Ditka Considering Senate Run

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-ditka14.html

 

*sigh*

 

If he runs, his instant name recognition and innate popularity in Illinois takes this from an assured pickup for the Dems and Barack Obama into a tossup. However, I think it's an utter joke that people would vote for someone based solely on his coaching the fucking Bears. This is what happened in Minnesota with Jesse Ventura, as well, and we all know how that turned out: he ended up being a political novice who butchered budgets and put his foot in his mouth time and time again.

 

Any thoughts on what could be one of the more... interesting Senate races around?

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

It works. He'd have my vote.

[NoCalMike 0]

Hell it worked for Arnold, name recognition that is. Arnold arguably sounded the most clueless of the candidates in the debates, yet no one cared and still voted for him.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Man 1: Okay, pretend it's a Senate race, and you've got Washington, Abe Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin all running..

Man 2: Uhuh.

Man 1: And then you have one coach Mike Ditka.

Man 2: Okay, does Ditka have a platform issue the others don't?

Man 1: No, and Abe Lincoln has summoned Godzilla and he's there, too.

(longish pause)

Man 2: I'm going to have to do with Ditka.

Man 1: Me too, you see all he has to do is wait for Godzilla to stomp on the other three guys and then all he has is Lincoln and a weakened Godzilla and, pffffh, that's easy.

Man 2: Then he moves from this job to the Oval Office and you know who makes up his cabinet?

Both: DA BEARS!

[Stephen Joseph 0]

That's funny, because he's largely done what his downcriers said he couldn't do...govern

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Who, Ditka?!?

[NoCalMike 0]

That's funny, because he's largely done what his downcriers said he couldn't do...govern

ummm, who are you referring to, Arnold? Because all he has really done so far is raise tuitions, and cut funding to a lot of programs all in the name of some new budget that strangely hasn't been presented yet and keeps getting delayed. Not to say he is doing any WORSE then Gray Davis was, but what was the point of the recall if all we were to receive was someone equally as useless?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Because all he has really done so far is raise tuitions

Like it wasn't going to be raised anyway.

 

Just heard on the news that the University of Pittsburgh is raising tuition 6%, and they're BRAGGING about it.

 

Oh, and about Iron Mike -- why the hell not? At least the GOP won't have to worry about his sex scandals seeing how he's not up to those kinds of tasks...

[Slayer 0]

This is what happened in Minnesota with Jesse Ventura

You mean electing a person who was continuously derided by the national media but actually did a good job

 

I lived in Minnesota under Ventura and I thought he did a bang-up job.

 

Wish I had a unit of currency for everytime I had to defend him to outsiders while I actually lived there

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Just heard on the news that the University of Pittsburgh is raising tuition 6%, and they're BRAGGING about it.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

What I read about Jesse is that although he wasn't some uber-radical (both Dems and Reps teamed up against him) he wasn't the blundering dunderhead others made him out to be.

 

I'd take him over Ed Rendell.

 

EDIT: Yeah, Tyler. They're saying that it's a low increase when compared to other years. I bet that makes you feel relieved...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

This is what happened in Minnesota with Jesse Ventura

You mean electing a person who was continuously derided by the national media but actually did a good job

 

I lived in Minnesota under Ventura and I thought he did a bang-up job.

 

Wish I had a unit of currency for everytime I had to defend him to outsiders while I actually lived there

I've actually heard quite the opposite from people who have lived in Minnesota, but to each his own.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Story for Tyler

 

University of Pittsburgh students face a 6 percent tuition hike this fall.

The executive committee of Pitt's Board of Trustees approved the hike this morning as part of a $1.5 billion annual budget. Modest increases in state aid kept the hike smaller, university officials said.

 

Pitt's increase falls in the predicted range of 5 percent to 8 percent hikes at local colleges and universities this fall. The increases are comparable to those at other private institutions but below that of public universities.

 

"For the coming year, we're projecting a 6 percent increase at private institutions," said Tony Pals, a spokesman for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. The Washington, D.C.-based group represents 1,000 private, nonprofit colleges and universities.

 

Meanwhile, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities expects a 10 percent increase for public institutions. The Washington, D.C.-based group represents 400 public institutions and systems.

 

"Last year, tuition at four-year publics went up 14 percent, but that was extraordinarily high," said Sandy Baum, a consultant for The College Board and an economics professor at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. "Ten percent is still high, but not as high as last year."

 

She attributed the increases at private institutions to low endowment earnings and, at public universities, to improving but relatively low levels of state support.

 

Other factors, Pals said, were double-digit increases in health insurance, liability insurance, periodicals and library materials. "The cost of information technology has doubled in the past decade," he said.

 

The cost of going to Community College of Allegheny County rose the most, at 8 percent, but the least in terms of dollars because it charges only $77.50 a credit.

 

The large hike at community colleges is due to a change in the way the state traditionally has funded them, said Kathy Aumiller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges in Harrisburg.

 

The state is giving community colleges $145 a student less than it has in the past, she said.

 

See, Tyler, it could have been 14 percent this year -- so you're actually SAVING money...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

God, I'm glad I'm learning at an accelerated pace. This shit would bankrupt me otherwise.

[Guest MD2020]

What I read about Jesse is that although he wasn't some uber-radical (both Dems and Reps teamed up against him) he wasn't the blundering dunderhead others made him out to be.

 

I'd take him over Ed Rendell.

 

EDIT: Yeah, Tyler. They're saying that it's a low increase when compared to other years. I bet that makes you feel relieved...

Be quiet, KKK. I like the fact that the GOVERNOR of the entire state comes to Philly every week to do post-game commentary for my team.

 

If Ed wasn't the guv, it wouldn't be as cool.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

In Pittsburgh, the big AM station, KDKA, has him on this one local show for an "Ask-the-Governor" segment, and he NEVER shows up for it.

 

I didn't mind him, for a Democrat, until he got elected guv and became a dildo. And I can't wait until these slot machines fail to come through with enough money to pay for the 1000 projects they're supposed to fund...

[Guest MikeSC]

He isn't running, apparently. WDWS (out of Champaign, IL) station manager Stevie Jay said that Ditka informed him this evening that he had too many other commitments to do it.

-=Mike

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Well, he's not running.

 

CBS 2 in Chicago is reporting Ditka ruled out his potential Senate run after hearing about some of the financing laws (i.e. he'd have to give up his Levitra endorsement). So, looks like Obama (who is one of the rising stars in the Democratic party) will be your next senator from Illinois.

[The Czech Republic 0]

In Pittsburgh, the big AM station, KDKA, has him on this one local show for an "Ask-the-Governor" segment, and he NEVER shows up for it.

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt sicne you're evidently a resident fof Pittsburgh, but how can you have a K station when you're clearly quite far east of the Mississippi River? I thought only the Twin Cities could get away with flip-flopping due to differences in where the studio is and where the tower is and crap like that. I just thought the rule was always K to the west, W to the east, C in Canada, and X in Mexico.

 

Ditka not running = teh lame. There goes the last chance for the Republican Party to do something useful. I think Ditka could've quite possibly been the only Republican who could win over the Democratic stronghold that is Chicago. He could just walk around in a Bears sweatshirt and be like "What party do I represent? I represent the BUTT-Kicking Party!" or something equally insipid and the more dumbassed Chicago Democrats would just vote for him anyway, not realizing what they were doing.

 

And who the fuck is this Obama guy? I watch the Channel 7 news almost every day and I still dont know much about him. Can't we keep him out since Blagojevich has already filled the state's "Politician With A Goofy-Ass Name" quota?

 

Aw who am I kidding, I don't think we even have a "Politician With A Goofy-Ass Name" quota.

 

Idea! Michael Jordan could run. Now that would be a real shit-kicking in the elections, because he's black, a Republican, and...Michael Jordan. Nobody would have a shot.

[Guest Brian]

Jordan donated 10,000 to Obama's campaign.

[jesse_ewiak 0]

Also, Obama's going to be the keynote speaker at the convention. In 1988, a certain Arkansas governor was. Obama also was up fifteen points on Ryan before the whole sex scandal broke out.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt sicne you're evidently a resident fof Pittsburgh, but how can you have a K station when you're clearly quite far east of the Mississippi River?

You BETTER give me the benefit of the doubt because I listen to KDKA every freaking day at work!

 

Here's the station's history on its Web site: (WTF? Tyler's part of KDKA's history?)

 

Link...

 

At 6:00pm, on Tuesday, November 2, 1920, a few men in a shack changed the course of history.

 

Four pioneers, announcer Leo Rosenberg, engineer William Thomas, telephone line operator John Frazier and standby R.S. McClelland, made their way to a makeshift studio - - actually a shack atop the Westinghouse "K" Building in East Pittsburgh - - flipped a switch and began reporting election returns in the Harding vs. Cox Presidential race. At that moment, KDKA became the pioneer broadcasting station of the world.

 

The events that led to KDKA Radio date back before 1920. Dr. Frank Conrad, Assistant Chief Engineer of Pittsburgh's Westinghouse Electric Company, first became interested in radio in 1912. In order to settle a $5.00 bet with a co-worker on the accuracy of his $12.00 watch, Conrad built a small receiver to hear time signals from the Naval Observatory in Arlington, VA. (Conrad won the bet).

 

Fascinated with this new hobby, Conrad turned next to construction of a transmitter, which he housed on the second floor of his garage in Wilkinsburg. The first official record of this station, licensed 8XK, appears in the August 1, 1916 edition of the Radio Service Bulletin. The Bulletin was a monthly publication by the Bureau of Navigation of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the radio licensing agency of that day. Station 8XK was the forerunner of KDKA Radio.

 

For several years, Conrad operated experimental broadcasts from 8XK in his garage. Meanwhile, Conrad's boss, Westinghouse Vice President H.P. Davis, saw a newspaper ad stating that Horne's department store was selling, in its basement, radio receivers that could pick up music Frank Conrad was playing several nights a week. Davis had the concept that radio wasn't intended as a private means of communication, but was instead a marvelous medium that could bring all the benefits of mass, instantaneous communication into homes all over the nation.

 

Conrad began to get deluged with mail from amazed listeners who asked for more broadcasts, more of the music and information he was sending over the airwaves. So, Conrad announced that he would broadcast records for two hours a day on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. When he ran out of his own records, the Hamilton Music Store in Wilkinsburg became the first radio advertiser, by supplying records for airplay, in exchange for on-air promotion.

 

Westinghouse saw an opportunity and began manufacturing and selling amateur wireless sets so more people could tune in the broadcasts. Westinghouse also submitted a radio station license application in mid-October, 1920 - - and with election night a little more than two weeks away - - targeted the drama of the race results as the official debut of radio.

 

So, Why KDKA?

 

Many people ask if our call letters "stand for" anything. The simple answer is: no. KDKA's license - - the first radio license ever - - was issued October 27, 1920. The call letters "KDKA" were assigned from a roster maintained to provide identification for ships and marine shore stations, these being the only regular radio services then in operation under formal license by the Federal Government. When it came time to finalize the license, "KDKA" was simply the next set of call letters on the list.

 

Arrangements were made with the Pittsburgh Post morning newspaper to secure election returns by telephone. The election night broadcast originated in a tiny, makeshift shack atop one of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing buildings in East Pittsburgh. There was no studio, just a single room which accommodated transmitting equipment, a turntable for records, and the first broadcast staff mentioned above. The election returns were relayed to about a thousand listeners, who learned through this fantastic new medium, that Warren G. Harding defeated James M.Cox in the race for the White House. The concept of "broadcasting" had been born.

 

Interestingly enough, Frank Conrad was not present at that historic broadcast. Still a bit fearful that the new equipment could fail, he was standing by five miles away in Wilkinsburg at his experimental station, 8XK, ready to carry on the broadcast in the event of trouble at KDKA.

 

To meet the demands of a growing program service, KDKA, in January of 1921, hired the world's first full-time radio announcer. He was Harold W. Arlin, a young electrical engineer who was then employed at Westinghouse. Arlin wandered over to inspect the operation of KDKA, just to satisfy his curiosity. When he discovered the station was looking for an announcer, he applied and got the job.

 

Radio's first studio was actually a tent.

 

For the first six months of its existence, KDKA was a radio station without a studio. There had been little need for one, since all programs were originated either as phonograph records played in the "shack" atop the Westinghouse plant, or churches, theaters, hotels, or other remote points. However, in May of 1921, it was decided to pitch an experimental tent on the roof next to the transmitter room. This tent-studio served admirably all summer long and left its lessons to guide engineers in the use of drapes and acoustical board in building future indoor studios. Early radio listeners came to expect the whistle of a passing freight train which, in the days of the tent studio, became a regular 8:30pm feature on KDKA, no matter what the program.

 

In the next several years, KDKA had studios in Pittsburgh's William Penn Hotel and in the Westinghouse building in East Pittsburgh. Starting in 1934, KDKA studios occupied the entire third floor of the Grant Building - - and in 1956, KDKA Radio moved to the newly-constructed Gateway Center - - where KDKA Radio and TV are still today.

 

In January of 1923, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company began experiments that would link radio stations across the country, creating the first radio network. KDKA Radio was one of four original stations on the AT&T Network.

 

KDKA Radio also took part in an experimental trans-continental broadcast on March 7, 1924. A banquet in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York for MIT alumni was carried by WJZ in New York. KDKA picked up the program by short wave and relayed the signal to KFKX in Hastings, Nebraska, who relayed it in turn to KGO in San Francisco, California.

 

After NBC was established in 1926, KDKA Radio (which was found at 980 on the dial at that time) was one of the first to join NBC's Blue Network. By 1939, there were 65 stations on the Blue Network and several programs from Pittsburgh were carried on the whole network. In 1941, KDKA shifted to NBC's Red Network.

 

Although our programs, format and personalities have changed, through the years, one thing has remained the same: KDKA has been and is a source for news and information - - a constant companion for listeners.

 

Setting the Standard in radio since 1920

 

In the 1920's, you did the Fox Trot and Charleston with the KDKA Little Symphony Orchestra and in the summer of 1921 you heard the first broadcast of a major league baseball game. KDKA also hosted political comedian Will Rogers, in his very first radio appearance in 1922.

 

You also heard advertisers begin to take advantage of the radio medium by sponsoring special radio programs like The Philco Hour, The Maxwell House Hour and The Wrigley Party.

 

In the 1930's, KDKA listeners woke up with "Uncle Ed" Schaughency and his musical alarm clock, listened for up-to-the-minute coverage of a flood that buried downtown Pittsburgh under water, all the way to Wood Street, and enjoyed the sounds of Slim Bryant & his Wildcats, playing music every morning, during the KDKA Farm Hour.

 

In the 1940's, KDKA Radio aired the shocking news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and in 1946, KDKA provided live coverage of the inauguration of David L. Lawrence as Pittsburgh Mayor. By the end of the decade, listeners also laughed and sang along with KDKA's music & comedy team of "Buzz & Bill", Buzz Aston and Bill Hinds.

 

In the 1950's, Uncle Ed turned his focus to news and a creative guy named Rege Cordic found entertaining ways to wake up Pittsburgh radio listeners. The "Cordic & Company" morning show, featuring a team of bright and innovative people, gave birth to today's "morning team" radio format.

 

The 1950's also saw a strong shift to all-local programming at KDKA.The likes of Art Pallan and Bob Tracey became household names on the KDKA airwaves, playing the popular music of the day. In 1951, a talented couple named Ed & Wendy King launched the first radio talk show, "Party Line." Phone lines were flooded with calls for Ed and Wendy King's "Party Line" program, for its nearly 21-year run. Technology at the time of its launch did not allow callers to be heard on the air, so Ed and Wendy kept up both sides of the conversation by repeating what the callers were saying to them. And in 1956, a young newsman, Bill Steinbach, began his legendary 36 year career at KDKA. Within a matter of years, Steinbach (the "Dean of Pittsburgh Radio Newscasters"), was anchor of the award-winning 90-to-6, Pittsburgh's most trusted news program.

 

In the 1960's, KDKA was there for the highs and lows, from the Pirates' thrilling 1960 World Series win, to the tragic assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Sen. Robert Kennedy. As rock-and-roll swept the nation, "Your Pal" Pallan played the hit songs and KDKA brought you the sounds of screaming crowds as the Beatles arrived in Pittsburgh in 1964. After 11 years of waking Pittsburghers with laughter, Rege Cordic moved onto new opportunities in Los Angeles. In 1968, Jack Bogut was named the KDKA morning host, a position he held for 15 years. One of Bogut's most memorable contributions to KDKA was his coining of the term "Farkleberry", which is now a staple of our annual Children's Hospital campaign.

 

In the 1970's, KDKA brought you the excitement of two Pirates' World Series victories. In 1973, John Cigna became KDKA's new 9pm-12midnight talk show host and urged listeners to "buy American!" Meanwhile, in 1974, Perry Marshall opened the overnight "Marshall's Office" and in 1975, KDKA boasted that "our Fox talks!" when Roy Fox signed on as the 6pm-9pm talk host.

 

In 1979, a newsman named Fred Honsberger joined the KDKA team and has gone onto host a successful evening talk show and now, his top-rated afternoon drive program. Also in 1979, KDKA covered the Three Mile Island nuclear accident - - which was first reported by a young Harrisburg newsman named Mike Pintek. By 1982, Pintek joined the KDKA News staff and of course, has gone on to become one of KDKA's most popular talk hosts.

 

In the 1980's, KDKA became the world's first radio station to broadcast in AM stereo. KDKA's commitment to news and information remained as strong as ever. KDKA kept you up-to-the minute on stories like the Space Shuttle disaster, the Iran-Contra hearings, the deaths of R. Budd Dwyer and Mayor Richard Caliguiri and the big oil spill on the Monongahela river. Through it all, KDKA Radio was the proud winner of four Joe Snyder awards for outstanding overall news service in the state of Pennsylvania, an honor bestowed by the Associated Press.

 

One of KDKA's biggest changes came in the 1990's. KDKA made the decision to build upon its strengths and switch from a full-service format, which includes music, to a news/talk format. The historic moment came in April of 1992, when Larry Richert played the last song aired as a regular part of KDKA Radio programming: Don McLean's "American Pie." For many listeners, it was "the day the music died." We also offered extensive coverage of the Gulf War and the tragic crash of USAir flight 427 in September of 1994.

 

KDKA continues to be Pittsburgh's Information Source. In September of 2001, KDKA offered listeners "wall-to-wall" coverage of the attacks on America - - and provided the KDKA airwaves to listeners who felt the need to talk about this terrible act.

 

Today, KDKA remains committed to the same things as ever: reliable news, interesting talk, the latest in sports, information you can use and still, being your constant companion. News/Talk 1020 KDKA is proud to be the world's first radio station... proud of our relationship with our listeners... proud to be Pittsburgh's #1 rated station and proud to be a part of what we feel is the best city on Earth: Pittsburgh, PA.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Idea! Michael Jordan could run. Now that would be a real shit-kicking in the elections, because he's black, a Republican, and...Michael Jordan. Nobody would have a shot.

 

The same M.J. that refused to meet with George H.W. Bush after winning his first championship?

 

The same M.J. that pimped Bill Bradley in the 2000 Primaries (and it wasn't just because he's a basketball player)?

 

I thought he was a Lefty...

[The Czech Republic 0]

I was misinformed about Jordan's political standings then. I'ma get those suckers for making me look bad.

 

And thanks for the station history, Tyler, but it's still against the rules!

[Guest MikeSC]

Also, Obama's going to be the keynote speaker at the convention. In 1988, a certain Arkansas governor was. Obama also was up fifteen points on Ryan before the whole sex scandal broke out.

I could mention that, in 1988, a certain Arkansas Governor gave a Convention speech that was unmatched in tedium and boredom and his biggest applause line was "In conclusion..."

-=Mike

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I was misinformed about Jordan's political standings then. I'ma get those suckers for making me look bad.

I was always under the impression he was a liberal.

 

And thanks for the station history, Tyler, but it's still against the rules!

 

You seem like a nice chap, so I'll go easy on you this time.

 

DON'T EVER CALL ME TYLER AGAIN! (I'm sure he feels the same way, too...)

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Idea! Michael Jordan could run. Now that would be a real shit-kicking in the elections, because he's black, a Republican, and...Michael Jordan. Nobody would have a shot.

So is Obama, even though Jordan would still probably win.

 

If you haven't heard of him, you will in the next few years. He'll probably win this seat easily; I, personally, believe he'll be President the next time the Dems are in an election where they don't have an incumbent president. He's charismatic, intelligent, and progressive (i.e. everything that the Democrats want, but don't have in this election). I believe he'll be our first black President when the time comes.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

DON'T EVER CALL ME TYLER AGAIN! (I'm sure he feels the same way, too...)

I was actually more confused than anything.

 

Don't fuck with my mind. It's too early for that shit.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

And if this guy and Codi Rice were to run against each other, their advisers would work frantically on getting the white vote...

[Guest MikeSC]

And if this guy and Codi Rice were to run against each other, their advisers would work frantically on getting the white vote...

Like Democrats would ever vote for a black man...

-=Mike