Thanks Eric. Seems the comment section is unified.
Limbaugh, Alex Jones and the like should give us pause around blanket 1st Amendment protection. They have been on the airwaves yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theatre for too many years.
When I saw the news my better angels were nowhere to be found. I am glad you took the time to put that news in the proper light.
I will never forget when Tim Russert interviewed Rush in the early 2000s. When Russert confronted Rush about spreading lies, Rush replied that his show was just entertainment so it was OK. Russert let him slide on the outrageous excuse. The rest of the mainstream “liberal” media has done the same. They even gave a pass to powerful Republican leaders like Newt and Cheney being guests on his show, enhancing Rush’s power and respectability. If any Democratic leader ever was a guest on an extremist left-wing show the would be excoriated by the media.
For years media has turned a blind eye to the hatred and disinformation spread by both Limbaugh and Murdoch. Now they shocked to find a large majority of Americans are willing to believe almost any right wing lie, no matter how insane?? Too bad they didn’t go after Rush and Rupert when they first started his disinformation operations. How can any responsible journalist stand by when people like Rush and Jerry Falwell tell the public that the president and his wife had one of their closest friends murdered? I knew we were in serious trouble when the insane Vince Foster murder accusation got so much traction that millions of our tax dollars were spent investigating that vicious slander by people like Rush. Here is a rare example of a journalist making it clear how successful that smear campaign against the Clintons was:
Had the rest of the media reacted to these kinds of lies back in the 90s when Limbaugh and Murdoch were just getting started I believe they would never have gained so much influence and our country would never have gotten to this dark place. Advertisers would not have funded them if their toxic lies had been well known.
From what I see the media still hasn’t learned how to fight back. I was struck by how many reports debunking the claims in the NY Post’s recent article about Hunter Biden’s laptop didn’t bother to mention that Rupert Murdoch owns the Post. They treated the Post as a reliable source that had dropped the ball, not as the right-wing Murdoch propaganda outlet that it actually is.
Perfectly stated. As someone who has worked in radio for nearly the entire time that Limbaugh has been a juggernaut in my industry, I have absolutely nothing to add to what you said.
Rush is a disgusting pig who has terminal cancer. Unlike Rush, cancer does not discriminate. And to your point, to glorify him at his time of reckoning is doing a grave injustice to the contribution he single handedly made to divide this country. I wish no disease or death on anyone but realistically the world will be a better place without Rush Limbaugh.
may as well include all the jerry springers and maury poviches in this thread
our "civil" society has been under attack for 30 years- billed as entertainment
don't expect a lee atwater death bed plea for forgiveness from rush and don't forget that a lot of these folks are still around as disciples: hannity, palin. drudge, rove, et al.
I have never subscribed to the idea that when some one dies they become untouchable or even deified. Thanks Eric for saying it so well. Good riddance! Hey Rush, Say hi to Don Wade!
As usual, Eric Boehlert is as right as a second martini at lunch (thank you, Red Smith, the late, great sportswriter) in his criticism here: The DC political media brothel (the chief chucktodd of them all, madam) has been guilty of normalizing bigotry, rape, and treason for a long time, not just during the current administration.
I have not said anything nice about Rush, ever, and I do not intend to start now or even after he passes. The best I can say in polite company is that “I wish for Rush Limbaugh EVERYTHING he ever wished for me, my family, and my friends.”
It's also worth mentioning that without Reagan's elimination of the Fairness Doctrine, Rush Limbaugh would likely be an unknown individual who'd have spent his career selling used cars.
There is not one thing of a positive nature that I can say about him. He is vile. I don't care he is sick. Over 200,000 other people in this country were sick and they didn't get a Presidential Medal of Freedom. I half suspect, Trump will want Rushbo to lie in state somewhere near the WH, Capital Building.... I watched my husband die of lung cancer, Rush is in for a very rough ending. I call it karma. Karma is a bitch..
MSM has and continues to be part of the problem, which is why w/a few miniscule exceptions, I stopped watching. Some of the biggest names in broadcast journalism are ones I find myself screaming at as they lob softballs, seem ill-prepared (or unprepared) to catch and call out lies, or interject follow-up questions. Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Susan Paige, Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, Mario Cuomo, are just a few names that come readily to mind. MSM is too mired in and being of 'the Establishment.' Independent journalism, like SCOTUS term limits, an abolished Electoral College, and Election uniformity is what's needed to propel us forward and support a free, democratic society.
I don't think the damage he has done can be overstated.
Clarence Darrow said, "I've never killed any one, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices."
Thanks Eric. Seems the comment section is unified.
Limbaugh, Alex Jones and the like should give us pause around blanket 1st Amendment protection. They have been on the airwaves yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theatre for too many years.
When I saw the news my better angels were nowhere to be found. I am glad you took the time to put that news in the proper light.
I will never forget when Tim Russert interviewed Rush in the early 2000s. When Russert confronted Rush about spreading lies, Rush replied that his show was just entertainment so it was OK. Russert let him slide on the outrageous excuse. The rest of the mainstream “liberal” media has done the same. They even gave a pass to powerful Republican leaders like Newt and Cheney being guests on his show, enhancing Rush’s power and respectability. If any Democratic leader ever was a guest on an extremist left-wing show the would be excoriated by the media.
For years media has turned a blind eye to the hatred and disinformation spread by both Limbaugh and Murdoch. Now they shocked to find a large majority of Americans are willing to believe almost any right wing lie, no matter how insane?? Too bad they didn’t go after Rush and Rupert when they first started his disinformation operations. How can any responsible journalist stand by when people like Rush and Jerry Falwell tell the public that the president and his wife had one of their closest friends murdered? I knew we were in serious trouble when the insane Vince Foster murder accusation got so much traction that millions of our tax dollars were spent investigating that vicious slander by people like Rush. Here is a rare example of a journalist making it clear how successful that smear campaign against the Clintons was:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/24/yes-there-actually-are-people-who-believe-the-clintons-killed-vince-foster/
Had the rest of the media reacted to these kinds of lies back in the 90s when Limbaugh and Murdoch were just getting started I believe they would never have gained so much influence and our country would never have gotten to this dark place. Advertisers would not have funded them if their toxic lies had been well known.
From what I see the media still hasn’t learned how to fight back. I was struck by how many reports debunking the claims in the NY Post’s recent article about Hunter Biden’s laptop didn’t bother to mention that Rupert Murdoch owns the Post. They treated the Post as a reliable source that had dropped the ball, not as the right-wing Murdoch propaganda outlet that it actually is.
Perfectly stated. As someone who has worked in radio for nearly the entire time that Limbaugh has been a juggernaut in my industry, I have absolutely nothing to add to what you said.
Rush is a disgusting pig who has terminal cancer. Unlike Rush, cancer does not discriminate. And to your point, to glorify him at his time of reckoning is doing a grave injustice to the contribution he single handedly made to divide this country. I wish no disease or death on anyone but realistically the world will be a better place without Rush Limbaugh.
Excellent piece. And you left out the part about his drug addiction. Not often you see a fat junkie.
may as well include all the jerry springers and maury poviches in this thread
our "civil" society has been under attack for 30 years- billed as entertainment
don't expect a lee atwater death bed plea for forgiveness from rush and don't forget that a lot of these folks are still around as disciples: hannity, palin. drudge, rove, et al.
thanks for your good work, eric
I have never subscribed to the idea that when some one dies they become untouchable or even deified. Thanks Eric for saying it so well. Good riddance! Hey Rush, Say hi to Don Wade!
As someone who has lived for the past 30 years in Rush Limbaugh's home town, I agree with Paul Arzooman. You called this well, Eric.
Thank you for calling out Limbaugh for the rancid piece of trash that he is.
As usual, Eric Boehlert is as right as a second martini at lunch (thank you, Red Smith, the late, great sportswriter) in his criticism here: The DC political media brothel (the chief chucktodd of them all, madam) has been guilty of normalizing bigotry, rape, and treason for a long time, not just during the current administration.
I have not said anything nice about Rush, ever, and I do not intend to start now or even after he passes. The best I can say in polite company is that “I wish for Rush Limbaugh EVERYTHING he ever wished for me, my family, and my friends.”
And that usually shuts them up.
It's also worth mentioning that without Reagan's elimination of the Fairness Doctrine, Rush Limbaugh would likely be an unknown individual who'd have spent his career selling used cars.
There is not one thing of a positive nature that I can say about him. He is vile. I don't care he is sick. Over 200,000 other people in this country were sick and they didn't get a Presidential Medal of Freedom. I half suspect, Trump will want Rushbo to lie in state somewhere near the WH, Capital Building.... I watched my husband die of lung cancer, Rush is in for a very rough ending. I call it karma. Karma is a bitch..
Bette Davis said when Joan Crawford died. One should never speak ill of the dead only good. Joan Crawford is dead....GOOD!
MSM has and continues to be part of the problem, which is why w/a few miniscule exceptions, I stopped watching. Some of the biggest names in broadcast journalism are ones I find myself screaming at as they lob softballs, seem ill-prepared (or unprepared) to catch and call out lies, or interject follow-up questions. Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Susan Paige, Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, Mario Cuomo, are just a few names that come readily to mind. MSM is too mired in and being of 'the Establishment.' Independent journalism, like SCOTUS term limits, an abolished Electoral College, and Election uniformity is what's needed to propel us forward and support a free, democratic society.