Posted on 03/03/2005 1:31:07 PM PST by 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?
Ingraham and Medved are best.
Glenn Beck is unlistenable.
Rush is classic but shopworn.
Hannity is ernest but flighty.
Bill Bennett is warm and fuzzy for the early morning but, really, who's up then, if they can help it?
Excellent analysis. I'm impressed.
I've never heard Rantel. Is he a local guy or is he syndicated?
Speaking of shutting down the enemy with logic, did you hear the guy who filled in for Rush while he was in Afghanistan? His debating skills were very impressive.
But my favorite guy to hear debate the callers is Michael Medved. He's so perceptive and quick, and so calm. No bombast or bullying, just reason.
If Rantel is ahead of Medved in the logic department, he must be really good.
I don't get to listen enough to determine if it the same voices...
It's more simple than that. Rush clearly states he takes the calls that "will make the host look good"! ;-)
That would be 3-5 my time for Levin. I'll try to remember to catch him. Thanks, young lady. :)
Thanks!
BTW, do you remember the name of the guy who subbed for Rush last week?
Hannity, I'm sorry to say, has the shallow TV mentality. Medved is also excellent. Bill Bennet really grabbed me at the beginning, but less so as he learns the business of radio.
No. I didn't listen. It might have been 2-3 different guys.
This guy wasn't one of the usual guys. He wasn't Hedgecock, Sullivan, Snow, or Williams. I hadn't heard him before or even heard of him before. I caught him for about forty-five minutes on two days last week and was impressed.
Hedgecock Mon & Tue
Tom Sullivan on Wed
Mike Rosen Thur & Fri.
Mike is on KOA in Denver in the morning. I never liked him when I lived there but he did a pretty decent job for Rush.
Al is really good at taking on the other side's arguments. He loves to repeat stupid things they say and mock them under his breath.
Rush sees a list of perhaps 20 callers and their topic. What's unusual about going to a caller who's got something to contribute to that topic? The screeners have cleared the call and determined he's cool.
Yep, Rosen, that was him.
I thought he was better than pretty decent, but different strokes and all that. I especially liked the way he handled a caller who called in to complain about his comments about Hunter S. Thompson's suicide. Rosen skillfully tied the guy in a knot.
Ah yes, a gay conservative -- I'll bet they don't like that one bit.
My goal is to find a good host who's on the air from 9 to 12 EST. That's when my local station has Neil Boortz. I like Boortz but I'm ready for a change for some reason. I'd like to call the station and suggest a replacement. I just can't think of who that should be.
Aand here's why:
(a) He keeps the show moving at a good pace --unlike the very slow moving Bennett and often unfocused Hewitt
(b) He doesn't alk about himself endlessly like Hewitt, Hannity, Rush, and Savage.
(c) He speaks eloquently on a wide range of topics unlike the always political Rush and Hannity
Too slow paced: puts me to sleep when it's time to wake up.
My favorite 'Levin-ism' is, "Get off the phone, you big dope!"
That is Rantel's time. He has Ann Coulter on every week and does a one hour simulcast once a week with a host from Britain.
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