posted
Rush Limbaugh has enormous influence among conservatives in the U.S. I've listened to him on and off for years -- always in small doses -- as he's energetic, entertaining, and often quite insightful. He has the liberal media (aka "drive-by-media" -- as in drive-by shootings) pegged to a T, and seems to know the liberal mindset better than liberals themselves. Lately, there's been this brouhaha with Michael Steele, head of the RNC, about who's the leader of the Republican Party. Rush makes no such claim; he's a conservative talk show host, and that's it.
For some mysterious reasons, the Obama admin has gone out of their way to taunt and ridicule Rush and conservatives, picking fights where they should just never-mind, and trying to paint Republicans as "the Party of Rush Limbaugh" (who didn't much care for John McCain, by the way). In doing so, they've shot themselves in the foot and will be hobbling around for months, now. It's not a fair fight, imo. Even with one half of his brain tied behind his back, Rush will easily outwit and out-debate this attack on him. He's got 3 hrs. every day to do so, and all the time in the world to develop his strategy.
Numerous Democrats and liberals are wondering what has gotten into Obama and co. for picking a fight with Rush. E.g.
quote:President Obama -- in whom I still have great hope and confidence -- has been ill-served by his advisors and staff. Yes, they have all been blindsided and overwhelmed by the crushing demands of the presidency. But I continue to believe in citizen presidents, who must learn by doing, even in a perilous age of terrorism. Though every novice administration makes blunders and bloopers, its modus operandi should not be a conspiratorial reflex cynicism.
Case in point: The orchestrated attack on radio host Rush Limbaugh, which has made the White House look like an oafish bunch of drunken frat boys. I returned from carnival in Brazil (more on that shortly) to find the Limbaugh affair in full flower. Has the administration gone mad? This entire fracas was set off by the president himself, who lowered his office by targeting a private citizen by name. Limbaugh had every right to counterattack, which he did with gusto. Why have so many Democrats abandoned the hallowed principle of free speech? Limbaugh, like our own liberal culture hero Lenny Bruce, is a professional commentator who can be as rude and crude as he wants.
Yes, I cringe when Rush plays his "Barack the Magic Negro" satire or when he gratuitously racializes the debate over Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who is a constant subject of withering scrutiny for quite different reasons on sports shows here in Philadelphia. On the other hand, I totally agree with Rush about "feminazis," whose amoral tactics and myopic worldview I as a dissident feminist had to battle for decades. As a student of radio and a longtime listener of Rush's show, I have gotten a wealth of pleasure and insight from him over the years. To attack Rush Limbaugh is to attack his audience -- and to intensify the loyalty of his fan base.
If Rush's presence looms too large for the political landscape, it's because of the total vacuity of the Republican leadership, which seems to be in a dithering funk. Rush isn't responsible for the feebleness of Republican voices or the thinness of Republican ideas. Only ignoramuses believe that Rush speaks for the Republican Party. On the contrary, Rush as a proponent of heartland conservatism has waged open warfare with the Washington party establishment for years.
And I'm sick of people impugning Rush's wealth and lifestyle, which is no different from that of another virtuoso broadcaster who hit it big -- Oprah Winfrey. Rush Limbaugh is an embodiment of the American dream: He slowly rose from obscurity to fame on the basis of his own talent and grit. Every penny Rush has earned was the result of his rapport with a vast audience who felt shut out and silenced by the liberal monopoly of major media. As a Democrat and Obama supporter, I certainly do not agree with everything Rush says or does. I was deeply upset, for example, by the sneering tone both Rush and Sean Hannity took on Inauguration Day, when partisan politics should have been set aside for a unifying celebration of American government and history. Nevertheless, I respect Rush for his independence of thought and his always provocative news analysis. He doesn't run with the elite -- he goes his own way.
Rush is fond of saying that the best way to overcome a bad idea is with a better idea. If the Obama admin thinks Rush's ideas are bad, then they should lead with better ones. They haven't been around long enough to see how well theirs work, but I don't think they're off to a good start, as Limbaugh points out daily. So we shall see . . . !
[ March 11, 2009, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Phil ]
-------------------- "The Light shines on in darkness . . ." - John 1: 3 - Posts: 7539 | From: Wichita, KS | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Phil: Rush is fond of saying that the best way to overcome a bad idea is with a better idea. If the Obama admin thinks Rush's ideas are bad, then they should lead with better ones.
Which is precisely what Obama’s Administration is doing -- and, mind you, was elected to do.
You are fond of seeing Rush Limbaugh as a Conservative. A lot of mainstream Americans, however, view Limbaugh as a right-wing extremist, and a destructive force in the Republican Party. And justly so.
posted
No, I'm not really all that fond of Limbaugh -- I can only take small doses of him every now and then. I just thought it was interesting to read what a liberal and Obama supporter had to say about this issue, and I agree with her points.
quote:A lot of mainstream Americans, however, view Limbaugh as a right-wing extremist, and a destructive force in the Republican Party. And justly so.
A lot of mainstream Americans just see him as a conservative talk show host. "Right-wing extremist" is a rather harsh judgement -- not one I think anyone who actually listens to Limbaugh can justify, imo. Indeed, it's just as likely that those who judge him as a "right-wing extremist" could be considered "left-wing extremists." Such judgments either way contribute absolutely nothing to cultural discourse, imo, but are merely ad hominems to discount a priori anything the man says.
[ March 13, 2009, 12:13 AM: Message edited by: Phil ]
-------------------- "The Light shines on in darkness . . ." - John 1: 3 - Posts: 7539 | From: Wichita, KS | Registered: Aug 2001
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Narrowing and marginalising the GOP ----------------------------------------------
quote:Originally posted by Phil: Such judgments either way contribute absolutely nothing to cultural discourse, imo, but are merely ad hominems to discount a priori anything the man says.
Really? Some of Limbaugh’s strongest critics are in the Republican Party (the few who dare raise their voices, without rushing to apologise afterwards).
And since when did Rush Limbaugh start contributing to Americas cultural discourse? He has the longest-running monologue of any public figure in the United States!
Ad hominems? I think we could fill an entire book with the unfounded adjectives and ridiculous labels that Rush Limbaugh has attached to his perceived enemies through the years.
Rush Limbaugh’s aggressive diatribe is no contribution to the nation’s cultural discourse.
On the other hand, I think Limbaugh, Rove and Steel, and their emphasis on lock-step discipline, are already contributing to a narrowing of the GOP that is likely to marginalise it further.
No, the Republicans have had their chance, and they blew it. Do I not recall some strong comments you’ve made about their behaviour? Facing the current crisis, the only solution the GOP can muster is "more tax cuts". That is a recipe for disaster.
You may also recall your history, and how the GOP reached an historic low after adamantly opposing Roosevelt’s New Deal?
Today we are witnessing the same. The obstructionist strategy that we see -- and which Gallups reveal Americans increasingly perceive (they’re not fooled) -- is IMHO likely to further reduce the "Grand Obstuctionist Party" in the next Congressional elections.
What America needs now is not a question of ideology. What is required is policies that work -- and stimulus that puts people to work, solving infrastructure challenges and making the nation more energy independent in the process.
I think many would be grateful if the Republicans would contribute to an intelligent and honest discourse -- and not just tiresome efforts to resuscitate policies that have already proved to be a disastrous failure
quote:I think many would be grateful if the Republicans would contribute to an intelligent and honest discourse -- and not just tiresome efforts to resuscitate policies that have already proved to be a disastrous failure.
I think that statement speaks for itself and amply demonstrates your view of Republicans and conservatives. Meanwhile, we have perceptions like Ms. Paglia's cited in the opening post that one can also peruse for what I believe to be a more balanced perspective. The President of the U.S. really ought not go picking a fight with private citizens, especially those who have a huge radio audience -- 90% of them Americans. That only deepens the left/right divide in this country -- something we had hoped Mr. Obama would reverse.
[ March 13, 2009, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: Phil ]
-------------------- "The Light shines on in darkness . . ." - John 1: 3 - Posts: 7539 | From: Wichita, KS | Registered: Aug 2001
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Seriously, if there is anyone deepening the left/right divide in this country, it is Rush Limbaugh.
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I agree with you on Rush Limbaugh.. and that goes for Shawn Hannity too... Oh they have a few good things to say, but it's still way too much hate talk, in my opinion.
. Shalom Place
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