Saturday Round Up: Roots Project and Radio
But first we have to talk about that shoplifting Republican.
Not sure what to make of this small tidbit. But while
I was confirming some new entries in our Katrina timeline tonight, I noticed
something I hadn't heard before. According to Scott McClellan's August 31st
gaggle, in the early days of Katrina, the White House Katrina task force was
being run by Claude Allen.Allen's title at the White House is Assistant to the
President for Domestic Policy. But he's basically the social policy czar,
big into abstinence only education, stem-cell restrictions, stuff like that.This may simply have been a matter of convening meetings
— I have no idea. But still it seemed an odd choice.
This is so ming boggling as to defy the senses. A wacko shoplifter
put in charge of the Katrina task force? No wonder we had the clusterwank coming
out of Washington. It's bad enough when Bush is given a briefing, but because
he didn't get a levee breach in writing he basically said break a leg,
Louisiana. What a crew. Josh
has more today, because now Bush's shoplifter is trying to give the it must be a misunderstanding
defense.
Okay, now down to business.
The most important item in the round up today is the Roots
Project. As you know, we're trying to put as much heat under Senator Specter
as possible. Jane and ReddHedd are back, with Jane
posting the details of what's next, but here's a break out for you, especially
if you live or know anyone hailing from Pennsylvania.
The photographs on Rowhouse,
made me want to re-post this rant.PSOTD asks questions.
Smintheus
challenges Specter to stand up. (Again, we still do the work, write and call,
but this
is what my gut is telling me.)
 |
| Talk back to Senator Specter. Give his office a call. |
I don't trust Arlen Specter right now, which is why you really do need to reach
out to anyone you know in Pennsylvania to let the good senator know we're watching.
In addition, anyone in Pennsylvania should start listening to the early morning
drive-time shows. One station in particular to look into is WRCT-FM
88.3 in Pittsburgh, which is Carnegie Mellon University's station.
I've done a lot of college radio over the years and they usually have progressive
voices, which I've learned is the case with WRCT. Start listening, get to know
the hosts, then reach out and call someone.
I'd also suggest everyone try to hit Philly host Smerconish.
Here's your lead in: the port deal, which Smerconish led on radio, even getting
him a spot on Chris Matthews. I know, you may have to hold your nose, but remember
the goal, never lose sight of the goal, which is to pivot quickly and bring
up Specter, NSA, etc. It may not be easy to get on, but give it a try. Be polite,
know the host's pet subject of the moment and have your talking points written down.
One thing to keep in mind about talk radio. It's about provoking a reaction
in the audience, getting their juices flowing, inspiring emotion. Talk radio
isn't based on facts. Listen for 10 minutes and you'll see what I mean. Rush
always begins, after he puts down the mirror, with a tease on something big
that some Democrat has done. As for Ken doll Sean, after he gets done saying
he's giving the “most comprehensive” blah-blah-blah show on radio,
he, too, begins to juice his audience by warning them of something outlandish
being done in the “liberal” ranks. It's the get ready to rumble approach to radio, which is the Republican Party's game plan across this country, including Christian broadcasting, all of which reaches out to Armed Forces Radio.
Out of the gate, the biggest hosts get their audiences pumped and ready to roll.
That's the reason talk radio has been so successful — and I'm including Christian
broadcasting in this. Because they get their audiences pumped up, pissed off
and ready to put that emotion into action. From an earlier post on radio's
importance.
Local radio works the roots.
Local radio is an audio hand shake.
Local radio is also the grass roots whispering campaign
of the Republican Party.Local radio is where real change occurs, because the
host is a member of the community. Nothing offers an opportunity for people
to get to know the political parties on a more personal basis, which is what
wins hearts and minds.That's why radio is working so well for Republicans,
because it seduces the listener into believing he or she actually knows the
host. When you know someone your trust level rises, as does the respect for
the opinions he or she is delivering. The extension of this local radio whispering
campaign is that if you know someone, you're more likely to work for him/her
or the person for whom they say to vote. The listener is also more likely
to believe the host when he or she delivers the “truth” about something
like Bush's illegal wiretapping.
We've got some experts on the NSA issue that could really knock 'em dead in
Pennsylvania, which of course are Jane or Glenn, as well as others involved
in the project. If we could reach into Pennsylvania through our experts, who
also have personality, a great blog and charisma, which is so important, it
would be a huge baby step forward for the coming election cycles.
I've saved the most important reason for radio for last.
As you know, I'm highly skeptical of Specter, don't trust him, believe he's in the bag. But if one of
our people got on radio that just might wake up at least one rubber stamp Republican, because talk radio is in your face, Mr. (or Ms./Mrs.) Politician.
Radio is public, baby. It identifies the target by name, subject and substance.
It's reach is awesome. And it's loud. Senator Specter couldn't ignore it. That's
the beauty of talk radio. It's why it is effective. It's why politicians pay
attention to it. Outreach is access to the voters, which polls have shown is
the talk radio audience. In addition to talk radio audiences voting, they also are very likely to pick up the phone and give their representatives an ear full.
My personal visualization is for Jane or Glenn to get on on Smerconish's
show. That just might do it. Wake up the inimitable, rubber stamp Republican, Arlen
Specter. Their netroot notoriety may preclude an invitation, but that would
be a rarity, even a first.
It's yet to be tested if right-wing radio will be afraid of the blogosphere, because the bloggers I know match the right-wing hosts with passion and punch, something Rush (he doesn't have guests, except Deadeye), Sean and Smerconish don't get on a daily basis. That said, over the years and years I've done innumerable Republicans vs.
Democrat “smackdowns” on air, I've learned one thing. Talk radio loves a fight. I say we give
'em one.
Comments are closed.