Sam Seder's job is in jeopardy!

[latebloomer]

I don't know if anyone has posted this yet-- I just got it in an email.

 
SAVE The Majority Report on Air America Radio

ACTION PAGE: http://www.usalone.com/peaceteam/majorityreport.php

It can fairly be said that NO progressive radio personality in the last couple years has done more to promote real activism than Sam Seder. He has given out more congressional phone numbers, more action page links, and has given air time to more worthy progressive candidates than two or three others we might name combined. If progressive radio is to be about anything, it is best exemplified by The Majority Report on Air America Radio weekday evenings.

Way back when we were fighting to stop a compromise on the filibuster of radical right wing ideologue federal judges, Sam Seder was one of the only ones out there rallying his listeners to speak out, until someone else you have heard in the news lately, Joe Lieberman, pushed the surrender to cut our legs off. Just this last week, Sam Seder took it on himself to exhort his listeners to call and email key senators on the despicable estate tax sham, a fight we might not have won without him.

Now we need to speak out for Sam himself.

There are noises out there, that for whatever reason of their own, Air America Radio management is planning on terminating the show. This is totally unacceptable. The loss of Sam Seder would be an enormous step backwards in the building of a progressive media activist infrastructure. If you have ever heard The Majority Report on Air America radio, we need you to communicate to them that Sam has earned his time slot with professionalism, comedic and journalistic talent, and most of all, the kind of activism that should be the standard, rather than the exception.

Please submit this action page and let them know how much Sam Seder means to you, how much he means to us all. We need Sam Seder in the battles to come, doing what he does so effectively to support real policy change. He has never failed to come through for us in every possible way. It's time for us to support him, just as he has supported you and the causes we live for.

ACTION PAGE: http://www.usalone.com/peaceteam/majorityreport.php

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this message to everyone else you know.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. K&R - AAR is making ANOTHER boneheaded programming change...

They seem to WANT to be irrelevant. First, they killed "Morning Sedition," and now they want to wipe out "Majority Report." Jesus...:grr:

[SoCalDem]

4. I thought I would miss AAR when they left Sirius, but I don't miss them

I like shows like Guy James, The Young Turks, Thom Hartmann, Lynn Samuels..

I am a bit afraid that AAR is watering itself down, instead of beefing up.. There is a crucial election coming, and they are not going to be "ready"..

AAR needed to be "the flipside of Hannity/Limbaugh etc"..not a polite "show" oriented venue..

I think they have gone round the bend.

[latebloomer]

5. I miss Lynn Samuels!

She used to be on AM radio in NYC years ago-- the only ray of light on WABC, right-wing talk radio.

Thom Hartmann is great, too-- I only hear him occasionally, on AAR.

[JHB]

61. The main reason Lynn was on WABC was because she "wasn't serious"...

I used to listen to Lynn on both ABC and WBAI (the NYC Pacifica network station. I briefly met Lynn (and Amy Goodman) on the night "Operation Desert Shield" started, as a phone volunteer for the fundraiser they were holding at the time).

She's OK -- and better than many in ABC's lineup -- but I think the reason she was there was because she was "balance" (a liberal) who could be easily dismissed, who was easy not to take seriously.

By that I mean that while the Right Wingers in the lineup (e.g., Rush) spent their whole time hammering away on national politics, Lynn would be all over the place: national politics, local politics, celebrity gossip, the nifty flea market she went to on Saturday, something that happened at the laundomat where she worked in between paying radio gigs, etc. Plus, of course, her voice (which lies somwhere in the same ballpark as Fran Dreisher's and Rosanne Barr's).

Fun, but not a counterbalance.

[GreenTea]

62. I listen to Lyn Samuels on Sirius Left each day-I love hearing her say...

"That motherfucker" or "that cocksucker Bush" coming from her sqeaky little voice.

One gets all the freedom they want on Sirius Left radio.

[gr8dane_daddy]

66. LS = aaackkkkk!

LS is horrible. Thank God I sleep during her show anyways. Absolutely horrible.

[bermudat]

23. You actually like Lynn Samuels? Aack!

I was wondering who could stand the sound of her voice.

[SoCalDem]

32. The voice is terrible, but I like her spunk

:)

[latebloomer]

34. I like her voice!

She is SO New York!

Once she had Fran Drescher of "The Nanny" on as a guest, who has a very similar voice. The two of them together were hysterical.

[Hun Joro]

17. No, first they killed Unfiltered

which was my favorite show and got me through many a difficult morning. And to add Jerry Springer in its place! Blech. I love Sam too. What the hell is wrong with these people??

[AspenRose]

44. Unfiltered...then Morning Sedition....then Malloy on WLIB in New York...

Air America Radio's management is really ticking me off.

[NYCGirl]

45. Malloy's back on AAR NY as of September 1. NT

[otohara]

2. K&R

thanks. If it's true that Armstrong Williams will be in the new AAR line-up, I will throw-up!

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. K&R

[never_get_over_it]

6. Didn't like to listen

when Jeannine was on - love her politics - but her psycho babble made me crazy - but I have grown to LOVE Sam and it would be so STUPID to drop him - Sam is fabulous and I have to tell you I think he was probably VERY helpful in the Lamont campaign...

[fooj]

7. Kick for Sam and The Majority Report!

:kick:

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. Seder's a nice guy and a smart guy and politically....

... inoffensive, but he doesn't seem to be much of a *radio* guy.

I will assume low ratings are the concern here, correct me if I'm wrong.

There is a certain "entertainment" factor( sorry, can't think of a better term) that's missing in Seder's program. He's hard to listen to. ( He's not the only one on AAR about whom this is true.)

Seems to me there's more to talk radio... even political talk radio... than trying to cram as many words into each minute, as though you're about to have your air supply cut-off.


Passion is good; but ya gotta get people to *listen*, seems to me.

[madfloridian]

9. Sam is one of our two favorites. He is excellent.

He has grown into being a very good host. It is better without Janeane, but I am very disillusioned that they are not standing behind Sam.

I have emailed them, so has hubby. We are sending this link around to others here who like him as well.

[quiet.american]

10. Sam is one of the best out there, bar none.

I would venture to say AAR would anger a significant amount of their listeners if they dropped his show.

[bermudat]

24. AAR obviously doesn't give a damn about their listeners.

The only reason I bought Sirius satellite radio was to listen to Air America Radio, but they could have cared less. I signed petitions on behalf of Marc Maron, nada. I don't know who makes decisions at AAR but listener consideration is at the bottom of the barrel.

[LiberalHeart]

31. I was in the same boat re Sirius

I bought a lifetime membership and a tuner and two docking stations. Came to about $750 ... two months later they announced they were leaving Sirius. I ended up giving everything to my doctor who wanted Sirius for the music.

AAR's idea of making nice with those who went with Sirius (after all the sales pitches from Randi) was to offer a few bucks off the purchase of new tuners. I never listened to them again.

[Judi Lynn]

50. You're right. They have a wretched way of doing business.

If they cared about their programs they would have NEVER made the deal to lose all the Sirius owners.

The only reason I got Sirius as a gift was because I really wanted to hear Air America.

Sam is SO MUCH, MUCH MORE PREPARED, and so much more intelligent that Sirius's Young Turks. No comparison whatsoever.

[krkaufman]

26. Me for one.

Annual Premium member and, earlier, AAR Associates donator. Will have a hard time justifying continued support if they take Sam off the air. He's by far, to me, the most relevant host on the network, from integrating bloggers/net-roots into the show and on-location broadcasts from the RNC and YearlyKos.

Just cannot fathom what AAR is thinking.

[Strelnikov_]

46. I Agree. Oh. Yea h . .

The Dolphins suck more than even Louie!!!

[krkaufman]

69. A jihad on you!

[Cleita]

11. More than that we need to petition our local stations to carry the

show. Many stations have replaced the Majority Report with other shows like Ed Schultz for instance on my local AAR station. If a lot of stations are doing that I can see why the heads of AAR in NYC are contemplating chopping him. We have to convince not only AAR but the local affiliates that we want Sam, not Ed or whoever else they run at that time.

[mntleo2]

13. How 'Bout Sam AND Ed?

I love Sam far more than Ed, but they did that in our time frame too. Now they air just an hour of Sam ~ at 1 o'clock in the damn morning. I just wish they would have let Sam stay on when he was. So I get online and listen to him there. I have written AAR's flag station and told them, they already screwed up bigtime when they killed the best morning show EVER with Morning Sedition and if they decided to axe Sam, well they've axed me as well ~ and I WILL tell everyone I know what they have done. I will listen to my local liberal (mostly AAR) station, because I want to support them. But never again will I make it a habit to stream their stoopid NY station. I realized after they took off MS I was stoopid. Not stoopid to get up at 3 AM just to listen to them because they weren't about the best thing around, but stooopid because Their CEO people did not give a crap. So, it did no good anyway to write, listemn and support their sponsors because their eltist CEO, Goldberg (or whatever his name is) doesn't care what fans think.

Oh. And he sucks as a CEO IMO.

Cat In Seattle <---feel a little better after that rant

[flyarm]

30. ED WAS AND ALWASY WILL BE A REPUBLICAN..HE IS A CON ARTIST!

I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO THAT CON ARTIST!

fly

[Nostradammit]

52. Amen to that!

Ed Schultz is a complete phony.

[Felinity]

53. I don't know about that phony thing

But I just don't like him. He has nowhere near the depth and extensive preparation that goes into Randi's or Sam's show. And his constant dog, fish, sports commentary is nails dragging across the blackboard to me. He should leave that to Bob Costas, who could sound interesting reading My Pet Goat.

I never listen to AAR anymore before Al Franken comes on (great guests, but a little hoaky at times). Morning Sedition was the best drive time radio I ever heard, nothing can replace them.

I think the management there lacks a strong vision, and the courage to really commit. I see that happening to an extreme with the local affiliate in Austin, who runs soccer games, CHURCH!!!, and a psychologist who talks so slowly she pauses twice in a three word sentence.

[Nostradammit]

65. I know all about that phony thing

If you listen to Ed carefully, in all his interviews he always, always, always pushes the GOP line. It's subtle, it's crafty, but it's insidious and it's real. He'll criticise Bush out of one side of his mouth while he lauds Bush's policies with the other.

He's cashing the check from Rupert every month, I'll warrant. Or maybe Karl sends it.

Ed Schultz can kiss my red, white and blue ass.

[Peace Patriot]

12. Done! Here's mine! K&R!

To Air America Radio:

Sam Seder is a wonderful activist talk show host, who is always brilliant on the issues, always ready with information to involve listeners in efforts to pressure our government on vital issues, and he has a very friendly, engaging speaking voice. I listen to Majority Report every day. I love Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy as well, but Sam brings a special sincerity, sweetness and youthful passion to his talk show that are nowhere else present at AAR or in all of radio today that I know of. Keep the Majority Report! Keep Sam! And if you have to get rid of somebody, let it be Al Franklin, who doesn't represent progressive Democrats or the left, and isn't funny, and whom I stopped listening to long ago.

I also agree with these Peace Team sentiments:

"Where have all the great journalistic voices gone? Who will be there to fill the shoes of those who defined the voices of their generations?

"Sam Seder on Air America Radio has become one of the most vital voices of activism we have (and) the most activist show in progressive radio."

Keep the Majority Report! It is a precious resource, vital to the restoration of good journalism in this country and to the strength of truly progressive voices.

XXXX

[peacetalksforall]

14. I regard his as a super patriot. He keeps on giving us solid stuff. They

could give him Fridays off and bring in some big name - as big as Phil Donahue, perhaps, if possible. And let him continue to fill in for other patriot hosts and hostesses.

[Kingofalldems]

15. And Jerry Springer's job is safe?

Springer is the worst AAR has to offer IMHO.

[immoderate]

16. You noticed that, huh?

--IMM:shrug:

[latebloomer]

36. Jerry Springer is simply unlistenable

and the worst Milquetoast I have heard in years.

"Well, I'm sure George Bush is a very good person, I just don't like some of his actions. . ."

:banghead:

[Felinity]

54. Take it easy on Jerry

I never really listen to him more than a few minutes a week, but I think he's a good guy and he reaches a demographic that would probably not hang with Randi, Sam, or Mike Malloy. Even though he's pretty much in the Center politically, he's honest and rational. I'll take him over Ed Schultz for integrity.

[SnoopDog]

18. Sam hosts one of the three best shows on radio....

I usually try not to voice an opinion about our other radio heroes but I would take Sam's Majority Report over Springer or Frankin anytime...

[bbgrunt]

19. save sam!!...and whatt about Mike?

As far as I can tell he doesn't have a contract yet. Last week he was saying that if he suddenly disappears from the line up, don't bother writing AAR because it wouldn't do any good.

Is there interior sabotage going on?

edited: I just saw the thread that said mike has a new 2-yr. contract. Well, that is at least some good news. Now get rid of Springer and replace with Seder.

[clbuck]

20. Mike just got a 2-year contract

He just announced it tonight (as well as being on the new WWRL station in NYC starting Septemeber).

[latebloomer]

35. He'll be back in New York? Hurray!

Any idea of the time slot? I hope they're getting rid of those Godawful "Satellite Sisters" who replaced him.

[jimshoes]

21. Kick for Sam

I look forward to his show.

[Sydnie]

22. Done n/t

[DesertRat]

25. kick

:kick:

[Melynn]

27. I alwasy liked Sam

He is good on the radio

[krkaufman]

28. Also, you can just email them directly at ...

[e-mail]


Please do so. A Sam would be a terrible mind to lose.

[jimshoes]

37. Done

n/t

[speedoo]

29. K&R

Sam's one of the best. I am very puzzled about AAR's apparant ambivalence about him.

[upi402]

33. done k/r n/t

[Chimichurri]

38. Sam is awesome! k&r

[marmar]

39. Yeah, I don't get AAR's logic on this one....

Majority Report, along with Mike Malloy, is one of the AAR shows that I hate to miss, and Sam is great. If they really want to revamp the lineup, give Springer the boot, move Al Franken up to his 9 a.m. slot, and add in Thom Hartmann at noon.

[lonestarnot]

40. done

[rooboy]

41. AAR must be run by the GOP. n/t

[DemonFighterLives]

42. Sam is one of the best

He knows what the hell he is talking about!
They should have to pry the mike from his cold dead hands.
:dem:

[Canuckistanian]

43. Sam and Thom Hartmann would make a dynamite duo

I always like Thom when he was subbing for Sam and Janeanne. Thom is more of a "radio guy" and a true progressive scholar. And Sam is the passion, the youth, the connection to the young wired world.

They couldn't lose.

[Strelnikov_]

47. Maybe The 'Satellite Sisters' Need A Better Time Slot

IMHO, Sam has developed into one of the best AAR hosts.

Integrating a touch of comedy with a political talk radio theme.

[The Count]

55. Yeah, away from AAR! A more boring show never was!

[Liberal In Texas]

48. Replace the show with what? I'm call BS.

When the dust settles you are going to find that what is going on is contract negotiations. I'm sure that Sam is holding out for more $ than AAR wants to pay. He probably has a point. He's now essentially doing the show solo, is many times the fill-in guy for Randi and Al, and he has probably heard about the sweet deal Randi got and wants more as well.

His grousing about the show going off the air is strategy for better leverage in the contract negotiations by getting us, his listeners, to give him support.

And I do support him. He's one of the best that AAR has and I wish him good luck in getting a good deal.

[corkhead]

51. Exactly what people were saying about Marc Maron. Look what happened.

AAR had so much more going for it when it first went on the air. Disappointed but not surprised.

[omega minimo]

49. Sam Seder sounds like he's always YELLING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could be an East Coast thing. Could be affecting ratings in other markets. Like his work. Don't like being yelled at.

Has the network given reasons for losing his show?

[latebloomer]

56. kick n/t

[leftofthedial]

57. they cannot keep Ed Schultz, ditch Sam Seder

and still lay claim to the word "progressive."

[Garbo 2004]

58. Ed Schultz is not AAR. Some AAR affiliate stations may carry his

syndicated show, but Schultz is not employed by AAR, not syndicated by AAR.

[leftofthedial]

59. okay. thanks for the info. Franken then.

[Nimrod2005]

60. Please do this people, we can't lose Sam...We already lost Maron

on morning sedition...Their stupid numbers went down since, now they are after Sam...He is great.

[LaPera]

63. Did Sam write this? Hmmmmm....I find his show boring.

I know Sam to be a dedicated liberal...He also really tries very hard to bring the progressive ideology across on the air, but personally I'll be happy to see him go... his repetition on subjects and his voice drive me crazy!

I only listen to the GREAT ones now, radio Pros!!!
Mike Malloy, Peter B Collins, Randi Rhodes & Thom Hartmann (and Bernie Ward when I'm not too burnt out from the day) on weekends ONLY "Ring of Fire" gets my attention. I much rather be listening to Peter B Collins, which I do, during Sedar's time slot.

I haven't listen to Sam for a few month's(caught him on Randi's show, a few weeks ago and turned him off)...Seder just used to irritate the fuck out of me, when a right-wing caller would spew out neocon shit and Seder so many times couldn't come up with decent rebuttals nor intelligent clever attacks...as I'm screaming say this, or say that...got to be very frustrating for me so I stopped listening...I'm just not crazy about his tone, his style, his winy going on, nor his ego...

AAR to it's credit, however, has been pushing Seder's book very hard on their web site.

www.airamericaradio.com

[madfloridian]

64. Sam has turned into one of the very best radio voices..

Maybe you need to listen more often. He is outstanding, well-researched, and stands his ground.

[Popol Vuh]

67. done

I had also earlier e-mailed Air America and informed them that if they drop Sam, I would no longer be tuning into Air America. The Majority Report is one of only three shows I listen to on that station, and of the three it is my favorite.

No Sam. No Popol tuning in.

[TheUnspeakable]

68. done! k&r