Here in Houston, we don't have a single hour of progressive talk. Clear Channel owns two of the three talk radio stations and a rich kid wingnut bought the other and used it to propel himself into a State Senator's job.

Considering we are the fourth largest city in the country, have a Democratic mayor and a mostly Democratic congressional delegation, it points up the need for the fairness doctrine. I have listened to Air America a few times on my computer, but I generally only listen to the radio in the car - like just about everybody else.

I know she is sharp, tho. I've caught her on Countdown (which I also watch on the computer - no cable)

BTW, if the Fairness doctrine is brought back, I think one wingnut station should be allowed to balance itself against another station that broadcasts progressive talk exclusively.

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Compelling talk radio isn't about political beliefs per se. It's about how good the host is. Rush remains the best on the radio (get past your bias and really listen to him - he's extremely shrewd, bristles with interesting news items, has firm control of his show, and knows what makes good radio).

Before it became impossible to tune into Air America in my area, I listened avidly. I was astonished at how poor the quality of the programs was. Randi Rhodes is atrocious - the left's answer to the dim-bulb Sean Hannity, full of bluster but totally lacking in wit or insight. Al Franken was a one-joke wonder, and that one joke (stunned incredulity at the other side's stupidity, expressed by repeating . . . oneself . . . very . . . slowly) is done more effectively by Jon Stewart.

Janeane Garofalo, the few times I caught her, was surprisingly inarticulate and spluttering in her rage (against what, I never could tell). Sam Seder is better, but very shrill, overrelying on annoying catch phrases like "Rape-publicans."

I don't really remember the rest of the line-up. What I do remember was that only one host stood out, for her skill, humor, intelligence and quick-wittedness, and that is Rachel Maddow. The more I listened to her, the more I realized that she and Rush have a lot in common. Her sound effects are good but kept to a minimum. She ferrets out news stories you haven't heard of but are illuminating about the issues of the day. Her analysis always goes a bit deeper that everyone else's - she's great at connecting dots. She holds her own political views strongly, and is knowledgeable and confident about where facts fit into her framework. She knows how to mix things up. She has a pleasant and cheerful voice, which in itself is a rarity in left-wing radio and makes her enjoyable to listen to. Clear Channel should snap her up, pay her an outrageous amount of money, and put her on coast-to-coast as a form of balancing their programming. Don't be surprised if this happens in about 5 years.

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If this assualt on free speech ever comes about, I want the time slot right after Ms. Maddow to balance with a conservative agenda, so the 100's of people who listen to Air America get a fair and balanced presentation.

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and love his fast-paced format. Keep it up!!

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why does everybody love Dr.Maddow & the Welshman?

Because they're utterly brilliant, uniquely interpretive & genuinely hilarious.

who couldn't love THAT?



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but I have caught Rachel Maddow on video clips in Peek and on TomPaine, and I think she's fabulous. If the media were indeed "liberally" biased, as those with rectal-cranial inversion insist, Rachel Maddow would be able to be heard everywhere and everyone would know her name. But as the paucity of comments here demonstrates, not enough people do know about her. Thank you to Alternet for trying to do something about that.
P.S. Wouldn't be nice if sexual orientation was not mentioned even if the person was different from the "norm"? It has nothing to do with the quality of the presentation. I understand the need for making people aware that the GBLT community is everywhere and won't take being marginalized or ignored, but I do dream of the day where that is not a defining characteristic.

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um, THAT would be Stephanie Miller. "kick-ass funster" would be the LAST words I would use to describe Rachel Maddow.

The best progressive voice is Thom Hartmann. Stephanie Miller is THE "kick-ass funster" in progressive radio. Mike Malloy is the Voice of Progressive Outrage.

Rachel comes in a poor fourth to all of these hosts. she's actually quite UNfunny, and her humor bits always fall flat. personally i'd rather listen to Randi Rhodes who is certainly flawed but brings a LOT more to the table than Maddow.

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i personally think we are all born bi, and then culture and nature create the details ... unfortunately most are very easily brainwashed into believing in the straight family unit as the right way.

that said, ms madow has great face and i really send big waves of encouragement for her to go for the screen and stay in on the visual part of the media. i always love looking at people and ms madow has a REAL face and REAL mannerisms. i want more diversity on the screen, more real humans, not less, no more news drones that do not even appear in my world. i prefer seeing all the beauty in the world, you are beautiful ... keep it up sister!!!!!

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I'd hardly call T(F)ucker Carlson a pretty face, or Bill O'Lielly.They both make me want to throw a brick through my tv.

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I find most radio hosts to be inane, and too many clearly don't read. It is a breath of fresh air to hear someone like Rachel (or Thom Hartmann), who is well readand thoughtful. She talks to the audience as though we are intelligent enough to understand complex ideas. We need more hosts like this and fewer who, as Elizabeth Edwards stated earlier this week, damage our discourse with name-calling and personal attacks.

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Rachel Maddow is brilliant.Rachel Maddow is a progressive talk show host. Rachel Maddow is an unreconstructed critic of the Bush administration. Rachel Maddow has never uttered a critical word about Israel or any neocon. Go figure.

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Talented, intelligent, oh-so-hot, and queer! Rachel Maddow!

(she doesn't even know I'm alive!)

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She's been on vacation, and I've missed her on my evening commute. I do hope she starts doing even more TV. She and KO work beautifully together. She's a real ray of sunshine on air...the kind of sunshine that the activities of our executive branch (and whatever branch of government Mr. Cheney represents this week) needs much more exposure to. Her wit just sparkles. She's genuinely attractive, and attractively genuine, and it comes across really well on TV.

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So I thought this was a Progressive/Liberal Blog and here's how you introduce the story:

"How does a self-described butch dyke from California -- out and proud since her early days as a student and HIV/AIDS activist at Stanford University -- get to be one of the newest left-wing media darlings?"

She's a left-wing media darling because she's EARNED it and she's damn good too.

Do you introduce a story about Keith Olbermann by saying the ever-single Keith (is he or isn't he?) self-described ... honor graduate of Cornell, etc., etc., etc.?

She's never hidden her sexual orientation or the fact that she's an AIDS activist, and maybe she doesn't care what you say as long as you get it right. But it struck me as doing just what "they" do.

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For a brief, sparkling moment, Greater Cincinnati was gifted with fresh opinions wafting through the broadcast air. One of the most gifted was Rachael Mattow, whose mind flowed in the swift eddies of political fact and mischief. I was and am astounded with her acumen and her interesting personality. She is a force and I deeply miss her presence in this market.

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