More than a decade ago, when Rush Limbaugh was ascending to his version of heaven (the one where dollars flow his way), he also travelled the country giving speeches. In an appearance in Daytona Beach, he told his adoring public, "The reason I do what I do, the way I do it, is to get the largest radio audience possible to get the largest dollar amount I can for commercials.  It’s a business — strictly a business."

That attitude can also be found in his 1992 book The Way Things Ought to Be, where he stated, "I do not look upon my show as a chance to advance an agenda…. I also do not believe I should use my show for activism. It is after all still entertainment. I want it to be that way. I am not into demonstrating my influence in politics."

That was long ago. Has much changed? Not really, although Rush likes lately to have things both ways — as both entertainer/businessman and political leader. A lengthy article in the July 6, 2008 New York Times Magazine quotes him telling author Zev Chafets that conservatism didn’t buy his sumptuous Palm Beach mansion, his private jet, his half-million-dollar automobile, and more. No, he insists, “First and foremost, I’m a businessman. My first goal is to attract the largest audience possible so I can charge confiscatory ad rates. I happen to have great entertainment skills, but that enables me to sell airtime.” 

Yet, in that same lengthy puff piece, Chafets pointed to the other side of the radio star, the side where Limbaugh claims, "But in my heart and soul, I know I have become the intellectual engine of the conservative movement." If that boast is accurate, one need not search any further to understand why the conservative movement is in disarray. So bereft of principle has the conservative movement become that old-line conservatives no longer admit to being conservative, choosing rather to be known as constitutionalists. After all, the Constitution sets a standard against which anyone can be measured. Not so with ever-shifting conservatism.

Democrats like the idea of Limbaugh becoming their leading adversary. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel delightedly labeled him "the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party." That prompted newly elected GOP National Chairman Michael Steele to protest, saying he was the Republican leader and Limbaugh was merely an "entertainer" whose show is frequently "incendiary and ugly." Steele later apologized to Limbaugh but the Democrats guffawed. Newt Gingrich even weighed in with a claim that the flap involving Rush was merely a way for Democrats to deflect attention away from their $410 billion spending bill that included thousands of earmarks, their tax-cheating nominees, and more.

Rush brought himself a lot of attention by claiming of the new president, "I hope he fails." He explained that he only wanted the Obama policies to fail in his raucous speech to conservatives in Washington. But he has surely enjoyed the controversy that finds him at its center, and gets him media attention he loves. It may even mean greater ad revenue for the man who insists he’s just an entertainer but who likes also to be known as a political table setter and a GOP kingmaker. As for the Constitution, it is doubtful that Rush has ever read it.

Photo: AP Images

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Lee said:

Rush is no friend of anyone but himself The Liberal bloggers reacted to Limbaugh's tease at Obama in the knee jerk fashion. He can get a reaction out of them and this reaction causes Limbaugh's fans to react. If you know a Limbaugh fan take him aside and tell him that Rush said: "The reason I do what I do, the way I do it, is to get the largest radio audience possible to get the largest dollar amount I can for commercials. It’s a business — strictly a business."

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March 17, 2009
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The Truth said:

	OK? Whether you like talk radio hosts such as Rush or not, this article is stating the obvious and is not news.
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March 17, 2009
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Cyber Rainbow said:

	Rush Limbaugh runs a telethon for billionaires Limbag is a plutocrat
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March 17, 2009 | url
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Lee said:

	News is news "the truth" says that this news article is not "news." What? Hasn't the Mainstream media been all over the Rush Limbaugh story for the past couple of weeks? It is still news and it is still a story that has not left the blog sites since it first hit the blog sites. This guys big fat cheeks are posted all over Arianna's site.
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March 17, 2009
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Thomas Paine said:

John McManus shows us why JBS is still on target Many conservatives are brainwashed to believe that Rush Limbaugh is their guy. 50% of the Republican base have bought it hook line and sinker. The Neo Cons such as George Bush tell Rush "to keep doing what your doing you serve a purpose". Rush has never critized the Reblican $4trillion deficit racked up over the 8 years under Bush, the illegal spying, illegal war in Iraq, etc. If he was truly a conservative, he would be speaking like Ron Paul. He is a NeoCon.

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March 17, 2009
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John Lofton said:

Forget "Conservatism" Forget, please, "conservatism." It has been, operationally, de facto, Godless and therefore irrelevant. Secular conservatism will not defeat secular liberalism because to God both are two atheistic peas-in-a-pod and thus predestined to failure. As Stonewall Jackson's Chief of Staff R.L. Dabney said of such a humanistic belief more than 100 years ago: "[Secular conservatism] is a party which never conserves anything. Its history has been that it demurs to each aggression of the progressive party, and aims to save its credit by a respectable amount of growling, but always acquiesces at last in the innovation. What was the resisted novelty of yesterday is today .one of the accepted principles of conservatism; it is now conservative only in affecting to resist the next innovation, which will tomorrow be forced upon its timidity and will be succeeded by some third revolution; to be denounced and then adopted in its turn. American conservatism is merely the shadow that follows Radicalism as it moves forward towards perdition. It remains behind it, but never retards it, and always advances near its leader. This pretended salt bath utterly lost its savor: wherewith shall it be salted? Its impotency is not hard, indeed, to explain. It is worthless because it is the conservatism of expediency only, and not of sturdy principle. It intends to risk nothing serious for the sake of the truth." Our country is collapsing because we have turned our back on God (Psalm 9:17) and refused to kiss His Son (Psalm 2). John Lofton, Editor, TheAmericanView.com Recovering Republican JLof@aol.com PS -- And Limbaugh never made a bigger ass of himself than when at CPAC he told that blasphemous joke re: himself and God.

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March 18, 2009 | url
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BillW said:

	Conservative in CT I've listened to RUSH, also AirAmerica when it was on the air. Somewhere inbetween & to the right is America, you don't have to like Rush to agree with what he said about this country. Just ask Sen Dodd, how things are going here in CT for him.
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March 18, 2009
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Ivan Price said:

Leave Rush Alone! You folks at the Appleton Headquarters should remember that Limbaugh does something that the Birch Society hasn't had the backbone to do. Call liberals out. Liberals fear Limbaugh, they don't fear Birchers (and I'm a Bircher myself). If he says he's in it for the money and audience that makes liberals mad. He says it's only entertainment? Michael Moore said the same thing about his movies. Get a liberal riled and they'll show their true colors. Vulgarity, offensive language, the works. Neo-cons aside, we need to shake up liberals because liberalism is the key that will unlock communism. Yes, Rush is hung up on the Republican party but he understands limited government and free enterprise. Instead of criticizing him the Birch Society should be talking to him so he can understand how he's been deceived. I didn't hear the Birch Society complaining when Grover Norquist (CFR) sneaked into that big rally. If you don't go along with anything I've just said, at least consider that there are bigger fish to fry than Rush.

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March 18, 2009 | url
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Thurston Cuttlefish III said:

Rush makes me zzzzzzzz Who needs Rush Limbaugh? You only have to listen to 10 minutes of Glenn Beck these days to get your RDA of right wing fear and hatred. Glenn has created 9 new Commandments that will ensure better living in an End Times Doom bunker near you. Glenn is a living prophet that can quote scripture in a cartoon voice then sell pajamagrams and look you straight in the eye while doing it. Rush may be the official leader of the Republican party, but he's just boring these days.

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March 18, 2009
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Lee said:

CFR man Grover Norquist at "big rally" The JBS didn't complain when Council on Foreign Relations man Grover Norquist "sneaked" into what big rally? Are talking about the Rally for The Republic? If so that was not a Birch function. The JBS were guests. Rally For The Republic: Master of ceremonies Tucker Carlson snubbed Jack McManus - refused to introduce him. Jack's speech during a portion of his talk had technical difficulties. There was an echo chamber sound during a portion of his talk. Maybe it was a coincidence that mic trouble developed. Back to Limbaugh: Mr. Ivan Price with all due respect don't you think that by now Rush Limbaugh would have dedicated some time to: * Inform his listeners about the CFR? * Has he ever discussed at length the North American Union? * Discussed Bush's Trillions of dollars of DEFICITS with one one sound economist and show how Bush outspent "Liberals?" *What about explaining to his listeners the true definition of inflation? Has he ever bothered to do that public service? The real organizations with "backbone" are the JBS, The Mises institute, Ron Paul who aren't afraid to talk about the Federal Reserve which Limp-baugh has yet to deliver on! You keep listening to Limp-bag all you want, it isn't my place to select your listening pleasure. But don't come on here describing a phony conservative like Limp-Bag as anything but a stooge for the establishment!

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March 18, 2009
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Robert H said:

... Well I just ordered a book and some DVD's to hand out to "Get The Word Out" and push the "agenda" that our founding is just, we must speak out. I was also going to join the JBS but I feel it was a mistake after reading what you all feel about Limbaugh. Limbaugh is a true conservative and a believer in our founding fathers and the constitution. Who cares he is rich, good for him. His message is still spot on nonetheless. Rush can get more people to the polls then JBS. I will not join or purchase anything else from the JBS if there mission is to trash our own and divide those who believe in our constitution.

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March 28, 2009
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