Saturday are radio's best of days, worst of days. We're mostly about am talk radio, around here, and we like political talk best, the crankier the better. Hence, we've always been bored with the mish-mash on the Saturday ayem dial- the infomercials, the brokered, self-serving law advice, gardening tips, auto repairs, veterinary counsel, financial and health quackery; and the home improvement listening-to-paint-dry extravaganzas.
It's a wasteland out there with the so-called "best-of" reruns of the prevous week's Limbaugh, Hannity, and Ingraham. There's Dr.Jerry Mixon's Longevity & Aging Pecker Clinic (KTTH, 8-10a) a long, long infomercial by the good doctor who sounds older every year. There's stalk and stock talk of Chef Dan (KVI, noon-2) Chefs Tom and Thierry, (KIRO,4-7p). Even sexy, sexy man, Ciscoe "Delphiniums" Morris (KIRO 10a-1p), holds forth on subjects like top-dressing, that sounds sexy but turns out to be about fertilizing. The self-referencing Frank "Shudder" Shiers (KIRO 7-10p) can stuff more cliches in 5 minutes than a tweeking weatherman on Xmas. He's surpassed in sheer tedium only by the 3 hours (!) of cigar talk on Mr. Anderson's Cigar Lounge (KVI, 7-10p). Why does KVI have only a half hour of wine talk- Have Wine Will Travel with Dr. Vino (6:30pm-7p.) and 3 whole hours about cigars?
(Part of the reason am radio is so bad on Sattiddys is because they can't compete with NPR, who doesn't care about ratings- they air their 2 most most popular shows of the week on Saturdays- Car Talk (KUOW 9-10a) with Click & Clack; those funny over-educated car freaks; and Prairie Home Companion, the small town, family-values weekly variety show with Garrison Keillor). There's real get-your-teeth-into-it radio like Bill Radke's magazine show, Weekend America; Ira Glass' brilliant award winning, This American Life, and those witty, pithsome game shows, Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me or Says You! Because NPR's supported by listener donations and grants from foundations and corporations, (and only a tiny amount from public funds- way, way smaller than the government tax breaks and subsidies for big oil, Boeing, tobacco, or other agribusiness) they can put their best foot forward on a day when no one is commuting, and there's no soap or Gutter Helmets to sell. They're about pleasing and serving their real sponsors- the listeners).
The most interesting political show, (in a dreary reactionary way) Saturday am radio has to offer is Republican Radio, "The Life of the Party," a local GOP talk show which self-describes as the "best of Broadcast Brilliance, Republican Repartee, and a Great Galaxy of Guests."
It was created by old time flack and former King and Snohomish Republican County Chairman, Jerry Miller. (KKKOL, Saturdays, 11a-1:00p; KVI, Saturdays, 3-5p).
Host/Program Director Anne-Marie Lake is one of those perky Republican blondes so prevalent on cable TV who gives an upbeat yet snide energy to the proceedings. (A graduate of Seattle Pacific University, Anne-Marie is sexy in a brisk, shoulder-padded way that's distinctly Republican. Yum. Judging from her fake on-air laughter, and loving obsequiousness to male pols, we suspect she fakes orgasms- an admirable, selfless service provided by the kind of old-fashioned women and wives we've always admired).
A singer/songwriter, Anne-Marie is liable to break into her repertoire of show tunes, spirituals, light classicals and original songs when things slow down, which they often do. The shows goes on the road often to do remotes from exciting Republican coffee hours around Puget Sound, features celebrity co-hosts who can be breathtaking Republican Stalwarts like state GOP vice chair Fredi Simpson, official Party blogger, Stephan Schlimpansky, and such notables as Mary Jane Gassert, Laura Kiel, and Marsha Richards. Never heard of these celebs? Well, neither had we- why are they so obscure? Because they are Washington State Republicans, a species thought extinct since WWII.
The charming and entertaining part of this show is that everyone on it- unwitting dodo birds and carrier pigeons all- strut around acting as if they're in power or their power is momentarily pending.
It's a pretty red world here on Republican Radio. George Bush (or "The President," as he's known here) is wise and eloquent; Dino Rossi is governor of all the beef cattle and realtors; Ronald Reagan (who speaks on-air here each week just like he's alive) still represents who Republicans were, are, and ever could be- Ed Meese shows up, sometimes. It's a wacky, wacky Saturday world where if you're a conservative, and you squint your ears, you can escape the harsh Monday through Friday realities of the post-Bush era. The sad delusion is that they've got not much of anything to show for the past 5 State election cycles and don't have great prospects for the next 5.
A great thing about the show is you can listen to a podcast without having to give up any of your Saturday NPR. Frinstance: Congressman Dave Reichert (in political trouble in the 8th District) was on recently, and said less in 15 minutes than even George Bush could. If you wanna hear some unbelievably inane blather by the former Sheriff, click here.
This week we heard some amazing conclusions by guests, like: the US does not need lower gas prices; or, mass deportation of illegals is a viable solution to the "brown" problem. Check it out- it's all on the RR site.
While this show is definitely partisan; and disgustingly but understandably Republican, it's not bad radio. It's well-produced and does a good job defending the nearly indefensible minority party. What's sad is that Democrats have nothing like this.
Please ! Save us Late night
The Styblehead is just bad radio !
WAKE UP TOMMY!
Posted by: Brian | May 08, 2006 at 06:03 AM
Brian,
From your post, I would assume you mean Bryan Styble, 0100-0500 Sundays. (And I don't understand why they don't give him the weekday shifts)
I listen to the guy, when my Canadian based radio allows, and he puts on a good show. For one thing, he doesn't stoop to juvenile name calling.
I don't always agree with his opinions or beliefs, but I have to say the guy is always polite and respectful to his callers. And I take my toque off to his approach of allowing the callers to lead the show.
As for the state of news talk radio, my local news talk leader (speaking ratings) actually fills their Saturdays with 3 hours of paid infomericals followed by 3 hours of Dr. Laura reruns. Talk about disrespecting the audience, and advertisers.
Posted by: Liz | May 08, 2006 at 07:37 AM
"brokered, self-serving law advice. . . "
Man, I hate that guy too. His answer to every problem, "you should talk to a lawyer about that . . . "
Posted by: joanie | May 08, 2006 at 08:26 AM
NPR, once again, has to be commended for its weekend line-up...there is really no choice for progressives.
Posted by: Fremont | May 08, 2006 at 09:20 AM
I actually wish they would move Cisco to Sundays, where NPR is playing jazz or Praire Home repeats after 10a. On Saturday, there is no reason to turn off KPLU or KUOW.
And, while I hate to correct the great blathering one, the Republican party in this state had some presence into the 50s, when the wing-nut Bircher's took over. It then had another brief moment of power when Dan Evans and other moderate Republicans cleaned the party of the far right. Sadly, with the rise of the Moral Majority and the Pat Robertson brigade in the 80s, the Republican's got rid of their moderates and started their chain of losses for state wide races that rivals the Democrats at the national level.
You would think that the Republicans would learn that they only win in this state when they tame their far right wing, but if after Ellen Craswell, Linda Smith and John Carlson they haven't learned anything, I guess breaking 40% will be a victory for them for a while more.
Posted by: JDB | May 08, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Maybe they should take a clue from NPR and come up with some more interesting programming.
Like a show called "Bribe Talk" or maybe, "A K-street Lobbyist’s Companion," or a Republican news magazine called “All Bribes Considered.” Or, a show of quirky Wingnut stories with eerie music called “This American Debt.” Or a comedy show called, “Wait, Wait. Don’t Tax Me!” And a short philosophical filler segment called “Raiders Almanac” (read by Rummy!).
Posted by: darryl | May 08, 2006 at 09:43 AM
excellent titles!!!
Made me laugh out loud...
And now that Morning Sedition is not being used, they could borrow that one too!
Posted by: sparky | May 08, 2006 at 10:29 AM
OF COURSE LIBERALS CAN'T PUT ANYTHING TOGETHER LIKE REPUBLICAN RADIO! Nobody aggrees with there stupid lying tax-raising homo loving policies! Everybody in the mainstream is sick and tired of smoking dope and touching there homo friends ways that I can't even write here! There is going to be NO liberal radio soon and that's the way it should be! Everything that they stick out there is being shut out by the mainstream and we've already shut them out of the goverment and there not going to get back there again. And all of you idiots that vote for them shouldnt even be allowed out side your broke down houses! Nothing that ever comes out of dirty filthy lying cheating homo tax-raising communist mouths is worth listening to and you can quote me on that!
Posted by: RedRachel | May 08, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Old dog = old tricks.
Posted by: toryrogan | May 08, 2006 at 12:23 PM
Red Rachel just HAS to be Michael Savage in "online drag"...HAS to be...
Not that there's anything wrong with that....
Posted by: TJ | May 08, 2006 at 12:30 PM
SO TRUE! Seriously, you can read anything that RR says in your head using Savage's voice and it really sounds like something he would say.
Posted by: toryrogan | May 08, 2006 at 01:16 PM
RE: RR
I love to listen to these right wing rats still talking the talk and drinking the kool aid as their ship along with the super incompetent (and STUPID) captain Bush sinks!
The only conservatives left are the ones too brain dead to realize that they are being proved wrong on every belief they hold near and dear.
We dems are going to hand you your ass in November but you'll still be talking like the fools you are.
Posted by: ExRat | May 08, 2006 at 01:47 PM
The best thing we can do for RR is ignore her. Maybe morgan wants to join hands with her and sing kumbayah, but i sure don't.
Posted by: scott lundquist | May 08, 2006 at 03:53 PM
...I do agree with everything you said though, Exrat!
Posted by: scott lundquist | May 08, 2006 at 03:55 PM
i want to have sex with Rachel- really crazy sex like Barry Bonds with a brood mare. i want to make her holler hidey-ho...i don't care if she is a man.
Posted by: santa | May 08, 2006 at 04:11 PM
I second scott's suggestion
Posted by: sparky | May 08, 2006 at 04:22 PM
Regarding Red Rachel. When you argue with a fool there are two.
Posted by: Rick | May 08, 2006 at 04:38 PM
Please. Enough of this game. Red Rachel doesn't exist. She is so obvious a caricature of the psychotic hard-rightoid we all love to despise that she must be an invention.
My only question is: Which one of you lovable mutts invented her?
Posted by: Oly | May 08, 2006 at 05:21 PM
How will we ever be able to put a majority of votes back into our column if we refuse to also take the people who cast them?
A lot of people are going to have to come over to our side of the aisle if we are expected to take back control of our country, Scott. We must continue to be known as the party of tolerance, and that should start by allowing people with different and even obnoxious opinions to be a part of our dialogue.
I don't question the passion Rachel exudes for what she believes in. Neither do I think she's a "troll" as others have stated. I think she's a woman who is, while definitely misguided, trying to be a part of a discussion even though her views are much different from our own. There is a certain respect that I have for someone who will be the sole dissenting opinion in any one place, even if most of that respect has been eroded by her language and behavior.
I'm not a touchy-feely person. Really, I'm not. I just think that if someone has the balls to keep coming back, getting verbally thrashed repeatedly by a group that outnumbers her by at least 15-1, she deserves to at least be responded to - regardless of what we say to her.
Posted by: MorganB | May 08, 2006 at 06:01 PM
Does anyone know if Ron & Don are live right now??? I have dedicated my entire day to listening to KIRO, and I swear that this is the exact same conversation they had at 4. Am I the only one hearing this?!?
Posted by: toryrogan | May 08, 2006 at 06:23 PM
apparently so..most of us have given up on KIRO...
Posted by: sparky | May 08, 2006 at 06:26 PM
Oly, I'm on your side . . . Morgan, you are one gullible guy! But, I love innocence so I welcome your gullibility.
My concern is that since Reagan, people really feel that government is bad - it is in their gut. What used to be nice normal people drank the Reagan koolaid so thoroughly because he sold it so well . . . are now convinced that government is the problem. They don't have any real evidence but they sure do believe it.
I don't know how we get them back. I'm not so sure as some of you . . . the dems haven't done much to earn them back. Look at KS, he isn't really a Bush supporter anymore but I bet he continues to vote repug . . . no matter what.
Posted by: joanie | May 08, 2006 at 07:31 PM
HA HA HA! OH NO! IM NOT REAL!!! My whole world is falling apart. I have a bunch of comunist dopes taking sides and debating the world that is me. On the left I have Morgan and his/her (Morgan is a boys and girls name so I don't know) who wants everybody to be nice and almost talked me into it because it sounded like such a good idea and YES I DID want to be part of the discussion. Then on the FAR left I have Joanie, Sparky, Oly and Scott who all say "ignore Rachel because she's not real". You all need to get a life. Thats whats so funny about the ultra liberals in this world. You cant all get passed you vegetarian animal loving anti-hairspray way of life to realize that YES THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU! How do you think that in the last 20 years we have elected not one but 2 Bushes as president? How do you think that the "repugs" as you put it Joanie control all three branches of the government? So go ahead. Tell your kids that Rachel isn't real. What should that matter? You all ready tell them Christ isn't. What a laughable bunch you are. Morgan: Thanks for trying. Your a decent guy/girl. But I don't really care to talk to this lot anyway. There not changing.
Posted by: RedRachel | May 08, 2006 at 07:58 PM
I never said you were not real...
just that there doesnt seem to be a point to your tomes, other than to call us names. I get paid to be called names during the day...Im off the clock this time of night, and Im a union gal, so if Im not being paid to be called a name, well, Im just not into you, Rache.... If others on here get a kick from it, so be it.
Posted by: sparky | May 08, 2006 at 08:34 PM
I see Rachel is taking advantage of psychiatric help, for free. That is socialism! It will only get worse in Nov. when more neo-cons start going into re-hab.
Posted by: chris | May 08, 2006 at 08:46 PM
I'll vote for Adam Smith again, because he has integrity and even though I don't always agree on his positions, he is articulate and thinks through his positions and may be the best House member this state has. As for other Dems or Rats, I don't hold them in as high esteem - they are too partisan and alot of blather.
I don't see myself voting for Cantwell, but wonder what her opponent is trying to say ? She'll probably win again though, because it is 2006. The Democrat control at the State level is unhealthy and akin to the Totalitarian Left in King County and not much better in Olympia. Just as DC needs a change in party control in Congress, Olympia needs it every bit as bad. I know that it is against your religion of liberalism to vote anything other than Democrat, but do you call that being open-minded ? Hardly.
I challenge you and you know who you are to check out sources with more conservative points of view and certainly just as valid - like the NY Post, Washington Times or the Wall Street Journal or even the Tacoma News Tribune and South & East King County Journal are more moderate. I see the NY Times, Washington Post, sometimes the Seattle Times and Portland Oregonian to go along with the other sources I mentioned.
Posted by: KS | May 08, 2006 at 09:05 PM
KS - check out the vetoes article. I really want to know what you think . . .
I've voted repub in my time but not often. I voted for Slade Gorton against Mike Lowry cause I thought MIke too liberal . . . but wouldn't do it again. I would have voted Dan Evans had I been old enough cause he is the best repub I've every seen. I liked Eisenhower a lot but again wasn't even close to voting age . . . a babe in arms.
I would have, at one time, voted for McCain till he became the addled, artificial Bush panderer that he's become.
Guess that is not many repubs but I bet more than you have voted or liked dems. . .
Posted by: joanie for KS | May 08, 2006 at 09:19 PM
I actually sometimes consider myself to be an "Hisenhower" conservative. They used to be known as republicans but that was in another lifetime. They were for smaller government,personal responsibility, a shared commitment to they greater good of all people, not just the top 2% of wage earners in the country.Your faith was your own business and "Ike" really did tell us to be aware of the rising power and influence of the military industrial complex. Its worth the time to listen to his speeches! Back in 1952 he got elected by promoting peace for crying out loud-what a concept! Today, Dwight Eisenhower would be drummed out of the repuke party.How times have changed, and for the worse I'm afraid..
Posted by: Rick | May 08, 2006 at 09:46 PM
"Anti-hairspray"? Wow. (scratching my bald head in extreme puzzlement)
Well, if our delightful, spelling-challenged RR actually WERE real, I would tell her that I am actually a libertarian who has no more use for the far left than I do for the far right. (And that my own feelings about government are, accordingly, a bit darker than Joanie's.)
But she isn't so I won't.
Posted by: Oly | May 08, 2006 at 09:49 PM
Morgan,although your willingness to embrace Rachel with open arms, appears, on the surface, to be admirable and noble, dig a little deeper and its absurd and ridiculous!
She has made it clear that we are all stupid, commie, homo, drug loving, abortion having hippies! That IS NOT discussion, and i don't recall anyone calling her a litany of names the same way she did, at every given opportunity!
Being a voice of dissent and opposition is great, i'm all for it, but i definitely think she his doing her side a terrible disservice! I don't find her ability to "keep comin back" impressive at all. She obviously loves the attention.
Political views, much like religious views, are deeply personal and usually impervious to negotiation, or contrary beliefs. I think YOU have about as much of a chance at changing rachels political stance, as she does at changing mine.
Posted by: scott lundquist | May 08, 2006 at 09:56 PM
Joanie, you voted for Skeletor??
oh my
Posted by: sparky | May 08, 2006 at 09:58 PM
My, oh my, Joans....
Posted by: Fremont | May 08, 2006 at 10:14 PM
I'm sorry! So sorry! Please accept my apology . . . but, I was afraid, afraid of Lowry . . .
uh,uh, oh oh oh oh oh
Truly guys, i wouldn't do it again!
Posted by: joanie for KS | May 08, 2006 at 10:43 PM
I left off an oh!
Mike Malloy is hot tonight. :)
Posted by: joanie for KS | May 08, 2006 at 10:46 PM
"Veto? Who Needs a Veto?"
Don't get annoyed, Michael. I'm posting once more cause I want everyone to read . . . I'll put myself in time out now. (also, I want to get rid of the KS in my name)
Posted by: joanie | May 08, 2006 at 10:52 PM
There is more to Rachel's story than she has said in a open post, Scott. She has sent a couple of emails directly to me which have really changed my view of her. A lot of what she says is indeed an act, but it's not intended for us...
Posted by: MorganB | May 09, 2006 at 11:52 AM
I'm beginning to feel like I'm living "Six Characters in Search of a Play." Is this for real?
Now I'm questioning Morgan's authenticity! I'm losing it!
Posted by: joanie | May 09, 2006 at 12:13 PM
In what sense, Joanie?
Posted by: MorganB | May 09, 2006 at 12:56 PM
Are you doubting my sincerity or are you saying I'm not a real person?
Posted by: MorganB | May 09, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Oh, no! I'm not getting pulled into this new little melodrama. Sorry.
I'm sure you're for real . . . let's leave it at that! :)
Posted by: joanie | May 09, 2006 at 01:59 PM
Sei personaggi in cerca d'AUTORE (Six Characters in Search of an AUTHOR).
Posted by: toryrogan | May 09, 2006 at 03:06 PM
Thanks, Tory! So much for the top of my head . . . Remembered Pirandello (I think?) but forgot the title!!!
That is even better.
Now, how do you know the Italian - if it is Italiano . . . I'm impressed!
Posted by: joanie | May 09, 2006 at 03:47 PM
Ci sono delle cose che ho imparato che non siamo stato fuori fumati della mia comprensione.
(Translation: There are things that I have learned that were not smoked out of my comprehension.)
Actually, I studied 4 years of Spanish when I was younger, which translates easily to Italian. My favorite grandfather grew up just outside Florence, so he and I would have conversations that lasted for hours and hours- he would speak Italian and I would speak Spanish. Eventually I just picked it up from him. I started buying books in Italian rather than English (the language is so much more vibrant and descriptive than English). And there you have it...
Posted by: toryrogan | May 09, 2006 at 06:16 PM
And yes, it is Pirandello.
Posted by: toryrogan | May 09, 2006 at 06:18 PM
(P.S. The "smoked out of my comprehension" statement was a tongue-in-cheek reference to all of those "dope smoking liberal" comments. Not to be taken seriously.)
(I used to be fairly funny, if you can believe that.)
Posted by: toryrogan | May 09, 2006 at 10:50 PM
The main indictment against the Democrat party is the direction that the leadership has been going - Before Bill Clinton, I voted for as many or more Dems than Republicans. Then unsavory characters like Howard Dean, Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, John Conyers, Gore and the Clintons - not to mention Ron Sims and the King County cabal have hijacked the Democrat party to embrace trial lawyers, the politics of personal destruction, socialism, open borders... Can anyone demonstrate this not to be the case ?
It seems to be about voting for the lesser of two evils, but when neither side can be trusted and are showing evil - one side more than the other. Neither party really gives a s**t about how they affect people. I say that because of the lack of response about the borders - The White House is even telling the Mexican Consulate where the Minutemen are - smells like treason to me. Would the Democrats have done any different if they were in the White House ? Very doubtful - Never trust a Clinton !
Posted by: KS | May 10, 2006 at 09:16 PM
You're an idiot! The dems were in the white house and not one refused to obey over 700 laws . . .
Klueless and now an idiot! Sorry, KS, your ignorance just brings out the worst in me!
Posted by: joanie | May 10, 2006 at 09:25 PM