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Has Rush Limbaugh Finally Reached the End Of The Road?
Forbes ^ | April 15, 2014 | Rick Ungar

Posted on 04/16/2014 12:00:15 AM PDT by Pinkbell

(Snip)

At long last, it appears that Rush Limbaugh has run out of steam.

I have to acknowledge that I have sensed Rush getting by on fumes for some time now (yes, I tune into his show from time to time to enjoy his broadcasting skills if not his message). However, it was only recently that the world of Limbaugh crossed that thin red line from partially serious to total self-parody and audience deception—a line crossed from which there is often no return.

It happened on the occasion of Stephen Colbert’s appointment to fill David Letterman’s soon to be vacated chair on the CBS late-night set.

By using this occasion to create a political narrative designed to stir up his listeners, Limbaugh telegraphed to his loyal followers that he is now dependent upon feeding fully faux political nonsense that his audience instinctively—or explicitly—knows is a bunch of baloney.

To be sure, this is hardly the first time Limbaugh has fed his audience a diet of twisted information and bizarre, conspiratorial memes. However, it may well be the first time that he attempted to shove a diet down the throats of any semi-rational listeners still living in the real world made up of nonsense that even his most loyal listener could not possibly swallow.

That’s a problem for Rush.

A show like Limbaugh’s is wholly reliant on his listeners’ willingness to believe—or suspend belief—no matter how ‘out there’ their guru’s arguments may be. While it is one thing for me to sneer at much of what Limbaugh may present, it is quite another when he attempts to sell his loyal audience on stuff they already know, through personal experience, to be false and fraudulent hokum.

Upon hearing the news of Colbert’s new gig, Limbaugh pronounced— as only Limbaugh can pronounce—

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: halfbrainbehindback; liberalism; limbaugh; mentaldisorder; ratingsenvy; rickungar; rush; rushbashing; rushlimbaugh; stephencolbert; talkradio
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To: Secret Agent Man

Yes; I think you get it. Rush’s new books are his new passion. - I look forward to reading them.


21 posted on 04/16/2014 2:55:39 AM PDT by Twinkie (John 3:16)
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To: Wildbill22

Most on the right - the true conservatives - believe that zero isn’t an American citizen. However, we really don’t have the proof - nothing that would hold up in a court of law. And, yet, some of you on here want Rush, Hannity and Levin to commit radio suicide by becoming a birther. Donald Trump can get away with it - he doesn’t have a radio program or bosses to answer to. For pete’s sake, why don’t some of you think more clearly about things like this? If those 3 go off the air we’d have no way carrying the truth to the masses. I also don’t believe we could have gotten zero out of office - that ship has sailed. One day the truth will come out, but I sure don’t expect it while he’s still squatting in the WH.


22 posted on 04/16/2014 3:18:20 AM PDT by Catsrus (A)
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To: Pinkbell

I have seen Rush declared “finished” by the left more than ten times in my adult life.


23 posted on 04/16/2014 3:22:32 AM PDT by arderkrag (To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others. - Buddha)
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To: Pinkbell
this is nothing more than Forbes, "Moooooing"
with rest of the Liberal Media horde..Shills
for B@$t@rd pResident "Bathhouse" 0'Muslim.

24 posted on 04/16/2014 3:30:19 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun. Right..0'Caligula / 0'Reid? ;-)
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To: pepsionice

I wonder if Leno ends up on “Velocity?”


25 posted on 04/16/2014 3:31:48 AM PDT by ken5050 ("One useless man is a shame, two are a law firm, three or more are a Congress".. John Adams)
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To: Wildbill22
For many years, anyone who followed FR and some other websites would learn little or nothing by listening to Rush.

True. But it's always interesting to get the Rushbo take on events ... at least the ones he chooses not to ignore.

26 posted on 04/16/2014 3:31:50 AM PDT by BluH2o
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To: Arthur McGowan

“I hardly listen to Rush anymore”

That is quite obvious by the reading the rest of your post. Many here on FR are of the same stripe as you. He’s conservative, but not “your” kind of conservative.... You might learn something by listening to Limbaugh, instead of thinking you know everything.


27 posted on 04/16/2014 3:33:05 AM PDT by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: Pinkbell

Well, this is good news.

The end of Rush = increase in ratings.

When 12:00 comes around at work, I know I can turn on the radio and listen to 3 hours of sense in an otherwise crazy world.


28 posted on 04/16/2014 3:44:04 AM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: caver

Thank you for that comment.


29 posted on 04/16/2014 3:49:22 AM PDT by Russ (Repeal the 17th amendment)
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To: Pinkbell
"Thinly" is an excellent adverb describing the action of this writer, ready to write Rush off based on a single observation made with regard to Colbert's comedic style vs. Letterman's. There is certainly something to Rush's observation about the comedic style of a Colbert v. Letterman, or even v. Fallon that goes beyond simply the age argument this writer goes on and on about. Colbert is not trying to build rapport with the audience. Compare this with Fallon, for example, who at least tries.

It's as if Johnny Carson had tried to host the Tonight Show as "Art Fern," or "Karnak" or any of his other characters, and no one ever met what he disclosed of his real persona.

Plus, this guy is obviously offended by Rush and Conservative politics, and spends half his column apologizing for it.

This is liberal screed disguised as "gotcha."

30 posted on 04/16/2014 3:52:17 AM PDT by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
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To: Arthur McGowan

Even Beck, who has had more courage than any of them, can’t really handle the Bundy situation. Imploring folks to non violence is probably the wrong answer with this enemy. The FCC would throw the switch on them in a heartbeat if they really dealt with this on air, hence time wasted with Colbert. Up next, flag burning, gay “marriage”, global warming, anything but “give me Liberty or give me Death”.


31 posted on 04/16/2014 3:52:32 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: JudyinCanada

When Rush goes AM radio dies.


32 posted on 04/16/2014 3:57:31 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Pinkbell

What is this...about the 1000th lib article declaring Rush is dead/through? Wishful thinking from another deluded lib. I suppose Ungar, like all libs, believes conservatives agree with each and every statement by Rush. I do however agree with about 90-95% of what Rush says. He’s right that there is liberal war against conservative America. They picked Colbert to succeed Letterman...not Dennis Miller or some other conservative. They can choose whomever they want....I’m not going to watch.


33 posted on 04/16/2014 4:08:50 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Pinkbell

What is this...about the 1000th lib article declaring Rush is dead/through? Wishful thinking from another deluded lib. I suppose Ungar, like all libs, believes each and every statement by Rush. I do however agree with about 90-95% of what Rush says. He’s right that there is liberal war against conservative America. They picked Colbert to succeed Letterman...not Dennis Miller or some other conservative. They can choose whomever they want....I’m not going to watch.


34 posted on 04/16/2014 4:11:42 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Prospero

It’s a bit of a mystery to me why the networks deliberately ignore the adult audience. When, as a teen, I first started watching Carson, I didn’t expect him to cater to the youth audience. I watched him trying to see how adults operated.


35 posted on 04/16/2014 4:18:23 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: central_va
When Rush goes AM radio dies.

When Rush goes AM, radio dies...or, When Rush goes, AM radio dies.

36 posted on 04/16/2014 4:32:52 AM PDT by Salvey
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To: Pinkbell

Rush has had more obituaries written about him than my neighbor’s cat. Might as well trash this one too.


37 posted on 04/16/2014 4:36:53 AM PDT by BobL
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To: Arthur McGowan

http://www.talkers.com/top-talk-radio-audiences/

There possibly may be some philosophical or other reason to think Rush is “on the way out”. But the traditional ratings organizations don’t think so.


38 posted on 04/16/2014 4:38:52 AM PDT by Gaffer (Comprehensive Immigration Reform is just another name for Comprehensive Capitulation)
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To: BobL

Like the cat in the movie “Mad House”.

[One of my all time favorite comedies - hilarious]


39 posted on 04/16/2014 4:41:12 AM PDT by Gaffer (Comprehensive Immigration Reform is just another name for Comprehensive Capitulation)
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To: Pinkbell

I was a religious listener of Rush’s for over 15 years. Then we got a faster internet and I was able to download Mark Levin’s podcasts. Have listened to every podcast for over 4 years, except the guest host ones. I knew about Mark from Rush’s old tv show and FoxNews. Now I can’t bear to listen to Rush for more than a few minutes. If I happen to be in the car I’ll see what he is talking about. The situation is so dire in this country that I need substance, and education. Mark has it all and humor too. Have read all his books and anxiously await the next. Rush is a great guy but more of an entertainer these days. He has such a huge audience I wish he would follow Mark’s lead.


40 posted on 04/16/2014 4:43:13 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Please support efforts in your state for an Aticle 5 convention.)
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