I pick right wing because if you are not with me, you are a leftist.

I pick right wing because it's easier when you are right.

Right wing is easier becasue that is where all the listeners are on the AM dial now days and where most of the money is made!

Right wing because the listeners are more easily led.

Yes! Led to the truth....ah..the right!

"Right wing is easier becasue that is where all the listeners are on the AM dial now days and where most of the money is made!"

Politics aside, this is the key: right wing radio makes the bucks, gets the listeners and has longer TSL. When left wing radio can do that, then I will gladly switch.

Has anyone ever figured out why right wing radio does so well vs. left wing?

Right wing because leftists are so frightened about freedom of speech on the radio, they're pushing for the so-called 'fairness' doctrine.

But when it comes to television, newsprint or academe, they shut up. Why? Because they already have their leftist bias firmly in place.

Hypocrites.

I heard a great analogy yesterday. Enforcing the 'fairness doctrine' for speech is like requiring a hard rock station to play polka music.

Herb

I feel a move of this thread coming soon....

Dodger is closest to the right answer. Radio has to first and foremost be entertaining. And for the right, being entertaining and engaging is more important than being factually correct. The left makes and defends their political arguments better, but that doesn't always make for better radio.

It's like elections. What matters first and foremost is getting elected, because being the best politician in the world means nothing if you don't hold elected office. The right knows that drawing listeners is Job One, being truthful runs a distant second. This doesn't mean that right wing radio is completely full of lies. It means that if telling the truth v. building listenership, listenership wins.

It is much easier to be a Left wing radio host. You don't need to use facts in your arguments or to make a point. You just make fun of your opposition and call them names. Trouble is, you can't gather an audience of like minded leftists because their attention span can't last to the first commercial break.

It's way easier to be a right wing radio host. No education or common sense is required, minimal intelligence gets you by, you can say whatever you want without researching the facts, and your audience is both loyal and gullible.

>>audience is both loyal and gullible

and we're friendly, fun loving, giving people too!

Advertisers love loyal listeners!

* Previous Posts Deleted *

Been there and done this already on the other side so no sense muddying up this side to!

Can't, can't, can't we all just get along?

I will pick "right wing"--despite the fact that I don't even agree with the use of this label--because Rush Limbaugh's early success in syndicated political caused the talk radio medium to become associated with conservative or pro-Republican political opinion in the minds of both the radio audience and people in the broadcast industry.

The world of economics and political science can be quite dry--bills, tax rates, externalities, unemployment rates, election statistics, office titles and duties, land use, public works projects, etc. The talkshow hosts take this dry material and make it exciting by presenting it as if it were a sport. This part is not specific to any political outlook; the host's job is to simply preach to the choir and shovel the ideological comfort food. (S)He is the leader of a pep rally. I think that it is no accident that immediately before talk radio went political in the early 1990s, stations that dabbled in talk were programming sports talk.

I think right wing is easiest, after all, God hates the same people they do.

No doubt about it the Right wing talk show gig is much easier. The listeners are religious fanatics, just plain stupid or rich (Rich people love money and thats what the right is all about).
Liberal listeners, while some are way out there, tend to use there brain instead of blind faith. There is no talking snake people.

Have a nice weekend!

He Shoots......He Scores!!!!!!!!

Nailed it Bob!

I think I largely agree, though I suspect lefty talk will get easier over time as greater acceptance is reached and the hosts get better at dealing with listeners.

Radio has to first and foremost be entertaining.

This is true but EXTREME RADICAL Righties entertain us with emptiness. Nanny 911 is entertainment as is Dancing with the Stars but does everyone like it? NOPE! FAUXNews is long on talkers but short on substance and has been for a long time but the the radical right loves it. The flashy graphics and red BREAKING NEWS banners about Bill Clinton taking a dump are what keeps the radical right entertained.

In terms of learning the truth from a talk radio host, I sincerely feel Bill Gallagher was the best. He did more to inform the voters during an election cycle than most -- and did it accurately and fairly.

I second that!

One of the big exceptions that should be noted, but nobody has yet mentioned is KGO from San Francisco. Their roster of shows comes across as center-left when compared with nationally syndicated people, such as Limbaugh, Savage, Ingraham, and the like. However, they seem to avoid some of the more obscure issues and causes that one might hear on Pacifica and on some non-commercial stations.

I fully reject the cheap shots that people have been taking here to make themselves feel better about their convictions. I smell ideological comfort food on your breaths.

Tolerance on the left is amazing. If only we could all aspire to be the same.

Funny how when pure liberalism is spewed out it can't draw flies because it's so ridiculous. Must just be bad luck in the hosts that have attempted it. Yeah, that's it.

So if Obama wins and Congress is over run with Dems, then does that mean that RADICAL RIGHT radio doesn't work and the MILLIONAIRES behind it are just keeping it on the air for their own satisfaction???

Right wing hosts can just make stuff up and their audience will defend it to the death on forums everywhere.

Sure would be nice to have a commercial radio station that doesn't give a pass to any politician and holds all their feet to the fire.

Alfredo_t said: One of the big exceptions that should be noted, but nobody has yet mentioned is KGO from San Francisco.

I couldn't agree more. For years, I would listen to KGO after dark in Portland or on the road. From Bernie Ward to substitute host Christine Craft to Dr. Ben Wattenberg on the weekends, I thought their programs were the best.

Another host I enjoyed before he went outer limits was Art Bell. Before he went whole hog on Hale Bopp and the like, his program was largely political and social commentary – and more conservative than anything else. I started listening to him on 1190 KEX when he was syndicated by CBC. I honestly thought it was CBC – the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

In general, my political views are left of center, but if I find an entertaining or informative host, they deserve my time as a listener.

Look, the bottom line is the difference in the audiences, not the message itself. People of the conservative persuasion like to be lead. They need affirmation of their views. They want to not feel guilty by knowing someone else out there thinks like they do, even if deep down they feel bad about it. Strength is found in numbers!

People of the liberal persuasion are more free thinkers, more intelligent and diversified in their approach to subjects, and more independent in their thoughts. The idea of buying into blind faith of a leader on the radio is not attractive.

The conservative host on the radio is like the cult leader and the low hanging fruit is on the right.

I third KGO. Used to spend many a late night listening in.

Vitalogy, I agree with this also!

And I don't think it's a cheap shot. There is a legit relation between many conservatives and authoritarian preferences. This encourages heiarachies and that speaks directly to how a lot of conservative radio runs.

I know of a number of self identified "liberals" who were ecstatic the day that KPOJ debuted the Air America programming because they felt that somebody on the radio was finally on "their side." Are these people not "real liberals" because they found comfort in hearing somebody on the radio that was agreeing with their views instead of using them as a target for insults? To be honest, I think that by definition, the real "free thinkers" don't want labels affixed to them, and they don't want organizations--whether it be churches, labor unions, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, etc.--looking out for them. They don't join political parties. I don't know how many such people exist, and I have excluded myself from that category because of the political party membership.

"I would listen to KGO after dark in Portland or on the road. From Bernie Ward to substitute host Christine Craft to Dr. Ben Wattenberg on the weekends"
If you really listened that much to KGO, you would know that it is Dr. BILL Wattenburg. He has been on that station longer than most anyone else there and is known and referred to as Dr. Bill.

There are more rich people supporting Democrats than Republicans. There are more rich Democrats in Washington than Republicans. Both parties are guilty of excesses. Neither party has a monopoly on brains. There are good and bad in both parties. The Democrats are the ones that are in lock step and kept in line. It is Republicans that do not walk in total agreement with the party. You never hear praise for a Democrat that disagrees with their party because, with few exceptions, they are kept in line with the party leaders. I am not saying it is right or wrong. It just is.

People on the left think as Vitalogy said. People on the right think the same thing but swap titles and it reads the same. Each side thinks the same of the other. This is an argument that will never be solved and really does not belong on this side.

It's nice to hear that Christine Craft is still making the rounds. She must not be "old and ugly" anymore.

No, but she is a bitter leftie.

Last night on KGO AM-810 at around 10:30 PM she was railing against Mr. Obama. Something about the FISA law that just passed.

Mr. Obama isn't far enough left for her.

Scary.

Herb

This must have been what she was talking about:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/20/obama_supports_fisa_legislat io.html

It's entirely possible that Mrs. Clinton's supporters are behind the anger at Mr. Obama. Besides, Mrs. Clinton is said to be great at revenge. I have never trusted her, especially after her incredibly evil 'Robert Kennedy comment' regarding Mr. Obama.

1/3 of Mr. Obama's supporters were polled as stating they would not vote for Mrs. Clinton. And 1/3 of Mrs. Clinton's supporters were polled as stating they would not vote for Mr. Obama.

If the left self-destructs before November, that's fine with me. One toasted Roe v. Wade, coming up!

Herb

HumbleHarv, I'm sorry. You're right. It's Bill, not Ben. I guess it dosen't suck to be perfect.

Which is easier?

Twins: Bill AND Ben

I heard Christine Craft last night when she was talking about Obama. She wanted to talk about boobies in the midnite hour. She talked about when she was young that she was a surfer and that she went out and stuffed her bikini top with stuff to make her look bigger. To her amazement and embarrasment, after she took a few falls, the inserts had fallen out and were floating in the water when she got out of the water. It is hard to imagine that looking at her current picture on the website but she is still interesting to listen to. Even though she says she will definitely vote for Obama, she does not agree with some of his flip flops or opinions. Just like some on the right will vote for McCain even though they don't really like a lot of what he does. I believe the same could be said for Clinton supporters,also.

Simply put....

Conservative Talk

Liberal Talk

I am truly apalled and stunned by some of the posters on this thread. rather than delving into a legit question, some have tried to substitute cheap shots and insults for truth . . . calling the opposing party stupid or lazy or ignorant . . .

First of all, both left and right have their avenues to spread their slant on the ways of the world. The left dominate newspapers, The right has radio and both have TV . . .

The reason why Right Wing radio works is because people want to listen to controversy, debate and argument in the car. It's entertaining, pure and simple. Leftys, typically, position themselves as more interested in "discussion" and "debate" while Rightys are more likely to yell, scream and make a stink . . .

Aside from the shrieking of Randi Rhodes, could you really say anyone on Air America was as confrontational and combative as Lars or OReilly?

Don't believe me? Consider Michael Savage . . . he spews true hatred everyday and pulls in massive numbers and has a ravenously loyal audience . . . why? because at the end of the day, stuck in rush hours traffic, people are MAD and they want to listen to someone else who is MAD . . . it's pure entertainment . . .

Quite frankly, If I can tune into Lars ranting about Gun Rights or Al Franken mumbling about some snoozer legislation . . . I take the loudmouth.

There is a lot of truth in your post.

Love RR, for exactly that reason!

Having been a talk show host for a lot of years I actually think that, if you have good communication skills, it's pretty easy to be either a right or left wing host. I hear such hosts all the time, endlessly doing the "talking points" of their "side." Where I think it gets difficult, and the challenge really kicks in, is to be a curious, engaged and, yes, entertaining personality on the air. Being there, with an opinion, but also to join and guide the audience in exploring issues from politics to pop culture. The best of the hosts I've heard have, and demonstrate, these skills. To be honest I find FAR too much talk radio now, right and left, just flat-out predictable and boring. Like too much music radio, talk radio has become, IMHO, overly researched and produced.

"...could you really say anyone on Air America was as confrontational and combative as Lars or OReilly?"

You obviously haven't heard Mike Malloy on scare america.

And there's more to the equation than confrontation. There's also snide, crass and condescending, which the morning crew over at KPOJ has down to a science.

Herb

"And there's more to the equation than confrontation. There's also snide, crass and condescending, which the morning crew over at KPOJ has down to a science."

Since when is Hannity on KPOJ?

Since you can't refute my statements, I don't blame you for trying to change the subject.

Classic leftist Bolshevism.

Herb

Since you can't refute MY statements, I don't blame you for trying to change the subject.

Classic right wing Bullshitism.

Bush lied.
Selected, not elected.

Blah, blah, blah.
What a bunch of lily-livered, hand-wringers.

Without Mr. Bush around, leftists will have no excuses for not accomplishing their radical agenda.

Instead, they'll have to perform. But even now, given Ms. Pelosi's pathetic attempt in a democrat do-nothing Congress, this ought to get even more enjoyable to watch as the libs continue to self-destruct.

These democrat Einsteins couldn't legislate their way out of a wet paper bag.

Those who can't, become leftists.

Herb

> To be honest I find FAR too much talk radio now, right and left, just flat-out predictable and
> boring. Like too much music radio, talk radio has become, IMHO, overly researched and produced.

I find that the worst thing on a talk show is when the host sounds like he is there because he "has" to do a show, and the topics discussed are being discussed because those are the topics that the show is "supposed" to be about--perhaps because the research says that the audience only cares about a small, predictable set of topics. I hear many hosts falling into this trap every now and then.

deleted

doesn't belong on this side of the board.

"Has anyone ever figured out why right wing radio does so well vs. left wing?"

Because AM radio is listened to by retirees and the unemployed who have the time to waste and not having to think for themselves.

If Dan killed this thread, I would not consider that censorship. This thread has turned into something for people with "the time to waste and not having to think for themselves." Have a nice life, you guys.

Please take this back to the other side of the board. This is why so many radio posters never venture over there.

Left Wing since you only have to tell the truth. Right Winger's need to spin and lie all day long and get ready to go to hell for their lies.

And we have ignition!

Thread move in 5...4...3...2...

Kind of liked this one too.

It may be time to try a center-winged radio talk show format. How about this:

Straight Down The Middle with Jim Lehrer.

Hmm?

Has a low entertainment factor. Think pro wrestling type entertainment!

IMHO, this has been impacted by the release of radio from the fairness doctrine. Now, ordinary news really cannot compete well with news-tainment or news-advocacy.

It does suggest that a moderate show could spice it up a bit and do well.

Segments to include:

"Daily sanity check"

"Nut-Bag Watch"

"Extreme Fridays"

Highlighting contradictory extreme positions, along with some flash and sizzle might work pretty well, though I suspect not as well as a more clealy defined and identifiable position program would.

Why go left or right and not just have a show that exposes any corrupt or just plain stupid policies brought fourth by either party. Also as we all know dirty laundry sells big so drag all of that out as well! The radio station for politics TMZ style! "KPOT-FM" Bringing you Krack-Pot political news and information! Hosted by Rosanne Rosannadanna!

YES!!!

Make a station that is anti-war, anti-lie, anti-corruption, anti-bigot!

Just line 'em up, laugh at the asses they are, then play killer music for the bumpers and breaks!

I so totally would listen.

SouthPark FM. KSUX - "We pick on EVERYBODY"

NAH, in keeping with the "Charlie, Jack, Bob" naming of stations you could call it "George-AM 1.20.9, 1210 on your AM Dial" Your #1 Choice Source Of Boneheaded Political News and Information.

I have tape of KGO former evening host doing a show about Bigfoot!!!.Pre Art Bell

Was he a Republican or Democratic Bigfoot?

They had a George in Washington DC for awhile.

A more fitting name for a political station in that town would be "The JOHN". "We are so full of crap here it just flows 24 hours a day, anyone got a plunger".

Excellent!

The weekly CLOG. Turd of the day. Squeak of the week.

Coping with fear of the great flush.

Free Flush Fridays!

Two Turd Thursdays!

Wille Make it Monday!

Another day in the life of just another floater in the toilet of life.

Sanitized Saturdays!

Crap Ticket Tuesday! (toilet paper)

Extreme Excrement, every day, here, LIVE on the JOHN, where we flush it out hard, so you don't have to!

Kind of gives "Trickle" down economic's a whole new meaning!

On our gardening segmet we will discuss "How To Prune a Shrub"!

thAtkgo host was Art Finley (aka "Mayor Art"(was previously host of TV cartoon show of same name in Afternoons on channel 4 in SFthat hAD LIVE AUDIENCE IN STUDIO.
HE WAS MORE RIGHT THAN LEFT, BUT TOWARD THE MIDDLE ALOT,NOT RIGHT WING.

Without Mr. Bush around, leftists will have no excuses for not accomplishing their radical agenda.

Like you RADICAL EXTREME RIGHT EVANGELICAL funDUH"MENTAL"ists did with Clinton??? Oh that's right YOUR STILL bashing Clinton......

A good talk show host, whether right or left, should have the ability to resist the simplest of bait.

So, would resisting the bait disqualify Michael Savage, after he fell for a caller mocking his teeth on his short-lived MSNBC show?

I was making a too subtle remark about the nature of posts on here actually...

I said nothing about being disqualified... just that anyone with any sign of intellegence should be able to discern the simplest of bait...

apparently many on this thread fail that test.

He he he!