Talk Show Host Ratings - Levin, Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Crowley, Grant, Savage, O'Reilly (VANITY)

5/5/04 | Self

[NYC Republican]

I can only comment on the talk show hosts that are on WABC or WWOR radio in the NY Metro region, all can be heard live here http://www.wabcradio.com/ (except for Rush). Feel free to add your comments.

Top Tier:

Rush Limbaugh - Strengths -incredible insight, extremely politically savvy, good listener - patient, educational... solid conservative credential on all fronts, can be funny at times, excellent at satire. Weaknesses - can be full of himself at times. Even though many of his comments (talent on loan from God, maja-Rushdie, the all-knowing...) are said tongue-in-cheek, it gets a little old... his self-promotions can be a bit tough to digest, especially when his book was released.

Rush is the cream of the crop.

Mark Levin - Strengths -quickly becoming my favorite. NO self-promotion, shoots from the lip, says exactly what's on his mind... is EXTREMELY bright (constitutional lawyer), NOTHING politically correct about this guy - unlike Hannity, who tends to play softball with some of his guests, Levin only serves up hardballs. He actually seeks out liberal callers to destroy their logic... GREAT sense of humor... He's a fellow FReeper!!! Weaknesses: can definitely be VERY abrasive at times.. short temper.

If you haven't heard Mark Levin, treat yourself. Especially after a bad political day... He's a breath of fresh air (ABC from 6-7 EST).

Very Good

Laura Ingraham - Ok - NO apologies for having a bigger pic of Laura. She's hot! Strenghts - Very bright, sarcastic (in a good way), intuitive, enjoyable program... humorous, insightful, love the way she blows away the libs and their platforms, stoic delivery is fantastic IMO. Weaknesses - shameless promotion of her book... awful at mimicing others (her British accent during Travelocity ads is atrocious).

Sean Hannity Strenths- Huge exposure -can, and does, make a big dent in getting the message out... the hardest-working conservative around... right on target on all major conservative issues... will confront most libs head-on, though on occasion will play softball... DESPISES the Klintons more than just about anyone I know, does not hold back in expressing his outrage at libs... isn't afraid to challenge the J. Jacksons of the world... excellent at tearing apart libs like Kennedy, Dean, Huffington, etc... excellent at staying on message, and breaking it down to a level that the average non-political soccer-mom can understand... gets the TRUTH out, and exposes the LIB lies!... Weaknesses - shameless self-promotion of his book - thankfully that's ended... not the most informed (yesterday he was calling Kosovo a city)... throws softballs at people like Specter, other libs... Needs to improve his interview skills - needs to become a better listener.

Monica Crowley Strengths- very knowledgeable about international events... forceful, energetic conservative - no holds barred, shoot from both barrels, take-no-prisoners assault on libs... STRONG supporter of the War on Terror, enjoyable program, frequent contributer to the Batchelor (and formerly Alexander) show weaknessTends to spend an inordinate amount of time on the same topics. While Israel is important, the amount of time she spends talking about them is overkill IMO... not a very good interviewer -loses patience quickly.

Good:

Bob Grant StrenthsHas always had solid conservative credentials... not afraid to stand up to, or go head-to-head, with anyone... Excellent at discussing local issues... huge supporter of the WOT. weaknessesSadly, his best days are behind him - he's made a few strategic verbal blunders that have turned off his listeners, and had him PANNED by the media... can be VERY abrasive on the phone... Voice can be very grating, sounds like he's 85 (he's not that far off).

Below Average:

Bill O'Reilly strentgthswhen taking on the conservative side of an issue, can be very forceful, attacks the libs without mercy... HATES the Klintons and Franken as much as anyone... Very good speaking voice, speaks very clearly and fairly eloquently, is fairly patient with callers weaknessesA blowhard... tries so hard to shake the "conservative" label, that he bends over backwards to support liberal issues where ever he can... shameless self-promoter- of his book, of his various shows, etc

Poor:

Michael Savage Strengths - very conservative (though libertarian on other issues) on most issues - excellent views on immigration, despises the libs, Hollywierd... can be very funny and entertaining... very bright guy overall weaknessesThe most shameless self-promoter I've EVER heard. He brings up his book constantly, MONTHLY after its release, he offers tickets to his shows if callers answer questions correctly, he says that he, and HE ALONE, takes credit for having Bush elected, because of his "Passionate Conservative comment"... Is overly shrill - after President Bush proposed (note proposed, it's DOA), Savage called for Bush to be impeached... VERY nasty on the phone, interpersonal skills are awful... Had a caller yesterday say that he's sick of the Right-Wing Propoganda/Bias on talk radio, the same way he used to be sick of liberal bias. Savage agreed!!! He's part of it! He could have said that talk radio doesn't claim to be fair and balanced!... biggest ego I've EVER heard on the radio....

.

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I'm sure I'll be flogged for some of my opinions, but they're just that, my opinions... Please enlighten us on any other talk show hosts that we should listen to (Melved, etc).

[NYC Republican]

It's not a man, baby! It's Helen Thomas, the Press Lady.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

You are correct that Hannity is uninformed on many topics. I sometime cringe because he blows it so badly.

Ingraham is better informed but either misses the point callers are making or just doesn't listen well. Almost every show she attacks a point because she missed or mistook what the caller said.

[LiteKeeper]

I put Gallagher in the same league with Hannity.
They both amaze all the old women in their remedial GED classes.

I agree...Hannity would not be who he is today if he had not started out by following Rush on a NYC radio station. He really is an intellectual lightweight - more of a street-brawler than a Talk Show host.

[NYC Republican]

Do you agree with post #206?

[CyberAnt]

Those who have seen Hannity in person would not agree with you.

Savage is just that: savage! If you like that style.

[justshutupandtakeit]

It is good that HE understands the historic importance of re-electing Bush. Those that don't harm the country.

[threat matrix]

Laura Ingraham's Stone Phillips imitiations are absolutely hilarious..

[NYC Republican]

Laura Ingraham's Stone Phillips imitiations are absolutely hilarious..

They ripped him apart, re: Stone's interview of Bobby Brown. Hysterical.

[NYC Republican]

It is good that HE understands the historic importance of re-electing Bush. Those that don't harm the country.

That's Savage for you, he's urging people to NOT vote for President Bush. To paraphrase President Bush's phrase, "You're Either With Us or Against Us", You're Either With Bush Or Against Bush", if it's the latter, you're supporting SKerry. That's disgraceful.

[threat matrix]

I needed to breathe for air after that Bobby and Whitney bit, I was laughing so hard..

[auggy]

"Am I the only Freeper that enjoys Savage the most?"

I like him, when I get a chance to listen. I get a kick at how he can really get pissed and it is just comical to listen to him rant and rave.

I am kind of the same way, in that sense.

He gets a little to far out in right field for me sometimes. Or, is it left field.

Rush is top dog. No one even gets close to him.

As far as, his self promotion, I think not. I really think the guy is probably very humble.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

I also listen to KSKY-Dallas. I enjoy Bill Bennett's "Morning in America". It's on from 5am-8am Monday through Friday. It's very low key and thoughtful. He has some really interesting guests. Just what I need for early in the morning. By 8 I'm ready for Laura Ingraham. I'm so glad we now have KSKY!

[SWake]

First up, I do not have a financial interest in Pogo or any retailer.

I have bought a Pogo Radio YourWay to record programs directly off the air so I can keep up with all the choices out there. It is a pocket sized AM/FM radio that records directly to memory (it has 32 Mb internal and can take SD cards up to 256 Mb). The system can be programmed to record up to 10 programs, but setting up a program is extremely counter intuitive. The programs can be listened to directly on the unit or uploaded to a PC. I'm listening to this morning's Laura Ingraham show on "flash delay".

The internal 32 Mb will store about 4 hours of programming. The 256 should hold about 40 hours. The recording sounds about as good as local AM radio. I have .mp3s on the 256 as well, and the sound on them is easily as good as my Archos JBMM.

I've done worse with $125.

[NYC Republican]

Not a bad idea, though many of the programs are available on the web, even after the intial broadcast

[mbraynard]

Because you mention it being in the book and me having not seein it in the book causes a red flag - I'm sure you understand. I recall that the prison guards had tried to set him up to look like he had a mistress by switching a letter he sent to a woman and instead sending it to his wife, and that his wife was not deceived.

[mbraynard]

What part/section? I have a paper back copy and will go look.

[threat matrix]

When Laura is on topic and rolling , she is #1 in my book.

She gets a lot of high profile guests as well, even to rival Imus.

[muleskinner]

1)Rush
2) Ingrahamer! - except when she does the travelocity British accent
3) H-A-double N-I...T and Y spell Hannity. Proud of all the books that I've written....etc.
4)Art Bell when he has Bigfoot stories.

Savage is good when he tells his stories about growing up in N.Y., but I've heard the one about cleaning antiques with sodium cyanide four times in the past 6 months!
Don't get the others.

[threat matrix]

I love Art Bell too. What is it about the Travelocity commecial with Laura that bugs everyone so?? (lol)

[Bluntpoint]

He went for a few weeks on his radio show defending his infidelity.

He really is a cad.