Radio Excursion through 'Red' America

Between October 17th and October 23rd, I had the unfortunate experience of spending at least almost an entire day--nearly 24 hours-- behind the wheel of a rental car. These road-bound periods were normally during daylight (late morning through the early evening) hours. Since the car only had terrestrial radio (no XM or Sirius satellite receiver) and a CD player, my entertainment options were somewhat limited. For this trip, I purposely bought a portable DVD player that has a DC adapter for plugging into an automobile power port. My plan was to listen to the lectures from a set of educational discs I recently purchased entitled 'The American Mind' during the long stretches between Ohio and Baltimore and from Wilkes-Barre back to Fairborn. Those were to take approximately 18 hours to play through the 36 lessons--almost matching the anticipated drive times exactly. In my driveway, I set up the player in the passenger seat, put the DVD into the device, and pushed the 'play' button. Unfortunately, it took less than five minutes to me to realize that my careful calculations failed to consider one crucial element--road noise! Even at the player's maximum volume level, there was no way I would be able to make out what the professor was saying. Sadly, I reached over, pushed the 'off' button, and resigned myself to relying on the AM & FM offerings along the way to keep my company on the drive.

Zones of 'blue' relief in an otherwise sea of 'red'

The graphic above shows what I had to 'endure' during my trip (traveled on I-70/I-76 straight through to Baltimore, took I-95 to I-83 to I-78 and then I-476 to Wilkes-Barre, drove back to Dayton via I-81 to I-80 to I-76 to I-71 back to I-70). The 'blue' areas represent coverage zones for AM radio stations that broadcast Air America Radio programming. I included the 'purple' zone around Pittsburgh because I 'found' Thom Hartman's show (syndicated via AAR as an alternative programming choice to Al Franken) playing on WPTT (1360AM) when I was driving through on on the afternoon of the 17th (station features talk hosts from all parts of the political spectrum). Except for those occasions when I was lucky enough to be within in proximity to those labeled transmitters, I was at the mercy of programming one might call 'non-progressive' for the majority of my drive time. I shaded the map a reddish hue for a reason...

One let-down I had during one of my 'blue' spells was my first (and hopefully last) exposure to Stephanie Miller. During my outbound drive through the Columbus area, I rolled up on WTPG (1230AM) and expected to hear either Sam Seder or Jerry Springer--AAR's two program offerings during the 9AM-12 noon timeframe. I was somewhat intrigued when I heard a woman taking phone calls and expressing a progressive bent in her opinions. However, this initial interest was quickly dampened when she started a raucous studio discussion with two male co-hosts and took a call from someone who recorded themself producing flatulence-imitating music during their freeway commute. Based out of Los Angeles--3 hours behind listeners in the Eastern time zone, she gives her listeners a 'morning show' routine in the same vein as Bob & Tom or Howard Stern (before he went to Sirius). During the almost 90-minute stretch before the station began to fade, I must've counted at least four plugs for her current or upcoming appearances on cable television (once you look at her photo, you can immediately see why she is invited). Maybe it's just me but perhaps radio is NOT her preferred medium.

Stephanie Miller...a disappointing show...
and a poor choice of wardrobe

Before anyone can call me a sexist pig (as if anyone actually reads my blog), I do admire other female progressive/liberal hosts but I base my loyalty on the content of their words and not just on their outward appearance. Randi Rhodes, a self-made radio personality, puts in the time and researches her subjects (a self-professed 'C-SPAN junkie', she assigns her audience 'homework' to let them judge for themselves the information she discusses on her shows). Katherine Lanpher, Al Franken's former co-host, had a long career in journalism and a short stint on Minnesota Public Radio prior to joining the AAR team in March 2004. Rachel Maddow, originally teamed with rapper Chuck D. and comedy writer Lizz Winnstead for Air America's 'Unfiltered' morning show from March 2004 to March 2005, is probably my favorite radio host. After 'Morning Sedition' (the show that replaced 'Unfiltered') was cancelled at the end of last year, she was given the hosting duties in January 2006 for a 7-9AM show that made my commutes more bearable. She now is on in the evenings (6-8PM) but also is a regular commentator on cable news. Being a Rhodes Scholar allows Dr. Maddow to readily impart credibility and gravitas into her somewhat manic on-air persona. The local AAR affiliate (WSAI-1360AM) doesn't carry the new program but I do stream her broadcast every now and then. In all the time I've listened to these three women, I can't remember ever hearing a fart joke...

Speaking of foul-smelling and forcefully expelled gas, my map above indicates the inordinate amount of time I was vulnerable to the overwhelming presence of conservative AM talk radio programming--honchoed by the king of all right-wing bloviators, 'El Rushbo' himself. On the two days I had the longest drives (17 and 23 October--both weekdays), I was unfortunate enough to be outside of the designated 'relief' areas during most of the 12 noon-3PM timeframe. On his show on the 17th, I was 'fortunate' enough to hear his interview (more like a scripted 'love-in') with the vice president. Until I found that Pittsburgh station, I must've scanned through nearly a dozen stations on the AM band that was simultaneously airing his program in the eastern West Virginia and southwest/central Pennsylvania region. Most of those same stations immediately followed with Sean Hannity's show; however, a few reverted to their regular programming (one was for a big-band 'oldies' station--a telling indicator of Mr. Limbaugh's target demographic). I was also listening on the 23rd when he made his now infamous comments about Michael J. Fox's political ads supporting Senate candidates that favor embryonic stem cell research. If someone was driving by me at that very moment, they would've seen me screaming at the dashboard in response to Rush's tactless and erroneous claims about Fox's condition and motives. Luckily, I was rapidly approaching northeastern Ohio so I was able to tune to Akron's 'Radio Free Ohio' offerings on WARF before I blew a gasket...or worse!

From a January 1995 copy of Time Magazine...
just look how accurate their prediction really was!

I will admit that I do listen to Limbaugh from time to time--mostly for the entertainment value. Last year, I was in Arizona on a business trip and was driving with a co-worker between Sierra Vista and Tucson. With limited scenery (and even more limited radio programming), we decided to put on his show for something to listen to. At first, he played a musical number (supposedly Hillary Clinton singing 'Try to Remember') which I thought was rather amusing; however, that jovial mood was cut off by comments he made about a reported poll tax initiative in Georgia (legislation stated that citizens are to show a photo ID card--that they must purchase themselves--in order to vote). He was also in 'defense mode' for comments he made about Katrina victims earlier in the month (just like he is now with Fox). As soon as he would say something, I immediately shot back (to those within earshot) with proof that his words were untrue. As for my traveling companion--a somewhat 'red' person, that turned out to be a rather long drive that day.

Sometimes, I wasn't given a choice. When I lived overseas, the local AFN affiliate--the only audible station in the vicinity of my house--carried the first hour of his program from 5-6AM. Since I woke up at 5:45, it made for a quick wake-up routine...getting my hand to the 'off' button of my clock radio before I could start to listen to his screed du jour. When he checked into rehab in October 2003, I sent him an email stating that, on a human level, I cared about him and wished him well during his recovery. I was hoping that the experience would temper his outlook on life--apparently, he never read my words. A third divorce, getting fired from his ESPN gig for borderline racist comments, being addicted to prescription pain medication and enduring on-going health problems would weigh down the strongest of men--even someone with an ego the size of Limbaugh's. His most recent 'transgressions' (the Viagra issue and now the Fox comments) portray a person willing to risk everything to either prove his twisted points or to keep himself in the public spotlight.


One pleasant surprise came at the end of my journey. Due to the placement of the three AAR affiliates in Ohio, I enjoyed almost seamless coverage (some fading near Mansfield) during my drive from the northeast to the southwest along I-71. I rarely use that route but progressives who frequently drive between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati can travel along that major artery serene in the knowledge that they no longer have to expose themselves to the 'dark side' of the radio dial if they fail to adequately plan for their highway entertainment needs...like someone I know...