Now that we own DC, who is the most relevant national talk-show host ?

[BuyingThyme]

[DCBob]

1. You forgot Bill Press.

He is my fav!

[BuyingThyme]

2. Sorry. I'll fit him in there.

One of the people on my list isn't very national anyways.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Joe Madison.

[political_Dem]

9. I'll second that and raise you Ray Taliafero.

[BuyingThyme]

11. I would go with Ray too, but this is just national radio.

[political_Dem]

13. He has had a national presence for a long time.

In several capacities, he has had his radio show aired on cable television live (I think it was C-SPAN, if memory serves; somebody please correct me.)during the nineties. Secondly, due to the internet, not only Californians listen to his show. Also, due to the strength of KGO's signal, you can hear him from the border of Mexico up to Canada.

So, yes, he's heard in more places than in San Francisco.

(This is before my time, but he also had a television show as well. He interviewed celebrities and dignitaries back in the day).


Unfortunately, he's not as well known as Bernie Ward (...which is another story altogether that I don't want to get into. I am only comparing Taliafero's presence to Ward's before he was arrested).

[BuyingThyme]

14. Ray is much better known than Bernie Ward.

But he's a local host whose show is carried on the internet.

[political_Dem]

15. You think so ?

Bernie was on all the political shows up until he was arrested. I hadn't seen Ray on any that much, even though he supposedly was as well.

[BuyingThyme]

17. I always thought so, but

he's kinda my hero, so I might not have the most impartial take on it.

He was the first black host to broadcast in a major market.

[political_Dem]

18. Don't get me wrong. I love Ray. I've listened to him as long as I could remember.

I won't argue about his importance not only to the left, the Bay Area or to talk radio. He is the standard bearer. :)

[salguine]

4. The "Now that we own DC" attitude is every bit as ugly when it's us as it was when it was them.

[BuyingThyme]

5. Lighten up, Salguine.

:hi:

[143tbone]

8. You're absolutely right. n/t

[143tbone]

6. Amy Goodman is not what I'd call a talk show host. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

10. How come?

[143tbone]

16. She's a journalist. She reports the news.

Talk show hosts do a myriad of things. They give their opinions, they take calls, they just TALK. Journalists report the news. Period. Usually no opinion involved.

[tritsofme]

7. Most relevant in terms of what?

If its audience size, ratings, and money, then obviously someone like a Rush Limbaugh is most relevant, no matter who holds the levers of power in Washington, he was probably at his most powerful in 1994 when Republicans had no power in the federal government, as they will in 2009.

I don't think that being in power gives most of those otherwise not particularly notable radio hosts any more stature.

[BuyingThyme]

12. Who will make your case most effectively?