* Robert Feder has the scoop…
We haven’t heard the last of tea party firebrand Joe Walsh. The one-term former GOP congressman, who was defeated for reelection last November by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, may be headed for a new career as a radio talk show host. Walsh is close to signing with WIND-AM (560), the Salem Communications conservative news/talk station, to host a Monday-through-Friday nighttime talk show. If it’s a hit, insiders said, national distribution could follow. Walsh said last month he’s been encouraged to run for Dick Durbin’s U.S. Senate seat in 2014.
No real surprise there. Walsh has appeared to be auditioning for a job in the conservative media for well over a year.
* WIND is hosting a forum in March that will feature Walsh…
With the re-election of President Obama, the path ahead during the next four years has begun to take shape. With all of the challenges facing our nation - mounting debt, increased spending, Obamacare, ongoing terrorist threats - what direction will President Obama take?
As citizens, how will our lives be affected by the decisions made in Washington in the next four years?
These are the questions that will be answered at “Obama 2.0: The Road Ahead”.
AM 560’s Steve Cochran along with Michael Medved and former Rep. Joe Walsh, will tackle these critical questions. They will attempt to bring clarity out of the confusion and provide answers to some of the many lingering questions about what the second term of Barack Obama will bring. Don’t be caught off-guard by what happens next. Be prepared to react and respond to whatever the future holds. Join AM 560 for “Obama 2.0 The Road Ahead.”
VIP tickets are $60.
LIVE session coverage...
- shore - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 8:51 am:
He can at times, like his tribune editorial board meeting, be rational, coherent, and positive. Good luck to their press team and I hope they have a good working fire hydrant and hose in office. They’ll need it to deal with the firestorms his mouth is likely to create.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 8:54 am:
Sixty bucks? What a deal! If anyone is eminently qualified to prognosticate about the many issues facing our nation, it’s funny-man Steve Cochran.
– MrJM
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 8:55 am:
What a surprise. At least he’s qualified to talk. Content is another matter.
- train111 - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 8:57 am:
Imagine that, a right-wing talk radio station with the call letters WIND. I crack up every time I see it. Walsh only adds to the hot air.
train111
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:01 am:
===they will attempt to bring clarity out of the confusion.===
They’re just the guys to do it. Is there a two drink minimum at this comedy club?
- vise77 - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:04 am:
You didn’t build that, Joe Walsh.
You practiced your shtick–and gained needed ‘insider’ credibility–on the taxpayer dime during your tenure. No way you have this gig had you not punched your card as a U.S. representative.
You are welcome, Mr. Walsh. Another career greased by the taxpayers and the tyranny that re-purposes their money for socialist handouts.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:09 am:
the conservative entertainment complex. perfect place for walsh.
amazing there is still room for another voice who will get paid to tell Republicans what they want to hear. Easier than dealing with the reality of the November election and all of the predictions being wrong.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:10 am:
If you’re going to be a wingnut being a right wing nut is certainly the more lucrative of the two, something the once pro-choice, once gay-friendly, once pro-gun control has clearly learned. Let’s hope he uses the money to settle his many lawsuits and pay his child support.
- South of Sherman - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:15 am:
$60 for the paranoid delusional rantings of those who see socialism hiding under every bed? Heck of a deal. I’m pretty sure you can’t get high-grade pharmaceutical hallucinogens that cheaply.
- siriusly - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:23 am:
I somewhat agree with Shore. Walsh has moments of intelligence and sanity. But I doubt that a talk radio gig would produce many of them.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 10:03 am:
If he goes national, does Rush Limbaugh have to worry about competition?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 10:05 am:
Who pays $60 for something these guys give away for nothing every day? I mean, do they have unexpressed opinions?
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 10:15 am:
you beat me to it, train 111….tha dum…
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 10:25 am:
Walsh should be very successful at this. His freewheeling approach to things is perfect for a radio show and worked very well during his popular town hall meetings.
Back when WIND was a big radio station, I recall its signal reaching through most if not all of the state. Is this still true today?
- Shemp - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 10:54 am:
Any Democrat should be praying this guy runs against Durbin. What better way to show the IL GOP is dead?
- IrishPirate - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 11:01 am:
I was hoping Walsh would run for Governor in 2014. If enough moderate GOP’er run he could eke out a victory in the primary and go down to da feet in the general election.
The mere thought makes me giggle like Rich Daley before the Olympics announcement.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 11:36 am:
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let Joe Walsh win the Republican nomination for Governor/Senate. Please please please.
As to the new gig, there’s an old expression - water always finds its level. Walsh was born for right wing talk radio. I’ve done talk radio opposite him. It’s fun.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 11:36 am:
BTW, Walsh is a Packers fan.
- Jake From Elwood - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 11:42 am:
Walsh’s personality would suit him better as a radio political commentator than as a politician.
Hopefully he will make a decent salary so he will be able to keep up with his myriad personal obligations. Good luck.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 11:42 am:
So, no Fox news contract?
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 11:46 am:
Walsh can be rational and seems intelligent, given his stated assumptions.
The problem is that his claimed facts are almost always demonstrably false, and he reacts very badly to them being challenged. He personifies strongly-held ignorance.
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 12:42 pm:
I will switch to FM and XM.
- reformer - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 12:59 pm:
Would WIND keep him on the air if he becomes a candidate again? Or would he pull a Huckabee and decide the right-wing media gig is preferable to the rigors of another losing campaign?
- foster brooks - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
RE: Joe Walsh getting a job. Make sure they get an order of withholding to meet his child support obligations
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
Joe Walsh. The gift that keeps on giving.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 1:22 pm:
Walsh’s first guest should be fellow radio show host Alex Jones, who was raving on Piers Morgan and challenged Piers to a fight during the show.
Walsh can use the show as a launching pad for his revolution, but it might not be much of a revolution if many of his listeners are in the over 65 year old crowd.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 1:27 pm:
Mr. Walsh has attempted to be a decent husband, father, home owner, bill payer, GOP candidate, Congressman, actor and failed at them all.
However, the devil isn’t through with him yet. Mr. Walsh can be a remarkably charming interview and quite capable of mesmerizing listeners. A career in broadcasting may be one where he finally succeeds.
Just don’t be surprised that when he is on the radio, you see human blood flowing out of it, dogs stop barking and you feel dizzy.
- Son of a Centrist - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 3:26 pm:
Who listens to terrestrial radio anymore? Regardless, if Joe has any plans to run for office again, I would bet the dems will record each show and then weed out the zanier comments for their own uses.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 3:33 pm:
–Who listens to terrestrial radio anymore?–
Rush and Sean might be able to tell you once they stop coughing from lighting cigars with hondos.
I know what you’re saying about the trend, but baby, there’s still a lot of money in old-fashioned radio. A lot.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 3:39 pm:
Son, I’ll add, just look at what Kass has been doing the last few years. He’s been begging for a full-time right-wing radio gig.
The fact that WGN, which has dumped all its local talent, except Garry Meier, to bring on the wingnuts, shows you what the Tribbies thought about his synergy.
He can’t sell his column nationally like Royko did.
Gee, I wonder why.
- LADY PATRIOT - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 3:45 pm:
Enough with the child support already! Really, this is getting old. It was thrown out of court a long time ago. Joe Walsh was probably the first Congressman to do every single thing he said he would do, and vote the way he said he would! You never had to worry about him waffling or changing his mind about an issue. I hope he does take the job while running for another office. He is a courageous conservative, which we are sorely lacking in this country!
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 5:21 pm:
And here’s his slogan: Joe Walsh–not good enough for Fox.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 6:02 pm:
– He is a courageous conservative–
You’re referring to Joe Walsh? I’m a student of the English language — wordslinger — and I’d be obliged to know in what manner Joe Walsh is either courageous or a conservative.
I’d reduce him to a Lonesome Rhodes charlatan and a punk.
I was a reporter in Iowa back in the day when some folks were running for president. Got to know them all pretty well.
You want to talk about courageous conservatives?
How about George HW Bush?
Here’s a rich kid out of high school, who volunteers for the Navy (didn’t have to do it), trains to land planes on barges off of Navy Pier, gets his butt blown out of the sky over the Pacific, lives to move on and devoted his life in service of his country.
I have another courageous conservative for you.
Robert Dole was a poor kid out of Lawrence, KS. When he was called in WWII, he fought like hell in Italy and got blown up. When he got home, he played cards in Battle Creek hospital with soldiers such as the great Daniel Inoyue and the greatest Philip Hart, one old tough dude out of Michigan who was more responsible for conserving our national legacy than anyone.
And Dole was the most brilliant legislator of his time, a conservative who could make things work with those to his left and right.
Off the top of my head, I’ll add that old cowboy from Wyoming, Alan Simpson, by far, the coolest cat I ever met in politics, and one courageous conservative to this day.
Then, I’ll chuck in Dick Lugar, the old Indiana farmboy, who more than any man on Planet Earth, beat old Soviet nuclear warheads from weapons of mass destruction to plowshares of cheap electricity.
Bush, Dole, Simpson, Lugar — now that’s what I call courageous conservatives.
You want to put Joe Walsh in their league? Then baby, you are an ignoramus and a burden on society.
- Newsclown - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 6:41 pm:
I am only surprised Joe couldn’t get hired by WLS
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 8:38 pm:
Bob Dole is from Russell Kansas. Lawrence Kansas wouldn’t elect any guy who is a courageous conservative.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 8:46 pm:
Calling a lady an ignoramus because of her personal comments favoring a former Congressman is not courageous, polite or decent. Taking her comment out of context just to rub her face into your little diatribe isn’t something any of the men you commented about would have approved of either.
You need to stop.
- LincolnLawyer - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:02 pm:
Lady, he is not courageous anything. He is a clown who cannot accept that his 15 minutes are over.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 13 @ 9:11 pm:
VMan, you’re right. Russell, not Lawrence.
As a 21st Century Man, I have no problem calling anyone an ignoramus, regardless of race, religion or gender, who would call Walsh a courageous conservative.
He’s an idiot.
I have way too much respect for real conservatives to allow them to be slurred by association with Walsh.
And I won’t stop. You keep running away because you have no game, you should know that by now.
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