Earlier this week I was mad at Franken for yet another vacation.

[Beelzebud]

Now I'm happy.

In Franken's absense, I finally took the plunge and tried out Thom Hartmann.

I'll never listen to Franken again, as long as they share the same time-slot.

Hartmann, is more informed, more educated, and more LIBERAL than Franken ever thought about being.

Thanks to those that suggested Thom. I don't see how this man slipped past my radar for so long.

www.thomhartmann.com
www.radiopower.org

Between Hartmann in the afternnon, and Mike Malloy at night, I'm covered. :)

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Agreed.

[barbaraann]

2. You'll miss Joe Conason!

:o

[Connie_Corleone]

3. Franken's guests are the only reason I listen.

Especially Conason.

[Beelzebud]

4. AAR needs to just hand the show over to Joe! :)

I love Joe Conason. Hell I love Al Franken. But I have to admit, I get tired of Franken's oft repeated jokes, and the cheesy theme-songs for evey guest. I've heard them spend more time on theme music, than serious discussion.

[xxqqqzme]

11. Agree - Conason has a great radio voice.

When he filled in during Franken's December USO trip, I was sorry when Franken returned. I think I like listening 2 him more than reading him.

The other post about the theme music - agree as well - that gets old.

AND we'll have 2 listen 2 bounce your boobys again 2day on Randi. I'll tune in late to miss it.

[longship]

5. You'll need Franken

when Hartmann starts one of his extended self-promotions, promoting his products.

I love "Lunch with Bernie", though and Thom is a helluva interviewer when he doesn't use the opportunity to beat his own drum.

[Beelzebud]

8. Lunch With Bernie rocks.

I could listen to Bernie Sanders all day long. :P

But then he wouldn't have time to make a difference. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Welcome ot the Hartman club

that said, I did take the time to tell AAR about this little problem they have and why they need subs... I suspect they don't get it

[Beelzebud]

10. I emailed them too. I was very polite.

They really need to get a sub for Al when he's gone. It wouldn't be a big deal, but he is gone a lot lately.

[iconoclastNYC]

7. Al Franken's show isn't that great.

But his name is a draw and that's good for AAR. I do find his show very hard to listen to, for a lot of the reasons listed in this thread. I feel so bad for Kathrin. You get the feeling that Al's ego prevents him from developing as into professional radio guy.

And Thom Hartmann is a gift. I wish they'd bring him onto AAR to guest host more often. He's brilliant....his command of history is so impressive. And I like his even temperment.

[Todd B]

9. Welcome aboard!

I love Thom - he's so intelligence about the issues *and* he has Rep. Sanders on every Friday!

I think I actually found him when he was subbing for Randi one day.. I usually just listen to Franken's weekend shows or stream some of the archives when I'm bored.

He also has a morning show on KPOJ from 9-12 (Eastern Time) but I find myself gravitating more to Stephanie Miller during that time.

I hope that AAR gives Thom the 12-3 slot if Franken does decide to run for the Senate in '08.. Hartmann, Rhodes, Seder, Malloy. What a punch!

[eleny]

12. Did you appreciate the discussion he had about the chemicals?

I was thinking, as I listened, how well informed and prepared he is for discussing just about anything. The woman who he was interviewing got frustrated and kept trying to talk over him and she got a little strident and loud. But Thom kept his usual confident cool.

I wasn't surprised to find your posting. I'm a Franken fan, too, but have enjoyed Hartmann a lot this week. With archives and the Sundance video available, it's easy to catch up on Franken at our liesure. I have to have my Oliphant fix!

[Beelzebud]

14. Yeah it was a very good discussion. And yesterday

when he had the person from the Ayn Rand think-tank. Very refreshing, mature, honest discussion. It was a breathe of fresh-air.

The two agreed about nothing, but yet still managed to have an intelligent conversation that didn't de-evolve into insults and rhetoric.

[brainshrub]

13. Al Franken is a crappy broadcaster who thinks to highly of himself.

The only reason he stands out at all is because he was semi-famous before AirAmerica came around.

I think his co-host, Katherine Lanpher, hates him. I can sometimes hear it in her voice.

[Beelzebud]

15. Every once in awhile I definatley sense the tension in that studio.

[Vincardog]

16. Al Franken is so busy running for office he refuses to take a position.

I am tired of him listing the right wing talking points. AAR may have needed him to get started but they need to put on real hard hitting progressives now to move on.
I could easily pass on, er, uh, duh Al's endless repetitious pauses
and 5 year old jokes; and have it replaced by a literate person just reading the days lies from the radical right along side the truth.

[CrispyQ]

17. Thom is one of our best progressive voices!

My mother, who voted for Bush but is starting to regret it, listened to Hartmann on my suggestion & said, "he's very reasonable. I like him." There's an endorsement!

Also, his book, "We The People: A Call to Take Back America" is excellent. This year I'm giving copies of this book to everyone. It's done in a comic book style that makes for quick reading but covers the essentials of democracy & what our founding fathers intended by self governance. It reminds you what's really at stake & tells what is really happening. Recommended reading for all ages. Give it to your kids!


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1882109384/qid=1122595372/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_4/002-2187220-5227244?v=glance&s=books&n=507846