Posted on 11/25/2015 11:34:24 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
In the summer of 1992, Rush Limbaugh saved me from myself. I was an 18-year-old high school graduate about to begin college, too impatient to wait for adulthood to come to me. So instead, I went in search of it the only way I knew how: by engulfing myself in presidential politics and the fascinating campaigns that summer between Bill Clinton, George Bush and Ross Perot.
Like many idealistic teens, I was at first drawn to the youthful Clinton campaign and Fleetwood Mac's cheerful command to "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow." But then I started listening to Limbaugh and it changed everything. I was working as a delivery driver, so I'd plan my trips at six minutes after the hour so as to not miss a minute of his show — a habit I keep even today. The way he described his belief in conservatism reached out and grabbed me and I've been a loyal listener ever since.
So it is not from a place of hatred or misunderstanding that I write this. I'm not a plant from Media Matters. But when it comes to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Limbaugh is a mind-numbing, frustrating hypocrite (with all due respect, of course).
His tacit endorsement of Trump, now occurring daily during his show, is almost impossible to understand. Listening to him gleefully discussing Trump is painful for those of us who have followed his advice for decades. Why? Let's break it down.
Look at the polls
For years, Limbaugh has lambasted the "drive-by media" for their insistence on using polling data to make headlines and drive the story of the day. Trump's appearances and speeches, for the most part, are Trump droning on about how well he's doing in the polls. It's often the only story.
Words mean something
One of Limbaugh's biggest criticisms of President Obama has always been the vagueness in Obama's message; in his way of speaking until he can think of something to say; in the blank canvas that he offers us to project our hopes and dreams upon. And that, when he goes off-message, he often misspeaks. Explaining what Obama meant to say has become a cottage industry for websites like Vox and full-time gigs for a variety of nationally known journalists.
When has Trump ever offered anything of substance? His speeches are meandering streams of consciousness, and although he claims each to be unique, they are often the same litanies of vague promises. Trump will negotiate hard with China and Mexico. Trump will make the military so strong it will make your head spin. You'll get bored with winning so much. Chinese bankers live in his building, which proves he can bring jobs back from China. Trump thinks reporters are sleazy. Trump will hit you so hard. And, oh, by the way, have you seen the polls?
Big government
Limbaugh has been the voice for those who believe in smaller government for as long as he's been on the air. So it would stand to reason that challenging Trump on even his vague promises to vastly enlarge an already bloated government should give Limbaugh pause. Apparently, it doesn't. How many new government agencies will be necessary to round up 11 million illegal immigrants, send them back to Mexico and then let them back in? How many billions of dollars will it cost to make the military so great your head will spin? How many government workers will be required to build the Trump wall, complete with a beautiful Trump door?
The Kardashianification of American politics
Limbaugh has long lamented "low-information voters," who, he claims, are responsible for the rise of Obama. It's not his policies that win the day; it's the fact that he's cool and hip. His celebrity overcomes all other weaknesses.
Trump took the money that his father left him and built a series of failed casinos. What else does he have to offer, other than gaudy celebrity?
The Limbaugh Theorem
Simply put, the Limbaugh Theorem is Limbaugh's explanation as to why Obama remains popular when so many of his policies lack public support. It posits that Obama is always campaigning against the bad guys or bad situations, even when those situations are of his own making. It's a disassociation in the public perception of him between cause and effect.
Just peruse Trump's Twitter feed to see the Limbaugh Theorem on full display. He's always campaigning; always ready to right to wrongs in the world. The problem, though, is that many of those wrongs will be borne from a Trump presidency. He'll be there on Twitter or on another stop in his perpetual campaign, making obscenely vague promises that only he can fix what is wrong.
I'm still listening, Rush. But I hope you are, too. We don't need another blank canvas in the Oval Office, gilded or otherwise.
Hale is a freelance writer who lives in San Antonio with his wife and three children.
These were loan restructures. Nobody ate his debt.
3 out of hundreds is pretty good, right?
BTW I've mentioned (illegal) immigration 3 times now in replies to you. Why the silence on that topic?
That is not an answer, that was a dodge. Answer the question or the reasonable inference is that your answer is ‘no’ you will not.
It boils down to you have no counter to the truth of what Trump is.
You are so desperate for someone to shout (aren’t we all) that you will take up with a liberal.
Shame.
But go on calling me out and calling me names and twisting the thread but in the end all this rancor will give us is what I’ve been railing against on FR for the last 16 years - the kind of corruption that comes with the Clintons.
If you ever tried saying something that was not a lie or misleading about Trump, we might bring that topic up.
You can’t bring yourself to do it.
And you freeze and polarize when caught.
I’m against it - always have been.
I have a niece in a long-term care home on a feeding tube (15 years now) since a drunk illegal immigrant T-boned her car (he’d been arrested for DWI many times). Was jailed for 7 years and deported. I expect he is back driving drunk in the U.S.
Next question.
To clarify, I’ve asked her the question roughly two dozen times. She has never given a yes or no reply. Nothing but non-answers. That is the behavior of a troll.
Basically you are assuming the purported conclusion of your argument, and then you presume to shame me for not agreeing with that method of coming to a conclusion.
What have you been smoking, or taking as pills? It must be some pretty demonic stuff.
Don't be too hard on yourself, lunacy is a mental illness, and you really can't help it. You do need help, either professional or religious help.
I'll pray for you and yes, you are a LUNATIC.
Look at all of your recent threads, how many FReepers agree with your approach to Trump? Many people don't favor Trump, but they are not OBSESSED to the point of LUNACY. You are. Get help.
I don’t plan to toss my hat in the ring for any candidate for now.
I’m sure Trump won’t miss my support, apparently there are enough liberals to pump up his numbers.
Define your behavior?
I don’t smoke, drink, do drugs - not on any Rx.
What’s your excuse?
“You mean like 3 business bankruptcies?”
Any idea how many business’s fail in their first year, any idea just how many business’s Trump has. Sometimes a bankruptcy is good business and they have to go for a variety of reasons. We shut down a business 3 years ago that had been successful for 15 years. The reason was our competitors came out with a product we couldn’t match. Sorry but shutting down a failing business is as much a part of business as starting one. We just try to it with as little financial loss as possible.
Check out my recent threads and then come back and apologize.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:cincinatuswife/index?tab=articles
If it’s ok for a business to file for bankruptcy, what’s wrong with me or anyone else doing it strategically? Home underwater? Bankrupt. And send another failed home shockwwave through the neighborhood. Oh and make sure you do it in a non-recourse state. Remember. sometimes it’s good.
We have your answer. You will not support Trump in the general election of 2016. I will remind everyone of your definitive stance from now on.
Since you oppose our open borders and wish our immigration laws were enforced I do not understand what you have against Trump. Trump is the only candidate that says enforce existing law. He is the only candidate that says deport. He is the only candidate that says "I am putting those people (Syrian "refugees") on notice. If I am elected they are going back". He is the only candidate that is solid on this issue.
Stop with the Trump is a liberal carp. That has been debunked already, Trump is less liberal than your darling Perry, esp when it comes to the Border. In your blind hatred of Trump you fail to see the bigger picture. Your claim of a pedestal about rancor and corruption rings hollow since you ended up supporting Romney, the poster boy for rancor and corruption.
MrR were discussing this the other night. Trump has several things going for him.
He has enough money to compete against the DNC machine, and to not be bought.
He is a creative and successful businessman who can inspire company and brand loyalty. So far no employees have spoken against him.
He has 40 years in the public eye and has been vetted.
He is a reality TV star - and lets face it politics has become a reality TV show with “you are the weakest link...goodbye†or who gets “voted off the islandâ€. He knows what it takes to keep people entertained.
He says what he thinks and enjoys pissing people off (I trait I admire actually). He doesn’t mind being the heavy or people hating him. They have for years while he laughs his way to the bank.
He is happy warrior. I don’t think he was serious in the beginning and maybe threw his hat in to be a voice, but you can tell he is really enjoying this now. He likes the chase and the spotlight and the fact people like what he is saying (including many who left the GOP after Romney for Constitution Party or became Independent).
Along these lines, he has made and lost and made billions again, it gets boring (here is where he reminds me of my great grandfather and great uncle). He has written books, he has had TV shows, he has raised more than one family. This is a challenge for him and people like him like the challenge above it all.
This country needs a businessman right now who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is and that resonates with people, esp the middle class blue collar.
Is he ethical? Not really (advantage of corporate bankruptcy laws - perfectly legal but questionable ethicaly) but look at our opponents. They haven’t been ethical for decades. The GOP being the ‘party of principle and ethics’ isn’t reality either. It has gotten us nowhere. We elect supposed conservatives who turn on us as soon as they get into office (look at the midterms) and then say ‘next time’ well we have over 20 years of ‘next time’ and the GOP caving to the dems and being run by RINOS who put forth losers like Romney, Dole, etc and moderates like Bush. The fact the GOP establishment HATES Trump is a good reason to support him.
He makes no bones about giving money in the past to both sides and admits he was an independent (contrary to Carson who dodged questions about being Democrat until recently). Trump is more transparent than most.
He is squishy on some social issues - I know it and it does bother me, but I still am supporting him because if we don’t deal with some big issues like terrorism, and illegals we won’t have a country to worry about social issues
For all these reasons love him or hate him - Trump is the most logical candidate.
Oh it’s a CW thread. I stepped on dog poop once, after cleaning my shoe I avoided the poop spot so as to not soil my shoe again. This is like that! ZOT!
It is trollish behavior. If she admitted and said ‘no’ I would be fine with it, but her baseless accusations and accusing us of exactly what she is doing is trolling on her part.
Trump is not the only candidate to want this.
His policy statement on the border/illegals will result in the same thing Cruz (as one example) campaigns on.
And I trust Cruz (Trump’s past is telling, liberal baggage).
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