A Message To Conservatives: "Your Silence About Rush Limbaugh Is Deafening."

MichaelGraham.com ^ | 12/24/03 | Michael Graham

[suspects]

A NOTE TO MY FELLOW CONSERVATIVES:

Your silence regarding Rush Limbaugh is excruciating.

I like Rush, too, and given that he and I have the same employer, I'm not exactly improving my career prospects by being consistent. It's a bad habit I picked up after years of listening to, and admiring, Rush Limbaugh.

And if we learned the lessons of Limbaugh (individual responsibility and the rule of law), how can we now agree to "Clintonize" ourselves defending him? A drug addiction is one thing, but blackmail? He's allowed himself to be blackmailed for years--the same years he was rightly pounding the stuffing out of the Clintons? And now he claims he's the victim of a politically-motivated prosecution?

What's next: "The b**** set me up?"

Of all the disappointing decisions Rush has made, these last two are the most disheartening. Consider for a moment what blackmail is: An admission that you know what you're doing is wrong.

The decision to fork over the cash is just that--a decision. It can't be any less difficult to make that decision than to decide to, say, go to your lawyer, spill your guts and spend a month in detox at Charter. So why not choose to do the RIGHT thing?

But that's not what Rush chose to do. He chose instead to continue, for years, to do the wrong thing and then--after he was caught--blame the consequences on the vast, left-wing conspiracy. As Rush himself said very wisely and correctly when Jim Carville made the same argument defending President O.J., "It doesn't matter what Ken Starr's politics are if you're innocent."

Bill Clinton wasn't an innocent victim of political vendettas. He was a perjurer and obstructer of justice who blamed others for his own lack of character and its consequences.

Which means, my fellow conservatives, that Rush Limbaugh is....?

I'm sorry, I can't seem to hear you. It must be that deafening silence again.

[Tall_Texan]

For my part, it's a wait and see strategy. Trying to equate Rush with Clinton seems a petty victory for liberals who also delighted in Newt's marital problems. For now they can feast on this (God knows they have little else on their table). I'll wait to see the outcome before I judge. Nonetheless, because Rush criticized Clinton and now he may have done something wrong does not invalidate the points Rush makes on his program nor does it absolve Clinton from using his office to try and fix a court case. Rush cannot be impeached because he holds no office. His political wisdom still holds despite his apparent lack of personal wisdom in dealing with pain.

Couldn't have said it better. Dittos. I, for one, am not seeking to absolve Rush for what he's done. But I dare say you can't compare Rush to an elected office-holder. My tax dollars don't pay his salary and his personal failings do not render meaningless the body of his work.

[fishbabe]

some of those who take illegal,recreational drugs have pain too....abuse,molestation,neglect....a lot of people deal with this kind of pain by using illegal drugs...they are hurting as much as rush did physically...where are the kind words for them????????? there may be a reason they use drugs to get high..it may be the only way they can cope with their horrendous problems,too...

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I believe the problem is that people like me just don't give a rats rear what Rush does. I didn't vote for him to lead me anywhere or to represent me in any political body. I listen to Rush to get the truth that I don't get from the newspapers and television news. I will continue to support him as long as he gives me what I need and does no harm to me or mine.

[fishbabe]

demos will circle the wagons for everyone but howard dean.........they would like to throw him to the wolves...

[CWOJackson]

This kind of argument is very common with the pro-dope crowd. When normal folks don't buy their normal BS they try to use emotional appeals...how can anyone deny vets?

Kind of like how the dems always talk about starving children.

[gatorbait]

This kind of argument is very common with the pro-dope crowd

It's also quite normal with the Military bashers out there , left and (sadly) right.

Well,if Jesus loves the poor, He must be wild about the stupid.

[pageonetoo]

...GOD ( you remember HIM, don't you ? ) ordered mankind, through HIS laws to behave, else they would be punished. GOD doesn't see mankind as inherently good and neither do I. They MUST be " coerced " and even then, they don't behave correctly.

Interesting concept.

What I understand is slightly different. I believe the Law was given to reveal our unrighteousness. According to Scripture, without the Law, our sinfull nature is not revealed. He did not 'order' us to do anything. He simply gave us a guideline, whereby we could attain fellowship, with Him. He knew, however, that He gave us a 'will', a choice. He allowed us to make our own decisions, about everything.

In order to become 'righteous', we can do nothing. We can only respond to His beckoning, and believe. Even once we are 'saved', we still are living as 'sinful' creatures. WE are just forgiven. I will be happy to add the verses, if you think I am incorrect.

...not of works, lest any man shall boast!

[Libertarian Billy Graham]

His reference to giving unto Ceasar that which is Ceasars is a general reference to give unto the Govt that which belongs to the Govt. What part of that are YOU confused about?

Why do you assume that "the Govt." has tribute coming to it? Are conquest of another country and demands for tribute in line with Jesus' Golden Rule? Do you think every two bit gang of thugs that calls itself "the Govt." is exempt from the Golden Rule?

Clinton WAS under oath.

So were those rounded up and questioned by the Fugitive Slave marshalls.

Except of course to you liberals...

I'm not a liberal. I'm an old conservative like HL Mencken. Mencken and the old conservatives knew that there was a very small segment of society, like Dane and nopardons, who given freedom would go nuts and drink themselves silly and probably kill themselves.

But, the old conservatives opposed Prohibition because they knew that it was just another Liberal big government inquisitorial Government scheme, like the World Wars and FDR's welfare state. You new conservatives are trying to tell us that FDR was right and that Mencken, Nock, and the old conservatives were wrong.

[Gritty]

Clinton was not bound to incriminate himself in front of the sex police

Nice to see you this afternoon, Mr. Carville!

[CWOJackson]

That's Reverand Carville.

[nopardons]

COMMANDMENTS are COMMANDS ! That's a pretty heavy way of ORDERING mankind; so was the flood and a whole bunch of other things, that GOD hurled against man. Expulsion from the garden, wasn't just a wee " timeout ".

Man has freewill,of course, but that doesn't negate the fact that GOD and Jesus gave a whole lot of laws, rules, and lectures.

Unlike Rousseau, GOD doesn't seem to think that all men are inherently " good " and left alone, will be "GOOD".

And as far as becoming " righteous ", doing NOTHING, isn't what GOD and Jesus the Chrdist had in mind. Neitherf is it what millenias of priests, Rabbis, and pastors has exponded upon from an alter.

[nopardons]

You aren't a " Conservative ", old or otherwise and Menken wasn't a conserfvative either; he was a currmudgedon and a political hack writer.

And, far frolm being part of a small group, whom you distain, out of extreme hubris, Dane and I and the majority of FREEPERS, not to mention those Consedrvatives NOT on FR,are the REAl Consedrvatives , unlike you and your whacky ilk.What's the matter, pet, the TRUTH of it all finally getting to you ? LOL

And, sweetums, this doesn't belong in nedws/activism...it belonge in religion. Losertarianism is as much of of sick cult, as any other daffy cult was/is, no matter WHO leads it, or preaches his own fringe of the fringe of the edge of the fringe drivel.

[nopardons]

ROTFLOL!

[gcruse]

Your spell checker just killed itself.

[papertyger]

...they are hurting as much as rush did physically...

No, they're not, but they are looking to redefine their problems.

[Libertarian Billy Graham]

he was a currmudgedon

That's what the big government liberals used to call conservatives--because they got in the way of their progressivist reformist cradle to grave utopian nanny state.

Here are the words of another old conservative who also, like Mencken and Nock, must be spinning in his grave now that nanny state church ladies like you call yourselves "conservatives."

"We have over the past 20 years, in the interests of 'national security,' laid the foundations of the emerging American police state, where there is no liberty, no privacy and no peace. Persecution of dissenters of any kind will soon be as routine as egg and milk deliveries. No one will question the dictates of Washington. By winning the war against fascism, we have become the fascists and will probably lead the world into a horrfiying catastrophe from which few will live to tell the sad tale."--Robert Taft (1950)

[pageonetoo]

Roman 7:4ff  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions F24 of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, F25 except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow F26 not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body F27 of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

[dread78645]

To lump someone such as Limbaugh in the same category as a street junkie shooting up in some alley or haunting some crack house is totally absurd; worse than ridiculous.

Yeah, Rush had a haircut, trimmed nails and slept in clean jammies.

</sarc>

[Libertarian Billy Graham]

Menken wasn't a [conservative]

LOL! Were Wilson and FDR liberals?

[headsonpikes]

ROTFLMAO!

You're a hoot, nopar!

Mencken knew your kind - he even invented a word just for you.

'booboisie' ... you could look it up.