A 'Soft' Conservative Alternative To Rush?

Mike Huckabee Takes Aim At Rush Limbaugh -- Politico

Rush Limbaugh, the longstanding undisputed king of conservative talk radio who’s been dogged by controversy recently, is about to face some more heat. Not from the left, but this time from the right.

On Monday, former Arkansas governor and one-time Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will launch a three-hour radio program on almost 200 stations across the country, going voice-to-voice with Limbaugh in the noon-to-3 p.m. time slot, Monday through Friday.

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My Comment: I have my doubts that this will fly. Rush has a very loyal base, and he keeps his audience not because of his confrontational stance, but because he provides an alternative to the main stream media that is there. For Huckabee to succeed, this is where his focus should be, not being the anti-Rush (with a so-so conservative bent).

Rush Limbaugh: "Maybe The Conservative Alternative To Romney Is Romney"

Photo: Rush Limbaugh

Limbaugh: "Maybe The Conservative Alternative To Romney Is Romney" -- Real Clear Politics

ROMNEY: The history of the world has shown that economic freedom is the only force that has consistently lifted people out of poverty. It's the only principle that has ever been able to sustain prosperity. But over the last three years, this administration has been engaged in an all-out assault on our freedom.

RUSH: The crowd ate it up. We hope he means it. Watching it last night, that's how I reacted: "This is good. This is good." I turned to Kathryn and said, "This is his best victory speech yet. I just hope he means it." Here's the next bite...

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My Comment: From where I stand .... Mitt Romney is NOT the conservative alternative to Romney.

Cartoon Pic For Today

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Rush Limbaugh Will Still Be On The Air After President Obama Is Gone

Limbaugh Rocks -- Don Surber

As readers know, I have no pecuniary interest in the Rush Limbaugh show, which I seldom have the chance to listen to, although I do read his transcripts from time to time. About 20 million Americans do listen at least once a month and good for him. He earned it. This slut controversy is costing him some big bucks in the short term, but in the long term he will prevail.

My prediction: On January 21, 2013, Barack Obama will be out of the White House and Rush Limbaugh will be on the radio.

And if you own a business, you should advertise on his show (in addition to taking out an ad on political newspaper blogs run by people whose last names rhyme with Urber). Rush’s ratings are up — both in number and in dander.

Companies that bailed on Rush have lost the patronage of millions of conservatives.

Companies that sign up now, will be rewarded.

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My Comment: I wholeheartedly agree Don Surber's prediction that on January 21, 2013, Barack Obama will be out of the White House and Rush Limbaugh will still be on the radio.

Carbonite Is Paying For Losing Rush Limbaugh's Audience

Carbonite Crashes After Limbaugh Backlash -- Breitbart

Since Carbonite CEO David Friend thought it wise to lecture existing and potential customers on his idea of a needed civility, the company's stock has dropped 20%, according to Terry Ponick of the Washington Times, and now sits at 60% off a 2011 high mark in a difficult market.

But Friend will always have MSNBC and the left's nutroots, who apparently don't have much money to spend on Carbonite. At this point, it's unclear if Carbonite has what it takes to restore itself.

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My Comment: Limbaugh's program has a huge audience that is tailored fit for Carbonite's products. They should have realized that cutting off the golden goose will have repercussions. Hmmmmm .... I guess they did not calculate this.

Media Matters Behind Limbaugh Boycott

Media Matters Astroturfed The Limbaugh Secondary Boycott -- Legal Insurrection

The secondary boycott of Rush Limbaugh advertisers is portrayed in the media as a reaction to a groundswell of public outrage. In fact, the secondary boycott was initiated by and driven by Media Matters, which had a “Stop Limbaugh” campaign on the shelf waiting to be used, and was executed by Angelo Carusone, Director of Online Strategy for Media Matters.

Carusone was the person behind online efforts against Glenn Beck even before joining Media Matters in 2010, and also is behind Stop Fox News and Stop Limbaugh efforts. His role appears to be going after advertisers, and getting others to do so via Twitter and other online media.

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My Comment: Not surprisingly ... their boycott is failing.

Rush Limbaugh Joins The Twitter Universe

We're Venturing Into The Twitterverse -- Rush Limbaugh

RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, I've got something somewhat curious and important I want to tell you. Over the years I've said I don't tweet, don't Twitter, and so forth and so on. But I have an account. It's there. I wanted to establish the account in my name. There are a bunch of fake Rush Limbaugh Twitter accounts. But I've decided to actually activate it now and use it for strategic purposes since it has become such an effective means of informing people outside the bounds of this program. Now, I don't know... Those of you who already tweet, to "follow" me, you would simply find me at @RushLimbaugh. Just follow me @RushLimbaugh. It's that simple.

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More News On Rush Limbaugh Joining The Twitter Universe

Rush Limbaugh joins Twitter -- The Cutline
Limbaugh Sends First Tweet -- Newser
Rush Limbaugh Has a Personal Twitter Now, Just in Case -- New York Magazine
#FF Rush? He starts tweeting @limbaugh -- Politico

Rush Limbaugh Gives A Lesson To CEOs On How To Handle A Boycott

Rush Prevails Over Obama -- Don Surber

Rush Limbaugh is giving a lesson to CEOs on how to handle a boycott — and how to handle public pressure to boycott a vendor. Never negotiate. It is economic terrorism designed to inhibit, in this case, free speech. Rush is showing that you had better stick with your suppliers (in this case, Rush supplies potential customers by selling ads) through thick and thin or else you will wind up on the losing end.

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My Comment: Here is an easy prediction .... long after President Obama is gone from the White House, Rush will still be on the radio.

Companies Who Dropped Their Advertising From The Rush Limbaugh Show Are Paying A Price

Fluke Limbaugh Fallout: Carbonite Now Kryptonite For Investors -- Washington Times

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2012 – Taking political cheap shots at conservatives is fun for both the usual perps and the preening media talking heads that adore them. But in the dollars-and-cents world of business, stunting like this can and does backfire. Take for example last week’s Rush Limbaugh/Sandra Fluke free contraception kerfuffle. It’s ultimate outcome failed to play out the way at least one of Rush’s former sponsors—Internet backup/security company Carbonite—had imagined it would.

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My Comment: Companies like Carbonite are going to be hurt. Rush's audience is huge, and it is now denied to them. Instead, they will now need to redouble their efforts to get the word out on their products and services.

Rush Limbaugh With William Shatner

Former Advertisers Not Welcomed At The Rush Limbaugh Show

Limbaugh Will Not Forgive Or Negotiate With Companies That Pulled Advertising -- Business Insider

As advertisers keep joining in on the Rush Limbaugh boycott, one company only lasted a week before it went back to the conservative talk show host with its tail between its legs. But Limbaugh is not ready to forgive and forget.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Sleep Train, which had advertised with Limbaugh for 25 years, asked to relaunch a "voiced endorsement" on Limbaugh's show on Thursday ... and they were turned down.

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My Comment: Rush will survive .... and so will these advertisers.

How Critics Of Rush Limbaugh Lost The Moral High Ground

Image credit: Reuters

How Four of Rush Limbaugh's Critics Lost the Moral High Ground -- Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic

The talk radio host deserves criticism. But calls for him to be ordered off the air and prosecuted for insulting Sandra Fluke go too far.

For years, I've warned conservatives about the bigoted rhetoric and dubious analysis that Rush Limbaugh offers on his radio program. There is no bigger critic of the man than me. I am nevertheless appalled by the prominent liberals who want the state to use its coercive power to silence him. Writing at CNN.com, Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem actually compare the talk radio host to Josef Goebbels before arguing that if Clear Channel won't drop him the FCC should throw him off the air because his broadcasts aren't in the public interest. In a separate effort, celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred has sent the Palm Beach County state attorney a letter urging that office to prosecute Limbaugh under an antiquated law that treats as a misdemeanor speaking about a woman and "falsely and maliciously imputing to her a want of chastity."

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Rush Limbaugh

UPI

Rush Limbaugh: 5 Things You Didn't Know -- Askmen

To many of us, the name "Rush Limbaugh" triggers a call-to-arms that inspires either a stirring defense of America's leading conservative or a passionate missive on America's foremost jackass.

Rush Limbaugh sees himself as neither: "I’m a businessman," he told The New York Times. "My first goal is to attract the largest possible audience so I can charge confiscatory ad rates. I happen to have great entertainment skills, but that enables me to sell airtime.”

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My Comment: Hilarious.

Cartoon Pic For Today

Limbaugh Is Not 'Finished'

Photo: Rush Limbaugh (Win McNamee - Getty Images)

Rush Limbaugh: ‘They Thought I Was Finished’ -- Politico

Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday laughed at Democrats for having tried to use the radio host’s now-infamous “slut” comment to their political advantage, gloating about recent polls showing President Barack Obama’s approval numbers tanking while taunting, “They thought I was finished.”

“Remember, one week ago, they thought it was over. One week ago, they thought for one day, there was a Santa Claus. Normally, they don’t believe in Santa Claus, but they did,” Limbaugh said at the beginning of his three-hour afternoon show. “They thought I was finished. They thought you [the listeners] were vanquished, and Obama was elevated to heights that would make him unbeatable.

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My Comment: He is far from finished.

Limbaugh Calls National Organization For Women ‘Nags’

Photo: Rush Limbaugh. Wikipedia

Rush Limbaugh Calls National Organization For Women ‘Nags’ -- Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News/The Cutline

Rush Limbaugh chided the National Organization for Women and its president, Terry O'Neill, on his syndicated radio show on Tuesday, over comments she made at the group's convention in New Orleans.

"All of this outrage that they have been spewing for a week—how horrible it's been, how uncouth," Limbaugh said. "Just listen to her describe it."

Limbaugh, whose show has lost dozens of advertisers in the fallout over his comments about Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke, then played a clip from O'Neill's speech on Saturday at the NOW convention.

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My Comment: Dylan Stableford must be new to the Limbaugh universe .... he has been calling the National Organization For Women ‘Nags’ for as long as I can remember.

Rush Limbaugh Cartoon For Today

'Slut' Remarks Purged From Rush Limbaugh's Website

Photo: Rush Limbaugh. Wikipedia

Rush Limbaugh Site Purged Of 'Slut' Remarks -- Politico

The word “slut” landed Rush Limbaugh in hot water when he first uttered it on the air last Wednesday, but you wouldn’t really know it by looking at the radio show’s website, which seems to have been scrubbed clean of some of his notorious comments about a Georgetown University law student.

Type in the word “slut” in the archive search bar on RushLimbaugh.com, and you’re told: “No results found. Please try another search.”

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My Comment: He has over 20 years of work .... a few comments that are inappropriate will have zero impact on his legacy. But now .... the comment will be .... 'he censors his public image'.

Gloria Allred Seeks To Prosecute Rush Limbaugh

Gloria Allred Seeks Rush Limbaugh Prosecution -- Politico

Rush Limbaugh has drawn the ire of celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred, who sent a letter to the Palm Beach County state attorney requesting an investigation into whether the popular radio host should be prosecuted for calling a law student a “slut” and “prostitute” last week.

“Mr. Limbaugh targeted his attack on a young law student who was simply exercising her free speech and her right to testify before congress on a very important issue to millions of American women and he vilified her. He defamed her and engaged in unwarranted, tasteless and exceptionally damaging attacks on her,” Allred told POLITICO Friday afternoon. “He needs to face the consequences of his conduct in every way that is meaningful.”

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My Comment: Politico's first sentence says it all

.... celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred ....

As for Rush Limbaugh .... I suspect that he is laughing himself silly right now.

Rush Limbaugh Sculpture Available For Sale

Rush Limbaugh Sculpture: Available For Purchase! -- Washington Post

The “Hall of Famous Missourians” may not be the only place that will soon be decorated with a Rush Limbaugh sculpture: The Style Blog has learned that the sculpture will be available in an edition of six. The bust was commissioned before Limbaugh made his now-infamous remarks about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke.

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My Comment: $15,000 for a Limbaugh bust .... hmmmm .... no.

Sleep Train's Offer To Resume Partnership Is Rejected By Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh Rejects Sleep Train's Offer To Resume Partnership -- McClatchy News

First it was Sleep Train Mattress Centers that spurned its longtime ally and business partner Rush Limbaugh.

Now Limbaugh is returning the favor — and the split between the Sacramento retailer and the controversial radio host appears to be permanent.

Limbaugh on Thursday rejected Sleep Train's offer to resume advertising on his national radio show and rehire Limbaugh as a paid spokesman. Limbaugh's spokesman said the conservative commentator would no longer carry Sleep Train's ads "in the future."

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My Comment: I suspect that Rush Limbaugh already has sponsors to fill-up Sleep Train's spot. As for Sleep Train ... .what were they thinking?

Should Rush Limbaugh Be Dropped From Military Radio?

Armed Forces Chairman Levin Wants Limbaugh Dropped From Military Radio -- The Hill

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Wednesday that he would "love" to see controversial conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh dropped from the Armed Forces Network.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) called Limbaugh's show "offensive" and told CNN he has been "delighted" to see advertisers drop the program in the wake of outrage over Limbaugh calling a Georgetown University law student a "slut" and a "prostitute." Sandra Fluke, the student, had testified for House Democrats in favor of the White House's contraception coverage mandate.

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More News On The Debate Of Having Rush Limbaugh On The Arm Forces Network

Does Rush Limbaugh belong on armed forces radio? Criticism mounts. -- Christian Science Monitor
Carl Levin: Armed Forces Network should can Rush -- Politico
First on CNN: Levin says Limbaugh should be dropped from Armed Forces Network -- CNN
Sen. Levin Calls on AFN to Drop Rush Limbaugh -- Military.com
White House petition demands Rush Limbaugh be removed from Armed Forces radio -- Examiner

My Comment: When I think of the list of politicians who said (and did) things against women over the years .... and are still in the public eye .... what Rush Limbaugh said pales in comparison. But this is the political silly season, and with tight elections predicted for the fall .... I can only expect more in the months to come.

As to what is my take on this controversy .... he groveled and apologized for his stupid remarks .... time to move on to more important matters and let his listeners decide if they want to listen to him .... or not.

Huckabie Vs. Limbaugh On The Radio Dial

New Huckabee Radio Show Could Vie With Limbaugh -- New York Times

Rush Limbaugh will soon have a new radio rival: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who ran for the Republican presidential nomination four years ago and thought about running again this year.

Instead, he will be running a radio show weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. for Cumulus Media Networks. The company will announce “The Mike Huckabee Show” on Thursday and begin selling it to radio stations ahead of an April 2 start date.

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My Comment: I wish Gov. Mike Huckabee luck .... but he is going against the 800lb gorilla in the room.

Rush Limbaugh Show: Paul Shanklin Parody Of Clint Eastwood's Chrysler Commercial

Did Rush Limbaugh Pick His Nose At The Super Bowl?

Everyone Is Obsessing Over This Video Of Rush Limbaugh Allegedly Picking His Nose At The Super Bowl -- Business Insider

Rush Limbaugh is catching some heat for supposedly picking his nose while hanging out in Patriots owner Robert Kraft's luxury box at Sunday night's Super Bowl game. Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler was also there, but doesn't appear to have a good view of Limbaugh in action.

The incident was first reported by Timothy Burke at Deadspin and quickly spread to other news outlets (even USA Today caught wind of the story), prompting some debate over whether the conservative radio host's finger swipe was a bona fide pick or an innocent poke.

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My Comment: He touched his nose for a second .... picking it .... no. And even if he did .... so what .... he is human.

Ruch Mocks The GOP Establishment

Rush Limbaugh Mocks GOP Establishment -- Politico

Rush Limbaugh mocked the Republican establishment on his radio show Wednesday for being “shocked” by Rick Santorum’s three-state win, saying, “I can’t believe how insulated they are.”

“They’re literally shocked. The Republican establishment had no idea this was percolating out there. I can’t believe how insulated they are,” Limbaugh said. “To look at the reaction they’re having today, to see how shocked they are that Rick Santorum has come out of what they thought was an impossible position equivalent to nowhere, is an incredible thing.”

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My Comment: Rush is lucky .... there is a lot in the GOP establishment to mock.

Limbaugh Parodies Clint Eastwood’s Super Bowl Ad

Limbaugh Parodies Clint Eastwood’s Super Bowl Ad [VIDEO] -- Daily Caller

Rush Limbaugh joined in the conversation over Clint Eastwood’s Chrysler Super Bowl commercial on Tuesday, parodying the ad on his radio show.

In an audio clip released on the “Rush Limbaugh Show,” an Eastwood impersonator is heard saying, “It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what Obama’s gonna do to them next.”

“All’s that matters now is that we come together as one great nation,” the audio continues, “and kick his skinny butt back to Chicago.”

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My Comment: It's actually a very good parody.