~ The passing of PD Tom Clendening at KIRO and the eminent take-over of the station by Bonneville International has bred fear, loathing and hope among staffers over at the East Lake big house.
~ The fear: "Tom was looking forward to Bonneville taking over so he would have the freedom to do what he does best. He was fully capable of creating a great lineup and outstanding programming at KIRO- his hands were tied. Which leaves all of us wondering why Bonneville doesn't understand that...and so are we in for more of the same? A company who doesn't listen to the intelligence of it's smartest employees?"
~ The loathing: "Tom is the fall guy. The higher ups at Entercom were the people who were making all those bad decisions -- just as Allen Prell was moving up in the ratings they canned him, all the strange changes were the big wigs who didn't live in Seattle pulling the puppet strings. Tom was looking forward to Bonneville taking over so he would have the freedom to do what he does best.
~ The hope: (with lots of lube added): [Bonneville is] "a highly-respected broadcasting company, notorious for their emphasis on community involvement and for the respect with which they treat their employees. It will be a pleasure to work for them again in whatever capacity."
~ The shame: A major civic improvement group called Project for Public Spaces, in New York, does a Hall of Shame listing the world cities that have done the most to ruin the potential of their waterfronts. Seattle is number six on their Hall of Shame. We're pretty discouraged with Governor Christine and her choice of issues to wobble around on, and then get us all mad. Damn it- we're her base, Seattleites...
~ If you really wanna know who the right's afraid of- look to whom they're trashing. Now it's Al Gore. After a phony-baloney "think" tank released his energy bill for his Nashville mansion, GOP Designated Liar Sean Hannity, Billo, Big Pants, the lot talked all day about his hypocrisy, bashing him as a big elitist phony who rides in a limousine. They're afraid that not only the global warming they're so wrong about's time has come as an issue- but they're also terrified of Al Gore's new potential as a Democratic candidate. The man's come through the hell of a heartbreaker presidential campaign; stayed true to his passions; kept his pants zipped up; passed through the fire of rovian ridicule and into that hallowed circle of "beloved." After the election surge of personal destruction that's looming- he could be the one left standing, looking down on the scattered body parts of Hillary, Edwards, and Obama. That scares the shit out of the Republicans- he's already won the hearts & minds of the American people once.
~ and oh yeah- the energy bill thing is poodle doodle. The man pays a premium for green energy each month; his home includes space for his extended family, his offices for his busy life; the Secret Service detail; and oh yeah, he's the former Vice President of the U.S.- we don't want him be flying tourist!
~ Made For Talk Radio Topic du jour: headline- "Horse Euthanized After Pit Bulls Attack."
~ Faithful Reader, Mercifurious, a blogger in his own write, has written a fascinating post on Alfred Hamilton, the Grand Old Man of the Right who passed in 2004. Who's Alf Hamilton, you ask? He, like Ray Karczewski©, is what passes for an eminence gris in the Republican Party. Hamilton is best known for his inspiring Uncle Sam billboard on I-5 between Chehalis & Centralia. A certified and salted wing-nut, his huge freeway readerboard celebrated the 1st Amendment, bemused passersby in an otherwise dull stretch of freeway; and embarrassed Republicans- Slade Gorton brought suit against the sign and lost. Read Nate's story- he's got clips from local papers, and pictures of some of the most notorious boards including: EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE- HOME OF ENVIRONMENTAL TERRORISTS AND HOMOS, a picture of which was made into a postcard and still sells in the Evergreen gift shop.
~ "Dick Cheney is old, he's sick, he's unpopular, and he looks like Burgess Meredith playing The Penguin. Here's a modest proposal and a darned good idea what to do with him.
""Dick Cheney is old, he's sick, he's unpopular, and he looks like Burgess Meredith playing The Penguin. Here's a modest proposal and a darned good idea what to do with him."
...and the accompanying article is SICK, I can't believe it was advanced. Whether you like him or not, this hit piece is UNfair (from a human standpoint -forget political) in it's content and totally un-called for!
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 05:35 AM
BTW: Don't believe your Feb 2007 calendar is accurate.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 05:39 AM
Tom Clendening, Had a lot of warnings about how bad thing were with his line up , Come on he Hired, Herr" McStyblehead I think that about somes it up !
Styblehead radio it"s more than just bad ! it's just plan Wrong!!
Posted by: Brian | February 28, 2007 at 07:34 AM
I thought the "Darned good idea" was funny and amusing until this part.
"They missed this time and just took out the usual assortment of innocents" which IMO made it a sick joke,
like something you would hear on the Randi Rhodes show.
Posted by: Steve | February 28, 2007 at 08:24 AM
I don't want the guy dead...I want him indicted and dead of old age in prison. The word satire has meaning...I wouldn't read too much into it unless you would feel the same outrage if you substitute the word "Cheney" for "Gore."
Posted by: cowpotpi3 | February 28, 2007 at 09:08 AM
I would never wish another human being dead or 'used as bait'; come on, it's inappropriate and you know it. I don't particularly care for Gore, but you know what, based on the current democratic field, if he were running I believe at this point he'd get my vote.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Neffs for Gore, version four!
Posted by: meisha | February 28, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Cheney would do the same to me if he got a chance. He's a mean old killer.
Posted by: cinco | February 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM
The fear of the unknown is always worse than even bad reality. The worse part is the wait. Who will it be and when will we know it? tomorrow, march 1? Friday? think I'll go buy some crank...
Posted by: KIROdog | February 28, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Thanks for the link Bla'M. But I still gotta know - who the hell is Bill Caruth?
Posted by: mercifurious | February 28, 2007 at 10:37 AM
That billboard is hilarious..right now it says on one side " Are you a terrorist? Push 2 for Spanish"
Posted by: sparky | February 28, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Freedom of speech, Duffman. Freedom to write an article that makes you an idiot in one man's eyes or a satirist to another. Then again you also have the freedom to not read what he has to say. :)
Posted by: cowpotpi3 | February 28, 2007 at 10:57 AM
...and, the freedom to express an opinion, right?
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 11:00 AM
The first amendment only applies to the government, remember....
Posted by: lukobe | February 28, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Who said you didn't have a right to an opinion? I just asked a question about your opinion, that's all.
Posted by: cowpotpi3 | February 28, 2007 at 11:28 AM
..& I believe I answered, did I not?
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Yeah, the "SuperPatriot" hamilton was a quaker, evidently. It was told to me some years ago that he got the deferment based on his family's turkey farm. How appropriate.
Posted by: coiler | February 28, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Clendening lost power because he made so many bad decisions that Entercom cut his balls off. He is lucky he was not fired a long time ago. Lets review just a few. Prell (his friend) Ventrella (another buddy), keeping Vinnie, firing Val, moving Ross, Ron and Don, Styble, ignoring his staffs concerns, lowest ratings ever on kiro. The list goes on and on and on and on. After all of this, they finally just decided to pay him to sit in his office with the door closed.
Posted by: Mickey | February 28, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Glad you finally read N8's fab research piece of a month and a half ago, Bla'M......
Posted by: Fremont | February 28, 2007 at 04:37 PM
"Faithful Reader, Mercifurious, a blogger in his own write, has written a fascinating post on Alfred Hamilton,.."
Very good stuff!
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 05:03 PM
"I would never wish another human being dead or 'used as bait'; come on, it's inappropriate and you know it. I don't particularly care for Gore, but you know what, based on the current democratic field, if he were running I believe at this point he'd get my vote."
I'd love to see Prince Albert of the Tennesse Valley -to borrow a phrase from Doonesbury- run if only for the fun factor of watching him and the Clinton Machine go at it. Al can play hardball too. I still recall how he pretty much handed Bill Bradley his arse. The Deaniacs would flock to Gore.
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 06:06 PM
10-4 PS; Hillary's got SO much baggage; Obama is (I think) really running for VP...if AG suddenly went on Larry King Live and 'announced'...with his Hollywood star status presently - I think he would be the man.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 06:10 PM
I'm so back with Mike Malloy! He's been on fire the last two nights! If anybody misses Webb, tune in to Mike Malloy. He's down and dirty just like he used to be . . . passionate and persuasive. Gotta love it!
Posted by: joanie | February 28, 2007 at 08:18 PM
KIRO might do well in getting the Rev Jesse Jackson on for a couple of hours each day. He has experience in TV and I think his familar voice would do well in our area. I know I would enjoy hearing him.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 08:31 PM
MerciFurious,
Nice website. I really enjoyed the A Hamilton stuff. As one who drives by that sign I have always wondered about the man who would put that kind of stuff up. If you haven't checked out Merci's site, do yourself a flavor and give it a taste.
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 08:31 PM
Duff
I bet with Obama as a new power that Jesse may have less time to play king maker and more time to devote to a radio show. He had a nice show on CNN called Equal Time.
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 08:33 PM
Yep, Malloy is great, he called Ed Shultz "hideous". One of the few hosts still talking about impeachment. Hopefully they will vote for that in Olympia tommorow. We must stop the dry drunk prez from killing more people.
Posted by: coiler | February 28, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Coiler
"Yep, Malloy is great, he called Ed Shultz "hideous". One of the few hosts still talking about impeachment. Hopefully they will vote for that in Olympia tommorow. We must stop the dry drunk prez from killing more people."
Wonder why Dems are backing away. If they really believe it then they can defund the war pdq. If they are just pandering to the faithful such as yourself then your being strung along. How long you gonna take it?
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 08:41 PM
You know it's kind of funny; I know Obama is getting all the press recently, but frankly I think Rev Jackson appeals more to the broad spectrum of democrats. Unless he decides to run, I believe he can best serve our party by being the strong voice that he is, in as many venues as possible before the election.
Are you listening KIRO; this might be a good move for you and may garner a significant increase in ratings.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 08:42 PM
I would vote them out of office, like a lot of other fed up progessives. These are far worse times than Watergate.
Posted by: coiler | February 28, 2007 at 08:49 PM
Obama is such a wild card. They talk about his thin resume but hell, Lincoln was a 1-2 term congressman when he was elected. Different time but maybe it would be nice to have a change.
I've also listened to the Al Sharpton radio show but couldn't take it.
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 08:50 PM
"I would vote them out of office, like a lot of other fed up progessives. These are far worse times than Watergate."
So are you a third party type or a work within the party to change it type?
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 08:51 PM
I think my ideal line up on KIRO (which I do listen to frequently) would be be:
a.m. News (as is or shortened a bit)
09:00 - 12:00 Good 'ol Dave Ross
12:00 - 14:00 Ron Reagan
14:00 - 16:00 Rev Jesse Jackson
16:00 - 18:00 Dori Monson
>18:00 Doesn't matter...
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 08:59 PM
Joanie just loves that dirty talk radio, I hope she doesn't bring it to school with her. Imagine one of her students raising his/her hand at the wrong time and Joanie jumping up and down on her tidy desk and screaming expeltives at the little tyke like Mike Malloy. Another hypocrite at that.
Posted by: Steve | February 28, 2007 at 09:10 PM
steve
good use of imagery. you know that she probably has the kids 'work in groups' whilst she goes out to catch a smoke and listen to malloy on podcast.
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 09:23 PM
Steve, you're so fucking boring, go back to freerepublic where you belong, you big piece of Mark Foley stud muffin trash.
Posted by: coiler | February 28, 2007 at 09:23 PM
Sorry man..your're discounted when you use bad words...we can only tolerate the F-Bomb from Ms Hillary C.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 09:39 PM
Coiler, let me introduce you to Dumb and Dumber . . . just laugh at them. Puts kind of enjoys lewd jokes as well . . . the last time I asked him if he had a cigar in his pocket or he was glad to see me, I didn't hear from him again for months and months. I figured he was so overcome with mirth, he couldn't post for a while.
He seems to like to take on women . .. if you know what I mean. I can just imagine his fantasies . . . Sparky and I must figure prominently in them. We accept it as a compliment. Sort of like we're pin up girls . . .
Posted by: joanie | February 28, 2007 at 09:45 PM
oh gawd, speak for yourself, joanie!
Posted by: sparky | February 28, 2007 at 09:49 PM
it seems tough for her to to....
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 09:50 PM
"He seems to like to take on women . .. if you know what I mean. I can just imagine his fantasies . . . Sparky and I must figure prominently in them. We accept it as a compliment. Sort of like we're pin up girls . . . "
on the internet it isn't about gender. its about ideas. your not gonna retreat into the 'i'm a girl' deal, are you? sheesh
Posted by: Pugetsound | February 28, 2007 at 10:00 PM
So why do you spend so much time trying to cherry pick what Joanie and I say? I don't see you doing that to anyone else on here. It is especially amusing when you and Steve try the tag team stuff of "Yeah and THEN she said THIS!!"
Apparently that makes you feel manly ..or something.
You and Steve and whoever can continue to piss on everything here as long as you wish, or at least as long as Bla'M will let you. But I'm tired of it, and will no longer play along.
Posted by: sparky | February 28, 2007 at 10:11 PM
C'mon Sparky, you know we're in charge here. . . have fun with these girly men. I do . . . that is, until they become really really tiresome.
Posted by: joanie | February 28, 2007 at 10:19 PM
"..these girly men.."
A very pejorative term, young lady and one aligned with the Gov of Calif..is that what you want to portray...probably not
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Hey Duff just curious...since you are on a jihad about profanity wherever you see it, did you read the lame crap the guy you ostensibly defended posted to ellicit that response? I guess that kind of tripe is OK since you didn't seem to care about it? Be consistant at least if you're going to play arbitor of online civility.
What on earth did you people do to Steve and Puget Sound that has them jumping like someone drilled their hind parts with a cattle prod (cow...prod...oh nevermind)?
It is a pretty typical pattern to discern though, copy/paste talking point, get it blown out of the water, revert to base slanders of people and move on to another thread and hope nobody noticed how insipid you are.
Posted by: cowpotpi3 | February 28, 2007 at 10:25 PM
You're absolutely right CP3, I must have missed that; I would not condone that in any way. I'm not the arbitor of on-line activity by any means, I just think that points lose some creditability when bad words are used. I know that probably makes me sound like a fogy...and may be I am...but with such articulate folk..I just dont see the need.
Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 10:33 PM
Joanie thinks she's in charge? That's funny!
Posted by: lukobe | February 28, 2007 at 10:45 PM
she IS in charge and she's got everyone's permission to say so, doesn't she?
Posted by: Duffman | February 28, 2007 at 10:54 PM
Thanks for the kudos folks
(Duff, PS, Fremont)
I haven't had that much fun since I played courthouse Matador with Mike Webb
And as you might notice by the dates, I've been taking a slight Black Sabbatical from blah-blahging as of late. Slogging through my first few weeks in new job.
Unfortunate too, because I've got several Styblehead and Orbus emails just are just itching for posts.
Until then,
Live wrong and Prosper
Posted by: mercifurious | March 01, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Nate, you cant dangle a Sty email in front of us and then just take off...come on...give it up!
Posted by: sparky | March 01, 2007 at 10:28 AM