Rush Limbaugh has been rejected in his attempt to buy a NFL team because of the reactions to some of his racially inflammatory comments. While some of the comments that were attributed to him are either unverifiable or blatantly false, many of the others are true.
When he was in the news before the Huffingtonpost had an article that repeated some urban myths that were not said by him. I sent in a correction and blogged about it at the time. They ran the correction. Here is a screenshot:
http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/dennert/archives/2009/03/
Rush Limbaugh has a long history of making racially inflammatory comments. But when attacking him people should be accurate. I don't support him and I know he is purposefully divisive and inflammatory to provoke a response. That's great for his ratings but bad if we want a thoughtful and elevated debate.
He doesn't represent the best ideals of the Republican Party and they would be best served by not wasting their time defending his record.
Democrats have tried to make him the spokesperson for the Republican Party because his approval ratings are so low.
There are many more conservative or right leaning pundits who are worthy of attention and accolade.
I am sure many of my conservative readers will read this as an attack on a leader of theirs and ignore my opinion. That's fine. But I am telling you that the conservatives I know are much better representatives of your values than him.
I have listened to Rush Limbaugh for years, especially when my old line of work had me drive during the day. He is a skilled broadcaster and has many talents. But why he commands the loyalty of so many is beyond me.
Recently a reader challenged me to read a Glenn Beck book they gave me and then share my thoughts. I am taking you up on the challenge. Let me know when to pick it up. I would prefer his latest book with all of the pictures.
In other news we have a new blogger here at The Ventura County Star. Eric Ingemunson , a conservative Republican activist, has posted his first few blog entries. So far I have found him to be a well reasoned and interesting writer. Let's see if his blog lives up to my hype.
Check it out and leave him a comment:
http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/ingemusings/
Eric,
I just defended a right wing pundit from some inaccurate attacks. I challenge you to post a defense of a progressive that has been unfairly maligned by the right wing. Deal?
Check out my Twitter page for some exclusive local political news and other thoughts:
The 500th follower will be featured on my front page.
People love being told they are right. There are millions of Republicans craving to be told they are right. Rush has found a niche telling Republicans how wonderful they are. Let's face it. Republicans consist of extremely gullible people. If they could buy what G.W. Bush was selling they will buy anything. Obviously Rush said to himself "If someone could harness that profound ignorance it would be worth billions".
Now here's Andy with the weather...
As you should know, I am a Republican. I do not like the direction that Rush Limbaugh drags the party. Especially in our current time of weak support across the nation, we should not be so extreme but Limbaugh encourages extremism which is not good for the Republican party.
It is important that local Republican bloggers do their part to ensure they aren't promoting extremism either.
The NFL is a funny place. They will let alleged murders, rapist, animal abusers, and felons in, but not Rush. A decision I can't really be on board with based on principle. I am not a Republican and I am not a Rush supporter. I try to support what I believe is fair and what is right. The NFL keeping Rush out based on on his proven racist comments seems fair enough, but when you consider what else slips through the filter it feels a bit off.
Brian, good article and I admire your ability to correct inaccurate posts about Rush. The way Rush tries to paint US Vs. Them scenarios on every issue makes me a bit sick. When people realize we are all in this together I might be able to turn on talk radio again.
Keep up the good work
Katie, please explain at that comment seems directly pointed at me.
It was also aimed at our newest blogger - Eric (see above). Neither one of you guys should be a tool for local extremists - it already caused one blogger to be banned. You are welcome to contact me at any time to discuss further - you have both my email contact and my cell phone number.
Oh yea, contact Katie, because she's the voice of reason.
Now that's funny.
I have never seen Daniel Goldberg promote extremism. So I doubt he will ever go far in todays republican Party. LOL!!
I have long thought the Star should host the writings of Victor David Hansen (spelling?) from time to time. He is in the Frenso area, I believe he has a doctorate now, is from Ag and is well versed in his history.
Dennert, you and the Huffington Post deserve praise for identifying and correcting that urban legend about Limbaugh. Good work.
However, I don't agree with your overall assessment of Limbaugh's career. The man has been doing radio forever, has spoken thousands and thousands of declarative sentences, and I'm sure you can string together 10 or 20 comments during that time that may be "racially insensitive." Which, by the way, has lost all meaning to me because the race card is so overplayed I don't believe it anymore when it's trotted out.
If we define racism with what it really means, that someone believes that one race is overall superior to another race, I think you won't find any comments he's made like that. Insensitive? Yes, you will find that. But can we dismiss someone entirely, who has resonated with so many people, merely for being insensitive on occasion?
As for your challenge, the first thing that came to my mind is that I was bothered when Bill Maher lost his show in response to criticism for his 9/11 comments where he said terrorists weren't cowards.
It's fair to criticize his statement, but he shouldn't have lost his show over it. There is some truth in what he said; it takes some cojones to kill yourself like that, but the problem is that he said it about homicidal religious fanatics. I believe he also said that we were the cowards for firing missiles from a distance, and if he was referring to our troops as cowards, then he discredited himself because that's preposterous.
Here is something that is TRUE about Limbaugh and cannot be disproved:
Oxycontin Turd.
Rush Limbaugh is a divisive force, a hypocrite, and an irresponsible broadcaster. Now his irresponsible and reprehensible comments have finally come back to bite him and he deserves it. I doubt he'll learn any lesson from this - he'll probably just rant about it on his radio show.
The St. Louis Lambaughs... Hehe.
I have to agree with Nate Nate Nate. Rush is an irresponsible broadcaster who says crazy, incorrect things like how black kids are beating up white kids on school buses because of Obama. This is clearly nonsense. But the biggest problem I have with Rush is that his style of broadcasting does not invite an educated debate amongst those with differing views. While this can be said of both sides, Rush and Glenn are huge, loud, blustering offenders.
Brian, Katie is picking on me again.
Oh fine, Nobody should have his own column too! He is an equal opportunity offender. Nobody, I am sure you can outdo Rush or Glen or Al Franklen any day of the week!
Is Rush still addicted to pain killers and viagra? Or has he moved on to meth?
Wow, he sure knows how to offend people. Is there anyone who doesn't know who he is thogh?