October 8, 2009

An Hour in a Different World

Justin Katz

I've arrived very early for a taping of WRNI's Political Roundtable with Ian Donnis and Scott MacKay that will air tomorrow at 5:40 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. on 102.7FM and 1290AM (and then appear online). On the way into Providence, I drove past Lincoln Chafee walking toward the office building next to Hemenway's. The ACLU's Stephen Brown was in one of the interview rooms when I arrived. On top of a table of assorted literature in the waiting area — the only political publication in the pile — is a copy of The Nation., to which the radio station apparently subscribes.

It's a little discomfiting to think that a friendly smile won't serve me very well on the radio. But the good news is that I found a parking spot with a missing meter. (That doesn't mean I'm sure to be towed, does it?)

ADDENDUM & CORRECTION

Sheesh, a ten minute segment is by no stretch adequate to address multiple issues in a room of four strongly opinioned people. Just as a turgid writer type like me begins to formulate a coherent response to one panelist, another introduces a related, but distinct question, and the mind veritably explodes in the effort to respond to everything in a sentence. Which raises the old question: to talking point or not to talking point? But it was fun.

Incidentally, one of the WRNI folks from the office side came into the studio after the recording to correct me on one point: The Nation just sends issues to WRNI; the station does not subscribe in the sense of paying money or of having requested issues.

Comments, although monitored, are not necessarily representative of the views Anchor Rising's contributors or approved by them. We reserve the right to delete or modify comments for any reason.

If National Review sent them complimentary issues,they'd be on the toilet paper roll.

Posted by: joe bernstein at October 8, 2009 11:46 AM

Actually, Joe, NRO is among my bookmarked Web sites, although I'll acknowledge that I read Anchor a lot more frequently.

Thanks for coming by, Justin.

Posted by: Ian Donnis at October 8, 2009 12:43 PM

I'm not surprised Ian.I didn't aim that at you,believe me, because I never would call you narrow minded.You haven't been a Kool-aid drinker any more than I have.
It was more at NPR in general-no one can deny there is a leftist leaning to the general tenor of their programming that involves politics or current events.
I actually don't read National Review-I subscribe to the Atlantic Monthly because it's the last really eclectic general magazine left.
Nice to know you're reading NR.
BTW I got to appreciate your reporting since you've left the Phoenix.
There's a little too much uncritical coverage of Patrick Kennedy nowadays( just as an example).

Posted by: joe bernstein at October 8, 2009 12:52 PM

I meant nice to know you're reading AR

Posted by: joe bernstein at October 8, 2009 2:18 PM

Thanks for the kind words, Joe. From my perspective, NPR is fair and balanced.

Posted by: Ian Donnis at October 8, 2009 2:47 PM
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