Talk radio is a loser too

Conventional wisdom says conservative talk radio won a big one Tuesday.

The theory this week is that it needs underdog status and always does better when it's them-against-the-world.

(The talk radio tiger is notably paper)

Michael Harrison, publisher of the trade magazine Talkers told the Boston Herald Wednesday:

“It’ll be very good for conservative talk radio, because they’ll be able to play the role that talk radio plays so well - and that is challenging power and the establishment.”

Harrison said the conservative movement in America feels “like it’s up against the world” right now and that’s when people “rally around any medium that supports it - when it feels put upon.”

 

(Harrison loves to hear himself talk, and will tell reporters just about anything that sounds authoritative even if it contradicts his own self in an interview he's given just minutes before. We quoted Harrison Wednesday telling The Daily News that the election of Obama was bad for talk radio for a completely different reason).

The conventionally wise are quick to point to 1992 and the greening of talk radio when Bill Clinton and the Democrats won everything and plowed a fertile field for Rush Limbaugh and the Newt Gingrich Republican "revolution."

While it's true Limbaugh and AM radio talk might have never got out of the lower rings of cume hell had it not been for the Democrats' success that year, we'd say this time it's different.

Back then, the Democrats, lodged in Congress for 40 years, were fat, corrupt and arrogant after their prolonged run in the political high grass. The scene was ripe for a shake-up. Gingrich came along, Rush was in place, as was a vibrant, 40-something, white, mostly male, pissed-off Boomer population with nowhere to go with their dissent.

It was fire, fuel and a spark.

Republicans grabbed Congress, a lot of state houses and pretty much held onto power for the next 16 years with the eager help of conservative talk which metasticized over the fruited air-waves. In the process, AM Radio, which had been fading away after FM stole the music, was saved.

People by the millions who hadn't previously known right from left were politicized as they sat in traffic on their way to work. (read about that hilariously here). For Republicans it was a potent tool, (they hearken unto 'potent tools') and helped create their misleading branding as a "reform" party.

It's very different this year. Dems are in the reformer position -- a position accelerated by a president with the lowest popularity since Hoobert Heever.

As in 1993, millions of Americans got politicized this year, too. But most are Americans who don't know Laura Ingraham from Dr. Laura, Hannity from Colmes.

Boomer men, who are the biggest part of the talk radio audience, are graying out as a demographic,  but the age group who showed up so hopefully and brilliantly in the election Tuesday, were the under 30's of both genders, a bunch who have never listened to talk or any other kind of radio in any numbers.

A boneheaded, buggy-whip response to all this was WTKK talker Michael Graham's to the Boston Herald: "There’s going to be a “boon overall” for talk radio, because “where else will you go” to complain?

A better question is: where-the-hell do you go now to complain?

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind and across the internets, or as Graham may know it: the Information Super-highway.

In 2005, local boyz John Carlson ((KOMO m-f, 10a-2p) and Kirby Wilbur (KVI m-f, 5-9a) famously did some effective political organizing on their KVI shows for an anti-gas tax initiative. It ended in the U.S. Supreme Court, but we can't imagine how such a campaign could be successful today, what with the internet's proven organizing ability, and the hosts' diminished audiences and clout.

This very election is an example of the severely diminished political influence of talk radio.

Nothing Rush prescribed worked! Not his original opposition to McCain; not his voting-for-Hillary Operation Chaos which was to have fractured the Democrats; not repetitious, mocking smears of  Obama as an appeaser, an anti-American and a terrorist.

Limbaugh led the attacks, lockstep with such media midgets as Hannity, Ingraham, Glenn Beck, John Carlson, Bill Cunningham, Michael Savage, and O'Reilly imitiator, Myron "Dori" Monson (KIRO m-f, 12-3p). Obama and the Democrats cleaned up. (Particularly satisfying was Monson's perfect 0% on every candidate, and initiative he railed against).

The talk radio campaign against the so-called Immigration reform bill last Spring, scared hell out of the flighty Congress, but polls show it did little to move the citizenry to care about the Armageddon they were predicting if the bill passed.

The next congress won't be so intimidated be this paper tiger.

We doubt right-wing radio will die off completely-- its demise has been predicted before -- but we'll venture this is the end of it's role as king-maker.

They, like the Republican Party, must figure out what their new role must be.

The nut cutting has already begun: if talk radio doesn't do something major and soon, it'll become little more than a wailing wall for a clutch of snivelers dying off not with a bang, but with a furious whimper.

Comments

[Gay Gary]

"GAY GARY" IS BACK FOR A ONE-OFF VISIT!

Hey Joanie, Sparky, and all others. I decided to make a one-time-only, special, post-election return on this historic occasion. I stayed up to watch the Obama speech last night.

Today in school, though, our debate coach - who is a crazy old lib - seemed to be the only lib I know who wasn't happy at the Obama win. He said this is what the Republicans wanted. "No one can possibly run a campaign that badly." He said the Republicans have traded 2 years of pain for a decade of control.

And so it seems, Obama has been elected the King of Poop Island --- from today's WSJ headlines:

- Citigroup, Goldman Said to Fire Staff as Part of Plans to Cut 12,000 Jobs
- Global Stocks, US Futures Drop on Earnings; Toyota, Cisco, Adidas Fall
- Economy Heads for Recession
- Emerging Market Stocks Drop
- Yamaha Plunges Most in 26 Years on Dire US Outlook
- Medvedev to Deploy Missiles in Obama's "First Test"

Did the Republicans just screw the economy and then tie the dead goose around the Democrat's neck? Remember, this country has a short attention span and 95% of its voters don't pay as much attention to the news-behind-the-news as the people in this blog. Responsibility for headlines trend to those in power, whether justified or not. Curious to hear your takes ...

[Duffman]

'..if talk radio doesn't do something major and soon, it'll become little more than a wailing wall for a clutch of snivelers..'

I pretty much agree with this Bla'M. I can only imagine that even the staunch 'dittoheads' are starting to realize what a 'farce' talking heads like Limbaugh and O'Reilly are. I can't imagine their popularity gaining at all. Young folks I talk with are not even familiar with their names.
I think local hosts like, yes even my favorite 'Dori Monson' would be wise to examine new and re-directioned formats. While some made light of TBTL, it's innovative shows like that (or similar)and/or substantative shows like intelligent and fair Rachel Maddows' that may tend to thrive. The new Obama phenomenon may just cut across all of the BS of divisiveness and make shows like these obsolete, and thus their hosts (at least those who don't or won't forge a new path) wondering WTF happened. I personally think American society will be enhanced and better off without these hate-generating types of shows. I says YES we 'can' them!

[AuthenticAndrew]

People are forgetful but they don't rewrite history in their minds. People aren't going to forget that the the big bank failures happened just as Bush was leaving office.

Most people feel the effect of George Bush's Failed Economic Policies in the form of a widening wealth gap. Wages have increased maybe 10% in the past eight years while the cost of food and gas has increased by 100%. Everyone IS poorer and very few did anything wrong. Obama's Successful Economic Policies will work to decrease the wealth gap and though it can't possibly undo the damage done by Bush within 4 years but the average American will feel the pressure ease up a bit.

[Duffman]

And, just WTF does that exactly have to do with the topic at hand.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Talk radio will be fine.

Not sure about Myron Monson on FM though; puting a conservative on FM is like puting an earth worm in sun light. Tom Leykis tried libertarian politics on FM and ended up flipping to an all tits all the time format.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Duffman the profanity is uncalled for.

[Duffman]

AA I agree with you, that's why I don't outright say it, only imply it with acronyms which can be deciphered in the eye of the beholder - as one chooses.

[joanie]

An electoral landslide but not a popular vote landslide. Thare are still plenty of dittoheads out there.

New voters? A voice given to minorities not heard before? Oh, there's lots and lots of fodder for old white guys to whine about. Time will tell.

The Rahm Emanuel assignment doesn't bode well for me.

Americans do have short memories. There's already a headline in the Times about Obama aides trying to lower expectations. I don't think talk radio on the right is out of business. Not at all.

[Coiler]

Read Tim Egan in the NY Times today on who carried the vote for President Obama. It was the real Joe the Plumbers (42k and up) and even those 200k and up incomes whose taxes would increase that voted in larger numbers.

"As for the Bradley effect, there was none. Perhaps a Reverse Bradley – in which more people actually voted for the black guy than they told pollsters."

[AuthenticAndrew]

Duffman the implied profanity is uncalled for.

[Duffman]

Touche'!

[sparky]

I was listening to Thom Hartmann this morning, talking with a guest about how we have a Depression about every 80 years, after those who went through it have died off. Jimmy Carter came to office after Nixon and Johnson had paid for a war on a credit card, and when payment came due, we went into a severe recession. Of course, the righties blamed Carter. Now we have lived through 28 years of Reaganomics, topped off by an almost total deregulation of the financial world by both Repugs and Dems, and now the payment has come due. Obama has now inherited this crappy economy. Let's start a countdown to when the Right says it is all Obama's fault. Oh wait---Fake Gary says the stockmarket numbers since Tuesday are Obama's fault. No need for a countdown. Carry on.

[Coiler]

I can see the GOP actually being fiscally conservative for once by demanding the Palin's pay back all that credit card debt they racked up on shopping sprees at places like Sak's and Neiman Marcus. Todd alone burned through 40k. I don't think we'll hear from the Palin's again.

[Gay Gary]

Fake Gary says the stockmarket numbers since Tuesday are Obama's fault.

I did?! First of all I don't think I'm even a Republican ... YET! (I'm not officially eligible to vote until February 2009.)

Anyway, I thought I said they were George Bush's fault but the Republicans would be able to successfully pin it on Obama? With 43% of America not even realizing the Democrats controlled Congress prior to yesterday, I'm pretty confident the GOP should be able to shovel the "big" crisis that's up next - and is of their making - onto the Democrats and make it stick without much problem. Ergo the latest from Bloomberg that a motivated GOP with a good marketing program can make stick:

- Stocks in US Slide
- S&P Worst 2-Day Decline in 21 Years
- Sands Las Vegas Cites Potential Bankruptcy
- Disney Profit Drops 13%, Bad Debt from Lehman to Blame
- Genworth Reports 3rd Quarter Loss on Rising Claims, Soured Investments

I already like the pictures of the lefty peaceniks rending their clothes at the Rahm Emanuel appointment and the Obama campaign workers getting stiffed on their paychecks. So it begins!

Any GOPer out there who is upset at the Obama win has got to be a moron. Obama being elected right at this time is the best possible outcome. If I may paraphrase the SAT --

US Treasury is to Wall Street
as
Obama is to Republican Party

Thanks for taking on our baggage, O! Better tune up your veto pen, you'll be needing it in 23 short months!

[Gay Gary]

BTW - don't take any of that as a diss on the "Obama economic program", whatever that is. You could have the most brilliant economic program under the sun and it wouldn't forestall the explosion that's going to come out of the clogged up toilet that is the US economy.

GOP just needs to vamp to make sure it all goes down Jan. 21 or later.

[Gay Gary]

What I'm praying for every night:

- soaring unemployment
- runaway inflation
- rising gas prices
- plummeting life expectancy
- skyrocketing infant mortality
- dropping literacy

All good GOPers must unite to do everything possible to make sure this country gets dragged through hell and back in the next 2 years. That's not an easy task except for this precise moment in time because of this perfect alignment of stars ... our time is now! Let's burn this muthafucka down!

[Gay Gary]

What I'm praying for every night:

- soaring unemployment
- runaway inflation
- rising gas prices
- plummeting life expectancy
- skyrocketing infant mortality
- dropping literacy

All good GOPers must unite to do everything possible to make sure this country gets dragged through hell and back in the next 2 years. That's not an easy task except for this precise moment in time because of this perfect alignment of stars ... our time is now! Let's burn this muthafucka down!

[sparky]

Fake Gary, always promises but never delivers. I thought you said you were posting just once?

The GOP is run by rich folks, and basically looks after their class interests; low taxes, no estate taxes, helping out business. However, there are not enough rich folks to elect a president, even if you count the folks who think they're rich but aren't. (Tommy) So the party has to use the religious right as its actual voters,
and this group includes a fair number of folks who AREN'T rich.

To gather this group in, the GOP promises, but doesn't deliver, a return to a simpler age where abortion was done in back allies, gays were closeted family men who could be thrown in jail and the black folks and the Jews knew their place.

It's been a 30-year exercise in stringing these folks along. The rich people who pay for the party have neither interest in making good nor incentive; once abortion
is made nationally illegal a lot of the religious right probably won't bother turning up to vote.

The problem is that the rich folks who run the party - and run Fox News - aren't really sincere about the party's social agenda. It's just red meat for the rightwing workies. The rich - really, the country's owners - want the party
to look after their class interests, which are all economic. They don't trust the petit bourgeois footsoldiers any more than you or I do.

The problem is that the crazies are getting restless, and want to run the party themselves, not just provide the voting muscle. This makes the richies nervous:
you see this with the complete lack of rich-folks funding for Huckabee (who,incidentally, wasn't reliable on economic issues as far as the rich were concerned).

Palin also scares them, as she's drawn from the same group, but seems even more ignorant and likely to blow up the world in search of the the end of the world and
the second coming. Even short of that, she seems ignorant and incompetent enough to screw things up even more royally than the most recent occupant of the White House
did, given the chance. She'd further tarnish the brand, and probably cause everyone's
portfolios to blow up. And the people who run the party aren't fools, just dedicated to their own interests: they realize that she's incredibly ignorant, and probably
dangerous beyond a point they're willing to tolerate.

Much safer to destroy her NOW than to let her build herself up and run in 2012, where she MIGHT win the nomination because of her attraction to the smalltown and
southern white folks who actually provide the votes. She's attractive and hits all the right-wing sweet spots. She seems one of the people. The rich do NOT want a choice between her and Obama; they want someone sincere on the economic rightwingness but insincere on the rest. Fox, being the instrument of the rich folks who run the
party, is the chosen means to have at her when she's vulnerable.

[bob]

wow

[Gay Gary]

The GOP is run by rich folks, and basically looks after their class interests; low taxes, no estate taxes, helping out business. However, there are not enough rich folks to elect a president, even if you count the folks who think they're rich but aren't. (Tommy) So the party has to use the religious right as its actual voters,
and this group includes a fair number of folks who AREN'T rich.

Sparky, first of all - I like you. You have a more fiery temper than any of my teachers. I wish you taught at my school, quite frankly.

Annyway, I'll just respond to your novel with a quick little missive from a native of Pennsylvania who moved to Delaware and then represented that state in Congress ... no, not Joe Biden! John Dickinson, signatory of the Constitution:

"Most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor. And that is why they will follow us."

The formula has been the same for 200+ years. It's not about to change, despite your most dreamy hopes. The pendulum swings and it swings back.

[Gay Gary]

And, if I'm truly wrong ... as dad says - come January 21 perhaps we may find ourselves with a new President and Vice-President ... perhaps not whom you might expect!

This country is too important to let slide to the savages, Sparky. I know you agree with me. I think Americans should be confident contingencies are in place just in case there is some real danger from Obama (which I personally doubt there is ... like I said, this should be a boon for us GOPers).

[orcas]

Limbaugh's spectacular success in talk radio was never dependent on who was in the White House. Limbaugh got magnificent ratings when Bill Clinton was president and his ratings are sky high during the Bush administration. Talent determines success & failure in talk radio. Rush is the best in the business.

[Gay Gary]

Oops, I forgot to tag my comment with my vigilant reminder --

mischief, mischief,
tee hee hee,
we'll work our mischief,
you'll soon see!

LET'S BURN THIS MUTHAFUCKA DOWN!

[Gay Gary]

CNN - Dow tumbles below 9,000!
Stocks collapsed today, with the Dow losing more than 400 points, as fears of a prolonged recession sent investors running for the exits. The Dow slumped nearly 500 points Wednesday as Barack Obama's historic win gave way to worries about the economy he inherits, CNNMoney.com reports.

Slow down boys, we have to wait just a couple more months before we sink this ship ... keep it at slow leaks for now, on Jan. 21 you can unleash a rolling wave of disaster and misery on America.

Cooperation? Unity?

Naw - scorched Earth.

LET'S BURN THIS MUTHAFUCKA DOWN!

[chucks]

I must admit sparky that with all of the hate and vitriol in that last post of yours, I thought it was joanie posting. I was dissapointed to see it from you.
Oh well, get over your bitterness and enjoy your win.
On a side note, do you know a school counseler by the name of Dionne V....? All I know is that she is at a school dist. down there some place.

[Gay Gary]

"White bitches. F--- McCain. You white police can't do nothing," 19-year-old Celita Hart taunted officers as she stood with a throng of Obama supporters in the 6900 block of South Western Avenue, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said in a court Wednesday. At some point, authorities said, Hart left the crowd, which had been chanting "Obama, Obama," walked up to a squad car, and smacked a male officer in the face.

Oh we need more stories like this! This is perfect! Race politics is purile but if that's what it takes for 2010 ... whatever it takes. No cooperation. Let us join together to stoke a bonfire of fear and social disharmony. God willing, an invigorated GOP will be able to quietly and efficiently tear this country apart in the next 24 months. And when we take control of both chambers in 2010 then the party will really start. A new GOP President will roll his inaugural parade in 2012 down a street stained ruby red.

mischief, mischief,
tee hee hee,
we'll work our mischief,
you'll soon see!

[sparky]

chucks there wasnt an ounce of hate or vitriol in my last post. For one thing, I forgot to put the quotes around the whole thing because those were not my words, but from an email I got from someone today. It is merely an observation about how the GOP has treated the religious right.

The author of the email is not the only person who shares that view..there was a guy a couple of years back who wrote a book about working for Bush. He was well known within the evangelical community and was tapped to help Bush get those votes from the religious right. Then one day he overheard some of the campaign staff, or maybe it was Bush's staff--I dont remember specifically--laugh openly at how "stupid" the "religious nuts" were, how gullible they were. He realized that he had been used. They had no intention of keeping their word on anything. Notice how there has been no real push to overturn Roe v Wade? No real big effort to put evangelicals in positions of power? To punish gays by taking away their rights-Measure 8 excluded.? They didnt need to keep their promises, chuck. They won. That was the point. They won, and then went back to business of making money for their friends and each other.

Joanie wonders why I like you. I think one way to describe it is that I believe that in your heart, you honestly have not moved that far away from your family's Democratic roots. I dont have any proof of that, its just my gut feeling. You aren't mean. You don't revel in other people's misfortune like some of the others here. Your "republican" sense is more like what I remember my repub family members being like.

Sara Palin would not have your best interests at heart, chucks, unless you joined the religious right community. I think the email I reposted up above is pretty void of emotion in an of itself. No doubt the authors words could create negative emotion for those for whom it hit home..
I would be interested in what your reasons would be that Fox News, which has admitted to being the mouthpiece for the Right, would all of a sudden start reporting all of the bad stuff that is coming out about her.

[sparky]

Here is the Fox News broadcast

[chucks]

Joanie just does not believe that if the Democrat party was still the party of Scoop, I might still be one of 'em. She has decided that I am a racist, bigot etc. and don't care about people. Oh well.
Remember who broke the DWI news or what ever it that Geo W was busted for just before the 2000 election. FOX. They report the good and bad of both major partys. I know this for a fact as they have pissed my off many times saying things I don't want to hear.
If Palin is in fact a screw up, I expect FNC will report it.
Do you know Dionne?

[chucks]

I just tried your link. LOL, my new computer at this place has no speakers. I will watch it when I get home.

[chucks]

Berguson just conceded.

[sparky]

Good, we need a new start with fresh blood.

No, I dont know a Dionne, sorry!

Well, you do like to rattle joanie's chain, chucks. She puts up with an awful lot on here, and tries to show you the error of your ways.

[Gay Gary]

Hey Joanie and Sparky - how long until Rahm "Hope" Emanuel and his AIPAC buddies order the carpet bombing of Iran?

CBS News just headlined with a "dire appeal" [sic] from the Big 3 automakers that they will not be in business in 2 months if Congress waits until the new session to consider giving them loan guarantees. Please dear God, make sure the GOP stalls and filibusters a Big 3 bailout. I want to see half a million freshly out of work in soup lines in Detroit, 25% unemployment in Michigan, etc. What a wonderful present of cooperation and unity that would be to deliver the new administration. My adolescent loins would just about burst at that gorgeous view.

BURN THIS MUTHAFUCKA DOWN!!!

[joanie]

Knock off the MF stuff, gary. It's makes you sound even more juvenile than you deserve. You're a pretty bright kid and one who seems to be informed.

I'm also tired of the innuendos that we'll be militarized by Cheney or anybody else. That's pure punk sensationalism and it isn't working. Drop it.

for us GOPers).

I thought you said above you didn't know if you were a GOPer?

I don't disagree with much that you've said. I think you know that. Chucks has no sense of history and doesn't seem to understand the complexities of economics. He'd like it all to be as simple as winning a bet on the internet lottery. But it isn't.

And, yes, everything you and Sparky have noted is true. You both have it right and you both know that you both know. (insert happy face)

Nothing new here. People are at heart good until greed sets in. But that is what sets some of us apart. Some of you give in without a look back. Others have a sense of community and a generosity of spirit.

Now you tell me what makes that difference between us? And no name calling. Why do some of us care for the social good - the general welfare of our country - and others of us seem only to car about the "me" in America?

Sparky, a little passion now and then is good for the soul, the spirit and is what keeps us going and glowing! Good for you.

Gary, did you see "Dead Man" with Johnny Depp? Is that what you want?

[joanie]

BTW, I almost feel sorry for Palin. They are taking her to the cleaners! I'll be surprised if she's around in four years.

I honestly think the only constiuency she has left are old white men who consider "perky" a qualification for national office!

I love to laugh just thinking about that one.

[joanie]

Finally, please no condescension. I could care less if I "show them the error of their ways." You're not that school marmish, Sparky.

They are uninformed haters. Now argue that.

[joanie]

Yawn. I'm done now. And laughing all the way to bed.

[joanie]

My final words: GO FRANKEN!

[Gay Gary]

I'm also tired of the innuendos that we'll be militarized by Cheney or anybody else. That's pure punk sensationalism and it isn't working. Drop it.

I don't care much for old movies but I like this one.

Is it wrong that I thought Gen. Scott was the hero? Hehehe.

Now you tell me what makes that difference between us? And no name calling. Why do some of us care for the social good - the general welfare of our country - and others of us seem only to care about the "me" in America?

The question is invalid, ergo, any response is sophistic. The question presupposes an inherent goodness in mandatory socialization versus voluntary socialization without proving the inherency.

Gary, did you see "Dead Man" with Johnny Depp? Is that what you want?

Sorry, no. I wikipediaed it but it's a tad before my time, I'm afraid.

OK, to bed for me - I'm done studying and midterms are tomorrow - sleep tight and remember ... as regards our fair nation, let's all work together to:

BURN THIS MUTHAFUCKA DOWN!!!

Out of the ashes will rise a Phoenix, and such, etc., all that crap -

P.S. - I got my wish from a few posts previous already ... US jobless figures will hit a 5-year high within days, per Bloomberg. After we filibuster the GM/Ford/Chrysler bailout, they'll hopefully hit 25 year highs --- the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire ... we don't need no water let the muthafucka burn! Burn muthafucka burn!

[Gay Gary]

Quick revisit - Joanie - my answer about never having seen Dead Man was a cop-out. So, if we're talking images, what do I want to see?

In two years, I want to see this. This is where I want the U.S., with the GOP in control of the tail section. I would rather we/they rule over smoldering ruins, crashed wreckage, than see the Democrats run a healthy and robust country with shining, smiling, happy people. Krishna willing, the 48% will be able to drag this nation through the bowels of hell in the coming months. 48% in control of the wheels of industry should be able reduce this nation to a blank slate of scorched earth; utterly wreck the economy, the money supply, everything. Fuck unity and conciliation. Burn the -- you know ...

All that you know is at an end. (The Silver Surfer)

[joanie]

mandatory socialization ??? having to do with what?

Not havng seen "Dead Man" is a cop out? How can not seeing a movie be a cop out?

You are fun, Gary.

[rozskat]

Joanie – Palin will just fire back by blaming the “liberal elite media” for her demise. She is in self-denial that the person she sees in the mirror caused her problems. On the other hand, she is a darling to the anti-intellectual, religious right and the pro gun crowd. I hope never to hear from her again and that 2012 is only a pipe dream for her. However, I would be foolish to write off the religious right. Look at what they did in California with Proposition 8 and Palin is hardcore religious right.

[rozskat]

Time is ripe for a new demagogue to appear on the scene of right wing talk radio. Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Cunningham, and others in this crowded field repeat clichéd messages of a bygone political era and economics system.

Right wing radio itself will not die but many of the celebrities in it will fade. They are starving for a new hero and the Ronald Reagan orgy is getting old. The message of right wing radio is stale but the division it causes by painting fellow citizens with different viewpoints, as non-American and the enemy will continue. Nothing more unites a twisted cause than having an enemy to disparage, even if it is imaginary.

[SocietyWatcher]

Interesting post and blog. Relevantly, many prominent experts and publications have pointed out that Obama is part of Generation Jones, born 1954-1965, between the Boomers and GenXers.

You may find this page interesting: it has, among other things, excerpts from publications like Newsweek and the New York Times, and videos with over 25 top pundits, all talking specifically about Obama's identity as a GenJoneser:
http://www.generationjones.com/2008election.html