[AZTOY]

MSNBC fires Michael Savage

Cable TV station dismisses commentator for anti-gay remarks


ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK, July 7 — The cable television station MSNBC Monday fired Michael Savage for anti-gay comments. The popular radio talk show host who did a weekend TV show for the cable channel referred to an unidentified caller to his show Saturday as a “sodomite” and said he should “get AIDS and die.”

HIS COMMENTS were extremely inappropriate and the decision was an easy one,” MSNBC cable spokesman Jeremy Gaines said.
There was no immediate comment from Savage, according to a spokesman at his office in California.
The brash, tough-talking Savage is one of radio’s hottest jocks. His Paul Revere Society advocates closing borders, deporting illegal immigrants, mandating health tests for immigrants and eliminating entitlement programs.
The televised version of “The Savage Nation” began March 8 despite the protests of such advocacy groups as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Aired at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday, Savage didn’t translate into a television hit. He increased the ratings for the time slot marginally, according to MSNBC.
The incident that resulted in his firing began innocently enough. Savage was taking viewer phone calls about airline horror stories, and a male caller began talking about smoking in the bathroom.
“Half an hour into the flight, I need to suggest that Don and Mike take your ...” the caller said, before he was cut off and his words became unintelligible.
“So you’re one of those sodomists. Are you a sodomite?” Savage asked.
The caller replied: “Yes, I am.”
“Oh, you’re one of the sodomites,” Savage said. “You should only get AIDS and die, you pig. How’s that? Why don’t you see if you can sue me, you pig. You got nothing better than to put me down, you piece of garbage. You have got nothing to do today, go eat a sausage and choke on it.”
He asked for another phone caller who “didn’t have a nice night in the bathhouse who’s angry at me today.”
These bums “mean nothing to me,” he said.
GLAAD spokeswoman Cathy Renna said of Savage’s firing: “It’s about time.
“This latest attack made the clearest case for why Savage has no place on any reputable news network. MSNBC witnessed firsthand exactly the kind of verbal assaults GLAAD’s been warning them about for the past five months, and to their credit, they backed up their promises to hold Savage accountable.”

© 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/935825.asp

[Mike Irwin]

FYI,

Don and Mike are disc jockeys who are syndicated out of Washington, DC, on WJFK. They have a number of fans who love to do ambushes like this. Their callers have gotten Larry King, Michael Reagan, and others any number of times.

[bjengs]

I assume since you posted this that Savage is some sort of gun rights figurehead?

[Shalako]

Savage has mentioned that he has a Glock and an AR-15.

[tiberius]

I assume since you posted this that Savage is some sort of gun rights figurehead?

Not really, but it is a quasi-free speech issue so I think it is appropriate for this forum.

[Daryl]

The Left Wing has been after Mike. You know the liberals, they like freedom of speech as long as it is what they want to hear.

[SoCalGeek]

Daryl, you wanna talk about rights? How about MSNBC's right to associate with whomever they choose? They are a private company and should have the right to fire anybody at any time for any reason. I don't know if Savage should have been fired, i personally don't really care. But they had every right to do it.

[Daryl]

SoCalGeek, yes, you are right, they had the right to fire him. So what is your point?

[longeyes]

Listening to Savage yesterday I had the distinct feeling he
was actually relieved to be off MSNBC. Maybe he's getting
burned-out, especially after those two SCOTUS decisions. Maybe
he recognizes, on some level, that tv isn't and never was his
medium.

There's no doubt Savage is a loose cannon. But he is a cannon
in an age where there are damn few of those any more.

[longeyes]

I think Savage is, in his way, akin to Patton and T.E. Lawrence.
A bit of a monster but no doubt useful in his rough style, like
any pioneer or point-man. Anger is his strength and his weakness.
People like him rarely last that long but maybe they indicate
the way to more constructive action. Those who get off on his
fulminating flights need to find ways to bring change to the
process lest the anger just be another narcotic.

[spacemanspiff]

private companies have the right to fire employees who exercise their rights to free speech? maybe, but it would have to be clearly written in the contract with the employee as such.

do you really think that savage was fired because he said those things or is it more likely because certain groups were offended by it and threatened to sue? thats the core of the issue. why does everything have to be PC? it shouldnt be that it is wrong to have your own ideas and opinions, nor to voice such. rather, our society has become PC because some have thin skin and take personal offense too quickly and without true cause.

someone says to my face they dont like short fat guys, it doesnt bother me. but the next guy they say that too would likely call the ACLU and complain about the mean men that said those bad things to him.

know what used to happen to those sissies? they got their butts kicked on the playground at school for being tattletales. obviously they didnt get a good enough kicking way back then.

[SoCalGeek]

Daryl- my point is that while you're accusing them of violating his constitutional rights, i don't personally think they were doing that.

Spiff- There's no question that they fired him because people would be offended. We already know that. I totally agree that our society is full of... <ahem> wimps. But while i don't think Savage should have been fired, i think they had the right to.

[OF]

If I owned MSNBC and he told someone to "get AIDS and die" he'd be fired before he knew what hit him.

How anyone can think that is acceptable behavior is beyond me.

Yeah, he exercised his right to free speech by using bigoted kindergarten slurs on the air, which MSNBC just happens to own - and they excercised their right to send him packing for a new job.

Rightfully so.

- Gabe

[MJRW]

No one's (well, some people here seem to be saying that) saying he doesn't have a right to free speech. But having the right to do something doesn't mean that you are absolved of the responsibility of excercising the results of that right. Just like you have the right to own a firearm. But excercising that right by shooting your neighbor for being ugly doesn't mean you aren't prosecutible.<---trying to keep thread firearm related because I found his firing to be interesting.

[HBK]

It was a ridiculously stupid thing for him to say.

[OF]

It wasn't just stupid it was bigoted. The guy has a problem with gays. That's fine. But don't be surprised when people who don't have a problem with gays decide not to associate with you anymore.

Thems the breaks.

- Gabe

[No4Mk1]

Aired at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday, Savage didn’t translate into a television hit. He increased the ratings for the time slot marginally, according to MSNBC.

That one line says it all. If he had been driving ratings this would have been a non-issue.

As far as I am concerned, like him or not, he had a right to say what he did, and MSNBC had a right to fire him for saying it. However, they would have been much slower to do so if he had a smash hit program running....

The 1stA gives one the right to speak, it doesn't give you the right to a medium.

[Fair 'n Square]

Savage was wrong. He just should have cut the guy off the air when he admitted he was a sodomite. There was no need to descend to the caller's level.

[Delmar]

Constitutional rights? Understand that Savage and all the rest-left, right or upside down make their living on the air. If a station changes hands or the station director decides they want to run a new venue on their radio or television station-you are gone, simple as that. Nothing personal, but thats show business. And thats all it is. When an on air personality makes an inflammatory remark like what Savage did, the station rightfully can let them go.
If I open a radio station-call it KGUN or whatever, and I hire people to promote private ownership of firearms, I better not hear anyone I hire start speaking like Sarah Brady or their kind-they will be out of the studio just as soon as I can get there or a replacement.

[Skunkabilly]

Well, that was pretty stupid, but he isn't known for being gentle either.

This Socal geek agrees with the other SoCal Geek...btw welcome to THR.

[Greg L]

Does this mean that Dr. Fever can now say booger? :D

[Orthonym]

That's "bugger". :D

[Jim March]

That was unbelievably stupid. This idiot gives pro-gunners a bad name.

[Pendragon]

I Think that was the radio equivalent of suicide by cop.

It was his way of quitting. Savage is a lot of things - but he is very smart and I dont think he would just do that to do it.

I agree with whoever said he probably got tired of TV - its not his best medium.

All that said, it was uncalled for.

[Waitone]

If his ratings were higher he would have been fined an put on leave. No ratings, no justification for keeping him hired.

Freedom of speech stops at the owner of the soapbox. MSNBC was owned by someone else who no doubt took issue with his opinions. No protection by the first amendment here. He said stupid things and paid the price.

[longeyes]

Update: Salem Communications has yanked his radio show too--
until they are convinced the remarks don't reflect his true
opinions and that such behavior won't occur again.

Can he return, chastened and de-fanged? Hard to imagine.

I don't condone Savage's outburst, but I can't help observing
that compassion and forgiveness seem to be bestowed on some
people more than others.

[Gary H]

I agree..higher ratings and minor problem. MSNBC and Savage were a bad fit. MSNBC was hoping for great ratings.. but the ratings didn't manifest..the protest did come their way. Savage waste a great deal of energy saying things to shock. That is his thing..his act. It was a bad fit. MSNBC has a perfect right to send him packing.

[The Rock]

Now only if they'd let him go from his radio show....

edited to add: Looks like they did. Cool beans.

TR

[DonQatU]

His real name is Michael WIENER...... NOT "SAVAGE"!

Of course if he used his real name, it would sound kind of funny!

"Wiener Nation"??????!!!! :D

Don

[geegee]

If his ratings were higher he would have been fined an put on leave. No ratings, no justification for keeping him hired.
Say what you will about Savage's comments, but here we are (on a gun discussion forum) discussing what he had to say. Something tells me that there are a lot of people around the country who hadn't ever heard of him till yesterday, but they sure know who he is now! If you're a talk show host, this type of exposure never hurts you, regardless what you said. geegee

[Boats]

IMO Savage is an idiot. He has always struck me as some jackass who could dish, but God forbid he had to take any abuse in return.

These loudmouths are soooooo tough when they can just hit the hang-up on line 1 or 2 and blather on into the mike unopposed. Real genius that talent is.

[BudS]

You down-beaters forget: ol' Savage is on OUR side! "Borders, Language, Culture." He sees our nation going down the drain, just like the Roman Empire, with lewd behavior on the uprise and morals and ethics on the downslide. If you look at Roman history and U.S. history side by side, we really ARE repeating history...

So, if the leftist minority are allowed to over-run the rest of us, what will history bring? If you happen to have listened to his show since "that" happened, you would have heard numerous "girly-men" calling, first to admit their sexual preferences, then second, to espouse their support of Savage for one reason or another (the reasons are too numerous to list here). Does this surprise you? It shouldn't- many of those "different folks" want to live in a country, free from invasion of illegal immigrants rife with TB, STD's, many of which are criminals BEFORE they leave their own country; they want to live in a country where they DO have freedoms- I can't remember the name of the group- maybe "Pink Pistols"?- but there is a group of gay gun owners who enjoy their 2ndA rights....

So, let it go, guys- concentrate on the good things Savage is doing- trying to get people to concentrate on more than payday, five o'clock and beer and get this country back on track!

Gay, straight, hermit of socialite, it doesn't matter- we all better get thick skin and learn to live together. For me & mine, we are conservative. For Savage vs. MSNBC, I'd pick Savage over that liberal network every time, but the one thing I agree with is that BOTH excersized their basic rights. This crap of, "my feelings got hurt, I wanna sue & rule over EVERYONE'S life" better stop, or there may be MORE playground butt-stompings, IMO!:fire:

[longeyes]

If Savage, after apologizing, finds himself without a forum, I
think we should all be very, very worried. It will be the Beginning
of Going Underground.

Savage let his anger get away from him, no doubt, but frankly it's
going to TAKE anger, a lot of it, to keep fighting the good fight
when the Left has the Big Mo in the culture war. Savage's basic
message of "borders, language, culture" is a valuable rallying cry.

[Pendragon]

So is he completely off the air, or was his show just dropped by several stations?

[PATH]

Agree with him or not he was correct about the RED DIAPER DOPER BABIES!

If you are on the left and you make an inappropriate comment you get away with it. Those on the right get hammered if they say something controversial. So it goes!

[Wildalaska]

Bravo Boats! While a Savageless TV will still be a vast wasteland, it at least wont be a vile and vituperative one...

WildhesawasteofairwavesAlaska

[No4Mk1]

it at least wont be a vile and vituperative one

I hope that is said tongue in cheek....

[Jim March]

I doubt it. That's certainly my opinion.

[redhead]

The guy is still on in the San Francisco area - moved from KSFO to KNEW. However, he still has no local advertising for his program on KNEW. I only saw his TV show once - it was his radio show on camera.

[seeker_two]

Should he have said what he did?......Not really.

Can MSNBC fire him for it?....Absolutely.

Should MSNBC have expected something like this when they hired him?...WHAT ELSE DID THEY EXPECT?! I hope they listened to his radio show before hiring him, b/c he does stuff like this there.

This is like hiring Jesse Jackson to do a TV show & then firing him for talking about racial issues too much...:rolleyes:

As for ratings, what kind of ratings do you expect from a 5pm EST Saturday time slot? The fact that he COULD go up in ratings at that time is amazing.

MSNBC didn't like the image Savage had, and Savage gave him an excuse to fire him. Savage would do better on Fox, anyway...:D

[longeyes]

What's "vile and vituperative" is a matter of perspective. It's
permissible, because of "freedom of expression," to present Christ
in a vile of urine and call it art. THAT is a death wish expressed
for an entire culture, not for one individual. Traditional America
is being deconstructed brick by brick by the day but we worry about
one insult? This is a culture war, it is serious, it is for keeps.

Savage's firing may be a turning point. And not a positive one.

[longeyes]

In Los Angeles Savage's show was yanked by Salem Communications,
which owns KRLA. Whether Salem owns all of Savage's outlets, I
don't know. I do know he is kaput--until he recants--on that
station.

By the way, I don't condone Savage's remarks. A soldier--and we are
in a war, big-time--should have more discipline.

[BigG]

Just because Savage or whoever is not your cup of tea you have little call to stifle him if you in the same breath tolerate/applaud the communist drivel continually spewed from the popular media. Get a little perspective, willya, instead of wearing your prejudices on your sleeves! :uhoh:

[CZ-75]

I saw Savage's TV show once and wasn't impressed. I've never heard his radio show.

I do listen to Neal Boortz and he was mentioning that, while he didn't agree w/ Savage, he couldn't help but notice Nina Totenberg, of NPR infamy, wished that Jesse Helms and his grandson got AIDS previously, but there was no censure or outcry in the news media and that she is still employed by National Proletariat Radio. Double standard? You decide. sounds like leftists can be as "vile and vituperative" as they want w/o any recourse or retribution. Totenberg's comments sure seem a great deal more fulsome and contemptable than Savage's

[seeker_two]

Not to mention when Alec Baldwin called for Newt Gingrich (then Speaker of the House) to be stoned (& not in a GOOD way)...

Didn't see Hollywood or the networks blacklisting him for THAT...


Liberals---laws for thee, but not for ME...

:barf:

[sw442642]

What a nonissue! He was hired to deliver a product, sort of like a chef in a restaurant. The product he sent out was unacceptable to a significant proportion of the customer base and the standards of the management. So he sent out a bad fish as a chef - he can get fired. Same thing here.

About what he said - he's an idiot. Probably just overreacting from his own hidden attractions and desires. You don't go crazy over the gay issue unless you got something cooking in your own oven.

[CZ-75]

You don't go crazy over the gay issue unless you got something cooking in your own oven.

Could be. The one time I watched his show, he was wearing a double-breasted leather coat. Ghey? You decide.

[DonQatU]

Fire Michael Wiener (Savage)?

Can you say publicity stunt? :rolleyes:

Think about it! And a couple of days from now........ come back and tell me I was wrong! :D

Don

[SoCalGeek]

i don't think it was a publicity stunt so much as MSNBC covering their own @$$. They probably saw the media firestorm that would have caused a mile away and cut him loose before the SHTF. That way, nobody could say they were caving under pressure since there was not any pressure to cave under. (Did that make any sense? I'm tired, so that was worded badly.)

[longeyes]

Like him or hate him, he's back on the air in L.A. Time will tell
whether the new Savage is a gelded Savage.

"About what he said - he's an idiot. Probably just overreacting from his own
hidden attractions and desires. You don't go crazy over the gay issue unless you
got something cooking in your own oven."

Funny. I've had liberals say the same thing to me about my
"gun obsession."

[DonQatU]

"MSNBC fire Michael Wiener?
Fire Michael Wiener (Savage)?

Can you say publicity stunt?

Think about it! And a couple of days from now........ come back and tell me I was wrong!

Don"

[BudS]

Liberals scream about the 1stA until it pertains to them- then the alphabet networks protect them by being silent when they bash conservatives, but go into hyperdrive when it happens the other way around.

Savage is still on over 300 radio stations, good stations, too...even one in liberal Boston, but the call letters fail me now....

So, what to "we the people" do about those who bash & get away with it?

CZ-75- I heard all that today & there was one more liberal who got away with another inflammatory remark, mentioned on Boortz's show this morning.

sw442642- man, it sounds like you're really angry for some reason- do you have something to back that up? Do YOU have something to hide?

And, by the way, a writer in the SanFran Chronicle found & exposed the crank caller who called Savage! He named him (I didn't have anything to write on in the truck on the way home) & said he made a hobby of calling shows & spouting crud to incite negative reactions. He'd been on CNN about 25 times, and a bunch more on other shows like Larry King, et. al. He also does his best to mention his fave radio show, which originates in Washington, D.C.:barf: :barf: :barf: Being a computer programmer, he probably needs some excitement in his life- and he may get more than he bargains for, if he hits on the wrong one one day!

[deanf]

private companies have the right to fire employees who exercise their rights to free speech? maybe, but it would have to be clearly written in the contract with the employee as such.

You're joking, right?

It's commonly known that the Constitution only restricts conduct by the government, not private individuals or companies.

MSNBS is not bound by the Constitution.

[Khornet]

from someone ar Real Clear Politics.com:

That Savage was hired for the same reason that when the media want to feature a conservative they go to people like Jerry Falwell: they think Savage is representative of conservatism, that all conservatives are troglodytes. When they want to snag the conservative audience, they use someone like Savage because that's how they think we really are.

[BigG]

all conservatives are troglodytes
You mean we aren't? :p

Seriously, Mike, I think Savage has "got issues" (as Oprah says) when I hear his ranting but I've got a problem with people right here on THR, who should know better but have a particular axe to grind applauding his demise when 90% of what he stands for is right and in line with their liberty beliefs.

[Mike Irwin]

Unfortunately, if you listen to most of the conservative talk show hostss out there, the face of Conservatism IS that of a troglodyte.

O'Rilley? Idiot and largely incompetent.

Savage? Moron with serious issues.

Rush? Blow hard.

G. Gordon? Good message, well delivered, but the association with Watergate is still a killer.

Cal Thomas? One of the true shining lights of Conservative commentary.

[seeker_two]

Mike: Any comments on...

Sean Hannity...

Glenn Beck...

Neil Boortz...

Mark Davis...?


As for Liddy, his record looks pretty good compared to Bill Clinton, Robert Byrd, Marion Berry, and most of the liberal "spokespersons"...:barf:

[BigG]

There is a guy named Ken Hamblin who I used to catch in the evenings. He was really pro gun and when his minority callers would discover he was black, it was funny hearing him to tell them get a job, etc. Yes, Clarence Thomas is not the only black conservative.

Anybody who has read "Will" will know that G. Gordon has his bona fides. If you haven't, check it out.

BTW, the few times anybody has brought up talk radio hosts in conversation I have defused any acrimony by pointing out they are entertainers, what do you expect? If they stuck to stating their exact beliefs they would be out of dialog in five minutes. They have to puff it up just like any entertainment that is recurring. People shake their heads and say, "Yeah. That's right."

[rock jock]

Savages' firing proves once again that this country is so ripe for a fascist leader who will take the controversial topics, the un-PC topics, and capitalize on them for his ascension. Instead of talking about controversial topics, we relegate them to secret conversations at the coffee pot. There is a lot of repression in America, but no one wants to talk about it.

[Mike Irwin]

Hannity I'm still out on. There's the masking influence of his pathetically liberal compatriot, though, so it's often hard to get a true read on Hannity.

Glenn Beck & Mark Davis I've not heard of before. Where are they out of?

Neal Boortz? I'm not sure if he's on in Washington, DC. I've never been able to find him here if he is.

[OF]

Hannity is more of an idiot than O'Rilley. Big time. The guy's made a career out of being rude. It's all he does. At least O'Rilley has an intelligent thought every once in a while. Hannity is a frat boy in a tie.

- Gabe

[Correia]

I like Larry Elder. :)

[Sergeant Bob]

Glenn Beck & Mark Davis I've not heard of before. Where are they out of?
Glenn Beck is out of Philidelphia, nationally syndicated. He's conservative and uses alot of irreverent humor to get his message across. Might be worth a listen. He has a 3 hour show but I think the only station near you that carries him live for all 3 hours is WRVA 700, Richmond.

Charlottesville WCHV-AM 1260 10a-12p ET
Harrisonburg WKCY-AM 1300 10a-12p ET
Richmond WRVA-AM 1140 9a-12p ET
Waynesboro WINF-AM 970 10a-12p ET

Washington DC WTNT-AM 570 2pm-4pm ET

Dover WDOV-AM 1410 9a-12p ET

VM Radio channel 166

Mark Davis, don't know.
Neal Boortz is out of Atlanta I think, but is not syndicated as far as I know.

[Mike Irwin]

No, I'm right outside of Washington, DC, so the WTNT would be the station for me.

However, in the building I'm in, there's no way for me to get TNT, or anything else on AM.

That's why I don't listen to G. Gordon anymore. I simply can't.

[BudS]

Boortz must be syndicated...he's out of Atlanta, but we get him here in Mobile on WABB AM 1480...they used to have Liddy, but he got bumped for that idiotic Washington D.C. duo. Over the years, I've seen this station swing wildly between the left & the right and so far, it has swung rightward again- they have some good shows, especially on the weekends. Funny, since the same guy has owned it for over 35 years or so- I worked for a company that sold him his generator equipment.

And I'd rather be a troglodyte than a feminized male, like the liberals are trying to make us! Boys with a high activity level are drugged with Ritilin, men of the same ilk are forced into "sensitivity training". Look at Doug Williams, the dimwit who killed the folks & committed suicide at Lockheed Martin in Meridian, MS AND the boys who shot up Columbine H.S.- ALL of them were herded into "sensitivity training". Williams came out MORE angry & immediately killed folk, while the Columbine boys got high marks from the psychiatrist before they did their deed. Seems like to me the liberals wand to emasculate men while masculating women

:barf: :fire: :cuss: I was told by the husband of a now-retired A.T. & T. employee that the "sensitivity training she was herded into and forced to watch was nothing but a homosexual porno flick, and the "straight" emplyees were expected to be "sensitive to these people's needs".:what: Heck, what's a normal person to do when his/her life is disrupted by being force-fed repugnant garbage?

What I say is, long live Savage and others of his likeness, no matter what others think. If the liberals had their way, conservative radio, TV and print would be labelled as "hate crimes" and would be shut down; even "thought" could be labelled as a hate crime and us trogs will be put away forever, while the liberal swine have their sick, twisted way with our sons & daughters.:what :cuss:

Note this: I have noticed that NO MATTER what happens, liberals support one another, while conservatives leave a blood trail if one of their own make a mistake...why is that?:scrutiny: :confused:

[Sergeant Bob]

Note this: I have noticed that NO MATTER what happens, liberals support one another, while conservatives leave a blood trail if one of their own make a mistake...why is that?
It's because of a defect most conservatives and libertarians are afflicted with....the belief that people are responsible for their own actions.
Most Liberals are like gang members. No matter what another member of the gang does, they will back them up no matter how wrong and illogical it may be, and the end always justifies the means.

[BigG]

BudS: Happy to meet a fellow trogolodyte! :D

[BigG]

Sergeant Bob:

It's because of a defect most conservatives and libertarians are afflicted with....the belief that people are responsible for their own actions.
Most Liberals are like gang members. No matter what another member of the gang does, they will back them up no matter how wrong and illogical it may be, and the end always justifies the means. What you have described here is one of the differences between the evil and the stupid party. I have seen women who would smack a sexual harrassment suit on you for looking at them crosseyed gush over Bill Clinton and brush off his peccadilloes as if he were being persecuted like Christ. The same call Hillary the smartest women in the world. It's not smart, it's low cunning in my opinion.

[MeekandMild]

Daryl, you wanna talk about rights? How about MSNBC's right to associate with whomever they choose? They are a private company and should have the right to fire anybody at any time for any reason. I don't know if Savage should have been fired, i personally don't really care. But they had every right to do it.

Geek, does it bother you that the majority of media outlets are owned by a small group of very wealthy individuals who have, at very minimum, a very elitist attitude. Or that they are currently lobbying for even bigger monopoly rights. Or that MSNBC has all the characteristics of the baronies and duchies our Constitution tried so hard to eliminate in the US.

Rights of association are for people, not multi billion dollar corporations.

[Don Gwinn]

Yes, Limbaugh is a blowhard and I often disagree with him, but he's funny.

Savage is an angry child. He's the "conservative" answer to Ted Rall.

[seeker_two]

Mike Irwin: Since others have answered about Glenn Beck (http://www.glennbeck.com) and Sean Hannity (http://www.hannity.com) , I'll fill you in on Mark Davis...

He's a conservative talk host out of Dallas. He does a daily show on WBAP, but he has a syndicated weekly show on Sundays 12noon CST. He's originally from Virginia, IIRC. I don't always agree w/ him, but he's an intelligent person.

You can find out more about him & listen to either of his shows on the WBAP website (http://www.wbap.com) . I believe the main ABC radio station in DC also carries his show.

Also, check out the KLIF website (http://www.klif.com) . It's the other main talk station in Dallas. They have a guy named Darryl Ankarlo whose pretty good, too.

[Ian Sean]

I'm actually quite suprised by the amount of negative attitude to Savage in general. He is hard to take, but does preach a pro-freedom/pro-USA message and values that I agree with. While he rarely mentions firearms issues, the times that he has, he has been pro-gun and in our court. I support him and listen regularly.

As far as Rush is concerned, the best time to listen to his show is when he is on vacation and Walter Williams is filling in.

[seeker_two]

Ian Sean: Glad to find another Williams fan. Too bad Rush doesn't vacation more often...:cool:

I also enjoy Roger Hedgecock (sp?) when Rush is gone....

[Mike Irwin]

Ian,

Sometimes the most favorable message can be drowned out by the oppressive amount of static.

That's the case with Savage.

[Rick Blaine]

I listen to a sports talk radio host (quality sports talk, pathetic person) who routinely tells people who call into his show that he gets mad at to drive their cars into telephone poles and get killed. I also believe, if my memory serves me correctly that he has made the same "hope you get aids and die" statement, though it wasn't a lifestyle slur, just a hateful comment He's gone off to anger management classes, but never lost his job. Oh, he's also a big time liberal, and spouts his political views on the air all of the time, though it has nothing to do with a sports show.
No apologies for Michael Savage here because what he said was incredibly stupid. I would bet that the treatment would have been different if it had been a liberal host like Phil D. telling an abortion clinic protestor that their religious beliefs were just a manifestation of a severe psychosis, and that they and all people like them should meet a heinous demise for the good of America. Support for liberal Phil's right to free speech would be heralded from news media studio rooftops all across the nation.
Nothing newsworthy about the A.P. story that we don't already know. Michael Savage is indeed a loose cannon, and MSNBC was, I'm sure, never comfortable having him on board anyway.

BTW, Mike Irwin,
Very close, but I differ:

O'Rilley? Jerry Springer type opportunist.

Savage? Has serious issues, but loves America, and is honest in his intolerance.

Rush? Often disagree with him, but often feel he is sent from God. Not a blowhard at all, but a P.T. Barnum, and a great entertainer.

G. Gordon? Good message, well delivered, and who cares about Watergate? Move on. It was thirty years ago.

Cal Thomas? Often right, good Fox show, sometimes can't follow his logic - a little too far to the right side of the dial.

[CZ-75]

I wish I could get the G-man on my local station. Instead, I get the local near-inbreds running a show that gives the definitely inbreds that call in greasy-spoon hamburgers from a local chain if they can correctly name Charlie Daniel's mother-in-law or the like.