Rush Limbaugh is Becoming Irrelevant

Image from Salon

It's been a very long trip from fringe to mainstream back to fringe. And I'm not confident enough to say that the age of the Glenn Becks and Rush Limbaughs is entirely over. Goodness knows, today's crop of GOP presidential candidates is squarely in formerly fringe territory, politically. Limbaugh and Co. did their job of driving the right to the very cliff. But it would seem that Limbaugh himself is going over the edge, and like Wile E. Coyote, he's kind of suspended in midair, maybe not yet realizing that he needs to throw up a "Yipes!" sign, and start grabbing for branches to break his fall.

I bought The Way Things Ought to Be and See? I Told You So, Limbaugh's first two big books for my grandmother, who was a fan, way back in the early 90s. I was a viewer of Limbaugh's ill-fated TV show, though never (ever) a fan. I still marvel that he was able to muster such an audience, because over the last 20+ years, I have listened periodically. He has literally never won me over to his side on any argument. Not ever. I've always been able to spot his manipulation tricks, his spin on a subject, his steering of his audience, the red meat nuggets he's lobbing, and mostly the lies he's telling. My B.S. detectors (honed by my skepticism toward religion, and other factors, including my coming to terms with being gay in a world that was not okay with it) are tripped by Limbaugh every single time, and very, very quickly. He might as well be a Jehovah's Witness or Mormon elder at my door on an early weekend morning: nothing he says sounds convincing, and I'm irritated by his effort.

So, I think I have a more honest appraisal of Limbaugh (and his ilk, many others I've also more than just sampled) than do conservative critics of the left. I'd wager that most people who make the false equivalence of MSNBC to FOX "News," for example, have watched very, very little MSNBC. People who believe there is such a thing as a "far left" in this country would have a very difficult time finding an analogue to Limbaugh on the left. Or pointing factually to the areas where such an analogue has dragged mainstream liberal Democrats to the fringe. Or finding a liberal version of the Tea Party with any real influence on politicians.

This is where Rush has done his job well. He's drummed into his audience (and it's seeped into "conventional wisdom") that there is a lockstep liberal media, that President Obama is a radical leftist, that conservative Republican white Christian males are under attack. That absolutely everything contrary to fringe conservative thought is anti-American, anti-Christian and a sinister conspiracy. Everything is an outrage, everything is orchestrated, and somehow liberals (or gays, naturally) are a united front with hidden diabolical motives. Because of Rush and his compatriots, conservatives will declare with conviction that President Obama hates America, and that destroying it is his number one priority. They'll declare that gay people do not seek equality, don't really want to get married, they want to destroy the family, destroy America, destroy Christianity.

I've long thought that permanent rage can't last forever. It's got to burn out. Or at least evolve. I've truly never understood why Rush managed to have such a stranglehold on his audience, given his four marriages, drug scandals, odd forays into island countries with Viagra, and other unsavory behavior. Like Sean Hannity, Limbaugh has no particular foundation in political science, no background education, he's just a guy on the radio. How "Rush is right!" became such a thing, and stayed a thing for so long is as baffling to me as the fact that Dr. Phil is a thing. Why? But Rush's shtick seems to finally be bringing about his undoing. [Story continues below, after my favorite anti-Rush video]



In today's age of social media and instant memes, when you say something egregious, it can zing around the world in a few minutes. So, after Limbaugh decided to go after feminist activist Sandra Fluke (with, let me point out, a rant that wasn't just appallingly sexist, but devoid of any grounding in reality whatsoever), he blew out some load-bearing supports below his career (not intended to be a fat joke, but hey, there you go). An advertiser boycott was launched. And it has been sustained. Rush has been shedding advertisers ever since, and finally, he's also shedding his biggest radio stations.

Unfortunately, it's had the effect of damaging the already hanging-by-its-fingernails liberal side of talk radio, given the same advertiser base. Which is the potential downside of a lot of boycotts, unintended consequences. While that hurts, I can't help but have a measure of glee at the slow plunge of Wile E. Limbaugh off the cliff. And I'll be happy to wait, neck craned and ear cupped for the soft "whump!" and cloud of dust when he finally hits bottom.

[Excerpt]

Rush Limbaugh is cooked: The stunning fall of the right’s angriest bloviator

The bad news just keeps coming for conservative talker Rush Limbaugh. Which bulletin was worse, though? The news in April that he was being dropped by WIBC in Indianapolis, a booming talk powerhouse that played home to Limbaugh’s radio show for more than two decades, or the news this week that the talker’s new address on the Indianapolis dial is going to be WNDE, a ratings doormat AM sports station that has so few listeners it trails the commercial-free classical music outlet in town? . . .

Read more at: Salon

Ender's Game Movie Faces Boycott Over Author's Anti-gay Rhetoric

An image of a movie I will never pay to see (Harrison
Ford or not), from source, NBC News

I'm not usually one for boycotts, as I think they often just provide more attention for whatever is being boycotted. But in the case of Ender's Game, a forthcoming sci-fi movie, that's not really a problem. It is a genre movie based on a popular genre book. It only got made because it has a built-in audience. This particular boycott aims to trim that audience. There may be a "Chick-fil-A" effect, where otherwise disinterested anti-gay folks decide to support the film, but I doubt it is as large a group as gay sci-fi fans and their allies. I guess we'll find out.

So, I'm all for this one. Orson Scott Card isn't just a man with an opinion I disagree with. He sits on the board of The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the group responsible for the five-year battle in California to return the right to marriage equality. He's advocated the overthrow of the United States government should they legalize gay marriage! So, this is both personal for me (as half of a married-in-California gay couple), and a principled stand against a hateful author.

It is interesting, however, that Card seems to think NOM's mission is now futile. That gains him a small measure of a smile from me. NOM has to hate that.

[Excerpt]

'Ender's Game' author Orson Scott Card responds to calls to boycott film

 Author Orson Scott Card is finally speaking out after calls to boycott the film "Ender's Game," based on his award-winning novel of the same title, because of his anti-gay marriage views. . .

Read more at: NBC News

Sears Pulls Ads from SNL Over "Djesus Uncrossed" Skit

Oh, I really don't like it when the fanatical religious zealots win one. I mean, win one legitimately, they claim they've "won" all the time in these sorts of boycotts/activist protests, whether they really did or not. But apparently Sears caved on these ridiculous protests over a bit that they didn't even really understand. See, it was all over a Saturday Night Live filmed bit that parodied Quentin Tarantino films, while simultaneously skewering the religious right's dichotomic lust for guns and Rambo-like violence. [Story continues below]


No, it wasn't really a statement on Jesus the (allegedly) historical figure, but leave it to the conspicuously religious to miss the point, and get bent out of shape about it. How about getting a little excited that a creaky (after 38 years) American institution like SNL can actually produce a funny bit for a change? Honestly, I don't think they'd have anything to do if they weren't getting offended and bent out of shape about something.

[Excerpt]

Sears removes online ads from 'Saturday Night Live' 'Djesus Uncrossed' sketch

SNL‘s trailer for Djesus Uncrossed, a fake historical revenge fantasy starring Christoph Waltz as a vindictive Jesus Christ, is more of a Tarantino send-up than a spoof of Christianity. But that hasn’t stopped faith-based groups like the American Family Association from expressing outrage about the sketch, and as a result of their urging, one advertiser has asked its commercials be moved from online showings of Djesus. Here’s the two-minute short that has stoked so much ire. . .

Read more at: Entertainment Weekly

Muppets Abandon Chick-fil-A

Every time I type Chick-fil-A, I'm sure I've typed something wrong. I mean, if you're going to go nuts with hyphens, why not go for "Chik?" And what's with the capitalization? It's just stupid. I reminds me of that old song, Dazzy Duks which was trying to be cute by spelling "Daisy Dukes" incorrectly, and wound up looking like it rhymed with "snazzy sucks" instead. Which shows you how my brain works.

So, we'll add the stupid name to the reasons to boycott Chick-fil-A. That's in addition to not being open on Sundays (which is pious baloney), and the fact that they're publicly anti-gay. Good enough for me (plus we don't have any in Las Vegas or Nevada, so it's easy too!). But it's not just me. The dude named Cathy who owns the joint has gathered quite a number of boycotters, and only managed to pick up. . .what. . .Mike Huckabee? How does that compare to The Muppets?


[Excerpt]


Muppets Abandon Chick-fil-A Because Of Its Anti-Gay Policies

Gonzo doesn’t have to worry about Camilla and his other chickens anymore, because the Muppets are officially going to be eating less chicken. In a Facebook note posted Friday evening, The Jim Henson Company, which currently offers toys in Chick-fil-A kids’ meals, announced that will no longer partner with the fast food chain on any future endeavors because of its anti-gay policies. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Rush Limbaugh Syndicator Suspends Ads for 2 Weeks

Weird people think this picture is cool.
I'm certain that it is Photoshopped.
Image from source, Think Progress.

I have mixed feelings about the news that Rush Limbaugh's advertisers have left en masse, and that his syndicator has pulled their national ads. Oh, Limbaugh is a pig, don't get me wrong. He was okay when he was considered "fringe," and nobody beyond your racist uncle and the crank down the road took Limbaugh seriously. Somewhere along the way--and I'm sure FOX "News" and Karl Rove have a lot to do with this--Limbaugh became mainstream. Or rather, the mainstream of conservatism moved to Limbaugh. That's just frightening.

But back to my mixed feelings. On the down side, many of Limbaugh's advertisers buy ads on all kinds of radio, not just conservo-hate-talk. Liberal talk radio is a relatively small slice of the market (liberal media, my eye!), and they rely on many of the same companies. I happen to enjoy The Stephanie Miller Show and Randi Rhodes (the latter even happens to be syndicated by Rush's people), and don't want to see them disappear. So be careful when firing off letters to advertisers, please?

[Excerpt]


BREAKING: Rush Limbaugh Syndicator Suspends National Ads For Two Weeks

Radio-Info.com reports that Premiere Networks, which syndicates the Rush Limbaugh show, told its affiliate radio stations that they are suspending national advertising for two weeks. Rush Limbaugh is normally provided to affiliates in exchange for running several minutes of national advertisements provided by Premiere each hour. These ads called “barter spots.” These spots are how Premiere makes its money off of Rush Limbaugh and other shows it syndicates. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Kids Respond to MTV Skins Uproar (Funny or Die)

Every time a group like the Parents Television Council makes a big stink over a book, a song, a video game, a movie or a TV show, it just stokes interest in it. MTV's raunchy teen series Skins might not be getting that boost, but it wouldn't be a surprise.

Teenagers thank the Parents Television Council - watch more funny videos

Christian Group to Boycott. . .William Shatner?

Image from Joe.My.God.

Some people simply have too much time on their hands. Of all the genuine problems in the world, what do religious activist groups choose as their causes?  Stopping people from getting married and dirty words.  Well, I love William Shatner, I'm gay-married, and I have one thing to say to the "Parents Television Council":  mind your own business, and shut the fuck up!

[Excerpt]

Christianists Call For Shatner Boycott

The Parents Television Council is calling for a boycott of William Shatner's new show, $#*! My Dad Says, because the title implies a naughty word. Last week the group sent letters to hundreds of advertisers demanding that they not support the show. . .

Read more at: Joe.My.God.

Glenn Beck & FOX "News" Banned at Grocery Store

Image from source, Think Progress

I'm glad I'm not the only one annoyed by being subjected to FOX "News" on random televisions. I'd like to see more of this.

[Excerpt]

UK supermarket pulls ads from Fox News after customers complain about Beck.

Upscale British supermarket chain Waitrose has announced that it will no longer be advertising on Fox News in the U.K. because of Glenn Beck’s comments that President Obama hates white people. The decision came after Waitrose shoppers complained. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Glenn Beck Show Shedding Advertisers

Image from source, Huffington Post

I've never been much for boycotts. Oh, I'll personally avoid buying certain products, or discourage others from doing so if something really bugs me, but it's more of a personal protest than an organized effort. I think usually, if something is boycotted, it attracts as many people as it turns away. Think The Last Temptation of Christ or even Married. . .With Children.

But it also doesn't make me particularly sad to see Glenn Beck's FOX "News" program having trouble retaining advertisers. As much as anyone, Beck is responsible for spreading false information, and riling up an already unstable group of people. Beck may himself be a nutball, but even he has to know that a large chunk of his audience is more than half a bubble off.

[Excerpt]

Walmart, CVS, Best Buy, GMAC Among 8 Major Companies To Pull Ads From Glenn Beck Show

Walmart, Best Buy, CVS, and GMAC are among eight major advertisers that have confirmed pulling their advertising from Fox News' "Glenn Beck" program in light of his comments that President Obama is a racist.

The advertisers did not pull their spots from Fox News, but rather requested that their ads do not air during Beck's 5PM program. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Pepsi Donates $500K to PFLAG

I saw this item, and thought, "How long until the American Family Association, and all those other 'family' groups boycott PepsiCo?" I mean, lots of people maintain that they prefer Coke to Pepsi. Diet Coke to Diet Pepsi. Mello Yello to Mountain Dew. Sprite to Sierra Mist. I've never understood the distinction myself (I buy whatever is on sale), but some people are loyal Coke buyers, and refuse Pepsi products anyway.

Then I remembered, Pepsi owns FritoLay. Frito-frickin'-Lay! Go ahead, 'phobes, boycott Doritos, Fritos, Lays, Cheetos, Tostitos, Sun Chips. . .just try! Something tells me, the target audience for a boycott is the very group that couldn't make it through a weekend without the tasty, salty snacks of FritoLay. And don't forget that Pepsi also has a stake in Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC. Yeah, I think a boycott would be an epic fail. A hearty Neslson Muntz Ha-ha! to you!

[Excerpt]

PepsiCo Foundation grants $500,000 to PFLAG

In a move that may upset conservative organizations and leaders, the PepsiCo Foundation has given a grant of $500,000 to Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays to support Straight for Equality, a national education campaign, and to fund training and chapter support. . .

Read more at: PageOneQ