The American Spectator : Talk Radio Hosts Targeted in Ratings Scandal?

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Talk Radio Hosts Targeted in Ratings Scandal?

By Jeffrey Lord on 5.31.11 @ 6:10AM

Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin lead conservative tech revolution. Did opponents fix ratings?

(Page 3 of 5)

HOW DID THIS happen? What is the real rock that fell onto the Avlon/Coyote world and flattened the "talk radio is dying" old wives tale?

Technology is the rock. Technology in the hands of the very sophisticated and bold entrepreneurs who are today's conservative talk radio legends.

Here's a sampling of what that rock really represents in the world of what we might call not simply "talk radio" but "talk tech radio." (Full disclosure: I should note here that as with most who work in the media I have been on over a hundred talk radio shows around the country over time talking about this or that, bringing me into contact with not just the national "names" but the local and regional personalities, their producers and staff. This has provided a ground-level eye view of what these people are all about.)

• Streaming: For example, as explained to me by one talk radio show veteran in dismissing the attacks on conservative talkers, most stations that carry Limbaugh, Hannity, and Levin stream these shows on their own websites and push hard and successfully to increase listenership on those websites. Most of this is not included in the Arbitron ratings, which form the foundation for the argument conservatives are losing audience.

• Host Websites: Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin -- and they are not alone in this, Glenn Beck is another -- have their own websites. These websites promote that individual's own show. This allows people to listen to their favorites on their own schedule at their own convenience, not in real time.

• Satellite: Both Hannity and Levin are on XM/Sirius (Limbaugh could easily chose to do so but has not). And… that's right…. satellite talk radio is not rated.

There's more here, technically. Much, much more. But you get the picture. The fact of the matter is that the rapid and radical change in technology is something that has been recognized early on by conservative talk radio stars.

Why?

Because while millions may think of them in their on-air incarnations, these people are in fact that most American of personalities -- they are entrepreneurs. Excellent entrepreneurs. They understand their business, they know what they are doing, they are constantly looking for ways to maximize their audience and hence their message. As Americans have changed their listening habits and technology has advanced, conservative talkers have not only kept pace with their audience -- they have increased their audience size. They have been bold in quite deliberately moving forward to expand their reach and the reach of the conservative message on a vastly increased number of platforms well beyond the humble AM radio dial that Limbaugh in particular did so much to revive. And none or a very small fraction of these listeners are captured by Arbitron radio ratings for market X.

While the liberal Wile Coyotes plotted and planned ways to try and get them off of AM radio, stuck in a communications time warp from somewhere a few years back, the conservative Road Runners were supersizing the conservative talk radio message in every form imaginable from iPhones to satellites to their own web apps.

And when all is said and done, the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating.

In this case this means the bottom line is -- the bottom line. In 22 years says another source familiar with the Limbaugh operation, Rush has never -- not once -- had a down year. With his tech empire rapidly and successfully expanding as was evidenced in December with the release of his web app and the Apple statistics, Rush is firmly at the head of this conservative talk-tech revolution. While liberal and anti-conservative operatives are trying to get away with saying his ratings are "dying," the fact is Limbaugh has already, in the first five months of 2011, enjoyed a 10% boost over 2010 in gross revenues, radio advertising, web subs, and more.

To borrow a phrase, a similar version of this is ditto for Hannity and Levin. They are massive commercial successes in expanding their conservative message through the use of technology well beyond the literal AM radio dial.

If in fact Limbaugh's audience -- or Hannity's or Levin's -- were decreasing in the dramatic fashion wished by his various Wile Coyote critics like John Avlon and Salon.com, the kind of very basic economic growth Rush is showing simply wouldn't be possible.

THIS STORY OF THE REAL-STORY behind the ratings of conservative talk radio has another angle as well.

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About the Author

Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (137) | Leave a comment

dee see| 5.31.11 @ 6:33AM

Limbaugh's ratings might be susceptible to
unfriendly analysis because even
cluelees conservatives pick up the
whiff of establishment set up.

Limbaugh's made NO concerted efort to either
expose or call from the ranks the deeply embedded players in the
RED China sellout and TREASON op. -------NONE.

He also seems, at his best, to be a worshipper
of things as they are --ie franchise slum and
wampum 'culture'.

ALEX JONES is far, far, far more the man of
the moment as far as talk radio goes. We'd
rate him about 85% rock solid and relevant.

Limbaugh's about 55% ---on a good day.

ALAN WATT remains the supreme on air
analyst of the Globalist and EUGENICS agenda
as it unfolds. We'd rate him a 90.

Hannity and Beck are strictly for the flubbadubs
and have about as much integrity as the local
purveyor of watered down beer.

They're strictly set-ups to provide cover for the
off loading of our very souls in the name
of the Globalist TREASON op.

Melvin| 5.31.11 @ 8:07AM

Like Socialist Democrats are not part of the Globalist agenda either.
If you honestly believe this propagandistic horse-squeeze thats pushed by the Socialist Democrats that Conservatives are clueless, then you are just as clueless as those you accuse.
How in God's name can anyone be against lowering taxes is beyond me, but then again you have to pay taxes to know that point. Less government regulation and intrusion into our personal lives again how can Socialist Liberals not want that. Oh, but wait Socialist Liberals only want government intrusion into Conservatives lives, and not theirs.
That is why I am for Secession, it is about time that Socialist Liberals lived in they're own filth for a change.

Spectator| 5.31.11 @ 8:42AM

I read Rush's show on his website every evening.
You miss the commercials that way and can
skip the boring parts. The man is a genius.

USSAlabama| 5.31.11 @ 8:55AM

I listen to the whole program on itunes radio everyday.

First time I could get it outside my car!

Tomas| 5.31.11 @ 6:06PM

One thing the author did not mention is the global audience. In Rush's early days he had to settle for a hour of time on foreign radio. Now, he can stream his shows to anyone in the world who has an internet connection.

Anyone.

How do you measure THIS market? Impossible.

Global Media has eliminated traditional media's place in the pecking order. It's like gas lighters trying to hold on to their careers after the electric light bulb made their jobs irrelevant.

beebop| 5.31.11 @ 6:18PM

I thank the (p)resident for directing me to Rush.

Periwinkel| 5.31.11 @ 10:24AM

What???

lol wut?| 5.31.11 @ 3:16PM

lol wut?

JShizzle| 5.31.11 @ 3:58PM

Dude, take the tin foil hat off. Rush and Levin are where it's at unless you are being stalked by black helicopters. Or as you like to type....BLACK HELICOPTERS.

BRUCE| 5.31.11 @ 5:05PM

ARE YOU STUPID OR JUST A COMMIE?

BRUCE| 5.31.11 @ 5:10PM

dee see

Negro X| 5.31.11 @ 6:40PM

Alex Jones?? You are retard, better go buy some more tin foil.

Alan Brooks| 5.31.11 @ 8:23PM

What are you all saying?: we don't need God anymore because we can listen to 15 hours of Rush a week instead?

Sheesh, even church is only one or two hours a week.

Kenny| 5.31.11 @ 6:50AM

Good insight on the rigging of conservative ratings.

Rush, Beck, Sean, Levin, Laura, Quinn, etc. etc. are feared by the Ledt for good reason.

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 8:24AM

Pelosi's dismissal of the vast and broad based Tea Party revolution as just so much "astro turf" was an indicator of how blind the so-called "progressives" in this country really and truly are. It led to their getting stomped at the polls last November
Please, Oh PLEASE, let the leftwing doofus brigades keep right on believing their own propaganda. It'll make their utter wipeout at the polls next November that much funnier.

PS and before you mouth breathing trolls even say it, NY-26 was because of a limousine liberal masquerading as a "tea party" candidate siphoning off votes form the GOP candidate that caused what happened. But for that matter, no, you all keep right on believing that fairy tale too....

Alan Brooks| 5.31.11 @ 8:26PM

"Rush, Beck, Sean, Levin, Laura, Quinn, etc. etc. are feared by the Ledt for good reason."

the Ledt? is that a combination of the Left and debt? or is it 'take the ledt out'? unledted gasoline?
Are they Ledtites?

John| 5.31.11 @ 6:54AM

I used to be an avid Rush listener until I realized he was not a real conservative or a patriot. Rush is more a cheap labor; economic libertarian (Globalist) and he carried Bush’s & the GOP liberal water for 8 years. Economic globalism is really corporate/government international socialism and is a race to the bottom.

Rush is still for the Bush’s Dubai ports sellout and is for suicidal free trade giveaways to Red China and other Third World powers. He said that Trump’s 25% tariff idea on China imports was a liberal policy, yet our Founders were big on tariffs to protect America’s sovereignty and ability to produce goods. His favorite Republican presidential pick would be RINO & globalist Rick Perry, who is a squishy on border enforcement and for the NAFTA trans-Texas superhighway.

The naive Republican base is being duped Rush and confused on what true conservatism is and that is hurting the Republican Party.

Mike Hawk| 5.31.11 @ 7:57AM

You are a poor BS artist. Like the seminar caller, you have to pre-qualify yourself by claiming you are or were an "avid listener...but...". You were never an avid Rush listener.

Kitty| 5.31.11 @ 9:46AM

I agree: John is a seminar caller. Otherwise he'd know that people listen to Rush because he voices their beliefs.

Alan Brooks| 5.31.11 @ 8:30PM

"I agree: John is a seminar caller. Otherwise he'd know that people listen to Rush because he voices their beliefs."

But that means he is a demagogue telling people what they want to hear. If you can prove Rush really does have talent on loan from God, then we will listen.

Child of God| 5.31.11 @ 8:48PM

each of us has a talent or talents on loan from God.

jothepro| 5.31.11 @ 12:58PM

Hey John-GET OFF THIS WEB SITE-YOU MORON

voted against carter| 5.31.11 @ 2:54PM

SUUUUUURRREEEEE "john" PIGS FLY RIGHT??

This is an OBAMA CONCERN TROLL DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS
CONCERN TROLL:
an an argument (usually a political debate), a concern troll is someone who is on one side of the discussion, but pretends to be a supporter of the other side with “concerns”. The idea behind this is that your opponents will take your arguments more seriously if they think you’re an ally. – Urban Dictionary
back to HUFF PO TROLL

JShizzle| 5.31.11 @ 3:59PM

Rush is not conservative. Rush is not a patriot. Wow. Good one, that's rich. Oh, you're serious? Here's your sign.

BRUCE| 5.31.11 @ 5:29PM

john are you now or have you ever been a member of the communist party or a commie front group like the national socialist democratic workers party?

Negro X| 5.31.11 @ 6:42PM

John,
Try again clown, I hope they aren't paying a buffoon like you to post.

Lawrence D. Cannon| 5.31.11 @ 10:45PM

I used to be an avid Obama fan until I realised he was a 3rd World Marxist Dictator hell-bent on turning america into some Backwater $hithole like his native Kenya.

Westie| 6.2.11 @ 4:50PM

I used to Suport BHO until I realized he was a "Dumb Freaking Bastard"....kudos to Tammy Bruce!

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.31.11 @ 7:22AM

John,
I must disaggree. I love to hear Rush's twenty minute beginning monologue every day. If business prevents me listening live, I stream it later on Rush 24-7.
Now,
I know that stuffy purists like you don't like Roadrunners ...running their own lives outside the boundaries you arbitrarily set. BUT!

Can't you puritanical idiots step back and look at a broader reality?
For instance...if Rush "carried water for Bush", would you have rather seen the despicable Al Gore or the traitor/liar Kerry sitting in the President's chair?
Must you demand perfection?
I personally listened to Rush jump all over Bush when Rush thought he was wrong on an issue.
Check out my nifty new blog-site for more details.
www.txbooks.blogspot.com

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 8:27AM

never mind Roadrunners, "progressives" don't want ANYONE coloring outside the lines they've laid down as the be all end all of human existence. Whatever...let 'em think they've scored some sort of "victory" if they want to keep on deluding themselves

DVG93| 5.31.11 @ 9:34AM

I agree. How many times has Rush been exasperated at either the republicans or Bush? How many times has he told them the way to win was to embrace conservatism and stop trying to get along?

BTW, I listen to the local radio station via the internet. My brother owns his own company, and at his desk when he chooses, he does also.

Rush's monologue is the best since Johhny Carson.

canuckistani| 5.31.11 @ 9:49AM

The ratings mean nothing if programmers have developed a sound roster of shows.
The syndicators only care about fees and unless and until those fees come under pressure, Rush et al will be just fine.

Hearing of specific stations adding/dropping talent happens all of the time. Supply and demand dictates that if top talent wants to charge high fees, then the station must be able to charge for advertising. If there is nothing anchoring the top talent before and after their shows, then advertisers will walk.

Rush was the pioneer in mega radio deals, there have been imposters throughout the last twenty years. They have to step up their game if the play is getting too rough for them.

I would like to see an analysis of the stations that have been saved and profited mightily by the switch to cons talk programming. I bet it outnumbers alternatives 10 to 1.

As the genre matures, there will be shakeouts.

Timothy L. Pennell| 5.31.11 @ 7:44AM

Let me get this straight. They LIED about the Ratings? What's next? The Jobs Numbers are no good? The Unemployment Rate? The Inflation Rate? What?
What about the Huge RECOVERY we're going through? What about last year's Recovery Summer? Are you saying that there WAS no Recovery Summer? But, what about all of those Millions of Shovel Ready Infrastructure Jobs? All of the New Green Technology Jobs? The Renewable Energy Jobs?
Oh my God. I don't believe it.
So, you're saying that the LEFT doesn't tell the TRUTH?
When did that start?

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 8:31AM

No Tim, you've got it all wrong: Obama and the libs DID create millions of jobs. Too bad that half of them ended up in China and the other half in Narnia

SpiralArchitect| 5.31.11 @ 12:31PM

Back to the land of the Jesus alagory lion!

Ned| 5.31.11 @ 1:00PM

and don't forget the half of the millions of jobs created (or saved) in GOVERNMENT!

Occam's Tool| 5.31.11 @ 3:46PM

Dear SOS:

That was the most devastating sentence ripping The Chosen One that I have ever read. Very well played, sir.

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 6:37PM

Thank you so much, O.T., feel free to use it as you like. I consider it to be an "open source" sort of political humor. And now for my next trick, I'm going to turn Biden's hair plugs into a replacement for gasoline.

DanMingo| 6.3.11 @ 11:15AM

Good point about job creation in China.
The republicunts in congress voted against taking away tax breaks for companies that export jobs.
In other words, republicans support the offshoring of American jobs.
USA! USA!

Doctor Right| 5.31.11 @ 7:45AM

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Instead of feeling good about the growing Conservative dominance in the techo-sphere, the first few posts on this article are loaded with tin-foil hat, global conspiracy-type drivel and paranoia that one usually expects from the followers of Lyndon LaRoche (or Ron Paul, take your pick).

Rush Limbaugh not a Conservative??? Yeah, right...

Hate to break it to you Paulies and conspiracy freaks & geeks, but without Limbaugh, there wouldn't even be a Conservative movement, period.

Adjust your tin-foil hats, please...Maybe you'll pick up a stronger signal that way.

chuck| 5.31.11 @ 7:54AM

Just ignore the tin-hat crowd. Anyone who cites Alex Jones is a nutcase, and needs to be ignored.

Mike Hawk| 5.31.11 @ 8:00AM

"Alex Jones" ???? Who in Hades is that??

Deborah D| 5.31.11 @ 11:36AM

Pretty much a conspiracy theorist... http://www.infowars.com/

Carol| 5.31.11 @ 8:00AM

Yeah Rush isn't conservative and Obama isn't a communist.

Tin-foil hats is right!

SpiralArchitect| 5.31.11 @ 12:33PM

Obummer is not a Communist, he is a Marxist.

Point understood all the same.

Carol| 5.31.11 @ 7:58AM

When I heard about talk-radio ratings going down I was miffed.

I now listen to Rush not only on the radio but also on my "I Heart Radio" app on my iPad.

I drool waiting for Rush in the mornings.

I know I am not alone.

When the President of the United States comes out and personally attacks you, it's for a reason.

Obama hates Rush which is why I love him more and more each day.

I love all conservative talk radio because they teach and don't just whine like those libtards.

Libtards suck and so doe libtard radio!

Larry| 5.31.11 @ 8:03AM

Hard to believe that seminar-socialist-scum would lie in order to achieve their nefarious ends.

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 8:32AM

next thing you know, we'll find out that the vote counting for Al Franken was rigged

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 8:32AM

next thing you know, we'll find out that the vote counting for Al Franken was rigged

Sandra| 5.31.11 @ 9:23AM

What you mean it wasn't? (insert faked astonishment) The problem with some states is that the Progressives/Liberals/Communists/etc... DID focus on getting THEIR people elected to offices like Secretary of State or the Elections Board. The recounts were "rigged" from the start.

Clint| 5.31.11 @ 8:05AM

We are in A Media War with The Liberal Mainstream Media Agendists & their Fellow Travelers.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

gearjammer| 5.31.11 @ 8:13AM

All of these guys need an economics guru by their side. Sean was bamboozled last week as some guy threw a curve ball by him about Bush economy being worse than Obama. I do personally listen less-it is all becoming a little predictable is it not ? But, next year when the election really shapes up I will listen more and ratings willl soar. However, after this year I think non liberal media needs to re invent itself.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.31.11 @ 8:39AM

Gearjammer hopefully Sean Hannity is reading TAS, because here are the facts he failed to use to shut down the Obama apologist.

In January 2009 gas prices were $1.83 under Obama they are $3.44 or a 84% increase. Why have US food prices jumped more in the first part of 2011 than in over 20 years? Corn, No.2 yellow, was $3.56 when President Bush left office under Obama it is up to $6.33 or a 78.1% increase.

The unemployment rate for blacks as President Bush was leaving office was 12.6% under Obama it is 15.8% or a 25.4% increase. When Bush left office the unemployment rate, non-farm, overall was 7.6% under Obama 9.4% or a 23.7% increase. Number of long-term unemployed under President Bush 2,600,000, but thanks to Obama and Democrats it is now 6,400,000 or 146.2% increase.

Real median household income under President Bush was $50,112 under the failed policies of Obama it is now $49,777 or a -0.7% decrease.

The poverty rate has increased 8.3% under Obama. People living in poverty under President Bush 39,800,000 under Obama it is now 43,600,000 or a 9.5% increase.

The national debt when President Bush left office in trillions of dollars was $10.627 under Obama it is now $14.052 or a 32.2%. In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history – over 27 times as fast.

All of this misery and pain has been caused by Barack Obama and the Democrat party in 2 years.

Mike Hunt| 5.31.11 @ 9:39AM

The Democrats also had the two years before Barry's immaculation to turn the economy around and send it toward the abyss during George Bush's watch.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.31.11 @ 10:06AM

Mike you're absolutely right. I was just focusing on Obama. The 2006 budget was on the way to being balanced by 2015, but Rush and company demonized them as profligate, soured the electorate and handed Congress over to Democrats. But that didn't stop them they just kept on and now we have Obama.

alice moore| 5.31.11 @ 8:25AM

This sounds like the Payola scandal of the 1950s. This time it is with the gov't's blessing.

John, please....So you don't like Rush? If there are local hosts that you like better, fine. Keep in mind there may not have been any local conservative hosts if it hadn't been for Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Levin, and Grant. Most local AM stations now know it's good business to have both local and national conservative talk shows.

As for Rush, do I agree with all of his stances on World Trade? No. During the Dubai Ports pending deal he did take callers who opposed it. There was no name calling or other types of ad hominem attacks.

As for carrying GOP water and President Bush's for 8 years, I don't think so. Rush was at the forefront of opposing the 2007 Immigration Reform Act. He had hard rhetoric against McCain, Graham, and Bush during that time. In the 2008 Presidential Campaign he viewed McCain/Obama as Worse and Worst. He is hardly a GOP sycophant.

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 8:42AM

I always thought that part of the charm of being in the freedom movement against the "progressives" trying to march us backwards into tyranny was that we DON'T all believe and think and feel exactly the same. We do however have a certain level of respect amongst colleagues. Just take the first GOP debate down in South Carolina: there were big differences between the candidates, because they are INDIVIDUALS. Herman Cain sees things from the point of view of an entrepeneur; Ron Paul is a constitutionalist whose bete noir is the Federal Reserve; Gary Johnson is a strict libertarian, while Rick Santorum is a dyed in the wool social conservative; and Tim Pawlenty comes from the standpoint of a midWestern Governor. Do I agree with everything they all said? Of course not; but I admire them all for being human beings. Unlike the slack jawed zombie eyed fools who keep muttering about "hope and change" long after anyone with a brain sees its NOT happening.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.31.11 @ 8:27AM

It is a free market if their ratings go down and they lose audience it is what it is. The conservative movement will survive without them; if it doesn't then our movement doesn't deserve to survive.

I personally am tired of the whine from the alternative media. They helped hand Congress over to Democrats in 2006 and the White House to Obama in 2008. If I want histrionics I’ll watch Chris Matthews (gag) or listen to Ed Schultz (puke).

John Navratil| 5.31.11 @ 11:19AM

Michael Tomlinson,

The issue is how to measure the market. This is where Arbitron has made its money, but like buggy whips, it's day is passing.

In the '80s, I recall the "Carnotti Flip" (I can't find any reference using Google - anyone remember this?) postulated. The essence was that all "broadcast" media would go over cable and all point-to-point communication would go over the airwaves. The reason was the air had limited bandwidth and was more suited to local (low-power), ad-hoc, limited bandwidth, point-to-point communication, while the longer duration, higher bandwidth communication, which was already saturating the airwaves, would be better sent over cable because the bandwidth could be scaled. If you need more bandwidth, add a second pipe, or upgrade to fiber, etc.

Twenty-five or thirty years out and it seems to have played out that way.

Now, when Rush or Hannity or whomever "broadcasts", the program doesn't go over the air where Arbitron has to count the listeners, it goes to a node on the network which can be counted, directly. Of course, this process would need to be audited (Arbitron?), but paying people to tell you what they listen to is much more error prone.

Towns is a bit late to the party.

hardcard| 5.31.11 @ 8:35AM

The truth will set us free..........again !!!

Mike Hawk| 5.31.11 @ 8:42AM

Re: Smerconish, now known as "The Smerc".

THis clown was a faux Republican who was suspected to have decidedly RINO potential. His favorite politicos are and were Snarlin' Arlen Specter and Fast Eddy Spendell (former Mayor of PA, this is mayor not governor, and Former Mayor of Philluffya). In '08 he endorsed the Oborg and subsequently quit the Republican Paarty to be an "Independent". He recently joined an affiliation with a new Law Firm of Kline and Specter. Yes, that is Specter as in defeated RINO turned Dwemocrat. The Smerc was miffed by the spanking Arlen got from mainstream Republicans and that includes my efforts. (Smerc is as Levin calls them a "slip and fall" lawyer. He sues Doctors.) Smerc has taken over the 3-7 slot on WPHT and as noted his rating have plunged. Another Liberal non-performer in the making.

Mike Hunt| 5.31.11 @ 9:45AM

Your accidental inclusion of "w" has given us a combination of dweeb and democrat or Dwemocrat. That describes Smerc perfectly.

John| 5.31.11 @ 8:43AM

Rush is conservative on some issues but on other vital issues he is definitely libertarian -- it cannot be denied. Being for The Dubai ports sellout is a perfect example.

Each election the (phony) Dems go to the patriotic right of the clueless GOP by coming out against outsourcing, and this is because Rush and his talk radio clones have convinced the naïve Republican base that economic globalism is conservative -- but in reality it is a libertarian sellout of America. Anyone who wants to protect our country’s sovereignty and vital industrial base is labeled a liberal by Rush but they are really patriots.

Our Founders were protectionists (protecting America) and for healthy competition, only within our borders. And sending our manufacturing base to a communist nation for cheap labor would have been considered treason by them.

Paul from SA| 5.31.11 @ 10:39AM

Anti-free trade is anti-freedom. It's a liberal position -- big centralized gov't controlling what people can and cannot spend their own money on (excluding narcotics, explossives and such). It's my money John, not yours.

simon templar| 5.31.11 @ 12:09PM

Your understanding of Rush's views on free trade are actually incorrect. Rush wants free and fair trade and does object to big government interference in the markets that make it almost impossible for American companies to keep jobs here let alone compete globally due to enormous taxes and regulation. He is not crazy about building up the Chinese and often talks about the Chi-Coms and their threat both militarily and economically to this nation. Global trade is not new. Products are made all over the world including the US..the difference and perhaps the real issue here is our own government stifling our innovation and business activity to the benefit of foreign nations. We have an anti-American idiot in the WH that is supporting a 45 billion dollar deal for oil production in Brazil rather than drilling in our own nation.

Negro X| 5.31.11 @ 6:45PM

John,
You must be one of those morons who thinks ed schultz and chris matthews are intelligent, go back to sniffing your fingers troll.

Mattled| 5.31.11 @ 8:47AM

I told my relative who works at a liberal media outlet the reason they are losing viewers is not because they are so slanted (it is definitely one of the reasons), it is because they don't report the news. They gloss over it and I don't see any reason to sit and watch something that isn't informative.

I then told her the reason Rush is so successful is because he uses the Lefts own words against them in a devastating way. All he does is simply repeat what they say, mostly in their own voices from clips.

It is quite hard to deny what you said if you already said it and it is on record.

DVG93| 5.31.11 @ 10:09AM

But yet they still do. I used these forums for information regarding the housing melt down. I had a discourse on a financial msg board with these idiots. I didn't use quoates, I supplied the video from all parties involved. ( ie Greenspan, Frank, Dodd, Bush ) Still they denied it.

I used to think Mike Savage was a raving loon. The evidence about liberalism being a mental disorder continues to mount. I may have to reconsider my position re Mr Savage.

Jack Olson| 5.31.11 @ 9:17AM

I'm re-reading Bill Press's book "Toxic Talk". He argues that the reason AM talk radio is so overwhelmingly conservative is the broadcasters rather than the audience: "The number one reason conservatives overwhelmingly dominate talk radio today is because that's what conservative owners demand--even if they lose money in the process." He cites some examples to illustrate his argument. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to substantiate his claim in any lists of talk radio audiences. He explains the failure of Air America's liberal (excuse me, "progressive") radio programming by arguing that they were undercapitalized and not that their shows were unpopular. He points out that liberal (sorry, "progressive") talk radio has succeeded in some market. Unfortunately, those markets are mostly in already liberal (dammit, "progressive") cities like Madison, Wisconsin, and Portland, Oregon. This implies that the real reason talk radio is predominantly conservative is that this is a predominantly conservative country which the radio networks are trying to capitalize on by offering what they think their audiences want. That's the point of Arbitron and the other rating services, isn't it? If the station owners simply hired conservatives like Limbaugh to transmit their own political opinions regardless of what the audiences want, why would the station owners bother with ratings? If they're willing to lose money to put conservative talk on the air, why should they bother finding out how many people are listening and boast their ratings to sponsors?

Clint| 5.31.11 @ 9:25AM

" Bill Press was the chair of the California Democratic Party from 1993 to 1996"

emo| 5.31.11 @ 7:13PM

1993-96 was actually a recent high point for the GOP in CA. Winning the mayor in LA and landslide for Gov in 1994 along with other constitutional offices like AG. Only Bill Press could preside over a brief GOP ascention in a blue state like CA.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.31.11 @ 10:07AM

Broadcasters aren't in the buisness to lose money. Best illustrated by the demise of Air America.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.31.11 @ 10:09AM

Jack you must be confused with the print media. You know the media Democrats want to subsidize., because it losing so much money.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.31.11 @ 11:33AM

Jack,
That was among the stupidest comments written here............EVER!

Hey, dumbunny...............Station owners are "Greedy Capitalists"! They like making oodles of money.
Rush makes them oodles of money....because 40 million people buy the products from his show.

Negro X| 5.31.11 @ 6:50PM

Bill Press is a leftist idiot, you watsed your money buying the book and proven you are an idiot by reading it twice.

Bob Grant| 5.31.11 @ 9:42PM

Didn't Bill Press try his hand at talk radio and failed miserably? ....sounds like alot of spewed bitterness.

Vern Crisler| 5.31.11 @ 9:20AM

That's actually a misquote from Mark Twain. When he got back to America he responded to rumors of his death by saying "it's an exaggeration."

Pete| 5.31.11 @ 9:30AM

The Left won't believe it until they read it in the New York Times.
THAT is how out of touch they are.

Maddox| 5.31.11 @ 9:32AM

Another leftist lie? Are we really shocked and outraged? What difference does it make that this conspiracy has been uncovered? The vast majority of Americans are not paying attention and will never hear this in the "news." Our "leaders" are not doing anything to stop the lies about the economy, bank failures, government corruption, unemployment, income redistribution, crime, national security, or foreign policy. "The truth will set you free" but the majority of Americans prefer to be lied to if their checks keep on coming. Without truth we have no freedom. Without leaders who demand the truth and punish the liars this is only going to get worse.

Eric Damon| 5.31.11 @ 9:33AM

I have to second what Mr. Lord is saying here. First, in my state of NC Rush, Beck, and Hannity have moved from AM to FM stations, which should be driving the listenership up. Second, I am a living witness to the way Arbitron has changed their tactics. Now, I don't know what they are doing as far as paying the people wearing their monitors, but I do know that they are targeting minorities with them. My wife and kids got calls out of the blue, as did others in the community, asking them to be part of the Arbitron ratings system. Our community is mostly middle class Blacks and had never been targeted before, but suddenly in early 2010, Arbitron wants people in our community to wear their monitors. Now that I know about the congressional threats being thrown around, I understand why.

LMajito| 5.31.11 @ 9:47AM

yeap the lies continue but so does the clueless emanations from the news outlets...i heard this trio yesterday morning with gleed faces talking about how the recovery is starting to really take hold and how all those folks on the road over the weekend was proof positive of this fact...

that is until i drove from houston to tallahasse yesterday (drive from 12pm through 12:30AM)...the vast majority of traffic were semi-trucks dodging all those pesky closed weight stations...

civilian automobiles ladden with folks or camping trailers were very few and far in between...also the highway gas was a mere $3.45 /gallon while urban areas are charging close to $3.70...

So it appears that once one leaves the confines of Times Square or National Mall, all these great news are hogwash...

recovery is not there, jobs are not there (unless you want to work in india like i keep on getting notes from headhunters...oh yeah i want rupees instead of greenbacks), housing is busted and getting worse and the politicos that want to seat in the oval office are a bunch of limp wristed(excepting two) cogs of the machine with not real chance at all...

incredible that the only two women of the gop club (with btw have not announced bids) are the only contenders worth taking a few seconds to listen...

this republic is in serious trouble...maybe we discarded the next batch of washingtons, jeffersons, lincolns at the altar of the abortuaries...50 million and counting

MATT M.| 5.31.11 @ 10:38AM

I read the entire piece and scanned the comments. Nowhere did I find a mention of Michael Savage who claims to have the number three talk radio show.

Did I miss something?

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.31.11 @ 11:38AM

Matt,
Mr. Savage is..............a savage and barbarian.
He is a very frightening man.
He takes a germ of truth and explodes it into a whole-body infection of lies and anarchy.

Anthony| 5.31.11 @ 2:07PM

Ken, I agree totally with you about Savage. I read his first book and was so put off, I ditched it off to the church book sale.
I listened to him a couple of times years ago and I agree that he is most disturbing and frightening.
As to Rush, while I have been critical of him at times, nobody has done more for conservativism, he remains the bedrock of conservative principles.
He has almost single-handedly proped up the entire conservative movement.

MATT M.| 5.31.11 @ 7:40PM

So, why are his ratings so high? Or, are they?

Anthony| 5.31.11 @ 10:41AM

Nothing that comes from the left, be it the LSM or other leftist associations can be taken seriously.
As mentioned many times, the left are morally and intellectually bankrupt.
Nothing they do is honest or intended as serious grounds for legitimate discussions. It's all propaganda all the time.
In other words, they are all liars.

howard lohmuller| 5.31.11 @ 10:44AM

Great story! It resembles in a way the music payola scandal a few decades ago when radio DJ's and Program Directors took money and favors from record producers to play their records on the air.

The Arbitron scandal is different in that Democrats in Congress have arranged higher payments to certain members of the Arbitron rating audience to raise ratings on liberal talk shows resulting in lower ratings on conservative talk shows. Manipulations of this kind are routinely held to violate anti-trust laws being in restraint of trade, price fixing, or bribery laws.

From a business point of view, now might be the time for an established trusted polling firm to enter the ratings game.

Morten In Illinois| 5.31.11 @ 11:27AM

Since I can't get a radio signal in my office, I listen over the web. Locals in Chicago early a.m., followed by Beck (or sometimes Dennis Miller), Rush, and Shanin & Parks (KC duo). Medved, then Savage over the radio on the drive home. All good shows. I may switch during commercials on the drive to Bill Press (a.m.) and Thom Hartmann (p.m.) just to check the other side. Still a bit wacky over there.

da monk| 5.31.11 @ 11:34AM

ME THINKS YOU YE DIEHARD CONSERVATIVES DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH. 5 PAGES AND 51 SUBMISSIONS. IF YOU HAD A REAL "CASE" YOU COULD HAVE SAID IT IN FEWER WORDS.

simon templar| 5.31.11 @ 11:53AM

You got caught once more..and as usual you project, shift focus, and deny. Me Thinks I do not give a damn what You Thinks.

da monk| 5.31.11 @ 3:24PM

SAINTED ONE: AKA SIMON TEMPLAR, WHAT DID I SHIFT? I ONLY ASK WHY DOES IT TAKE 5 PAGES FOR MR. LORD TO MAKE HIS POINT? IF HE HAD REAL "EVIDENCE" HE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE HIS POINT ON ONE OR TWO PAGES.

SonOfSam| 5.31.11 @ 6:41PM

WHY DOES DA MONK WRITE IN ALL CAPS? SIMPLE: HE'S STILL LEARNING TO WRITE HIS LETTERS BETWEEN THE BIG LINES ON THE SPECIAL GREEN PAPER.

yo momma's calling, go get yer pb and j with the crusts trimmed. Today you get to eat while watching the TeleTubbies!

Dan Hirsch| 5.31.11 @ 12:37PM

monk eeee,

Is that why Obama cannot answer a single question in less than twenty minutes?

Hmmmm....

voted against carter| 5.31.11 @ 2:59PM

Occam's Tool| 5.31.11 @ 3:49PM

Ok, da monk, I'll do it in two words:

Liberalism's irrelavant.

beebop| 5.31.11 @ 7:28PM

or ALL CAPS just to be irritating!

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.31.11 @ 11:40AM

da monk,
few words: " you are a diaper full."

da monk| 5.31.11 @ 3:30PM

HEY TEX: I THINK YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR. YOU SEEM TO BE MANIFESTING A PHOBIA: COPRORPHOBIA. WHY ELSE YOUR REMARK?

Jeremiah| 5.31.11 @ 11:44AM

Absolutely marvelous piece, Mr. Lord. The left does not realize what damage they do to themselves with their efforts to torture the stats. They reassure themselves everything is fine with their jury-rigged numbers, and then are constantly blindsided by reality when the people speak. They are just setting themselves to be mugged by reality again.

simon templar| 5.31.11 @ 11:50AM

Rush is the most misunderstood American and the most misrepresented and slandered. I can not tell you how many people I have met that say the most ignorant and inflammatory things about him and have never listened to his program even once. The racist charges are the most laughable. If you have read his biography, you quickly see how this is so ridiculous. I have read a great deal of conservative thought and journalism and found his analysis is not only spot on but the most honest and insightful. He is actually one of those guys that is 'what you see is what you get'. He does care a great deal about people and does want the best for them. The fame has not gone to his head.

Nunya| 5.31.11 @ 1:31PM

Simon, I agree. I've had discussions with some liberals who "hate" Rush, and when you ask if they've ever listened to his show, the response was along the lines of "why would I waste my time?" When pressed about how they could "hate" him when they've never listened to him, I typically get an angry response.

As usual, liberals tend to know so much that isn't so... (to paraphrase Reagan).

Deborah D| 5.31.11 @ 11:54AM

Another scandal created by Democrats that will be ignored by their fellow leftists in the MSM. Now, if this would have happened the other way around in the Bush years -- whoa...something would have hit the fan. Just like if the KKK had stood outside a polling place holding a club instead of the Black Panthers...AG Holder would have been all over it. Equal treatment under the law? Sorry, not for Republicans, and especially not for conservatives. Same with "waivers" for Obamacare...what King is in charge -- thought we had a president, not a King. The press would have hollered to hell and back if any Republican had done anything such as this. We must remove the leftists from power everywhere -- including politics and media.

simon templar| 5.31.11 @ 12:13PM

You hit the nail on the head..great post. In fact, if this was in reverse, as you pointed out, we would be still hearing about it eight years from now..they would never shut up or forget it.

John| 5.31.11 @ 12:13PM

Total freedom leads to anarchy. Our Founders valued freedom but only if we were a nation of borders, law, and order. And part of that was having pro-American trade laws, not suicidal ones. Right now we are captive to the WTO -- the U.N. of so-called free trade. Thus, greedy multi-national corporations, who have no loyalty to America, use slippery lawyers to decimate our vital manufacturing base and Rush embraces that

Yet Rush (correctly) goes on and on about lower corporate taxes and less regulations for a vibrant economy but is strangely silent (as is the MSM) on the fact that our industry and middle class is disappearing due to these Judas trade policies -- and we cannot and should not compete with cheap-labor, Third World countries, especially hostile ones.

Dan Hirsch| 5.31.11 @ 12:45PM

John;

Restraining international trade harms those buying the imported goods and those trying to export goods. By charging tariffs on imports, domestic manufacturers get to raise prices in the amount of the tariff. The domestic manufacturers become LESS competitive; the consumers pay more for a given item. Meanwhile overseas manufacturers have to become more cost competitive to overcome higher price created by the tariff. They become more competitive - we become less competitive. Period.

Go ahead blame the WTO or Brer Rabbit - this is the result of simple, immutable economic laws, of which you are apparently ignorant.

Cure your ingnorance! Go read some Milton Friedman. When you are done you will know so much more than most politicians and media people that you will be greatly entertained.

BTW Keynes WAS and IS wrong- Friedman WAS and REMAINS correct.

Whaddya, chicken? Just read.

Nunya| 5.31.11 @ 1:37PM

Dan, you are correct about the economics. Unfortunately however, free trade also leads to the decimation of manufacturing common items as companies will always move to the location that has the least costs of manufacture--with labor being the biggest portion of that cost. Those countries that used to create then become those that simply consume--until and unless other types of products are invented which are manufactured locally.

Pecos Pete| 5.31.11 @ 3:40PM

And in the USA, cut the corporate tax rate to something less than 10%, or better yet to ZERO. Then manufacturing in the USA would be competitive.

voted against carter| 5.31.11 @ 3:00PM

Negro X| 5.31.11 @ 6:48PM

How about greedy goverments dupe boy?

simon templar| 5.31.11 @ 12:55PM

Thought conservatives here would really enjoy this...sums it all up quite nicely..maybe GOP should play this at the opening of the convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded

John| 5.31.11 @ 1:41PM

The Founders were for tariffs in order to protect America’s sovereignty and self-reliance. They especially would be against moving entire factories under the guise of free trade to a ruthless and lawless Communist country.

Milton Freidman does not understand economics. A country that makes nothing is an economic paper tiger -- dependent on foreign powers, many of them hostile. These cheap foreign imports are now inflating and there is nothing we can do because we are no longer self-reliant.

Bottom line is that we are in a race to the bottom with Milton Freidman and Rush’s globalist economic policies. We need pro-American trade polices that favor the USA not Red China.

Pecos Pete| 5.31.11 @ 3:43PM

As mentioned above, cut the USA's corporate tax rate to ZERO ... the corporate tax rate is nothing more than a tariff imposed by the federal and state governments on business in the USA. With a ZERO corporate tax rate business would boom in the USA.

Negro X| 5.31.11 @ 6:46PM

And your hero krugman does?

Drunken Sailor| 6.1.11 @ 12:10PM

Milton Friedman (July 31, 1912 – November 16, 2006) was an American economist and statistician at the University of Chicago, and recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Milton Freidman does not understand economics? That's funny

Anthony| 5.31.11 @ 2:55PM

Since conservative talk radio is dying, should not Obozo tell his hacks on the FCC to quit the push for the Fairness Doctrine?
Yeah right!! Lying bastards are the leftists.

martin j smith| 5.31.11 @ 4:37PM

As Rush has said, the Socialists always tell us who they fear. He is high --though not alone on their " hit list". The day the MSM and their followers stop degenerating on Rush, you know is done.

That by the way i do not go along everything that Rush says--for example I think he is a bit too easy on the Repub leadershit. And, was a bit too easy on GWB for instance.

alice moore| 5.31.11 @ 6:18PM

Yes, if we here from the likes of Brian Williams and Richard Cohen on how he has "grown".

Anytime, I heard that about a conservative/Republican I knew that politician had gone over to the Dark Side, become a Pod Person what have you.

alice moore| 5.31.11 @ 6:19PM

Ooops! It's "hear" not "here".

emo| 5.31.11 @ 7:09PM

I dont really listen to Rush anymore. I have been an avid listener since 1989. His show is no fun anymore. Gone are the updates and gone is the humor and fun. Now it is "Obama is destroying the country on purpose" 100% of the time. Gets old even if it is true.

Bill| 5.31.11 @ 7:24PM

As usual, Mr. Lord is correct. I have stopped listening to Rush, Hannity and Levin on the radio. I am part of this "decline". Why? I subscribe to Rush's and Hannity's podcast and download Levin's free podcasts. Why? Because I do not want to miss a single minute because they give me news that the Lame Stream Media censors. Reminds me of the N.A.G.'s boycott of Florida OJ because they advertised on Rush. Salon.com (as usual) epic fail

prestonsbrooks| 5.31.11 @ 9:02PM

The Liberals and MSM are SO 1984/Orwell. All you have to do is reverse 90% of what they say and you are at the truth. I hope the lying scumbags are OUT next election. Commie Rats.

patti| 5.31.11 @ 10:16PM

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg et al are part of the Acumen Fund/Globalist/Anti-Israel crowd. The deeper one digs, the dirtier it gets. See Acumen Fund/TED/Charter of Compassion
http://wwwtwosetsofbooks.blogs.....naire.html

Pamela Villela| 5.31.11 @ 10:22PM

Desperation from the libs really reeks, Obama and all his minions are scrambling frantically to stop the masses of like minded folks who now see therough his lies and corruption and running to the far right to be redeemed. and those of us devoted to conservative values know We the People will be sending a bacon wrapped pink slip to Obama as an early Christmas gift (yeah sorry I do say Christmas muzzies!)next November.

MarkR| 5.31.11 @ 10:33PM

The problem with liberalism is when its tried it always fails and when it fails it always tries to cheat. But you see in liberalism competition is THE problem why? Because it exposes liberalism. Republicans have been fools when they have tried to curry the favor of libs- but that is the nature of a group of cowards and cowards they are for foisting upon us the likes of Frum, McCain,Will and Brooks and other Washington insiders who would rather smooch with the elites of liberal Washington. --Tea partiers are lacking the one attribute that the Main Stream RINOS have in abundance-COWARDICE- and stating factually what is before their own eyes. And what liberals hate more than anything is the TRUTH! So Levin and Sean and Rush need to be stopped because if they werent telling the truth then the " truth telling liberal elites"-(an oxymoronic statement if there ever was one) would just expand their own influence and the likes of the three would wither away.--Something I learned along time ago as a teenager playing high school basketball (we went to see John Wooden's UCLA team practice and Wooden stated he never worried about what his opponent was going to do- he focused upon his own guys and team and what they were going to do) was focus on yourself and your own plans and let the other guy worry about themselves. With libs they always worry what others are doing and they need to control- why? Because they are perpetrating lies.

toadold| 5.31.11 @ 11:09PM

If Arbitron stops giving out accurate ratings advertisers will drop them like a hot rock. I remember in the past when the left tried to get boycotts going on advertisers on talk radio. One of the advertisers who geeked and withdrew his adds came crawling back after their sales dropped into the basement another noted their sales increased because of an apparent counter boycott by listeners.

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dee see| 6.1.11 @ 5:58AM

FACT IS Alex Jones has held solid for
a decade and a half, has NEVER lost his regular
audience, and his figures have only grown.

Though we aren't 'Truthers' as far as the
WTC event is concerned ----we DO go for
TRUTH wherever we find it.

Jones is 85% on target ---and there before the
rest on one issue after another.

He's the ONLY one providing vigorous coverage
and even action on the TSA disgrace
---and the ONLY one keeping track of the systematic
subtraction of Constituional rights.

He's also probably alone in NOT being on
a Rockefeller or NGO payroll.

-CASE CLOSED-

shipley130| 6.1.11 @ 8:16PM

I think liberals are the only people that believe themselves anymore. We The People (not liberals) don't believe you man made global warming, or that Obama is a good president, or that picture of Anthony wasn't photoshopped for a more "manly" appearance. Ok, that last one was just for a personal chuckle.

dee see| 6.2.11 @ 6:34AM

"Diet, injections and injunctions---so that ANY
criticism of the powers that be will become psychologically impossible--"
-Bertrand Russell
Impact of Science on Society
1952

----What are we STILL not getting?

Jeff| 6.2.11 @ 9:11AM

Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin are still out there getting their messages heard. Where is Air America?

Sara| 6.2.11 @ 2:21PM

No body but SARAH PALIN for president.

dee see| 6.2.11 @ 11:30PM

----UNMISSABLE-

yesterday's interview with ALAN WATT
on Infowars/Alex Jones.

He lays it out quite compellingly. He gets them
with their own words.

----ie the end of yuppie giggles.

HUAC meets NUREMBERG 2012

Rich D| 6.3.11 @ 12:37AM

What everybody is missing is that if the ratings are being fraudulently cooked, those hosts are losing advertising revenue. That is grand theft by deception, a felony.

Brian| 6.6.11 @ 7:13AM

It's all about money. Ratings = money. Thats why talk radio pushed Romney to divide the repub party giving us loser McCain. Talkers are getting filthy rich on Obama just as planned.