freeSpeech: Rush Limbaugh

Radio Host On Patriotism And The War On Terror

(CBS)  It is time to face a hard cold fact: Militant Islam wants to kill us just because we are alive and don't believe as they do. And they have been killing us for decades. It is time to stop pretending these are mere episodic events and face the reality that our way of life is in grave danger. This threat will not just go away because we choose to ignore it.

Some say we try diplomacy. Tell me, how do we negotiate with people whose starting point is our death? Ask them to wait for 10 years, before they kill us? When Good negotiates with Evil, Evil will always wins.

And peace follows victory, not words issued by diplomats.

Unfortunately, some Americans are not interested in victory. And they want us to believe that their irresponsible behavior is Patriotic. Well, it's not.

When the critics are more interested in punishing this country over a relatively few incidents at Abu Grahib and Guantanimo than they are in defeating those who want to kill us; when they seek to destroy a foreign surveillance program which is designed to identify those who want to kill us and how they intend to do it; when they want to grant those who want to kill us U.S. constitutional rights, I don't call that patriotic.

Patriotism is rallying behind the country, regardless of party affiliation, to defeat Islamo-Fascism. Patriotism is supporting our troops on the battlefield, not undermining the mission and morale.

But let there be no doubt about this. America will prevail. We are the same America that survived a massively bloody Civil War, defeated the Nazis, and the Soviet Union. Each generation has a responsibility to the next. Our generation won't disappoint.


Rush Limbaugh is host of radio's Rush Limbaugh Show. You can read more about the show on his website.

[prcrlc]

Any more Rush segments and I'm bailing CBS News.

[falgou]

Good job Rush!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brianfarmer1]

Wow! I applaud CBS for allowing Rush to have a few words. Based on the history of the biased news however my expectations for a balanced new news show are limited, but I will give it a chance

[killkati]

This was probably the only time I will ever watch the CBS evening news. Thanks Rush for letting us know the exact time you would be on so we didn't suffer too much!! You went where the sinners are and you nailed them!

Nice to hear some common sense, for once. Thanks CBS for putting Rush on. You just gained another viewer.....

[defendorlose]

Prcrlc,

What part of the substance of his commentary couldn't you deal with?

[anniekst]

Rush is wrong. It is the essence of patriotism to dissent when the current administration has taken us in the wrong direction; their heavy handed terror fighting tactics have made the situation far worse, not better. They had a golden opportunity to unite the entire civilized world against terrorism, but instead they alienated all of our allies and went off half-cocked, and have yet to admit that they're going in the wrong direction. Some of us true patriots are proud of the job our soldiers are doing, in spite of the fact that we firmly believe they are doing it for an incompetent administration.

[abdulwali-2009]

Mr limbaugh should know that Islam is free from those who perpatrate terror check what Islam has to say about it even before there was a United States in the world, so the term IslamoFascist is an incorrect term to classify Islam, which means peace linguisticaly. See Islam's war on terror----

at www.islaam.ca

and be just. leave Islam out of your retoric and kick your drug habit.

I went to college back in the late 70's with a few people from Iran. At that time I was told by them that they did not like "America" putting bases on the "HOLY LAND". Getting out of that area could help mend the "hate" that they have for us, and stop the wishing for our deaths.
Our perpetual declaration of war, for perpatual peace has not worked sence WWII. If we want peace "WE" must make up for the mistakes "WE" have made, and not blame it on others.
These are my thoughts, then again I have had more therapy than most, and I OWN MY MISTAKES !

[katknit]

Free Sppech - whether or not this should be given space on a 30 minute national news program - should be for viewers, not celebrities. If I care about what Rush Limbaugh thinks, which I don't, I'll listen to him on his own show.

[dshoff1]

I want to thank the CBS news for having the courage to put Rush on. I think he was right on the mark. Rush's opinion on this matter is shared by many more people than the press realize.

[allstar919]

He has the right to free speech, but anyone believing his words is suffering serious damage. Militant Islam hates American government much more than its citizens, and not for the reasons Rush lists. Good can win in diplomacy with Evil - look at the ceasefire in Lebanon, if only because Rush may be able to remember a couple weeks of history. Criticizing government is excellent patriotism; criticizing the soldiers is another thing entirely. And we are not the same America that defeated the Nazis. We had a military weaker than Finland's before WWII. Now we have one of the strongest, but are losing in Iraq and the broader war on terror because of its misuse by our President. Indeed I will continue to criticize bad government.

I want to thank CBS for the Rush Limbaugh segment. I usally don't watch any of the big news stations because of the liberal bias. I will keep watching Katie for a while. I expect a non bias news program but will wait and see. I don't agree with Rush on everything, nor do I listen to his radio show very often but I agree with him 100% on this war and the war on terror. Thanks again for Rush and he did an excelent job.

[brianfarmer1]

Rush speaks for so many of us. It's disturbing that many believe we are creating enemies with our policies. I don't understand how we can get worse than these people killing our innocent women and children. I believe Bush was only in office a few months on Sept 11, 2001 and there were so many attacks previous to that. The real story is that we havn't been attacked here since we went after these terrorist all over the world, including Iraq.

[vmississippi]

I believe I am "Jane Doe" of the United States and I seem to think like "40something" women across the country. For the first time in my life I actually agree with every word Rush Limbaugh says. I was surprised, but it's true! The liberal media has too much control.

[zamana-2009]

Rush is absolutely wrong. The current American administration desires to isolate and punish those who do not support their ideals. Patriotism is a great attribute; however it should not come at the price of individual freedom. One can support American ideals without supporting incompetent policies or individuals; and a true democratic society is supportive of this right.

[j_phred]

I'm 44 years old, a registered Democrat and probably will be for the rest of my life. Since President Bush won the 2000 election (yes, you heard right), I have been increasingly disgusted with the path my party is following. The sheer hatred the left wing of the party has shown to the President, has completely blinded them to the fact that they ARE slowly handing this country over to the very people that would destroy us.

Can you imagine if FDR had decided to sit down with the Japanese warlords, the Nazis and Italian fascists after Pearl Harbor and tried to negotiate with them? Mr. Limbaugh is absolutely right... you cannot negotiate with the people who would just as soon see you dead.

What so few people in the media and the far left realize is that if such totalitarians would succeed in turning this country into a theocracy like Iran, THEY would be the first ones executed... the Persians have no stomach for anyone who betray his own country.

Make no mistake about it... we are engaged in World War Three. If the leaders of my party would take their blinders off, they would realize it.

As it now stands, the Democratic Party could run Jesus Christ as their candidate for president come 2008 and I would not vote for him if he espoused the views now embraced by the leaders of the DNC.

p.s. I know the first thing a lot of you are going to say is that I'm not a registered Democrat. I'd gladly show you my voter registration card to prove it.

[effallah]

Rush Limbaugh's segment was the only good part of the newscast. A thank you to CBS for giving him a chance to speak. He did a great job, as usual, and I was happy to know that many others were able to hear him. I did, however, remind myself of why I hate network news, and this will be the one and only night I watch. Sorry about that, but thanks again for having Mr. Limbaugh on.

[rayintexas]

Bottom line....Rush hit the nail right on the head..it's about time we realize we
ARE at war...if we act weak our enemy WILL exploit our weaknesses..it's time for us to realize our troops ARE fighting for our existence..remember 9/l1

[ldwanderson]

(QUOTE)Peace follows victory, not words issued by diplomats.(UNQUOTE)

Great quote. Given that a very traditionally politically liberal news operation allowed someone who is politically conservation to speak in their broadcast is impressive. Rush may push the envelope to make the point ... but ... he expresses the thoughts of a great many politically conservative Americans. Thank you for having a political conservative speak today. As I am a political conservative--this made me feel that I am valued by CBS News and--this is FREE SPEECH!
Lois

[brianfarmer1]

Thank you CBS for letting Rush speak. I only hope you will offer a balanced perspective as a matter of policy on the reporting of OUR news!

[jmeliz]

Rush gives a verbal outrage about what us Americans can expect. Yet, he offers no solutions. That is typical Rush nonsense. He only offers his oratory verbage that gives no idea what message he is sending other than-"we are doomed unless those Liberal left wingers" realize the war in Iraq is not President Bush's doing but the doing of so called terrorists supported by Americans who do not agree with Rush and Bush/Chaney etc.

I have only one question for Rush. Is this Administration fighting terrorists in Iraq or is this Administration fighting Iraqi civilians (who may or who may not be terrorists but who have turned against Mr. Bush's American style Democracy). Can Rush qualify and quantify who is a terrorist and who is not an Iraqi Citizen?

I doubt Rush can give a straight Yes or No with explicit qualifiers supporting his answers. But he will provide a verbal extra ordinary use of words that say "Nada"!! Thanks, Joe elizondo 20 miles from Crawford Texas.

[etbigdaddy]

Mr. abdulwali and any other islamapologists, please take note. you are very quick to say rush and any one else is wrong for pointing out that the terrorists we are fighting are doing so, by their own words, in the name of islam. for once, can i just here one muslim say that what the terrorists are doing is wrong and stop getting so bent out of shape over th linguistics and "true" meaning of islam.

and for those who dont like rush or bush, at least we know that they (rush/bush) want our country to win this war. it is becoming more evident that critics care more about hurting the terrorists feelings and world opinion. the critics would be the first ones to convert to islam if they thought it would save their hides.

last point. if the war is creating more terrorists then where did the terrorists come from before the war?

[johnnealr]

AMEN

[swampraton]

Yeah Rush! Made the big time. You and I know that Islam does not favor borders or states. Islam is a nation per the Koran. The militant Islamist want to convert us or kill us. Like the ABC reporters that were forced to accept Islam - the radicals will put out a death notice once they reject it. It is like ex-communication only with brain surgery at the neck.

[rsticbob]

"Patriotism is rallying behind the country, regardless of party affiliation"
Here's a guy who's talking about rallying behind the president. Now he's talking about it, when the Republicans are in a panic over the midterm elections. I seem to remember this same loudmouth going after President Clinton day after day, week after week, calling for his impeachment, throw the bum out of office for having an affair with an intern. Short memory, Rush. I wish some of these other commentors would wake up to the fact that there is no liberal media bias in this country. He has the right as a citizen to be included, but how about some people who haven't gotten rich because of their obnoxious, phony radio show.

[toftiebabe]

How dare Rush Limbaugh call people unpatriotic because they are following the United States Constitution!!! Being patriotic does not mean agreeing with everything he and the other Bush people say!!! Why aren't we fighting in Saudi Arabia when most of the 911 terrorists came from there? It's because the Saudi Royal Family are pals of the Bushies, and we all know they are loyal to a FAULT. If Saudam had been a personal friend of the Bushes, we wouldn't be killing thousands of innocent people in Iraq. How does Rush propose to identify Victory, anyway. Iraq, thanks to Bush, is now the biggest breeding ground for terrorists ever. Wouldn't you want to kill people that are threatening you life every single day? I love our military, but don't want them used for a foolish, suicide mission in which there is no real way to achieve victory. Rush is a big fat windbag, and I hope you never have him on the evening news again! Of all people, he doesn't deserve to be on!

[jimnshelley]

Mr. Limbaugh said, "It is time to face a hard cold fact: Militant Islam wants to kill us just because we are alive and don't believe as they do." Rush, CBS News and Katie Couric are smart enough to know that Militant Islam wants to kill us just because we have installed and and defend puppet governments for 100+ years and occupy much of the mideast to control their oil. What would Americans do if Militant Muslims had an an army in Washington D.C. or Florida?

[notbuynit]

That was an unusually polished, well rehearsed, sensible sounding delivery of OPINION (or something resembling one) delivered by someone who is obviously not as unintelligent as many of his listeners are. He knows how to make his money entertaining the ignorant moron minions. He knew he was talking to a larger mass containing more sophisticated people, and tailored his comments to sound more reasonable. This guy lies and distorts on his program every single day, and the masses of morons just eat it eat it up. Yes, the terrorists are bad, yes they need to be eliminated, but not speaking out when your leadership is doing a lousy job and lying about it is wrong. Blair was Bush's poodle, Rush is one of Bush's blood hounds. Not even that, he's just in it for the money. Money made on stupidity and ignorance. Yours, if you beleive him.

[sepersr]

Diplomacy works? Think back to the Carter administration when he begged and pleaded with Iran to give up the hostages. Remember Kissinger negotiating with the North Vietnamese which ended up losing South Vietnam in the end. Remember the words of a great statesman Barry Goldwater: "Moderation in justice is no virture; extremeism in the defense of Liberty is no vice".
If you were on an airplane hijacked by islamo facists on 9/11 and you were really nice to them and asked "please don't do this", you could feel really good about one thing before the plane hit the world trade buildings: you never said anything during that time to offend them.

[Americansoul]

Thanks CBS for allowing an alternative opinion segment called free speech. Rush in 90 seconds summed up what the Drive-By-Media cannot report or understand.We are at War, and many have chosen a side to stand on. After 911 I know where I stand, and Rush through FREE SPEECH just said it for me!

Thanks.

[kibitzer2]

Rush Limbaugh is good at sounding logical, as does
the Republican administration. The problem is,
they give no solution to the problems. They leave
that up to the public to fill in the blank.

The solution to Limbaughs "free speech" is: We must kill all of them before they kill all of us.
Rush Limbaugh is afraid to say this, for a guy who talks so big and tough.

[uralph1]

The war with extremist Muslim terrorists will not end with a new president or Congress. It will only end when the Muslims get tired of killing there own kind, namely humans and decide to live and let live as the rest of us do. If we pull out of the battle a new terrorist strike within the US will draw us back to the fight again.So we are in the war like it or not until the philosophy of the world becomes live and let live.

[nhvet]

Why do you give creditably to this guy? Rush was a washed up little radio station DJ until he found out that by bashing anyone that didn%u2019t blindly follow the GOP he could have a forum. He does not reflect anyone but those that have a closed mind GOP brainwashed view of our country. He adds nothing to any news broadcast. The only news with him may be what drug is he currently taking. Stick to reporting the news and less trying to create the news by adding such pieces.

[anjoblossom]

I was surprised and pleased that you had Rush Limbaugh on your Free Speech tonight. What he said is true, speaking not only for right wingers but for middle of the roaders and for people like me. I was born into a strong democratic family and was an active party member until CARTER. But I have not been able to agree since with anything they present. I dont think the dems will ever get their act together for what is best for America. I would pray they did but God help them, they dont understand the enemy who wants to destroy us.

[thedingbat-2009]

Patriotism is the support, defense, and application of our Constitution to all Americans,
not only when the President sees fit. Without this, the "way of life" that Rush feels is under attack, is reduced to our ability to consume as much petroleum as we can get our hands on.

The killing of a young man is not a good way to win the hearts of his family and friends, and bring them to our side. That didn't seem to work for their side to get us to back off, and it certainly won't work to bring them to love us.

[acqualin]

I tuned in to see the classy and professional Katie Couric on CBS this evening. I was disgusted, however, to see Rush Limbaugh on the same news program. I had my fill of him in the early 90s, and now his face, voice, and opinions are not welcome in my home! I reiterate prcric's sentiments: "Any more Rush segments and I'm bailing CBS News."

[mariray]

Thanks Katie and CBS for having such a great segment and a great show. I couldn't agree more with Rush Limbaugh, (and I usually don't agree with his comments). We must realize that if we are constantly disagreeing with and expressing dissatisfaction with the government the enemy will continue to have opportunities to take advantage of our weakness. Thinking back on the last administration, the country and the President was so focused on Monica Lowinsky that the enemy had plenty of time to formulate the plans they implemented. While we are busy disagreeing with the current administration, they probably are planning the next attack in a way we can't even phathom. We spend our time with our pleasures, the enemy spends their time putting an end to them.

[debitdr-2009]

I have read Rush's comments over and over and could not find a decent reply until now. I am one of those Americans who is not interested in victory, but for a quick end to this senseless war and the rapid return of our young men and women to their families. Rush. I am a firm believer in "Hold your peace, and the Lord will fight thy battle."

[studiotropico]

Someone told me you had Edward R. Murrow and Ted Baxter in the same segment.
You do know that one of them is a fictional character right? Now you add Rush Limbaugh? Do you know anything about him? Do you think he is a legitimate spokesman for anything except misogyny, racism, illegal prescriptions and *** tourism in the Dominican Republic? You have quickly lowered the standards of the CBS Evening News not because you are a woman but because you are a clown. My guess is that you will not last three months. Who's next Howard Stern? Ask him to do "Butt Bongo" or "Anal Ring Toss" with you as that seems to be the direction you're heading.

[dkjames74]

RIGHT ON RUSH!
WHERE ARE THE POLES COMING UP WITH THE NUMBERS?
WHY WOULD WE WANT TO QUIT OUR WAR ON TERRORISTS
NOW?
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT AND WOULD WE ALL BE CRYING LATER WHEN THEY RETURN TO THE STATES!

PRESIDENT BUSH MIGHT BE LITTLE BUT HE HAS THE COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM THAT IS NEEDED IN LEADING OUR NATION.

KATY YOUR ARE GREAT!

[danhall5]

RUSH IS RIGHT! The Dem's want us to try to get along with the terrorist. The only we can appease the terrorist is for all of us to commit suicide for we are infidels to them and MUST DIE!

[kentuckian5]

To make his case, Limbaugh has to misstate other people's positions.
I'm not aware of anybody arguing that we should "negotiate" with Osama bin Laden, Al Qaida, or any other terrorist groups. Who's advocating that?
Limbaugh would have us believe the dreaded "liberals" are, but he provides no quotes, no evidence of any kind, not even a direct reference to a specific person. Name one liberal and/or Democratic politician who's saying "let's not fight Al Qaida. Let's just negotiate" -- and produce a quote to back it up.
Those of us who oppose the Iraq War do so, in part because it was an unnecessary, wasteful diversion of troops, resources, and money that could have been used to fight the real war on terror.
Critics of the war in Iraq, and of the administration, are patriots who believe the war on terrorism could have fought more effectively if the Bush administration hadn't made mistake after mistake.
But to people like Limbaugh, anyone who refuses to march in lockstep with the Bush adminstration is immediately labeled unpatriotic.

[jdragoni]

I Don't know who Limbaugh is refering to when he talks about those who would negotiate with terrorists. I have never heard anyone even suggest this, and anyone who would is stupid. Who would we negotiate with? There is no single leader of all the Muslim extremists in the world. The single issue that Limbaugh and Bush and Company keep ignoring is that the war in Iraq never was about Muslim extremism. Our own generals report that Al Qaeda makes up 5-10% of the enemy fighters in Iraq. We are and have been fighting Iraqis, and Al Qaeda is there because we are there. The infamous link between Iraq and Al Qaeda was only the fact that Zarkawi had received medical treatment in Iraq. Our troops were sent into a conflict that anyone with a basic knowledge of Iraq and the Mideast knew would turn into a sectarian fight. Those who proclaim their support of our troops, sent in an insufficient force with no clear objective except removing Saddam. The administration and talk radio are full of war advocates who never served and do not understand the realities of war.

[asdfgoo]

iam a usa loving muslim and i am extreamly offended. you are obviasly an anti muslim and i absolutly hate raceists. i am in no way am threatining you but please stop attacking islam
just because a few crazy people who happened to be muslim have,even from myself, the titel
"terrorist" dose not mean islam is trying to get you or amarica i hate the fact that so many people are the same i dont like being called a terrorist just becase i am from a country next to a country that deffended themseves, yes they did it in the wrong way by attacking inacent civilians but the piont is no one thinks like those crazy"terrorists".so why do you always say the muslims or islam when you can id them by there names. i dout that the septemer attacks would happen if amaricas government did not interfer with the middle easts wars. the terrorists would not attack if they had not felt in danger. i also wish that cbs news could post this on thire next talk on free speech

thank you,
unanamis muslim

[lrmonard]

Rush as usual frames things so narrowly that there is no room for a difference of opinion. He says the Islamic-Conservatives hate us and want to kill us and consequently he says diplomacy is useless. There are many Islamic groups and just because one group hates us doesn't mean we should discontinue a discourse with all Muslims.
We can support our troops and still distinguish between this war and the war on terror. Many of us feel this administration has pushed the war on terror aside to pursue this war and as a result the very people who this country would like to apprehend are allowed to go free primarily because we are stretched to thin to see that this mission is accomplished.
Nor is it unpatriotic to demand that our men and women in uniform conduct themselves according to rules of war. If they commit atrocities we as Americans cannot abide their behavior. Would Rush have us turn a blind eye to this kind of behavior, that appears to be what he is saying. If our country is wrong we need to correct it if we don't it ceases to be the country we hold out as a shinging example to others.

[ldwanderson]

Acqualin

I guess CBS News will have to decide if they want me as a viewer or you. I don't say ... if you have ... this person or that person on ... I will bail on CBS News. In fact, I never watched CBS news until Bob took over. (Loved his sense of humor.) I'll give Katie a chance and watch to see if there is a more balanced sense of the the American population. I love the idea of the FREE SPEECH segment and hope that they will continue to offer commentary from those who are not die-hard political liberals. I applaud them for addressing true free speech ... by allowing those who do not agree with their opinions to speak. It is not the CBS Evening Liberal. It is not the CBS Evening Conservative. It is the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric ... News for All Americans!

[caucus1]

Putting a brainless loudmouth like Limbaugh on the air not only insults all serious conservatives, but it makes your hopeful viewers wonder if the same CBS fools who decided on raciual groupings on Survivor are now runningh the news side.

[jimnshelley]

Mr. Limbaugh said, "It is time to face a hard cold fact: Militant Islam wants to kill us just because we are alive and don't believe as they do." Rush, CBS News and Katie Couric are smart enough to know that Militant Islam wants to kill us just because we have installed and and defend puppet governments for 100+ years and occupy much of the mideast to control their oil. What would Americans do if Militant Muslims had an an army in Washington D.C. or Florida?

[fedora1958]

If this is your idea of intelligent debate, please scrap the "Free Speech" segment immediately. Rush Limbaugh is not a responsible commentator. For years he has been documented in material untruth upon material untruth. He has no intellectual intergrity, he has no credibility, and when CBS News gives him a platform, neither do they.

Tonight, Limbaugh started right in with his usual dishonest tactics, setting up a row of mostly fictional straw men and knocking them down before anyone had a chance to think about the *** he was spewing.

"Some say we try diplomacy. Tell me, how do we negotiate with people whose starting point is our death? "

Who the hell is Rush talking about? Has anyone really been out there suggesting negotiating with Bin Laden? Certainly not me. And not the Democrats either. Everyone I know would have liked to see a lot more attention devoted to Bin Laden, instead of the huge distraction of Saddam Hussein, and the dangerous misadventure in Iraq. Maybe Rush is going after Noam Chmosky or something, but i think he's just debating some imaginary hand puppet. It's a lie.

I've been watching the CBS Evening News for about 25 years, and this is a horrifying lapse of integrity. If The CBS Evening News isn't a place where I can escape this kind of chicanery, I'm going to have to escape the CBS Evening News.