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....

.

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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).

[Dan from Michigan]

Extremely poor: - Mitch Albom. A sometimes good sports columnist(and then usually only when it comes to the Red Wings) who thinks he is a genius on all political matters. A leftist who hates the 2nd amendment and has no arguements.

[birbear]

Sean hawked his book, shamelessly for about a month, or a month and a half. He's totally stopped- over a month ago... You folks should give it a rest already.

That sure seemed like one heck of a long month then.

I don't mind Sean promoting his book, it was the way he was doing it.


Hi, I'm Sean Hannity, and today, I just want to thank you, my listeners for making my book, Deliver Us From Evil, number one on the NYT bookseller list. It's because of all of you who have purchased, Deliver Us From Evil, that I don't have to promote my best selling book, Deliver Us From Evil, every day on this here broadcast. And thanks to the many people who are logging into Amazon.com and writing reviews the counter-act the liberals mocking my book, Deliver Us From Evil. Now on to our first call, Stacy from Seattle, have you read my new book, Deliver Us From Evil? Would you like an autographed copy, you can buy it ant www.hannity.com, and just click on Deliver Us From Evil.

And he would do that for 10 mins every half hour... and then he had the gonads to say that he wasn't promoting his book....

it was just laughable

And Sean, if you're reading this... I do like your show... I'm not part of the 80% who don't like you. :)

[birbear]

One of the talk show hosts that I really enjoy is Tom Sullivan from KFBK in Sacramento, and a sometimes substitute for Rush.

Sullivan I believe started out as stock broker/trader, and then ended up doing the business and money reports for KCRA in Sacramento, and then got his own show after Rush shortly after Rush joined the KFBK team in Sacramento in the mid 80s.

Since business and econ is a big fascination of mine, Sullivan can cut through the BS and get right at the facts when talking about taxes, economic policy, etc...

Probably one of the reasons he's never been syndicated is that he does talk about econ and business and taxes... not exactly exciting fodder for a national radio show.

[Pharmboy]

The Great One earned that moniker for a reason! He is!!

UNDER GOD!

[Yardstick]

Excellent observations!

I agree with nearly every word you wrote, except that I would rate O'Reilly lower. Too many of his positions seem to come from his personal instincts rather than from a well thought out understanding of political ideology or philosophy or whatever. He seems to believe X, Y, and Z because he was raised as an Irish Catholic and had his fingers smacked by nuns and had a stern father. In other words, I think he arrived at his political convictions more through his formative environment than through rigorous study and reflection. I get the feeling that if he'd been raised on the left coast by hippies he'd be a different animal altogether. This is why he is inconsistent on things sometimes. Even though a position may not line up with conservative reasoning, if it fits with his ingrained sense of what's right, he'll go with it. We're just lucky that his instincts are usually in line with conservative thought, because he can certainly be a forceful and engaging spokesmen for whatever position it is that has taken.

I wish I could pick up Michael Medved on my radio here, but I've scanned the whole dial and can't find a station that'll tune him in consistently. Occasionally, depending on the mood of the ionosphere, I'll be able to pick him up, but it'll fade in and out. On those occasions, though, he impresses me with his clear thinking and crisp arguments.

[NYC Republican]

Come on man, that's old already. He stopped promoting his book weeks ago, you never hear him doing it... Why does Laura get a free pass? Rush pushed his book way back as well... O'Reilly and Savage (ESPECIALLY Savage) are far, far more shameless in their self-promotion.

[NYC Republican]

The O'Reilly show isn't worth your time of day. It's pretty boring.

[Syncro]

Hmmmmm Lee Rodgers...Lee Rodgers...

OH YEAH!

He is on the Melanie Morgan show on KSFO every morning...LOL

Yeah, that is GRATE show. I don't have a picture of Lee, but here is one of Melanie:

And a wrestling fan...

And my favorite is the Laura Ingraham show. Can't get it here live though.

[NYC Republican]

Oh, I realize that. I was just agreeing with you.

Keep driving your neighbors nuts right through the election.

[schu]

Absolutely agree. One cannot help but learn something everytime you listen to him. I especially enjoy his debates with those who disagree, very informative and entertaining.

[TankerKC]

I would place Michael Medved on a par with — or even a bit above — Rush Limbaugh.

Same here.

[Antoninus]

What waas the insult that he used against Cuomo in Italian...?

I'm sure someone's already posted it, but here goes:

"Mario, asienta me. To sei provio no sfachime!"

And he is!

I don't care if he is 100 years old and cranky as ever. He's still the best. He's got one talent the others lack. Many of them go on jags saying things that I vehemently disagree with. I usually can't tolerate this for longer than a few minutes. With Bob, he can do a whole show on a subject which he disagrees with me on and I'll still listen.

Plus, his callers are the absolute best. Jimmy from Brooklyn is the only caller in all of talk radio who makes me remain in my car until his call is finished so I don't miss any of it.

[Antoninus]

Bill O'Reilly - American Catholic Populist. Truth, justice based upon a religious background, it's right or wrong.

Bill O'Reilly wouldn't know Catholic teaching if someone smacked him with a catechism. He is the poster-child for a generation of Catholics not well served by our teachers.

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks for the thread.Laura is my least favorite of all of the talk show hosts.I find her nasal,cold,sarcastic tone annoying.Just my opinion.And most importantly I find,when I do listen to her, her and her producers(?)quick to criticise the President.I think I've read a few other freepers who've said the same thing. I like Larry Elder.He's going to have John O'Neill back on tomorrow.

[Antoninus]

BTW, do you recall a talk-radio personality named Jay Diamond?

He also did impressions. He once did a full segment of the Bob Grant show in Bob's voice and I for one had no idea it was him--though I detected something slightly different about the voice.

I remember him becoming a socialist hard-leftist and thought that perhaps he had been so all along but hid it to try to ride Bob Grant's coattails.

[NYC Republican]

Maybe, but isn't she HOT? Just kidding... Being a NYer, I kind of overlook (or maybe I've become oblivious?) to the sarcasm...

[Antoninus]

I find his show as edgy and funny as ever.................

Yeah, penis jokes are soooo edgy and funny. I outgrew Stern in highschool. Now he's a giant **yawn**....

[Alamo-Girl]

ditto...

[boxsmith13]

Dennis Prager is the most intellectual show on radio. The guys is absolutely brilliant!!!!


Bill Bennent's show is awful. His side-kick is annoying and Bill is a pompous ass. The guys lectures to people, doesnt stimulate their thinking and is frankly plain boring.

I hate to admit it but ive been listening to George Noory lately, what a kook!!!!

[Dr Snide]

Medved is a must listen. By far the most intellectually stimulating host and his ability to disect opposing callers is unmatched.