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Why libs will never have a Rush Limbaugh
Jewish World Review ^ | 1/9/03 | Marianne M. Jennings

Posted on 01/14/2003 2:56:58 PM PST by rhema

The New York Times frets. Its first front page for 2003 blared, "Outflanked Democrats Wonder How to Catch Up in Media Wars." The piece recounts the failures of liberals on radio and television: Mario Cuomo, Jim Hightower, Geraldo. Now Mrs. Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue, tanks on MSNBC because the callers are not there.

Worse, bemoans the Times, a massive media juggernaut of conservatives, from Rush Limbaugh to Bill O'Reilly, monopolizes thought. Flummoxed Democrats quoted in the article sound daft. Liberals envision daily staff meetings of media baron Rupert Murdoch's conglomerate in which CEO Rush Limbaugh gives Sean Hannity, Michael Reagan, et al., their talking points for the day. They then toss darts at photos of Alec Baldwin and Sean Penn, and depart in black helicopters. "The vast right-wing conspiracy! It's alive!!!" liberals point and bellow.

John Podesta, former Clinton chief of staff, and Stephen Kirsch, Internet entrepreneur and $1.0 million donor in 2002 alone to the DNC, exclaim, "We need our own Rush Limbaugh!" Fools they be. There will never be a liberal Rush Limbaugh. Conservative talk radio, Fox News and conservative personalities succeed because the public chooses them.

Liberals continue attempts at end runs around human nature. Their Title IX litigation that demands parity for female collegiate sports drones on because people don't want to pay to watch broads shooting hoops. Policy wonks jabbering about how bad things are in America is not their cup of tea either. When Americans have a choice, whether in mid-term elections, TV, or radio listening pleasure, they choose conservatives.

Democrats approached Haim Saban, Hollywood mogul and creator of deeply moving entertainment such as "The Power Rangers," to fund a network to counter Fox. For conspiracy theory, left-wing style, check out Saban's political donations. He gave $10.7 million to the DNC in 2002 and tosses about $1,000 donations to Hillary, Jean Carnahan, Feinstein, Kerry, etc. as if they were quarters.

Even Saban told them to pound sand because he understands the bottom line of business, and there will be no ROI from liberals. Heck, even liberals don't listen to themselves. NPR, the taxpayer-funded liberal media machine, has an audience that is 72% conservatives.

Why do conservatives listen to NPR? Well, we don't get near as angry about Daniel Schorr's contortions or Nina Totenberg's hissy fits as liberals do about Jerry Falwell or Charlton Heston. We listen for the hoots. To us, NPR is pure unadulterated fodder for laughing out loud at the bias, feigned concern, and stewing and fretting over SUVs. Herein lies the Podesta blind spot. Liberalism is the entertainment.

But James Carville and John McCain, who called Mr. Limbaugh a "clown," mistakenly believe that the draw is the packaging. This bunch of ragtag media warriors is not exactly Hollywood material. Mr. Limbaugh has no guests on his show. Bill O'Reilly is not a particularly pleasing man to gaze upon, but he tackles what was once unspeakable. Rita Cosby of Fox News has a weekend-anchor-hired-out-of-Pittsburgh-look, but she has a nose for news and will not let interviewees wriggle out of answering.

Liberals can't do witty satire or rapier-sharp response and analysis. Al Franken's book, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot," is about all liberal comedy can offer. Michael Gartner, former head of NBC news when Dateline got caught adding incendiary devices to enhance video of its staged exploding GM gas tanks, said in response to Mr. Limbaugh decrying the unfairness of the report, "He's a showoff, a showman and a jerk."

Media conservatives draw audiences because they are upbeat about life and America. Sean Hannity sounds happy and grateful. Mr. Limbaugh breathes opportunity in America. Mr. O'Reilly smiles with self-deprecation even during his hate mail. Author and JWR columnist Ann Coulter told CSPAN she has a great life, thanks to the American people.

Who on the left could be upbeat? Find me one happy liberal. Imagine Nina Totenberg and Barbra Streisand as joint hosts. The listeners would need Midol. "Now, pulling off the robes and tackling the issues of the day, your host, Ruth Bader Ginsburg!"

Conservatives offer a marketplace of ideas. Listeners and viewers tune in to debate, not grouse. Vouchers got their legs in conservative media and will not die because these outlets keep the data flowing. Welfare reform founds its roots here. These ideas, ultimately embraced by Clinton himself, work! It's substance, not form.

By contrast, Donahue recently had Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins on to discuss the war in Iraq. If you're looking for substance, Sarandon, Robbins and Donahue are dead men walking.

Liberals will never have their Rush Limbaugh. Liberals lack solutions, not media outlets for their tired musings. It ain't the messenger, stupid; it's the message.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: fairnessdoctrine; media; ninatotenberg; npr; pbs
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1 posted on 01/14/2003 2:56:58 PM PST by rhema
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2 posted on 01/14/2003 3:00:39 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: rhema
I think this cartoon just about says it all.


3 posted on 01/14/2003 3:01:30 PM PST by EggsAckley
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To: EggsAckley
On Rush's show today, he explained why the 'lieberals' cannot come up with an entertaining radio host like Rush ... it is the kooy policies and stances of the liberal left that he exposes with frank openness that makes for the entertainment! He's right ya know.
4 posted on 01/14/2003 3:04:30 PM PST by MHGinTN (Freepers Rule! As Lazamataz says, 'We are a force to be reckoned with.')
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To: MHGinTN
Yes, and where is Lazamataz lately? Haven't seen him around in a coon's age.
5 posted on 01/14/2003 3:07:45 PM PST by EggsAckley
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To: EggsAckley
Acually...the Dems should have a nightly TV show with Nina Burleigh as host....she'd give a BJ every night to a different Dem.lib.....it'd get killer ratings..
6 posted on 01/14/2003 3:10:09 PM PST by ken5050
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To: MHGinTN
What about Doug Steffan ?
7 posted on 01/14/2003 3:12:26 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: MHGinTN
How does rush make his dough? He will be the first to tell you -- he sell's advertising. He get's sponsors because people want to listen to what he has to say. Sponsors equal air time.

If he was trying to sell the liberal mantra, his listeners would dry up overnight, his sponsors would flee and he would be out of the business faster than you could say "Jim Hightower is a brainless pretentious hick."
8 posted on 01/14/2003 3:13:43 PM PST by Ronin
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To: EggsAckley; Lazamataz
Yeah! Was thinking the same thing a couple of days ago. Laz ... Arise!
9 posted on 01/14/2003 3:13:45 PM PST by JennysCool
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To: rhema
Very good article!
10 posted on 01/14/2003 3:15:05 PM PST by Cuttnhorse (Beer is good for you)
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To: rhema
Folks its as simple as this. The reason Rush, Sean, Fox etc. are so popular is that the mainstream media is so far to the left and so bias in their reporting. With Rush we get people conservatives can agree with. With Fox at least we get balance that you do not get on CNN, CBS, NBC etc. The reason the left is yelling is because at long last their is an alternative and they do not like it. Also the mainstream media does not like it and they are in bed with the left.
11 posted on 01/14/2003 3:18:41 PM PST by Uncle Hal
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To: Cuttnhorse
Cuttnhorse (Beer is good for you) And science is finding more and more reasons every month for why beer is good for you. The latest has to do with protecting the brain from the effects of alcohol. Go figure! [Honey, do we have any Heineken or Corona in the garage fridge?]
12 posted on 01/14/2003 3:24:04 PM PST by MHGinTN (Freepers Rule! As Lazamataz says, 'We are a force to be reckoned with.')
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To: rhema
I thought they had fool donnyspew?
13 posted on 01/14/2003 3:26:56 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK (The Fellowship of Conservatives)
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To: rhema
This is a good article.

I heard Rush state a few weeks ago, that HE should be cloned, raised by Bill and Hillary and THEN the DemoCraps would have TALENT. LOL!

14 posted on 01/14/2003 3:32:14 PM PST by spald
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To: rhema
Let me paraphrase a liberal talk show host:

"You cheapskate listerners. Dig deeper, give your money that you hardly even work for and certainly don't need to my friends..the welfare bums! And while you are at it get rid of your cars and start walking and riding you bike, you lazy idiot. And turn down the heat in your house and wear your jacket! Shape up you worthless American. And now back to our topic of the day, "Why the World Hates America".

And they wonder why their shows tank!

15 posted on 01/14/2003 3:37:44 PM PST by Voltage
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To: rhema
Rush Limbaugh succeeds so well with the average person because so much of liberalism is just plain stupid and lack common sense. Conservative principles, for the very most part, are not, and do not so lack.
16 posted on 01/14/2003 3:38:46 PM PST by yendu bwam
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To: rhema
The liberals think talk radio, etc., will help them further get out their message. The problem is that liberal shows fail because average joe already knows what the message is, and what the message is going to be. So even liberals have no reason to turn in.

Liberals have no new ideas to offer, and their message cannot be supported by any intelligent analysis. Everyone either makes fun of it, or gets bored. Dems are morons. Worse yet, they are preachy morons.

Because they have no Rush Limbaugh, they have to send out their high-profile celebrities to spout their liberal mush...

Walking advertisements, those celebrities are, with slogannish one-liners...

17 posted on 01/14/2003 3:50:24 PM PST by Fraulein
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To: rhema
The point: You cannot have an intelligent leftist show since liberalism is without substance, as well as are those who carry its message...
18 posted on 01/14/2003 3:53:04 PM PST by Fraulein
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To: rhema
The solution for the Dims is so easy. They take talk radio the same way they win elections - cheat. They need to stuff the Nielsen ratings ballot box and pretend there really are lots of liberals out there. Sheesh.
19 posted on 01/14/2003 3:56:34 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: spald
I heard Rush state a few weeks ago, that HE should be cloned, raised by Bill and Hillary and THEN the DemoCraps would have TALENT. LOL!

Mario Cuomo is a far greater talent than Limbaugh but he couldn't get the liberal message across. Rush wouldn't be able to either. - Tom

20 posted on 01/14/2003 4:01:15 PM PST by Capt. Tom
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