I’ve been listening to the first hours of Air America Radio, that new “liberal talk radio” company. You can hear it online, or on XM Satellite Radio. It’s on the air, thus far, only in NY, LA, LA’s exurbs, Portland, and Minneapolis. There’s no word if or when it’ll be over-the-airwaves around here.

It is, to borrow a horrid cliche, a breath of fresh air.

The hosts I’ve heard so far (Al Franken, Chuck D, Katherine Lanpher, and Randi Rhodes) are smart but not smartassy, clever but not insulting. And they’re proud to call themselves both liberals and patriots. This isn’t nambypamby NPR-ish “nice.” Nor is it Republican sleaze-mongering. It’s unabashed, outspoken, and often funny as all heck.