When it rains, it pours
Yes, I was making up for not posting anything this week.
I have a Moleskin full of other ideas for posts. Coming soon.
Lies, Damn Lies, and Limbaugh’s Press Release About Progressive Radio
Lies, Damn Lies, and Limbaugh's Press Release About Progressive Radio:
Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh, through his radio syndicator Premiere Radio Networks, sent out a press release titled "Limbaugh Leads the Race Against Liberal Talkers," purportedly comparing his ratings to those of progressive talk stations.
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The reality is that in several major markets, ratings for progressive talk are booming. In Denver, Air America's ratings are up 500% from one year ago. Seattle's newly talk-formatted KPTK, doubled in the winter [ratings] book, Portland's KPOJ-AM grew 1000% in audience share. In conservative San Diego, KLSD-AM went up 73%. Other markets with similar success include: Boston, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Sacramento and Columbus. Rush is even on the verge of being overtaken in his own home state.
An even more interesting comparison is found when looking at stations with integrated lineups that carry both Rush and a progressive host. In that apples-to-apples comparison, we see that Rush Limbaugh and Ed Schultz are actually very competitive.
(Via Think Progress.)
Blah, blah, blah. I disagree with just about everything Rush Limbaugh says, but come on! Can anyone name these "progressive" broadcasters who are beating him? Want to know who is winning the ratings war? The guy whose name everyone knows. I've heard of Rush Limbaugh, I haven't heard of your guys. Ed who?
Bush signs the $286 billion highway bill
Bush signs the $286 billion highway bill:
Because you can never have too much pork:
President Bush signed a $286.5 billion highway bill on Wednesday that he said would create new jobs but which critics contend is stuffed with billions of dollars worth of lawmakers' pet projects.
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And don't get me wrong: if the money appropriated by this bill does some good, that's wonderful. But the special interests involved is just more of what we have come to expect out of Bush-approved legislation.
(Via Daily Kos.)
Sorry guys, but the Republicans learned about pork from you Democrats. The student has now become the master. Plus, you can't even see that the pork and extra programs are wrong whether or not they are useful or do some good. If you have a good idea for a spending program, introduce your own damned bill.
Of course this doesn't even address the fact that the highway bill is immoral anyway. Let's take 286 billion dollars from everyone in the country for something they don't necessarily agree with. If someone wants a highway so badly, let the people who want it pay for it.
In Romance with USA, Americans Play Hard to Get
In Romance with USA, Americans Play Hard to Get:
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In fact, it's difficult to know just what Americans do approve of. Only 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, which means that the public disapproves of all three branches of government.
And the media? It turns out that Americans like (and trust) those folks less and less. A Pew Study found that in 1985 84% of Americans could "believe most of what they read in their daily newspaper." By 2004 that figure had fallen to just 54%
And yet, in a bizarre instance of cognitive dissonance, Americans are still some of the most patriotic people on the planet: a recent Roper poll found that 8 in 10 people think patriotism is "in," and consider themselves very patriotic.
Is this evidence that Americans like America, and simply hate everything in it?
(Via Think Progress.)
No, it's evidence that Americans love their country but hate their government. Clinton didn't understand either.