Saturday, September 12, 2009

Why Listen To Talk Radio

Why are you listening to conservative talk radio, commenters ask?

Fair enough question.

Whether we like it or not, conservative talk radio in the Southeastern Wisconsin market is a force that frames, or inflames, some issues.

Along with the national programs - - Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, et al - - we have more local rightwing political talkers than do many other markets.

So listening here and there is a way to keep up with one strain of political influence in the greater Milwaukee area.

And posting some tidbits and low-lights, as I do, is a way to push some accountability their way, if only by telling non-listeners about the garbage that is regularly out there on the public airwaves.

All in all, I don't think it's a bad thing to listen.

I'm aware that most of the talkers lecture Milwaukee constantly, even though (Belling excepted) they live in the suburbs.

Those without kids (Wagner, Belling) are famous for tsk-tsking moms and dads about parenting, and the talkers self-proclaimed victimization at the hands of Democrats or Obama or the left is laughable, given the position of power and privilege from which the preach.

Talk about your unintended self-parody!

So I listen, aware of their contradictions and often fake bellicosity, and I figure the only thing lost to more creative or spiritual pursuits is a few minutes everyday.

3 comments:

  1. belling likes to say that he lives downtown,when lower east side would be more appropo(i won't be any more specific in the interests of privacy.)i guess he wouldn't want his target audience to know that he's an east sider.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. From Jim Bouman:

    It's a dirty job. Listening to it on radio at least shields you from the dampness of spittle-flecked ranting, the hot air, the stale beer stench of the backwards-baseball-cap yappers calling in from various bar stools around town.

    The last time I had the heart to listen to Sykes was in November, 2002. And, I haven't seen (nor heard) Belling since before he booted the incomparably dense and bigoted J.J. Blonien from Sunday morning TV.

    It's a dirty job. And every week brings another can-you-top-this moment.

    Somebody's got to do it.

    Thanks, James.

    ReplyDelete