Back when the Republican-controlled Senate talked about giving President Bush’s judicial nominees a straight up-or-down, simple majority consent vote rather than requiring the typical 60 votes needed for cloture, it was called the NUCLEAR OPTION. Ohhhh, scary!

That’s when that Gang of 14 swooped in to save the day and the nation. Seven Dems and 7 RINOs came together to preserve some Sentaorial dignity (oxymoronic, I know). The Dems are very noisy when in the minority, and they suddenly came to understand how important the rights of the minority are. Then they became the majority again. And now it’s not the nuclear option. It’s “a parliamentary procedure called reconciliation.”

Specifically,

Reconciliation reduces the number of votes needed to pass legislation in the 100-seat Senate to a simple majority rather than the 60 required to overcome resistance to major bills. The tactic also limits debate to no more than 20 hours and imposes restrictions on amendments.

We’ll see how those seven Dems who felt it so imprtant to preserve the traditions and dignity of the chamber when they were in the minority vote when they are in the majority. And we’ll also see how the media never mentions the term “Nuclear Option.”

Consent for the nomination power of presidents is very different from the legislative process. We’ll see where the chips fall.

KRMG FM Coverage Map (from Radio-Locator.com) - Click for big.

The big announcement from the Big KMR today is that it’s AM signal will now be simulcast on the 50,000-watt 102.3 FM frequency (formerly Spirit 102.3, a contemporary Christian music  jukebox). Though some of my online pals are underwhelmed by the announcement, the concept of an FM talk station makes me giddy (especially in that I don’t live in Tulsa proper). KRMG’s signal is notoriously weak up north (approaching Bartlesville), and both the Tulsa AM talk stations frustrate me when they have to drop their power each evening. I shared on my last WynnCast that we had applied for a non-commercial, educational (NCE) radio license for our home town. Our main format, had we been successful, would have been talk (on FM).

KRMG will be the Tulsa radio king as long as it carries Rush Limbaugh. Frankly, KRMG has a heftier overall lineup of syndicated shows (with the exception of the legend-in-his-own-mind Michael Savage). That said, I am a fan of Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin on KFAQ. But, KFAQ’s real mode of attraction (when it started up) was the passion of the live and local Michael DelGiorno and its running shows live so that listeners could participate (they even ran promos about it). Heck, in the early days of KFAQ, MDG replied to every email he received. The station’s popularity grew so rapidly that he couldn’t keep that up. That was a good thing for the station…and for Tulsa.

With the departure of John Erling (good riddance), we got Joe Kelley in the morning drive on KRMG, and with MDG heading to greener pastures in Nashville (and after the short-lived Freeman-Medlock show), we got Pat Campbell in the morning drive at KFAQ (KFAQ passing over my obvious talent). Joe and Pat are both consummate professionals and good at the mechanics of what they do, but I find them both terribly…bland. I get the real feeling they are trying so hard to walk a line of non-offensiveness that they offend me. But, I don’t get to listen to radio like I used to, so it could be all in my head.

As far as KFAQ goes, it’s not enough merely to be the other talk station in town. Newspapers are learning they can band-aid their dismal situations by cutting local reporters and filling space with nationally syndicated columns, but that doesn’t fix the big issue. Radio, in the same way, can fill time with any number of nationally syndicated hosts, many of them very good, but none of them provide the localism radio must have if it is to be successful in a market. If your national hosts are largely second-tier, if your local news team is second-best, you better out-passion and out-local-issue the other guys.

Further, KFAQ’s handling of the Medlock dismissal betrayed years of positioning. No one buys that the station that claims it is “standing up for what’s right,” did the right thing by dismissing Medlock, the only daily injection of passion and loyal opposition in Tulsa, especially so suddenly. They added insult to injury by not allowing him to say goodbye and then removing every trace of his existence from the station’s website (though it is a fairly typical practice in radio).

So, I am thrilled that KRMG is on the AM dial (and I wish KFAQ would make that leap, too), but it’s not enough merely to broaden your signal. You must broadcast something of interest to the local citizens who you want to dial in. After all, those listeners—and not the generic “they”— are the ones laying down their dollars to buy Thermal Windows, Primeaux Kias, and Inlow Tractors.

[Update @ 5:18 PM]

KXOJ, the Tulsa commercial Christian music station, is already capitalizing on the news. This via their email newsletter:

Dear Friends,

You may have heard the news already but this afternoon Cox Radio decided to change their Christian music station to Newstalk. Certainly we understand that this decision was a difficult one brought on by very real financial pressure in these difficult times. A decision of this magnitude is never easy and we do not think anyone should take it lightly. More people than ever now know how great Christian music is and for that we are very grateful.

As for us, we just want you to know that we are not going anywhere. 32 years ago KXOJ began playing Christian music and we haven’t stopped since. KXOJ represents who we are as a company and who we are as individuals, from top to bottom. In the words of Third Day, “This is who I am”.

If you had gotten used to flipping back and forth between the two stations, welcome back to KXOJ full-time. Let us know how we can serve you better and join us in putting the focus on a God who never changes.

Sincerely,

Bob Thornton
Program Director
100.9 KXOJ

Douglas E. Schoen and Scott Rasmussen report at the Wall Street Journal:

Overall, Rasmussen Reports shows a 56%-43% approval, with a third strongly disapproving of the president’s performance. This is a substantial degree of polarization so early in the administration. Mr. Obama has lost virtually all of his Republican support and a good part of his Independent support, and the trend is decidedly negative.

A detailed examination of presidential popularity after 50 days on the job similarly demonstrates a substantial drop in presidential approval relative to other elected presidents in the 20th and 21st centuries. The reason for this decline most likely has to do with doubts about the administration’s policies and their impact on peoples’ lives.

There is also a clear sense in the polling that taxes will increase for all Americans because of the stimulus, notwithstanding what the president has said about taxes going down for 95% of Americans. Close to three-quarters expect that government spending will grow under this administration. (Emphases added.)

And lest we think Rasmussen is biased or partisan:

Recent Gallup data echo these concerns. That polling shows that there are deep-seeded, underlying economic concerns. Eighty-three percent say they are worried that the steps Mr. Obama is taking to fix the economy may not work and the economy will get worse. Eighty-two percent say they are worried about the amount of money being added to the deficit. Seventy-eight percent are worried about inflation growing, and 69% say they are worried about the increasing role of the government in the U.S. economy.

When Gallup asked whether we should be spending more or less in the economic stimulus, by close to 3-to-1 margin voters said it is better to have spent less than to have spent more. When asked whether we are adding too much to the deficit or spending too little to improve the economy, by close to a 3-to-2 margin voters said that we are adding too much to the deficit.

Support for the stimulus package is dropping from narrow majority support to below that. There is no sense that the stimulus package itself will work quickly, and according to a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC poll, close to 60% said it would make only a marginal difference in the next two to four years. Rasmussen data shows that people now actually oppose Mr. Obama’s budget, 46% to 41%. Three-quarters take this position because it will lead to too much spending. And by 2-to-1, voters reject House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s call for a second stimulus package. (Emphases added.)

American’ view of Congress is still dismal. It’s bad when you have to say the rating has grown to 18%.

Despite the economic stimulus that Congress just passed and the budget and financial and mortgage bailouts that Congress is now debating, just 19% of voters believe that Congress has passed any significant legislation to improve their lives. While Congress’s approval has increased, it still stands at only 18%. Over two-thirds of voters believe members of Congress are more interested in helping their own careers than in helping the American people. When it comes to the nation’s economic issues, two-thirds of voters have more confidence in their own judgment than they do in the average member of Congress. (Emphases added.)

And, Republicans have a lot of PR work left to do.

Virtually all Americans, more than eight in 10, blame Republicans for the current economic woes, and the only two leaders with lower approval ratings than Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are Republican leaders Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. (Emphases added.)

Maybe a little genuine conservatism is the answer. You can’t out-liberal the liberals, especially if you want my support.

Ever wonder just how much a trillion dollars is? It will suprise you when you see it in comparison to other amounts. Visit my buddy Wade Burleson’s blog for an enlightening visual depiction.

Over on the American Thinker Blog, Lance Fairchok reports what we already know. There is collusion between the political and media rails of our society. This, my friends and readers, is why we pitch a fit about the Big Liberal Media.

This is especially prescient because of the recent discussion here on the WynnBlog regarding Second Amendment rights. It has long been my position that First Amendment rights to free speech are as potentially dangerous—if not more so—than the Second Amendment right to possess weapons. Yet, we require no license from the government to exercise one’s right to free speech. Any schmuck former political operative can end up hosting a supposedly objective news program one one of the dinosaur media’s networks.

And just as some irresponsible idiots can abuse their Second Amendment freedoms and do great harm, even evil, some of the talking heads America relies on for news and information abuse the right of free speech and abandon all objectivity for the sake of politics.

From the column:

Every morning, a group of old friends have a nice chat. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, CNN’s James Carville, CNN commentator Paul Begala, and Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel have a wide ranging conference call, usually starting just before dawn. Democrat Pollster Stan Greenberg is a frequent participant. They examine current events and how they fit into the new administrations policies. They determine how to best get their message to the public.

***

When they next appear on various programs as interviewers or interviewees, their comments do not conflict with each other. They have coordinated the broad themes and the topics, and after that early morning phone call they coordinate with their personal networks and associates, influencing and coaxing the comment and reportage on specific issues nationwide.

But why should this bother us? Shouldn’t we all just get along?

From an information consumer’s standpoint it is disturbing that several main networks are so tuned into White House message shaping. How can the citizen expect accurate analysis and reportage when the “journalists” that present it are so tied into the party in power? Obviously they cannot, as we have so clearly seen in the blatant bias and advocacy of last year’s campaign media coverage. The “prevailing political and media interpretation” is a nice way to say “political message.”

Those in the media should remember that it is the nature of those in power—from any party or political persuasion—to do everything possible to retain it. If you choose to be willing accomplices, there will be a price to pay, which we are already seeing with the mass downturn in traditional media viewership and readership. When you start doing your jobs—objectively—you might save the industry…and maybe the country. If you choose to stay in either party’s back pocket, you will feel the considerable heft of their backsides bearing down upon you eventually.

Oh, and there will be new permit program established to authorize you to exercise your First Amendment rights. You will be required to take an 8-hour training course at a cost of approximately $60, provide pictures and fingerprints to your local sheriff’s office (at a cost of approximately $35), undergo a background check, and pay a fee of $100 per five year period of licensure. The line forms to the right (or would you be more comfortable on the Left?).

As a long-time fan of Paul Harvey, I wanted to do something in his honor. As an homage, I created my own News & Comment feature, which you can hear here.

We miss you, sir.