How do you feel about Air America Radio?

[Eric J in MN]

[KyndCulture]

1. It's good, it could be better.

I don't like Springer or Franken. I love Randi, Mike Malloy, Rachel Maddow and Laura Flanders though.

I wish there was more weekend programming.

[tatertop]

7. That's how I feel. Franken puts me to sleep. Malloy is great.

[Southsideirish]

33. Agreed! Franken is too DLC for me. I wish Malloy had a daytime slot. He

is the best!

[tatertop]

50. True. Malloy is on a little late for me.

[melissinha]

8. I agree with your list

Springer is so week and Franken is full of himself, I love Randi, Mike Malloy, Rachel Maddow and Laura Flanders too. But you have to also give kudos to the Morning Sedition and Majority Report..... I love the comedy of MS, and I gotta say the Majority Report gets better and better every day, Sam is always on top of scandals WAY before anyone else.

[Coastie for Truth]

2. Far superior to KGO (Ray Taliafero, Bernie Ward) NT

[never_get_over_it]

19. Bernie and Ray are the only liberals on KGO

I think except for Karel and the guy who has Ray's slot on the weekend. So yes AAR is way better than KGO - but Bernie is very good and can hold a candle to anyone on AAR and Ray just makes me laugh and laugh and laugh because he is so outrageous when he calls all the righties idiots and he is very insulting to his right wing callers - and for whatever reason it busts me up big time.

What I don't like about KGO is that there is so much commercial time and news time that if Bernie gets in two hours out of three I'd be surprised - I'd like to hear more of him.

[Coastie for Truth]

20. Karel and John Rothman are great.

I sometimes get the impression that Bernie is manic-depressive. Ray is a natural entertainer.

[Missy Vixen]

34. I listen to KGO after 10 PM Pacific time

I truly enjoy Bernie Ward and Ray Taliaferro; I wish that Mike Malloy was on during the day so Air America could simulcast them in the evenings.

I made sure to call Air America's switchboard the other day when Mike was on to tell them how much I would enjoy hearing him during the day and live. I'll follow this up with a letter to their CEO.

Julie

[Montauk6]

52. You're 100% correct, esp. about the breaks

I'm sure I'm not the only Internet listener who gets tired of the long silences (except for the random guitar or trumpet lick); Neil Rogers does this as well. What programmer came up with this idea of DEAD AIR??? Can you imagine the number of first-time listeners who turn away thinking they hit a bad link? Smart!

[alittlelark]

55. I haven't listened to KGO for 5 or so years....

I had no idea they had token lib's!!!


I'm a KFOG, 960 the Quake girl these days.

[Protagoras]

3. It's a godsend

Could I make criticisms of individual hosts or would I have them think and speak MORE like me? well sure. But in reality...it's like whining about a 3 star dinner when you were previously eating mud.

Could you find a 4 star dinner? Possibly...but get real, you haven't eaten this good in years :D

That's how I feel about Air America Radio.

[Eric J in MN]

14. Could I have your permission to

re-post this as a comment under your screen-name at www.speakspeak.org
?

[Protagoras]

21. People ask permission for that?

jk, figure once I hit post I've lost control of anything I say here :D

[Eric J in MN]

27. I took that as a yes and re-posted

your comment at:
http://www.speakspeak.org/speak-blog/2005/10/07/al-franken-comments-on-rush-limbaugh/

[Skittles]

44. Eric being polite

very refreshing! :D

[EST]

4. It's great-I don't listen a lot, but would if I could.

[Greyhound]

5. Good and way better than the "alternatives" we don't have here.

It could, and I'm sure will, get better. :kick:

[tridim]

6. The afternoon schedule is dreamy,

But the morning schedule is just average. I'm sure AAR will fix that soon.

[joemurphy]

9. Frankly, I have mixed emotions about it. I like Franken but I

find Randi strident and ranty. I listen to it a lot though out of a sense of duty. Here in Indianapolis we don't have it on any local stations, so I pick up my signal from Cincinnati. The reception isn't very good. My main gripe is that it is punctuated too much with offensive commercials for some of the stupidest products going -- anti-itch creams and get-rich quick schemes. It seems like they're desperate for advertising money in Cincy.

I like some of the interviews with leading Democrats and I enjoy reasoned debate. I like the educational aspect too. AAR does try to tell America what is going on. That's important. That's why I support it. But its underfunded for sure and could be a hell of a lot better.

[NMDemDist2]

10. other

I listen to Ed Schultz on my drive home, and tape Al's show on Sundance and watch it nightly, mostly for the A list guests he gets. I'm sorry Katherine is leaving the show. I think the show will be poorer for losing her.

I love jeanine as an actor (she was great on West Wing last week) but she and Sam get on my nerves as does Randi, who I can only take in small doses most days.

Malloy is on too late for me, and the early morning show isn't very good so we commute in the AM sans radio. I used to enjoy Liz Winstead and those guys, but my local AAR has a local guy on in that time slot so I don't get to hear them any more.

all in all, i'd give it a C+

[Eric J in MN]

15. I hope they find another woman with radio experience to replace her (nt)

nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

11. I'd probably listen to AAR all the time

but the only way I can get it is via stream, and the audio quality is horrible.

There's a station about 30 miles from here that carries AAR, but its transmitter must use a bicycle generator. I can't even get a weak signal. :banghead:

[redacted]

24. Why is your audio quality horrible?

Huh? Don't understand that. Could you use some technical suggestions? If so message me privately. Our streams sound great direct from AAR using a Mac. AAR is on all the time in our studio and offices.

Also I believe that the stream quality from the Los Angeles AAR affiliate is 24 bps, full-fidelity stereo. It sounds even better than the network streams. We don't use it here because their programming is delayed 3 hours for the West Coast, but I do listen to them on Saturday nights and when i miss Mike Malloy's live show.

[ken_g]

12. My local station dropped(or was dropped by) AAR recently.

They replaced Al with Thom Hartman. He is really great! Everything I was hoping for. But they replaced Randi with Ed Schultz. I'm not real impressed with him. He sounds to much like Rush Limbaugh. Rush has been in this market since '88, was here before going national. Can't stand the "blow-hard" stuff even though it's liberal words being spoken.

[Eric J in MN]

18. Air America Minnesota play Thom Hartmann on Sundays.

http://www.airamericaradio.com/thomhartmannpage

[mwb970]

61. Give Ed a chance.

Sure he sounds a little like Rush. What's wrong with that? He's definitely on the correct side and he's very professional on his show.

[Check12]

13. I love wendy the hypnotist.

I think she's great.
I'm just relaxing now..
It's very quiet and calm..
I'm getting sleepy, very sleepy..
I think I will give up my addiction to DU now..
Bye..

[Warren Stupidity]

16. AM sucks. nt.

[jillan]

17. What has happened in Phx is that we have some local people

that are far better than the original AAR gang. So we have them on most of the time. We still get RAndi - yeah - and Ed - take it or leave it~
But the best of the best is local and on during the weekends.

I am pissed that aar dropped it's contract with Sirius!

[redacted]

26. Really? Do you have a URL for a live stream?

[jillan]

30. You have to check these guys out - they are the best!

http://1010kxxt.com/mandm.php?sid=20

This is Phx time (mountain standard)
Definetely the best there is. They are so calm, unlike Randi but not boring at all. They talk about everything, great jokes, never lose their temper when a pig calls in. I plan my
Saturdays around their show.

Their motto is "No matter what, never ever vote for a republican". haha
They also just started Sun mornings as well.

If you like an Independent, rather than a dem, look around for Goyette.
He's on weekdays in the morning. Personally, I don't like him. He told people not to vote for Kerry or Bsh the day before the election, and I never got over that.

Mike Newcomb is good too, evenings.

But M and M are the best. They should take Ed's place.

[mn723]

22. I love AM950 Air America Minnesota

I'm an Ed Schultz fan, I like his politics and his midwestern attitude.

[KyndCulture]

23. Me too. I listen when I'm down in the cities..

We get Ed local here, I'm up in Detroit Lakes.

I wish I could get 950 up here. But I can listen online all day.

[Maat]

25. I'm probably going to get kicked in the buttocks here, but ..

I enjoy listening to just about all of the hosts mentioned here - on and off.

Except for Alex Bennett; that's why I switched from Sirius to XM.

[wellstone dem]

28. I listen a lot, but turn the channel to get Springer off

I wish the MPLS station worked out here, I had to get xm so that I could have something besides MPR when I was driving.

[stlsaxman]

29. No AAR affiliate where I live so I'm saving up for an XM reciever...

We need AAR so desperately here in "the loo". All we have is Clear Channel stations and Rush. It sucks.

I hear Franken will be leaving once he runs for the senate in WI (or MI?). Fine with me. Thom Hartmann rocks hard! Springer's a little mamby-pamby but hey- he beats the pants off of Colmes. Now that XM has dropped "lil Ed" Schlitz for the full 4 hours of Randi, I'm excited even more to subscribe.

But now it's all streaming and podcasts.

[Rosco T.]

40. XM did NOT drop Schultz, they just moved him to another channel... n/m

[stlsaxman]

42. Correct- (both of us!)

The moved Schultz to another channel than AAR- because Schultz is not ON Air America Radio.

[Rosco T.]

41. some XM deals for those interested....

ok, no referral links in any of this... just passing on some deals...

ITEM 1: XM currently has a $50 REBATE on selected radios, these include

- the three portable units, MyFi, Pioneer Airware, TAO XM ToGo
- Audiovox XR9/XRcs9
- SkyFi/SkyFi2

$50 rebate WITH NO SERVICE COMMITMENT. Say again, NO SERVICE COMMITMENT. Activate, get rebate, cancel if you want.

rebate form here... http://www.xmradio.com/pdf/llsb50.pdf

ITEM 2: the XMFAN store has some nice bundles...

Audiovox XR9 Receiver and Car Kit Bundle Package $69.98 ($19.98 After Rebate)

Delphi Roady2 "Everything" Car and Home Bundle $77.98


check there for some other good deals, they have pretty much the best prices on the new and execellent service www.xmfanstore.com

[Ksec]

31. I like it

It good. Berry berry good

[GOPS Worst Fear]

32. I love Randi Bernie Ward,Ray Talliafero,Guy James & Stephanie

They are all there on my top 10 list of liberal talk show host.

I think Randi is definitely number one.Immediately followed by Bernie Ward, who predicted every single move the neocons have made before the 2000 election.Followed that by Ray Talliaferro, Guy James(who definitely needs to be hired by either Jones network or Air America. And then there's Stephanie Miller who is a comedian and great at slamming Bush and co.

They are all great. All deserve a syndication and hundreds of affiliates.

[JanMichael]

35. I can't stand the fact that they don't carry Guy James.

It's a tad to celebrity and cliquish for my tastes.

Then again, even though I've been a co-host on the air, I don't really care for talk radio anyway.

However I recommend AAR to my co-workers constantly...

[Swamp Rat]

36. It's great. I listen to Mike Malloy a lot.

I'm a big time Thom Hartmann fan as well. I just wish AAR would carry Guy James.

[Initech]

37. I like AAR just because I'm glad our side finally has a voice!

The conservatives seem to dominate AM radio and I really like AAR.

I cant wait to get my hands on one of those XM My-Fi radios so I can listen all the time!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

38. Grade B

Seattle line-up:

Miller A- (Her Rhodes impersonation shouldn't be missed)
Hartman A (Excellent historical take)
Schultz C (If he helps with the wingers, OK.)
Franken B- (Too centrist but he has good guests)
Rhodes C+ (Smart woman who should listen and get her facts straight more)
Malloy A+ ("Have I told you yet how much I hate these people?")


Majority Report B+ (Streamed in lieu of Rhodes. Heartfelt outrage. A hardcore blogger's understanding of the issues.)

ETA: Flanders B+ (A solid show)

[MoonRiver]

39. I LOVE AIR AMERICA!

It is one of my main lifelines in this day of fascist horror. nuff said.

[Ioo]

43. Franken is unlistenable, waste of air time.

[Eric J in MN]

49. I listen to him a lot (nt)

nt

[Berserker]

53. I agree Franken Sucks

they need someone else. What the fuck are those skits they do? Randi rocks. Mike Malloy is great and the advertising is well....Fucked up.

[liberal43110]

45. Majority Report is my favorite

Rachel Maddow was wonderful when she filled in for Al Franken--I've never heard her on her own show because I don't get up at 5 am. But I wish I could hear her more...

[greblc]

46. Does anyone know why...

Katherine Lamphner is Leaving AAR?

I'm listening on 950am in Mpls.

Ed Shultz I can listen too. Wendy Wild needs to stop singing. As soon as she starts I switch to MPR. "Fact- Man...Fact-Man....Fact-Man..." you know what I'm talking about TC listeners. For the love of Jesus please stop it Wendy!

[Rosco T.]

47. Katherine has a book deal that must be finished by Jan '06 n/m

[Eric J in MN]

48. The short-term reason is her book deal,

but she used to host her own show on Minnesota Public Radio.

Maybe she's looking to be in charge again after writing the book.

The AAR website says she'll return in the "Spring" but there was no talk of her returning on today's show, as far as I heard.

More on today's "Al Franken Show" at:
http://www.speakspeak.org/speak-blog/2005/10/06/fridays-al-franken-show/

[calmblueocean]

58. "Don't you loooove her maaaadlyyyyyy..."

The more I hear that ad, the less I love her.

[Montauk6]

51. I do appreciate the effort but there is room for improvement

There are still too many "vacancies," esp. on the weekends. I would like to see more shows with veteran talk hosts as opposed to "moonlighters."

[FreedomAngel82]

54. I listen to it a lot

I wish though they could add some other people onto the team that I enjoy but I understand they only have time for so much. But it's pretty good. :) I'm so glad for them too! I have a place to go to escape the insanity.

[calmblueocean]

56. Morning Sedition = better than the Daily Show.

Okay, well, that might be overstating things just a tad, but maybe not. Unlike the Daily Show, Morning Sedition actually IS daily. And Marc Maron and co. make me laugh. If you haven't listened to them, visit The Snotgreen Sea and check out the comedy archives, esp. Planet Bush. Lawton Smalls is completely hilarious.

[high density]

57. I'd listen to it more if they had a radio station in range of me

The closest station is 90 miles away and its signal (AM band) is nearly useless where I am. In contrast, I'm in range of two FM stations blasting Fush Rimbaugh. :(

[kentuck]

59. It's all we got...

Support it!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

60. I strongly prefer daytime AAR over nighttime AAR n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

62. Overall, I like it.

I haven't had a chance to listen to every show in-depth, but the ones I'm most familiar with are graded like this:

Al Franken: B -- a solid show, but sometimes too slow-paced and middle of the road.

Randi Rhodes: A -- excellent and funny host with a large knowledge of damn near everything that's going on, but her habit of interrupting people is a bit annoying.

Morning Sedition: A+ -- my personal favorite; a great mix of politics, humor, music, and non-political goings on.

Ed Schultz: B -- an interesting and different type of host who is slowly growing on me, despite his more conservative leanings.

Stephanie Miller: C- -- funny, to be sure, but way too many bells and whistles (literally) and not enough hard content to make it worthwhile.

Mike Malloy: B+ -- in a word or three: straight, no chaser; a take-no-prisoners scorched-earth type of show, but a challenge to take for three hours straight.