10 Questions with ... Heidi Harris

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started at KDWN in 1998, middle of the night, no pay (and I was worth every cent!). Hired by Gavin Spittle in 1999, as a part-timer. Got my own weekend show, and then in 2001, when Sean Hannity went national, Alan Stock was taken off afternoons and Gavin paired us up on mornings. Worked together for 5 years, but when my contract was up, that was my chance to go back to solo hosting. Turned down a KXNT renewal offer and went back to KDWN in 2007, which had just been bought by Beasley.

1. You're doing a solo morning show these days -- what are the best and worst things about a) doing a solo show and b) doing mornings?

The best part of doing a solo show is having complete control over topics and guest selection. The worst part is doing all the prep yourself, but it's worth it! (I have the world's greatest producer, but he doesn't do show prep - he's already doing three other jobs)

Worst part of mornings is feeling like a little kid, having to go to bed early... can't stay up with the grownups... and missing evening events except on rare occasions or weekends.

2. You've become a fairly regular presence on cable news shows. How did that come about? What's it like being the voice of the opposition on liberal shows like Ed Schultz' MSNBC program?

It started with an appearance on "Hannity & Colmes" with my former co-host about 5 years ago. Some other producers at Fox saw me on the show, asked me to do other shows, and it took off from there. One of Fox's producer's moved to MSNBC, so he called me for "Hardball," and I guess I got passed around to a few other rolodexes, and these days it's mostly "The Ed Show." I've also done Tru TV and Lou Dobbs' show when he was on CNN.

"The Ed Show" is more of a challenge than Fox, because I'm outnumbered by Ed and at least one other guest, but I love going into the lions' den. I just bring my whip and my chair. And everyone at all the cable networks has been great to me.

3. Las Vegas has been through an even rougher stretch than most of the rest of the country in the recent economic collapse. How has that impacted your show: Are listeners angrier, more fearful, resigned? What's the mood out there right now?

Several years ago, when they were building houses all over Vegas that were five feet apart and $400 thousand dollars, my husband and I drove around and said to ourselves "who can afford all these"? There weren't enough people making that much money even then. We knew the houses were overpriced, but no one predicted the ripple effect it would have when all those houses lost value. Not even the so-called experts.

Although it's certainly the fault of the government that anyone with a pulse could qualify for a mortgage, the buyers were the ones who should have realized the numbers didn't add up. And then there's the group who thought they'd buy homes and flip them to make $100 grand or more. And who could blame them?

There are a lot of people who are angry, and seem to believe the government owes them relief. On the other hand, there are responsible people who bought a house they could actually qualify for, whose homes have lost 50% of their value, and they're wondering why they should continue to pay a mortgage when they might never see their investment increase in value. They're the ones truly caught in the middle.

Of course, there's never been a guarantee that your house would increase in value. People in other parts of the country, like Southern California, Silicon Valley, Houston, etc. have lived through terrible market downturns, but it hadn't happened in Vegas in decades, so there's a certain amount of shock.

The only way to fix the problem is to allow the banks to take the houses when people don't pay, and let the free market work. We're already seeing houses selling for 1990 prices in Las Vegas. Having the government try to keep people in "their" homes through various programs will only delay the free market correction that will truly get us back on track. Perhaps the children whose parents are losing their homes and having to rent will learn a lesson they can apply when they're adults. When government teaches you to be irresponsible and look for a bailout, the next generation will expect the same treatment.

4. If the election were held right at this writing, Harry Reid would lose to either Sue Lowden or Danny Tarkanian, and Reid's national polling shows widespread dissaisfaction with him as Senate Majority Leader. Yet he's been able to hold his seat for four terms and served two terms in the House before that. To what do you ascribe his ability to hold on for this long? Do you think he'll find a way to pull this one out?

Harry Reid was re-elected in 1998 by only 428 votes, (defeating then-congressman John Ensign) and since then, he's not had a credible challenger. His popularity has waned, and now that he's Majority Leader, many voters who were fooled by his soft spoken demeanor are seeing him for who he truly is. That being said, even though "anyone but Harry" is the state mantra, it will be a tough race, and Harry takes no prisoners.

I had a spat with Harry a few months back when I called him on a radio ad he was running, claiming he'd been a victim of an attempted mob hit. I was here when that supposedly happened, and I questioned it, forcing his campaign to drag out a 30 year old police report, mentioning a "wire". Since I was already apparently annoying him, I got Frank Culotta, admitted murderer, thief and Tony Spilotro's mob muscle in the 70's, to come on my show and tell me that the mob was never mad at Harry. And besides, if Frank "had wanted to kill Harry, he'd be dead". At last count there had been 11 articles written about it. Just get the call letters right, Harry! The interesting thing was that no one in the media in town would touch it. They are so in the tank for Harry. So much for local "investigative" reporting. Sue me, Harry!

5. The tea party movement points to a widespread dissatisfaction with America's status quo at the moment; do you think this portends a swing back to conservatism nationwide? Make a prediction: How will the 2010 elections change Capitol Hill, if at all? How about for 2012 -- two years early, do you see a challenge to the President forming yet? Who's it going to be?

I believe the anti incumbent mood is strong, but that may very well sweep some Republicans up in the wave. Let's not forget that when the GOP was in charge, although we all had jobs, they spent money freely, so they have a lot to answer for in 2010. Americans say they want change, and no more politics as usual, but the reality is, if you throw 535 bums out, you'll get 535 more bums in. Voters decry "politics as usual", but that system will never change. The system is built around taking your money, promising you things and giving them to you in exchange for your support. Have you been to an HOA meeting? Your neighbor doesn't care if you get your street light fixed or your curb painted, as long as he gets his first. Why should anyone expect Congress to be different? The difference is that Congress tells you "we'll fix that light for you, but we expect your vote in November".

I do predict the Senate will turn over, and maybe even the House. As for 2012, Romney will certainly run, but he's got a lot of explaining to do about his Massachusetts health care debacle. I don't know if Sarah Palin even wants to be President. She'd make far less money than she does today, with far less freedom. And although it's clear she enjoys the limelight, I don't know that she's terribly power hungry, and you have to crave that more than anything else to want to be President. And I'll bet Todd doesn't want to sit in the parlour in the White House, when he'd rather be out on his snow machine or fishing. I love that guy. Reminds me of my own hubbie. A real man. I can guarantee she will not run for VP...she's done playing co-host. She's way beyond that now. Scott Brown can't be trusted, and Huckabee's time has come and gone, but I do like Mike Pence. Gingrich is a smart guy, but has too many ex-wives.

In Nevada, Ensign will be toast. The women are ticked about the affair, the liberal media won't let a philandering Christian off the hook, and worst of all, when you bonk your buddy's wife -- apparently that's a "man law" that you don't break -= the male voters will hold it against him. In the meanwhile, no one's talking to him in Washington, so we basically have no one representing us in DC on the Senate GOP side.

6. As a Las Vegas native, what would you say is the biggest misconception outsiders have about the area?

That you can't live a decent life or raise good kids here. Although I've done some "Vegas" jobs -- cocktail waitress, lounge singer -- I live the same life here that I would live in Colorado Springs. I work, go to church, go to the dog park, and stay home, unless I'm making an appearance. I don't think Vegas makes you a loser or a flake if you're grounded, but it does attract those people from all over, so that's why we seem to have so many. Vegas can be disastrous for a person who's weak.

7. What's the most fun moment you've had in radio?

Probably my town hall that KDWN did last summer. We were all disgusted by the health care reform negotiations, and the failure of our politicians to listen, so KDWN threw a town hall and invited all our Congressional delegation. None had the guts to show, but over 1000 listeners did! It was humbling to say the least. It sent a message to the politicians, and an even larger one to the three newspapers and three TV stations that cover it about the power of KDWN in the community.

8. Who are your heroes?

Jesus Christ. People who are willing to do what's right regardless of whether it's popular or expedient. There have been people throughout history who have made huge personal or professional sacrifices for the cause of freedom, or the Gospel, or human rights, and although the public rarely knows many of their names, we own them a debt we can never repay. Nowadays we have people who have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference because they sit in front of a microphone five days a week, yet they often won't take a stand, for fear of losing their job. Pretty sad.

That being said, we can never lose sight of the fact that we are in the entertainment business, first and foremost.

9. You're active in helping rescue abandoned dogs; how did that come about? Why do you do that?

Didn't plan on it! I worked in an animal shelter years ago, and volunteer with the SPCA as a foster mom for puppies. I currently have five dogs, all rescued from shelters or the streets of Las Vegas. The latest one is a purebred Long Haired Dachshund I found on my way to work at 4 AM a month ago. He had been thrown onto a very busy arterial road. I believe there is a special branch of hell for those people.

I have become the de facto "dog broker" for people who call me with dogs who need placing. I'm a picky screener, and I've been able to place some great dogs with people, including my foster puppies, who have mostly been adopted by listeners. It's a great connection with your audience. All of us on air have something we're interested in, and when you share that with your listeners it's just one more thing that they love you for, even if they've never had a dog, or a motorcycle, or whatever....

Luckily, I have a big yard and a pretty big house, and a husband who is a saint. You can't save every starfish, but apparently I'm trying!

10. You still sing on occasion, but is there ever a time when you think, you know, I'd like to go back to singing for a living? Do you miss that lifestyle?

Just the other night I sat in with the band at the Governor's Military Ball, and Governor Gibbons and I did "La Bamba!" I love to sing, and I loved never having to set an alarm clock. I don't miss doing it every night. It's not exactly intellectually stimulating, but it was a lot of fun. I left singing to do radio full time. If you're not Bette Midler, you do have a shelf life.