For those who missed it.... AirAmerica files for Chapter 11 by AURaptor

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

For those who missed it.... AirAmerica files for Chapter 11

POSTED BY: AURAPTOR
UPDATED: Friday, October 20, 2006 18:59
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VIEWED: 2113
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Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:30 AM

America loves a winner!

Air America Parent Files for Chapter 11
By Claire Hoffman, Times Staff Writer
October 14, 2006

Red ink finally got the better of the nation's blue-state radio network.

The parent of Air America Radio, plagued by management and financial problems since its inception, filed Friday for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The filing in New York by Piquant, the network's parent company, became necessary after negotiations with one of the privately held company's founding creditors broke down, said Air America spokeswoman Jaime Horn. She declined to identify the creditor, but Piquant has had troubles in the past with its business partner, MultiCultural Broadcasting Inc.

The liberal radio network, which bills itself as a progressive spot on the dial, will remain on the air — including on Los Angeles affiliate KTLK-AM (1150) — while operating under Bankruptcy Court protection.

"By running such a poor business they did a disservice to liberal talk radio by making it seem like the problem was that they were liberal," said Michael Harrison, the publisher of Talkers magazine, a talk-radio industry trade publication. "Before you change the world, make sure you pay your bills."

Last month, the network's star commentator, comedian Al Franken, complained publicly that his paychecks had stopped.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-airamerica14oct14,1,4062197.stor
y?coll=la-headlines-business

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:48 AM

FINN MAC CUMHAL

What, like we're surprised?

They've been subsidized by Soro's et al, since they started this little experiment.

Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

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Saturday, October 14, 2006 3:22 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Sort of surprised that so few have commented on this development. I realize that folks outside the U.S. may have little/no interest in this story, but for you libs here in the states, what say you?

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Saturday, October 14, 2006 3:38 PM

KANEMAN

What can they say. Their mouths are full of crow.

Lib: "Rush, Hannity, Savage...Talk radio is so biased"....

Non retard: "Well, that's because of the free market. No one wants to listen to a bunch of whining homos for entertainment."

Lib: "You'll see!"

Non retard: " Well, shit don't you already have NPR. There's no one listening to that crap! What will make this different?!"

Lib: "This will be better. We will have comedy in it."

Non retard: "But you can't make segregation, class envy, high taxes, or welfare...Well,...funny."

Lib: "You'll see you Neanderthal!! You'll SEEEE!"

Well, it's true....Listen to the crickets in this thread....LOL!!!

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Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:50 PM

HERO

"For those who missed it..." pretty much defines AirAmerica.

H

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Saturday, October 14, 2006 5:27 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
"For those who missed it..." pretty much defines AirAmerica.

H

Well met! Can't add anything to that!

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Saturday, October 14, 2006 9:41 PM

SOUPCATCHER

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Sort of surprised that so few have commented on this development. I realize that folks outside the U.S. may have little/no interest in this story, but for you libs here in the states, what say you?

Okay, I'll play. I'm a liberal.

I listened to AirAmerica once. I was scanning across the dial while driving through LA on my way to Orange County and happened to come across one of their shows. My basic take was, "Meh." It didn't do anything for me. It's probably not surprising that I have no clue whether or not it even airs where I live.

I think the reason why it didn't do anything for me is that it wasn't emotional enough. I spent years listening to right wing talk radio before I saw the light. The reason why I kept tuning in to Rush was because he got me all good and pissed off. It wasn't rational. It wasn't even logical. But it was emotional. Rush wanted me to be angry and, by gum, I got angry. He's pretty good at that sort of thing. And he's an ideal match for talk radio.

I didn't get that vibe from listening to AirAmerica. Granted, I only listened for an hour or so. But they were overthinking things. They were actually using facts and rational-type argumentation. Talk radio, at least as practiced by the right wingers, is all about pushing buttons. It's taking the easy way out. The libs are evil. They must be killed. Black men are going to rape the white women. The Mexicans are invading. Islamofascists are hiding under your front porch. It's kind of hard to do that when you're liberal because you're not used to fostering hatred to stay in power.

What it reminds me of are the people you sometimes see at protest marches. They're carrying a sign. That's good. But the sign has five thousand words, written at less than an inch high, scrawled across the face of the sign. That's bad. It's probably a well thought out and reasoned argument but it's completely worthless. Protest signs are like bumper stickers. Short and sweet wins the day.

It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Okay, probably not worth two cents but you asked for it

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Sunday, October 15, 2006 7:49 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Quote:
It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Hire Dennis Leary.

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Monday, October 16, 2006 8:49 AM

ERIC

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Quote:
It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Hire Dennis Leary.

They had Mike Malloy...then they fired him.

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Monday, October 16, 2006 9:08 AM

DREAMTROVE

It seems left-talk-radio is doomed in general.

Here are a few things that occur:

1. lefties tend not to be as economically minded.
2. A lot of corporations won' support lefty blather but they'll support right wing blather because it helps their profits, and so Rush et al get huge ad checks from pfizer et al.
3. The liberal media is liberal to begin with, so lefty talk radio is redundant. Also, because of the left-ness of the media (and people, scan your typical tv show and see how many imbedded lefty messages per hour, vs. how many right-wing, say pro-christian, pro-business, or pro-life messages, just to name a few, and I think anyone can conclude at least a 10:1 left:right bias) Anyway, as a result, right wingers are more starved for content, and so will listen to Rush rant. (just witness how fantasy fans, not to mention lesbians, were willing to watch Xena warrior princess)

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Monday, October 16, 2006 9:40 AM

SOUPCATCHER

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
It seems left-talk-radio is doomed in general.

Here are a few things that occur:

1. lefties tend not to be as economically minded.
2. A lot of corporations won' support lefty blather but they'll support right wing blather because it helps their profits, and so Rush et al get huge ad checks from pfizer et al.
3. The liberal media is liberal to begin with, so lefty talk radio is redundant. Also, because of the left-ness of the media (and people, scan your typical tv show and see how many imbedded lefty messages per hour, vs. how many right-wing, say pro-christian, pro-business, or pro-life messages, just to name a few, and I think anyone can conclude at least a 10:1 left:right bias) Anyway, as a result, right wingers are more starved for content, and so will listen to Rush rant. (just witness how fantasy fans, not to mention lesbians, were willing to watch Xena warrior princess)

Thank you, dreamtrove, for your honesty. It's so refreshing to see the conservative bias at play. Unfortunately, far too many Americans hold your deluded view that the left is anti-Christian, anti-business and anti-life. It's simplistic and doesn't require you to actually engage substantively on the issues. But that's modern day American conservatism for you. Running the country into the ground and ignoring the protests because they can.

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Monday, October 16, 2006 10:08 AM

CITIZEN

Quote:
3. The liberal media is liberal to begin with, so lefty talk radio is redundant. Also, because of the left-ness of the media (and people, scan your typical tv show and see how many imbedded lefty messages per hour, vs. how many right-wing, say pro-christian, pro-business, or pro-life messages, just to name a few, and I think anyone can conclude at least a 10:1 left:right bias) Anyway, as a result, right wingers are more starved for content, and so will listen to Rush rant. (just witness how fantasy fans, not to mention lesbians, were willing to watch Xena warrior princess)

I have done to some degree, and they all seem very right wing biased to me. Like too the same degree that the Sun newspaper over here is right wing biased. Although admittedly it's mainly your news programs I catch (CNN, FOX(on a par with the daily star newswise), ABC et al).

Maybe it's just you're televised news that has a rightwing bias.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:33 PM

PIRATEJENNY

Quote:
Originally posted by Eric:
Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Quote:
It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Hire Dennis Leary.

They had Mike Malloy...then they fired him.

I love Mike Malloy, and I'm pissed that they fired him,I would usually listen to Randy Rhodes, and I liked the Majority Report, but they don't air it anymore where I live, Ring of Fire is pretty good too on the weekends, but since they fired Mike I've mostly been listening to another progressive station, I love Tom Heartman, Great show!!

I hope Air America gets itself together, we need more liberal and progressive views out there on the dial.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 2:43 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

My first thought was... do you recall the right-wingers kept saying that Air America had a big sugar daddy hiding in the background? Well DARN! Where's that George Soros when you need him? Come out, come out, wherever you are! (crickets chirp, a dog barks in the distance.....)

I guess Chapter 11 puts 'paid' (so to speak) to that rumored sugar daddy! So, all you right-wingers out there: Listen up! I don't wanna here no more about that fabled open wallet!

My second thought was... FOX news lost money for years. AFAIK, it's still losing money. It all depends on what the parent corporation is willing to support.

My third thought was... well, kinda like Firefly.

My final thought ... I THINK the Air America lineup was Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Tom Hartman, Rachel Maddow, Laura Flanders, and Majority Report (which used to be Sam Seder) Maybe I'm missing a few. INMHO Al Franken, Sam Seder, and Randi Rhodes just don't do it for me. Franken just isn't funny, Rhodes sounds whiny (when she comes on the air I turn the radio off), and Sam Seder sounded like he got lost three words into a sentence. And these were their prime-listening-time hosts. Mike Malloy was awesome- he's a fire-and-brimstone kinda guy. But he was on too late for me! (Hey, I have to get up at 5 ayem) Tom Hartman, Laura Flanders, and Rachel Maddow have more knowledge in their pinkies than I will ever accumulate in a lifetime.

I get KTLK, but KTLK is not Air America because they air other shows- Stephanie Miller (who I love) and Ed Schultz (who I skip).

Soup- do you get Stephanie Miller in the AM? This lady is a hoot! She's running a sometimes-campaign: "Stephanie Miller for President. Because who doesn't want a broken down slag with a drinking problem?" You have GOT to listen to her! I generally don't laugh out loud but this lady has me snarfing coffee out my nose.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:52 PM

KANEMAN

"Where's that George Soros when you need him? Come out, come out, wherever you are! (crickets chirp, a dog barks in the distance.....)"

He's busy funding the legal defense of a national traitor, or is he attending a communist rally? No, he's busy having closed door strategic meetings with the ACLU on how best to destroy America...Well, it's true...

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 2:38 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

"... he's busy having closed door strategic meetings with the ACLU on how best to destroy America...Well, it's true..."

Really? Please provide a link. Thanks.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 3:29 PM

SOUPCATCHER

SignyM, Stephanie Miller is on local radio out of San Francisco and we do get the station down here in San Jose. I actually haven't listened to her show. I'll give it a shot.

It's funny that you mention Ed Schultz. Of the left leaning radio hosts I've listened to, he reminds me the most of the generic right wing shows. I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing, but it sure was interesting and brought back memories of my time as a more foolish media consumer.

When I drive long distance I like to tune in the local talk station. Usually, this means I'm arguing with the radio, picking apart the inane rantings of some Limbaugh wanna be (especially if I happen to be driving in the central valley or gold rush country). If nothing else, it keeps me abreast of the wingnut talking points and helps me stay awake. I was going across the desert once and happened to pick up Schultz's broadcast off a Needles station. If I just glossed over what he was saying, the way he was saying it and how he interacted with callers and how he conveyed emotion was indistinguishable from some conservative talking heads. Talk about cognitive dissonance.

Although I did keep him tuned in until I lost the signal. So there's that.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 3:38 PM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
"... he's busy having closed door strategic meetings with the ACLU on how best to destroy America...Well, it's true..."

Really? Please provide a link. Thanks.

Ruse,
Why don't you respond to the rest of my post? Did he fund the legal efforts of an American traitor? Is he not a commie? My post about the ACLU was a...

...Wouldn't be surprised if it were true.....and that is..... Well, true.

P.S
When you find your wrist, let me know.....

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 5:02 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Kaneman- when you shoot off talking points, please provide a link. Look up Soros and then tell us about him. Thanks.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 5:23 PM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

I thought you meant the CIA narcoairline Air America, replaced by Evergreen Aviation, and now by FedEx, owned by Skull & Boner Fredrick Smith, which has the Afghan heroin contracts, retail value $1-billion/ton.

Odd that a radio network would pick that name, unless their propaganda job included desensitization of the name, now that the convicted narcoterrorists are officially back in the White House.

Of course, most of the top corporations are bankrupt, as is the US "Govt" municipal corporation since 1933.

I'll miss Randi Rhodes. She had me at, "I'll spread my legs for a pilot anytime." What would she do for an Air America pilot? That midget Garafalo was funny, but treated AA as a joke, compared to her Hollywood job chainsmoking cigarettes and shouting profanities.

"You can't stop the signal! Hell, I'll even broadwave reruns of Air America."
-Mr Universe, Pirate TV

FIREFLY SERENITY PILOT MUSIC VIDEO V2
Tangerine Dream - Thief Soundtrack: Confrontation
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/8912.php
www.myspace.com/piratenewsctv
www.piratenews.org

Does that seem right to you?
www.scifi.com/onair/

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Friday, October 20, 2006 8:53 AM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
Kaneman- when you shoot off talking points, please provide a link. Look up Soros and then tell us about him. Thanks.

Sig,
Here is an Audio file that says it all, It is a little long (6 min)and he is ranting on and on but he makes good points
http://www.independentconservative.com/media/savage/Savage_on_L_Stewar
t_10_17_2006.mp3

Can be found under OCT.17th.....Lynn Stewart gets 28 months. It is at the bottom of the paragraph....

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Friday, October 20, 2006 9:55 AM

DUG

I programmed radio stations for years, so I think I can comment on where they botched things.

1. They made the mistake of thinking that political talk radio is about politics. Peh. Too boring for the audience.

2. They hired comedians rather than talk radio hosts. Comedians are experts at delivering the same 15 minute monologue to a different crowd every night. Talk show hosts need to know how to speak to the same people everyday, how to prep new material constantly, how to manage flow from one quarter-hour to the next, blah blah blah. Different skills than what they hired.

3. They did a crap job of running a network.

BTW, as to the comment of no one listening to NPR? Arbitron doesn't *publish* the numbers for NPR, but they do gather them. If you gain access to Arbitron's software package Maximi$er which gives you the raw sample data you can pull their info out. In morning drive they are at or near #1 in listenership in many cities.

Need your clock cleaned? home.windstream.net/clockdug

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Friday, October 20, 2006 10:05 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Kaneman: Urg... no audio here or at home. Sorry.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Friday, October 20, 2006 10:05 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Since you are making the claims, it is up to you to back them up.

And, as to my wrist ... HUNH ??? Please explain. In detail.

Quote:
P.S
When you find your wrist, let me know.....

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Friday, October 20, 2006 10:09 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Dug

Did you know that by year 5, F*X lost $90 MILLION annunally? That the only reason it stayed on the air was because it was being bankrolled by Murdoch?

This type of programming is almost never a commercial success in the first 5-7 years.

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Friday, October 20, 2006 10:56 AM

DUG

Rue:
Yes, I am aware that it takes time to grow into a profitable venture. That's true not just of media but of most businesses. My statement that they did a poor job running the business was more aimed at the lack of a bankroll to get them through those 5-7 years and in poor choices in their programming. Also the fact I don't think they've offered the audience a strong enough product to make it viable.

BTW, I was hoping they would. I would welcome some compelling talk options rather than the overly dramatic and flat out angry sounding shows that seem to dominate these days.

Need your clock cleaned? http://home.windstream.net/clockdug

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Friday, October 20, 2006 11:38 AM

ERIC

Quote:
Originally posted by dug:
Comedians are experts at delivering the same 15 minute monologue to a different crowd every night.

Ugh. That's why I stopped listening to Franken. Every single show was about either (a) his USO tour or (b) lines from his book. How many times do I have to hear about the clear skies initiative clearing the sky of birds?!?!? I get it already!

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Friday, October 20, 2006 11:52 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hi Dug,

I like to listen to anyone who either amuses me or educates me. In that regard Air America has a decent lineup - roughly 30% good by my scale. SO for example, while Randi Rhodes interrupts her callers too much and is strident, she is a treasure trove of hard facts b/c she does a TON of research. And I love those nuggets of information.

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Friday, October 20, 2006 6:59 PM

FELLOWTRAVELER

An email message from Air America:

Why Air America Matters
by Thom Hartmann
There are times when doing the profitable thing is also doing the right thing.

That's certainly what Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch thought when they lost an average of $90 million a year for about five years before the Fox News Channel became profitable. It's what Reverend Moon believes, as his Washington Times newspaper lost hundreds of millions of dollars and, according to some reports, even today continues to lose money. And its what the people who have made Air America Radio possible - names you probably wouldn't recognize because they've invested millions of their own money but don't seek the limelight - believe.

Each of these endeavors hit nail-biting times.

In Murdoch's early days building News Corp. (which then helped fund Fox News), as The Hollywood Reporter noted in a 2005 article:

"Corporate expansion and the stock market crash of 1987 conspired to create a financial crisis for Murdoch in 1990, when News Corp. reported revenue of $6.7 billion and saw more than $7 billion in debt come due. With News Corp. shares plummeting from $24 to $8 as a result of the Black Monday crash and Murdoch's buying sprees continuing unabated, creditors became nervous. A refinancing plan was put in place, but at the last minute, one small bank in Pittsburgh refused to go along with the scheme, demanding repayment of a $10 million loan.

"That $10 million loan nearly caused the entire collapse of News Corp. An extraordinary race against time ensued in which Murdoch and his financial advisers struggled to convince the company's 100-plus creditors to agree to a deal by which they would all be paid at the same time. Only at the eleventh hour did the Pittsburgh bank capitulate, to Murdoch's great relief.

"The mogul managed to get through the ordeal without parting with substantial blocks of stock, which likely would have forced him to lose control of the company he created (a fate that befell his rival, Turner). At one point, though, Murdoch reportedly did have to sign over as security personal assets, including his New York penthouse."

There was, however, a happy ending (for Murdoch), which helped fund the money-losing Fox News Network:

"Today, the studio and the Fox owned-and-operated stations are News Corp.'s cash machines."

Brit Hume noted, in a 1999 interview with PBS:

"This operation loses money. It doesn't lose nearly as much as it did at first, and it's -- well, it's hit all its projections in terms of, you know, turning a profit, but it's - it will lose money now, and we expect for a couple more years. I think it's losing about $80 million to $90 million a year."

This is not, of course, to celebrate losing money. It's just a demonstration of the old truism that sometimes "it takes money to make money." And sometimes it takes money to make a difference in the world, as well.

While Fox News and The Washington Times have devoted themselves to promoting the interests of America's most wealthy, most of the programming of Air America Radio has been committed to discussions of labor, the middle class, and holding up the founding ideals of this nation. These were best expressed by America's first liberal president, George Washington, when he said: "As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."

Liberal or conservative, the nation has often moved as its media has moved.

Rupert Murdoch's investment in Fox News not only produced profits for him, it changed America. As Richard Morin noted in The Washington Post on May 4, 2006, in an article titled "The Fox News Effect":

"'Fox News convinced 3 to 8 percent of its audience to shift its voting behavior towards the Republican Party, a sizable media persuasion effect,' said Stefano DellaVigna of the University of California at Berkely and Ethan Kaplan of Stockholm University.

"In Florida alone, they estimate, the Fox effect may have produced more than 10,000 additional votes for Bush -- clearly a decisive factor in a state he carried by fewer than 600 votes."

Similarly, Air America Radio may have had a significant effect in awakening people across the United States to positive liberal alternatives to the conservative vision of Fox and Bush. In a democracy, which depends on a vital and ongoing exchange of free ideas for its survival, this is essential.

It's a tragedy that for the lack of an investor the size of Rupert Murdoch Air America is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But its existence and ongoing presence in the marketplace is an essential part of the dialogue that is known as democracy.

In a letter about Shay's Rebellion, which some argued was incited by newspapers, Thomas Jefferson wrote:

"The people are the only censors of their governors; and even their errors will tend to keep them to the true principles of their institution. To punish these errors too severely would be to suppress the only safeguard of the public liberty. The way to prevent these irregular interpositions of the people is to give them full information of their affairs, through the channel of public papers, and to contrive that those papers should penetrate the whole mass of the people.

"The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide, whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers, and be capable of reading them."

Had radio existed in 1783, Jefferson would have probably expressed similar sentiments about it.

As Jefferson wrote in 1786 to his close friend Dr. James Currie, "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost."

But ever since Ronald Reagan stopped enforcing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1881, leading to an explosion of acquisitions and mergers, and Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, leading to an even more startling concentration of media in a very few hands, freedom of the press in America has become as much a economic as a political issue. This is problematic, because no democracy can survive with only one voice in the media.

Back in the years when I often visited Russia, the well-worn joke that everybody knew had to do with the names of the two biggest newspapers, Pravda and Ivestia. "Pravda" is a Russian word that translates as "truth" and "Ivestia" means "news." The joke every Russian can recite from memory is: "There's no news in Pravda, and no truth in Izvestia."

As Russians well learned, single-party-news is corrosive to democracy. Jefferson made his comment about newspapers being vital to America just at the time he was being most viciously attacked in the newspapers. The core requisite of democracy is debate. When there's only a single predominant voice in the media, American democracy itself is at greatest risk.

Losing the voices of Air America would harm this nation, just as much as would losing the voices of conservative talk radio.

We need them all to really be America.

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