This is not our first dance with AFN and Limbaugh.... [View all]

[Junkdrawer]

Last edited Wed Mar 14, 2012, 10:55 AM - Edit history (1)

On Edit: See my post #15 for the context prior to the first excerpt and forward.

From 2004:

Rush Limbaugh is the only commentator on the American Forces Radio and Television Services. Our folk in Iraq are hearing that the abuse of prisoners is a frat prank, that no priosners have been killed, and that liberals are traitors.

They get to hear only from that drug-addled chickenhawk because Melvin Russell, Director of AFR&TVS, has chosen to ignore federal laws requiring that any commentary be 'fair and balanced.' Instead, he has claimed that since Limbaugh is number one in the US he should have a complete monopoly abroad.

...

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?38078-Limbaugh-s-tax-funded-monopoly

From 2007:

Bad news continues afflict the lib talk format. First we hear, this week, that two more lib talk stations will likely be flipping formats --KCTC in Sacramento (on Monday) and KPFT in Fresno (in about two months). Now we learn that the Armed Forces Network will be replacing Al Franken’s spot of their line-up with "Fox’s liberal punching bag", Alan Colmes. Yes, the AFN overlooked the top ten syndicated liberal hosts on the radio, and selected someone who is generally dispised by lib talk listeners.

....

Now don’t get us wrong, AFN has come a long way in balancing their schedule to include lib talkers. For several years, the only political commentator to have his own show on the network was Rush Limbaugh. After months of lobbying including speeches on the floor of U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, AFN finally agreed to add the Al Franken Show, to level the playing field, in November, 2005. Subsequently they added Ed Schultz and Sean Hannity. Arguably, you can still say that conservatives have an advantage because the schedule also includes a daily show by Dr. Laura. However, a better question is why is her show in the first place.

No one could argue with AFN’s decision to carry Franken and Schultz. At the time they were considered the top two liberal talk hosts in the country. But one has to question the decision to select Colmes to replace Franken. Not only is his show very unpopular with radio listeners but it is also a stinker.

....

http://talkingradio.blogspot.com/2007/02/afn-selects-colmes-to-replace-franken.html

I'm sure other old-timers can add in more history (perhaps links to that controversy of Limbaugh passing out Club Gitmo T-shirts to active duty troops).

So perhaps now you can see where I'm skeptical that AFN will ever get rid of Limbaugh. And why I think the top brass is protecting him.