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HE STILL DESERVES BETTER 3/19/2011 5:38:29 AM
It was in June 2010, as a follow-up to an op-ed blog I wrote in July 2009, that I posted a column called JAMIE DUPREE DESERVES BETTER. I wrote the original because WSB’s Neal Boortz was up for membership in the Radio Hall of Fame, and it was (if only by osmosis) as close as his sidekick would ever come to a similar and more deserved honor. I explained at length my vote for Boortz was cast solely as a vote for Mr. Dupree.
Of course, Boortz went on to become the anointed one, while Dupree continues to make limited appearances on the show in his role as “Keeper of Truth and Honestly as it Pertains to the Common Sense of Government Without the Biased Misinformation of Which Boortz is the Recognized Purveyor.”
Sadly, this past January, we learned of the untimely death of Royal Marshall, producer of the Neal Boortz Show, cut down by the sinister hand of Fate at the sensitive age of 43. An occasional substitute for Boortz, Mr. Marshall was the only major player on that show — aside from Jamie Dupree and occasionally Belinda Skelton — who possessed genuine credentials and a journalistic love of true Americanism. Notwithstanding the more regular and unfortunate hosting by a certain erstwhile and unsuccessful senatorial candidate (and now a temporarily hopeful presidential candidate)*, Mr. Marshall will be remembered, among his other numerous achievements, as Boortz’s most worthwhile and viable sit-in. Royal Marshall was a Renaissance man, a cauldron of incalculable talents; he is, as an icon, irreplaceable and without peer.
Back to my original point, I do not know Jamie Dupree personally, and would be hard pressed to recognize him were he to knock on my door. I have, of course, no idea how much he earns as the Washington correspondent for WSB-Radio, but I am certain he has to be the second lowest paid reporter/personality in the history of broadcasting.
By his own admission, Neal Boortz’s recompense annually is in six figures, and I estimate he is worth roughly 2% of that. If he had a drop of the milk of human concern, he personally would contribute to Mr. Dupree’s yearly Christmas bonus. Or at least cover a Burning Tree Club membership ($75,000 initiation and $500 a month dues.)
It has been often suggested that Jamie Dupree abandon radio and scoop up a lucrative position for which he is imminently qualified on cable or network TV. He has stated unequivocally that he is deliriously happy where he is, and while he appreciates the accolades, he is not interested — thank you very much!
If that is true, then he is not only a learned idiot, he is something of a fool. While we are intellectually burdened with the Sean Hannitys, the Rush Limbaughs, the Neal Boortzes, Bill O’Reillys, Glenn Becks and the entire cadre of Fox News sycophants — not to mention all their asinine spin artists — how can CBS and CNN (for example) allow Jamie Dupree to run amuck on radio with his untarnished bipartisan interpretations of the nation’s political peccadilloes?
Were I Rupert Murdock, Phil Griffin, Leslie Moonves or Jeffrey Bewkes — or whoever calls the shots on cable and network TV — I would make it my life’s mission to ensnare Mr. Dupree with a long-term, irrevocable contract to be my #1 political commentator and analyst. I would pay him any amount that would make him happy, for as long as he wants. I am so certain he would dominate the spectrum, I am willing to buy out Murdock or the cable/networks’ shareholders for any amount of money necessary to achieve this.
Of course, it’s an empty offer. Not only am I a pauper, I am uncertain I could snag Mr. Dupree. Also I doubt if Murdock or the network shareholders would take me seriously enough to let me entertain my fantasy — Murdock especially, and Bewkes, when they realizes my first executive duty will be to fire Fox and CNN’s entire kit-and-cavuto.
No, it appears we will have to be content with Jamie Dupree here in Atlanta as the person who keeps Neal Boortz from making a complete ass of himself. To be fair, we all know that Boortz says and does what we hear because it is his shtick; he knows better and utters his inane harangues only to get our goat. Even his alleged hatred for President Obama is an act well calculated to seem mean-spirited.
Perhaps we could petition WSB to cast Mr. Dupree has Boortz’s permanent replacement whenever the so-called “Talk Master” is off playing golf, flying his airplane or riding his motorcycle.. What a boon! — considering the current stable of wannabees is as bad as Boortz himself, if that’s possible.
In the meantime, is there any way Jamie can begin enjoying a 5,000 percent pay raise — if only to keep people like me from absconding with him?
*The temporary presidential hopeful has currently relinquished his efforts on WSB (except for certain commercial commitments) while he concentrates on assuredly handing Mr. Obama a second term. Between him, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich it should be a walk in (Lafayette) park.
