Rush is to radio what America is to the world.
I love that windbag - and I don't care what you think of Rush. Your opinions about Rush carry about as much weight with me as France's opinion about the U.S....
viva la 
curmudgeonII !!
Posted on 05/09/2004 12:13:28 PM PDT by Anti-Bush Hater
Do You Condemn Rush Limbaugh?
May 7, 2004
Listen to Rush… (…prove why this torture picture scandal is really just political) (…play more audio of "the media" politicking and pointing at El Rushbo)
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Let's go to the NBC Nightly News last night. Chip Reid, reporter, is doing a report on the uproar on Capitol Hill over the possible resignation of Rumsfeld. He's on with Brokaw. He says, "Now a backlash from many conservative Republicans today during debate in the House on a resolution to condemn the Iraqi abuse some Republicans also condemned the Democrats accusing them of using the issue to score political points against the Bush administration."
Then plays DeLay saying, "Democratic leadership's decided to take a political position and is undermining our troops in the field." And Reid says, "conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh is now leading the charge in accusing the media and the Democrats of hyping the Iraqi abuse story." And he played this clip from yesterday's show.
RUSH ARCHIVE: Welcome to the real world. They're not pictures of violence, they're not pictures of death, they're not pictures of horror. I am not going to join the chorus of people who aren't even thinking, who are just reacting with emotions.
REID: The abuse of Iraqi prisoners, a story that was initially greeted with bipartisan revulsion, now at the center of a furious political debate.
RUSH: And then last night, or yesterday afternoon on Crossfire, The Forehead was on there hosting on the left side. Paul Begala who was on with Novak, and they had a couple of guests, Bob Wexler, the congressman from down here in Florida, a Democrat, and Republican Eric Cantor. And The Forehead said to Cantor, said, "Congressman Cantor, in the last segment you said, and I quote, 'You have to be accountable for the words you use.' Well, Rush Limbaugh says what happened over there was no different than a fraternity initiation. He said these guys just blowing off some steam, having a good time. Do you endorse or condemn Rush Limbaugh's words?"
CANTOR: I do not take lightly the incidents that occurred in Iraq. No question, the individuals responsible need to be held accountable. The president said as much --
BEGALA: Do you condemn Limbaugh?
CANTOR: I do not necessarily agree with what was said, no.
WEXLER: I condemn him.
RUSH: So the question on Crossfire was, "Do you condemn Limbaugh?" Now, why? Why on the NBC Nightly News and why on Crossfire does my name come up, and why do I have to be challenged? I don't mind that I am, don't misunderstand, but, "Do you condemn Limbaugh?" "I condemn Limbaugh." So Wexler's got his hand up, gets a badge of honor, he condemned Limbaugh. And then on NBC, of all the people they could go out there and play highlights of. What do you think, Mr. Snerdley, what's the reason for this? What is the reason? [talking to program observer] No! The '04 election is all politics now, but I'm just going to tell you what I think, folks, I'm not going to hold back.
I think the reason that I have to be condemned, and they've got to play sound bites from this show, and have people pooh-pooh it is because it's effective. It's because there's one voice in this country that's contrary to the herd, to the mentality here that has picked up steam; and everybody is in that herd, and everybody is making a rush in that certain direction, and there's one voice out there which is saying, "Whoa, wait a minute, this is not what everybody is saying it is." And because it is political, Mr. Snerdley, you're right, because it is political, and of course they're not playing me in context. I don't care about that.
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!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
RUSH: Let's go back and review some of the sound bites I played earlier that mention me. And again, I want you people to understand that this is simply to show you that there is a total political context here rather than some serious supposed outrage over abuse.
Now, I'm not saying there isn't any of that, that's not what this is. This is an opportunity. This is a political opportunity for opponents of the president that continue to take more shots where there's blood in the water and so they're do doing everything they can to win this election for John Kerry since he's so inept at doing it himself. 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? I'm not elected, I'm not in the chain of command, I have no authority over anybody involved in any of this. And yet, as you will hear, I'm either be criticized or illustrated as an example of the opposition. Criticized on Crossfire as a man who needs to be condemned, and being asked by a reporter of the White House press spokesman whether or not the president disavows what I'm saying or agrees with it.
If that doesn't illustrate to you that this is political and since I am a voice that has not joined the pack on this, and this is a media-led frenzy, "Okay, let's do what we can do to nullify this disagreeing voice or discredit it or what have you." First example, NBC Nightly News last night with Tom Brokaw, Chip Reid is the reporter doing the report on the uproar on Capitol Hill about the possible resignation about Rumsfeld, about which I have seen nothing in these hearings so far, by the way. And Chip Reid starts out talking about a backlash from many conservative Republicans and a debate, resolution in the Florida house, and he quotes Tom DeLay saying the Democratic leadership has decided to take a political position undermining our troops in the field. Then he says, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh now leading the charge. "Conservative talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, leading the charge in accusing the media and Democrats of hyping the Iraqi abuse story."
(Replaying of sound bite.)
RUSH: Now, don't give me this business that it was initially greeted with bipartisan revulsion. That's a little bit of misinformation. Doesn't mean it was greeted with bipartisan condemnation and agreement with the liberal left and the media on this. Now, here's Crossfire, you've got The Forehead, Paul Begala, representing the left. The guests are Congressman Eric Cantor, he's a Republican from Virginia, and Bob Wexler from down here in Florida. He's the guy that all those mistaken Buchanan voters called to complain during 2000. And The Forehead says, "Congressman Cantor, in the last segment you said, and I quote, 'You have to be accountable for the words you use.' Well, Rush Limbaugh says what happened over there was no different than a fraternity initiation. He said these guys were blowing off some steam, having a good time. Do you endorse or do you condemn Rush Limbaugh's words?"
(Replaying of sound bite.)
RUSH: "I condemn Limbaugh!" I condemn -- do you condemn -- this is Crossfire. I'm proud to be there, don't misunderstand, but if this doesn't prove it's political. I know nobody saw it, that's why I'm playing it.
Let's go to the White House press briefing, not much time here, White House daily press briefing, Scott McClellan. You're going to hear the voice of April Ryan, infobabe reporterette for the American Urban Radio Network.
RYAN: There's a segment of society that differs with the White House as it relates to these pictures and the investigation of U.S. soldiers' conduct to include Rush Limbaugh, who Tuesday, agreed with a caller equating the pictures to a college fraternity prank and said U.S. soldiers should not be punished because it was an emotional release as they were letting off steam. What's the White House say about that?
MCCLELLAN: April, I think the White House says what we said yesterday and what the president has said over last few days.
RYAN: No, seriously, this man is a conservative --
MCCLELLAN: I actually answered a question earlier today about that matter, and I addressed it then.
RYAN: But to stand out strongly trying to let the Arab world know that this is wrong, and then you have the proverbial spokesperson for the conservative party saying this, doesn't that send a mixed message?
MCCLELLAN: I think the president's views have been made very clear.
RUSH: Do you get this? "Isn't this conservative party spokesman, Limbaugh, isn't this a mixed message? Can't you guys disavow?" Oh, my friends. I'm just a kid from Missouri that wanted to be on the radio.
END TRANSCRIPT
Read the Article...
(Fox: Democrats Call for Rumsfeld to Resign) (Philadelphia Inquirer: Rumsfeld Could Take Fall for Abuse Scandal)
Most of this is a misunderstanding of his point that much of the self flagellation we are experiencing is indeed political.
I have not listened to Rush in years, as I find that I get kinda bored listening to myself. (we are mostly in agreement)
But I will not criticize him for his mostly correct view on this, because it is true!
It is just as true that the pictures were disgusting.
I know that we a re in a ratings sweeps period for television, but are we in a radio sweeps rating period as well?
If so, then there would be no question in my mind that Rush was purposely provocative in order to cause controversy and increase his audience for the duration of the sweeps.
Yer right, a bag of wind has more substance than that service avoiding lardass.
Perhaps I ought to have used other words to describe Rush. A few that I can think of are:
pompous, arrogant, smug, self-centered, egotistical...I think you're getting the picture.
If you think that Rush helps the Conservative cause you're very wrong. He's largely preaching to the choir. He has turned off a good many folk who would otherwise be our allies; he has made Conservatives a laughing stock to many who might be more open to reason.
And, Limbaugh is on the air, worldwide, reaching uncounted millions, influencing the political dynamic in myriad ways....whereas, you....are not.
The only reason they are really upset, is they weren't invited to the fun and games, and have to pay for this form of humiliation.
Rush is to radio what America is to the world.
I love that windbag - and I don't care what you think of Rush. Your opinions about Rush carry about as much weight with me as France's opinion about the U.S....
viva la curmudgeonII !!
Join the liberals and insist ... they must go! Now ...
look what it does to curmudgeonII !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.