Portland’s Talk Radio Scene
Every couple of days the radio gets me riled up enough that, at that moment, I decide I’m going to blog about it.
Of course, when I get home 20 minutes later, I’m too excited to see my wife or my kid or my dog to worry about it anymore.
Now, to be clear, I’m not so riled up about the topics being discussed. Although I’m a registered Republican, I’m a Portland Republican, which makes me essentially centrist on a lot of issues, fiscally conservative, conscienscious enough to support funding of social initiatives, and really only a hard-liner on issues that you could probably predict when I also identify myself as a Christian. And even then, I’m able to engage in an honest dialogue without trying to ostracize the other party based on their beliefs.
Instead, I’m riled up by the personalities on the air, and by the way they cast themselves so far to the extremes on every issue.
Now, sex sells. And, of course, so many of these talk stations are just a place for idealogues to turn to so that they can be verbally masturbated as they revel in their own extremist viewpoints. I think it’s clear that, whether you’re listening to KEX, KPAM, KXL, or Air America (the call letters escape me), you generally are doing so to have your ego massaged with the assurance that you aren’t the only person that sees things your way.
Most of my talk radio time is spent listening to SportsRadio 910 The Fan. Listening to that station, you hear alot of sports but also some social commentary from a demographic of people that, it sounds like, probably skew a bit liberal but at the same time realize that they’re just sports guys and aren’t there to make a real social point.
However, I like to jog between the other stations to hear what various people are saying about varioius things. And, frankly, because you can’t get the news or a dependable traffic report on 94.7 FM.
On KXL, we hear Bill O’Reilly, who casts himself as a non-Republican conservative with an open mind, and who generally ends up taking positions that would make him an ideal Republican (although, to be fair, I have enjoyed his constant criticism of the oil and auto industries and how people are getting screwed, but this is an easy issue to cherry-pick and noone’s likely to disagree). We have Lars Larson, who only occasionally lets the facts get in the way of a good rant. We have Michael Savage, who (as far as I’m concerned) is only good for the entertainment value of listening to a rabid fascist spew epithets of rage while also mixing in quality discussions of childhood in NY, the plusses and minusses of having a cute little dog, and where you can go in San Fran to get some good Italian food. Then there’s John Gibson, who I find tiring because he doesn’t seem to buy what he’s selling.
On KEX, you have Rush. Rush has entertainment value, but he is so busy trying to make everything into a “them against me” thing, and so busy honking his own horn, that to listen to him for more than 10 minutes requires that you be tied to your seat, that your hands be cut off, and that a gag be inserted into your mouth so you can’t drown out his pontificating with the sound of your own tortured screams.
All I ever really hear on KPAM is Victoria Taft, also an out-there conservative who doesn’t seem to have a balanced view on anything (in my opinion) and some guy in the afternoons who, actually, seems to be fairly reflective and who, I think, is probably the most agreeable talk personality on any of these stations (further research shows that his name is Tom Parker).
Air America is the liberal answer to the radio’s right-wing conspiracy. And, as such, there’s not any shortage of bombastic blow-hards taking extreme positions because there’s no money in centrism. Most of what I hear there consists of Rhandi Rhodes, who appears to be the left-wing Rush. I see that they also have given airtime to Jerry Springer (truly a sign of quality radio). Al Franken is funny, but (much like Janeane Garofalo, who I love in movies) being likeable or fun to listen to doesn’t make you right, and so your opining isn’t really doing anything for either of us.
I walk away from all of this dying for balance. I want real “no-spin” news. I want a talk show host who’ll have a real, full dialogue on issues without having his own agenda (I don’t want a Hannity & Colmes-type point/counter-point where there’s so much nit-picking over small terms and over-generalizing of the opponent’s statements that no real discussion ever occurs).
Of course, we’ll never have this. It just doesn’t sell.
What do you think?
Shrillness and predictability sells- measured dialogue, looking at both sides of the story often does not.
I think the last talk show host to try objectivity was our own Bill Gallagher, but I guess he was not shrill enough to woo advertisers.
I’m a Republican also, though not a right-winger. I think Rush was better in the old days when he had more comedy bits such as his “updates” and songs (and when he had fewer commercials). I think Al Franken translates terribly to radio. You need to be able to speak clearly and quickly, neither of which he does. He’s better as writer for other people or in characters where pregnant pauses, such as Stuart Smalley, work. He’s not that knowledgable, either. (btw, I don’t know what it says about me, but I’ve always had a major crush on Janeane Garofalo; I’ve always been attracted to those liberal/alternative/artsy types even while strongly disagreeing with them.)
Why don’t you do what I do and listen to NPR/PRI on 91.5? It clearly bends left, but in general it’s actually informative and interesting.
Nick: Not a bad suggestion. My only thought on NPR is it tends to be a little dry when I do catch it, and I do like color in my commentary.
About JG – you can almost smell the patchouli just looking at her, but I agree. She’s got this totally hot hippy-chick thing going.
By the way, although I’ll probably get sent to hell for it, I’ve been enjoying the return of Rick Emerson, during the occasional time that I have a work-time trip in the middle of the day…
You might want to check out Thom Hartmann’s morning show on KPOJ (620AM). I’m a flaming liberal and still quickly lose interest in most of KPOJ/Air America hosts’ ranting, but Thom’s show is much more measured and rational. He brings on a full spectrum of guests (including regular spots with Libertarian guests, for example) and evenly moderates the discussion. And he’s local!