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....

.

.

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).

[HitmanLV]

I like a lot of your observations but my taste is a bit different.

Top Tier: Rush Limbaugh

Very Good: Laura Ingraham, Michael Medved, Michael Savage

Good: Bob Grant, Bill O'Reilly

Below Average: Sean Hannity, Mark Levin

* * * * *

Rush - the grandfather of the niche and is awesome - funny, nice, cogent and makes sense. Hsi reputation as mean, shrill, etc is almost totally unfounded. People who think ill of Rush have likely seldom or never heard him. I only listen maybe 1 or 2x a month these days, but always a treat.

Laura Ingraham - wonderful, and I actually largely just like the sound of her voice. Smart, funny, and blunt when she needs to be. Some good backup talent on her show also. she is VERY smart, probably 2nd only to Medved in the 'pure brains' department. The radio host I'd most like to share a night on the town with here in Las Vegas. I only listen maybe 1 or 2x a month these days, when I am up late and working on my PC.

Michael Medved - probably my favorite radio show these days, though I don't think he is on in NYC but I could be wrong. I think he is he fairest and smartest conservative spokesman on radio. He thinks through issues clearly & completely, and most importantly when liberals have a good point, he concedes it and parrys the argument very well rather than rely on cliches. Probably the most intelligent and well spoken conservative radio host - a pleasure to listen to. The radio host I'd most want to sit next to in 1st Class on a trans-continental flight, especially if he was particularly chatty. I listen daily since I work at my home office and he fills up 12noon-3pm.

Michael Savage - Probably the most interesting conservative spokesman on radio. Savage Nation is the only daily 'fix' of radio I never miss. While his style turns off some folks, the truth is he isn't that mean, and only really 'loses it' once or twice a show (to be fair, most commentators 'lose it' maybe only once every two years!). He had a wonderful career in health sciences before his run on radio, and has easily had the most fascinating life. He is an acquired taste but when the taste is developed, he is mesmerizing. His show often takes strange turns that to me are the show's strength: he will discuss wealthy midgets he knew and their ability to get lovely women, for example, and expound on the relationship between the sexes. He will bring up a metaphor (life is like a pinball machine) and expound on it for minutes. No matter where the conversation goes, he dovetails the topic back to one of the main issues of the day, in ways that are usually very smart but sometimes genuinely brilliant. Quick mind, quick wit, healthy ego - a good guy. I listen daily because he is on 4pm-7pm, right after I go out to run my errands at 3pm. I come back and do some more work, listen to Savage Nation, make some dinner, and enjoy the late afternoon with Dr Savage!

Bob Grant - an icon, though he suffers a bit for having been in the game so long. He has turned the corner and is quite bitter these days. To be fair, he has been bitter well over a decade. He makes a lot of sense. Great! I haven't heard his show in 2 years.

Bill O'Reilly - Bill is good and tries to be fair. He is repeatedly on the defensive since he is under flak for being 'conservative' and he strives to appear independent. He is more of a populist and not so much a conservative. His solution often involves 'bringing the feds in,' etc. That being said, clearly his instincts run 'conservative.' Also able to respectfully give liberals credit when they deserve it, which helps his credibility, not hinders it. Probably the most annoying thing about his show is how shamelessly he has his nose directly up Lis Wheil's rear end when she co-hosts his show, or when she is with him on tv. Actually, Bill flirts shamelessly with any attractive women under 45 it seems, especially if they are in their 20s and foxy, and is in top form when he has a model on the tv show for some 'hard hitting interview.' I'm nice on the ladies myself, but with Bill it's too distracting. If he did it once in a while, no problem. He tends to be all over any attractive woman on his show.

Sean Hannity - A good guy with his heart in the right place, but he suffers from over reliance on cliches, catch phrases, and slogans. "What about Pol Pot? What about Rwanda?" What about them, Sean? He wasn't a champion about Rwanda in the past, it's only important now because it suits him. He seems unwilling or unable to just say the truth: we are not in the business of freeing people but when their despots mess with us, a side benefit of the USA's wrath is that we free oppressed people. He too often uses slogans like this instead of dealing with the issue at hand. I don't mind his commercialism much: he should have a best-seller- he has 3 hours of national radio and 1 hour of international cable news programming to get the word out. My biggest problem with Sean is that he doesn't have a broad base of knowledge to draw from, like Medved or Savage, and doesn't have a very quick wit. That being said, he is a super and sincere guy. If he took time to get more on his game (read more, discuss these topics more off the air), he would be much better. I listen maybe 2 hours a week and watch H&C nightly. I can't listen much because he lets craftier liberals breeze fastballs by him and his bat is on his shoulder - he just isn't quick enough and doesn't have the tools to respond. Good guy, but a poor spokesman for the cause.

Mark Levin - Like fingers scratching a chalkboard. Awful. Just hideous. Nothing resembling a sense or humor or comic timing. Can't convince anybody of anything. Just a huge turnoff. In awful form when he calls into the Hannity show to make fun of a guest and his witticisms fall flat. The unfunniest kid in the 6th grade who fancies himself the funniest kid in the 6th grade. Just awful. I have listened on rare occasion while visiting nyc. Hideous.

[NYC Republican]

Awesome analysis, although I STRONGLY disagree re: Levin, and Sean.

[TomasUSMC]

I like Savage better than Rush. Also Roger Fredinberg.

[olde north church]

Monica is the mug of hot cocoa, fireplace, furry blanket, pillows on the floor cold winter snuggling kind of night --> Laura is the shore, a beer, a pick-up truck and fire on the sand dunes kind of girl.

[agitator]

radio ping

[bootless]

Constantly updates the subject matter and the name of the intereviewee for new people just tuning in.

He must have trained as a radio baseball announcer. :-)

Seriously, I *hate* it when an interviewer doesn't identify the guest *after* the interview is over.

Larry is great, and I'm glad he changed his party affiliation. I hope to see him run for office soon.

[HitmanLV]

Thanks. You had great observations, also! And don't get me wrong, I like Sean a lot. It's just that to me he isn't as sharp as Medved or Savage, and that hurts his show. Sean also has a great crews - Sweet Baby James and Flipper (is she away again with another baby?) are awesome. Also, Sean does have the best segment in radio, his 'Man on the Street' is hilarious and frightening at the same time.

Other great segments are Medved's 'Conspiracy Day' and MEdved's 'Caller of the Week.' I recommend Medved highly!

Also, am I the only one who notices how Bill O'R shamelessly hits on every decent looking woman on his show? Haha!

PS - You are on your own with Levin. He is awful.

[threat matrix]

I believe Laura has won a Nobel Prize..(no foolin!)

[HitmanLV]

I don't think she has, though I know she was a corporate attorney at Skadden and served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for a year. She is a hell of a woman, I adore her.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I don't care much for Savage but if he is saying that he is a bigger idiot than I had thought.

[NYC Republican]

Thanks Hitman. I can't understand how we can be on opposite sides of the spectrum on Levin. Oh well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[HitmanLV]

As decent, conservative people, we realize that different people react differently and its not personal. Leftists, of course, make everything personal - if you are against affirmative action, of course you must be a seething bigot, for example.

We are better than that! Kudos! And I'll give Levin another shot based on your reference! Keep the faith!

[NYC Republican]

His voice is annoying, I'll give you that... In hindsight, I should have added it to his list of weaknesses... but, listen to the content of his message. He's fantastic. Give it another shot.

[anniegetyourgun]

Actually, I think you and I agree on most things, NYC! Perhaps we are distant relatives?

[bootless]

:-) The cool thing about UnckaRee is that I don't think he NEEDS to do this.

But he is a sick puppy, and I enjoy listening to someone who reaches his version of the Dennis Miller Five Percent. :-)

[NYC Republican]

Actually, I think you and I agree on most things, NYC! Perhaps we are distant relatives?

LOL! BTW- that pic on your home page- where is it? Can't be FL, as there's a mountain in the backdrop... Bora Bora?

[NYC Republican]

Never mind, I found it. WA. Gorgeous.

[anniegetyourgun]

Body in FL....heart back there....

[CyberCowboy777]

Been listening to Lars across the river from Portland, OR for years. I listen to his local show regularly but his national show is on late, so I have not heard it yet.

Lars is one of the best and a up and coming radio big gun.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Weaknesses - can be full of himself at times. Even though many of his comments (talent on loan from God, maja-Rushdie, the all-knowing...)

LOL it just would'nt be Rush without these even his weaknesses prop some people up at times

I like some of the others but im addicted to Rush i would love to meet him someday just to thank him for a job well done and shake his hand !

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