Back to Limbaugh...

[ERCougar]

Interesting piece from the NYT:

http://egan.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/fears-of-a-clown/

A quote from David Frum in the article:

If you’re a talk radio host and you have five million who listen and there are 50 million who hate you, you make a nice living. If you’re a Republican party, you’re marginalized.

[LA Ute]

I don't like Limbaugh's style and I rarely listen to him (and even then I can only take 5 minutes or so). But I think Obama and his people are making an interesting gamble by focusing on the guy. They've already driven his audience up to historic levels. It is shrewd to try to make El Rushbo the face and voice of conservatism. But what if people actually start listening to his ideas?

Ideas do matter, and for most of the last 30 years conservatives have had more of them than liberals. GWB's era pretty much ended that, as the GOP in Congress acted like the Democrats had during the 60s, 70s and 80s. Obama is not a politician who is gifted at articulating a real governing philosophy beyond broad themes ("hope and change"). I am not sure it is a good strategy for him to invite people to listen to real, opposing ideas about how government ought to function.

[frank ryan]

I posted this on originall threadbut language-gate had broken out and i dont think many read it.

but this is my take on the whole thing:

I think Obamas pushback against Rush is definite political theater. If Rush is the defacto head of the Republican party this only benefits the Democrats.
Some conservative white guys like him, but no one else does.
This last election, proved you can't win that race by simply getting a majority of white men to vote for you.
Think of who Rush alienates (and be honest) women, gays, blacks, Muslims, hispanics. He mocks attempts being respectful of other religions as "multi-culturalism" well the lack of literacy in multiculturalism from the Republican party will have a lot to do with their continued undoing. The GOP, and rightly so, has tried to put forth a different face by offering up guys like Michael Steele and Bobby Jindal. Rush would do the party good to chill out a bit. But, he won't because he is driven by money and ego.
I'm not sure I think it is very presidential of Obama to call out him, but I think it is politically calculated and could work. I also believe the many on the left are tired of their elected leaders taking it on the chin constantly by guys like him and Obama probably doesn't want to come across as a pushover.
On the issue of populism, I think O'Reilly, Hannity and even that shitbird Michael Savage do a better job as coming across as an "everyman" than Limbaugh. Their language and format lend themselves more to the blue collar working guy than Limbaugh's shtick. Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanan and even Ron Paul are populist, Rush is elitist. Populism is reform and leadership from the bottom up (think Minutemen). Limbaugh is pro hyper-capitalism and pro robber baron.
I also think any political party (or any organization) is in trouble if their go to guy is someone who has held exactly one job (giving his opinion on the radio).
Just my opinion

[venkman]

I also think any political party (or any organization) is in trouble if their go to guy is someone who has held exactly one job (giving his opinion on the radio).
Just my opinion

Rush would agree with that.

[Swimmer]

My take on Rush

I do not like Rush Limbaugh! No, I don't agree with much of anything he says, but the reason I don't like him is because of the way he attacks anyone who does not bow down to his rhetoric. Like was pointed out above, he has very few listeners among women, blacks, gays, and myriad other groups. It seems like he has alienated a huge group of people in this country and I don't think he cares one bit. He is a blowhard who tells half truths and quotes misleading stats that seem to "prove" he is right. Seriously, anyone who regularly listens to this guy should probably take some time and research some of his statistics about taxation etc. It is people like him that finally pushed me out of the Republican party. Admittedly, I never really fit in with the GOP too well, but I certainly could not consider myself a Democrat. Anymore, I'm not so sure where I fall politically, but I know it's somewhere between Limbaugh and Pelosi - perhaps dead center between them.

[il Padrino Ute]

Is there really a difference between Limbaugh and Obama (or any other politician for that matter) when it comes to attacking those who don't bow down to their rhetoric?

I find it amusing that so many who dislike Limbaugh seem to listen to him. Why not stop listening?

[RobinFinderson]

Is there really a difference between Limbaugh and Obama (or any other politician for that matter) when it comes to attacking those who don't bow down to their rhetoric?

I find it amusing that so many who dislike Limbaugh seem to listen to him. Why not stop listening?

Boy, wouldn't that be convenient... let the leader of the Right wing insurgency whip his fan-boys up into a frothy state of rebellion while everyone on the Left looks the other way. Only in your wildest dreams, ditto-heads.

[il Padrino Ute]

Boy, wouldn't that be convenient... let the leader of the Right wing insurgency whip his fan-boys up into a frothy state of rebellion while everyone on the Left looks the other way. Only in your wildest dreams, ditto-head.

Ditto-head?

I've listened to Limbaugh perhaps a half dozen times since he's been a radio personality.

[RobinFinderson]

Ditto-head?

I've listened to Limbaugh perhaps a half dozen times since he's been a radio personality.

I edited my post to read "Ditto-heads" so that you don't take it personally.

[Swimmer]

Good question.

Is there really a difference between Limbaugh and Obama (or any other politician for that matter) when it comes to attacking those who don't bow down to their rhetoric?

I find it amusing that so many who dislike Limbaugh seem to listen to him. Why not stop listening?

Be amused all you want, but I haven't listened to him in more than 5 years. I agree that he is no different than Obama in that way, but this man is making huge money by being obstinant, arrogant, pushy, deceitful, and wrong. I just believe he is not worth listening to since he has nothing productive to say in my opinion.

[Soccermom]

Be amused all you want, but I haven't listened to him in more than 5 years. I agree that he is no different than Obama in that way, but this man is making huge money by being obstinant, arrogant, pushy, deceitful, and wrong. I just believe he is not worth listening to since he has nothing productive to say in my opinion.

How can you say something like that about a man whose "talent is on loan from God?"