Howard Stern
I’m told that Rush Limbaugh, once upon a time, entertained more than just standard electoral politics on his show. He did an entire on the latest Peter Gabriel release sometime in the late 80s / early 90s.
Or so I’m told.
Then again, I’m also told that Rush Limbaugh was (if you can believe it) further to the right then he is now. The theory here goes that once he was given a perch into the RNC establishment, he necessarily adapted himself to fit into… the RNC establishment.
Tom Leykis’s show, once upon a time, dealt with various cultural mores, and politics of a type. Various sources tell me that. My father even listened in, at times. Today it’s almost entirely t and a talk. The ratings were Tom Leykis’s guidepost.
Opposing directions.
Which brings us to the current Howard Stern Show.
I don’t listen to Howard Stern. But I have a roommate who has, on occassion, chimed in… and so I’ve overheard his show a small handful of times.
He’s become prone to… ranting and raving against the Bush Administration.
Ever since his troubles with the FCC and his troubles with Clear Channel.
His politics before had leaned itself toward “Moderate Republican.” He approved of Christine Todd Whitman, Rudy Guiliana (after a momentary run for mayor as a Libertarian.) And he was, by all accounts, pro- Iraq War… or at least anti-anti-war.
Now he’s preaching the anti-Bush gospel.
Self-serving as his political transformation is, and my guess is it’s a rather temporal change. He’s throwing out his frustrations at one figurehead, moving beyond Michael Powell.
He’ll be back to chatting about porn star’s boobs soon enough… probably still is.