Rush Limbaugh's Death Rattle

[Sleeping in EQ]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/opinio...tml?hpt=hp_bn7

[YOhio]

I'm sure at some point those predicting his demise will be right. How soon it happens is the big question.

[clackamascoug]

I admit to being on the Rush band wagon in the 90's. Around 2000 I started bugging my wife as she still listened every AM. She stopped around 2003, and we've never looked back. I get the schtick, appreciate the message, but I ended up hating the messenger.

[Harry Tic]

I admit to being on the Rush band wagon in the 90's. Around 2000 I started bugging my wife as she still listened every AM. She stopped around 2003, and we've never looked back. I get the schtick, appreciate the message, but I ended up hating the messenger.

I used to listen to Rush back in the 90s for "entertainment value" and while I was more conservative politically then than I am today, he would still somehow manage to say things that I agreed with, but in such a way as to make me wish that I didn't. I used to follow Rush, Drudge, and a few conservative blogs and then, sometime in the late 90s, I pretty much walked away from it. It was striking to note how much happier I was. All those voices had been a dark cloud over my head and I didn't even realize it at the time. I really do appreciate thoughtful, conservative voices but Rush definitely was not one.

[pellegrino]

I used to listen to Rush back in the 90s for "entertainment value" and while I was more conservative politically then than I am today, he would still somehow manage to say things that I agreed with, but in such a way as to make me wish that I didn't. I used to follow Rush, Drudge, and a few conservative blogs and then, sometime in the late 90s, I pretty much walked away from it. It was striking to note how much happier I was. All those voices had been a dark cloud over my head and I didn't even realize it at the time. I really do appreciate thoughtful, conservative voices but Rush definitely was not one.

I wish my dad would understand this. I think he would have a much greater quality of life if he'd just turn off Rush and FOXnews.

[VirginiaCougar]

I wish my dad would understand this. I think he would have a much greater quality of life if he'd just turn off Rush and FOXnews.

It is amazing what a distorted, dark and conspiratorial view these talkers bring to their listeners. It makes American Constitutional Governance nearly impossible. It really harms political discourse. We do have problems, and it is fine to disagree on political solutions - but the Limbaughs, Becks, Hannitys bring nothing but harm. Same is true of the Mahers, O'Donnells, etc. on the liberal side.

[Harry Tic]

I wish my dad would understand this. I think he would have a much greater quality of life if he'd just turn off Rush and FOXnews.

My dad's the same way. He's obsessed with a Muslim takeover of America. All he thinks and reads about is Jihad. It's amazing how many blogs there are devoted to this stuff. Heaven knows there is enough to worry about these days. Sharia law taking hold in the US is pretty far down the list. But once you go down the rabbit hole, it's pretty tough to get out. Come to think of it, these kinds of political fixations and fetishes are probably just as harmful in some ways as porn. It totally colors a person's experience of the world and it's difficult to dig out of a hole like that. It's gotten to where you can't have a rational conversation with him because his view of the world has become so distorted.

[YOhio]

It is amazing what a distorted, dark and conspiratorial view these talkers bring to their listeners. It makes American Constitutional Governance nearly impossible. It really harms political discourse. We do have problems, and it is fine to disagree on political solutions - but the Limbaughs, Becks, Hannitys bring nothing but harm. Same is true of the Mahers, O'Donnells, etc. on the liberal side.

I disagree. Talk radio listeners and cable news watchers are at least informed, concerned citizens. Sure they may not have all the information or the information they receive is biased, but at least they care. I'm much more concerned about the ambivalent who do nothing to inform themselves.

[Guest]

I wish my dad would understand this. I think he would have a much greater quality of life if he'd just turn off Rush and FOXnews.

My grandparents are just like this. Just the other day, Mother's Day to be exact, I just about got into a big debate about politics with them. I held back but it has always bothered of how much they watch Foxnews and listen to Rush almost exclusively. I wouldn't mind if they watched/listened to Foxnews and Rush while including some more liberal shows to get a more broad view of things, but they don't. I think the thing that bothers me the most about it is how closed minded they are because of it. I definitely think most of their closed mindedness has come from their LDS background but Rush and friends certainly hasn't helped any.

[VirginiaCougar]

I disagree. Talk radio listeners and cable news watchers are at least informed, concerned citizens. Sure they may not have all the information or the information they receive is biased, but at least they care. I'm much more concerned about the ambivalent who do nothing to inform themselves.

It is true that they are concerned, but they are not informed. As you note, the information is so distorted and biased as to make them the opposite of informed. That is a key part of the problem.

[Blueintheface]

My grandparents are just like this. Just the other day, Mother's Day to be exact, I just about got into a big debate about politics with them. I held back but it has always bothered of how much they watch Foxnews and listen to Rush almost exclusively. I wouldn't mind if they watched/listened to Foxnews and Rush while including some more liberal shows to get a more broad view of things, but they don't. I think the thing that bothers me the most about it is how closed minded they are because of it. I definitely think most of their closed mindedness has come from their LDS background but Rush and friends certainly hasn't helped any.

And then there is the other side. My parents couldn't be more liberal and consider Limbaugh, Fox, and Hannity to be the triumvirate of evil. They long for the day gay marriage is legalized, even sanctioned in the temple, and still cling to the notion that America is to blame for all the world's ills. All 5 of my siblings fall into different slots on the political spectrum but after some ruined holidays, politics is a not a subject we discuss any longer.

Edit: Let me just add that I too believe in gay marriage as does most of my family. I only pointed out their opinion on the subject because they've taken the next step in that evolution by wishing it would be sanctioned by the church.

[Guest]

And then there is the other side. My parents couldn't be more liberal and consider Limbaugh, Fox, and Hannity to be the triumvirate of evil. They long for the day gay marriage is legalized, even sanctioned in the temple, and still cling to the notion that America is to blame for all the world's ills. All 5 of my siblings fall into different slots on the political spectrum but after some ruined holidays, politics is a not a subject we discuss any longer.

I agree. Too much of one side is not good. And most definitely agree that politics should be left out of family discussions. A Thanksgiving a few years ago was quiet and awkward because of a political discussion.

[Shaka]

Smug+Alert.jpg

It is true that they are concerned, but they are not informed. As you note, the information is so distorted and biased as to make them the opposite of informed. That is a key part of the problem.

[Blueintheface]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2162[/ATTACH]

Holy shit, I thought of the same exact thing! Pass around the wine glasses, it's going to get stinky in here.

[VirginiaCougar]

Smirk. That is funny stuff. This response always makes me smile. One of the most common arguments of conservatives (at least those that consume that crap) who don't know how to respond is

1) How arrogant!

the second one, which I am waiting for is

2) the misapplied whine of "strawman!"

The information they offer is that distorted, no smugness involved. It just is and it harms our political system. I'd like anything to argue otherwise.