Best liberal talk show host?

[The Sheik]

When I ask who would be the best talk radio host, the basis of your assessment of them should be somewhat on the principles:
-No bull. The host should give straight, true talk no matter what.
-Exerts real progressive values. This one is pretty self explanatory and it's up to you to decide who falls under that category.
-Supports politicians, but their praise doesn't borderline fellatio. (You may support that, so it's really up to you.)
-Take no prisoner style. No host should be recommended that ever supports current Republican talking points.
-D
-Is both educational and entertaining. If you find yourself often saying during a talk show "god this part is boring," then don't recommend them.

My assessment:

1. Ed Schultz: Liberal views from a former conservative always strike big with me, so I automatically give this guy a lot of credit. His show is very informative and I always find myself think "Kick their ass Ed!"
Weaknesses:
-Doesn't really talk much with callers.
-Constant lavishing of his book.
-Still somewhat socially conservative.

2. Mike Malloy: Aggressive, abrasive talk that provides a wealth of facts and debunks the day's news stories. Gives callers lots of time to explain there selves and has a show where he really tells it like it is, no matter who it benefits.
Weaknesses:
-Takes possibly to many calls.
-Mediocre debate skills.
-Uses at first entertaining yet then overused slogans such as "The Flying Monkey Right", "The Bush Crime Family", and other sayings, even tough they are true.
-Assumes listener has been listening to AAR all day.

3. Al Franken: What more needs to be said? Great debater, quick thinker, a virtual armada of facts, and very humorous.
Weaknesses:
-Sometimes a little too humorous. Needs to take things a tad bit more serious.
-Inconvenient time.(?)

Those are my choices, and since I can't get to a radio for most of the day, my ability to listen in limited, so my scale really isn't proportional. Please, put in your input as for your choice and possibly make corrections to my list by adding rational to your design.

Now something tells me I'm going to get flamed for my choices.
-

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[The Sheik]

1. Sorry, this topic was posted by error.

[demodonkey]

2. Rick Bergman, he's on...

...KDKA in Pittsburgh PA (BIG freeper-type station) and Rick is only a substitute host -- but he's one of only 2 or 3 libs on KDKA and he's GOOD.

BTW he's on RIGHT NOW (1020 AM, big station you might be able to pick him up WAY far from Pittsburgh)

[Drewbert]

3. hosts

Schultz is as guilty of overusing slogans as anyone. I've heard him use the "Bush people are brutal and will do anything to win" and "The G word: Gays, Guns, and God" probably a thousand times. Ed takes probably more calls than anyone, which is good or bad depending on your point of view I guess. None the less, I do like Ed and he does get very good guests on his program. He sometimes blasts callers with his huge voice which is funny.

Malloy is damn entertaining. He sounds a bit more radical, just flat out states that hates right-wingers, and is better suited for his late night time slot. He seems like the type the FCC would really like to scrutinize...

I've also listened to Bernie Ward and think he is pretty good.

Sorry, but I don't care for Franken... just don't think he has great radio skills, though I'm sure they've improved somewhat from his terrible start. Since he is likely to run for the senate in MN, it's not like Franken is in this long term anyways...

[Thaddeus]

4. I'm going to say Bob McChesney

But I'm a bit biased since I produce his show...

Speaking of which, I'm going to post a plug for this Sunday's show with Norman Solomon.

[mitchtv]

5. Ray Taliafero, Bernie Ward

Bernie is more thoughtful and intellectual. Ray much more entertaining- He hates fundies and religiousity. He minces no words destroying wingnuts.

[zulchzulu]

10. Bernie yes...Ray...um....zzzz

Bernie knows his stuff and can switch on a dime to just about any topic whereas Ray is a bit too predictable for me. That's why he's on the graveyard shift (used to listen to KGO...).

[turbo_satan]

6. Rachel Maddow & Lizz Winstead

from AAR's "Unfiltered."

Both of them know quite a bit about politics and pop culture. The show gets great guests. Lizz is one of the funniest people on the planet and she and Rachel have a great rapport. The comedy bits are often brilliant, too.

[juajen]

7. Lynn Cullen (I believe I have that right)

I heard her for the first time on C-Span last week, I think. She is on in Pittsburgh (?). She is fantastic. She must not want to go anywhere but where she is, cause she is one talented lovely lady. Hear she's a friend of Teresa Heinz Kerry also.

[Roxy66]

24. I loved her on C-Span..but feed wont work for me...help

I cant get the SurferNet feed to work...are you having any problems with it?

[CatholicEdHead]

8. Another Ed Schultz vote

Ed is the best and his growth shows it. 62 stations and rising. His morning show (can be heard online also at KFGO.com) is also good.

AA/Franken is much better for the base areas (e.g. Northeast and West Coast). Ed has a real chance to reach the mid-section of the country.

Many days I listen to both the morning and afternoon show online (about 5hrs/Ed/Day).

[rndmprsn]

9. Al Franken

[zulchzulu]

11. Local radio dude is very entertaining: Sly In The Morning

http://www.wtdy.com/beta/profiles/Sly.html

This guy can rip a freeper's head off in seconds. Plus he's funny as hell. And you can call him pretty easily and get in the action.

6-9AM CST

A sample:
http://www.wtdy.com/beta/documents/whitepeople.mp3

[CatholicEdHead]

12. O'Rilley on WTDY?

Thanks for the Sly tip. I looked at their schedule and Bill O'Rilley's name stood out like a sore thumb.

What's the deal with this on a "progressive" talk format?

[zulchzulu]

13. It's a local indy station with a progressive bent

Here in Madison, we have AAR in stereo...but it's great having a local station that is progressive that you can call in and rumble with the freepers. Try that on AAR.

[Starlight]

27. I caught "Sly in the Morning" on CSPAN a couple weeks ago.

I agree. He's very good. We need more progressives who can really stand up for themselves like that.

I'm a big fan or Mike Malloy & Randy Rhodes but Lizz, Rachel & Chuck D are my favorites. I like Al, but he's not one of my favorites. His show is kind of silly IMHO.

Another show I enjoy is "Young Turks."

[HappinessPie]

14. Jon Stewart, then Al Franken.

[The Sheik]

17. Wait, Jon Stewart has a radio program?

[Jack_Dawson]

15. Randi kicks all their asses

She's the only one speaking up about the Stolen Election. Everyone else thinks it was legitimate.

[CatholicEdHead]

16. Ed Schultz talks about it

It is just that there is no hard proof right now. If there was some meat to the accusiations besides past quotes, it would be pushed quite a bit more.

[RazzleCat]

18. Randi and Malloy

I got with these two. With out a doubt they are the most polished. You can tell that they have experience. Malloy pulls no punches, Randi has a real professional gloss to her show. The production values, and her ability to talk to her call ins show that experience. I don't have any other option round here as streaming AAR is the only progressive radio, so no locals to add.

[Drewskie]

20. oh yea...

Another thing... Schultz was talking about the voting machines and stolen votes way last winter/spring, when there was actually time to do something about it. Don't know if Rhodes was as well, but seems to me her and the rest of dems are crying over spilt milk. They should have gotten press on the issue and pushed legislation a looong time ago when it counted. True that Tom Delay tries to block everything in the house, but with enough pressure something could have been done.

[OnionPatch]

26. Randi was onto the voting machine issue

a long, long time ago and tried very hard to do something. People would just not listen. Many fellow Dems included.

[hollywood926]

19. I like Guy James. n/t

[bagimin]

21. Neil Rogers is the king

Lionell seems to do a good job,too.

[Roxy66]

22. Randi Rhodes...all the way

[Eric J in MN]

23. Sam Seder of "The Majority Report" on "Air America Radio" nt

nt

[OnionPatch]

25. Thom Hartmann, Hands Down!

I love his show. I find myself listening to it more and more often. I like Al, Randi is great and Janine Garafalo is one of my favorites, but I never learn more or am made to think more than when I listen to his show.

[orpupilofnature57]

28. gotta go Randi Rhodes,Jon Stewart as much ,for getting it out

[Jehanatu]

29. As much as I know people will yell at me for this...

I'm going to go with Alan Colmes. He's calm, sticks to the issues, doesn't interrupt, and uses facts for his basis.

[underseasurveyor]

30. Malloy, Werbe, Rhodes and Hartmann

In that order. Franken's good I enjoy the light heartedness and humor of his show. Bernie Ward and also Guy James :thimbsup:

[gorbal]

31. Another vote for Thom Hartmann

Here is another vote for Thom Hartman. I think I enjoy listening to his show more than other hosts because he has real conversations and seem to get at the heart of things.

You can listen on-line here-

http://www.thomhartmann.com/show.shtml

If you look up his archives on "The White Rose Society" you can find the interview he had Friday with Bev Harris at the bottom.

:)