talk radio, kirby wilbur, & the vast winged conspiracies

Wanna vast left-wing conspiracy?  Well, who doesn’t?

We suggest, in that case, you listen to Kirby Wilbur, (KVI, m-f, 6-9a). His wing may not be on the side to your liking-- but vast? conspiracy?  He’s got it. When he needs political action, he takes the pulse of his constituents, then tickles his vast right-wing infrastructure.

Let’s define conspiracy. We’re not talking about criminal conspiracy or black helicopters; we’re talking about the networking, and organization of like-minded people using all available resources. 

The past two mornings, Wilbur asked listeners (called Wilbur’s Warriors) to ransack their bellies. If there was enough fire therein against the recently passed 9-cent gas tax hike, please, he asked, email him at an special address and say so.

He said there was a narrow window to get a repeal campaign up and running and if there were enough people mad enough to commit to licking the envelopes, the door-to-dooring, and petitioning in the park-and-ride-lots--his BM (big money) people would be willing to help make it so.

It was point and click.

Wilbur knows if his Warriors commit, they’re good for it. They get mad--they get even. You can make book on it.

No matter that the tax is a drop in the bucket to fix state roads neglected for decades, to replace the dangerously earthquakable Alaska Way Viaduct and expand  the antiquated 405.

No matter that Republicans are always blathering that the Holy Principles of One Man/One Car should reign over such European nanny-state ideas as public transit.

No matter that legally there’s only gas taxes to fix the crumbling roads because their right-wing, libertarian Tim Eyman’s revolt against car tabs kicked the spokes out of the only other constitutionally allowed way to do it. (Eyman’s first initiative I-695, gutted a $2 billion no-new-taxes highway program Republicans had just passed. GOP reaction to the bully Eyman’s initiative: “Thank-you sir, I’ll have another.)

With the foresight inherent in pissing your pants to stay warm, it’s no new taxes, no matter what. Despite the new gas tax was passed with bipartisan support, they’ll slap Governor Gregoire and the D’s around even when their demogoging of taxes could be at the expense of the roads they usually so desperately, lovingly defend.

Ironically, some on our side of the street--the more strident environmentalists--agree with the results of the right-wing’s monkey-wrenching anti-tax efforts. They’ll sign Wilbur’s petitions. They love repealing highways. They hope the inconvenience of crappy roads, and traffic gridlock will force commuters out of their cars.

Which makes it even more puzzling why Republicans encourage this shit-storm of hypocrisy, unintended consequences, and bile that has them in bed performing unnatural acts with their enemies.

But this isn’t about the gas tax, it’s about how the right is winning.

Is there anyone on our side that even approaches Kirby Wilbur (or John Carlson, KVI, m-f, 3-6p) with that kind of political proficiency, credibility and the power of a mighty trumpet like talk radio?

They've been extremely effective in their "Support the Troops," (read, "Support Bush") rallies and demonstrations. The KVI talk jocks can have boots on the ground anywhere in the area, while lefties are still home shaving their tongues and contemplating perfervid slogan syntax for their placards.

That's what the enemy is doing while we’re pummeling them with covered dishes or heavily-armored hummus platters at avenging potlucks. While they’re in Costco parking lots with clipboards--we’re launching fierce fusillades of poesy; withering volleys of irony; animadverting thoughtfully on NPR; or raining down savage, humanist tropes on their barbarian asses. 

Unfortunately, the barbarians haven’t noticed--they’re busy snatching the reins of the democracy, while we, like the monorail, are above it all.

Comments

[Scott]

While I get your point, and I agree that we need to counter hateriots like Wilbur every way we can, I don't believe he is THAT effective. During the Support the GOP (Er sorry Support our Troops) meetings, they were only able to muster 40 or 50 people sometimes. And their so-called state-wide audience could only bring out 890 of the looniest of the far right to an anti Gov. Chris rally.

They are LOUD that is for sure. But since they are liars, and since they are depending on small minds, and since all of them are mostly REALLY in this for their egos or the money, and since only about four percent of Washington residents are actually that FAAAAR right, I don't Wilbur and his minions are that powerful. Look at that joke JohnBoy Carlson. He got his hat handed to him when he ran with Governor. These guys have no statewide appeal. They are all going to go away someday. Hopefully soon.

[David Goldstein]

Absolutely! That is the difference between rightie talk jocks like Carlson, Wilbur and Siegel, and centrist/liberal/lefties like Ross, Hart, and Webber. The righties are all activists. That's one of the things that make them compelling... they're occasionally willing to do more than just talk.

Talk radio is more than about talk, it's about creating a community, and when Wilbur does something like what you described, it's really an act of community outreach.

[Roy Smith]

I suspect that they won't have much trouble getting the votes to repeal the gas tax increase (and maybe some of the rest of it, too). As the effects of Peak Oil set in, and gas gets even more expensive, Americans will continue to live in the fantasy that they are entitled to dirt cheap gas and should be allowed to drive their Hummers anywhere they want at public expense.

[Al Hedstrom]

Among the comments so far, one important item (in my mind) was brought forward. Goldy said, "... they're occasionally willing to do more than just talk." It matters less that they may hold forth with only 40 or 50 people. What matters is that they DO something about it. I can't think of a centrist or liberal radio station organizing any rally. KTPK has advertised John Dean's and John Kerry's Seattle appearance. But that's not an activist participation event on the street, visible to Wilbur (how can I write that in a low baritone and shakey voice?) and John Boy.

One other note: If only two people showed up for a KVI rally, they would use their big radio megaphone to proclaim success and blather on about it endlessly.

[drool]

One needs to look at what the old car tax was doing. It was being used as a slush fund. If ALL it did was pay for roads and infrastructre I might not have objectied to it so much. Trouble is it amounte dto a property tax. I am one person with several cars. I can only drive one at a time. The efficient one is th ecommuter. I am an favor of it being a simple gas tax...O have been listening to Kirby and he's dead wrong IMO

[Douglas Peterson]

After reading this site, I'll make sure I sign any anti-gas tax petition I see.