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02/27/2004 Archived Entry: "Howard Stern, Clear Channel and the FCC."
Howard Stern, Clear Channel and the FCC.
I've been making the rounds of the liberal discussion boards tonight, just checking up on what's being said about the Howard Stern situation. And I have to say I'm a little alarmed at what I'm reading. Seems a lot of people are missing the point.
I was a Stern listener for a long time - I listened to him when he came to WNBC in New York back in the 80s. In those days, he battled Don Imus (who was then in the final stages of his substance abuse days) and Soupy Sales. He pushed the envelope as hard and as long as he could at NBC Radio's flagship station, and one day he did 'Animal Lover Dial-A-Date,' and the guy he had on said a bit too much. NBC fired him.
He went to K-Rock, started in afternoons, vowing to destroy WNEW's Scott Muni in the ratings. If I remember correctly, it took him one ratings book to do it. He then moved to mornings, vowing to vanquish Imus in the ratings. He did that, too.
His early years at K-Rock were more of the same - unparalleled ratings, outrageous on-air conduct. He got fined by the FCC, and Infinity paid those fines. But he wasn't suspended or fired.
He worked up a publicity stunt - a funeral for WNBC. Among the guests that graced the podium was noted NYC liberal 'Grandpa' Al Lewis. Al got on the mic and said 'Fuck the FCC! Fuck 'em!' on live radio. Howard was not suspended or fired.
I stopped listening soon after that, because I felt that his air time with strippers and lesbians got old, and he was so much funnier than that. But he continued to kill in the ratings. Infinity syndicated him to 40 stations. Even Clear Channel bought into the Stern juggernaut in 1999, syndicating him in six markets in order to grab some of the cash that Stern continued to generate.
Until this week, Howard was not fined or suspended by Clear Channel.
Now, Howard blames the uproar over Janet Jackson's tit being flashed at the Super Bowl for the situation as it stands - that broadcast outlets are existing in a climate of fear since Michael Powell vowed to crack down on all forms of indecency. Point taken.
But there's something else in the mix here - something that most news outlets are overlooking in their coverage of this story. Howard has recently begun criticizing the Bush administration in no uncertain terms. Thursday morning's show had him calling them 'a bunch of fascist, right-wing a-holes.' Howard's lawyer, Dominic Barbera, called in to give the opinion that Stern's suspension was 'part of their master plan' to purge American society of all they deem offensive.
Reports I've heard say that the other Clear channel victim, Bubba the Love Sponge, has been dogging Bush for the past couple of weeks as well. Bubba got flat-out fired, because he was a Clear Channel employee. Since Stern is an employee of Viacom/Infinty, they couldn't fire him. So they did the worst they could - they suspended his show in six markets, and the Clear Channel minion who testified before Congress this morning told the panel that Stern 'would not be back.'
Is it within Clear Channel's rights to do what they did? Sure. Is Howard being made an example of, so as not to jeopardize Clear Channel's standing before Congress as the FCC pushes for more ownership rule changes? Absolutely. There's a lot at stake for Clear Channel - they could start throwing money and buy up all the stations they don't already own if the ownership rules change. As a Clear channel employee told us at the first Democracy Radio conference in 2002 - 'Clear Channel doesn't want most of American radio - they want it all.'
But let's remember who's driving the bus at Clear Channel - the Mays family, and a guy named Tom Hicks. Both Lowry Mays (and his sons) and Hicks have donated enormous sums of money to the political campaigns of George W. Bush, both in his time as Governor of Texas and his run for the presidency. They are all 'Rangers,' who each pledged to raise at least $200,000 for Bush.
While the Super Bowl controversy gives them cover to make examples of personalities like Bubba and Stern, it should be kept in mind that they do not like hearing disparaging comments about Bush - least of all on their own air waves.
So that has got at least something to do with why Clear Channel did what they did. They had no problem renting Stern from Infinity. They had no problem hiring Bubba and putting him on in four cities in Florida. They knew what they were getting when they hired these guys. Both Bubba and Howard did their respective schtick, everybody made money, it was all good.
The only difference between then and now was this - neither Stern nor Bubba were criticizing George W. Bush.
And this brings me, finally, to the point I had in mind when I started writing this.
George W. Bush's term as president is unequaled in its depressing mediocrity and banal savagery. We've lost more jobs than Herbert Hoover's America did. We went from cushy surplus to crushing deficit in record time. Bush has pissed off our allies with his cowboy grandstanding. We have attacked two defenseless countries in three years - and while the first one had some basis in the aftermath of 9/11, the second had literally nothing to do with it. We've been lied to, over and over again. The US intelligence apparatus has been fed to the lions so that Bush could avoid blame for his failures. He refuses to let the American people know what happened on September 11, 2001. And last week, he proposed amending the US Constitution to ban gays from marriage. It's the first time in our history that an amendment was proposed that would limit rights of American citizens.
And Howard Stern is speaking out against all of that, save the war in Iraq, which he supported.
The Bush organization is large and powerful and well-funded, thanks to companies like Clear Channel. It will take a metaphorical crowbar and case of dynamite to dislodge their pasty asses from the White House - they will not leave without a nasty, ball-crushing, dirt-flinging fight. We'll need every weapon we can bring to bear against these guys to make it anywhere near a fair fight.
And Howard Stern is a weapon we can most certainly use.
But I'm seeing a lot of people sniffing and harrumphing and snorting about how Stern is 'vile' and 'disgusting,' a 'woman-hater' and a 'gay-basher.' How these supposed progressives wouldn't piss on Stern if he was on fire. In short, many of my liberal friends are sounding just like the fine folks at Clear Channel Communications.
That ain't gonna cut it, people.
If Howard Stern wants to get on the air every morning and hammer Bush for his numerous fuck-ups, I stand with him. If he wants to inform his sizable audience about the truth of what these neo-fascists are actually doing to this country, I'll applaud him. If he can turn a couple of million people against Bush's happy-face campaign and make them see that the guy is a miserable failure who's circling the drain and wants to pull this entire fucking country down that drain with him, I will praise him.
Stern may be one of the most valuable weapons we've got in the fight to send Bush back to Texas/Connecticut/wherever, and we'd be way beyond stupid not to welcome him and encourage him to talk about it every day he spends on the radio.
Way beyond stupid.
Replies: 45 people speak up
I tend to find Stern's humor sophomoric to say the least, certainly not my cup of tea-- however, I have always felt he was something of a straight shooter. And one must be blind not to see the big picture here.
Having him and his millions of listeners (many of whom will not bother to vote without some convincing) on our side can only help.
Posted by kendog @ 02/27/2004 02:07 AM NY
Thanks for the clarity! While much of Howard is indeed sophomoric (too much with the lesbian, stripper voyurism, farts, queefs, gross out ...) enough of the show is such great fun that I became a regular listener around 5 years ago.
Although the high school style homo/gay patter can rise to the level of hurtful at times, Howard is very clear that he supports us without reservation. He just wouldn't have sex with a man for a billion dollars.
Posted by bobbyj @ 02/27/2004 07:37 AM NY
Thanks for the great post!
Already here in Boston - the asshole Jay Severin is trying to frame this as the liberals coming to take away the right of free speach! Can you imagine? Ya - I'm sure you can :(
Posted by Hillary Pelosi @ 02/27/2004 08:25 AM NY
Great post. I've never been a fan of Stern's - humor too much at a bathroom level - but I respect him for what he's been abel to do with his talents (such as they are). And I more than welcome him into the fold of tryign to get W out of office. Some liberals are too pretentious and stuck in their little fantasy world for their own good *cough*Nader*cough*. DOn't get me wrong, they do alot of good but they don't seem to look at the world as a whole alot of times.
Posted by Jason @ 02/27/2004 09:09 AM NY
I just wonder how long it's going to take Clear Channel to "suspend" Randi Rhodes "pending an indecency investigation" into her using the word "crap" on the air, as she has done so many times.
Posted by The Tater @ 02/27/2004 10:43 AM NY
Tater - Randi will soon be beyond Clear Channel's reach - at least outside of West Palm Beach.
She may be making an announcement about it today.
Posted by editor @ 02/27/2004 10:53 AM NY
Cool! I hope this means she's finally getting the syndication deal she so richly deserves. I'll be glued to my computer from 3:00 to 7:00 (EST) this afternoon.
Posted by The Tater @ 02/27/2004 11:05 AM NY
"It's the first time in our history that an amendment was proposed that would limit rights of American citizens."
Not true. The flag burning amendment. Prohibition. And in 1912 there was a proposed federal amendment to ban interracial marriage "forever."
There might be more, I'm not sure.
Posted by C Bryan Lavigne @ 02/27/2004 11:21 AM NY
Bryan - I stand corrected. Thanks for the info.
Posted by editor @ 02/27/2004 11:26 AM NY
I must say that I do like Howard Stern’s show (im listening to it now actually, hell its less sophomoric than CNN these days)
Right now he is advocating that everyone sell their clear channel stock to screw the company.
Anyway, I know it’s a childish, fowl show, but you cant be highbrow all the time. The strippers do get boring (although I must admit to being a bit of a scopopheliac- if you don’t know what it means, im sure there is a feminist who will explain it) and I do have a bit of a lesbian fixation.... anyway
Why is it that everything I enjoy (perversity, nudity, foul language, and political slander) is considered socially unacceptable? I know that im a bit of a pariah, but I don’t think that my tastes are that outside of the norm.
Its time for Christians to realize that they are no longer the majority, and that people are starting to get educated past the need for 2000-year-old superstition. Actually, they probably do realize it, and that’s what has them so scared.
Anyway, thankfully we have an infinity station here in Chicago, so I don’t have to stop listening to the radio completely
Posted by justin @ 02/27/2004 11:35 AM NY
Sweet post ...
clipped a little audio of Howard this morning...short wav of him calling for the end of Bush...check it out if you want...
Link to post with audio
Posted by Damfa @ 02/27/2004 03:17 PM NY
Blah3,
That was one of your best posts. I've never been a fan of Stern, but Progressives need allies of every stripe. Right now I'm feeling too desperate to be a purist.
Posted by Metropolitan99 @ 02/27/2004 05:25 PM NY
To think I would live to see the day when I am obliged to link hands with Rush Limbaugh to form a circle of defense around...Howard Stern. My stomach is upset and my hand is begging to be washed, preferably with Drano.
However, such sacrifices must be made. It is time to dig out the hoary old quote "I despise what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it."
Personally I think there is another motivation behind this whole "crusade for decency" business. The phrase keeps popping up in testimony before this FCC committee, more from whiny TV network types than radio--"These restrictions on us aren't fair, because we have to compete with cable and THEY aren't regulated at all." Watch for a move to give the FCC some sort of power over cable-only channels.
Posted by Xan @ 02/27/2004 08:36 PM NY
I have absolutely NO problem with Howard Stern.
I don't listen to him; but I might now, if he's railing on Bush from coast to coast. I'd listen to ANYBODY who did that--including Rush Limbaugh.
I think Stern is going to make a difference and get a lot of votes against Bush whether or not feminists or liberals in general are too disgusted to give him credit. It doesn't matter one bit. Stern is pissed at Bush; he has a huge audience; with Stern's help, Bush is toast.
Visit my blog!
Later,
Posted by DaddyO @ 02/27/2004 08:45 PM NY
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/014384.php
As someone who covers the FCC for a living, I can assure you that the pressure for a crackdown on broadcast indecency did not originate in the White House. In fact, critics have accused Michael Powell of being too lax. The main driver of tougher enforcement, at least on the FCC, has been Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps, a former aide to S.C. Sen. Fritz Hollings. In the Congress, there's been bipartisan support for a crackdown coming from the likes of Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Fred Uption, R-Mich. The White House has not been at the forefront of this issue.
Posted by h0mi @ 02/27/2004 09:04 PM NY
CC just handed Howard eight months of fresh programming ideas. By the time it dawns on CC just how stupid they were to pull a stunt like this, it wil be way too late.
Posted by Night Owl @ 02/28/2004 12:07 PM NY
Kudos to the writer of this article!!!! I have been an avid Stern listener since I was a sophomore in high school. (Three years now.) I am enraged that he has been taken off of six stations. Freedom of speech? I think not. Due to Stern's recent "dogging" of President Bush, the only way to silence Stern is to take away his privelage to be heard. DUH! Clear channel, the FCC, and THE GOVERNMENT has made up some terrible excuse, "indecent speech" to silent Stern. Bush sucks. Stern has the audacity to say this. Because of his support for a democrat, his tongue is being cut from his throat. How much longer will it take for the "ordinary" American to be silenced just as Stern was? How long will it take for an "ordinary" citizen to be derpived of saying how they feel about a certain candidate, emotion or feeling they have? Stern's suspension is suppose to be an example that this alleged "indecent speech" will not be tolerated. How much longer is it going to take for the government to silence us as well? I will die before I am silenced. Go Stern. "F" BUSH. "F" the FCC and "F" Clear Channel. I hope Stern continues to speak his mind because I will continue to do the same as well.
Posted by Michelle @ 02/28/2004 07:17 PM NY
Listen:
The AP / most other wires have disingenuously reported that "AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WOMEN" were offended.
What about the latinas? What about the exploited women on the show showing thier breasts and butts? What about the cursing in the guise of F and S?
Well - guess what - Stern has been doing this for more than 15 years and noone has said a word. You morons. FCC can lick balls.
You can censor that if you wish.
Faggots!
Posted by Stern Fan - BROOKLYN NEW YORK @ 02/29/2004 02:49 AM NY
Hey now,
I hate my morning drive without Howard in the morning. So many others are too afraid to voice their opinions, and now we know why. God forbid I say something cross against the Bush administration; I might just disappear. FCC, Clear Channel Radio and Colin Powell's son, what's his face, can sit and spin on my big fat middle finger!!!!!
Boo-cocky on them all!
Posted by Andrea L. in Louisville, KY @ 03/01/2004 02:22 PM NY
Okay...so everyone thinks this Clear Channel thing sucks...but what do we do about it? Start a letter writing campaign, do an internet petition? We live in a free country, but we're almost powerless when it comes to fighting these huge companies. If anyone out there is mobilizing people to speak as one voice I would like to know about it. I think there are thousands of people out there who want to stop all this crap, practically everyone I talk to, but how?
Posted by pissed off @ 03/01/2004 02:23 PM NY
I happen to be an avid listener of both Howard Stern and NPR. So, yes, I'm a liberal and proud of it. But I find Stern funny and honest, despite my disagreement with him on many issues. Stern had been a vocal supporter of Bush, particularly with respect to the wars in Afganistan and Iraq. When he recently started criticizing him, I was elated. At last! He finally sees Bush and his buddies for the goons they are. It's no coincidence that Clear Channel yanked Stern off the air shortly thereafter. This is only the beginning of a new kind of censorship made possible by the FCC's paving the road for media conglomerates to buy up all the public air time.
Posted by Victoria in NJ @ 03/01/2004 05:03 PM NY
I found it interesting that the only negative feedback to your posting was from "hOmi" attempting to self proclaim him/herself to expert status "because they cover the FCC" They must be very well respected in their profession in spite of their inability to read.
No where in your document did I see you point your finger at the White House or bush administration as the source for Stern's troubles. On the contrary, you were quite clear that it was Clear Channel's owner's, the May's family and Tom Hicks, supporters of the administration.
Thanks for a nice piece of work.
Posted by Randy Carter @ 03/01/2004 07:52 PM NY
Thank you for this insightful commentary!
Cheryl
Posted by Cheryl Bartlett, Ph.D. @ 03/01/2004 08:19 PM NY
I am a longtime fan of Stern (although I am a feminist, i don't take his show seriously, I like sophomoric, stupid humor, and Stern has made me laugh in the morning for over 15 years.) A fan called in last week to suggest that everyone who owns stock in Clear Channel sell their shares, thus driving the price down. I wonder if that would work. I have a feeling that people who own lots of stock in CC probably don't listen to/hate Stern.
Wouldn't it be great if we cold bring CC to its knees? There is absolutely no doubt that our civil liberties are under attack from the Bush admin...CC was a huge contributor to his campaign, and it's no accident that Stern was fired as soon as he started criticizing Bush.
Howard and Robin may have to eat some crow now since they supported Bush on the war and I had to turn off the show because their remarks were so ignorant. But they can make up for it by slamming Bush on religious right censorship issues, and maybe a million or so listeners will vote against him who might not even have voted before.
Posted by SuZ @ 03/01/2004 08:56 PM NY
Right on brother.
I, being a slave to San Diego radio, was under the impression that Howard's removal from the airwaves was a country-wide FCC "example." Now I know that it is just a selfish, childish antic of a select few who desire to monopolize the American airwaves and are impartial to their idol Dub-ya. This is ridiculous. I disagreed on the war and I doubted the intel and the true agenda. Howard was caught up in a "superpatriotism" called jingoism. He chose to accept the official stance as valid and right. Most of the country did as well, as reflected in Bush's popularity rating post 9/11. But, in this election year it seems people are reevaluating our fearful leader's performance, and all the wars in the world won't change his domestic record. Bush said he is "a war president." Well I don't want a "war president" I want a smart president. Not some illiterate fool. Thank God his approval rating has plummetted, and most the respondents describe him as a lier.
We need to boycott/ protest Clear Channel.
Posted by Rob-a-booey @ 03/01/2004 10:56 PM NY
Why don't all of you liberals get over yourselves! I like Howard, but he pays the price of his employers. He works for someone that pays his salary and that person has a vested interest in our president. Thats the way the USA works. If you don't like it there are plenty of dictatorships out there where I'm sure you will fit right in....or be executed. You feel sorry for everyone attitudes are what make this country vulnerable. If your prized president blow j didn't underestimate Osama we won't have this mess. Do you ever blame yourselves????
Posted by Chris Duffy @ 03/02/2004 12:01 AM NY
Congrats to the author of the original post!! Well said!
I am a rabid Howard Stern fan - but even more than that I am a fan of free speech and an EVEN bigger fan of a free society.
Bush and his lap dogs, including the Powells, are just on a religiously based witch hunt. It didn't start with Howard Stern and it certianly won't end with him.
Things are getting a little scary in America again, I think it's time that the people take it back to the streets, it's been too long since people cared about anything in this country.
Posted by Poppie @ 03/02/2004 08:02 AM NY
Wow, what sweet liberal rhetoric. "Oh no, the nasty right wing forces are coming to kill us all"
How about both the left and the right stop blaming each other for the various ills of the world.
Your anorexic theory of the Clear Channel/Whitehouse connection taking Stern off of the air is thin.
Take responsibility for your own actions and lets everyone relax. There is no vast conspiracy, save the one that got Stuttering John a gig with Jay Leno for 500K a year. If people want to be upset, they should tackle that issue.
Posted by Thomas Magnum @ 03/02/2004 11:28 AM NY
Is there any hope of Howard returning to the airwaves in those clear channel cut off areas like Miami?
He's mentioned going to satellite radio before, has he mentioned it further after clear channel's actions?
I've been cutoff from listening to him here in Miami, and morning traffic seems like a neverending boring ride now. He was so good, It would be tough to leave the car when I did arrive at work.
Posted by Mo @ 03/02/2004 01:51 PM NY
I'm so angry that they pulled Howard Stern from my local market (Miami), that I started my own online petition.
I've had tons of signatures from people in all walks of life. Men, Women, military personel, people who don't like howard, etc...
It's good to see that I'm not the only one that is upset by what is going on.
You can sign the petition by visiting:
http://www.freehowardstern.com
Thank you for letting me spread the word.
Posted by Hugo Guzman @ 03/02/2004 10:23 PM NY
This is going to be long. But it is important to all who would read in this forum.
Randi Rhodes (therandirhodesshow.com) IS inked to syndication into 6 major markets. See blah3 for any and all new details.
What's amazing is that CC (where she is presently the 'local' - West Palm Beach) would not syndicate her, yet signed her up from the syndicators to the same local. Rush is a spitting distance away and the Arbitrons have always shown her to be #1 without even a closeness.
She doesn't want you to believe her: rather, she double-sources (minimum) and most frequently triples or more so that the listener can check first-hand to a truth. As a comparison, Rush only spews.
As a local of hers for 15 or so years, I've gone from 'hate the hippie, ultra-liberal JAP' to having the most profound respect for her intelligence, perspicuity, honesty, slave-work and any other of the fine attributes that one can recognize in one's better. You want documents, you got documents. She'll tell you how to get them (or look them up).
Once you get to know her, you would want her to be your congressperson, senator, a member of the Supreme Court and even the president of this country. She is the jewel in this country's crown.
But, otoh, she is nothing but truth. The truth of the constitution, this nation among nations and I would even submit to this world among worlds.
I can only think that CC is buttering both sides of this bread. She is worth hundreds of Sterns, Limburgers, etc. to a slowly awakening populace. And while she realizes this, she has that certain humility (Mr. Smith).
Her net numbers exceed FOX news (and I sure don't want to get into a numbers game, being as how numbers get skewed nowadays).
I know almost everything about her. (No, not a stalker.) She GIVES. And so I know her mother, dogs, plants, pool, daughter, late sister and various other things that regular listeners know. She gives unashamedly.
She is the voice of reason and truth and I would miss that voice very much if it were taken away. I would really cry tears for as long as I could remember. It would be like loosing your country, literally.
Um, she's not perfect (maybe that is only me), but she's the best you are ever going to get.
And to CC, if democrats could possibly be as vindictive as this present administration, you had better hope that you are doing "the right thing". But "mom and pop" businesses can do quite well, can't they?
Posted by xxein @ 03/02/2004 10:57 PM NY
People, this is scary. If they can take Howard off the air what is next? Do we want all our music censored, do we want or TV shows and movies censored. Be very afraid of the Right-wing ultra-conservative religious fanatics. Please remember religion preaches tolerance. This is not what current religious fanatics are preaching. We have to do something. I don't know what. Does anyone have any suggestinos? We have to do something. Who wants to listen to Bob and Tom every morning or Rush Limbaugh? It is time for us to stand up for our rights.
Posted by Rick Kelley @ 03/03/2004 12:08 PM NY
Yeah, this is just another attempt to take away civil liberties like the Patriot Act is doing. This country has a collectively puckered asshole and needs to chill out. While Stern might not be for everyone, I respect everyone's right to listen to him. If it offends you, change the damn channel and quit bitching.
Posted by Roger Trexler @ 03/03/2004 03:40 PM NY
Hey, now you all see the beauty of media oligopolies. Remember when the FCC actually had decent rules and controls for media ownership in markets? Thanks to Michael Powell for attempting to loosen those restrictions even more. If government agents need only have four sets of dossiers (with blackmailable materials of course) on media conglomerate owners to wield control on what content is released by those conglomerates instead of having to do that for hundreds or thousands of smaller media organizations, much time and effort is saved. Think of the economies of scale! The tax dollars saved! It's all part of the long term plan to get the country out of debt! Isn't it wonderful!?!
Posted by Mr. Flibble @ 03/03/2004 04:14 PM NY
I agree with Roger...I listen every morning and while I can get sick of listening to the gross stuff...I just change the channel. But the fact that I can choose to listen or change the channel, is what has made this country great. The fact that my ability to choose is in danger is a great concern. I do think there is something to theory that CC got all uppity when Bush was no longer being endorsed. Bush is fucking up this whole country….time for a change!!!!!
Posted by Jen @ 03/03/2004 04:46 PM NY
The solution is simple. Stop supporting the adviertisors that pay to support CC. You do that and you cut off their balls.
Posted by davjo69 @ 03/04/2004 01:20 AM NY
You know, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, is one of our most sacred rights. Yet, everyday it is been taken away by people who we elect, who along the way think that they no longer have to listen to the very people who elected them. I have been a listen of Howard Stern from coast to coast. I listened in Florida and I listened in California. The crap that goes on in eveyone life's so much more disgusting, repugnant, and downright shameful. Yet, fart jokes, and lebian chatter the government has time for. What about all the homeless people living on the streets of Santa Monica, CA? What about people's inability to find jobs? What about religious fanatics ruining our country to spread their closemindness vision of what this country ought to be? People Howard Stern is not a problem, he just examplifies is plfight of our freedom in this country. We elect these people and we should come together and get them out of office.
Posted by Mr. Julian @ 03/04/2004 12:54 PM NY
George Bush and his gang never worried about Howard Stern until Howard Stern recommended an anti-Bush best seller. Then Walla! In a few days Clear Channel and Bush's boys were all over it. Sounds like the same people who keep Rush Limbaugh and others on a Clear Channel in Miami promoting Bush brainwashing all day long. It is my opinion that Bush has gone from his addiction to alcohol to an addiction to power and he has a strong arm machine headed by Karl Rove behind him.. Howard Stern is just the last victim.
So much for Bush's love of Democracy!
Posted by Madeleine Drisen @ 03/05/2004 07:46 AM NY
Bush, the FCC, and the neo-conservative movement need to be stopped. If you look behind all the decisions and rulings that have been made since W took office, you will find that it all has corporate ties. If freedom is to stand a chance in this country, the people must wake up and see the truth behind the current regime.
Posted by heycable @ 03/05/2004 11:53 AM NY
I have watched Sterns show on E channel and listened to his radio show in the mornings. And most of his shows are predictable to say the least. But after listening to his show this morning my blood has began to boil. For there is no denying that all the men involved in the overthrow of Howard and other "Shock Jocks" like him have direct links to President Bush past or preasent. But I have to say that Bush is not the Mastermind, for he is just a pawn that has whored himself into power. Just remember history when you go to the poles to vote. Remember the other leaders who whored themselves into power and all the negative effects it had on this world. IF BUSH GETS VOTED IN WE WILL LOOSE RIGHT'S. Choose the lesser of two evils and Vote.
Posted by american youth won't be quiet! @ 03/05/2004 10:43 PM NY
Dont buy into Bushes lies anything on the news that has political information has been placed to brain wash. If you vote for bush YOU VOTE AGAINST OUR FOUNDING FATHERS. TAKE THE CONSTITUTION AT FACE VALUE, OR RISK ALL THAT IS.
Posted by Fu*@k Conforming @ 03/05/2004 10:52 PM NY
Wow I was not aware of all the shit going on behind our(the American Citizens) Backs. And frankly I am astounded. More must know about the injustices going on in our country before it is to late. Keep up the good Posts. And thanks for opening my eyes. and if you have any hard evedence that your willing to share please send my way.
Posted by John Filips (Once Blind) @ 03/05/2004 11:00 PM NY
Too bad Howard did not get a chance to read Bushwacked while he was on vacation, he would enjoy that book too.
Posted by Joyce Brobeck @ 03/06/2004 01:23 AM NY
Dude: you are correct. I've just recently started tuning in (again) and it's clearly the anti-Bush thing that caused Clear Channel to flush Howard. Even if he recovers and cobbles together a network of independent stations, he won't be able to do that much before November and Bush may get re-elected by then.
LIBERALS NEED TO SUPPORT HOWARD NOW.
BUT HOWARD ALSO NEEDS TO GIVE NEWS MEDIA INTERVIEWS WHERE HE BLASTS CLEAR CHANNEL AND TIES THEM TO BUSH (VIA THE SIZABLE DONATIONS). This needs to get in the mainstream press and Howard's refusal to do news media interviews is self-defeating at this point.
If anyone can communicate with Howard and his show tell him to call a news press conference to blast Bush and make the $$ connection with Clear Channel.
Posted by Tom @ 03/06/2004 03:01 PM NY
I love Howard, but even though his cries to vote Bush out of office may work, it unfortunately will accomplish very little. Let's not forget that little secret society by which Bush and Kerry were both "tapped". Bush uses religion to secretly advance his elitist agenda. Kerry will use some other ideal to veil his elitist agenda. Either way, the F.C.C. will still be out of control. It starts with getting rid of Howard. Then the precedent is set. They'll do it to anyone they damn well please. This unfortunately is a tell-tale sign of big government running rampant. If you think anyone on capitol hill gives a shit about you and your right to free speech, you're crazy. Conservatives and liberals alike want to censor anything that offends them with total disregard for the constitution.
Posted by nathan israel @ 03/06/2004 03:31 PM NY
