General Discussions

**SeanB** · 10-19-2007, 04:21 PM

I'm no fan of Rush Limbaugh. He tows the party line, right or wrong, and is a Republican first an an American second. He'd rather see his party win, than have the best outcome. He didn't even pick the right side on the Dubai ports deal. (imo)

However, I have to give the guy credit. After receiving a letter of criticism written by Senator Harry Reid and signed by 40 other Senate democrats, read on the floor of the senate, he did something no one expected. Rather than run and hide, or rebut the letter, he put it up on eBay. He is sending the proceeds to a charity that benefits the families of fallen military and police officers. In fact, he is going to match the total with his own money. The bidding ended at over 2 million! That's more than 4 million to a worthy charity. Whether you like the guy or hate him, you've got to give him credit on this one.

In later statements by Harry Reid, it almost sounds like he's taking credit for the whole thing, like it was some cooperative effort.

**Learning Newbie** · 10-19-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanB

However, I have to give the guy credit. After receiving a letter of criticism written by Senator Harry Reid and signed by 40 other Senate democrats, read on the floor of the senate, he did something no one expected. Rather than run and hide, or rebut the letter, he put it up on eBay. He is sending the proceeds to a charity that benefits the families of fallen military and police officers. In fact, he is going to match the total with his own money. The bidding ended at over 2 million! That's more than 4 million to a worthy charity. Whether you like the guy or hate him, you've got to give him credit on this one.

Like him or hate him, I hate Rush Limbaugh. But I'll be among the first to say the man is doing a very good thing. For the first time in my entire life, I hope more people follow Rush's example, and match what they're able to for charity.

I generally think Rush is divisive and hateful and mean, but he's doing an honorable thing, making the world a better place, and in this instance, I think I have to applaud the guy. And say Harry Reid is full of poop.

**SeanB** · 10-19-2007, 06:18 PM

I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate him, but with this notable exception, I don't respect him.

When I was younger, before Fox News and widespread internet use, it seemed the media was dominated by the left wing of the democratic party. When I found Limbaugh on talk radio I was, at first, glad to hear a conservative voice giving popular expression to some of my thoughts. However, what I soon realized after some critical listening was that the criticism he offers is never constructive. I think that if you are going to disagree with what the opposition is doing, you need to have some sort of solution to bring to the table. Most of the time, Limbaugh would rather smoke cigars, talk about golf and bash the left. Personally, I don't think that gets us anywhere.

Still have to give him "dittos" for today though.

**stOx** · 10-19-2007, 06:20 PM

Isn't he only doing this because of his "phony soldiers" slur?

**serandfae** · 10-19-2007, 09:55 PM

I try not to lean too far to the right or left, and so I dislike Rush Limbaugh's extremism; however, a friend recommended to me his book, The Dumbing-Down of America. I'd say it was spot-on. So, though I don't follow many of his views I'm not going to be an absolutist and vilify him. I mean, even Jesse Helms did a lot of good for the citizens of NC (and just before he retired visited the Dalai Lama!!) and I definitely didn't like a lot of his politics. Is it possible that people we dislike can actually do good?

**JeremyMiller** · 10-19-2007, 10:08 PM

Limbaugh is far smarter than you're giving him credit for. He's not donating out of the goodness of his wretched heart. He's doing it only as a ruse to get back at Democrats. He's laughing right in their faces for their proper condemnation of his attitude. How? By throwing himself out as a sacrificial lamb, he makes himself unimpeachable and detracts from the fact that he really does hold the view that if you don't support Bush or you don't support this atrocious war, then you really are a traitor, completely unpatriotic. The ends do not justify the means. The fog of his smoke is far darker than one can imagine and just as deadly as Bush's Iraq fiasco.

That said, the Democrats have made a mistake by even recognizing his comment. As one author once said, "Silence is the best obituary." When Limbaugh is treated as history, you'll find that he fades into it, where he properly belongs. After all, given that much of what he says is filled with deception and hate, what exactly is the weight of his words?

Here's to the day when Republicans are relegated to the backrooms where they do all their deals and peace prevails.

**Cheshire_cat** · 02:00 PM

First of all I have been doing the class thing so I have been gone for awhile but I am glad to see this topic was on the board (I would have started it if it was not.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanB

However, I have to give the guy credit. After receiving a letter of criticism written by Senator Harry Reid and signed by 40 other Senate democrats, read on the floor of the senate, he did something no one expected. Rather than run and hide, or rebut the letter, he put it up on eBay. He is sending the proceeds to a charity that benefits the families of fallen military and police officers. In fact, he is going to match the total with his own money. The bidding ended at over 2 million! That's more than 4 million to a worthy charity. Whether you like the guy or hate him, you've got to give him credit on this one.

In later statements by Harry Reid, it almost sounds like he's taking credit for the whole thing, like it was some cooperative effort.

“Letter of criticism”! Give me a break call it what it really was, a smear letter, and it was slander at that. Rush did make the comment “phony soldier” but if any of you really read what he actually said and not what Media Matters said you would know what he meant when he said “phony soldier”. He was actually talking about a phony soldier one that is in jail because he lied about being an Army Ranger and that is a phony soldier. But the left could not take that so they twisted what he said. If you would like you can read what he actually said. http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092807/content/01125106.guest.html

He did not say anything against the real soldiers of America and never has.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

I generally think Rush is divisive and hateful and mean, but he's doing an honorable thing, making the world a better place, and in this instance, I think I have to applaud the guy. And say Harry Reid is full of poop.

That’s one word for Reid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyMiller

Limbaugh is far smarter than you're giving him credit for. He's not donating out of the goodness of his wretched heart. He's doing it only as a ruse to get back at Democrats. He's laughing right in their faces for their proper condemnation of his attitude. How? By throwing himself out as a sacrificial lamb, he makes himself unimpeachable and detracts from the fact that he really does hold the view that if you don't support Bush or you don't support this atrocious war, then you really are a traitor, completely unpatriotic. The ends do not justify the means. The fog of his smoke is far darker than one can imagine and just as deadly as Bush's Iraq fiasco.

That said, the Democrats have made a mistake by even recognizing his comment. As one author once said, "Silence is the best obituary." When Limbaugh is treated as history, you'll find that he fades into it, where he properly belongs. After all, given that much of what he says is filled with deception and hate, what exactly is the weight of his words?

Yes he is smart, and I think he is doing this for two reasons, one he is bringing light to the “lying and dim-witted” democratic senate, and also he wants to show the double standard of the democrats. They want to talk about how mean the conservative’s are about what they say, but when Rush challenged Reid to match the earnings Reid did not. This is the same guy that will vote to up public funding for government aids. –Give me a break! Any these are they guys that is going to change America after Bush is gone.

**JeremyMiller** · 02:22 PM

If Rush was speaking of a solider, why did he use the plural form "phony soldiers"? BTW: Your link is Rush's roundabout to the truth, not the transcript of the particular call. That's a Republican tactic: Clarify to erase the past. Deny and clarify.

And, you want to talk about lying and dim-witted? The Republicans have done nothing but lie! They lied about why we invaded Iraq. They lie now about the budget issues -- Republicans have spent and spent and spent and then they tell the people that there's extra money around, so they're lowering taxes. Um, taking out enormous loans is not the same as having extra money. I'd call that pretty dim-witted thinking!

And, what, exactly, is the Democratic congress lying about? They keep trying to pass legislation but the Republicans can't accept that they're losers in the congress, so they obstruct. It's the penultimate temper tantrum and the two-faced Republicans would never have accepted similiar behavior from the Democrats when the Repubs controlled congress.

Republicans, take notice, your deep dark secret has been exposed to the raw light of day and you are seen for the lying, crony-backing, money-and-power grubbing wanna-be dictators that you are and love. You should start your temper tantrums now: The Democrats aren't smart enough to fight such a battle with you as they are (largely) altruistic in their goals of socializing everything while having to face the incarnation of evil on earth. They barely stand a chance.

Here's what it really comes down to as far as I'm concerned:

Republicans: Give you your money, take out loans, abolish rights, and make christianity law.

Democrats: Take your money and spread it around to everyone while giving you rights that you don't have.

In this 2 party system, you have a choice: Your money (Republicans) or your rights (Democrats). You can't have both (yet).

Oh, and let me add I have made my choice and stand with Patrick Henry: Give me liberty or give me death. The Democrats can steal my money for the time being, just give me liberty!

**joder** · 10-20-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheshire_cat

Yes he is smart, and I think he is doing this for two reasons, one he is bringing light to the “lying and dim-witted” democratic senate, and also he wants to show the double standard of the democrats. They want to talk about how mean the conservative’s are about what they say, but when Rush challenged Reid to match the earnings Reid did not. This is the same guy that will vote to up public funding for government aids. –Give me a break! Any these are they guys that is going to change America after Bush is gone.

If you believe the Democrats are so bad and the Republicans don't do the same or worse, you need to read something besides conservative web sites.

**ForrestCroce** · 10-20-2007, 03:44 PM

I'm a little shocked. I thought everyone stopped talking about Rush Limbaugh when Clinton left office, if not sooner? What on earth could the man have to say that's relevant after all these decades?

So, to find out, I'm skimming through the link to his web site about what seems to be his latest controversy: soldiers who don't share his opinion aren't 'real' soldiers. I see "BREAK TRANSCRIPT" more times on the page than I see "phony soldiers" in plural. Why would someone trying to clear the record publish a redacted transcript? Better yet: are we to believe they don't have a recording of the radio program?

I remember being a teen the few times I was forced to listen to Limbaugh's program, driving long distances with some of the more conservative family. All I can remember Rush having to say was how ugly Chelsea Clinton was, over and over again. That's not all he had to say, but it's morally bankrupt enough to stand out and cut through the chaff. That's my impression of the man from having heard his show. And that's unacceptable. I don't like much of Bush's policy, but I've never said a thing about his family, let alone broadcast hateful vitriol like that.

But yeah, it's nice that he gave some money to charity. It's true he had other options, and chose the best of them. That doesn't change the fact that everything I've heard or read of him is filled with hate for anybody who's different in any way, his decades of lies, eg about being a drug addict, his slander against giant sections of America... But, even a person I don't like can do the right thing.