Get Ready For More Nasty Political Punditry
Novoselic New Years 1995. Photo by Allen Draher.
The July 6th New York Times Magazine featured a story on Rush Limbaugh. I was surprised that Limbaugh would have anything to do with the Times. The NYT is considered by conservative spinsters as the flagship of the Liberal Media Elite that’s supposed to control information in this country. (Anyone with sense who has lived in the U.S. for the past eight years has to know this is not so.) The cover story on Limbaugh gives a rare look inside the life of AM talk radio’s biggest personality.
The NYT’s article comes on the heels of Limbaugh’s new multi-million-dollar contract. The deal is a good sign that Sen. Obama will win the election. The investors must know that Limbaugh will taunt President Obama on a daily basis for the next four to eight years.
Limbaugh is a radio success because he takes aim at politicians, an easy target that everyone loves to knock around.
Limbaugh seems to be everywhere. When I was looking for a good auto mechanic earlier this year, every shop waiting room -- OK, all three of them -- had the show on. On the show, there was a skit that made fun of Sen. John McCain and his position on global warming. The skit painted governmental action on climate change as only a field day for opportunistic attorneys and government agencies.
It’s in this perspective where I can see another of Limbaugh’s appeal to folks. These auto shops are independent businesses with hard working proprietors. Part of running the shop is managing the government regulations. And doing the books always has that tax component: another bill on the ledger. Limbaugh’s rhetoric offers relief in the form of comedy.
In 1994, I used to catch the late night TV version of the Rush Limbaugh show. When Kurt Cobain died, Limbaugh jumped into the media circus and went off on him. He called Kurt “human debris,” then made an appeal to youth about joining the conservative movement. But Limbaugh himself eventually got busted for manipulating Oxycontin prescriptions. Luckily a deferred prosecution induced him to seek treatment before addiction really caught up with him.
In November of 1994, Republicans were hurled into the majority in Congress. Rush Limbaugh was a big part of that successful election. It’s been 14 years since then and modern Conservatism -- as entrusted to the GOP -- is in shambles. Once in power, the Republican’s only implemented their version of special interest, pay-to-play politics. One of the GOP’s biggest liabilities this year is that they’re seen as unethical. Government regulations should level the playing field and not benefit those with influence. And Republicans are big spenders, except they borrow the money instead of asking for tax increases. Limbaugh’s attempt at appealing to youth was empty.
Criticism is necessary in democracy. We need to speak up about governmental policy that effects us all. But fierce, negative punditry is different. It has a lurid appeal. Almost like gossip, there’s a degree of separation. A radio announcer isn’t talking to people in person. There’s enough distance and anonymity to let the vitriol flow. This is why engaging in politics on the ground is important. With face to face interaction, you need to rely on the merits of what you’re trying to do. You can’t carelessly offend people. Others could throw things back at you, and it might be more than just words.
14 comment(s)
buzz says:
It comes as no shock that Limbaugh was a drug user because he always hides behind whatever he attacks.
It makes me think he attacks John McCain because Limbaugh is a "draft dodger" whose daddy and grand pop made a call to the draft board. While McCain, his dad and grandfather all answered the "call of duty".
Deep down, Limbaugh has to be ashamed, why else would he call Clinton a draft dodger all those years.
His deal though has little if anything to do with Obama. Limbaugh got the deal he did because his contract was up in January 2009 and right now he has the "manipulated" ratings to "prove" he's a big draw.
He will attack BO or McCain because he hates them both. If McCain is elected he'll have a bullseye from "real Conservatives" on day one and will face a primary challange if he should run for re-election in 2012.
Interesting that you should mention Kurt because that photo on the inside of the In-Utero album of the boarded up Republican headquarters always said to me "Kurt thought the R's were out of power, so he could rest in peace on that front".
Then November '94 came about and he wasn't there to see what happened. :(
Not that he would have voted. ;)
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 15 2008 @ 7:25PM
Buzz says:
PS those Oxy & Viagra cocktails were the likely cause of his hearing problem.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 15 2008 @ 7:33PM
dan canada says:
rush is such a clogged heart
he said once he thought all drug addicts should be thrown in jail. not taking into account that not all drug addicts are criminals running around doing others wrong. And then when he was busted for pills i felt that maybe karma was working.
I hope one day people like him can never make a living at what he makes a living at. They should be running little league baseball teams and drinking beer quietly in a corner of some bar discussing what ever B.S that pops in his mind. Not on some t.v show or radio show.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 16 2008 @ 4:13PM
Pete F. says:
Jeanine Garofalo says the "Bush base" are comprised of the dumn and the mean. We should keep in mind though that the dumb ones are not really dumb; they are just uninformed about public policy issues. While that may correlate with IQ somewhat, there are many exceptions: people with strong knowledge in their field who are great mechanics, doctors or, of course, ministers.
It would perhaps be more accurate to say the Bush base is comprised of the politically lazy and the mean, but that doesn't have the same ring to it.
The mean ones, however, are actually mean people. These are the leaders; the pundits and politicos. Their goal is internal; their impulse is to harm and insult for their own amusement. They are essentially bullies.
Dan, I don't agree that RL shouldn't be allowed to do what he does. It is a free country.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 17 2008 @ 6:56AM
Charlie B says:
Limbaugh, like the rest of the media is looking for a story. 'The media' has it's friends but they turn the back even on their own friends for a story.
The media is hypocritical, like the example of Limbaugh you used. Oh well, if his new contract is a sign Obama will win the election then it's not all bad
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 18 2008 @ 1:47PM
dan canada says:
Well if you wanna be that way it is my right to say he should be gagged and removed from the possibility of influencing any masses. free country ?
we have more rights then most of the world but by no means are we "free"
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 18 2008 @ 1:54PM
John in Queen Anne says:
Rush Limbaugh is like his own sort of lethal emission.
He pollutes the human conscience with lies, fear and hatred and is paid handsomly to do so. He is a cancer whose big picture result comes at a great cost to the advancement of the American prinicpal.
If there was any justice, his listeners would have the fortitude to discredit him outright for his multiple embarrassments but alas, they don't have the will or critical thinking skills to come this conclusion.
So his poison is promoted at the expense of progress. Go America!
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 19 2008 @ 9:11AM
Elvis says:
Vote for Chuck Baldwin for President even though your vote doesn't count. Your government has been took, overthrown a coup it's gone as will the America if the people don't break the spell they are under. No more Wars for israel and the banking cabal. Watch "America; from freedom to fascism" begin there. Educate yourselves we are losing our last little remnant of freedom. The truth and awareness to this fact is paramount to save the idea of freedom. Globalism is slavery and green is a scheme. Long Live the REpublic!
Posted On: Sunday, Jul. 20 2008 @ 12:45PM
d.canada says:
maybe not everyone has to wake up.
just the one's with influence and power.
i watched a show on late night abc over the weekend.
it was about big oil men who were wanting to go green and cut america off of this oil downer. Through wind (thats what they talked about mainly)
it was great to see an old timer in big texas oil who has been such a success change his tune and make his goal cutting america off of the middle east oil and replacing it with wind. A lot of americas west is gonna be one big wind field that hit's the ocean that's waves are generating energy .
It's exciting
but yeah if we don't wake up, ten years from now things are gonna be chaos and anarchy and lack off foods and clean waters and clean airs and the sound of bombs will keep us from talking and fixing our ozone
rush = the end of everything as we know it FUBAR.....
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 21 2008 @ 3:33AM
milos Jefferson III says:
I feel really stupid after reading your great post. For all these years, I thought that a 'Rush Limbaugh' was a cheesy-flavored laxative.
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 21 2008 @ 4:35AM
d.canada says:
that is his second use. cleaning bowls
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 22 2008 @ 12:20AM
RANDKILLER says:
DUDE...
you gotta know that you are buying into the fake 'conservative vs liberal' game that is just a puppet show for the masses.
911 was an inside job
the whole paradigm has changed
--------------
i'm a lifelong fan of you guys and it pains me to see you buying into this fake crap
rock on!!
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 23 2008 @ 4:22AM
Johnny says:
You nailed it Chris, this guy is such a fake, rippin on the ACLU only to have them intervene on his behalf during his oxycotin debacle, rippin on Mccain all throughout the republican primaries only now to see him uppin the attacks on Obama as Mccain seeks the presidency, Obama is a lock, a new contract for Limbaugh seals the deal, freedom of speech Krist, God Bless!!
Posted On: Sunday, Jul. 27 2008 @ 7:44AM
Matt says:
The real appeal of Rush is that he plays on the unique population distribution of the US. The middle of the country is a uniqu place. It is economically first world, but populated like Central Asia. It isn't economically efficient for the media to portray suc a unique situation so they don't and Rush Limbaugh was the first to comment on it. Politics is second. If Republicans were still the party of big business and the urban businessman Rush would be talking about collectivist farming.
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 28 2008 @ 7:03AM