Randi Rhodes: Love her or not?

[WillyBrandt]

Poll question: Randi Rhodes: Love her or not?

So, whaddaya think about her?

[bpilgrim]

1. blessing

excellant voice to counter the right.

whish she would 'MOVE ON' with the nader bashing though, but hey thats life, right =)

:hi:

go RANDI :toast: :bounce: :party:

peace

[bpilgrim]

45. i feel VERY fortunate

at every little BONE i get these days... what can i say after 3 years, i joined the club, im a 'WHORE'

ABB

in case anybody was wondering ;-)

peace

[dsc]

2. I find her shrill

and frankly rude to her callers. A person called her about Noam Chomsky today and she hung up on the guy. He wasn't rude, he wasn't out of line, he wasn't profane, he merely disagreed with her. Sadly Rush behaves better and that is saying something.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

28. I heard that too. I could tell she was running away from 'egg-head' stuff

I think Chomsky is one of the highest authorities on American fascism but I can tell from listening to Randy for the first time this week that she is channeling a 'non-elitist' tone of sarcastic outrage against the neocons.

It's kinda like listening to Bette Midler doing a political stand-up routine with callers, too.

I find her very well informed, funny, witty, and entertaining. Yes, sometimes too fast and loose with facts. Just a little though.

Yes, she doesn't slow down for the inarticulate. Oh, well. Maybe some folks other than the choir will listen and learn something.

Today she did a great job of describing how Saddam was armed with US chemical weapons, given a green light to go into Kuwait, how tight the BFEE is with the Saudis, how the plane load of 'em flew out of the US after 9/11. LOTS OF GOOD STUFF.

on edit: I haven't heard Garafalo yet but I'm dying' to.

[bpilgrim]

47. so, will MOST folks

not everybody got a phd and is tenured at haavaad, though ;->

(on edit: thats franklins 'problem' too cerebral for pop-culture, in my born and raised in it opinion, though i am a HUGE fan. i hope when he gets tired or bored with the show over time he taps one of the biggies out there like peter werebe or mike malloy and our own guy james to name a few. shoot him an the other star - the cute, smart one with the tough name to spell, yeah her, they should be putting their money where their MOUTHS are and bankrole them folks - at least - during the DEAD air time, sheesh :evilgrin:

peace

[Must_B_Free]

85. Me too, but I have reversed and become a fan of Randi

I didn't care for her first two shows, but after listening today, I appreciated the way she stood up and fought on the Viet Nam theme stuff today.

I think after 3 shows, I have more appreciation for her and her format. She is mellowing out - the first shows must have been very stressful.

I give her high marks.

[T Roosevelt]

3. That's tough

Sometimes it seems her ego gets in the way...and her callers to me just suck. Mike Malloy had the best callers...

[Walt Starr]

4. I don't care for her

Her style is akin to O'Reilly's and that rubs me the wrong way.

[WillyBrandt]

5. I'll respond to myself: She's the best, and most EFFECTIVE, voice on the

air. Finally we get a fighter, and folks complain she hits too hard.

[dsc]

6. That isn't what I said

She hung up on a liberal caller who disagreed with her. She was just rude, not to the right, but to a member of her audience.

[WillyBrandt]

11. I wasn't speaking of your comment.

But it's not the worst thing in the world if she punches a little too widely...

[Walt Starr]

12. Interesting. When she comes on AA

is when I turn AA off.

[WillyBrandt]

14. Well, I have yet to turn AA off. Diff'rent strokes...

[Must_B_Free]

50. Me Too. I'm not a "Bounce Your Boobies" Dem.

and I find the show more irritating than appealing so far.

[dsc]

23. She really does seem to turn many people off

I have to day I figured she would be the best show, since she is a working radio personality. But, she is the worst of the four I listened to. Garofolo is the best, Franken the second, What else is News is third, and she is a distant fourth. She clearly has a following but I am not in it.

[WillyBrandt]

24. Fair enough. AA did a good job putting a lot of different styles on air

I like them all, but RR is certainly atop of the list. Like Majority Report, but I'm a bit mixed on O'Franken.

[sangha]

37. Missing the point

EVERY radio show turns a lot of people off. What counts is how many tune in.

[dsc]

63. well sort of

I honestly don't think there is so much market out there that we can afford to alienate much of it. I can't imagine there isn't a better voice out there than her given that they already have shows which are better than hers on their network.

[Missy Vixen]

65. Limbaugh was so afraid of her

he went to his syndicators (who wanted to broadcast RR across the country before she was signed by Air America,) and told them that he'd quit if she was hired.

She was #1 in her market, which trends heavily Republican. Repeatedly. Obviously, someone out there is responding to her, aren't they?

>I honestly don't think there is so much market out there that we can afford to alienate much of it.<

I would hope that those programming Air America knew what they were doing when they signed a firebrand that will entertain and inform the vast numbers of liberals and also send conservatives over the edge.

If you don't like her, TURN IT OFF. I don't care for Alan Colmes. I won't be listening to him. At least I can listen to Bernie Ward and Ray Taliaferro at night. Thank GOD we have at least more alternatives now. In the meantime, go Randi, it's time for the pink tutu Democrats to fight back.

Julie

[kiahzero]

59. She hung up on a caller insinuating Ashcroft had people killed

Should she have let liberals be smeared as "conspiracy theorists" once again?

[bpilgrim]

10. i relate better to MM

but i definately appreciate TALENT and randi certainly got plenty of that no one could deny.

:hi:

peace

[Skittles]

7. I heard her for the first time Apri 1 and I think she is wonderful

I'd like to see the breakdown by gender - perhaps some folk find an agressive woman threatening. I say she is just right to combat crap like Savage and Hannity.

[maddezmom]

8. enjoy listening to her

and when she's going off on a tangent I disagree with, I turn her off. But I'm sure happy she's on the radio and on my side. :)

[latebloomer]

9. Too centrist Demo for my taste

and i find her voice and style grating..

[never cry wolf]

44. Demo-Centrist???

She is entirely ABB but good lordy, she is also at leats LIHOP, maybe MIHOP. She is VERY lefty, just practicallt looking at this election, IMHO!

[latebloomer]

71. Well, maybe I haven't listened enough, BUT. . .

I got the impression she is a Clinton Democrat. Someone like that could well jump on the LIHOP bandwagon, but then again she was kissing Madeline Albright's butt the other day-- the very woman who said the deaths of thousands of Iraqi children in Clinton's bombing raids was an "acceptable sacrifice."

In other words, Bush is evil incarnate (with which I agree), but the Democrats can do no wrong, and all their crimes in service of the powerful should be swept under the rug.

[JVS]

13. If I wanted to hear someone to trash liberals, I'd listen to Rush

[never cry wolf]

46. Ohh, I get it now...

It's all the Naderite who have been offended because she was indignant Ralph would dare harm ABB. She did NOT trash Ralph or a single one of his policies. All she did was point out that this election is TOO CRUCIAL to draw ANY support away from Kerry that may benefit bunnypants. We truly CANNOT afford him this year and he SHOULD go away.

[JanMichael]

15. You forgot indifferent.

I think she's good at her game but I'm not a huge fan.

I'm glad she's on the air though.

[DarkPhenyx]

16. Somehow I don't think we need...

...a Liberal O'Rielly.

[JVS]

18. We might not, but maybe some moderate hardliners find it nice

[DarkPhenyx]

25. I find it annoying.

THen again I'm an asshole, not a moderate hardliner.

[never cry wolf]

48. There is a BIG difference

She speaks the truth and has facts to back her up.

[Daisey Mae]

17. RANDI ROCKS

Randi puts stuff in terms that everyone can understand.... She tells it like it is...or as Truman said " She gives them Hell by just telling the truth......"

[WillyBrandt]

19. Woo Hoo! I'm with you Daisey Mae!

[sangha]

20. Wow! 65% say they like her

In radio, that's great ratings!! And to add the context, with DU being a highly literate forum, and radio not, those numbers are outstanding IMO.

[WillyBrandt]

22. Surprising. It makes no sense: but she bashed Nader...?

[sangha]

30. I know!! Even more puzzling, an authority told me that meant failure

My authority = "someone on the Internet"

[WillyBrandt]

31. I also just don't see why a die-hard Democrat would bash Nader

Isn't this the liberal channel?

Also, that authority is widely known and cited.

[sangha]

38. Sexual tension, maybe?

:shrug:

[MonicaR]

86. You don't see why a Democrat would bash Nader?

Does November 7, 2000 ring a bell?

Ralph Nader cost us the White House, and I as an African-American am STILL pissed about that. I had (past tense) a lot of respect for Nader until then. No more.

[Daisey Mae]

32. Nader has to know that he is not wanted in this race by anyone but

SMIRK SUPPORTERS.... Randi just told him that this year we just couldn't afford his foolish behavior ....there is too much at stake.... If Nader could not understand what she was saying he is either a Smirk fan,a nut, or senile....She explained it well... and politely....HE GOT MAD AND HUNG UP !

[JVS]

33. Well she's full of shit then.

I don't support Bush and I am very happy that Nader is involved in the race because he provides a disincentive for the Democrats to triangulate against liberal interests. There are people other than Bush supporters who are happy to have him around.

[mouse7]

52. No, Nader's full of shit

Nader takes money from the far right to prop up his own ego. He does the work of the neo-cons for them. Every vote to Nader is a vote that doesn't get added to the total to remove Dumbya and the neo-cons from power.

[Gman]

36. Nader deserved to get bashed

and would have gotten more if he hadn't gotten cold feet and hung up and ran off like a whining little girl!

[Lefty_the_Right]

21. She rocks!

We need all types, loud and pround, AND smart and meek.

[maddezmom]

26. "We need all types, loud and proud, AND smart and meek"

couldn't agree more, just as we celebrate our diversity so should our radio folks. :)

[rooboy]

27. I always listen when she's on the air...

and generally I like her. But sometimes I find myself yelling at her because she's unnecessarily rude to some callers and occasionally she doesn't get her facts straight. Today's show was a classic case. She was talking about how Payne Stewart's plane was "shot down" (which it WASN'T), whilst in the SAME SENTENCE talking about how us liberals check their facts!

I don't mind if she goes off on a passionate rant, but for God's sake research the topic first...

[never cry wolf]

51. I caught that about Paine Stewart

It bothered me but frankly, I have been listenint to Randi for a coupla months now and I can't recall another time I have heard her get a fact incorrect. I sure wish there were some wingnut callers cuz on her old gig they let them in and she always torn them a new one. She really, for the most part, is spot on with her facts!

[Daisey Mae]

29. I enjoy her VERY much.....

I think " She" is great and a very smart cookie... She didn't just fall off a turnip truck....I love her spicy talk and wise cracks.... I love her New York accent....

[Jane Austin]

60. I love her New York accent, too!

From a Texas drawlin' fan. :)

[Crachet2004]

34. She is combative and shrill. OK for some audiences.

To reach other audiences, we may need some male broadcasters...with deeper voices. Seriously. A lot of men don't like listening to a voice such as Randi has. It grates on the nerves.

Is there no one like Walter Cronkite to be had out there? The network needs balance, more personalities, more shows, regularly scheduled news and current events coverage...the shows need to be shorter, and taken together, span the spectrum of the diverse interests that make up the Party.

I like Randi. But she sounds stressed to me. Make the shows shorter and get more heads on there. Some can be middle of the road democrats...would'nt hurt a thing.

I would reach out to religious people on Sunday-explain how our party's programs and goals have a strong correlation to the teachings of Christ.

All kinds of things you can do with a whole radio network.

[Missy Vixen]

66. This is the bottom line, isn't it?

>A lot of men don't like listening to a voice such as Randi has. It grates on the nerves.<

Women shouldn't be allowed to have an opinion, especially about politics. She might tell a man what to do. God forbid! She might also be smarter than he is, and make more money than he does, too. It's NOT ALLOWED! Maybe the women should just answer the telephone or something. Oh, they can't do that either. She might not have a "pleasing voice" or be "shrill". Women shouldn't be in radio at all. Maybe they shouldn't even be in the media!

Gosh, maybe those little women should just go back to the kitchen where they belong, and let the menfolk handle the important things like politics. Look what it's done for women like Pickles Bush.

Julie

[Crachet2004]

74. You said all that, I did'nt.

Sorry if you got your feelings hurt.

[FlaGranny]

77. What a sexist statement!

"we may need some male broadcasters...with deeper voices. Seriously. A lot of men don't like listening to a voice such as Randi has. It grates on the nerves."

You know, I'm usually very tolerant of sexist statements, but, the above very definitively qualifies as a sexist statement. Geez!

[Crachet2004]

78. That may be, but it is nonetheless true, that many might find her shrill

and grating. My call is for balance, nothing more. If that is sexist, so be it...but I think you are mistaken.

For what it is worth, some men might have these same qualities of voice-or others-that might appeal to some, but not everyone. We need to reach everyone. If you are in broadcasting, you need to look at elements that impact on personalities appeal to various audiences.

There is nothing wrong with Randi, as far as I am concerned...it's just that we need more, and diverse personalities on the air.

She will have her demographic, and others will have theirs.

Capiche?

[Missy Vixen]

91. Okay, now you've done it, Cratchet

>Sorry if you got your feelings hurt.<

I'm sorry that you can't seem to differentiate "hurt feelings" from the fact that your comments show a real bias against women.

Julie

[sandnsea]

35. I like raunchy women

Hell I am a raunchy woman!!! :D

[Colin Ex]

39. I liked her the first time

when she was called Bill O'Reilly.

ZING!

-C

[name not needed]

40. Shes not perfect

But she didn't stay on top for 9 years by making everyone like her. If shes gotten this far, shes doing something right. Like her or not, shes passionate in her beliefs and shes a great asset to Air America.

[Kathleen04]

41. I think she's great

I know her style won't appeal to everyone, but I think she's engaging--she keeps me interested.

[samsingh]

42. i absolutely adore her

[Lindsey]

43. It took me just a little while to get used to her but now I think

she's great. She's actually very funny and she definitely knows her stuff!

[jimshoes]

49. Love Randi Rhodes

Can't wait to listen to her when I get home from work. I really like her style. Just my $.02

[MrSlayer]

53. Still waiting for her to grow on me.

Let's see what happens this week.

[kaitykaity]

54. True Love.

I'm just glad I'm not a lesbian or I could be a stalker. :evilgrin:

"I always hear that 'men won't listen to a woman on the radio. If they want to hear 'that', they'll go home to their wives.' No, they go home to their wives if they want to hear, 'Don't touch me there. You're on my hair!'"

Randi is The Goddess. :bounce:

[mopinko]

55. if i had more time to waste

i would cross match all the anti randi posters (especially the "shrill" ones) here with the many anti choice and "there is no misogyny here at so liberal du" threads.
it would be fun.
personally, i love her and i wish we could clone her.

[Tweek]

56. I like her...

she reminds me of the female version of Mike Malloy.

[Jane Austin]

57. I adore her!

It's great to finally have someone who's "in your face" with the Republicans.

I also like slow, reasoned discussions, but I'm so glad we can add her voice to the chorus.

[SideshowScott]

58. I LOVE her will all my heart..Shes a godsend to syndicated Radio

I cant understand the crying of " Shes a liberal Limbaugh " Well instead of Limbaugh she speaks the truth. I lean more from listening to 4 hours of Randi Rhodes than I do from watching a whole week of cable news.
Shes funny, Shes Brash, Shes PISSED at the GOP and Bush. I think shes great..
On Edit: I guess some people just like Libs wimpy and play nice

[Stephanie]

61. LOVE her

Heard her name these past few years, never heard her until AIR AMERICA. Now I LOVE her.

*edit* It's uncanny, isn't it? I feel like they're broadcasting DU. Not just Randi - all of them. It's a little freaky.

[LuCifer]

62. RANDI STATION LIST!!!

Everyone please visit http://www.RandiRhodesArchives.com and check out the tons of Randi archives. Donate if you can and I think if you donate more than like $25, you'll get a FREE CD of Randi shows, approx. 1 MONTH of shows! Tell a friend! http://www.LU13.TK

Randi Rhodes station list:

CHICAGO: WNTD AM 950

LA: KBLA AM 1580

MINNEAPOLIS: WMNN AM 1330

NYC: WLIB AM 1190

PORTLAND, OR: KPOJ AM 620

SAN FRAN / SAN JOSE, CA: COMING SOON!

WEST PALM / FT. LAUDERDALE / STUART, FL: WJNO AM 1290
(DO NOT listen to WJNO before 3 PM Eastern time, or you will hear BAD RADIO!!!!!!!!)

RANDI RULES!!!!!!!!!!

Lu Cifer, and Ralph Nader...lick me!

[semiote]

64. Ambivalence

I like the fact that there is a rough-at-the-edges, sometimes outright rude liberal radio talk show host to parallel Rush and Sean, but Rhodes doesn't tolerate disagreement. Air America needs to strive to represent the broad range of opinions labeled 'progressive' or 'liberal', not establish a hegemony of the party line the way the Republicans have. People who vote democrat represent a broad range of ideological orientations, from radical leftists and socialists all the way to republicans and libertarians who find the neocon social reactionary attitudes appalling.
In general, Air America Radio is great, but needs to pull back a little on constantly criticizing Bush and put a stronger emphasis on the positive programs and ideas that progressive politics has to offer. One of the most damaging criticisms of liberals and leftists is that they complain and complain but have no positive ideas or programs, and that this is manifested in what is sometimes perceived to be a reactive attitude in the Nietzshean sense. Rhodes is a perfect target for this criticism, and so perpetuates these damaging perceptions.

[maggrwaggr]

67. like listening to Carmella Soprano on too much coffee

I find her voice incredibly annoying and her attitude flippant and shrill.

I find she is not real good with facts either.

I'll take her over any RW guy, but I think the libs could do better than her.

[U4ikLefty]

68. She's rude & abrasive...I love it!!!

We need some attack dogs on the left. Do I like all the things she says??? No, but I'll take her over ANY right winger on the air.

[gator_in_Ontario]

69. I love randi

she has a style that reminds me of the branch of my family tree that has its roots in NY, she takes no shit. I've listened to her for years, and while I don't always agree with her, at least she has the ovaries to voice her opinion loudly and boldly.She rocks!
:yourock: RANDI!!!!

[bushclipper]

70. Consistantly whips Rush in the ratings, liberal, extremely intelligent

...no problem at all here.

[lapislzi]

72. Not voting

I find her both amusing and abrasive. I understand that she is filling a niche and appeals to a certain kind of listener. We need the loudmouths as well as the softspoken intellectuals. There's room for both at the table, and both perform necessary functions.

As for those who say she's tarring the station with the Limbaugh brush, I shrug and say "so what? As long as the advertising revenues come in, and the station remains solvent, then liberals once again have a voice on the commercial airwaves." That's the bottom line, folks.

[robbedvoter]

73. Love Randi, Love the Nader bashing - AA owes a lot to Randi

It was posted here before - Randi was a big fighter for the creation of Air America, involved politicians, providec the proof it can succeed, moved things. So, if there's ANYTHING you like about Air America, better say "Thank you, Randi".If youdon't, go back to Pacifica, hate radio or CNN.
I personally am home and adore Randi! :-)

[hippiegranny]

75. she's on OUR side, right?

'nuff said.

[rucky]

76. It's the same 25% who complain about everything

n/t

[NightTrain]

81. Today, she took credit for Nader's loss in Oregon.

Randi seems to think that because Air America has a Portland affiliate, it means that she was responsible for Nader's inability to get the required 1,000 supporters to turn out yesterday.

I'm not saying that there couldn't be a correlation between the two, but I have to wonder just how much of an effect Randi really had in Oregon. Any Oregonians care to comment on that?

[Lefty_the_Right]

82. I didn't hear Randi take credit for it

I didn't hear anything like that at all.

She was pointing out that even in one of his "best" states, he couldn't get the required 1,000 people to show up to support him.

She was illustrating that she was indeed voicing a message that Nader supporters do not want to hear.

I'll let you guess what that mesage might be.

[rucky]

88. As a matter of fact, I am an Oregonian

there was a gauntlet of Kerry supporters in front of the Roseland theater last night protesting the Nader appearance. It was all pretty civilized. I saw a few signs that said "We Can't Afford You" - most definately Randi inspired.

Portland is a progressive hotbed & a Green party stronghold. Oddly, there's total right wing radio saturation here (& NPR) so AA is a very welcome addition. Nader said himself that he always starts off in Oregon & if he failed to get 1000 lousy signatures here, then there's something going on.

It was pretty lame if Randi took all the credit, but Nader was 250 signatures short & it wouldn't be a huge stretch to say that she had some influence in that.

[RebelOne]

79. She is the liberal counterpart to Sean Hannity.

I would love to see her faced off against him.

[buddhamama]

80. love her

Randi Rocks!

[pleft]

83. I would prefer Ed Schultz

I think he would be more effective and reach a larger audience.

[BrewerJohn]

84. I've rarely missed a show of hers

I've listened almost daily when there's a live show since I found her a year ago. Nobody, but nobody, shuts down the RW'ers as well as she does. (Malloy rarely even had one call in, so it's not a fair comparison.) And I really like her humor. It's fast and smart and you have to pay attention to get it all.

Sure, she gets on my nerves occasionally, but guess what...so does everyone! I like everything else I've heard on AA, but Randi's the highlight.

[Jim Sagle]

87. Randi blows off liberal callers just for fun. I REALLY don't like that.

If she did it to me I'd stop listening and start bashing her relentlessly.

Today she cut a discussion short due to a very MINOR disagreement with a caller. The caller recommended a book. Randi replied VERY sarcastically, "She reads books."

She told another caller, "I find your laugh really annoying." Then she went to another caller.

This is bullshit. If she doesn't stop it PRONTO I won't be listening. And my hunch is many others feel the same.

And the hell of it is, I like her otherwise. But this is intolerable.

[ithacan]

89. you're absolutely right

I have the same reaction.

But watch out, there are Randi Rhodes commissars who will not tolerate any criticism of her around here! :eyes:

The defense that I've heard about her doing this is that she's the same as Hannity, O'Reilly and the other right wing talk jocks who are so incredibly rude to everyone that that is now the standard for talk radio.... Not much of a defense :shrug:

[Jim Sagle]

90. Not even remotely true, either. The only one who's rude to his OWN side

is Michael Savage.

[BigDaddyLove]

92. I would have to say that Randi is BOTH.........

a blessing to our cause, and yet I personally don't care for her.


Since all of the hosts say pretty much the same thing all day, it's good that they have a mix of personalities to match a particular listener's taste.