Who's your favorite in Conservative Talk Radio?

Vanity

[Arch-Conservative]

I have noticed the broad spectrum of "conservative" opinions that emerge from the threads on this website. There is a similar diversity of "conservative" thought in talk radio, and I was wondering which of the preeminent talk hosts you identify most with - and, of course, why you choose that particular spokesman over the others.

[ProudEagle]

Interesting post. As always someone has to disagree so I'll step up to the plate. Rush is becoming a parody of himself. He's boring and unimaginative, a far cry from his early days when he had passion and creativity. While he espouses to convince ordinary blue collar folks of the virtues of conservative thought, he more often than not, delivers it in country club style. In other words, I really don't give a rip who you played golf with Rush, and Tiger Woods I could care less about. Stick to policy talk and social issues and get back to keeping their feet to the fire as you once did. Then you might have my attention again.

Hannity so far, is merely Rush without the substance. I agree with your views on his choice of topics, and no offense to brothers and sisters in New York, but Hannity needs to expand his phone audience. I get tired of hearing what New Yorkers only think. I'll still give Hannity a chance as he's a newcomer, and as you pointed out he needs a lot more polish. But he has promise.

On Savage, I strongly disagree with you. I once had a conversation with a local conservative talk show host. In that conversation he stated that "Savage what what was wrong with the conservative movement". I immediately told him Savage was what was RIGHT about the conservative movement. The problem I see with most Republicans and a growing number of conservative talkers is the "take the high road" attitude. Not make waves. Not ruffle any feathers. Afraid to say what they really think and feel. Afraid to make a stand lest they jeopardize their political or broadcast careers for standing up for what they believe. Savage is a breath of fresh air. He states what every one of you (and I) is thinking, and if challenged isn't afraid to rub their faces right back in it. He talks about topics that most conservative talk show hosts, local or national are afraid to touch. They don't want to be non-PC for fear of not being "all-inclusive" in the ratings wars. Savage doesn't give a rip. Savage can be rude and crude I'll grant you. So what if his message isn't sugar coated? I like him. He's got stones and even he can get ME irate at times, but I will always admire him. He's not an apologist. You gotta hand it to a guy that can have the number one rated talk show in a city like San Fransisco. That is doing the impossible my friend.

Now, does that make me an "angry white male"? Probably. I'll fess up to it. I'm sick and tired of watching my country erode and go down the drain. Republicans today are what the Democrats of my fathers era used to be. The Republican party lost it's backbone and fails miserably today to make changes in society or government. President Reagan was the last true example of a good Republican. The Republican party and it's "high road" attitude of today have lost battle after battle for society and the nation. They sit quitely by with their country club views and PC politeness, while the war rages on around them. As much as I despise modern day Democrats, I have to hand it to them. They know how to fight. And until the Repub's learn to fight back, with the same tenacity and cunning the enemy does, they are a hopeless cause. Being polite is one thing. Being polite and naive (or bordering on plain gutless) just to save your own hide is another. Independent conservatives are far more successful at stumping and fighting for their causes. Savage is an alternate independent conservative voice.

[PhilipFreneau]

Rush is the best. He is even better when Walter Williams is his substitute.

[Cornjonny]

I haven't seen anyone mention Ollie North. Does he still have his talk show?

[Illbay]

Beck definitely has the funniest "bits". He himself is just average as a commentator, but you can't beat his "theme music" like "It's Just Another Isolated Incident," etc.

[jejones]

Tough call, but I'd have to say my favorites are Neal Boortz and Walter Williams, who I wish would consider doing a regular show rather than just occasionally substituting for Rush. Larry Elder is excellent as well...the problem is that there are so many good ones to choose from, so I'd better stop here.

[Illbay]

There are a lot of Libertines on FR.

There are a lot of mental deficients on FR.

Ah, but I repeat myself.

[cfrels]

Yes, Ollie's still on. I forgot Michael Medved also. Very good, very smart.

[Cornjonny]

Some of Glenn's skits are hilarious, especially when he has characters like Haiku Britney, the PETP guy, and Wilfred call in. Revisionist Scholastic films is hilarious also.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

rush is the best but I also like billy cunningham, glenn beck, savage, and boortz

[Illbay]

Revisionist Scholastic films is hilarious also.

Yes, especially the "What The Founding Fathers Were Really Like" ("They were after one thing: Poontang!")

[truthkeeper]

Rush. I also like Dennis Prager and Al Rantel.

[Inkie]

I love your list. It is almost the same as mine. I like Prager because of his emphasis on clarity; he goes to great lengths to achieve it, including letting the bad guys hang themselves with their own words. Medved is similar. I like Hewitt because of his Constitutional knowledge and his knowledgeable guests. I happened to catch Boortz when I was in South Carolina last summer and liked him very much; but we don't get him here. Larry Elder is also excellent, in case Hugh is talking about something I'm not interested in.

I find Savage just too much most days. He was hilarious on Martin Luther King Day, however. Played "Dixie" about 10 times and kept saying, "What is that catchy tune? Let's play it again." The discussion following was also interesting. But mostly, he is too intensely depressing and angry. It is not good for my mental state -- not that I am putting my head in the sand. Most of what he shouts about I have already heard or read (probably on FR!) during the day.

Rush Limbaugh can bring up some good points, but he can become tedious. I like his clear-headedness, though, and his long memory. None of that Democrat revisionism can get past him.

[Inkie]

P.S. I adore Ann Coulter -- and Laura Ingraham is not bad; has good guests, too. But I think Sean Hannity is a lightweight. He is a horrible interviewer and doesn't have the depth of background knowledge on many topics necessary to equip himself to ask probing follow-up questions. (Brit Hume is the best guy in the business for that.) Hannity often lets the Hanan Ashrawis of the world out-debate him and thus makes our side look weak.

[cyclotic]

re# 38

David Newman is the best. He can take a fool guest, verbally pillory him and tie his opinion in virtual knots and the idiot guest goes away thinking it was a great interview. I miss him.

I also miss Mark Scott in Detroit. Of course, I miss talk radio in Detroit. We have no local talk radio presence here at all.

Neil Dion at WOOD 1300 in Grand Rapids is pretty decent though.

[dawn53]

I've listened to Beck for a couple years. He has some of the funniest bits and parodies.

The fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.

[leilani]

When I was a young, radical, wannnabe commie, democrat skull-full-of-mush, I accidently turned on Rush Limbaugh one rainy afternoon. He scared the living daylights out of me, but I was intrigued & ultimately he made me realize how mushy my skull really & truly was. To this day, I am profoundly grateful to him. But, I don't listen to any talk show host anymore - Rush helped me realize I could figure it out for myself if I followed my own common sense - WITHOUT external output. So now, while yall are all listening to chattering heads all day, I get to listen to music again! So, Rush is the Elvis of talk radio, no question about it. Nobody else comes close.

[luckystarmom]

He is bright and literate. I enjoy listening to him, but the thread asked for your favorite Conservative talk radio host. Gene Burns doesn't fall into that category.

[BlazingArizona]

I can only hear him when I visit the People's Republic of California, but he is about to go into national syndication: Larry Elder.

[luckystarmom]

I like Lee and Melanie also!

[SwatTeam]

Glenn Beck is a refreshing change from some of the other talk show hosts. Check him out at www.glennbeck.com I think he has a link to his radio show at his site.