Liberal talk radio hosts, including Air America Radio, trended ahead of Rush Limbaugh in key Florida demographics.
Liberal talk radio hosts, including the new liberal talk network, Air America Radio, trended ahead of Rush Limbaugh in key Florida demographics.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - KC
I've not liked Rush for being a hypocritical hatemonger. That said I think the reason the argument for some of "outings" and flashbacks against the right for a say-one-thing-act-another style falls apart because you can't combat hatred with more hostility. If you want to combat the trends of factless over-biased reporting, you can't do it by spewing more rhetoric.
27 - Nancy
Ick! I couldn't see anyone of ANY gender wanting to get together with Karl Rove or Limbaugh. They both look like they're made of crisco, & if you poked 'em, the indentation would stay. EEEEEEYYYYYEEEEW! Altho they DO have complementary personalities. Maybe it WOULD work: it would be a match made in hell, what?
28 - billy
I am a little astounded by posts 17 and 26. Maybe this is the reason democrats keep losing. The republicans have a loon like rush limbaugh spouting anti american hatred and it seems to have worked wildly. When someone on the left answers in kind, other lefties denounce them, you saw it with dean, durbin, etc. Noone can argue with the fact that the Rush's of the world helped the right. Why are people on the left so afraid to answer and fight fire with fire? Maybe this is the cause of the impression that democrats are timid.
29 - Joe
Something to do with the concept of if you have to become your enemy to defeat your enemy you still lose, maybe?
30 - lefty
the issue i have is that it is not the left becoming "like" the right. Instead this is like the left going into a gunfight with the right while wearing boxing gloves. I dont care if you are mike tyson. you need to fight fire with fire.
31 - Pilgrim
you fight fire with water, or by removing either heat, fuel or oxygen
adding fire to fire just makes a bigger fire until there is nothign left
32 - Victor Plenty
"I've seen this photo with like 10 different heads pasted onto it now." -- so saith DrPat.
Wow! So that photo must be the beast with 10 heads from the Book of Revelation! Truly we are living in the end times.
Or something.
33 - Dave Nalle
>>most democrats dont care that these high level republicans are gay. what they care about is the hypocrisy of a gay man working against the gay person's interest.<<
That's just it, these highly placed gay Republicans don't believe they're working against the interests of gays. They believe - and you can confirm this on the log cabin republican website - that the best way to be gay is to not seek special recognition, but just to go about your life as if it's normal to be gay and assume that people accept you that way. They also believe that policies which benefit them as PEOPLE are more important than policies which are specifically tailored to their gayness. That's why they are gay Republicans.
Dave
34 - Mike Kole
Never heard of the Log Cabin Republicans? Of course, I've always maintained that they should be involved with the Libertarian Party.
I'm not at all in agreement that the GOP is becoming "a relic of the past" as is stated in this piece. The GOP, like it or not, is about at its peak of dominance right now. I think you can fairly predict that this dominance will recede, that the trend is in a beginning to swing back, as it always has historically when a party takes a temporary ruling position. That's what these radio numbers really hint at in my estimation- the beginning of the ebb after high tide.
The tagline caught my attention. It directed the reader to "More left-leaning and libertarian political commentary can be found at the Rights and Freedoms Coalition website." Of note: "left" together with "libertarian". This is accurate for many Federal issues, and especially on the ones that site covers.
35 - Nick Jones
But Dave, you're talking about the Log Cabin Republicans, who are open about their sexuality. What about those still closeted, yet working against the best interests of those who share their gender preference?
DrPat, the first time I read of Drudge's secret life was when David Brock mentioned it in an interview he gave to Penthouse magazine; he further expounded on it in his memoir, Blinded by the Right.
36 - KC
"adding fire to fire just makes a bigger fire "---Pilgram
EXACTLY!
"They believe - and you can confirm this on the log cabin republican website - that the best way to be gay is to not seek special recognition, but just to go about your life as if it's normal to be gay and assume that people accept you that way."---Dave
I'm sorry, but I don't see that in their actions. Aligning with the far-right is a group of Christians (and I'd like to point out this A GROUP and not all Christians) who'd very much like to see anyone "outed" as gay removed from certain jobs. An action that falls into the category of discrimation.
It would seem to me (and this is only my opinion) that within this group of gay Republicans they feel a measure of safety from that discrimation for whatever reason. (The higher your social status the less likely you'll find yourself discrimated against so they might not even be aware of the problems others have without that benefit)
Does outing these folks make any sense? No, I think not. All you're doing is increasing the fear and phobias already drowning us.
Is it turning against any group to say let's stop this nonsense? I don't think so, we need to knock this off. Stop screaming, stop looking for the easy argument, and look at the facts with some logic instead of dogma. As important as it is to speak out about issues it's natural to use objective language, but going for the personal hurt, digging at a specific person's life or family is exactly the problem I have with current Administration.
Why would I tolerate it coming from anyone else who wants my support?
37 - Dave Nalle
>>But Dave, you're talking about the Log Cabin Republicans, who are open about their sexuality. What about those still closeted, yet working against the best interests of those who share their gender preference?<<
My main point is that I don't believe that they think they're working against the best interests of the gay population. These are people who may be gay, but place sexuality and sexual preference far behind other issues in importance. They aren't interested in marrying a gay man, they're interested in power and wealth and success and other issues which have little or nothing to do with sex, or which give them the status to remain closeted and protected and enjoy the best of both worlds. Think of them as a bunch of modern day J. Edgar Hoovers - so powerful he could be as weird as he liked.
Dave
38 - Pilgrim
mentioning hoover is a fine example. another that denied who and what he was, and instead sought worldly gain and ruined others lives from petty spite and vindictiveness. ho wmany other gays did hoover destroy, drive to suicide or ruin?
a fine and fitting analogy.
39 - nic
MIAMI, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh's attorney, issued the following statement regarding the release today of some of Rush Limbaugh's medical records to investigators and the return of most of the records to Mr. Limbaugh.
ADVERTISING
I am confident that the State Attorney will find nothing in these records to support a charge of doctor shopping, because there was no doctor shopping. The records show that Mr. Limbaugh received legitimate medical treatment for legitimate medical reasons.
We are grateful to Judge Barkdull for providing the review of the records for relevancy that we requested. Most of the records were returned to me today, and were not given to the prosecutors. This proves our point that the State's wholesale seizure of Mr. Limbaugh's medical records was improper.
The prescription records that are in the search warrant affidavits should be put in perspective. Of the 2,130 pills prescribed, only 1,863 were painkillers, and of those only 1,733 were for hydrocodone. These were to be taken over a period of 217 days, from the date of the first prescription until 30 days from the date of the last prescription. The dose averages out to eight pills a day, which is not excessive and is in fact a lawful dose.
Ninety-two percent of the pain medication was prescribed by two doctors who were treating Mr. Limbaugh for back pain. They work in the same office from the same medical file, and there could be no doctor shopping between them. One of these doctors also prescribed 117 pills of a drug used to treat high blood pressure or to help wean patients off of painkillers.
The other two doctors are the California surgeon who implanted the cochlear implant to restore Mr. Limbaugh's hearing and a Florida doctor he was seeing for follow up on the surgery. Of the 180 pills prescribed by the surgeon, 100 were vitamin pills. Of the 110 pills prescribed by the fourth doctor, 50 were non-painkillers prescribed for tinnitus, ringing in the ears.
The bottom line is that these prescription records might tell a story, but it is not a story of doctor shopping. We continue to believe that Mr. Limbaugh is being pursued by overzealous prosecutors and that he should not be charged with any crime.
We also continue to believe that the search warrants were issued based on faulty and misleading statements from investigators and that the search was improper under both state and federal law. If necessary, we will renew our motion to suppress all of the records at a later date.
Source: Roy Black
40 - confused
That's from the defendant's attorney. Let's wait until the whole set of facts in the case are made clear. There is the whole bit about the woman on his household staff filling scripts for him, and getting some pill sfrom the black market.
All of this is allegations at this point. Wait until the actual trial.
41 - Jimbo the Right Wing Hack
My goodness I just read your "Official Comments Policy". I am sooooooo confused. It clearly details the following" I will not remove a comment for being off-topic, or stupid, or inane, or insufficiently grave for the post: our focus is personal insults and unfounded accusations." Another case of the left wing saying one thing and doing the opposite????? You guys lost The House of Reps in '94, the Senate in '98, The whole enchilada in'00 and '04 (big time) and you will lose again in '06 AND '08. After the off year election in 1934 Dems controlled 67 seats in the Senate out of 96. You now have 45 out of 100. There is a reason for that (Teddy Kennedy - the master of innanity, insults and unfounded alllegations maybe??) and I thank Allah every day you guys haven't figured it out...... America, is this a great country or what? Sorry I didn't follow the string and insult anyone or toss out any unfounded accusations. Too early in the morning, maybe later....right now I am going to fire up an Arturo Fuente for breakfast and feed the cats. Ciao, baby!
42 - Nancy
Well, now, why should Rush Limbaugh be extended the courtesy of 'wait[ing] until the whole set of facts...are made clear'? He himself never extended this courtesy to anyone else, never made allowances, never gave consideration for possible special circumstances, and above all, never hesitated to judge & condemn without evidence or compassion of any kind - yet now we're supposed to cut him a break? Noooo...I think not. I think Limbaugh can be judged as he judged others, lol! And it couldn't happen to a more appropriate asshole.
Get the noose ....
43 - ClubhouseCancer
Google "limbaugh drugs" and let Rush tell it:
"Too many whites are getting away with drug use...Too many whites are getting away with drug sales...The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."
"Just another dead doper. And a dirt bag." -- On the occasion of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia's death.
"Kurt Cobain died of a drug-induced suicide, I just -- he was a worthless shred of human debris."
Drug addiction can happen to anyone. Acknowledging that and stepping back from the statements above would be brave and honest, two qualities never associated with this entertainer.
44 - Dr. Tristan, M.D.
If George Bush is gay~~~
then what's the big deal if Rove, McClellan, Cheney, and Rumsfield were gay too...??
Why is everyone intent on making an "issue' about "gayness" ......
I thought we were "supposed" to be happy ...?????
45 - Nancy
Nah - they're not gay; they don't dress well enough.
46 - PseudoErsatz
"Air America Radio overtaking Rush Limbaugh in Florida"
Must be the use of the 'new math'--"more is less and less is more". If you agreey, Thakn a teechur!
47 - Jimbo the Right Wing Hack
Ooooo Nancy.... I have one word for you....'Decaf', babe 'Decaf' you're wired waaaaay up too tight. The 90s called and they want their Ad hominems back. Sphincters are very necessary....it's a dirty job but somebody has to do it and besides, they never get the credit they deserve and no one even pays any attention to them except when they quit working.
Ciao Baby (:o)
48 - Natalie Davis
Absolutely, Mr. Joe. If you "win" a battle but lose your soul in the process, you are a loser overall, and in the end, that is what counts. That is a concept the Democratic Party needs to learn and understand. I hold little hope that the Dems will take that advice.
I am one who believes that closeted gays in power who hurt other gays are fair game. But to say someone is gay -- or het or anything -- without concrete proof is immoral and irresponsible. That doctored photo is just awful! And personally, I don't want to even think about Matt Drudge's sex life.
Oh, and being married with kids does not mean one is necessarily heterosexual. I know that from personal experience. What I don't know is Hillary Clinton's orientation -- and neither do I care, one way or the other.
49 - The Lonewacko Blog
While it's true that AAR or parts thereof are on 64 or so stations, many of those AAR stations are operated out of someone's apartment. For instance, their "Chicago station" is actually 1000 Watts and located in a city 50 miles to the northwest. All they need to do now is get the government to mandate that all radios have giant antennae and they'll be set.
Much more at BoreAmerica.com
50 - billy
its true aar is staticy in some places, but i think the point of the article is to say that aar is new and on the upswing, as evidenced by their performance in florida, while rt wing talk is old, boring, and on the way out.
51 - Al Barger
This column constitutes mere shotgun angry pinko ranting, not any kind of actual thinking.
For starters, you're engaging in wishful thinking at best to say that Air America is eating or ever will eat Rush Limbaugh's lunch. Ain't happening, ain't gonna happen. You get one very marginal favorable number from one selected demographic on one radio station, and trumpet it as the end of right wing radio. Hey, some days I'd like to slap Limbaugh my damned self, but he's the king of the hill, and recent events have not changed that.
The rest of this is just shotgunned hatin' scattered out and lumping together disparate people. For starters, categorizing Drudge as some kind of right wing pundit in league with these other guys is simply inaccurate. And why do you wish to smear him over his supposed sexual preferences, Mr Tolerant Liberal?
Drudge is certainly not in cahoots with Bill O'Reilly, who is not really any kind of conservative to begin with. I particularly dislike O'Reilly personally, but you're not really making any legitimate criticism of him here. Especially, why in the world would it be considered inappropriate to make sexual advances on Jenna Jameson? If there's anybody in the world that's fair game, she'd be right at the top of the list, wouldn't she?
52 - Maynard
So to Al, your occupation can make you fair game for harrassment in a professional ciorcumstance, even those that publicly profess upright moral character
And it looks like , according to Al it seems that having half the made up crap that spews from AM hate radio tossed back half as hard, and with some facts at least, makes him uncomfortable.
Talk about good for the goose and good for the gander. But some people don't like fair play, especially when they are on the receiving end.
53 - MCH
"...I think Limbaugh can be judged as he judged others, lol! And it couldn't happen to a more appropriate asshole."
- Nancy
Dittos, Nancy! And isn't it ironic, that Lardbaugh - who has made a fortune mocking liberal lawyers who manage to free dug addicts through loopholes in the law - is now himself relying on no less a liberal than Roy Black (savior of William Kennedy Smith) to save his, um, (ample) bacon.
Where would you and I be right now if we had illegally purchased the volume of Black Market prescription drugs that Lardbaugh did...?
54 - Al Barger
Now Maynard, you're just in partisan tribal attack mode. In what way am I on the receiving end in this here article? None of these people particularly speak on behalf of my viewpoint. I'm not speaking here in defense of anyone who represents my people, but merely as a literary critic. Hey, I'd like to slap the taste out of Bill O'Reilly's mouth myself.
Nonetheless, I find it hard to believe that a liberal critic is being honest in being offended at someone making sexual advances to Jenna Jameson- if that story is even true. And yes, it is my opinion that being a professional prostitute makes you fair game for sexual advances. Duh.
I note that you are apparently admitting that this author and/or liberals in general are spewing a bunch of "made up crap." You're simply justifying it by claiming that supposedly They do it too. Dishonesty does not constitute "fair play."
55 - Maynard
Al, nice try at taking what i say and twisting it. Read the whole thing again. I am just starting to learn about a lot of this political shit because somebody I trust told me it was important. He was right about calculus, I am guessing he is right about this too.
I could care less about the far side of either tribe, as you put it. My tribe has yet to be represented, we are just finding out who we are. But I'll say this, we ain't Rush Limbaugh or Fox news fans, we ain't Air america type either.
Go watch Jon Stewart, sometimes even Bill Maher.
56 - fatty limpballs
i will have to take a wait and see attitude. aar is quite entertaining and i cannot stand the shrill hatred coming from the right wing talk shows. but i am clearly biased. i also sometimes have to tune out aar because hearing the truth about the bush administration is to frustrating. sometimes ignorance is bliss.
57 - Randy Kirk
The right wing radio champs got where they are because of their personalities, and because they know how to work the radio crowd. If they had been left wing or middle of the road, they would still have been successful.
Sure, some of you don't like their personality, or maybe their politics get in the way of liking their personlity, like Maher for me. But they are oustanding radio personalities and that makes ratings.
I did radio for three years. I didn't have the money to put into production like they do, and I certainly wasn't as funny or clever. Try radio. See what it takes to do it well. Then jump these guys.
Moreover, the liberal guys will probably figure out how to do it, too. If they give it enough time and care enough. It is extremely hard work.
58 - Dan
Lie:
" People like Rush Limbaugh, who once posited that talented African American NFL player Donovan McNabb was only a starting quarterback because of his color,"
Basically he said McNabb gets a pass when he screws up... because he's black. This is, like 98.5% of everything Rush says, true. Depending on the level of racial sensitivity of whatever Sports journalist is covering the story. Rush was just keepin' it real.
The irony is liberals freaked on this story for the same reason that Rush exposed. For some reason they want to see that A black quarterback is successful, and they have a hernia if someone notices that McNabb is, from time to time, off his game. In this instance, it wasn't even a criticism of McNabb. Just an honest look at racial over-sensitivity by sports journalists.
There's way too many distortions in this post and the comments to straighten out. Not that I would really want to. Like Air America, the over-the-top kookiness is entertaining. But it's a little dangerous that so many of you get to vote.
59 - DrPat
Cool, Dave Nalle! Your ad from Google just headed up this page for me!
60 - Dave Nalle
LOL, Dr. Pat. That's amusing. Wonder which ad it was.
Dave
61 - RJ
"People like Rush Limbaugh, who once posited that talented African American NFL player Donovan McNabb was only a starting quarterback because of his color"
That, my friend, is a lie. And you either know it is, which makes you a liar, or you don't know it is, which makes you an ignorant fool.
Your choice.
62 - RJ
"making indecent propositions to porn star Jenna Jameson when he thinks no one will find out."
Cite?
63 - RJ
"the Democratic party's strong plan for the future"
[laughing uncontrollably]
And what is this "strong plan" exactly? Raise taxes and flee from Iraq?
64 - Dave Nalle
Well, RJ, that IS a strong plan. So long as your concept of the future is an America that looks like the collapsing socialist regimes in Europe.
Dave
65 - RJ
"why in the world would it be considered inappropriate to make sexual advances on Jenna Jameson? If there's anybody in the world that's fair game, she'd be right at the top of the list, wouldn't she?"
I was thinking the SAME EXACT THING, but you wrote it much more clearly than I could have...
66 - RJ
"Lardbaugh"
I thought he was relatively thin now?
67 - Dave Nalle
I think that he slimmed down by getting rid of everything BUT the lard, RJ.
Dave
68 - confused
spending a few years snorting oxycodone will drop pounds like you won't believe. and that's the whole problem with him trying to say it was for pain, horseshit. when you crush the pills, dice them into lines with a razor, and snort them up your nose, it's not for pain, it's for the high, just like any other junky. but he is a walking advertisement that you can work stoned off your ass, even if you are not a musician. hope he wasn't driving.
69 - billy
hallelujah. i finally have something in common with fattie limpballs
70 - Lono
Good post, and I agree. Americans are figuring out we are not remotely safe with Bush in charge (see, that is when Spain, America, and England were all attacked by terrorists... that is what President Bush has done for the world).
There seems to be a thread emerging about Rove being gay. That would be interesting, as it is his main tactic of defeating opponents... by push polling them as being gay. It worked against Anne Richards, and has already begun against Mrs. Clinton.
Air America is a good balance and a great start in taking this country back.
71 - The ViewMaster!
"Air America"??? It's "Oxymoron", Stupid!
Do I Have To Draw You a Picture???
Geez!
72 - BadKarma
It should be interesting to see what happens to Limbaugh's ratings if he ends up spending a few years "up the river" for doctor-shopping and perjury.
He has gotten mega-wealthy by manipulating millions of gullible people with his half-truths, character assasinations, and twisted logic. I get a chuckle thinking of him as some prisoner's bitch.
73 - Nancy
This is also the same courageous media crusader who took up against the dangerous, vile, 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, trashing a little KID because she happened to be the daughter of Hillary & Slick Willy, even tho she herself was innocuous, and certainly far better behaved & mannered than the Bush bimbos. SUCH a brave grown man, to be willing to slam a grade-school kid!
Limbaugh & Rove ... they look alike, too, don't they? I wonder if they're clones...?
74 - RJ
Limbaugh's attacks on teen-aged Chelsea were vile. I believe he has apologized for them.
We all make mistakes.
75 - Truth Teller
Rush Limbaugh Rules New York City
Tuesday July 19, 4:49 pm ET
- Numbers Don't Lie -
LOS ANGELES, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- As Rush Limbaugh approaches his 18th anniversary in August as king of the talk airwaves, his ratings assure his continued rule. Heard Monday through Friday on WABC-AM, The Rush Limbaugh Show is the #1 ranked talk program in the noon - 3 p.m. ET time slot. Among Persons 12+, Mr. Limbaugh has a 4.1 share with 139,100 listeners tuning in, on average, every quarter hour. Among Adults 25-54, he has a 2.5 share with 50,600 of them tuning in, on average, every quarter hour. Al Franken, who airs at the same time on WLIB-AM, has a share of 1.8 with 61,400 listeners Persons 12+ tuning in, on average, every quarter hour. With Adults 25-54, he has a 1.7 share with a listening audience of 34,400, on average, every quarter hour. Therefore, Mr. Limbaugh's audience is more than double that of Mr. Franken's audience.
Furthermore, among all radio programs on the AM and FM dial during the noon - 3 p.m. time slot, Mr. Limbaugh ranked #5 among Persons 12+ and #17 among Adults 25-54. Mr. Franken on the other hand ranked #23 among Persons 12+ and #20 among Adults 25-54.
In addition to Mr. Limbaugh and Mr. Franken, below are numbers for other talkers who don't run head to head with Mr. Limbaugh:
Host Share Avg. Quarter Hour Rank (all AM/FM
(Persons 12+) (Persons 12+) programming -
persons 12+)
Rush Limbaugh 4.1 139,100 5
Al Franken 1.8 61,400 23
Bill O'Reilly 2.1 72,700 20
Jerry Springer 1.1 37,000 26
Host Share Avg. Quarter Hour Rank (all AM/FM
(Adults 25-54) (Adults 25-54) programming -
adults 25-54)
Rush Limbaugh 2.5 50,600 17
Al Franken 1.7 34,400 20
Bill O'Reilly 1.2 23,900 23
Jerry Springer 1.0 18,600 25