You could almost hear the lip gloss as Anne-Marie Lake, the blonde Torquemadre of Republican Radio (KVI Saturdays, 3-5p; KKOL Sundays, 5-6p) announced, "It’s a radio revolution and you’re invited!"
Actually, it isn't so much a revolution as a devolution.
The conservative weekend kulturkampf and radio bitch session has shed the 'Republican' part; and is now calling itself: Take Back America Radio.
The Republican brand has become so degraded, the show could no longer be associated with it- like Imus and CBS.
And this is no cosmetic makeover- they've taken a sharp u-turn and have vowed to "throw out the obstructionists and apologists, and to raise a new flag of freedom and fidelity."
- Government can save the world - while our freedom is destroying it.
- We need government to be our nanny - but not to defend us from evil.
- We need more sex and less religion in the public square.
- Terrorists bombs are less dangerous than businesses profits.
- Every media-hyped crisis justifies undermining our American institutions.
God love 'em- we couldn't have said it better ourselves.
Here's what Republican Radio used to be like.
Anne-Marie said they were going to "take back America one listener at a time," and that's cool, but they've got to get 'em in bigger bunches than that- which shouldn't be that hard now they've gotten rid of those burdensome Republicans.
(We have a special feeling for Anne-Marie after listening all these years. It's like the affection you acquire for the scorpion who lives on in your kid's terrarium after he's left home. There's a familiarity and comfort with it skulking there in the crevasses, even knowing it'd as soon stab you with poison as look at you).
TBA has a smart new Web site (no more pics of Laura Kiel or Stefan Sharkansky!) but we haven't been able to distinguish yet the new show from the old, which is a drag.
Maybe it's because they're busy writing sentences like this:"Take Back America will show you how… and will be with you every step... every speech... every standard of the way."
We're pretty sure our Anne-Marie couldn't be happy about this. (Annie-M bites her hair and is no fun when she's mad). We're hoping she'll help them take back the English language before they try taking back the whole country.
I hope they still air the old mid-70's Ronald Reagan radio addresses...
I kind of liked those (no really - I'm serious)
he gave one on the benefits / safety of nuclear power sometime pre-three-mile island. I'm somewhat pro-nuclear - but it was still quite funny.
Posted by: SpamButcher | April 17, 2007 at 02:50 AM
The Republicans are irrelevant anymore. Conservatives and values libertarians need to look to forming a real third party alternative. The Libertarian Party won't work, they have burned too many bridges with Republicans and don't have the social values. But a coalition leaving the GOP might be able to elect some people in this liberal hell, or at least wake up the GOP.
Posted by: michelle | April 17, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Come on, conservatives, give it up and join the Libertarians. We are READY TO GO in 2008. We have enough in common defeat these nut jobs running this state.
Posted by: rodney | April 17, 2007 at 10:29 AM
You know it's an infomercial, right? They pay to be on the air. No radio station would actually give them a show.
Posted by: Tags McGee | April 17, 2007 at 12:02 PM
I just read their Terrible Ten worst things in America. It's amazing how poorly the arguments are written. They ramble and use sloppy logic, particularly with item #8, in which they attribute all evil to people's unwillingness to accept capitalism:
If men do evil, it is in reaction to the social injustice, created by successful businesses
What a joke, and what a bunch of jokes.
Posted by: Andrew | April 17, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Andrew, I doubt you'll be getting the"fabulous 20 x 30 full color print of the magnificent painting… Saluting Reagan."
Posted by: Duffman | April 17, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Republican Radio... was a great show.
I loved downloading the latest from EFF rad... Republican Radio.
Posted by: Josef K | April 17, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Josef is right. Extremist watchdogs suspect Republican Radio is funded by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, the far right Olympia "think" tank headed by Bob "lawsuit" Williams.
Posted by: minky | April 17, 2007 at 01:36 PM
I have always felt that no real change will take place in this country until the REAL Republicans take back their party...
Evergreen Freedom Foundation gets a huge chunk of its funding from The Walton company...WalMart.
Posted by: sparky | April 17, 2007 at 03:55 PM
I keep hearing about the growing Reagan gallery. Does that mean that the polpys are back?
Posted by: Rich | April 17, 2007 at 05:13 PM
Well, Rich, if they are, let's hope they are still benign. :)
Sparky, who are the real Republicans? Seems to me an awful lot of Democrats have joined the old Republicans . . . starting with Bill Clinton.
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 06:12 PM
Bush said this today about the kids who died at Virginia Tech: "As you draw closer to your families in the coming days, I ask you to reach out to those who ache for sons and daughters who are never coming home," Bush said."
Wouldn't it be nice if he said this about the kids we are losing in Iraq? Instead of trying to keep the statistics and coffins and traumas coming home a secret . . .
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 06:31 PM
Im thinking of the "real" republicans I knew best: Sen. Mark Hatfield...Oregon Governor Tom McCall...men who were fiscally conservative but not opposed to people in need getting some help. Hatfield voted against the Viet Nam war. McCall was also an environmentalist..wanted people from California to come visit Oregon and spend their money, but then go home again, taking their trash with them. He got legislation passed that prohibited motor vehicles on the Oregon beaches. He started the ball rolling for the Bottle Bill, making beverage cans and bottles worth a nickle if you brought them back to the store.
I read somewhere about a Dem in Congress who was longing for the good old days when you could disagree with someone on the floors of Congress, but could also develop deep and lasting friendships because they respected each other, regardless of differences in ideology. "Real Republicans" are the ones in my family who have never felt represented by the religious right or the
big corporations. They didnt like to pay taxes, but did so to give their children a good education. They are the republicans whose campaign literature is kept off the Republican tables at the Puyallyup Fair each summer because they wont sign the neo-con party line.
Those Dinos, the Blue Dogs who "join" some of the current republicans are more interested in their own butts being re-elected, IMHO.
Posted by: sparky | April 17, 2007 at 06:33 PM
That's really harsh and a bit unfair joanie.
Well said, sparky.
Posted by: Duffman | April 17, 2007 at 06:44 PM
Which part is harsh, Duff?
You mean like Dan Evans, Sparky? Or Ike who cautioned against a military industrial complex? Those days are long gone. Even the Dems are supporting the military and corporations today.
Things have changed. Did you think Clinton was a Dem with all those trade agreements outsourcing everything and with a treasury guy who represented Wall Street over Main Street? LIke I said, the Dems have become the Republicans of old. My question? Where are the Dems?
Gee, I haven't seen any "Republicans" like those guys for years and years and years . . . unless you count the Dems.
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 07:01 PM
Just the criticism of his feelings for VTU folks. Can you not separate from Iraq.
He IS a human being with feelings even tho a cowboy who made a terrible blunder with the 'war', ya know.
Posted by: Duffman | April 17, 2007 at 07:05 PM
"He IS a human being with feelings"
How do you know? Some think he is a sociopath. So, how do you know?
Is it that good old reliable gut instinct again?
BTW, did you read that several of Hilary's donors are moving over to Obama? Hmm?
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 07:20 PM
Fact is I don't know (how does one know someone else's feelings for certain); but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt in this regard.
Obama funds: much ado about nothing, joanie. I believe Mrs Clinton has yet begun to fight and when she does...look out. The Dem machine 'owes her' big time, and like I say Obama would make a great VP.
Have a nice evening.
Posted by: Duffman | April 17, 2007 at 07:30 PM
"how does one know someone else's feelings for certain"
Well, why not that good old gut instinct, Duff? Besides, haven't you read Bush on the Couch?
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 07:42 PM
Duff, you listening to Randi? That last caller was awesome!
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 07:46 PM
Randi just said that America will not be happy until recess is renamed cease fire talking about militias and guns . . . I got a kick out of that.
She's on a roll.
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 07:50 PM
You are correct if you mean they are not in politics today...but they are out there, in my family and in my neighborhood, and I work with a lot of them too.
They are dismayed at what has happened to the Republican party...just like I am dismayed that so many of the Dems have turned into wimps afraid of offending....
Posted by: sparky | April 17, 2007 at 08:34 PM
So, Sparky, how can they take their party back? I can't understand how a small percentage of neocons can hi-jack a party?
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 09:03 PM
Actually, Sparky, my question is different: are these people you know voting for these extremists rather than vote for a centrist Democrat?
If they would rather vote for these extremists rather than cross party lines, then I think are the problems . . . they are not innocent bystanders. If they voted Dem a few times, the Republicans would have to stand candidates who better represented their interests to lure them back.
So, which is it? Are they Republicans at any price . . . or do they vote their values and beliefs. I'm curious.
Posted by: joanie | April 17, 2007 at 09:09 PM
Well that is my point....some of them dont vote, some vote libertarian, some have voted for democrats...they are not like the ones who vote "party over all." They dont often see candidates who represent their more moderate views. They hate the extremists. They hate who has taken over. They hate it that when they say they are republicans that they get a "look" from some people that says " oh..i know all about you then..."
And I have no idea how they take it back. I would guess by using their own version of a 50 state stragtegy: start at the begining and get elected to school boards, city councils, county councils, and move up from there.
But my family republicans are mostly older and are generally powerless due to infirmity, lack of money, etc. They dont feel they can make any changes so that things return to what they knew. As you said, maybe those days are over and something new will emerge.
Posted by: sparky | April 17, 2007 at 10:33 PM
Only Randi Rhodes can blame our President for the massacre at Virinia Tech. And like a good little girl, Joanie is there eating it up and passing it along to anyone who will listen.
Posted by: Steve | April 17, 2007 at 11:06 PM
You listen to Randi, Steve? When did she blame Bush for the massacre? Or are you ass-u-ming again?
Sparky, thanks for the reply. It seems to me if so many Republicans feel that way, the neocons wouldn't have the power they do. So I don't get it. An awful lot of them must be loyal to party or it would change.
BTW, there has been a series on KCTS called America at the Crossroads the last two nights looking at our country post-9/11. Last nights documentary featured Richard Perle who said he's been a life-long Democrat but then continued to talk admiringly of Reagan and Bush . . . among other contradictory themes. It was a very odd narrative. He filmed himself talking to various "friends" - Richard Holbrook, Pat Buchanan, Sharansky, and others - most of whom argued his take on Iraq and America's place in the world. It was fascinating to watch his denial of their views even as Iraq turns uglier and uglier.
The most self-serving piece of film I've ever watched and yet so revealing of how these guys think.
The previous night's footage reflected soldiers and their writings and words. Also, footage on 9-11 and the beginning of this mess.
Robert MacNeil hosts the two-hour nightly series.
Posted by: joanie | April 18, 2007 at 07:35 AM
Just a catch-up on a previous item (in case anybody's interested).
Regarding voting and citizenship.
Apparently merci didn't have the
ba***nerve to call DOL and report back - I had the following E-Mail correnspondence with DOL.My question to DOL: So, my understanding is that you do NOT ask if someone is a citizen - you assume they are, because of the law; is that correct?
Answer: That is correct, we do not ask customers if they are a citizen, only if they would like to register to vote.
-End of subject-
Posted by: Duffman | April 18, 2007 at 08:48 AM
I think it boils down to money, joanie. If you have a lot of it, you can influence things..if you dont have much, you pretty much have no voice. That is true of both parties. Look how the Dems are going to ingore results of a primary election for President because they want to use the caucus method. Now how many people can go to a caucus meeting? When I went last time, there were people there who had made up their minds that they were going to be delegates and the others shrank back. I think a caucus is a horrible way to choose a candidate. I am a firm believer in one person/one vote.
Now, how much influence do I have to change this? None. I dont have the money to launch a big campaign to change it. So I dont believe that moderate Republicans are offering their tacit approval either...they just dont know how to change it. And you cant "vote out" who you dont like if you cant particpate in the process to choose the candidates...
Posted by: sparky | April 18, 2007 at 09:34 AM
C'mon Joanie, she ranted about 20 minutes on Bush as Gov. of Texas and what he did about the Gun Laws there. The only reason for this was to put the two together for her listeners (you), therefore brain washing them into blaming Bush for the massacre. I see you saw through this stunt of hers this time , but you need to be always aware of these tricks she uses Joanie, and instead of being starry eyed while listening to her, listen to the content of her words.
Posted by: Steve | April 18, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Did you all see in the Washington Post that Kucinich is apparently filing articles of impeachment against Cheney.
Posted by: Duffman | April 18, 2007 at 11:37 AM
cool...anything that pisses Cheney off is fine with me.
Posted by: sparky | April 18, 2007 at 01:34 PM
He may want to try and appease Kucinich by inviting him on a hunting trip.....ha
Posted by: Duffman | April 18, 2007 at 01:40 PM
Why does Dori still talk like a little baby boy, as a grown man over forty? God I'm sick of this parochial, provincial "hometowner", with his adenoidal "wannabe macho" prattle. Christ, we're something like the 13th or 14th market in the country. Can't the premier radio station in Seattle come up with someone smarter/better/faster and less amateurish-sounding than this permanently teen-voiced jerk? Jesus H. Christ!
Posted by: Tommy008 | April 18, 2007 at 03:31 PM
Steve, I didn't hear all of Randi so didn't hear her say that. But, I did hear her rant about the easy access to guns we have in this country. I guess you think everyone should have a gun? If Bush is easy on gun ownership, then he is probably part of the problem.
Duff, Kucinich has all the elements of a great president. As the young - very young - mayor of Cleveland, he lost his job by working against the banks, the utilities and all the rich people in Cleveland in order to save the power grid for the public. Yeah, the city fathers - the bosses - the rich - ran him out of town. Twenty years later when Cleveland was celebrating their power grid, somebody said "where's Dennis? He's the one who achieved it." (Or something like that) :) So, he is ethical and courageous and not afraid to lose his job for the right decision.
Where do you find people like that?
I supported him with letters, money, became a delegate at the caucus and got mad at him for diffusing his campaign with too many messages. I don't know if he's good for the long two-year haul ahead. Seemed like he ran out of steam and never did focus his message.
I'd support him again if I thought he could sustain a long campaign. I'm not sure. . .
And Sparky, I, too, hate the caucus system. I'm not a good committee person because there are always people who want to control things and I absolutely hate that. I don't even like committees at school for the same reason.
I don't even like primaries . . . if we have a primary, let's have run-off votes instead of winner take all. Much more democratic. But then, do we have a democracy any more?
Finally, I've given a lot of thought to your relatives and friends. I vote Green sometimes. But, I sure didn't vote Green in 2000 because I was afraid of George Bush. Not everyone saw through him so I give them a pass on 2000.
But, for him to get reelected by a greater majority in 2004 after the writing was on the wall is totally incomprehensible to me. If anybody voted libertarian or didn't vote in that election, they voted for him. If anybody voted for anyone but a Dem in 2004 because they didn't like George Bush, they elected him president.
Why do I get so harsh (Duff's words)? Because I hate seeing so many people die, so many people come home disabled, and so many people come home with terrible mental illnesses . . . and for nothing. We have destroyed a country and increased terrorism. When will people get harsh if not now?
And the poor Iraqi people. God help them because America never will. What more is there to say?
Watch the Crossroads series on KCTS . . . it is late but surely we can all give up a few hours sleep to really know what is going on.
That Richard Perle documentary was a satire . . . it had to be. It was a narcissistic journey that he may think releases him from any guilt but it was a ridiculous parade of nonsense.
He even went back to Hollywood High School where he graduated and waxed nostalgic before impuning the movie stars who are working on the left. What a nitwit he is. You simply had to see it to believe.
Posted by: joanie | April 18, 2007 at 05:29 PM
Steve, I didn't hear all of Randi so didn't hear her say that. But, I did hear her rant about the easy access to guns we have in this country. I guess you think everyone should have a gun? If Bush is easy on gun ownership, then he is probably part of the problem.
Duff, Kucinich has all the elements of a great president. As the young - very young - mayor of Cleveland, he lost his job by working against the banks, the utilities and all the rich people in Cleveland in order to save the power grid for the public. Yeah, the city fathers - the bosses - the rich - ran him out of town. Twenty years later when Cleveland was celebrating their power grid, somebody said "where's Dennis? He's the one who achieved it." (Or something like that) :) So, he is ethical and courageous and not afraid to lose his job for the right decision.
Where do you find people like that?
I supported him with letters, money, became a delegate at the caucus and got mad at him for diffusing his campaign with too many messages. I don't know if he's good for the long two-year haul ahead. Seemed like he ran out of steam and never did focus his message.
I'd support him again if I thought he could sustain a long campaign. I'm not sure. . .
And Sparky, I, too, hate the caucus system. I'm not a good committee person because there are always people who want to control things and I absolutely hate that. I don't even like committees at school for the same reason.
I don't even like primaries . . . if we have a primary, let's have run-off votes instead of winner take all. Much more democratic. But then, do we have a democracy any more?
Finally, I've given a lot of thought to your relatives and friends. I vote Green sometimes. But, I sure didn't vote Green in 2000 because I was afraid of George Bush. Not everyone saw through him so I give them a pass on 2000.
But, for him to get reelected by a greater majority in 2004 after the writing was on the wall is totally incomprehensible to me. If anybody voted libertarian or didn't vote in that election, they voted for him. If anybody voted for anyone but a Dem in 2004 because they didn't like George Bush, they elected him president.
Why do I get so harsh (Duff's words)? Because I hate seeing so many people die, so many people come home disabled, and so many people come home with terrible mental illnesses . . . and for nothing. We have destroyed a country and increased terrorism. When will people get harsh if not now?
And the poor Iraqi people. God help them because America never will. What more is there to say?
Watch the Crossroads series on KCTS . . . it is late but surely we can all give up a few hours sleep to really know what is going on.
That Richard Perle documentary was a satire . . . it had to be. It was a narcissistic journey that he may think releases him from any guilt but it was a ridiculous parade of nonsense.
He even went back to Hollywood High School where he graduated and waxed nostalgic before impuning the movie stars who are working on the left. What a nitwit he is. You simply had to see it to believe.
Posted by: joanie | April 18, 2007 at 05:30 PM
tommy...why do you listen to Dori? Life is too short...
Posted by: sparky | April 18, 2007 at 05:43 PM
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Joanie, what part of 'shall not be infringed.' don't you understand? Funny how much you bitch when you feel certain rights are being thrashed, but have no problem doing away with the 2nd
Posted by: Recife | April 18, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Militia..that would be the National Guard...
Nobody wants to take away your guns, Recife.
But if the cons have no problem with the FBI snooping in on our phone conversations "if you have nothing to hide you dont have to worry"..yet they throw a fit at the idea of increased background checks to own a gun?
Posted by: sparky | April 18, 2007 at 09:45 PM
And Cho was a member of the "well-regulated militia?" Recife?
you said it well, Sparky.
Posted by: joanie | April 18, 2007 at 09:54 PM
I missed most of it, but they just finished looking at muslims in England examining why they are not fitting in.
The next hour is a look at muslims in America. Too bad it is on so late . . .
Posted by: joanie | April 18, 2007 at 09:57 PM
"I guess you think everyone should have a gun?"
Only those that want to, nobody is forcing you to have one, you shouldn't force someone to not have one.
"If Bush is easy on gun ownership, then he is probably part of the problem."
I see you found a way to blame Bush for the Massacre just like Randi. Way to go Joanie, you get the gold star this week.
Posted by: Steve | April 19, 2007 at 12:15 AM
People say that if a killer wants to kill someone they can use a knife or a bomb but the ready availability of guns spares them from having to actualy stab a person or figure out the complex details of making a bomb kill other people and leaving themselves uninjured.
The other problem is that even if guns were completely legal without any license, only criminals and nut jobs would be inclined to carry one around with them on a daily basis. How many of those students would have actualy taken a gun to class with them given the one in a billion chance that it would be usefull?
I bet it won't be too long until technology allows for non-intrusive weapon screening that happens automatically as you walk through a doorway.
Posted by: Andrew | April 19, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Do plastic guns get screened by these doorway alarms, Andrew? Just curious.
Also, for defensive purposes, we might carry non-lethal weapons like tasers . . . just a thought.
Steve: There's no appealing to the intellect of Bush lovers. Have your way.
Posted by: joanie | April 19, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Bottom line on this is, if someone wants to do this bad enough that they are willing to give up 'their' life - there's not much we can do. We find that out in Iraq every day and Isreal has lived with it on a daily basis also. Remember the worse this country has seen didn't involve any specific weapon but fire (i.e. Michigan in 1927). So, to some extent we are at the mercy of anyone with an obsessed persuasion to kill us.
Posted by: Duffman | April 19, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Joanie, obviously working plastic guns are not readily available so I don't know what that has to do with anything.
People don't find a need tasers or guns often enough to actualy bother themselves to carry them around. Even pepper spray is easily had yet how many people have any on them?
Posted by: Andrew | April 19, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Since the threads are off topic - if you can call it that - What happened to Tom Leykis's voice ? Oh, that's right - he isn't on in the days in Seattle any more.
I heard him last week in Portland where is on from 3-6 on 970AM.
Posted by: KS | April 23, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Leykis claims his vocal problems are from acid reflux, and that he's taking medication for it,, and he's getting better, although I don't see any signs of that.
Posted by: Tommy008 | April 23, 2007 at 10:26 PM