NPR in panic mode over possible cuts

NPR said it’s “imperative” that it receives federal funding in light of a recommended cuts by the leaders of President Obama’s fiscal commission.

“Federal funding has been a central component of public radio stations’ ability to serve audiences across the country,” NPR said in a statement. “It’s imperative for funding to continue to ensure that this essential tool of democracy survives and thrives well into the future.”

from TheHill.com

If this is so “‘essential” to American democracy, then it should survive in the open market.  Why it is that talk shows like Rush, Beck, Hannity and Levin can all sustain themselves without federal aide but AirAmerica went belly up? Could it be that there is virtually no market for liberal radio?  Just like newspapers and magazines, radio money comes from selling advertising. If any talk show can’t get ad dollars because no one is listening, that’s not the taxpayers problem. Conservative radio stands or falls on it’s own, so should liberal radio.

Maybe Vivian Schiller should have thought of how “imperative” that funding is to NPR before she had an underling fire Juan Williams and then inferred that he was in need of psychiatric help.

Firing Williams because he was a commentator on Fox News unmasked the hypocrisy of NPR and the desire to restrict free speech when it’s not YOUR speech certainly harmed NPR in the eyes of most Americans. But beyond that, financing public broadcasting is a waste of tax dollars. We can all survive without PBS and NPR.

 

 

Stupid Harry sticks his foot in it again – Just love this guy!

Chris Coons is Harry’s pet and the blogosphere is abuzz with this new little gem out of Harry’s mouth.  But Harry’s been Obamas lapdog since day 1 of this American nightmare called the Obama administration, so he should know best about being someone’s beloved pet.

From The Atlantic Wire:

• ‘Well This Is Odd’ writes Mary Katharine Ham at The Weekly Standard. “Is there any way he could have complimented his friend and sounded more off-putting and out of touch with the electorate? …In my head, Harry Reid is Dr. Evil, creepily patting the head of Mr. Bigglesworth, the next senator from the great state of Delaware.”

• This is ‘Sheer Dr. Evil Goofiness’ chuckles Allahpundit at the blog Hot Air. Does Reid, “not understand that his endorsement doesn’t help, even in a blue state? His national favorable rating is 26/56; I can’t find numbers for Delaware, but if The One’s approval rating is now underwater there, surely the vastly less likable Reid is deep into negative territory. Why would any semi-coherent Democrat want to nationalize this race in a year when the Democrats’ national brand is pure poison for their candidates?”

• ‘Creepy Harry Reid Hands O’Donnell Her First General Election Ad’ concludes Michelle Malkin on her blog. “And go ahead, Democrats. Keep gloating about how you’ve got Delaware in the bag.”

Obama’s failing presidency

America is watching the president alternate between wringing his hands in helplessness and pointing his finger in blame when he should be solving the most pressing environmental problem America has faced in the past 50 years. We are watching generations of environmental protection swept away as marshes, fisheries, vacation spots, recreational beaches, wetlands, hatcheries and sanctuaries fall prey to the oil spill invasion. And, all the while, the president acts like a spectator, interrupting his basketball games only to excoriate BP for its failure to contain the spill.

… After pursuing a remarkably activist, if misguided and foolhardy, agenda, Obama seems not to know what to do and finds himself consigned to the roles of observer and critic.

America is getting the point that its president doesn’t have a clue. Dick Morris