Summary Thu 2/16/95
John Switzer
for Thursday, February 16, 1995
by John Switzer
This unofficial summary is copyright (c) 1995 by John Switzer
(j...@netcom.com). All Rights Reserved. These summaries are
distributed on CompuServe and the Internet, and archived on
CompuServe (DL9 of the ISSUES forum) and Internet (cathouse.org
and grind.isca.uiowa.edu). The /pub/jr/jrs directory at
ftp.netcom.com contains the summaries for the past 30 days.
Distribution to other electronic forums and bulletin boards is
highly encouraged. Spelling and other corrections gratefully
received.
Please read the standard disclaimer which was included with the
first summary for this month. In particular, please note that
this summary is not approved or sanctioned by Rush Limbaugh or
the EIB network, nor do I have any connection with them other
than as a daily listener.
*************************************************************
February 16, 1995
BRIEF SUMMARY OF TOPICS: words to the "Great Dissenter"; dog
experts analyze Nicole Simpson's Akita; Dog World magazine send
reporter to the O.J. Simpson trial; Senator Bob Dole voices his
support for the House's Crime Bill, including its rewrite of
Clinton's "100,000" cops provision; Keith Geiger and NEA voice
their support for Henry Foster; Foster is visiting Senator Nancy
Kassebaum; President Clinton plays golf with Presidents Bush and
Ford, but gets his worst score in years, probably because he
didn't get to cheat; 100 FBI agents are reportedly in Little Rock
investigating Whitewater-related matters; Simpson defense team's
main witness flees to El Salvador; Pat Buchanan announces his
campaign for President; Mikhail Gorbachev is angry that the U.S.
is bailing out Mexico but not Russia; Don Henley of the Eagles
says his song "Get Over It" is not a political tune; words to the
Eagles' "Get Over It"; caller asks how Democrats can support any
challenger to Bill Clinton in 1996, and Rush doesn't know but
still bets it will happen; California state assembly speaker
Willie Brown says that the California Civil Rights proposition
that would end all discrimination is "racist"; California
Democrats may not support Willie Brown in opposing the Civil
Rights proposition; A.G. Edwards is criticized by blacks for
putting a bottle of pure vanilla extract on the cover of its
in-house magazine; Rush's mother tells him that vanilla comes in
both brown and white (clear) versions; Rush gets into a wee bit
of trouble because his wife didn't get her Valentine's Day
flowers until midnight; caller asks if Algore is trying to link
genuine extremists with all of the pro-life movement by calling
all opponents to Henry Foster "extremists"; caller thinks Rush
shouldn't pay too much attention to the dominant media; caller
notes that shows which originally aired on PBS are doing well on
cable channels, so he asks why PBS should get government funding;
caller explains that clear vanilla extract is just as good as
brown extract except that it is used for pure white speciality
cakes; both Algore and Bill Clinton were pro-lifers before they
ran for national office; words to PBS commercial; words to "Thank
the Lord Rush Limbaugh's On"; caller says Affirmative Action
gives perception that minorities are not team players; it's time
that discrimination be ended altogether; caller says that even if
cars cause only one-third of smog, that doesn't mean mass transit
should be abandoned; caller thinks Affirmative Action discourages
small businesses from hiring minorities; Ed Koch notes that
Senator Carol Moseley-Braun was elected in a state with only 12%
blacks so he asks how much discrimination there could be in the
state; caller asks why the country needs a Surgeon General;
caller notes that Clinton's golfing with two one-term Presidents
is an auspicious sign; caller suggests that Republicans simply
abstain from vote on Foster's nomination, so as to prevent
Democrats from sidetracking the GOP; caller says Affirmative
Action insults minorities; caller thinks Democrats will find it
hard to raise enough money to challenge Clinton in the 1996
primaries; acting baseball commissioner tells Congress some clubs
might go out of business this year if forced to play under last
year's salary rules; Robert B. Reich challenges Dick Armey to a
debate about the minimum wage; University of Purdue gets $500,000
grant from Department of Agriculture to study the well-being of
livestock; Washington state lawmakers want to put warning labels
on marriage licenses; caller says players are holding a gun to
each other's head by threatening those players who cross picket
lines; caller thinks a debate between Dick Armey and Robert Reich
would be a great thing that could expose the left's fallacies;
caller asks Rush what PBS programs he's seen; caller thinks
Republicans will eventually end up supporting the type of arts
they like; Algore releases administration's plan for creating a
global information infrastructure that would "link all the people
on the planet"; caller thinks that if there had been no liberals,
America would still be ruled by British and the South would have
won the Civil War; caller thinks the Surgeon General is needed as
a public health advocate; dictionary definitions of liberal and
conservative don't match the reality of modern politics; Senator
Robert Byrd (D-WV) was "really tweeting" today, according to a
caller; Cherry Hill, NJ gets $225,000 federal grant for three
police officers, although it is very affluent and has low crime;
some listeners take Rush's joke about Foster seeing Kassebaum
seriously.
LIMBAUGH WATCH
February 16, 1995 - It's now 821 days after Bill Clinton's
election, but Rush is still on the air with 660 radio affiliates
(with more than 20 million listeners weekly world-wide), 238 TV
affiliates (with a national rating of 3.7), and a newsletter with
more than 500,000 subscribers.
His first book was on the NY Times hardback non-fiction
best-seller list for 54 consecutive weeks, with 2.6 million
copies sold, but fell off the list after Simon and Schuster
stopped printing it. The paperback version of "The Way Things
Ought To Be" was on the NY Times paperback non-fiction
best-seller list for 28 weeks. Rush's second book, "See, I Told
You So," was on the NY Times hardback best-seller list for 16
weeks and has sold over 2.45 million copies; the paperback
version was on the best-seller list for 11 weeks.
WHITEWATER WATCH
o Pending and Possible Indictments: James McDougal (received a
"target letter" from Whitewater prosecutors); Governor Jim Guy
Tucker (D-AR), James McDougal, and Susan McDougal (according to
the November 8th Los Angeles Times, all are facing impending
indictments for matters related to Whitewater)
o Indictments: Susan McDougal (for allegedly embezzling $150,000
from conductor Zubin Mehta and his wife); Billy R. Dale (accused
and arraigned of embezzling $33,000 from the White House Travel
Office between 1992 and early 1993-this is not related to
Whitewater, but what the heck)
o Convictions: David Hale (felony fraud-March, 1994); Robert
Palmer (convicted of falsifying appraisal documents related to
Madison Guaranty S&L-December, 1994); Webster Hubble (convicted
of mail fraud, tax evasion, and overbilling clients of at least
$394,000-December, 1994); Charles Matthews and Eugene Fitzhugh
(bribery-January 1995).
LEST WE FORGET
The following are from the Rush Limbaugh show on Thursday,
February 18, 1993:
o In his first State of the Union speech, President Clinton
declared that deficit reduction was his main goal, and he
complained that there was too much consumption in America and not
enough investment. He also introduced an economic plan which had
new numbers never before seen.
For example, millionaires were defined as anyone making more than
$250,000. Clinton justified imposing his "millionaire surtax" on
those making more than $250,000 by saying that there really
weren't that many people making between $250,000 and $1 million a
year, so it wouldn't affect that many more people.
Clinton also proposed a number of broad-based energy taxes, so
Rush asked if people realized how much energy was a part of their
lives. If Clinton's BTU-based taxes were to go into effect, there
would also be all sorts of regulations needed to deal with all of
the possible fuel sources. Then, people would find out why the US
fought the Gulf War - the free flow of oil at market prices is
essential to freedom because freedom can't exist without energy.
However, Clinton claimed that someone making $40,000 a year would
pay only $116 more a year. "You just wait, folks," Rush warned.
Mike from Jacksonville, FL noted that CNN was reporting that
windmills on the West Coast would be taxed, too, even though they
don't use any energy fuels. The windmills are saving energy, but
would be taxed based on the amount of fuel that would have been
used otherwise. "Rush, they've done it," Mike stated, "they've
taxed air."
o Tony Sargent of ABC Radio News reported that Clinton's tax
breaks and spending increases would offset nearly $170 billion of
the supposed $500 billion in deficit savings that Clinton claimed
his economic plan would produce.
o David Wilhelm, new Chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, responded to Rush's proposed $1 million bet by saying
that Rush should "wager the microphone" so that if Rush loses,
Wilhelm would get his microphone for a year. Rush said he
wouldn't mind doing that, assuming, of course, Wilhelm let Rush
run the DNC for a year if Rush wins.
o Jack Kevorkian killed his 14th and 15th victims in Watershed
Township, Michigan.
o A furor was developing over the new jogging track being built
at the White House, how much it was costing, and how was footing
the bill for this luxury item at a time when Clinton was
demanding "sacrifice" from all Americans. Rush read a transcript
of a question and answer session between journalists and Dee Dee
Myers about this:
"Question: Are you building a jogging track out there?
Myers: I'm looking into that and we'll have an answer for you
later.
Q: (simultaneous questions erupt from different journalists about
this same issue)
Myers: I'm looking into it and will get back to you.
Q: What does that mean - looking into it? You mean you can't pick
up a phone and find out what that is?
Myers: We're looking into it, but as soon as I can tell you with
some specificity what the details are, I'll let you know. I can't
do that now.
Q: How about a simple yes-and-no answer?
Myers: I'll get back to you!
Q: Are they building a jogging track out there?
Myers: I'll get back to you on that.
Q: What's the problem, Dee Dee?
Myers: I'll be happy to answer it.
Q: You've had four hours to find out.
Myers: That's not true.
Q: It couldn't cost too much but it had to cost something and one
wonders just how much.
Myers: As I'm sure you know, things are not always as they appear.
Q: When are you going to tell us?
Myers: As soon as I can tell you.
Q: Why is it a secret?
Myers: It's not a secret, Helen. As soon as I have an answer,
I'll be happy to share it with you.
Q: (a reporter suggests that Clinton could defuse a "potentially
explosive situation" by inviting his critics, "say, Rush
Limbaugh," to jog with him)
Myers: But Rush could have a heart attack and die.
Q: Are you saying the President should kill Rush Limbaugh?"
o Ronald Reagan wrote a column for the NY Times which reminded
Rush of the Christmas gift which Reagan had sent him: a framed
portrait that contained the following letter:
"Dear Rush, Thanks for all you're doing to promote Republican and
conservative principles. Now that I've retired from active
politics, I don't mind that you've become the number one voice
for conservatism in our country. I know the liberals call you
`the most dangerous man in America,' but don't worry about it -
they used to say the same thing about me. Keep up the good work!
America needs to hear `the way things ought to be.' Sincerely,
Ron."
President Reagan's column said the following about the Clinton
administration's economic plan:
"Less than one month ago, our nation showed the world the
strength of our democratic system with the peaceful transfer of
Presidential power from one elected citizen to another and,
incidentally, from one political party to another. While it is no
secret that I would have preferred a different scenario that day,
I have great respect for our constitutional system and would like
to support our new President.
"I had every intention of holding back any comments on the new
Administration until it was well in place and its policies became
clear. Unfortunately, the policies are already becoming
alarmingly clear. With campaign promises dropping like autumn
leaves, I can't refrain any longer.
" `First, we're going to raise the taxes on the people that did
well in the 1980's,' the Clinton Administration says. Did I hear
that right? I'm afraid so! Do they really believe that those who
have worked hard and been successful should somehow be punished
for it? Is success in the 1980's, or any time for that matter,
supposed to be something we as Americans are to be embarrassed
about?
"I hate to confuse their economic thinking with a few facts, but
if they were to look at the 1980's, they would find that America
experienced its longest period of peacetime economic expansion in
our history. They would find that America led the world out of a
global economic recession and that our economy was the envy of
virtually every other nation. They would see that we created
nearly 19 million new jobs for Americans of all income levels.
And it may shock the Clinton Administration to discover that most
of the economic gains of the 1980's were made by low- and
middle-income citizens, not the wealthiest Americans.
"Earlier this week, President Clinton said, `I know we have
learned the hard lessons of the 1980's.' I didn't realize they
were so hard to learn. The fundamental lesson of the 1980's was
that when you cut taxes for everyone, people have the incentive
to work harder and invest, to make a better life for themselves
and their families.
"If the new Administration doesn't want to look back as far as
the 1980's, maybe it will at least look back at the summer of
1992. Candidate Bill Clinton was promising that, if elected, he
would provide a tax cut for the middle class. Now, in less than
one month of his Presidency, that promise of a tax cut has not
only been broken but it has been reversed into a tax increase for
middle-income workers.
"During the campaign, Bill Clinton said he would tax only the
very rich. Last week, he defined this category as those making
$200,000 a year. On Monday, the definition came down to $100,000
and now the `very rich' seems to be anyone making $30,000 a year.
"Somehow, as the Administration raises everyone's taxes, it wants
us to take comfort in knowing that others are getting theirs
raised even more. Unfortunately, that kind of `comfort' doesn't
put food on the table of the hard-working middle class, buy new
shoes for the kids or make it easier to pay the mortgage, let
alone put some money aside for savings. The fact is, every dollar
the politicians take back to Washington means less spending power
for average Americans and more opportunity for the Federal
bureaucracy to waste money.
"We must also listen for the sound of the other shoe to drop: the
Clintons' health program. This will almost certainly involve
proposals for another round of taxes later this year, and you can
bet those won't be levied on a handful of millionaires.
"In the Middle Ages, it was believed that alchemists could turn
base metals into gold. Now it appears that alchemists in
President Clinton's Administration hope to turn a huge tax
increase into economic growth. Alchemy didn't work then and it
won't work now. Taxes have never succeeded in promoting economic
growth. More often than not, they have led to greater economic
downturns.
"In his campaign, candidate Clinton described himself as a `new
Democrat,' implying that there would be no more tax-and-spend
dogma, no social engineering, no class warfare pitting one group
against another. This week, however, he has begun to sound like
an `old Democrat.' That's the kind who does not understand one
simple fact: the problem is not that the people are taxed too
little, the problem is that the Government spends too much.
"Until President Clinton and the liberals in Congress accept that
principle and act accordingly, I'm afraid we are headed for a
repeat of the late 1970's. And that is something we can all live
without.
"No one can dispute that the enormous budget deficit is a major
threat to the economic security of our country. But let us
remember that deficits are caused by spending. By the very terms
of our Constitution, only Congress has the power to spend.
"For more than four decades, one party, the Democratic Party, has
controlled the House of Representatives. The solution to the
deficit problem is not to ask heavily taxed working Americans to
`sacrifice' even more.
"It's the big-spending liberals controlling the Congress who need
to show some restraint and `sacrifice' a few of the pork-barrel
measures they've been slipping past the taxpayers for far too
long. Only when the Clinton Administration and Congress summon
the will to put the brakes on Federal spending will they get the
deficit under control.
"While I'm flattered that President Clinton admits to taking a
page out of my communications plan, I wish he'd use it to sell an
economic program of growth and expansion, not the failed liberal
policies of the past.
"Just as positive signs of economic recovery are appearing, Mr.
President, please don't blow it. Although it goes back well
before the 1980's, may I offer you the advice of the 14th century
Arab historian Ibn Khaldun, who said: `At the beginning of the
empire, the tax rates were low and the revenues were high. At the
end of the empire, the tax rates were high and the revenues were
low.'
"And, no, I did not personally know Ibn Khaldun, although we may
have had some friends in common!"
o Rush played his new theme song, "The Great Dissenter":
"Oh yes, I'm the Great Dissenter,
Dissenting and doing it well.
The need is such, 'cause liberals lie so much.
I catch them and I love to tell."
"Oh, oh, yes - I'm the Great Dissenter.
They hate me in DC town.
The Clintons seem to be what they're not, you see.
So I'm wearing the truth as a crown.
Dissenting 'cause they're . . . still around."
o In her column in USA Today, Jeannie Williams quoted Rush as
saying he showed up at Patsy's with his "sweetheart." Rush
stated, somewhat regretfully, that he didn't have a sweetheart.
Although he did have dinner at Patsy's on his birthday, and
although he did have a woman as a guest, he did not introduce her
as his sweetheart.
********
MORNING UPDATE
Today's update is going to be about a dog, specifically about
Nicole Simpson's Akita. During the O.J. Simpson trial, the
prosecution has brought forth witnesses to testify that they
heard this dog barking the night of the murders, and the state
hopes this will help establish the approximate time that these
murders occurred.
The media, though, is more interested in what this dog is
"thinking" and "feeling," and one story quoted a psychology
professor at the University of British Columbia, author of the
book "The Intelligence of Dogs," as saying that the dog barked
because "it could be thinking `I haven't had my dinner,' or `my
collar is too tight.'" Rush notes that according to this
professor, this dog thinks better than do many high school
graduates.
Another author of a dog book thinks the Akita could very well
have been "grieved" at the murders and was trying to get help for
its owner. Rush thinks these guys are "barking up the wrong tree"
because dogs can only think and speak "bow wow."
The owners of Dog World magazine, though, obviously would
disagree, given that they've decided to assign a reporter to
cover the O.J. Simpson trial. This shouldn't surprise the
mainstream journalists, though, since the fine art of reporting
went to the dogs some time ago.
FIRST HOUR
Items
o Rush has learned more about the what's going on in the Senate
about the Republican Crime Bill. The House approved the bill a
couple of days ago, eliminating the provision in the Clinton
Crime Bill that allegedly paid for 100,000 cops. Clinton's bill,
though, never did pay for 100,000 cops, but some Senate
Republicans reportedly said they didn't want to oppose this idea
because it might lead the American people to conclude that the
Republicans were "soft" on crime.
This, of course, generated a lot of opinion among Rush's
listeners, much of it angrily directed against Senate Majority
Leader Bob Dole. Dole's office, not surprisingly, responded by
issuing a press release which in part says:
"I want to commend the House of Representatives for a rewrite of
last year's Police Hiring program to give states and localities
more flexibility in determining what best suits their own unique
law enforcement needs. President Clinton is now out . . .
threatening a veto, arguing that the law enforcement block grants
would somehow jeopardize his pledge to put 100,000 more cops on
the streets.
"As most experts would tell you, the 1994 Crime Bill barely
contains enough funding to hire 25,000 cops, never mind 100,000.
So President Clinton's complaints may make for good rhetoric, but
when all is said and done rhetoric has never put a single cop on
the beat.
"I commend the House of Representatives for toughening up last
year's Crime Bill and for giving the states and cities the
flexibility they need. It is now up to the Senate to finish the
job."
Rush thus concludes that the Senate will do everything it can to
support the House rewrite of the Clinton Crime Bill, but only
time will tell.
o The National Education Association and its head Keith Geiger
have spoken up in support of Henry Foster. Rush wonders whether
the 2.2 million members of the NEA know that their leader said
"we are pleased that the President would nominate a Surgeon
General who stresses the same values our members teach students
every day: hard work, tolerance, personal responsibility,
honesty, and respect for themselves and others."
Rush has to laugh at that set of values since there has been
almost no honesty in the entire Foster nomination. Meanwhile the
White House is sending Henry Foster to Capitol Hill to make some
courtesy calls on members of Congress, in the hope he can get
them to support his nomination.
In particular, Foster will be visiting with Senator Nancy
Kassebaum (R-KS), chairwoman of the Senate Labor Committee. Rush
would thus ask "why - is she pregnant or is she retarded?"
o President Clinton played golf yesterday at the Bob Hope Desert
Classic, along with President George Bush who hit not one, but
two spectators, and President Gerald Ford, who hit one spectator.
President Clinton shot a 93, which he said was the worst golf
game he's had in years; Rush, though, suspects this is only
because Clinton couldn't cheat on this game as he usually does.
However, Rush admits that Clinton did have trouble getting off
the tee - the last time he had such trouble with a driver was
when he was at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. Speaking of
Little Rock, Rush notes that it's now being reported that about
100 FBI agents are there, investigating Whitewater-related
matters.
o The 1996 California ballot will contain a civil rights
initiative which would end all discrimination, both for and
against, on the basis of race. When Rush first mentioned this
last month, he noted that anyone opposing this proposition would
rightly be called a bigot, and the first such bigot has appeared:
state assembly speaker Willie Brown. Rush will talk more about
this later.
o Rush has to confess he thinks it's funny as hell that the
number one witness for the Simpson defense team, Rosa Lopez, who
supposedly could exonerate O.J. Simpson by placing his white
Bronco somewhere else at the time of the murders, has fled the
country to El Salvador.
o Pat Buchanan has announced he'll run for President next year.
o Mikhail Gorbachev is upset that the United States is bailing
out Mexico but not Russia.
*BREAK*
Phone Tony from Vallejo, CA
Tony saw the Eagles in concert a while back, and before they
played their new song "Get Over It," Don Henley mentioned that
some people were trying to turn this song into a political
message. Henley said that although Rush had praised the song and
read its lyrics on his show, his song was not meant as a
political anthem.
Tony found it fascinating that when Henley mentioned Rush, about
half the crowd cheered and about half the crowd booed, which
means there was a good mix of people in the crowd. Henley
responded to this by saying his song was not about the right or
the left but about taking responsibility for yourself and your
own life. Upon hearing this, the entire crowd then cheered, which
Tony thinks shows the progress that's being made against
liberalism.
Rush says he's long suspected many people are really
conservatives but are afraid to admit it because they've always
heard that conservatives are racists and homophobic. If you would
ask people, though, about basic issues without bringing politics
into it, you'll find that the people live their lives more
conservatively than otherwise.
Rush plays the Eagles' "Get Over It" so the rest of EIB's
listeners know what this tune is all about:
<<Intro Verse>>
"I turn on the tube and what do I see,
A whole lotta people crying `don't blame me!'
They point their crooked little fingers at everybody else,
Spend all of their time feeling sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that,
Your momma's too thin; your daddy's too fat!"
<<Chorus>>
"Get over it! Get over it!
Always whining, crying, and pitching a fit,
Get over it! Get over it!"
<<Bridge and Verse>>
"You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash,
But you might feel better if they gave you some cash.
The more I think about it, ol' Billy was right,
Let's kill all the lawyers, let's kill them tonight!
You don't want to work, you want to live like a king,
But the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing!"
<<Chorus>>
"Get over it! Get over it!
If you don't want to play, then you might as well quit,
Get over it! Get over it!"
<<Verse>>
"It's like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You're making' the most of your losin' streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak."
"You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt, you wallow in the pain.
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown.
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down.
Complain about the present and blame it on the past,
I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little . . .
<<Chorus>>
"Get over it! Get over it!
All this bitchin' and moaning' and pitchin' a fit.
Get over it! Get over it!"
"Get over it! Get over it!
It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit!
Get over it! Get over it!"
Rush notes that if victimology is not a liberal creation, then he
doesn't know what is. It's illuminating to hear, though, that
this band doesn't think their song is conservative.
Phone Mary Kate from Fishkill, NY
Mary Kate says she and her friend are starting their own
business, taking Rush's advice to just do it. She wants to know,
though, how the Democrats are going to explain in 1996 that they
aren't supporting their incumbent President; how can Democrats
support someone such as Algore or Dick Gephardt instead of
Clinton?
Rush says he suspects a lot of Democrats are simply positioning
themselves for challenging Clinton in the 1996 primaries, but
they haven't committed themselves yet; before any open challenges
happen, Bill Clinton needs to commit a few more gaffes and do
more damage to the party. If this happens, though, then Democrats
will compete with each other to upset him. The last time this
happened was 1980, and it's interesting that every time an
incumbent has been seriously challenged in modern times, the
opposition has won the White House.
Rush doesn't know the specifics of how this will happen, but his
instincts tell him that Clinton simply won't be on the ticket.
There are still so many indictments and disclosures to come down
the pike that it's hard to see how Clinton can make a comeback;
although there is some good news for him in the polls and
although the Republicans are suffering some minor setbacks, the
Democrats are like sharks, circling Clinton, waiting for blood.
As to how Democrats will explain their challenges to Clinton,
Rush bets there will be a lot of talk about "saving the party"
and "saving America."
*BREAK*
Phone Justin from Studio City, CA
Justin gives conservative Hollywood dittos, especially since he
was one of the extras who appeared in the Heart's Afire episode
that Rush guest-starred in; he was in the scene that had Rush
debating Markie Post on the radio. Rush says that was a fun
experience and asks what Justin is doing now.
Justin says he's working for a television production series
that's doing a show for CBS; however, he'd rather not let his
colleagues know that he's calling Rush's show. He adds that he
was not surprised to hear Rush talk about the "other Slick
Willie" when mentioning the California civil rights initiative.
Rush says that Willie Brown's opposition to this proposition is
amazing, especially since Rush has previously noted that had this
bill been introduced thirty years ago, nobody but bigots would
have opposed it. Similarly, those who now oppose this idea - that
racial discrimination should be ended - are bigots, given that
anyone who opposes this initiative wants to continue
discrimination.
Brown, however, stated that any attempt to eliminate minority
preferences in hiring, government contracting, or school
admissions in California would be "totally and completely
racist." Thus, to Brown, it's now racist not to give preferential
treatment, it's racist to ignore the color of someone's skin, and
it's racist if you don't think people should be judged on the
basis of their skin color.
Brown also said "I don't care if you're a Democrat or a
Republican, I don't care whether you maintain the issue is a
freight train or not, you ought to try to be half-assed
principled on something." Brown thus will obviously carry the
water on this issue, but the state Democrats are going to find it
hard to go along with him, given the strong public support for
this idea.
Justin says he's not surprised by Brown, but the assembly
Democrats are already being criticized for their close links to
the liberal Brown and were hammered on their opposition to
Proposition 187. They are thus very cautious and are running for
cover on this issue.
Rush says that the basic fact of the matter is that the Democrats
know it's wrong to try to solve the problem of discrimination by
transferring the discrimination; this is called "get evenism,"
and it appears that Willie Brown thinks anyone who's not white is
someone who needs the help of big government to make it. This
only creates a class of second-class citizens who are dependent
on the government.
In a companion story, today's St. Louis Dispatch reports that the
A.G. Edwards investment firm is in trouble because its employee
magazine, Inside Quote, had a cover photo last month of a bottle
of pure vanilla extract. The bottle was supposed to illustrate
the firm's "plain vanilla" reputation as a simple, old-fashioned
firm that avoids risky and faddish investment products.
Black employees, though, are outraged, insisting that the cover
implies that people of color have no place in the firm. Rush
doesn't understand how this can be - he can't understand the
logic that claims vanilla extract, which is a brown liquid, is a
sign of racial disharmony.
This sort of climate, though, has been created thanks to guys
such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson who have encouraged
minorities to sit around and just wait to be offended. This sort
of complaint, though, is outrageous - all people have to do is go
out and pick up a bottle of vanilla extract and see that both the
liquid and its bottle are brown.
Yet some blacks at A.G. Edwards think that vanilla is a sign of
white oppression. Richard Cohen, though, is defending Rep.
Charles Rangel's comparison of Bill Archer to Hitler; Cohen
thinks Rangel should be forgiven because he and his colleagues
are "scared" - everything they've done for the past 30 years is
about to be taken away from them.
Justin notes that the liberals should be grateful for Hitler
because if there hadn't been a Hitler, they wouldn't be able to
call their enemies vile names. Rush bets that the liberals would
have found someone they could have used.
Rush adds that when he was on the set of "Heart's Afire," there
were a lot of people who sidled up to him and quietly asked him
to sign their copies of his book. Rush had a lot of fun doing
that show and asks Justin, should he run into any of the crew
somewhere, to give them his best.
*BREAK*
Rush just received a fax from his mother who writes the
following:
"Tell Rush there is white vanilla, too. A lot of people use it in
Angel's Food cake. You can buy it at the store. Signed, mother."
Rush asks Bo to get his mother on the phone because he has more
questions to ask about this all-important food flavoring. After a
moment, Millie Limbaugh comes on the line to explain that white
vanilla is used to keep Angel's Food cake pure and white.
Rush asks if the white vanilla comes in the same brown bottle
that brown vanilla comes in, and his mother replies that this is
the case. He then asks her a tough question: when it comes to
"pure vanilla extract," do brown and white perform equally well?
Mrs. Limbaugh replies that they are indeed equal, although they
are different colors.
Rush notes that this means you don't have to add anything to the
brown vanilla extract to get it to perform as well as the white
vanilla. Mrs. Limbaugh adds that white vanilla is actually clear
and transparent, but it does give the same flavor impact as brown
vanilla.
Rush asks how his mother is doing, and she says she's doing great
and is glad to hear that Rush is recovering from his cold. Rush
says he's got a bit of a fever but is otherwise doing just fine.
Mrs. Limbaugh also thanks Rush for sending her flowers on
Valentine's Day.
Rush notes that when his mother called on Tuesday to thank him
for those flowers, Marta hadn't yet received her flowers; the
flowers Rush had sent her weren't even delivered until midnight
on Valentine's Day, which made her have some doubts that Rush had
even ordered any for her. Fortunately, the flowers were indeed
delivered and all got straightened out.
Rush thanks his mother for sending him the fax to help him
straighten out this vanilla extract controversy. He pledges that
his TV show tonight will demonstrate the fact that brown and
white vanilla extract do indeed perform equally.
*BREAK*
Phone John from Nashville, TN
John says he's heard Algore say that anyone who opposes Henry
Foster's nomination is an "extremist," and he wonders if Algore
is trying to make a link between genuine extremists, such as
those who shoot abortionists and bomb clinics, and the rest of
the pro-life movement. Rush says Algore is indeed trying to
create such a link, in an attempt to divide the Republican party.
The Democrats would love to see the Republicans start arguing
amongst themselves about abortion.
Thus, Algore is hoping that by calling pro-lifers in the
Republican party "extremists," he will encourage moderate
Republicans to step forth and call the pro-lifers "extremists,"
too. This is a cheap political move, though, and Rush suspects
it's going to eventually backfire on him and the Democrats.
In fact, later in the show, Rush will recall what Algore has had
to say in the past about abortion and the pro-life movement.
Phone Roy from Petaluma, CA
Roy agrees with the caller yesterday that Rush shouldn't pay too
much attention to the dominant media such as the NY Times, Time
magazine, and the major networks because they are becoming more
and more irrelevant. However, Roy hopes that Rush doesn't stop
talking about these guys because they often provide great
entertainment, and if Rush did stop mentioning them, they might
get so little attention as to go out of business altogether.
Rush says he's heard many people make this comment lately and
thanks Roy for calling.
*BREAK*
SECOND HOUR
EIB is being swarmed with people who want to clarify the
difference between white and brown vanilla, so Rush goes straight
to the phones, so that this vital issue can be swiftly dealt
with.
Phone Mary Jo from Kittanning, PA
Mary Jo first says that she's against public funding of PBS
because channels such as A&E and Life are broadcasting the same
programs being shown on PBS. If they can make it on cable
channels and pay for themselves, then they don't need federal
funding.
Rush says this is a great point; however, if the elitists think
"their" programs are so important, they should contribute more of
their own money to fund them and leave the rest of the country
alone. Mary Jo adds that she rarely watches PBS anymore because
by the end of the night, you feel horrible that you're white and
don't have AIDS.
Mary Jo next says that her mother and great-grandmother were
great bakers, so she knows that clear vanilla extract is not
unique; such clear extracts are used whenever they wanted to bake
something such as a pure white wedding cake. However, the clear
and non-clear extracts are otherwise identical and perform
equally, in terms of taste and texture.
Rush is glad to get confirmation of his mother's fax and thanks
her for calling.
********
Rush returns to the subject of how Algore is calling everyone who
opposes the Foster nomination an "extremist." In his eight years
as a member of the House of Representatives, Algore voted
pro-life 26 times, and in 1979 he voted against an amendment
which would have funded abortions in cases of rape and incest.
Furthermore, on June 26, 1984 Algore voted in favor of amending
the Civil Rights Act so that the word "person" would apply to
unborn children from the moment of conception. On March 19, 1987
he also voted for legislation by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) to ensure
that federally funded family planning programs would not fund
abortion.
Also, on September 15, 1983 Algore wrote a constituent to say "as
you know I have strongly opposed federal funding of abortions. In
my opinion, it is wrong to spend federal funds for what is
arguably the taking of a human life. It is my deep personal
conviction that abortion is wrong. Let me assure you that I share
your belief that innocent human life must be protected and that I
have an open mind on how to further this goal."
When Algore ran for President, though, he threw away these
particular principles so he could become pro-choice. Thus, it's
curious that Algore is now claiming pro-lifers are extremists for
opposing the nomination of Henry Foster.
Of course, Algore is not alone in his hypocrisy. In a letter then
Governor Bill Clinton wrote on September 26, 1986 to Eurlene
Windsor, director of the Arkansas Right to Life group, he stated:
"Dear Mrs. Windsor, thank you for giving me the opportunity to
respond to the Arkansas Right to Life questionnaire. However,
most of the questions address federal issues outside of the
authority of a governor of a state. Because many of the questions
do concern the issue of abortion, I would like for your members
to be informed of my position on the state's responsibility in
that area.
"I am opposed to abortion and to government funding of abortions.
We should not spend state funds on abortion because so many
people believe abortion is wrong. Again, thank you for allowing
me to share my position on this important issue. Sincerely, Bill
Clinton, governor of Arkansas."
The pro-choicers, of course, would claim that Algore and Clinton
simply changed their minds and "grew" in their beliefs. However,
it's clear that both men changed their minds because they were
seeking higher office in the Democratic party, which meant
throwing away their principles. Thus, it's interesting at how
these men living in glass houses are throwing stones.
*BREAK*
Rush welcomes a new sponsor to the EIB Network, the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting:
<<sound of someone changing channels on a TV, followed by women's
voice>> You must not interfere with us here, Reverend Hayes . . .
<<channel changes, man's voice>> You're not running, you're
saying put the . . .
<<channel changes, man's voice>> She's not in her grave . . .
<<channel changes, man's voice>> . . . automatic . . .
<<channel changes, announcer>> Tonight on PBS, right after our
pledge break, our special encore showing of "Quilting in the 90s!"
<<TV viewer>> Quilting for the 90s!? That damn thing better have
a Dallas Cowboys logo on it! Where's my remote?!
<<announcer>> PBS, if we didn't do it, who would? Who would want to?
********
Next, Rush shows what real entertainment is by playing the Rush
Hawkins singers:
<<Organ and band play the intro to the song, which is in the best
"call and response" gospel tradition>>
<<Choir>> Talent on Loan from God!
<<Soloist, with a shout>> Yaow! Let's give it up for Rush!
<<Soloist, as song starts>> Thank the Lord <<choir repeats it>>
Rush Limbaugh's on! <<choir repeats>>
Thank the Lord <<choir repeats>>
Rush Limbaugh's on! <<choir repeats>>
Thank the Lord <<choir repeats>>
Rush Limbaugh's on! <<choir repeats>>
<<Soloist and choir>> Thank the Lord Rush Limbaugh's on the EIB!
<<Bridge>>
<<Soloist>> You hear everything on the EIB!
<<Choir>> Now thank the Lord!
<<Soloist>> He likes to tease Bill and Hillary!
<<Choir>> Now thank the Lord!
<<Soloist>> You'll love every word that he says, the liberal left
is nearly dead!
<<male Soloist>> Come on join us, be a dittohead!
<<Choir>> Now thank the Lord!
<<Soloist, repeating the beginning>> Thank the Lord <<choir repeats>>
Rush Limbaugh's on! <<choir repeats>>
Thank the Lord <<choir repeats>>
Rush Limbaugh's on! <<choir repeats>>
Thank the Lord! <<choir repeats>>
Rush Limbaugh's on! <<choir repeats>>
<<Soloist and choir>> Thank the Lord Rush Limbaugh's on the EIB!
<<Soloist and choir>> Thank the Lord Rush Limbaugh's on the EIB!
<<Soloist and choir in close, followed by instrumental close>>
Talent on loan from God!
********
Phone Marilyn from Ft. Wayne, IN
Marilyn says she's worked in personnel for years and has hired
many people, and thinks Affirmative Action is needed for many
minorities to get hired. This is because many people don't
believe minority people are team players.
Rush says he doesn't believe this nor has he ever heard this sort
of accusation before. Besides, he's tired of hearing that "they,"
whoever "they" might be, aren't team players, aren't this or
aren't that.
Marilyn says this attitude comes from how black leaders claim
minorities need special privileges; this only gives the
perception that these guys aren't part of the team. Rush says if
this is true, then the black leaders are wrong and it's time to
break the hold these leaders have on the civil rights movement
and on minorities.
Rush knows from first-hand experience and from the stories he's
heard from others, that there are jobs going crying because
employers want, but can't find, competent, qualified, and
ambitious workers. These businesses don't care what skin color
their workers have but only that they can do the job.
The days of blacks being discriminated against in the workplace
are over, except perhaps in that reverse discrimination and
Affirmative Action are generating resentment. This has to stop -
such programs only expand what rifts exist, which means all
discrimination has to be stopped. The doors have been opened to
minorities, and the rising black middle class is yearning only
for equal opportunity.
It's now time to help such people to meet their goals and access
the opportunities that are available, and this won't occur if we
are still focusing on skin color. The answer is simple - we have
to stop judging people's worth on the basis of their skin color;
the country has to return to pursuing excellence and on getting
the job done.
Rush meets many people in his travels who simply want to hire the
best people for the job, and the time's right to end
discrimination of all kinds.
Phone David from Tuscaloosa, AL
David gives dittos but says he might withdraw them at any time
because he heard Rush's story about how the AAA declared that
automobile pollution caused only one-third of the big cities'
smog problems. He would think that autos, being responsible for
one-third of smog, is still a significant thing; the fact that
other things are responsible for the remaining two-thirds of
pollution doesn't change that.
Rush says the AAA study said two-thirds of the smog in ten major
cities came from factories, smokestacks, busses, and big trucks.
Rush mentioned the story because the environmentalists are
claiming mass transit is the answer to pollution; however, if
autos were replaced by busses, then the smog problems would
become worse.
David says that he'd have to see how much mass transit does
contribute to pollution before concluding this. David doesn't
believe autos should be outlawed, but that doesn't mean
regulations on autos should be abandoned either.
Rush says the study also found that cars and light trucks are
responsible for 35% of the volatile organic compounds, down from
44% in 1970; cars are responsible for only 16% of all nitrous
oxide emitted, down from 22% in 1970. The study does not separate
out busses from the trucks, smokestacks, and refineries, however,
so Rush can't give any breakdown on this.
David says that mass transit should be thrown out the window, but
Rush says this is not what he suggested doing. He holds David
over the break.
*BREAK*
Phone David from Tuscaloosa, AL (continued)
Rush says he's not suggested getting rid of mass transit, only
pointing out the absurdity of Algore's statement, echoed by the
militant environmentalists, that the automobile is the single
greatest threat to humanity. The environmentalist wackos are
trying hard to control people's lives, to get them out of their
cars and force them into the "proper" ways of travelling.
However, Rush knows that people in cars are not polluting the
world or destroying the planet. David says that mass transit is
supposed to cut down pollution from cars as well as lessening the
dependence on society on cars in an economics sense. Rush says if
mass transit has an "economics" goal, then this is wrong, too.
David also says that Rush referred to ozone as a "local problem,"
but it's commonly accepted that ozone and global warming have
many things in common. Rush says global warming and the ozone
layer have nothing to do with one another or with the ozone
pollution produced by cars. Global warming can't even be proved -
even the environmentalists admit this, given that 20 years ago
they were warning about global cooling.
The global warming `crisis' was just a way that the
environmentalist wackos used to frighten people into supporting
their socialist agenda. Rush won't back down from this claim.
Phone Steve from Ft. Wayne, IN
Steve is opposed to Affirmative Action because to a certain
extent, it's Affirmative Action programs which help the
separatists and others who support discrimination. Affirmative
Action might help minorities get employed in big companies, but
small or medium-sized companies are afraid to employ minorities
because of the possible legal action that could be taken should
such people have to be laid off or fired.
Steve does not support discrimination in any form, but small
businesses and medium companies are not willing to expose
themselves to all the potential problems that could result from
discrimination lawsuits. Thus, Affirmative Action is having the
opposite effect from what was intended.
Rush agrees - these programs exacerbate tensions and increase
resentment among people. He thanks Steve for calling, and recalls
that earlier this morning he ran into former NYC mayor Ed Koch in
the EIB halls; Koch made the point that Senator Carol
Moseley-Braun was elected to the Senate in Illinois, which has a
black population of only 12%. Moseley-Braun thus obviously got a
lot of white votes, so how much discrimination can there be in
that state?
Similarly, if the black population of America is only 8 or 10 or
12% of America, does the country want to start having quotas? For
example, the Supreme Court is perfectly balanced since it has its
"share" of blacks right now, but does that mean no more blacks
should be put on the Court? Is this the kind of attitude America
wants to have?
Phone Mike from Detroit, MI
Mike says the nomination of Henry Foster has caused him and many
of his colleagues to wonder why the country needs a Surgeon
General at all. Rush agrees - this country does not need the
Surgeon General and the position should be cut.
Mike, though, wonders why this job was created in the first
place, and Rush says he got some information on this, but he left
it on his desk. He'll have to dig it out later and relate it to
his audience; however, it's clear that the sole purpose of the
Surgeon General job is now one of public relations.
Since every health policy in this country is debated and decided
in Congress, the Surgeon General is only someone who testifies on
behalf of the administration. Clinton also wants his Surgeon
General to be his PR man, travelling around the country, giving
the administration's viewpoint on health issues.
As Rush has noted before, though, this job should be abolished.
After all, the Surgeon General doesn't even do surgery. At the
very least, Rush notes, this guy should do the operations of high
government officials. The guy probably doesn't even have a
waiting room with any appropriate magazines.
*BREAK*
Phone Chuck from Ventura, CA
Chuck saw Rush's TV show yesterday and was surprised that he
didn't mention President Clinton's golfing with his fellow
one-term Presidents; this golfing activity seems to be somewhat
auspiciously prophetic. Rush says he'll be discussing this golf
tournament on tonight's show.
Chuck is glad to hear this and asks what would happen if the
Republicans just didn't vote on the Foster nomination, letting
Clinton have Foster. This way Republicans could concentrate on
important issues, instead of being sidetracked by the abortion
debate.
For example, Senator Don Nickles (R-OK) was on Charlie Rose
talking about the Foster nomination, trying to stress the
character issue. However, the other guests kept beating up on him
about abortion. The Republicans don't need this kind of grief.
Rush agrees but doubts that the Republicans will just abstain on
this vote. He adds that his TV show will be showing some
embarrassing footage of Clinton, Bush, and Ford golfing; Bob
Hope, at 91, not only looked more fluid with his golf swings than
any of the Presidents, he didn't bean anyone.
Phone Keith from Long Island, NY
Keith thinks that Affirmative Action supporters are basically
insulting all minority members, and Rush says this is true -
Affirmative Action is the ultimate insult, telling minorities
that they can't do anything without the left's help. Keith thinks
that those on the left should be called to task for this.
Rush says the left has put a lot of their hopes in Affirmative
Action, but as Burgess Owens once noted a conservative will grab
someone by their labels and say "hey, I did it, so you can do it,
too!" A liberal, though, hugs someone and says "I love you, but
you can't do it without me."
Phone Jim from Tomsriver, NJ
Jim thinks it will be very difficult for the Democrats to
challenge Bill Clinton in the 1996 primaries - where are these
guys going to get the money they need to run an effective
campaign? If Republicans are dropping like flies because of the
money, why will Democrats do any better?
Rush says this is a very good point - challenging an incumbent
President rarely succeeds, which means if this happens, it will
be because the Democratic powers that be believe that the party
can't survive if Clinton stays. It will indeed take some very
unusual circumstances to make this happen, so Rush admits he's
gone out on a limb by predicting Clinton won't be on the ticket
next year.
Jim says what might happen is that Jesse Jackson and others might
rumble their swords, just to get some attention. Rush says that
Jackson will undoubtedly run for President, especially since he
can raise the money, even if he has to pass the plate at churches
to do so.
Jim says, though, that the conventional wisdom is that a
Presidential candidate will need $20 million. This makes him
wonder about some Republicans such as Pat Buchanan. Rush says
that the $20 million is needed if you're serious about going all
the way and winning the race; other people might enter the race,
though, to stir things up and keep certain issues in front of the
public. If the latter is your goal, then you can run a "budget"
race.
Buchanan certainly won't be able to raise $20 million, but that
won't stop him. He's going to instead use the force of his issues
and his knowledge of the media to get him exposure that others
would need to buy ads for. Buchanan, after all, got only 37% of
the vote in New Hampshire and he went down from there;
nevertheless he stayed in the race until Super Tuesday.
Anyone who wants to win the Presidency, though, will have to
raise a ton of money. Nobody has yet won it via the bargain
route, so those who are "serious" about winning will need the
money. This doesn't mean Buchanan isn't serious about what he's
doing, but he knows that he'll need the millions if he wants to
win.
The Democratic challengers to Clinton are in the same boat,
unless something unique and extraordinary happens, and Rush
suspects that this "unless" will indeed happen.
*BREAK*
Phone Randy from Alta Loma, CA
Randy thinks Bill Clinton is a dead duck, not lame duck,
President, especially since Democrats are fleeing him, to the
point he can't even get his Surgeon General nominee. Rush thanks
Randy for supporting him on this; "finally, someone loves me!"
Rush exclaims.
*BREAK*
THIRD HOUR
Items
o Bud Selig, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and acting baseball
commissioner, told Congress yesterday that several baseball
franchises might have to fold if forced to play the 1995 season
under last year's salary system. Selig also refused to rule out a
lock-out by the owners if the players come back to work under
last year's rules.
Rush admits, though, he is caring less and less about the strike,
and as far as he's concerned, if the teams fold, they fold.
That's the free market in action.
o Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich is still pushing for President
Clinton's proposed increase in the minimum wage, and he has
challenged Rep. Dick Armey to debate him about this issue. Armey
has repeatedly said that he opposes the minimum wage with every
fiber of his body and thus thinks it should be abolished. Reich
responded by saying that although Armey is "bigger than me and
has more fibers in his body, I'm ready to take him on about the
minimum wage."
o Rush repeats his Morning Update about Nicole Simpson's Akita,
whose barking has been a focal point in the O.J. Simpson trial,
and how two authors of dog books think this dog is thinking and
speaking. This situation has gotten so ridiculous that Dog World
magazine has assigned a reporter to cover the Simpson trial,
which makes Rush wonder whether this guy will have a dog tag next
to his press tag.
A story from Ft. Wayne, IN is much along these same lines - the
University of Purdue has received a $500,000 grant from the
Department of Agriculture to study the well-being of cows,
chickens, and other livestock, to determine how they "feel" about
their living conditions. The Center for Research on Well-Being in
Food Animals is going to examine animal well-being so as to find
the best ways to keep husbandry production both humane and
economical.
Rush thinks these Indiana researchers ought to compare notes with
the researchers studying Nicole Simpson's Akita, and maybe
they'll be able to learn even more about how animals "feel."
o Some state lawmakers in Washington state want to put warning
labels on marriage licenses, warning the happy couple that
marriage could be hazardous to their health. The mostly female
group of lawmakers want marriage licenses to contain the
following wording:
"Neither you nor your spouse is the property of the other. The
laws of this state affirm your right to enter into this marriage
and at the same time to live within the marriage free from
violence and abuse. The laws against abuse and assault are
applicable to spouses and other family members."
One state senator, Margarita Prentiss, suggested that the motto
for newly-weds should be "look, listen, be cautious." Prentiss,
married for 37 years, stated that marriage is a serious business,
but too many people consider their spouse to be "their property,"
adding that "the origin of the wedding ring represents part of a
chain binding the wife to her master."
Prentiss thus thought that her disclaimer is needed so that
husbands will learn that their wives are not their property. "If
we can do it, this is but a small step," she insisted. Rush
wonders if this sort of warning label would have stopped Nicole.
*BREAK*
Rush knows some listeners would think he went too far with his
comment before the break about how a warning label would not have
stopped Nicole Simpson. Thus, he'll rephrase his question: would
a warning label have stopped O.J.?
Phone Dell from Beaverton, OR
Dell says that Rush a few weeks ago mentioned that the baseball
players were not holding any guns to the owners' heads to get the
salaries they wanted. However, the players are holding guns to
each other's head; one player even said that if a player crossed
the picket lines, they'd end up dead in the East River. Dell has
heard other threats like this as well, and it's a form of
terrorism.
Dell notes that he doesn't like such union tactics; he once had
to join a union and didn't appreciate that his dues were going to
re-elect Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Rush recalls that in 1979 or
so, the major league players took a vote about their current
strike; 21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers voted to stay on strike,
while four voted to return.
The Dodgers management, although they appreciated the support,
eventually got rid of these four players because they feared the
sort of discord with the team that might result from such
dissension. It's the team which matters in baseball, and the
owners understand this.
Rush understands Dell's point, though, but notes that his
reference to their "not holding a gun to anyone's head" was about
how they weren't forcing the owners to pay multi-million salaries
to them each year.
Phone Michael from Sacramento, CA
Michael would love to see Dick Armey debate Robert B. Reich about
the minimum wage and any other issue, such as Clinton's supposed
100,000 cops. Armey and other Republicans could do a lot to
expose the left's fallacies, so if the liberals want to have a
debate, Michael hopes that Republicans take them up on their
offer.
Rush thinks this is a great idea and would love to see it. He
thanks Michael for calling.
Phone Gail from Altoona, WI
Gail agrees with Rush that PBS doesn't need federal funding, but
she's curious what programs Rush has watched on PBS stations.
Rush says that over the years he's ended up seeing Washington
Week in Review, MacNeil/Lehrer, Charlie Rose's show, Quilting in
the 90s, Sewing with Nancy, a yoga show, and a few other shows at
least once.
Gail says that Rush seems to think that everyone who watches PBS
is either a snob or is a nerd with a pocket protector. Gail's not
like this and notes that she watches PBS because they have
educational and interesting shows.
Rush says that a lot, though not all, of PBS shows are produced
by elitist snobs who don't care if anyone watches their shows,
and a lot of those who watch such shows are indeed elitists. Gail
notes that the shows aired during the day are for children and
don't have a political agenda. Rush says he's not seen those
shows but wouldn't be willing to agree to such a blanket
statement.
Gail says that throughout time artists have produced what their
patron wanted, so it's curious that Republicans don't want to
participate in this. Rush says this might have been true in the
past, but the NEA is certainly supporting things that few
"patrons" would want to see.
Gail bets, though, that if Republicans remain in power for the
next 40 years, they'll end up supporting the type of art they
like. Rush says even if this were true, he would still have a
major philosophical problem with the government choosing to
support some shows, artists, and art over others. This is the
basic problem with public funding of the arts and broadcasting.
*BREAK*
Vice President Algore released the Clinton administration's plan
for creating the "Global Information Infrastructure" (GII) which
would improve the quality of Americans' lives in hundreds of
ways. Algore also said "the governments of the world must pave
the way for private investment in global networks to link all the
people on the planet."
Rush wonders how governments can "pave the way" for private
investment; it's been shown that the government cannot pave the
way. Rather, the private sector paves the way, but what is the
point of creating global networks to link all the people in the
planet? Does this mean people in Somalia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and
everywhere else will be able to send email to each other?
The internet is already a world-wide network; it's a monstrous
net, but it's already there and working. In fact, the second-most
discussed topic on the Internet last month was Rush himself, but
Rush really wonders if the people of Somalia are that interested
in dialing up to talk about him. Are the residents of Khazakistan
that anxious to discuss Rush Limbaugh?
Algore's speech was the typical liberal touchy-feely speech
that's designed to do nothing but show that the administration
cares. Of course, Rush admits, that had the GII been in place two
years ago, Jimmy Carter would not have had to con CNN into
carrying his telepathic messages to Somali warlord Mohammad Farah
Aideed. Carter could have just sent a friendly email via the GII.
Phone Raymond from Greenville, OH
Raymond is a minority liberal who disagrees with most of what
Rush says but supports his First Amendment rights. However, he
thinks that if it weren't for liberals, America would still be
run by the British and the South would have won the Civil War.
"Yeah, right," says an unconvinced Rush, but Raymond thinks the
liberals should be given credit where credit is due. Raymond also
thinks that the job of Surgeon General is one of advocacy, just
as Rush's job is; if Rush is to say that the Surgeon General
position is unnecessary, then he'll have to say that about
himself, too.
Raymond doesn't believe this, though - the country needs people
like both Rush and the Surgeon General. Rush notes that he does
not have an official government position; he isn't the
"Broadcaster General."
Raymond says the Surgeon General is still an advocate of health
issues and should be talking about the effect of things such as
smoking and teenage pregnancy. His job is important because many
people think that if they hear someone with a uniform and title
say something, then it's true. The Surgeon General could thus do
a lot of good.
Rush notes that the Surgeon General's warnings on cigarette packs
haven't done much good; it wasn't until the public service
announcements hit the TV airwaves that smoking started declining,
and the Surgeon General had nothing to do with this. Thus, if the
Surgeon General is an advocate, he's an ineffective one.
Raymond disagrees, saying that studies would be needed to prove
this. He thinks the Surgeon General did dissuade some people from
smoking. Rush says this might be, but more people still started
smoking after the warning labels went on than before. Raymond
says this doesn't mean anything, because without the Surgeon
General's action even more people might have started smoking.
Rush admits he didn't think of this "current services baseline
budgeting" approach to statistics where an increase in something
could still be called a cut. Raymond just thinks that Rush should
have some sympathy for the left's point of view. For example,
Rush criticized Gore for portraying pro-lifers as extremists but
Rush does the same thing with liberals, considering them all to
be on the fringe.
Raymond says a liberal is simply someone who believes the
underdog needs a helping hand. Rush, though, says the problem
with liberals is that they want everyone to be an underdog.
Raymond disagrees - he's not an underdog and doesn't need the
help of Rush or any of his "colleagues in the conservative
kingdom."
Rush is glad to know that conservatives now have a kingdom, and
Raymond continues on to say that racial minorities such as he are
doing fine now. Rush asks what minority he is, and Raymond says
he's an Indian.
Raymond adds that there is only one kind of Indian: residents of
the Indian subcontinent; the other kind of Indians are really
"Native Americans." After all, Raymond notes, Columbus was so
ignorant that he mistook North America for India, and thus their
natives were called Indians.
Raymond, though, admits that he doesn't know that much about
Columbus, but he did call people by the wrong name. "And that's a
fact and that's the truth," Raymond states, pointing out that
"Indians" came from the name of the river Indus, which exists in
India, not America.
Rush thanks Raymond for informing him on such things, and Raymond
goes back to his topic, which is that it's divisive to claim
everyone on the other side is an extremist. Rush says he doesn't
think all liberals are extremists, but it's the extremists among
the liberals who do set the agenda.
Raymond says the same could be said about conservatives, "so let
us not get carry away by these labels." He notes that the
dictionary definition of conservatives and liberals are not the
same as Rush uses them; the dictionary says a conservative is
someone who preserves the status quo.
Rush notes that the conservatives in Washington right now are
doing anything but preserving the status quo; Pat Schroeder has
called Republicans "radicals" and it's rare when a radical wants
to keep things the way they are. This is why dictionary
definitions about political terms such as conservative and
liberal are useless.
Rush notes that his basic definition of a "liberal" is that they
believe everyone else can't succeed in life without help and that
the only decent source of help comes from government. A
conservative, however, believes in the power of the individual,
and that those individuals can do extraordinary things when they
are given the freedom to do so.
Raymond says Rush is misusing these terms and should get a
dictionary and look up the words to see how they should be used.
He says it's not possible that Rush is right and all the other
dictionaries are wrong.
Rush says he most definitely is right when it comes to the modern
meaning of political terms; no dictionary will describe a liberal
as believing in big government, in quotas, preferential
treatment, high taxes, and wealth redistribution. He thanks
Raymond for calling.
*BREAK*
Phone George from Aurora, IL
George wonders why the nation has to have a Surgeon General that
is fixated on AIDS, condoms, and abortion. In particular there
are a lot of cancer patients who are seeing money diverted from
cancer programs to research concerning far fewer numbers of
people.
Rush says he mentioned this basic point at the beginning of the
debate about Henry Foster, and how there are far more health
concerns than just AIDS or condoms. Foster's nomination is a
purely political maneuver, designed to placate members of the
left and help advance their agenda.
George adds that Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) was "really tweeting"
today, so he hopes that Rush shows some clips of his performance
on his TV show. Rush says he has one member of his staff assigned
to the daily "Byrd Watch," so tonight's show will undoubtedly be
showing some examples of the Senator doing the people's will.
Phone Alex from Cherry Hill, NJ
Alex says the mayor and city council of Cherry Hill has just
issued a press release that proudly announces how the city has
received a $225,000 federal grant to fund three new community
police officers, thanks to the Clinton Crime Bill. Alex notes
that Cherry Hill is a very affluent and liberal community that is
well-known for its progressive attitude, not to mention its low
crime rate. Hillary Clinton, Mario Cuomo, Cokie Roberts, and
Algore have all come to town at some point.
Alex thus would ask why this very affluent town is getting
$225,000 for cops that aren't needed; is it being rewarded for
being liberal? Rush says this is a great question, plus he notes
that this money is for only three cops. If each cop is going to
cost $70,000 to $80,000 each, then how could the Crime Bill
possibly fund 100,000 cops? He thanks Alex for calling.
*BREAK*
Rush admonishes those listeners who are calling Senator Nancy
Kassebaum's (R-KS) office to say that Rush said Kassebaum is
pregnant; Rush did not say this and his audience knows this. He
did clearly say that Surgeon General nominee Henry Foster was
going to see Kassebaum, who chairs the Senate Labor and Human
Resources Committee.
It's obvious why Foster is going to see the chairwoman of the
committee which will be conducting his nomination hearings, so
Rush jokingly asked why Foster was going to see Kassebaum: "is
she retarded or pregnant?"
Rush thus thinks those who are calling Senator Kassebaum's
officer should be ashamed, especially since they have resulted in
the Senator's office calling the EIB Network to find out why Rush
is spreading such "rumors." He wonders if his audience really
thinks he's such an idiot that he would claim that Kassebaum is
pregnant; these guys obviously failed to understand that Rush was
telling a joke, and because of it he had to waste time clarifying
this matter.
--
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| -- Buckaroo Banzai, in the movie
CompuServe: 74076,1250 | "Wherever go you, there you are."
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