This is anniversary weekend for two events that improved society.
It is the 18th anniversary of the first Gulf War, when President George Herbert Walker Bush, Colin Powell, and Norman Schwarzkopf took Saddam Hussein and kicked his terrorist hide back to Baghdad, where the current President Bush finished him off and sent him to hell.
It is also the 20th anniversary of another man that has shaped history, Rush Limbaugh.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/08/01/rush-limbaugh-20-years-of-excellence-in-broadcasting/#comments
Whether one likes him or hates him, Rush Limbaugh has managed to do what few people do for 20 minutes, much less 20 years…stay relevant.
I agree with Rush 2/3 of the time. I like him most of the time.
The republican takeover of 1994 happened because of three men: Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh.
People who hate Limbaugh simply do not understand his success.
First of all, Rush Limbaugh saved AM Radio. This is not in dispute. FM Radio dominates music, and AM Radio was about to collapse. No less a liberal than Alan Colmes credits Rush with revolutionizing talk radio.
Rush is unique. He does not have guests. I personally do a weekly radio show, and I will not do a show without guests. To be able to talk for three hours per day is a gift that Rush has.
Rush also tapped into a vein that the liberal media refuses to admit. The media is overwhelmingly liberal. Rush succeeded because people wanted to have their voices heard. There simply was no outlet for conservatives.
When I was in college people assumed that I got my ideas from Rush. This was condescending
because it implied that I could not think for myself. It was also a bizarre notion because I had never heard of him. Until somebody bought me his second book, “See, I told you so,” I had no inkling of his existence. I read the book and thought, “Wow, I have been saying some of this stuff for years.”
Even though Rush was unique back then, there are now plenty of talk radio programs, including lil old me. So why is Rush still number one?
Because I have not been on long enough to dethrone him.
Ok, ego aside, it is because the man is funny. It is not his politics. He is an entertainer. He delivers his message in a lighthearted, jovial manner. He constantly reminds his audience to “be of good cheer.”
One of his fun bits centered on a political gasbag, Senator Charles Schumer of New York. Senator Schumer demanded that the baseball strike be ended with congressional intervention. He demanded that people call up congress, and say two words: “Play ball.”
Limbaugh recommended that his audience call up Schumer’s office and say two words: “Cut taxes.”
94% of the calls that came to the Senator’s office were against ending the baseball strike. Yet so many people called up and said, “Cut taxes,” that the phones and faxes had to be unplugged.
To his credit, Limbaugh does not give out the numbers. He also reminds his audience to be cheery, and not to be rude when calling up opponents.
Limbaugh is serious about his conservatism, and loves Ronald Reagan as virtually all republicans and conservatives do. Yet he is lighthearted about his presentation, often relying on hilarious song parodies from Paul Shanklin.
One reason Rush is enjoyable is because he is absolutely capable of conversing about other topics. He delves into the stock market, music, and culture. He is also a die hard fan of the National Football League, with his favorite team being the Pittsburgh Steelers. Some of the funniest bits have been when one female Jacksonville Jaguars fan would call in and harangue him after the Jaguars defeated the Steelers. Limbaugh’s own call screener, Bo Snerdly, purposely lets her through. Rush has gotten frustrated with Mr. Snerdly more than once, and his exasperation is amusing.
In 1997, Rush was married to a Denver Broncos fan. The two teams were playing in the AFC Title Game, and Rush explained that he was banished to the bedroom, while his wife watched it in the living room. Rush confessed that he was terrified of his wife’s wrath if the Broncos were to lose. He wanted his team to win, but he also wanted peace in his home. The Broncos won 24-21. Rush was crushed, but was allowed back in the living room.
Limbaugh has had three divorces. He has never claimed to be a success in that arena, and it should not dimiish his conservative message on economics and foreign policy.
He has battled an addiction to prescription pain killers, and suffered hearing loss that could have ended his career.
Yet he keeps chugging along, because very few have been able to blend his conservative political outlook with a fun, entertaining program.
Liberals tried silencing him by bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, known as the “Hush Rush” law. Limbaugh delights i pointing out that the reason they do this is because liberals fail in the free market place. Air America hired people that had comedic backgrounds, but they focused too much on angry politics and hatred, rather than simply being entertaining. The rest are just boring.
I have not listened to Rush in years. My commute to work is only about 10 minutes, so there is simply no need for talk radio. I am thankfully not a commuter.
Nevertheless, I am thrilled Limbaugh is still going strong after 20 years. Without him, conservatives would be silenced.
Liberals want to go back to the good old days, where things were more “civilized,” and less “coarse.” The debate was more harmonious then. This is because liberals were the only ones allowed to speak. ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, NPR, and the Jayson Blair Times controlled everything.
Liberals are not just angry that they are losing the debate. They are enraged that the debate even exists. The idea of “I am liberal, if you disagree with me, you are an imbecile, this is beyond dispute,” existed for so long. Rush shattered the monopoly.
Liberalism will never be wiped off of the face of the Earth, but at least conservatives have a chance to get their message out.
In America, one man with a dream can be broke twice, divorced thrice, and make it to the top through talent and hard work.
Congratulations Rush. You’ve earned it.
Just be careful. I am gaining on you. I am sure you would enjoy the healthy competition that capitalism provides. Besides, I will be honored to have you on my program. After all, unlike you, I depend on guests.
eric
“The republican takeover of 1994 happened because of three men: Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh.”
I’d take Haley Barbour out of that trio and replace him with Rupert Murdock. I think pretty much anyone could have been head of the RNC back then and things would have worked out about the same. But there’s no doubt in my mind, Rush Limbaugh was perhaps the most instrumental voice of modern conservatism – the “neocons.” I believe he is the Father of the Republican Revolution. His impact on the American political scene can not be overstated.
I remember when I first heard his show. I had just returned from California to New Jersey. It was 1989. I remembered all the talk radio hosts on WABC – Bob Grant, Joy Behar, etc. But then here was this new guy. He was not the old-school, fire-and-brimstone, hate-mongering, bigotted screamer. He was this smooth-talking, humorous, light-hearted, easy-going voice. It was something completely new. It was entrancing. And even though by that age I had pretty much outgrown my old conservative/libertarian beliefs, I still listened to Rush. To me, he was the voice of the New Right, a must-listen for the young politophiles like myself.
He was no Bill Buckley. He was not terribly educated, often making factual mistakes. But he was the new voice of the disenfranchised, white, working-to-middle-class everyman. He didn’t just vent their frustrations, he made them feel as if their was something they could do about. Unlike the Bob Grant-types, who simply said the sorts of things people wanted to say but couldn’t in polite company, Limbaugh actually taught his listeners how to say things in such a way that they actually could say it in polite company. He created a new language of conservative discourse – seemingly polite, diplomatic, rational. And rather than do interviews and allow opposing views, perhaps better stated than his own, he kept the show to himself, keeping the calls mostly favorable and taking advantage of opposing callers who weren’t up to the challenge. It was brilliant programming, though unfortunately unhealthy to the body public. Tasty poison, so to speak.
I can’t believe it’s already been twenty years since he came to NY. He truly did revolutionize talk radio and more importantly – American conservatism. I can’t say I’m happy about any of that. But I could never say the man hasn’t made a huge impact on modern American history.
JMJ
I cant help but think of Al Franken whenever talk radio is mentioned (dont ask me why) I would love to see that a$$clown go up against Rush. One on one in the same studio.
Franken represents everything that Rush is not.
Although I dont think Rush would lower himself to that level of compromise I would pay good money to see Franken get his a$$ handed to him.
And I can entertain myself at the thought of it, if anything
I don’t know if you listen to Limbaugh, Micky, but if you do you’d note that he never does debates, besides the occasion contrarian caller. He’d have a hard time with cum laude Harvard grad Franken. Franken has debated many big rightwing heavyweights and held his own just fine. Limbaugh has never debated anyone of note ever to my knowledge.
JMJ
Jersey, you need to lighten up and try and find some sense of humor.
Also, stop acting like the authority on everything.
you are not.
Franken may very well be educated but that doesnt mean that hes not a rip roaring idiot who does employ sleazey cheap tactics when talking about almost anything.
Basically said, hes a big stinkin liar.
Hes right up there in my book with those on the left that say they support the troops
I know that one man is a patriot who runs a class act and the other is a sublime America hating jerk
I did say that Rush would never lower himself to that level of compromise , so knock off your insinuation that I dont know what the man does.
Lower himself? He’s never debated anybody! He’d have to “lower himself” to actually debate someone? Are you saying that there’s not one single solitary “liberal” on the planet “high” enough to debate the great Limbaugh???
Limbaugh doesn’t debate because he’s apparrently not all that good at it. I’m sure if was he would. Not evryone can be good at everything. He’s a brilliant talk show host. That’s his thing. I guess debating is just not his forte.
And man I sure wish you knock it off with that sleaze of accusing your fellow Americans of being anti-US Soldiers because they think the war in Iraq was a mistake. 70% of AMreicans now think it was a mistake. What? You think 70% of American hate US Soldiers???
JMJ
“Lower himself? He’s never debated anybody! He’d have to “lower himself” to actually debate someone? Are you saying that there’s not one single solitary “liberal” on the planet “high” enough to debate the great Limbaugh???”
I know hes never debated anyone !
God bless didnt you get what I last said ?
If rush did debate Stuart Smally it would be like Ronald Reagan appering with Rosie O Donnel
I did not say “any liberal” now did I ?
You can BS around the troop support all you want.
You’re full of it.
And I made that very abundantly clear on the last thread,
Now you’re trying to cloud the issue by saying that war was a mistake, but in the wrong context.
The way the initial invasion was planned was a mistake.
The troops who just went in for there 3rd tour dont think so
And the ones who are enlisting now dont think so either.
And neither did the one before them.
Also , its not 70% of the troops that think it was a mistake.
Besides that. None of that has anything to do withh all the nasty things I have you on record as saying.
You said waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than you disagree and uir was a mistake .
You insulted and demeaned and disgraced our soldiers with all your nasty a$$ comments about them and their leader.
You cant change it Jersey !
Its there for everyone to see what a reprhensible thing it is when guys do an about face and say “I support the troops.
Everything actually says the opposite.
For every feeble little attempt you come up with to try and appear as if you do, I have something you said that says the contrary.
You just arent willing to face the truth, even when its about you.
Man, sometimes I think you have some serious security issues. That whole “support the roops” BS is soooooo low.
JMJ
Yea, go ahead, make it about me.
And you talk about low ?
You cant even defend yourself and your position without trying always to make it about something else.
Thata what you have to do when you’re loosing.
That thing about it being a mistake is not going to bail you out either.
The reality is that we cant leave now and everyone except Obama and his nutjob supporters realize that.
The troops are doing the right thing by staying until the job is done.
And yet you and the left would gladly see them leave and all of their deaths would be for nothing.
Can you imagine what that would say to our troops if they were told to go home iimmediatly or at some screwed up timetable ?
You can try to turn it around by calling me low but anyone with any sense can see just by looking at all that you have said that its not me who is low.
Uh uh buddy. You may think your kindergarten psychology works but it aint happenung bro.
I am standing behind our troops on many mnay more issues than you are.
Plain math makes you wrong.
You cant get out of this. And everytime you try you just get it right back against you.
Go ahead, read the other thread.
You could not controvert any one thing that pointed out as you not supporting the troops. Not one issue or claim of yours was able to be validated
Just like your latest attempt with the “mistake” thing.
Yea, thats right.
Lets just give up and make all the guys come home no matter what
BUT MAKE SURE WE TELL THEM THAT WE SUPPORT THEM !!!
Man, you lost this one plain as day
Oh, and the “man ” thing.
That was just a little taste of you always bringing up the “man” thing.
Its kinda dumb, dont you agree ?
Okay explain this to me when its Al Franken, Harvard Graduate = Genius, but when its George Bush Yale Graduate & Harvard Graduate = complete moron. I know liberals are by definition geniuses and conservatives by definition are idiots…it just get old.
I have listened to Rush on occasion but don’t really consider myself a fan. however I find this quote highly annoying:
“It was brilliant programming, though unfortunately unhealthy to the body public. Tasty poison, so to speak.”
Why is it that the airing of conservative ideas is considered unhealthy but the airing of liberal ideas is not. I remember the pre talk radio days when all that went on the air was the liberal position on issues. 60 minutes in the prime Mike Wallace & Dan Rather era was probably the worst example and it passed itself off as news not commentary. Whatever you want to say about Rush, he has always been clear where he stands and never tried to hide it the way the 60 minutes and network news folks always have. I never noticed them having real debates either.
You are right Rush is not a debater, but debating is a specific skill which is not a measure of intellect. Many geniuses are terrible debaters and many great debaters are not geniuses. In fact good debaters are trained to take any side of any issue and successfully debate regardless of how much they know or believe of their side of the question.
Parrot.
Its the snobbery thing.
It seems that the snob attitude is the only thing that can offer some relief from all the self loathing.
Its like when beauty queen trips on the stage and gets up a keeps walking with one broken heal, limping with that fake smile and her nose up in the air trying as hard as she can to hide her humiliation.
The “man” thing is just my speak. I guess I just write as I speak.
Parrot, do you really think Bush would have made it to Yale if we wasn’t a blue-blood? C’mon! Besides, his grades were mediocre. Franken was a cum laude grad from a regular family in Minnesota! You call that a fair comparison???
“I remember the pre talk radio days when all that went on the air was the liberal position on issues.”
You remember what? When? When the heck was THAT??? I’ve been listening to talk radio my whole life. I don’t ever remember such a time. There were a little more liberals back when, yes. But hardly a majority. Besides, America was a lot more liberal back then, and the radio stations were a lot more independent. We didn’t have the sort of cross-ownership and vast national networks we have today.
“You are right Rush is not a debater, but debating is a specific skill which is not a measure of intellect. Many geniuses are terrible debaters and many great debaters are not geniuses. In fact good debaters are trained to take any side of any issue and successfully debate regardless of how much they know or believe of their side of the question.”
Exactly. I doubt it’s that Rush doesn’t want “lower himself” to debate (though maybe he says that, but I don’t ever recall him saying that and I’ve listened to him for 20 years). I figure it’s probably just not his thing. Limbaugh, for example, strikes me as a lot smarter than say Hannity, but Hannity is a natural debator where Limbaugh is the consummate monologuer.
JMJ
“do you really think Bush would have made it to Yale if we wasn’t a blue-blood? C’mon! Besides, his grades were mediocre. Franken was a cum laude grad from a regular family in Minnesota! ”
Some people can have all the education in the world and still run a radio program into failure.
I dont see how you think that Franken didnt have a little favortism in some liberal indoctrination institute.
And really, you need to just enjoy the hypothetical joke that “IF” Rush did debate Franken he would rip him a new one, or two.
simply because he would nail franken on just about everything he says because just about everything he says is a lie.
Its OK Jersey, relax, we all know that you know what Rush is, just like the other 99.9% of us that do also
You apparently are much younger than me. There was precious little talk radio in the 70s and 80s, although there was some. The ratings were very low and they were not nationally syndicated. I do remember KGO in San Francisco was a talk format and Jim Eason was a conservative host, but that was the exception rather than the rule. Most AM stations back then played music as FM was just coming into its own. The top rated stations were AM top 40 more than anything. I notice you choose to ignore things Like 60 minutes and the network news shows which were clearly to the left, national in scope and were watched regularly. In fact 60 minutes may have been the most dangerous to to the body public, because it pretended to be objective news yet was constantly exposed misrepresenting facts to support its position.
A few things Parrothead….
I was lucky enough to have been raised in the NYC area, and so I had a variety of choices on the dial. There were plenty of conservative voices on the AM (and even FM) in the NYC area, and I would imagine that in more rural or southern areas, most of the talkers were conservatives. San Francisco is an anomoly. The demographics are such that Pacifica was probably the most popular AM location on the dial there. So, it’s an exteremly poor example.
I was lucky enough to be raised by a politically astute and interested immediate and extended family and so I have ben exposed to political viewpoints of all sorts all of my life. I did not just suddenly take an interest in these things at a later age. I grew up with it. So my age belies my relevent knowledge here.
And finally, please knock it off with 60 Minutes. It’s juvenile. 60 Minutes was the finest television news magainze on commercial television back then, not some wacky liberal cabal. They went after all news stories in the least biased way of all the commercial outlets. If you think they were not objective, I would suggest you have either very poor taste in commercial television news magazines, or you have no clue in the universe what the word “objective” actually means. And by the way, take a wild guess who Chris Wallace’s father is….
JMJ