Posted on 06/07/2004 5:50:22 PM PDT by quidnunc
Plus, I do't listen to talk radio for arguing. I look for different takes and tidbits about the news, plus some humor.
I was a young skull of mush. You can credit Rush for changing my political outlook fresh out of college.
On the serious side, after 9/11 I've heard many callers to talk radio shows in the NYC area say they used to be FM vegheads, but discovered talk radio on that terrible day, since that was the best place to get news.
These callers invariably tell the conservative hosts they've been converted -- usually from vaguely liberal apathy to conservativism. How statistically significant this phenomenon is, I don't know.
Rush is the only really good conservative radio host IMO, and the fact is the mainstream media is so liberal, that for for me, turning to Rush is a comfort, because he articulates how I feel and think about events, much better and with deeper insight that I can muster. It's not about agreeing, per se, it's about framing the issues and putting them in perspective in the unique and entertaining way that he does.
"That you're going to use on whom?..."
A co-worker was going on a few months ago about how the rich don't "pay their fair share". I went to Rush's website and found a link to the IRS website that has a breakdown of just how much everyone pays. I showed my co-worker that, for starters, his government considers him to be "rich" and that he and a lot of people like him pay the majority of taxes.
He was stunned. At first he questioned the validity of the data, but I pointed out that it was compiled by the IRS.
About a month later I overheard him ranting about how he and everyone like him pay all the taxes. It's Reaganomics (trickle-down theory) and it works.
My favorite (apochryphal, and severely edited) PJ quote:
"When they put FDR on postage stamps, my mother and her frinds said they didn't know which side to spit on."
He's right. Not only are they shouting, they've already said whatever they're about to say. I can't handle them anymore. No mas..., no mas!!!!
And, as Rush often says, we turn to him BECAUSE he confirms the conclusions we come to, and since so much of the rest of the world is swallowing the NY Times BS, we are like a special club. We see the truth the liberal BS tries to obscure.
There are many great talk show hosts. I love Dennis Prager, Larry Elder and Hugh Hewitt. I also listen to John & Ken on a regular basis. I do not usually listen to Rush because I can only take him in small doses.
rush changed my life...still does. he is bright, funny and incisive. and he gave me the courage to speak my mind, unafraid.
Let's see, pubbies have control of the House, Senate and Presidency, plus the majority of governorships. Obviously, something is happening. I think the point O'Rourke misses (although I admittedly didn't read the whole article) is that in addition to conservatives moderates and people new to politics tune in to Rush and are influenced by his ideas.
Have you heard Laura Ingraham? I like her show a lot.
This is the best answer anyone could ever come up with about the Rush revolution.
I just showed this to my wife who is always asking me: "WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THAT SHOW EVERY DAY"?
"OH" she said. But WHO is Veronica?
This is a cheapshot of a title. Later in the article, PJ asks the same of lefty hacks such as Michael Moore and Al Franken. A fairer title would be: When was the last time a screaming face changed a mind?
In 97 and 98 I worked out of the home and started listening to talk radio.
I am a conservative today because of listening to Dennis Prager, Mike Reagan and David Gold.
If Jesus Christ returns to Earth and runs for President, he better run as a Republican because I'll vote against him if he runs as a Dem.
Intelligent radio, like an astute author, can crystallize the thought process: perhaps you have a feeling about something that you can't name and suddenly some talk show host verbalizes that very thought you've struggled with - and then all the little pieces fit together in your mind.
You'll take that knowledge into the world: even if you don't ever verbalize the thought in an argument, it will make you a stronger, and hopefully better, person.
I haven't read this author before. Is he always this stupid?
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