Happy 19th Anniversary, Rush!
First, Came Reagan. Then, Came Limbaugh.
By Hunter Baker Posted in Miscellanea — Comments (40) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Several years ago, I wrote the following about Rush Limbaugh for The American Spectator:
While a graduate student at the University of Georgia in the early nineties, I had the privilege of attending a speech given by William F. Buckley. The elder statesman of the movement amazed the large crowd with both his wit and his wardrobe. To this day, I remember his navy sportcoat, yellow shirt, khaki pants, and RED belt. You’ve got to be good to pull that look off, but Buckley was equal to the task.
At the end of his presentation, he allowed questions. The first supplicant approached the microphone and hopefully inquired, "Mr. Buckley, what do you think about Rush Limbaugh?" This was during the time when Rush was still something of a rising star. His rhetoric was bombastic, hard-edged, and wickedly funny. Members of the audience shifted forward in their seats expectantly as Buckley answered by telling the following story.
There were two Spaniards sitting in a bar. One asked the other, "What do you think about General Franco?" Instead of answering, the man gestured for his friend to follow him outside. Once on the sidewalk, he motioned for the friend to follow him to his car. They got in the car and drove to a forest. Deep in the woods, he parked the car and beckoned the friend to hike with him down to a lake. At the edge of the lake, he pointed to a boat which they boarded. He grabbed the oars and rowed to the center of the lake. Finally, he sat still, looked his friend in the eyes and paused for a moment. "I like him." Buckley told the story so brilliantly and created so much suspense, the denouement brought the house down amid gales of laughter and happy applause.
We all share Buckley's appreciation for an amazing phenomenon in the modern history of conservatism. Just as we hope for longevity on the bench for Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito, we hope for an inexhaustible supply of broadcast minutes emanating from the Golden Microphone. Thanks for everything.
END.
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Happy 19th Anniversary, Rush! 40 Comments (0 topical, 40 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
It's not just that El Rushbo is a tireless conservative advocate. We have thousands of those. It's not just that he's humrous witty, and quick with the reparte. We have tons of those.
Rush is one of the premiere conservative thinkers, and spectacularly able to articulate clearly the core conservative message.
He was the pioneer who blazed the trail for others, but he's much more. Quite often the pioneers are great in their way, but once they've tamed the new land, they are unable to survive orderly times and competitors. Now that the radio-scape is littered with conservative talk-show hosts, Rush is still the top dog, and he is BY FAR the best. That's greatness.
It's war -- so when can we start shooting back at the enemy Democrats?
...or is this just satire?
Rush Limbaugh worship?
Ann Coulter worship?
And then this:
It's war -- so when can we start shooting back at the enemy Democrats?
Wow!
Wanna cut the trolling?
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We are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice!
Live for the swarm.
You misunderstand your place in this fishbowl. I tell you to cut the trolling. You have two choices: Cut the trolling, or leave the board, voluntarily or involuntarily. "Arguing with the moderator" is not one of your options.
Are we cool now?
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We are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice!
...that you were the moderator. If I had known that you were such an important person I would have been much more respectful. Isn't calling me a "female aardvark" beneath the dignity expected of a moderator? Your "In the name of theocracy, anything is acceptable" statement was pretty funny. Sad, but funny nonetheless.
No need to give me the boot. I'm leaving voluntarily. Not much to see here anyway. :)
He sometimes makes mistakes in logic and interpretation. He sometimes acts smarter than he is (though he's bright enough, don't get me wrong). But who doesn't do those things?
I like him because he's fun, even when I (think I) spot one of those rare errors.
I like him because he's unabashedly, unflinchingly American. He may not like what some group or a part of the government is doing, but as an optimist he never says he doesn't like where the country as a whole is.
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Gone 2500 years, still not PC.
I'm not a dunce, hell, I'm the smartest man I know (but then again I live in TN). I by nature of my previous profession, am very logically and problem solving oriented. I listen to people because they defy my preconceptions. If you defy my well constructed logical arguments with pap, I stop listening. No logic, no interest.
If you back up your claims I listen. Several times over the years I have completely reversed myself, when an alternate viewpoint was satisfactorily proven to be correct. I don't view myself as a slave to any ideology, only as a proponent of logic and fact. Prove me wrong and I'll support your argument (not as easy as it sounds, since my argument will be based in hard fact and logic). I have, however, been proven wrong.
I find this to be invigorating (new avenues to explore) not humiliating. I have had a number of epiphanies in my life, some spiritual, some ideological, and most CAS tactical.
So? I started serious listening to Rush because he proposed answers to questions I had not considered. On further examination, I found his arguments were factually correct. He challenged my views, but could back-up his claims. Few commentators on either side of the political divide have challenged me to think. Fewer still have caused me to reconsider my base arguments. William F. Buckley, a towering intellect, was the first, Rush was the second.
I hope many more follow.
P.S. If a lily pad doubles in size every day and fills a pond in 30 days, how long will it take 2 lily pads to fill the same pond.(Answer: 29 days)An exercise in unconventionally thinking. If you work the problem backwards, "How full is the pond at 29 days" the problem is simple, "Half full with one, so full with two", done. If you work it from day one it's a much more difficult problem. Rush may not be William F. Buckley but he does think unconventionally and that requires me to rethink. I like that.
"The only way to negotiate with your enemy, is with your knee on his chest and your knife at his throat." - Anon.
....I always look forward to 11 am when I can flip on my radio that is pre-set to KMOX here in St. Louis. 11-2 is the fastest 3 hours of my work day.
I think a very strong case can be made that Rush Limbaugh has done more for conservatism and the Republican Party than nearly any other person in history, including elected officials. I don't know if people realize or appreciate his IMMENSE influence all across the country. He was deemed to be such a catalyst in the 1994 GOP victory that he was made an honorary member of Congress that year.
Anyway, MEGA-DITTOS from St. Louis!!!
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
I walked into my contract Post Office (for those of you who may or may not know, the Postal Service contracts with people to provide postal service for small towns and they pretty much let the people run it however they want as long as they get the mail out and in, which is the same way they ought to run the rest of the system, but that's another matter for another day) and on the radio in the background I heard the distinctive EIB theme music. I smiled to myself, knowing that the little old ladies who run the post office listen to Rush.
I'm on the phone most of the day with customers but thanks to Rush 24/7, I catch the whole show every evening when I get home. Best addiction I've ever had.
I often wear my "Club Gitmo" t-shirt. I've never gotten a snide remark but I do get the occasional compliment.
He says he'll never quit until everyone agrees with him. I hope he never retires.
www.scottbomb.com
Click here to donate to the Fred Thompson campaign.
The first time I heard Rush was on a lunch break in August of 1989 on the old WCKY here in Cincy. I was just switching stations in my car and started listening to him.
I cannot tell you the shock it was to hear someone on the radio who believed as I did. Those of you who are under 35 probably can't even relate to it. Somebody on the radio finally saying the things I believed in. You just NEVER heard it. NEVER. I went though a drive through and ate my lunch in the car, listening, fascinated that this could happen, wondering if he was only on there for a day.
On the way back to work his gay community update theme came on (oh how I miss all those old updates). I laughed so hard I drove off the road.
Have listened to him ever since. I don't always agree with him. I think he cuts President Bush and the Republican leaders way too much slack. But I don't know what we would do without his voice. I know we have no political leadership at this time.
.....however he raked the GOP leadership over the coals pretty good during the immigration fight. I believe he said something like "I'm not carrying the water for these guys anymore. The current Republican leadership has not only lost the Congress, but they're on their way to destroying the base".
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
I am under thirty-five and I can relate to it.
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
Rush is great. Neil Peart is the greatest rock drummer of all time!
He is just an entertainer. His "facts" are only the facts according to him and he's a conceited blow hard at times. Don't get me wrong, he's been an important part of our movement, but he's not the end all anymore.
...and he's a conceited blow hard at times.
Hmm I wonder if you have listened enough. That stuff is not supposed to bother you. That is all by design- to entertainingly push the buttons of the new, the young, the naive, and the opposition.
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"I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
I like Rush. That said his show is not available in my current radio market. Consequently, I have not regularly enjoyed his broadcasts since around about 2001. I wonder if his show has changed much since around about 2001.
P.S. I miss his 1990’s TV show.
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
during the Lewinsky saga. I had badmouthed him for years without ever having heard him, a common lefty pasttime. He was a true revelation and a huge influence on my shift during that year to strong conservative. He'll never know how grateful I am that he helped cure me of my decades-long cognitive dissonance.
I podcast Rush. For the past few months I've been working a truly sadistic 12 hour night shift IT job (I work from home), and listening to that day's show during my work hours keeps me sane. A couple of nights ago I was laughing so hard at the Edwards "More of a Woman" BeeGees parody I was afraid of waking my hubby sleeping upstairs.
But what I really appreciate about Rush, besides his articulation and true conservatism, is his determination not to let the Left and the Dems get away with anything without him calling them on it and making us all aware of it. This is why he scares them to death. He shows them for what they really are.
God Bless you, Rush -- may you go on for decades to come!
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
That otherwise sane people willingly follow this man. Hey, were you listening when he had that liberal on his show to debate things? Probably not, considering El Rushbo doesn't have any guests on his show. That makes it awful hard for someone to call him on his constant distorions of the truth. Jimminy Happy Holidays, even Hannity and O'Reilly have opposing viewpoints in-studio occasionally!! Sure, he let's the most whacked-out lefties that call ramble for a minute before destroying them, they're easy and fun...like shooting fish in a barrel, or Republicans in a whorehouse.
Let's also not forget that Rush thought that anyone convicted of a drug crime (possesion, distribution, whatever) should do hard time, especially white males...until he got caught. Then, apparently, it was all a witch hunt to get poor old RL.
But wait, don't call yet! We still haven't gotten to the part where he said that the Clinton White House had a new pet...and promptly put a picture of 13 year-old Chelsea Clinton on the screen. Wow, it sure takes a big man to shine a spotlight on a adolescent and imply that she's ugly. (Wait! maybe that's part of his "comedy" schtick. Except, I never find his books in the humor section of my local bookstore. Hmmm...) What a good Christian man he is! BTW, have you seen Chelsea lately? That really must tweak you guys/gals.
Hey, remember the time he guest-hosted on Pat Sajack's talk show? You know, where he couldn't hand-pick his audience and got booed so thoroughly that they kicked everyone out whilst Rush sat there and sweated like W in a English class because he had absolutely no control?
Did you notice that he was the Chief H2O Transporter for the right...right up until they got walloped in the '06 midterms? That, my friends, is called "being a fair-weather pundit". It's also called "Oh *bleep*. I've been totally wrong about the feelings of the public, and it has been displayed in the largest way imaginable. Quick! Make them think I knew this was coming all along, and my listeners will 'Ditto!' themselves to sleep without being any the wiser." I'm disappointed that so many people fell for it, but not surprised.
Ahhhhhh...that felt good. Before I am escorted to the door (via a BLAM) for some lame excuse like "He doesn't agree with us" or for using the "republicans in a whorehouse" line, isn't it odd that I'll be kicked out while someone whose signature advocates shooting Democrats will be allowed to stay? And no, you won't find my "I got banned at RedState" story on Kos or anywhere else. Given the choice between conversing with folks who agree with me or arguing with folks who don't, I'll take you guys any day of the week. Au revoir...because you all went back to liking the French overnight, right?
Here come de BLAM, here come de BLAM...
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I am not sure what the point was to all that, but I hope he enjoyed it.
It was a rambling mess of illogic. I think it meant that he doesn't like Rush. In College Comp. my teacher was a stickler for clarity. He should sign up for it.
[walking away scratching my head] whatever.....
Wubbies World, MSgt, USAF (Retired):
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("An argument is a sequence of statements aimed at demonstrating the truth of an assertion.); }
No KnownFacts™, no troll-like comments. You simply chose to disagree with Limbaugh. Not everyone likes him - not even all conservatives. The Management doesn't boot everyone who disagrees - only those who make stoopid statements with no factual backing. Liking or disliking Rush Limbaugh is nothing more than a matter of taste...and you don't get booted for bad taste.
...when they see me they'll say, "There goes Loren Wallace,
the greatest thing to ever climb into a race car."
He posted with the clear intent of threadjacking, attacking us, disrupting us, and drawing the ban.
If some idiot wants to shoot his wad in three hours, blowing the chance to invade at a more opportune time, so be it.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik he drove his cadillac
He went a cruisin down the ville
The muezzin was a-standing
On the radiator grille
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
By order of the Prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the shareef
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
Now over at the temple
Oh! they really pack 'em in
The in crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
The temple band took five
The crowd caught a wiff
Of that crazy casbah jive
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the casbah way
As soon as the shareef was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the shareef was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the casbah
Rock the casbah
He thinks its not kosher
Fundamentally he can't take it.
You know he really hates it.
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We are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice!
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
It's whacko intellectual elites like YOU that worry me. You ignore his millions upon millions of listeners that dwarf any of the big 3 news anchors.
It is always the intellectual elite telling the rest of us how to think.
It only reveals your true intelligence.
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. Washington Elected Elite
Everyday, without fail, I turn on my radio at 11:07 to listen to the master..
El Rushbo...you are my inspiration
Hope you have 19 more...
I listen at night while doing homework.
Wubbies World, MSgt, USAF (Retired):
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("An argument is a sequence of statements aimed at demonstrating the truth of an assertion.); }
Rush is funny as heck. The guy really toes the line. Usually I can't stand partisan pep-ralliers who have a disrespectful, condescending, and combative style. Rush is too brilliant though, his pure talent makes me forgive him.
What I can't stand, though, is the genre he's spawned. You get people who don't have Rush's brilliance trying to follow on the trail he's blazed. People like Ann Coulter drive me nuts, and drive my moderate friends away from the GOP. She's not funny, just offensive. Rush should be the only one allowed in his genre.
for those reasons. Sometimes I get too much of Hannity because of his style. Being right is a separate matter from being enjoyable.
She tries to make serious points, but then ruins them at the end by trying to be funny. The result is at once a joke that is 10% funny and an argument that is 10% correct.
But you must admit that she turns phrases as well as anyone around.
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Gone 2500 years, still not PC.
I am a new listener to this butter-tonsilled master of radio. Now I understand why more people listen to Rush than watch all three evening network news programs [Approx. 20 million for BW, Katie C & Charlie Gibson]. Rush says his numbers are increasing at a rapid rate and I live right down the road from where he and Ann Coulter ride roughshod over the inane insanities that the MSM put forward as "news."
With Drudge in Miami & Rush/Ann in Palm Beach, here in Boca I feel bracketed by ironic points of light, as W.H. Auden once described pure souls seeking to enlighten those about them. The darkness from the Left Coast and Babylon on the Hudson is intermittently brightened by these rays of Enlightenment from the Sunshine State.
I just like listening to the guy, and I've just started about 3-4 months ago. Great story by Bill Buckley. Rush is actually a likeable guy. And takes on all comers, including some real loons, with courtesy and more patience than they deserve.