Posted on 06/18/2002 11:48:43 AM PDT by Big Guy and Rusty 99
What do you think of Savage? I find him to be sensationalist and dishonest. He will defend someone and then a week later, 'savage' them. He lacks firm stance, he wavers too much. He is depressing to listen to because he is all doom and gloom. On the other hand, he has a nice format and when he's not spouting hype (those rare times, it is fun to listen him. Plus he is a liberALtarian, those people tend to be just right of anarchy.
Just dosen't have radio talent Rush has.
It's not about opinions or style.....it's about that intangible thang........it's simply that Rush is just a damn smooth, talented radio guy.....
He just fits the medium like a pair mink slippers.
Another thing that bothered me was his feud with Jim Eason while he was still at KSFO. Jim wasn't as on top of his game there towards the end, but some of what Michael had to say bordered on the downright disrespectful.
Finally, last but certainly not least, I OD'd on all of the darn ads. When I was younger radio stations used to run something like six minutes of ads an hour. Now they run six minutes of ads every QUARTER hour! Good grief! Nine minutes of show vs. six minutes of ads. And the same ads, over and over and over again. It's like brainwashing after a while, you can't even remember the names of the products anymore because your mind starts blanking it out. This isn't a complaint about Michael in particular, since it affects all talk radio nowadays, and is a big reason why I don't listen anymore.
You all can have your Michael Savage on your talk radio. I'll just keep my treasured memories of what a true gentleman like Jim Eason sounded like on a calm summer afternoon.
Overall impression: a Rush/Stern hybrid that often can't decide which way to go. Savage (Weiner) is an anomoly: A Jewish, conservative talk radio host with libertarian leanings. His shock talk tactics are transparent, but he beats NPR. LOL
He screams extra-loud so that you don't notice his inconsistencies as much.
sw
Unfortunately, he seems to be a living breathing stereotype of "right wing hate radio." I only listen to him on long road trips when the car radio can't pick up any other program.
I endure all that, however, because I STILL LOVE IT when he screams and goes ballistic against some ignorant, evil liberal!!!
As for the rest he’s pretty much a not-so-rabid New York Liberal that thinks he’s conservative because he isn’t as fanatical as the hard-lefties are.
At one time he would also play sheep sounds during Clinton’s speeches. I don’t know if that is a good reason to listen to him for though. I think the management made him stop doing that anyway. Oh, sometimes he would have segments in which you would call in and tell him if someone was a car what they would be. So people would call in and say that HRC would be a VW micro-bus or Janet Reno would be a deuce-and-half, etc.
I much prefer Brian Wilson or Hannity if you can pick him up but Savage does have his (rare) moments
I admit I love that too. RDDB!
His accent is highly marketable, and he knows how to fight real dirty --something that the usually polite conservatives really do need (pace Horowitz). People hear what Savage says, and shlepping their way through their own little life, they picture themselves vicariously winning that argument with the lib that they lost the other day, by sucking it up, and biting their lip.
To listen to the treatment he doles out liberals on his show, it's like you were transported back to high-school, with all your old nemeses, except, uh...this time you weigh 600 pounds or so.
I love his show.
On the other hand, Savage is also totally out for himself. Of course, he's primarily an entertainer, there's no doubt about that, so I'm sure this won't really take anyone by surprise. I concur with the observation above that Savage frequently reverses himself, depending on the day, and sometimes from hour to hour.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Rush, but I'd much sooner trust him with actual power over the future direction of conservativism than I would Michael Savage.
That said, with Mike I've never had to listen to Golf inanities. I listen to Mike more, but trust Rush more, based on what little I've heard from him (read both his books, though).
I have met Savage twice.
I guess I should add that Savage give more colorful little vignettes from his life than does Rush. They are often totally hilarious (my favorite involves the hired help of his father's antique shop once getting attacked by a monkey). I really eat these up, even though they're rarely planned. I sometimes almost drive off the road, laughing.
Savage's pre-recorded skits are usually terrible, though (he's used them only for a year or so). The quality is low --very low.
Savage also attacks good conservatives rather frequently. I don't mind that, as his targets frequently deserve it (George W. looms into mind). Others he attacks merely to burnish his credentials as an independent (a bit of this is a marketing ploy to boost ratings by keeping libs and women on the hook). Why shouldn't Michael get along with David Horowitz? It doesn't make sense. They should have lots to talk collaborate on.
Relatedly, I remember one time Mike really giving McCain the Monica treatment --it went on, and on, and on. Oh, God, it was just totally sick.
A key difference: Rush wants you to look forward. Estranged by his sterm father and betrayed by his former fellow academics, Mike is content to nurture your petty misgivings.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.