Last year, I started this thread about talk radio in general. It was a general topic and dealt with it's effect on politics. I'd like to narrow the lens a bit on this and go into specific talk radio hosts. I absolutely love talk radio. One of my most fondest memories as a kid is painting fences in the sumemrtime, all the while, listening to Rush Limbaugh. That was back in 92 and 93. People who walked by thought it was odd that a teen was listening to Rush, but oh well. Currently, I'm a satellite radio listener of SIRIUS, which has an awesome line up on both sides of the political spectrum.

On the conservative side of things, I really enjoy Andrew Wilkow. He has a great voice and he comes from a common sense approach that is refreshing to listen to. He also criticizes other republicans, something which I appreciate froma die-hard partisan. I also enjoy Mike Church as he makes eloquent arguments as well. In regards to bad conservative talk show hosts-I have to first and foremost mention Glenn Beck. His sophomoric, junior high (nit)wit style is gratiating for me to listen to. Remember the kid who was the class clown that everyone thought was a freak?, that's this guy. I also can't stand Michael Reagan-he hearkens back to yester-year with incessant "my dad" or "my father.." I also can't stand Sean Hannity, who has a nauseating tendency to go back and forth with a caller about who is "good American."

On the liberal side, I love Mike Malloy's passion and Thom Hartmann's rhetorical style. He also has conservatives on his show and he routinely gets the best of them. As for the worst-I'd have to say it's Alex Bennett-he's try and boring.

Overall-I'm also a huge Howard Stern fan. He might not be "political," but I tossed him in as he has a huge cult following and he opines on occasion about politics. This is a multiple choice poll-so enjoy!

Questions for debate:

1.)Who is the best liberal talk show host, why?

2.)Who is the worst liberal talk show host, why?

3.)Who is the best conservative talk show host?, why?

4.)Who is the worst conservative talk show host?, why?

Bonus:

5.)Is Howard Stern the greatest talk radio host alive? Pleae explain why he isn't given his ratings and humongous "pull" if you answer no.

I've become a YouTube type for watching political commentary. The radio is simply my audio output on the computer, but it's a nice bookshelf stereo and beats the system speakers or any of the cheaper add-ons.

My favorite liberal TV guy is Bill Maher. He gets down on religion too much. I do understand the bitterness. I was once there. It takes a long time to get over, especially when some people manipulate religion for their own designs. On most other things I see where he's coming from and understand the need to throw a zinger in there now and then, like we ought to kill Dick Cheney. Nope, I'm not for that. I have my doubts that Maher is for this either, its just something that's shocking to say.

On the conservative end of it, Red State Update takes the cake. These guys are smart and know how to turn a good joke. I like them better then Colbert, although the Colbert interviews are fun too. Then comes Stewart. The rubbing eyes and going "HOLY &#!+" is getting old. I like it better when he tries to compose a sincere question. But Comedy Central ought to keep an eye out. The Internet could trash the network.

Thanks for mentioning the other people. I'll take some time to check them out, but only on Internet radio. It's got to be on my schedule, not theirs. Plus I should pay attention to the serious conservatives, not the manipulating types or the clowns.

Bill Maher is probably the best in the biz, period, in terms of good commentary and material, even if he is left or right- his show is the best written of the pure "talk show" type political broadcast, hands down, even if I agreed with folks like Rush or Bill O'rielly, their writing and quality of show sucks pretty bad- seriously, I don't think a conservative talk show type, that is not tongue in cheek like Colbert, even has the ability to be creative. I think it just goes against the personality type

That being said, Colbert and Jon Stewart rule the funny political commentary world, and no one else even comes close. And even better- they have more actual truth in what they say and are more fair and balanced than ANY of the 'serious" talk show hosts.

As it has been said "More truth has been said in jest than in earnst".

1. The best liberal talk show host for me is Bill Moyers. He never "dumbs it down" for the audience and when his show his over you're smarter than you were before it started. A case in point came just the other day when he interviewed two of the presidential candidates shut out of the recent Democratic and Republican debates, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. Moyers sits across from his guest, never interrupts and never tries to talk over them. That's stuff that guys like Chris Matthews and Bill O'Reilly do and it gives me a headache. Charlie Rose is a very close second.

I listen to Stephanie Miller. Not a real great talk show host, but she is funny and babe-o-licious.

2. The worst hands down was Al Franken. His monotone, stilted delivery was about as exciting as watching paint dry and his interviews were the pits. With Franken gone, the crown goes back to Chris Matthews. He's appallingly bad and abrasive.

3. I don't listen to a lot of conservative talk shows. Every now and then I will give Laura Ingraham a try. She at least injects some humor into her show and actually will be critical of conservatives and Republicans. I used to watch The McLaughlin Group but it turned into a shout-fest and that format doesn't generate any light, only heat. If someone has a recommendation of a balanced conservative talk show host, I'd be willing to give them a listen.

4. I never thought anyone would blow away the bloated gasbag that is Rush the Oxycontin Addict Limbaugh, but Bill O'Reilly has. He pontificates, blusters and mangles the truth to serve his agenda. He tries to use his size (6'5") to physically dominate his guests and he ALWAYS interrupts, insults and belittles anyone he disagrees with. When Ron Paul appeared on his program, Paul grew so exasperated by O'Reilly cutting him off and jabbing his finger at him and just being a rhymes with click, he said, "Do I get a chance to talk at all?"

Bill O is the absolute bottom of the barrel. I wish he'd just take his loofah and shut up.

5. I used to listen to the King of All Media when he was still on regular FM radio, but I wasn't that interested in following him to satellite, so I haven't heard him since he made the switch. I don't think of Howard as a conventional talk radio host per se. He's underrated as an interviewer, but he's primarily an entertainer doing an act. Why is Stern so popular? Because porn actresses allowing horny guys to throw bologna at their butts and babbling endlessly about having a small wiener has a certain amount of cheap entertainment value to a desirable demographic group: young males with disposable income.

Personally, I was getting tired of hearing about Beetlejuice, Wendy the Retard, Elephant Boy, Daniel The Racist Carver and the rest of the motley crew of Howard's morning show and the non-stop sucking up by Robin Quivers was really working my nerves. I liked Howard Stern back in the day, but now that he's gone on to bigger and better things I find I don't miss him all that much.

Questions for debate:

1.)Who is the best liberal talk show host, why?

I don't listen to much liberal talk radio, no talk radio at all for the last year......but I did enjoy Ed Shultz. He seemed reasonable, not a screaming 'hair on fire' liberal like Randi Rhodes. I haven't had a chance to listen to some of the others yet.

2.)Who is the worst liberal talk show host, why?

Al Franken, hands down. He may have a face for radio, but he doesn't have the voice. He wasn't funny on SNL and he isn't funny on the radio.

3.)Who is the best conservative talk show host?, why?

Neal Boortz. Yes, as of this posting, that's my lonely vote up there. I'm not sure if he is coast to coast, or just primarily in the SE, but he is the only mainstream Libertarian radio host. I agree with most of his opinons, and the irreverent manner in which he expresses them. He and I differ on matters of foreign policy, which also gets him labeled by callers as a neo-con. Of course other callers call him a liberal.

4.)Who is the worst conservative talk show host?, why?

Hannity. I used to enjoy him, but he is nothing more than a hollow cliche-bot these last few years. He's the Toby Keith of talk radio, with worse hair.

Bonus:

5.)Is Howard Stern the greatest talk radio host alive? Pleae explain why he isn't given his ratings and humongous "pull" if you answer no.

Sadly, I missed living within range of his broadcasts when they were cutting edge. He was a ground breaker and a trail blazer, and will always be recognized as such. But these days he has stereotyped himself. He's a one trick pony now. If he really wanted to get edgy, he could take his early receipe for radio and take his show into a political format. Could turn out to be the Daily Show of radio.