Liberal Talk Watch - Ann

Liberal Talk Watch - Ann Coulter touches on the same topic I did a few days ago - the putative "liberal talk radio network" that a group of big-dollar lefties are supposedly going to try to launch.

Here's the big point - one I sorta buried in Tuesday's screed:

Liberal persuasion consists of the highbrow sneer from self-satisfied snobs ladled out for people with a 40 IQ. This is not an ideology that can withstand several hours a day of caller scrutiny where their goofball notions can be shot down by any truck driver with a cell phone

If I were a liberal thinking about trying to float a talk radio network, the last thing I'd do would be to trot out another batch of liberal "big names" like Cuomo or Al Franken. "Big names" have one huge problem - they know they're "big names". Even if they can affect a "just plain folks" attitude long enough to avoid turning listeners off in droves (and that's difficult), the very fact that they're a "big name" exerts a chilling effect on reaction. People who have no compunctions about calling to rag on Bob Davis, Schlemiel Without Portfolio, will be just a tad intimidated at the notion of calling an ex-Big Wheel.

Which, as a conservative, sounds just fine to me. Bring on the Big Names! Put Barbra Streisand on afternoon drive!

As to Al Franken; bitter and snide don't sell on the radio. Well - they can, but it's rare. And nobody in the public eye comes across as more bitter and snide than your average comedian. Having never met Franken, I don't know if he fits the pattern, but I wouldn't bet against it. And if so - well, it doesn't bode well for an "Al Franken Show"s chances.

So bring 'em on!

Posted by Mitch at February 20, 2003 09:39 AM