[www.facebook.com]

1) I love how people reference "free speech" in this case. It's almost as if they didn't actually, you know, READ the constitution.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I looked and looked and just can't seem to find the word business in that text.

2) Even though Limbaugh himself said it was insulting and not appropriate, his RushBots have no problem with what he said.

3) They reference Ed Schultz, who insulted Laura Ingraham with the terms "talk @#$%&" and "right-wing @#$%&"


The following day he stated on his show "I just want to make sure that if there are any ladies out there who were offended that I used that term, I do apologize. I didn't mean to offend you." Schultz further stated he had again embarrassed his family and reached once again "the lowest of the low" for himself.[9] Ingraham accepted his apology, saying "Ed Schultz said something about me on his show that was not all that nice, to say the least. It was pretty crude. He apologized, and I accept his apology. It seemed heartfelt, it seemed like he really wished he hadn’t said it and I accept that apology”.[10] MSNBC issued a statement saying that it had accepted Schultz's offer to take one week of unpaid leave.[11]

[en.wikipedia.org]



Stay classy, RushBots.

Really ? You're looking for intelligent discourse from Facebook ?

Don't tell me.. I bet you went to MySpace University ?

- - -
In all seriousness, the old 'Delphi Method' of decision making assumes that your panel is made up of experts, not mouth breathing knuckleheads. Asking for intelligent conversation from a flock of ducks will get you a better result than expecting it from Facebook.

>>Asking for intelligent conversation from a flock of ducks will get you a better result than expecting it from Facebook.

Duckbook

---

I find it interesting that some of those actually defending Limbaugh's tirade are using the approach of "Well, Mikey did it. So can I." Mikey, being a stand in for Bill Maher.

I read a comment on Yahoo from one supermagic8ball: "Satire is when you pick on the powerful. Bullying is when you pick on the powerless." I think that pretty well sums up the point of this situation.

If Maher lances Sarah Palin (and he has) with a crude description, he does so knowing full well that the target of his attack is a Public Figure. Palin chose to enter the public arena as a politician, a Governor and a Vice-Presidential candidate. Fluke, on the other hand, testified as a private citizen before a "mock" Congressional hearing. I doubt very highly that Fluke testified with the hidden agenda of getting a fat contract as a contributor on MSNBC.

The point here is that we as a society have always savaged Public Figures when they are indeed that, but at the same time we take a very dim view of using a private citizen as a political punching bag.

The late Andrew Breitbart made the same mistake in his manufactured (edited) video of Shirley Sherrod's infamous speech about her official USDA relationship with a white farmer and overcoming her initial racial bias against the man.

If Limbaugh honestly believed that he used "wrong words" in his original diatribe against Fluke, one would think he might have come to the that realization soon after uttering such offensive words. He didn't. Two and a half days is a little too long for decency to dawn on the Rushster.

I used to say that Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh were two sides of the same coin. But, I'm starting to believe that's wrong. Limbaugh is in reality a lot more like Joe McCarthy in the 50s.

Dangerous.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2012 11:09AM by BCam.

I like the way you put that bcam.

Maureen Dowd nailed this one, as usual. And I really liked this comment from one of her readers:
[www.nytimes.com]

"Jumper
South Carolina

NYT Pick

Limbaugh insists on an unlimited right to free speech. When someone says something he disagrees with, he uses his free speech to intimidate and ruin them. Limbaugh calls it entertainment. Does Clear Channel, his parent network, consider this defamatory language toward someone who testified before a Congressional investigating committee entertainment?

Limbaugh lied about Ms. Fluke's testimony and then used his lies to further enrage the public against one side of a public policy. Clear Channel supports this as entertainment? Clear Channel thinks this encourages public discourse of important national policy matters in the public commons of the public airwaves? Clear Channel approves of Limbaugh's attempt to intimidate public discourse?

Guess so.

My grandmother would have washed Limbaugh's mouth with soap and had nothing to do with his products. You throwaway your dignity associating with trash.

Limbaugh has insulted, demeaned, all women: our mothers, our sisters, our wives, and our daughters. My daughter served in the U.S. Army patrolling the DMZ in South Korea and then with the 82nd Airborne. She then gets to return home and see the news exclaiming how Clear Channel's obese cheer-leading trash is using freedom of speech to intimidate other women from using theirs.

I imagine the sale of "Flush Rush" bumper stickers is skyrocketing."

---

[www.giyf.com]

I don't think you should denigrate FB for the comments. That is like a philosophy class compared to right wing website forums.
[www.thegatewaypundit.com]
[www.independentsentinel.com]
[www.freerepublic.com]
The internet is where peabrains can blow off their frustration at knowing everyone in the world is smarter than they are.

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

"Apology" from his show today.
"I regret stooping to the level of Democrats."

“I always tried to maintain a very high degree of integrity and independence on this program.

(Tried, but failed.)


Nevertheless, those two words were inappropriate, they were uncalled for, they distracted from the point that I was actually trying to make, and I again sincerely apologize to Miss Fluke for using those two words to describe her,” the conservative radio host said. “I do not think she is either of those two words.”

Explaining that he never really believed that the Georgetown University law student was actually a “@#$%&” or a “prostitute,” Limbaugh, speaking on the air for the first time since extending a rare apology over the weekend, said the message had been heartfelt.

“The apology was heartfelt. The apology was sincere,” he said.


Limbaugh also expressed regret for stooping down to the level of Democrats in discussing the issue of contraception coverage.

“In fighting them on this issue last week, I became like them. Against my own instincts, against my own knowledge, against everything I know to be right and wrong, I descended to their level when I used those two words to describe Sandra Fluke. That was my error. I became like them,” he said.

Read more: [www.politico.com]


Sandra Fluke doesn't accept the apology because she says there were over 50 insults over 3 days, not just "two words," but says she does not want and has not received a call from Rush.

Rep. Steny Hoyer agrees with Gutenberg - Fluke should sue. (He's a G'town Law grad too.)

[thehill.com]

Sandra Fluke was awesome on The View this morning.
I see now that Rush's apology contains even more false statements about her, so I withdraw my earlier comment that the apology was good, it wasn't.


[theview.abc.go.com]

You CAN'T attack someone for three days and then suddenly issue an apology and expect anyone to believe that it's genuine. No one buys this. What EVERYONE knows is that Rush now understands that he may be the next Beck or Imus and is trying to limit the damage.

Quote
Grace62
"Apology" from his show today.
"I regret stooping to the level of Democrats."

“I always tried to maintain a very high degree of integrity and independence on this program.

(Tried, but failed.)


Nevertheless, those two words were inappropriate, they were uncalled for, they distracted from the point that I was actually trying to make, and I again sincerely apologize to Miss Fluke for using those two words to describe her,” the conservative radio host said. “I do not think she is either of those two words.”

Explaining that he never really believed that the Georgetown University law student was actually a “@#$%&” or a “prostitute,” Limbaugh, speaking on the air for the first time since extending a rare apology over the weekend, said the message had been heartfelt.

“The apology was heartfelt. The apology was sincere,” he said.


Limbaugh also expressed regret for stooping down to the level of Democrats in discussing the issue of contraception coverage.

“In fighting them on this issue last week, I became like them. Against my own instincts, against my own knowledge, against everything I know to be right and wrong, I descended to their level when I used those two words to describe Sandra Fluke. That was my error. I became like them,” he said.

Read more: [www.politico.com]


Sandra Fluke doesn't accept the apology because she says there were over 50 insults over 3 days, not just "two words," but says she does not want and has not received a call from Rush.

Quote
Grace62
Rep. Steny Hoyer agrees with Gutenberg - Fluke should sue. (He's a G'town Law grad too.)

[thehill.com]

And the comments under that article are terrible, also.

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Just went to the Fox News site to get a fair and balanced look at the reaction to Limbaugh's apology.

Seems the comments break down this way:

Limbaugh supporters agree with his original statements from last week, posting that Fluke is indeed a "@#$%&" and a "@#$%&". Thanks Fox for demanding some civility on your site.

Limbaugh opponents seem to be posting that the apology missed the mark because Fluke was actually testifying about a fellow student's travails with needing birth control for a medical condition - Ovarian Cysts - rather than her own needs.

No one seems too concerned with Rush's demand that Fluke post personal sex videos for his entertainment.

Interesting.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2012 01:19PM by BCam.

I don't understand one element of the pushback.

I'm seeing this meme that Fluke is NOT a 23 year old coed, but a 30 year old feminist activist. And a plant.


Can someone explain this to me? When did she claim to be 23? How is being a 30 year old student at the Georgetown Law Center NOT part of being a college student? And really...feminists on college campuses? I'm shocked.

It's OK to call her a @#$%& because she is not Suzy Sorority undergrad?

Here is an example of the meme.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2012 01:30PM by beagledave.

I believe that since Ms. Fluke identified herself as a third-year law student that someone extrapolated her age as 23, and now they are trying to claim that Ms. Fluke said she was 23. Her bio is on the Georgetown University web site so it's not like it is a big secret.
[www.law.georgetown.edu]

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Quote
$tevie
I believe that since Ms. Fluke identified herself as a third-year law student that someone extrapolated her age as 23, and now they are trying to claim that Ms. Fluke said she was 23. Her bio is on the Georgetown University web site so it's not like it is a big secret.
[www.law.georgetown.edu]

I love how these folks arrive at their "facts"


Why Fluke HERSELF said that she is having so much freaky monkey sex that she needs crates and crates of birth control pills!

Why Fluke HERSELF said that she is a 23 year old innocent sorority coed!

Quote
beagledave

Quote
$tevie
I believe that since Ms. Fluke identified herself as a third-year law student that someone extrapolated her age as 23, and now they are trying to claim that Ms. Fluke said she was 23. Her bio is on the Georgetown University web site so it's not like it is a big secret.
[www.law.georgetown.edu]

I love how these folks arrive at their "facts"


Why Fluke HERSELF said that she is having so much freaky monkey sex that she needs crates and crates of birth control pills!

Why Fluke HERSELF said that she is a 23 year old innocent sorority coed!

But, you can't accuse anyone on this forum of doing that. Can you?

---

“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.”

- Walter Reuther

---

Unpaid Social Liaison

Cornell and Georgetown Law Center, specializing in Public Interest Law, I bet she's a community organizer, too. Rush Limbaugh is a self aggrandized, illegal drug using slob, on @#$%& fueled Dominican sex tours. Ask yourself, "Who do I value". Certainly, we live in interesting times.

Quote
beagledave
I love how these folks arrive at their "facts"


Why Fluke HERSELF said that she is having so much freaky monkey sex that she needs crates and crates of birth control pills!

Why Fluke HERSELF said that she is a 23 year old innocent sorority coed!

mick e is spot on. Stop making stuff up to fit your narrative.

---

beagledave was being sarcastic.

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Classic liberal knee-jerk reactions. The whole point isn't what Limbaugh said, it's the ignoring of the media of all the remarks about conservatives that don't seem to see the light of day. You take one or two lines and that's what you base your high-and-mighty response on. Maybe some of you should actually listen to Rush before you pass your judgements.
It actually started with a hijacked House subcommittee to try and turn the purpose of the subcommittee on to a subject that had nothing to do with said committee. Then, here's a woman who specifically applies to a Jesuit school, then tries to get the school to pay for her contraception because it costs her too much per year for her to pay for it herself! $1000 per year for contraception? When does she have time for school?
So Limbaugh makes his comments and apologizes-rightly so, I agree-and the President calls her with support. But will Obama return the $1million that Bill Maher gave to Obama's superPac after Maher called Sarah Palin a "c!nt"?
It's the hypocrisy that's the point here.
You talk of civility yet do we hear of Maxine Water's rant on the Tea Party saying that "they can go straight to Hell" and the union leader (I don't remember his name offhand) calling Tea Party activists "sons of @#$%&"? Or placards at the Wisconsin state capital occupation reading "Don't f!ck with us!" or the commentator who called Laura Ingraham a "@#$%&"? Now, he did apologize and Ingraham accepted and she let the matter go.
The Democrats and liberals have no ammo left as the evidence slowly leaks out as to what an ineffective and clueless President that Obama is so they resort to these attacks.

>Rush Limbaugh is a self aggrandized, illegal drug using slob, on @#$%& fueled Dominican sex tours. Ask yourself, "Who do I value".

Yet you will value an adulterous former President who perjured himself
and who tried to get sex from a woman in mourning who asked for a job after her husband that had a job in the administration had recently died...
And Limbaugh is not a public official.
Civility indeed.

Quote

(CNN) — Rush Limbaugh’s apology for labeling a law student a “@#$%&” and “prostitute” failed to stem an exodus of advertisers from his radio show, as another company said Monday it was withdrawing spots from the conservative program.

AOL became the eighth company to announce in a statement online they were removing ads from “The Rush Limbaugh Show,” which is the most listened to talk radio show in the United States.

[fox2now.com]

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Quote

Most fundamentally, why the impulse to counter one outrageous stunt by rummaging through the archives in search of some supposedly offsetting outrageous stunt? Why not respond to an indecent act on its own terms, and then -- if there's another indecency later -- react to that too, and on its own terms?

Instead, public life is reduced to a revenge drama. Each offense is condoned by reference to some previous offense by some undefined "them" who supposedly once did something even worse, or anyway nearly as bad, at some point in the past.

[www.cnn.com]

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

As the local Conservative Republican (Or, as I like to say "Classic Republican", not these new "Diet Republicans" or "Republican Cherry" flavors.), I will say this:

It's a free market. Advertisers have the ability to go wherever they want.

Rush is an entertainer. What he says is not the opinion of all Republicans.

Rush has probably increased his ratings as a result of this hullabaloo. His advertisers will either come back or be replaced with less picky advertisers. Expect ads from local strip clubs and pain management pill mills.

Ms. Fluke most certainly will be able to develop a brilliant career, both using her eloquence, obviously brilliant legal mind, and all the wonderful free press she's gotten. I wish her well. Still doesn't justify Salamander Rushie going all Cwazy on her.

Quote
DP
You talk of civility yet do we hear of Maxine Water's rant on the Tea Party saying that "they can go straight to Hell" and the union leader (I don't remember his name offhand) calling Tea Party activists "sons of @#$%&"? Or placards at the Wisconsin state capital occupation reading "Don't f!ck with us!" or the commentator who called Laura Ingraham a "@#$%&"? Now, he did apologize and Ingraham accepted and she let the matter go.

Aside from Ed Schultz, none of those examples are of people who have radio shows and accept advertising. SO how exactly do you propose that we boycott their advertisers since they don't have any?

As for Ed Schultz, you guys were free to organize your own fire storm around that. Don't blame us if you couldn't be bothered.

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

[whatiseibnetwork.ytmnd.com]

---

[www.giyf.com]

Quote

Yet you will value an adulterous former President who perjured himself
and who tried to get sex from a woman in mourning who asked for a job after her husband that had a job in the administration had recently died...
And Limbaugh is not a public official.
Civility indeed.

Going to call me a @#$%& or prostitute next?

Why don't you answer the question about who you value more?

And further, read the link above to the David Frum CNN editorial to see why your answer is, essentially, senseless and off the mark.


ETA: I'll note that you did not deny my description of Rush Limbaugh.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2012 04:43PM by August West.

Quote
cbelt3
Rush is an entertainer. What he says is not the opinion of all Republicans.

Limbaugh wields incredible influence over conservative Republicans, make no mistake about that. Which is why it's important for GOP politicians to know when he has misrepresented how the public feels about an issue.

Quote

(CNN) – Republican Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia apologized Wednesday for criticizing conservative hosts Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hanity, assuring his supporters that "I am one of you."

[politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com]

Quote

WASHINGTON — Two days after calling conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh a mere "entertainer" with an "incendiary" talk show, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele apologized and acknowledged him as a "national conservative leader."

[www.msnbc.msn.com]

Quote

On Fox News Sunday, Sarah Palin became the latest Republican leader to walk back criticism of Rush Limbaugh's incendiary rhetoric, saying that he had been "satirical" in using the word "retards." In a prior statement about Limbaugh's comments, a Palin spokesperson had criticized the "crude and demeaning name-calling" of using the word, before later claiming that the statement was "not specifically aimed at Limbaugh" and, according to Limbaugh, calling his staffer "sort of in a panic" to explain it.

[mediamatters.org]

Quote

Asked to comment on Limbaugh’s statement, Joel Sawyer, Sanford’s Communications Director, said that “the governor was not referring to anyone” in particular when he said that anyone hoping for Obama to fail is an “idiot.” Rather, Sawyer said, Sanford was speaking “generically” and did not know that Limbaugh had previously said he hopes that Obama will fail.

[thinkprogress.org]

Quote

Issa began by distancing himself from the article, noting his quote was a distillation of a longer conversation, eventually backing away from the "compromise" language and voicing support for Limbaugh's preferred framing of the issue Republican goals for the next Congress as simply "stopping Obama."

[mediamatters.org]

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Quote

Ms. Fluke most certainly will be able to develop a brilliant career, both using her eloquence, obviously brilliant legal mind, and all the wonderful free press she's gotten.

IMHO, She had already established a brilliant career before she became right wing fodder. She didn't need the free press, but I am glad it will amplify her voice.

DP, I'm shocked by your response.

How can you accept Rush' apology as sincere. He ranted for three days and made a clear point of reiterating the previous points with each segment. AFTER sponsors start backing out, he is sorry. The apology was meaningless.

You clearly hate liberals so much you can't think straight. Almost every conservative of note has condemned Rush's statements - and most did so quite sincerely.

And, btw, David Frum (He was a special assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2002 and is the author of six books, including Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again) countered quite deftly every point you regurgitated: [www.cnn.com]

of course, you won't read it - yer a dittohead!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2012 05:25PM by hal.

Quote
hal
And, btw, David Frum (He was a special assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2002 and is the author of six books, including Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again) countered quite deftly every point you regurgitated: [www.cnn.com]

of course, you won't read it - yer a dittohead!

You didn't get the memo.

Frum is a RINO..so he doesn't count.


Or something like that....

BTW, this is how it is done.



Rush does not give a crap about anyone but Rush (and his money). If it were not for his advertisers leaving him, we would have heard nothing.

---

Limbaugh doesn't have a management to answer to, he is management of his syndicated radio show. In the past whenever he was in a management structure and responsible to others, he was invariably fired or just not renewed thus his move to independent syndication.

Quote

Peter Gabriel has asked that this response be published when he found out that his track 'Sledgehammer' has been used on the Rush Limbaugh show:

'Peter was appalled to learn that his music was linked to Rush Limbaugh's extraordinary attack on Sandra Flute. It is obvious from anyone that knows Peter's work that he would never approve such a use. He has asked his representatives to make sure his music is withdrawn and especially from these unfair aggressive and ignorant comments.'

[petergabriel.com]

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

A playlist for Rush.

[www.huffingtonpost.com]

So it now would appear that Rush Limbaugh's high ratings have been BS all along.

[www.huffingtonpost.com]

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Well, sure.

[www.borowitzreport.com]

COLUMBUS, OH (The Borowitz Report) – Embattled radio host Rush Limbaugh suffered another major desertion today as he lost the support of one of his longtime sponsors, Satan.

The usually reclusive Prince of Darkness announced his decision at a hastily called press conference in Columbus, Ohio, his unofficial headquarters on Earth.

“Due to remarks of his that we consider unacceptable, we are terminating our relationship with Rush Limbaugh,” Satan said in a tersely worded statement.

According to one advisor to the Lord of Misrule, Satan had stuck by the radio host as long as possible but after he called a young woman a @#$%& on the air Mr. Limbaugh had become “radioactive.”

“After a certain point, the association with Rush became problematic for Satan’s public image,” the aide said. “We went through a similar thing last year with Rupert Murdoch.”

Advertisers continued abandoning Mr. Limbaugh’s program in droves today, including companies who had sponsored it for years, like the online dating site NaziMingle.com™.

The only good news for Mr. Limbaugh today came from GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who offered this muted statement of support: “Look, I wouldn’t have chosen the words he did. But it’s not like he called her a poor person or something.”

LOL.

---

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

Quote
beagledave

The usually reclusive Prince of Darkness announced his decision at a hastily called press conference in Columbus, Ohio, his unofficial headquarters on Earth.

Rustbelt, have you been wearing your disguise again?

---

Comedy Central: Best news channel that isn't a news channel.

Fox News: Best comedy channel that isn't a comedy channel.

"I again sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for using those two words to describe her. I do not think she is either of those two words. I did not think last week that she was either of those two words."

That's all it was, really. Two bad words.

Two.

Bad.

Words.

That's all.

[youtu.be]

Well, According to one report I heard, Rush was claiming today he will have no problems replacing his advertisers. We will see. Don't have a link to that exactly, but CNN, [politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com], has reported he said the following:

Quote

On his radio show Monday, Limbaugh addressed the advertisers who dropped their spots from his program, telling his audience, "I'm sorry to see them go. They have profited handsomely from you. These advertisers who have split the scene have done very well from their access to you, my audience on this program."

He added, "That's a business decision and it's theirs alone to make. They've decided they don't want you or your business anymore."

Seems to think it is not about him that the advertisers are leaving.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2012 10:15PM by JoeH.

This may be opening a whole can of worms for him. His presumptive audience may not be anywhere near as large as has been assumed, seems that tracking of radio numbers is still in the stone age.

His audience is vociferous but may be much, much smaller than advertisers had been led to believe. If this turn of the screw turns out to have substance, we may be witnessing the beginning of the demise of Rushbo.

[votevets.org]

Now he's done it. Female vets want the Armed Forces Network to drop Rush.

and thumbs up for this station in Hawaii! Losing sponsors is one thing (he's up to at least 13) but stations dropping the show is really beautiful.

"While much of the national debate regarding this issue is now being framed in political terms, the decision for us is one of decency and responsibility. Regardless of one's political views on the issue being discussed, we feel the delivery was degrading and the continued comments over several days to be egregious. As a result, we are discontinuing the Rush Limbaugh program on KPUA effective immediately.”
[www.kpua.net]

Quote
DP
B-b-b-b-but Clinton!

Good job!

Pressure on stations that carry his program could mean trouble for bLIMPy!

---

Unpaid Social Liaison

I defend Rush's right to blather on his network as long as his words are not libelous. Freedom of Speech is a slippery slope.

I'm glad that those with the money who fund his hate-fest sometimes get the message that he goes too far.

---

[www.giyf.com]