Has anyone listened to Air America for extended periods of time and

[oustemnow]

begun to understand the dittohead mindset?

Just started to listen to Air America again, because a) I just realized Atlanta has an affilitae and b) I have my days as well as my nights free now. So I've been listening to AA a LOT.

Now, don't get me wrong; I agree with what they say, and it's a particlular joy to listen to at this time, as the GOP is imploding. But listening to them for several hours every day, I definitely find myself pretty single-minded, and moreover, angry. And I can suddenly understand how the ditto-heads work themselves up to a froth-mouthed lather, as wrong as they are.

Has anyone else experienced this? Should I bask in it, or maybe learn to turn it off and throw on a CD once in a while?

[Nimrod2005]

1. I disagree

I find the talent there has different opinions on things.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Eh not really

I love AAR and as someone else mentioned there are different type of different personalities. My local progressive station plays two local people and Stephanie Miller, Al Franken, Rhandi Rhodes, Majority Report and Mike Malloy so each affiliate has different people too.

[Flubadubya]

3. All that really matters is...

who has truth on their side? Anyone can get worked up into a lather over anything. What counts is whether it has any basis in truth or not.

Work yourself into a frenzy over AAR... just hold onto the truth!

[kevinmc]

9. "Ditto".........

AAR is a breath of fresh for for me.

[oustemnow]

13. oh, I agree

AAR is definitely on the side of the truth. Equally true is your point, "People can get worked up into a lather about anything." And that's not necessarily a bad thing. But I feel that I have a better understanding of the dittohead mentality listening to AAR; if someone is inundated daily with one perspective on a daily basis--and I do recognize that AAR will let freeper callers go on and hang themselves--one definitely develops a pretty solidified mindset.

Not that I'm saying that AAR needs a token wingnut voice; just an observation on basic human nature.

[MuseRider]

4. Not at all.

There are very diverse opinons there or sometimes the same opinions with different manners of dealing with the topic. No, not at all.

[Wilms]

5. I'm not a big listener.

That could change. But I get a bit uncomfortable with it, too, when I've haved spent more than an hour tuned in. Liek chalk on a chaulk-board.

It may not be for everyone.

[rox63]

6. I vary my radio station

When AAR starts to piss me off, I switch to NPR. When NPR starts to piss me off, I switch to a music station. And when I start jonesing for politics again, I go back to AAR. Wash, rinse, repeat.

[obxhead]

7. While AA has some good points..

I tend to think that they have a LOT of whine in their programs. As insane as it sounds, Springer is one of their best shows.

[Duer 157099]

10. Yes, it does sound insane, I'm sorry to say

Just this morning I was listening to Springer talk about something inane (strippers clubs) and happened to turn on MSNBC to see the news about Meiers. I nearly flipped out.

Of course, it's possible that he's not on live on the west coast and so it wasn't news when he taped the show... but I still find too much of his stuff inane.

I listen to AAR when I can't get to DU, and I'm usually confident that the important stuff will be covered (unless it's Springer, of course).

[CTyankee]

8. It doesn't bother me. I'm outraged a lot anyway.

I love it! I get Stephanie Miller from 9-12, Al Franken from 12-3, Ed Schultz from 3-5 and Randi Rhodes from 5-9. Not everything is on AAR.

I simply can't listen to NPR as I used to. It's impossible!

My station in New Haven, 1300 am, gives me news and fun, liberal stuff (my favorite is Stephanie Miller, who is a hoot!). So I get a lot of laughs as well as outrage.

HOpe you get this too!

[mucifer]

12. I'm in Chicago, I vary the radio AAR, WVON (black talk radio), local NPR

we got some good local programs the national stuff I dont like as much, Spanish talk radio helps my Spanish, the cubs broadcast and occaisionally music (can you tell I'm in my car a lot as a home health nurse?)

[napi21]

11. Yes, I understand you, but you also have to realize something else.

You said you just started to listen to AAR a lot more. We are going through something now, with all the investigation stuff, that is very different than the normal (Thank God!). Every news chanel is talking about the same stuff! It's always assumed that the one in power is the bad one!

The big difference in normal times (whatever that is) between Limpballs and AAR is that the hosts on AAR discuss a lot of different subjects. Limpballs spends his entire 3 hrs, every day, slamming, demeaning, and ravaging the Dem party and everyone associated with it. There's absolute HATERED spewed every day!

To a degree, you're right though. A constant diet of only one side could swing your opinions, unless of course you listen for a short time and recognize that none of what you hear really makes any sense!

[Democrats_win]

14. Too much may be bad, but AAR is dedicated to the truth while Dittoheads

are dedicated to destroying Liberals and the truth is often their main victim. There is a book about Limbaugh's false logic. IMHO, his daily use of false logic has handicapped many of his listeners to the point that they really can't think straight anymore.

There are groups dedicated to exposing the lies of Limbaugh too.

[oustemnow]

15. well, I never listened to Limpballs regularly

the one time was in the mid-90s, when I was working a temp job (in San Franciso, no less!) and my supervisor made a point of listening to him religiously every day. Even with the first exposure it as clear that he was full of shit. So I will take your word for the relative degree of hatred.

But it seems to me that you get the general point of what I'm saying. I'm not even saying it's a bad thing, when you're on the right side of things. (And, believe me, I was in agreement wth AAR long before I ever heard it, or Limpballs); just saying that it's an interesting experience of empathy, via media experience. (Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, did that last sentence sound pretentious!)

[greenlasalleman]

16. Air America some good hosts, some not so good

:hi: 1st Post, longtime reader.
I love DU.
Particularly the "Top 10 Conservative Idiots.

I love Ed Schultz at lunch, Mike Malloy late at night,
Al Franken and Randi Rhodes are tiring after a while.
Al is all over the place( particularly without his lady
sidekick, Catherine Lanford, whose now gone-ugh). And Randi
grabs one subject and beats it into your skull for 3 HOURS!

Just my rant.

Love you liberal guys and gals.

Throw out the whole damn bunch of these Repug bastards!
Happy Fitzmas and to all a great tomorrow.

GreenlaSalleman

[oustemnow]

17. well, it's not my official duty to do so, but

but welcome to DU, greenlasalleman! I would agree with your general assessment.

Interesting name; what is its derivation?

[Mythsaje]

18. Try Thom Hartmann...

seriously. He's my favorite host. More of a populist than Shultz, but not nearly as much of a firebrand as Rhodes or Malloy.

Yeah, I miss Catherine too. Al's just not the same.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi greenlasalleman!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[postulater]

19. My car radio hasn't worked in about 16 years

and I kinda like the quiet time driving to work.

[LaPera]

20. No man, your right it does build hate...Shit, I know I listen to more

than I need to...Hartmann in the morning, try not to miss Randi.. and catch my man,Malloy, less than I used to...because enough is enough...and I'm fucking pissed all the time...I hate these neocon fascist motherfuckers...get my point...so I have to consciously back off a bit...However, I've always been political and extremely liberal, (being from San Francisco)...and money always wins out, so I've been pissed at how gullible and stupid the democrats and more the moderates, who sometimes vote for a fucking republican...do you know how I want to just knock some sense into them all these years...Right now I'm listening to some hot blues on Sirius and a little rock from "The Vault" but still, here I am on fucking DU---I just can't stay away from the politics, one way or the other....

:smoke:

[janx]

21. You should definitely read a good novel or listen to music

once in awhile.

[PowerToThePeople]

22. I listen from time I get home 'till I leave in the morning.

I leave it on while I sleep. If anything, sometimes I withdraw a little. There are times when they may go overboard imo. But, there are times I go overboard as well. Its tough to keep your cool when barraged with crap day in and day out.

edit-
also, I think that when there is not any new, "fresh" news, they may rant a little more and draw stuff out more. There is a lot of air-time to fill up. BUt when things are happening there is more to talk about. So, when there is less news, the % of rant time goes up compared to pure discussion.

This is where Amy Goodman has the advantage, she only need to fill 1 hour a day, not 24.

[Cleita]

23. I listen to it a lot and it doesn't make me angry like

RW radio does. The difference is that AAR tries to be as truthful as it can in what it presents and RW radio just spews a lot of lies and hyberbole. I mean I don't listen to everything Al and Randi and Mike et al say as gospel truth because I read a lot of different sources everyday to verify their views. Mostly, they are reporting what is really happening and RW radio like Rush are making up stuff out of whole cloth to validate their racist, sexit and homophobic views.

[KerryOn]

24. I agree....

About the only program I listen to regularly on AAR is the Ed Schultz show. I got tickets to his live show in Columbus, Ohio tomorrow. I'm hoping the timing is right for the expected indictments tomorrow during the show.

But yes, I agree one can get to much of ARR. Sometimes I feel like I'm listening to Rush or something. Not that I disagree with what they are saying, all the talk and arguing just gets on your nerves after a while.

[justiceischeap]

26. I think listening to one side of things is a bad thing

I think in order to stay balanced, you have to take in everything and then disseminate the truth and your opinion from that. Listening to a skewed viewpoint exclusively, whether you agree or disagree, does not make ones mind grow.

[mwb970]

27. I see what you mean, but it's really different from RW radio.

Earlier this week I tuned in Rush's show just to hear what he was saying about all the recent news. My God! I have been so spoiled by AAR, where the political commentary comes with large amounts of wit, intelligence, insight, wisdom, and humor. Wow. There was none of that in the 10 minutes I could stand to listen to Rush. It was nonstop sputtering, spluttering outrage, vitriol, and anger. Nonstop! It was extremely unpleasant and unsettling to listen to. This goes a long way toward explaining the mental state of the RW loonies who apparently lap this stuff up (while Rush gets rich off it).

Vive la différence!

[Number9Dream]

28. Definitely, music should be mixed in

I'm certain that I could stand to listen to liberal talk radio a lot longer than the Repuke shows (never). However, after awhile it still turns into an "ear-job". I don't know about you, oustemnow, but I get enough ear-jobs during an average day.
Nothing cleans out the mind and relaxes like good music. When I need to relieve the stress, I put on some Zappa, Pink Floyd, Beatles, or maybe the soothing sound of Renaissance... whatever mood one is in.