Randi's style is becoming more like Limbaugh's.

[Cyrano]

I doubt if she's even aware of how obnoxious her success has made her. She cuts off callers too quickly and too often, (even those who agree with her), and uses her control of the microphone to bully rather than discuss.

I live in Florida and I've been listening to Randi for years. Although I've been all for her in the past, I'd love to see her replaced by Tom Hartmann. He was a great fill-in while she was on vacation and he'd be a great permanent replacement. He always let callers have their say.

Randi has done a lot of good for a lot of years, she's knowledgeable and honest, but she's really becoming a turnoff and a total pain in the ass. She has become so grating that I'm often on the verge of changing the station.

[Nikepallas]

1. Sorry I don't see it.

[demnan]

2. America Left has Ed Shultz

I think he's pretty good. You should check him out. (Link on front page)

[WLKjr]

32. yeah big eddy is pretty damn good

he has limbaugh, hannity, and savage in his sights.....goodbye righties!


I wish they would get him on AAR along with Malloy. Get rid of Alan Colmes at least on the XM. and besides, how about that vermont station dumping all righties in exchange for AAR????? LOL!

[KoKo]

65. "Big Ed" is the best for his audience...he can get the Rush crossovers who

are sick of his "Pigboy" rants..when they know their jobs are going Offshore.

PIGBOY needed a counter...Big Ed, can do it. Don't listen to him all the time, but when I do I see how he can be a "BRIDGE" between Rush and the rest of us. :shrug:

[Lefty48197]

78. I like Ed too, but I've heard him slammed in this website too.

.

[merh]

3. I stopped listening to her last week when she damned

everyone for not doing it (the 6th) the way she wanted it done.
Her anger is just more than I can take. I believe we need to be positive and not waste time damning our own. That doesn't mean we take the crap from the weed or the rethugs, we just have to be organized and realistic, not bitter. imho

[LeftCoast]

4. I know I'm risking a serious flamming

but I don't like her. I don't like those sort of tactics. Seems to be a fairly popular style though, even here. :shrug:

[K-W]

12. This is simply an issue of taste.

What tactics? She sits in a studio and talks to people about politics. It isnt a tactic, its her personality. She talks to people she wants to talk to, she doesnt talk to or about people and things she doesnt want to talk about. Her style changes every day based on what mood she is in.

That is who she is, if you dont like it dont listen, but stop acting like this is some objective problem of amoral tactics. Shes just doing her job. Just because you dont like listening to her doesnt mean she is wrong.

[LeftCoast]

21. Hey, I'm just glad there's somebody talking about progressive issues

I don't listen to her, but I know there are lots of people here who do. I would prefer that she did her radio show in a different style, but obviously it's successful for her so I doubt she'll change just to please me. Though that would be nice. lol

[K-W]

25. Understood, I just wanted to highlight

that some people with less than noble intentions try and make it sound like there is something objectively and morally wrong with the way she does her show.

[TrustingDog]

47. that's the prob. She does the Talking.... why even bother having guests...

For the time I did tune in, that is all I came away with - her fishwife screeching and interrupting and disrespect for her guests is intolerable. She has the right idea, but the delivery stinks big time.

[K-W]

58. her format isnt guest based for a reason

It is the Randi Rhodes show.

She assumes people who tune in are tuning in to hear her take on things, that is her product.

If people dont like it, they wont listen, her ratings wont be good.

Why on earth do I keep seeing these threads?

[TrustingDog]

66. so why the bother with having guests?....

who the heck would want to go on her show after you learn you aren't going to get much words in edgewise - unless you're a first time writer or something...

HAS she had anyone of significance on lately - I'm way out of the loop on this. I'm guessing that's not a show people with something to say want to be on.

[K-W]

69. Its like critisizing a drama for not being funny.

It isnt primarily an interview show, so you cant judge it by how condusive it is to interviews.

The Randi Rhodes Show is a show where Randi Rhodes mainly gives you her take on things. Shes never hidden this fact. It is not meant to provide you with valuable interviews. It is not meant to give callers open air time to voice thier opinions. It is meant to be what it has always claimed to be, Randi, Randi, and more Randi.

If you dont like it, dont listen, but as long as other people are listening, you shouldnt begrudge her the airtime she has earned.

Edit: Btw, She has guests sometimes, for the same reason other shows have guests, but it isnt the focus of the show.

[DemOperative]

72. Howard Dean was on yesterday

it was well produced and on point. She regularly features members of congress, columnists and others with something to share that's newsworthy.

I think your problem might be that you don't know many people from the Bronx.Because she's totally THAT.

She's a credit to AA, and more entertaining and liberal than Al Franken, who is so enamored of his comic talent he apparently doesn't employ an editor or other filter.

[Stirk]

5. I'd never heard her before Air America.

But she's not my style at all. I usually change the station when she comes on. Like you, I'd prefer more of a discussion. Not boring or milquetoast- but some give and take. I'd like Bernie Ward, personally. :)

[wtmusic]

6. Thom Hartmann is terrific

and Randi gotta go. Why try to put out the fire with gasoline?

[Old Mouse]

7. She irritates me sometimes as well, but

she consistently provides information not available elsewhere due to her personal congressional contacts, and her emotional diatribes are one of the main reasons for her success.

I don't really care long term about AAR, or the success of left wing radio. Hopefully, in three years we won't even need it. I want regime change before we lose all liberty. That requires public opinion to be on our side, and Randi is the best recruiter AAR has.

Franken might have been the name that got the funding, and Flanders might bring an inarguable respectability, but it is Randi that draws people in that might not have otherwise cared. Her irrational emotional appeal, her anger is what attracts new listeners to the left side of politics. I wouldn't mess with her success for anything.

[w4rma]

52. We will *always* need folks on the radio and TV pushing and defending

our positions.

[rman]

8. does she lie like Limbaugh?

well then

[feminazi]

36. no, she hates limbaugh

and always talks about how she kicked his ass when they went head to head.

[K-W]

9. Remember, we are not her target audience.

We have the level of information she has. We want to have in depth discussions and we all have our own, in most cases, educated opinions.

Randi is Randi. Her show is mostly her ranting and it is aimed at people who dont know the things she says before she says them. The point of AAR isnt to give hardcore liberals another toy. It is to reach people with radios who werent already getting liberal news and views.

I can definately understand objections to her. She doesnt really jibe with me either, though I do like her occassionally or in small doses. But the proof is in the pudding. We dont need her to provide us with talk radio we like, we need her to reach as many people as possible. If her style gets her fans who werent already active liberals, she deserves all the thanks we can give her.

[LeftCoast]

11. That's a good point

Hadn't thought of that.

[Old Mouse]

79. Well said n/t

[housewolf]

10. Maybe we should write her

and tell her what we think. She (or her sponsors) might appreciate the feedback.

[Cyrano]

15. You can contact her at therandirhodesshow.com.

[maveric]

13. We need Randi. They have Limbaugh and we need someone of that caliber.

We cant be "nice, nice" anymore. This is a case of fighting fire with fire. Randi is a very loud voice that needs to be heard. Hartmann, Shultz and Garafalo are fine, but we need heavy hitters like Randi and Malloy too.

No more "nice,nice"! Thats how we get kicked around and lose elections.

[Toucano]

14. Even if true, I'm not sure why that's a bad thing.

People listen to Rush because he's entertaining. Like all clowns, he's both scary and amusing.


Thoughtful, serious, enlightened discussion won't succeed commercially in the mass media. Ever. If people have a choice between "Newshour" and "A Current Affair", the latter will win every time.

Randi needs to do what it takes to get the ratings to stay on the air and get the message out.

Don't miss the forest for the trees.

"Give 'em what they want!"

[Richardo]

17. "Like all clowns, he's both scary and amusing" LOL!!

That the funniest thing I've seen in a long time :D:thumbsup:

[K-W]

20. Seriously, since when was the style of talk radio the problem?

I thought it was the message.

Apparently people here on this thread dont realize that personalities like this are everywhere in talk radio. Its odd that the only two names they could come up with were Randi Rhodes and Rush Limbaugh.

[n2mark]

16. Randi

During the summer months I listened to her everyday, now I listen to only a few minutes as I do Al Franken. Randi cuts those off who disagree with her, she does not really respond to those who are agreeing with her. She makes these sounds of a person who is not actually listening except to her own views. She reminds of talking to someone who keeps nodding their heads, not listening but can hardly wait to get out their thoughts.

This bothers me as I am beginning to listen to ARR less and less. I am faithful to Morning Sedition, Laura Flanders and Ring of Fire, whoops forgot Mike Malloy. I'm more in tuned with Tom Hartman and Trippiano and Guy James. I also listen to Radio Left on the weekends.

[skypilot]

23. I hate to admit it...

...because I actually like Randi but what you said is true. I posted something yesterday about her treatment of callers.

"She reminds of talking to someone who keeps nodding their heads, not listening but can hardly wait to get out their thoughts."

This statement pretty much nails it right on the head. She sounds as though she's taking calls begrudgingly and you can really hear it in her tone.

[deutsey]

18. Hartmann should have been in the original line-up, IMO

I like Randi most of the time and think she's a good match for AAR (I mean that in both senses of the word "match"); however, Hartmann and Mike Malloy should have been on the air from the beginning (Malloy wasn't part of the original line-up, right?). I'm not a huge fan of Malloy, but he's a damn good liberal radio personality.

[K-W]

19. Comparing Randi to Limbough is both rediculous and suspicious.

They are really nothing alike.

This comparison can serve no other purpose than to smear Randi.

First off, other than thier formats, in the spectrum of talk radio thier styles really arent that similar.

Secondly, Rush is not bad because of his style, he is not bad because he spends most of his show talking. He is bad because he is a vicious liar and a facist conspiritor.

If Rush did his lying in between more interviews would we have threads about how Al Frankin was too much like Limbaugh?

[Cyrano]

22. My only comparison was a reference to not letting callers talk.

Reread my original posting. I've been a fan of Randi's for many years. If you'd had the opportunity to hear her before she was on AAR, you'd see a difference.

Randi was always opinionated, brilliant and capable of educating morons. My problem with her these days is that she's become too abrasive with too many callers for my taste.

[HomerRamone]

26. I think she's just gotten more fed up with everything.

Haven't you?

[Cyrano]

33. Yep, no doubt about it. But I don't have a radio show.

Randi needs to keep as many people listening as possible. I love it when she shreds some right-wing turd. But I still believe she has to use a bit more tact to stop irritating those of us who agree with her.

[K-W]

29. Rush and Randi are not particularly similar, this comparison is a joke.

Yah Randi interrupts, dominates callers, the show is her personality.
Yes Rush interrupts, dominates callers, the show is his personality.

But that is true of almost all talk radio.

There is no significant unique link between the two to justify this comparison.

I mean why on earth would you cloud your point by saying she was becoming too much like Limbaugh when Limbaugh's most destinguishing charectersistics are his conservatism and his lying?

Why in a discussion about radio styles would you throw in such a stark partisan and ethical contrast that can only serve to distract from you point?

[Cyrano]

34. In answer to your comments and what seems to be

your deliberate misreading of my meaning and intent, let me say this.

Sigh.

[K-W]

59. Have you read the title to your own thread?

How exactly was I misreading things?

Are you now saying you didnt intend to draw a comparison between Randi and Rush? Because that was the only thing I claimed you said.

[cali]

43. It's RIDICULOUS

you just hit on one of my pet peeves. Doesn't it look wrong to you when you write rediculous? And it's fascist, not facist. And oh yeah, I don't like Randi. I think she's screechy and rude.

[K-W]

68. No, corerrecting grammer and spelling on a forum is rude.

What Randi does is called talk radio.

[Old Mouse]

80. LOL.. ahem...

I don't want to encourage incivility in any way shape or form, but you are correct. It is rude and distracting to correct crammer or spelling.

[GoSolar]

24. I think Randi is the best.

She informs and inspires. She is concerned, and passionate about the issues.

[4_TN_TITANS]

27. She definitely gets on my nerves....

and there's only so long I can listen to her at a time, but I'm grateful for the liberal voice.

[haktar]

28. A opinion from over the Lake

I had listen to Mike Malloy and Tom Hartmann since the days of Ieamerica Radio
and now tune regularly into Airamerica.

So from across the Atlantic i my opinion is:

Tom Hartmann: He is right on the point. Although he repeats himself often in his fight against his arch enemy the multinational corporations and sometimes becomes a little boring, he never tells anything that is not absolute correct. I can only reccomend him.

Mike malloy: refreshing in his fight against the Bush Crime family, but sometime he uses not so credible sources. But he would not knowingly lie. i can reccomend him also.

Rhandy Rhodes: Nothing else than attack dog of the worst kind. She uses sources and stories that
are already debunked. I don't believe one word she says without checking on other sources first.
Althougt I didn't listen to Rush Limbough, i can imagine he is exactly the same way.
She can only be tolerated as a counterpart in Limboughs time slot. If You really want something that has a bit of truth in it, go somewhere else.

And not to forget Al Franken: Great, Funny ...

Greetings from Germany

[K-W]

31. Prove your accusations or dont make them. EOM

[haktar]

38. Not flameproofed ?

Ok if you want. An example.
Before the election she worked heavily against Black Box Voting.

Nothing against that. But she always implied that the Diebold file RobGeorgia.zip meant Robb the election in georgia.
Since 2002 it was known that this file was simply sent to a guy with the name Robert.

This doesn't mean the file was not used to steal Georgia 2000.
at least it was an illegal unchecked patch, but Rhandi twists it like it is clear the file was used to steal the election in 2000

on edit @*$#&* typos

[K-W]

60. And you have evidence this wasnt an honest mistake?

So far you have supported a very small part of your post.

[scarletlib]

37. Not true

I have listened to Randi for years. She does not tell lies and she does not use sources or stories that have already been debunked.

Here in West Palm Beach before AAR got started she frequently reported on stories that only broke months later on national news.

She also will tell you that you the listener do not have to take her at her word but to go and check the source and facts for yourself.

[haktar]

44. Don't you realise

that this is the exact same position i read from Rush Limbough supporters ?

Rhandi is good to counter Rush, and thats it.

[K-W]

61. The differences between randi and rush would fill a canyon.

They are really nothing alike, except that they are both political talk radio hosts.

Cutting off callers is far from an exception to the rule of talk radio. It isnt just randi and rush cutting off callers. There is no reason whatsoever to draw a comparison between the two unless you are trying to discredit Randi unfairly.

[MsTryska]

30. Randi is a big reason why

i was getting so shrill when i listened to Air America constantly.

I still listen to her on the ride home - altho i too prefer Tom Hartmann. And i like that she cares as much as she does, but i really don't liek the way she treats callers either. I don't think you should treat soemone like that.


She gives it good to wingnuts, but she doesn't treat the choir very nicely.

[global1]

35. Could It Be That We Are Still Suffering From Post Election .....

depression. I know I couldn't get enough of AAR before the election. Afterwards I was so down that I stopped looking a cable news, stopped reading the paper and stopped listening to AAR. I noticed that Drudge the other day said that AAR's ratings were down. I don't think Randi has changed her style one bit from before to after the election. I just think that we listen to her and all of AAR differently now that we've been deflated. We can't let this happen. We need AAR - Randi - Franken - Malloy - etc. if we are going to be successful in 2006 and beyond. Let's get it together folks!!!!!!! I know I'm trying.

[scarletlib]

40. I stopped listening to everything but AAR

I love all the shows on the stations and I like Ed Schultz who is out there doing his own thing.

There is a lot of criticism of the various personalities on AAR.

I support all of them. I enjoy each show for its unique personality. I find during the course of the day that I get a good overview of facts and debunking of right wing propaganda.

Why are we complaining here about AAR? If we didn't have AAR what would we have. One little show here or there that you would have to try to find and stream on the internet?

AAR needs to entertain and educate. Most listeners arent' going to be as politically aware as we are. They have to be taught. I think AAR is doing that with humor (Morning Sedition), moderation (Al's show), and passion (Randi and Malloy). I also love Unfiltered, Janene's show, Laura Flanders, et al., but I am not sure what category they go in.

Let's all be thankful that as a liberal radio station AAR can have a variety of voices all expressing liberal and moderate viewpoints and trying to get BROAD coverage of the message and facts to millions.

[bobweaver]

39. She's a bit full of herself, and overly dramatic, but she's on our side...

[dustoff034]

41. I can't stand listening to her

in fact most of the AA crowd sucks... no talent hacks (although I understand that some people like Franken - just not my cup o' tea)

[Avalux]

42. I admire what she does but...

can't listen to her for long periods of time. Way too dramatic and over the top for me, even if I agree with her.

[robbedvoter]

45. Ugh - does truth have any meaning to you? Obviously not

if you make such offensive statements.

[Cyrano]

49. Please enlighten me. What offensive statement are you talking about?

You responded to the original message, and I'm not aware of what I said that was offensive. Is this the posting you intended to respond to?

[Tacos al Carbon]

46. A question

I don't listen to Randi Rhodes. Never have. It's just not part of my routine. My question is, if someone was listening to her for the first time and they weren't already in the progressive camp, would they come away feeling more or less positive about the progressive point of view after a couple of hours. In other words, how would a non-partisan (for either side) react to her?

[scarletlib]

51. I can't really answer that question.

I can tell you two things about her though.

First, when I started to listen to her and her callers I realized I was not all alone out here in the world and thinking that me and my immediate family were the only liberals left. I have been listening to her for many many years in West Palm Beach.

Second her style does seem to attract freepers to her show. I have listened to them call in over the years. Some of the same ones over and over here in West Palm Beach. They would always argue with her and she would always win.

Finally (so I guess I have 3 points) over the years I heard many former Republicans call in and tell her that thanks to her show they were changing their points of view and becoming Democrats.

[Downtown Hound]

48. I love Randi n/t

[Cyrano]

50. Randi just demolished some RW asshole who still believes there are

WMDs in somebody's back yard in Iraq. This is not the kind of thing I was referring to in my original post. This is what she does best.

The basis of my complaint is that she all too often craps on the choir.

[Artemis Bunyon]

53. I love it. She's solid brass.

Don't goooo changin'... la-dee-da-da...

[Ladyhawk]

54. She's rude even to friendly callers.

It's one thing ripping freepers a new one, but you should at least let them have their say. Also, being rude to fellow libs is a big no-no!

I stopped listening to her awhile back, then tried it again and found I still couldn't stomach her phone call segment.

At first, she was one of my favorites on Air America. Now I don't much care for her.

[K-W]

64. Rude?

Let me guess, you are holding her up to standard conversational etiquette, etiquette that really doesnt apply to a talk radio host.

It is her show, people tune in to hear her take on things. Thats what she is selling, if you dont like it, dont listen, but dont pretend that your taste represents some objective radio ethic.

[Cleita]

55. Really? I agree I would like to be able to get Hartmann in addition

to Randi. In order for her to become even close to being like Limbaugh, she would have to tell deliberate lies and appeal to white people's racism, misogynism and bigotry. That's Rush not Randi.

I thought the idiot that she finally cut off today after a lengthy discussion on the WMD debate got more than enough time to explain himself and prove his ignorance before she cut him off. Any more time with this person would have been like flogging a dead horse.

[Cyrano]

56. Agreed. Go back and read some of the previous postings.

[madfloridian]

57. I love Randi Rhodes.

She may get upset, but then I have been upset for 4 years now. She was here in Florida when the 2000 fiasco happened, in South Florida. She still feels the pain of the so-called election.

I love her.

[Individualist]

77. So do I

Her passion reflects the outrage I feel over the malevolent gang in the White House and their willfully ignorant supporters. I really liked the way she slapped down the idiot who was trying to argue the case for WMDs today.

[Dr Fate]

62. Does she take hard drugs & tell lies every single day?

Nope.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. You are right

and I applaud her. We need to play the game by the rw's rules if we are going to have an impact.

[linazelle]

67. Sirius has Hartman AND Rhodes, you get to choose who to listen to

If you don't like her listen to America Left. Actually, while Randi may be grating, so is Limbaugh. Furthermore, there is an effort underway to undermine Randi as ads for Hartman are running on Randi's show when Hartman airs in the same time slot. The RW will do anything to knock Randi's successful rating and I say fuck them.

[Wheaty]

71. Actually Hartmann is in Frankens Time Slot

Thom Hartmann is on Sirius 12am-1pm EST and then 1am-3am EST.

Randi's slot is against Ed Shultz's SirusLeft Slot.

[steve2470]

70. I really like Randi. She helped me to understand that the RW'ers

are committing fabrication by omission many times. She has a wonderful heart. But, yes, her delivery is a bit strident at times.

[RebelOne]

73. Well, in my opinion Randi is the Dem female counterpart

to Sean "Insannity." If there was ever a debate between the two, I am positive that Randi could out shout him hands down.

[GoldenOldie]

75. I Like Randi.

She is no nonsense or BS. If you want truth and facts she has them or she will soon get it. Because of her experience in the military and her ability to do the research to find the truth, I personally find her show to be upbeat, refreshing and educational.

To each his own. I am just thankful that AAR provides a variety of talkshow hosts and liberal/progressive listeners are finally able to listen to any one of them without getting the same 24/7 scripts handed out by the WH.

[trekbiker]

74. I agree...

I still like her most of the time but she can sure be irritating. One of her worst habits is the way she pauses just long enough for the caller to start talking, lets the caller get a few words out and then talks right over them. Her Ego is starting to get the better of her.

but I'll stay a big fan of AAR. Morning Sedition RULES..

[President Jesus]

76. becoming? she's always been a blowhard.

[Old Mouse]

81. The BEST thing about Randi

is that she has the courage not to care what other people think of her.

Even people in this forum.

[OutsourceBush]

82. she has always been a rude b$tch

I used to turn her off all the time down here in FL

Look up 'hysterical' in the dictionary. Her picture is next to it.

I think her style is so abrasive that she does as much damge as good. Big turn off IMO.