I guess the title says it all, but I was just curious as to what conservative pundits you respect and regularly read or listen to. What do you find appealing about his or her style or way of thinking?
Do you prefer the classic William F. Buckley?
Like the Limbaugh Letter?
Ann Coulter? Shawn Hannity? Bill O’Reilly?
Disclaimer: For the record, I am a moderate who tends to vote for Democrats more than Republicans. I’m not trying to start a full-fledged s**t storm or argument here. I’m merely curious about your preferences.
He’s conservative, but not raging. What I like about him is he’s pretty fair-minded and often comes out of left field with a thought that leaves me going “wow, I never saw it that way before.”
As far as people well known? Hannity, I 'spose. I like O’Reilly, too, because many times I don’t agree with him. Ann Coulter is hilarious, can’t forget her. (Now I’m missing having TV, darnit.)
I also like Tammy Bruce. Yeah, she’s pro-abortion, but she packs heat and voted for Reagan. She’s got potential. Plus I love it when she stands up to the left.
I consider myself to be a Conservative-leaning Moderate and I like Tammy Bruce a lot. In fact, she and I seem pretty simpatico on most points. She’s still finding her feet in the radio show format and isn’t as polished as some of the bigger dogs, but I enjoy her show and agree with her more often than not.
I also like Laura Ingraham although I don’t agree with her as often as with Tammy. Her show is very entertaining, though. I particularly enjoy the Lie of the Day, and her weekly sound-bite contest. I probably still agree with her slightly more than 50% of the time, but I often find myself thinking, “Well, that’s a bit out there!”
Nothing like Ann Coulter, though – Ann is a loony, albeit a somewhat entertaining loony. I never watch her on TV, but have read some of her stuff – what a wackjob! She makes some reasonable points, I think, but they are buried in her overall madness.
Rush is also a loony, but an irritating one – I can’t listen to him at all. Bill O’Reilly is another one whom I find irritating, even when I’m agreeing with him, so I don’t listen to him either.
I feel about Sean Hannity similarly to how I feel about Laura Ingraham, but I don’t listen to him often – he’s on at a bad time around here so I rarely tune in.
I used to really like Ken Hamblin, but he isn’t on anymore. He was funny and sensible and almost unfailingly gentlemanly to callers. I was sorry to see him go.
For broadcast, Rush Limbaugh is king. He doesn’t shout people down, has a good sense of humor (love his parody songs), and is more ideologically conservative rather than “back the president, no matter what.”
In print, I like William Safire and Charles Krauthammer.
I’m not a conservative – more of a live-and-let-live libertarian. If that counts, I vote for Florence King, P.J. O’Rourke and Matt Labash. They all make me laugh out loud, which is the only requirement I have for political bloviating these days.
I forgot Charles Krauthammer – probably because I was thinking “radio” instead of print. I read him in my local paper and I like his stuff a lot. Again, I don’t agree with him 100% of the time, but more-often-than-not.
I don’t tend to think of Florence King as a political pundit, but I do love her writings. She did do a column for National Review, of course, so I guess she’d qualify.
A few other columnists I like and usually agree with are Paul Greenberg, Kathleen Parker, and Walter Williams. Also George Will. And I enjoy reading Thomas Sowell when I get the chance, although he isn’t featured in my paper.
I should say though that my favorite newspaper columnist is called 'liberal" by my paper (which lists its regular columnists as ‘from the left’ and ‘from the right’) – Leonard Pitts. As with all of the above columnists, I don’t always agree with Pitts, but I always enjoy his column.
I like John Batchelor, he is more of a commentator and interviewer than a pundit. In fact I am not quite sure of his personal politics but I believe he is a Repulican. He is very insightful and has very informed guests from around the world, many of whom I would never have heard of if it wasn’t for his show.
I like Sean Hannity’s radio show but not the TV show. On TV I suppose he thinks there is not enough time for an intelligent conversation and he just bullies the guests. On radio he is much more calm and takes the time to explain his arguments and give cites. When he interviews people he gives them a chance to make their point even when he disagrees.
I am a libertarian type who usually votes Democrat, so I probably don’t fit the criteria. That being said I think George Will is a brilliant writer. He has changed my mind a few times, especially on campaign finance reform, and he is unfailingly articulate in his defense of conservatism. I disagree with him more often than not, but I respect his work.
I like Neal Boortz (libertarian) and Sean Hannity, although Sean can get a bit tiresome sometimes, especially when that mindless Carpet Kitten calls his show.
Michelle Malkin has some very good insights too, on a lot of stuff that most people won’t cover.
Radio-
Laura Ingraham over Ann Coulter any day & in any category- intellect, wit, looks.
Dennis Prager- he’s dethroned Rush for my radio listening time. I also read his columns regularly.
William Bennett- incidentally, the Salem Radio Network’s talk-radio stations have Bennett, Ingraham & Prager in a morning 8-9 hour block. Occasionally, I also check the afternoon shows of Mike Medved & Hugh Hewitt.
Much as he’s disappointed me (oxy-cotin, latest divorce, Abu Gharib comments), I still have a soft spot for Rush. He paved the way.
When I go to townhall.com columns page, I always check Mike Adams & David Limbaugh, as well as Prager.
TV- I always enjoy Pat Buchanan, even when I disagree with him- the man has style. Never liked Bob Novak. Mildly tolerant of Tucker Carlson.
Joe Scarborough- he seemed an O’Reilly wannabe at first, but far exceeds him in likeability.
The Beltway Boys- Fred Barnes & Morton Kondracke.
Cal Thomas
The columns of Charles Colson & his fellows at Breakpoint.
My favorite non-conservative TV pundit- Chris Matthews.
Don Imus on MSNBC does good interviews & has great guests along the political spectrum.
For an interesting & unexpected change of pace, Larry Miller has some insightful & funny columns in The Weekly Standard. (Yes, balding mild-mannered standup comic & actor Larry Miller- he’s conservative & a somewhat religious Jew.)
IMO a good conservative commentator must have disagreed with Bush on some things. Immigration in particular. But if they’re just defending the actions of all R’s and attacking all D’s then they’re not worth anyone’s time (Rush, Hannity, etc.). This is the thing I love about Glenn Beck. He pounds on consistency a lot. For example, when R’s were excusing Schwarzenegger’s groping, saying “it was his personal life” he asked when R’s and D’s switched scripts.
For me, David Horowitz stands out, especially because, like me, he is a former 60’s left wing radical who understands now that he was duped for many years by the leftist intelligentsia.
I agree about her good insights, but I’m sorry to say that I find her writing style dull and dry. I wish we connected better as writer/ reader, because I do appreciate what she’s saying, even if I can’t enjoy how she’s saying it.
And, thanks, FriarTed, for this info:
I’ve liked Larry Miller for years and I didn’t know this – I’ll definately check it out!
I think Michael Medved is precisely what people should try to be… strong in your opinions, but listen to what the other person has to say. I’ve heard him go through two commercial breaks talking with one obstinate, jingoistic caller, insistent on actually hashing out a communication with someone that sounds, at first, completely stubborn.
Then there’s Phil Hendrie, who I think presents politics in its most entertaining form (when he discusses it).
She’s hot.