I think his biggest problem is that he’s not as entertaining as he once was. Fewer humorous elements in his show and that was once a good part of the success of his show. His true genius is understanding what makes an entertaining show, he’s a consummate radio professional. But I think he’s started to believe that he’s more than that and it’s hurt his product.
I’m the same age as Limbaugh and I’ve never seen him as any important thinker. He’s not. He began as popularizer of conservative material that most listeners weren’t aware of, usually found in small circulation magazines. The humor page of American Spectator. Articles from National Review (most without attribution which used to result in some grumbling). That sort of thing. He’s not all that well read, he rarely if ever speaks of any serious books that he’s read. One by Hayek is the only one I remember hearing him mention. But that’s not why I listened to him.
Now that all depends on how you define "well read" in contemporary terms.
Unarguably, Limbaugh consumes vast swaths of "news and analysis." Does that mean that someone who knew GWB was following Sharansky's thesis from "The Case for Democracy" is a more profound thinker?
I don't know.
Certainly, there is something to be said for the "jack of all" with a balanced perspective, as opposed to the "master of one" and all the intellectual and philosophical commitments that go along with it.
>> I think his biggest problem is that he’s not as entertaining as he once was. Fewer humorous elements in his show and that was once a good part of the success of his show. <<
Couldn’t agree more.
And for me, moreover, Rush gradually became more and more boring after Obama was elected.
I wonder if he wanted to downplay the humor after he saw how his Operation Chaos sorta backfired?
Or maybe Kathryn has been a bad influence?
Or could it be that the creative juices just don’t flow so well for a 66-year-old humorist?
Or all of the above, plus then some?