The question about Rush Limbaugh is this: is he an idiot, an old idiot, an old-fashioned idiot, or a right-wing idiot?

I raise this possibly strange-seeming problem a full week after Mr Limbaugh, a US "shock jock" of some notoriety, decided it would be fun to call a student who argued in favour of free contraception a "slut" and a "prostitute" who had to be having "so much sex it's amazing she can still walk". He also suggested that she should post videos of her sexual adventures online for him and his cohorts to watch.

So that's Rush. It is to be hoped, if not expected, that his outburst and the resulting fury will have the massive upside of making him irrelevant. I don't like him much; nor, indeed, am I a big fan of the Republican Party's weird inability to fully disown his bilious, lecherous routine.

Sadly, we are obliged to contend with his chunterings. That's why I asked that question at the top. If we have to think about this guy, maybe it's best to think in terms of what he represents, so as not to get too close. In other words: is the idea that only sluts want free contraceptives the stupidity of an old man? Is it the stupidity of a bygone era? Is it the stupidity of the right wing? Or is it simply the stupidity of Rush Limbaugh?

The question is important because it helps those of us who find Limbaugh's bile offensive to figure out where to direct our distaste, and what to do about it. The easiest thing – for someone of my political persuasion, anyway – is obviously to tick all of the above.

But there are obviously plenty of people on the right who wouldn't dream of making such a pronouncement. And whereas Limbaugh and his ilk might like to suggest that we will all come round to his way of thinking in the fullness of time – that is, that his position is the inescapable result of hard-won wisdom, and those who disagree just haven't realised it yet – there are many others of about his age who consider him repellent. What Limbaugh's views are, mostly, is outdated; the spittle-flecked ranting of a man whose time has passed.

It is true that men like Limbaugh tend to be old. It's true they end up on the conservative side of the spectrum more often than they do elsewhere. But those are coincidences. Blame the Republican Party for letting him thrive, sure, but don't ascribe his view to the whole movement.

Instead, consider these cheering facts: because Limbaugh's views have nothing to do with him being old, we are not bound to generate more of his ilk. And because they have no more to do with the right wing than they do with the left, there is no need for his squalid sensibility to ever take hold again. Rush Limbaugh is an idiot, and an old-fashioned idiot. But he doesn't stand for anything else.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/archie-bland-exactly-what-kind-of-an-idiot-is-rush-limbaugh-7543038.html

He's just a big fat rich idiot.

I ignore him.

He may be a big fat idiot,but he has the right to think and say what he wants like it or not!

He does not however have the right to publicly and falsely accuse and insult people on air. That is wrong and no one and the "right" to do so.

Yuppers.
Ain't it great?
We all have that right, for now.
Hope we can keep those dipshlt progressive libs from banning it.
They are working on doing that.

Heard on the radio today;
After a game, the winners chanted USA.
The Principal admonished them and banned the chanters from attending any more games this year.

The opposing team whined that chanting USA was racist.

BTW, it was some game played here, in the US.

Anyone has the right to say anything about anyone and if you don't like it to bad! It's a free country and this is one of the very principles it was founded upon. The Ku Klux Klan has said much much worse!

Do you call everyone who is richer, happier and more successful than you an idiot or is Rush Limbaugh special?

Rush is not an idiot. Any man who can parlay nothing in to a business that throws of between thirty eight and fort two million a year is no idiot. I would explain what he’s doing but all most all the people who show up here are not operating that Meany clicks above walking and chewing gum.

he's just so special of course!!

If Rush is so happy why is he so cruel? seriusly happy people do not mix oxycontin and viagra

of course they do! That's why they are so friggin happy!!

Rush is a smart propagandist. He knows most of what he says is BS, and knows that his delivery style will (and does) fool Boobus Americanus.

I thought the topic was about Rush being an idiot.

Of course, idiots abuse drugs.

In a business sense, he is no idiot.

I work my fingers to the bone and all I have to show are bony fingers. But, I am good with that and content to be me.

He sits, does interviews, talks on the radio and whatever else he does and has amassed his fortune. Great for him.

Me thinks, covetous thoughts and jealousy is the motive of this thread.

Thou shall not covet Rush'e a$$. Not matter how fine or rich some find it to be.

You're not supposed to covet the wife either.

His audience are the moralists in the republican party and if you think they care that he called some 30yo left wing opportunist names..

think again..


His ratings will probably rise and in a month there will be a brand new group of advertisers laughing at the ones that dropped him..

to play devils advocate, I didnt think he implied that women using contraceptives were sluts, I think he implied that if you have sex so much that you cant AFFORD The contraceptive, you may be a slut

which may not be far off in some cases, and may be completely off base in others

ON THE IDIOT accusation....

Im not sure if it figures that those who become rich cant be business idiots

people have handlers and managers,,,etc,,,who are often helping them a great deal in the decisions that amass those fortunes

sometimes they have handlers who are idiots , but smart handlers can amass an idiot quite a bit of money,,,

back to the point though, I think he is paid to be crass, that has been his job, that has been what the bulk of his audienced depends upon from him, and that is what he delivers

some people are actually paid to BE IDIOTS,, but I dont know him personally to know he is an idiot,, he just plays one on television,,,,


lol

Oh forgive me because Rush has duped many folks and made a small fortune he is immune to criticizm....... forgive me I should know my place I am just a serf what passes for logic so amuses me sometimes

I totaly agree last I heard over 40 advertisers have dropped him

So you think he broke a law? Should we wait for the courts to decide or just go ahead and lynch him?

It would be best for all conscrerned if he just faded away into is oxycontin/viagra fantasy world.

Actually, no.

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I'm sure you'll be sad to hear that Rush will be on the air for years to come and he won't be going to the poor house to beg for scraps.