This week Rush Limbaugh taught me much or more accurately reminded me of what I already too all too well.  When communities [countries, neighborhoods, or a domestic liaison] are built on a foundation of fear, what will we reap?  Each of us entered this world full of love and hope.  Every baby, all newborns are a bundle of love.  We, as elders, cuddle and coo with delight as we watch infants explore.  We say we wish to encourage curiosity and the desire to learn.  Yet, we are torn.  Limbaugh was; now he is liberated!
As a society, within families, as parents, teachers, and administrators we are told what is “appropriate,” “responsible,” or “proper.”  We experience what will happen if we question this conventional wisdom.  Thus, when teaching our young we, as a “community” do everything to quell what we individually, purport to honor.  We squeeze the life out of a young, open exploring mind.  We crush the dreams of our youth; we destroy opportunities for those that forget the “talking points.”  We do not encourage discovery.  We demand conformity.

This practice becomes policy and is evident in every avenue of our lives.  Sadly, most of us accept it.  We adopt the standards society dictates.   We lose a sense of self and “carry the water” others claim we must.  Ahh, to be liberated, to be free, to know that we can grow without criticism, what might the world be if we could share our genuine beliefs, feel what is truly within us, be authentically as we are, and state what we truly think.  Rush Limbaugh might know.

The way I feel is this: I feel liberated, and I’m going to tell you as plainly as I can why.  I no longer am going to have to carry the water for people who I don’t think deserve having their water carried.  Now, you might say, “Well, why have you been doing it?” Because the stakes are high.  Even though the Republican Party let us down, to me they represent a far better future for my beliefs and therefore the country’s than the Democrat Party and liberalism does.  

Now I’m liberated from having to constantly come in here every day and try to buck up a bunch of people who don’t deserve it, to try to carry the water and make excuses for people who don’t deserve it.  I did not want to sit here and participate, willingly, in the victory of the libs, in the victory of the Democrat Party by sabotaging my own.  But now with what has happened yesterday and today, it is an entirely liberating thing.  If those in our party who are going to carry the day in the future — both in Congress and the administration — are going to choose a different path than what most of us believe, then that’s liberating.  I don’t say this with any animosity about anybody, and I don’t mean to make this too personal.

I’m not trying to tell you that this is about me.  I’m just answering questions that I’ve had from people about how I feel.

Apparently, Rush Limbaugh felt beholding to his President or his party, perhaps, both.  Unlike the many before him Rush was not paid by the Administration to pontificate, it is just what Rush does best.  In an advertising campaign to promote the Limbaugh show years ago, this broadcaster announced, “You do not need to think.  I will tell you want to think”; and so Rush does.  

However, since Election Day, Mr. Limbaugh is singing a different tune.  What is a voter, a citizen to believe now?  Please tell us Rush.  On Wednesday, November 8, 2006, a defeated commentator concluded,

There have been a bunch of things going on in Congress, some of this legislation coming out of there that I have just cringed at, and it has been difficult coming in here, trying to make the case for it when the people who are supposedly in favor of it can’t even make the case themselves — and to have to come in here and try to do their jobs.

Then this politico stated the truth, reality set in, Rush relayed, “I’m a radio guy!” Exactly; yet, millions of Americans follow this leader religiously.  As Limbaugh observed.

I understand what this program has become in America and I understand the leadership position it has.  I was doing what I thought best, but at this point, people who don’t deserve to have their water carried, or have themselves explained as they would like to say things but somehow aren’t able to, I’m not under that kind of pressure.  Am I making myself clear on this, Mr.  Snerdley?

Radio announcer Rush Limbaugh is making himself very clear.  He does not wish to be confused or equated with the numerous others that were illegally paid to posture for this Administration or proposed Republic programs.  Limbaugh separates himself from sellouts such as, Armstrong Williams, a conservative “authority” asked to speak in favor of the Bush Education program, “No Child Left Behind.”  Mr. Limbaugh does not want the public to suppose that like the prominent journalist Williams did, Rush received $240,000 from the Administration or the Republican Party for his efforts.  He did not.

Rush does not wish to be associated with, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher, a professed authority on marriage and family issues.  This wondrous woman received two federal contracts totaling $41,500 for writing brochures, a magazine article, and a report each advising government employees to support of the president’s marriage initiative.

Nor does radio host Limbaugh want to be linked to liars such as Mike McManus.  It was revealed that this correspondent also sold his soul; he was the third is a series.  “Mike McManus who writes a weekly column syndicated in 30 to 40 newspapers, said he was paid about $4,000 to train marriage mentors in 2003 and 2004.”  McManus was considered a subcontractor.  The Lewin Group, a healthcare policy research and management-consulting firm, bought his services.  McManus’ job was to support community-based programs “to form and sustain healthy marriages” and to speak in favor of the Bush marriage initiative.  McManus wrote of the program in several of his columns.  His own non-profit group, Marriage Savers, was also being paid $49,000 by an organization that received a Health and Human Services grant.  the purpose was to teach [Bush, religious right] principles to unwed couples that are having children.

Mr. Limbaugh is not among those that betray their principles; he is an honorable man.

No, I’m not lying.  Snerdley’s concerned.  I’ve not lied about anything I’ve said.  Let me try this a different way.  (sigh) I’m going to have to think about this.  I tried to make it as clear as I can.  I’m not going to eat my own, and I’m not going to throw my own overboard, particularly in a campaign, and particularly when the country is at war — and I’m not going to do it for selfish reasons, and I’m not going to do it to stand out, and I’m not going to do it to be different.  I’m not going to do it to draw attention from our enemies.  I’m not going to do anything I do so that the Drive-By Media will like me or think that, “Ooooh, Limbaugh has changed! Ooooh, Limbaugh is coming around!” That’s not my thinking.

Rush is an ethical man, a man on a mission.  He knows “right” from “wrong,” “left” from “right.”  Mr. Limbaugh, a “radio guy” is an expert on what would serve this country best.

My thinking is: the left doesn’t deserve to win.  My thinking is: the country is imperiled with liberal victory.  We may not have the best people on our side, but they’re better than what we have on the left.  But it has been difficult sometimes, when these people on our side have not had the guts to stand up for themselves, have not had the guts to explain what they really believe and why they’re doing what they’re doing.  When they haven’t had the courage to be who they are, when they haven’t had the courage to be conservatives.  

It has been a challenge to come in here and look at some of the weaknesses and some of the missed opportunities and try to cover for them and make up for them and make sure that the opportunities are not totally lost.  But at some point, you have to say, “I’m not them, and I can’t assume the responsibility for their success.  It isn’t my job to make them succeed.  It isn’t my job to make elected Republicans look good if they can’t do it themselves.  It’s not my job to make them understandable and understood if they can’t do it themselves — not in perpetuity, not ad infinitum.”  So all I can tell you is I feel a little liberated, and I think this is all going to result in a lot of cleansing in a number of areas.

Yes, Rush you are the man, the water bearer not free.  Mr. Limbaugh I applaud your awareness and desire to take responsibility.  However, I am fascinated by your delay.  If the ties that bound you were of your own making, why did you not release yourself from these shackles sooner?  I wonder, how can we, the public trust you now [not as though I ever did.]

I wonder what might your fellow journalists say of your revelation, and of you as a credible news source. Keith Obermann offered a wink and a nod.  Please view, “Rush Limbaugh Feels Liberated.”

What might a former avid listener say?  Harvard graduate student, writer, and a former Limbaugh follower Valarie Kaur writes of her personal experience of the broadcaster.  She speaks of how her Dad was once a fan and now, can no longer tolerate a man that

has called the torture at Abu Ghraib no different from what happens at a college initiation. He has compared it to a Britney Spears concert. And he has defended it by saying that the soldiers involved needed emotional release.

Ms. Kaur, after appearing in a play addressing the Abu Ghraib prison incidents was ridiculed by the Rush-to-judgment announcer.  She writes, “Rush accused me and other Harvard students of hating America because we put on a play about Abu Ghraib.  Not only did he reveal his profound moral ignorance, he lost a man who used to be his biggest fan — my dad.”

Valarie Kaur adds, Mr. Limbaugh admits, he did not attend a performance; she is happy to extend an invitation to him.  Perhaps, each of us might invite Mr. Limbaugh to attend.  Would we, as a nation not welcome his awareness, his attention to details.  Mr. Limbaugh, if you not trust your own words, if you are speaking out because you think you should, and not because you believe in a Congress and this Administration, if you are merely conforming to the standards of others, please stop yourself.  Explore.  Be free and liberate us all!

References for your review .  .  .

Betsy L.  Angert
BeThink.org or Be-Think

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