(2006-12-18) — House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, said today that one of the first acts of the new Democrat-majority Congress would be to rescue the bankrupt progressive radio network, Air America, and merge it with NPR.
Air America insiders told The New York Times that the network was “top-heavy with management, inept at selling ads, unwilling to make program compromises that veered from the liberal message and overstaffed with more than 100 employees when two dozen would have sufficed.”
“In other words,” Rep. Pelosi said, “Air America represents the heart and soul of our great Democrat strategy for transforming government. It’s a model that deserves, in fact requires, preservation by the taxpayers.”
The new, government-funded Air America would be merged with National Public Radio, operate as NP Air, and resolve any staff redundancies by creating additional positions with identical responsibilities.
Air America talk host Al Franken will retain his show on the network, Rep. Pelosi said, “unless he decides to return to his career as a comedian, run for the U.S. Senate, or both.”
43 responses so far ↓
1 Scott Ott // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:05 am
Congress to Rescue Air America, Merge with NPR…
by Scott Ott(2006-12-18) — House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, said today that one of the first acts of the new Democrat-majority Congress would be to rescue the bankrupt progressive radio network, Air America, and merge it with NPR.Air America…..
2 DasPoetica // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:41 am
Sadly, this will probably turn out to be true. USA All The Way. - Das Poetica
3 onlineanalyst // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:50 am
NP Air? More like MT Air!
The Senate already has enough comedians. (Franken would just be an extraneous addition to the Baker’s dozen.) The Logan Actors are running around the ME, assuming that they have been crowned with foreign policy-making rights.
4 seneuba // Dec 18, 2006 at 9:16 am
Scott’s being sarcastic…..right?
Oops, forgot….Good morning!
I pray God’s blessing upon you all. May He grant you His mercy through His only Son, Jesus Christ.
5 conserve-a-tips // Dec 18, 2006 at 9:19 am
Good morning, this chilly morning. Scott, my we ARE prolific today, eh?
Al Franken for Senate - now there’s a Saturday Night Live comedy routine for you. “I’m good enough - I’m smart enough - and, gosh darn it, people like me.” Not.
Oh, about 5 threads ago, I mentioned that we spent a wonderful evening in Guthrie, OK at the Territorial Christmas Victorian Walk on Sat. night. I remember going into one of the antique stores with my daughter and her boyfriend and noticing that a couple of the “cowboys” were pushing each other around to start a mock gun battle. I commented to the kids that one was about to start, but they were more interested in the antique store. I remember hearing the shots and then one shot that sounded different from the others. I noticed it being louder then the others and remember wondering why. Well, on Fox News this morning, they said that someone had put a real bullet in one of the guns, instead of blanks and one of the cowboys really got shot! Fortunately, it was in the leg, but oh my. Oh, us crazy territorial Okies.
6 Rock Slatestone // Dec 18, 2006 at 9:20 am
Merry Christmas, my friends!!
7 Maggie // Dec 18, 2006 at 10:01 am
Good Morning all,
Air-america to be renamed ‘HAIR-America’ (hot air is rescued)
…….sorry, it’s early yet…..need coffee.
8 RedPepper // Dec 18, 2006 at 10:33 am
OK, which one of you put the methamphetamine in Scott’s coffee ? Confess !
How ’bout merging Air America with Amtrak instead ? Picture Al Franken and Jeanne Garofalo in those stripey caps !
9 Analchord // Dec 18, 2006 at 10:33 am
What is the mission of Air America? To make fun of W? What is the mission of US troops in Iraq? To finish the job? Lets finish the job! We should finish the job. We need an additinal 30K troops and then lets finish the job.
Finish the job.
10 Analchord // Dec 18, 2006 at 10:38 am
The Iranians are trying to rescue a radio station slogan in Iraq called, “Death to America”. That slogan is really wearing out in Shia land. They’re sick of it.
Last nite, at a Death to American rally in Sadr City, only 40 thousand people showed up. Harldy anyone was killed. it was a PR disaster.
And worse, nobody came up with a new cool way to wave their AK47s around and shoot up the sides of buildings. yeah, yeah, bang bang, is it prayer call yet?
Certainly american advertising know how can rescue the floundering terrorists in Iraq. they need a new slogan.
Maybe Bush’s speechwriter can help here.
11 Analchord // Dec 18, 2006 at 10:55 am
Forget Air America. There is a slogan called “death to america” that needs rescuing in Iraq’s Sadr City. The Shia are finally sick of chanting it. Last nite at a death to america rally, only 40K people showed up and hardly anyone was killed.
Worse, no one invented any new cool way to wave an AK47 around and shoot up the sides of buildings. Yeah, yeah, bang bang, is it call to prayer yet?
Certainly US advertising slogan know how can save this slogan. Maybe W’s speechwriters can help here. I’m thinking, “Kill the American Infidel to death” or something, but I’m not a pro. Just a suggestion. I dont know.
12 camojack // Dec 18, 2006 at 11:29 am
I think Al Jazeera would be happy to help with that…
13 Analchord // Dec 18, 2006 at 11:37 am
[deleted]
14 myword // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Huff……Huff……Puff…..Puff……Trying to catch up. Almost there.
Analchord, I don’t know who you are, but you’re funny.
C-A-T, loved your #5 Smalley bit.
Do you think Scott collects overtime pay?
Merry Christmas, all.
15 da Bunny // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Considering Franken’s current career, I was under the impression that he never stopped TRYING to be a comedian. What a senseless buffoon that man is…
16 da Bunny // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Myword, with all that huffing and puffing, I thought I was on the wrong site…[Huffington Post]
c-a-t, I don’t know if you ever watch Bill O’Reilly, but he always refers to Franken as “Stuart Smalley.” Hysterical!
17 seneuba // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Unfortunately, we’re stuck with links to Al Franken here in Minnesota. Along with other moronic lefties:
Mark (I closed my D.C. office cuz I’m scared) Dayton
Garrison “Stage Rage” Keilor
Minneapolis (Red) Star and Tribune
Thank God for Powerline, Captain’s Quarters, and Lileks to take the edge off!
18 everthink // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:25 pm
seneuba,
Thanks.
Sincerely,
ET
19 Terry Cowgill » Blog Archive » Mew, Mew All The Way // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:37 pm
[…] Speaking of my favorite radio stations, I hear Air America and NPR are merging. Well, at least they have a similar business model: neither can stay afloat without a subsidy from like-minded benefactors. […]
20 upnorthlurkin // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Senuba, re:#4, thank you. I’m your neighbor to the west and concur with your distress! Add our three stooges to the ones you mention and we could very well be terminallydepressed!
21 upnorthlurkin // Dec 18, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Ms.RW, where are you?! Email me so I can send you something. I seem to have an incorrect address…..
22 gafisher // Dec 18, 2006 at 1:06 pm
The hardest part about a merger between Air America and NPR will be noticing any change.
23 gafisher // Dec 18, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Oops, my mistake. Unlike Air America, NPR has stations and a business model.
24 Shelly // Dec 18, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Anybody know the count now for Air America bailouts? This is what the fourth or fifth try to find an advertiser/benefactor who doesn’t worry about silly things like ratings?
25 RedPepper // Dec 18, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Maybe one of the Democratic presidential hopefuls can adopt Air America and make it their official radio outlet .
The Hildebeast, for instance . Or the Breck Girl . Or Algore . Or “Jaw Jaw” Binkie …
26 seneuba // Dec 18, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Chuckling at RedPepper’s #25…
Hildebeast and “Jaw Jaw” Binkie
That’s just funny stuff!
27 Godfrey // Dec 18, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Ah, the free market in action. What a glorious sight.
Excellent post, Scott.
28 tomg // Dec 18, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Alas, the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club will really get raided for cash now that the big dog is coming to dinner.
29 Possumtrot // Dec 18, 2006 at 6:12 pm
I just got through a-ramblin’ on AMTRAK, RedPepper. They don’t wear the funny little caps any longer; the passenger crews dress in white shirts over gray slacks, and look very dapper.
They treat me like a king, too. I’m all for taking the NPR funding and redirecting it to subsidies for AMTRAK. If Garrison Keillor’s new movie sells, then he can survive commercially, despite Robert Altman’s demise. Mora Liason can show up on Brit Hume’s “All-stars” more often, and the rest of NPR can shop their resumes on Monster.com.
The subsidies for AMTRAK will only have to be in effect until the upcoming nuclear incident, or the next 9/11. (Take your pick of the inevitable.) After the fact, no one with two brain cells to rub together will want to set foot on an airliner. Passenger rail service will prosper like nothing since the turn of the 20th century.
Every time I see a reference to “Air America”, my knee jerks and I instantly think of the CIA’s “secret” air service in Nam and the rest of Southeast Asia. It must be an old-age thing.
Did those maroons like Franken and Garafolo ever consider the irony of what their network was called?
Belly-laughing with holiday spirit on Scorpion Hill…
30 Possumtrot // Dec 18, 2006 at 6:18 pm
I just posted a long comment about AMTRAK, the irony of “Air America” and the CIA’s “secret” air service in SE Asia, and maroons like Franken and Garafolo.
Alas, all is apprently lost.
Some folks may speculate that I’m dead, but it’s actually my updated MS Explorer that keeps me from posting more often.
31 Possumtrot // Dec 18, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Never mind; it made it. Happy Hanukkah, and Merry Christmas!
32 Godfrey // Dec 18, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Possum: You should try FireFox.
All the kids are doing it.
33 antodav // Dec 18, 2006 at 7:29 pm
I seriously hope you are just joking there, Scott. The last thing I want or need is for my tax dollars to go towards funding a left-wing propaganda network, on top of all else the Democrats will abuse them for.
Possum,
Ignore Godfrey. Firefox sucks. Try Opera instead; it’s great. Well, for the most part. But it’s better than Firefox, at any rate.
34 Possumtrot // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:25 pm
I ain’t fixing nothing that ain’t broken. I hate the new version of Explorer™, but HAL-9000 is very touchy about major changes, and may refuse to open the pod bay doors when I need them. I’d better stay with what’s loaded; I have no assurance of a re-load if I dump more superfluous programs. Adding anything will further confuzzle my beloved PhotoShop program that provides hours of amusement.
The world keeps changing, and I’m stuck in my ’50s childhood and ’60s adolescence.
If I hadn’t learned to type on an IBM Selectric years ago, I’d have been totally disqualified from participation in the cyber-age.
Did anyone else ever make that bizarre “Air America” connection? Or, was it really a secret? I thought Mel Gibson made a movie that pretty muh blew that whistle.
35 Possumtrot // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:32 pm
insert “c” where appropriate at end.
“much…” even
36 GnuCarSmell // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Air America has an image problem. They need a new name — something edgy yet descriptive. Broken Wind comes to mind.
37 JamesonLewis3rd // Dec 18, 2006 at 8:58 pm
I’ve been using Firefox (and Thunderbird) since the beta versions of early 2004.
38 Godfrey // Dec 18, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Possum: don’t listen to antodav.
While it’s true that Opera is favored by sissies, homosexuals and recovering WebTVers, everyone knows that real men chew tobacco and use FireFox.
39 everthink // Dec 18, 2006 at 11:16 pm
Possum:
Godfrey’s telling you the truth about Opera! Real men wouldn’t use anything except Firefox!
It runs circles around IE and it’s secure! Besides that it’s got plugins.
ET
40 everthink // Dec 18, 2006 at 11:19 pm
I started using Firefox and Thunderbird as soon as Al Gore got ‘em finished!
41 nylecoj // Dec 19, 2006 at 12:40 am
I caught the air America reference. I can’t imagine the folks that named it could have though.
42 camojack // Dec 19, 2006 at 1:29 am
Did anyone else ever make that bizarre “Air America” connection?
Comment by Possumtrot — December 18, 2006 @ 8:25 pm
Yes.
43 Godfrey // Dec 19, 2006 at 5:01 am
What a nightmare for these people:
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — A court convicted five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor of deliberately infecting 400 children with the HIV virus and condemned them all to death on Tuesday.
The accused have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The presiding judge, Mahmoud Hawissa, read out the verdict in a seven-minute hearing in a Tripoli court at the end of the defendants’ second trial.
The six defendants, detained for nearly seven years, had previously been convicted and condemned to death, but Libyan judges granted them a retrial after international protests over the fairness of the proceedings. Bulgaria contends the children were infected by unhygienic practices at their Libyan hospital.
An international legal observer, Francois Cantier of Lawyers Without Borders, promptly criticised the retrial for failing to admit enough scientific evidence.
Research published this month said samples from the infected children showed their viruses were contracted before the six defendants started working at the hospital in question.
“We need scientific evidence. It is a medical issue, not only a judicial one,” Cantier said.
More here.
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