Buffalo News Page D2
City Region has a great article by Stephen Watson about the WBEN blacklisting of us bloggers. (UPDATE: Now online).
I feel compelled to address a few things.
But WBEN program director Tim Wenger said he made the change only because he wants better-known political and media figures on the show – not in response to online critiques.
Wenger denied to the Buffalo News that online criticism of Bauerle and Beach had anything to do with the blacklisting.
That, my friends, is false.
I wrote yesterday’s post at 5:30 a.m., but left it in draft mode until I had the opportunity to speak with Wenger directly. That conversation happened sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 am yesterday. I took contemporaneous notes, so that I could accurately convey what was discussed. (It’s an occupational hazard).
The first reason Wenger gave me for the blacklisting was “online criticism” of his on-air talent, and that he “doesn’t have to open up his airwaves” to people who don’t like what his talent does, and criticizes them so stridently. The quoted bits are Wenger’s words verbatim.
Suffice it to say that my comments yesterday are 100% accurate, because I have nothing to gain from manufacturing them.
Wenger told the News that the only reason for our blacklisting was:
“I want people on the show [who] have name recognition.”
In our conversation, Wenger did mention to me as a second, throwaway excuse, that the show is intended for political people to appear, and also for what Wenger basically insinuated were “real” media reporters.
Hooray for a side of insult with that plate of blacklist.
Radio listenership is declining while internet usage is growing.
The people who write and read blogs and obtain their news via the internet are the members of the most coveted demographic – one that has no use for the rantings and ravings of AM talk radio. Opinion engenders discussion, and I don’t get to pot down the volume on my commenters, and I don’t cut them off when I don’t like what they say.
Also, my audience grows and grows based on the quality of what I write. I wrote about the same crap in the same way in 2004 when I had 10 visitors a day as I do now when I get thousands of eyeballs per day. I do it for the love of it – no remote blogging appearances at G&G Fitness for me. My audience is intelligent, informed, has disposable income, and is active in the community.
Buffalo’s is the #52 radio market in the country. If this was a bigger market, the blacklisting of progressive bloggers from a city’s only conservative talk radio station, this would be a national embarrassment for Entercom.
And guess what? I might not personally have a lot of name recognition, but this blog sure does. “Real” reporters respect what I do.
Hardwick’s show is such a breath of fresh air on that station. He’s smart, he’s not obnoxious, and he’s respectful to callers and guests. His show has discussions similar to those in the blogosphere.
Here’s the issue for Entercom.
Sandy Beach is no longer the only viable choice for PM drive-time. I get to hear Robin’s news on Sirius channel 100. Or maybe the Scott Mills show on BBC 1 on channel 11. I don’t have to rely on Tom Bauerle for local commentary. I can check out BuffaloGeek or Buffalo Rising or Random Thoughts 101.
Additional choices and alternative voices.
Hardwick said no other guests have ever been blackballed and he never has had to get prior approval for a guest.
If we’re such nobodies, why the blacklisting? Where’s the threat?
Does Kathy from Williamsville have to run her guests by Wenger first? Has Wenger ever Googled Bauerle’s sainted Northeast Intelligence Network, or seen its wikipedia entry, or Googled Douglas Hagmann? Is he and the accusations that he’s a admitted plagiarist and a hack the kind of recognizable name that WBEN wants on its airwaves?
Probably not. But let’s lose the mean bloggers.
I don’t take it lightly that Wenger denied to the News that our criticism of his air talent had anything to do with this blacklisting, and I think it speaks volumes all around.
Bauerle and Beach did not return phone and e-mail messages Friday Afternoon. When asked if Bauerle or Beach had complained about the bloggers, Wenger declined comment.
I’m sure like most corporations, Entercom has very strict guidelines as to when and how its employees interact with reporters in situations such as these, and I have no doubt that Beach and Bauerle are prohibited from commenting on the matter. Wenger’s refusal to comment is not a denial, and I therefore take it as an implicit admission.
Feel free to e-mail him and ask him why, e.g., it’s ok for Beach to mock Dobson and Bauerle to mock Noori. Ask him for a list of other individuals who are blacklisted from WBEN’s air. (As an added bonus, I hereby invite Bauerle and/or Beach and/or Wenger to e-mail me something that I will offer to publish, un-edited, on the main page as a guest post. I blacklist no one.)
The blacklisting is absurd and ridiculous. Trying to make me out to be a liar by denying the primary reason given to me for the blacklisting is truly crushing.
Go ahead and comment, fellas. I promise I won’t cut you off.
46 Comments
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It was quite interesting see how the News made the brave decision to attack WBEN for an admittedly ridiculous process of blacklisting, yet the News buried it on D2. We’re talking about some basic constitutional rights to free speech (would WBEN allow buffalopundit back on if he agrees to squelch comments on Bauerle?), aren’t we? Is it really that important to see yet another “poor John Filthy Rich Rigas” on the front page?
Will the News editorial board again kick into high gear with an editorial by next Wednesday?
Oh, for the days of a 2 newspaper town…
hi, someone ought to black ball baurle..hes a imus, linbaugh wanna be i dont know why winger wont get rid of the guy hes all full of himself i like beach, but 9am to 12 tom talks 45 min. takes 1 call then does comericials hes a joke>>>
Well, there seems to be an obvious failure to recognize that a station is under no obligation to have you on the air….. Get over it. You are starting to sound like the clients who come in to see lawyers after being laid off from work, demanding to sue their former employer for wrongful discharge. Why is your take on good programming superior to that of the station’s? Grow up, stop the pity party, and if it is that much of a perceived slight, then take some affirmative retaliatory action. Throwing a wet hanky at Wenger, et al. ain’t going to do it. If you think that you are so important as to merit radio time, then translate that importance into action!
Terry: No one said there was any obligation to have me on the air, and I don’t need a lecture from you. Sorry that my comments on my site about what’s going on with me and my site don’t meet with your approval. But that’s kind of what I do
And what we do is comment on same, and it seems if as those comments, whether written here, or formulated in an invitation NOT to return to the glorious airwaves of WBEN, tend to ruffle your feathers…… I am not saying that you are wrong for feeling aggrieved. I am merely saying that a “man” of your intelligence and professional status could certainly find satisfaction in some payback. n’est-ce pas?
Wenger is an employee of the station and his actions should reflect whatever enhances revenue, by way of increasing listenership and advertising dollars. If I was owner, that would be my instructions to him. If he did this simply to quash opinion, then he isn’t doing his job.
If people don’t listen, advertisers dry up and the show will eventually be taken off the air. Everyone has their own tastes and some people like to listen to shows that do not reflect their personal views.
I happen to enjoy Baurle’s show and can’t listen to Sandy Beach or Rush. I just get bored with them.
That being said, Hardwick is must-listening for me, but the best shows are those with local politicians on. Any talk radio with opinion gathered from the host or guests with no decision making power is old and predictable to me after a short period I enjoy this and other Blogs, but I just don’t think that the Bloggers or even traditional media reporters are as good on radio (as guests) as the desicion makers, at least not on Hardwick’s show. They don’t add anything except their opinion, which is just another opinion, not the multitude you get on the blogs.
Keep up the good work on the Blog, and I hope that Hardwick’s show doesn’t suffer or get pulled because of this incident.
Don’t worry. I’ve been thinking about it.
Good. I am sick and tired of jerks getting away with all sorts of nonsense with apparent impunity.
I had previously written in another post that I thought it was all about the listeners, which equals advertising revenue. However, since reading more about this through BP and the News that Wenger has his wanger in a wringer over bloggers.
That is so pathetic.
It’s about time someone took one TB and his fear mongering, days of destruction are coming attitude. After paying rather strict attention to Bauerle and Hagman regarding “threats” etc. I find that few, if any, have come to fruition. But then they just pass them off by saying, “well we can’t tell you our sources but…..certain things occurred and were stopped in the nick of time” Bah Humbug! Keep up the good work pundit!
I’d go scrub myself with Brillo if I thought that some Liberal was rubbing off on me, but Terry’s comments cracked me up. But I sure as hell don’t see it the way HE does.
I didn’t get from Alan’s posts (and I read just about all of them, so I’m used to his style) that it was about HIM, or the other bloggers at all.
As I consider myself a patriot, I believe in the Constitution. Free Speech is a big part of what we’re about as a people. This isn’t the Middle East, after all.
And I realize fully there’s certainly no requirement that a Radio Station have anyone on the air, or in the Studio. They do have some editorial discretion. But there’s a line that the average person can see between Editorial Discretion and Censorship.
If the on-air talent of the station are controversial in their subject matter (this I don’t believe is true, it’s just leaning moderate to heavily Conservative) Or in their on-air Persona (which is DEFINITELY TRUE), then the station manager should be prepared to ocassionally field some spears from the public about it. That shouldn’t mean that the big names in the Blogosphere should be Blacklisted, either totally or in part.
IF the on-air persons can’t take the heat—and apparently they can or they just don’t give a shit—then the Station Manager should be magnamous enough to give their side of the issues, in the public interest if for no other reason.
Coming from someone who probably agrees with the local bloggers in question on national issues about 1% of the time, this should say something to the managment of the station. What they’re doing isn’t necessarily wrong, but it’s a long way from being right.
It’s 70 degrees outside right now, so I’m gonna go sort parts in the garage until it’s dark, and see how much the discussion grows.
Alan, perhaps I’ve just been reading you so long I know you better than Terry does. I don’t read Geek as much, but you both seem to have the same ethical wavelength.
I don’t think anyone has a constitutional right to to be on WBEN as a guest on a show…I don’t think it has anything to do with censorship either per se…the disturbing thing is that we are now getting conflicting reports from Wenger and Alan as to what the reasons behind taking “The Know Nothings” off the air were…I don’t know Wenger but I know Alan…he is right on in being po’d about Wenger singing a different song to the news…it is all about credibility…
I can accept that WBEN would want Kevin Hardwick to change up his show for a variety of reasons…that is the nature of radio…I can even accept if the reason was the bloggers baggin on other WBEN hosts…again that is the nature of the biz…but Wenger giving conflicting answers is wrong…
It would have been easiest for WBEN to apply basic economics, something like this:
“Kevin: I hate to break it to you but whenever you bring those purple-haired bloggers on the air, our ratings take a hit. Now, mind you, your ratings are miniscule anyway because you’re too smart and not loud or obnoxious enough and often go head-to-head with church, the Bills’ pregame show, sleeping in, and what have you, but it gets even worse when you bring on that slimy Bedenko character who, by the way, hates the very essence of what our station stands for, the self-described Geek, some random-thinking random dude (but at least I can pronounce his name), and that other guy with a weird name…what is it, Hussein Obama or something? Here’s the Nielsen graph. See the dip?”
Now how could we say “No” to that?
this is not a second amendment issue, has nothing to do with freedom of speech or the rights of man. this isn’t personal. wben has made a business decision to attempt to limit exposure to buffalo’s new media and, they’re hoping, marginalize us. alan, take this weekend for yourself and watch the first two ‘godfather’ movies. don’t bother right now with ‘network,’ ‘good night and good luck’ or anything else that subtle, only the first two gofathers will do. that’s the media business, my friend, and your recent experience shows you’ve become a player in it. and the rules are there are no rules. somebody hits you, you hit them back twice.
Buffalo Pundit, I have been following your posts for two days on this. At first I didn’t understand how you could have taken things so lightly. I left comments & made a few of my own posts [on my blog] about this same story “if it were me”. Again, if it were me I wouldn’t take a bitch-slapping sitting down because they [the station] can’t push their ultra conservativeness onto everyone in WNY. This is the perfect example of being controlled. Who likes being controlled? I honestly feel bad for Kevin Hardwick & I hope everyone reading this calls in on his show tomorrow & tells it over the areways what babies Sandy Beach & Tom Bauerle really are. I would like hear people singing his [Kevin's] praises for staying on at a station who has censored his 2-hour talk show.
I’m going to send off a few messages [because I know they are reading]:
Buffalo Pundit, I am supporting you in all of this. No one should be censored in a country who’s first right is freedom of speech.
Kevin Hardwick, I have so much respect for you, & your show. I worry if your show will be a program platform to fall inline with same as the Beach & Bauerle mash.
Tom & Sandy, grow some balls & learn how to understand that not everyone in WNY is going to follow your words [on your talk shows] like Sunday morning church. I said it before & I’ll say it again “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”.
Where’s my Tylenol!
Wow and to go and lie about it to the News, good going. Oh well, sounds like they cannot stand by their bad decision.
I really dont follow blogs very much but its about time somebody took on wben and tom and sandy. TB will only allow callers who agree with his view. whenever a caller disagrees with him he ridicules that caller. TB acts like an immature 20 year old. A different point of view is always welcome. good job
Mike is completely right on the issue. Its not about censorship per se, as it is trying to limit exposure to Buffalo’s New media.
Alan, Chris and I know that in the last year, we have done a remarkable job in taking advantage of the brainless “old media” in this town to market ourselves.
As we prepare to expand our media position in the Buffalo’s market place, people like wenger are nervous that they cannot compete at the low cost and high content that we provide everyday.
I also agree with Mike, that we (New media) need to hit and then hit again, despite our feelings for the good professor and his fabulous radio show.
Instead of giving in to Wanger and his wangless band of morons, Hardwick should take that show off WBEN and move it to our websites. We could double his audience by having that show archived and available 24/7 for people to listen to.
We’d even pay you the 120 bucks a week Kevin what do ya say?
To get away a bit from the WBEN/Wenger/Bauerle/Beach bashing a bit, I wnt to comment on something Alan stated earlier in this thread.
BuffaloPundit said the following:
“Here’s the issue for Entercom.
Sandy Beach is no longer the only viable choice for PM drive-time. I get to hear Robin’s news on Sirius channel 100. Or maybe the Scott Mills show on BBC 1 on channel 11. I don’t have to rely on Tom Bauerle for local commentary. I can check out BuffaloGeek or Buffalo Rising or Random Thoughts 101.
Additional choices and alternative voices.”
I’d add another local radio show that has had an impact on the PM drive time shift of 3 to 7 p.m.
“The Shredd ‘N Ragan Show”
Shredd and Ragan got boned by getting yanked off the AM drive time slot on WEDG 103.3 FM despite having solid numbers and hitting home runs in the demographics their show targets. They are replaced by “Opie and Anthony” and it remains to be seen if a non-local shock jock show will get the same ratings that S&R were pulling in for over a decade at 103.3 FM.
Anyways, let’s just say that I believe both “Beach and Company” and “Mike Schopp and The Bulldog” are going to see their numbers go down in terms of the Arbitron ratings because S&R are now on weekday afternoons from 3 to 7 p.m.
S&R talk LOCAL ISSUES (which includes politics, current events and sports) and the discussions are not as politically driven as they may be on Beach’s show. Schopp and The Bulldog talk mainly sports with some pop culture references sprinkled in here and there.
What am I getting at? Entercom can’t be happy that S&R are now on weekday afternoons and going head-to-head with Beach’s program and Schopp and Bulldog’s program. S&R have a proven track record, solid numbers and have caused others to take notice that they are going to pull in new listeners that 103.3 FM didn’t have prior to S&R getting “demoted” to the PM drive time shift.
It should be interesting to watch how it all plays out over the next six to eight months. If and when Beach does retire (I understand there are rumors floating around that he may step down sometime in ‘07 and then Ron Dobson would slide into that shift) will have a major impact on PM drive time in Buffalo. Plus who knows how long Mike Schopp is going to stay in this market or even stay in the talk radio biz – he’s got past experienced as a print journalist and most anyone who listens to him on ‘GR these days can tell he’s getting a bit worn out from the four-hours-a-day-sports-talk-gig.
OK, just wanted to throw that out there. Discuss amongst yourselves or return to the original topic at hand.
From the perspective of a hippie/patriot and a U.S. honorable discharged veteran I would take it as a compliment to be banned by WBEN Radio.
This suppression of opinions to the left of center is a reaction to the last election where the neo con perception management was defeated at the polls. Locally we have recently witnessed the Voice of Reason being squashed. Banning is a perception management tool to disallow diversity of opinion in Buffalo. The business community in corordiation with the Republican Party want only their message heard.
Al Frankin is as dangerous to George Bush’s power as Chevy Chase was part of the
equation that caused President Ford to loose respect in America and the election to
Carter. Buffalo bloggers with opinions that are counter to Bauerle and Beach’s pose a threat to their electro magnetic broadcast existence.
Hey Douglas Hagmann, Tom Bauerle, and Sandy Beach you tell us we need to be in Iraq to get rid of weapons of mass destruction. Then you tell us that we are there to establish a stable democracy and then you tell us that we are there to fight terrorism.
We know that it’s about helping big oil and big coal. We know that we are not working for some cause to destroy our country when we defend free speech and liberty for all.
Hello there are at least four wars going on in Iqaq right now. We don’t belong in any of them. We caused them all. Congress is going to cut funding off to King Georges wrongful war in Iraq and WBEN can ban away but it doesn’t matter any more. Most of the country isn’t listening to your contrived messages and pompous rhetoric.
WBEN Talk Radio, the Jerry Springer Show, and the hanging on Sadaam is all carnival show business. I want any part of of it. I don’t call, and listen less and less to WBEN Talk Radio. The ratings may be good but the content stinks and manipulates public opinion away from issues like jobs and health care for all Americans.
Be proud to be a banned American.
One other thing that I wonder. Did WBEN Talk Radio ban Nancy Golden because she told them something that they didn’t like? She too has vanished off their perspicuous and lofty programing like a ghost.
Today I checked out this blog for the first time after reading the story in the Buffalo News, and I have some observations.
First, the bloggers are not banned from WBEN. They merely will no longer be permanent guests on Hardwick’s show. They are still allowed to call in as any other caller. The cry of censorship is over the top alarmist.
Second, much has been said about the conservative hosts of WBEN. Well if you don’t like it, change the station. I’m not surprised over this outrage that a conservative has an opinion. It seems that the left can’t stand a view that differs from thiers. Liberals have had a perpetual hissy fit over Fox News for years. Yet they seem to forget that they own ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, The NY Times and most other media outlets. Oh and I must not forget the federally funded (my tax dollars) NPR. Must conservatives be silenced everywhere?
Lastly, has anyone considered that Wenger’s statements in the Buffalo News may have been edited? I find it very hard to believe that Wengert would outright lie knowing the workings of blogs. Perhaps some of his comments were omitted, or taken out of context. Much has been said about radio losing ratings due to the internet. Well, how about print media? Could the News be trying to stir things up to gain readership?
Bridgette:
I called in to Hardwick’s show at 10:05 every single Sunday as a scheduled thing. I am now blacklisted from doing that, and I am prohibited from setting foot in WBEN’s studios. I’m not the one who cried “censorship” because I don’t see is as that. I see it as a shortsighted, dumb move.
I couldn’t care less about whether WBEN hires Bauerle or Beach or Limbaugh. God bless them. But this blog is mine, and if Bauerle can mercilessly hector a misguided teenager over Bucky Phillips, I can criticize him here all I want.
Lastly, Watson told me that Wenger was denying that the criticism of Bauerle on the blogs had anything to do with the banning. Wenger did not tell the truth to Watson.
If one more person calls this censorship, I’m gonna puke.
Let’s say that you had me over your house for a party. And, let’s say I started bad-mouthing a member of your family. Well, odds are good that you would not have me back to your house.
You are in their house when you’re on the air. Let’s not mix Hardwick up with an actual News program, that would be a different story.
Having said that, Baurle IS an ass.
Oh Mr. BuffaloPundit I couldn’t disagree with you more about the “misguided teenager”. She obviously hasn’t learned not to take candy from strangers. Hopefully some public humiliation will kick some sense into her gullible head. Many criminals exhibit a friendly, kind, and loving persona while inside they are really bad guys. Trust is what they are aiming for until they can take their advantage. Phillips is a career criminal and a KILLER. He deserves no forgiveness nor admiration. Knowing he has a true believer in this girl, he may ask her to befriend one of his lowlife friends. I pray that any flak this girl has taken from Bauerle’s comments has led her to rethink her loyalty. It may save her life.
“Liberals have had a perpetual hissy fit over Fox News for years. Yet they seem to forget that they own ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, The NY Times and most other media outlets. ”
I thought a bunch of corporations owned these media outlets? BUT NO! It’s the nameless, faceless liberals — those crazy liberals. Haw haw Waffles.
Please Jen, stop being so petty. In contemporary lingo “own” means to dominate. As in “the Buffalo Sabres own the NHL”.
But if you do want to get specific, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and the NY TImes are part of corporations that are owned by stockholders. Except the liberal NPR which as I said is federally funded (my tax dollars).
Typical liberal tactic. Rather than adress the argument, nit pick the language. Pretty small of you Jen. Oh and I don’t mean your height.
How nice to sit back and watch new conservatives get into it!
There’s a line between Editorial Discretion and Censorship. Not allowing the opposite viewpoint to come onto ONE show, on SUNDAY AM, because some of these people have criticized the On-Air Talent??
Well perhaps it isn’t clear censorship—so it’s just stupid. Either way, (and we can’t be in the Station manager’s head so we don’t know which) it gives Conservatism a black eye.
More likely than not, the flak that girl took thanks to Mr. Bauerle consisted of threats of physical violence from members of his audience.
I do not support threats of violence in any way. That being said…
This girl has now learned a valuable life lesson: actions have consequences. Support a killer, people will not like you.
Also, this girl’s cheerleading for Phillips was reported on all Buffalo media, not exclusively WBEN.
And I hesitate to engage in a dialogue when your opening statement is “more likely than not”. Do you know for a fact that she has been threatened or are you just surmising?
Bridgette: Then would you mind telling me why the “liberal” NPR has accepted underwriting from companies like Wal-Mart?
And would you be so kind as to tell all of us how much of your tax money gets paid into NPR,since you’re so upset by it?
Carl, NPR is a non-for-profit entity whose existence is dependent upon donations (individual and corporate) and government grants. The key word here is government. Since the government cannot generate its own income, the only money it has is what it takes from the citizens in the form of taxes. I don’t know exactly how much of my tax dollars are given to NPR, but I have no say about it. I personally feel that NPR’s political leanings are left. Mara Liasson, Terry Gross! Give me an example of a conservative on their airwaves. All other media must compete in the marketplace. No ratings, no advertisers, no income. NPR gets a free pass in part by government funding. I simply feel that a broadcast station should survive on its own merits and not on my dime (Jen – that is an expression. I didn’t literally mean my ten cents).
Some questions for you Carl:
Why do you suggest that NPR and Wal-Mart are contradictory?
Is there a reason that Wal-Mart shouldn’t contribute to NPR or is there a reason that NPR shouldn’t accept Wal-Mart’s money?
Or are you focusing on the word “liberal”? And if so, what is the problem that liberals have with Wal-Mart?
- “I simply feel that a broadcast station should survive on its own merits and not on my dime.”
That’s your opinion, fine, but I disagree. I think it’s important that there is a radio outlet that is publicly funded. Any commercial, for-profit media outlet is subject to the demands of its sponsors, whose sole goal is to increase profits. NPR (along with the CBC and BBC elsewhere) is free to be subjective.
- “… what is the problem that liberals have with Wal-Mart?”
LOTS. They are extremely hostile towards labor unions. They demand low costs from their suppliers, which force the suppliers to shortchange their workers. They epitomize the unfettered free market, which many liberals believe needs to be tempered by a watchful government (i’d love to see how little they’d pay their workers if there wasn’t minimum wage laws). They deny their workers overtime pay even when its warranted…. I could go on, but thinking about WalMart this much is making my head hurt….
Back to the topic, I wouldn’t call this whole ordeal “censorship”. I can understand that the top-line talent (Bauerle and Beach) would be upset about being badmouthed on the weekend morning show. Having been in radio (PD of the college station!), and having a family member work in commercial radio, I know that the weekend talent (especially weekend morning folks) is definitely the bottom of the totem pole. However, the PD’s main goal should be to program the station to maximize ratings. If there’s a petty squabble between talent, settle it on the side.
That’s your opinion, fine, but I disagree. I think it’s important that there is a radio outlet that is publicly funded.
Why do you think that? Could it be that the crap spewed on NPR wouldn’t reach an audience without government funding? Air America found out you don’t survive in the marketplace running a for-profit business like a 501 (c) (3) PAC.
Advertisers pay for spots on programs that people LISTEN TO. If you want to listen to it, PAY FOR IT YOURSELF, because it’s obvious that NPR would sink like a stone if it had to sell advertising.
- “… what is the problem that liberals have with Wal-Mart?â€
LOTS. They are extremely hostile towards labor unions.
GOOD–UNIONS SUCK. They take worker’s money, donate it to political candidates regardless of the interests of the people giving them the money, and when the employer tires of the unions crap and moves the business out of Union Land, either down South or overseas, the Union people slink away like the scum they are, and the workers are left with their dicks in their hands, and NO JOB. Good deal .
(i’d love to see how little they’d pay their workers if there wasn’t minimum wage laws). They deny their workers overtime pay even when its warranted…. I could go on, but thinking about WalMart this much is making my head hurt….
Wake up libbie–NOBODY MAKES YOU TAKE A MINIMUM WAGE JOB. IF ther was NO minimum wage, and the employer offered 7.00/hr and nobody took the job, well then they’d have to raise the wage until someone does.
Here in Buffalo South, a kid working at ARBY’s makes TEN BUCKS AN HOUR—because NC has NO MININUM WAGE LAW, and nobody will take jobs at the federal wage. Greater Charlotte now has negative unemployment, when you figure in the people who can’t work, and those who just won’t–those “poor people” that liberals need to keep sitting home on their asses with our tax dollars because they just don’t want to work.
Get your tail out of Blue NY and see how the rest of the country makes it, they’re doing great, while Buffalo sits in squalor.
Several months ago, while Air America was still broadcasting, the Buffalo News published a HUGE article on talk radio in WNY/Buffalo and compared conservative to liberal stations, with quotes from such “luminaries” as Bauerle and Beach and “liberal communists” like Randy Rhodes. Bauerle was quoted as saying “they (other radio hosts) should be more like me..(paraphrased).”
I’ve listened to WBEN/WGR for over 20 years, following Bauerle’s career from the very beginning when he had SOME humility and was a flaming liberal which to him now is synonymous with a communist.
It is COMMON KNOWLEDGE that while attending high school in Kenmore, Bauerle belonged to a White Supremecist club. Any perusal of an older yearbook will attest to this, although Bauerle once commented that he “used to be stupid” regarding being a racist, without qualifying that he virtually was a neo-nazi.
If this post sounds “hateful,” then I have good, personal reasons to despise WBEN and its affiliates. No one media outlet should wield so much power and influence in a small city like Buffalo.
Neo-conservative egos like Bauerle and Beach with their flawed-logical arguments, self-righteous scatology and malicious ranting belongs in the sewer, as do these “compassionate” sewer mouths.
Tim Wenger? Like his “talent” he’s an overpaid meglomaniac with no conscience, like his on-air “talent,” Bauerle and Beach, two fellow meglomaniacs who go out of their way to be hated.
I guess that extra $10 – $20,000+ Bauerle and Beach are earning as ultra-conservatives to a huge audience are worth the trade-off of their consciences (if any!) and its easy to live with lies when you’re earning the big bucks.
I miss Air America.
Scoot D. Snitzer wrote : #”It is COMMON KNOWLEDGE that while attending high school in Kenmore, Bauerle belonged to a White Supremecist club. Any perusal of an older yearbook will attest to this, although Bauerle once commented that he “used to be stupid†regarding being a racist, without qualifying that he virtually was a neo-nazi.”#
Please elaborate Mr. Snitzer ! I don’t have ready access to old Kenmore yearbooks, but would love to hear more about this !
Sorry – it’s Scott, not Scoot -oh well, I guess t’s stilll too early for me.
About 2 years ago, I called-in to WBEN’s “Ask the Manager” segment with Wenger and Beach fielding calls.
(asking pointed questions on talk radio shows is an old hobby of mine, and these guys know me pretty well)
I asked Wenger why WBEN’s signal disappeared atfter 5pm in the 2nd and 3rd ring suburbs of Erie County. He feigned ignorance. But I knew he would. I had asked this same question often in the previous decades to other talk show jockeys. I knew I was messing with a family secret. Wenger asked Beach, on air “Can you hit the dump button now?” And I was gone.
Advertisers pay big dollars for big ratings on WBEN. Suppose these advertisers discovered that listeners can’t hear the radio station after 5pm? It becomes static. All hell would break loose. Why would an advertiser pay good money for phantom rating, for static?
I believe that WBEN’s signal is turned toward Toronto for better ratings. Larry King used to brag that WBEN’s signal “went BOOMING into Toronto”.
King knew that Toronto was an important demographic for anyone’s radio ratings/revenue and contributed greatly to King’s 9 million “Open Phone America” listenership.
So I think that WBEN’s family “secret” is that many local advertisers are paying high advertising rates for Canadian listeners who live too far away to buy their products or services.
I have been “banned” from both Beach and Bauerle shows. They DONOT want callers with contrary opinions. These guys are extremely thinned skinned. And they are not very good arguers, in a honest debate. Like Limbaugh, they rarely bring in guests who can hold their own in an argument or with whom they disagree.
The ‘banning” works like this: You call in, then ask the phone person how many calls are ahead of you. “Three”, they might say. Then you wait.
After 15 or 20 calls you get the idea that you’re not getting on. Bauerle and Beach can see my name on their screen and might think “Screw Bob”, and not pick up my line. I knew the game. I could give a false name, but I won’t. Sometimes I would set the phone down, drive to the store to buy some things, come back 2 hours later, and pick up the phone –still on hold. lol.
But beyond the gamesmanship and pettiness of WBEN people, there is a serious issue: censorship. Radio talk show across America have debated the important issues of the day – Iraq, Afganiston, Bush ad infinitum – there are tons of important issues. But the people of Buffalo are denied any local talk show participation. No debates about Iraq in Buffalo. None. Nothing critical of GW Bush will be aired by “The Voice of Buffalo”
This is censorship, plain and simple. I complain to the FCC and to the advertisers themselves.
Advertisers usually have no idea what content they are paying for and usually are shocked to find out. And they are stunned to find that their commercials cant be heard in the burbs. I always tell them not to take my word for it, but rather to tune-in to WBEN tonight, not in the car, but on their home radio, and see what happens. Go ahead, listen, see for yourself.
I think the Congress will reinstate the equal-time provision and these abuses will end.
Call the FCC, your congressmen, and some advertisers. This problem will end. These are PUBLIC airwaves. They dont belong to any right wing entity.
Do something. Light one candle….