The mouth of the conservative right.

2014-07-04T13:38:28-04:00

I hate to do this, as this is intentionally troll baiting. But, seriously, Rush Limbaugh? A 4 times divorced Viagra prescriber with no kids is who some of you listen to for conservative thoughts??? This is why I left the GOP 14 years ago. If people like Rush or Levin are who you listen to, you're missing out on a lot of reality. And this is why many of us are EX-republicans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (/ˈlɪmbɔː/, LIM-baw; born January 12, 1951) is an American entertainer, radio talk show host, writer, and conservative political commentator. Since he was 16, Limbaugh has worked a series of disc jockey jobs. His talk show began in 1984 at Sacramento, California radio station KFBK, featuring his ongoing format of political commentary and listener calls. In 1988, Limbaugh began broadcasting his show nationally from...

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jul 4 at 2014 1:44 PM

2014-07-04T13:44:33-04:00

Sir,

I did not know if this was a question, seeking comment, or just an observation. In other words where to begin with this one...lol!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2014 2:52 PM

2014-07-04T14:52:56-04:00

Sir,

Your stating that Rush Limbaugh is the mouth of the GOP is like my stating that Howard Stern is the mouth for you non-Republicans. The fact that sensationalist media types lean a certain direction does not make him that group's spokesperson.

If anyone could be considered my spokesperson, it is John Andrew Boehner.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2014 3:05 PM

2014-07-04T15:05:32-04:00

I suggest that you left the GOP because you disagreed with the messages, rather than the messengers. It is also possible that you felt the message of the GOP changed over time to something that no longer reflected your core beliefs. A further possibility is that your core beliefs changed. In any of these cases, the background of the messenger is irrelevant. Would you suppose you would have remained aligned with Limbaugh's ideals if he had been a paragon of personal virtue?

Regardless, it is the lowest form of debate to attack the messenger rather than the message, but then, I presume this is one of the faults you found in Limbaugh's delivery as he was (and is) rather quick to devolve to the personal attack even when his arguments have merit. In this, I agree with you. To me, Limbaugh is the Conservative equivalent of Wikipedia: Fine to draw ideas from, but professional poison to quote.

Recall back in the day before Rush became a caricature of himself there really was no "mouth of the conservative right" unless you could find Buckley on PBS with your rabbit ears early Saturday morning. Rush filled a void at the time and his continued success is largely a legacy of his early market domination.

In those dark ages of news, people had to wait until 6:00 at night to learn what had happened in the world. If you came home late, you had to wait until the morning paper to learn how bad the Cubs lost the day before.

Nowadays, the discerning public can get news in 140 characters or less 24 hours a day with hashtags, unless they have the patience to wait for the news to come on the Comedy Channel. People may still get their "entertainment" from Limbaugh, but they get their news from Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, the last guy who texted them in broken txt spk, and memes.

Rush Limbaugh, an old dinosaur in the age of small furry mammals with short-attention spans exists more as an entertainer and hold over than as a mover and shaker of conservatism. And yet, despite the broadening of the entertainment base, Rush stubbornly continues to dominate his market space: a market space in an increasingly irrelevent medium.

I think this is the key objection to Limbaugh. There are bomb-throwing blowhards on both sides of the aisle. What is maddening to those on the opposite side of the aisle is not his ideas or delivery per se but rather the success he has had in employing them.

Would you agree that the tenor of public discussion has coarsened over the years? If so, would you suppose that Limbaugh, and others of his ilk are the cause of this degeneration of the art of debate, or are they mere symptoms of a wider extinction of that ancient value of civility?

V/R

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 4 at 2014 3:54 PM

2014-07-04T15:54:51-04:00

Major Dews.

Uninformed conservatives probably get their "thoughts" from Rush and others, just as uninformed liberals get theirs from Chris Matthews and other liberals.

For those of us that are informed, as you have stated, form our own views based on our own values and beliefs. reality is the key... that is why i believe there are as many ex-democrats as there are republicans.

These days to really be informed one has to dig and look beyond the rhetoric to find enough truth to have an informed opinion.

I do totally agree with what you are saying. Talk radio is just that, it is not news it is the opinion of one person. Those who base their beliefs on someones rhetoric, well, they deserve what they get.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2014 5:21 PM

2014-07-04T17:21:21-04:00

I personally am a little disillusioned with the GOP. I just consider myself a conservative. I do find myself listening to Sean Hannity once in awhile but sometimes he drives me a little crazy. I also listen to SirusXM Patriot and Fox. And read a little from Lieutenant Colonel Allen West. Also follow the Tea Party and see what their putting out. I think you need to read and listen to as many sources as you can to gain information. But who ever you listen or follow you need to research the info and find out the facts. Though I do not care for our current administration, and it's stepping all over the Constitution, and destroying America. I have defended POTUS on false info that has been thrown out by folks who don't bother to look up facts.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 5 at 2014 12:25 AM

2014-07-05T00:25:31-04:00

While I served I was a "Compassionate Conservative". It was the likes of Him, Beck and FOX that convinced me the Republican Party was no longer "Compassionate" and I became a Hardcore Liberal Democrat. It seems they are just to Exclusive and too much into telling me what is wrong and who to blame and don't have any Ideas or Solutions.

Response by 1LT Shawn McCarthy made Jul 5 at 2014 1:09 PM

2014-07-05T13:09:50-04:00

Talk radio is meant to entertain.
And sell advertising.
They say and do what they must to get people to listen.
They are "red meat" vendors and bomb throwers whose job it is to get people worked up.
Commentary shows like O'Reilly (Or Maddow, for the 6 or 7 of you who may watch her) are also meant to entertain. They are free to say whatever earns them viewers and advertisers.

My problem is with CNN and MSNBC, which frequently turn their 'anchors' on supposed 'news' shows into red meat vendors and bomb throwers.

The people operating under the once sacred banner of the 4th pillar should be held to a higher standard, and the left forgets that daily.

Fox, for its part, generally keeps commentary off of the anchors of its actual news shows.

Response by 1LT Shawn McCarthy made Jul 5 at 2014 1:14 PM

2014-07-05T13:14:39-04:00

Moreover, there is no "voice" of any party.
People pretend there is this homogenous groupthink going on within the parties and that is simply not the case.
Find me a conservative with whom I agree on 2 or 3 issues and we will disagree on 2 or 3 others.
Just ask SSG Private RallyPoint Member .

The parties are diverse and fragmented. Much like the gene pool, that diversity is very much a strength.
There may be a voice on a particular issue around which most opinions converge, but only on a specific issue here and there.

There is no "voice" overall, for to be that voice would require speaking out of more sides on one's mouth than humans are equipped with.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jul 5 at 2014 1:35 PM

2014-07-05T13:35:01-04:00

I am not going to use any names here, but I have a few of questions I would like to voice. While I understand that political groups are a necessary evil, why is it that there is only one person who is entitled to be or called the voice of this or that? Since when in this country has the single voice not meant anything? I speak for myself, with no ones support when I first begin my oratory, diatribe or rabble rousing depending on who you ask. If I gain any support it is after I have made myself heard. Why can't or don't other do the same thing? It was the little man who began this country, it was the little man who made it great, it was the little man who first built our economy into what would later be taken over by the major corporations! Why shouldn't the little mans voice be the one we hear loudest of all? Mine is just one of many, but I would like to hear what other little men and women speak up about. So what do you my RP brothers and sisters have to say about this. I realize that this may be a troublesome topic for me, but I have never been one to shy away from adversity. The floor is now yours, ready on the right, ready on the left, all is ready; commence firing and fire at will.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jul 5 at 2014 10:07 PM

2014-07-05T22:07:28-04:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer. I sometimes listen to Limbaugh. Of course his rhetoric gets old fast and I can only stomach him for so long, but he does cause me to think at times. I am afraid at times that when he talks MANY people take all he says as TRUTH.

No his commentary is not news, but he does make me think and dig. If people stop and take everything he says as gospel, then we have problems. I am no longer a Republican either, but an Independent.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jul 6 at 2014 7:54 PM

2014-07-06T19:54:26-04:00

Maj Ian,

If ever we need to learn from our fore fathers, Thomas Paine reached out to the new Continental Army under the command of General George Washington with works that inspired all in his circle.

"These are times that try men's souls..." ... The Crisis by Thomas Paine, 1776

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159726.The_Crisis

The Crisis

In the winter of 1776, the American War of Independence, which had been declared only a few months before, was in trouble. British troop...

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 7 at 2014 6:59 AM

2014-07-07T06:59:02-04:00

Sooo... Do the Democrats better hold your views? There is a difference between the Establishment GOP (people like Lindsey Graham, Sen. John McCain, John Boehner, etc.) and the Conservative GOP that seeks to adhere to the vision of our Founding Fathers and return to the Constitution and values they endorsed (people like Ted Cruz, Tim Scott, Rand Paul, Trey Gowdy, Louie Gohmert, etc.) The Tea Party does not endorse the views of the Establishment GOP but it does endorse the views of the Conservative GOP.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Jul 8 at 2014 11:14 AM

2014-07-08T11:14:42-04:00

Independent party. Republicans or Democrats two sides of the same coin. Can't agree on anything.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Jul 8 at 2014 11:16 AM

2014-07-08T11:16:44-04:00

Let me make this clear before anyone reads any further. I am neither republican nor democrat. I refuse to be labeled by anyone. If you must call me a name or put me in a group then make it a constitutional libertarian. Furthermore I will say I have been abandoned by both parties. Neither stands for anything but themselves.

I do not consider Rush the mouth piece of the GOP mostly because I have heard him bash the GOP as I have heard Mark Levin do many times. I would consider Rush a conservative. If I were going to label someone with that title it would be the wishy washy Bill O'Reilly. I have heard Mark wax and wane on the GOP. The GOP is not conservative and has not been in quite some time.

MAJ Ian Dews you said “But, seriously, Rush Limbaugh? A 4 times divorced Viagra prescriber with no kids is who some of you listen to for conservative thoughts???”
Does this mean you cannot be “A 4 times divorced Viagra prescriber with no kids” and conservative? Perhaps you can educate all of us here on RP and tell us what the criteria is for being conservative that way we will not mistakenly think someone is conservative. From your statement I can only presume that a person who is “A 4 times divorced Viagra prescriber with no kids” can only be a liberal. When you make an argument that is ad hominem one it can only mean that you have no logic for your opinions. Why would you ever be a member of the GOP? I would imagine that before 2000 when you were in the GOP it was more conservative than it is now. I’m just curious what group or party you align yourself with now? I would say don’t put yourself in any group.

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made Jul 8 at 2014 1:03 PM

2014-07-08T13:03:00-04:00

I've never liked Rush Limbaugh. Kinda like how a baby animal senses danger. I would listen to Dennis Miller, if anyone, on the radio. Now? As my particular political affiliation (libertarian) is either hounded or co-opted by both sides of the mainstream political arena, it's just easier to read the Wall Street Journal and skip those media pundits. Granted, I make a point to see where major media actually coincides on a topic. When THAT happens, I pay more attention.

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Jul 8 at 2014 11:07 PM

2014-07-08T23:07:51-04:00

MAJ Dews, what has being divorced or buying Viagra got to do with being conservative? A lot of people get divorced for various reasons and many more than four times. Also, millions of men use Viagra because they can't get it up. Your reasoning here leaves a bit to be desired. Rush is one of the most respected talk show hosts in the nation and I respect his views. You say you are an ex Republican, have you gone over to the liberal camp, or have you joined another conservative group?

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 12:19 AM

2014-07-09T00:19:41-04:00

*groan* My husband listens to talk radio as if it's going out of style. He gets worked up so easily over something that Rush or Sean Hannity has said and I have to tell "I don't want to hear about it..." I feel that most of the stuff on those shows are embellished to the point that they are practically telling lies. I can't handle listening to it so whenever we're in the car together I make him change the channel.

I've always voted republican, but that's about to change as I find that I identify more with the Libertarian Party values: fiscally conservative, socially liberal (sorta).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2014 10:16 PM

2014-07-10T22:16:06-04:00

As I've seen stated at least once on this thread, I consider myself conservative but not Republican.

I don't follow politics. I follow who's doing right by the Constitution, the document that I've sworn to protect with my life. I'm drawn to individuals whom I feel have a similar moral compass and who want to get this country back on the track that it was on when following the Constitution and not all of these perversions of it that we've seen over the years, especially those that we've seen in recent years.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2014 4:03 PM

2014-07-13T16:03:32-04:00

When I read George Washington's farewell address I realized that the party factions fractionalize the people into "tribes." Each of the tribes are divided further until single issues can make or break a party of multiple factions.

As someone who understands that the oath I took, to the US Constitution, I cannot subscribe to a party or person. When I read the US Constitution, I see no left or right margins. I read it straight down the middle.

If people listened to the whole message instead of the divisive sound bites played by the opposing party, they would realize that the "conservative" voices attack everyone in equal measure.

I personally listen to and read Mark Levin. Although I don't agree with him 100% of the time, his attacks toward the big government GOP AND DEMOCRATS resonate with me.

I cannot support anyone who believes in redistribution of wealth or supports any law that follows the planks of the communist manifesto or started their political career in the home of a founder of the weather underground.

At the moment, I hate that I have been relegated to voting for the lessor of two evils. Both the GOP leadership and Democrat leadership have failed their oath of office. "You are either with us or against us" is one of the most divisive statements that pits tribe against tribe. Good vs. evil, the antagonistic duality is the ruination of many.

Response by SSG William Patton made Oct 24 at 2014 11:50 AM

2014-10-24T11:50:56-04:00

I am no fan of Rush Limbaugh. How a PR man for the Kansas City Royals could ascend to the so called voice of conservatism is beyond me. He has however taken on the fringe left wing wackos and exposed their agendas, where others have dared not take them on and I give him credit for that. The problem with the parties today is too few people think for themselves and do not educate themselves on the issues. Both parties have been hijacked by special interest groups and most politicians are bought and paid for by corporate America, not "We the People". I saw a list yesterday of some of the Fortune 100 companies and how they spent millions on elections with money being spent nearly equally between both parties. Ironically, the Koch brothers have given Harry Reid campaign contributions and yet Harry, vilifies them every chance he gets. How does he act when he is taking their check? We the People need to wake up and think for ourselves and take back our nation from the elitists before it is too late.

Response by MAJ Terry LaFrance made Feb 16 at 2015 11:55 PM

2015-02-16T23:55:30-05:00

Goes hand in hand with the trend in this country where people are no long taught how to be critical thinkers and/or able to spot demagoguery, jingoism, and logical fallacies. Logical fallacies being a pet peeve.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 12:45 AM

2015-02-17T00:45:40-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member You can't judge a person because he doesn't have any kids.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Feb 17 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-02-17T13:37:48-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, Who says Conservatives listen to Rush Limbaugh? Levin, on the other hand, is a bit more real.

So I take it, you much prefer the party:

* of Jesse Jackson, the race-baiting social justice minister of what I don't know, who fathered a love child out of wedlock,

* that consults with Tax Cheat Al Sharpton, who has been to the White House over 80 times to consult with (p)Resident Obama yet owes 4.5 million in unpaid taxes...

* that appointed tax cheat Timothy Geithner to Treasury Secretary.

* whose agenda was pushed by NBC propagandist and serial embellisher Brian Williams (whose helicopter took sniper fire and was forced to land),

* of Hillary "What Does It Matter!" Clinton (the lawyer who was removed from the Watergate Investigating Committee because of ethics violations, and who likewise told a tall tale about having to duck sniper fire) and Bill Clinton (the lawyer who smoked but didn't inhale, who didn't have sex with "that woman."... and who argued, "That depends on what your definition of 'IS' is..."),

* of a fraud squatting in the Oval Office that STILL expresses his utmost confidence in AG Eric Holder (the same who lied to Congress about his involvement in Fast and Furious and was held in contempt of Congress, yet retained his job as top cop thanks to Obama exercising Executive Privilege in a case he claims not to have been involved in.**

* that sent Susan Rice out to push a false WH narrative about Benghazi and despite the overwhelming evidence and emails confirming that it was an orchestrated terrorist act, maintained a fiction that the attack was because of some obscure Internet video made by a Coptic Christian from Egypt.

* etc. etc. Do you need more examples of liberal hypocrisy in action?

** Why should the (p)Resident be allowed to invoke EP for Fast and Furious if he had nothing to do with it -- as he claims? ???

The reason I am not a Democrat is because race-baiting, engaging in election fraud, lying and covering up evidence of wrongdoing, and projecting their flaws at others has pretty much become SOP for Democrats.

And thus, I am resigned to have to choose the lesser of the evils.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Feb 17 at 2015 6:13 PM

2015-02-17T18:13:42-05:00

Perhaps MAJ Private RallyPoint Member you can come clean and tell us why you really left the GOP assuming you were ever in it. If Limbaugh chased you from it then you were never really a conservative. Limbaugh is a talk show host. He hold no elected office, he cannot cast a vote for a bill/law, he cannot change your life one iota. He is a talk radio host. Why don't you focus on someone that matters?

What are the top 3 issues you so vehemently disagree with him on?

By the way, Wikipedia as a source? A little lazy on the research eh?

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Feb 17 at 2015 6:21 PM

2015-02-17T18:21:03-05:00

Rush is a shock jock for the republican party, he says very little to anything that is meaningful and I think he knows it. If I was a republican I wouldn't listen to him, if i cared a lot more about political news I'd listen to NPR more it's much more neutral.

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Feb 17 at 2015 8:01 PM

2015-02-17T20:01:00-05:00

If you want to talk about unreliable and inflammatory commentators, both sides have them. Both sides have people that shouldn't be on the air at all. You're looking to Rush Limbaugh as the reason you left the GOP. But I haven't seen you talk about the hypocrisy on the left. It's there. I don't get it. Why focus so much on one side?
Your words. "If people like Rush or Levin are who you listen to, you're missing out on a lot of reality." Actually, if you're getting your facts from any political commentator without checking them out, you're missing out on reality. Don't get me wrong. I am not a fan of Rush Limbaugh. But I'm also not selectively bashing one side, and sir it seems you are. Your lack of objectivity damages your credibility.

Response by SPC Ryan D. made Feb 18 at 2015 11:58 AM

2015-02-18T11:58:38-05:00

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 12:02 AM

2015-02-22T00:02:31-05:00

Sir, I am a conservative and this man does not speak for me.

This man lost all credibility for me when he claimed that Obama was sending troops to Uganda to fight Christians...

Those "Christians" were the LRA...

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made May 31 at 2015 11:11 PM

2015-05-31T23:11:45-04:00

From my understanding rush has been losing radio stations.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made May 31 at 2015 11:13 PM

2015-05-31T23:13:13-04:00

Fine, you can do whatever you want. It a free country. Or it is for now.

Response by SGT Timothy Rocheleau made May 31 at 2015 11:20 PM

2015-05-31T23:20:32-04:00

So because he is divorced 4 times, has no children and has a medical condition that causes him to use Viagra this makes him somehow a bad person? I am not defending Rush as I don't listen to, watch nor read anything if his. But just your introduction of him shows that your distaste is more about how you perceive Jonas a person than it is about his politics. Regardless, I'm pretty sure a radio show host didn't make you leave the GOP, if that's all it took I guess you truly didn't consider yourself a republican. I say this solely because Rush has absolutely ZERO ability to affect legislation, that perfunctory job belongs to our elected officials. So if tend to believe that you became disillusioned somewhere down the line by actions or inactions of the GOP as a whole. But can you seriously say that anyone party is better than the other? I myself identify as an independent because after all, we are all independents!! We are able to form our own views and opinions based off the information at our disposal. And that information shouldn't come from any one news org or from any one person exposing about the record of another person. If only every voting age citizen would do their own research into candidates I believe the voting patterns would be different, unless you know the history and tendencies of a particular candidate based off their record how can you truly say you support them. Rush is no more the mouth piece of the GOP than I am. He is a radio personality, nothing more.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 1 at 2015 9:42 AM

2015-06-01T09:42:55-04:00

Not to mention the hearing loss due to heavy duty Oxycontin use.
Right up there with Ted "poopy pants" Nugent

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 13 at 2018 8:25 PM

2018-03-13T20:25:48-04:00

I would love to see the GOP return to its roots not its since the Christian Democrats took the party over in the 1960's

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 14 at 2018 3:41 PM

2018-03-14T15:41:43-04:00

1. I'm a registered Dem, just as most of the folks in my family are after the actions of the Union Reconstruction Gov't. 2. I have never voter for a Demo President- cause above the state level the Demo Party appears to take LSD. 3. I don't listen to Rush either.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 4:27 PM

2018-03-14T16:27:04-04:00

I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh or anyone else for that matter. I don't trust any of them whether they be on the right or the left.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Mar 15 at 2018 12:09 AM

2018-03-15T00:09:58-04:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member That guy Limbaugh is so out of touch with reality until its funny. He constantly spews out hatred and divisive statements. At the recommendation of a friend I once listened to him. Once was enough by no means do I want to listen to him or some other person like Louis Farrakhan who only speaks of hatred, divisiveness and racism. Thanks for sharing.

Peace!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 15 at 2018 6:36 AM

2018-03-15T06:36:30-04:00

As Ana independent I reserve the right to look for what is best on all fronts (as do we all). There are many on right fringe (not the right) who speak in terms that should not be heard outside of amcorner bar, of which I would never go. There are many on the left fringe who speak to and want things that should not be heard of outside of a corner bar. Our society is in shaken ground and cracks are popping up everywhere. So for those on the left, pull yourselves in, those on the right, pull yourselves in and together find that middle ground that has held this country high throughout decades of turmuoult and glory. We are a nation of laws that once voted upon should be followed. So if either side does not like what is on the books, vote for change. Thank you for your service. Sorry for the rant.