Rush Limbaugh in his megalomania, with the Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele issuing a quick apology after being blasted on the air by the loquacious talk show host, feels so energized that he has challenged President Obama to a debate on his program.
After his long, episodic rants against Bill Clinton continued while George W. Bush was running up record world debt and taking America to war on an unproven charge, Limbaugh now accuses Democrats of "ganging up on him" and has issued a type of "High Noon" declaration to Barack Obama.
After his long, episodic rants against Bill Clinton continued while George W. Bush was running up record world debt and taking America to war on an unproven charge, Limbaugh now accuses Democrats of "ganging up on him" and has issued a type of "High Noon" declaration to Barack Obama.
David Brock and members of his group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) have repeatedly accused Limbaugh of distortions and even published a book on the subject. There has been an outstanding challenge to Limbaugh to debate one of their representatives with a mutually accepted moderator and venue, giving him a chance to respond to charges. To date there has been no interest shown by Limbaugh.
What Limbaugh loves, in the manner of Bill O'Reilly, is having the controls in his hands so he can promptly cut individuals off or refute them after they are off the air.
Remember the Limbaugh television experience? It was notably short-lived and absent the same kind of ratings success that his radio program has achieved with his hard core, hard right base.
There was one memorable occasion when the tough guy who specializes on radio in putting guests who do not share his nasty, far right beliefs, cleared his studio rather than allow certain audience members to remain. He had begun his show with an assault on pro-choice advocates. When he finished delineating the rationale for his opposition there was an outburst of applause supporting the allegedly heretical position.
Limbaugh was thoroughly chagrined, and his posture worsened when one individual from the Act Up group that had inhabited what he thought was a traditionally safe audience snarled at the notable bully, "You're a liar?"
The program became a favorite of Limbaugh opponents. He expressed dismay that anybody would call him a liar, much less on his own program.
The show ended with Limbaugh addressing his television audience in a studio that had been cleared of all but the show's host. In a tone and manner that did not befit his normally blustery image, Limbaugh told his audience how unfortunate it had been to have such an unruly, inhospitable series of outbursts.
What is his program but a series of unruly, inhospitable outbursts from an admitted Oxycontin addict who, before he became chastened through being "outed", had advocated at various points that anyone convicted of taking any kind of illegal substance should be compelled to leave the country without any opportunity to return or, worse yet, executed?
