Backbenchers, Bloggers, and Radio Talk Show Hosts

As a veracious consumer of news, I take subscriptions to two newspapers, one news magazine, listen to right and left wing radio talk shows, surf the web for news, and even occasionally watch some TV news.

Mark Levin, a conservative host, talks about other radio hosts as “backbenchers” because he speaks of news events before they do.  He also comes on the air in the afternoon/evening time frame, so that makes a difference.  While on the air, he sometimes pokes fun of bloggers and advertises links to what he calls “deranged bloggers”, many of whom have criticized him on the Internet.  Despite him making fun of some bloggers, he is clearly reading and searching the blogosphere for different people’s views of news events.

Fred Thomspon, former Presidential candidate, and now talk show host, also references blogs on his program.  He does not make fun of them, but actually says things like: “Let’s see what the bloggers are saying about this…” while pulling up information he talks about on the air.

Thom Hartmann, a liberal talk show host, likes to reference comments from liberal bloggers while on the air.  Ed Schultz, another liberal host, also does the same thing, usually referencing the Huffington Post.

I have heard Bill O’reilly and Michael Savage criticize bloggers saying that if people cared what they thought, they would be syndicated nationwide as they are.  That’s real classy guys.  Of course, if a person is addicted to OxyContin, they will be on the most stations nationwide!

Yesterday, I did a post about protesters turning the U.S. flag upside down.  I linked to a couple of different media sources that talk about this situation.  One site is run by a nationally syndicated talk show host: Alex Jones.

Imagine my surprise when I was listening to the podcast of his show from yesterday: he opened his program with a monologue about using an upside down flag in protests!  Did he read my blog?

I don’t know the answer to that, but is is certainly possible.  One time I did a post about a Washington D.C. based think tank, and had CBS News link to my blog.  I am a small time operation, and the high traffic caused people not to be able to see my blog.  (I don’t yet pay for extra bandwidth.)  A few hours later they stopped linking to my blog, but it was an interesting experience!

Later that day, the think tank contacted me via Twitter, and asked if they could link to my blog on their website.  The answer to that question will always be yes.

Everything I post here is for public consumption, all who read it may link to it, or discuss it on their own blogs, talk shows, or wherever they see fit.  I am honored whenever people read what I write.  That is my reward for maintaining this blog.

You can call people “backbenchers”, “deranged” and worse if you like.  I can remember when talk radio was much maligned and not taken seriously.  However, bloggers have a place in the overall public discourse.  That will not change.  The Internet is here to stay.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it.