"I guess Limbaugh gets a rush out of violence"

paragoulddailypress.com ^ | May 9, 04 | Travis Justice

[churchillbuff]

The cries of Iraqi prisoners fall on deaf ears as far as Rush Limbaugh is concerned.

But can he truly be faulted for that?

After all, the political pundit's hearing is permanently impaired as a result of long-term OxyContin abuse.

And how could a painkiller addict understand abuse to begin with? The man hasn't felt pain in years.

Nevertheless, Limbaugh condoned the horrific treatment of Iraqi prisoners on his Thursday radio show, referring to it as a "brilliant maneuver" on behalf of the U.S. military.

As most Daily Press readers already know, CBS recently released photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by American troops at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The graphic imagery captured in those photos has resulted in an extensive investigation to reveal the extent of the abuse and who is to blame.

Already, the world has learned of Iraqi prisoners being beaten, sexually assaulted and even murdered by a handful of U.S. troops stationed in Baghdad. Of the 25 deaths reported thus far, several have already been ruled as homicides.

Despite this knowledge, Limbaugh has made light of the situation, referring to the photos in question as "good old American pornography." He went on to say that humiliating male prisoners by having them disrobe in front of their peers was a "thoughtful" thing to do.

The controversial conservative is also in denial regarding the extent to which Iraqis were brutalized. Contrary to reports released by the U.S. military, Limbaugh apparently believes no physical abuse occurred.

"Nobody got hurt. Nobody got physically injured," he said. "But boy there was a lot of humiliation of people who are trying to kill us. ... Sounds pretty effective to me."

In fact, Limbaugh likens the prisoners' mistreatment to fraternity hazing, saying "this is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation."

Obviously, the pundit isn't familiar with fraternal groups. I was in a fraternity for four years, and no one ever sodomized me with a broom handle. Somehow, I doubt Skull and Bones alumni President Bush and Sen. John Kerry were abused either. Perhaps, Limbaugh attended the wrong college.

Regardless, the pill popper feels what happened in Iraq has been overblown by the press, referring to it as a "pure, media-generated story."

While I'm sure he would prefer that it was swept under the rug with his drug scandal, it's ludicrous to imply this story shouldn't be told. A fully disclosed investigation is the only way to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

Still Limbaugh contends "this is not as serious as everybody is making it out to be."

Well, considering virtually every American is ashamed of the abuse, from Joe Blow to President Bush, I have to disagree. This truly is a serious matter.

It's a serious matter for the U.S., because it's increased anti-American sentiments.

It's a serious matter for U.S. troops, because they're now endangered more than ever before.

And it's a serious matter for prisoners like Nagem Sadoon Hatab, who died in his own feces after a Marine snapped his neck.

Who knows? Perhaps, I'm just another victim of the "feminization of this country," as Limbaugh puts it, or another liberal with a penchant for pacifism.

I guess it's simply my failure to admit honor's gone out of style.

Travis Justice is editor of the Paragould Daily Press.

[churchillbuff]

"good old American pornography."

Did Rush really use that term? So now, "Mr Conservative" thinks porn is as American, and as harmless, as apple pie?

[oceanview]

Rush was way ahead of the curve - he said the pictures would be overblown, be presented without context, have the word "torture" assigned to each and every one of them, that the apologies would do nothing to quell this, and would be used by the media and the Dems to destroy Rumsfeld and Bush - he was correct.

[Reactionary]

I guess liberals get a rush out of being pedantic moralistic nitwits.

[LibWhacker]

Let's wallow in this until election day and hand the 'rats the presidency. Maybe that'd make you happy.

[Ron in Acreage]

What chicken coop did you drag this crap from?

[Big Horn]

Rush is right. The acts are overblown by the media.

[Texas Eagle]

Who knows? Perhaps, I'm just another victim of the "feminization of this country," as Limbaugh puts it, or another liberal with a penchant for pacifism.

The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

[68skylark]

And you brought us this article because . . . ?

[alpha-8-25-02]

where was the barf allert!

[holdonnow]

The spate of attacks on Rush over this shows two things: 1. David Brock and his new leftwing website, funded by former Clinton supporters, is having its intended affect. Brock takes comments by Rush out of context, posts them, and then lazy columnists like this guy use them to promote their lieftwing agenda. 2. This entire issue of prisoner mistreatment is now completely political, which is why Rush is being attacked, Rumsfeld is being asked to resign, and more to come.

[concerned about politics]

The only "outrage" I've heard or seen over those photos is from the press. Most people in real life think we're way too kind to the murderous, blood thirsty thugs. They started this war.

[longtermmemmory]

Has anyone else noticed the Rush-bashing being taken up a notch in the media?

With the failure of "air-amerika" it seems the partisan media is resoting to their desperate attempts to silence opposition views.

[razorback-bert]

no one ever sodomized me with a broom handle

First time, I have heard this charge.

[joesbucks]

Maybe that prosecutor in Fla out to put Rush on a box and attach wires to him and tell him if he falls off the box he'll be electrocuted. Or maybe in order to get him to make a total confession he should be stripped naked in front of a bunch of 80 year old Palm Beach females complete with digital cameras. Seems that may soften him up and make him more willing to talk at that point.

[concerned about politics]

Despite this knowledge, Limbaugh has made light of the situation, referring to the photos in question as "good old American pornography."

He's right. They looked like a gay orgy. You'd think the left would be cheering them on.

[mcg1969]

Indeed, and I wouldn't be surprised if Rush hadn't heard of it when making his comments, either.

[quidnunc]

As I wrote on another thread, I know this is a TV ratings sweeps period, but I don't know if it is also a radio ratings sweeps period.

If so then it is almost certain that Rush's comparing the abuse of Iraqi prisoners to college fraternity hazing was a ratings stunt designed to stir up controversy and attract attention.

Rush does that sort of thing a lot.

[Cold Heat]

Has anyone else noticed the Rush-bashing being taken up a notch in the media?

Yes, I have.

Also, some infiltrators have been stirring the pot on the forum.

Might draw one or two to this thread as well.

[holdonnow]

I have an idea -- let's kill this thread before it becomes another lib-generated hate Rush exercise. Good night.