Is Rosie O'Donnell the New Howard Stern?

Who's the opinionated, brash, argumentative talk show host who hails from the NY area, who gets into celebrity feuds?

A few years back, you'd have answered Sirius satellite shock jock Howard Stern. Today, if you ask the average person, they'd probably answer Rosie O'Donnell. With Rosie's latest on-air eruptions, she continues on a road which has transformed her from minor stand-up comedian actress, to one of the most successful talk show hosts, to her current status as always outspoken, always opinionated, always - well Rosie.

After feuds with Donald Trump, Kelly Rippa and anyone else who got her Irish up, speculation ranged from Rosie getting fired from The View to her behaving. Numerous media fueled exchanges between Rosie and various celebrities caused animosity between her and boss Barbara Walters, causing many to predict she'd cool her caustic jets when it came to people who irked her.

It never happened.

Rosie is Rosie. Howard is Howard. Bill O'Reilly is Bill O'Reilly. What you see is basically what you get. Even if Rosie was inclined to make nice courtesy of advice from the best image makers and spin doctors around, we know who she is and what she loves, hates and gets fired up about. The cat's outta the bag, people, and Rosie O'Donnell is in our faces daily. She's won't hide or pretend she's something she's not.

Howard VS Rosie: Tale of the Tape

How similar is the King of all Media to Rambling Rosie?

Both hail from Long Island, NY. Maybe there's something in the water or their air on the "Island" which breed loud, opinionated types like them.

Both are comics who use social commentary to make us laugh and think.

Both are unapologetic. Howard never apologized to Kathie Lee did he? Neither does Rosie. Maybe Rosie controls herself now that Barbara Walters is her boss, but she's not making kissy facey with Donald Trump anytime soon.

Both are long term relationship oriented. Howard was married to his ex-wife Allison for years, he's in a long term relationship now with model Beth Ostrosky. Rosie has been strongly committed to her partner Kelli for years

Gender or Sexuality Bias?

Is Rosie hated because she's a loud, opinionated and outspoken woman? Or maybe that she's a lesbian? Has our society still not outgrown the old mindset that a woman's place isn't to rock the boat or be critical? Women shouldn't be as critical, as sarcastic or as opinionated as men is an incredibly archaic mindset. Haven't we gone beyond such nonsense?

It's been awhile since another loud Rosie was regularly featured in the media - Roseanne Barr. A lot of people said she was too loud, too opinionated and too outspoken. Yet, similarly opinionated comics like Bernie Mac,Chris Rock or the mega comic flavor of the moment Sascha Baron Cohen can say anything they want as loudly and as sarcastically as they want, but don't get the flack that Rosie O'Donnell does on a daily basis. Is it because these comics hide behind a stand-up act or a wacky persona that they aren't on the receiving end of public disdain? Or is it because they are men and it's simply more accepted for them to be social critics?

We're close on the horizon of a presidential election which may elect Hilary Clinton as our leader. If we're ready for a woman president, can't Rosie O'Donnell speak her mind just as Howard Stern and other male comics do without being accused of being a trouble maker?