Letter To The Con Man: Your Eagle Eye

January 23rd, 2008 at 07:39am Michael Conniff 2

I was thrilled to get this letter from a fan because I hope it captures what "Con Games," my radio show on KNFO, is all about:

As you may remember I called your show and discussed the merits of the "Vail Valley" name for the area extending from Vail to Dotsero.  I did not expect that you would actually start referring to the Eagle Valley with its rightful name. That is, I felt a need to express my indignation about a false name being placed on the valley where I grew up.  I was struck by the phone call from a man who was from the Eagle Valley who endorsed my argument.  The man who called felt that it was necessary to express how he viewed the name as a "plastic idea" or false premise of sorts.  I listen to your show consistently and as far as I know that man has not called in since.  I was also struck that Ed from Aspen called in and explained that it is geographically/technically correct to refer to valleys by the names of the rivers that formed them.  The thing that I was struck by the most was how you listened to those that called in on the subject and digested what they said.  That is to say, a man called in after you decided use the Eagle Valley name and suggested that Vail was not part of the Eagle Valley.  Logically you told him "but where does the Gore creek go?".  This was an excellent comment because the Gore creek is merely a tributary of the Eagle river.
 
I have listened to your show since you went on during the afternoon hours a few years ago.  I have always enjoyed your show because you engage your guests and your audience about the compelling events and issues of our time.  I think you are great at your job because I and many other people look forward each morning to the topic you choose and your position regarding it.  What caught my attention about your show in the beginning was how interesting it was to hear people debating politics on the radio.  The second thing that struck me about your show was how fiercely intelligent you are and how formidable you are to debate.  On the day that you decided to use the Eagle Valley name I gained an additional type of respect for you.  That is, you actually lived up to the catch phrase of your show "With liberty and justice for all".  You listened to the arguments of the callers and made a logical decision to use the correct name for a geographic area in your listening audience.  Unlike pompass hosts like Glenn Beck (who is losing his mind) and Rush Limbaugh you did not allow your ego interfere with a reasonable request. 
 
Interestingly, I listened to the interview you had with Bill Bennet and I heard a pet peeve of yours in that interview that reminded me of my Vail Valley issue.  That is, Bill refered to the "Democrat party" and you corrected him by saying that in fact it is the Democratic party.  I also have a problem with those who refer to the "Democrat party".  Rush Limbaugh likes to refer to the "Democrat party" quite a bit.  To me I do not feel the reference demeans the democratic party so much as it makes the person who uses the false term sound like an idiot.  Imagine that someone started referring to the republican party as the "republic party" to even the score with the republicans.  This is would be such a stupid and utterly childish idea that no one would actually do it.  Nonetheless, Rush Limbaugh beats the "democrat party" drum throughout his show as if it were a little jab at the party each time. 
 
My favorite person who calls your show is Richard.  Richard, as you have said, is in fact the smartest person who calls your show.  I think it would be great if you could convince Richard to be a guest on your show and for you to discuss whatever topics you both would like to cover.  I think that Richard's perspective is wonderful because it lends credence to those who say good ideas come from both parties.  Richard is a genuinely thoughtful person and he provides a counterpoint that is much weightier than a stereotypical talking point from the republican party.  Richard thinks for himself, he is in his seventies, I guess he has had plenty of time to nail down his positions.  Richard pointed out the fundamental reason that many people do not call which is that they feel unprepared with the subject matter.  I personally feel like I am listening to one of my college classes where I didn't do the reading.  Thank you very much for having the integrity to follow the catch phrase of your show and thank you for creating a show that so many people look forward to listening to every week.  Please let me know if you ever thought about having Richard as a guest on your show.

Entry Filed under: Politics, Vail, Media, Aspen, Colorado, Con Games, Radio, Pitkin County, Garfield County, Eagle County, The West, United Post