Jun 21 2008
Why Rush Limbaugh Rules Talk Radio
A few years ago, I began listening to Rush Limbaugh on my lunch hour. At first, I felt the need to justify it to my friends, pointing out that I thought it was good to know your enemy. Now, I am perfectly comfortable simply stating I listen to Rush.
Do I agree with him? Only about 30 percent of the time.
But I do listen and now, after a few years of listening, I finally get why he rules talk radio. Rush Limbaugh is rational!
I know, I know, you diehard liberals have trouble with that statement. I did too. That’s why it took me so long to write it, but it is true.
He is rational. He’s just not right.
Rush actually believes what he says. I personally believe there are some fundamental flaws in his belief system, but his rhetoric flows logically from those beliefs. I can say this because I have listened to other right wing talk radio and know they simple like to talk to ehar their own voices. Some like to stir up trouble for trouble’s sake. Some, make hugely controversial statements just to get ratings.
Rush doesn’t do that. He actually believes that when Michael J. Fox started making political ads, he opened himself up for criticism of those ads. Logical and accurate.
He believes that if there were a “Whitey” tape about Michele Obama, it would have been used already. Sure, he talked about it – for one day and then he dropped it because there was no evidence of it. He rarely takes things out of context, maybe because he has it done to him so often. He has not harped on the Obamas and campaigned actively to create a “Stop ____ Express.”
Unlike his fellow talk show hosts, Rush actually talks about the issues and this is where I find myself on occasion agreeing with him. Sometimes, we agree for different reasons, but the conclusions we reach are similar. He has problems with John McCain because he has been willing to abandon the core of his party and therefore core beliefs. Ultimately, he doesn’t trust the man. I have the same issue, sort of. I believe that McCain is willing to bend the rules to suit himself and will do whatever it takes to win. He reminds me of Bill Clinton. Smarmy.
Rush questions Obama’s experience and what he has accomplished. I would argue that sometimes it is better to have no legislative credits to your name than to have bad legislative credits. Besides, Rush knows as well as I do that junior senators do no pass legislation their first term in the Senate. It simply isn’[t done. Even if Obama came up with the best solution to every problem facing the world today, not a single one fo them would have passed the Senate in his name before he announced his cadidacy for the Presidency. Now, it might, but it would be a symbolic passage just to make him look good and we all know it.
Generally, the problem with most right-wing talk show hosts is that they are perfectly willing to ignore facts that are inconsistent with their world view. Rush doesn’t. He will take the time to attempt to discredit the fact or bend it to his world view. While I may not agree with his conclusions, I at least respect the man as an orator.
His competitors in talk radio don’t get it. They can insight the listeners to call and argue and maybe even drive up ratings, but Rush has the ability to change people’s minds.
It’s too bad the liberal side of politics has yet to be able to find a man who can logically and charismatically present our side of the argument.
