No, the progressive/liberal talk network isn't switching to a religious format (like NYC's 1150AM did). Instead today is the day when Mark Green takes over Air America Radio after purchasing the company for $4.25 million a few weeks ago. AAR has seen many problems in nearly three years since its inception and has been marked by the right for collapse. Well wingnuts, in the illustrious words of Vice President Cheney, GO *uck yourselves!
Some of the inspirational words from the new chief, Mark Green:
Air America was a large, smart idea to counter the near-monopoly on talk radio by the far (f)right. But like most start-ups, the business plan collided with reality. Six CEOs over its first three years - and various missteps and misspending - sent it into Chapter 11.
It's now ready to go from The Perils of Pauline to The Little Engine that Could. How? First, by focusing on the radio fundamentals of making a strong line-up even stronger; second, by connecting to other progressive membership organizations to be mutually fortifying; and third, by being a multi-media content company involving other distribution platforms - Internet, blogging, audio and video streaming, mobile, social networks, and more. It's time to think outside the (radio) box.
The twin goals are to make it profitable and influential. One without the other won't work. If it's not a business, it'll go out of business.
But it'll be a business with a sharp point of view. The era of on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-hand liberalism is over -- or as Robert Frost once wrote, "a liberal man is too broad-minded to take his own side in a quarrel." For all those who worry about messianic misleaders governing on a right wing and a prayer, Air America 2.0 will be an answer. For all those fearful of plutocracy and theocracy, the pro-democracy hosts of AAR's programs will be an answer. If the conservative media continue to spout propaganda and call it news, there's now the alternative of truth, justice and the Air American way.
So do not fear liberal truth-seekers, Air America is here to stay and be better than ever. Hopefully Green will stay true to these sweet words and deliver for all of us who crave truth on the airwaves with the mass of delusion that is spun up by the right on a daily basis.
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