I don't write many diaries, but I though it would be worth letting everyone know what it's like on local talk-radio in places like Birmingham, Alabama. While driving around last night trying to find a gas station with gas, I went through the AM dial on my car radio and settled into listening to 960, WERC, which was playing a segment of the nationally-syndicated Dave Ramsey Show and I listened to him go off against the Wall Street bail-out plan. It was enjoyable to listen to this conservative guty taling about what a bad deal the Bush adminsitration was trying to force on the American public.
While after taking care of an errand this morning I was driving to work and turned on the radio again. It was set on 960 WERC from the night before and so I listen to the morning hosts "Steve and Leah" of "Steve and Leah in the morning." You can tell that Obama's successful campaign is getting to them so they're screaming about Bill Ayers, Obama former-pastor, etc.
Then they go ont to talk about the liberal media bias shown everywhere except Fox News. Steve notes that he likes Bill Maher because he (Steve) thinks Maher is funny and clever and he can set aside the fact the he does not agree with Maher's view. Leah, on the other had becomes incensed. Leah says she hates Maher, goes on a rant, and about 10:30 Central time this morning says that (paraphrasing), "If I were in a room alone with him and had a gun, I don't believe I could help myself." I thought I might then hear Steve attempt to calm her down and tell listeners that advocating violence against someone for they're political statements was wrong, and not the policy of the station. Of course, by the time I parked my car at 10:45 and shut off the radio there was no such statement from him or anyone else.
I don't listen to 960 WERC since a local sports talk show host moved to another station, but that sort of extremist bent is typical of this area. If you look at the station's web site 960WERC you'll see very nice photos of Steve and Leah, one in which they are dressed in long black trenchcoats, ala the Columbine shooters. What a pair!
I'm going to send an e-mail to the station about the comment, but i's the sort of thing they'd applaud rather than punish. Can you imagine if a progressive radio talk show host talked about wanting to shoot Rush Limbaugh?