I've been knocking KCBS a lot lately because of the absurdity of their overly-prolific weather reports; OK, it's freezing outside and everyone's miserable but for god's sake, enough, chill guys, wait, stop chilling. Get me more news, more interviews, more Mark Sandalow, for example.
Sandalow is KCBS' Washington political analyst and usually comes on the station's morning news blocks at 7: 30. (Times vary).
Sandalow talks politics. More specifically, he breaks down the BS and tells you the real story and goings-on of Washington Inside and Out-- and more recently, histrionics. You want Tea Party playbook? Sandalow is there. Why Obama hasn't fired some of his political advisers? Cue Sandalow. The Govt. shutdown? He's right there.
And Sandalow knows his business. You might recall he was the Chronicle's beat man in DC before Hearst decided to cut back. Sandalow also teaches a political class. He's well-versed because what some people might consider Washington minutiae is for others, a pure delight. Sandalow gives you an honest, inspired and plain-spoken take on our politicians, including Bay Area pols. He is appointment-listening.
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And um, yeah, some people are DYING from this cold snap, Rich. Sorry, it IS a big deal!
ReplyDeleteIs he left leaning like everyone else in the Bay Area or does he really call it down the middle?
ReplyDelete"...he breaks down the BS and tells you the real story and goings-on..." Yes, he does, but he is as biased and left-leaning as the Obama administration...about as left-leaning as Ms. Thurston. I love how Fox News is criticized for not being "fair and balanced." It seems like no one should dare criticize Sandalow or Bunger for that matter. I thought that good reporters were trained not to show their bias in reporting the news...especially with a "general" news info station like KCBS.
DeleteSandalow is center-left but still in the tank for Obama/Pelosi/Brown, etc.
DeleteOTOH, Phil Matier is fantastic. He takes no prisoners, although he is liberal but he is very much an investigative reporter. And Dan Noyes, during the Gaving Newsom years was fantastic. Today, he's pretty much a marshmallow unfortunately.
Unfortunately it's more important for Rich to automatically criticize the mainstream media than it is to make sense.
ReplyDeleteYes, the weather is quite a big deal in a place that doesn't often see weather like this. The thing people care about most is the thing that affects them.
ReplyDeleteI'm noticing Rich is plugging a lot of hosts on the page now ever since the negative Ronn vibe. Is this an effort to get in good with Bay Area folks, Rich?
Yes, Rich likes complimenting obscure nobodies to create the impression he is am objective observer. In fact he resents all the big local personalities who are successful. He is willing to rave about little-known, secondary individuals.
DeleteSandalow is hardly an "obscure nobody." Maybe your lack of knowledge of pretty good political analysts is more of a reflection of your ignorance, cheap shot aside.
DeleteI think he is on at 6:20 AM
ReplyDeleteAs an aside to all of this, did you see Benny Fong's column in the Datebook yesterday? It was actually good until he started injecting the word "I" -- about himself -- in there. His piece on the KQED radio announcers was insightful and interesting. He can write, but he knows it and when he injects his ego into the piece, it gets ruined. You're not the show pal. It's what you're writing about.
ReplyDeleteBen Fong Torres is a legend in his own mind and no where else.
ReplyDeleteMarc Sandalow is very good in what he does. Enjoy his segments.
ReplyDeleteHe is able to criticize both Democracts and Republicans.
And he does it in an even handed manner without the kind of pountificating you hear from liberals. Want examples? See KGO.
Sandalow is among the best, especially at the Chron. Other Chron notes: Fong-Torres may not need to be respected on the 415 page, because so many great musicians give him even higher respect. That may explain a lot about the posts you see on this blog. Oh, and Rich, I have some very bad Chron news. While I do love that three of Baseball's Greatest Ever Managers - Danville-based Tony La Russa, plus Joe Torre & Bobby Cox - were unanimously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Expansion Era committee, guess who is among the X-Era voters? None other than that Rich non-fave, Bruce Jenkins. We know that Jenkins will never be in the Lieberman circle any time soon.
ReplyDeleteRich could you please enlighten us about the changes coming to 910 to 960 in January? I heard to today on a 910 announcement that Randy Rhoades will move from 960 to 910 January 1. I think she will be on from 1 p.m. to 3. Does that mean Frosty will be gone, and Gil will not, or will Frosty take the 3 hours in the morning that Rush is on, since he is moving to 960. For those of us who was devoted to 810 talk radio, and is still searching for some intelligent life we are dying to know, even though the stations, especially 960 do not have a strong signal, I believe there are still many of KGO formers listeners who are interested in what kind of line we can expect come January. KGO has not replaced Montemayor with one particular host, this week-end Matt Ray or Rey was on, I have heard him before and he is better than Montemayor and most other replacements they have had on. Dave Weintraub was in for Maureen Langdon, and he is definitely an improvement over Maureen. I assume that neither KGO, 910 and 960 have the intelligence to hire John Rothmann, so we will take what we can get, and I hope you will let us in on what you know.
ReplyDeleteMaureen Langan is perfect for her time slot. She's upbeat and very positive. She doesn't shy away from the more serious topics,but her vibe is not perenially grouchy, like some trying to be hip, unsuccessfully.
DeleteYeah, whazzup with all of those changes? Would love to hear some inside scoop on this story.
DeleteAgree completely with your comment on Weintraub v. Langdon. It doesn't take much to improve on her, I'm afraid. She is the worst host KGO has ever hired.
Maureen might be upbeat and positive, but I still think she is a bad talk show host. I hate her "hanging with Langdon", she does have good subjects at times, I often agree with her take on subjects, she sounds like a nice person, however that does not make her a good talk show host, especially for those of us who still miss Gene Burns and John Rothmann ( hopefully he will be back) and you Christine (if you are Christine Kraft) you can run circles around Maureen. I don't often listen, because she just can't hold my attention.
DeleteSandalow brings what many others lack: objectivity. A clear, concise and consistent breakdown of the facts without injecting bias or personal opinion. And he does it all in about 90 seconds. I wish there were more like him.
ReplyDelete9:47, what do you mean Sandalow is not biased??! I can dissect each of his sentences and into the truth and his bias AND this is coming from me, a very middle of the road Independent (leaning Libertarian, if anything). He's in the tank for Pelosi, Feinstein, Obama, and others of the same mind. When Sandalow is on, I try to extract the truth from the bias. Not easy...
ReplyDeleteAnyone who considers Pelosi, Feinstein and Obama as being "of the same mind" has already revealed HIS/HER bias. Yes, they're all Democrats. Is that what you're trying to say?
DeleteSandalow's on in the mornings at 7:35am KCBS.
ReplyDeletePhil Matier is an objective reporter who presents the story with little bias. I love hearing him rip and expose anyone or anything that deserves it. One of the best segments on KCBS as well as him his column (w Ross) in the Chron.
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