How Limbaugh has changed since 1992.

[bunkerbuster1]

16 years ago I happened to be on the road on the day after Clinton's first victory, and I was curious to hear what Rush had to say. I figured that Clinton's victory would humble Rush just a bit, and on a certain level I was right. Rush, at the time, was calling for calm, was re-assuring his listeners that they had much to be proud of, and that they needed to pull together and seize the opportunity to re-shape the country that would surely arise.

I was a little surprised by this--I was expecting anger and vitriol. You know, the usual crap you get from Rush.

Well here it is 16 years later, and I decided to tune in for a few minutes over lunch. Rush has changed. He's not angry and nasty so much as just snippy, reading back bits of Obama's speech last night and imagining what we evil liberals are REALLY thinking right now.

Basically, it's not surprising to me. The righties are pettier, they are more marginalized, and they are adrift.

Good.

[Rainbowreflect]

1. I listened to him for a few and he just sounded crazy.

Crazier than usual I mean.

[ben_meyers]

2. I couldn't disagree more

Rush is positively giddy today, and he's just cranking up. He knows that he has at least 4 years of improved ratings.

I realize that most of what he does is an act but if you have listened to him over the years he really doesn't like McCain on a personal level.

An Obama presidency is the best thing that could have happened to Limbaugh, it's the Clinton years all over again.

[bunkerbuster1]

9. Well, it's the style that's changed, not the substance.

Yes, he's giddy (I had it as "snippy" but with Rush the two are the same).

16 years ago he was somber, as if he was taking this thing seriously.

I don't think he ever HAS taken his political stances seriously; I honestly think he'd back progressive causes if it meant he could double his money doing it. The man's a whore, nothing more or less. He's just very, very good at what he does.

Difference is, now he's not even pretending to care much about the country and his listeners. 16 years ago he did.

[Peregrine Took]

3. They are insane losers and 'have no idea what to do next. Their "style" of

politics is over now. The hate and name calling days are passe.

[Cosmocat]

4. He is doing the same thing as he did in 06 ...

McCain and all of the other Rs who lost, did so because they just were not pure enough in their conservatism - his proof being the gay marriage referendum in Cali - in CALI of all places, when conservatism was on the ballot people went with it.

He flat out said, Rs are screwing up by being concillitory and magnanimous, and in his way of saying it without saying, but saying it a lot more than not - he said fruck trying to act like the party isn't racists, sexist and bigoted in every way that it is. Don't try to even TRY to cover it up, just let it loose.

Two things I get out of it, as you noted, he is saying let loose on BO NOW, don't even THINK about giving him a chance. At the same time, I see this mindset as further marginalizing the party. What the freakjobs who listen to him just don't get, because they are brainwashed to think that the founding fathers were conservatives like they are told to be, is that they are just as radical as the evil liberals that Rush spins for them.

All these nutjobs telling them they are NOT conservative enough, are just pushing them over the cliff - until such time as things get turned around, and people get complacent enough to fix something that isn't broke.

[opihimoimoi]

5. He is busy being the mouthpiece of his Pub Masters...Thats what he gets paid for... being a WHORE

[paparush]

6. I heard him on the air 15 minutes ago talking about how "we have to redefine 'smart' people"

In reference to the meme of college educated people voting for Obama.

Rush, lets start with those people who are smart enough to turn you off.

(BTW, I HATE sharing my first name with that asshat gasbag.)

[TuxedoKat]

7. I heard him a few minutes yesterday

I don't even remember what he said but I was struck by how different he sounded from listening to him 3-4 years ago (before I got XM radio). Anyway, he didn't sound right to me, something was off. I had the impression he was not well physically or completely there mentally... not that his devoted listeners would notice about the mental part.

[EstimatedProphet]

8. Not what I remember from the Clinton years

On Inaguration Day, Rush had a video of Clinton getting off the airplane, with a banner at the top saying "Day 1: America Held Hostage." I don't think he's changed that much.

[bunkerbuster1]

10. Just to clarify, I also don't think he's changed much.

It's about the style. That was the point of my original post. I think he's beyond having any pretense of a conservative vision for this country.

Now it's just about telegraphing stupid water-cooler talking points for dittoheads. Nothing more or less.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. Ah. OK, I see that.

[ipfilter]

11. Clinton was his cash cow.

Now he's just crazy.