Why Rush disses Mitt Romney?

[Holland Cooke]

Limbaugh WANTS Obama to get re-elected:
http://open.salon.com/blog/holland_cooke/2011/10/16/why_rush_limbaugh_disses_mitt_romney

[jas2525]

Limbaugh WANTS Obama to get re-elected:
http://open.salon.com/blog/holland_cooke/2011/10/16/why_rush_limbaugh_disses_mitt_romney

Very late in that article, you make a reference to Limbaugh still invoking Obama's middle name "Hussein".

Ironically, not only is that a really lame attempt still by some conservaclones to incite some "suspicion" about Obama ('cause that worked so well: 65 million votes), but the name "Hussein" for me, only stirs up memories of how the last administration misled us into a very expensive war in Iraq.

That whole "Hussein" thing, if anything, helps reasonable people quickly identify a moron on the air.

[Holland Cooke]

And do you realize that "Hussein" is the Arabic word for "handsome?"

And one of the best friends the USA ever had in that troubled corner of the world was Jordan's King Hussein...a giant, whose courage toward the end was an inspiration to anyone journeying with cancer.

[Open Source]

Isn't the same thing said about Rush every time there's a presidential election? This is hardly a new accusation which may or may not be true. He seems to have survived 12 years of Republican presidents (since going nationwide) pretty well.

[jas2525]

Isn't the same thing said about Rush every time there's a presidential election? This is hardly a new accusation which may or may not be true. He seems to have survived 12 years of Republican presidents (since going nationwide) pretty well.

Not that simple.

Rush has changed. He now comes off as much more angry and sour than in years past---and the public-at-large identifies him more now than ever as a frustrated old ideologue, sans his former fun-loving animated persona. Yes, he was much more likable way-back-when, even in the eyes of his detractors.

Pure and simple: There is a difference between hearing the same routine for 5 years and hearing the same routine for 20. After 20, it wears a bit more thin, especially considering the incendiary rhetoric he's been engaging in the last few years, which likely explains why his numbers are no where near what they used to be.

[FreddyE1977]

Conservatives in general have great misgivings about Mitt Romney.
Primarily they are about the health care plan he implemented in Massachusetts,
which bears striking similarities to Obama's health plan.  That plan is overwhelmingly
unpopular with Conservatives and they are not convinced that Romney would actually
work very hard to repeal it if elected.

Many also have doubts about the fact that he has embraced the theory of man-made global
warming and appears to have endorsed cap-and-trade at one time.  Rush is only echoing what
many of his listeners are already thinking about Gov. Romney.

[jas2525]

Rush is only echoing what
many of his listeners are already thinking about Gov. Romney.

Then maybe one of the listeners he echoes should take over his show. The Rush can just call in and agree.

[quadraphonic]

I have heard a lot of misgivings about Romney, and not all from people who knee-jerk want Obama to win, regardless.

[Open Source]

Yes, he was much more likable way-back-when, even in the eyes of his detractors.

Rush has always been the devil to his political enemies and even more so to jocks he put out of work. His show has changed, but the average listener couldn't tell you that. We notice the difference because that's what we do.

And angry guys don't have Elton John play at their weddings or do guest spots on Family Guy. It's a bit, just like most everything else he's ever done. People are angry. He senses that and hears that from his audience, so he gives them what they want. When the worst problem is the president having affairs and committing perjury about it, you can make more jokes. Times are a bit more grave now. Good hosts adapt. Bad hosts don't.

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

His show has changed, but the average listener couldn't tell you that. We notice the difference because that's what we do.

I was with a group of people last night.  Not a one of them has any broadcasting connection or experience.  Limbaugh came up for discussion and everyone in the room was talking about how he has changed through the years.

One small group in one group does not prove a thing by itself.  I have been present for this same discussion before.  I think the non-broadcaster public is a bit more astute than you give them credit for.

It's a bit, just like most everything else he's ever done. People are angry. He senses that and hears that from his audience, so he gives them what they want. When the worst problem is the president having affairs and committing perjury about it, you can make more jokes. Times are a bit more grave now. Good hosts adapt. Bad hosts don't.
 

Maybe the first five years someone does a show daily,  the show is something  of an act.  When you have done the show for 20 years I am not sure the persona on the air can be separated from the persona his social friends and business associates would see during non-broadcast hours.

I would agree with you that as a host Rush is angry.  I would agree with you that the loyal audience is angry.  I think the disagreement is this:  Did the audience adapt and become angry because the broadcast gave them permission to be angry,  or did Rush suddenly become angry because he touched base with the audience and found out what they want for their verbal dinner?

Isn't that the theme of thread after thread after thread in this forums?  Some of us believe that regular, continuous listeners are shaped and molded by what they hear, what they eat for verbal dinner day after day.  Some of us believe that ALL listeners already know everything they want or need to know before they ever turn on talk radio and they drag the host along like a boat towing a person on water skis and a good host is one who can anticipate what the boat is going to do  (the audience) and hosts gets in position to properly follow the boat across the lake.

For today that leaves us with the question in this particular thread:  Is Rush "dissing" Romney, and if so,  is he attempting to lead his audience,  or is he obediently following his audience as they tow him across the lake. 

P.S. to Rush:  As one who lives on a peninsula out in a Corps of Engineers lake, I have some advice-  If your audience is dragging you where they want you to go,  be careful for the old tree stumps that are normally covered by water, but stick up and eat people alive on skis this time of year when the level is down.