It's just after 3 – been listening to it for a coupla hours now. I'm psyched about this network's existence, but man do they need to work out the kinks. (Of course, it's day one; and Conan O'Brien looked like the worst talk-show host ever on his day one, too.)

The bit about locking Coulter in the green room – a reasonably good Coulter impersonator, and you're right that she does sound a lot like Neuwirth – was a clever idea that never became funny. The incessant house ads inviting advertisers to "please call" about buying airtime, and the constant ads for XM Satellite radio (probably comped), only remind you every other minute how shoestring the operation is.

OTOH, an interview by Al Franken & co. with Bob Kerrey was sober in the best ways, and they even got a little wit out of him. And I hate to say it, but when Michael Moore came on to talk to Franken, things livened up tenfold. Franken's just too dry for radio, methinks, but Moore – whatever his faults, and there are many – is just a great radio personality.

I've decided that Moore could be our Rush Limbaugh: a pompous blowhard who gives good radio, preaches to the choir and possibly expands said choir to include other mad-as-hell types who wouldn't normally listen to a liberal radio network. Like Bowling for Columbine, an often maddeningly obtuse film that's still awesome entertainment and makes a slew of good points, Moore just knows how to push buttons. And on the radio, that's really what you need to do.

If you want some good liberal witty fun check out "le show" http://www.harryshearer.com/. You can hear it on the web or listen to locally on 90.5 FM on Monday nights. He often rambles (you get the feeling he doesn't have enough material to fill up his whole show. But he is unapologetically left and he has been doing it on NPR (and similar commercial free networks) for ten years or more!

Maybe they'll cover our T-Shirt Design Contest!

And I'm so pleased they are doing this, I'm damn near ready to go eat a Tyson chicken. I'll hold off on the Navy enlistment until they topple Limbaugh.

TomPaine.com thinks it will work if the liberals can find their inner brawler.

Speaking of Michael Moore, I just saw the video of Bowling for Columbine. While I didn't think it was super-sophisticated, I didn't think it was maddeningly obtuse, either. As Chris mentioned, I thought he made a slew of good points. Why is it fashionable for progressives to beat up on Mr. Moore? Because he's not as intellectual as Paul Krugman? Because he spoke up and ruined everyone's party at the Oscars last year? I'm not trying to make a point that he shouldn't be beat upon. But I feel like I must have missed something horrible he did. I'd love to be clued in.

Well, what I keep hearing is that he has a habit of not being straight with the facts: see

http://www.spinsanity.org/columns/20021119.html/
http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html

Of course I haven't seen Columbine yet...

OK, well, that explains things. I thought the Spinsanity article was more rational and to the point than the second one. I appreciate the links. I've heard people say that he plays with the facts, but I'd never seen it documented before.