Posted on 11/25/2015 11:34:24 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
In the summer of 1992, Rush Limbaugh saved me from myself. I was an 18-year-old high school graduate about to begin college, too impatient to wait for adulthood to come to me. So instead, I went in search of it the only way I knew how: by engulfing myself in presidential politics and the fascinating campaigns that summer between Bill Clinton, George Bush and Ross Perot.
Like many idealistic teens, I was at first drawn to the youthful Clinton campaign and Fleetwood Mac's cheerful command to "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow." But then I started listening to Limbaugh and it changed everything. I was working as a delivery driver, so I'd plan my trips at six minutes after the hour so as to not miss a minute of his show — a habit I keep even today. The way he described his belief in conservatism reached out and grabbed me and I've been a loyal listener ever since.
So it is not from a place of hatred or misunderstanding that I write this. I'm not a plant from Media Matters. But when it comes to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Limbaugh is a mind-numbing, frustrating hypocrite (with all due respect, of course).
His tacit endorsement of Trump, now occurring daily during his show, is almost impossible to understand. Listening to him gleefully discussing Trump is painful for those of us who have followed his advice for decades. Why? Let's break it down.
Look at the polls
For years, Limbaugh has lambasted the "drive-by media" for their insistence on using polling data to make headlines and drive the story of the day. Trump's appearances and speeches, for the most part, are Trump droning on about how well he's doing in the polls. It's often the only story.
Words mean something
One of Limbaugh's biggest criticisms of President Obama has always been the vagueness in Obama's message; in his way of speaking until he can think of something to say; in the blank canvas that he offers us to project our hopes and dreams upon. And that, when he goes off-message, he often misspeaks. Explaining what Obama meant to say has become a cottage industry for websites like Vox and full-time gigs for a variety of nationally known journalists.
When has Trump ever offered anything of substance? His speeches are meandering streams of consciousness, and although he claims each to be unique, they are often the same litanies of vague promises. Trump will negotiate hard with China and Mexico. Trump will make the military so strong it will make your head spin. You'll get bored with winning so much. Chinese bankers live in his building, which proves he can bring jobs back from China. Trump thinks reporters are sleazy. Trump will hit you so hard. And, oh, by the way, have you seen the polls?
Big government
Limbaugh has been the voice for those who believe in smaller government for as long as he's been on the air. So it would stand to reason that challenging Trump on even his vague promises to vastly enlarge an already bloated government should give Limbaugh pause. Apparently, it doesn't. How many new government agencies will be necessary to round up 11 million illegal immigrants, send them back to Mexico and then let them back in? How many billions of dollars will it cost to make the military so great your head will spin? How many government workers will be required to build the Trump wall, complete with a beautiful Trump door?
The Kardashianification of American politics
Limbaugh has long lamented "low-information voters," who, he claims, are responsible for the rise of Obama. It's not his policies that win the day; it's the fact that he's cool and hip. His celebrity overcomes all other weaknesses.
Trump took the money that his father left him and built a series of failed casinos. What else does he have to offer, other than gaudy celebrity?
The Limbaugh Theorem
Simply put, the Limbaugh Theorem is Limbaugh's explanation as to why Obama remains popular when so many of his policies lack public support. It posits that Obama is always campaigning against the bad guys or bad situations, even when those situations are of his own making. It's a disassociation in the public perception of him between cause and effect.
Just peruse Trump's Twitter feed to see the Limbaugh Theorem on full display. He's always campaigning; always ready to right to wrongs in the world. The problem, though, is that many of those wrongs will be borne from a Trump presidency. He'll be there on Twitter or on another stop in his perpetual campaign, making obscenely vague promises that only he can fix what is wrong.
I'm still listening, Rush. But I hope you are, too. We don't need another blank canvas in the Oval Office, gilded or otherwise.
Hale is a freelance writer who lives in San Antonio with his wife and three children.
It would be nice if you spent a smidgen of the same scrutiny on vetting Trump as you do trying to put words in my mouth to "define" me.
OH wow I looked and that’s even lamer than what’s been going on in recent minutes.
How can a tower of integrity make any headway against a bunch of Rush commentary that’s SOOOOOO palpably WRONGGGGGG???? Oh boo hoo!
Again, let’s rehash this whole thread because you are losing it on the back end?
You cannot pass GO and cannot collect the $200.
Nothing to “re-hash” just returning to the point of the thread.
What “point”? Only a nebulous smear of begged questions.
And your daily bullshit is out the window. I hope your family seeks an intervention for you. You are one sick cookie.
Sorry but Cruz is in favor of legal status for illegals (amnesty). Plus Cruz flip flops all the time so I do not trust Cruz.
Ma’am we never even accused you of knowing what a definition is for.
The other day I heard Rush make an on the fly spoonntaneous remark about Cruz that sounded to me like a ringing endorsement.
It’s the first thing I thought of upon reading this guys story headline.
Rush has millions of listeners and a golden mic, so Trump’s a happy man.
Like I said, my lack of support for Trump is small potatoes and will go unnoticed (except I think 60-70% of the primary voters are “small potatoes” like me).
But it’s my support to give.
I don’t support liberals.
Both being somewhat opposed to it in principle, Trump at least puts forth the concrete proposal to hustle them out the door and leave them there until they have been checked out.
Trump’s temperament is also such that he won’t hide behind bureaucratic excuses, whatever else he does. OK there’s a stink about due process? Fine. Let’s open up 1000 courts. Trump would want to DO something like that.
Does it ever embarrass you that you have to post insults in a failed ploy avoid the issue?
Oh wah, if the problem is that people are dependent on Rush, then why not complain about how they are.
But if the problem is that Rush is right and you don’t like it, you have no real complaint.
You like seeing your own ploys in a mirror?
By carrying on the way you do, you implicitly validate the approach. You can abandon that, or you can keep on getting what you dish out. Your choice.
Why go back to the starting point when you will undoubtedly step in the same crap pile you already have? I think they call that being a glutton for punishment.
But, you will undoubtedly try to keep this going because it is the only thing you have, to argue with people. We on the other hand will gravitate to some time with family and use this as our entertainment until the endless morning commercial for Macy’s is over and yearn for;
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!!!!!
Does it even matter to you who says bad stuff about Trump and his supporters? When do you expect to start posting articles by terrorists/illegals/Hillary?
Two words for you: Thora Zine
I think you are thinking of Rubio. Cruz fought tooth and nail against amnesty.
You are a paid GOPe hack and all the mirrors in your home have been turned to face the wall because you cannot stand to see what you are, what you have become, how deeply ugly you are inside.
How much filthy lucre are you getting for your tireless efforts posting tripe?
Shame on you.
And you probably cannot look in your husbands eyes either. Those are mirrors you cannot turn to the wall. Or can you?
(Apostrophes left out on purpose)
I don’t know the author.
I don’t know you either.
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