I can think of several times Rush had a golden opportunity to effect change in the Republican party, during the Bush years in particular, but chose rather to pacify his listeners with the false hope that if they just hang on and pull the 'R' lever next time around, all will be well again.
Only a sample here, but open borders (even in the face of a screaming electorate), Bush ignoring pleas to restore religious freedom in the military, spending American blood and treasure to ‘create a democracy’ in (of all places) Iraq, touting the lie of slam is a ‘religion of peace’ nonsense, going for a North American Union treaty without Congressional debate or approval, and the list goes on. Rush was instrumental in running interference for Bush.
Rush, et.al., never demanded the Republicans defend themselves from media lies. Sure, he gives it token attention, but never really conveys how diabolical and destructive allowing this to go on is.
Most egregious, Rush, et.al., never demanded proof of eligibility of obama, and/or full disclosure of his life, school and medical records, and more. The future of the country was at stake, but pleasing his GOP masters was deemed more important.
I listen, and I know whereof I speak. As BA points out, the proof is in the pudding: we've witnessed two decades of systematic erosion of our culture, economy, political system; even our rights under the Constitution are all but gone. Rush himself often says that conservatives judge from results - liberals judge based on intent, regardless of the end result.
Therefore by Rush's own standards, his tenure on the radio has done nothing significant to stop and reverse what some call the wholesale liquidation of America, much less improve the state of affairs here.
Your belief in the power of Rush is amazing. Your belief about what he *could* accomplish is little short of giving him god-like powers.
One of the biggest threats to the Republic is the formation of a conservative third party. It would spilt the electorate three ways, insuring a “Progressive” government as far as the eye can see.
The only potential solution is to take over the Republican party. It can be done, it was done before.
The biggest problem is the MSM, of which Rush is a partial balance.
With the way you reason on this, Jim Robinson is part of the conspiracy too, insuring that enough conservatives stay home to get Barack Obama reelected.
Your understanding of “golden opportunities” are far different than Rush’s. He is where he is in part because he is in tune with a significant chunk of the culture.
A whole lot of people see the Iraq war as necessary to prevent a base for Al Queda to operate out of with impunity, and with the ability to obtain more weapons and resources than they currently have.
We won that war, and probably would have take out Iran as well, except the Democrats and the MSM did everything they could to make us lose it and keep us from stopping Iran. You ignore all the domestic opposition to Bush by the other side, specifically putting their partisan politics ahead of the safety of the country.
Tell me, how is Rush to *demand* that Republicans defend themselves from media lies? I have heard plenty of them defend themselves on his show, but the MSM doesn’t allow them to do it on their shows. So how are they going to do it now? After hours speeches on C-Span?
The problem is, and always has been, the “progressive” take over of the Media (and much of the rest of the culture).
We would be far worse off without Rush.
I have wanted him to push where I thought he could make a difference. I thought he should have pushed hard on the Waco and Ruby Ridge Scandals. Crickets.
Rush has come a long way.
Expecting him to change the world and saying that he is part of a conspiracy on the other side because he has not does not stand up to Occam’s Razor.
So, by your standards, Limbaugh's 25 years on the air have amounted to nothing.
The conservative ball has not been advanced a millimeter for 25 years, huh?
I will leave it at that...