Daylife/AP Photo by J. Scott Applewhite
Limbaugh laughs with Rumsfeld, end of days in the White House |
In 1994, Rush Limbaugh was a field marshal in the Republican revolution, rallying troops fervid in their passion, armed with a change agenda and determined to shake Washington upside down.
Fifteen years later, Republicans are politically hobbled and Democrats are fervid in their passion, armed with a change agenda and determined, along with their new president, to shake Washington upside down. And again there is Limbaugh, master of the talk radio universe, unchanged and unbowed. If anything, his prominence and political import have increased.
As Republicans grapple with their fall from power and undertake some inevitable soul-searching, not all are comfortable with Limbaugh’s suggestion that he has become the party’s unofficial leader by default. “He motivates a core Republican, who is a very important part of the Republican coalition, and we need those guys to be interested and active,” said Jan van Lohuizen, a GOP strategist in Washington. “But it’s not enough. The Republican Party has shrunk and it needs to be expanding.”
While the GOP’s star has fallen, Limbaugh’s has soared. As party leaders struggle to find their voice, Limbaugh’s baritone booms loud and clear three hours a day, five days a week on 600 radio stations across America. If a $400-million contract and the title of most influential talk radio personality — as voted by industry pros — aren’t sufficient proof, consider President Obama’s decision to pick a fight with him three days into his presidency.
Hosting Republican lawmakers at the White House, Obama called out his nemesis by name. “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done,” Obama said, pitching his economic stimulus plan and offering a priceless advertisement of Limbaugh’s influence.
Though I never espouse “the worse, the better” tactic for winners, I think it’s superb for losers. Little else could better guarantee continuing devolution of Republican leadership in American politics than putting Limbaugh in charge. It looks like Obama has appointed him.
# 79 Glenn E. said, “Apparently, they don’t know the phrase “history repeats itself”, ”
Oh, like when Clinton ran hard left HIS 1st two years and lost the House?
No, they are well aware of history. Maybe, Omama should take a class or two…
#72, Fusion,
I can’t get a broadcast license to put my own show or political viewpoint out there.
Actually, you can. There are low power licenses that will let you reach a non-trivial number of people.
Now, that being said, depending on population density, the cost may or may not be worth it. If your opinions get a large enough following, you might get picked up for syndication and then the money would really start rolling in.
Mr Fusion:
I rightly point out:
[i]The premise of public airwaves can be extended logically to include all meda, cable, satellite, internet, even print…all communicate using something that belongs to the public…whether air waves, or public streets.[/i]
You replied:
You have fettuccine between your ears. Now you sound like a Marxist. Regardless, its not true.
Evidently relevant thought is not your forte…Observe the premise of the fairness doctrine, its nature:
[i]A license permits broadcasting, but the licensee has no constitutional right to be the one who holds the license or to monopolize a radio frequency to the exclusion of his fellow citizens. There is nothing in the First Amendment which prevents the Government from requiring a licensee to share his frequency with others…. It is the right of the viewers and listeners, not the right of the broadcasters, which is paramount.[/i]
Recall the Supreme Court “Discovered” abortion in the privacy doctrine of the constitution, against the express injunction no law was to be made against LIFE…
The absurdity of the ruling is evident when its recalled no one frequency consumes all available bandwidth, therefore requiring a broadcaster to transmit the free speech of others is unwarranted as they can obtain frequencies of their own…
But as the court has ruled they must share the “public airways,” it follows it should also rule Newspapers utilizing the public network of the internet, and public throughfares to distribute their speech, must also be made to carry the opine of others. After all, the right of READERS, not the right of publishers, is paramount, as that right parallels the right of VIEWERS.
#82, Loser,
Back from feeding the guppies.
There are low power licenses that will let you reach a non-trivial number of people.
If you can get one, most are reserved for community groups / universities. With most their range is less than 1 mile.
That might be a great alternative for the libertarians, but I think not for equality.
#82, Loser,
Back from feeding the guppies?
There are low power licenses that will let you reach a non-trivial number of people.
If you can get one, most are reserved for community groups / universities. With most their range is less than 1 mile.
That might be a great alternative for the libertarians, but I think not for equality.
Does Limbaugh have GOP by the short and curlies with his radio ministry? /// The question puts the emphasis on the wrong end of the equation: “Is the Repuglicant Party’s appeal so limited that it now must conform to the harangues from any of a number of the hardcore base demagogues? And, of course, the answer is yes.
Its not what Rush “has” but rathere what the Republicant Party “does not have” that controls the relationship.
#85, Poison Twin,
You crack me up.
Libertarianism is all about equality of opportunity vs your collectivist stance of equality of outcome.
You should learn of what you speak vs what you feel.
If you can get one, most are reserved for community groups.
That ought to be right up your ally then. You aren’t trying to make money, right? You want to do it for free? Community outreach and all that?
With most their range is less than 1 mile.
True, but you can get up to 100w which will transmit way more than a mile. CB radios transmit with up to 3 watts and they can reach two-three miles and more on a clear day.
And if you were really serious about doing something you could always start a blog.
If we follow the logic of the fairness doctrine, free speech is practically protected only for the individual speaking to other individuals…
The moment a “public medium” is required to communicate the speech, its then subject to the fairness doctrine.
It would then, if consistently applied, require the DNC media to publish along with its spin on reality, Rush Limbaugh’s analysis, or at least the gist of it.
AND every news/commentary which requires something more than the immediate air individuals breathe to communicate to others, must do so also.
Then every Obama Email must include Limbaugh’s analysis of the issue, at least the gist of it.
AND all you posting here, are putting Dvorak in jeaporady of losing his right to a web site…he doesn’t counter your liberal nonsense, with a discourse on reality.
#87–Loser==”Libertarianism is all about equality of opportunity vs your collectivist stance of equality of outcome.” /// Complete BS. Its about people of privilege not wanting to lose their advantage to others emerging from disadvantaged circumstances. Completely f&cktarded self-centeredness to think pretty much anything in life is “fair.”
Liebertarians. Keeping the lie alive.
# 88 bobbo said, “Complete BS. Its about people of privilege not wanting to lose their advantage to others emerging from disadvantaged circumstances.”
So, according to you, all Libertarians are of the “privileged class”?
Or, if they ALL aren’t, you are a liar… Which is it?
#89–Paddy===oooh! You math whiz==you got me. Ok, many/most–but far more than you probably think and certainly way more than LIEBERTARIAN thinks.
If you are “successful” it was a combination of luck and circumstance and hard work unless you inherited it all.
Lets take the case you are probably thinking of. Poor kid works his way out of poverty and thinks everyone else should too.
Note–not retarded, not hit by car crossing street, access to books, probably a supporting adult somewhere in the picture – - etc.
F&cktarded not to recognize how the necessities of a good life are so unequally distributed. Just because YOU got YOURS is no reason to shit on other people which is what LIEBERTARIANS do.
#90 booboo said, “tortured logic”
From deciphering your babble I can see that you admit that you were lying when you stated this about Libertarians”
“Its about people of privilege not wanting to lose their advantage to others emerging from disadvantaged circumstances.”
See, it’s simpler if you just admit straight out that you are a liar.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. No Bush, No Palin, but you can always count on a thread about Rush to spike the hit count and get the crazy liberals back to the blog.
Actually, I recently picked up Rush in my dead pool. An increase in weight plus no more good pain medication is going to do him in.
As for the thread itself, at a high level Rush is right: The GOP would be better off focusing on electing conservatives than trying to cater to moderates.
91–Paddy-Zero. OK.
92–JamesHill==As for the thread itself, at a high level Rush is right: The GOP would be better off focusing on electing conservatives than trying to cater to moderates. /// How high do you have to get to think that?
Fiscal Conservatives?
Social Conservatives?
Religious Conservatives?
Any differences there?
Palin?
To deny that Limbaugh’s is smart and has enormous power would be foolhardy with 12 million-plus obedient listeners,
He’s no Karl Rove. His “Operation Chaos” was a complete flop and only help to strengthen Obama’s ground game where the GOP got hauled over the coals in the general election.
If he were a Senator he would have long ago have been toast, as he would be held accountable for all the horrific consequences of his supported positions. As a performer he can just reinvent him self every day and find some lame excuse for why his previously loved conservative plans failed. All the power of a political leader and none of the responsibility wow maybe he is smarter than Rove.
This man could never win a national election to become a representative of our nation, but he is damn good at hiding behind his mic and throwing stones at those brave enough take on the job.
Divorce 3 times I assume from woman..?.. he would fail on the GOP sanctity of marriage test.
No stranger to the illegal use of drugs
He has more gaffes than Joe Biden
I’d love to go on but you can all just google him for the hypocrites.
I think the Rush phenomenon is best understood by watching the movie Network.
you go Big Man Rush On
I for one hope Obama succeeds.
I hoped against all odds that W would succeed but my fears were all and then some realized.
#92, Cow-Patty,
Still posting drivel.
From deciphering your babble I can see that you admit that you were lying when you stated this about Libertarians”
So you think you are a pretty smart guy because you twisted Bobbo’s words around to something he didn’t say.
Hey, when are you going to post that clarification on what Barney Frank said? That link you posted first was bullshit because it said nothing of the kind. Kind of like your posts.
#96, Fusion,
I went to the link and I saw it. It wasn’t the exact words Paddy-O used but it was the gist of the conversation.
REP. FRANK: Well, you change it by the voters being tougher. Frankly, I think that part of the problem is the voters. [...] I don’t think they hold us to a high enough standard.
I didn’t think I would ever agree with Frank on anything but he’s right. It is the voters’ fault. Of course, that doesn’t mean they should take advantage of the situation either.
# 96 Mr. Fusion said, “Hey, when are you going to post that clarification on what Barney Frank said? That link you posted first was bullshit because it said nothing of the kind. Kind of like your posts.”
Umm, wrong. When the Daschle problem (pols leaving office and being corrupt) was presented and the mod asked what can be done about it, Barney placed blame on the voters.
Get back to me when you have completed a reading comprehension class…
#98, Cow-Patty,
Barney placed blame on the voters.
Only Frank never said that. You did. And you didn’t post it because it didn’t happen. Geeze, you have “Loser” covering your ass now. Actually, again. Because you can’t back up your bullshit.
Another one in the loser column.
Paddy-O,
I wonder why Poison Twin doesn’t want to leave the problem in the hands of the voters. I guess he doesn’t think voters are smart enough to know when they are getting screwed . . .
I’m actually shocked he isn’t defending Frank in this. I mean, this IS a democracy, right?