Advocating on Behalf of the American Military and Defense on the War on Terror

Earlier this year, Move America Forward proudly celebrated its ten year anniversary of supporting our brave men and women of the military and their war on terror. Over the past decade, we have shipped over 315 tons of care packages to our troops serving on the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today, we want to share the journey of a care package to the troops through the eyes of someone who has helped us deliver them to some of the most remote parts of Afghanistan.

While we rightfully praise the heroic actions of the members of our military, the sacrifice and good deeds of our civilian contractors serving in Afghanistan often goes unrecognized and unappreciated. Lacy Castleberry is one of those heroes that is deserving of admiration and thanks. When Move America Forward was having a hard time getting care packages delivered to some of the more desolate Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan, Lacey volunteered to help find a way to make it happen. Not only was she successful in finding and organizing flights to deliver care packages to the troops on the front lines, but she often escorted the shipments and hand delivered them herself.

Read the rest of the story here...

So, I find myself sitting around a patio table next Independence Day sipping on the perfect mimosa with some friends and a couple of folks I haven't met before. One of the new acquaintances brings up the subject of "climate change." I know from the term used that this one is probably a sorta believer but not a hard-core, unshakable advocate; were that so, he would have used the latest, hippest, most with-it name-change term "climate disruption." Now it's time for my Favorite Global Warmism Question #1:

Did you know that there's no such thing as a greenhouse gas?
The conversation around the table stops dead in its tracks. Everybody's looking quizzically at each other. No one is looking at me. After a few seconds, a dear friend of many years says, "C'mon, Flyoverpen, you must be kidding. Everybody knows greenhouse gasses exist." I cross my arms, put on a smug pursed-lip smile and repeat, "Nope, there's no such thing as a greenhouse gas."

I then proceed to explain that the word "greenhouse" in that term is a misnomer. In a real-world earthbound greenhouse -- we all know what they look like even though there aren't many in existence anymore -- the sun's short-wave infrared light penetrates through the glass roof, warming up what's inside the greenhouse: air, plants, soil, etc.

New York's WABC Loses 50%, Chicago Down 59%

The latest numbers are out for Michael Savage’s radio show. Recall that Savage was a key player in the battle between Sean Hannity and Cumulus radio. A battle that had an exasperated Hannity finally firing Cumulus, as reported here in NewsBusters at the time.  But not before Savage, whom Cumulus had in the wings to replace Hannity in the latter’s Cumulus slots, took shots at Hannity, gloating at taking Hannity’s slot.

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeffrey-lord/2014/05/17/savage-hemorrhages-hannity-s-audience-new-york-s-wabc-loses-50-chicago#ixzz326B4XFTC

Melanie Morgan is an award-winning radio talk show host, author, columnist, journalist, TV anchor, and reporter. Known for her advocacy on behalf of the American military and defense of the War on Terror, the long time Bay Area personality recently joined KRSO in Santa Rosa, CA as news director and morning anchor.

What's your opinion on how radio delivers the news today?

It seems as if there are three types of radio news from which listeners can choose now: There's either a tightly scripted news wheel like you hear at all-News stations, or entertainment "info" news that tastes like marshmallows for the ear and nourishes in about the same proportion. And then there is an addiction to NPR. National Public Radio does well, but it is not to everyone's liking, as it has a definite political slant.

I prefer hearing information that is delivered in a conversational way. I want to report news that directly affects the most people in the local community.

I think we are starting to swing back to local, local, local, and it's about time. Please, no house fires, missing dogs, murder and mayhem. "If it bleeds, it leads" is not pertinent to the lives of most people who are listening to radio these days. I am working with some truly great radio professionals at KSRO, like Michael O'Shea and Jim Murphy, who get this. Sonoma Media Group's Lawrence
Amaturo is an incredible owner who is partiCipating in a radio renaissance. I feel very lucky that I have a chance to grab a part of this new re-creation of radio and have a ton of fun like we used to in the old days.

What role does social media play in how listeners receive news?

I believe that most people are getting news from social media "accidentally." The statistics show that folks are using Facebook and Twitter for one purpose but end up fmding something else that they want to know more about.

Radio can exploit that research by making sure that a station's news department is visible. But the incessant promotion and use of social media hasn't proved to be a ratings winner nor a financial benefit for a news department. I'll leave it to the programming geniuses to determine when and how much use of social media is appropriate for a news department that is often stretched thin.

You are deeply involved and active in support of U.S. troops. How did that start, and what continues to inspire you about that mission?

I co-founded Move America Forward, the largest nonprofit pro-troops grassroots organization in the country, in 2005. It was a time when the Iraq war was not going well, and thousands of activists were in the streets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Our war veterans were experiencing outright hostility instead of the gratitude of our nation. Move America Forward is hyper-vigilant in fighting the narrative that marred the return of veterans of previous wars, particularly the Vietnam vets who were reviled or at best ignored for many decades.

Today, with the help of many of my friends in Talk  radio like Rush Limbaugh (our biggest donor) , Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Laura Ingraham, and others in the world of Hollywood (Gary Sinise, Kelsey Grammer, Jon VOight), we come together for our yearly Web broadcast, called "Troopathon." It's our seventh year of fundraising to send care packages with fabulous items and personal notes from all who love our military.

We've raised more than $3 million and, more importantly, raised the profile of our heroes.

What do you like best about being a radio talk show host?

I very much enjoy the opportunity to present my listeners with a difficult problem, sketch a potential solution, and invite our audience to participate in social change. During my previous time at KSFO, we lobbied the state legislature to outlaw cancer-causing additiyes in our gasoline supply, eliminated stupid regulations and restrictions that were supposed to clean the air but instead cost thousands of jobs, and recalled a governor. Not bad work if you can get it.

How many arguments have you gotten into with Jack (Jack Swanson, Melanie's husband and radio programmer) about radio?

Zero. He's one of those programming geniuses that I defer to. Mostly. But please don't tell him that; it gives him a big head.

Have you seen that map of Texas that is showing up on the FB news feed? The one where it shades the counties with gun control laws and the non-gun controlled areas? It's a shocking visual - the entire state EXCEPT for Ft. Hood, where you can't bring a gun on base!

That's what we will be talking about on "The Big Story" a new feature daily at 6:18, 7:18, and 8:18 on 1350 AM on KSRO...also heard live on the stream at KSRO.com

Join me, Mel Morgan, and Tony Landucci for a brand new show beginning at 6:00 Monday thru Friday!