Mueller Lake Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Air America Is a Welcome and Invaluable Oasis
RECEIVED Fri., Oct. 26, 2007
Dear Editor,
I must disagree with Kevin Brass' contention that Air America sucks [“Media Watch,” News, Oct. 26]. Yes, there are nonstop rants by some of the hosts (which I really enjoy), but there are also thoughtful, informative, and engrossing interviews with the likes of John Dean, Dennis Fein, and constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley. Randi Rhodes, in between her rants and interviews, manages to impart huge chunks of valuable information as she does her homework and is incredibly well-informed. Dr. Rachel Maddow hosts an excellent show blending news, politics, and humor, not unlike the Keith Olbermann MSNBC show Countdown, upon which she is a frequent and respected guest. Ring of Fire and Seder on Sunday are must-hear weekend shows. Room for improvement – no doubt – but in the wasteland of AM talk radio, I find Air America a welcome and invaluable oasis. My first move after the local demise of Air America was to check into XM Satellite Radio receivers. After visiting several stores and finding shelves bare of XM equipment, I was informed by the amazed guy at Circuit City that there had been a run on XM radios by loyal and distressed recently deprived Air America listeners hungry for their old standbys. Indeed, I'm anxiously awaiting my UPS delivery tomorrow of my portable XM receiver so that I can once again freely listen to Air America without being tethered to my computer.
I must disagree with Kevin Brass' contention that Air America sucks [“Media Watch,” News, Oct. 26]. Yes, there are nonstop rants by some of the hosts (which I really enjoy), but there are also thoughtful, informative, and engrossing interviews with the likes of John Dean, Dennis Fein, and constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley. Randi Rhodes, in between her rants and interviews, manages to impart huge chunks of valuable information as she does her homework and is incredibly well-informed. Dr. Rachel Maddow hosts an excellent show blending news, politics, and humor, not unlike the Keith Olbermann MSNBC show Countdown, upon which she is a frequent and respected guest. Ring of Fire and Seder on Sunday are must-hear weekend shows. Room for improvement – no doubt – but in the wasteland of AM talk radio, I find Air America a welcome and invaluable oasis. My first move after the local demise of Air America was to check into XM Satellite Radio receivers. After visiting several stores and finding shelves bare of XM equipment, I was informed by the amazed guy at Circuit City that there had been a run on XM radios by loyal and distressed recently deprived Air America listeners hungry for their old standbys. Indeed, I'm anxiously awaiting my UPS delivery tomorrow of my portable XM receiver so that I can once again freely listen to Air America without being tethered to my computer.
Dr. Bruce Kirkland
