Actual News About Randi Rhodes/Nova M Collapse

Photo from source, Phoenix New Times

Since The Randi Rhodes Show disappeared from the air, I've done my best to write updates of exactly what is going on. But actual news of the situation has been hard to come by. Mostly, I've had to rely on snippets and statements from the people involved, most of it very vague and inconclusive.

But there is finally a little more information from an actual news source. I continue to hope that Randi lands on her feet, and that she's available online so that I can actually listen to her show again. Nancy Skinner--Randi's replacement--is just a little too cozy with FOX "News" for my taste. And no, I don't think she's a "right wing plant." I just think that her constant appearances on and reference to FOX lends them credibility that they do not deserve.

[Excerpt]

The Pelican Sticks a Fork in Nova M

. . .The cataclysm seemed to become official as the news hit the blogosphere recently that Randi Rhodes's daytime show was kaput. One of the few real talents on the left side of the fence, talk-radio-wise, Rhodes is one of those people blessed with the gift for gab. The woman could jabber on about windshield wipers or the last time she got her toenails done and make it interesting.

The real reason for the split remains unsaid. Anita Drobny has a condescending message on Nova M's site asserting that "Nova M has done everything we can to get her back on the air," and that "Randi now has to make her decisions as to what she must do with her career. . ."

Read more at: Phoenix New Times

Olbermann: Michelle Bachmann's Crazy Interview

Minnesota is turning out to be a fertile ground for political goings-on over the last couple of years. There is the endless Al Franken/Norm Coleman battle for the Senate. The collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis shone a huge spotlight on our infrastructure problems. There was an infamous incident at the airport with one Senator Larry Craig. And then there is Congress' resident batshit crazy member (apparently taking over for Katherine Harris), Michelle Bachmann.

Here, Keith Olbermann narrates exhibit A in the competency trial. Enjoy.

GM Killing off Brands

Image from source, Jalopnik

It's kind of strange to think that Pontiac as a brand is about to shrink away to mostly nothing. Saturn? They made mostly ugly cars until recently, and I never understood how they made it anyway. And Hummer should've died of embarrassment long ago.

It just goes to show you, absolutely nothing is permanent. Today's rock-solid brand is tomorrow's Plymouth, AMC or Oldsmobile. Remember them? My prediction: Mercury is next. Just a hunch.

[Excerpt]

GM To Officially Kill Saturn Brand, Most Of Pontiac

Our sources tell us GM's viability plan set to be released at 5:00PM will kill the Saturn brand by 2011. Pontiac will also go away as a division. But the nameplate will sorta live on. . .

Source: JLOPnik

Did You Know?

This fascinating video catalogues the changes in human population, education and technology. It's a little scary, and makes you think a lot about not just the future, but the very short term future. Check it out.



Found at: VoenixRising

TruckNutz Cause Stir in South Carolina

Fads are strange things. Back when I was visiting in Ohio, I noticed the strange trend of "barn stars," dimensional stars on the sides of houses, garages and barns. They're all over the place, and no one can really explain why they caught on, or what they're supposed to represent. Or why only stars are used, when you'd think the fad would spread to different shapes.

It reminded me of a similar fad many years earlier, when people all over Ohio decorated their doorsteps with concrete geese. I never figured out what that was about either, though I do remember one outfitted in a Madonna cone bra costume. Another head-scratching fad is TruckNutz, rubber testicles that people hang from their trailer hitches and bumpers. I don't know if they're big in Ohio, but they're causing consternation in South Carolina.

This is just too funny. Especially the serious tone of the reporters, who had to be giggling inside.

Are Gay Snipers After Your Family?

Oh brother. The notion of same-sex marriage has driven yet another group of panicky Christians over the edge. This time in West Virginia. After that 20/20 special on Appalachia, I'd say the region has bigger problems, wouldn't you?

Thank goodness Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks is out there to tear this ridiculousness to shreds.

Picture of the Day: Michelle Malkin with a Nazi

Heh, heh. No, not really. There is no evidence that the guy is an actual Nazi, though he seems to be alleging that Barack Obama is a Nazi. Or something. Anyway, of all the right-wing blow-holes out there, Michelle Malkin is one of the most irritating. So a shot of her posing with a douche-nozzle was a little irresistible.

[Excerpt]

Michelle Malkin takes photo with man holding swastika Obama sign

. . .Ohhhh, wait a minute. I get it. The man with the sign isn't professing his affinity for Nazis. He isn't even identifying himself as a Nazi. The swastika in question has a circle around it forming an O and the rest of the sign reads "BAMA". Get it? Obama is a Nazi. That's much better. Sigh.

Source: MediaMatters

Randi Rhodes is Gone. So Where Do Her Listeners Go?

Photo from BigHeadDC

As reported here in exhaustive detail, liberal talk radio host, Randi Rhodes, has been off the radio for over two weeks. And as happened when she left Air America Radio less than a year ago, her very active web site/message board disappeared with her. This is very distressing to fans of Rhodes, who had formed a community of sorts at her site.

But there is a place where RR fans can go, to talk about all things Randi. And it may contain a nugget or two of information about exactly what is going on in this little drama. Remember though, much of the information on Rhodes' former site were rife with unsubstantiated speculation, so take anything below with a grain of salt.

Check it out at: RhodesScholars

Is Monkey Cartoon Racist?

Oh boy. We all knew that having a black President would very likely spur racist comments. And honestly, I expected racism to more definitively rear its head during the election. Instead, we've gotten things more along the lines of some crazy people "Obama's a Muslin!" kinds of things, mostly. Still, with Barack Obama in the White House for the next four--possibly eight--years, we can expect somebody to step in it, with some regularity.

The cartoon pictured here is one of those, "well, is it?" kinds of things. But one thing should be considered here. Political cartoonists have to know shading and nuance. They have to be very aware of all the different angles an issue or an event can be viewed from. Having this knack is the only thing that makes political cartoons work: finding the humor or novelty in the events of the day. So how did this artist not see how this cartoon could be interpreted?

Source: NY Post cartoon seems to link Obama to dead chimp (AP)

Atheist Bus Advertising Campaign in Britain

Image found at DemocraticUnderground

Here's another one from the vaults; a subject I meant to talk about some weeks ago, and never got around to. And it is about a subject near and dear to my heart: public, outspoken disbelief in religion. Our culture is so steeped in religion. And we non-believers are expected to respect and tolerate anything said or done by the religious.

It is not uncommon for agnostics like me--a gay one to boot--to be told with authority that I'm a sinner, that I'm going to hell, and that I'm going to burn forever. I'm expected to think that "In God We Trust" on the money, "One Nation, Under God" in the pledge, and countless other overt mixtures of church and state are just the way it is. And I'm supposed to shrug off the fact that religious people donated millions of dollars to have my marriage nullified. At the same time, I am to expect no deference or respect for my lack of beliefs. In fact, the religious are allowed to hurl insults and invective at me for my sexuality and my lack of belief with near impunity.

So it is heartening to see a little in-your-face activity from my side for a change. Even if it is in Britain. Can you imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth if this bus advertising campaign was going on in the states?

[Excerpt]

Atheists Send a Message, on 800 British Buses

The advertisement on the bus was fairly mild, just a passage from the Bible and the address of a Christian Web site. But when Ariane Sherine, a comedy writer, looked on the Web site in June, she was startled to learn that she and her nonbelieving friends were headed straight to hell, to “spend all eternity in torment.”

That’s a bit extreme, she thought, as well as hard to prove. “If I wanted to run a bus ad saying ‘Beware — there is a giant lion from London Zoo on the loose!’ or ‘The “bits” in orange juice aren’t orange but plastic — don’t drink them or you’ll die!’ . . .

Read more at: New York Times

Bizarre Eye Candy: Old Spice's "Two Things"

Image from source, Old Spice

Have you seen those Old Spice commercials with the centaur? Other than the fact that the actor is good lookin', the first thing most people notice (dirty minds think alike) is that Mr. Centaur is a mare. For some reason, I got curious about the genesis of this ad, and I stumbled upon Old Spice's actual site. And that's where it gets really weird.

They have an interactive section, where you can turn Centaur dude into other combinations of "two things." And it is clear that the ad guys were up into the wee hours, with many beers, Funyons, and a possible illegal substance or two. The octopus/man? Sure, I get that, it has a sci-fi vibe, and is an interesting visual. But the half man/half mozzarella stick? You lost me there guys. But the cannon and the tank? Well, I'm frankly surprised you got away with those!

Source: Old Spice

Is "Liberal Media" in the Tank for Republicans?

Image from source, BradBlog

That's kind of a strange headline, isn't it? I mean, conventional wisdom goes that the mainstream media is liberally biased. Of all the alphabets of letters (MSNBC, CBS, CNN, ABC, NBC, HLN, PBS, NPR), only FOX remains out of the vast left-wing conspiracy. This is bunk, and I can prove it to you.

When MSNBC started programming their prime-time schedule with the one-two punch of Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show, print media and the blogosphere were atwitter with stories about MSNBC's new liberal bias. Much was made of their lack of objectivity, the inappropriateness of Olbermann and Maddow anchoring "hard news" events, and just how unseemly it was to have openly left-wing stars on a news channel. The horror. But if the MSM is so all-fired liberal through-and-through, why did these two hosts garner so much attention? Wouldn't they just have been more of the same?

But people noticed, and that means something. And to me, it means that any news that isn't conservatively biased, is seen to be by default liberally biased by conservatives. Like George W. Bush's eight-year attitude, with conservatives "you're either with us, or against us." And to them, if you aren't tailoring the news to a conservative audience, you must be against them. My pet theory anyway.

And if the MSM was "in the tank" for Barack Obama, why--please tell me--are conservative voices still outmatching liberal ones in the news? NOTE: Yes, I'm aware this story is a couple of weeks old. I favorited it, and forgot to comment at the time. Better late than never!

[Excerpt]

Republican Lawmakers Still Dominate Cable News, Even in the Age of Obama, Democratic Majorities

The previous media excuse, during the last administration, for so many more Rs than Ds on television news, was that Republicans were in power of both the White House and Congress. Of course, now that Democrats control both, well, as ThinkProgress detailed last week the more things change. . .

Read more at: BradBlog

Why Would Obama Seek to Help Karl Rove?

Photo from source, Raw Story

I've been reluctant to overly criticize Barack Obama, and to give him some slack in these early days of his Presidency. While I did vote for him, I'm not lock-steppy in my allegiance. I want him to succeed, and I want him to fix the problems created by too many years of conservative rule. But it is mighty difficult to get behind this decision.

For what possible reason would Obama have to go easy on Karl Rove? What political calculation could come out with an equation that would favor such a thing? The number of people in this country who are in Rove's corner wouldn't fill a small town. And the number of the President's supporters who will be aggravated by such an action couldn't be held in Mile High Stadium.

[Excerpt]

Obama, not Bush, now seeking delay of Rove deposition

Former Bush Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove has a new president urging Congress not to force him to testify next week.President Barack Obama. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Barack Obama Signs Stimulus Bill

Photo from source, MSNBC

Obama has only been President for four weeks, but a lot has already happened. And today's signing of the stimulus bill will probably set the tone for what we remember about the early days, maybe even for the whole administration. If it works, it will be seen as the first positive step. If it doesn't work, or if many more similar bills have to be enacted, it could be seen as an utter disaster. Remind me again why anybody would want that job?

[Excerpt]

Obama: Stimulus lets Americans claim destiny

Racing to reverse the country's economic spiral, President Barack Obama signed the mammoth stimulus package into law Tuesday and readied a new $50 billion foreclosure rescue for legions of Americans who are in danger of losing their homes. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

GM & Chrysler Ask for More

Photo from PowerLine (of all places)

Everybody's got there hand out. But what is the answer when saying "No!" might result in the extinction of the American auto industry, and hundreds of thousands of jobs? Man, does Barack Obama have a full plate.

[Excerpt]

GM, Chrysler ask for $21.6 billion more

General Motors and Chrysler LLC said Tuesday they could need an additional $21.6 billion in federal loans between them because of worsening demand for their cars and trucks. . .

Read more at: CNN

Nova M, Randi Rhodes and Liberal Talk Radio

I've posted quite a few items in recent days about Randi Rhodes, the now-former host of now possibly defunct Nova M Radio. The reason for so much Randi news, is that her radio show was one of the highlights of my listening day. Actually, with rare exceptions, I now have no highlight in my listening day.

I started listening to liberal talk radio in 2004, during the thick of the oppressive Bush/Cheney/Rove alternate universe we used to live in. It was a lifeline to sanity; proof that I wasn't alone, and I wasn't (completely) crazy. Over the next five years, more and more of my friends started coming around to my point of view, culminating in the sea change election we had in November. And now, while I still listen, it is no longer in rapt attention. This is both because of the change in the political climate, and a vast change in the programming offered.

I listen while I work, on my computer. We have no progressive talk-radio in Las Vegas, and I couldn't get a decent AM reception in our building anyway, so it's a great solution. It also lets me pick and choose, which is--it turns out--necessary. Radio is a notoriously fickle business, with shows, hosts and entire formats coming and going willy-nilly. In liberal talk, the problem is magnified. Air America Radio suffered many publicly embarrassing scandals, and money problems, along with a constantly shuffling lineup. At the core though, were two of their best hosts, Randi Rhodes and Rachel Maddow. The hosts were completely different in style, but both had fantastically entertaining and informative shows.

Rachel's TV career took her (mostly) away from radio, and Randi's show has been beset by behind-the-scenes issues for a very long time. After a falling out with AAR, Randi took her show to Nova M Radio, with only a week of downtime. She seemed liberated there, and had no kind words to say about her former employer. But in recent days, there seemed to be a near-identical falling out with Nova M. Which raises the question: is it the employer or the employee that is the problem?

With the talk radio business so top-heavy with conservatives, you'd think there would be a market for progressive voices. And I think that there is, but there also seems to be two issues working at cross-purposes that prevent success. One, is that the radio industry seems unwilling to give the format a fair shot. And two, it would seem that anyone interested in running such a format is tremendously bad at the business. And now, with the absence of Randi and Rachel, and the imminent departure (at least from AAR) of Thom Hartmann, it doesn't leave much from my current outlet (KTLK-AM from Los Angeles) to hold my attention.

There are still some successful shows out there, notably The Stephanie Miller Show and The Ed Schultz Show. I listen to Stephanie (and she's great, by the way), but rarely get to hear more than an hour or so, since it is on so early. Ed sounds a lot like a liberal Rush Limbaugh, so I've never cottoned to him. So, while I anxiously await the return of Randi Rhodes (should it happen), I'm either going to have to sample some of the hosts I've never much listened to, or maybe just break my habit of all-day listening. And maybe it's time for that. After all, we've all known somebody who mainlines Rush, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage, right? Maybe I don't want that kind of reputation!

[Excerpt]

Nova M(ess)?

. . .For those of you keeping score at home, here's where it all stands:

1. Randi Rhodes and Nova M Radio are apparently through with each other. As mentioned in an update to a previous entry, she has issued a vague statement claiming that the problems that have kept Rhodes' show off the air are not of her doing. . .

Read (much) more at: LTR

Rachel Maddow, On a Roll

It might seem like I throw a Rachel Maddow Show clip up on the blog whenever I can't think of anything else. It's not true (most of the time), but I could get away with it, if I wanted to. Her MSNBC show is one of the most interesting, entertaining and informative programs on cable news. If you like your cable news loud and pointlessly argumentative, RMS is not the place for you. But if you want to feed your brain, you've found your destination.

Last night's show was so entertaining, I'm tempted to post every available clip. But I'll tamp down my geekdom, and just present the opener, in which Rachel discusses Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to Japan. Rachel made me laugh out loud more than once (especially at the clip of the Japanese finance minister on a bender), and seemed to be having a really good time. Maybe she finally got some sleep this weekend. Rachel is made of awesome. OK, geek-gushing over. For now. . .

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Bush Administration Lawyers Skewed Legal Opinions?

Photo from source, TPMMuckraker

You know how whenever somebody would complain that George W. Bush and his administration were breaking the law or violating the Constitution, they'd say their lawyers told them it was legal? Would it surprise you to learn that their legal opinions may have been somewhat hinky? That the Bush Administration may have even put them up to it? It would not surprise me at all, and I'm so hoping they get busted.

[Excerpt]

Dem Senators To DOJ: How's That Report On Torture Opinions Coming?

Looks like it's not just journalists who are interested in the progress of that DOJ report into whether Bush administration lawyers shaded their opinions on the legality of harsh interrogation methods in order to please the White House. . .

Read more at: TPMMuckraker

Karl Rove Reportedly Will Not Plead the Fifth

Photo from source, Raw Story

Ah, so he's just going to lie then, I take it?

[Excerpt]

Rove not covered by executive privilege in political prosecution case, lawyer says

Representatives of the Bush White House are no longer advising former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove that he is protected by executive privilege as regards testimony about the alleged political prosecution of an Alabama governor. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Randi Rhodes Show Becomes Nancy Skinner Show

Photo from LTR

Listeners of The Randi Rhodes Show finally got an answer--though not many details--to "where's Randi?" After almost two weeks off the air, Nova M Radio began broadcasting The Nancy Skinner Show in place of Randi. Gone are her bumper music, her scripted bits, the name of the show, and even her message board.

We Randi fans have gone through this before, of course, with nearly identical circumstances. But when she left Air America Radio, she had the Nova M gig lined up in less than a week. All was explained, and everybody felt better. This time, there might not be a comfortable place to land, and fans of the show have nowhere to go.

For her part, Nancy Skinner managed to avoid the entire subject. She sounds like she's going to say something about the absence of Randi, and the presence of Nancy, but she ends up gibbering about something else. Usually her many and varied appearances on FOX "News." So, whatever talents Nancy might have, she's no Randi. And she gives FOX credibility that it doesn't deserve.

So, I'll have to do something else with my Noon - 3:00 pm listening time. There's that Kuby guy, and Big Ed Schultz, but I don't think either will do. I wish Sam Seder was still on. Or Rachel Maddow. And Thom Hartmann is leaving next? Maybe I just need to switch to music.

I'd leave you with an excerpt, but all of the news I can find on the subject is the same repeated postings of Randi's comment, and Anita Drobny's comment. So, I'll spare you that at least.