(Gov?) Jerry Springer calls for political activism

Talk show host brings serious message to University of Akron, He contrasts attitude from 1960s with that of most students:

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/7035240.htm



I can see Jerry as the Governor, I can also see him taking on Dewine for the US Senate.

Springer contrasted the era of the 1960s and that of the 1980s -- when he said students unplugged from politics -- by quoting the two icons of those periods -- Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

``Kennedy said: `Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country'... Reagan said: `I'll get government off your back. And, no new taxes.' Look at the differences in those messages,'' Springer said.

He said from the 1960s to the 1980s, America shifted from a country concerned for the well-being of the many, to a self-centered, ``me'' society.

``That's when the great disconnect between government and the people took place,'' said Springer, who failed to connect with enough voters this year to make viable a proposed run for the Senate seat held by Republican George Voinovich.

For Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor, it would have been his first run for elective office since he lost the Democratic primary for governor in 1982.

However, Springer hinted Thursday that he may make another try for the Ohio governorship in 2006. He said if he decides to run, he will quit doing his popular syndicated talk show, which he called the ``silliest show ever.''

eom.

Talking to people. He's great at a podium, especially speaking to young people. He's a brilliant speaker. I know, I know -- people who aren't familiar with his career before the tabloid show are shaking their heads -- but he didn't start out that way. He did an Oprah-style interview show in Cinci that he took to Chicago; I think Oprah is probably the biggest reason he eventually went over to the junk he did, because he couldn't compete with her in Chicago on her level. There were several Chicago personalities at the time who had 'Donahue' style interview shows; sadly, the only way Springer seemed able to disgintuish himself was by doing sensationalistic junk.

He was a cultural commentator on one of the local news shows in Cincinnati back in the late 70s, and until he started doing a tabloid show that focused on the daily hijinks of Nazi incest cults, he was generally respected as such.

That being said, I don't really know if I want to see him run for public office now. As vicious and financially enhanced as the Ohio Republican party is, imagine the hatchet job they'd do on him. Not that I think it would matter to him -- he'd had so many hatchet jobs done on him already, when he was mayor in Cincinnati, it's a wonder he's not just a head in a jar.

I met him back when he was just a local newscaster in Cincinnati running in the Democratic primary for governor of Ohio in 1982. It was a 'state government day' function in Columbus, sponsored by the newspaper conglomerates and TV stations, for high school newspaper editors. He was articulate and gracious to a couple of hundred high school kids; he spoke to us like we were important. To be fair, so did Dick Celeste -- but Celeste (who also should be a head in a jar, after all the Repuke hatchet work) wasn't as charismatic in person.

(edited to correct date)

He would take his show and instead of "topics" like "My baby's daddy is sleeping with my mother and now she's pregnant by him too" he could have Freepers and DU'ers come on with a topic of "Support the Troops". Keep the 300 lb. stage hands - chances are there will be fights.

Now that is a seriously great idea!

I think the reichpublicans would reveal their true selves in such a forum.

His show would be the major issue.

First it was Donahue and then Oprah and then it went to the more ridiculous like Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer. It was through their rise to fame that gave Limbaugh and his wanna-bes the idea to stretch the limits on a political show and sure enough it worked. People like sensationalism and Jerry Springer and Rush Limbaugh are great at it. I think it all started with Donahue and escalated from there. Now we have the Savage Weiner and Boortz or how ever you spell his name. They even make Rush seem tame. I think either Donahue or Springer would make a good candidate because they know how to attract people.

Jerry can win. Except Jerry is more articulate. Stop saying someone should not run for office. We are all eligible..