Posted on 08/17/2005 3:13:46 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
WOR evening host Michael Savage gets pretty good numbers for a guy who, over 10 years in radio, may have antagonized half the world. The latest estimate by Talkers magazine is that Savage has more than 8.5 million listeners a week, tying him with Howard Stern as the third-most listened-to host in America, behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
On WOR, 6-9 p.m. nightly, his show has inched ahead of WABC (770 AM) - the only WOR show to do so.
He didn't do this moderately.
Liberals? His latest best-selling book is unsubtly titled, "Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder."
He likes some of President Bush's policies until you get to immigration and Iraq, battles Savage charges Bush is too lily-livered to win.
In 2003, gay groups helped kill Savage's MSNBC show by convincing sponsors to leave after he told a caller, "I hope you get AIDS and die."
He said he didn't know his mic was live.
He jabs other talk hosts, including Hannity and Limbaugh, whom he sometimes calls "Hush Bimbo" - though he says it's not personal, just political.
"They sell themselves short when they swallow and spit out the Republican line," he said. "To them, everything Bush does is great. How is that humanly possible, to agree with someone about everything? They lose credibility. Plus, it's boring."
Savage calls himself a "true conservative" who would "practice random acts of violence" in countries that harbor terrorists and round up all immigrants who don't support America.
Some call this bigotry that promotes a dangerous us-and-them mentality.
"More and more people see I'm right," Savage said.
And oh, by the way, he also enjoys both argument and competition.
For instance, he loves being ahead of WABC, which dropped him in 2003 when he left its sister KFSO in San Francisco.
"What ABC did was outrageous," he said. "Not to mention stupid. So this is sweet."
Savage traces his fighting spirit in part to his youth.
"I went to school in the Bronx," he recalled. "Going to the bathroom and getting out alive was a major victory. That's also where I started talking fast."
And being funny.
"That's one of his strengths," said Talkers editor Michael Harrison. "He mixes contemporary politics with old-fashioned Borscht Belt humor. He can be deadly serious or he can be playing with you. Sometimes it takes people a while to realize that."
"I take things to an extreme sometimes," Savage said, "to make a point."
And if a fight breaks out, well, that's okay, too, as long as it stays on the radio.
"A guy came to my table at dinner the other night and insulted me," he said. "I got up and left. I said, 'I know where this is going,' and if it does, I'm the one who's going to end up in jail."
He doesn't brood over things like that, he says, though he admits he occasionally thinks it would be fun to get back on TV.
"I'd do it differently this time," he said. "Radio talk doesn't work on TV. I'd do a variety show. I'd set it in a bar, with good-looking women and dogs walking around. I'd be the bartender. Uncle Mike. We'd talk like people talk in a bar.
"With maybe a little politics."
Me too. When he goes totally ballistic, that's just so much fun!
I yell, YEAH!! GO MIKE!!
I'm just glad someone is saying it.
Yes, you are right about his passion and outrage. I get a kick out of him when he starts yelling. What I don't like about him is that he doesn't always let people make their point or he cuts them off. Many say that Rush is an egomaniac, which I don't believe. They just don't understand that he's mocking people. I do think that Savage is an egomaniac.
I wouldn't. Meds or no meds, he's still got that obnoxious loud mouth irritating Yankee voice that makes me long for listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.
I listen to him coming home from work on occasion. I don't always agree with him, but he knows the bloody hands of Bill Clinton and his ilk were directly responsible for 911 occurring, and he is not afraid to blast the Democrat vermin any chance he gets. He also knows that the terrorist lovers, the current Democrat Party, will cause the elimination and destruction of the USA. He clearly sees the horrors ahead for America and her children if the Democrat Party ever gets back in power again. I admit, he sometimes goes over the top, but only because he clearly sees and understand the real and frightening danger facing America and her survival!!!
"I understand. I was a faithful Savage listener, couldn't wait to listen to him, and was thrilled he got the MSNBC show. Then he went off the deep end. Pity, I used to really enjoy his show."
I basically agree, though I still listen at times. I'm really sort of wondering what he'll do in 2008, if Hillary runs. Will he become a Repub for 6 mos (as in 2004) or stick with his "both parties are equally bad" line? Unfortunately, as he says, it could make a difference.
"Have you ever listened to his talks about dogs?"
yeah. pretty sad.
Savage was great during Florida 2000
"The stench from the bench is making me clench!!!"
I just wish I could find a link to listen on the net that isnt that liquid crystal player crap..
What really turned me off was his juvenile 'hush bimbo' or whatever he used for Rush. What a stupid, petty, asinine label, and he keeps saying it over and over. (I have a 2 hour dead time and he's the only talk radio host on during that time)
agreed. Savage keeps his eye on the ball. No one else dares to discuss the threat we are facing in as much detail. Too afraid to offend.
Borders. Language. Culture. hmm I found my new tagline!
I think so. What does he say?
"What really turned me off was his juvenile 'hush bimbo' or whatever he used for Rush."
agreed. something similar for Hannity.
Try kfab.com. Hit the 'Listen Live' link (I don't think it's the liquid crystal player dohickey). He's on from 8:00-11:00 Central Time.
Hush Bimbo....
and Shawn Vanity...
and the Leprechaun....
Savage is correct.
Rush and Hannity are RNC cheerleaders at heart. Savage cares more about the future of this nation than the other two combined.
Both of them are bullies, however correct they might be.
They both deserve a good old-fashioned A$$ kicking.
I listen to him only once in a while because of the intense way he expresses my views, he ends up aggravating me. - Tom
Mike is one heck of a man, very entertaining, has a big heart ......... he is much misunderstood. He's been 'around the block' and I like the way his mind wanders in continuous circles of thought. Must have done some mushrooms as a younger man.
;-)
"Only a more savage nation can survive..."
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