First, let me thank my many guests for the day, Assemblyman Mike Cole on Reason (WECK) and Bob Confer, Tom Christy and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster on Dialog (WLVL).
I know Mike has had his own personal difficulties in Albany and even his own scandal, but I appreciated hearing his thoughts on the transition from Governor Spitzer to our new Governor, David Paterson. Sounded to me like Assemblyman Cole was very optimistic about the future with our new governor and even thinks we might get an on-time budget. That means alot to me, coming from a level-headed guy like him.
No. That wasn’t really Eliot Spitzer’s voice mail. And no, that wasn’t really Hillary Clinton. I shouldn’t have to say that. It seemed obvious. But some people might have wondered. If you were one of those people, you REALLY need to listen to Reason. 🙂
Meanwhile, over on WLVL, I got to host my own show for the first time in nearly a week … and although the audio quality was to-be-desired and the phone dropped out at one point, I’m glad I was back on the air in Lockport … cause we really needed to talk about some stuff.
If’n you missed it, here’s the Cliff-notes.
I talked with former host of Legislative Journal, Tom Christy about the phone calls, emails, and general support he’s gotten since being pulled off the air. And we discussed the weekend’s news stories about the issue.
Friday, the Lockport Journal and Niagara Gazette ran a piece explaining that Tom was dropped and that the LCTV board felt it necessary … but also that they didn’t have anything to do with it. (can you say double speak).
Saturday, there was a great piece in the Buffalo News about LCTV’s double speak … and the reporter for the News caught them in an outright lie. In essense, representatives from LCTV told the News that several people – but not politicians – had complained about the show. But the news found that LCTV had written to the state saying several politicians had complained about the show … and they wanted to know if they could edit content.
Well, the state said they “may” edit content … which the legal genius behind LCTV, Gerry Hogan, decided meant “must” edit content. I explained that my daughters (age 7 and 10) know the difference between “may” and “must” and if your lawyer doesn’t … well, just something for you to think about.
Anyway, then the Lockport Journal and Niagara Gazette had great columns about the issue yesterday … and the Niagara Falls Reporter blasted the GOP today.
It takes a lot to get all the local media on one page, but the LCTV board has done it. And I’m thinking they’ll likely regret it.
So after talking with Tom today, I talked with Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, show was pretty upset about the whole thing and said he would use his “bully pulpit” to see if he could do something and may even see if the council wants to draft a resolution in support of Legislative Journal.
Meanwhile, Niagara County Legislator Dennis Virtuoso is drafting a resolution demanding that LCTV put Legislative Journal back on air post haste.
And that leads to todays call to action.
I’m planning on going to the Niagara County Legislature meeting tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the county courthouse in support of Legislative Journal and Legislator Virtuoso’s resolution. To an extent, I started this whole thing, and I’m certainly not bailing on Tom now.
Please, in the name of all that is decent, whether you’re a Niagara County resident … or an Erie County resident … if you watched Legislative Journal … or if you just appreciate free speech … show your support for being able to hold politicians accountable by going to tomorrow’s legislature meeting.
You don’t have to say anything. I don’t plan to. Just to be there in numbers to show them that we care – and we’re not the “vocal minority” as they claim – will be enough.
I’m very lucky to have been given the voice that I have been given … and to have two talk shows in WNY to share my point of view. But Tom gave YOU a voice … and if you want it restored, we must act now.
Ok, i know this is a pretty old subject, but why the hell did you even bother to support Tom Christy? He’s an arrogant useless piece of crap. Had he used even the slightest amount of self control he would probably still be on the air. He had been warned about his conduct and he chose to act like a lunatic on the air. Silencing freedom of speech? I think not. Ending hours on nonsense. Yup.