"I'm Not Policing What You Think and Dream"

But some people are. Don Imus is the lamb that was slaughtered at the alter of silence. Next, feeling emboldened, the Fairness Doctrine will be discussed and voted on and with luck on their side, implemented. And soon media watchers will look at a blog like mine and make me post links to the Huffington Post or R Blog or any other liberal website. Like the Dissident Voice.

Return Fairness, Return to Reality by Patricia Goldsmith

Ever since the fairness doctrine went down for good in 1986, hate and misinformation have taken over the airwaves, beginning with Rush Limbaugh on the radio and spreading to TV. As Rep. Louise Slaughter said in a 2004 interview with Bill Moyers, after fairness was defeated,

"AM radio rose. It wasn’t even gradual, Bill. I mean, almost immediately. And I should point out to you that when we tried to reinstate [the fairness doctrine] again in ’93, one of the reasons we couldn’t was that Rush Limbaugh had organized this massive uprising against it, calling it “The Hush Rush Law.”

Slaughter goes on to explain that the law wouldn’t have hushed Rush -- that would take more than an act of Congress, I’m afraid -- but it would have mandated that time be given to people who represent other sides of any issue discussed by Limbaugh. The same is true for Hannity, O’Reilly, and even Imus. They just wouldn’t have the airwaves all to themselves the way they do now.

[sic]

The roll-back of fairness tilted the broadcasting playing field heavily to the right and led directly to the rise of Fox News and hate radio. Without constraints on how to present an issue, propaganda replaced real reporting -- and became wildly popular. News suddenly became revenue stream responsible for generating ratings and earnings, and the race to the bottom in network news reporting began.

Highlighted portions added by moi. See, what they don't like is that liberal talk show hosts have no audience. I don't know why that is, they just don't. Sure, a couple hundred people listen to Air America and the like ... but Rush Limbaugh is on 612 radio stations nationwide and has approximately 13.5 million listeners a week. That's what they don't like. The fact that these people that say things they disagree with are popular. And in an effort to silence the opposing view, they are going to inact legislation that'll make their own opinions and agendas heard. No one will listen without an act of congress. That's the funny part.

It's as if they think people are stupid. "People are stupid and don't know what they like! Oh I know that Fox News is winning the ratings race, but that's because people don't know better! I know better, I will make sure they only listen to what I think is best! People don't know what they're doing ... they are being brainwashed, we must save them! Hurry, pass the Fairness Doctrine quickly so I can push my agenda on them!"

I also like how since it's an opposing view it's "Hate Radio." I'm not saying the right isn't guilty of name calling (they are) but why is it that a conservative is full of "hate" and Nazism and liberals are freedom loving patriots?

There is no freedom in the Fairness Doctrine. There are only media watchers and PC inforcers who will ensure that you are inundated with their message and not the one you happen to agree with.

As an American, I can agree with anyone I see fit. You can tell me that what Rush Limbaugh is saying is wrong, but I do not have to agree. I can believe Rush is the prophet sent from above to save us all from large government (I don't, by the way) and that's my business. You can not force me to listen to garbage just because you think it's fair.

There are two media's and one station that will be harrassed and hounded by an emboldened FCC if the Fairness Doctrine is passed. AM talk radio, the internet, and Fox News.

On Larry King AL Sharpton said that "this is about accountability and standards on the airwaves."

Well look at FM radio too then, because I'll be calling for these standards to be held to you as well. And the sexually charged conversations that happen on your morning shows will be a thing of the past, and music played will be screened carefully and we'll have even more silenced out cuss words, drug innuendos, and "ho" references.

I believe this is as much about standards as Rosie saying she won't talk about impeachment any more is because she's feeling brave and not worried about her head on the chopping block. I swear, people that have influence are most afraid of losing that influence. She'd rather sit back and shut up then lose her job. I'm not complaining, I think she's an idiot. But if she truly felt compelled by her convictions, she'd stand up and be counted and get fired for her beliefs versus write innocous, poor grammer blogs with the comments turned off.

Afraid of what readers might say Ro? Can't handle dissenting views from your own I guess ... typical.

From Talker's Magazine,

You can't see it because it's small ... click on it to enlarge, but the top 7 talk radio hosts are all conservatives, and I'd wager most of the top 14 are conservatives too. You can see Don Imus in there ... he's at number 10. Al Franken of Air America fame is tied at 13. Honestly that's higher than I thought he'd be ... but there's no accounting for taste. :)

The difference is though, that I don't want to stop anyone from listening to Mr. Franken. Have at it. If you believe him, if you like him, if you find him entertaining, that's your perogative. I agree to disagree with your point of view and I'll continue listening to Lara Ingraham.

This is America people! Listen to what you want without fear of persecution. At least, until the Fairness Doctrine is pushed through by Al Sharpton, who's name I don't see anywhere on "The Top Talk Radio Audiences." If you can't get people to listen based on the content, then by golly, he'll just force a law through making sure you hear what he has to say.