In this episode of Bidness With Da Raj, Roger L. Simon demonstrates the sort of business - not to mention common - sense that has made Pajamas Media what it is today...
As most of you know, Da Raj is in the middle of the promotional tour for his utterly dreadful (and hilariously silly) tome Blacklisting Myself. As part of this effort, Da Raj decided that doing an hour interview with some weenie named Thom Hartmann was the perfect way to sell his wares to the 12 or so rabid progressive partisans who actually listen to Air America. Now, I know you'll be as shocked as I was, but...
...evidently things didn't go all that well.
Who'd a thunk it, eh? I mean, here's Roger L. Simon wandering into the middle of Progressive Land trying to peddle the idea that he can't get work in Hollywood because the progressives there won't tolerate any political views other than their own. What could go wrong?
Hartmann turned out to be the rude type who interrupts you and puts words in your mouth, making assumptions about what you think from the most conventional of liberal playbooks. I sensed immediately that he hadn’t read the book through and when I called him on it, he admitted it, but allowed as how that was impossible given his schedule.
Boo-hoo. At that point, Raj, you have a choice to make: You can either sit through an interview with a guy who hasn't read your book or... You can get up, say something to the effect of, "You invite me on your show to talk about my book and you haven't read it? What sort of clown show are you running here, Asshole?" and then walk out of the studio.
But wait, according to Da Raj, things only get worse!
... It was a comment he made shortly thereafter that I found to be despicable.
He said that, “After 9-11, you and Ron Silver were frightened,” or words to that affect, implying that Ron and I had become suddenly terrified of the terrorists and our acts thereafter, supporting the war on Islamofascism, were motivated by a (one supposes) bullying cowardice.
Again: Boo-hoo. At this point, Raj, there a few new choices for you to consider. First of all, you could just get up, without a word, and walk out of the studio. If you think Hartmann's being 'despicable', why not? You don't owe him anything. Second, you could say something to the effect of, "You know, that's just the sort of smart-ass, dumb-fuck question I'd expect from a bed-wetting pussy like you." Then you could just sit there calmly and wait for Thom's next move. Third, you could simply punch him out. It's a not unreasonable response to an unprovoked insult from a stranger. Or, fourth, you could simply state the obvious to ol' Thom: Fear was an emotion millions of Americans experienced in the wake of 9/11. We'd just watched a small group of terrorists destroy themselves, the World Trade Center, four passenger jets, damage the Pentagon, and kill over 3,000 innocents. Why wouldn't that scare the living shit of a normal, thinking human being?
Roger L. Simon could have stood up for himself and his beliefs, but of course, Raj being Raj, what he decides to do is get all hurt and huffy instead. Perhaps he has become a true Republican after all.
Bottom line? Roger L. Simon really doesn't seem to understand anything about anything. If he was worth a shit as a business man, he'd have never bothered going on Air America in the first place. Virtually nobody pays attention to it, and the few social and intellectual cripples who do wouldn't buy his book under any circumstance in the first place. They are not part of his demographic. And if he was worth a shit as a so-called maven of the political blogosphere, by now he'd have figured out the nature of modern partisan politics, or at least the nature of partisan political entertainment... Which is this: It ain't about learned discourse and meaningful debate.
The man is a fool.
Um, becoming suddenly terrified of terrorists and totally unhinged in the wake of 9/11 is exactly what happened to Roger Simon, Ron Silver, and Joe Lieberman among very few other Jews. Maybe he should learn karate like his fictional character Moses Wine.
As for Hartmann according to wikipedia he's "one of Air America's most popular hosts, Thom Hartmann and Lionel, are estimated to each have over 1.5 million unique listeners a week." Of course if he had read any of Hartmann's 19 books he might have been better prepared.
Posted by: markg8 | February 26, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Well, evidently guys like you and Thom are made of sterner stuff than many of us, what with the puffed out chests and high testosterone levels and all. Very impressive.
Congrats on your manly manliness.
Funny though, back in 2003 those of us who were supporting the war where supposed to be the bunch who were all macho and no brains. Now we find out we were a bunch of mincing fraidy-cats and International ANSWER was where real men went to plex their pecs.
Whatever.
And being "one of Air America's most popular hosts" is somewhat akin to being one of last year's Detroit Lions' best players... It's something you could brag about in a pinch, I guess.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | February 26, 2009 at 06:44 PM
I'm surprised Raj didn't double down and go on air with KPFK (LA, Pacifica) to really move things along. Maybe they could have given a copy of his book away as a "reward" for a donation during one of their pledge drives.
That would have been worth a few laughs.
Posted by: Allen | February 26, 2009 at 08:01 PM
:::: Perhaps he has become a true Republican after all. ::::
Owwww! Stop trying to foist him off on us.
Remember, he is a 'reformed' liberal (as if there is any such thing). That doesn't make him a Republican.
Posted by: Guesst | February 27, 2009 at 02:01 AM
Isn't Raj appearing at CPAC sometime this week?
(the ultimate event for conservative flea marketing!)
Posted by: Guesst | February 27, 2009 at 02:04 AM
And being "one of Air America's most popular hosts" is somewhat akin to being one of last year's Detroit Lions' best players... It's something you could brag about in a pinch, I guess
Now, you're showing your ignorance.
What about AJ Hawk, one of the better linebackers in the league?
Oh wait. He plays for Green Bay.
Never mind...
Posted by: badanov | February 27, 2009 at 07:37 AM
Funny though, back in 2003 those of us who were supporting the war where supposed to be the bunch who were all macho and no brains.
Only if you listened to idiots like Chris Mathews. We always thought you guys were bedwetting dumbasses. It's one of the reasons why Operation Yellow Elephant was so much fun. It's never been about flexing muscle anyway, it was always about using your head.
And speaking of Chris Mathews' stupidity I heard him endorse the nonexistent high speed mag lev train from LA to Vegas that Repubs are claiming Harry Reid stuck in the stim bill. Somebody should tell him, right after they tell Republicans, that there is no.such.provision.in.the.bill.
There is $8 billion in the bill for high speed rail and it looks like Ray LaHood the Secretary of transportation and former Republican congressman wants the Excela HS line to be built out from the east coast to the midwest. There'll be a hub in *gasp* Chicago. That ought to keep their tongues wagging.
http://progressillinois.com/2009/2/26/chicago-hub
Posted by: markg8 | February 27, 2009 at 05:19 PM
You and Raj are still friends, though, right?
Posted by: Steve H. Graham | February 28, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Just as a note, from my own experiences in writing and radio guesting, the VAST majority of radio and TV interviewers interviewing an author have NEVER read the book... or damn few others.
If you're lucky, they'll have been presented a brief synopsis to skim before the interview. Smart writers and publicists know to provide their own synopses and talking points beforehand.
Of course, that's still no protection from the fact that most media interviewers are dumber than Barney Frank's sundried sperm, especially the ones who've made a reputation for being 'out there,' 'edgy' and 'in your face,' let alone one who thinks he she or it has a political edge to grind... but it's the best you can do.
Posted by: richard mcenroe | March 01, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Amazon Sales Rank for Punching Myself In The Face is 2,593 today. That means he's selling about 65 copies a week, according to my careless scrying of the charts on this site.
Posted by: evariste | March 03, 2009 at 12:06 AM
I've followed links to this site a few times and it seems like you are always going on and on about Roger Simon. I never was a fan of PJM, never found it of use and thought it ridiculous to charge a subscription fee. And I expect this new venture will fail as well.
But what is your seeming obsession with Simon? It isn't as if he is a major public or political figure.
Posted by: EB | March 03, 2009 at 04:39 PM
EB-
Every man needs a hobby.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | March 03, 2009 at 09:02 PM