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.
bttt!
Are you high? Ricky has had YEARS to seal the border here in Texas....he didn’t do squat! Quit lying
Since you did't say who "the two" are, I presume you mean Trump vs. Jeb!
WALL vs. NO WALL, for openers. Are you really that naive?
You know, there actually are conservatives running in the primary.
Did you not read my post? Who do I support first? If Trump is the nominee, who will you vote for (or will you even vote)?
Who's campaign is this from (below), and who does not want a wall?
1. A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border.
2. A nation without laws is not a nation. Laws passed in accordance with our Constitutional system of government must be enforced.
3. A nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation. Any immigration plan must improve jobs, wages and security for all Americans.
-----
The other candidate says this (below). Do you have to guess who it is? 11 milion instantly legalized immigrants -- soon to be voting Democrat. Same B.S. the RINOs have been pushing for years -- lies -- nothing but rhetoric. They want more cheap labor, they are doing the bidding for the Wall Street Journal and the Chamber of Commerce (Chamber of Crony Capitalism) -- that's ALL it's about.
"I believe that for those already in the country, we need to put in place a rigorous path that requires individuals to pass a thorough criminal background check, pay fines, pay taxes, learn English, obtain a provisional work permit and work, not receive federal government assistance, and over an extended period of time earn legal status."
There’s a simpler response: The other candidates (except for Cruz) are worse. They’re the stand up for nothing, amoral Obama enablers.
Re: “hardly think that Trump supporters turn on Rush to hear about the media being flummoxed by Trump, but rather to hear Rush’s non-stop campaign for him.”
I listen to Rush for his take on the news of the day. Trump is in the news most days and therefore Rush comments on what is going on at that time. I just don’t hear that as endorsing Trump. Do I think Rush would vote for Trump if he is the candidate? Yes. Do I think Rush would vote for Cruz if he is the candidate? Yes. Do I think Rush would vote for Carson? Yes.
I just heard Rush yesterday play statements Trump has made from past to present that was turned into a political ad against Trump by Jeb and some republican in Massachusetts (I think). The statements are seen as embarrassing to Trump and the ad is intended to draw conservatives away from Trump. Rush did comment on the veracity of the quotes and their context. I don’t see that as an endorsement as he has done the same thing for Carson and for Ted Cruz.
Re: “He endorsed Pat Buchanan in the 1992 New Hampshire primary, I believe to wake up George the Elder.”
Wow, I didn’t remember that at all. But, I found that you were correct. Rush talks about that on a transcript from his website. And, you’re right that he did it to get a rise from Bush the Elder and get him to infuse conservatism back into the campaign. Good memory.
I think that was a most unusual move for Rush and was for a specific
“Was jailed for 7 years and deported. I expect he is back driving drunk in the U.S.”
Probably, given the way Perry welcomed and protected ILLEGALS.
I'm glad he is!
So very low but as I read your silly words, I’ve come expect such nonsense. Now, are you still up on that cross??
It is my sincere hope that your degrading comments are eventually stopped. You and you alone, chase more people away from this site than any other. I have many fellow travelers who can’t stomach the childish behavior you and your fans exhibit. It’s unfortunate, turning good people away is not what this site should be about, but somehow you get free reign.
Happy Thanksgiving, I do hope you find something to be joyful about instead of wallowing in your abject hatred. It’s unhealthy.
Don’t worry, ya know another installment of TDS is coming real soon!!!
Oh now, you’re gonna confuse her using facts.
Well said Windy.
In faireness, he did more than take his father”’s large fortune and build somet failed large casinos. Unlike many who inherit large fortunes, along with some large business failures, trump has also had some success.
He took his large inheritance from his father and grew it. He will pass a larger fortune to his children than he received from his Father. Job well done.
You’re 100% wrong here.
Exactly, but they didn't. Instead they send their lackeys to destroy Trump.
Come on, it's not that bad. She's not a gay mau-mau or DU werewolf-seminar poster. Three years ago she was for Rick Perry morning noon and night -- but there was/is nothing Establishment about Perry, he never broke into Skull and Bones or the Harvard Porcellians. His family had an old ranch out on the Llano Estacado somewhere and he got successful running for goobernor of Texas by sucking up to big-rich regional businessmen who all made their piles by bringing in hordes of Messkins to work for next-to-nothing in their grocery chains and chicken-abbatoirs and roofing businesses: chicken-choppers and hammer-swingers from Sinaloa and Nuevo Leon, doing the job that Americans won't do (for $6.00/hr, arbitraged against Mexico's huge federal social subsidies of everything from taco shells to diesel fuel).
Rick Perry had his own warts and demerits, especially w/r/t the immigration issue and his being in bed with the NWO on their transportation and Chinese-merchandise distribution infrastructural projects. (I don't know where he was on NAFTA exactly, but I think he was "pro"-Big Money.)
The point being, Rick Perry wasn't Mittens or even Mittens Lite. So your attribution of RiNO-ism and prostitution to the Business Roundtable doesn't fly.
IOW, don't worry about it. This isn't the Michael Medved show.
I guess you felt the same way when he was tooting Walker's horn as well.
Trump is the topic often because Trump is the news and he is attacked daily. The stories he does are just plain funny. Rush clearly prefers Cruz and yes I listen 24/7.
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