Dumping AA’s Randi Rhodes Won't Cure Progressives Clinical Hillary Obsession

[rodeodance]

This fits so snugly with many BO fans here on DU.





Dumping Air America's Randi Rhodes Won't Cure Progressives Clinical Hillary Obsession

Posted April 4, 2008 | 02:21 AM (EST)


Air America yak jock should not have been suspended. She should have been canned. That will never happen though. After her moment kid slap, she'll be back on the Air America airwaves with more, albeit slightly toned down until the heats off, ritual diatribes against Hillary Clinton. Rhodes got the momentary bump from the microphone for obliterating the line of public decency by calling Clinton and Clinton backer Geraldine Ferraro every bleeped out word in the book in a public appearance on behalf of Air America.

Rhodes' Don Imus like foul mouthed rant is SOP for a core of so called progressive writers that post on the Huffington Post, and write for the Nation, Mother Jones, Daily Kos, the Underground Democrat, and a handful of other leftist sites. They have feasted at the hate Hillary trough. Their shrill diatribes, name calling, slanders, slurs, distortions and flat out lies should make the hard guys at Fox Network turn red faced. One time radical Jane Fonda kicked off the progressive's clinical obsession with Clinton bashing some months ago when reports surfaced in the Guardian and other on-line sites that Fonda called Clinton a ventriloquist for the patriarchy with a skirt and a vagina. Fonda hotly denied that she said anything of the sort.
………

The objection here is not that progressives shouldn't level a reasoned, principled, and critical dissection of Clinton positions. There are legitimate policy issues and positions to take her to task on. Unfortunately, that got tossed and Clinton's left side critics have found it much easier, and more fun, to engage in juvenile delinquent wolf ticket selling. They then pivot and froth, fume, and rail at Fox for doing the same thing. And Heaven forbid if anyone dare utter any criticism of Obama. That's deemed treasonous and the name calling kicks in with a vengeance against the offender.
……………
Her greatest sin, though, is that she pig headedly stands in the way of the coronation of Obama. ……..

The desperation of progressives to get someone in the White House who will quickly reverse the monumental damage of Bush's policies is understandable. If progressives would simply stick to challenging Obama and Clinton to speak out boldly and clearly about their stance on Supreme court appointments, criminal justice reform, immigration, failing public schools, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and a specific plan for ending the Iraq War, among other seldom heard discussed policy issues then there would be no argument that both need to be hammered for ducking and dodging these thorny issues. But that's far different than acting like 13 year olds and shouting out vile names at one candidate and only one candidate.

Rhodes did just that and got a mild rebuke. But she only engaged in the same silly name calling that her cut buddies on the left have elevated to a high art. Expect no change when Rhodes is quietly eased back in front of an Air America mic. In other words, dumping her won't cure the hateful, and very clinical, Hillary obsession of progressives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson

[marmar]

1. Es la mierda del toro.....

C'est la merde de tauro....


In other words, this piece is a heaping pile of bullshit.

[rodeodance]

11. people who live in bubbles would prob. say that.

[marmar]

12. Yeah, the reality bubble.

n/t

[rodeodance]

15. I think lots of BO fans will need de-programing come post-Denver and shoud

be setting some funds aside to pay for this.

[rodeodance]

2. He said dumping RR will not cure the vileness--but it will give pause.

[SoFlaJet]

3. it's people like you (and this HP blogger)

that won't be happy until every voice that doesn't support The Mad Queen is silenced

[rodeodance]

8. You obviously missed the point of the OP--there is a need for obj. critque of Both candidates

[krkaufman]

61. Yeah, ole Earl Ofari isn't exactly the voice of reason and objectivity.

edit: Earl sounds a bit over-the-edge...

"Air America yak jock should not have been suspended. She should have been canned. "

"by calling Clinton and Clinton backer Geraldine Ferraro every bleeped out word in the book"

"Rhodes' Don Imus like foul mouthed rant is SOP for a core of so called progressive writers that post on the Huffington Post, and write for the Nation, Mother Jones, Daily Kos, the Underground Democrat, and a handful of other leftist sites."

I think this one may be my favorite. Grouping ALL the left-of-center sites as one based on some controversial comments by one AAR host, comments which seem to have been more political than anything else, and this revered source for some DUers can't even get our website's name right, "the Underground Democrat."

:rofl:

Ok, maybe not. THIS has to be the most hilarious...

"she supposedly is a back room, deal-making, opportunist Democrat who has been a shill for big money, corporate donors."

Like she's NOT?! Puh-leeze save me from the DLC and their lackeys like Hutchinson.

"Expect no change when Rhodes is quietly eased back in front of an Air America mic. "

I'm not a Rhodes fan, but I can only hope. I hope this doesn't affect Randi's approach.


p.s. LOVE Earl's HP bio brief...

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a political analyst and social issues commentator, and the author of the forthcoming, The Emerging Black GOP Majority (Middle Passage Press, September 2006), a hard-hitting look at Bush and The GOP's court of black voters. www.blackgopbook.com

What a tool.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Hillary who?

Swank?

[marmar]

6. Nope. Hillary from "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"

Total hotness....

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. "Underground Democrat"?

What does the poster think we are, groundhogs wearing tie-dye or something?

[rodeodance]

10. yes, the author of the piece has a boo boo on that one.

[MADem]

45. What a GREAT visual that would be! Mascot potential!!!

Beware the groundhog, though!!!!

[rodeodance]

53. HA HA--i had not seen that one.

[MADem]

7. The comparisons with Fox are disturbingly accurate, actually.

It's a truthful and brutal view of the situation.

[rodeodance]

9. Yes, I agree

[usrbs]

13. He's so right

To lionize the centrist Obama and to demonize the centrist Hillary makes no sense at all, and to see the Left Blogosphere and Progressive Radio almost in its entirety do so makes me doubt it's any smarter than the Right. We're not exactly talking about Lieberman against Obama, or Clinton against Feingold here.

[otohara]

14. She Has Now Joined The Ranks Glen Beck

Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, Michele Malkin and others who say vile things about our representatives and party leaders and then claim they were joking. We are asked to boycott advertisers, send e-mails and make phone calls when this happens. We accuse them of hate-speech and have for years.

I will not be sending anymore angry e-mails to the likes of those listed - because to do so is hypocritical, I must support Free Speech no matter who says it, especially if it's one of our own.

[rodeodance]

17. She was speaking as a Representitive of AA at an obama event. She showed

very poor judgment in using that term.

AA recognized this and did the right thing.

[AX10]

72. Talk radio, right and left is full of hate.

[tishaLA]

16. The author of "The Emerging Black GOP Majority" is a fan

of Sen Clinton and a hater of those nasty, dirty liberal blogs and magazines. Who would have thunk it?

[rodeodance]

19. Using the RW Rovian tactic of killing the messenger is a common BO fan tactic.

[tishaLA]

22. It's not a Rovian tactic.

Unless, that is, you've never heard of Aristotle. And it will be a cold day in hell before I credit people like this author, or the racist Larry Johnson, or Maureen Dowd.

[rodeodance]

23. whatever.

[tishaLA]

26. good response

[rodeodance]

28. I know. thank you.

[krkaufman]

64. Did you notice that one blog he listed.... "the Underground Democrat"?

Had me rollin'....!

[MethuenProgressive]

18. Is it true she said all that at a March 22nd Obama Fundraiser?

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc

That'd be my major objection to what she said.

[rodeodance]

20. Yes, it was. BO fans in the audience ucking up the vile smears.

[SoFlaJet]

25. you know what's really "vile"?

people who lie and try to get people fired while THEY have over a hundred million in the bank-now THAT is really VILE

[rodeodance]

30. it is irrelevant how much $$ people have. Such a foolish post.

[SoFlaJet]

33. how would you feel

if Barack Obama tried to get YOU fired?

[rodeodance]

36. Irrelevant--neither BO nor Hillary had anything to do with RR and HER OWN behavior.

[SoFlaJet]

40. keep telling yourself that

oh yea and guess what-HILLARY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE-so suck on that one Hillshill...I bet you're one of the "true democrats" that say you won't under any circumstance vote for Obama...right?

[rodeodance]

42. I will---You can go spread your LIES.

[SoFlaJet]

43. YOUR campaign is the one filled with liars

starts up top with the Queen of all the liars...so let's see, what was the last whopper? Oh yea she tried to join the marines....they are laughing her out of the state of Pennsylvania with that one. So miss rodeodancer will you vote for Obama if he is the nominee or will you continue to avoid the question?

[rodeodance]

46. BO LIED about Rezco and Wright --for starters--the man at the TOP

.......YOUR campaign is the one filled with liars

starts up top with the Queen of all the liars...so let's see, what was the last whopper? Oh yea she tried to join the marines....they are laughing her out of the state of Pennsylvania with that one. So miss rodeodancer will you vote for Obama if he is the nominee or will you continue to avoid the question?..........

[SoFlaJet]

50. so answer the question Miss Hill shill

WILL you vote for Obama WHEN he is the nominee?

[rodeodance]

52. First you mock my screenname--and now you name-call. I will not respons to IMMATURITY

.






.so answer the question Miss Hill shill
Posted by SoFlaJet


WILL you vote for Obama WHEN he is the nominee?

[SoFlaJet]

55. yea I didn't think so

I look forward to all of those that try to post a "I'm voting for John McCain" thread here when Barack Obama wins the democratic nomination for president of the United Staes Of America

[krkaufman]

83. "will not respond to immaturity".... No, because you've cornered the market and take offense ...

... at others encroaching on your infantile turf.

[emilyg]

59. Why the name calling?

[rodeodance]

21. BTW--thanks for the LINK

[MethuenProgressive]

31. Welcome - it's one thing to read DUers talking about it - but I like seeing things for myself.

I had to put the headphones on, my teens are home.

[tishaLA]

24. How do you get that she said this at an Obama fundraiser

from that link you provided?

[MethuenProgressive]

29. This YouTube link says March 22.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXYHvbFl3A

"Air America has suspended radio talk show host Randi Rhodes after obscenity-ridden remarks about Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro.

Rhodes' statements were made during a March 22 appearance in San Francisco sponsored by an Air America affiliate."

And the Obama site says she's appearing for him at a March 22 fundraiser.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc

"Come join other Bay Area Obama supporters for an evening with Air America host Randi Rhodes!

She was quieter in her support earlier in the primary season, but this week Randi Rhodes has been on fire with her passion for Obama (and disappointment/anger with his opponent). Today (3/7), she spent nearly her whole show urging people to get to Pennsylvania or to call Pennsylvania on behalf of Senator Obama.

Let's show her some Bay Area love and have a chance to get together socially as well. Spend your afternoon phonebanking and then join us (in Obamawear of course) for a great evening. Doors open at 5:30 pm, event is at 6:00 pm."

[tishaLA]

32. Where does it say "fundraiser"?

The post encourages Obama supporters to show up en masse in support of Rhodes, who is another Obama supporter. It never says it is a fundraiser. It says it is an event for the station and that admission costs $5 but that it was sold out.

[MethuenProgressive]

35. Charging $5 a head to get in isn't raising funds?

:shrug:

[tishaLA]

37. It was a RADIO STATION event, not an Obama event

they just wanted a bunch of Obama supporters to show up. And, besides that, I have NEVER been to a "fundraiser" that cost $5.

[rodeodance]

39. The vileness of BO fans there laughing it up while RR smeams a DEMOCRAT!!

[tishaLA]

44. It's almost as bad as posting something by

the author of The Emerging Black GOP Majority or noted racist Larry Johnson.

[rodeodance]

47. I do not broadbrush and use the Rovian tactic of Killing the Messenger when it is a

great piece to describe what is going on in so-called 'progressive" sites.

[tishaLA]

49. again, it's not "Rovian"

but you don't want to let facts get in your way. Or your lack of knowledge of logical structures.

[rodeodance]

51. your smut is boring me. bye

[tishaLA]

54. yes, facts are very smutty

but smears--like saying Randi was at an Obama fundraiser, or the words of the author of The Emerging Black GOP Majority--are perfume.

[krkaufman]

63. Sorry, kid, but Clinton supporters lost the right to criticize ANYONE else on that front ....

.... after defending the Clintons' promoting the Republican candidate over the Democratic frontrunner.

[rodeodance]

73. Don't tell me who I can criticize ---who are to judge..

Sorry, kid, but Clinton supporters lost the right to criticize ANYONE else on that front ....
Posted by krkaufman


.... after defending the Clintons' promoting the Republican candidate over the Democratic frontrunner.

[krkaufman]

75. You still have time to fix that.

But, of course, you are right; I was insufficiently specific.

When I said...

Sorry, kid, but Clinton supporters lost the right to criticize ANYONE else on that front after defending the Clintons' promoting the Republican candidate over the Democratic frontrunner.

... I should have qualified the statement.

Sorry, kid, but Clinton supporters lost the right to criticize ANYONE else on that front... without their looking comically, ridiculously hypocritical... after defending the Clintons' promoting the Republican candidate over the Democratic frontrunner.

You do, indeed, have the right to take that position, however comical, ridiculous and hypocritical it may be.

[rodeodance]

79. Stop with the Patronizing calling me "kid"--also your condensending lectures are foolish.

....You still have time to fix that.
Posted by krkaufman


But, of course, you are right; I was insufficiently specific.

When I said...

Sorry, kid, but Clinton supporters lost the right to criticize ANYONE else on that front after defending the Clintons' promoting the Republican candidate over the Democratic frontrunner.

... I should have qualified the statement.

Sorry, kid, but Clinton supporters lost the right to criticize ANYONE else on that front... without their looking comically, ridiculously hypocritical... after defending the Clintons' promoting the Republican candidate over the Democratic frontrunner.


You do, indeed, have the right to take that position, however comical, ridiculous and hypocritical it may be...........

[krkaufman]

85. Stop with telling me what to do; you're not my parent!

Oh, and quit your lying. It's naughty, childish behavior, and certainly beneath the maturity of someone old enough to be surfing the 'Net this late at night.

[rodeodance]

56. It was an event listed on OBAMA'S website!! see here:

http://nashvilleistalking.com/node/31505



Randi Rhodes suspended for remarks at Obama event
Submitted by Christian on April 3, 2008 - 11:17pm.

FIRST REPORTED HERE: In story after story about liberal talk show host Randi Rhodes and her suspension from Air America Radio, there are vague references to a March 22 event where her controversial comments were made. For some reason, the event was only described with a date and it's sponsor KKGN 960-AM. After taking two hours to find more information, I now see why.

By now you know Rhodes was suspended for using language best experienced on video as it happened. But did you know the event she was speaking at was advertised on Barack Obama's website for Obama supporters in San Francisco?

The event sponsor's website (KKGN 960 AM) doesn't appear to mention the March 22 event or what is was for. This forum posting promoted a KKGN sponsored event for Obama supporters featuring Air America's Randi Rhodes on March 22 at Broadway Studios in San Francisco. The link to a KKGN webpage provided in the post no longer works. That event was organized by Obama supporter Douglas Sabo through Barack Obama's official campaign website.
……..

MORE: If you want a peek into the mindset of KKGN, watch this video of an editorial meeting where the staff endorses Barack Obama for President.

…..

BO Website:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc


Come join other Bay Area Obama supporters for an evening with Air America host Randi Rhodes!

She was quieter in her support earlier in the primary season, but this week Randi Rhodes has been on fire with her passion for Obama (and disappointment/anger with his opponent). Today (3/7), she spent nearly her whole show urging people to get to Pennsylvania or to call Pennsylvania on behalf of Senator Obama.

Let's show her some Bay Area love and have a chance to get together socially as well. Spend your afternoon phonebanking and then join us (in Obamawear of course) for a great evening. Doors open at 5:30 pm, event is at 6:00 pm.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

88. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

57. BO has it on his website--it WAS a BO event where she spoke her vile:

http://nashvilleistalking.com/node/31505



Randi Rhodes suspended for remarks at Obama event
Submitted by Christian on April 3, 2008 - 11:17pm.

FIRST REPORTED HERE: In story after story about liberal talk show host Randi Rhodes and her suspension from Air America Radio, there are vague references to a March 22 event where her controversial comments were made. For some reason, the event was only described with a date and it's sponsor KKGN 960-AM. After taking two hours to find more information, I now see why.

By now you know Rhodes was suspended for using language best experienced on video as it happened. But did you know the event she was speaking at was advertised on Barack Obama's website for Obama supporters in San Francisco?

The event sponsor's website (KKGN 960 AM) doesn't appear to mention the March 22 event or what is was for. This forum posting promoted a KKGN sponsored event for Obama supporters featuring Air America's Randi Rhodes on March 22 at Broadway Studios in San Francisco. The link to a KKGN webpage provided in the post no longer works. That event was organized by Obama supporter Douglas Sabo through Barack Obama's official campaign website.
……..

MORE: If you want a peek into the mindset of KKGN, watch this video of an editorial meeting where the staff endorses Barack Obama for President.

…..

BO Website:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc


Come join other Bay Area Obama supporters for an evening with Air America host Randi Rhodes!

She was quieter in her support earlier in the primary season, but this week Randi Rhodes has been on fire with her passion for Obama (and disappointment/anger with his opponent). Today (3/7), she spent nearly her whole show urging people to get to Pennsylvania or to call Pennsylvania on behalf of Senator Obama.

Let's show her some Bay Area love and have a chance to get together socially as well. Spend your afternoon phonebanking and then join us (in Obamawear of course) for a great evening. Doors open at 5:30 pm, event is at 6:00 pm.

[tishaLA]

60. It's a blog on the Obama site

He didn't have the fundraiser; the radio station had an event with Randi. A bunch of Obama supporters who are ALSO Obama enthusiasts decided to go in Obama gear after they phonebanked. The event cost $5 to get in; none of the money went to Obama.

The Nashville site doesn't know what it's talking about.

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

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

[spooky3]

77. here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc

"...This was a fundraiser put together by a San Francisco radio station (you can see their explanation of the event here www.green360.com). This website is one of hundreds of thousands of user-generated websites you can make on My.BarackObama.com."

What's not clear is who benefits.

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

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

[krkaufman]

67. Well, based on the link you've provided, it obviously was NOT an Obama *event*

It has been widely advertised as a "Green 960" event, an event held by and for the radio station.

And you knew that before you posted that link, so please spare us all any future recriminations of any other candidates' supporters.

[rodeodance]

71. i have not called it a fundraiser

[krkaufman]

81. Fine. Correction made. Neither was it an Obama event. You are lying throughout this thread.

But little more is expected from the authoritarian supporters in the Clinton Youth.

[krkaufman]

84. wtf did I correct that post. I wasn't even responding to you, there.

I was responding to a post by methane Progressive, who *did* ask whether it was a fundraiser.

Of course, your mincing of words is par for the course for a supporter of a candidate unable to grasp the basic meaning of...

pledge
denounce
Democrat
danger

[LisaM]

27. I don't think radio talk shows should be de facto campaign ads

for one person.

The left is split between Hillary and Obama and deliberately disenfranchising a lot of your audience in the name of entertainment is crazy.

Of course, part of the problem is that talk radio always needs an 'other', an enemy, to succeed. They had Bush for seven years; now they won't. They need to find someone else. It's clear they've settled on Hillary.

They would do well to pay attention to some of the crap that's still going on in Washington while they wail and moan about Hillary Clinton.

Once the election is over, I think they should take on the corporations. But they enjoy personality bashing too much.

[krkaufman]

94. Let's not pretend that these "radio talk shows" have been Hillary bashing for years.

There is no chicken-egg mystery, here; except for the petulant Ed Schultz who took offense at the Clinton campaign snubbing his show, the tone of the "left wing" radio I listened to was mostly neutral until the Clinton campaign ramped-up the negativity and then began actively promoting the Republican candidate.

We're getting to the point where one must believe that there is a massive conspiracy against Hillary Clinton -- or that maybe, just perhaps, Hillary Clinton's actions have alienated large swaths of the public, including liberal/progressive talk show hosts.

[blm]

34. Hutchinson can't cure the FACT that Clintons were set up to protect the Bushes and any Dem

who wants to see BushInc continued to be protected into the next decade is not someone I will EVER take seriously as a leader for the Democratic party.

[rodeodance]

38. Go start your own thread and stop with the Spaming of mine.

. Hutchinson can't cure the FACT that Clintons were set up to protect the Bushes and any Dem

who wants to see BushInc continued to be protected into the next decade is not someone I will EVER take seriously as a leader for the Democratic party.

[krkaufman]

82. Waaa... waaaaa.... I don't like what you say... leave me alone....

:rofl:

[rodeodance]

87. too bad

[DemGa]

41. The writer has nailed the Hillary haters perfectly

And many regular Dems, such as myself, were blindsided by the viciousness and lies from the far-left.

[rodeodance]

48. I had always praised them-but when they sounded just like the RW, I had to tune out.

[AX10]

66. As I have always said,

the left wing is just as bad as the right wing.

[rodeodance]

93. you nailed

[Beacool]

58. Sounds just like DU..........

The objection here is not that progressives shouldn't level a reasoned, principled, and critical dissection of Clinton positions. There are legitimate policy issues and positions to take her to task on. Unfortunately, that got tossed and Clinton's left side critics have found it much easier, and more fun, to engage in juvenile delinquent wolf ticket selling. They then pivot and froth, fume, and rail at Fox for doing the same thing. And Heaven forbid if anyone dare utter any criticism of Obama. That's deemed treasonous and the name calling kicks in with a vengeance against the offender.

…………… Her greatest sin, though, is that she pig headedly stands in the way of the coronation of Obama.……


:eyes:

[rodeodance]

62. i thought the author did a point on with that comment.

[AX10]

65. Olbermann and Rhodes have turned their shows...

into Obama infomercials.

"Liberal Democrats and progressives rhapsodize that Obama is gutsier, visionary, progressive, and far less likely to wheel and deal in high Washington and corporate circles than Hillary. But again that's a delusion.

The ancient political truism for White House aspirants will, no has, kicked in with a fury with Obama. That is run to the right or left when you're on the outside looking in, then flee to the middle when you're on the inside and want to win."

The left wing activists are quick to order us to turn our energy towards McCain all the while, the left wing has all of their energy aimed at destroying Hillary.
I for one, am not going to take orders from the left wing elites. I will stay and fight for HRC.

AND:
"The objection here is not that progressives shouldn't level a reasoned, principled, and critical dissection of Clinton positions. There are legitimate policy issues and positions to take her to task on. Unfortunately, that got tossed and Clinton's left side critics have found it much easier, and more fun, to engage in juvenile delinquent wolf ticket selling. They then pivot and froth, fume, and rail at Fox for doing the same thing. And Heaven forbid if anyone dare utter any criticism of Obama. That's deemed treasonous and the name calling kicks in with a vengeance against the offender."

[zulchzulu]

69. The person who is destroying Hillary Clinton is Hillary Clinton

She provides the material to make people not like her.

Lying about Tuzla, lying about the Michigan and Florida votes, lying about Obama's policies, lying about her vote for wars, lying about her actual record as First Lady and lying about thinking Obama can't win are just some of the examples where she provides her own destruction.

She will continue to drag herself down by her own petard.

[rodeodance]

74. "Obama infomercials"---love it---fits prefectly

[juajen]

90. I so agree. I refuse to take my eye off the ball.

"The left wing activists are quick to order us to turn our energy towards McCain all the while, the left wing has all of their energy aimed at destroying Hillary. I for one, am not going to take orders from the left wing elites. I will stay and fight for HRC."



I get so tired of hearing "we have to turn to McCain". I am not turning to McCain until we have Clinton as our nominee. To do anything else would be tantamount to losing our country in the same way we have lost it in the past seven years. They think to chain us by calling our nominee and us obstructionists, when they are the ones who are obstructing. T'is Rovian, I say.

[AX10]

92. Right On!

[zulchzulu]

68. If Hillary Clinton wasn't such a conniving pathological liar hellbent on her career, then...

...there would be no need to point out her MANY faults and dirty tactics. If Hillary Clinton wasn't a phony, nobody would think she was.

Sure, Randi Rhodes might get back on the air and yes, she might skewer Hillary Clinton. You know why? Because Hillary Clinton gives people like Randi Rhodes material to use in their argument that she is a pathetic politician.

The Snipergate story in Tuzla was a perfect example. Hillary's signing on to the Four State Agreement in September and statements saying votes in Michigan and Florida own't count don't jibe with her pathetic attempt to change the rules. There are dozens of other reasons why her campaign has been a failure and how she made herself NOT be the nominee.

Hillary Clinton makes it EASY for people to not like her. That's one skill she is VERY GOOD AT.

[rodeodance]

76. Happy now--that you have had your Hillary-Hate rant!!

[McCamy Taylor]

86. People with limited talent will try to get attention by being shocking or rude.

That has been the case in the arts for a long, long time.

There are many people out there who believe that they can become the next Hunter S. Thompson if they use enough gutter language. They do not realize that Thompson was like the literary equivalent of a Bruegel. Or no, a Hieronymus Boch. He understood this country and its people, and he introduced his own personality with its quirks in order to make his prose more transparent so that he could provide a more accurate portrayal of his subject. He gave his opinions honestly, so that the reader would know exactly what was Thompson's opinion and what wasn't.

I see so many people trying to be Thompson who will never in a million years be able to carry it off.

Or they want to be William Burroughs. Or some other genius who had his or her own style.

Randi was just like Jim Morrison on stage with his zipper down. She was doing it to excite the audience. She will get extra fame from her suspension and become a folk heroine and maybe get a book deal and appear on some magazine covers for some youth oriented magazines. Or maybe a band will do a song in her honor. The things that get you noticed in America are sort of crazy sometimes. You do not get noticed in proportion to the actual good you do. For instance, the people who work at homeless shelters are not going to get book deals or appear on magazine covers or have songs written in their honor.

[rodeodance]

89. Your last paragraph is very telling --and how true!!

[krkaufman]

91. I don't think Randi's well-read enough to be emulating anyone ...

... Hunter S. or otherwise; rather, she's just pissed-off and letting it rip, probably thinking she had plenty of room to maneuver relative to her on-air restrictions. Apparently, she guessed wrong.

(I suppose, though, it's not beyond Randi to have been trying to create some controversy, but it seems more likely that her temper and typical "outspoken" nature are at root. And I really doubt that the kerfuffle will be noticed beyond the blogs; her name will continue to not be a household staple.)