Randi Rhodes Story Brings out Republican in Dems

That isn't probably my most well-worded headline, but I don't like to make them too long. What I'm trying to say, is that the Randi Rhodes/Hillary Clinton/Air America story from last week has made grassroots Democrats sound very similar to batshit crazy Freepers.

Randi Rhodes' show (which returned to the airwaves today, now on the Nova M network) isn't every liberal's or progressive's cup of tea. Randi is brash, has a very unlikely accent for radio, and is very opinionated. She does not suffer those she considers fools gladly. At times she can talk over and be brusque with callers and guests on her show when she feels they aren't making a point, or if they're not getting hers. It is easy to see why some people would not be fans of her show. Like Crossfire on CNN years ago, the noise level can be a turnoff.

I, on the other hand love The Randi Rhodes Show. I don't always agree with her (or anybody really), and I sometimes roll my eyes and want her to move to a new topic (like with any other host). But most of the time, I'm actually eager for 12:00 to roll around so that I can hear her. Especially if there is big news breaking. She's funny, she does her homework, and she usually is talking about important things that are being ignored in the mainstream media.

The timing of Randi's show, still slotted between The Thom Hartmann Program and The Rachel Maddow Show, even though on a different network, is perfect. You've got intelligent and mellow, followed by intelligent and brassy, followed by intelligent and affable.

But if you read The Huffington Post, Democratic Underground or Daily Kos (all fantastic sites), and skim the comments on the Randi Rhodes story, you'll find an argument as heated as the Obama/Clinton fight. And as in that one, you'll find Democrats slinging invective and frothing hatred of Randi Rhodes like Freepers do about Hillary Clinton.

You know, it is possible to dislike something without hating it. You can dislike it without rolling around in the gutter. It's unseemly, and it's troubling. And it isn't confined to the comments. Just check out this story comparing Randi to Ann Coulter of all people. Ridiculous.

[Excerpt]

Randi Rhodes May Be No Better Than Ann Coulter, But Ann Coulter Works For No One (And Is Honest About It)

Randi Rhodes quit Air America last week rather than apologize for calling Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro "fucking whores" in an appearance on behalf of the network in San Francisco (seen here). Immediately thereafter, she took to Larry King to blame Air America's new owners for attempting to change her contract over what she called a "stand-up comedy routine that I did on a Saturday night. . ."

Read more at: Huffington Post