I listened to Lars this afternoon, a very rare thing to do because I worry about second hand stupidity.

Anyway, I heard a few comments about Thom Hartmann, enough that I know he's getting under Lars' and his listeners' skin but they kept dismissing Thom as a wild-eyed radical. Lars also said that Thom was afraid to face Lars. Haha.


Then I heard comments from callers who like the Lars show say that Ed Schultz is a good guy and willing to listen to both sides. Lars had nothing to say about that.

Ed Schultz seems to have the power to reach the ones "whose minds are made up." Good for him.

A couple of years ago Schultz challenged Lars to a debate for charity, and Lars made excuses and turned him down. So it's a little hypocritical for Larson to be chiding Hartmann for not wanting to face him.

It is funny to hear listener comments on the competing talk shows. I guess a lot of Larson listeners also listen to KPOJ, eh?

Schultz can be a blowhard and gets on my nerves sometimes. He's far from a "must listen." Lately I find myself listening to Mike Malloy on KPOJ again, even though like Hartmann he veers off into Looney Left land now and then.

Andrew

My husband likes Malloy. I usually don't but one night his wife said, "Mike Malloy - he goes to be angry so you don't have to." Hahahaha. That was the best line to describe him.

Schultz is successful because he does his show like a liberal Rush, plain and simple. Even On the Media pointed that out on their program once.

When it gets right down to it, Lars is a coward, just like O'Reiley was a coward when Al Franken challenged him to a debate over and over. Lars, if your so right all the time, why are you scared to debate someone on the other side? If your that sure of yourself, wouldn't you run right over him??????? All talk Lars.

Lars is worse than that, last August he said Germany never attacked the US before the US declared war on Germany.

I pointed out at one of his remotes that he was wrong as Germany had been attacking US Merchant Marine Ships earlier in 1941.

He in turn tried to have me arrested. The Sheriff's deceided they had better things to do and Lars got mad, since I wasn't arrested.

Ed Schultz is essentially another grumpy guy. Personally, I'd rather hear a local POV all day -- kooks, crackups and all -- like the old KKEY. This would improve KPOJ exponentially, and further solidify it in the community. It also would allow them to jettison AA -- when it is driven to extinction -- and go all local. This move is easy if they are only running it at night in the first place.

Lars. Gee whiz, what could I possibly add to that fine anecdote? Shucks, why not... Here's a juicy rumor to spread, I mean, heck, he lies too right? This silly yarn might also explain his inability to remember the facts about World War Two.

Let us pretend Mildred Gillars provided the inspiration for his pseudonym. In the sort of stirring tribute that only he could think of, he adopted the last four letters of her name, and jokingly called himself her son.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_Sally
http://www.earthstation1.com/Axis_Sally.html

How darling, how clever, and how scarily appropriate. Sure, it is utter cowflop, but you must admit a family resemblance.

Saveitnow writes:
Lars is worse than that, last August he said Germany never attacked the US before the US declared war on Germany.

You should have told him that Germany declared war on the US before we declared it on them. What were we supposed to do when an ally of the nation (Japan) that just clobbered our Navy at Pearl Harbor declared war on us? Would Lars have recommended we negotiate with the Germans instead of declare war back on them?

I pointed out at one of his remotes that he was wrong as Germany had been attacking US Merchant Marine Ships earlier in 1941.

But in truth, the United States had secretly been helping Britain militarily for at least a year before December 1941, making a lie out of America's so-called neutrality. These German attacks were not exactly attacks on neutral ships. Blame that on FDR. (In retrospect maybe we should give him credit.)

Andrew

Littlesongs writes:
Ed Schultz is essentially another grumpy guy. Personally, I'd rather hear a local POV all day -- kooks, crackups and all -- like the old KKEY. This would improve KPOJ exponentially, and further solidify it in the community. It also would allow them to jettison AA -- when it is driven to extinction -- and go all local. This move is easy if they are only running it at night in the first place.

Well, KPAM tried that their first two years on the air. The ratings just weren't there for "Radio Free Oregon" despite heavy promotion (although I listened often) probably due to lack of good talent. That's really the key. And honestly, there's only so much "local talk" most of us want to hear. I'm glad we have the KPOJ morning show for that, although I find it less focused since Carl Wolfson came on board. But, I don't need a local host to talk about national issues, and I'd get bored if it was all local issues.

Andrew

Andrew, you make some good points, but I am optimistic. I think that there are plenty of discussions to be had on a local level. Once the issues have been addressed for the morning, one can go beyond the partisan politics as we know it and into the neighborhoods. I think that both local and national issues could be addressed, and if it were a whizbang show, like Thom Hartmann, it could be syndicated and gain a national audience and callers from all over. A nation of neighborhoods.

KPAM was/is a disaster, but much like the situation down the valley with Churchill, I think ownership had/has everything to do with it. There is certainly nothing wrong with having Bob Miller in any lineup. Still, even with Bob -- the ever-popular and relatively centrist local favorite -- 860 has not shaken the "right wing" tag. It has chased potential listeners from day one.

The Portland Tribune has had to bust ass to be read at all -- even for free. While Dwight Jaynes could not help the numbers at KPAM, he has made a pretty doggone good paper out of the Trib. It aint the Journal, but his roots are in that publication and the solid local focus makes that quite evident. Unfortunately, they have jettisoned some fine writers over the years for economic, and perhaps political reasons. However, with Pamplin signing the checks, it is to be expected.

To get back to KPOJ, I am not saying that they have to have dry dark breadcrust topics all day. Parking fine increases and dumpster fires are not good radio. However, we are a big enough city that news happens that is worthy of discussion every day. How about a police standoff in a neighborhood? Or the "Rock and Roll Camp for Girls"? Something cool or crazy is happening all the time now.

Conversely, or perhaps perversely, there is no need for Soured Sterno topics like liberal and conservative women wrestling in mud -- although that does sound like a good show for him to try. I also think that Truss Limburger style vitriol has no place in there for any reason. It doesn't matter which side you are on if you are simply full of crap.

I will always push for more entertaining and interactive live local radio.

I really liked Dwight's radio show. For a while, it was a very interesting mix of topics. All over the map, but with some nice focus each day --enough that it worked well, I thought.

I share that push little --but it's gonna take a while yet. It's gonna have to get much worse before it gets better. Just like little kids, it has to be worth more to do right things than just easy things. So far, easy is still winning out.

AA hosed things up big time by demoting Cedar to a Sunday show. That guy has passion, hip production values, sharp as a tack and is personable. Miss hearing his show huge.

So, now it's Maddow (who also is really great in similar ways), Rhodes (but not all the time -she is like hard booze --moderation is the key), Thom and I do tune Schultz fairly often.

He's got that joe six pack kind of appeal. Somebody's gotta do it. He does it well, there is a place for it, so it's all good, IMHO.

I've never been able to identify well with Malloy. He's great for late night, but there is just something odd about him... don't know how to put it. Maybe somebody else can chime in.

Oh, what about regional people? To get from this national cookie cutter model to more local --or just more diverse, we've gotta build talent somewhere, or it's just not gonna happen.

(I think some powerful interests just don't want it to happen either)

So, regional programming splits the middle. One talented host could deliver shows for a region fairly well. For those times where issues crosslink, we would get very good commentary and news that we don't always get now.

It's either "bob seen it happen", "joe blow motor mouth axe to grind", or "national mr megaphone" Blech...