Al Franken quits; Thom Hartmann to take his spot
Yesterday, Al Franken announced that he'll end his run on Air America on February 14. He's widely reported to be considering running for the US Senate in Minnesota in 2008 - against Senator Norm Coleman (R).
In a number of communities across the country, the Al Franken Show had already been replaced by the nationally syndicated Thom Hartmann Show. Now, all the remaining Air America venues will also shift to the Thom Hartmann Show - extending Thom's reach to some 75-80 stations.
OpEdNews.com has a complete story on the change, including the first interview with Thom about it.
Thom plans to keep on debating conservatives on-the-air:
I'm one of the few progressive hosts who regularly debates conservatives. I do it because it hilights for my listeners the real issues-- the deeper issues beneath the sound bytes-- and helps model for them how to win the "water cooler wars'While I don't share the conservative world view, I understand it and respect some of the people who hold it from a position of integrity and belief. THat allows me to help my listeners understand the real differences between conservatives and liberals and solidify their take on why the liberal founders of this nation, like Jefferson, Madison and Washington, were so adamant that America be a liberal nation rather than a conservative aristocracy, oligarchy or theocracy.
At this time, it's unclear whether the local Thom Hartmann Show will continue to air on KPOJ. In a brief email exchange with BlueOregon, Thom said he plans on staying in Portland while his show picks up its vast new audience.
Discuss.
|
Jan. 30, 2007
Posted in in the news 2007. |
More Recent Posts | |
Albert Kaufman |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
Kari Chisholm |
Final pre-census estimate: Oregon's getting a sixth congressional seat |
Albert Kaufman |
Polluted by Money - How corporate cash corrupted one of the greenest states in America |
Guest Column |
|
Albert Kaufman |
Our Democrat Representatives in Action - What's on your wish list? |
Kari Chisholm |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
connect with blueoregon
11:32 a.m.
Jan 30, '07
I listen to Hartmann's show frequently, and I generally like it.
But I hope that KPOJ can give us a native to succeed him - or at least someone who's been here more than a couple years, and whose career doesn't require them to spend hours every day focusing exclusively on national issues.
Hartmann provides a valuable service by informing his listeners about local issues, but his lack of familiarity with political context shows through all to often.
On a national level, he really does take a different approach than other hosts, and I'm glad to hear he's moving up!
Heidi T, you ready to take the wheel? Seems you had a pretty good show on KPAM a while back...
Jan 30, '07
I can't think of anyone better to fill Al's slot. Thom knows the issues and fills his shows with great interviews with DeFazio, Baird, Wyden, and the rest of the Oregon delegation (of course Gordon Smith refuses to come on the show).
Besides Al's show has run it's course and I'm looking forward to him debating that right-wing knuckle-dragger Coleman.
11:38 a.m.
Jan 30, '07
Scott: to be fair, David Wu refuses to appear on the show as well. Not sure of his reasoning, but Hartmann mentions it on occasion.
Jan 30, '07
Thom Hartmann:
....the liberal founders of this nation, like Jefferson, Madison and Washington, were so adamant that America be a liberal nation rather than a conservative aristocracy, oligarchy or theocracy
Bob T:
Yes, this is a liberal nation, but not "liberal" as in New Deal liberal with all its people controls etc. That's something today's so-called liberals won't acknowledge. There's a world of difference between between a welfare state liberal and old style liberalism based on the broad spectrum of individuals rights vs. the State.
Bob Tiernan
12:05 p.m.
Jan 30, '07
Congratulations Thom! Now we just need to get Jim Hightower on KPOJ and we'll be going great guns.
12:38 p.m.
Jan 30, '07
But I hope that KPOJ can give us a native to succeed him...
Again, it's not clear that he's giving up his local show. My pals there say they don't know what's going to happen.
Thom's already been doing a local show and a national show back to back... With six hours a day on-air, he's easily the hardest-working guy in talk radio.
That said, KPOJ may not want him on THEIR air for six hours a day. So, his local show may end.
If Thom does decide to end his local show, I do hope we can find an Oregon native to do it. I think Heidi would be a great lead, maybe with someone else as sidekick.
Here at BlueOregon, we're going to keep the pressure on KPOJ to maintain some kind of local show. It's been critical to the progressive movement here in Oregon. I'm not sure we'd have a Speaker Merkley today if it weren't for the Thom Hartmann Show.
Jan 30, '07
Good for Mr. Hartmann! I've listened every morning since day one. I also hope this will allow KPOJ to bring back Mike Malloy in the evening.
12:50 p.m.
Jan 30, '07
Bob T: Yes, this is a liberal nation, but not "liberal" as in New Deal liberal with all its people controls etc.
People controls? Man, Bob, you're one seriously confused conservative. The only group championing "people controls," these days are the theocratic pharasees (ususally called by their more common name as the "religous right"). They're also just about the only people standing by President Bush, as he declares that God has Given Him the Task of Fixing The Middle East using War.
On the other hand, New Deal institutions such as Social Security, Medicare, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (to prevent the kind of stock fraud that gave us the Great Depression), are supported by the vast majority of Republicans. Yes, I suppose declaring "Pump and Dump" stock schemes illegal is a form of "People Control", but quite frankly I think criminals should be "controlled" by throwing their asses in prison. But leave it up to a conservative like you to be pro-crime.
Jan 30, '07
Heidi is not ready to take the wheel; she's an ornament. She has a great voice, and is a true believer, but she lacks the depth to carry the show. That's not meant to be an insult, but an honest observation of the contrast between the two.
Jan 30, '07
I hope he keeps his morning show. I wouldn't know what to listen to when driving to work. Remember that week he was filling in for Randi Rhodes and it seemed like he was on the radio every time I got in the car? Anyway congratulations and good luck to Thom.
1:49 p.m.
Jan 30, '07
It would be cool if Thom decided to stay on in Puddletown--I think we both deserve each other--but I can't imagine that Wayne Scott can really match George W. in terms of marquee value. Two shows seems like a grueling schedule, and Thom of course has other projects besides radio. It would be cool if Portland became the hub of liberal talk radio nationally, but also had a nice local show or three to complement Thom's national audience.
But sadly, unlike George Taylor, I cannot make it so merely by saying it.
1:51 p.m.
Jan 30, '07
If Thom doesn't do the local show, here's a vote for Jefferson Smith to co-host with Heidi....
Jan 30, '07
Talk radio? People listen to talk radio? Ewwwwww...
10:52 p.m.
Jan 30, '07
Yes, Michael M, more people listen to the Thom Hartmann Show than read this blog. That's fer damn sure.
But I'll tell you something fascinating. Almost everytime I meet someone who says to me, "Hey! I love listening to you every week on Thom Hartmann" - I ask what they do for a living. If they don't work in politics - either professionally or as a hardcore activist - the answer almost invariably is the same: They work in some kind of trade. Plumber, electrician, cable guy, construction, etc.
They're folks who generally don't work in an office and spend their days on-site or on-the-road. Talk radio is huge for them.
Many have told me, "I used to listen to Rush Limbaugh, but he made me crazy. Air America is closer to what I really believe."
College-educated folks driving to their office jobs are NPR people, by and large. Progressive talk appeals to blue-collar folks, often unionized ones.
That's tremendously important if we're going to hang on to the demographic once known as "Reagan Democrats".
Jan 31, '07
Anybody know the true nature of a SPONGE?
In order to puff istelf up to appear larger and more formidable than it's natural state of being withered, dried up and having absolutely nothing to offer, it has to suck.
Ah, the life of a sponge ... sucking, sucking, sucking and getting fulfillment by taking from folks who actually have something to offer.
Jan 31, '07
It is now, sadly, apparent to all of us why Pat is not a marine biologist, but finds his higher calling in doodling.
9:12 a.m.
Jan 31, '07
the few times Heidi has had a chance to do a segment, she's been great. she's also got a great sense of humor. i'd love to see her given a chance if the KPOJ morning gig got too much for Thom. find her someone to be her sidekick, let her give the show her own style.
as much as i'd enjoy regular appearances by Jefferson Smith, he'd have to be put into a time-warp bubble so he could speak slow enough for people to understand him. maybe they could rig up the 7-second delay to modulate his voice speed down?
Jan 31, '07
Thom's show is the polar opposite of hate radio for the very reason that he does respect his political opponents. He disagrees with them, but he does so intellectually rather than derrogatorily the way much of right-wing radio does. In the end, both he and his guests are still good, respectable people, but the listeners understand the issues better and are more able to be good citizens without hating those on the other side of the aisle. It's a civil debate - something that is much-needed these days.
Jan 31, '07
Thom's show is the polar opposite of hate radio for the very reason that he does respect his political opponents. He disagrees with them, but he does so intellectually rather than derrogatorily the way much of right-wing radio does. In the end, both he and his guests are still good, respectable people, but the listeners understand the issues better and are more able to be good citizens without hating those on the other side of the aisle. It's a civil debate - something that is much-needed these days.
Jan 31, '07
Heidi and Radical Russ.
11:28 p.m.
Jan 31, '07
Item 1: Thom's research and investigation into local issues lead to a comprehension that often far exceeds that of most of the local yokels, even the good guys (and gals). The one thing that stumps him is the ocassional pronuncation of some 6 syllable town name (note Heidi giggling in the background). But darn it, I think he's got about all the names down now.
Item 2: Thom's schedule wouldn't change if the local gig continued. I couldn't imagine preppin' and doing 6 hours of radio. But let's face it, Thom is brilliant, and apparently, pretty freakin' organized. He probably gets more accomplished in a week than most of do in a year. Trick is if KPOJ wants to test and see if the station's market share holds up w/ 6 hours of the same voice. I suspect it would since a radio audience - for the most part - is not expected to listen to entire shows, anyway. (I know, I know, progressive listeners are different: smarter more attentive,etc. :) - but that just makes us geeky enuf to listen ALL DAY)
Item 3 Heidi is an ORNAMENT? Dude, did you just step out of the 1950's,or what?!
Item 4 Tiernan, you're losin' it. You sound like the rest of the right wing harpies rapidly rocking back and forth, spitting at their computer screens, and bemoaning the end of America as we know it NOT because we've got a first class criminal cabal in the White House but because the ghost of FDR is haunting you.
BOO!
Jan 31, '07
Good point about who listens to radio, Kari.
I have known people who have down to earth jobs (what Ed Schultz describes as "they go to work, they come home, then they take a shower" ) and sometimes they are Reagan Democrats. Sometimes they are well read, educated people who either by job loss or by choice became people who work with their hands or work in positions where if they don't listen to the radio at work (sales clerks, product demonstrators, inventory people, etc.) they may listen to it to and from work or job sites and tell their friends what they think of it.
Actually that is how I first found out about AM 620-- someone working a couple different jobs noticed and told me they had gone to all oldies on weekends before they dumped their weekday right wingers for first music and then Air America.
Feb 1, '07
Kari: College-educated folks driving to their office jobs are NPR people, by and large.
All of the college-educated folks that work in my office listen to Thom while we're driving to work in the morning...we switch to NPR at 9:01.
Feb 1, '07
I can't think of anything better than 6 hours in a row of Thom Hartmann! Thom is by far the most intelligent person on radio, I enjoy listening to both his local show and his national show everyday.
Feb 5, '07
Bob T:
Yes, this is a liberal nation, but not "liberal" as in New Deal liberal with all its people controls etc.
Steven Maurer:
People controls? Man, Bob, you're one seriously confused conservative.
Bob T:
I'm not a conservative. Get that straight right away.
Steven Maurer:
The only group championing "people controls," these days are the theocratic pharasees (ususally called by their more common name as the "religous right"). They're also just about the only people standing by President Bush, as he declares that God has Given Him the Task of Fixing The Middle East using War.
Bob T:
There are many kinds of people controls. You've hinted at a few. But only a few.
Steven Maurer:
On the other hand, New Deal institutions such as Social Security, Medicare, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (to prevent the kind of stock fraud that gave us the Great Depression)
Bob T:
Well, no, that's not what gave us the Great Depression. Government management played a huge role in that if you care to read with an unbiased mind, But that's another topic in itself and Kari is watching to see we don't stray.
Steven Maurer:
....are supported by the vast majority of Republicans.
Bob T:
Whoopee-frickin-doo, pal. Is that a definition of something? It only goes to show you that the growth of the Leviathan State corrupts those who become part of its power structure.
Steven Maurer:
Yes, I suppose declaring "Pump and Dump" stock schemes illegal is a form of "People Control", but quite frankly I think criminals should be "controlled" by throwing their asses in prison. But leave it up to a conservative like you to be pro-crime.
Bob T:
Well, you're getting lost now. Whatever.
Bye.
Bob Tiernan