NEW YORK -- On the biggest day of her professional life, radio talk-show host Randi Rhodes, the liberal firebrand who's been a fixture on South Florida's airwaves for more than a decade, did what she does best. She ranted about a pricey pair of shoes. With independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader, no less. The occasion was the late March debut of the Air America Radio network, the fledgling left-wing counterpunch to Rush Limbaugh and the wave of conservative talkers who have long dominated the AM band. It was also Rhodes' national debut: After years of honing her craft at West...