David Sirota has been tracking a talking point which is turning up increasingly in the news, courtesy of Conservative pundits. It's the one that insists that this country — which just elected a more Democratic House of Representatives, a more Democratic Senate and a new president who these same pundits called a radical socialist — is "still" a "center-right" nation. In fact, some even argue that this trend in voting proves that Americans want governance to skew rightward.
While I'm near the topic, I'd like to restate my opinion as to why "Liberal Talk Radio" isn't a big hit in this country. Two or three times since Election Day, I've tuned in Air America and each time, what I heard was Randi Rhodes whining and telling us how awful things are. From the tone of her voice, you'd think voters had swept McCain-Palin and every G.O.P. candidate into office in a landslide. By contrast, the one time I let my dial drift over to Rush recently, he was talking about how this election was the best thing that could possibly happen to the Conservative movement because it'll force the Republicans to purge their ranks of the Liberal Republicans-in-Name-Only who cost them the election…and meanwhile, Democrats will take all the blame for The Obama Recession. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Limbaugh is actually somewhat entertaining because nothing fazes the guy. All news is good news for his side. Ms. Rhodes, by contrast, had me wondering: If she isn't happy now, when might that ever occur? I don't agree with everything she says but even when I do, it's too damn depressing to hear her say it. Rachel Maddow, who follows her on KTLK here in L.A., is a lot better but she still doesn't cheerlead for her side the way right-wing Talk Radio does for its team. Which is why, I think, she doesn't have as many listeners.
Lastly in this area, we need to change things on Los Angeles radio. Limbaugh is on KFI, which is 640. That's all the way on the left of the radio dial. Air America is on KTLK, which is 1150, all the way over on the right. These broadcasts need to change places. It's just got to be too confusing for anyone whose I.Q. is low enough to listen regularly to either.