Hopefully now that Air America has been bought and is coming out of bankruptcy, things will start improving at the progressive/liberal radio network. Conservative critics argue that there is no "market" for liberal radio, but they are wrong, and Thom Hartmann has proved that with the right marketing and station backing, progressive and liberal talk radio can compete against the right-wing big mouths, and even beat them! Thom Hartmann is the best radio talk show in the nation. He has published over a dozen books and is the most knowledgeable person I've heard on the radio. He even invites conservatives, usually libertarians, to discuss issues and he is polite even to them. He is not the scream and yell type, he is a thoughtful, considerate host, and he takes calls for most of his program. He is a great replacement for Al Franken on Air America, and I would argue he is a great improvement that will help Air America build a larger audience. Even thoughtful and intelligent conservatives (there are a few I guess) will like him. He does very well in Seattle and many markets, sometimes beating Rush Limbaugh! (I would love to see those two "debate", but Rush would be no match for Hartmann.) You can hear Thom Hartman on the internet, satellite radio and now Air America (Memphis Progressive Talk 680 AM), weekdays from 11-3 PM I think).
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I understand your excitement. For me, though, liberal talk radio is (at best) a necessary evil. Sure, it can be an emotionally satisfying answer to the conservative radio challenge, but the cost is undoubtedly a more bitterly polarized country.
Maybe that's one reason it is hard for liberal radio to get a leg up. Progressives know that real issues have more than two perspectives. If liberal radio wants to hold the interest of thinking people, it must be more than a mirror image of conservative radio.
I would prefer all that talent be directed toward media outlets dedicated to robust, professional journalism. But who wants to wait for that to happen?
Besides, not every talk show host is the same, and someone has to answer the reactionaries. So, I'll keep an open mind.
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