Hour 3: Rush claims "effective" way to challenge White House is by teasing and mocking Obama
This
hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by zombie housing falsehoods -- just
can't kill 'em
By Simon Maloy
Top of the final hour of the day and the week, Rush hit us with some bad news -- Mark Steyn will be in for him again on Monday ... we still wake up in a cold sweat sometimes thinking of Steyn's last turn behind the golden microphone. Anyway, Rush kicked things off by reading extensively from an AP article reporting: "Lenders are boosting their attempts to avoid home foreclosures, but fewer than half of loan modifications made at the end of last year actually reduced borrowers' payments by more than 10 percent, data released Friday show." According to Rush, these are the people Barney Frank and the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 forced the banks to give loans to. The "losers," said Rush, and even after the terms of their loans were modified "they're still losers." It's worth noting at this point -- as we have many times in the past -- the CRA and Barney Frank are not responsible for the housing crisis. The majority of subprime loans were made by institutions not covered by the CRA, and Frank supported tightened regulations and oversight for Fannie and Freddie both before and after Democrats gained control of the House in 2007.
From there Rush moved on to a Washington Post article from this morning on the backlog of 57,000 unsold cars sitting at the Port of Baltimore. Rush attacked the Post for blaming the American people for the backlog in reporting that it "exists because many of the factors that contributed to the collapse of the housing bubble -- cheap credit, easy financing, excessive production, consumers buying more than they could afford -- undermined another large and vital American industry." According to Rush, you have all these cars piling up, all the while the government is taking over the auto industry, and all the while the government is "taxing people out of their cars." Rush said this only makes sense to a liberal.
After the break, Rush convinced himself that Geraldo Rivera is the "grim reaper," because every time he sees Rivera on Fox News that means someone died, referring to the shooting rampage in Binghamton, New York, today. Time for another caller, this one dismayed that he wasn't seeing any anger at "all these things" that are going on. Rush corrected him, saying there are a lot of people out there who are angry, and they're organizing these things called "Tea Parties." We're going to make this point again because, well, we love making it. Rush frequently rails against people surrendering their "individuality" in pursuit of a cause that will accomplish nothing -- he went on quite a tirade against "Earth Hour," claiming that people participating in it were simply demonstrating their willingness to "mindlessly play[] along" just so an actor (Edward Norton) can "feel relevant." But when CNBC loudmouth Rick Santelli suggests that we need "Tea Parties," Rush encourages his listeners to join up with a bunch of other faux-populists to vent their grievances.
Anyway, Rush went on to explain to the caller that there are two ways to challenge the Obama administration -- one effective and the other ineffective. The ineffective route, according to Limbaugh, is to challenge the administration on policy grounds, because people aren't going to listen to it. The effective route is to "irritate" the White House by teasing and mocking Obama. Now we understand why Rush makes the same teleprompter jokes over and over.
Another caller, this one responding to the woman from earlier asking how smart people can act so stupid. Rush referenced an article William F. Buckley wrote for Playboy many years back (good to know Rush actually does read the articles) regarding human intelligence. Rush's point in citing this article is that liberals are all the same -- Obama, Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, "some toad on a blog," all the same.
Rush spent the rest of the hour attacking Larry King and radio host Stephanie Miller. Miller said on King's show last night: "You know, Rush Limbaugh said the other day, if -- if Barack Obama fails, America wins. How does that make sense to any rational person?" Rush said it was "ridiculous" that he had to run through this again, asking how could it be "success" if Obama intends to "seriously dent" the auto industry, and later chastising Miller for suggesting that it is "irrational" to hope that a president fails. "That's what you say about kings!" said Rush.
Speaking of kings, Rush also had some unkind words for Larry. On his program last night, King said last night: "[Y]ou can be individuals as much as you like. ... Somebody has got to think for the masses." This set Rush off, demanding to know at what point in American history has anyone ever thought of the masses. Rush said FDR might count as an example, but look at how people lived under him. Rush expanded on this later on, saying that the "masses" are "you faceless dorks who can't fend for themselves," and "elitists" like King who demand that the masses be considered. (This from a guy whose fans proudly call themselves "dittoheads.")
And that's a wrap for this week's Limbaugh Wire. We enjoyed it so much that we'll be back next week, and we'll even tune in to Mark Steyn on Monday. We're that committed. As always, we urgently recommend that you take a gander at Media Matters' informative and entertaining Limbaugh coverage.
Highlights from Hour 3
America's Truth Rejector
Falsely claimed that Barney Frank, the CRA are responsible for housing crisis:
LIMBAUGH: Plus, I mean, the dirty little secret is this is the -- this is a cruel thing to say, cruel thing to say. But these are the -- these are the beneficiaries of Barney Frank's definition of affordable housing: Give you a house. These are people who couldn't qualify for the loan in the first place and weren't asked to. These are the people who had to show no history whatsoever in order to get a loan. Clinton, ACORN, Community Redevelopment Act, Obama forced the banks to make these loans. These people can't pay. They're losers in the first place. And even after old buddy federal government steps in to try to help them out, they're still losers. It's not turning them into winners. I just -- I wonder how many of them have tattoos.
Clip from this hour
Limbaugh forwards myths that Community Reinvestment Act, Rep. Frank responsible for mortgage crisis
I wonder why these talking heads don't report this dirty little GOP secret that was sponsored, written, voted for and passed by all Republicans in 2003. Here is the speech given by Bush during his signing ceremony.
The American Dream Down payment act of 2003
He even thanks that Gawd Awful Katherine Harris in the speech. She was one of the cosponsors.
This speech is worth reading. It is relevant to the times we are in now.
Mikelartist, I read the speech and you are absolutely correct in its relevance to today, yet the Repugs constantly state that the housing and banking crisis is not of their making. LOL
Well you still have to pay the mortgage. I think that is why people lose their house, not because of a low down payment.
Teasing and mocking, a perfect description of how childish the republican party has become.
Exactly, snoop.
Hell, it wasn't too long ago that "teasing and mocking" the sitting US President was considered treasonous - and those who did were diagnosed as having something called "Bush Derangement Syndrome" . . . I wonder what's all of a sudden changed . . .
It became accepted and now it is acceptable. I never considered teasing of GW to be treasonous. He usually had it coming. Obama should relax and consider teasing as an American sport in politics.
When and where did we see O get unrelaxed as a result of teasing? By all rights he should be a stark raving homicidal lunatic by now, after all the crap he's taken. But, no, he just keeps it cool, maybe sneaks out to the balcony for a quick Winston, and then back to work pulling this countries ass out of a raging fire!
So now Ole BlunderRush and Sheer Insannity are "invested" in America's failure. President Obama's programs don't work and they are successful. Of course, our nation goes down the tubes, but that's a small sacrifice on the alter of their collective egos...
If President Obama's programs don't work, it doesn't mean they are successful, it means Obama failed. It's that simple.
"Won't somebody free me from the Barney Franks of the world," said Limbaugh, back in '98 during the kangaroo House impeachment of Clinton, after Congressman Frank had slightly sidetracked the proceedings by insisting a point of order for the rule of constitutional law.
Two days later, Matthew Shepard was murdered, found frozen, wired to a fencepost outside Laramie, Wyoming. Murdered for gay behavior, obviously a victim of the broadcast incitements of Limbaugh.
When particulars of the investigation were reported and suspects were in custody, a day or two later, I faxed the Laramie D.A.'s Office the information of Limbaugh's incitements and suggested in the fax that the prosecutor could check the radio dial in the pickup to see what station it was channeling. Alas, I was naive, back when I believed the legal system and judiciary were honest and committed to upholding the establishment of law.
My long-held opinion, and hope, is that Congressman Frank might sometime subpoena the tapes of Limbaugh's broadcasts, as every hour is recorded and archived, during the interval of 5 (broadcast) days before Shepard's murder and through 5 days after. Limbaugh at his oxycontin-deranged, hitlerian fascist worst. Or, worst up to that point, 1998.
The statute of limitations for broadcast incitement to mayhem probably has expired by now, ten years later, and certainly the pickup driven in the Shepard murder case is long lost. But not all statutes of limitations are expired, such as for Limbaugh's broadcast threats of murder against Clinton, Nov. 5, 1992. And others. Enough that if a subpoena-powered prosecution effort began copying back through Limbaugh's archival tapes, hate talk radio would be off the air within months, I believe.
Until that day Limbaugh is perp walked into prison, we can stand and tease and mock the childless big fat idiot, asking, 'How's being freed from Congressman Frank working for you, Lamebrain?'
Good Luck! I for one am thankful we still live in a country where you can exercise your freedom of expression. When Bush was in office, I heard the left call him some of the worst names ever like Hitler, fascist, communist, murderer, rapist, etc. I hated Bush too but I didn't call him names that would incite riot or chaos. You should really move to Europe where the ADL has persuaded the citizens to give up a lot of their rights to free speech. You can't even question the number of people killed during the holocaust over there! If you say it is anything less than 6 million dead then you can be arrested for "hateful and inciting" speech.
oh yes, bully for us, we still protect holocaust deniers free speech rights. Great example of defending free speech.
In the meantime, we re-elect a meat puppet as POTUS. A meat puppet who's entire family history is one of international crime non stop.
I, for one, don't think we should tease someone who makes fun of people who participate in the Special Olympics. That would be cruel.
I don't think we should make fun of those who don't understand the English language, but Mr Clock Tower Murderer is a clown of the first degree.
Go back and look at the video of what Obama said, and even then you probably won't get it, but you think he was making fun of them. He wasn't , but I'm making fun of you.
Oh please, easttorefutewingnuts, don't make fun of me! I don't think I can take it. :)
I don't think you can take it.
I can't, sob. :)
.....Oh, BTW, Obama was berating his poor bowling performance by comparing his performance to someone who participates in the Special Olympics. That is making fun of folks with special needs. Not too classy coming from the President of the United States. I guess it is you who is unable to understand the English language.
What actually happened was that Obama was making fun of Jay Leno praising Obama's relatively low bowling score.
That's not making fun of people for whom that score would be a decent score. That's making fun of himself and poking at Jay Leno for praising Obama for his bowling score. It was a score that Obama didn't deserve praise for, in Obama's own opinion.
Then I guess the special olympics was never mentioned and it never happened. Thank you for clearing that up, luvlulu. Obama wasted his time opologizing to the director of the special olympics because luvlulu says it never happened. Boy, the media sure messed up on that one and someone must have toyed with the Leno tape to make it appear Obama mentioned the special olympics. Thank god MMFA and luvlulu are alive today to correct the obvious tampering with video tape and the audio track that goes with it. Luvlulu may want to contact the Zapruder family and discuss what really happened in Dallas on November 23rd of 1963. JFK is probably living in Detroit with Elvis cuz luvlulu has an explanation for stuff we see on videotape and hear with the associated audio track that never really happened.
...that's not making fun of people for wom that score would be a decent score.....Luvlulu, that sounds like standard liberal patronization. I'm sure all of the participants of the Special Olympics will sleep well knowing Luvlulu thinks so highly of their limited abilities.
Um... theclocktower....
I have a special educated child who WAS in the regional Special Olympics of Illinois... three times and upon my hearing President Obama saying that minor misspeak... lets just say my wife and I and even our daughter were not in any way offended! Not to mention the fact that President Obama called the president of the Special Olympics not thirty minutes after taping to apologize for it.
So unless you can say that you have a special educated child of your own...
I suggest you take your smug fake outrage/ childish teasing over President Obama's very minor error in word usage and not speak about things that you persoanlly have no idea about!
The notorious Rush Limbaugh, being brazen has the audacity to even claim that "effective" way to challenge White House is by teasing and mocking Obama.
Rush is perhaps forgetting what does his such senseless diatribe is tentamounting to obliquely mean. It is the mandate of the massive majority of the American nation which has made Obama the legitimate White House occupant to reign and run all its planetary affairs, after the most merited relegation of the Republicans to a Minority Party due to their couple of miserable Failures (the Economy and the Foreign Policy).
Rush Limbaugh being the Republicans' spokesman or leader should realize that by teasing and mocking Obama, who he actually is teasing and mocking ? Is it not the majority of the American nation to which he himself also claims to be part of?
Idont care how many mistakes OBAMA may make, he is a breath of fresh air after the stench of the last 8 years under BOY GEORGE AND DARTH CHENEY.
I agree. The more mistakes he makes, the smarter he appears. Thank god for negative parallel universes where black(sorry) is white and up is down.
"Thank god for negative parallel universes where black(sorry) is white and up is down." -theclocktowersniper8151
Yes, where
- Hussein was responsible for 9/11
- WMDs were found in Iraq
- Brownie did a "heckuva job"
- Bush declared "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!" in Iraq
- Bush is considered eloquent - and popular
You must be thinking of a place called "wingnuttia" . . .
I'm glad we are in agreement.
I see when you talk about the negative parallel universe you must be talking about the WINGNUT UNIVERSE which you and others like you occupy.
Wow, Rush wants his listeners "not" to debate Pres. Obama's policies just 'mock' and 'tease' him. Isn't mocking and teasing someone a way of covering up one's own problems. So, this could mean that Rush, Conservatives, and Republicans have some kind of problems that they are covering up, huh? Uh Oh.
Every time I've tuned in to Rush, he's stuttering. Has he not heard himself? Is he not paying attention to his own vocal quirks?
It might be the Oxy withdrawl . . . or the Oxy overdose . . .
So, calling Bush an idiot, and all those fantastically intelligent things is ok?
But Obama, it's not? I need to ask on what grounds is it not ok to call a man who changes his opinions so frequently it makes John Kerry blush a dunce not ok?
I think it's just so convenient how people can splice whoever's words they want to mean whatever they see fit, but once it's done right back to them, suddenly it's racist and biggoted. Positively adorable when sites like this are shown to be the two-faced weasels they really are <3
Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, whatever happen to reporting the truth? We have the ability to sue a medical doctor if he/she makes a mistake.. But to slander our government to the point of hurting our country knowing that you both lie is okay? God something is so wrong in America.
I swear to you folks the older I get the more frustrated I become when I keep reading things from Fox "News" that is such a lie. I sincerely believe Sean and Rush would prostitute their own mothers for the all mighty dollar. And Mike Huckabee you would be sitting there logically explaining why this is so patriotic.
This is no longer news nor is it entertainment
So True oki mike..This is neither news nor entertainment.We know what it is .propaganda pure and simple.Why talk radio and a major news network is allowed to push such smearing and propagand while not held to any standards for accuracy/appropriateness is beyond me..an abuse of free speech.They just continue to get richer and richer!!!
In other words, acting like 5th graders! How mature of you, Rush!
"According to Rush, these are the people Barney Frank and the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 forced the banks to give loans to." If any body has read the CRA it in know way says that banks had to or have to give out at risk loans. these right wing nutcases have been spewing this information for months and not a one of them has even read the CRA.
Neither the CRA nor its implementing regulation gives specific criteria for rating the performance of depository institutions. Rather, the law indicates that the evaluation process should accommodate an institution's individual circumstances. Nor does the law require institutions to make high-risk loans that jeopardize their safety. To the contrary, the law makes it clear that an institution's CRA activities should be undertaken in a safe and sound manner
Rush is the best thing that happened to Obama to be honest. You have a recovering drug addict, racist, and sexist jackass complaining on how Obama is doing everything wrong and he knows what's best for America. That to me makes it a lot better chance to get moderate right wing people and independents on Obama's side.
(This from a guy whose fans proudly call themselves "dittoheads.")
You poor libs just don't get it do you? When a Rush 'fan' calls himself a 'dittohead,' the fan is mocking you!
Oh dear, I will now go home and pull the covers over my head and weep like a little girl who had her Barbie's head torn off, a ditto head is making fun of me! Oh the terrors!
If that's what he wants to believe, fine. The way I see it, though, is that he's making a better effort to promote President Obama's reelection than any campaign manager could.
So lets see if I can get this straight.
Obama is elected to be president, the liberals get into power by a majority of votes.
Now I doubt EVERY American is politically educated to know and understand EVERYTHING about the politcal ideoligies of the repuiblicans and liberals. So maybe some voted partly for a change in power, because Bush was a Republican and wasn't liked by most people, and also Obama ran a good campaign.
So instead of Republicans trying to change public opinion by sticking to pointing out flaws in liberals plans for the economy, and the benefits of their ideology over Liberals, I believe one point is less taxes yes?
Instead of doing that, Rush thinks that mocking and teasing a popular president is going to change people's opinion?
Does that mean if I'm an atheist, and I want to make a Christian see my way of thinking, I start by saying "Ahh look at you, worshipping some old fool in Rome who was in the hitler youth, "Ha ha ha your stupid"
I don't see it paying off to be honest, it makes Rush and anyone who agrees with him come across as babies to bew honest.
Now saying that, Obama shouldn't have said that about the SO on Leno's show, stupid move by him, and Bush said some stupid things aswell, but like Bush, I wouldn't crucify them over it. I mean I'm sure some comedian will use it to make fun of Obama and they should, but its pretty irrelevant when it comes to running an economy to keep bringing it up.
And that view goes just as much as anyone mentioning Bush and his silly comments, they were funny and stupid, but to be honest, have any of ye never said anything stupid and in bad taste like that? I doubt it
I agree, we really cannot make fun of Obama, we need to make fun of his speech writer. Obama only repeats what he reads on the teleprompter.
"The effective way to challenge the OBAMA administrationis to tease and mock it." just like OPERATION CHAOS eh RUSH? How effective was that for you and your RIGHT WING MORONS?