[Diddle E. Squat]

I think Rush is getting a bit of a bum rap. Yes, his initial reaction wasn't wise, when he agreed with the caller that what we had seen was more in line with a fraternity hazing then how it was portrayed. Poor decision to agree to portray it that way, but I think he was winging on the fly and reacting to the way the media was taking a legitimate story and trying to reshape it into armegeddon just so they could try and attack Bush. His instincts were right in that regard, because he had seen the media do this time and time again.

Unfortunately, his reaction to the media/dem tactics was stronger than his recognition of the heinousness of some of what went on. Later, he did regain his balance and made clear that he did understand that some really horrible things had taken place, and wasn't condoning it, but rather wanted to scream the point about to keep things in context and not overreact. But it was too late, because the media will latch onto his first unfortunate characterizations, and falsely portray it as his only view. Also consider that the scope of the crimes including some of the worst accusations were not clearly known at the time of his first response.

As a professional he should have known better, but hey, everyone makes mistakes. Unfortunately, he is so high profile and polarizing, that any slip up with be twisted and used to try and bludgeon him with. Add in an ego and on-air persona that considers apologizing an anethema, and it really starts to look bad.

[ride the whirlwind]

As a professional he should have known better, but hey, everyone makes mistakes. Unfortunately, he is so high profile and polarizing, that any slip up with be twisted and used to try and bludgeon him with. Add in an ego and on-air persona that considers apologizing an anethema, and it really starts to look bad.

I agree. Rush is an icon for the right who once in a blue moon says something regrettable. This may be one of those times.

Here's a few comments from Rush's site:

The point is that they're using me because I'm the most prominent, maybe not the only, but I'm the most prominent voice that's not in this pack mentality. And since this is political, they have got to play this voice of mine and have people refute it and say it's not right. It's wrong or it's condemnable, or some sort of thing proving that this is political. Because I'm not an elected official. I'm not part of the Joint Chiefs. I'm not in the command structure. I'm not in the chain of command at all, and yet I have to somehow be condemned and discredited? It proves it's politics, folks!

And other media has been after Rush about this -
How else do you explain the NBC Nightly News, Crossfire, and the White House press briefing bringing me up in official questions to elected officials about my opinion of this?