2009 Commentary Archive
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Welcome to eddobloggo®
Ed Donath Conservative Blog
Put a Rush on it!
As an avid fan of early talk radio and the co-host of a phone/talk show in the Seventies, it wasn't by coincidence that my car radio was tuned to WABC at noon on August 1, 1988. It was the day Rush Limbaugh first took to the air in New York City on what has become the flagship station of the so-called EIB (Excellence In Broadcasting) network which syndicates his perpetually most-listened-to radio program.
Frankly, while I found Limbaugh's Reaganesque philosophy and impeccable delivery agreeable and professional right from the get-go, he was also a bit dry and lacked the style-singularity of such New York Conservative radio pioneers as Bob Grant and Barry Farber.
However, by the next sampling just a few weeks later at the urging of a fellow talk-freak, Rush had honed his format and was already providing spot-on, sarcastic, anti-left criticism and witticism in the spontaneous style that has enthralled Conservatives and inspired listeners' dittos for more than twenty years.
Occasional callers and featurettes have always been filler material on Limbaugh's show. Rush's glib, lengthy rants alone can easily hold his listeners' attention.
Because radio ratings are all about quarter-hour shares of audience and because no one holds listeners attention for the length of those segments any better than Rush Limbaugh, his success has been huge and long-lived.
As a result of those superior communications skills and the ability to shed clear, bright light on liberal hypocrisy, the left has always hated and feared Rush Limbaugh. You can enter a dark room ranting at the top of your lungs but the roaches won't scurry until you turn the light on.
Who was the First Lady of Pants Suits referring to as she ran interference for her soon-to-be-impeached hubby by blaming all of his problems on "a vast right-wing conspiracy"? Who else but Rush Limbaugh, his legion of right-thinking listeners and the cadre of up-and-coming radio copycats spawned by his success?
Subsequent to a rousing 90-minute rant at CPAC last week, Clinton Administration Version 2.0 is hoping to accomplish several goals by demonizing Rush Limbaugh. Among them is to kick the GOP while it is down by implying that it is so devoid of leadership talent that it has allowed a mere radio celebrity -- one who carries bashable baggage, at that -- to become its spokesman.
Part of the reason for the Republicans' recent loss is that they refused to listen to Conservative voices like those of Rush Limbaugh who warned that RINO candidates could never win and, worse yet, would do nothing to advance the Conservative cause. While we agreed with much of President Bush's agenda, Conservatives strongly criticized him for each and every variance from the Ronald Reagan playbook.
Fearing that a Conservative backlash could succeed as soon as the 2010 Congressional elections if funded by a major party like the GOP, making Rush the leader of that party both obfuscates the administration's ongoing screw-ups and continues to place blame on Republicans (read: Bush) for their "inherited" problems.
However, what Democrats fear most as their Congressional majority's ratings remain in the tank and right-wing talkers' ratings soar, is that a new movement with an anti-government Conservative candidate fronted by the most listened-to Press Secretary in history could take hold.
Put a Rush on it before the Fairness Doctrine -- or some localized kangaroo court version of it -- slows things down.
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Reader Comments...
Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot!
PSVeggirl
Palm Springs, CA Desert Sun
[Right...and without his name in the title the not-ready-for-prime-timer sells no books. -ED]
What's really sad is that by President Obama uttering his name his ratings have skyrocketed. Between Big Fat Idiot and Al Franken still wouldn't find Rush.
TLAlbert
As I've said before, buddy, you keep dreamin'. :) Rush is the Dem's best friend - superior communication skills - yeah, and a great entertainer. But he's using those skills to enrich himself, not to help the conservative "movement". As long as Republicans grovel at his feet, the Dems will keep winning.
Craig51
Des Moines, IA Register
Rush is the thinking man for those who feel that they don't need to think so much. While it is true that in any kind of fair or free market Rush would suffer rating's-wise, the monopolized right-wing corporate message is here to stay on AM radio. The Fairness Doctrine made some sense in the old three-TV network days, but the procedure is technically out of touch and unenforceable. Even our lawmakers know that.
mcbreen
Cincinnati, OH Enquirer
[The monopoly exists because the left opted out due to "financial difficulties" (no ratings). Even George Soros knows that he can't make commy inroads in talk radio without a phony Fairness Doctrine behind him. -ED]
Obviously a MAJORITY of Americans are not paying any attention to this drug addled moron. Spontaneous? Witty? Maybe half-witty. EIB must stand for egotistical ignorant bast#$%@!
blutarski
Mansfield, OH News Journal
[But half his brain is tied behind his back so guys like you can get in a petty dig once in a while. -ED]
Couple problems with your screed. Aside from the fact that it's inaccurate... "However, what Democrats fear most as their Congressional majority's ratings wane while right-wing talkers' ratings soar, is that a new movement with an anti-government Conservative candidate fronted by the most listened-to Press Secretary in history will take hold. Put a Rush on it before the Fairness Doctrine slows it down" First, congressional ratings are not waning, they're increasing. Just this week, up to 31% [link removed] 43% - (up from 18% last week) only 19% - R (down from 23% last week) by party line. But, who needs facts? It messes up a good screed, no? And, the fairness doctrine. Won't happen, so stop worrying your pretty little head about that.
brynb
Lansing, MI State Journal
[Wow. I didn't realize that Congress' pop rating was as high now as President Bush's was on Election Day. A by-product of Rush's visibility is that it may actually be preventing the left from bringing back the FD because they don't want to be perceived as censors AND socialists at the same time...so perhaps you're right and I won't worry my "pretty little head". (I'll let your sexist remark slide this time.) -ED]
This must be a joke. No one is scared of Rush Limbaugh. Contemptuous but not scared.
LiberalWeenie
Salinas, CA The Californian
[So you're not a weenie anymore? -ED]
This entire incident regarding Rush, Rick Santelli, Jim Cramer, Joe the plumber and the Obama Whitehous's relentless attacks on them and anyone else who dares speak out against Americas new socialist government is very reminiscent of the old Soviet Unions tactics for dealing with free speech and opponents to their "cause". What's next Obama? Is Carl Rove going to be found shot to death on his doorstep due to a "completely unrelated incident" or will we be listening to Limbaugh's next broadcast from a hospital bed due to a mysterious, acute radiation poisoning?
mweiser
Rochester, NY Democrat/Chronicle
[Expletive Deleted] when are you people going to learn? Rush Limbaugh's entire raison d'etre is ratings and ratings alone. He is to politics what Michael Jackson is to music -- a fad that falls apart with no audience. And don't think for a second Limbaugh doesn't know it. It's that constant pressure -- the never-ending need to be diligently chasing anyone's attention that leads him to obesity and drug abuse. The world it too full of Limbaughs, none of which I'd lend money to. If you're so hell bent on lionizing emotionally crippled human beings, I have a brother-in-law who will probably build you a deck in the bargain. At least you'd get something substantive out of it.
ed
[I don't care for Michael Jackson, his personality flaws or his music but I'd never be petty enough to say that his popularity is a fad after all these years of mega-music sales and sold-out concerts. BTW, I'm pretty sure that Mr. Limbaugh will never hit you up for a loan...and I wonder what your bro-in-law says about you. - ED]
Rush Limbaugh is not someone to emulate given his questionable history with pharmaceuticals that require prescriptions. I don't see that he provides any entertainment value either. In fact, he is disturbing. The recent comment he made about "hoping Obama failed" was ill-timed and childish to say the very least. I suppose a man with his bank account is able to make comments like that as he remains relatively unaffected by the current state of the economy. I think what I find most compelling is the paranoia diatribe he spouts off on a daily basis as well as his ability to twist the facts to suit his agenda. It is beyond me why anyone would want this individual to represent them. The Republican party is not current with the times and therefore have become irrelevant. Republicans should turn their clocks ahead 100 years this Sunday and join the rest of us in this century.
Anonymous
[I also hope Obama fails so he can be replaced by a president who isn't one of your up-to-date komrads. -ED]
Why would a sitting president and his majority congress be so perturbed over a talk show host unless they realized he is telling the truth that they do not want to get out to the silent majority? Fear is Heard in the Voices...
ListenerForever
Newark, DE
As far as I'm concerned anyone who can watch Rush with his fat face and his jiggling chest under that sexy black outfit without getting a bit ill to their stomach isn't quite normal.
Minnesota farm girl
[Ya gotta stop watching radio! -ED]
Well to say that Rush has bash-able baggage by H Clinton is sorta like the kettle and pot thing. Why is it that all of a sudden Rush has become the talk of the town?
tommyok65
[See above...and below. -ED]
I don't always agree with Rush, but do generally enjoy his show. He is a gifted communicator, has a great sense of humor, let's face it all you have to do is say the word, Clinton, and most folks generally chuckle a bit. Rush helped to create that with his funny parody songs and comments about the President Clinton Presidential Library and Massage Parlor, etc. He saved AM radio from going silent in the 1980's and made the radio talk show industry into a major part of the radio world. Like his point of view or not, he's good at what he does and the largest American radio audience ever tunes in 5 days a week to hear his latest parody and commentary. One correction to your commentary. The network that syndicates Rush's show is owned by Clear Channel, it is the Premiere Radio Network, the EIB (Excellent in Broadcasting Network) is a part of Rush's shtick and doesn't really exist.
Mike
New Castle, DE
"As a result of those superior communications skills and the ability to shed clear, bright light on liberal hypocrisy, the left has always hated and feared Rush Limbaugh." That is soooo funnny. I thought the left hated him because he spews elite, ego-driven, racially-superior, garbage while being morbidly obese, dressing like a Russian mob-boss and taking pain-killing drugs. In the words of another great GOP leader, Michael "Cool Daddy" Steele- "My Bad."
SteveWilson
Pensacola, FL NewsJournal
[OK Steve. I'm waiting for your astute, unbiased opinion as to why Rhambo, Barry-0, Carville and his Clintonista posse are spending so much of their time -- during such a catastrophic set of inherited crises -- on such a despicable, inconsequential humanoid as Rush Limbaugh. -ED]
I dropped an email to the White House suggesting that the way to quell criticism is simply to silence your critics. The "Fairness Doctrine" (regardless of what it's called) will accomplish that but, not just yet. Mr. Obama and the lefties in Congress will probably wait until they unbalance the Supreme Court in THEIR favor. In the meantime they'll stir-up a maelstrom of protest by dropping negative Limbaugh, et al. comments here and there and distracting the electorate from the rest of their Marxist agenda. That is what Bill Ayers wants, isn't it? You can bet he's lurking in the shadows somewhere near the White House. Oh what a dreadful hand we have been dealt.
Fairportion
Yeah, I am pulling for Rush. That is the guy I want to see out front of the Republican party. If I had to pick out a public face for the party that is preserving the legacy of George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Scooter Libby, David Vitter, Larry (wide stance) Craig, Ken Lay, Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Tom Delay, aw, the list is too long - I could not hand pick anyone more fitting than that aficionado of hillbilly heroin, that tub of outgassing goo, El Rushbo. Yeah - he is an expert at hypocrisy, all right. It's practically his brand name. Long may he bloviate.
Maturin42
Salisbury, MD Daily Times
[I see. So making Limbaugh into the "leader of the GOP" is a Democrat thing. Gee, I just thought we had an entertaining legacy preserver with the largest volunteer radio audience in the USA. Thanks for explaining that no one actually fears Rush's influence. Did you know that Barry-0 uses a teleprompter for each of his daily bloviations? Otherwise he'd sound like um, ah, er Robert ah, um, er Gibbs. -ED]
Sorry but to take someone with an Oxycontin problem seriously is sad... the guy blames EVERYTHING on the left.. just like Ann Coulter (except he hasn't bashed the wives of the victims of 9/11).
almonds26
Salem, OR Statesman-Journal
[Coulter plays the shock card in her public appearances to get people to read her columns and books. Obviously, that Howard Stern tactic has worked for her. On the other hand, Limbaugh tells it like it is and, therefore, is a threat to anyone who relies on image over content to maintain their popularity and power. -ED]
They are attacking Rush to get people's minds off of their horrible policies. It is straight out of the socialist playbook...they stink, so attack someone who is successful!
The Dems' face...Barney Frank, Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy...running prostitution rings out of their apt., being accused many times of rape, and letting a pregnant lady drown....who are the leftist junk in this country to complain...They single handedly destroyed the Black Family in this country. Welfare destroys so many lives and hardly ever helps.
SandMan1973
Being loud doesn't make you a good communicator.
LeaninLeft
Great Falls, MT Tribune
[Nor does being able to read from a teleprompter. - ED]
© Copyright Ed Donath
Op/Ed & eddobloggo®
March 6, 2009
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