Posted on 07/03/2008 5:23:25 AM PDT by txradioguy
THE ATMOSPHERE in the studio on the morning after our dinner at Trevini was relaxed, even festive. When I arrived around 11, Limbaugh was at his computer, wearing shorts and doing prep.
Augusto, his personal chef, was there, preparing lunch, signaling an occasion. Limbaugh skipped the meal, explaining that he doesnt eat close to show time for reasons of burp prevention. Snerdly, Dawn and the engineer joined me in the dining room, which looks as if it were decorated by Nancy Reagans fussy aunt.
Limbaughs program that day was, as usual, a virtuoso performance. He took a few calls, but mostly he delivered a series of monologues on political and cultural topics. Limbaugh works extemporaneously. He has no writers or script, just notes and a producer on the line from New York with occasional bits of information. That day, and every day, he produced 10,000 words of fluent, often clever political talk.
There was nothing he said that was startling he spent parts of the show mocking Obamas change mantra and excoriating those who believe in global warming and talking about foreign affairs. But if you think it is easy turning ancient Greenland, the influence of the teachers unions or changes in E.U. foreign policy into polemical comedy that will hold an audience for three hours try it for 15 minutes at your next cocktail party.
Limbaugh entertains, but he also instructs. He provides his listeners with news and views they can use, and he teaches them how to employ it. Rush is an intellectual-force multiplier, Rove told me. His listeners are, themselves, communicators.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Good article. I am surprised that Hannity could be considered a serious contender for Rush’s “throne”. I give him credit for the Wright/Ayers thing. But he follows Rush here and when he starts to talk, I realize that I have already heard these ideas...from Rush. Rush makes me think, I draw conclusions that he will often confirm. Hannity, though I like him for who he is, is like a yelping dog and actually thwarts my though process. I do like it when Hannity has guests, it helps. Maybe I am of a different generation.
Thanks, I didn’t follow the Ted Baxter comment at first. Wasn’t he a character in Mary Tyler Moore Show? Didn’t watch it much. Anyone that is clear in thinking and developed as a conservative can see that O’Reilly is an opportunist. He is just too inconsistent. Ted Baxter is probably right.
Well despite the great article is IS the NY Slimes...famously known for printing front page articles on how we are tracking the enemy and giving away our battle plans to al-Qaeda.
We shouldn’t expect a complete overnight conversion to journalistic integrity.
But at the same time he does drop little teases from time to time about where his house is (the turtles coming up on the beach) and his vehicles.
“That looks cool! Ill bet Ill look real powerful and manly if I suddenly go EVERYWHERE smoking a cigar.”
You may think that was Rush’s motivation ... I always thought it was a poke in the eye to the nanny staters.
Dittoes Rush!
Carolyn
Actually, I think Rush nailed O’Reilly pretty accurately. I don’t think O’Reilly has any original thoughts.
I agree.
The two hours of Mark Levin that follows Hannity helps to get me refocused after a lot of Sean’s innane babbling.
The one young conservative voice I do enjoy listening to when I can’t listen to Rush is Andrew Wilkow.
IMHO he is the Rush Limbaugh for the younger generation.
You think BORe is bad on TV...catch his radio show sometime.
Hannity is OUT OF RUSH’S LEAGUE.
At their core, they are different. Hannity is a GOP cheerleader. Rush is the voice of Conservatism.
As I recall, “Ted Baxter” wasn’t necessarily depicted as an opportunist. His character was drawn as vain and STUPID.
That should leave a mark.
LOL! And you, dear newbie, are going to be a ZOT.
I'm series.
What a strange thing to sieze upon to express your anger. I’m certain that your remarks have some specific meaning to you but I hope you can see how odd they really are?
knock it off
I listen to Limbaugh, until he does his worn out daily impersonation of Clinton. Then I have to turn him off. He also sucks air - worse than any broadcaster I’ve ever heard - very distracting - sounds like he’s slurping on his golden EIB microphone. And let’s face it, folks, like all of the talk show hosts, he’s a braggart, too.
Nevertheless, he’s good and Way ahead of the Great American.
rog
Is it a part of the Sunday NYT that we'd find on newstands ?
Oh, I think it would be great if we all went out and bought this issue. Then challenge the NYT to report its single-issue sales. Would be very enlightening!
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