It’s amazing to me, but Rush is in the news.
I used to be a Rush fan. Not a true ditto-head, but a minor fan. My fan-hood was based on three things. First was my love of satire (I assumed he was a radio personality and a showman, not a spokesperson for conservative thought) second was the fact that the radio station that came in the clearest in my garage carried his show. And lastly, he liked a good Cohiba.
Now, as someone who has spent most of his adult life not really giving a good (Non gender identified creator)damn about politics; my attraction to Rush was a source of amusement to my family. Even my kids when they got to their teenage years, would come out to the garage when I was working on the car, and hear Rush on the radio and query: “Dad, why do you listen to that guy, doesn’t he piss you off”. No, in fact I found him quite amusing.
Ah, and here is the rub. This is all Rush Limbaugh should be taken for…amusement. You have to ask yourself about the man’s credentials. You have to seriously ask if he can, or should be taken seriously. A reasonable person would possibly perform a couple of perfunctory searches before deifying a radio personality like Rush, or even considering taking something he said seriously. Start with say a Wiki search on his CV. This is in fact what you get:
Education
Limbaugh graduated from Cape Central High School, in 1969. His father and mother wanted him to attend college, so he enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University. He dropped out after two semesters and one summer; according to his mother, “he flunked everything”, even a modern ballroom dancing class.[4] As she told a reporter in 1992, “He just didn’t seem interested in anything except radio.”[7]
The next step might be to wander over to Google images to see what you might find. A picture is, after all worth a thousand words. So here:
Or even better yet, here:
I think you get the point. Rush isn’t to be taken seriously. My position is that most of the politicians on Capital Hill shouldn’t be taken seriously either. I hope, as we usher in a new administration my attitude toward politicians changes. Where Rush is concerned? Only listen if you really like satire, and if it’s the only station the radio in the garage pulls in. Sheeeesh.
Sorry, my friend. I understand where you are coming from, but there is a point where bending his shit to conform to the satire label needs to be tempered with an understanding that free speech is limited (Schenck v. United States, 1919), and that there are inflamatory voices that reach too many ears that have no regard for the truth or the welfare of the nation in their pursuit of fame and fortune.
The fact remains that far too many people who are actually permitted to vote in elections, raise children and purchase fire arms do take Rush seriously. Rush is employed by a huge corporation (Clear Channel) that dominates the national radio media (read that as massive influence), and that does fund neocon candidates. It’s mot like he works for SNL, MAD Magazine or National Lampoon.
I’m glad you are one of those that actually spends time listening to him and does not take him seriously. I fear, however, you may possibly be one of the very, very few. Maybe the only one.