The Briefing Room
General Category => Editorial/Opinion/Blogs => Topic started by: Machiavelli on April 16, 2014, 06:07:07 pm
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Rick Ungar
Forbes
April 15, 2014
Like him or hate him, there is no disputing that Rush Limbaugh's very special brand of mixing right-wing politics with his flare for entertainment has produced one of the most successful radio programs in the medium's long history.
Whatever the burning political question of the day, millions of Americans have relished the opportunity to tune into Rush's program, knowing that he would quickly take that hot potato, throw a few gallons of verbal kerosene into the mix and elevate the matter into a five alarm fire with a just a few well-chosen words spoken in the style only Rush Limbaugh could produce.
Until now…
At long last, it appears that Rush Limbaugh has run out of steam...
More (http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2014/04/15/has-rush-limbaugh-finally-reached-the-end-of-the-road/)
From the writer, Rick Ungar:
I am a Senior Political Contributor at Forbes and the official 'token lefty,' as the title of the page suggests. However, writing from the 'left of center' should not be confused with writing for the left as I often annoy progressives just as much as I upset conservative thinkers...
More (http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/)
The writer is a liberal so I guess I'm supposed to dismiss this article out of hand. Right?
Well, no. I think this article is worth reading. Moreover, for a long time now I myself have been wondering if Rush's best days are behind him.
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I don't think the article has merit.
The guy thinks that CBS doesn't have a political agenda.
That's downright stupid.
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I agree that Limbaugh is not as relevant as he has been in the past, however he hasn't completely lost his steam else Forbes and everyone else wouldn't be devoting so much attention to him. The Stephen Colbert assignment to the Letterman spot did have a political dimension as well as being a marketing calculation. Rush has gotten a lot of media attention for pointing that out, which he has milked shamelessly (as usual).
It is also true that the only comedians who seem to attract young audiences are liberals.
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Well, no. I think this article is worth reading. Moreover, for a long time now I myself have been wondering if Rush's best days are behind him.
Rush's best days are definitely behind him. He's turned into little more than a marketing machine, what with his tea and his self-absorbed books.
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I still like Rush..I am one of his mind-numbed robots.. :smokin:
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I still like Rush..I am one of his mind-numbed robots.. :smokin:
Me too!
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Please? Yes.
Used to like him. He'd lay shit out and trust people to think. Then he shifted to telling people what to think.
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Finally? The first time you listened to George Carlin, Bill Cosby, or Sam Kinneson, it was hilarious.
Eventually it gets to be predictable, repetitive, and nothing is accomplished as a result of listening over and over.
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I still like Rush..I am one of his mind-numbed robots.. :smokin:
He's still the best in talk radio.
Of course, after more than twenty years he's repeated himself, but telling the truth about the left does get repetitive.
As for the marketing only attack...........that's not coming from someone who listens on a regular basis.
It's sour grapes.
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btw, the fact that the left is still obsessed with Rush indicates to me that he is still hitting the target on a regular basis.
Nothing indicates Rush's success more than the whining and name-calling of the left.
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His 3rd hour is virtually impossible to get through.
And his speaking while leading into a commercial that's read by him is dishonest, IMO. TOO MANY COMMERCIALS and NOT ENOUGH CONTENT!
That said, we all know he's held back quite a bit in his assessment. We don't know the veracity of those threats against his life that he gets daily.
He is a genius at marketing and realizes that there are millions of potential listeners that have stopped by to see what all the fuss is about.....only to be hypnotized into Rush Babies and Mind-Number Robots.
I love Rush Limbaugh. It would be a different country today without his influence the past 25 years.
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btw, the fact that the left is still obsessed with Rush indicates to me that he is still hitting the target on a regular basis.
Nothing indicates Rush's success more than the whining and name-calling of the left.
He is still #1, still raking in tens of millions, if he writes something it becomes a #1 best seller before it is released, if he mentions calling congress about something, it crashes the phone system.... if that is 'out of steam' what is fully loaded?
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Finally? The first time you listened to George Carlin, Bill Cosby, or Sam Kinneson, it was hilarious.
Eventually it gets to be predictable, repetitive, and nothing is accomplished as a result of listening over and over.
Wash your mouth out. A full Kinneson rant is an art form. Difficult to do on paper, almost impossible vocally.
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Wash your mouth out. A full Kinneson rant is an art form. Difficult to do on paper, almost impossible vocally.
The first time I saw Kinnison? Beyond great!
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He is still #1, still raking in tens of millions, if he writes something it becomes a #1 best seller before it is released, if he mentions calling congress about something, it crashes the phone system.... if that is 'out of steam' what is fully loaded?
Precisely.
Everyone should run 'out of steam' while maintaining the success that Rush has.
Case in point: last week's fundraiser for Leukemia. Unbelievable amount of money raised by Rush's audience in a couple of days. It's remarkable.
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The first time I saw Kinnison? Beyond great!
He was AWESOME!!!
Every new comedian tries it, written or spoken. It almost never works. Guy was unique.
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btw, the fact that the left is still obsessed with Rush indicates to me that he is still hitting the target on a regular basis.
Nothing indicates Rush's success more than the whining and name-calling of the left.
Indeed. Funny how some of the whining and name-calling also seems to come from the so-called right.
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Indeed. Funny how some of the whining and name-calling also seems to come from the so-called right.
I've noticed that.................... :whistle:
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Tell ya what, I'm Conservative, not so-called, I think he's really good at parting a fool from his money.
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People have been predicting the imminent demise of Rush Limbaugh for two decades, and he's still here.
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Tell ya what, I'm Conservative, not so-called, I think he's really good at parting a fool from his money.
How? By buying delicious iced tea or excellent books?
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People have been predicting the imminent demise of Rush Limbaugh for two decades, and he's still here.
The last thing I have time to worry about is Rush Limbaugh. Time has proven over and over again that he can take care of himself.
Yeah, Rush Limbausht is gone. He is kaput, that is all, it is all over.
...and if you believe that, I have some Ocean front property in Arizona...from my front porch you can see the sea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNlMzNUDM8s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNlMzNUDM8s)
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Was there an article attached or a link that I missed?
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Was there an article attached or a link that I missed?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2014/04/15/has-rush-limbaugh-finally-reached-the-end-of-the-road/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2014/04/15/has-rush-limbaugh-finally-reached-the-end-of-the-road/)
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Was there an article attached or a link that I missed?
Yes and yes. :laugh:
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How? By buying delicious iced tea or excellent books?
I really don't care too much for Beck either but at least he's putting some of his fortune into a legacy beyond a nice house in Florida. Is it envy? Doubtful, on the list of what's important to me would be my head cured.
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I really don't care too much for Beck either but at least he's putting some of his fortune into a legacy beyond a nice house in Florida. Is it envy? Doubtful, on the list of what's important to me would be my head cured.
Yep. I admire him for his work with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
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Yep. I admire him for his work with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
That's a tough one for me. On the one hand, I believe charity should be anonymous BUT I understand the power of celebrity in raising consciousness to a cause. It's a responsibility to help others according to ability. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.
In the news recently, in one of your Brit sheets, there was an article regarding a mistranslation from the Greek and Christ wasn't a carpenter's son but a wealthier architect's son. Put that into perspective of a man giving up all his worldly possessions and a camel passing through the eye of a needle.
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I agree with you. Charity giving should be anonymous, yet they need to be promoted. I push Pin-ups for Vets every year when the new calendar comes out (and MsF, but that's a different tale. They don't refuse cash, but would rather have time) - having someone like Beck or Rush push it would be massive. It's one of those odd little corners we have now - there are worthy causes that no one sees, and causes that sound worthy but don't do much. Oxfam, for example.
Fake edit - cause I forgot: I didn't see the story, but keeping up with all the news is 24/7! I'd not be surprised though. Jesus was a scholar. Back then, carpenters were well paid - think masons in the cathedral building period for an analogy - but not well paid enough to allow their kids not to work and read instead.
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To be sure, he is still the most listened-to radio show of any format in America. His lead-out, Hannity, is number two. His closest competitors, NPR's drive-time programs, benefit from having the best time slots across the country and nearly ubiquitous signals. He's not at the end of the road just yet. He at least has until 2016, which is when his contract expires.
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I agree with you. Charity giving should be anonymous, yet they need to be promoted. I push Pin-ups for Vets every year when the new calendar comes out (and MsF, but that's a different tale. They don't refuse cash, but would rather have time) - having someone like Beck or Rush push it would be massive. It's one of those odd little corners we have now - there are worthy causes that no one sees, and causes that sound worthy but don't do much. Oxfam, for example.
Fake edit - cause I forgot: I didn't see the story, but keeping up with all the news is 24/7! I'd not be surprised though. Jesus was a scholar. Back then, carpenters were well paid - think masons in the cathedral building period for an analogy - but not well paid enough to allow their kids not to work and read instead.
Actually an old article but recent post on some forum. 2010, here's the link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1263029/New-book-claims-Jesus-son-middle-class-architect.html
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I really don't care too much for Beck either but at least he's putting some of his fortune into a legacy beyond a nice house in Florida. Is it envy? Doubtful, on the list of what's important to me would be my head cured.
Rush has also helped with wounded warriors, and again, the Lymphoma campaign just finished, raising millions for research.
He gives millions to other charities as well.
It's fine if you don't like the fellow. He's abrasive sometimes, and I disagree with him about a number of things, but I think your accusation that he thinks only of himself is inaccurate.
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Rush has also helped with wounded warriors, and again, the Lymphoma campaign just finished, raising millions for research.
He gives millions to other charities as well.
It's fine if you don't like the fellow. He's abrasive sometimes, and I disagree with him about a number of things, but I think your accusation that he thinks only of himself is inaccurate.
I don't think it's a matter of thinking only of himself. I just think he's a bit boastful or braggy. I think there's a certain level of modesty people should carry.
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.....Fake edit - cause I forgot: I didn't see the story, but keeping up with all the news is 24/7! I'd not be surprised though. Jesus was a scholar. Back then, carpenters were well paid - think masons in the cathedral building period for an analogy - but not well paid enough to allow their kids not to work and read instead.
You are correct for the most part except, in the source language, it doesn't say Jesus was a carpenter, but instead a 'craftsman' which implied an even more important role. We find the same term again in the Book of Maccabees describing those who were allowed to rebuild the temple. Not any carpenter could do that as it was a holy place. (chew on that one for a while) Once you look at the source language, a whole bigger world of meaning opens up. It doesn't take away from the stories we were always told, but instead adds extra depth to them.
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I don't think it's a matter of thinking only of himself. I just think he's a bit boastful or braggy. I think there's a certain level of modesty people should carry.
Rush has/had a promotional throw-away line that he uses upon returning to the program after an "obscene profit timeout".....
"....providing the drive-by media with news headlines and soundbites on a daily basis...." (paraphrased)
It ain't bragging if you can do it!
Like it or not, he is indeed, "The most powerful voice on the Right!"
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I don't think it's a matter of thinking only of himself. I just think he's a bit boastful or braggy. I think there's a certain level of modesty people should carry.
There is also the duty people have to talk about charity. I get what you mean, totally, but since he (and Rush) have one hell of a bully pulpit I'll give them a pass on this. The one thing they both have in common is they have researchers who dig deep. They are not going to push a good cause that does no actual good on their listeners. Weren't both of them the earliest to push the tsunami relief effort on their programs?
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Was there an article attached or a link that I missed?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2014/04/15/has-rush-limbaugh-finally-reached-the-end-of-the-road/
Thanks hap
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I don't think it's a matter of thinking only of himself. I just think he's a bit boastful or braggy. I think there's a certain level of modesty people should carry.
One could make the point that no one who is in broadcasting, entertainment or politics is 'modest.'
I agree that humility is an important quality in a person, but there is a certain self-confidence required to do any number of jobs.
I think a lot of his boasting, however, is just entertainment schtick, and designed to drive his leftist enemies crazy.
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One could make the point that no one who is in broadcasting, entertainment or politics is 'modest.'
I agree that humility is an important quality in a person, but there is a certain self-confidence required to do any number of jobs.
I think a lot of his boasting, however, is just entertainment schtick, and designed to drive his leftist enemies crazy.
I agree. His public persona is unlike his private personality. He's no different than anyone else in that respect. For those who don't care for him, imagine him off the air. Or Hannity, or Levin, or Beck or any conservative/republican commentator. As bad as the MSM is, we would be in a world of hurt without these people.
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Yes, the bragging and inflated confidence is part of his radio personality - wouldn't it be a boring show if he were just a modest person? "Talent on loan from God" - that stuff is designed to push the liberal's buttons. It's like any celebrity, you have to keep saying stuff to get attention. I listen to Rush and have for over twenty years - the fact that he is still on and he still gets "bad press" - that is radio gold! I'm amazed that he can still do it after all these years, he has toned down a bit over the years, but he is still living rent-free in their heads.
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It's not the talent on loan from God or that stuff, that's schtick and easily ignored. It's more the "it's so wonderful to be me, I know people you will never get to know, sit in places you will never sit.". Some people enjoy living vicariously through other people. That's not my thing.
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It's not the talent on loan from God or that stuff, that's schtick and easily ignored. It's more the "it's so wonderful to be me, I know people you will never get to know, sit in places you will never sit.". Some people enjoy living vicariously through other people. That's not my thing.
I've never heard him say anything like that.
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I've never heard him say anything like that.
I don't think he has ever said anything like that.
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I've never heard him say anything like that.
What I have heard him say many times when asked about his popularity is that he thinks it springs from the fact that he says on the radio what many of my listeners have been saying for years privately! That is absolutely true! I don't need to listen to Rush (I do when I can anyway) because I KNOW what he is going to say before he says it!
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I've never heard him say anything like that.
Never a word about Hawaii and Elton John in the hotel when he had a heart attack?
Never a word about 21 (or some steak house) when Bill Clinton was there and walked up to his table?
Never a word about sky boxes at the Super Bowl or some golf tournament?
He's a name and place dropper. That's in 15 seconds off the top of my head.
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One could make the point that no one who is in broadcasting, entertainment or politics is 'modest.'
I agree that humility is an important quality in a person, but there is a certain self-confidence required to do any number of jobs.
I think a lot of his boasting, however, is just entertainment schtick, and designed to drive his leftist enemies crazy.
Heck, these days, a certain "self-confidence" is required to even GET almost any job, or for that matter even an interview for a job. Modest people's resumes end up getting thrown into the circular file.
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Rush deserves great credit for inventing conservative talk radio. If he wasn't the first to do it, he certainly was the first to get popular doing it. Those early days were fabulous - he did a lot of work researching data and facts to show that the liberal media was trying to brainwash all of us. He was the alternative, and for those of us who have always had conservative leanings (opportunity vs a handout, for starters) he was fresh air and a like community. I was devoted - his show was the place to go to find out the truth.
But then his success maybe caught up with him. There are a lot of other conservative talk show hosts. He's not the only one anymore. And he started resting on his laurels - I admit that I stopped listening a few years ago, but the reason I did is because he started talking more about his opinion than about the facts. I want to listen to conservative talk so I can have data to argue with libs. Just saying "Rush thinks…" isn't a convincing argument, not even to me.
I did catch him a time or two where he hadn't done his homework and was giving an opinion based on superficial headlines instead of the facts of the case. I knew more of the facts than he did. Then there were times when he had an opinion, but didn't back it up with data. I think he's settled into a comfortable bloviation instead of a hard hitting research mode.
But no one can say that he didn't do us all a favor by working so hard to make conservative talk a profitable endeavor.
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The greatest service Rush Limbaugh has performed for society is that he has educated millions and millions of people as to the true nature of liberalism. The existence of masses of people who refuse to drink the Kool-Aid is really the only thing that prevents liberals from enacting their real agenda, which is a completely controlled society. Instead, they must go about it piecemeal and lie about their true intentions and attempt to boil the frogs slowly.
Like many others, I used to be an avid listener, but these days I check his website each day to see what he is talking about, but rarely tune in. To tell you the truth, I don't like to think about politics too much as I grow older. It's just too negative, and life is too short. I'd much rather focus on staying in shape, playing golf, nurturing young minds and taking care of my wife.
Nonetheless, I am very grateful to Rush Limbaugh for what he has done to stimulate my own political growth, and for what he has done for this country, and I always will be.
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The greatest service Rush Limbaugh has performed for society is that he has educated millions and millions of people as to the true nature of liberalism. The existence of masses of people who refuse to drink the Kool-Aid is really the only thing that prevents liberals from enacting their real agenda, which is a completely controlled society. Instead, they must go about it piecemeal and lie about their true intentions and attempt to boil the frogs slowly.
Like many others, I used to be an avid listener, but these days I check his website each day to see what he is talking about, but rarely tune in. To tell you the truth, I don't like to think about politics too much as I grow older. It's just too negative, and life is too short. I'd much rather focus on staying in shape, playing golf, nurturing young minds and taking care of my wife.
Nonetheless, I am very grateful to Rush Limbaugh for what he has done to stimulate my own political growth, and for what he has done for this country, and I always will be.
But honestly, he didn't educate people. The people who listened to him knew what they believed and knew they were right. His listeners were already politically astute, that's why the went to him like an antenna or a homing device. He was the water cooler around which we gathered, listened, learned and shared.
Hannity isn't Rush. Levin isn't Rush. Beck isn't Rush. What made Rush what he is/was was the sense of commonality. Rush was the "Everyman" in a way Matt Damon could only dream of portraying. He was a prime example of "build it, they will come". He found his audience. His audience found him at the intersection of time and place.
Rush lost his connection, IN MY OPINION, when he moved to Palm Beach. When he played in the Pro-Ams. When he sat in the sky boxes with the owners.
I know his family was well-respected and were people of prestige. He was the black sheep of the family. All that rot. Jimmy Carter was never just a "simple peanut farmer", they guy was an engineer on a nuclear sub. That's not overalls and wiping your brow with a worn, blue neckerchief. Rush played at being a DJ and while his family waited for him to get respectable.
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I think Rush is just as relevant as ever, especially in these times.
His analysis of events is beyond any other person that I know and is always based on facts. I don't understand the statement that listening to Rush no longer gets a person "the facts". As Sherlock says, "it's not just the facts but the interpretation of the facts in which we are justified".
Rush not only provides the facts but gives his interpretation of what those facts mean. What more can we ask for?
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Rush not only provides the facts but gives his interpretation of what those facts mean. What more can we ask for?
Fair comment. But what more can we ask for?
A population that thinks about the facts - actually thinks - and comes to conclusions on their own.
Rush has two big things going for him - he has a totally solid research team, and his callers provide not just talk fodder, but additional information. Yet, should we as a whole blindly accept his judgements? He'd be horrified at the thought of that.
He does op-ed journalism at it's finest. "Here are the facts. Here is what I think. What do you think?" He never insults the listeners intelligence. He challenges it.
I listen to him - sometimes - prefer music than talk. I'll read the transcripts more often.
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Fair comment. But what more can we ask for?
A population that thinks about the facts - actually thinks - and comes to conclusions on their own.
Rush has two big things going for him - he has a totally solid research team, and his callers provide not just talk fodder, but additional information. Yet, should we as a whole blindly accept his judgements? He'd be horrified at the thought of that.
He does op-ed journalism at it's finest. "Here are the facts. Here is what I think. What do you think?" He never insults the listeners intelligence. He challenges it.
I listen to him - sometimes - prefer music than talk. I'll read the transcripts more often.
Please God grant us such a a population!
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I think Rush is just as relevant as ever, especially in these times.
His analysis of events is beyond any other person that I know and is always based on facts. I don't understand the statement that listening to Rush no longer gets a person "the facts". As Sherlock says, "it's not just the facts but the interpretation of the facts in which we are justified".
Rush not only provides the facts but gives his interpretation of what those facts mean. What more can we ask for?
Again, I think most people who listen to Rush have superior analytical skills. What's that he says about the "Ditto"? It's not mindless agreement, it's an expression of how people enjoy the show, great to be on, etc..
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Please God grant us such a a population!
D I T T O :patriot: