Public Broadcasting needs your help!

I didn't believe this when I heard about it a couple of days ago but apparently it is true.
This isn't Air America but it is a vital part of the American Media picture.

Do what you need to do.

Dear Friend of KCTS, On Thursday, June 9, a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee voted to cut federal funding of public broadcasting by 45 percent. If passed, KCTS will lose about $500,000 of our funding for our next fiscal year, which begins July 1. This would also curtail funding for the national Ready To Learn initiative -- meaning decreases for Sesame Street, Arthur, Reading Rainbow, Between the Lions and many other children's television programs that teach critical reading and pre-reading skills to all children, including those who don't have cable television. Additionally, it means many public television and radio stations will not have funds to replace deteriorating or outdated broadcasting equipment, possibly hindering our ability to bring you the high-quality programming you expect from public television. If you are concerned about the future of locally owned and operated public media, you must act now. The full House of Representatives could take action on these cuts as soon as Wednesday, June 22. Call your Congressional Representative A national poll recently found that 76% of Americans feel their quality of life would be affected if their PBS station went off the air. Tell Congress how you would feel without KCTS in your community. A phone call is the best way to have your voice heard and make an impact in Washington, D.C. Visit KCTS.org for information or simply look up your congressional representative in the blue pages of your phone book today. Support KCTS When our funding is challenged, we rely on viewers like you -- people who value excellence -- to demonstrate the power of public television. The sheer number of members proves that locally-owned, independent stations serve a vital role in communities across this country. We need you now more than ever. Pledge Now Please help protect the programs you love. Call your congressional representative and show your support for KCTS by making a gift today. Thank you. Sincerely, William P. Mohler President & CEO Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-friend!

thetyee.ca Building a Left Wing CNN

thetyee.ca Building a Left Wing CNN: "Independent World Television will go public on June 15. The goal, as bold as it is big, is to create an alternative news and current affairs network that is, as its name implies, global in reach and free from corporate or government pressures.

The network’s success depends on changing the economics of media, with an audacious plan to raise $25 million a year made up of $50 donations from half a million people around the world. Money from business, advertisers and government will be prohibited."

From this Canadian site. Janeane Garofalo and Laura Flanders are on their advisory board. Other friends of Air America on their Advisory Board include Greg Palast, Howard Zinn, and Gore Vidal.

They are launching their web site on June 15.

Howard Kurtz covers the Talkers Conference and Left Radio (but not Air America much)

On Radio, More Laughter From the Left:"Stephanie Miller is watching Fox News, as she does every night, looking for laughs.

'It's like Comedy Central for liberals,' says the Los Angeles radio host. 'They don't know they're funny -- they just are. It's a right-wing freak show.'" (Registration required)

Not much Air America content.

Rachel Maddow to join Tucker Carlson's new show on MSNBC.

USATODAY.com - Carlson tied in with MSNBC: "Carlson will be joined on his new program by two regulars from different sides of the political aisle: radio talk-show host Jay Severin, a former Republican political consultant, and Air America talk-show host Rachel Maddow."

I will reserve judgement as to whether Rachel is selling out. I suspect she is not and I hope that she will have a positive effect on the left-right dialog (which of course from my persepctive means she leads more righties to the left than Tucker and Severin lead to the right).

Al Franken for President

New York's Premier Alternative Newspaper. Arts, Music, Food, Movies and Opinion: "AL FRANKEN FOR PRESIDENT" says comedian and Realist editor Paul Krassner.

Republican Atrocity of the Day

Daily Kos :: Sensenbrenner cuts off hearing on Patriot Act: "C-SPAN WILL RE-AIR TWICE TONIGHT (none / 1)

08:15 PM EDT
2:00 (est.) House Committee
Patriot Act Reauthorization
Judiciary
John Conyers Jr., D-MI
Frank James Sensenbrenner Jr., R, Wisconsin

11:21 PM EDT
1:58 (est.)
House Committee
Patriot Act Reauthorization
Judiciary
John Conyers Jr., D-MI
Frank James Sensenbrenner Jr., R, Wisconsin "

TIVO it or watch it here. It's also up at Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz' congressional web site for web download.

This has been extensively covered on Air America by Randi and also by Ed Shultz.

Augusta Free Press : Outing the liberal Democrats at NPR

Augusta Free Press : Outing the liberal Democrats at NPR: "I personally suspect that 'growing audience of 26 million' consists mostly of the hardcore left-wingers left over from the student radical movements of the 1960s and '70s."

This little piece is talking about NPR, interestingly enough. My take: "I personally suspect that the "growing audience" isn't growing quite as fast as it was because the "hardcore" is listening to Air America. I only listen to NPR during AAR commercials these days." --Earwicker

OpinionEditorials.com – A review of Outfoxed - Fulks

OpinionEditorials.com – A review of Outfoxed - Fulks: "Does anyone remember when the liberals tried to do an all leftist radio show called Air America? Neither do I, because nobody listened to it and they went under. Go figure. "

I think this piece has been around for awhile but I didn't pick up on this quote. Apparently the original article was from April 1, 2005. Maybe that was appropropriate, or maybe one of our side wrote it.

The Raw Story | Raw Radio goes on the air!

The Raw Story | Raw Radio goes on the air! Raw Radio, in cooperation with Brad Blog, is on the air and on the Internet. They are running a 4 hour show live on Saturday nights 7-11 EST with repeats at other times during the week. It's also on the Internet while the show is being aired. This is not just an Internet broadcast but is going out via satellite and can be picked up by your local station.