Randi Rhodes is TOO NEGATIVE! I want Thom Hartmann instead!!

[Chicago Democrat]

This is a copy of an email to Air America Radio I wrote today:


Randi Rhodes is too negative, I'm sorry...Maybe its just her voice, but mostly its just her "know-it-all" attitude and the way she attacks every caller. Screaming is not a way to convey information. Insulting fellow liberals intelligence is not a way to win freinds and influence people. I have actually heard her distort facts without explanation. A few I recall...1)Interest rates were lowest under Clinton. (the prime was just at a historic low 1 month ago) 2) Taxes were lower under Clinton.

!!!We don't have to lie to win votes!!!!Please send her back to Florida

Get Thom Hartmann on instead... A voice that doesn't grate.

http://www.airamericaradio.com/pub/globalDefault.htm

[maveric]

1. Randi calls em as she sees em.

As for being negative, there's not a lot of positive things going on in the world of politics. She doesnt sugar coat the issues.
I like her just the way she is.

[lovedems]

2. Me too. eom

[ronnykmarshall]

18. I love Randi!

She makes my day!

[lovedems]

26. Mine too! eom

[Chicago Democrat]

4. just my opinion, I just change the channel...if it works for you that;'s

cool. I wondered if she had fans here.

I'm a little concerned about this all-of-the-sudden "Hiatus", I want Air America to succeed. She kindod reminds me of a politcal version of Howard Stern, just not my taste.

[salvorhardin]

30. She does that all the time...

...take like a week off around holidays.

[Lestatdelc]

39. I don't mind her style so much

But she does shoot from the hip FAR too often and DOES get the facts wrong quite often when she does. I like her, but the criticisms in the lead post in this thread do have some merit to them.

Randi, love her, but she needs to get her facts a little more tight when she shoots from the hip.

[okieinpain]

46. yo, keep your hands off the randi. I love her dearly.

[KrimsonKing]

61. Aannnooyyying

She has to to be the most annoying Talk Show host out there. She doesn't sugar coat the issues? She couldn't sugar coat a cookie if her life depended on it.

After listening to her smart-assed New York accent I think arsenic more likely comes to mind. She sounds like a bad characature of a New York liberal.

[madrchsod]

3. randi is ok

but she does get overboard sometimes..but there`s always wls this afternoon with..sorry i`m getting ill just thinking about her....never mind..

[Flubadubya]

11. Overboard or overbearing?

I actually like to tune in to her from time to time. I like most of the points she makes and her Brooklyn accent. If nothing else she is "distinctive" and certainly impassioned.

The one thing that does irritate the hell out of me is how she will NOT let a caller get a word in edgewise, even if it is a liberal she mostly agrees with. For some reason she just cannot let another person advance their own ideas without the compulsion to interject her own over the other's. Please Randi, you could be little more tolerant... especially when it comes to people who are really on your side! Sheez, is that too much to ask? :shrug:

[Chicago Democrat]

16. That's is exactly what I'm trying to say...I still listen in little chunks

Most every point is correct and I like the way she reaches beyond the facts too.

Thanks for helping me clarify my own feelings Flubadubya.

[Flubadubya]

19. P. S. - - As for "angry " white liberals... give me Mike Malloy!

I absolutely adore Mike Malloy and miss him very much. Now, when it comes to his guests (callers), he is exceedingly hospitable (unless you're a wingnut, of course).

He is just the opposite of Randi when it comes to callers. He will literally turn the discourse over to a caller if he thinks the person has something valuable to say. On the other hand, Randi appears to think that no one has anything valuable to say except herself.

Now, Mike can get just as angry, if not angrier, than Randi Rhodes, but he is a MUCH more gracious host.

BRING BACK MIKE MALLOY! :bounce:

[Chicago Democrat]

25. What channel is he on and when???

Is he still on Sirius?

[Flubadubya]

Alas, no...

He is on NO radio program right now. He used to be on the ieAmerica radio station owned by UAW (I think UAW), but they went off the air several months ago (back in March, I think). His wife is about to have a new baby and I think Mike is taking a deliberate sabbatical. He does do a little gig on CNN's daybreak show on Tuesday a.m. with Carol Costello where he debates Neil Boortz.

Unfortunately Mike does not have a radio program right now. You can go to his website, mikemalloy.com, and check in on what's going on with him. He says he will post any news about when he will be back on the air.

I can't wait!

[Lestatdelc]

41. Agreed

"The one thing that does irritate the hell out of me is how she will NOT let a caller get a word in edgewise, even if it is a liberal she mostly agrees with. For some reason she just cannot let another person advance their own ideas without the compulsion to interject her own over the other's."


BINGO!

I agree with this observation. This and when she does shoot form the hip, she often bungles or short-cuts the facts.

On balance I like her a lot, but if Al Franken were to "fisk" her rants and diatribes... she would unfortunately be a steady stream of material to play "gotcha" with.

[calico1]

42. I feel the same way.

She will cut off and even argue with someone, even if they are on the same side! She'll just keep raising her voice and interrupting. Very frustrating because often I want to hear what the other person is saying. One time I was listening and a woman from Long Island called who was not on our side and she was a little snippy with Randi. But if it had been me, I would have let her finish what she had to say and then make my points. Randi just started screaming at her, saying "this is my show"---I don't blame her entirely because the woman was kind of obnoxious. But you aren't going to change any minds or get people that don't agree with you to think by acting that way. That's what disappoints me about her. And of course, the yelling and scolding people that DO agree with her! I think she means well, but I can only take a little at a time. Unfortunately for me, hers is the show I have the most access to. I am at work when Al Franken is on and only pick up a little bit of the morning show on my way to work.

[okieinpain]

47. she only does that when talkers start to wander off the subject.

randi is really good at what she does, and I would bet a million bucks (if I had it) that her numbers are better then every one else's.

[ocean girl]

5. Don't shoot the messenger!

I'm a loyal Florida listener and sometimes she is overly rude to callers, but overall, she is a fearless, truth-telling patriot!

[eagledove]

13. don't know...

She was rude to me one time I called..don't know if it was because I'm a man or she was tired or what. I like her guts and passion but, maybe it's her Brooklyn roots, she sometimessounds like a total bitch. No, not to just some RWinger, to lots of "fans". I say, lets see if she can improve before we demand her getting the axe. She has certainly paid her dues.

I like Mr. Hartman, too. But, I heard him get stomped by some idiot from the Ayn Rand (Insane) Institution about a month ago. It was on his own show! I'm yelling at the radio facts and refutations to the idealogues arguements and Hartman was either too nice and/or totally unprepared. IMO, he blew a great an easy opportuntity to show these a-holes up for what they are..cultish believers in a anti-Democratic society that put everything into individualism and believe anything done for others or society..you know, the stuff that makes you a human being, is weak and foolish. He should have rippied him a new one and instead let him spill his insanity.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lestatdelc]

40. I call men who are angry jerks "dicks" or "assholes" usually...

your point...?

Does that make me "sexist" to call a guy who is angry and a jerk a "dick"...?

Get real.

[Chicago Democrat]

22. Randi would have torn the Ayn Rand guy's head off. Those people

are very difficult to talk to.... Like evangelical versions of Grover Norquist......AHHHHHH!!!!

Even worse in Michaelangelo Signorile who I love cause he's gay and sometimes has great wierd topics and is mostly right on, but sometimes he is an idiot and lacks knowledge in certain areas. He drives me nuts sometimes, he's so wishy washy.

Its hard to think of a replacement for Randi. I wish she would be nicer and wasn't so obviously unhappy.

[Chicago Democrat]

31. Welcome to DU!! I hope she reads these comments and just

works on being nicer to callers. Obviously she has alot of fans here... I'm so glad we got FLORIDA representing!!! WOOHOO Ocean Girl..

My friends are moving there next spring, so I will visit them someday. It must be nice, they have a house near Gulf on stilts they just bought, I forgot the town.

[Tweed]

6. Yeah I listened once and the impression I got was that she was a major

B*tch. She needs to calm down her act. I fail to understand why she has such a prime time spot.

[mzmolly]

7. I love Randi Rhodes. Sometimes we have a right to be angry.

:hi: I think an outspoken women bears more heat for being so?

I think she's the perfect counter to RW radio.

[NightTrain]

8. I like Randi, but I can't take a steady diet of her.

I listen to her show maybe once or twice a week, when I'm in the right mood.

[Kipepeo]

9. I love Randi Rhoades

I don't think her voice "grates" either. Her's is my favorite show on AAR.

[Green Mountain Dem]

10. I don't agree that Randi is....

negative..I think she is more frustrated than negative. It seems a lot of Dems dislike screaming..maybe because all the RW'ers ala Rushbo, Hannity, Beck, Hendrie Tucker et al, do it all the time. Truth is it works for them and allows them to frame the discussion.
My personal feeling is Dean didn't scream loud enough, or long enough, about all the shit that has happened in the past 3 years.

It's WAY past being nice anymore...and way past compromising with the fundie assholes...IT'S TIME TO SCREAM OUR FUCKIN LUNGS OUT !!!
Thanks Randi for doin just that on your show, and now we need Mike Malloy on the team too!!

[Individualist]

34. Wholeheartedly agree

I listen to Randi every day.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. I love Randi-she's angry! Which is what a Dem should be after the last

three years! I am SICK of wimpy liberals. It's a shame so many men here like to use the term 'bitch' to describe her, when aggressive and forthright will do just fine. :eyes:

[BAPhill]

14. Randi is a bit rough some times...

But ya can't beat these people being sweet.
I listen to Thom Hartmann sometimes. He's
seems very educated on the issues, but I think
the average smoe will be bored quick and turn
him off. Not all people have patience for the
long explanation...they need to have it in
their face.

[K-W]

15. If she attracts an audience she is doing her job.

If not, perhaps AAR should try something new.

Her being negative is not the issue. The issue is whether she can attract an audience and get liberal views into the media.

[mountainvue]

17. Randi Rhodes

is a Democrat with a set. She needs to stay right where she is , thank you very much. She is NEGATIVE becuase the entire future of our country hangs in the balance right now.

[TA]

21. You can have both of them

Sirius satellite radio carries Thom Hartman on Talk Left from 9 to 10 AM PST and Randi Rhoades on Air America from noon to 4 PM PST. My only complaint is Talk Left only carries the 1st hour on Thom's show and puts on Lynn Samuels at 11AM. If you have heard Lynn Samuels voice you have heard the most screechy irritating voice on earth.

[Chicago Democrat]

27. True, Lynn Samuels is screechy, but she makes me laugh!!

Like total mensch, I listened like twice and I remember laughing!

[latebloomer]

60. Yeah, Lynn has a screechy voice

but I much prefer her show.

Randi just sounds like a very unpleasant person-- narcissistic, grating-- nobody I'd want to know, let alone listen to most of the time.

Also, personally, it bugs me because she hates Bush-- no problem there-- but she worships the toe-cheese of every Dem-- they can do no wrong, ever!

[jab105]

23. i agree!

n/t

[tech3149]

24. I love em both

I know Randi can be grating to those with a thin skin. She just let's it go and says what she thinks. Thom isn't always the most well spoken voice out there, but he backs up his viewpoint with facts and historical reference. The common ground for both is a factual basis for their position. They've both said "Don't believe me do your own research"

The only way to beat the "Big Lie" is with the "Big Truth" We need all the weapons of truth we can get even if you don't like the flavor.

Any other Truthseekers out there?
Bring on Mike Malloy and tear them all a new Ahole!

[Poiuyt]

28. Thom Hartmann is my favorite

I like the way he puts everything in historical perspective.

[Chicago Democrat]

29. His voice is soothing , lowered my blood pressure and

conveyed alot of information in a way I can actually absorbed.

[mopinko]

32. she is the anti rush

and this shrill crap is not so subtle misogyny, imo.

[Zorra]

33. Thom is the best, but .

Randi is great, too. We need Mike Malloy and Peter Werbe also.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[neverborn]

43. ON THE RAG?

Misogyny much?

[Cleita]

36. Randi is a national treasure and should stay where she is.

No more butt kissing centrists, puleeze. We need someone who calls them like Randi does, with the facts to back her.

[gollygee]

37. I think she repeats herself too often but that's a minor thing - overall

I LOVE her show!!

[Chicago Democrat]

38. WELCOME TO DU!!!

[Swamp Rat]

44. Thom Hartmann's show is one my favorites.

From the commercials to the news breaks, his show is the most informative and least grating. The other show I like a lot is the Ray Taliaferro's Show on KGO. He's been around the longest and has a track record that goes back before Kennedy's assassination.

Come to think of it, I'm glad we have all these great shows to choose from. Sometimes I want to hear Randi smite a ditto-head or listen to Bernie Ward take apart a freeper. Mike Webb's show is great for when you want to hear him bust the chops of a racist/homophobe.

Ray Taliaferro, Thom Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, Al Franken, Ed Shultz, the Morning Sedition, Guy James, Mike Malloy, Peter Werbe, Bernie Ward, Mike Webb... my cup runneth over!

Hey DUers! Is this wonderful???

[bvar22]

45. I love them both!!!!

When Randi is on a righteous roll, no one can stand against her.

My favorite show is Tom Hartman's Brunch with Bernieevery Friday. Bernie Sanders joins Tom every Friday for inside insight into the current insanity that is Congress.

Both Tom Hartman and Randi Rhodes shows are archived by a DUer at:

http://www.whiterosesociety.org/

You can right click and Save to Disk for listening at your leisure.

[Myrina]

48. I agree with ya' ChiDem ...

n/t

[Ducks In A Row]

49. Randi is great

She doesn't take any guff from the right-wing. I love it when she just keeps telling them the truth until they basically go silent.

She is the right-wing's worst nightmare. If she'd had national coverage in 2000, Bush would never have stolen the election because she would have shame the Dems into fighting for that election, not just rolling over.


Let Thom get some other spot on AAR, but leave Randi alone.

[ibegurpard]

50. I guess I'll need to send them one to counteract yours.

I like her. Put Harmann on as well, fine. Keep Randi.

[porphyrian]

51. Re: Randi Cutting People Off

What many of you are missing about talk radio is the simple fact that it's all about time. Just because you have something to say and win the lottery of being picked to go on the air doesn't mean you're remotely qualified to do so. When she's got twelve minutes before the next set of commercials (I hate that one with the lame "yeoow" guy, want to punch him), she can't devote five of them to someone who keeps repeating the same thing over and over or who has no coherent argument and never gets to the point. Since she's been doing this for a long time, she seems to give few people the benefit of the doubt if they don't quickly get to their point and make one she likes, but it's her show. If you don't want to get cut off, come in strong, clear, concise and to the point, and you'll likely be less disappointed. At least, that's my guess, she might just cut you off anyway.

[LittleApple81]

52. Oh, shut up. SHE IS AS ROUGH, REPETITIVE, AND OBNOXIOUS AS WE NEED HER TO

BE. We have the rational approach with Franken, we need some LOUD BITCHY WOMAN and she is great. If you don't like her, just listen to somebody else.

[Imalittleteapot]

53. Sorry. Randi is the highlight of my afternoon. Tom

Hartmann is great. I want them all - including Mike Malloy.
Randi's spunk appeals to me, although I will admit that on occassion she does get a little edgy. She's smart, informed and a great entertainer.

[CatWoman]

54. I have a solution

why don't you listen to Thom Hartman, and not Randi Rhodes? :shrug:

I listen to Big Ed, whereas I used to listen to Randi. But its a simple matter of letting your mouse do the clicking. Why would you want to have her replaced on Air America, while YOU have the power as to who you CAN listen to?

[obnoxiousdrunk]

55. While Randi was

on vacation last week I fell in love with Ed Schultz. He is the left's Rush.

[UdoKier]

56. No She's Not.

If you don't like, her, don't listen to her.

I've loved her for years.

Mike Malloy is even MORE "negative", and I can't WAIT to hear him again too.

The GOP and present administration are continuing to commit the gravest of crimes on a daily basis, and the media makes a conscious effort NOT to cover 95% of it. We NEED a Randi and a Malloy to keep us informed about this stuff. And I'm grateful as hell to Malloy for making me absolutely FURIOUS about "Shock & Awe". I had never contemplated war in such a way until his program with just the sound. I felth like I was there, with my kids, huddled in a darkened house as the bombs fell FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

Randi and Mike are dealing with negative material to be sure, but they do it with a good sense of humor and wit.

As for your stats- she is spinning, as the GOP do. The overall tax burden was lower under Clinton, since all kinds of taxes BESIDES income tax have been raised. I personally consider the sky-high gas prices to be a "Bush Tax" as well...

[Chicago Democrat]

57. Spinning, yeah you're right...

And I realised the spin when she did it... I don't like spin. If that what spin is... I wanna real NO Spin zone show.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[funkybutt]

59. sometimes DUers are more insulting that she is

I really like Randi. It's my favorite show. I didn't realize that she was lying. She usually has really great sources. Do you have sources to prove that those comments were false?