOX News Channel contributor Michelle Malkin and her family are moving, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Known to students and locals alike as "Uncle Charlie's Summer Camp" and "UCk SuCk", the latest incident proves yet another black eye for the long-troubled University of California- Santa Cruz campus.

After Malkin published contact information from a publicly-distributed Students Against War press release, the violent anti-military group responded by disclosing private details, including her Maryland home address and phone number.

In a story published Saturday, Malkin told Sentinel reporter Roger Sideman, "I am now forced to remove one of my children from school and move my family."

(disclosure: Brian Maloney is a UCSC alum, served as a Sentinel correspondent as well as an area talk show host in the early and mid-nineties)

Mentioned in the piece, but not properly emphasized, is that SAW intended for public disclosure of their personal information, while Malkin gave no such authorization. After the anti-US military activists saw their numbers widely distributed, they attempted to withdraw them.

The cows were already out of the barn, however.


For the Sentinel, while making a slight attempt at balance, this piece continues a troubling recent campus suck-up trend. Yet the paper's readership is made up almost entirely of county residents, many of whom greatly resent the ever-expanding university.

Between the camps, the divide has never been greater, with community groups increasingly turning to litigation against the evil campus regime to stop unchecked growth.

Previously, the paper's reputation under one-time owners the McPherson family (including editor and current Republican California Secretary Of State Bruce McPherson) was conservative. To counter that now-ancient perception, the publication may be moving too far in the other direction.

A wild card: new publisher Molly Evans, who recently arrived from sister paper the Cape Cod Times. Memo to Molly: the campus brats, almost all from other regions of California, are never going to read your paper. Focus on the community.

More from the piece:


On April 11, Students Against War flushed military recruiters out of a campus job fair.

The next day, Malkin copied the cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three student activists at the demonstration from a news release intended for journalists and pasted them in her online column titled "Seditious Santa Cruz vs. America."

"I woke up in the morning and my cell had 14 new messages, 25 missed calls and it kept going on," said SAW member David Zlutnick, estimating the group's three media contacts have already sifted through 500 e-mails, more than 100 with death threats.

When students called Malkin to request she remove the student information, Malkin reposted the names and numbers several more times. She defended the decision, blaming SAW for posting a link to the news release on its Web site.

To Zlutnick, the retaliation Malkin got was simply "a taste of her own medicine."

"But to put all our energy into a cyber war with this crazy right-wing lady takes away from our larger mission to end the war," he said.


For Malkin, her family now bears the brunt of what notoriously- selfish UCSC activists didn't consider (because that would require caring about others): SAW disclosed details that put her children in danger.

Is that what they really want? Judging by the way they treat military recruiters, bodily harm doesn't much bother these spoiled babies.

Republishing their previously-disclosed out-of-town cell numbers (notice none had an 831/Monterey Bay area code?) didn't put any SAW activists in danger. There's simply no way to use these mobile numbers to track down the students in Santa Cruz.

Most troubling: that UCSC continues to receive state and federal funding for what is a deranged, politically partisan campus. For the Golden State, its continued existence truly damages the once-proud (but increasingly corrupt) University of California system.

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Top Malkin image: PBS, Deranged Slug graphic: SAW, paper images: Sentinel.

21 April 2006

CBS Radio, Opie & Anthony, Howard Stern, David Lee Roth

HYPE OVERLOAD

On Opie & Anthony Coverage, Complete Media Absurdity





After a full week of obsessing over the fate of Howard Stern's former FM morning show timeslot, the mainstream media is now engulfed by news satellite jocks Opie & Anthony will replace David Lee Roth on seven CBS Radio stations.

One problem: why does the story matter?



Today, even Catholic League President William Donohue got into the act, saying the shock-jock duo has been "forgiven" for their infamous 2002 sex-in-church stunt that got them canned in New York City.

It seems nobody can resist jumping in front of this parade!

Since their ugly New York implosion, Opie & Anthony have been largely forgotten, languishing on satellite radio.

In my latest Inside Radio column, the hype factor is explored in-depth.

What's going on? Can anyone explain why this matters?


Meanwhile, KSFO/San Francisco morning host Melanie Morgan's latest WorldNetDaily column has also been published, with a plea for conservatives to stick together. Read it here.


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20 April 2006

David Lee Roth, Opie and Anthony, Air America

'SOURCES'

Between Roth, Air America Coverage, An Interesting Parallel





With reports running rampant today that David Lee Roth has been fired to make way for the land- based radio return of nearly forgotten shock- jocks Opie and Anthony, the Radio Equalizer finds an interesting coverage parallel.

At least so far, every report indicates unnamed "sources" are behind the news leaks. That includes the AP wire version of the story.

Funny enough, when this site utilized the same approach to reveal fact after sleazy fact about Air America Radio's Enron-like corporate behavior, we were blasted by lefty network supporters.

Yet, as of this date, not one significant contention we've made about the company's prospects has been successfully refuted by Franken & Co.

That includes:


Evidence of an ongoing corporate shell game, especially involving LaRouchian weirdo Sheldon Drobny. With Drobny now striking deals in Phoenix and Little Rock, Michelle Malkin and the Radio Equalizer couldn't possibly have been more on target.


A completely accurate disclosure of the absurd salaries paid to Air America's (at best) marginally successful hosts, including Al Franken's $2 million 2006 base salary and producer Billy Kimball's insane $625,000 annual haul.


The first complete report of record- peddling CEO Danny Goldberg's less than cordial departure from the floundering network. Our exclusive details were unmatched by anyone else.


In addition, we broke the story that Air America was in danger of losing its New York City affiliate, of which the company has since been able to obtain only a temporary extension.


While it seems unlikely reports of Roth's firing are incorrect, we still don't know entirely for sure.

For us, however, The Order Of Things is quite clear. Within the mainstream media, there's a real double-standard, where everything we report is looked upon with skepticism, while the AP can handle sources and stories as they see fit.

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Frankenjerk: David A Lunde, Roth photo: AP

Santa Cruz, Michelle Malkin, Keith Olbermann, UC-Santa Cruz, SAW

HOMETOWN MELTDOWN

MSNBC Host Backs UCSC Deceit





While the Radio Equalizer expects little in the way of integrity from MSNBC "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann, Monday's "Worst Person in the World" award represented a fresh program low. (Expose The Left has segment video here)

By leaving out a key detail, Olbermann effectively slandered "winner" Michelle Malkin. Did she really disclose personal contact information for unhinged UC-Santa Cruz anti-military recruiting protestors?

They've been responsible for a several recent violent incidents on campus. In addition, they may have inspired a series of attacks against churches and individuals in neighborhoods unlucky enough to exist beneath the university.

Yet the local media seems perplexed by the "conservative backlash" these incidents have generated.

Sure enough, Malkin did release their numbers, but the information came straight from a "Students Against War" press release.

Sleazy Olbermann, increasingly desperate to close the wide ratings gap with Bill O'Reilly, failed to mention that key point. Nor did he find time to say that Malkin is a FOX News analyst and regular O'Reilly Factor guest.

Since then, Malkin has received threats from supporters of the violent protestors, which she has directly confronted on her website.


Given these sleazy antics, Olbermann may very well appear a prime candidate for a UCSC professorship, right next to ancient, violent radical Angela Davis. At the very least, he provides an excellent "role model" for student protestors, who've since tried to rewrite history, pretending they hadn't included their personal information in the initial SAW press release.

As a UCSC alum (Cowell College- International Politics) and having grown up in Santa Cruz County (a very rare combination), it's been strange, yet fascinating to watch conservatives at the national level battle the same forces we once fought locally.

In 1993, your Radio Equalizer began in Monterey Bay Area talk radio, hosting shows that often focused on fighting campus moonbats. After fellow host Daryl Alan Gault began to call it "UCk SuCk", the name began to catch on in the community.


Except in its first few, idealistic years, UC-Santa Cruz has been a government-run con game, where it always has the last laugh. How long will taxpayers continue to fund a failed academic experiment, one that only grows more radical as the years pass?

Even the bratty "rebels" UCSC has traditionally attracted, primarily upper-middle class suburbanites from Southern California, are in on the scam: they call it "Uncle Charlie's Summer Camp".

When the campus was small, under 10,000 students, it was merely an annoyance in tiny Santa Cruz County (population 250,000, second-smallest in land area behind San Francisco). While locals had long ago given up dreams of a university that could be a source of community pride, there was hope it could at least cease to be a full-blown civic black eye.

As UCSC, now over 15,000 students and sadly destined to further spread like a virus above the city, community groups must now resort to lawsuits in an almost-futile attempt to keep this arrogant and imperialistic state-run menace in check.

Taxpayer scandals, such as a major flap over a $600,000 chancellor's home remodel featuring a $30,000 dog-walking track, have not brought reform to the perpetually-troubled university.


As this increasingly-tyrannical campus sucks the life out of Santa Cruz County, residents are often caught on the wrong end of these brats and their latest tantrums. And the community seems to have little idea how to stop the violence, vandalism and hate that so often originates on campus.


For a true deer- caught-in- headlights viewpoint, get a load of this Santa Cruz Sentinel editorial, which addresses recent incidents where students are thought to be involved:


There seems to be no end in sight from vandalism.

Recent cases of vandalism around Santa Cruz have involved more than just malicious mischief. The defacing of some sport utility vehicles on the Westside of Santa Cruz last weekend had a so-called "political" aspect to it.

As one contributor to the Sentinel's online "Editors' Notebook" wrote: "All the vandals needed to do was ask themselves a simple question: 'Will slashing tires and scrawling paint cause SUV owners to turn in their vehicles?' The answer is an obvious and resounding 'no.'"

There's plenty of other vandalism around town. There might be a variety of reasons for it — frustration, political and/or religious beliefs or just the thrill of getting away with it.

But we think it's time for the city to take notice. Vandalism is a serious problem; the City Council ought to consider a study session with its Police Department and brainstorm ideas as to how to bring the problem under control.


Boy, that's telling them! In Santa Cruz, the chickens have come home to roost and even the local daily is afraid to take them on.

Of the increasing danger it faces from politically-motivated violence, is Santa Cruz in denial? Perhaps in the past, but probably not now.


What's it like to watch from afar one's hometown slowly collapse? It's not easy, but with a substantial area population decrease since 2000, we're also not alone. There are Santa Cruz refugees scattered across the country.

Because of poor economic conditions imposed by local leaders (installed by previous moonbat UCSC students), young people and families are increasingly forced out of the area. While the campus builds whatever it likes, the area housing supply is tightly regulated, leading to Carmel-like home prices.

For those who can afford to stay, the area's quality of life has plunged under the weight of social engineering, leading to horrible traffic, deteriorating schools and a lack of respect for others (and most certainly their private property).

While there may be no hope for the long-doomed university campus, it's sad to see Santa Cruz also rapidly heading past the point of no return, simply because the UCSC virus continues to spread unchecked.

As for Olbermann, his punishment should be a 90-day stay in any residence occupied by UCSC students. After a few days around these brats, his tune will surely change.

Will he then name himself "The Worst Person in the World"?

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How We Learned to Love Keith Olbermann: Pete at IHillary

19 April 2006

California, Teen Drinking, Cocktails, Sen. Carole Migden

DRUNKEN LAWMAKING?

CA Senator's Teen Booze Grandstanding





As much as industry professionals like to complain about the theoretical inaccuracy of Arbitron ratings, in radio, we unfortunately live and die by them.

Does that mean, however, that lawmakers should utilize the data for purposes of establishing public policy?

In my latest Inside Radio column, find out why grandstanding California State Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) thinks Arbitron should guide what your children hear on the radio.

How is the broadcast industry responding?

And at least one outspoken winemaker thinks Migden's been drinking too much of the cheap stuff (hint: it's pink and comes in a box).

As to why lobbyists are still legitimately needed, Migden's recent hypocritical antics provide a necessary post-Abramoff reality check.

Just remember to hold your nose when you're hiring one.

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