> I like Hugh Hewitt. <
I'm with you 101%!
Just like Rush and Michael Medved, Hugh can make you THINK -- by analyzing events from a fresh perspective. And his impressive repetoire of regular guests is just icing on the cake.
Others who usually force me to think are Dennis Praeger and Bill Bennett (hooray for Salem!), Neal Boortz (who isn't allowed on Salem stations!), Larry Elder, Larry Kudlow and Monica Crowley.
Talkers like Sean and Mike Reagan certainly have their hearts in the right (pun intended!) places -- but they're basically cheerleaders rather than analysts. They tend to bore me after about five minutes. And although Laura Ingraham is sometimes thoughtful during the first hour of her show, by the second hour she normally descends into such silliness that she becomes unlistenable.
Who's my least favorite among the "big name" conservative talkers? Gotta be Gallagher. He's so bad that during the 9 a.m. to noon EDT slot, I usually listen to Brian and the Judge!
I have a lot of respect for Medved, but I find it hard to listen to the deranged lefties that he has on his show. Medved wins his debates, and I think they are necessary debates, but the freak show gets old.
It is perversely fascinating to hear Hewitt deal with the dumber lefties. Like a good prosecutor, he keeps feeding them the rope they need to hang themselves. And I always enjoy listening to smart lefties like Thomas Barnett.
Rush is a miracle of nature. He is ridiculously good at what he does. I listen to him much less than I used to, just because I drive less than I used to.
Prager can be good. Hannity and Reagan seem like lightweights, somewhat entertaining but not really worth my time. Same with Glenn Reynolds.
As for the others you mention, I either have never listened to them, or never acquired the habit of listening to them.