Charity begins at home

October 13, 2007 10:45 PM

About two weeks ago, 41 Democratic senators signed a letter which was sent to Clear Channel Communications, complaining about something Rush Limbaugh said over the air. Clear Channel turned the letter over to Limbaugh, and Limbaugh is auctioning it off via eBay, with proceeds going to charity.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste (141 comments total)

The entire proceeds of this auction.. the entire high bid... will be donated to The Marine Corps

That's too bad. That letter could buy Rush a lot of Oxycontin.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:50 PM on October 13, 2007 [12 favorites]

Is this real? I've gotten emails from Nigerian princes that were better edited than that product description.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:51 PM on October 13, 2007

It's not going to the Corps. It's going to a foundation which helps the children of dead Marines and dead police officers.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:51 PM on October 13, 2007

NEWSFLASH: Right-wing Douchebag commits yet more acts of douchebaggery. Film at 11.
posted by BobFrapples at 10:54 PM on October 13, 2007 [1 favorite]

By "something", you mean Limbaugh characterizing military personnel who oppose the war in Iraq as "phony soldiers"?
posted by demiurge at 10:54 PM on October 13, 2007 [4 favorites]

It would be nice if this was not posted to metafilter. Ignoring this man is correct response.
posted by 517 at 10:59 PM on October 13, 2007 [3 favorites]

It's not going to the Corps. It's going to a foundation which helps the children of dead Marines and dead police officers.

Even worse. Just think, Rush could have spent that in the Dominican Republic.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:59 PM on October 13, 2007 [1 favorite]

In a more perfect world, we wouldn't need shit like this to help support the families of dead Marines and law enforcement officials.

In an even more perfect world, there wouldn't be as many dead Marines. But that's just me being a liberal quibbler.
posted by padraigin at 10:59 PM on October 13, 2007 [3 favorites]

That would make a lovely addition to Blackwater's HQ.

From today's Washington Post.

At the center's original lodge, he [Erik Prince] proudly pointed out a stuffed bobcat, a wild turkey and a beaver that he recalled killing. The lobby of the Blackwater headquarters resembles a ski lodge with a twist: The front doors feature barrels from .50-caliber machine guns. Inside, a glass showcase displays replicas of guns used to assassinate presidents.

posted by Poolio at 11:02 PM on October 13, 2007

Tell you what: Let's find the original copy of the paperwork from the Selective Service that exempted Limbaugh from the draft because of his fucking ass pimple and auction it off on ebay. All proceeds to go to the ACLU and the EFF. One good turn deserves another, right?
posted by brain cloud at 11:04 PM on October 13, 2007 [16 favorites]

From the link: Rush Limbaugh serves on the Board of this organization and has been active on its behalf.

Any charity that would have Rush on its Board...
posted by Poolio at 11:06 PM on October 13, 2007

Hillary's signature is odd. The Ls in her first name are lines, but the L in Clinton is a big open loop. Let's get out the analysts, or ... something.
posted by blacklite at 11:07 PM on October 13, 2007

Hillary's signature is odd. The Ls in her first name are lines, but the L in Clinton is a big open loop. Let's get out the analysts, or ... something.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
posted by Poolio at 11:09 PM on October 13, 2007

It's really striking how it looks like "Hillary Rodham" and then "oh yeah, Clinton" in an entirely different loopy writing. I don't know. Anyway, yeah, Rush sucks.
posted by blacklite at 11:11 PM on October 13, 2007

If Congress worried less about what Rush or Move On said and worried a little more about doing some congressing, then maybe we'd be out of Iraq and all have health insurance.
posted by chipr at 11:15 PM on October 13, 2007 [10 favorites]

Does he get to earmark the money, so that it doesn't go to any phoney kids sired by phoney soldiers?
posted by EatTheWeak at 11:24 PM on October 13, 2007 [4 favorites]

For better linkage, here is a clip that contains the Limbaugh quote in question.
For more on cavalier disregard from the right wing, here is this Krugman column.
posted by McLir at 11:25 PM on October 13, 2007 [1 favorite]

Don't you think if the scum-sucking bottom feeders who are Rush's primary constituency actually gave a cold shit about the children of dead Marines and cops, they'd be donating that money anyway? Having elected an administration which systematically screws our country's most heroic, they now want accolades for kicking in a nickel to score some cheap political points?

Fuck them. And fuck Rush. I long for the day when that sad sack gasbag gets busted with a Thai tranny and a nose full of blow. Come to think of it, I'd bid a lot on eBay for those photos.
posted by felix betachat at 11:25 PM on October 13, 2007 [5 favorites]

It's going to a foundation which helps the children of dead Marines and dead police officers.

I say we drive by the houses of these so-called children and find out more about them. Do they have granite countertops?
posted by fleetmouse at 11:25 PM on October 13, 2007 [3 favorites]

Neat to see the signatures.
posted by nickyskye at 11:32 PM on October 13, 2007

I wonder if Steven C. Den Beste and Rush have the guts to call this Purple Heart-decorated soldier a phony to his face.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:36 PM on October 13, 2007

Do you serious respect or admire Rush Limbaugh Steven? Do you agree that veterans who speak against the war are Phony?
posted by delmoi at 11:44 PM on October 13, 2007

The money is going to a phoney charity.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:52 PM on October 13, 2007

Delmoi, I've never listened to Limbaugh's radio show in my life, and have only read maybe one or two things he's written, which quite frankly I don't even remember. I personally couldn't care less what he thinks about any given subject. I do not admire him, nor do I despise him.

I think that Jesse MacBeth was a phony who spoke out against the war. I don't think that all soldiers who speak out against the war are automatically phony simply for having done so.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 11:54 PM on October 13, 2007

Steven, what makes Jesse MacBeth a "phony"?
posted by McLir at 12:01 AM on October 14, 2007

I personally couldn't care less what he thinks about any given subject.

A strange motivation for this post, then.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:07 AM on October 14, 2007

Maybe it's Rush's way of trying to earn back a bit of karma, after supporting a war for so long that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of soldiers, perhaps it is fitting that he try to raise some money to at least help their families.

(Yeah, that glass is 5% full!)
posted by JHarris at 12:10 AM on October 14, 2007

NEWSFLASH: Right-wing mefite Douchebag commits yet more acts of douchebaggery. Film at 11.

fixed that etc.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:14 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

Do you serious respect or admire Rush Limbaugh Steven?

Um, he was a well-linked right wing blogger for a long time before packing it in. I suspect the answer is therefore yes. For Christ sake, instapundit thought he should write a book.

To each is own.

Limbaugh's a piece of shit in my book.
posted by Ironmouth at 12:14 AM on October 14, 2007

"Hey kid, yeah, sorry we sent your dad into harms way and basically put him on top of an IED for some vague reasons that even the supporters of this war can no longer seem to remember. Here, here's a teddy bear. Smile for the cameras! Thats a good boy. Now here's a college grant. Doesn't that make it all better? Oh look, kid, see the big fat man up there? He's one of the ones who convinced everyone that your dad should go over there and fight. He's going to give you and your mom a free TV set! Free TV! With Cartoon Network and everything! Isn't that so much better than having a daddy? Aw, hey, don't cry, kid...."
posted by Avenger at 12:55 AM on October 14, 2007 [10 favorites]

I am glad that Rush is doing this. That letter is really stupid. This phoney soldier crap is stupid. Turnabout may be fair play and all, but in this case all it is is the Democrats being as stupid as the shout down wingnuts on the right.
posted by srboisvert at 1:21 AM on October 14, 2007

Um, he was a well-linked right wing blogger for a long time before packing it in. I suspect the answer is therefore yes. For Christ sake, instapundit thought he should write a book.

Yes, I'm well aware of that. However, he just claimed he didn't listen to rush, despite the fact that he linked (seemingly in approving way) to something he did. It's telling that Glenn Reynolds also claims he doesn't listen to Rush.

Anyway, Limbaugh is a giant slease. I mean, if someone posted a link "Robert Mugabe Rescues Kitten" what kind of responses would it elicit? Certainly not plaudits for Mugabe.
posted by delmoi at 1:23 AM on October 14, 2007

Steven, what makes Jesse MacBeth a "phony"?

See the wikipedia article.
posted by delmoi at 1:29 AM on October 14, 2007

Yes, delmoi, good point.
Steven, would you consider Jesse MacBeth a phony? (He is, after all, Rush's initial target.)
posted by McLir at 1:43 AM on October 14, 2007

In a better world, charities wouldn't be needed to take care of the children of dead Marines because
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CARE FOR OUR SOLDIERS.
posted by graventy at 1:47 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

In a better world, charities wouldn't be needed to take care of the children of dead Marines because
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CARE FOR OUR SOLDIERS.

Yeah, but there will always be a need for sleaze bags to set up "charities" to spread money around (see Tom Delay). It's also for both Marines and "Law Enforcement" people.
posted by delmoi at 2:06 AM on October 14, 2007

See also: The Ground Truth
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:12 AM on October 14, 2007

Steven, would you consider Jesse MacBeth a phony? (He is, after all, Rush's initial target.)

I'm not sure what your point is. But rush said "These", these = more then one. So, who else?
posted by delmoi at 2:12 AM on October 14, 2007

Steven, would you consider Jesse MacBeth a phony?

He was just sent to prison for lying about his military record.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 2:52 AM on October 14, 2007

Limbaugh's premise was that Republicans who are against the war are phony Republicans, and soldiers who are against the war are phony soldiers. Be offended by it, pretend to be offended by it or agree with it - the name, "Jess Metcafe," was dug up later to duck out it, and isn't germane to his original point, or any discussion following it. Esoteric examples of fake soldiers might contribute to an interesting topic at some point, but they don't pertain to this particular controversy.
posted by broodle at 2:56 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

So, who else?

Micah Wright?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 2:58 AM on October 14, 2007

Is this real? I've gotten emails from Nigerian princes that were better edited than that product description.

God dammit! If I've told my Nigerian crew once I've told 'em a thousand times, let me proofread everything before it goes out! Guess I'm gonna have to go back to Lagos myself and take care of business.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:03 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

A strange motivation for this post, then.

Does it disturb you that I don't somehow fit in the box you want to put me into?

Why did I post this? I thought y'all had a well developed sense of the ironic. Senators sent a letter to a broadcaster trying to get a talk radio host kicked off the air, and instead he's auctioning that letter to make money for a charity he approves of. You don't think that's interesting, indeed clever?

I think it's hilarious. I'd think it was hilarious if it was Republican Senators and Al Franken, too.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 3:08 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Look, this is everyone behaving badly. But I think part of the problem is each side is going to be like, "Oh yeah, well what about when you did this?!?" "Oh yeah, but what about when you guys did that?!?"

It's pretty clear that most people, Rush included, like soldiers. It's also true that most people don't like people who express opinions wildly different than their own.

It's somewhat ridiculous for Rush to refer this to a smear campaign, and it was a tiny bit silly for Congress to waste their time defending soldiers who probably care little for what Rush thinks about them.

But so it goes.
posted by Deathalicious at 3:14 AM on October 14, 2007

I'm gonna have to go back to Lagos myself and take care of business.

Better yet, let's send Rush Limbaugh to Lagos. Drop him off somewhere deep in the heart of Ajegunle, round about midnight, with a big sign stuck on his back saying: HEY YOU OVERRATED NEGROES, WANT SOME HILLBILLY HEROIN?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:22 AM on October 14, 2007

For the record, where in that letter do the Senators, either explicitly or even suggestively, request that Limbaugh be "kicked off the air"?
posted by broodle at 3:23 AM on October 14, 2007

For the record, where in that letter do the Senators, either explicitly or even suggestively, request that Limbaugh be "kicked off the air"?

Now, now, broodle, let's not quibble over details.

And you know, Steven C. Den Beste, I sure do hope the odious and contemptible Rush Limbaugh does not show up again in a MeFi FPP until his obituary, at which time I shall dance with great verve upon his grave. How depressing to even have to be reminded of the existence of this despicable, hypocritical cad.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:30 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

I think it's hilarious. I'd think it was hilarious if it was Republican Senators and Al Franken, too.

Actually, Al Franken will probably be a senator before Bush leaves office. (Congress convenes a few weeks before the new president takes over)
posted by delmoi at 4:05 AM on October 14, 2007

Senators sent a letter to a broadcaster trying to get a talk radio host kicked off the air, and instead he's auctioning that letter to make money for a charity he approves of. You don't think that's interesting, indeed clever?

No, I don't.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:09 AM on October 14, 2007

The "total douchebag does something awesome" post doesn't work when the 'something' is just more of the same douchebaggery, SCDB.
posted by fleacircus at 4:26 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Good grief, the current bid is up to USD$40,200! Who the hell would pay that much for something like this? Perhaps I might put a few of my old gas bills on eBay and see how much I can get for them.
posted by L.P. Hatecraft at 4:41 AM on October 14, 2007

Deathalicious Actually, I don't think we can rationally agree that people like Limbaugh, and most elected Republicans including but not limited to GWB, like soldiers. They like to use soldiers, they like to hide behind soldiers, but the soldiers themselves are apparently viewed as disposable chumps by the right wing elites.

I mean, if Limbaugh and Bush liked soldiers then Bush wouldn't have pushed to see their combat pay cut, and Limbaugh wouldn't have continued supporting Bush when he tried. Just to pick one example out of 7 years of anti-soldier policy coming from the White House and the Republicans.

So, no, I don't think they like soldiers.
posted by sotonohito at 4:52 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

Oh, den beste is that guy. Jesus, I used to think that shitty old blog was satire. Then it just got fucking boring, and I baleted it. Never thought he was anything like an influence on any other bloggers, that would be pretty .. well, pathetic, really.

Right Wing thought really does appear to be some kind of psychological disorder, at times, or personality disorder. I really mean that. It has these massive disconnects with reality and logic that just break down any line of reasoning into a waste of mental time. I've never read any right wing ideology that couldn't be totally broken down and disassembled under analysis, it's based on lots of irrational jumps. Same for extreme left wing shit, of course, but left wingers somehow seem to have more experience of the world, whereas right wingers appear to come from sheltered, inexperienced or closeted community backgrounds. Really weird, man.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 4:53 AM on October 14, 2007 [5 favorites]

I rarely listen to Rush, but I heard him this past week when he announced this. He also called on those who signed the letter to match whatever donation came out of this auction for this charity.

I'm not holding my breath.
posted by konolia at 5:06 AM on October 14, 2007

I'm English and live in Asia, so I don't follow this sort of thing very closely. Silly me, when I heard the phrase "phony soldier" bandied about, I immediately thought it was a scurrilous slur on your esteemed president. Isn't he the draft-dodger given to prancing around on battleships in flight gear, making a right tit of himself and dishonouring all he touches?
posted by Abiezer at 5:36 AM on October 14, 2007 [5 favorites]

I think it's hilarious. I'd think it was hilarious if it was Republican Senators and Al Franken, too.

There's no way for either of us to tell of course, but I honestly don't think you would have posted that example, because it doesn't tickle the so-called "dominant Mefi political view", and I simply cannot believe that wasn't part of your motivation for this post. That's bad faith on my part I realize, and that's ugly, but I'm pretty sure it's true.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:47 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Whoa! Had no idea SCDB was famous, even though it was in a compromised, honor-among-thieves type of way.

But honestly, looking at his neo-conservative screed in light of not only our invasion of Afghanistan, but also our subsequent mis-adventures in Iraq and increasingly insane posturing with Iran and (recent developments aside) North Korea, just makes the profound insufficiency (insanity, even!) of the movement more apparent.

And the consequences of neo-conservative attempts to make their murderous philosophy fit the complexity of our present reality are measured in the blood of United States' soldiers and Iraqi civilians.

Their blood is on our President's hands.

And inasmuch as Rush Limbaugh continues to 'carry water' for our President, it is also on his hands.

Inasmuch as SCBD seems to support Limbaugh's juvenile antics, it is on his hands as well.
posted by The Confessor at 6:09 AM on October 14, 2007

He also called on those who signed the letter to match whatever donation came out of this auction for this charity.

I'm not holding my breath.

The signers of the letter previously called on those who didn't to vote to end the war and stop getting the soldiers killed in the first place.

I'm not holding my breath. But yet another cute snipe, dear.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 6:09 AM on October 14, 2007 [5 favorites]

(Interesting, by the way, how many right-wingers are smiling over how cute it is that Rush can raise more money off of insulting soldiers, isn't it?)
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 6:11 AM on October 14, 2007

I don't care for Rush, but that was brilliant.
posted by caddis at 6:12 AM on October 14, 2007

yesterday, I shelved a personally signed copy of one of Limbaugh's books. on the dollar rack.
posted by jonmc at 6:32 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

konolia I think I'm not unusual among liberal types in that I'd rather eat broken glass than send one cent to a so-called "charity" that has Rush Limbaugh on the board of directors, or for that matter one that he even endorses.

He's a drug addict who used his financial power over his maid, how pathetic is that, to get his fix. All the while, of course, calling for ever harsher penalties for drug addicts. Yeah, hypocracy much asshole? Fuck him and anyone who likes him, has anything to do with him, or treats him as anything but the pathetic thug he is.

He's known to take large quantities of unethically obtained viagra to countries well known for child prostitution. Think about that for a second. He's rich enough he could go to Nevada and pay adult women to fuck him, but no, he instead chooses to take large amounts of viagra to a nation well known for *child* prostitution. Of course there's no proof that he raped children in the Dominican Republic, but if that wasn't his goal he sure chose an odd place to visit with his suitcase full of improperly obtained Viagra. Think about the fact that, in all likelihood, the man you just approved of, a fat, ugly, white guy, raped not just one, but several black children. Before you praise him, imagine his face, sweating and grunting, over the body of the little girl he's raping. Then think what he'd do to one of your grandchildren if given the chance and a dose of viagra.

You still holding your breath waiting for good people to give money to *anything* the evil thug is involved in?
posted by sotonohito at 6:38 AM on October 14, 2007 [14 favorites]

He's known to take large quantities of unethically obtained viagra to countries well known for child prostitution. Think about that for a second. He's rich enough he could go to Nevada and pay adult women to fuck him, but no, he instead chooses to take large amounts of viagra to a nation well known for *child* prostitution. Of course there's no proof that he raped children in the Dominican Republic, but if that wasn't his goal he sure chose an odd place to visit with his suitcase full of improperly obtained Viagra. Think about the fact that, in all likelihood, the man you just approved of, a fat, ugly, white guy, raped not just one, but several black children. Before you praise him, imagine his face, sweating and grunting, over the body of the little girl he's raping. Then think what he'd do to one of your grandchildren if given the chance and a dose of viagra.

just wanted to make sure this was repeated...

Rush Limbaugh represents the unholy combination of extremist politics and hollywood megalomania. He is the worst sort of scum, right up there with drug abusing blue-blood frat boys.
posted by geos at 7:07 AM on October 14, 2007

yesterday, I shelved a personally signed copy of one of Limbaugh's books. on the dollar rack.

Man, a dollar? That's way too much.
posted by god hates math at 7:17 AM on October 14, 2007

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.


Unless it's Rush's cigar. In that case it's called a primo.
posted by milarepa at 7:18 AM on October 14, 2007

Fake Soldier
posted by mkultra at 7:21 AM on October 14, 2007

It's already been said, but

It's pretty clear that most people, Rush included, like soldiers.

nope. He doesn't. He uses soldiers. That's a whole different thing. If he liked them, he'd be more interested in making their lives better and less in trying to zing a group of his political enemies.

I hope the money does help soldier's families out. But even if they raise a million bucks--or a billion--that's not going to get the chickenhawks a pass for promoting this pointless brutal bloodshed for their own egos and political gain.
posted by emjaybee at 7:39 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

A homunculus (in this case RL) is a failed attempt to revive a dead person using the art of alchemy in the anime Full Metal Alchemist. (This practice is often referred to as human transmutation, and is forbidden.) There is some ambiguity whether or not a homunculus is truly a reincarnation of that person. A homunculus is not a human and supposedly has no soul. However, Lust and other homunculi are able to recall events from their past life.
posted by Rancid Badger at 8:13 AM on October 14, 2007

Anyway, yeah, Rush sucks.

Yeah, the Power Windows and later era sucked, but you have to admit that Caress of Steel and 2112 were fine records.
posted by psmealey at 8:28 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Senators have no place trying to censure the words of anyone, even drug-addled idiots like Rush.
posted by Mick at 8:39 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

In an even more perfect world, there wouldn't be Rush Limbaugh.

Not sure if I'm just blindly quoting something Al Franken said or something, but if I recall didn't Rush not even register to vote until after he was 30?
posted by miss lynnster at 8:43 AM on October 14, 2007

complaining about something Rush Limbaugh said over the air

That's the most hilariously disingenuous thing I've seen in a MeFi post in a while. Bravo.
posted by mediareport at 8:49 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's also for both Marines and "Law Enforcement" people.

So the Marines are like cops? That's a piss poor parallel. I'm tired of this Hero-shit for cops. Most cops are pieces of shit.
posted by Skygazer at 8:53 AM on October 14, 2007

i don't like rush limbaugh either, but in your, er, rush to criticize him, don't overlook the primary adversary:

clear channel communications is a well-connected, powerful, right-wing corporation. due to some unfortunate supreme court decisions, it has first amendment rights just like you and i do, and its actions in this matter show a certain arrogance and dismissive attitude toward 41 senators, as if it owned the airwaves, not the people.

one day the people will strike at corporations like clear channel.
posted by bruce at 8:53 AM on October 14, 2007

A back-handed apology to the soldiers.
posted by wfc123 at 9:00 AM on October 14, 2007

Rancid Badger: A homunculus is not a human and supposedly has no soul.


I disagree. Homunculus is a fine human with a decent soul.
posted by Skygazer at 9:06 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thank you, Skygazer.
posted by homunculus at 9:28 AM on October 14, 2007

VoteVets.org should follow Rush's example and auction off some of the hate mail they've been getting from Rush's listeners.
posted by homunculus at 9:33 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

I thought y'all had a well developed sense of the ironic.

True to form, Steven C. Den Beste, you do not have the courage to call this Purple Heart-decorated soldier a phony to his face.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:45 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Inside [Blackwater], a glass showcase displays replicas of guns used to assassinate presidents.

WTFBBQ?

Also, it's cool that Rush is doing this. There are better things for the Senate to do than spend hours debating whether to condemn something a half-wit twit has said on the radio. Good on Rush to treat it with the contempt it deserves.

Fire every single one of your useless representatives in the next election and hire some people who will actually help your country get out of the debts in which it wallows.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:47 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

I used to listen to Rush, when I was 13. He could find the most asinine spokesmen for the left, a half step above straw men, and take them to task for their idiocy. It was great entertainment, until I started to wonder where in the hell he was finding these kooks I'd never heard of to rail against.

This bill denouncing Rush was blather, pure and simple. He spun it well, I think. Point to Rush. He's still an asshat.

The dems should move to replace his program on armed services radio with something from the other side of the isle. It's 100% in their power to do so, and wouldn't leave that nasty egg on their face.

It's still not bringing a gun to a gunfight, but the blackjack the dems have been wielding is a little too flaccid for my liking.
posted by Busithoth at 9:53 AM on October 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

And, hey, if the twits in the Senate had condemned Howard Stern and he turned around and auctioned it, half of MeFi would be lining up to give him blowjobs in appreciation of his wit and daring.

Rush Limbaugh is probably a kiddy-raping drug abuser with a mad hate-on for everyone who has the ability to feel empathy for others. If he were hit by bus tomorrow, it would be of overall net benefit to the USA.

But, sweet jesus, you've got your government condemning that much-vaunted free speech all y'all claim is what makes the USA so much better than the rest of the world.

We've had arguments about whether bonafide neo-Nazis should be allowed to vomit their hatred in public. The US Americans inevitably conclude the USA is better because no one has made it illegal for those fuckers to open their puss-filled yaps.

Yet you're all for having your Senate expend their resources on condemning Rush? FFS, there must be mental retardation in your water.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:57 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

True to form, Steven C. Den Beste, you do not have the courage to call this Purple Heart-decorated soldier a phony to his face.

Why would I want to do that? I don't think he is a phony.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:04 AM on October 14, 2007

Bush's worst nightmare is that the troops will turn on him, and they're starting to; you can see by how much grayer he's gotten just in the last year that he's really feeling the strain.

Rush (El Limpbough) is only trying to help his pal get a good night's sleep in that burning building, but like everything else this crew of utter morons is doing, it will only make the flames leap higher. Good work, Rush!

What a pathetic spectacle, though-- the cowboy who's afraid of horses becomes the Commander in Chief who's terrified by his own soldiers.
posted by jamjam at 10:08 AM on October 14, 2007

But you seem to agree with the "something" that Rush said, at least enough so to laugh it off: that soldiers who criticize the war are phonies.

If you want to be a True Internet Tough Guy, have the courage of your convictions and follow through: Call Brian McGough a phony to his face.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:10 AM on October 14, 2007

I come from a similar background as Busithoth, I used to listen to Rush Limbaugh some time back, when I was a kid going to a Depressingly Fundie Private School. When, as Limbaugh himself would put it (though not in this context), my own skull was full of mush.

Giving to charity has become the catch-all example of moral superiority. If someone gives to charity that is seen as absolute good. Giving a few thousands, even tens of thousands, of dollars to some cause washes away all sin. Yet of the $40k raised, really, what kind of help does that do? This is a drop in the bucket, and it's not even coming from Limbaugh, it's coming from a listener of his. He could certainly afford to contribute the money going to buy the letter himself.

Yet, even if he matched funds, or more, it doesn't change the fact that it doesn't count if your prior actions speak directly against the cause you're contributing to. I wonder if any of the deceased soldiers Limbaugh wants to help were phony ones?
posted by JHarris at 10:13 AM on October 14, 2007

And yet....

He's known to take large quantities of unethically obtained viagra to countries well known for child prostitution.

I cannot help but wonder if the kind of rhetoric displayed here helps anyone. Really, I think it just helps Limbaughs' rabid supporters feel justified in feeling persecuted.
posted by JHarris at 10:20 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Good grief, the current bid is up to USD$40,200! Who the hell would pay that much for something like this?

Ann Coulter?
posted by ericb at 10:24 AM on October 14, 2007

Senators have no place trying to censure the words of anyone

That's interesting. Are you conflating censure and censor, perhaps? Because there's a difference. Senators should not suppress free speech.

But should Senators not be able as a body to disapprove of someone's speech?

You can certainly think they wasted time/resources or made a bad political move, but it's not censorship. Rush is still burbling away in his drug-addled haze, after all.
posted by emjaybee at 10:26 AM on October 14, 2007

...if Limbaugh and Bush liked soldiers...

Jenna Bush:

"Question: If the war in Iraq is so noble, why aren't you and your sister serving our country there?

Answer: I understand that point, but there are many ways to serve our country, and I think my skills are better suited for teaching and representing the U.S. in Latin America through UNICEF. I respect the men and women of our country who are over there fighting. It is an unbelievably selfless thing to do. But if people really thought about it, they would know it's not even a practical question."

What do ya' mean 'not practical?' Get off your lilly-white ass and take a desk job in the "secure" Green Zone in Baghdad. Stop with the same excuse used by cowardly College Republicans.
posted by ericb at 10:36 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

...better suited for teaching and representing the U.S. in Latin America through UNICEF

BTW, fucktard, what's your Dad think about the U.N.?
posted by ericb at 10:39 AM on October 14, 2007

Before you praise him, imagine his face, sweating and grunting, over the body of the little girl he's raping.

Girl?
posted by ericb at 10:46 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

JHarris What you quoted wasn't rhetoric, it was simple fact. He *IS* known to take large quantities of Viagra when he vacations in countries known for child prostitution.

It was rhetoric when I said: "Before you praise him, imagine his face, sweating and grunting, over the body of the little girl he's raping. Then think what he'd do to one of your grandchildren if given the chance and a dose of viagra."

But its a simple, undeniable, *fact* that Limbaugh took a vaction in a country that has no real tourism trade beyond child prostitution, and while vacationing there he took with him a large amount of Viagra obtained through shady channels. When I chose to state that this means Limbaugh is a sick pervert who enjoys raping children that was rhetoric. When I pointed out that he takes erection pills to a country infamous for child prostitution that was simple fact, not rhetoric.

ericb Good point. He could have been visiting the Dominican Republic to rape little boys. In fact, given that he's a Republican its probably more likely that he went there to rape little boys.
posted by sotonohito at 10:52 AM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

But you seem to agree with the "something" that Rush said, at least enough so to laugh it off: that soldiers who criticize the war are phonies.

I think you're seeing things.

The new rule is that if you ever, ever agree with someone else about any single thing, or speaking approvingly about any thing they do, then you're committed to agreeing with them about everything and defending everything else they've ever said? That's a pretty interesting rule.

[You know who else believed that? (heh)]

If you want to be a True Internet Tough Guy, have the courage of your convictions and follow through: Call Brian McGough a phony to his face.

Why would I want to be a "True Internet Tough Guy"?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:52 AM on October 14, 2007

If Rush is a child rapist why haven't I heard about it already on multitudes of Democratic media sites?

Like anyone would cover THAT up.
posted by konolia at 11:19 AM on October 14, 2007

http://www.thebluestate.com/2006/06/rush_limbaugh_a.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/27/national/main1753947.shtml

Google's your friend.
posted by 235w103 at 11:33 AM on October 14, 2007

I rarely listen to Rush, but I heard him this past week when he announced this. He also called on those who signed the letter to match whatever donation came out of this auction for this charity.

I'm not holding my breath.

Why doesn't Rush match it himself? I mean, do you really think that auctioning something off for charity, something you otherwise don't give a shit about, and then calling on others to match you funds while you sit there with a thumb up your butt, makes those others look bad?
posted by Snyder at 11:34 AM on October 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

The problem with Rush Limbaugh is the externalities of his activities.

If that sounded obscure enough, it's just because you are a closeted homo. Or not. Rush, Stern, O'Reilly have something in common, which some call "shock jockery" which is the practice of deliberately, calculatedly say something that is going to be perceived as otrageous, shocking.

For instace, all Metafilterians know exactly that the liason dangerous between Matt and Jessa is caused only by their common interest in their own repressed sexuality, because one looks like a major geek and the other doesn't looks exactly like Angelina Jolie and I am being kind.

Or maybe I am just saying a whole lot of fuming steaming bullshit, but UNLIKE Metafilter, in which I am risking my ass being whipped by both Matt and Jessa, you can't really interact and argue with the radio or TV. If Rush, O'R, Stern say something that makes you want scream "shut the fuck up you idiot !" you just can get outraged and listen just a little more ! Which is exactly what almost ANY entertainer wants , which is : attract and maintain an audience.

Yet as usual, the problem is not with the exercise of shock jockery because of it's "shocking" content (which is always relative to the audience) , but because of the unintended consequences. Similarly, when a new industry is built little concern is given to the negative effects it may have, expecially if they can be conveniently hidden or discharged out-of-sight/out-of-mind ; how good it is to produce cheaply in China where nobody is going to complain about pollution ? How good is to sell health insurance in USA when the system allows easy scapegoats, like testimonies of so-called experts that delay the payment and cause the death of patient ? How good is to play the lawyer game (who got the most money to pay the lawyer) when the target are millions that shop at Walmart, let alone hiring a lawyer ?

Let's focus on drug addiction, something thar RH knows very well because of his own addiction to painkillers. Why had he to suggest that drug addicts should be thrown into a river ? Because , probably, he figured his audience "had it" with drug addicts, so he voiced with his relative eloquence how much drug addicts suck and are a problem to the society. Except that by doing so he reinforced and reiterated a wrong generalization, casting drug addicts as "despicable" ( he probably never used definitions such as "subhumans", just because that would cast him in a bad light ) whereas drug addiction isn't necessarily caused by a "will to be reckless" and definitely is a status that many people would like to avoid...but many need help to do that. RH and his condemning of drug addicts doesn't help , it just reinforces a scared outrage.

Notice how It is not exactly easy to cast cigarette smokers and alcohol smokers in the same bad light, why ? Why ? That's easy, because they are VERY common habits and many people among the audience are going to be smokers and drinkers, so clearly RH doesn't want to alienate such an audience by making them feel bad, so he picks maybe on the scariest of them all , Meth abusers.

Part of Rush audience like to see defects in others, while becoming comfortably ignorant of their own. So the dirty mexicans are a nice target, not mentioning the sandniggah, the gay, the lesbo, the democrat and yes even your mom, that bitch.
posted by elpapacito at 11:35 AM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

sotonohito: It was rhetoric when I said: "Before you praise him, imagine his face, sweating and grunting, over the body of the little girl he's raping.

Yeah, but I was trying not to quote that precise bit. For what I think are obvious reasons. Ugh.
posted by JHarris at 11:48 AM on October 14, 2007

konolia Because, as I pointed out in my post, there's no *proof*. The facts of the matter are that he went to the Dominican Republic, well known for child "prostitution" [1], and he took along a large amount of Viagra, a drug that has no purpose other than to produce erections, which was not issued in his name.

There is no proof that he used this Viagra to help him rape Dominican children. Of course, there's no point in going to the Dominican Republic with Viagra unless you plan on raping Dominican children, but there's no actual proof that he did so.

So, no one shouts it from the rooftops becuase they know the entire right wing noise machine would jump on them if they said such things without actual photos of Limbaugh raping Dominican kids.

But ask yourself, proof or not, would you let someone known to have traveled to a nation infamous for child sex slavery, and who traveled there with Viagra obtained through shady channels, hang around your grandchildren?

The point, oh breath-not-holding-one, is that Limbaugh is a sick thug, a known drug addict, and with strong evidence to indicate that he's a child rapist, and you want *ME*, or any other good person to donate money to a so-called "charity" that gives him a seat on its board? Not a chance, cousin.

The question is, why are you so invested in believing that a man proven in a court of law to have used his economic power over a woman in order to force her into scoring drugs for his personal enjoyment, wouldn't have raped a few children when he went, for no other reason than vacation, to a country that offers nothing to tourists but the opportunity to rape children?

[1] Which in this context should be read "sex slavery".
posted by sotonohito at 11:57 AM on October 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

bruce speaks truth - 'course, it's way easier to kick SCDB in the ankles, even though I think he's presented himself pretty reasonably. I wonder how many flags this has gotten, and if it would have received the same amount had it been posted by someone else.

>>over the body of the little girl he's raping.
>Girl?
>>He could have been visiting the Dominican Republic to rape little boys.

Faggot kiddie rapers are so yuckier than str8t ones, LOL!
Grow up, guys.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:05 PM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

The new rule is that if you ever, ever agree with someone else about any single thing, or speaking approvingly about any thing they do, then you're committed to agreeing with them about everything and defending everything else they've ever said? That's a pretty interesting rule.

Bear with me, here's another rule:

When you use the throwaway word "something" to replace one of Limbaugh's most recent of his patently fucking offensive comments, and then you take your glib attitude about the response to Metafilter with a crap, axegrinding post — yeah, you're defending Limbaugh.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:34 PM on October 14, 2007

Troll.
posted by sklero at 12:50 PM on October 14, 2007

You can certainly think they wasted time/resources or made a bad political move

And in fact, I am thinking this. Censuring Limbaugh? These people *are* stupid. You may as well censure Bin Laden hoping his followers will suddenly realize he's a bad man. The ill-placed religious fervor that drives people to become Limbaugh fans and suicide bombers has a lot in common. Except I shouldn't say that, because it provides all the right grist for that particular mill. The persecution/martyr complex. The opportunity to turn the obvious fact that yes, there are in fact differences between Limbaugh listeners and Al Qaeda into the assertion that any comparison is typical liberal lunacy (how dare anyone make such a comparison? It's only the depravity of the liberal mind that could!).

The only way to take Limbaugh down (and again, I shouldn't be saying that, because that feeds the persecution complex) is to use the kind of stuff that appeals to the mind of the Limbaugh fan in the first place. It's going to have to be stronger stuff than usual, of course. Merely being uncovered as a drug-abusing hypocrite apparently isn't going to do it. The guy is actually going to have to be caught with child porn or diddling actual kids. So, sotonohito's got the right axe to grind.
posted by namespan at 1:02 PM on October 14, 2007

I am not a Rush fan, his logic sucks most of the time. But I am a logical thinker and I think there are other things people do in the DR besides child raping, so I found a list.
posted by Xurando at 1:50 PM on October 14, 2007

Err, hello?

This attention and conversation is exactly what the media companies that employ Rush want you to have. Clear channel is laughing all the way to the bank over your outrage. I think you guys are pissed at the wrong people.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:02 PM on October 14, 2007

Does it disturb you that I don't somehow fit in the box you want to put me into?

Steven, do you not understand that any post you make has to make a point that you either totally agree with, or totally disagree with? And it's up to the readers to assume which side you come down on.

Just posting something because it's interesting or ironic or noteworthy is a cheap tactic which will not be tolerated, so just cut it out.


This comment in no implies my agreement or disagreement with the poster, the topic of the post, anyone mentioned in the post, or any other MetaFilter user.

posted by The Deej at 2:03 PM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

I am not a Rush fan, his logic sucks most of the time. But I am a logical thinker and I think there are other things people do in the DR besides child raping, so I found a list.

Ah, so he was carrying all that Viagra because he loves the museums and other fine cultural institutions of the Dominican Republic that much. Kinky.
posted by PsychoKick at 2:04 PM on October 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

FWIW, DR is a cheap vacation and a short flight. I think these over the top conspiracies (9/11 truthers) and rape fantasies of the far left show us why there is no far-left equivalant of Rush on the radio. Too much zaniness.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:07 PM on October 14, 2007

This place is really slipping when this gets 10 favorites:

Of course there's no proof that he raped children in the Dominican Republic

Dude, you sound more like Rush Limbaugh to me than Rush Limbaugh.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:10 PM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

All Homunculi are not created equal, some being more equal than others and separate but equal kinda. I apologize for the mixed message metaphor and dragging your nom de plume through this tawdry discussion.
posted by Rancid Badger at 2:46 PM on October 14, 2007

Can someone tell me whose signature is under Hillary's (here)? I can't figure that one out.
posted by naoko at 2:50 PM on October 14, 2007

DR allegations bring to mind the aphorism "When you hear hoofbeats behind you, don't expect to see a zebra"
posted by Rancid Badger at 3:31 PM on October 14, 2007

What, there are no adult prostitutes in the DR?

Rush doesn't need to be one of the many Grand Old Pedophiles to be a Grand Old (flaccid) Prick. He is a Boil On The Ass (tm) of the nation.
posted by spitbull at 3:34 PM on October 14, 2007

So how does one best go about getting retribution against ClearChannel for all this nonsense?

I ask in the legal sense, of course; it would be easy enough to coordinate a nationwide effort to drop transmitters into the major market areas that interfere with CC's broadcasts, but it would be highly illegal and wouldn't accomplish much more than giving them a reason to cry "omg pirates!"

What should a person do, then, beyond the typical letter to the FCC? Is there anything else that can be done?
posted by davejay at 4:16 PM on October 14, 2007

Can someone tell me whose signature is under Hillary's (here)? I can't figure that one out.

I think it's Daniel Inouye. (Why yes, I do have too much free time.)
posted by blacklite at 4:49 PM on October 14, 2007

Flagged as suuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
posted by kittens for breakfast at 5:20 PM on October 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

If you needed any more evidence that the Democrats are complicit to the Republican rape of the American treasury it's this letter that re-entrenches the relevance of Rush Limbaugh. To think, those of us that ignore cable television and mainstream media actually thought this clown finally jumped the shark and was listened to by only those with irretrievable head wounds - out come the Dems to reminds us about those dangerous windmills.
posted by any major dude at 6:58 PM on October 14, 2007

I think you'd find that most world observers would say the Democrats are not a whole lot different from Republicans. Neither is particularly interested in the greater social good, not when compared against other nations' main parties.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:23 PM on October 14, 2007

Doesn't matter if the bird is a pigeon or a crow. It's still gonna poop on your windshield.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:50 PM on October 14, 2007

Hence windshield wipers. America, fill your fluids, replace the rubbers, and use your windshield wipers!
posted by five fresh fish at 8:33 PM on October 14, 2007

Aha, Inouye!

Thanks, that's been bugging me for awhile.
posted by naoko at 10:32 PM on October 14, 2007

Full disclosure: Rush is a cock. But a lot of people in this thread need to start reading what SCDB wrote, rather than what they think he wrote.
posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 2:06 AM on October 15, 2007

damn dirty ape: FWIW, DR is a cheap vacation and a short flight. I think these over the top conspiracies (9/11 truthers) and rape fantasies of the far left show us why there is no far-left equivalant of Rush on the radio. Too much zaniness.

1. 9/11 truthers belong to neither side. No one reputable seriously believes the World Trade Center attacks were staged/faked/caused by American operatives.
2. All one must do is watch the Daily Show for a few days to realize that Fox News is infested with Da Zany, and they certainly aren't even slightly left-wing.
posted by JHarris at 3:10 AM on October 15, 2007

I can't stand rush. On occasion I get to hear him when I'm driving somewhere for lunch. Last time I heard capt oxycotton he said that poor people in America should quit buying new cars and LCD tvs and start paying for their own health care. At that point I told himself to change the station.
posted by Mastercheddaar at 6:12 AM on October 15, 2007

namespan wrote:

The only way to take Limbaugh down (and again, I shouldn't be saying that, because that feeds the persecution complex) is to use the kind of stuff that appeals to the mind of the Limbaugh fan in the first place. It's going to have to be stronger stuff than usual, of course. Merely being uncovered as a drug-abusing hypocrite apparently isn't going to do it. The guy is actually going to have to be caught with child porn or diddling actual kids. So, sotonohito's got the right axe to grind.

You are really overestimating the mind of the typical Limbaugh listener. They've been bred to hate "liberals" and liberals are whatever Limbaugh says they are. Any attempt to take him down - even him being caught with child porn - will be seen as some type of entrapment - because that's what he - and the national Republican mafia - will say it is.

Now the atypical Limbaugh listener...the liberals who pay attention to everything this blowhard says - are the real reason he has gains so much notoriety. Without the liberal outrage he's no more popular than Mike Weiner.
posted by any major dude at 6:18 AM on October 15, 2007

Excellent - BTW, did anyone notice that the charity in question, the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation also participates in fundraising? From the footer of their website:

The Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation, Inc. is also registered to participate in the Combined Federal Campaigns (CFC #2134). We are a 501(c)3 charity, IRS tax number 22-3357410.

That basically means that they are an authorized charity for federal employees. What an efficient way to identify loyal Bushies!
posted by rzklkng at 6:30 AM on October 15, 2007

But a lot of people in this thread need to start reading what SCDB wrote, rather than what they think he wrote.

What SCDB said and what he implied are two rather different things. THe use of "said something" rather than "called anti-war vets 'phony soldiers' " is rather important.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:01 AM on October 15, 2007

I agree to some extent that there has been overreaction on this thread, but when a man makes enormous sums of money from attacking the powerless and furthering lies to support current injustice, it's fair game to evaluate pretty much everything he does in that light.

When our moral (or vocal) leaders are cowards and hypocrites, our society is doomed.
posted by psmealey at 8:24 AM on October 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

1. Why is the letter in a Halliburton briefcase?

2. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Rush is also asking each of the 41 Senators who signed on to match the winning bid (see transcript of the show where he announced the auction). I'm tempted to ask where Rush's matching contribution is...
posted by naoko at 8:51 AM on October 15, 2007

Can someone show me conclusive proof where Rush said anti-war VETS are phonies? The right is claiming that Rush was against anti-war PHONY-VETS, which may not be the same thing... it's no big deal to call a phony a phony, but if his original claim was bigger, I'd like to know that.

(yeah, I'm too lazy to find the complete audio myself [including leading and following statements, to avoid removal from context])
posted by dwivian at 9:03 AM on October 15, 2007

“But, sweet jesus, you've got your government condemning that much-vaunted free speech all y'all claim is what makes the USA so much better than the rest of the world.”

Well said.

Gotta admit, this is monkey smart. I can see Stern doing the same thing and as much as I dislike Rush any defense of free speech is in the “+” column. I’ve said the same thing about Larry Flynt, who I think is a waste of space, but y’know, thanks to him for his, and Rush’s - albeit self-serving - defense of free speech. This “look at me, I’m giving to charity” without, y’know, giving to charity himself crap I could do without.

Giving to charity looks like this. Denzel pulls out his wallet and gives his own money. And I gotta say, as much as I dislike Rosie “people can’t have guns except for my bodyguard” O’Donnell (like the liberal Rush to me) writing a $5.7 million check for Katrina victims was pretty nice.
This here? This here’s a cheap gag. Yeah, it’s cute. That’s about it. That it hoses congress is the only silver lining.

“FWIW, DR is a cheap vacation and a short flight. I think these over the top conspiracies (9/11 truthers) and rape fantasies of the far left show us why there is no far-left equivalant of Rush on the radio”

FWIW, if I really wanted to, I could probably get the skinny. He stayed at a less-than expensive notorious hotel there. Although I suppose he golfed as well. Given he took a private plane if he took photos he probably still has them. Shouldn’t be too hard to find evidence really (unless one cares about constitutional rights).

Thank not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:14 AM on October 15, 2007

Exactly, Smedleyman - it looks all feel-good, but Rush isn't actually contributing anything. Lame.
posted by naoko at 9:23 AM on October 15, 2007

(yeah, I'm too lazy to find the complete audio myself [including leading and following statements, to avoid removal from context])

dwivian, Clear Channel released an edited version which downplays and reinvents Rush's offensive comments. See here for an unedited clip.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:41 AM on October 15, 2007

dwivian, you’re too intellectually lazy to follow the issue. But don’t worry you’re not alone.
You asked for help on it which is earnest. Earnest goes a long way, so lemme spell this out for you - it doesn’t matter that Jesse MacBeth was full of bullshit (although it does matter and is good that he was prosecuted and convicted).

See sometimes people use these things called distractions when they dissemble - or lie - to protect themselves and so they can keep doing what they’re doing - lying.
In addition, some people, when proven wrong, or when they are mistaken, refuse to admit they were wrong or mistaken. They prefer to do what some psychologists call “undoing” - that is, they try to make amends without redressing the actual injury.

This, in contrast to your and other’s intellectual laziness, is intellectual dishonesty. It’s far worse. And that is what’s happening here.
See, Rush, et.al. are trying to make this about the “phoney” comment and hang it on MacBeth and trying to pretend that this is what people are upset about.

They make people like you ask for proof because if you look for “proof” along those lines it will seem exactly like they say it is.
Then the people who are saying Rush is against the troops will seem to be partisan hacks.
The problem is the entire situation has been stage managed.

You see, I myself have listened to the Limbaugh show and have heard him use this kind of “anti-troop when it suits him politically” rhetoric.
Now Rush and his friends would have you believe I’m a looney, because I’m merely saying what I heard and don’t have “proof.”
Therefore I must be partisan or some such.
It’s a neat trick, but it’s a trick all the same. Kind of the way pro-wrestling is a trick (see end), albeit a well-managed one.

You see - much like Galileo - there are people who tell the truth about what they see simply because it’s what they see. And much like the Church at the time there are people who don’t care what the objective truth is because everything in the world can be fixed within the sphere of dogmatic thought.
Anything that is not aligned with that thought, is “wrong” - even if it’s factual. Much like pro-wresting, this dogma can mirror reality, but the fact that it does is typically only used to lend credence to the manufactured thoughtsphere. The truth, there, is a stage prop.

As to the point in question - the phoney one you bought into - that still doesn’t stand up on it’s own.
You see if you listen to the Sept. 26 broadcast Rush made the comment while discussing with a caller a conversation he had with a previous caller Chicago Mike (Mike from Chicago) who said he used to be in the military and said the U.S. should pull out of Iraq.

To caller 2 (also named Mike, but let’s call him caller 2 to avoid confusion) Rush said there is a lot people who want withdrawal don’t understand and caller 2 said it’s funny that they never talk to real soldiers, that the media likes to pull these soldiers who come up out of the blue, and Rush said “The phony soldiers” in agreement that those serving who want withdrawal are phony.

Now, maybe he was mistaken there. Maybe he thought he was agreeing to something he wouldn’t have agreed to. But that isolated point is irrelevent, because whatever the case there, he’s categorically stated elsewhere that he, and people in general, can and should challenge the patriotism of people who disagree with the Bush (on his plan in Iraq) because the people that disagree with the President want to lose the war.

In fact he said that on Aug 21, a few days after the NYT published an op-ed by seven members of the 82nd Airborne Div. - who disagreed with the war and the president.

He’s called Chuck Hagel (’Nam vet) ‘senator betrayus’, he’s called Iraq vet Paul Hackett (then running for congress) “another liberal Democrat trying to hide behind a military uniform” and said he went to Iraq just to pad his resume.
He’s said that what is good for Al Qaeda is good for the Democratic Party, he’s said that Cindy Sheehan is another Bill Burkett and her story (that she lost her son in Iraq) is nothing more than forged documents and that she was exploiting death.
(Burkett is the ex-natn’l guard officer who gave 60 Minutes the documents regarding Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard - big controversy over that).
Then he claimed his statements were taken out of context. And he’s done the same song and dance in this instance.
First he said it was MacBeth, then he said “and others like him” then he re-edited the clip from his show, then he said he wasn’t talking about active duty troops but then he included veterans like (rep) John P. Murtha (who - you want to hit for Abscam, fine, but he got a DSM, two purple hearts and a bronze star, nothing phony about his service) and Scott Thomas Beauchamp who was serving in Iraq at the time (more controversey there).
He’s called John Kerry a “total phony” - exact words there - when discussing his service.

Perhaps his most egregious statement (broadcast on Afarts - the U.S. troops’ media) was concerning troops who might have differing opinions than his - e.g. a liberal serving in Iraq hearing Rush say something like liberals hate America or liberals = terrorists or some such - Rush said the soldier should “be a man about it - if you don't believe it, then you're driving along in your jeep and you laugh it off because I'm wrong. Be a man about it. If you think I'm wrong, you'll laugh it off and be wrong about it. If the bomb goes off, the bomb goes off. You chose to be there.”

(And let’s keep in mind Rush chose to, y’know, NOT be there and dodge serving the country in the military. Nor did he chose to protest the war which to my mind is another form of service, nope, just dodged it and asserted others should go, which is hypocritical and despicable.)

So it’s not like he hasn’t said it before and it’s not like he hasn’t use the actual words “phoney” before in referring to troops currently serving or veterans who disagree with him politically. This particular bit is just another link in the long common chain.

In terms of hard proof? Well, gee, I bet google works. I don’t have any actual transcripts I can mail you, or recordings to play back, but this is the sort of neat thing about the internet - I don’t have any investment in you believing or disbelieving me.
Limbaugh does.
Your call on who you want to believe.

Or, y’know, look it up yourself, which is an encouragement Rush & co ain’t going to give you.

Oh yeah, pro-wrestling? Very athletic. Very demanding. Quite spectacular. But completely fake.
Which is exactly like Limbaugh’s life and his show. And indeed, this entire form of politicotainment.
(My only criticism of Colbert is that he doesn’t do it this way. He’s still sticking his tongue in his cheek. You can’t just sell it, you have to live it. Ever notice how really angry pro-wrestlers get when their schtick is questioned?)
posted by Smedleyman at 10:40 AM on October 15, 2007 [5 favorites]

That basically means that they are an authorized charity for federal employees.

I have no dog in this fight but for crying out loud, find something else to poke at.

Over 2000 charities are CFC approved, including the NAACP, ACLU, Goodwill, United States Handball Association, Dalai Lama Foundation, GLAAD, etc etc etc.

Just sayin'.
posted by The Deej at 3:36 PM on October 15, 2007

The day Colbert is not sticking his tongue in his cheek is the day I stop watching him.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:11 PM on October 15, 2007

FFF - you can do it without literally doing it tho. I don’t mean inflamatory ‘the Jewz sux’ sort of Coulter thing, more the radical disconnect with reality, but more (seemingly) in earnest.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:30 AM on October 16, 2007

UPDATE: The winning bid was $2.1 million, by philanthropist Betty Casey.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:20 AM on October 19, 2007

Who gets the tax break?
posted by caddis at 10:26 AM on October 19, 2007

Limbaugh has pledged to match the donation.

On the Senate floor, Harry Reid tried to take credit for it all.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:30 PM on October 19, 2007