sidebar to Malloy thread....

[RBHam]

I tried to phone in tonight, had a great rant to get off my chest…

But the Air America call screener told me that since I phoned in Friday I’m not allowed to be on the show 2 nights in a row.

She “sounded” very dismissive while informing me of this, almost like I was some kind of nuisance to her…

Perhaps she took the time to find out about my disdain for the Democratic Party “establishment”?

I’m not pissed off. I understand if there’s a “no phone calls on two nights in a row” policy…

But it sure seems like “they” are trying to keep us left wing libertarian truth seeker types away from the show - perhaps in an apparent attempt to make Malloy appear more “moderate” left-leaning individuals…

Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t necessarily mean I’m wrong…

But then again....

I'm probably just a wild-eyed, wacko, looney tunes, full brick short of a load and a half conspiracy theory spouting lunatic.......

[Digit]

1. I have heard of policies like this....

Find out when you CAN call again and do so.
I don't agree with you, but you have the right to voice your opinion.

[RBHam]

2. Ever heard of a policy like this on right wing shows...

I swear to God I've heard the same guys day after day on right wing talk shows...

[NightTrain]

3. I doubt that anyone at AAR is trying to make Malloy look more moderate.

AAR knew exactly what they were getting when they hired Malloy. And I'll bet they want him to stay just like he is!

[Robbien]

4. CSpan has such a policy, but they are not dismissive about it

Perhaps AirAmerica gets so many rabid righters calling and ranting at them that the phone screener loses all patience.

But they shouldn't, as a new station they need the listeners.

[RBHam]

5. But she knows who I am....

A rabid, LEFT winger....

oh....

I get it...

[RBHam]

6. Lincoln informed there IS such a policy...

Makes sense.

Mike has a lot of callers dying to get in and it's only fair...

I hereby apologize to the poor, harried call screener who has to put up with wackos like me on the left and whackos on the right....

Time for me to just listen and ENJOY!!!!

[flaminbats]

7. you're not alone!!

Mike has a great program...but some very shitty screeners!

only Cathy has ever been nice to the callers..just keep trying, and you'll get through eventually. Speed dialing always worked for me.

Even us bureau chiefs have a tough time getting in!!!:grouphug:

[bpilgrim]

8. you can't get much further left the MM

anywhere on the airways so i doubt thats the reason... i'm sure there are just PLENTY of fans ;->

loved your call ln :toast:

peace

[RBHam]

9. The screeners are in New York...

They re-route the calls to Atlanata...

They grill you like your a detainee at Gitmo...

It's very annoying and off-putting...

[gumby]

10. New York City?

Remember that commercial? I think it was about some salsa type stuff.

RB, always enjoy your writing and calls. I would guess (hopefully) your experience tonight is not "personal."

[bpilgrim]

11. D'oh!

i didn't know that... probably a 'franken rule' :evilgrin:

peace

[Zen Democrat]

12. Malloy has major disdain for the Democratic Party establishment ..

After all, he said the other night that if the Democrats in Congress don't fight the Gonzalez nomination to Attorney General he is leaving the party, irrevocably and forever.

[Robbien]

14. It is hard not to have distain for the DLC/DNC establishment

As Michael Kazin wrote in Mother Jones, Democrats need to start acting more like the people’s party they once were -- and less like a traveling road show that packs up after each election.

[flaminbats]

15. Mike will also have to move out of Georgia..

Georgia is a two-party state, and dominated by one party in many counties. Voting for Greens, Independents, or even libertarians are rarely ballot options for southerners. :smoke:

[Paulie]

13. Just for the record

I was treated poorly by the screener Mike had while on WLS. So much so I sent Mike a note, which he read on the air the next day and appologized. Totally blew my mind... He's that kind of person. :beer:

So don't let the screeners get you down. It's fair to have the rule that you can't call all the time. For me, I ended up doing all my communication via FAX; I'm aweful on the air. :hi:

-Paulie, formally from N. Whipple St, Chicago.

[RBHam]

16. Thanks

If I wasn't on goofballs I'd join you in that beer.

:toast:

[Tsiyu]

17. I'm going to stick my neck out

because I once screened for Mikey, and say that there IS generally a policy of limiting callers to a specified amount of calls in a certain period. For every caller there are (hopefully) thousands of listeners. THEY know if someone is a repeat caller, and will start to wonder if a caller is a plant or if the host can't get any callers except the same few. It's a psychological thing.

Hosts will break that rule for exceptional callers, but just be aware that the time in the studio is precious and your time on air will be limited. It's much harder to host a show than it seems to the listener.

Now, Mike's screeners may only seem awful. Screeners will often be a bit testy and provocative because they want to be sure you are a "live" caller and not some long-winded douchebag or teenaged kid making a prank call.

[RBHam]

18. thanks....

i'm just a little bit paranoid...

i come by it honestly though...

[Tsiyu]

19. It's all good

You don't know til you know, right? :shrug:

[RBHam]

20. Too bad Mike can't have a screener "in house"...

Probably funding issues...

[Tsiyu]

21. Or AAR Issues

They may want "homogenous" sounding callers or want to take extra control over the program's flavor. Maybe they don't trust any Georgians to screen properly!

[RBHam]

22. Too close to the dreaded "McKinnyism" epedemic...

Questioning the military industrial complex and the Democratic Party's cozy relationship with them...