Here I am once again popping in (I did the most eloquent entry a few days ago, full of carefully crafted discourse clarifying what's been going on with me lately, and then Typepad for reasons known only to itself decided to obliterate it).
Anyhoo, just a quick entry while it's timely, I can't resist. I have a message for Michael Steele: I said it, I meant it, and I didn't apologize.
Quick backstory... in 1993 I was incensed when the local paper ran a front-page story - complete with picture - about a couple who were apparently inconsolable (particularly the wife, who brought it to the attention of the media) because they couldn't tune in the Rush Limbaugh show. So I whipped out a quick letter to the editor that was published on September 5, 1993:
"Have we reached the point where front-page news now constitutes an inability to tune in the Rush Limbaugh show? The next time when for some unfathomable reason my household does not receive the Disney Channel, I'll call you with a hot news tip. You can come out and photograph my daughter on the front porch clutching her teddy bear and weeping copiously. I promise that it will make good copy.
Contrary to popular dittohead opinion, Rush is simply an entertainer (italics in the original, now bold by me). He's a smart disc jockey who developed a schtick that sells well and is making millions. He may have different material, but he is no different from any talk show hack - i.e., Howard Stern, Bill Handel, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Phil Donahue, Oprah et al. He really is in illustrious company.
Would you have made (person's name, now deleted) plight a front-page item if she had whined that she couldn't receive Dr. Laura at noon on KFI? I think not. Boy, what some journalists will do these days to avoid the dread label "liberal media."
Now we've come full circle in fifteen and a half years. As far as I'm concerned, this whole brouhaha gives Rush more credit and attention than he deserves. He - and his ilk - got their way with the impeachment of Clinton and 2000-2008, and look where it got us. In a big, fat mess (much like Rush is a big fat blowhard).
I know my grandfather would not be pleased... as much as I'm sure he would be pleased by the possibility that the eggheads could triumph over the dittoheads within his party, if only they weren't so thin-skinned. Remember, Rush is a college dropout whose mother claimed "he flunked out of everything," not exactly an indication of a masterful critical thinker. Mayhap a masterful entertainer with a multi-million dollar contract and ratings (for now - has anyone other than me wondered if the main reason for his bloviating is to ensure those precious ratings remain positive?), whose main purpose after all is to remain viable.
Sooooooooooooo... I really wish he'd stop getting press, but that's show biz.
And that's all, folks. For the time being.
Nice to have you back.
Posted by: Pseudo | March 04, 2009 at 05:55 AM