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How to Understand Rush Limbaugh
Commentary Magazine ^ | February 2011 | Wilfred M. McClay

Posted on 02/02/2011 5:56:20 AM PST by My hearts in London - Everett

One of the many strategic errors made by the Obama administration in the early days of 2009 was its decision to take on talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh—though it was, perhaps, hard to blame the president and his people for trying. After all, they were riding the wave of a big electoral win and feeling pretty invincible, with large majorities in both houses of Congress and a messiah in the White House, and Limbaugh had just stunned the country, days before Obama was inaugurated, by summarizing his feelings about the new president in four simple words: “I hope he fails.” Limbaugh impatiently brushed aside the happy talk about compromise and bipartisan cooperation and scoffed at the claim that Obama was a pragmatic, post-ideological, post-partisan, post-racial conciliator and healer. Instead, he saw every reason to believe that Obama would aggressively pursue a leftist dream agenda: an exponential expansion of government’s size and power, a reordering of the American economic system, and a dismantling of America’s role as a world power. Limbaugh was not alone in such views, but he was the only major figure on the right willing to stick his neck out at a time when the rest of the nation seemed dazed into acquiescence by the so-far impeccably staged Obama ascendancy.

(Excerpt) Read more at commentarymagazine.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: eib; limbaugh; rush; talkradio
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Really great article on Rush.
1 posted on 02/02/2011 5:56:22 AM PST by My hearts in London - Everett
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

Yes, Rush, like all true Americans, hopes Obama fails in his attempt to make America a neo-Marxist socialist state.


2 posted on 02/02/2011 6:00:22 AM PST by AlexW
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

bttt


3 posted on 02/02/2011 6:01:06 AM PST by Matchett-PI (Trent Lott on Tea Party candidates: "As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them" 7/19/10)
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To: Matchett-PI

“In retrospect, the amazing part of the story is how thoroughly the White House misunderstood Limbaugh’s appeal, his staying power, and his approach to issues. It also points to a curious fact about Limbaugh’s standing in the mind of much of the American media and the American left. Even though they talk about him all the time, he’s the man who isn’t quite there. By which I mean that there is a stubborn unwillingness, both wishful and self-defeating, to recognize Limbaugh for what he is, take him seriously, and grant him his legitimate due. Many of his detractors have never even listened to his show, for example. Some of his critics regularly refer to him as Rush “Lim-bough” (like a tree limb), as if his name is so obscure to them that they cannot even remember how to pronounce it.

In short, he is never quite acknowledged as the formidable figure he clearly is. Instead, he is dismissed in one of two ways—either as a comic buffoon, a passing phenomenon in the hit parade of American pop culture, or as a mean-spirited apostle of hate who appeals to a tiny lunatic fringe. These two views are not quite compatible, but they have one thing in common: they both aim to push him to the margins and render him illegitimate, unworthy of respectful attention. This shunning actually works in Limbaugh’s favor because it creates the very conditions that cause him to be chronically underestimated and keeps his opposition chronically off-balance. Indeed, Limbaugh’s use of comedy and irony and showmanship are integral to his modus operandi, the judo by which he draws in his opponents and then uses their own force to up-end them. And unless you make an effort to hear voices outside the echo chamber of the mainstream media, you won’t have any inkling of what Limbaugh is all about or of how widely his reach and appeal extend.

The influence is real and pervasive. Like it or not, Rush Limbaugh is unarguably one of the most important figures in the political and cultural life of the United States in the past three decades.”


4 posted on 02/02/2011 6:04:56 AM PST by My hearts in London - Everett (You will try to nudge commies toward the truth, while they try to nudge you toward the cattle cars.)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

5 posted on 02/02/2011 6:11:03 AM PST by paulycy (Islamo-Marxism is Evil.)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett
Rush is a National treasure. One day someone should start a thread on what others remember what he was talking about when they first started listening to him on the radio.

I'll never forget the first time I heard him, it is like one of those things that gets etched in your mind. The first time I heard Rush on the radio, he was talking about when he had caught a mouse in a plastic trash can, and didn't know the best way to kill it, he spoke of spraying the trash can with PAM cooking spray and shaking the mouse back and forth to kill it. I laughed so hard when I was listening to him, and I have been addicted ever since. Rush Rocks!

6 posted on 02/02/2011 6:11:06 AM PST by WhatNot (God Bless our troops, especially the snipers.)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

Rush Limbaugh speaks well because he has the facts, statistics, truth and historical evidence on his side.

His opposition just has lies, innuendo and false charges on theirs.

And as long as Rush operates with that modus operandi, he will continue to have a huge audience.


7 posted on 02/02/2011 6:13:53 AM PST by Ev Reeman
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

Ahhh..... A breath of truth wafts across the internet


8 posted on 02/02/2011 6:15:00 AM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. N.C. D.E. +12 .....( History is a process, not an event ))
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

How to understand Rush Limbaugh—shut up, listen—and learn.

Proud member of the Institute for Conservative Studies since 1988.


9 posted on 02/02/2011 6:16:04 AM PST by exit82 (Democrats are the enemy of freedom. Sarah Palin is our Esther.)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett; holdonnow
"..unless you make an effort to hear voices outside the echo chamber of the mainstream media, you won’t have any inkling of what Limbaugh is all about or of how widely his reach and appeal extend. "The influence is real and pervasive. Like it or not, Rush Limbaugh is unarguably one of the most important figures in the political and cultural life of the United States in the past three decades.”"

The Leftists only attack those that they FEAR are the MOST EFFECTIVE against the agenda they're attempting to advance.

In that regard, Rush (like Reagan) is their enemy #1.

GO RUSH!!!

10 posted on 02/02/2011 6:16:21 AM PST by Matchett-PI (Trent Lott on Tea Party candidates: "As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them" 7/19/10)
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To: WhatNot

I had just given birth to my third son in 1992 when I first heard him. I’m from MA and he played the Ted Kennedy “I’m a Philanderer” parody and I was hooked that day. I’ve listened to him almost every day since then.


11 posted on 02/02/2011 6:17:23 AM PST by cantfindagoodscreenname (I really hate not knowing what was said in the deleted posts....)
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To: Ev Reeman

He also hardcore believes everything he espouses. Some of the other “conservative” hosts are either lacking when it comes to knowledge or soft when hammering it home, or they are exposed at some point as not truly being who they say they are conservatively.


12 posted on 02/02/2011 6:18:33 AM PST by My hearts in London - Everett (You will try to nudge commies toward the truth, while they try to nudge you toward the cattle cars.)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett
Limbaugh is awesome. And I guarantee: he has a bigger target painted on him than ANY LIBERAL MEMBER OF CONGRESS!

The liberals despise him and the media too: they would rejoice for 30 days or more if he were to disappear from the scene.

Why? Because he articulates the TRUTH about their lies and disinformation relentlessly. Rush is not afraid to take them on--and he even goes after REPUBLICANS when they do not apply conservative principles.

Yeah, he is an entertainer--but one with scruples. He stays true to the truth and has fun doing it.

Frankly, we need more people like him in all walks of life, not just talk radio.

Imagine if we had principled, conservative:
Network and local news reporters
Newspaper writers
Clergymen
Teachers
Federal and state Government employees
Car Salesmen
Construction Workers
Musicians
Restaurant workers
Grocery Clerks
Bankers
Tax Preparers
Drug manufacturers
Auto plant employees
Attorneys
...and every other walk of life?

If there were true conservatives infiltrating those areas--and standing up for the truth--we could see a sea change in America.

The Tea Party is beginning, I think, to reflect such a situation. I do believe the social issues should NOT be ignored, which is how SOME in the media are trying to paint the Tea Party.

Okay. My opinion is done. :)

13 posted on 02/02/2011 6:20:12 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: My hearts in London - Everett
Limbaugh is awesome. And I guarantee: he has a bigger target painted on him than ANY LIBERAL MEMBER OF CONGRESS!

The liberals despise him and the media too: they would rejoice for 30 days or more if he were to disappear from the scene.

Why? Because he articulates the TRUTH about their lies and disinformation relentlessly. Rush is not afraid to take them on--and he even goes after REPUBLICANS when they do not apply conservative principles.

Yeah, he is an entertainer--but one with scruples. He stays true to the truth and has fun doing it.

Frankly, we need more people like him in all walks of life, not just talk radio.

Imagine if we had principled, conservative:
Network and local news reporters
Newspaper writers
Clergymen
Teachers
Federal and state Government employees
Car Salesmen
Construction Workers
Musicians
Restaurant workers
Grocery Clerks
Bankers
Tax Preparers
Drug manufacturers
Auto plant employees
Attorneys
...and every other walk of life?

If there were true conservatives infiltrating those areas--and standing up for the truth--we could see a sea change in America.

The Tea Party is beginning, I think, to reflect such a situation. I do believe the social issues should NOT be ignored, which is how SOME in the media are trying to paint the Tea Party.

Okay. My opinion is done. :)

14 posted on 02/02/2011 6:20:19 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: WhatNot

I had just moved and had tuned into an ABC radio station in Baltimore while trying to find Paul Harvey. It happened to be an ABC station that did not carry Harvey, but it had this talk show host. In the first few minutes, I thought he was a nut, talking about how he had gone into a McDonald’s and the clerk there had recognized him and refused to serve him, but he would go other places and people would be asking for his autograph and bending over backwards to serve him. But I was taking a shower, and couldn’t change the station, and he said other things that made me realize, “Wow, here is a guy saying many of the things I recognize as true!”

I had no idea he was a conservative... I still considered myself “Dem” at the time. That was right after the Gulf war.


15 posted on 02/02/2011 6:21:01 AM PST by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: bert

I’m sooo happy to be the first to come across and post this here for every FReeper’s reading pleasure! Well, at least for those of us here who admire and listen to Rush. I know there are a few on FR who don’t like him. It’s a very fair and accurate article.


16 posted on 02/02/2011 6:23:14 AM PST by My hearts in London - Everett (You will try to nudge commies toward the truth, while they try to nudge you toward the cattle cars.)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

Rush has the unusual gift of being able to “see through” liberal lies and predict the outcome...literally telling us in advance what the Left is about to do.

What’s the “trick”? It’s simple. Rush simply analyzes a situation or comment, attributes the worst possible motiviations to the liberals involved, and then bases his prediction(s) as to what the liberal(s) will do next based on that assumption of evil intent.

The formula has worked, and worked well.

Something to consider when you talk to a liberal.


17 posted on 02/02/2011 6:23:16 AM PST by RavenATB ("Destroy the family and you destroy the country!" ~Vladimir Lenin)
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To: My hearts in London - Everett

Rush has the unusual gift of being able to “see through” liberal lies and predict the outcome...literally telling us in advance what the Left is about to do.

What’s the “trick”? It’s simple. Rush simply analyzes a situation or comment, attributes the worst possible motiviations to the liberals involved, and then bases his prediction(s) as to what the liberal(s) will do next based on that assumption of evil intent.

The formula has worked, and worked well.

Something to consider when you talk to a liberal.


18 posted on 02/02/2011 6:23:23 AM PST by RavenATB ("Destroy the family and you destroy the country!" ~Vladimir Lenin)
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To: RavenATB

Sorry for the double post. Slow server here.


19 posted on 02/02/2011 6:23:53 AM PST by RavenATB ("Destroy the family and you destroy the country!" ~Vladimir Lenin)
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To: WhatNot
Rush is a National treasure

For me it was August 1988, Anchorage Ak. I was listening to KENI. 650-AM, one of the 50 EIB charter stations.

Suddenly, here was someone that spoke in the ways that I thought. I had kept my views to myself just to survive. I grew up in California, and my first serious adult employment was in Seattle, not places where conservative thought is welcome.

Rush gave millions of us validation, something the liberals would never have done. Share a piece of your conservative views and risk ridicule. So, go along to get along.

Most of us that enjoy Rush are not the "In-Your-Face" types. But when Rush is so cleverly able to poke fun at liberals and progressives and reveal their real agenda, they are indeed quite undone.

1988 was a special year for us, and as a side note, the year Todd Palin gave his name to Sarah Heath, for me, another national treasure. And another one that loves to reveal the true emptiness of the liberal agenda.

20 posted on 02/02/2011 6:27:03 AM PST by Dustoff45 (Do we really have a President? Or merely someone who pretends to be the President on TV?)
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