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January 29, 2007 at 21:03:55

Thom Hartmann to Replace Al Franken on rescued Air America Radio

by Rob Kall Page 1 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Back in 2002 Sean Hannity was talking about a house being built for Habitat for Humanity. "No liberals are going to get this house," he said.

That set Thom Hartmann along a path-- envisioning, advocating Liberal talk radio, helping write the original business plan that became Air America Radio starting a program carried now for almost 4 years by Sirius Satellite Radio ... and now, he will, in just about two weeks, be taking over for Al Franken across the Air America Network, in the coveted noon to three EST Monday through Friday daily time slot.

Thom Hartmann is the Project Censored award winning, NY Times Best selling author of 18 books in print, as well as being a talk radio host with decades of experience.

Photo by Rob Kall

It won't be any change at all for listeners in Seattle, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids, Anchorage, Burlington, Santa Fe and a about 20 other cities where Hartmann has already been the show of choice, along with nationwide coverage on Sirius ..

But, with the acquisition of Air America Radio by a new buyer, presumably rescuing the network from bankruptcy, Hartmann will be reaching all of the 75-80 metro area radio stations that broadcast Air America Plus the stations Thom has been reaching through his own syndication..

Unlike Franken, who is primarily known as a comedian, Hartmann is known for encyclopedic knowledge, smart conversation, strong background audio content and entertaining repartee with the conservative guests he loves to bring on his show, where he almost always proceeds to eviscerate their arguments with facts and smart persuasion.

Air America Radio (AAR) appears to have made a very good business decision bringing Hartmann, who had already replaced Franken on a number of AAR stations. His Arbitron ratings have been up over over 100% over the last year in virtually every market he's entered.

Paul Fredricks, Operations manager for the local CBS 'Talk 1090' radio station waxed enthusiastically over Hartmann, who he replaced Franken with for the live radio slot nearly a year ago, saying,

He's done really well. He's been one of the anchors of our station as a whole. WE have a couple of good progressive voices on the air. And in some instances being number one, even beating Rush Limbaugh. THey (listeners) love how scholarly he is and they feel like they're going to college and enjoy his ability to draw on the history of the country pulling in the founding fathers

He's so well read and informed. He Not only keeps them up to date but also keeps them feeling like they are learning something.

Now, Thom is going to just explode on the scene. I think this is his day. To bring that in with Air America's 75 - 80 stations, he's going to shine.

Fredricks reports that in the Fall Arbitron ratings, Hartmann even beat Rush Limbaugh, pulling stronger audience stats.

In San Francisco, Bob Agnew, Program Director for Clear Channel's Quake Radio in the San Francisco Metropolitan area-- the fourth largest in the nation, reported that when the rumors started that Franken would be leaving AAR, he decided to get ready by switching Hartmann for Franken.

I always felt, once I started to listen to Thom, he just seems incredibly sharp. He's not a screamer... he's the new face of progressive radio... you learn something. He's not the professor you pound the nodoz to stay awake. He's a guy you want to learn from, at a time when there is so much BS... it's nice to have a refreshing, calm but vibrant voice coming out of the radio that just makes sense.

Agnew reported that, comparing Arbitron ratings between Franken and Hartman, they went up 25 to 65 percent with Hartmann.

Ed Schultz comes on, delayed, after Hartmann (just recently delayed. He was live until a few weeks ago, when he switched time slots, reportedly to take on Rush Limbaugh) and Hartmann pulled ratings 20% to 100% higher than Schultz's.

In an exclusive first interview with Thom Hartmann since word of the finalization of the AAR sale and his replacing Al Franken, Hartmann said, "I'm pleased and honored to replace my good friend Al Franken on Air American and look forward to continuing having as much fun as I've been having for the last four years doing progressive talk radio (as of March first.)

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Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.

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8 comments

Russ Wellen is the nuclear deproliferation editor for OpEdNews. He's also on the staffs of Freezerbox and Scholars & Rogues."It's hard to tell people not to smoke when you have a cigarette dangling from your mouth."-- Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency
Russ WellenRuss Wellen is the nuclear deproliferation editor for OpEdNews. He's also on the staffs of Freezerbox and Scholars & Rogues."It's hard to tell people not to smoke when you have a cigarette dangling from your mouth."-- Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Hartmann to the Rescue

Air America was going down with Franken at the helm, mailing it in until he could start running for Senate. They couldn't have picked a better man than Thom Hartmann. I'll start listening again.

Oh and Air American, while you're overhauling, bring Stephanie Miller to New York's Air America.

by Russ Wellen (58 articles, 1029 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 335 comments) on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 6:02:39 AM

John Perry is a morning radio personality in his home state of Connecticut. He started paying closer attention to life inside the Beltway several years ago, when it became obvious to him that his "representatives" were not interested in helping independent webcasters, who to this day remain under attack and faced with extinction, thanks to the nefarious efforts of the RIAA to maximize consolidation of Internet music distribution. He had been attempting to launch his own Internet radio ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
John PerryJohn Perry is a morning radio personality in his home state of Connecticut. He started paying closer attention to life inside the Beltway several years ago, when it became obvious to him that his "representatives" were not interested in helping independent webcasters, who to this day remain under attack and faced with extinction, thanks to the nefarious efforts of the RIAA to maximize consolidation of Internet music distribution. He had been attempting to launch his own Internet radio ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

AAR could not have made a better choice

I will never forget the day I discovered Thom Hartmann.

I was exploring iTunes after downloading it to my computer in the early summer of 2005. As I scrolled through the talk radio selections, I saw "Radio Power - Talk Radio for the Progressive Mind". I fired up the player and there was this voice - using common sense, quoting the Constitution, recounting actual history to make coherent points, and doing it all in a very matter-of-fact, conversational style.

"This is exactly what we need," I thought to myself.

Thom Hartmann will make Rush Limbaugh look even more like the pompous partisan fool he really is. I hope all the Rabid Righties of the talk realm have their resumes up to date. Something tells me a lot of them will be looking for work before too long.

Congratulations Thom, and thanks so much for the inspiration this old rock radio guy has to get behind a talk microphone.

by John Perry (31 articles, 32 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 81 comments) on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 8:36:24 AM

A Mother, Teacher, Democracy Supporter, Voter
YoginiA Mother, Teacher, Democracy Supporter, Voter

Thom Hartmann to replace Al on AAR

A great move for Air America Radio to have Thom Hartmann replace Al. Thom's books are well-researched, extremely informative and knowledgeable---I've read several (Last Days of Ancient Sunlight, etc.). I've enjoyed listening to his program when he's replaced Al here in L.A. on 1150 am, KTLA, and he does have highly intelligent and listeners who phone in. I will, however, miss Al Franken and the guests he has had on his program: Tom Oliphant, Joe Conason, and Melanie Sloan (from Crew). I think his service to our troops in Iraq (he's been there at least 7 times to entertain them) has been compassionate. He's shown his disgust at what has been happening to our democracy because of the current administration, which has reflected many of his listeners feelings. I love his sense of humor and his ability to call truthfully a "spade a spade" in a world of news-spin. He has a lot of young researchers for his programs and information, bringing young citizens into the political arena to help it stay alert and vigilant. Air America Radio has been a life-saver to many progressive and liberal citizens. Thank you, Al Franken, for your service to our democracy. And I wish you well on your probable run for the Senate from Minnesota. The Senate can well use your intelligent and zany humor, bringing truth and awareness to its often insulated bubble. And, Al, please maintain your integrity in seeking out the truth. Don't become over-politicized so that your message is tainted by the influence corporate and military-industrial complex power centers.

by Yogini (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 4:57:07 PM

My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.
ardee D.My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.

I add my kudos

to AAR for making this wise decision. I have been an ardent listener to Thom Hartmann since his first day on the radio here in the Bay Area. He is knowledgeable, passionate, and people must think me nuts to see this loaded flatbed tractor trailer whizzing by with the nut behind the wheel applauding ..............give him a try folks, if you are lucky enough to get him on air or on streaming audio.

PS, he has a website for those with java script...

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 7:25:37 PM

Age 48.
KrashkopfAge 48.

Thom Hartmann on AAR

This is GREAT news. As much as I like Al Franken, Thom Hartmann is better. Thom is, by far, the most intelligent, most articulate, "talker" on either side of the radio dial. AAR listeners are in for a real treat.

by Krashkopf (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11:01:49 AM

The author received her Ph.D. in the field of Organizational Behavior, which she now applies to her political writing. She's been an advocate for church-state separation and other civil liberties issues. She writes on the neoconservative mind, women's issues, media, veganism and the Religious Right.
Amy FriedThe author received her Ph.D. in the field of Organizational Behavior, which she now applies to her political writing. She's been an advocate for church-state separation and other civil liberties issues. She writes on the neoconservative mind, women's issues, media, veganism and the Religious Right.

Thom Hartmann replacing Al Franken

I'm thrilled. Thom is a breath of fresh air.

by Amy Fried (40 articles, 113 quicklinks, 64 diaries, 213 comments) on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 4:36:19 PM

digital programmer turned thought specialist, sorta: rocket surgeon.
meremarkdigital programmer turned thought specialist, sorta: rocket surgeon.

Maybe not everything that glitters is gold

I am not sold on Thom Hartmann as effective to the progressive cause.

Let's say the progressive cause is nuclear disarmament, all disarmament, and the defunding of militarization, and the redirecting of funds to social betterment, unity, establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, promoting the populace welfare, mutual defense, and passing along to future times a heritage of prosperity, just off-hand. I'm not sure Thom is down with that.

Let's say the progressive cause includes abolishing the CIA. I'm not sure Thom is down with that, or airs promoting it.

Let's say the progressive cause is NOT the Democratic Party's infrastructure. I'm not sure Thom is down with that.

Let's say the progressive cause leads on to wider understanding and practice of socialist manners and methods, (as developed in my Comment here), and that true people's radio (or TV) broadcast is commercial-void, listener-supported, like, you know, public access public broadcasting ... I'm not sure Thom is down with that ... having his salary a matter of public oversight.

He seems happy making the big bucks, and is along for the cause up to a point -- the point where income is redistributed. Hartmann seems not much more than a leftwing-lite gatekeeper. Sounds lefty, seems lefty, but not personally going activist beyond the capitalist middle. Sure, that's refreshing -- hearing lefty sounds -- but ultimately ineffectual and in the meantime between now and ultimately, keeps the audience from addressing actual radical reform in a revolutionary scope.

It's difficult to include all the experiences I have had with him which combine to give me qualms about his positioning. In my opinion, he seems like a CIA-type 'plant' in the left milieu, always urging 'holding back' and 'moderation in political practicality,' which insures nothing authentically left-going is ever accomplished.

It is difficult to enumerate all the experiences which inform my opinion. He came -- out of the blue -- to Portland, from a pat set-up in Vermont (NH ?) where he had done a syndicated talk program for a few years, out of his in-home radio studio. He has done the 6am - 9am 'drive time' Portland-only program, and then in the afternoon his national syndicated program, (double-duty ... hey, give someone else a turn, how come it all has to be Thom's calm corral keeping leftism back from doing anything really effecting change?), since about March 2005.

I don't know if he is going to keep the Portland-only programming. You can listen live HERE, 6 - 9, PT.

He entertains points of view but champions none. Except civil debate and democratic vote, as long as he can limit the agenda for the debate and vote.
No conclusiveness on Nine-Eleven Op.
No conclusiveness on Impeachment first, Iraq withdrawal to follow as a consequence.
No conclusiveness on illegitimacy of FLA 2000 and Ohio 2004, and all enactments being illegitimate successive to those fraudulent ballot counts -- the PATRIOT Act is unconstitutional and can be ignored, need not be obeyed, by citizens. Come on, get real, and make the law mean the law, whereas fraudulent elections mean nothing is law. Congress bring articles of Supreme Court impeachments.
He co-authors a new book, ten years in process, on the JFK assassination, which concludes Oswald was a lone gunman.
No conclusiveness on Earth's oil is used up in the very near future, (say, 5 years), and is the MOST SERIOUS political discourse of our time, and MOST needs broadcasting consciousness-raising of it.

Any point may be discussed, but he seems to stifle or sidetrack -- "thanks for listening, caller, we got to go to a break, now" -- before anyone can conclude anything that might set commitment enough to change anyone's behavior and affect everyone's life. His uppermost commitment seems to be pandering to whatever lipservice helps the sales dept. sell more commercials. Screw corporate-sponsored broadcasting: go social-conscious publicly supported broadcast. (Compare Portland's venerable REAL People's Radio, which lost audience to Hartmann at first and now is getting it back.) Hartmann simply does not seem radical enough, conclusively convinced and convincing enough, to ever actually make a difference in the world. Like lefty chewing gum for the brain. No nutritional nurturing value, but keeps synapses busy from thinking creatively toward overthrowing and redesigning the political system.

Now, I level almost all the same criticisms at Al Franken, who I've spoken with, too, about it. And at Randi Rhodes -- oh, she has vitriol in her rants, but, somehow, I just don't see her standing her body in the breach confronting and stopping a column of tanks. Celebrity-ness means never having to say give me liberty or give me death.

And I think my criticism of 'too soft, ineffective,' has been born out by the tepid ratings and unimpressive penetration into America's political consciousness. That, plus AAR fighting off bankruptcy. I realize the rightist fascism has moved heaven and hell to sabotage AAR and steal all media oxygen not dittoheaded propagandizing.

But when they / we / you get a slot for some airtime, if the content does not change people's understanding and behavior, and not cause every corporate commercial sponsor to cancel its ads in a panic of having its private wealth redistributed, then they / we / you are not saying anything that is ever going to make a difference toward saving humankind from enslavement under capitalist totalitarianism.

I'll suspend judgement of Thom, for now, and just caution everyone to not get our hopes up for much more than what Franken achieved. Now, standing for election as US Senator, that makes a difference. Hartmann should, too.

by meremark (1 articles, 3 quicklinks, 26 diaries, 506 comments) on Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 1:39:59 AM

Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Rob KallRob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Maybe You should look harder

Read some of Hartmann's books to find out who he is. Unlike every other talk radio host on the left, Hartmann has written a slew of books that actually tell a lot about who he is.

Check out Screwed, We The People, Unequal Protection, What Would Jefferson Do? and then, read the 100 articles we've published by Hartmann on this site. You'll have a lot of your questions answered.

And what the hell do you know about how much Hartmann is paid? I know he struggled for years, doing his show on his own, paying for satellite time, staffing, etc., before he started as an alternate with Air America. And even now that he's taking over for Franken, you have NO idea what he's being paid.

by Rob Kall (857 articles, 3983 quicklinks, 343 diaries, 1821 comments) on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 11:23:30 AM