So says Chuck Todd as a means of diminishing Rush Limbaugh and his audience.  I first heard this comment while listening to Laura Ingraham on XM this morning, so I beg to differ. 

I’m in my car a lot.  I mystery shop, and I often find myself driving to more remote areas in order to pick up jobs.  I have an Austin -> Del Valle -> Wyldwood -> Luling -> Lockhart -> Austin trip that I drive each month that is about 150 miles round trip.  And when we had to cut back expenses, I told my husband I did not want to drop XM radio.  I would pick up even more jobs to pay for it.  I LOVE it, and I know exactly what I’m going to listen to when I get in the car at any time (times are Central).  And, when I make trips like the one above, I don’t have to search the radio to find something to listen to when one station is out of range.

8 am     Brian and the Judge on XM 168 OR Laura Ingraham on XM 166 (depends on the topic)
               I’ll even occasionally swing on over to Glenn Beck on XM 165
11 am   John Gibson on XM 168
2 pm     Sean Hannity on XM 166
5 pm     I used to listen to the Radio Factor, but it looks like they are bringing back Spencer Hughes instead of  inserting the Fred Thompson show here. Spencer is OK, so I might listen to this or the Special Report broadcast from Fox News on XM 121
7 pm    Glenn Beck’s Fox News Channel show replay on XM 168
8 pm    Either Rusty Humphries on XM 166 or a replay of The O’Reilly Factor on XM 168
9 pm    Either continue Rusty Humphries or even listen in on Alan Colmes on XM 168

I love my radio so much that I was devastated when they moved John Gibson to the 11 am hour (used to be the Radio Factor, but I would listen to Laura Ingraham) to take over that time slot as the Radio Factor wound down. That left a big hole for me at the 5 pm hour, a time I often take off in my car and get into traffic. About the same time, they put Laura Ingraham on during her regular live hours, which came on during Brian and the Judge. That tears me apart, but I subscribe to BATJ’s podcast, so I have the chance to listen to it if I want.

Talk radio is not dead.  When I’m on the road, there are LOTS of other cars with me.  Not all of them are listening to the crud that passes for music now.