Golfer or not, Rush Limbaugh's cowardly show hurts America

I would have to say that you have certainly wrapped Rush Limbaugh up very neatly for what he is.

Thank you Al, for having the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what you believe in.

Enjoy your retirement.

Well said.
Now we can leave Rush Limbaugh where he belongs, because I don't care what he thinks about Michelle Wie, America, "liberals", the election, or anything really.

Well said... That man has done more to poison the American political debate than anybody I can think of...

I actually am sorry that you feel the way you do. As a listener to the show, I can say without fear of contradition that your notion of a denial of a voice of dissent on his show is simply wrong; in fact, they get preferential treatment by being brought to the front.
What Rush Limbaugh has successfully done has been to serve the course of debate by FINALLY presenting a platform where those right of center have a voice. (I'm amazed that those left of center for some reason feel as though they've been denied a thing. Buck up, you stil have CNN, ABC, CBS news, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, New York Times, Washington Post, etc.)

Eric, I think I have listened to Limbaugh's show, or at least part of it, more than 150 times. I have NEVER heard a real debate on that show. If they ever allowed dissenters, I will bet those people were carefully handpicked. No foreful debater would ever be allowed on the air with him because he couldn't stand up to it. He starts to stutter when even his admirers disagree mildly with something he says.

Does anyone who drones on about the liberal media know anything at all about who owns media outlets, where they get their money, or who calls the shots?

Seriously, on one hand, you have the wild success of Limbaugh vs. the struggling Air America. On the other, there is this supposed flood of liberal media outlets (see EricB's comment above). If all these major media outlets with their enormous viewer/readerships are so liberal, how come those viewers/readers don't turn elections toward liberal candidates? And why do truly liberal media like Air America struggle so?

In truth, ALL MEDIA in the US are after advertising money and competing with entertainment outlets for people's time and eyeballs. As a result, they paint the most simiplistic picture possible, color everything in black and white, fail miserably in educating people about issues, and most of all, do everything they can to appeal to the most potential customers as possible to make the biggest profit possible. (Those who do not, struggle.)

This is hardly a liberal pursuit.

YOU SIR, HAVE A SMALL IQ, AND FEAR ANY DEBATE ABOUT YOUR LIBERAL BELIEFS....

I certainly don't fear a debate with you, Chuck. Don't you know how to use that little key at the left of your keyboard that says "Caps Lock"?

AL---

If you had any respect at all for real debate you would not try to ridicule someone holding an opposing view--based upon the fact that he espressed his views in CAPITAL LETTERS.

I do not like what Rush said about Michelle Wie--but I find them less offensive than what you have said.

Am I the only one with enough insight to see the irony of a man who writes for a golfing blog bitching about capitalism and the trappings of material posessions? Who do you think your audience is? Ha, please. You just embarassed yourself; go look in the mirror. Oh, yes, do enjoy your retirement, with your 401k, investment portfolio, your Winnebago, winters in Florida, etc. And don't forget all that golf! Glad to see someone who really practices what they preach *sarcasm*. Lay off Limbaugh, loser. (Nice alliteration, if I do say so myself.)

Let me ask you something, Mister. How do you know I have a 401K, an investment portfolio, a Winnebago, or the rest? It's very interesting how you assume these things. And if you think I have all these things, why do you call me a loser? I responded to a man who said I had a low IQ by suggesting he learn the left-hand side of the keyboard. And where did I bitch about capitalism? I merely commented that people spend more money than they have, and this causes them anxiety, and then they look for a scapegoat upon which to focus it. It's a fact that the savings rate in the United States is less than zero percent. This is one reason why people in America are so uptight right now, and that makes them easy prey for demagogic radio hosts who have a political agenda. It's nothing personal against anyone except Mr. Limbaugh, who I'm sure isn't even going to read this.

Oh Al, let's be real here OK? I'd put a $5 Nassau on you having a WHALE of a retirement fund - your photo sure doesn't LOOK like any of the homeless people I see every day! Now let's talk about this "fear" that drives Americans - the "fear" of losing their gigantic homes stuffed with material things and "fleets" of automobiles (my heavens how you DO go on). I respectfully disagree with you that the middle/upper-middle/upper income level folks live in "fear" that their stuff will all disappear. We all know how to hide our assets and to use the tax and court system to protect the visible things. And since WE are now dialoguing in a rational manner...I guess that debunks your point that there's no way for people to "fix" the problems we face (since we're so afraid of 'losing our stuff').

Who's "we?" I have no clue how to hide my assets. And fear of not making bills each month is an issue for some of "us" in the middle/upper class.

Wow, I didn't mean for it to get this far. :-) Although, upon review, it looks as though Rush indirectly stirred up some interesting political and social discourse. I'd only offer this: I like Rush's show because it mirrors in many respects what I believe without having the need to give what's perceived as "equal time" to the opposing point of view. It is after all a conservative show by Rush's admission. If he were trying to pass himself off as a news program than I'd be in agreement with Al. I think most of us are drawn to programs that validate our opinions than challenge them. (Howard Stern excepted...I just think he's hilarious.) Life's too short guys to be arguing about this stuff...go out and golf for goodness sake. :-)

By only listening to programs that agree with your beliefs is never a way to true intelligence since it only confirms what you already know and will result in the lack of a well rounded understanding of the issues.

If there are any true conservatives left [no pun intended], please explain the meaning of what it now truly means to be conservative under a republican administration that will never balance an annual budget, believes in giving up rights in the name of security all the while the borders overflow with illegal immigrants and all the while sells out the security of sea ports and airports to foreign interests, has installed the "largest" government in the history of the U.S. ... Conservative in WHAT WAY? I do know these are the issues that are always sidetracked and brushed off as angry lib rants by Rush Limbaugh because then RESPONSIBILITY would have to be accounted for by a Government that controls the house, senate, judiciary and the executive branches of government.

Interesting that those who listen to and are ardent admirers of Lush Rimbaugh only live on a One Way street AND admit to it. A true neoCon has no sense of history. If they did, the neoCon would truly know that the New World was founded by liberals. These new liberals were escaping the One Way religious persecution of a ruling class that had total control over the working class society.

But, just as Ben Franklin…said “Any society (man) that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

I don't want to reveal the specifics of my finances, BV, but I can tell you this: I win the $5 Nassau. I live in Thailand now, where you don't need a lot of money to enjoy life. That's one of the reasons I'm here. Not having to endure the current environment in America is another reason. Talk to any expat and you'll probably hear the same from them.

I'm questioning my own wisdom for responding to PoliticRick's (PR) comment, but I feel compelled to respond.
Why don't we all just be honest here? Liberals think Conservatives are stupid, and it's that simple. I really doubt that PR would have questioned my intelligence if I'd admitted to really being a fan of Al Franken. (By the way, a former drug abuser himself....but, I don't see that criticism being levied against him.)
Lincoln Chaffee, Olympia Snow, Susan Collins are all Republicans, and hardly conservative. I flatly agree spending is out of control, and the Republican party acts very similar to the Democrat party now that it has control. (Almost buying votes.) Where I am confused, is when Bush acts like a conservative, he's criticized as being "unnuanced," "red-neckish," "backward," etc. Then we acts like a 'liberal' (the basis of your question) he's considered "unnuanced," "red-neckish," "backward," etc. In other words you dislike Bush no matter what, so why even ask the question?

PR, if you're trying to liken today's liberals with the Pilgrims, the Quakers, and the Puritains, I find that very ironic. Religious expression and tradition do not exactly find a welcome home on the left. After all, it's been the open-minded and nuanced thinking of modern liberalism that will fight religious displays in public areas under the auspices of the establishment clause. I don't think Ben Franklin would be afraid of Santa, Jesus, or a Menorah.
I respect Al for (I apologize for using this line) walking the walk. If you don't feel comfortable in an environment, go to an environment that makes you feel comfortable. Al has Thailand, and between 11:00 and 2:00 at my office I have Rush. Even though I live in Texas, I don't like country western music; I formed this opinion based on having listened to some, and it didn't resonate with me. I don't need to listen to country western music each day to reaffirm that point of view, nor to hope that I'll be converted to liking it. However, I have no need to go out and attack the country music artists or those who enjoy their work. All that being said, just insert "liberalism" where "country western music" is, and you'll see my point. It's [liberalism] out there....I've read it....I've heard it....and I've made a conscious decision for 3 hours a day to minimize my exposure to it on what clearly has been promoted as "Conservative Talk Radio." If I'm feeling a little masochistic, I'll flip on Chris Matthews, or NPR, or Keith Olberman, or Alan Colmes, or any CNN afternoon program, or MTV, or go to a George Clooney or Barbra Streisand blog. The political market place is very well represented on both sides.

On that note, I'll wish you all good night. There's a Kinky Friedman (Gubenitorial candidate) benefit concert in downtown Austin tonight, and curiosity has the better of me. Besides, there's going to be a band.....not country western. ;-)

Well, ericb has eloquently stated pretty much what i would have said about al's diatribe. I do wonder Al, with fully 1/2 of the american population not paying any taxes at all, with the TRILLIONS flushed down the black hole called the "war on poverty" why we have the same number of poor that we always have. Im sure all left over money al has from living so cheaply in Thailand is sent back to the USA to support some nonsense program a liberal has thought up. Now al, i know you know where Mr Limbaughs website is because you linked to it during your rant, so go there and scroll down and check the IRS chart at the bottom,,,,you will see the top 1% of all wage earners pay fully a third of all taxes paid, the top 50% pay 96.5% of all taxes paid,,,,now, having seen that al, how much more would you have them pay?

Keil, you completely shanked the one about the media being liberal. There is the news division and entertainment division and the complaints are about the liberal news. Look at CNN, they used to own cable but now they are nothing more than an afterthought, same for MSNBC. As they in TV...ratings, ratings, ratings. Look at the entertainment side. The only trulyliberal show to be successful on the big 4 has been West Wing. Commander in Chief was a dud while, The Unit, The Ring are successful.

Finally, anything Rush says is going to be villified by anyone on the left. If he had said the same thing about Kornakova (which would have been right on) the tennis gods would be up in arms the Bangkok Al is now

Half-cocked Al is an idiot, plain and simple. I'd be willing to bet that he hasn't even listened to Limbaugh enough to glean insight into the true nature of the latter's show.

Anyway, I won't even bother to respond to anything else; I won't throw pearls before swine.

Happy Tom Delay Day!!! Man, what I'd give to hear what Rush has to say about idiot Tom Delay's quitting today. No, on the other hand I don't give a crap about what Rush has to say or about this blog.

Well Rust, i hope you had a chance to listen to Mr Limbaughs show today, he did comment quite extensively about Mr Delay stepping aside, you can also read a transcript of Mr Delay being interviewed on the Drudgereport.com. Mr Delay has more class and style in his little finger than harry reid will ever have. I wish Mr Delay only the best in his future endeavors. And rust, when he is exonerated of the charges brought against him im confident you will post your apologies on this blog

Ron,

I'm not compltely clear on which part of my analysis you're disagreeing with. All I can say is that the liberal media bias is demonstrably a myth. Also, news IS entertainment, at least as far as advertisers are concerned. Take "Entertainment Tonight's" coverage of the Scott Peterson trial as an example: Since when is the murder of a pregnant woman and her unborn child "entertainment?" It's not in my book, but it sure is in the eyes of advertisers, many viewers, and at least some of the media.

You're a liar and a fool Al, and a coward. Its probably a good thing you've decided to retire. You against Rush in a debate on any subject would have you drooling in your pablum. Good riddance to you and your drivel.

hehehe,,,,,,ive challenged william wolfrum, tim macdonald, and al to debate the subjects they bring up, and asked some specific questions,,,,hehehe,,,,,all 3 liberals became suddenly silent.....liberals are such fun..........

gee, a sudden silence from big al after being asked a direct question.

I wasn't ducking your question, Bill. I simply wasn't aware you'd asked one. And unfortunately, I don't have an opinion about what percentage of all tax revenues should come from the top 1 percent or the top 50 percent. I'm not a statistician, and as we all know, a lot of games are played with numbers. The issue I was trying to address was the loss of civility we've seen in the U.S.A., and how the political dialogue has been poisoned, and for that I feel Limbaugh deserves a lot of the blame. Tax experts can, and do, have plenty to say about your question. I'm not one of them.

Simply stated, you are a prime example of a liberal who would hates the United States.

I may have missed it if someone else has already noted that the only act of cowardice exhibited here was by Al. Waiting until you retire to mount a personal attack on someone seems low rent to me. Have fun in Thailand, but make sure those are golf balls in your girlfriend's pants, Al. I am sure you are aware of babes in Katoy land.

Good riddance, Al. I pray everyone like you will expat. You are the ones who have poisoned the political debate. With all of you in Thailand, America would be like it used to be; i.e., full of Americans. Try and have a happy life; it's fun, possessions and all.

My girlfriend is more woman than you'll ever know, pal. Trust me.

So let me understand what you're saying, Wyomick. You would like all those people you classify as "liberals" to leave the country? That's an interesting position to take. Where do you think that places you on the left-right spectrum? Somewhere to the right of David Duke?

Hey Guys!

I didn't realise people got so heated outside of the 18th!

Just wanted to see if anyone here wants to find a link between Rush and Golf, like the fact he plays it?

I also would like to know if he would allow homosexuals to play golf, and if so, would they be allowed to do so at Easter, or is this part of the war against Christianity?

Limbaugh once said he thought drug addicts should be shipped off and put on an island...

Hope he remembers his sunscreen!

Limbaugh is a liar and a traitor to American democracy. He is also a huge discredit to the game of golf. Thanks Al, for having the courage to speak truth, a rare commodity in what today passes for "journalism".

Some have hoped that Half-cocked Al enjoys his retirement. Well, I'll tell ya, I'll enjoy his retirement!

Al...Al..Allllll - you've expatriated yourself to a third-world country and have so forfeited your credibility when it comes to observations on the workings of American society "AS AN AMERICAN". Your pettiness is now much more understandable given that one fact which you were so kind to have shared.

Kiel - well if you don't know how to shield your assets, all I can say is: try reading some of the "right-wing garbage" you rail so incoherently about. I discovered several completely legal means of sequestering funds trough that media...and I am happy to say they have indeed worked well over time. And, dare I say - perhaps if you got a "real job" instead of being a left-of-center golf blogger, you just MGHT be able to pay your bills! ;)

I like to listen to Rush -- and it has nothing to do with fear. I don't have a 4-car garage to lose....but I sure as hell don't want some pinhead like you telling me that I can't or shouldn't have one.

America's supposed to be a free country. Somewhere along the way, we've lost a little bit of that....with far too many people thinking they're entitled to just about anything -- simply because they're Americans.

I'm glad to hear you've retired. This *blog* is now a better place because of that decision. ;)

Absolutely brilliant commentary! Please share your astute insights on Air America..or MoveOn.Org with us...And how Rush Limbaugh is better or worse than either....Or perhaps some of your trenchant analysis on what it is that we need to listen to or problems you'd have us solve for others. Or do you simply resent Rush because everyone knows who he is and we're lost trying to remember you?
Congrats for raising the average IQ of golf bloggers by retiring...but then I imagine you've done that everywhere you've exited....

I FULLY agree with Eric and FULLY disagree with Al. I'm glad Al has an opinion and I defend his right to voice it, but common! Rush is just as entitled to voice his opinions AND to make a living doing so if he can. Furthermore his voice reflects the position of many on the right where none is voiced in the mainstream media. I don't like the way he personally demeans some liberals but seriously these people's positions are often SO ludicrous how can you blame him for attacking their positions.

Actually Rush's rants are refreshing when compared to the subtle backstabbing of Katie Curic or the other talking heads. And if you want liberal rants there are an ABUNDANCE of choices out there to choose from... Ted Kennedy & Howard Dean come promptly to mind! Be real! The media is EXCEEDINGLY liberal. Their major markets are major metropolitan areas and they cater to the socialist mindset of the population in those locations. Those who live in such a tight proximity require a more strongly focused social solution to problems AND they also demand more privacy rights. Hense the more liberal bias of Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, New York, and D.C.

I don't regularly read liberal blogs but it amazes me how liberals continuously whine about "the right" and yet think their opinions exist in a vaccuum. They control university tenured positions where they rant and impose their radical idiologies on their captive audiences. They seek to control the minds of children in the public school system. They seek to impose legislation through the courts without recourse to the public process. They attempt to force those who morally object to their programs to accept and participate or else lose thier funding, jobs, or both. Groups like the ACLU claim to protect our freedoms while actually hindering everything our founding fathers fought and died for. And yet they think any voice that disagrees with their own is cowardly or in need of restraint. Opposition to their views is "hateful", "discriminatory", or "divisive". The truth is that they have never learned to properly discriminate between good and evil, between right and wrong. Islamic terrorists are freedom fighters and our soldiers and president are criminals. They are for choice just as long as you don't give women the information they need to understand that an unborn child IS a human being and NOT a lump of tissue. They cannot conceive that marriage, family, and society require a moral basis to remain intact... therefore they have to dismantle marriage and replace it with their own counterfeit substitution.

I could go on and on but take this to heart: if you want to know what has made our country strong you just need to go back and look at the mores and values of our nation a mere 50 years ago. Look to the values our founding fathers had. Those values made America strong. Today those on the left want to completely reject those values by substituting what they call freedom for liberty. That freedom is NOT freedom but rather licentiousness. Liberty requires self-restraint and a strong and consistent adherence to both moral values and the rule of law. Those who are moral do not require laws to constrain their actions, while those who have no moral boundaries will never be fully restrained no matter the volume of laws enacted. Our choices define who we are, but they are NOT the sum of who we are. We CAN change our choices and we can become more than we are today, but it will NOT happen by mearly doing what feels good. We need to rise above our passions and make the tough choices.

In the end if you don't like Rush don't listen. If you don't agree say so. But for crying out loud stop whining and claiming he is doing the country great harm. That is a bunch of nonsense.

Jealous. Enjoy your retirement.

Capitalism and communism are two sides of the same coin. They are both designed to wreck and level societies. Capitalism wrecked ours and communism wrecked Russia's. Capitalism is why we no longer have a manufacturing base and it's why we now have tens of millions of illegal aliens giving birth to cultural foreigners with instant US citizenship and the right to vote.

God Bless America....and emigrate if you can. It's over.

coming to this party a little late...

Al - hope retirement is going well for you. At least you'll get some of the money you paid
into social security back unlike those of us who won't retire for a few decades to come. Of course we could still rescue the entitlement, but your liberal friends don't think there's a problem to fix. Typical liberal delusion.

And remember to keep on eye on the liberal golfers when you're playing a 3buck nasau and the press is on - they tend to give themselves favorable lies and 6 foot putts.

evil hater - France would be perfect for you... au revoir brainless idiot.

Denial is not a river in Africa, pjc. I take it you're a rah-rah flag waver. That makes you a perfect cog in the new machine that WILL NOT be the America that you enjoy.

AL - JUST STUMBLED ONTO YOUR BLOG -SORRY TO HERE YOUR RETIRED.

RUSH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU STATED - IN FACT - I AM CONVINCED RUSH WOULD SELL LIBERALISM IF HE COULD MAKE MORE MONEY AT IT.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IF RUSH WAS POOR AND BLACK HE'D BE IN JAIL FOR HIS ILLEGAL SELLING USE AND OF DRUGS. CONSERVATIVE? HA!
TWO FACED? YES! COWARDLY? YOU BET!

Who cares, really? He's a pig somedays, other days he's just a robot. He does not speak for all Republicans. Most don't even like him. Take a poll, and see for yourself. He can spew his venon all he wants. His words don't make him anything special to me. Heck, look at Westboro Baptist Church. He supports them, and their cause. Look that up!! It's a well known fact he hangs up on folks when he wants to belittle them on air for his rating's. He has that right. And you have the right to hate him, turn the dial or just laugh at him. And I have one question. Why do so many people hate Bush?

Well said Al