Dave Mosso (repost)
Re: Marc Cooper's Show Taken Off KPFK
Tue Feb 19 22:06:02 2002
Dear Mr. Cooper,

I have asked several times in the past to be removed from your "List of Strategic Influence", and still you ply me with your short-sided propaganda, so here you go:

Pardon my french, but you're a fucking hypocrite and your arguments that the new board and former "dissidents" are the ones to "blame" in this matter are ridiculous and ring as hollow as Bush's claims of "Axis Of Evil". You who told those of us last summer who were struggling with the decision whether or not to donate at all that "in this time of the Bush Administration" etc. that we never needed Pacifica more and all that (I guess that's changed, huh, Mr. Cooper?) and that Amy Goodman and others refused to pitch -- for their own valid reasons -- which you found equally ridiculous.

I'd imagine the jump in listenership has precious little to do with Mark Schubb's "daring managerial style"/direction for KPFK and more to do with the fact that over the past 5 years, NPR has gone completely to shit and there are a lot of smart people out there who realize this and have jumped ship when they heard how bad it's become (can you stomach KCRW these days???)-- and KPFK was all that was left (no pun intended). Kinda like those of us who "jumped ship" on the Democrats and voted for Nader -- we'd put up with it as long as we could, but we weren't voting Democrat anyway this time come hell or high water, and Nader was there to fill in the space and also happened to be more "on message", as they say, just like KPFK. So give the self-aggrandizement a rest and get over yourself, dude, because it's getting really pathetic.

All I can say is that I am ecstatic that Mark Schubb has been sent packing, and while I agree with most of your positions where socio-political issues are concerned, I disagree with you this issue entirely, and disagree with your vision of "democratic radio".

That said, I did indeed appreciate your show most of the time, and was most impressed and fascinated by your guests, including today's appearance by Robert McNamara. If I agree with you on anything, it's the notion of having more voices from the 'right' to come on and have their arguments disassembled by our voices of reason.

Furthermore, I am highly offended as a Nation Associate that you would sully their good name by utilizing this thenation.com email address for your own politicking, implying that The Nation advocates your position, which I would hope it wouldn't if it has any brains whatsoever (which I believe it does).

Mr. Cooper, I respect your journalism and your articles are for the most part top notch, particularly the stuff you write on Central and South America, and I thank you for them. But as far as KPFK is concerned, its quality has declined over the past few years... and there's so little local reporting it's ridiculous. I need only to point to "City Arts And Lectures" or the fact that when given the chance to put Democracy Now! back on at 9am, Mr. Schubb refused to do the right thing. His response to banning David Barsamian's Alternative Radio was equally childish, selfish and alarmingly deceptive; and his banning of Fidel Rodriguez was just plain fucking stupid (if there was any show which attracted new listeners, it probably was his socially-conscious Friday night hip-hop show, providing a gateway into all things progressive and 'KPFK'...)

My prediction is that this fund drive will break all previous records, and hopefully Pacifica and KPFK can rebuild without hypocrites like yourself -- who, unlike those who did so before, are now calling on us to destroy it.

Perhaps one day some sort of reconciliation can occur between you and KPFK, and you will be welcomed back on the air. Until then, I look forward to more printed material from you, but please, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Good Luck,

Dave Mosso,
Costa Mesa, CA