This Lionel guy on AAR sucks big time

[Error]

This guys doesn't care about anything; doesn't care what anyone thinks.

So why is he on the air?

is this a strategy to destroy liberal talk radio by drowning it in meaningless crap?

[Liberal In Texas]

1. He makes me actually miss Springer. n/t

[JPZenger]

2. He definitely makes me miss Sam Seder

Sam Seder was cutback from 5 shows a week to one to make room for Lionel. Seder was much more thoughtful, well-informed and informative, and had really grown into the job.

[Error]

3. clear case of Sabotage

Maybe Mark Greene wants Iran too. Is he doing his part by tryig to gum up the works of our machine?

Add to that the sell out dems who caved into Bush for a 17BIL$ bribe...

The game is FIXED!

[Swamp Rat]

22. BINGO!

I met a former atty for AAR a week ago. He said the station has been sabotaged. ;)

Try Nova M Radio instead. :)

http://www.novamradio.com/

[JDPriestly]

4. He is just awful.

I'm so happy that this is being discussed. We need to let Mark Green know that Lionel is a loser. Mark Germain (I think that is his name) who is on at prime time in L.A. is almost as bad -- no substance. We can get the latest drivel on TV and on other radio stations. I listen to AAR for real information and views. I have no time to waste on the Lionel and Mark Germain trivia. Neither does anyone else in the country.

[Error]

6. Is Green doing this for Israel?

Is that the idea? Squelch meaningful discussion with music trivia?

They sure seem to want to continue the PNAC Mein Kampf by nuking Iran.

I also find it dubious that the last financier tried to kill Air america with mismanagement and lies. See the movie. These people are trying to kill it.

[NYCGirl]

29. Racist much? NT

[LibDemAlways]

5. Heard him for a minute or so this morning - long enough for

him to proclaim that "we need to get rid of" those who come here illegally. Said it wasn't a Dem or Repuke issue. That kind of language tells me he'd be better off on a network that carries Rush and Hannity.

[bunkerbuster1]

15. Really? that doesn't sound like him at all

I've heard Lionel insist that it's insane to imagine we could deport undocumented workers.

[LibDemAlways]

16. That was exactly the way he phrased it. A man had

called in suggesting that those who come to the US illegally and want to remain here should be required to serve in the army. Lionel countered by asking him if he really wanted an "army of Mexicans" and then said there is general agreement that we "need to get rid of" illegal immigrants, but he didn't think requiring military service was the way to go.

[bunkerbuster1]

17. I'll have to hear it, but Lionel leans so Libertarian, it just sounds off.

I have to think that he was speaking of a perceived political need to be rid of "illegals"; I've heard him on this topic, at some length, in the past and he sounded very much in favor of acknowledging the contributions of those who are here.

That said, he had no serious suggestions of his own as to how to accomplish this, and seemed more interested in taking down some of the more foolish callers' suggestions... which, I'll acknowledge, is somewhat infuriating.

[bunkerbuster1]

30. ok, I finally got to that spot on Friday's podcast

for the record, the call from "Patrick in Columbia, SC" starts at around the 1:25:15 mark and ends around 1:28, must've been about a third of the way into the third hour of the show; I downloaded the file from AAR's site, here:

http://podcast.rbn.com/airam/airam/download/archive/2007/04/aaln052807.mp3

The caller opens by referring to "Our Hispanic friends from south of the border" -- and goes on to gripe about people "coming to our country illegally. Our government is giving them a blank check to come here, and if you're already here, you can stay. If you're going to be in this country and enjoy the freedoms, why not be liable to fight for them?"

So the caller's sounds like something of a xenophobic bozo; I think that's established from the get go.

Lionel asks, incredulously: "Where would they fight for our freedoms? Tell me anywhere--tell me the last time we 'fought for our freedoms.'"

But then the caller says he has a son fighting in Iraq, and Lionel wishes the caller's son well, then asks, "Do you believe he's fighting for our freedom here?"

Caller: "Absolutely not, but the thing is, that's a mandate, that's why he's in the uniform."

Lionel: "I can understand your feeling of, almost, helplessness."

Is that xenophobic, or just stating facts, or maybe just kissing up a little bit to the caller to coax something out of him? Or some of each? Dunno, really. Anyway, that's when the idea of an "army of mexicans" comes up, and I'll try to transcribe what Lionel says accurately:

"They do enjoy education benefits. I've talked to teachers, who've said that teachers are disinclined, school boards are disinclined, to notify the authorities to, quote, rat them out, those individuals that are there, because their budgets are dependent upon who shows up and who's enrolled. And I understand how tough it must be for people who are looking at this--and I know there's hospital care, medical care, I understand that--but mandating military service? uh, I don't know. Would you want a military, first of all, that would have significant numbers of impressed <think he meant "pressed", i.e. pressed into service>, so to speak, Mexican soldiers? Believe me, I understand your pain, I understand your frustration. But they are here. Here. How do you get rid of *them.* I don't know, this isn't liberal or conservative. It's just, it's a mess."

And then he goes to a break.

This just doesn't strike me as being nasty, or racist. Maybe I'm a pushover, but it doesn't.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Agree. It's stand-up garbage.

Mark Green.... I've always supported you, but you've let us *down*.

That said: no one... NO ONE... could make me miss Jerry Springer.

[shenmue]

8. He hated Clinton...

I suffered through his crappy show on AM in Tampa a number of years ago. It was drivel. Very whiny, cliched, a budget Limbaugh if that's possible. Everything he touches turns to stink.

:grr:

They've got to get rid of him. My dog would make a better host.

[bunkerbuster1]

9. Ok--I don't get the bashing.

I have listened to a few podcasts since he took the air. Maybe it helped that I'd heard him before he moved to AAR so I knew what to expect, but I wasn't a big fan.

He's not intensely political all of the time. I think that's what throws off a lot of the AAR listeners who post here--they expect an AAR personality to advance an agenda, and Lionel's never been about that. So why would AAR expect him to change for the network?

And yeah, he'll be rude to a caller or two, but no more so than you'd expect from most talk-show hosts who have to deal with a variety of weirdos looking to hijack a show every day.

Like I said, I really don't get it. Other than the fact that he's not Sam Seder, who I'd like to have back in that slot, I think he's a decent addition to the lineup.

[quiet.american]

10. Is it so unreasonable to expect an AAR personality to "advance an agenda"?

AAR was created as a rebuttal to Rush Limbaugh et al., and in its halcyon days of Morning Sedition, Jerry Springer (yes, even Springer), Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, The Majority Report, Laura Flanders and Ring of Fire, that's exactly what it did -- advance the agenda of disseminating liberal/progressive talk.

I'll have to listen to Lionel to judge for myself, but since he is replacing one of the best hosts on AAR, he's got to be gold to make me think this was a good decision on the part of AAR.

[Error]

11. Well the topic I heard today was: "Who is better the Beatles or the Stones"?

Not exactly the agenda I was hoping to focus on...

What's next?

"What's you're favorite episode of the Flintstones?"

Or

"Who was better the Addam's Family or the Munsters?"

Never mind the nuclear ships in the Persian gulf. I guess Lionel doesn't like that boring irrelevant stuff..

[quiet.american]

12. Indeed, I can listen to that crap on any other station-why bother turning to AAR for it. nt

[bunkerbuster1]

32. C'mon... he did a little riff in reply to some Stones bumper music.

It was after he'd pummeled wingnuts over support for "abstinence only" programs, and had a heart-to-heart with the father of an Iraq war vet. It's well into the third hour, and there's some inside-baseball stuff about the way people communicate with each other in radio studios, and the whole bit lasted maybe two minutes.

And after this bit of whimsy, he takes a call from a listener who makes points about Bush setting himself up as "dictator over the entire country", vis a vis the Executive Order #51 & 20 regarding Homeland Security and "Catastrophic Emergencies", signed May 9...

This isn't serious enough for us? I can see how some might find Lionel's voice grating, or full of himself (same charges I hear lobbed at Randi), but you make it sound like Stones vs. Beatles was the "topic of the day," and it simply wasn't.

[bunkerbuster1]

14. In AAR's eyes, it's a "good decision" if their ad revenue jumps

but in listener's ears, that's a different story.

I'll probably hear today's podcast later and may come back to comment at some length in a new thread about this "Beatles vs. Stones" thing I'm hearing about.

But I've heard Lionel deal with, for example, Monica Goodling's testimony, on Thursday's show, in a great deal of detail, among many other current political stories. So he does lightweight stuff sometimes? No biggie to me.

[quiet.american]

20. Of course it is, but I imagine that "revenue jump" has to be tied into ratings, i.e. listeners.

If he's turning off AAR's audience, I can't imagine how his ratings will go higher than Sam Seder's and translate into higher ad revenue. On the other hand, if AAR's mission is to disengage from its original audience and "crossover" into attracting those who like that kind of schtick, then it's possible -- if they can capture a large enough amount of listeners away from other shows that have been doing the Beatles vs. Stones thing for years.

[XOKCowboy]

28. I heard a different Thursday show I guess...

Wasn't that the show where he had one caller get closer to her radio and turn it up? That went on for about 10 minutes. That's entertaining. Then when one caller talked about Monica's testimony about Tim Wilson's voter caging didn't he ask what that had to do with Cajuns?

Yea this is a great host for a Progressive Radio show.

[bullimiami]

13. i dont get the bashing either. no he sure isnt sam but i dont have a problem with him.

aar doesnt have to be the answer to limbaugh/coulter/hannity all of the time.

he certainly doesnt buy any part of the bush agenda.

[XOKCowboy]

26. You gave a lot of good reasons not to listen to him

It's AAR. Why not expect him to advance an agenda? FoxNews got where they are by advancing their agenda. It's what we expect of AAR. FoxNews with facts. Is that too much to ask? Sounds like Sam Seder's show.

He's rude to a caller or two? One lady who called had the audacity to have her radio on in the background. What's his tactic? Ask her to turn down her radio? Naaaaahhhh. He decided to ridicule her for that transgression. Told her to get closer to the radio and turn it up. She was trying to make a point but he wasn't interested. She'd called with her radio on. What a bitch!

Just why do you think he's a "decent" addition? How did you come to that conclusion?

[NightWatcher]

18. not gonna trash him, but AAR could do so much better

[debbierlus]

19. They got rid of Sam for him - Sam was INCREDIBLE - Write Air America & let them know

I loved his show. It was always a treat to listen to....I am going to write Air America & let them know what a huge mistake they made. I don't turn on AAR until 12:00 when Thom Hartman comes on & then listen through Randi

[XOKCowboy]

27. Just did...

Your lucky. When I'm traveling I have to listen on XM Radio and they've got Ed Schultz on instead of Thom. At least when I'm home I can get Thom on my local AAR affiliate. Then I have to go to XM because they have Ed on in Randi's time.

The things we do to get good Progressive Radio. Sheesh!

[bluetrain]

21. I heard him for a little while last night by accident. I have no idea what he

was talking about. I couldn't concentrate on anything he was saying. He sounded like Billy Barty to me and I couldn't get over the idea of Billy Barty broadcasting from the afterlife. What a strange voice.

[RamboLiberal]

34. I tuned in this morning cause a local liberal was off

I can't get past his voice either. Not a good voice for broadcasting. Sounds just a bit like Dick Morris to my ears. I can't believe they dumped Sam for him! Aaaargh!

[Snotcicles]

23. I'm a Sam Seder fan. I thought I'd give Lionel a chance.

He is very smart and has a quick whit but the constant sarcasm gets annoying.
I wish they would bring Sam back and move Lionel to a later time slot.

[Liberal In Texas]

24. These words: Obnoxious. New York. Grating. Strident. No relevance.

High-pitched. Childish. Smug. Vain. Irritating.

Gawd, I miss Sam in that time-slot. This guy is so unlistenable, I either go to on (XM) 133 public radio or 150 the bawdy comedy place when he is on.

He reminds me of the grating voice of Curtis Sliwa.

Dear AAR and the Greens: Lose him as fast as possible.

[XOKCowboy]

25. AMEN

Why AAR picked him up is beyond me. I like a little humility in my radio hosts and this guy sees himself as the GOD of talk radio. He's not Progressive, he's not Liberal, he's just a talking head and he's definitely not entertaining.

This is AAR 2.0? A good concept gone down the drain.

[live love laugh]

31. Yup. nt

[KoKo]

33. Some DU'ers Like the Guy but so many Don't. I haven't had time to catch him

but, I'm already "TURNED OFF!" I liked "SAM." Didn't get why he had to go for a DLC/Middle Roader. Heard it was about "BUSINESS." (Sounds like the old Mafia to my ears...but What the Hell)

[bunkerbuster1]

35. Last night we were watching Al Franken's "God Spoke" on DVD

And I was reminded again of what kind of a mission the AAR network seemed to be on, during its inception. Al Franken is asked what he wants to accomplish with his then-about-to-debut radio show, and he says, bluntly, "I want to take on those fuckheads."

And that's great, it really is, and I love listening to personalities who share that kind of energy. And I've loved Sam's show (and loved it when he and Janeane were doing the Majority Report together in the evenings) and wish he weren't consigned to a weekend slot these days.

But at the end of the day, it is about business, and if AAR can pick up affiliates and make some decent dough to fund shows like (say) the excellent Ring of Fire via a guy like Lionel raking in advertising dollars, I can understand that too.

I know I sound like Lionel's mom here, in this thread, which is funny because I used to find the guy extremely annoying myself. But context has a weird way of changing things.