Quickies

- McCain is still living like it's 1993.

- Sam Seder's "A Bad Situationist" is released.

-Elizabeth Dole feels the GOP's celebrated bigot isn't celebrated enough.

Republican Senator Dole introduced an amendment to name an HIV/AIDS relief bill after the recently deceased Jesse Helms. Helms, of course, was a strident foe of HIV/AIDS prevention, research and treatment.

- Obama maintains a lead over McCain in the latest polls.

- Mike Meehan is the dumbest man alive.

- Another McFlip-flop from John McCain: This time on gay adoptions. The straight-talker changed his position on this one in just two days.

Enjoy the Fourth Amendment for one more night

As Glenn Greenwald and Christi Hardin Smith are telling Mike Malloy Show fill-in host Sam Seder, the Senate is ready to pass Jay Rockefeller's Kill The Fourth Amendment Act tomorrow, in order to help the Democrats achieve a perfect track record in caving to the Bush administration.

So if you have any embarrassing ailments or unpleasant stuff you want to talk about on the phone without someone listening in, tonight's the night to do it.

Another cool movie coming

Air America may have been idiotic and axed The Sam Seder Show today, but you can be on the lookout for the host's new DVD.

He announced on his last show that his long-lost indie political satire, "A Bad Situationist," will be released to home video shortly.

Along with Seder, the film stars Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Marc Maron and Sarah Silverman.

Sounds like good stuff.

Seder's mountaintop removal segment

On his last live broadcast, Air America's Sam Seder had a few guests of note to our region.

In addition to regular panelist, W.Va. resident and Firedoglake blogger Christy Hardin Smith, he interviewed filmmaker David Novick, whose documentary "Burning the Future" has been airing on Sundance this month (It comes out on DVD in June).

In Burning the Future: Coal in America, writer/director David Novack examines the explosive forces that have set in motion a groundswell of conflict between the coal industry and residents of West Virginia. Confronted by an emerging coal-based US energy policy, local activists watch the nation praise coal without regard to the devastation caused by its extraction. Faced with toxic ground water, the obliteration of 1.4 million acres of mountains, and a government that appeases industry, our heroes demonstrate a strength of purpose and character in their improbable fight to arouse the nation's help in protecting their mountains, saving their families, and preserving their way of life.

Audio of the interview is below.

Photo courtesy of West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
Mining at Kayford Mountain in Raleigh County, W.Va., draws some of the harshest criticism from mountaintop removal opponents.

Air America in flux

Randi Rhodes is gone (though our local AAR affiliate, WCMI, picked up her Nova M show this week). Belzer is a temporary replacement for the slot.

Sam Seder, whose daily show axed by the network in favor of the unlistenable Lionel program, is trying to land the slot. His Sunday only contract is up and he's trying to land a new on-air deal.

From his latest:

Meanwhile, not sure of what lays ahead as far as on air opportunities.

[...]

Long time listeners know that my Seder On Sunday contract ends on May 14th (or whenever that sunday is). April 14th marked the last day of the 9-noon SamSederShow... I remember because Jessica (our show booker) had her daughter Anabelle that night. So, the next couple of weeks will reveal much.

Rhodes is out

Looks like drive time host (and former Portsmouth, Ohio resident) Randi Rhodes has left Air America Radio. According to reports, she was given the option of apologizing for her off-air comments regarding Hillary Clinton or leaving. She chose the latter.

I never was a big fan and I thought her remarks were pretty stupid, but disagree with the decision by management.

But bonehead decisions are what AAR execs are known for. Losing the networks's flagship program and the nation's highest-rated liberal talker to another network (She's going to Nova M) isn't really that shocking.

Word is comedian Richard Belzer is getting her slot for the next week as a fill-ib. He's a definite improvement (if he can keep the UFO talk in check), but it's too bad it comes under such screwy circumstances.

Though Sam Seder would be the obvious pick for the long-term. A long-time employee of the network and the guy they usually go to when they need a fill-in. He's been holding Rhodes' show while she was on suspension. He's campaigning for the slot.