I happen to believe Al Franken is quite talented. And I'm certain he believes in what he says. This isn't a political discussion. I'm simply pointing out that, in my opion, he has talent. Whether or not he can "bring in the people that don't fully agree with" him is beside the point. It's entirely possible that truth in a talk format just isn't as compelling as someone who makes stuff up to get a reaction. Compelling for people who don't care about facts, anyway.
S2U
> > Gives conservatives a bad name? Sometimes I wonder if
> there
> > aren't people who just don't like to take the extreme to
> get
> > ahead. Do we react more to the thoughful discussion that
> > causes reflection in listeners, or do we prefer the
> > outrageous, over-reaching ideologue? I'm not here to
> defend
> > Mr. Williams but he's said on several occasions that the
> > operative word in his broadcasts is "show," meaning it's
> > entertainment. And it's my understanding he chose to live
>
> > in a more integrated neighborhood rather than those waspy
> > suburbs like El Dorado Hills or Rocklin. So bottom line:
> > how much is put on, and is that kind of extremist act
> > necessary to get, say, a TV gig, or syndicated?
>
> Who out there believes that Limbaugh or Savage are totally
> behind everything they say? Or are they out there to create
> their own image?
>
> Same goes with Stern. He is just a broadcast professional.
>
> Don Geronimo admitted, after he came back after his wife's
> death, that much of their radio banter was done to sound
> good on the radio.
>
> I think much of what makes these people successful in what
> they are doing is that there is that "twinkle" behind their
> voices. Sure, plenty of people don't get it and fully back
> these folks if they are fans of their viewpoints. But, I
> think what moves some above others in the business is the
> fact that they can also entertain and know that plenty of
> others know that they are putting on a show.
>
> It seems like some of these folks on the radio, especially
> in political talk, fully believe their own viewpoints, but
> don't have the radio talent to bring in the people that
> don't fully agree with them....Al Franken, Bill O'Reilly,
> Jeannine Garofalo to name a few.
>
> I can see Mark Williams trying to make a wacky statement to
> get himself some national publicity.
>