Limbaugh runs away from Limbaugh (Left Wing Smear Machine sets its sights on Rush)

PMSNBC ^ | August 22, 2005 | Keith Olberman

[balch3]

NEW YORK - There is nothing wrong with an unpopular opinion.

Nor is there anything wrong with a subversive one, nor a crazy one. This country was founded on opinions that were deemed by the powers-that-were to be unpopular, subversive, and crazy. Dissent - even when that dissent strays from logic or humanity - is our life’s blood. But if you have one of those opinions, and you express it in public, honesty and self-respect require you to own up to it.

Unless you’re Rush Limbaugh.

[Steve_Seattle]

I rarely listen to Rush and am not a "defend Rush at all costs" person, but when you make your living spouting off on the radio for three hours a day, you are bound to say some stupid things, some false things, and some vague or incoherent things. I saw Anne Coulter on O'Reilly the other day and didn't think she had anything to offer other than bluster. We all have our bad days and our brain-dead moments.

[RS]

"We all have our bad days and our brain-dead moments."

I totally agree Steve. I'm amazed at what he has accomplished, but some of the fanaticism here as if he is some sort of god is strange, and innaccurate statements on ANY side deserve to be challanged.

[AmishDude]

Because it's extemporaneous, he will at times be imprecise in his meaning. Pulling out a couple of sentences doesn't prove anything. It's a three-hour monologue and I'm sure he's said less-precise things than this -- as any radio host has. I'm sure you don't have many friends, but if you did, any 3-hour conversation with them -- even in public -- would have innumerable statements which could be misconstrued.

The point I made previously is quite simple. You cannot read the transcript or (presumably) listen to the audio of the monologue without knowing exactly what Rush meant . . . unless . . . you were trying to play a "gotcha" game. Unless you wanted to purposely misconstrue the comments.

And the parallels to Burkett (while pedestrian as an observation) are quite true. Burkett is a liar and Cindy is a liar. At least Burkett isn't an anti-Semite (to my knowledge).

You might want to ask the founder of this website how the court views copyright law.

[Steve_Seattle]

People on here will say things like, "Dick Morris has never been right about anything." Obviously, Dick Morris has been right about some things, but it's hyperbole and is understood as such. I put Rush's comment in that category. Now his critics are using his poorly worded hyperbole to make it sound like he said something he didn't say, something which no rational person would say. They are treating his hyperbolic comment as one of the arguments of a syllogism, and are arbitrarily filling in the third term to make it sound like he claimed Sheehan's son didn't die on Iraq:

Statement A: Nothing Sheehan said is true. (Rush)

Statement B: But Sheehan truthfully said her son died in Iraq.

Conclusion: Therefore Rush is saying that Sheehan lied about her son dying in Iraq. (Critics)

So in my opinion the critics are using a careless phrase to put words in Rush's mouth that he never said, and never would have said, and never even intended to imply.

[AmishDude]

Morris is a little different. In many cases, we're talking about predictions made by him in a written column or in a short interview.

A better example is Wolf Blitzer's little Freudian slip when he said he "makes" the news. Well, I certainly insisted that he be given a pass for that. He's just talking off the cuff.

[bethtopaz]

I love that - you're right.

[bethtopaz]

The cool thing about that is that every once in awhile you hear one them come on the air and tell Rush he's finally gotten to them and they're converting over from the Dark Side. It's all about education, folks. Let's not give up on the ignorant Left - sometimes they just don't know any better. I'm meeting more and more people these days who "used to be liberal, democrats, etc." and I live close to the S.F. East Bay in California.

[gusopol3]

the intent of the media in using Sheehan is the same as the intent of the media in using Burkett. That is what he was saying, and it is very clear, from reading the transcript, although I didn't hear it. The intent in both instances is to undermine Limbaugh's support with the military. Burkett:"he cheated to get out of serving." Sheehan: " He doesn't care about your families' sacrifices."

[RS]

"You cannot read the transcript or (presumably) listen to the audio of the monologue without knowing exactly what Rush meant "

You cannot read the transcript or (presumably) listen to the audio of the monologue without paying Rush for them.




"And the parallels to Burkett (while pedestrian as an observation) are quite true. Burkett is a liar and Cindy is a liar."

But Rush seems upset that this is what the media appears to be saying ..."Apparently what's out there is that I said that Cindy Sheehan is no different than Bill Burkett, that Bill Burkett lied and Cindy Sheehan lied. "
So Rush dosen't seem to be going along with your excuse for him or YOU are simply parroting the media line ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1465576/posts?page=51#51


"You might want to ask the founder of this website how the court views copyright law."
You seem to be obsessed with this for some reason - I couldn't care less - For more information on "fair use" check with your local library or http://www.legallanguage.com/lawarticles/Clarida011.html

[Tom_Busch]

Exactly right. Limabaugh knew her son died in Iraq. And he said so, prior to these comments. Seems to me, nearly anyone listening that day, knew what Rush meant. Knew that he was NOT implying that she was lying about her son dying in Iraq.

Seems like this is just a dishonest attempt by a couple of whackos to make Rush out to be a whacko. It's taking things out of context, plain and simple.

[gusopol3]

I read the excerpt of the transcript at the Olberman link. I guess that's fair use because it's an excerpt?

[gusopol3]

I meant to say "undermine Bush's support," not Limbaugh's

[RS]

"So in my opinion the critics are using a careless phrase to put words in Rush's mouth that he never said, and never would have said, and never even intended to imply."

Except for the fact he said it, you are correct :-)
( that's why it was a careless phrase )
That he meant it to mean something different - obviously.

Does he KNOW that they will run with every slip-up ? -obviously

So instead of explaining it in words they cannot miss-interpret, he posts it in his archives in the area you have to pay to see.

[RS]

"I read the excerpt of the transcript at the Olberman link. I guess that's fair use because it's an excerpt?"

Don't ask me - perhaps you can check with AmishDude

[Ghengis]

I heard a drunk spouting this same Olberman crap in a bar ealier this evening. I think more people heard the drunk.

[danmar]

Olberman used to be somewhat a decent guy when he was the wetherman for KCBS in Los Angeles.

How do you expect a lowly weatherman to become something of importance in the Media.
One needs something called "brains" to move forward, unlike Olberman he never discovered that gate.

Hence his antics at PMSNBC trying real hard to make himself wise and important, and at the end of it he makes himself look like an impotent and clueless clown.

Just give him his 15MIN of lime light, so he can feel good about himself and his accomplishments(name me one).

Fertig

[AmishDude]

You are the cherry-pickingest quoter I've ever seen. I don't know why I even bother with you, but you quote this:

Apparently what's out there is that I said that Cindy Sheehan is no different than Bill Burkett, that Bill Burkett lied and Cindy Sheehan lied.

And the VERY NEXT SENTENCE is this:

There are actually out there people saying that I am accusing Cindy Sheehan of making up the fact that she had a son and making up the fact that her son died in Iraq -- and, of course, I have never said this.

You are as disingenuous and disgusting as David Brock. I'm sorry. I don't cull quotes looking for a gotcha moment.

(BTW, is Olbermann admitting that the Burkett documents were forged?)

What he said was crystal clear and no one misunderstood him. They purposefully quoted him out of context for a gotcha moment. And you are in on it for whatever purposes you have.

We thought we knew what "fair use" meant but the WaPo and LAT told us differently, now didn't they?

[AmishDude]

Here's what's hilarious about Olbermann. He had genuine breaking news when Cindy Sheehan admitted that it was better for her NOT to meet again with Bush. But he's so partisan, he can't promote that kind of breaking news.

[RS]

"Apparently what's out there is that I said that Cindy Sheehan is no different than Bill Burkett, that Bill Burkett lied and Cindy Sheehan lied.
And the VERY NEXT SENTENCE is this:
There are actually out there people saying that I am accusing Cindy Sheehan of making up the fact that she had a son and making up the fact that her son died in Iraq -- and, of course, I have never said this."



Lets see, do YOU interpret what Rush said as the same thing as if he would have said "Burkett lied and Sheehan lied".

Since Rush is using the phrase "Apparently what's out there..." it appears that HE dosen't think what he said means that.




"We thought we knew what "fair use" meant but the WaPo and LAT told us differently, now didn't they?"

Your obsession is beyond me, I have no idea, nor do I care what you are talking about. ©2005 RS

[ozzymandus]

Nice to see olberman has a fan. Must be a lonely job. Even assuming Limbaugh said everything olberman claims, what's wrong with it?