He talks about more than just what's in the column. People do read it, which is why he's been there for
so long.
I once read that his column is/was the second most popular feature (not counting the sports section) in the paper, just behind The Inside Track.
And he'll take pols to task no matter white their party: today, it's Jane Swift.
Yikes, now that's hard hitting reportage. Beating up on Jane Swift? What's next, an expose on David Scondras? Bill Weld's drinking habits?
He has some reputation in the biz nationally--
With those in the biz who are paid to follow such things. He's an unknown to the general public, as are 99% of local talk hosts.
in terms of talk radio he's in Talkers Heavy 100.
Talkers Magazine? Are you kidding? Com'mon, Rac, get real. There are precisely 252 people who care about the Heavy 100; you, Michael Harrison, the twenty prominent national hosts, the 80 regional obscurities, and the 150 also-rans who are wondering how many ads they have to buy in the magazine to make the big list.
I think he blew a big chance by not doing fill ins for Rush (I wonder if Howie making fun of Rush's oxy use
may have cost him that? or prob just that he's too provincial).
Or, perhaps, because, as someone posted elsewhere, "He tried to do national but it just didn't work." In fact, I think it was you.
He can be a star in Vermont maybe.
Today, the Northeast Kingdom...tomorrow Fort Kent...Dixville Notch......New York City......
IIRC, when they tried to charge real money for his show, affiliates started jumping ship like they'd just taken a torpedo in the engine room.
Far from being a one note Charlie: politics, hacks, poo-poohing global warming, immigration,
the war, the Presidential race, pop culture, the media, funny stories of the day (like
Taser Boy) etc. The one note Charlies or one note Charlenes are the ones who say he's
doing nothing but hacks, hacks, hacks.
Actually, a lot of folks, like me, enjoy his show, but we don't confuse it with meaningful political or social commentary.
Howie does the 'death pool', 'songs you love to hate', and 'worst beer you ever drank', because that's what he does. Nobody admits that they listen for the lightweight stuff, but if it wasn't for the lightweight stuff, nobody would listen.
Regards,
TSB