Joe Gandelman - Independent's Eye

After nearly 30 years of rapid growth that saved the sagging AM radio format the question is being seriously asked: is conservative talk radio as we know it on the way out?

According to reports, conservative talk titan Rush Limbaugh has lost 141 advertisers due to his three-day, bordering-on-slander verbal assault on Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke. The company distributing his show has suspended his national advertising for two weeks.

Various analysts note that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is launching a radio show April 2 in direct competition with Limbaugh. There are rumblings that some stations might decide to replace Limbaugh with Huckabee. Why? Huckabee has shown wide appeal in his Fox News show where he comes across as a thoughtful conservative who prefers discussing issues to polarizing polemics.

Meanwhile, The Daily Beast's John Avlon points to a list that Premier Networks, which distributes Limbaugh and various other conservative talkers, put out containing 98 companies that don't want their ads on controversial political radio shows anymore.

This comes, Avon writes, "at a particularly difficult time for right-wing talk radio. They are playing to a (sometimes literally) dying demographic. Rush & Co. rate best among old, white males. They have been steadily losing women and young listeners, who are alienated by the angry, negative, obsessive approach to political conservations. Add to that the fact that women ages 24—55 are the prize advertising demographic, and you have a perfect storm emerging after Limbaugh's Sandra Fluke comments."

The bottom line: conservative political talk may be outdated business model.

By Tina Dupuy

Conservatives really wanted a fight about religious freedom. It appeared to be an easy win: turn an ObamaCare mandate that insurers cover birth control into a war on religion. The GOP, void of any ideas Obama hasn't contaminated by agreeing with, finds itself in an election year frantically looking for a bold battle cry. That sweet hot button issue that can excite their party and (hopefully) win them the White House (or maybe the Senate).

Their old standbys have fallen flat: Iran, abortion, climate change, child labor laws, and even gay marriage don't have the sparkle they once had for the Grand Old Party.

Republicans can't seem to get excited about Mitt Romney as their '80s-teen-movie-smug-rich-guy-stock-character nominee. Worse yet, he's Mormon, which makes evangelical leaders grumble. So having a common enemy is the best way to bring everyone together for the proverbial good fight: Freedom.

"It's important for us to win this issue," Speaker John Boehner told reporters last week. "Our government for 220 years has respected the religious views of the American people and for all of this time there's been an exception for those churches and other groups to protect the religious beliefs that they believe in. And that's being violated here."

Is Boehner coming out against anti-Sharia laws?! Or is he just conveniently forgetting the government isn't always so deferential to the pious? Mormons had to forsake polygamy to gain statehood, for one. In 1862 the then-General Ulysses S. Grant expelled Jews from his district of Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. And there were plenty of states where you couldn't hold public office if you didn't swear to believe in God (as opposed to Allah, Buddha or a flying plate of spaghetti) until the Torcaso v. Watkins decision in 1961.

This whole charade of religious freedom collapsed under the girth of Rush Limbaugh. He pivoted what was supposed to be a church and state issue into snickering about young women having sex. For three days Limbaugh railed on law student, Sandra Fluke, who testified for congressional Democrats, calling her a prostitute and a slut for speaking in public about the need for birth control coverage. So the GOP was trying to take the high (read: holy) road and there was their mouthpiece driving them all off a cliff demanding Ms. Fluke post sex videos on the Internet.

Wayne Pickett, Recreation Manager for Lewisville’s Parks and Recreation Department has announced he will officially retire on July 31, 2011. His last day in the office will be Friday, July 8.

Anyone who has known Wayne will greatly miss him.

Check it out. Mamask8z is skating! Come play with me. You wanna put your big girl panties on and roll with us?? BRING IT BABY!!!! We want you.


media@northtexasrollerdolls.com
www.northtexasrollerdolls.com
www.facebook.com/NorthTexasRollerDolls

Roller Derby in North Texas: North Texas Roller Dolls Currently Accepting New Skaters

Lewisville, TX – The North Texas Roller Dolls (NTRD), the newest all- female roller derby league in North Texas, announced its Spring 2011 Membership Drive.

NTRD skates for sport, fitness and fun! Skaters of all skill levels and sizes are encouraged to join NTRD. Those who are small, big, fast, slow, tall, or short are all accepted. Female participants age 18 and over are welcome. The training staff of NTRD will teach skaters and help them hone their skills for strength, safety, and performance.

NTRD is seeking women who are determined and willing to push themselves. Currently, the league consists of five teams: Crash Test Honeys (Training Team), Locas Muertas (Lewisville), Main Street Mafia (Lewisville), Funky Town Fugitives (Fort Worth/Haltom City), and Hickory Street Hooligans (Denton).

NTRD practices locally at two North Texas skating rinks: InterSkate Roller Rink located at 1408 S. Business Highway 121, Lewsiville, TX 75067 (www.interskate.net) and RollerWorld NE located at 5817 Denton Highway, Haltom City, TX 76148 (www.rollerworldne.com).

Volunteers of either gender that do not wish to skate, can become Non-Skating Officials (NSO). NSO positions include time keepers, scoreboard operators, statistics recorders and others. NSO’s must be 18 years of age and very detail-oriented.

Roller derby is among the fastest growing sports world-wide, according to Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). WFTDA is the international ruling organization for women’s flat track roller derby. As stated on the WFTDA website: currently there are more than 700 leagues across 25 countries around the world, up from 400 in 11 countries just one year ago. (http://wftda.com/news/wftda-2011-demographic-survey-results)

North Texas Roller Dolls operates as a non-profit, charitable organization empowering women through the sport of Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby. Representing the North Texas area, NTRD promotes athleticism, sportswomanship and community involvement to women from all walks of life. We strive to promote the sport of Roller Derby by competing in this physically demanding sport that inspires women embrace their inner strength while entertaining fans and enriching our community. NTRD follows the guidelines and standards set forth by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).



For information contact:
Jennifer “Fluffy” Southwell
media@northtexasrollerdolls.com
214/497-5382

This was inadvertently posted twice by the author. Here's the full article.

You may remember Tim Barnwell, the Democratic candidate who ran for U.S. Representative in 2006. Barnwell is announcing his run for Mayor of the newly recognized Town of Providence Village:

As we and others did last year, WhosPlayin again endorses T.J. Gilmore in the race for Lewisville City Council, Place 4.

T.J. Gilmore is a tireless advocate of Lewisville, spending countless hours working on the issues that make a difference to Lewisville both today and in the future. I know him to be a thoughtful, analytical, and practical leader who studies the issues carefully, and prefers to be proactive rather than knee-jerk reactive. Gilmore will focus on pragmatic, proven, fiscally responsible, and economics-based solutions for adding value to our city, rather than heavy-handed division for cheap political points. Though we may not agree on every issue, I will always have faith that T.J. has researched the issues and considered all points of view. I'm proud to offer T.J. my full support in his race for Lewisville City Council, Place 4.

-
Steve Southwell,
Editor

Early voting begins today. See voting locations.

A former Bostonians view of how Scott Brown won.


As the Republican Party celebrates what it perceives as a tough warning to the president with his health Care Plans and general spending habits with the election of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate. I feel the need to put this in prospective. At least to me and I am sure many Massachusetts voters.

Just to let you know I will not be accepting your money for my vote. If you really want my vote, I will give you a few ideas on how to earn it.

On Sunday October 7, 2001 The War in Afghanistan began . This was my war.