Good morning! I must respond to Long Island Pete, ever so briefly. Pete, you assert that I may be a liberal and that I cannot answer a direct question. I wonder if an unbiased reader, not loyal to either Levin or Savage, would draw that conclusion after reading my posts and yours. I have done my best not to resort to silly remarks or insulting humor. I have attempted, within the limited timeframe available to me, to respectfully dialogue on this forum. Pete, was it not you who drew comparisons between Savage eating fish in San Francisco while Levin prefers porterhouse steaks? Excuse my limited intellect, Pete, but are you not more prone to stray from the subject matter than I? You also have accused Dr. Weiner of being “racist.” You must be kidding, Pete! Dr. Weiner has a much broader base of ethnic backgrounds listening and calling than probably anyone in radio. In 2004 I attended a live event (one of the few that Dr. Weiner does) at a large venue. I had just been to a Sean Hannity event one month prior. The difference in demographics was telling. When I went to Hannity’s not only was the crowd about twelve times smaller (poor Sean was trying to sell tickets for the show on his radio program that very day, and still, only about five hundred showed up in an auditorium that holds 2800), but it was as lilly white as anything I have ever seen. I am not critical of that, I just want to draw a comparison for the sake of Long Island Pete. I saw no one of color, period. Sean, of course, is not at all prejudiced (I sincerely mean that), but his appeal seemed to be largely anglo-saxon (at least in my area). When I went to Savage’s event, he had over 7,000 people there with virtually no adverstising (just a few mentions on his radio show here and there, not on a regular basis at all, just kind of tossed into the mix of his regular stuff…no actual advertisements). I said all of that to say this: I saw an amazing demographic, Pete. Thousands there, made up of virtually every walk of society: Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Young, Old, Blue-Collar, White Collar, Geeks, Bikers…it was incredible! To suggest Dr. Weiner is “racist”, Pete is ludicrous. He clearly connects with a true cross-section of America without even trying.

On a further note, Long Island Pete, you boast of Levin’s career success and family. I rejoice to know that he enjoys fruit on both levels. But to use that as a means of comparison (on the subject of any possible professional jealousy or rivalry) is absurd. Dr. Michael Weiner also has a great family. That really has nothing to do with our discussion, but since you raised it, allow me to inform you. Savage’s son, Russ, launced and runs a very successful company which makes and distributes RockStar energy drinks. The company is huge. Yet you will hear no RockStar ads on Savage’s show. The younger Weiner was raised to be independent as well. What you will learn, though, by listening to Savage, is that he and his son are very close. They recently spent a week together for vacation on one of the great naval ships. All of this is a moot point, perhaps. But I am simply trying to respond to Pete, who accuses me of not answering questions.

Lastly, to MarkLevinFan: Thank you for assuring me that you will not cut me off. And I do appreciate your recommendation about starting a Savage blog. But with all due respect, Fan, is not the topic of this one “Levin Beats Savage Again!”? I only concluded that the two hosts in question are worthy of discussion since the forum seems to imply such.

Enjoy your day, Ladies and Gentlemen!

James this is another comment that I must take exception with.

You seem to believe that all conservatives are Republicans. I for one, am an unaffiliated conservative. I appreciate that Levin breaks fom Republicans just as I do on certain issues that are core conservative beliefs.

Mark has been a conservative all of his political life. He speaks about his experience as a young man working for Arlen Spector. He left Spector because Spector did not stand for conservative issues.

Mark is intellectually honest and puts his conservative ideology before party affiliation as I do. He has criticized Bush and his administration whenever they sell out for political expediency. If you haven’t heard him do that, you aren’t listening to the show.

That is the thing that I admire most about Levin, he is consistant. He is conservative to the core and has been for all of his political life.

Exactly the point James. If I wanted analysis on nutrition or pharmacology, Weiner would be the guy.

I will admit that I listened to about three of his shows at a time when I wasn’t able to hear Levin. I could not stand to listen to another minute.

By the way, when is the last time he went skinny dipping in Fiji anyway?

One thing is for certain… A weiner even by another name is still a weiner!

The comments submitted are interesting, yet lacking in depth. I can overlook that, for my own time at present is scarce. As for Levin’s passion for the Constitution, I twice have already conceded that point with great admiration. I attempt to be fairminded when venturing into the territory of comparing bright minds. However, to denigrate Weiner’s education, his earned doctorate in nutrional ethnomedicine and his rank as scholar at Hebrew University School of Pharmacy, stoops to a level of intellectual dishonesty. You may not like Dr. Weiner and that is fine. But to trample upon a legitmate eductation reveals a foolhardy approach. I prefer to strive for a more calculating, circumspect and prudent form of analysis. Weiner is by no means a cookie-cutter conservative. He did, in fact, mingle with a cross-section of individuals in his younger years, including liberals. That makes his bold conclusions about the left and right in this country all the more valid, genuine and sophisticated. Weiner today needs very few friends. He is quite content to stand alone, personally, professionally and party-wise. Few in the media can claim that type of independence. Most rely on a circle of other hosts, celebrities or politicians, to further their careers or widen their visibilty. Savage (Weiner) is unique in that he really is a voice crying in the wilderness. When time allows, I would like to answer Long Island Pete’s implication that Weiner somehow demonstrates insecurity by using the name Savage instead of his given surname. History will clearly reveal Weiner’s choice to do so is not at all peculiar nor a sign of an unassured personality. As for Savage’s alleged twisting of the ratings, or lying (as Long Island Pete charges), anyone with a modicum of understanding of the radio business would be able to discern the numbers properly. In fact, the latest ratings clearly indicate that Savage is dominant in his time slot in New York City, placing even your revered Levin in a secondary role. As the old adage suggest, figures never lie but liars always figure. Those in or closely connected to the business know full well that the latest statistics are beyond dispute. Firfighter4Bush
says that he “has listened to Weiner.” I applaud the good firefighter for his courage and candor. But I must wonder, how much of Dr. Weiner has our dear friend really listened to? Five minutes? Twenty minutes? Or, to be objective and unbiased, would he listen to Savage for an entire week and then offer his insights, unvarnished by his present overt bias? Once again, I do thank each of you for granting me access into your forum.

Mark has been a conservative all of his life, believes in the Constitution so passionately that he pursued a career in Constitutional law defending it.

Weiner is a nutritionalist and hung out with liberals for the earlier part of his life.

I’m sorry but Weiner can’t hold Levin’s jockstrap!