So, Randi Rhodes is coming back..........

[DainBramaged]

According to the Huff Post today. Which means by the time she is back on the air, Reid and Obama will have stifled the torture commission, and she'll be blasted here as shrill and unlistenable.


I for one am looking forward to her return next month.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/23/randi-rhodes-to-return-to_n_190850.html

[falcon97]

1. I sincerely appreciate her frustration

on many topics. BUT, I have tried listening and get lost in her outrage. She seems to have a lot of tangents going at the same time. A little ADD, from where I sit. I much prefer Hartmann or even Ed.

That said, it IS nice to have another progressive on the radio.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

2. Stifled the torture commission? That opens it all up to a special

prosecutor. Is that wrong? :wtf:

[DainBramaged]

3. On a side note, I am afraid Reid will try to quash any and all investigations

he cannot lose his seat soon enough.

[babylonsister]

5. Reid is not in charge, Holder is. BIG difference. This isn't going away. nt

[DainBramaged]

7. I would love for you to be right, I really want this to stick

But Harry "Who me?" Reid has NO stomach for a fight.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Shame for them, many here enjoy listening to Randi. Everyone has flaws but you can't deny

that Randi Rhodes is brilliant and she goes after right wing nuts like no other.

I like this pushy broad because ... well, I can relate ... IMO, Randi's too cool. :-)

[DainBramaged]

6. Andy Ostroy summed it up nicely

But on the air I want the sort of Viagra-fueled maniacs conservatives have on the front lines, not a bunch of impotent lefties who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. Democrats need to fill every single radio slot with 24/7 aggressive spinners. Just check out Fox Radio, Patriot or ABC Radio. There's no wasted airtime on the right. Yes, right wing radio is filled with name-calling high-school-bully types who drone on like programmed partisan robots about the same shit over and over and over again. Should we be like them? You bet. These guys are part of a well-oiled machine that has a very good track-record of winning elections.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-ostroy/why-is-liberal-radio-so-i_b_120238.html

[LeFleur1]

9. Randi

Sometimes it seems that Randi Rhodes really doesn't give a rip if what she says is true or not. She's a little like Rush only on the opposite side. I often feel I can't trust what she says.

Oh well, to each his/her own.

[CountAllVotes]

8. Sounds great to me!

I just downloaded and installed the Firefox plug-in so the link will work to Green 960! :D :D :D

Premiere Radio Networks is proud to announce that beginning May 11,The Randi Rhodes Show will join its lineup of nationally syndicated radio programs. Airing weekdays from 3 - 6 p.m. ET, Rhodes will enlighten and entertain listeners with her trademark candid, incisive opinions, as well as her biting sense of humor, as she discusses everything from news and current events, to politics and hot topics. The Randi Rhodes Show will broadcast live from Washington, D.C., and will be heard on affiliates across the nation, including KTLK-AM/Los Angeles, KKGN-AM/San Francisco and KPOJ-AM/Portland.

“Right now, America needs a voice that reflects its hopes and concerns. It will be my privilege and pleasure to provide vital information to the public about everything that is possible in the 21st century, and also have a few laughs along the way,” commented Rhodes. “Premiere is an incredible family of radio pros, and is truly the most talented and experienced radio syndicator in the nation. I’m exited about this decision and Premiere’s enthusiasm for this partnership. It’s truly a dream come true.”

Premiere Radio EVP of Affiliate Marketing Julie Talbott stated, “Randi has carved a niche in Talk radio with her straight-forward approach, intelligence, wit and fact-driven content - qualities that attract audiences. We can’t wait to deliver The Randi Rhodes Show to stations nationwide.”

A Brooklyn native and former U.S. Air Force aircraft mechanic, Rhodes began her career in radio at a Country music station in Seminole, Texas. She enjoyed stints in Mobile, Alabama, as well as New York’s WAPP-FM, Milwaukee’s WQFM and West Palm Beach’s WJNO-AM. In 1992, she landed at Miami’s WIOD-AM, where she took over the station’s 8 -11 p.m. timeslot and was ranked #1 in the market. In 2004, Air America Radio began nationally syndicating her program. In addition, Rhodes starred in the HBO documentaryLeft of the Dial, and was named “Woman of the Year” by Talkers Magazine in 2007.

[Forkboy]

10. I do find her unlistenable, but to each their own.

She lost me when she started yelling at and insulting a caller who was agreeing with her. She's a perfect example of someone who is right about a lot of things but still manages to be a ass.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. I heard the show that you're talking about and it uspet me but I continue to love her

and know that all people have flaws.

[Forkboy]

32. Yup

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad the Left has a voice on the airwaves, hers included. :)

[defendandprotect]

11. Can't wait . .. and we need a marathon catch-up period . . .

I think the torture issue will go on and on -- and even if we have to oust Reid and

Pelosi to make change re the wars, we will keep pressing for these things to happen!

Internationally if we do not prosecute re torture we will be outcasts.

we are signed on re Geneva Accords --

Our military rules are against torture --

Our Constitution says "no cruel or unusual punishment" ---
could our Supremes fail to see even that? How?

And I think that's why Pelosi was OUTSPOKEN today claiming that "Congress was lied to!"

And David Obey said same thing -- he was lied to!!

But, it is amazing how naive we are supposed to think these elected officials are!!!

[Liberal In Texas]

12. Glad she's coming back. I've taken to turning XM off in the afternoon

as I've usually already heard Thom and the Serius program on afterward is awful.

Interesting that she's moving to D.C. She talked about the possibility before the recent going off-air episode.

[aikoaiko]

13. I don't like listening to her so I don't, but I'm glad she out there in principle.

I think Rachel Maddow proved you don't have to be shrill or obnoxious in order to effectively criticize the right.

[KharmaTrain]

14. This Isn't Good News For AAR...

From what I read, Premier (owned by Cheap Channel) has already lined up 25 stations (which they just happen to own) for Randi's show and will bump existing programs...the big loser will be Thom Hartmann who is syndicated by Air America and is their last really successful syndicated show.

In Chicago, I'll be curious if WCPT picks her up. They dropped her after the Hillary/AAR fallout and the owner is a big Clinton supporter. They never carried her when she was with NovaM.

[Liberal In Texas]

16. Thom is no longer with AAR.

Thom Hartmann’s contract with Air America has ended, and he has decided to pursue alternate distribution methods for his show. As a result, Thom Hartmann will no longer be broadcasting on Air America Media. - http://airamerica.com/thomhartmannpage/blog/2009/mar/01/farewell-thom-hartmann

Thom and Mike Malloy tried to go with the fledgling Dial Global for a couple of weeks before it crashed and burned. I believe they're both self-syndicating at this point.

[KharmaTrain]

17. It's Real Tough Sledding Out There...

I'm sure in her heart of hearts, Randi hates having to work with Premier/Cheap Channel, but she knows how the game is played and is a survivor. While I'm somewhat surprised at yesterday's announcment, it shouldn't be too surprising as Cheap Channel saves some bucks here by owning the entire means of production...host, syndication and stations...and a solid deal for Randi as well.

I don't know it'll be as easy for others. Dial Global, like NovaM are victims of the credit crunch...that is all but descimating radio. Getting the money to syndicate is never easy and right now, unless you find a sugar daddy.

[Liberal In Texas]

18. And this again is another reason why ownership regulations need to be

put back in place. IMHO no company should be able to own more than 2 radio stations and 1 TV station per market.

With more diverse ownership, there would be a wider range of programming.

[KharmaTrain]

22. I've Long Advocated This...

Here's the rub...right now radio stations are virtually worthless...especially AM. "Deregulation" allowed companies like Cheap Channel to monopolize the best properties and create artificially high prices to keep competitors away. Juat like real estate, that bubble has burst and revenues have crumbled...all these large corporates are choking on their debts and downscaling or just shutting stations off. Even if a local individual wants to buy a station, try and find the financing.

I've long advocated reviewing Telcom '96 and specifically cutting back on the number of station a company can own per market (2, maybe 3), the revocation of LMAs where a Cheap Channel controlled other stations through a third party, shortening license period times, giving local groups preferences in all license transactions and making license challenges shorter so a large corporation just can't bleed a local group dry of funds and see any challenge dropped

Access is the key...diversity is what will help revive radio as a viable medium.

[pnutbutr]

15. she is shrill

and unlistenable. She is the epitomy of bad radio. Corny sound effects, hyper personality and she makes shit up or twists some report into the biggest yarn you ever heard.

[DainBramaged]

19. You are the reason Left wing radio won't survive

If she is unsustainable, how would you know?

[pnutbutr]

21. cause she

keeps getting dropped.

[Orsino]

29. Let's not confuse left wing radio's collapse...

...with the alleged personality problems of its star.

"It's the corporatism, stupid."

[Liberal In Texas]

20. "...Corny sound effects..."?

Randy doesn't use SFX. Comedy drops and sound bites, sure. Stephanie does, way too much.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. This is fantastic news! Thanks! :)

[Bluenorthwest]

25. People love her or hate her

I used to love her, got very sick of her yelling at callers and calling Democrats vermin and the whole thing where she fell or whatever and her show said it was a political bashing and then she was silent for days and then she yelled at callers who asked her about it.
To me, the last few months of her previous show was a trainwreck, and Randi herself also a mess. This is not the first entertainer I have seen with those problems, and I hope to hell that this time away has lead her to some self inspection. It would be great to see her serving her listeners and her own talent as she used to, instead of serving her ego and neediness. Harsh but true.
She could be the uncontested Queen of Talk. She could have been on TV by now. The reasons she as been having trouble are to a great extent about herself. I think the time away may have done the trick.

[riverdeep]

27. That's pretty much my take, too.

She is a polarizing figure, and she really seems to have personal issues that have bled onto the air.

Now, here's the thing, the reason we notice this is because this is unusual for our side. The vast majority of our hosts are professional, talented, and fairly stable. Even Mike Malloy, who can seem like he just loosened his straight jacket and burst into a radio station, is never rude to callers that agree with him like Randi. Conservative radio hosts that are professional and without serious problems are the EXCEPTION. Mike Savage has so many skeletons in his CLOSET, he amplifies the nonsense to become a raving lunatic. Laura Ingraham is the epitome of bitter and broad brushing. And Rush Limbaugh, too much stuff to mention.

I'm very glad she's back. I've always said having just one type of host is a really bad idea. I've been really listening to Thom Hartmann for the past couple of months, and while he has some issues too (he interrupts his callers and interviewees way too much, and is in general, a little too wordy and rambling), I've loved the show. I can't believe the level of discussion that takes place on a commercial network, that's the kind of stuff you can't even hear on NPR anymore.

So, I hope here in Chicago they don't replace Thom (2p-5P) with Randi, but put her on after him. I'll listen once in a while. Ron Reagan's a nice enough fellow, but kind of a snoozefest.

[Junkdrawer]

26. Good News...K&R

[Orsino]

28. Enriching the network that pimps Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck.

I love Randi, but I don't love this.

[riverdeep]

30. She was on the same station that was Limbaugh's home base.

I don't see a problem with that, that's the market today. Maybe if they see that there's money in selling to the left, they'll get more of them.

[Orsino]

31. Enriching a single station rather than an entire network of corporate fascists.

There is a point to (small-r) right livelihood. For every good point that Randi makes, she will be putting dollars in the hands of evil men.

It can be rationalized as working within the system to change it, of course, and perhaps with some truth.