On air now: Howard Stern, "Time to go."

[joeunderdog]

"Can't go on...calling my agent tomorrow. I expected people/bands to come out behind me, but Clear Channel has too strong a grip. I'm worn out. I might as well go over to a new medium. The revolution is over. Corporations are running America. The religous Right has won." (this is a pretty close paraphrase.)

Still wants to rail against Bush, however, and he knows the Shrub is aware of all this and he's (Howard's) "afraid." He didn't elaborate on this.

[slinkerwink]

1. man....that's so sad

:-(

[whirlygigspin]

2. use "the force" Howard

live long and prosper, say I

[codegreen]

3. maybe he can go to Air America?

[patricia92243]

4. We already knew all this, but somehow it is more scarry to hear it actuall

happening.

This is only a taste of what we will be up against in the election.

[0007]

5. Howard baby will make a come-back when least expected

He has one big audience and a larger following.

[dbt]

6. There is the slightest possibility that Stern is grandstanding here:

He is, first and foremost, a showman. This could be something like "this offer definitely will not be extended," when we all know it will. (It always is, you know.)

This could be the old advertising trick of getting consumers to "buy" before it's "too late." At least that's what I'm hoping. Plus (unless the "new medium" is TV) Stern loses a major portion of his platform when he goes to a "new medium."

Don't get me wrong: I don't generally care for Stern's program, but I respect him as a 100 per cent PRO. And if he's against bu$h, I support Stern 100 per cent!!

:freak:
dbt

[Crachet2004]

16. I think there is much in what you say...

He is impatient...a high-energy type of person. Everyday, he ups the ante...putting pressure on other media personalities to 'come out of the closet' and help him hate Bush.

He is very smart. Manouevering for a win/win situation. He will either get more help, or go out as a martyr...either way, he (and we) win.

He cannot continue with the FCC actively building a case against him for every indiscrete or indecent occurence on his show. The eventual fines would be astronomical!

He seems to be specifically trying to activate musicians, against Bush. And he is right...they could energize a mass movement, which is what we really need, among the young. They can reach people Howard cannot. And some of them should be very worried (given the sometimes explicit nature of their acts, and the verbal content of their lyrics) about any kind of 'decency' drive by the FCC.

It sounds to me like Howard Stern is trying to rally the troops...and musicians should heed his clarion call...as they most probably will be next!

[CTLawGuy]

7. did you hear when he read that

how the FCC is strategizing WHEN to fine Howard Stern. The FCC is nothing but a political arm of the Bush adminstration.

[Lucille]

8. Sirius vs XFM--Howard Stern is part of the satellite/media wars

XFM is part owned by Clear Channel. Viacom is in the midst of negotiating for part of Sirius--my guess is that they're already there. Viacom was looking for a way to get some of the Sirius action because their satellite is defective. Supposedly they dumped part of their ownership of Univision just to be in the position to do that. Both are trying to get the automakers to install their receivers. If Howard goes to Sirius, Sirius will corner that part of the market, since Howard is the morning drive king. Sirius will sell subscriptions like never before.

I don't doubt that he's had a political conversion (what took him so long?) but that's only part of the picture.

[Rich Hunt]

11. no conversion

He didn't have a 'political conversion'. Did you see 'Private Parts'? He never was a conservative, although he was a libertarian for a while.

[DS1]

9. heh, you don't suppose he's being a little overdramatic

and milking it for all it's worth (not that there's anything wrong with that)

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Howard is just an impatient person. He'll end up getting more

support than he deserves. He was reckless in the past and didn't care who he alienated. His right to speak will be defended, but not on his terms and not on his time schedule.

[Cooley Hurd]

12. But this doesn't sound like he's going anywhere (soon...)

From what I understand, the FCC is unlikely to move against Howard until after the election. However, Stern has pledged to give no quarter to Bush's reelection effort, so this could speed up the FCC's effort to silence him...

[sendero]

13. He says...

.... there are two factions within the FCC:

1) Fine him now, get him off the air because he is doing damage to Bush* daily

2) Fine him after the election, don't make him a martyr

Now this is all his rendition of his 'source', but it sounds plausible to me. To think that the FCC is even considering the election is unbelievable. If it could be proven that they are, there should be some consequence. Messing with elections is not in their mandate.

I think Stern might will eventually leave and go to satellite. I just want him to finish off Bush* before he goes, and I think he will.

edited for typos

[Cooley Hurd]

14. That makes sense...

It would be in Michael Powell's best interest to get Stern off the air sooner than later because of the damage he's inflicting on Bush's reelection effort. To wait (until after the election) for fear he'll become a martyr is pointless - the damage is being done to Bush now...

[Tiberius]

15. One thing is for certain...

... I believe Howard when he says the FCC is sweating bullets over this.

1) Silence him now, and he can't rail against Bush for hours a day, but he becomes a martyr, and all his time is free to organize.

2) Leave him on the air, and Bush gets pummelled for hours a day all the way until November.

Tough choice. I wouldn't want to have to make it.

[hackwriter]

17. I have just one question for HOWARD STERN

What did you THINK you were voting for?

[Tiberius]

18. he voted for Gore

but became pro-bush in the post 9/11 hysteria...

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. I have heard that FCC is looking into making fines based on

stuff that was on Stern's show as long as 3 years ago. Is that right? If so, does anyone have any links or data about this?

[Timefortruth]

20. O'Neill said, "I'm old and I'm rich, there is nothing they can do to

hurt me." immediately before he became completely silent. Everyone has something important to them that the powerful can exploit.

They found Howard's Achilles Heel.

[hang a left]

21. I just wonder if his life has been threatened.

"Shrub is aware of all this and he's (Howard's) "afraid."