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| | [[Image:Limbaugh.jpg|thumb|right|Rush Limbaugh]] | | [[Image:Limbaugh.jpg|thumb|right|Rush Limbaugh]] |
| − | '''Rush Limbaugh''' (born January 12, 1951) is a [[conservative]] [[American]] [[radio]] talk show host. Limbaugh has risen to the top of the ratings heap as a reliably [[conservative]] voice in a media environment dominated by [[liberal|liberals]]. In the conflict with the current [[Democrat]] administration, Rush has become one of the ''de facto'' leaders of the [[Republican]] opposition. | + | '''Rush Limbaugh''' (born January 12, 1951) is a fatty. |
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| − | == Radio ==
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| − | Limbaugh hosts a radio show famed for its incisive criticism of the follies of [[liberalism]] and his cogent exposure of [[liberal]] [[propaganda]] and [[deceit]]. He is often at odds with [[liberal]] activist [[Al Franken]]<ref>[http://fireside.designcommunity.com/topic-9993.html Forum thread] discussing a NYT Editorial</ref>. He habitually refers to [[feminists]] who support [[abortion]] as ''feminazis'' and to his own self as having "talent on loan from [[God]]".
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| − | Limbaugh's style has been credited with "reviving AM radio in the United States, and is considered by many to have been a catalyst for the [[Republican Party]]'s 1994 Congressional victories"<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10813FA3B5D0C708EDDAB0894DE494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fL%2fLimbaugh%2c%20Rush Radio Talk Show Host Fears For True Conservatism's Fate], New York Times</ref>.
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| − | Limbaugh's conservative talk show is nationally syndicated and averages over 16 million listeners weekly, making him the #1 Radio Talk Show Host in America.
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| − | <ref>[http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 The Top Talk Radio Audiences] Tallkers magazine online</ref> In July 2008, Rush announced "he has renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of his show 'many years into the future.'" <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27326 Rush Renews Contract], ''[[Human Events]]'', July, 2, 2008</ref>
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| − | ===Obama to Fail===
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| − | Rush made national headlines when he was asked to write 400 words for a newspaper column about Obama's plans. He said he didn't need 400 words, he needs just four, "I hope he fails." The liberal mainstream media ran wild with the story, painting him and Republicans as obstructionists. In reality, Rush was saying if Obama is for socialistic policies and against [[Ronald Reagan]] capitalist policies, of course Rush can't support it.
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| − | Rush addressed CPAC and further discussed his stance that generated so much attention. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/01/limbaugh-leader-obama-chief-staff-calls-talk-host-barrier-progress/ Limbaugh the Leader? Obama Chief of Staff] Fox News, March 01, 2009</ref> {{cquote|''' ''"Did the Democrats want the war in Iraq to fail? Well, they certainly did. And they not only wanted the war in Iraq to fail, they proclaimed it a failure. ... The last thing they wanted was to win. They hoped George Bush failed. So where is it -- what is so strange about being honest and saying, I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation? Why would I want that to succeed?"'' '''}}
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| − | === The Harry Reid Letter ===
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| − | On October 2, 2007, [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Harry Reid]], [[Democrat|D]]-[[Nevada|NV]], wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, President and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who is Rush Limbaugh's chief patron. In it Senator Reid essentially demanded that Mr. Mays order Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for remarks he made concerning "phony soldiers."<ref name=ReidText>Reid, Harry, ''et al.'' "[http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=284699 Letter to Mark P. Mays of Clear Channel Communications]." [http://reid.senate.gov/ Electronic Office of US Senator Harry Reid], October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> A ''phony soldier'' is someone who is not a soldier at all but is pretending to be one, especially in a public forum. Such activity is unlawful, and the [[Jesse MacBeth|person]] whose activity prompted Mr. Limbaugh's remarks has since been convicted and punished.<ref name=PhonySoldier>Limbaugh, Rush. "[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092807/content/01125106.guest.html The Anatomy of a Smear: 'Phony Soldiers' Is a Phony Story]." ''[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html Rush Limbaugh Official Site]'', accessed December 25, 2007.</ref>
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| − | Mr. Limbaugh obtained that letter, apparently from Mr. Mays' office, and publicly exhibited it to an audience in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.<ref name=eBay>[http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Harry-Reid-Rush-Limbaugh-Smear-Letter_W0QQitemZ260170172469QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4105QQcmdZViewItem Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter]. [http://www.ebay.com/ eBay.com]. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> Mrs. Betty Casey, trustee of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation and a notable philanthropist in her own right, won the auction and paid more than two million US [[dollar]]s for the item. Mr. Limbaugh donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation and included a matching contribution of his own.
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| − | Images of the text of the letter, and the signatures of the Senators, appear below:
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| − | <gallery>
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| − | Image:Reid_Limbaugh_Letter_Body.jpg|Body of the letter
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| − | Image:Reid_Limbaugh_Letter_Sig1.jpg|Rest of the body and twelve signatures
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| − | Image:Reid_Limbaugh_Letter_Sig2.jpg|Eighteen signatures
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| − | Image:Reid_Limbaugh_Letter_Sig3.jpg|Eleven signatures
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| − | </gallery>
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| − | ==Politics==
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| − | Limbaugh endorsed [[Mitt Romney]] for the [[2008 Presidential Election]]. <ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/ThisHour.asp#Limbaugh%20Endorses%20Romney Limbaugh Endorses Romney], [[Melanie Hunter]], ''[[CNSNews]]'', February 05, 2008</ref> He was often critical of [[John McCain]] during the [[Republican]] primaries, but supported him in the general election.
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| − | == Painkiller addiction ==
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| − | On October 6, 2003 Limbaugh told his audience he was addicted to OxyContin and other painkillers citing a failed back surgery as the cause of his pain and subsequent dependence. <ref>The Rush Limbaugh Show, October 6, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/ "Limbaugh admits addiction to pain medication"</ref> Limbaugh underwent treatment for his addiction, and charges against him for alleged "doctor shopping" to procure prescription medications were dropped on the condition that he continue treatment for his addiction.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/28/national/main1561324.shtml</ref>
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| − | == Other Media Work ==
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| − | The Limbaugh Letter is a monthly publication that contains conservative articles and humor in Rush's style.
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| − | Limbaugh is involved in the conservative satire show "The 1/2 Hour News Hour" show on the [[Fox News Channel]]. <ref>
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| − | [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602098.html Fox News Channel's '1/2 Hour News Hour': Right Funny, in Spots] washingtonpost.com</ref>
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| − | Rush occasionally writes op-ed pieces for the Wall Street Journal.
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| − | Limbaugh briefly held a position as a commentator on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown pre-game show. He resigned from the show on October 2, 2006 after criticism of his statement that Philadelphia Eagles quaterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black NFL quarterback succeed.<ref>http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html</ref>
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − | ==See Also==
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| − | *[[Previous Breaking News/Rush Limbaugh|Articles about '''Rush Limbaugh''' from previous "Breaking News"]]
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| − | *[[Conservative Links]]
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| − | *[[Rush Derangement Syndrome]]
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| − | ==External Links==
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| − | *[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html Official Rush Limbaugh website]
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT: Limbaugh, Rush}}
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| − | [[Category:Broadcasters]]
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| − | [[Category: Conservatives]]
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| − | [[Category: Republicans]]
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