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6A – Daily News – Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Opinion Cat trouble D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 During a recent radio interview I was asked why it is that conserva- tive broadcasters are so much more successful than their progressive, or liberal, counterparts. The question was particularly intriguing considering its source: the host of a progressive radio show in Central California. In terms of audience size, the canyon between right and left on radio's political spectrum is huge. Top conservatives — Rush Lim- baugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Michael Savage — reach a combined audience of roughly 50 million listeners a week. The most successful liberal talk hosts, such as Ed Schultz and Randi Rhodes, each pull about 3 million weekly. The story is the same on cable- TV where Fox News Channel — with Hannity, Beck and Bill O'Reil- ly leading the charge — attracts twice as many viewers in prime time as liberal-leaning MSNBC — featuring Schultz, Keith Olber- mann and Rachel Maddow. November's election results notwithstanding, the political imbalance on radio and cable has little to do with the way the popula- tion splits to the left or right. The major parties have roughly the same number of ardent supporters year to year, and the fluctuations in Commentary Air raid voting numbers simply do not track with the radio and TV ratings. Some say the success of conser- vative radio can be traced to 1987 when the Reagan administration put an end to the Fairness Doctrine, making it easier for broadcasters to be one-sided. Others cite the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which led to mega-chains of sta- tions and the widespread duplica- tion of successful formats — including conservative talk radio — which gradually took over the stronger radio outlets in most mar- kets. But such arguments really over- look the simpler truths of the mat- ter: conservative broadcasters serve an audience that is often angry and easily stirred, that wants to be rein- forced more than challenged, and that doesn’t always feel compelled to slavishly adhere to the facts of a matter. More importantly, conservative broadcasters across the dial are vastly more entertaining than their liberal counterparts. Limbaugh and Beck are polished performers, with enough shtick in the tank to keep truckers engrossed over the long haul, or to rouse tired shift workers on the drive to and from home. Indeed, the daring diatribe of the right is so compelling that it often seems as if the most dedicated lis- teners of conservative broadcasters are their progressive com- petitors. Over the years Keith Olbermann has gradually made his MSNBC pro- gram unwatchable as he obsessed over whatever outrageous statement Limbaugh had made on radio earlier in the day. Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz, each highly acclaimed on radio, emu- lated Olbermann’s style when they came to cable and they, too, became tedious to watch. Right- wing broadcasters, on the other hand, don’t dwell on what left-wing hosts are saying – they and their listeners couldn’t care less. Worse, some liberal commenta- them as “bastards” out to destroy the American dream, he’s surren- dering in the war of words that his listeners want him to fight with eloquence. The host who was interviewing me about all this, a fellow named Hal Ginsberg, has coined a slogan for his progressive outlet, Peter Funt KRXA: “Think for yourself.” And therein, I believe, lies much of the problem for on-air liber- als. Their audience does prefer to think for itself – it doesn’t need the recurrent ramblings of broadcasters to show the tors have taken to name-calling and other tactics that they find so repre- hensible in rants by the right. When Schultz calls Limbaugh “The Drugster” and House Speaker John Boehner “The Tan Man” he his tak- ing the battle to the street, where he can’t ever win. When Schultz says he doesn’t want Republicans as guests because he “doesn’t care” what they have to say, and refers to way, at least not at great length. A better slogan for progressives might actually be: “Speak for your- self.” Which is why liberal radio works better for those behind the microphone than for those expect- ed to sit and listen. Peter Funt is a writer and public speaker; he may be reached at www.CandidCamera.com, he's also the long-time host of "Candid Camera." A collection of his DVDs is available at www.candidcamera.com. Editor: Seems like we have some real cat trouble up here in the North State. We moved here 15 years ago. Found a nice lot, bordering the creek and settled in. The prop- erty came equipped with several feral kitties, who in the blink of an eye came up pregnant. Over the next year and a half we spend our time trapping, raising kittens by hand and getting every- one spayed/neutered. We've been caring for this group of cats all of this time. So they're getting elderly now. For many years, our little group Your Turn and more cats to your house, who will get fat and sassy and start over- whelming you. And yes, it's not cheap to get them fixed. But how much money are you putting out on catfood?? There are several local vets and a group called Friends of Felines who will help in lower- ing the costs for spays/neuters. Today our newest drop-off is sitting, waiting his turn to get neutered. We're trying to find a home for him, but if we can't, at least he won't be fighting with our group or wandering the neighbor- hood, leaving litter after litter in his wake. lived peacefully, enjoying life. And then another couple of cats found us. Got them altered and had to make many adjustments so the wars between the newcomers and the homeboys/girls wouldn't get out of hand. Then the other night we trapped a tom who had been hiding out here. The second cat to find us in the last 6 months. So things are get- ting worse. With all of the foreclo- sures and people moving on, many cats are left behind. And then there are those good folks who just can't bear to see them starve and will collect many, many cats, yet never get them spayed/neutered. And therein lies the problem. If you feed them, yet don't get them fixed, you're part of the prob- lem, because you will draw more So please folks, I know these are tough times, but be part of the solution. We're doing this on a small, fixed retirement income. It's hard to find the money to pay to make the decision to snatch and fix a cat you find at your doorstep. But we're not going to be part of the problem by just feeding them, adding to the overwhelming popu- lation of abandoned cats in our community. Friends of Felines is going to have a fundraiser in Corning at the bowling alley this coming month called the “Furbowl.” The proceeds will be used to aid folks in need to get ferals and strays altered at a cost they can afford. I know that if enough people care and step up to the plate, slow- ly but surely these cats, who didn't ask to be left behind or neglected, will come down in numbers. We could have taken the easy way out and just opened the trap in someone else's neighborhood. But is that fair to them? So be a good neighbor, spay and neuter. Richard Schumacher, Corning Obama’s speech vs. Mazzucchi’s columns Editor: Regarding President Obama’s speech at the Memorial Service for Arizona shooting victims vs. Mr. Mazzucchi’s columns in the Daily News: I especially liked two phrases from President Obama speech at the Memorial Service. He said "At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized — at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do — it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds." And the president spoke of decency and goodness, declaring: "The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us." It was a good speech. That is why I want to say that I am appalled at Mr. Mazzucchi’s title for his last article and the discord he uses in his articles. He uses hate mongering words on views he dis- agrees with and then ends his col- umn with words to the effect that the country would be better if we all just got along and worked together for the good of our coun- try. Why would anyone want to work or side with him when he uses such tactics? We are going down a slippery road when we divide ourselves over politics and when we revert to name calling as Mr. Mazzucchi often does. I feel it shows a lack of intelligence when he reverts to that kind of tactic. That is why I would love to see a new weekly column in the Daily News which would express the conservative views along with the moderate and liberal views posed on a subject. The column could be called something as simple as “Ask Red Bluff.” Your paper would ask a weekly question one week and publish the best answers the next week along with posing another question for the following week. My views tend to be on the con- servative side but I am always interested in how other views differ from mine and why. An article such as the one I suggested would be refreshing in the Daily News. I am sure there are many that feel as I do that Mr. Mazzucchi has gone way beyond free speech. President Obama’s words from the memorial service should prevail in our country now. Sue Sargent, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3063 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454.