Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:
David Weigel say the campaign for Rick Santorum's elevation to Pope will start on 2/28/13

Pope Santorum!

Quote by Raine:
So can we say that the Pope is EggsitBenedict?

Quote by Raine:
Mala what do you think of this anti Cucinelli Ad?

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by TriSec:
Say. the rest of you want to talk me off the ledge?

There's another heart-crushing story about being a Bigoted Scout of America making the rounds. (originally posted on HuffPo.)

I kinda snapped yesterday....have been mulling over quitting the program.

I've been at this 25 years, I can certainly wait another 3 monts to see what National does.

But if it's the wrong decision, I honestly don't know what I'll do.

My advice, stop worrying about National. Make sure your community outreach explains that the local and regional councils have a policy of inclusion.

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:
Law as Pope? An American as Pope?

someone on TOP this morning speculated someone from Latin America or Asia as Pope. I don't see it. Think it will always be a European.

I'm thinking Latin America or Africa.

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:
Law as Pope? An American as Pope?

someone on TOP this morning speculated someone from Latin America or Asia as Pope. I don't see it. Think it will always be a European.

I'm thinking Latin America or Africa.

just having a hard time seeing them get pasted their Italian roots

The past two popes haven't been Italian. JP 2 was Polish and Panzerkardinal Ratzinger is Austrian.

An Insider's View of the Progressive Talk Radio Devolution
Sunday, 10 February 2013 07:39 By Peter B Collins, Truthout | Op-Ed

As an independent progressive and 40-year radio veteran, I'm sorry to report that heroic efforts over the past ten years to build a national radio presence for progressives and Democrats seem to have reached a critical turning point. With the recent loss of key AM outlets in Portland, Seattle and Detroit, the progressive talk format no longer enjoys national coverage, which in turn threatens the financial viability of the syndicated programs hosted by Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Bill Press and Norman Goldman.

Since the rise of Rush Limbaugh and the shift of hundreds of radio stations to wall-to-wall conservative talk in the 1990s, progressives have faced a decidedly uphill battle. In my experience, most station owners and managers have a strong bias to the right, and with a few exceptions, the rest just look for the easiest way to make maximum profit.

It's no accident that Limbaugh was recruited for the heavily market-researched model that was labelled "non-guested confrontation talk radio" after Reagan's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lifted the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Clinton's 1996 Telecommunications Act removed ownership limits that led to rapid consolidation and the troublesome concentration of control by national operators we see today. Three companies control almost all of the talk radio stations with competitive signals in the major markets: Clear Channel, CBS and Cumulus.

In my view, we have reached a major crisis due to right-wing bias in talk radio. This right-wing tilt has an obvious impact on our politics and culture. But President Obama, his FCC appointees and most members of Congress - including all but a handful of Democrats - are indifferent. Sadly, it seems that most listeners are indifferent, too.

Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers!!

Raine, I am surprised with the news about the pope. It does not affect me, but I find it curious.


Liberal talk show host Peter B. Collins has a worrying piece in Truth Out on progressive talk radio;

An Insider's View of the Progressive Talk Radio Devolution
Sunday, 10 February 2013 07:39 By Peter B Collins, Truthout | Op-Ed

As an independent progressive and 40-year radio veteran, I'm sorry to report that heroic efforts over the past ten years to build a national radio presence for progressives and Democrats seem to have reached a critical turning point. With the recent loss of key AM outlets in Portland, Seattle and Detroit, the progressive talk format no longer enjoys national coverage, which in turn threatens the financial viability of the syndicated programs hosted by Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Bill Press and Norman Goldman.

Since the rise of Rush Limbaugh and the shift of hundreds of radio stations to wall-to-wall conservative talk in the 1990s, progressives have faced a decidedly uphill battle. In my experience, most station owners and managers have a strong bias to the right, and with a few exceptions, the rest just look for the easiest way to make maximum profit.

It's no accident that Limbaugh was recruited for the heavily market-researched model that was labelled "non-guested confrontation talk radio" after Reagan's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lifted the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Clinton's 1996 Telecommunications Act removed ownership limits that led to rapid consolidation and the troublesome concentration of control by national operators we see today. Three companies control almost all of the talk radio stations with competitive signals in the major markets: Clear Channel, CBS and Cumulus.

In my view, we have reached a major crisis due to right-wing bias in talk radio. This right-wing tilt has an obvious impact on our politics and culture. But President Obama, his FCC appointees and most members of Congress - including all but a handful of Democrats - are indifferent. Sadly, it seems that most listeners are indifferent, too.

Al Franken is in the Senate, Ed Schultz appears to be doing well on MSNBC, Thom Hartmann has a nightly TV show on the RT network, Bill Press and Stephanie Miller are simulcast on Current TV (which has just been sold to Al Jazeera). But their radio shows face tough sledding and possible elimination in 2013.

Dial Global, the company that syndicates these programs (along with NFL football and a variety of music formats), is in deep financial trouble, and its stock was recently voluntarily delisted from the NASDAQ when the share price dropped below $1. Ironically, the company blames the progressive-driven advertiser boycott in 2012 aimed at Rush Limbaugh for his misogynist comments about attorney and birth-control advocate Sandra Fluke, which appears to have caused many national advertisers to stop advertising on all talk radio programs - both right and left - to avoid controversy.

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers!!

Raine, I am surprised with the news about the pope. It does not affect me, but I find it curious.


Liberal talk show host Peter B. Collins has a worrying piece in Truth Out on progressive talk radio;

An Insider's View of the Progressive Talk Radio Devolution
Sunday, 10 February 2013 07:39 By Peter B Collins, Truthout | Op-Ed

As an independent progressive and 40-year radio veteran, I'm sorry to report that heroic efforts over the past ten years to build a national radio presence for progressives and Democrats seem to have reached a critical turning point. With the recent loss of key AM outlets in Portland, Seattle and Detroit, the progressive talk format no longer enjoys national coverage, which in turn threatens the financial viability of the syndicated programs hosted by Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Bill Press and Norman Goldman.

Since the rise of Rush Limbaugh and the shift of hundreds of radio stations to wall-to-wall conservative talk in the 1990s, progressives have faced a decidedly uphill battle. In my experience, most station owners and managers have a strong bias to the right, and with a few exceptions, the rest just look for the easiest way to make maximum profit.

It's no accident that Limbaugh was recruited for the heavily market-researched model that was labelled "non-guested confrontation talk radio" after Reagan's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lifted the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Clinton's 1996 Telecommunications Act removed ownership limits that led to rapid consolidation and the troublesome concentration of control by national operators we see today. Three companies control almost all of the talk radio stations with competitive signals in the major markets: Clear Channel, CBS and Cumulus.

In my view, we have reached a major crisis due to right-wing bias in talk radio. This right-wing tilt has an obvious impact on our politics and culture. But President Obama, his FCC appointees and most members of Congress - including all but a handful of Democrats - are indifferent. Sadly, it seems that most listeners are indifferent, too.

Not to quibble, but the TCA was not "Clinton's." It was the brain child of the Republican controlled house. Clinton signed it

Quote by livingonli:

Quote by trojanrabbit:
The news about progressive talk having problems is not surprising in the least. AM radio itself is dying. Canada has already abandoned it. The FCC selling out to Ibiquity to implement a seriously flawed IBOC system (which is also being abandoned) didn't help. Unless you're one of the major blowtorch stations, your signal becomes worse after dark (not good if it's winter in the north). How many people carry something with them that can receive an AM station (not its audio stream)? Boston's WBZ used to be the undisputed ratings leader not long ago, it has now slipped to 6th. Every electronic device with a switching power supply is an AM jammer.

Not surprising the weakest of the stations are in the worst shape.

Which explains why both of New York's major sports talkers moved to FM in the last year even though they bumped a well-rated KISS-FM and a station that after a failed experiment at news went back to alternative rock and was starting to get numbers again before it flipped to the FAN simulcast. The AM station that carried ESPN is now carrying ESPN Deportes and they are probably just turning around the satellite feed now with just local advertising. Strangely enough, despite the number of stations owned by CBS in New York, they have not put CBS Sports Radio on in New York in order to avoid undercutting FAN.

Quote by Raine:
Funny observation: Cardinals here in America are saying that Pope Benny was the first pope of the modern world...

UHM.... Do we need a new definition of Modern?

Quote by trojanrabbit:

Quote by livingonli:

Quote by trojanrabbit:
The news about progressive talk having problems is not surprising in the least. AM radio itself is dying. Canada has already abandoned it. The FCC selling out to Ibiquity to implement a seriously flawed IBOC system (which is also being abandoned) didn't help. Unless you're one of the major blowtorch stations, your signal becomes worse after dark (not good if it's winter in the north). How many people carry something with them that can receive an AM station (not its audio stream)? Boston's WBZ used to be the undisputed ratings leader not long ago, it has now slipped to 6th. Every electronic device with a switching power supply is an AM jammer.

Not surprising the weakest of the stations are in the worst shape.

Which explains why both of New York's major sports talkers moved to FM in the last year even though they bumped a well-rated KISS-FM and a station that after a failed experiment at news went back to alternative rock and was starting to get numbers again before it flipped to the FAN simulcast. The AM station that carried ESPN is now carrying ESPN Deportes and they are probably just turning around the satellite feed now with just local advertising. Strangely enough, despite the number of stations owned by CBS in New York, they have not put CBS Sports Radio on in New York in order to avoid undercutting FAN.

Same thing in Boston, the two major sports yak stations are now on FM. The AM side of one of them now broadcasts ESPN. I personally can't see tying up a lot of valuable land for ESPN radio.

At least WBZ-AM broadcasts from a salt marsh, no one would want to build anything there.....

Quote by Scoopster:
Grrrr.. Facebook is still not loading at all!

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Quote by wickedpam:
Is Randi coming out as a groupie?

What? I am not listening... fill me in?

she was talking Grammy's and let it go that she used to be "with the band" and that she was picked up by Dr. John's bus years ago but doesn't remember where they went or what they did.

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Scoopster:
Grrrr.. Facebook is still not loading at all!

I haven't had issues here.