Archive for the ‘Press Box’ Category
The Fight for the Public Plan Option: Still Alive
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has authored a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) calling for him to pass a health care bill including a public plan option through reconciliation. Has your Senator signed the letter? 37 are on the list so far.
Posted in Press Box | 11 Comments »
Bill’s New Book
Monday, February 15th, 2010
“Toxic Talk: How The Radical Right Has Poisoned America’s Airwaves,” Bill’s latest book, comes out May 25th! He got the first uncorrected proof this week. Here comes the red pen!
Posted in Press Box | 16 Comments »
Win with ProFlowers for Valentines Day!
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
The Best….and Worst….of Love.
- Listen in the third hour of the show to win a $50 gift card to ProFlowers!
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Meet The Candidates Week: Jane Dyer
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Jane Dyer is running in South Carolina’s Third Congressional District. She tackles tough challenges: whether commanding as the first female of Air Force ROTC at Clemson University, serving as a USAF jet pilot, or flying the US and Europe as an Airbus 300 Captain for FedEx. Or running for Congress as a Democrat in the reddest of red states.
Jane does not set limits for herself or for the citizens of her district. As a mother and grandmother, she recognizes the complexities and trials of working families. Despite these tough times, she envisions and would work for an energized and prosperous district. Her focus: Jobs. Education. National Security. Finding solutions for difficult problems is right up her alley.
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Meet The Candidates Week: Maureen Hackett
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Maureen Hackett is running for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. She…
- Prefers the House health care bill to the Senate’s. Supports public option, but opposes Stupak Amendment.
- Regardless of what happens this year, Dr. Hackett remains fully committed to achieving universal access to health care.
- Opposed the Iraq War from the beginning and remains very skeptical about sending more troops into Afghanistan.
- On education:
- Supports new investment in early childhood enrichment; and
- Ensuring every deserving student has the chance to attend college—through grants, low-interest loans and community service programs that allow graduates to pay for their education by serving the public
- Supports clean, American-made energy to create jobs, renew our economy and defend our environment.
- New energy—wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biofuels
- Increased efficiency—in our homes, businesses, appliances and automobiles
- Conservation—cheapest energy is that which we don’t use
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Meet The Candidates Week: Krystal Ball
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Krystal Ball is running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.
Running for Congress wasn’t something Krystal had planned to do, but motherhood changed her priorities. She could find her daughter the safest car seat, but had no control over the issues that will have the biggest impact on Ella’s future — a collapsing economy, the out of control national debt, inadequate public education. Krystal knew she had to get involved. Her campaign is about the belief that the people who want a vibrant, caring America can revitalize this country. With your help, Krystal will take on that challenge.
Krystal Ball’s legislative priorities:
1. Attract new businesses with job training, improved rural broadband,and better transportation.
2. Help existing small businesses grow with better access to credit and responsible tax cuts.
3. Improve our schools by giving our teachers the salaries and support they deserve; and by investing in charter schools that give parents choices.
4. Ensure that the Chesapeake Bay is protected from the pollution that threatens this vital economic resource.
Posted in Press Box | 1 Comment »
Meet The Candidates Week: Tommy Sowers
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Tommy Sowers is running against Republican incumbent Jo Ann Emerson in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District.
He grew up in Southeast Missouri, where his family has lived for generations. And it is one of the poorest parts of the country (10th poorest district in America), and he is running on a platform of bringing economic opportunity back to his district and fighting for its “small interests” (the small businesses, farms and communities of Southeastern Missouri). Tommy is a home-grown decorated former special forces officer running against a former insurance lobbyist that lives in DC.
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AIR AMERICA DIES; PROGRESSIVE TALK RADIO LIVES ON
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
By Bill Press for The Huffington Post
After years of keeping it alive on life-support, investors have finally pulled the plug on Air America. What difference will that make on progressive talk radio nationwide? Zero.
The truth is that Air America, which launched on March 31, 2004, died at least twice before. First, when it declared for bankruptcy in 2006. The second time, when Al Franken left the network to run for U.S. Senate. And it’s moribund ever since.
In the future, business majors will study Air America as the textbook case of a great idea, but lousy execution. The plan was to create a progressive talk radio network to compete with the army of right-wing talk show hosts. Given that 50 percent of the country did not vote for George W. Bush and are therefore not served by talk radio, that idea was, and remains, a solid business proposition. But there were two problems.
The first was that Air America was not properly funded from the beginning. Even before its launch, it was taken over by a con artist who was later convicted on un-related charges of business fraud. Managers spent money lavishly on talent and studios, while generating little advertising income. At one point, staff went without pay checks while Al Franken hustled money from new investors. New owners took over, but the operation continued to bleed cash until the latest owner finally said: Enough!
The other problem was that, in the beginning, Air America filled its ranks with people who were long on political ideology, but short on business or talk radio experience. Except for Randi Rhodes, few of their talk show hosts had ever been behind the microphone. Except for Jon Sinton, few of their executives had ever worked in talk radio. In many ways, it was amateur hour from the beginning.
So the surprise is not that Air America died. The surprise is what took it so long. For the last few years, Air America has existed in name only. Which is why, in the thriving and expanding world of progressive talk radio, the absence of Air America will hardly be noticed.
Most of today’s nationally-syndicated, progressive talk show hosts – Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, and yours truly – have never been, or are no longer, Air America hosts. Our programs will carry on, without interruption or change. And, in every market where we are heard on the air, we will continue to match or beat our conservative competition in both ratings and revenue.
So, no matter what conservative talk show hosts may claim, fear not. The demise of Air America does not mean there is anything wrong with progressive talk radio today.
Air America, the company, may be dead. But progressive radio, the new force in talk radio, lives on – louder and stronger than ever.
Posted in Press Box | 34 Comments »
Bill starts his internship with Bernie Sanders
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) recently hired Bill as an intern. Yesterday, he went in to complete his paperwork, get his ID badge, and learn how to use the copier. That was a lot for one day – so the coffee machine tutorial comes next time.
Posted in Press Box | 1 Comment »
Pass the Champagne, Please!
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Bill meets up with Politico’s Patrick Gavin to see who can pop a champagne cork the farthest. Let’s just say…Bill’s a great shot!
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