Posted on 08/24/2005 5:35:23 AM PDT by PolishProud
(I am a staunch conservative converted to the right by Rush Limbaugh. I remember the exact issue of my conversion - Limbaugh pointed out that so called cuts in federal spending were actually cuts in the growth of spending. Clinton's duplicity in using the words "spending cuts" insulted my sense of what defines honesty as did Clinton in general. But over the years I have become critical of talk show hosts. )
In my opinion the best hosts are as follows; Rush Limbaugh, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Denver's Mike Rosen and Laura Ingraham. Hosts that suffer by comparison include Sean Hannity, Bill Bennett, O'Reilly (radio and TV), Michael Gallagher and Michael Savage. The worse host, by far, is Michael Savage. He gives conservative talk radio a bad name. When liberals excoriate conservative talk, they use Savage as an example and rightly so.
The most overrated talk show host has got to be Sean Hannity. His show consists of promoting his TV show (40%), and telling us what will be on in the next hour (25%). Once in a while he works in a caller, mostly women. Sean really likes women callers. His interviews with politicos are predictable. And the object of recently program content has been used to take advantage of tragedy TV ratings, i.e. the Natalee Holloway's epic.
Rush Limbaugh is very articulate and knows what turns his audience on. But at times Limbaugh takes us back to the sexual innuendoes of the 1970s. He seems to relish "dirty talk." I can remember when, for one week, he talked about women "farting" in their cars. He thought it was so clever that this double entendre could also refer to women putting on make up in their cars. The other day, he was obsessed with the word "condom," asking if anyone on his staff had a condom in his or her billfold. I kept thinking he was getting some little charge in his neither parts as he said "condom." I don't know where the condom bit was going because I turned him off - and besides the next story, was going to be about a guy who died after having sex with a horse.
People listen to Limbaugh for his political bent, but Rush thinks he's a sports talk show. I and others, judging from Rush's own comment about listener input, don't tune in to hear Rush's NFL predictions or golf scores. If you want to get on Rush's show ask him a NFL question. In talk radio there's a conundrum - news talk shows want to be sport shows, and sports shows wants to be news talk shows.
While Rush relates to his audience on most subjects, he disconnects when he talks about social security as an entitlement. He doesn't accept that the government has made a contract with taxpayers; whereby, in return for the payment of social security taxes, the government promised to provide monies for retirees.
Hugh Hewitt is radio's would be PBS talk show host - that is, when he's on the air. He takes more vacations than President Bush. I'm sure talk show listeners can't wait for Hewitt's to feature Shakespeare, religion, extreme sports or NASCAR - at times Hewitt sounds like a religious show host. Whereas Medved doesn't give much worth to single people, Hewitt doesn't take old people seriously, despite talk show listener demographics. For some reason Hewitt comes across as someone trying to make up for his 5 foot 7 inch stature although I have no idea how tall he is. His most redeeming facet, which puts him in my top five, is his recent work on judicial nominations. Plus he has finally realized that his listeners can discuss complicated issues - whereas in the past he would toss out one line questions any idiot caller could answer.
Mike Medved and Mike Rosen are the best debaters. Although recently Medved has gotten off on social rather than political issues. I mean - how many times do we need to discuss homosexuality, TV is bad, movies are good and being single is unnatural? Medved also annoys with his "conspiracy day" where he takes advantage of sickos who tell us over and over that the moon landing was staged in a Hollywood studio and that the secret Yale "Skull and Bones Society" runs the world. Still his debating skills secures the number two spot in my book.
Caustic and irreverent, Denver's Mike Rosen does not suffer fools gladly; but at times, he becomes a sport show host when he shills for the hapless Colorado Rockies - not coincidentally his station, KOA, carries Rockies games. The other day he jeopardized his top five standing when he did a segment on bad breath. I suppose, when you're on air some thirty plus days a year, some shows will stink - pun intended.
Last but least is the Laura Ingraham show, or as it should be known, Laura's musicfest. What Laura does not seem to understand is, while she may be tired of political talk, her audience isn't. Listeners want political talk not music and movie reviews. As the old saying goes "you gotta dance with the one that brung you," and Laura did not get where she is with her personal taste in music. But Laura does scores big with her attack of lefty sound bites. She and her staff must watch every political TV program aired and it pays off with an entertaining show.
The worse talk show host of a national syndicated program is Mike Gallagher. He doesn't bother with research. You will not hear anything new from Gallagher just the latest issues that gets calls. His demographics seem to be pissed off red necks.
While conservative talk appeal to millions of listeners, advertisers don't think much of its demographics as demonstrated by ads for hair growth, belly fat reduction, gold investing and dating services. Surly conservative talk show listeners aren't as dumb as advertisers think we are.
I gag every time Hannitty says "We're loaded up," or one of his same old guests "is going to weigh in." I gag a lot. And then I just turn the dial to Bob Grant, who thank God is still on 710 WOR New York from 4-6.
I have not heard Mark, but I like him when I do. I know there is a live show thread for him, as there is for Drudge and for Tony.
Rush was, and still is, the best talk host on the air. I got the condom bit and what he was going for. He can be a little racy at times, but he can't be compared to a shock jock.
Regarding Medved, I actually look forward to Conspiracy Day, but what's his deal with Bigfoot?
We have to take our talkers as they are. When they bore us or insult us with their vulgar talk or vulgar endless self promoting, I turn the radio OFF.
You're kidding, right?
Rather than pay social security taxes, I'd prefer to invest the money myself and get the government's hand out of my back pocket.
I think the majority of his audience would agree on this subject.
That's exactly what the guy said he did.
I don't know where the condom bit was going because I turned him off...
I almost can't take Sean sometimes. I get embarrassed when he takes on a leftie call and turns into the charicature of right-wingnut because he just repeats the same talking points over and over. Everytime he does the ole switcheroo on someone by stating something that SOUNDS like it came from Bush and turns out it came from Kerry/Clinton/Clinton/whoever, he snickers like he is some kind of genius. Ugh. I do listen to get information that I'm not going to get from a 10second news blurb though.
You totally missed Dennis Prager. I like him better than any of the radio talk people you mentioned. I still love Medved too but Prager has on very interesting guests in such a variety of topics....
I can't stand RL. I listened to him years and year ago; it was my first foray into conservative radioland but he seems to have more commercials than any other show and I find him a bit pompous and I want to hear what the callers say too not just his constant yakking. Dennis and Michael seem to give much greater engagement to their guests.
Just my 2 cents.
"While Rush relates to his audience on most subjects, he disconnects when he talks about social security as an entitlement. He doesn't accept that the government has made a contract with taxpayers; whereby, in return for the payment of social security taxes, the government promised to provide monies for retirees."
Wrong!
Court decisions have found that there is no Social Security 'contract'. The government can discontinue benefits at any time and never give us a penny.
That's what Rush is talking about.
You can listen to the show online. http://www.wabcradio.com and there's a Mark blog http://marklevinfan.blogspot.com/
and he's a freeper too.
It doesn't matter if they had the right to take money from us, the fact is they have and still coninue to. For those of us who would rather take that money and invest in a better retirement situation we are denied that opportunity so the government can keep its promises.
Better link here:
http://marklevinfan.com/
Rush skewering McCain during the 2000 presidential campaign.
Sean visiting Ohio to keep the voters energized for the 2004 election.
Nothing can take that away from those two.
His parodies of Ross Perot are classics too.
So while I criticize I remember the good times too.
If he turns you off.... shut him off. I for one think Rush Limbaugh is deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rush has done more to hold this country together than politicians, judges and pundits.
Thanks. I knew there was one, I just haven't tried it.
You obviously ARE a prude, if you let some words obscure his magnificent message.
Maurice Levin is very amusing too ;-)
I have n0ot done a test, but have the feeling that Sean Hannity has lots more commercial time than other shows. I agree that he is overrated, but I'd still rather listen to him than the standard drivel from other radio programs.
I love Laura Ingram. Wish Anne Coulter did a show.
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