Rating the radio talk show hosts

[EveningStar]

Since I retired several months ago, I've had plenty of time to listen to talk radio and I've been able to come up with my own factors for rating some of the hosts.

It is this: Who provides depth and insight and who doesn't?

To me, those who provide depth and insight include: Rush Limbaugh Dennis Prager Michael Medved Larry Elder

Those who fall into the "No **** Sherlock / Captain Obvious to the Rescue" category include: Laura Ingraham Sean Hannity

That's my opinion. What's yours?

[hoppity]

Prager is by far my favorite. I'm 34, and I credit him with being my detox from the garbage I learned in college. I don't know how I discovered him, but I'm glad I did.

Elder is good, too, but there's something annoying about him that I can't quite pinpoint. He seems to make a big deal about things that I find relatively innocuous.

[Mr Cobol]

I heard Rush complaining about other talk shows of stealing some of his clips. Wonder who that could be?

My preference in order.
Rush
Medved
Hewitt & Ingraham
Savage
Tammy Bruce
Batchelor
Least favorites
Beck
Hannity

[Feiny]

My #1 guy is Dennis Prager. He is thoughtful & logical without resorting to blowhard techniques.

[doug from upland]

I don't get to hear Mark. I can get him online, but it is difficult to do business on the phone and listen to 3 shows at the same time. I'm already listening to Elder and Hewitt at that time. There was a time I tried three --- during impeachment. I can't prove it, but I think that Mrs. DFU was working behind the scenes at that time trying to have me committed.

[jslade]

Jim Quinn # 1.

Everyone else in second place.

Quinn & Rose rock. I agree. Unfortunately I can only listen to them on the archives. warroom.com

[humblegunner]

Hey, I figured I wouldn't hear from you until after work? Wazzup?

Shift ends at 1530 hrs, and the traffic on 45 was kind to me!
Although a short and pleasant drive can be made unbearable by some
overpaid know-it-all yammering preformed opinions at me via some
outmoded inefficient means of communic.... ah, skip it. ;-)

[EveningStar]

I really enjoy Dennis a lot. Did you heard him today when he had his brother on?

[KC_Conspirator]

If Savage did his homework, he would be an A+ radio guy. As it stands, he gets by on his natural brains and is at the B/B+ level (which I am simpatico with since that was my approach to studies until I hit law school!).

If he was not so reactionary to heresay he would help himself out. I listened to a caller a couple of weeks ago claim that they heard Mark Levin use Micheal Savage's term "9th Jerkit Court of Schlemiel's" while being a guest on either Rush or Hannity's show. The caller to Savage was wrong - Levin never said that and thus never plaguerized him (I heard the whole interview). But Savage went off on an attack anyway. taking some anonymous, stuttering caller's word before even looking into it.

[Moose4]

Rush is the master. Nobody can touch him...he really DOES make it look easy. Not only is he the best broadcaster of the bunch, he's got great political insight. I do sometimes wish he still did lots of "updates" and some of his older shtick, though.

Laura Ingraham is great too. She wants me. I can tell.

Neal Boortz will either cause you to stand up and cheer or throw your radio across the room in frustration...usually about five minutes apart. He's got a distinctly different viewpoint from most other conservative talkers, because he's more libertarian than conservative. He's pro-choice (won't allow abortion to even be discussed on his show), anti-Southron (he calls Confederate-history supporters "flaggots", this despite broadcasting from Atlanta and being educated at Texas A&M), and often obnoxious, but he's entertaining as hell and thought-provoking too.

Hannity...meh. I wouldn't mind having a few beers with the guy, he seems genuinely nice, but I'm not a fan of his show. Too repetitive, too many liberals on, too much book-hawking and schmoozing. His show sounds like the RNC talking points for that day. I don't hate his guts or anything, I just think his show is not as intelligent as most others I've heard.

Glenn Beck, now there's an odd one. I like him. Funny, good production, and he's not afraid to bring his own personal demons out and confront them to make a point. He's done some stuff on the air, talking about his family and childhood, that's absolutely wrenching. He's different.

I wish G. Gordon Liddy was still around at the top of his game 15 years ago. I used to listen to him on WJFK in Washington, right after Howard Stern. His 11:00 am hour of "review and comment on the news" got me started on conservative talk radio, and then Rush during the 1991 Gulf War sealed the deal.

}:-)4

[sergeantdave]

I would defend Hannity on this basis -

1) He appeals to young people and women.

2) By doing so he brings this demographic into the conservative fold.

I have no problem with that.

[kevinm13]

I listen to WABC Radio 770 in New York and Sirius Right 141 and 142. Rush is by far the best and most entertaining. Geoff Metcalf is a close second although he doesn't take call much or have guests in the short time I get him on the satellite but he is very insightful and always Right. Hannity is always promoting a book, wasting time with idiots and is only on for about 20 mins an hour with all the commercials and music and talking to Flipper. If he stays on topic he has good points to make but has a short attention span. I also like to listen to Mark Levine but he tends to be too angry and abrupt with callers a lot of the time. Laura Ingraham is great. Don't get to hear Drudge too often. Tony Snow is good too.

[krunkygirl]

save for later comment :0)

[Dashing Dasher]

Vanity in the News!

You're gonna get it!

LOL!

[octobersky]

Rush is the best. He is both informative and entertaining. Hannity lacks knowledge and depth but his voice impersonating segments are a riot.

[EveningStar]

Hey! Jim R does it! :)

[Digger]

Icon - Limbaugh Pumping up the base - Hannity Political insight - Hewitt History - Medved Force for good - Prager In the leftists' faces - Ingraham Logic in shutting down the enemy - Rantel Skewing their arguments - Elder

Good, Doug. I want a little Savage to go along with Laura. Where is Hedgecock? He's Hewitt,Hannity & Medved all in one. RUSH is still the "George Washington" of them all. We are blessed to have so many good to pick from.

[HitmanLV]

Yea, not good - Savage is prone to that. Even so, he isn't so bad - and I heard him disparage Levin on mostly other grounds, and to tell you the truth, on balance I agreed with Savage.

Levin is an awful radio presence - actually 'unfunny' and makes me change the station. I have said so for a long while, notwithstanding Hannity fawning over him and forcing hysterical laughter at Levin's 'witty quips.'

But if Levin never said that, I don't doubt it. That being said, Savage's put down of Levin was otherwise spot-on.

[cwb]

"The other thing I've began to notice is how he will switch gears and suddenly go to the phones and have someone ready to talk about that topic. Think about it guys. It's too hard to get through to find someone after a short riff on a topic that 's ready to go."

---

I don't think there is any conspiracy here. This would just seem to be good show prep, as Rush holds or bumps certain callers who are talking about the same thing he is. He's got a phone bank of callers and he knows what each wants to talk about. It makes for a good segway and transition...and he does do it alot.

[doug from upland]

I only get to here Hedgecock when he subs for Rush. If he were there everyday, Hedgecock may well be at the top of the list. Roger is outstanding.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I heard about that. He ended his show with "I'm gonna keep a sharp ear out for the clips I used on my show for the next 24 hours". Sounds like he's got multiple sources who claim that one or more show hosts are stealing the very soundbites his staff works hard to get.