We hope that by the end of today – which, by the way, is Super Tuesday in the GOP Presidential primary – that maybe the primary topic of political discussion in the U.S. won't be the insulting and slanderous behavior of a talk radio host. We'd even love to see the moment when Rush Limbaugh would honestly, truthfully, and unabashedly apologize, as Ed Schultz did when he crossed a similar line last year.
Of course, we'd also like to be able to eat 6,000 calories a day and look like slim, fit, Olympic-caliber athletes, but that ain't happening either.
We understand those of you who are tired of hearing about this controversy. There's plenty of other political news, including Super Tuesday news, and news about the White House and campaign funding. There's also news about how the rich are doing in this recovery – even news of yet another "Grand Bargain" budget attempt to Capitol Hill in our links for today.
There are still a few more things to say, however, about the Limbaugh comments, and what he continues to do about them– or not do.
Sadly, what the chattering classes in the media have been covering for the most part has been of no more substance than the usual horse race baloney that we've mostly eschewed this year. They've been focused on how many advertisers have permanently or temporarily left Limbaugh (fiftteen, as of this morning), and how many radio stations have dropped him (two so far, in Hawaii and Massachusetts).
From the right, the number of ad hominem defenses of Mr. Limbaugh have been too numerous to count. Most often the frothing, wild-eyed comments and defenses of Mr. Limbaugh have devolved into a "So's your old man" kind of defense - which Ed Kilgore of Washington Monthly points out simply can't work. Limbaugh himself blamed his actions on the political left, and trashed the advertisers who have chosen to leave him - which appears to us like the actions of either a coward or a madman.
In a nutshell, here's why people of many political backgrounds are still so angry - and deservedly so.
Rush Limbaugh chose to verbally attack and slander a non-public, semi-private woman, with misogynistic comments FIFTY-THREE TIMES, in three days, with more sideways insults on Monday. As someone who boasts regularly to be one of the best professionals that the media world has to offer, Rush acted like the most ignorant of amateurs.
He disrespected and/or caused significant headaches to the following: Ms. Fluke; women, in general; the people Rush works with directly, who will be directly affected by his actions; the people who work at Premiere Radio, and will be similarly affected; the advertisers, who he directly or indirectly represents; the HUGE number of Republicans he represents, who disagree with his misogynist comments; and last but not least, his family. He owes all of those people a heartfelt apology - which we doubt ANY of them will ever receive.
There ARE places for off-color comments in our U.S. media – for example, a private comedy club, on satellite radio, or on a pay cable channel. While we find some things at these places offensive, Americans still have the First Amendment. People like Rush can spew nearly any kind of trash he wants to in these venues - and we don't have to listen, watch, or be presented with "entertainment" like this if we choose.
The problem is, Mr. Limbaugh is more than just an "entertainer" as he's attempted to claim in his defense. Elected or not, he's effectively the head of the modern Republican party. He yanks the trunk, and the rest of the animal follows. That's exactly what America doesn't need. What America does need right now, more than ever, are at least two solid, strong, sane, honorable major political parties. Right now, we have one party that mostly - but not always - fits that label.
Instead of trying to fix this gulf in our political discourse, by advocating for a strong and respectful opposition party, Mr. Limbaugh chose to throw women, his co-workers, his employer, his advertisers, and even the political party he claims to support, under the proverbial bus. He trashed a young woman - and women in general - as a major political and media force, all in order to protect his ability to bully anyone he wants.
If you want to know who's really dragging down the American political system? Try looking at the rat who thinks he's too big to admit he's wrong.
***Full disclosure*** Members of our staff include an alumna of Georgetown, and an employee of Premiere Radio Networks, who is also Mr. Limbaugh's current employer.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Liars And Cowards And Truthtellers Exposed
Unless you were totally focused on multiple types of basketball this past weekend, you likely heard about the ongoing saga of one of the biggest blowhards in media, Rush Limbaugh, and his slanderous attack on a Georgetown University law student. You may have even seen yet another slanderous attack aimed squarely at Bob Kerrey.
These two things are connected, though you may not see it at first.
Last week, for three days in a row, one of the most widely distributed extremist conservative political talk radio hosts in America, Rush Limbaugh, decided to slander and slam a private citizen, 30 year old, third-year Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke. Fluke had been asked by House Democrats to testify at their hearing on female contraception, which she proudly did, after initially being denied a chance to do so by House Republicans. Fluke probably would have slipped back into obscurity after her testimony, as a private advocate for women's rights and women's health care, if it weren't for Mr. Limbaugh.
Instead, last week, on one of the largest free public radio platforms in the world, Limbaugh attacked Ms. Fluke for standing up for her principles. Limbaugh brazenly slandered Ms. Fluke as a "slut" and a "prostitute" saying that she should be forced to make and distribute sex tapes if she wanted to receive contraception, and even questioning the honor and loyalties of her family.
At about the same time Limbaugh was spewing his misogynistic bile, former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey changed his mind, and decided he would, in fact, run for U.S. Senate from Nebraska. Within days of Kerrey's decision, GOP candidate and current Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning began running a campaign ad slamming and smearing Mr. Kerrey as a carpetbagger. Sadly, this wasn't new behavior for Bruning, as his cowardly big money backers had already run a smear campaign against Kerrey in January. This was weeks before the former Senator had ever made his decision to run again. [As we noted internally at that time, the extremist Republicans must be incredibly scared of Kerrey, if they were willing to spend campaign funds against Kerrey even before he got into the race.]
Both the attacks by Limbaugh, and those against Mr. Kerrey are examples of the desperation, gutlessness and complete lack of class that have come to typify modern extremist Republicans, driven by the unlimited funds of their corporate masters.
We feel it's critical to make a STRONG note that not all Republicans are as craven and arrogant as those we've been describing here.
Many Nebraskans - even many Republicans - seem willing to give Mr. Kerrey a fair look, as opinion pieces in the usually very conservative Kearney Hub and North Platte Telegraph displayed over the weekend. Further, Nebraskans who aren't acting like puppets controlled by the Super PACS of the right, know that Kerrey has continued to own property and businesses in Nebraska - and has continued to pay Nebraska taxes - throughout the time he worked in New York as President of New School University.
For those Nebraskans who remain as independent individualists, we hope they investigate ALL the Democratic and Republican candidates running for office - and ignore the garbage and lies being spread by outside, big-money interests. They are the REAL carpetbaggers here.
As for Mr. Limbaugh, he is already feeling some significant heat for his hubris, as seven major advertisers have pulled their ads from his show, and others are still considering doing so. Limbaugh did release a weak apology on his website Saturday - and then proceeded to slander Ms. Fluke further in the so-called apology.
We hope that Limbaugh's employer treats him no differently than MSNBC treated liberal talker Ed Schultz when he used the same insult against another female right-wing talk show host in 2011 – by giving him a minimum of a one week unpaid suspension. Since Ms. Fluke is technically a private citizen, unlike Schultz' target, we'd recommend at least two weeks for Limbaugh to cool his heels, shut his mouth, and think about how professionals are supposed to act.
As we've warned you several times already, hold onto your hats, folks - this is only March. The election is still nine months away, and we've got a feeling the motley crew behind these attacks have no other plans besides spreading hate and lies.
***Full disclosure*** Members of our staff include an alumna of Georgetown, and an employee of Premiere Radio Networks, who is also Mr. Limbaugh's current employer.
These two things are connected, though you may not see it at first.
Last week, for three days in a row, one of the most widely distributed extremist conservative political talk radio hosts in America, Rush Limbaugh, decided to slander and slam a private citizen, 30 year old, third-year Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke. Fluke had been asked by House Democrats to testify at their hearing on female contraception, which she proudly did, after initially being denied a chance to do so by House Republicans. Fluke probably would have slipped back into obscurity after her testimony, as a private advocate for women's rights and women's health care, if it weren't for Mr. Limbaugh.
Instead, last week, on one of the largest free public radio platforms in the world, Limbaugh attacked Ms. Fluke for standing up for her principles. Limbaugh brazenly slandered Ms. Fluke as a "slut" and a "prostitute" saying that she should be forced to make and distribute sex tapes if she wanted to receive contraception, and even questioning the honor and loyalties of her family.
At about the same time Limbaugh was spewing his misogynistic bile, former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey changed his mind, and decided he would, in fact, run for U.S. Senate from Nebraska. Within days of Kerrey's decision, GOP candidate and current Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning began running a campaign ad slamming and smearing Mr. Kerrey as a carpetbagger. Sadly, this wasn't new behavior for Bruning, as his cowardly big money backers had already run a smear campaign against Kerrey in January. This was weeks before the former Senator had ever made his decision to run again. [As we noted internally at that time, the extremist Republicans must be incredibly scared of Kerrey, if they were willing to spend campaign funds against Kerrey even before he got into the race.]
Both the attacks by Limbaugh, and those against Mr. Kerrey are examples of the desperation, gutlessness and complete lack of class that have come to typify modern extremist Republicans, driven by the unlimited funds of their corporate masters.
We feel it's critical to make a STRONG note that not all Republicans are as craven and arrogant as those we've been describing here.
Many Nebraskans - even many Republicans - seem willing to give Mr. Kerrey a fair look, as opinion pieces in the usually very conservative Kearney Hub and North Platte Telegraph displayed over the weekend. Further, Nebraskans who aren't acting like puppets controlled by the Super PACS of the right, know that Kerrey has continued to own property and businesses in Nebraska - and has continued to pay Nebraska taxes - throughout the time he worked in New York as President of New School University.
For those Nebraskans who remain as independent individualists, we hope they investigate ALL the Democratic and Republican candidates running for office - and ignore the garbage and lies being spread by outside, big-money interests. They are the REAL carpetbaggers here.
As for Mr. Limbaugh, he is already feeling some significant heat for his hubris, as seven major advertisers have pulled their ads from his show, and others are still considering doing so. Limbaugh did release a weak apology on his website Saturday - and then proceeded to slander Ms. Fluke further in the so-called apology.
We hope that Limbaugh's employer treats him no differently than MSNBC treated liberal talker Ed Schultz when he used the same insult against another female right-wing talk show host in 2011 – by giving him a minimum of a one week unpaid suspension. Since Ms. Fluke is technically a private citizen, unlike Schultz' target, we'd recommend at least two weeks for Limbaugh to cool his heels, shut his mouth, and think about how professionals are supposed to act.
As we've warned you several times already, hold onto your hats, folks - this is only March. The election is still nine months away, and we've got a feeling the motley crew behind these attacks have no other plans besides spreading hate and lies.
***Full disclosure*** Members of our staff include an alumna of Georgetown, and an employee of Premiere Radio Networks, who is also Mr. Limbaugh's current employer.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Friday Funday: In Like A Lion
Since we have readers all over the country - and frankly, all over the world - the old weather adage often associated with March doesn't quite hold up as a direct metaphor for what's gone on this week. Still, as a generalization, it's not too far off the mark.
It's been a good but extremely busy week, as far as news stories go. Changes that we noted Thursday will likely happen in the U.S. Senate later this year, meaning the prospect that extremist conservatives will take over the Senate are considerably less than they were on Monday.
Progressive and liberal Democrats also teamed up to beat back some truly draconian legislative moves from the far right this week, including the Blunt/Rubio Amendment in the U.S. Senate, and the worst parts of the invasive transvaginal ultrasound bill in Virginia. President Obama also signed a bill waiving the indefinite detention of Americans, and the Dow and NASDAQ both reached highs that haven't been seen since before the crash of 2008. Jobless figures also continued to tick down slightly, giving the U.S. the best employment numbers we've seen in four years.
The Governor of Maryland signed a marriage equality bill into law on Thursday, making Maryland the eighth U.S. state or territory - including DC - to make the civil contract of marriage available to all of its citizens.
Sadly, not everything about the week was great. That offensive Virginia ultrasound bill was modified, and passed. In Oklahoma, an insane version of the "personhood" bill - one that's more restrictive than the one voters soundly defeated in Mississippi last year - looks set to pass. Republican Senator Olympia Snowe also announced her retirement from Congress, which - as we mentioned previously - disappoints our entire staff.
Of course, there were some GOP Primary contests too - which many Republicans don't seem all that thrilled with.
There were some horrible storms and some sad deaths too, which we were also saddened to see this week. Tornados should not be happening in Nebraska or the Midwest at the end of February and the beginning of March. But then, as some continue to tell us, climate change is just a hoax.
Last, but not least, extremist conservative activist Andrew Breitbart died just after midnight on Thursday of this week - and we send our condolences to his family.
That last news event might surprise some of our readers, that we categorize it as a negative for the week. For those who know us it best, it shouldn't.
Professionally, Andrew Breitbart was a loudmouthed, abusive, arrogant, ignorant, petulant, rumor-fueled, inaccurate, needlessly offensive person who gave anyone involved with the professional media a bad name. His failure to have even common courtesy was legendary, even among some of the conservatives we know.
He also happened to occasionally show kindness and rarely would surprise someone with an positive and energetic attempt to share what he thought of as his professional expertise.
We cannot and will not forgive him for the disaster he made of some corners of the media world. That said, he also helped to bring the aggregation part of modern media out of the professional closet - and for that, he deserves some small praise.
We didn't know Mr. Breitbart personally. We do know he had a young wife, and four kids, and several friends who will miss him. Like some of those taken in the tornado damage in Missouri and Illinois this week, he died far too young - and that's a fate we don't wish on our most vile opposition.
As you can see, this was not a week for light news coverage. March truly did come in like a lion, in terms of the news stories that happened this week.
With that in mind, we hope the rest of the axiom also holds true, so that things might be just a bit easier at the end of the month. What can we say? Call us optimists.
It's been a good but extremely busy week, as far as news stories go. Changes that we noted Thursday will likely happen in the U.S. Senate later this year, meaning the prospect that extremist conservatives will take over the Senate are considerably less than they were on Monday.
Progressive and liberal Democrats also teamed up to beat back some truly draconian legislative moves from the far right this week, including the Blunt/Rubio Amendment in the U.S. Senate, and the worst parts of the invasive transvaginal ultrasound bill in Virginia. President Obama also signed a bill waiving the indefinite detention of Americans, and the Dow and NASDAQ both reached highs that haven't been seen since before the crash of 2008. Jobless figures also continued to tick down slightly, giving the U.S. the best employment numbers we've seen in four years.
The Governor of Maryland signed a marriage equality bill into law on Thursday, making Maryland the eighth U.S. state or territory - including DC - to make the civil contract of marriage available to all of its citizens.
Sadly, not everything about the week was great. That offensive Virginia ultrasound bill was modified, and passed. In Oklahoma, an insane version of the "personhood" bill - one that's more restrictive than the one voters soundly defeated in Mississippi last year - looks set to pass. Republican Senator Olympia Snowe also announced her retirement from Congress, which - as we mentioned previously - disappoints our entire staff.
Of course, there were some GOP Primary contests too - which many Republicans don't seem all that thrilled with.
There were some horrible storms and some sad deaths too, which we were also saddened to see this week. Tornados should not be happening in Nebraska or the Midwest at the end of February and the beginning of March. But then, as some continue to tell us, climate change is just a hoax.
Last, but not least, extremist conservative activist Andrew Breitbart died just after midnight on Thursday of this week - and we send our condolences to his family.
That last news event might surprise some of our readers, that we categorize it as a negative for the week. For those who know us it best, it shouldn't.
Professionally, Andrew Breitbart was a loudmouthed, abusive, arrogant, ignorant, petulant, rumor-fueled, inaccurate, needlessly offensive person who gave anyone involved with the professional media a bad name. His failure to have even common courtesy was legendary, even among some of the conservatives we know.
He also happened to occasionally show kindness and rarely would surprise someone with an positive and energetic attempt to share what he thought of as his professional expertise.
We cannot and will not forgive him for the disaster he made of some corners of the media world. That said, he also helped to bring the aggregation part of modern media out of the professional closet - and for that, he deserves some small praise.
We didn't know Mr. Breitbart personally. We do know he had a young wife, and four kids, and several friends who will miss him. Like some of those taken in the tornado damage in Missouri and Illinois this week, he died far too young - and that's a fate we don't wish on our most vile opposition.
As you can see, this was not a week for light news coverage. March truly did come in like a lion, in terms of the news stories that happened this week.
With that in mind, we hope the rest of the axiom also holds true, so that things might be just a bit easier at the end of the month. What can we say? Call us optimists.
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