Posted on 11/30/2008 6:16:16 AM PST by vietvet67
Rush is an entertainer first, an ideologue second, and a teacher third.
I would hesitate to classify him as an intellectual in the sense that we define intellectuals on the right.
He is an entertainer because he is geared towards making money for his show, and his show is designed to do just that. Power to him. He is an unabashed capitalist and conservative, and makes not bones about it. Kudos to him.
He is an ideologue. He does not hide his political leanings, and is not a devotee of “bipartisanship”. He knows what bipartisanship means in the current political climate (conservatives agreeing to do what liberals want) and instead believes liberalism is the enemy and should be defeated. I do note that the description “ideologue” is a pejorative one, an imprecation used by liberals to try to slander anyone who disagrees with them, but one of the key phrases in the definition includes “dogmatic” to describe an ideologue. Dogma is the unshakable believe in a set of facts or principles laid down by authority and perceived without proof to be incontrovertible. So I do not see Rush as dogmatic, but liberals clearly do. However, his opinions are based on logic, facts and historical experience which he draws from, so I disagree with his detractors. In truth, it is liberals who are dogmatic.
Say what you will about Rush Limbaugh, like or dislike him, he IS a teacher. He and Mark Levin both operate the same way, in that they will butress their points with historical examples. I heard Levin recently give an excellent lesson on the causes of the Great Depression. Limbaugh often operates in the same fashion. It is no surprise that conservatives (especially those who listen to Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin) are much more likely to be able to answer questions about the structure of the US Government and the proper functions of those different parts as described by the Constitution of the United States.
I do view him as an intellectual, but not in the negative sense intellectuals are viewed by many. He is not an “Ivory Tower” intellectual. Let’s face it. Would you enjoy sitting down and having an “adult beverage” with most people defined as an intellectual? Probably not. But most people who listen to Rush could easily see themselves having a beer with him. Part of it is due to his schtick as an entertainer, part of it is because he obviously likes people. But the fact remains he IS an intellectual. He takes the time to look at issues, drill down on them, look a the causes both historical and immediate, and explain them to people.
Check this thread:and follow the links
at posts # 18,20 and 26 and you will get a good idea.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140322/posts
“What is the BC controversy?”
Which illustrates why conservative radio needs to cover this issue.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/birthcertificate/index
Seldom miss. But on this I come down on the side of George Will, David Brooks, Peggie Noonan, David Frum and a growing number of conservative commentators who are thinking that we are lemmings headed for an even bigger cliff. We need to slow this process down, we need for Limbaugh to go on holidays or we are going to tear the curtain into shreds.
Try doing talk radio for 30 years or more and than try doing what Rush does and you might get it.
Rush is Rush, and I like it that way. My guess is so does Rush. He isn’t going to change anything, no matter how hard the pointy heads bang on him. Why should he...
I was going to dissect that idiotic post you replied to but figured it just wasn't worth the time. You summed it up just fine.
“He is a self serving, pompous charlatan who is intent on improving his ratings and economic well being. He promotes a pseudo conservative agenda because it works for his ratings. He has one interest that he believes in and it is called Rush Limbaugh.”
Oh, geez. You are entitled to your opinion, but methinks you are in a very, very small minority.
Out of curiosity, whom do you admire within the conservative movement?
He put the whole FUBAR fiasco into perspective by stating if a DEM had done any of this (as they OFTEN have), it wouldn't have gotten even a footnote of mention. It was the MSM that kept this issue on the front burner.
He picked a fight with Michael J Fox and he got whipped in the court of public opinion.
Michael J Fox was rah-rahing a case for stem cell research, and a supporter John F'n Kerry (who served in Vietnam). The main "fight" was about Lurch Kerry promoting stem cells as a "cure-all" for everything from cancer to dandruff.
In this election he was a constant vocal critic of John McCain.
Rush has ALWAYS been a critic of McCain, because McCain is not a Republican, he's a Dem Lite.
He made it clear his support for McCain, at best, was tepid.
All support for McCain was tepid. Palin was the only reason McCain didn't loose all 50 states....
It's tough to get to the truth which is what we do here,or try to, about a topic when everything is hidden and info you read on the net today is scrubbed tomorrow.
Why would a conservative support a RINO wholeheartedly ?
A large portion of the conservative base remained indifferent.
Maybe because McCain was forced upon us and he is a stinking RINO
1 + 1 = 2
“Had a liberal friend recently tell me...”
My liberal friends are uninformed and/or misinformed,too.
“Idol worship”?
Rush “just runs his mouth”?
“if folks are sufficiently ignorant”?
His listeners need someone to “provide them with opinions”?
I usually find that people who paint with such a broad brush don’t have the intellectual capability to discuss issues intelligently, and are often the most close-minded of all.
You are entitled to YOUR opinon, but that is my opinion, “humblegunner”.
Peggy Noonan and David Frum?
That speaks volumes.
As were MOST Conservatives. WE voted for Sarah....not mclame. MCLAME lost the election COMPLETELY on his own. If it wasn't for Sarah, it would have been an embarrassing landslide win for barry hussein.
Rush needs to buy CBS and make it the Conservative Broadcasting System!!!!
I especially like the way he listens and reacts to callers. Even those he disagrees with, he often draws them into a thoughtful discussion.
Oxycontin?
I find Limbaugh to be entertaining, but certainly nothing more.
He does a radio show, he isn't a prophet or an ultimate source of wisdom.
And you blame Rush for this??? Something tells me YOU are the weakest link here.
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