Ok, since there are a couple of great threads going right now about Rush issues, I'd like to get straight to the point. Do you or do you not thing that Rush is merely an entertainer that will say anything that gets ratings, ergo more money? There seem to be many who feel that he is actually a true voice of the right, which I find quite scary. To be clear, I find him, like all radio talk show hosts, to be incendiary for the clear point of ratings and money. Being on the left, I don't view Randi Rhodes any higher than Rush. In fact, it would be like the democrats holding Randi Rhodes in such high regard that they would consider her the leader of its party. See how crazy that sounds?
Do elected Dems call Randi up on the show, apoligize for disagreeing and then change their stance to match her's? If so, she's a leader of the party.
Rush says he's an entertainer but he acts like he's head of the Republican Party. Pay attention to what he does, not what he says.
He must be doing something right, because everybody knows who he is, but nobody has ever heard of that Randi Rhodes dude.
Its sad that self-reliance and freedom are now considered radical. For the first time in my life I am starting to believe that this country's greatest days are behind us. We can look forward to a future of European mediocrity.
He is moving, perhaps already has moved, dangerously close to the uber-radical, far right. _________________________________________________ because he has preached enforcement of our current immigration laws, does not like the free money giveaway in the stimulus bill and opposes nationalized healthcare? wow, sounds like a normal american to me.
4th&5, In all seriousness, do you consider him a great American? He's remarkably divisive and antagonistic. While you might agree with many of his points of view, don't you think he's a bit extreme and his negativity has helped lead to the incredible divisiveness in this country. Disclaimer: if it hadn't been him, it would be someone else because shock radio sells. Nonetheless, I think these talking heads, on both the left and the right, are giving a skewed view of our country. I don't necessarily blame him because I think someone else would have taken his place. However, I do think the proliferation of hate radio in this country, on both sides, has led to greater division in America. In other words, I don't think people can distinguish the difference between "entertainment", i.e. shock radio, and true political dialog.
"Pay attention to what he does, not what he says." lots of hillbilly heroin? the more that idiot speaks for the Rs, the better for the rest of the country.
1. I'm not sure hornfans' West Mall is an accurate indicator of what America in general thinks about Limbaugh or any political issue. If that's what the OP was going for, then I think it's in vain. If that's not what it's going for, then I wonder what was the point? 2. I see very few specific issues discussed about Limbaugh. When he's discussed, it's along the lines of "he's an entertainer", or "I'm aghast", or "he's a radical uber-nationalist", or "he's irrelevant". Things like that. Lot's of value judgments. 3. It might be good for someone who disagrees with Limbaugh to pick a particular topic, and to analyze his views on that particular topic, rather than simply hurl insults, which is one of the very things that makes Limbaugh so objectionable to those hurling the insults. 4. I've seen Limbaugh described as a "moral coward" by RomaVicta for not facing those he insults, and I've seen those views echoed by many. But I wonder if an anonymous internet message board is really the appropriate platform to accuse anyone of cowardice. Perhaps he is a coward, but arguing that from the safety of a cryptic username seems self-incriminating, somehow.
I'll go further as far as issues. Look at 4th and 5's post. Rush believes in self-reliance and freedom. I learned the term "glittering generalities" in a high school civics course. Who is against either of those? "The liberals!" The liberals as described and decried by Rush Limbaugh. These illusory villains want everyone dependent on government so as to build a power base, they have no good intentions. The liberals are the puppets of the arch puppeteers, Bill and Hilary Clinton whose dark hands manipulate Dem elections to their own aims. Liberals don't tell you what you actually think, they hide their wicked hidden agendas that only Limbaugh recognizes through the wicked veil. Limbaugh is a diatribist with an excellent sense of how to pander to his listeners. He appeals to the emotions of fear and outrage, then declares that he and his listeners are above trivial emotion as they approach world problems intellectually. His greatest gift is convincing people that there are simple answers to things, that there is a truth that, if followed, would solve all problems. This sham works best when his side is out of power. His spiel becomes to policy what the second team qb is to a college team: the obvious better alternative. His guys get into office, you know the adults and the dream team of eight years ago, and they don't do so well. What is Rush to do? Turn on them: they're not real conservatives like me. Voila, he is on the outside again offering the second team qb. The ideas and policies he spouts are not all without merit. When he really pulls the small government line, there is certainly merit to that. But that's not really his game. His game is getting his listeners angry at the liberals and mortally fearful of what they, those invented demons, will do to the country. As I've said before, the best description of Limbaugh is not conservative radio personality, it's "liberal" spokesman. But, sadly, irony doesn't play well with his crowd.
I know we have many here who are of the radical right. I know, I know, you don't consider yourself that, but that is what you are to most Americans. You may want Rush to be the leader and face of Republican party, but you need to understand that it will marginalize GOP. It's like making Michael Moore the leader of Democrats. Why do you think democrats are trying so hard to portray GOP as the party of Limbaugh? They know that scares a good majority of Americans.
Rush is a smart guy and an effective communicator. He did that whole cpac speech off the cuff. Meanwhile, dear leader, the smartest guy to grace the oval office, needs a TelePrompTer to announce his pick for HHS secretary.
