Topic: This Blog, Part I

I believe that right wing talk radio has had a critical role in our politics, at least since the fairness doctrine was repealed in 1987 and Rush Limbaugh exploded though the artificial void created by the doctrine. For reasons that I don't fully understand, but will explore as part of this blog, commercial talk radio was not as kind to liberal ideas and hosts.

The result was the domination of the most accessible part of our nations airwaves by radio hosts that were aggressively conservative in a combative manner that the liberals or democrats had no effective response to until recently. There have been those who were aware of the power of talk radio and did bring attention to its influence such as Bill Moyers, but their message was drowned out by the ubiquitous and 24 hour nature of talk radio.

The good news is that this is changing. The arguments put forward by the ideologues on talk radio have great, if not well distributed, counterparts on the left. Thom Hartmann is the best example. He gets it, and for three hours a day is doing his part to battle what must sometimes seem like a quixotic struggle against the established conservative elements of talk radio, including everything from the hosts, to the advertisers, managers, and the increasingly consolidated ownership.

Also there are people on cable such as Steven Colbert and Keith Olbermann who get it and take on conservative cable news and radio in ways that are decidedly more fun that this blog could ever be. (Although I will try . . . sometimes) These commentators and entertainers are critical because they are helping to make liberals "hip" again - something the right has tried to deny us by lambasting the liberals penchant for protesting and generally caring for things for reasons other than purely self-interest.

Finally there are the internets. The most democratic and arguably effective means of communication . . . ever. So far the politics of the internet has been dominated by liberal interests - which I find hopeful and deeply satisfying. ("fake" evidence here).

To be continued . . .