The Rats Are Fleeing

Air America is stumbling. It's CEO, Mark Walsh is getting out while the getting's good - as is David Logan, director of programming.

Logan insists all is well, but Michael Harrison of "Talkers" magazine disagrees: "Chaos is not a good sign," he said.

From the start, Harrison said, there were signs that Air America's business plan was less than sound. The network approached its operations like a political campaign, soliciting investors with goals of unseating President Bush and sending Limbaugh packing, rather than approaching potential advertisers and focusing on programming, according to Harrison. The result, he said, was akin to putting a day-long infomercial on the air.

"Most of the media's attention has been on the fact that they are liberal and little attention has been given to the fact that radio networks make it on their business plan, not their politics," Harrison said. "One would have to question their business plan -- whether you're liberal or conservative, whether you're playing music or comedy, radio is radio and it requires sound broadcasting practices."