Houston — So Misunderstood

Let’s just say that Annise Parker’s election to Houston’s mayor was something that was bound to happen.  She did everything right.   For all of the nastiness, she won.  For all of the hangers on, sorry, Houston has always had a strong gay community.  For all of us who live here — as my friend said “fuck Bob Lanier.”  You all celebrating have got it wrong.  This victory is one of a person — home grown — who worked her way throught the system, and  thanks to her good works, won.

All of the Houston haters were rewarded today on local talk radio.

Every last one of them got to express how sad they are now that Houston has a mayor.

There was no reflection upon how all these Republicans and conservatives dropped the ball.

I’ll write them all.

Backhanded Complement

Unemployed non-book writer Sarah Palin says that she “thumbed through” “her book” the other morning and found that President Obama had cribbed from her work.

Oh wait, that’s not what she said.

I talked in my book too about the fallen nature of man and why war is necessary at times, and history’s lessons when it comes to knowing when it is that we engage in warfare. And a couple of the other things he said were, I thought, wow, good, those are nice, a broad message, so broad that I just wrote about those. A lot of Americans right now are getting to read also my take on when war is necessary.

Perhaps she thumbed through the audio version.  This one paragraph shows that she doesn’t know what the hell she is talking about.  However, she certainly knows how to jump on coattails.

One of the worst things I’ve heard about Obama’s speech accepting the Nobel Prize was that his speech was “incoherent” on The News Hour last night.  This Palin backhanded nonsense is the second.  She had every opportunity to give an important speech during the campaign but didn’t.  She’s had numerous opportunities after the campaign and she hasn’t.  Her catty ‘I already talked about that.  Obama is copying me’ is childish.  First, everyone on the planet knows she didn’t write her own book (just like everyone knows Chris Baker doesn’t live in Houston).  It’s those lies that all but 20% of readers/listeners believe that makes them disingenuous at best and outright liars in reality.

About the Historic Snow

This is how things played out in my life — we will compare it to others in a bit.

I remember earlier in the week that the forecast on the local CBS channel was for snow on Friday.  My family does a family thing on the night that Santa rides the firetruck through Pasadena every year and I had stupidly made a dental appointment for about the same time, so over Thanksgiving I agreed to identify the date.  Once I had it, I called my mom, and we talked about the possibility of snow.   She remembered (memory of an elephant — it was December 10th last year) that it had snowed early last year.  I remembered that too and so this year was not that much earlier, except that we have had snow more often than ever in my life of 40+ years of living here.

I was surprised and anxious when I found out on Friday that the university would be closing early.  I had planned on having a full afternoon to get my work done — so I had to prioritize.  I made it — which means I was able to listen to Chris Baker on the way home.

First thing to know is that Baker is not in Houston.  He’s in Minneapolis.  So when he claims that his kids are playing in the snow, he’s lying.  The snow hadn’t reached there by Friday afternoon — if this particular front even affected where he was.  He tries so hard to pretend he’s here.  It’s almost sad.  Sad because he thinks his listeners are so dense.

Baker made fun of weather forecasters and Houstonians for two hours.   If he could have called his listening audience pussies he would have.  Maybe he did.  But Baker’s hobby horse is the media — and on weather days  — it’s the weather part of the media.  (Let’s just let it go that he is part of the media too now.   For better or worse — he and his kind have inserted themselves.)

Maybe it’s because I don’t have cable.  Baker hates weather people.  According to him, they (weather people and reporters) always go overboard.  I saw none of this on the local weather.  I understood why employers let people go early — I was out on the mostly invisible roads last Tuesday — as were most of the people I work with.  Visibility even without sleet and snow was nil in Houston that night.  The city and responsible employers did the right thing — and hopefully planned for such hits, as any good business would — and decided to try to mitigate the damages.

And for that, all of them are called wimps by a guy up in Minneapolis.  A radio guy who has nothing to worry about.  A guy named Chris Baker, who has ridiculed every person he has ever come across — perhaps even Michael Berry — and still has a job.  He produces nothing.  He calls people names. Again and again and again.  He thinks things are funny the more they are repeated.  While he mocks his audience, he trusts World Net Daily and Sky News.  He lives in another city but pretends to live here.

Over and over again he told his audience that the world was laughing at Houston all because the city officials and responsible business people took precautions.  Will he come on the air on Monday, from Minneapolis, and credit the city for the lives potentially saved because of the actions taken?  Has he looked at the “liberal” newspaper here to seek the death-toll of the “Great Blizzard of 2009″?  It’s not funny, so no.

I wasn’t surprised to hear Randy Lemmon jumping on the bash the media bandwagon at 6:00 this morning.  He’s supposed to be the “Garden Guy” but this morning he was the “keep the meme going on this wing nut station guy.”  He decided that he would clean out his freebie closet by giving shit (his definition) away to anyone with a bash the media story about the weather that made him laugh.  Funny thing is, the station ran a stale weather report from Friday early on Lemmon’s show.  “Oh noes!!! I thought.  It will get down to the 20″s again tonight?!?!?!?!’” Right.  Bitch about the media and it will bite you in the ass.  Lemmon complained about the weather media, but then ran an outdated weather report that could have confused.  No worries.  Hardly anyone is paying attention, so no one cares.

Someone I know recently moved from the inner city to outside the loop.  Now needing to pay attention to traffic after years of just zipping on side streets to work, he started tuning into AM 740 — recalling their ads of being the news traffic and weather station.  He was surprised to find Lana and J.P. interviewing Cunningham as if it were news.  I told him that 740 no longer has reports like they used to, so all they’ve got is phone-ins.  And now it’s all partisan.

For a very long time, Houstonians had a radio station that just gave them the information that they needed.  It’s call letters spell out Keep Tuned Right Here.  They had actual news — real news (though one of their old reporters is now doing wingnut commentary on a competing station) real traffic and real weather.  Now it’s all wingnut all the time.  AM radio in Houston is filled with liars and those who support liars.  YaY for AM radio.

Ha ha.  Upon adding links, Michael Berry’s AM 740 still has up warnings from yesterday.  It’s 8:20 on Saturday night and this is what the “news” radio station has up:

ALERT: A winter storm watch has been extended to all of Southeast Texas, including Harris County, 6 a.m. Friday until 12 a.m. Saturday. CLICK HERE

Oh yes, I will click there.  This station deserves to fail.

I wonder if the people whose loved ones died this weekend found others’ — including Friday’s  Chris Baker — laughing at the conditions funny?   Baker won’t touch that on Monday.  It’s not “funny.”  And he’s not here.  One man may have jumped or was plunged to his death on a local freeway.  I’d pay money for anyone t ask Baker about anyone laughing at that, especially given how late on the weather updates his mothership is.

The Speech

He reminded me again (as if I needed it) of exactly why I voted for him.  He was logical, methodical and hit just the right tone — he’s no believer in “American Exceptionalism” but he also is no apologist as others have tried to portray him.  We must finish what we started, back in the day when virtually everyone — and everyone I knew at the time — was with us.  He’s laid the groundwork through his travels, meetings and speeches since taking office.  He’s got not only the support of, but also praise from his lead commander in the region.  And despite McCain being on two networks right afterwards acting cranky and old, (along with Bob Schieffer of CBS — gah the man is obnoxious;  I don’t care how long he has been around), I think President Obama will be more persuasive.

This morning I was listening to Bill Bennett, and one of his callers related a story about his son being at Westpoint in 1996 or 1997 when Bill Clinton gave a speech.  The caller suggested that Clinton had already by that time disgraced the office . . . perhaps his memory is . . . spotty . . . but he claimed that the cadets would be polite for President Obama (no big surprise there) just like they were for Clinton, but he also claimed that after they had shaken hands with Clinton, they had a ceremony to “cleanse” their hands.  The caller suggested the same would happen with President Obama.  I’m doubtful.  Those I saw on teevee thrusting their hands forward through the thick of their classmates didn’t seem to be faking it.  They all seemed enthusiastic.  Many of them also asked to pose for pics with the president.  I’d like to follow up on this with Bennett tomorrow, but since I have a job, I’m not able to spend three hours on hold while Bennett belches and mumbles.

On the very long way home from work (don’t ask) I listened to a completely incoherent Michael Berry.  He is struggling with his position on Afghanistan — dipping into anti-war arguments, but clumsily.  (I’m doing this from memory — during a very terrible drive home, so forgive me if I don’t get it exactly right.)  He disparaged both the Afghans and the Pakistanis.  They live in caves.  They are backwards.  Osama Bin Laden can only connect with people in old fashioned ways because there are no cell towers where he is.  They are an arbitrary conglomeration and not a nation (neither one).

Then he switched over to hyper- conservative and agreed that going to war for oil is good.  You know, because WE NEED IT.  So it’s ok.  I didn’t hear him make the same argument for poppy seeds, but he could have.  He also proclaimed that he supports the troops!  as much or more than anyone because he is a good redneck.  Unfortunately, like all other chickhawks of all time, he never felt so strongly about it that he could serve.  Maybe it was because he was fat.  He does go on and on about that weight loss company that sounds a lot like AA for fatties (not that there is anything wrong with that).

But enough of giving time to small audience talk radio types for tonight.

I am proud of my president.  While I did not advocate military action even in Afghanistan, even back in the day (I’ve always been for the law enforcement approach), President Obama inherited (and no, Michael Berry, you cannot redefine what “inherited” means, no matter how hard you try) this conflict, and from all I can tell he has made an informed and prudent decision.  I support him.  He made a difficult decision.  He will follow through.  He has the support of the his commanders.

Now it’s just up to us — all of us — to make sure that we — with this plan — can succeed.

More Missionaries

Cal Thomas was on my radio this morning begging for money.  He says that he knows times are tough, but please give him some money anyway.  Just think of him as the missionary to the media.

Many years ago, I went to Latvia to teach English.  I got a job with a nonprofit.  I bought all of my own supplies and even took a good number of supplies to leave with the teachers there.  While I was there, I took my meager resources and bought class sets of books for the little school where I taught.  Computer access was limited and the school I worked at had no copier.  I was fortunate enough to be able to use other nonprofits’ computers and paid for copies I made for students myself.  I worked two other jobs in addition to my nonprofit job in order to pay for all of this.  I went into debt.  I never asked another person for money — ever.

After I came back, one of my brother’s friends from junior high and high school decided he wanted to be a missionary.  He sent everyone he knew letters begging for them to give him money for a missionary trip to — get this — Prague.  He needed a computer.   He needed a car.  He needed a nice place to stay.  He needed clothes.  All so he could go to Prague.

I guess he got enough money to get by.  After he returned from Prague, he went to work for Tom Craddick.  And that’s one way the missionary wheel turns.  I’m sure there are others.

One example could be the Saturday revelation that the Christians have decided that someone can’t be mayor of our city because she is a lesbian.  They worry about “the gays” taking over city hall.”  I am so very tired of these people.  Never mind that Annice Parker has a track record with our city of service — very good service.  And never mind that these same people failed to support their candidate during the regular election (they trashed their candidate instead the day after).

I’m no missionary, but I think you guys are doing it wrong.

KSEV in the morning

Sorry Bill Bennett, I will be listening to see if the justice department calls back.  Last Friday, Benttoncourt and party of no decided to call the justice department after hours and were surprised to find someone there. They were polite and helpful.

The trials of KSM will happen and everyone involved is manning up.  Those opposed are wilting.  (See R.G. from NYC on the morning shows.)

Special EDD Hendee gets to wring this out for the man.  I’ll be listening!  Which is the point.  What will Bennett do to top Hendee?  Appear in Houston?  Wait.

Cheney, Palin, and Bennett in Texas in one week?  Do they think this is a red state or what?

They Don’t Really Care

I listened to Natalie Arceneaux this afternoon and a bit of Michael Bery last night.

They don’t really care about what happened at Fort Hood.  Natalie didn’t mention it at all and Berry was way more intent upon making our President look bad.

Neither care about much more than themselves.  They both want listeners.  They both tease their audiences.  They both lie.

They are both part of the “I’ve got mine, fuck you” party.

As a radio critic, I think Natalie needs to lose her wild cackle (it gives the lie to her supposed tearful call for 300 (it came off as her being pissed about not being asked to speak at the latest tea party thingy).  And Michael needs to lose that habit of pulling his pants down and showing his ass.

There are people who are hurting.  People who are shocked and weary.  But all Natalie can focus on is politics and Michael, well, he vomits.

Dylan Gwinn from Local Traffic Reports to Big Time Talk Radio

I finally found this guy on the intertubes.  He’s done traffic for KTRH and has a you tube channel for his traffic videos.  His blog is nonexistent (you could buy if you want). He hasn’t done anything on his website for 2 1/2 years.  He does have the St. Ronny worship covered, as well as his liberal hate on.

(I’m listening to him right now — he’s full-tilt Obama is the problem, everything is his fault.  He’s also got a pretty good white man whine going about how he can’t speak his mind or that people knew about the shooter at Fort Hood yesterday couldn’t say anything to stop this before it happened.  Also, there’s the predictable anti-Muslim nonsense.)

Here are the podcasts from his show from yesterday (November 5th 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.).  For whatever reason, they couldn’t get his name right.  He should look into that.

Two things to listen for:  from the first hour — towards the end– Gwinn reads from an article about a mayor who suggests paying people not to have children as a solution for problem parents.  “AN outspoken Kiwi politician has proposed a new solution to the country’s child abuse problem – pay the “appalling underclass” not to breed.”  After a rambling and convoluted rant connecting this mayor’s suggestion to “death panels” and health reform, he states that he doesn’t know where Kiwi is. (rim shot)

The second thing:  from the second hour — right at the beginning — a woman calls in bellyaching about how President Obama started giving his closing remarks to a Native American Conference at the White House instead of immediately talking about what had happened at Fort Hood.  The woman is so pissed that she gets everything wrong (she thought he was talking about the health care bill, and that he was praising people working on health care).  Gwinn doesn’t check his facts, but jumps in with both feet and ad libs outrage.

Later on in the second hour he responds to a caller pointing a finger at the private companies making the flu vaccines as having some responsibility for the delays in getting them out.  Gwinn turns around and tells her, no.  It’s Obama’s fault because he ordered single dose vaccines instead of double dose and that’s what slowed everything down.  This is nonsense.

(Gees, here at the end of his show, he’s accusing liberals of hating America.)

So, my critique of what I heard, Gwinn is scattered — and stale.  He’s just regurgitating the same old things and even the way he deals with callers is typical.

Oh, great.  Now Michael Berry is on to continue with the white man whine about political correctness.  And he repeats his statement from yesterday that people should be cautious and wait for the facts to come in about Fort Hood, which he did do, but only after trying to get the journalist he interviewed first to SPECULATE more than once.

And I’m going to turn him off because he’s already said that he’s going to concern troll the President about how he handled his “press conference” yesterday (which WASN’T A PRESS CONFERENCE dumbass).

It’s too soon to know anything for sure

except that people have died and people are wounded and families are hurting and confused.

But that doesn’t stop anyone calling local radio station 950 AM or its substitute host* (whose name I couldn’t find or figure out) from jumping to conclusions.  The name of one shooter was released — Malik Nadal Hassan (a major) — and it’s off to the race accusations.  One caller advocated that no Muslims should be allowed in the U.S. military.  Another suggested that Muslims are more prone to believe propaganda.  Yet another was so very angry that the President Obama went ahead with prepared remarks and his meeting with the President of Botswana just 20 minutes after the shooting happened (when most of the press pool didn’t even know about it) instead of getting on Air Force One and zipping down to Fort Hood.  The substitute host jumped right in and made an analogy to former President Bush’s reaction to 9/11 (like a shooting on a military base is analogous to a plane flying into a skyscraper).

Speculation at this point is useless.  (But  I’m listening to Michael Berry doing that right now.  Sheesh.)

I feel for the wounded and for their families and the families of those who died.

*And Michael Berry is the person in charge of who is on the air, so he is ultimately responsible.

Michael Berry Logic

Let’s try to work through this.

Nancy Pelosi came to Houston a while back — I can’t remember when — and did a fundraiser for the DNC at a local Houston hospital.  Someone with inside info contacted Berry and he told the Teabaggers where to go.  Then as a follow-up (he promised!) he had his people look up who exactly gave campaign donations that day.

Today he thought it would be a good idea to read the names of the campaign donors on the air.  He mocked what push-back he got by claiming that anyone who contacted him trying to shame him was lying.  And he was a City Councilman when Lee Brown was mayor, so he knows how that works!

Most of the people’s names he called out on the air — and encouraged his listeners to contact — their names are in the phone book — are doctors.

Think of the listeners — mostly people with too much time on their hands — jamming the phone lines of your doctor tomorrow.  All of them are calling and asking “why did you give money to Nancy Peliso?!?!?!?!?!” and wasting the time of the answering service and the office staff.  Imagine you want to call one these doctors tomorrow, but you can’t get through because Michael Berry and his army have decided that the work your doctor does is less important than their politics.

Of course these doctors are all Republicans/Conservatives because the set of doctors Berry has met all belong to that group — the set of liberal doctors he has met is nil, so it just leads him to believe that these doctors were paying for a carve out.  Berry never said bribe — no he didn’t!!!  But you know what he meant.

Berry recently boasted that his listening audience is larger than most Texas towns.  DUH.  But how many will actually jam up doctor’s phones?  Who knows?  Will Berry follow-up on that?

I remember when Berry was still a councilman and had a morning show on AM 950.  One show he devoted to Victoria Osteen getting bent about a stain on her airline seat.  His logic?  Why was this such a big deal — while talking about it for three hours.

That’s the way Michael Berry’s logic works.