20 Years Of Rush Limbaugh

National Review: The Mainstream Media Still Doesn't Get His Appeal

(National Review Online)  This column was written by By Roy Spencer.

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Rush Limbaugh’s 20 years of masterminding a wildly successful syndicated radio talk show proves many things about America that the mainstream media just doesn’t seem to get.

We don’t want a steady stream of bad news all the time. We don’t need a daily dose of new crises to wring our hands over. And in a country with abundant opportunities for success - where your creativity and ambition not only benefit you, but benefit everyone else - we sure don’t need our politicians telling us that we need them in order to be successful in life.

What Rush Limbaugh has provided this country far exceeds his lucrative income, the result of what Rush calls “confiscatory advertising rates.” For every dollar he has earned over the years, his encouragement to millions of loyal Dittoheads has surely generated much more in new wealth for us all.

And, yes, that even means more wealth for those humorless do-gooders who are so concerned about humanity’s unsolved problems that they generously throw as much of your money at those problems as they can get their hands on. While they try to give away your fish to others so that they might have purpose in life, Rush encourages everyone to learn to fish for themselves.

Rush’s on-air talents are numerous, combining to provide a wonderful vibe three hours a day, five days a week, that we will probably never again experience in talk radio. He articulates those underlying truths of life of which we are only dimly aware, bringing them out in the open and discussing them in the context of the news of the day.

Many of us remember the first time we heard Rush as the moment when we finally found someone who was able to express the things that we were thinking. His humor is subtle, devious, cutting, clever.

Despite 15 hours of material each week, Rush’s enemies still have trouble finding anything he’s said to damage him on the public stage. And then, they only do so at their peril. When Harry Reid and 41 Democrat senators sent a letter of complaint to Clear Channel last October lambasting Limbaugh’s use of the term “phony soldiers,” Rush auctioned the letter on eBay for $2.1 million, personally matched that amount, and then sent the proceeds to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.

Later, on the floor of the senate, Reid surrendered and offered that he would have gotten even more signatures if he had known the good cause the letter would be used for. Rush wins again. Trying to claim that Rush does not support our troops is a little like calling Al Gore a global warming denier.

Rush’s knowledge is encyclopedic. His memory is nothing short of amazing - the secret of which he once confided in me . . . but which I dare not disclose.

A dinner and house guest of presidents, honorary member of the House of Representatives, friend to countless celebrities and CEOs, and now a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, one would think Rush’s ego would have long ago outrun his good sense. And to be sure, those whose knowledge of Rush only comes from rumors consider him a pompous blowhard.

But a couple of weeks of listening to The Rush Limbaugh Show will reveal Rush to be a gracious host. If callers do not clearly express themselves, he takes the time to understand what they are trying to say.

He makes even the worst phone calls work to advance the show. That’s how good he is. Rush suffers the most irritating of callers, and seldom loses his temper even though thousands of impatient listeners are likely yelling and throwing their lunches at their radios and computer speakers.

As someone who occasionally provides Rush with “late arriving show prep” during commercial breaks, I have been amazed at how quickly Rush can assimilate new material. In a matter of seconds he can change gears and launch into an impromptu ten-minute dissertation on some issue he had not planned on addressing that day.

Some on the Left think Rush needs to be balanced by one or more voices on the other end of the political spectrum. A few politicians are even floating the idea of resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine. While conservatives consider most of the news media in America as decidedly liberal, those working in the media believe that they are the ones who really represent mainstream America, and they want equal time.

Does the mainstream media have a liberal bias? How can anyone determine the truth in such a matter of personal perception? The question is easily answered. In the free market of ideas, a widespread demand for views that have little or no supply will result in a huge market for anyone who steps up to meet that demand. Rush’s show remains popular partly because he meets a need that is not being met elsewhere.

When Air America Radio tried to counter Rush’s conservative views on-air, they failed simply because the market was already saturated with liberal views - from the mainstream media. When supply exceeds demand, the value of those views plummets. In stark contrast, Rush just signed a new $400 million contract. This is clear evidence of a continuing demand for something that still does not have a sufficient supply.

And this is what most in the mainstream media do not get. Rush is America. Its ideals and aspirations, work ethic and patriotism. A people who would rather focus on all that is right with our country rather than complain about what is wrong.

And as long the old media continues to deny that reality, Rush will continue to rally the hearts and minds of the people who make this nation work.

Dr. Roy W. Spencer is a principal research scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is author of the new book, Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians, and Misguided Policies that Hurt the Poor. He serves as official climatologist for The Rush Limbaugh Show.

[republic1776]

Nice to read good stuff about Rush Limbaugh.

[jmurrieta1]

Limpbaugh''s appeal?--it''s simple. He''s a pigturd who appeals to other pigturds.

And he''s paid a lot because the billionaires who own and operate America like having him as a mouthpiece.

Mystery solved.

[ubrew12]

Spencer: "While [liberals] try to give away your fish to others so that they might have purpose in life, Rush encourages everyone to learn to fish for themselves."

Overfishing may soon rob the oceans of all their fish. To battle that requires more than the ''blame game'' Limbaugh has perfected against anyone who doesn''t look or act like him. It requires a sense of common purpose, not just with other humans, but other species on this planet.

Its possible that Rush ''IS'' America, as the authors feels he is. Possibly, that explains why the rest of the world increasingly wants nothing to do with us.

[tejasdemo]

Lol. Yea, Rush is great guy. ROFL.
He must like heat...he lives in Florida.
I have a feeling he''s gonna have an eternity of it.

[imnho]

Rush appeals to the millions of people who are bigots. That is not a good thing.

[superdem]

Rush Limbaugh is a horrible person. If you like him, there''s something horrible about you. You need to examine yourself honestly. You won''t, but you need to. Rush appeals to the very worst in human nature. I listened to him for a long time, just to understand what he was about. The horrible things he said, and the horrible people who called in to agree with him became too much. This article was written by such a horrible person. You want an example of how horrible he is ? Remember how he ridiculed Michael J. Fox and his Parkinson''s disease ? That was beneath contempt.

[rrauch1]

3 words - massive heart attack

[bluestone9-2009]

Air America didn''t "fail." It may not have as many listeners as Limbaugh, but it''s still very much alive, providing 24 hours of programming a day, seven days a week. Check out www.airamerica.com.

[veteran188]

20 years of Lying, swiftboating people for the immoral

greed driven conservative cause,

what a pig!

[bluestardad]

this guy is an entertainer nothing more...

[bigeye9]

I happen to enjoy Rush. I find him very knowledgeable, and pretty entertaining. Yes he is full of himself, but so is Oberman, and O''Riley, etc. Airamerica I''ve tried it several times but its just not good, wish it were. Sorry everyone I enjoy Rush.

[jimfinster]

Limbaugh is a very destructive presence.

He has misused his talents in ways that will hopefully come back to haunt him.

[jimfinster]

Dr. Roy W. Spencer thinks Rush is just great.

But he is also a supporter of intelligent design and is skeptical of the scientific consensus that human activity is primarily responsible for global warming. He also neglected to say that he has been a frequent guest (presumably paid) on the Limbaugh show.

Hmmm, maybe his opinion is not worth much.

[oldone60]

"Rush Limbaugh is a horrible person. If you like him, there''''s something horrible about you. You need to examine yourself honestly. You won''''t, but you need to..."
Posted by superdem at 02:27 PM : Aug 01, 2008
==========================
Rush Limbaugh is a great person and a great radio personality. If you hate him, then there''s something wrong with you - which is axiomatic with LIEberal Dems.
I love to hear the shrieking from the hard left...it indicates that Limbaugh is striking home. That is unlike "Air America" which has shrunk to irrelevance. LOL!

[tonyd_31]

Rush Limbaugh is without a doubt, one of the most hypocritical, lying, uneducated piece of trash that we have on talk radio. Anyone who listens to this fool (and I am aware that there are a lot) should have their heads examined. You can add O''Reilly and Hannity in there with him.

[tonyd_31]

Rush Limbaugh is a great person and a great radio personality. If you hate him, then there''''s something wrong with you - which is axiomatic with LIEberal Dems.
I love to hear the shrieking from the hard left...it indicates that Limbaugh is striking home. That is unlike "Air America" which has shrunk to irrelevance. LOL!

Posted by oldone60

oldone60, you need to have your head examined if you believe that ***. He is divisive, selfish and full of himself. He is a clown and obviously you are one as well.

[tonyd_31]

Rush appeals to the millions of people who are bigots. That is not a good thing.

Posted by IMNHO

This is so true. Only bigots and retarded bigots listens to this idiot.

[oldone60]

"...He is a clown and obviously you are one as well."
Posted by Tonyd_31 at 04:46 PM : Aug 01, 2008
================

Oh, man! you have me writhing in the crushing folds of your LIEberal logic! I''m just devastated dude!
;-p

Again - I love to hear the shrieking from the hard left.

[jimfinster]

oldone60:

I am not from the "far left", but do not like Limbaugh. He distorts the truth on every show, and depends of the naivete of his audience to get away with it. He is also a huge hypocrite - just take a look at his personal life.

If you enjoy listening to him, go for it.

[bobgee_1999]

And now, the opposing viewpoint, which is better written and more accurate

http://www.helium.com/items/704320-freedom-of-speech-how-far-is-too-far

[kazoodan]

Posted by Bluestone9 at 03:44 PM : Aug 01, 2008

Agreed.

If Air America doesn''t have as big an audience, it''s because liberals can actually read and don''t have to rely on talk radio for information.

So, bloviate away Rush, stupid is as stupid listens to.

[oldone60]

I am not from the "far left"...If you enjoy listening to him, go for it.
Posted by jimfinster at 05:00 PM : Aug 01, 2008
===========================

I am not from the far right myself, but I do enjoy listening to him when I get the chance.

What I take issue with is the vituperation I see here from folks who appear to hold what they refer to as "progressive" views. (e.g. If you like Limbaugh you are a horrible person or you must be a clown). As I have noted, the shrieking indicates to me that Limbaugh is effective - and popular.

[bobgee_1999]

Good link, but it has to be all one line when you cut & paste it to the address bar.

http://www.helium.com/items/704320-freedom-of-speech-how-far-is-too-far

[oldone60]

The post below:
=====================
Posted by Bluestone9 at 03:44 PM : Aug 01, 2008
Agreed.
If Air America doesn''''t have as big an audience, it''''s because liberals can actually read and don''''t have to rely on talk radio for information.
So, bloviate away Rush, stupid is as stupid listens to.
===========

...reinforces my point

[jimfinster]

What I take issue with is the vituperation I see here from folks who appear to hold what they refer to as "progressive" views. (e.g. If you like Limbaugh you are a horrible person or you must be a clown). As I have noted, the shrieking indicates to me that Limbaugh is effective - and popular.

Posted by oldone60


He is popular with a relatively small but loyal demographic, sometimes called the "walmart conservative". Yes, he is very effective at articulating their viewpoint, but that hardly makes his speech true.

Honestly, I used to listen to him occasionally for the entertainment value. But he quickly becomes boring, repeating the same tired things over and over....

[dennisam01]

Rush Is a lying , bending the facts so they fit his agenda idiot who depends on people who are rightly named Ditto heads because without checking they repeat whatever he spews out . Truth, lie, whatever rush said it it must be right well it is right wing that is but not RIGHT and when he gets called on something with FACTS something he doesn''t care for FACTS that is he then says he''s getting attacked !!! well if you tell the truth and don''t fake the numbers or just out and out pull it outta you know where then you won''t get called on it or as he likes to call it "attacked " . So if you have a like mind and want someone to blow smoke to you and you don''t care if its right or the truth then Rush is your man. or Bill O or Hannitty ,Dr Laura, Michael wiener I mean Savage and the reat are your men too !!!

[sparks224]

Rush is Wrong.

[Razzl]

His appeal is about catering to the lowest common denominator--telling people that it''s okay to give in to their worst impulses and treat people badly because some self-appointed authority figure is letting you. Lower intelligences like Spencer fall for that like mice for cheese. Evil intelligences like Rove and Murdoch make use of those lower intelligences to do their dirty work. Limbaugh is just a tool for the wicked...

[kazoodan]

Posted by oldone60 at 05:12 PM : Aug 01, 2008

Limbaugh''s preachin'' to the choir. I seriously doubt he''s changing anyone''s mind.

But really, I don''t hear (read) anyone shrieking.

Here''s an example of a shriek:

Is 60 your age, or your I.Q.

[terrapin78]

I don''t listen to DRUG ADDICTS!

He should be in JAIL!

[veteran188]

razzi,
excellent post, these people use the mindless, the ones

that do not recognize reality as the truth, they are the

true victims, dumbed down by their own ideology, voting

for whomever the big white clown in the big white pulpit tells them to vote for;

the faith based BRIBE

[jimfinster]

Research the author of this piece, and you will understand why he fawns over Limbaugh.

He is a paid employee!!

[forasongca]

Sadly, Rush Hindenburg has done more to lower the level of civil discourse in this country than any other individual. He has substituted insults, faulty logic, and ad-hominem personal attacks for reasoned discussion of issues and attempts to find common ground.

[kazoodan]

Posted by jimfinster at 06:07 PM : Aug 01, 2008

Actually, just read the props at the end of the article.

[usclimey]

As of 2005, Limbaugh maintained, and had maintained for many years, the highest rated radio show in the United States, with more than 13.5 million listeners a week.[118] In 2003, he had an audience of nearly 20 million a week.[119] However, public polls have shown that a strong majority of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of Limbaugh, such as a Rasmussen Reports poll illustrating a 2-1 margin of unfavorable ratings, with 62% of those surveyed reporting an unfavorable opinion of Limbaugh.[120] His favorability rating of 33% is slightly above Chris Matthews (26%) and slightly below Larry King (35%).[120]

Wikipedia

13.5 million listeners. That''s 4 time the membership of the NRA and approximately 4% of the population of this country - 7% if you don''t include children. This says to me that for every dittohead there are ten Americans who despise this speaking ***. I''d say the liberals are OK for the foreseeable future.

[irliberal]

Fat oxycontin bigot has appeal? Lol maybe to drug dealers.

[jimfinster]

about the author of this story:

Spencer is a "scientific advisor" for an organization called the "Interfaith Stewardship Alliance" (ISA). According to their website, the ISA is "a coalition of religious leaders, clergy, theologians, scientists, academics, and other policy experts committed to bringing a proper and balanced Biblical view of stewardship to the critical issues of environment and development."

In July 2006, Spencer co-authored an ISA report refuting the work of another religious organization called the Evangelical Climate Initiative. The ISA report was titled A Call to Truth, Prudence and Protection of the Poor: an Evangelical Response to Global Warming (pdf). Along with the report was a letter of endorsement signed by numerous representatives of various organizations, including 6 that have recieved a total of $2.32 million in donations from ExxonMobil over the last three years.

Spencer is listed as an author for the Heartland Institiute, a US think tank that has received $561,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. The Heartland Institute has also received funding from Big Tobacco over the years and continues to make the claim that "anti-smoking advocates" are exagerrating the health threats of smoking.

[dashortround]

The guy is an admitted drug addict; no better than some kid smoking crack in the hood.

He should be in jail, like all the rest of the convicted drug addicts.

[usclimey]

Limpbone is the Goebbels to Bush''s Hitler. The man does not have listeners, he has acolytes - non-thinking, I''ve got to think this way because HE does, automatons. What normal human being would be happy being known as a dittohead. He is not amusing, he''s frightening. He has done more to destroy this country in the eyes of the world than even Di*ck Cheney has. The man is a vacuum. A loud-mouthed piece of excrescence that only the lower forms of life listen to. Enough - it''s Friday night, time to void the mind of such filth and enjoy life renewed through the weekend.

[jimfinster]

Spencer''s claim to fame is satellite data, so this is kinda funny:


Satellite Research Refuted

According to an August 12, 2005 New York Times article, Spencer, along with another well-known "skeptic," John Christy, admitted they made a mistake in their satellite data research that they said demonstrated a cooling in the troposphere (the earth''s lowest layer of atmosphere). It turned out that the exact opposite was occurring and the troposphere was getting warmer.

%u201CThese papers should lay to rest once and for all the claims by John Christy and other global warming skeptics that a disagreement between tropospheric and surface temperature trends means that there are problems with surface temperature records or with climate models,%u201D said Alan Robock, a meteorologist at Rutgers University.

[chalres-2009]

This guy is a high school graduate, that is glad that he didn''t go to college because he might have learned something. Why is this B.S. News.

This known drug addict, Rush Dumbo has his Obesity in Broadcasting network. This clown is bad for American.

[thatanial]

ha ha. forasong said it best. such statements as

lower the level of civil discourse
insults, faulty logic, and ad-hominem personal attacks

hypocritcal liberals are so funny. this whole entire comment section is nothing but insults personal attacks and faulty logic.

libs cant stand an opposing point of view and common ground to them is whatever George Soros and Ted Turner want them to think.

They qualify his success as saying everyone else is stupid. Only the people that watch MSNBC are smart.

The guy is a success because of this very liberal mentality. If liberals really did have an open mind to ideas and didnt act in ways they accuse Rush of, he wouldnt hardly be succseful at all.

Wal Mart conservative, lol, what a self serving jack

This caricature of a human being with his bloated, gnarled, excessive sense of self is an affront to humility. The value of his opinion is obscured and invalidated entirely by hubris; evidenced by his frequent bilious political effusions. He is an inert, decaying vicodin infused mass of decaying carbon and electrolytic compounds.

[erichsh]

Sadly, Rush Hindenburg has done more to lower the level of civil discourse in this country than any other individual. He has substituted insults, faulty logic, and ad-hominem personal attacks for reasoned discussion of issues and attempts to find common ground.

Posted by ForASongCA

Sadly, the bitter, angry liberals hurling insults at Rush "Hindenburg" substitute insults, faulty logic, and ad-hominem personal attacks for reasoned discussion of issues and attempts to find common ground.

[kazoodan]

Having an open mind, I do listen to Rush from time to time, and I am of the opinion that he is rude and insulting.

[ubrew12]

erichsh said: "liberals hurling insults at Rush...substitute... faulty logic, and... attacks for reasoned discussion of issues and attempts to find common ground."

We''re here talking about Rush Limbaugh. What are you talking about?

[ubrew12]

The phrases ''Rush Limbaugh'' and ''common ground'' don''t belong on the same planet, much less the same sentence. His is a no-holds-barred, no whining fight to the death that has to, unfortunately, be fought on the terms he''s defined. I have compassion for most conservatives. For Limbaugh, I have none, none whatsoever. And partly, I feel, that was at his request.

[erichsh]

We''''re here talking about Rush Limbaugh. What are you talking about?

Posted by ubrew12

You''re not just talking about Rush and you know it. Your crowd is hurling vile, personal insults at his listeners and anyone else who doesn''t share your political views.

[jimfinster]

Having an open mind, I do listen to Rush from time to time, and I am of the opinion that he is rude and insulting.

Posted by kazoodan

Same here, but I find him mostly boring. "blah blah liberal blah blah drive by media blah blah". He has a short list of words he uses over and over. Very rare to hear anything new or insightful.

I can old take about 15 minutes and then have to change stations :)