Maybe it’s a function of class and age, but I’ve never been able to get into talking on the radio, with the exception of the ABC’s sporting coverage (cricket, footy and the like). Funny how things go, I suppose.

there was quite a good interview about four years ago with some bloke [on some dusty economics topic].

Enough chit chat about economics, we get. I look at blinky every night at the end of the news. That does for me. Or is the business news not quite what you mean by economics?

The one thing he

For me, I like PA. The things I like are that he’s often quite funny, he’s very relaxed. He’s pretty well informed on many things and where he’s not he’s still pretty curious. He’s up front about his biases but able to have good discussions with those with whom he disagrees strongly. Michael Duffy is also the true Right Wing PA in that sense. The one thing he’s neither very astute or very curious about is economics – which is a pity for me, but there you go.

Dislikes are that when he’s (occasionally) not interested in the person he’s interviewing or otherwise in bad form he can be a bit silly without being very funny. But that’s fairly rare. He has some low key charisma that makes him good to listen to – and he has a great range of guests.

Oh and I like the music (both JSB and the current theme) and gladdies and poddies is better than Gladys.

It’s nowt but the tall-poppy syndrome (or Oedipal Complex as it’s called in Europe).

For a great many “progressives”, who (btw) don’t know of the brave little blogosphere, Adams is a favourite outlet for intelligent and informative broadcasting. And has been for years.

I don’t like the gladys thing either, or the theme music, but have for many years found the other bit – and that’d be the content – is great listening.

He unites bloggers of all stripes. The rwdbs hate his extreme leftism and the leftists hate his supposed sham leftism.

Maybe we need a companion thread on why we are allergic to Phillip Adams.

I thought the O’Rourke/Adam Smith episode was pretty good. 4/5.

Adams has his place in the establishment if you insist on holding that against him. He is an ALP supporter, but is transparent about it. I’ll take your word for it that he’s pseudo-left, since you obviously know about such things. Whether he’s boring is a matter of taste, but I myself think he invites a fascinating parade of guests and interviews them skillfully. (Whom do you regard as an interesting broadcaster, by the way?)

But pompous Adams is not. If you say that, you either don’t listen to the program or you need to look the word up.

Philip Adams? You mean “my favourite pompous, boring, establishment, pseudo-left ALP supporter”, don’t you? At least he’s over that bloody ‘Gladys’ rubbish.

I’m listening right now, but for O’Rourke, not for Adams.

Agreed, Harry. As you say, he certainly has a way of disembowelling cant.

I am a bit partial, nuance or not, I’ve enjoyed everything that I have read by O’Rourke. Humourous, acid-tongue and in terms of spotting hypocrisy and stupidity in the world about him, as perceptive as anyone I know.