Radio Trump??
[guest post by Dana]
No, there won’t be a Radio Trump. Not yet, anyway… Instead of running with his idea to host an open line call-in radio show, 2 hours a day, every day , Trump scrapped the plan because his envisioned show would have put him in competition with Rush Limbaugh:
On a Saturday in early March, Donald J. Trump, clad in a baseball cap, strode into the Situation Room for a meeting with the coronavirus task force. He didn’t stop by the group’s daily meetings often, but he had an idea he was eager to share: He wanted to start a White House talk radio show.
At the time, the virus was rapidly spreading across the country, and Mr. Trump would soon announce a ban on European travel. A talk radio show, Mr. Trump excitedly explained, would allow him to quell Americans’ fears and answer their questions about the pandemic directly, according to three White House officials who heard the pitch. There would be no screening, he said, just an open line for people to call and engage one-on-one with the president.
But that Saturday, almost as suddenly as he proposed it, the president outlined one reason he would not be moving forward with it: He did not want to compete with Rush Limbaugh.
Although he won’t be hosting a radio show, Trump, nonetheless, continues to benefit greatly from Limbaugh’s radio show:
The president may have dropped plans for his own talk radio show. But for Mr. Trump, what Mr. Limbaugh offers is perhaps second best: a taste of the validation he craves, as well as a blueprint for how to make his supporters even happier.
Upon hearing that Trump had opted not to go forward with his proposed radio plans, Limbaugh made his own offer:
“If the president wants to do this — if he wants to come on and have a show — we’ll let him do it,” Limbaugh said on his national broadcast Wednesday.
“I’m here making it known — and I will call later, too — but I’m doing it here, making it known that this program is available to the president if he wants to audition, if he wants to use it for a town hall, if he wants to have direct connect with you, that we got it handled.”
“We could do it noon to three for as long as he wants. He could have direct connect with you in the audience. You know, not a bunch of bureaucrat experts up on the stage, and certainly no journalists choosing the questions or any of that. We’ll do it in a different way than anybody’s ever done town halls or any of that stuff.”
I can see this as a great way for Trump to rally his base during a pandemic, given that he is unable to hold in-person rallies. While he could address issues concerning the pandemic, it would likely end up being an on-air extension of his Twitter feed – basically, another avenue for airing his grievances at those whom he perceives as having wronged him and boasting about himself. Obviously it wouldn’t be the same as an in-person rally, but he could still generate a significant audience of supporters, and the call-in aspect could provide him with several hours of callers singing his praises, seven days a week. (Of course callers would be screened. He’s not foolish enough to risk getting shredded day after day…) And if he jumps on Limbaugh’s offer, he will already have a built-in audience of loyal supporters.
–Dana
Good morning.
Dana (0feb77) — 4/16/2020 @ 8:26 amGood grief!
nk (1d9030) — 4/16/2020 @ 8:30 amRight, nk?! I’m surprised that he didn’t think of this sooner, and ride on Limbaugh’s coattails… And I imagine he was very serious about the idea.
Dana (0feb77) — 4/16/2020 @ 8:33 amAnd I imagine he was very serious about the idea.
That’s the scary part.
nk (1d9030) — 4/16/2020 @ 8:34 amSounds like the old fireside chats.
NJRob (4d595c) — 4/16/2020 @ 8:36 amHe should do this. His supporters would love it and I’ll be there would be a lot of unintended comedy. I have 100$ that if it goes on for any length of time Trolls and comedians get past the screen.
Time123 (457a1d) — 4/16/2020 @ 8:49 amDo it.
mg (8cbc69) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:03 amHeads will explode.
Radio
ClashTrumpInterrupting all programs…
This is Radio Trump from pirate satellite
Strand you in your living room,
Cashing in the bill of rights
Dry run for teh Green Nude Eel?
Put that sucker down without a fight
This is Radio Trump on pirate satellite
This sound does not subscribe
To the mainstream media shyte
In the psycho shadow of the Beltway Boys
Them think they got it sewed up tight
Giving deadly exhibitions of murder by virus
This is Radio Trump puttin’ wind in all their sails
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:06 amThis is Radio Trump please save us, not the whales
This is Radio Trump underneath a silver-lined cloud
This is Radio Trump
You won’t need that funeral shroud
Oh there will be fire eventually.
Dustin (c56600) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:08 amIt gives the President to do his primary job — entertainment. In the meantime, other people can handle the governing.
Appalled (1a17de) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:15 amAnd if his ratings weren’t as good as Rush’s, what happens then?
Let’s face it, even though I often disagree with Mr. Limbaugh, he is almost always entertaining. Can anyone say the same for Mr. Trump?
John B Boddie (678895) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:19 amAnd if his ratings weren’t as good as Rush’s, what happens then?
He will do what always does: Lie. And also call them fake news. And then lie again.
nk (1d9030) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:22 amI have 100$ that if it goes on for any length of time Trolls and comedians get past the screen.
A definite conflict of interest…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 4/16/2020 @ 9:23 amScreened? It wouldn’t survive the second person calling to yell at him about a dead grandparent. He can’t actually handle criticism of any sort. Why does he imagine he’d survive on radio? Right, I forgot, he’s not bright.
Victor (4355e3) — 4/16/2020 @ 10:27 amSome of the most dangerous poopulists in our history were “great communicators”, and they showed a remarkable talent for adopting the latest modes of mass communication.
Wilson created the nation’s first Federal propaganda arm.
Both TR and FDR were great proponents of mass communication and both used it for good and evil.
LBJ was known for his innovative use of radio, TV and flight to reach mass audiences.
Duh Donald has used Twatter and mass rallies to feed his cult of personality.
What could go wrong…???
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 4/16/2020 @ 11:23 am“If the president wants to do this — if he wants to come on and have a show — we’ll let him do it,” Limbaugh said on his national broadcast Wednesday.
Translation: Azzhole spews sh!t.
Film at 11.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 4/16/2020 @ 11:58 amOur Captain gives everybody signed checks; der Fuehrer gave everybody radios.
“What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” – Dan Rather assault; CBS Nightly News anchor, October 4, 1986
DCSCA (797bc0) — 4/16/2020 @ 12:04 pmder Fuehrer gave everybody radios.
That’s true! Volksempfänger. So they could hear Goebbels every day.
nk (1d9030) — 4/16/2020 @ 12:28 pma.k.a. Air Pollution
Dave (1bb933) — 4/16/2020 @ 12:31 pmTrump could fill in for Rush Limbaugh. But only for 1 hour.
rcocean (1a839e) — 4/16/2020 @ 4:47 pmThis was in “early March” before the day that he stepped into one of the Mike Pence led briefings (March 14), and found out he liked it.
Of course, Rush Limbaugh, who anyway is relying most days on substitute hosts, offered to let Trump do his program.
He would be stumped by some questions but wouldn’t let that stop him.
Sammy Finkelman (3bf6ea) — 4/17/2020 @ 8:02 amRush Limbaugh is on live, today.
Sammy Finkelman (3bf6ea) — 4/17/2020 @ 9:22 am