Is Rush Limbaugh a happy man?

The Priestly Pugilist ^ | 5/6/2009 | Priestly Pugilist

[Balt]

Is Rush Limbaugh a happy man? To some, the question may seem ridiculous, particularly to Rush; after all, this is the man who has everything. But to those of us who represent what can now only be referred to as the “old fashioned conservatives”—often misrepresented as “social conservatives” or “the religious right”—it is an obvious question; since it’s the person who has everything whom we instinctively recognize as having the most potential to be miserable.

Who are we? We are the ones who have been married only once, and who had no sex before our wedding nights. We are the ones who believe everything our respective Churches teach us, not because we are not thinking people, but precisely because we are, and recognize that no one person can determine truth without some kind of Divine mandate. We are sinners who have frequently fallen and seen others fall; but who recognize in that nothing more than our common humanity, and don’t consider our faith discredited by the fact. We are the ones for whom frugality and simplicity of life are virtues in and of themselves, regardless of the economic circumstances. We are the ones who believe that the United States of America became a great nation because, for most of its history, most of its citizens were God-fearing people who lived their lives according to the Gospel, and who see its decline in fortunes directly related to the converse.

And, perhaps most important of all, we are the ones who believe that “happiness”—however one chooses to define it—is the result of a well-ordered life lived in conformity with its own ultimate ends; which, for us, usually means the salvation of our own souls. So, I repeat the question: Is Rush Limbaugh a happy man?

Yes, we love listening to Rush for the same reasons most people listen to Rush: because he gives voice to what we are usually thinking; but we have always had to hold our noses doing it. Yes, our hearts swell when Rush so accurately exposes how abortion is the seminal issue that has the potential to destroy that particular political party which typically represents our interests, how the “country club” set laments our very presence in that party because we would rather lose elections than betray our heartfelt beliefs. But as we listen, there is no escaping what’s always in the back of our minds: that our principle spokesman is divorced three times, and is now “keeping company”—yes, we still use terms like that—with an “event planner” from West Palm Beach (and most of us don’t even know what an “event planner” is). As the “church lady” says, “Now, isn’t that special.”

When Rush announced his addiction to prescription pain medications, this was not a problem for us. We don’t like pain, either; and a lot of us know how easily such a thing can happen. We were universally outraged when a public prosecutor, running for reelection in a liberal county, became the first in the history of his profession to grant immunity to drug dealers in order to obtain evidence against an addict who became addicted through no fault of his own. And while we were objectively outraged when someone decided it was necessary to go public with the fact that a prescription for Viagra was obtained under an assumed name in violation of a plea agreement, we were still thinking, in the back of our minds: “What’s an unmarried man doing with Viagra?” Yes, that’s us! That’s who we are!

Once again, Rush has announced that he’s giving us another three day week because “some golf buddies are coming into town.” Despite the fact that he’s said many times, “I’m not retiring until everyone agrees with me,” the suspicion that he’s weaning us for his eventual retirement looms like a cloud, and causes us to think about who his successor might be. Glen Beck comes to mind: he’s just as smart, just as funny, just as passionate; and has, for us, the added benefit of being a family man—no “event planners” to cause us to hold our noses while we listen.

Be that as it may, whoever fills the EIB void when the time comes will have to be someone who does a little more than just hold and express the right opinions with passion; he’s going to have to be someone who walks the walk, not just talks the talk; someone whose rejoinder to the classic “your out of touch” argument is “No, I’m not. I’m one of you,” rather than, “Excellence...believe in yourself...I was fired seven times...you can do it, too!” as the “event planner” in the bathrobe chuckles in the background.

Rush Limbaugh, living on a diet of Allen Brothers steaks, surrounded by opulence, is a classic case that we have seen many times: believing in all the right things but unable in integrate them into his own private life; the kind of soul ripe for a deathbed conversion. It’s just a shame that, in such cases, death—or the prospect of it—needs to be part of the conversion process.

Toward the beginning of Barak Obama’s second term—and he will be elected again; the media will see to it, assisted by the blue-blood wing of the Republican party convinced that we must be ignored in order for them to win—he will announce the need for a Constitutional Convention. The wrinkled old document, written by slave owners encumbered by their own antiquity of thought, will no longer meet the needs of a new generation of Americans. In the new constitution, the government will no longer be a necessary evil which we tolerate for the sake of a well-ordered society and our mutual security; it will, instead, identify the government as the sole foundation of the nation. It will not be a document written by the people in which we tell the government what we, the people, will allow it to do for us; it will be a declaration by the government of what privileges will be bestowed upon the people as gifts. Among those gifts will be included anything and everything designed to keep the populace passive and the government in power: sexual license, free health care, guaranteed employment; with no one person being larger, greater, richer or more outstanding than another. We, of course, will be declared illegal, because we will advocate “hate.” Our children will be taken because we will choose to teach them that homosexuality is a perversion, abortion is murder, and freedom is more important than the common good—all things that Rush Limbaugh warned us about.

Wouldn’t it be better if Rush Limbaugh were really one of us? Rush is right about one thing: freedom and greatness, like all ideas, are born of words; and he is certainly the “word king.” What he often fails to recognize is something all great thinkers and speakers forget: “It is not those who say, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of my father” (Matthew 7:21).

Even in the new America Obama wants to create, we can be happy. Even in our prison cells we can be happy. Even on the scaffold we can be happy. The Matyrology is full of happy people because their lives—including the circumstances of their endings—were oriented toward that which they made the focus of their lives: the salvation of their own souls. I want Rush Limbaugh to know that happiness. He—like all of us—will need it when the time comes.

[Swiss]

**The linage of Jesus includes prostitutes, thieves, adulterers, and murderers.**

Only on his mother’s side of the family.

[Fresh Wind]

If Rush wants to take a few days off now and then to go golfing with his golf buddies, more power to him.

Some people take their vacations in a lump, some take them a day here and a day there.

Whatever Rush wants to do is fine with me. I’m not being forced to listen to him.

If you want to hear what an unhappy man sounds like, listen to Michael Weiner.

[elcid1970]

Your daughter is away at college and is unable to listen to Rush?

It is assumed that this is due to a busy class schedule.

Otherwise.....Orwellian PC, Thought Police, radical profs, dormitory snitches, feminazis, etc.

Sure hope it’s the former.

[roses of sharon]

Good grief.....reads like a high school tabloid, or a celeb rag.

What business is it of ours?

[mountainfolk]

I am trying to understand the point of this article about Rush. Does the author want Rush to change and if so, in what way? Rush is, IMO, Everyman. My flaws might exceed those of Rush, or not. His virtues might exceed mine, or not. We will both answer to the same God and that is the only judge that matters. Rush, like all of us, has excesses in many directions and I would not even attempt to judge his spirituality, considering that I struggle with my own. He has been willing to put himself in the public arena far longer than he needed to secure his personal wealth. I think that Rush needs time off frequently. Those of us who listen to him chronicle the horrible daily destruction of this Republic by this socialist traitor administration are helped by knowing we still have a spokesperson who does not shy away from confrontation with these traitors. I wish Rush happiness however he defines it. He is wise to take time off and mingle with others, whatever their political persuasion. His radio time is intense and he needs to refresh mentally. I appreciate what Rush does for this country and pray that he perseveres in spite of the self righteous nit picking from whatever source.

[arthurus]

Reagan won landslide victories in both his terms despitebecause of being firm on abortion and fiscal responsibility.

[dixiechick2000]

You got that right!

He’s a self righteous, pompous butt...and more than a tad jealous, IMO.

BTW, what’s an Eastern Catholic Priest?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Thank you for the correction.

[Yudan]

Typically “Eastern Catholic” is a church that observes the Byzantine Liturgy but is in communion with the Church of Rome, rather than one of the Eastern Orthodox Sees, such as Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, or Moscow.

[stevio]

Lets be clear: Being a "social conservative" is NOT the same thing as being part of "the religious right".

Bump.

[eeevil conservative]

Well he was happy when I left him this morning...

;-)

[Boucheau]

What a piece of crap!

I wasted a few minutes of my life on this.

Rush is one of the few men left in this God forsaken country.

The rest are low-testosterone, whiny, little beeyotches.

Status seeking betas who wouldn’t recognize masculinity, character and strength if it stepped on them—and it often does. The little bastards are always underfoot!

You can shove your article.

[M Kehoe]

Good evening.

Some of the stuff that makes it on FR is totally worthless. Then again, we have impeached a president, saved an election, and fired a drive by anchor...among other things.

;^)

5.56mm

[TheConservativeParty]

Rush often humbly tells us, his audience, how much he appreciates our support and love. He is as happy as most people who do for a living, what they love to do. Many days, when the news is disheartening, Rush still can laugh, and although he is honest in saying he is having a bad day now and then, he then jokes about it with his staff. I find him to be getting along wonderfully considering the hearing loss he suffered and the implant he deals with to be able to communicate. I’d walk over hot coals for Rush. He is deserving of the Defender of the Constitution Award he got at CPAC. He is a true blue patriot. Not a republican, a conservative. Like I am. Just a patriotic conservative. Going with what’s right, rejecting wrong whether others like it or not. Standing up for Truth Justice and the American Way. May God bless Rush with a long long life so we may continue to benefit from his wisdom and knowledge.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Is Rush Limbaugh a happy man?

He seems to be.

Why do you wish him not to be happy?

Perhaps some soul searching is in order because I didn't find any love, Christian or otherwise from the smuglit.

[Larry Lucido]

Does the author want Rush to change and if so, in what way?

The author wants Rush to go back and marry his first wife. And then he'll be REALLY happy. (Yeah, my eyes are rolling).

[Larry Lucido]

Who are we? We are the ones who have been married only once

Well, that eliminates this guy. Look how sad he is.

We now return you to your regular obnoxious condescension.

[Larry Lucido]

Well he was happy when I left him this morning...

;-)

Um, can you swing by my place tomorrow? :-)

[Randy Larsen]

Not right now!

His political philosophy has been hijacked by a bunch of useless rinos who a scared to death of their own shadows! I'm not happy either but elections have consequences!

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Let us know how your marriage stands up when you win the lottery or become the nation’s #1 talk host. It is not the hard times that will test you so much as abundance and I don’t think you’ve walked in those shoes.