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June 20, 2014 - Rush Limbaugh Program
30:01
June 20, 2014, Friday, Hour #3
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No, I know that.
I haven't done that because you should see what happened the other day when I, what I was at, sorry.
Oh, I opened the program with some reminisces about the late Steelers coach, Chuck Knoll.
You should have seen the email, therushlimbaugh.com email.
It was some of the most vicious.
And there was one guy, the wrath of the Lord is going to come down on you.
We are losing our country.
And we got the southern border being running.
You are talking about a hedonistic sin and football coach is doing nothing for life.
And you should be ashamed.
And I am canceling my prescription.
And everything.
It's just going on and on and on.
Live from the Southern Command in sunny South Florida.
It's open line Friday.
You engage in the blasphemy of football, which is drug-filled and concussion-filled.
So that's why I haven't shared with you my thoughts on iOS 8 yet.
Because I get the same kind of reaction.
We don't care about IOS 8.
We don't care about those hedonistic Silicon Valley hippie creeps.
Anyway, welcome back, folks.
I'm not kidding you.
The stick to the issues crowd has turned quasi-violent out there in the email.
But we are going to persist.
It's 800-282-2882.
If you want to be on the program, the email address, lrushvo at EIBnet.com.
And if you want to, whatever you want to talk about, it's fine.
That's the thing about Open Line Friday.
I want to go back to Riley, who is 19 in San Antonio.
I wanted to get your clothes.
I hate to have to interrupt you.
Your question, just for people that may not have heard, he wanted to know if I thought the American people were prepared for the result if Iraq falls to ISIS and al-Qaeda-related groups.
And I said, I don't think they care.
The American people are worn out on Iraq.
The media has successfully convinced them.
It was a total waste of time, none of our business.
Too many pressing things here.
And there are a lot of pressing things here.
The economy, jobs, the border practically non-existent.
And you wanted to react to that.
And I wanted to hear what you say.
So have at it.
Yes.
Well, just for the first thing that I'm sure most Americans are always talking about and complaining about is that oil prices.
If they do obtain Iraq, oil prices are going to go up.
Yeah, but let me twice as much.
Let me interrupt you there because here again, most people think that oil prices are the gas companies.
Exxon's in charge of the gas price.
Sadly, the low information segment is not going to associate.
You're right, by the way.
I'm not arguing with you.
I'm playing devil's advocate.
The low information crowd is not going to associate the fall of Iraq and Al-Qaeda gaining control of the fourth largest oil producing company with rising gas prices.
They're going to think that it's a conspiracy of the oil companies taking advantage of that to raise the prices.
And there'll be people in the media encouraging them to believe that.
Now, you're right.
Don't misunderstand.
You're right.
I wish people looked at it the way you were going to.
Okay, finish what you were saying.
And second, it's just, you know, I see my own youth.
And, you know, I'm my age, in the next 10 to 15 years, the people in my age group are going to be running the world.
You know, we'll be having all the jobs.
We'll be having all the communities.
We'll be in politics and stuff like that.
And the greatest thing I see about that just frustrates me when it comes to my youth is the lack of just knowledge, the ignorance to not know what is going on out there.
The fact that they don't know and they do not care.
It just now, you know, I always vowed, I'm 60, what is it?
I'm 63.
I always swore to myself I was never going to become your crazy grandfather in the basement, always preaching to you about how it was in the good old days.
So I think back to when I was 19, as you are, and I think did I care?
Well, I did, but I was raised in a family to whom issues like this were commonly discussed with passionate opinions.
In our house, there was respect for everybody's opinion, but there was no squishiness.
You have your opinion, and you better back it up or you're going to be destroyed.
And usually it was my dad doing the destroying.
My friends used to love to come over and watch him destroy other squishy kids and their squishy opinions, but they left knowing what was right.
So when I was 19, I cared, but I also was hell-bent on myself, too.
I mean, I was just soon to be leaving home to strike out on my career.
I've asked myself, is it really that different in that sense than it was in 1969, 70, 71 when I was your age?
And I have to think it is.
I mean, I have to think that you're right.
There are so many more media distractions.
There are so many more places you can go today to avoid these things.
There was no social media.
There wasn't any internet when I was growing up.
So if you wanted to watch television, you had three networks.
And if you wanted to read magazines, you had the magazine.
There wasn't a sci-fi channel.
There wasn't TMZ or E-Entertainment, one of that.
And so anybody who was immersed in media back when I was a kid was immersed in news media and public affairs as well as entertainment media, there was no escaping it.
Today you can if you want to.
And I think maybe you can't blame them.
I mean, some days I wouldn't watch this junk if I didn't have to for my job.
Sometimes yes and sometimes no, but I feel in my heart that, you know, even if you do choose to look at, you know, the media distractions that are on there, such as music, hip-hop news, whatever's on there, you know, educating yourself about what's going on other than your own world is the best way, I believe, to defend yourself against something that you do not agree with.
And somebody who's trying to take over your world or, you know, your point of view is going to take over what kind of ignorance.
Ignorance is by far the best weapon any kind of terrorist or any kind of scandal has, and ignorance is by far the greatest weapon.
There's no questioning.
There's no question about it.
Let me tell you what, because that's an interesting term that you've used.
And you are mature beyond your years.
You are a delight.
But let me ask you something, because you know a lot more people your age than I do.
My perception, tell me if I'm right or wrong.
My perception is that a lot of people your age think ignorance today equals people who say oppose gay marriage or equals people who are conservatives or whatever.
Absolutely.
It's just, it's insane.
It's not as common as it is here in Texas because we are, after all, I'm proud to say this, the buckle of Christian faith in the southern border and such like that.
And we're a little more conservative than most other states.
But, you know, we still have places like Austin where, you know, if you're against gay marriage or you're against planned parenting and such like that, you're an ignorant bigot.
That's what they'll use you.
You're an ignorant bigot.
Therefore, it's domestic Americans are the big ignoramuses, not them for not understanding the threats the country faces.
They think the biggest threat is posed by people who oppose gay marriage, for example.
The biggest threat is posed by people who are pro-life.
And the biggest threat is people who believe in a traditional set of values.
And they're not even thinking about the threat that's posed by al-Qaeda or ISIS.
And in that sense, they're the ones that's what you're saying, isn't it?
That they're truly ignorant.
Yes.
And it's just, you know, we live in, I fear that we're turning into a world where it's upside down, where right is wrong and wrong is right.
And, you know, if we don't, if we, it's like cancer, it's like a cancer.
If we don't stop it while it's small, it just continues to grow and grow and eventually it will consume us.
Well, how do you deal with, how do you deal with people your age?
I mean, I got to tell you, because Riley, it's frustrating for all of us.
There are people our age, my age, no different than the ones you're talking about.
And I assume you're a minority where you are?
Kind of in the middle.
Okay.
In some places, I would be an extreme minority.
In some places, I would be a majority.
It just depends on where you are.
That's true.
That is.
And what you were asking, how do I deal with that?
How do I deal with people who call me an ignorant bigot just because I believe in traditional values and Christian values and such like that?
It's just patience, honestly.
I have been known to have a temper, don't remind you, but I mean, I pride myself in knowing that I can hold my patience on with a conversation because I choose not to lose my anger.
I choose to have an intellectual conversation with someone who has a different opinion than me so that I may educate myself and learn what their opinion is.
And if I do not agree with them, I will respectfully tell them that I don't, show my points of view, and that's the perfect conversation I like to have.
That's why let me ask you, how many of those conversations do you get to have?
How many people do you really get to have what you're describing as an intellectual conversation?
Meaning so many people aren't using their minds.
They're simply feeling certain ways, and that's all they can convey to you.
If they feel something's wrong, then it's wrong.
You get into an intellectual conversation with them about substance.
No, it's not the way you see it.
Here's the way it really is.
And they just totally ignore you because they don't think when it's older men from the age around 29, I would say, 31 to about your age, Rush, and a little older, I talk to adults.
I've always been comfortable around talking to adults.
It's been children and kids just slightly aged in mine when I was growing up that I always had trouble talking to, always, because as a kid, I always felt more comfortable speaking at a higher.
I don't want to say I'm smarter than anyone.
Want to say I've always been more comfortable speaking to people who have more experience or more of a higher vocabulary than of my own so that I may improve my own.
I get it.
I mean, you're a thinker.
I was the same way as you.
I much preferred being around adults.
It was more stimulating to be than particularly younger people.
But everybody is different.
There's no right or wrong about that.
But I just want you to know I understand that.
I'm just curious.
A lot of people probably are about, I mean, you deal with it with patience, but how much of it is there?
I mean, are you, do you ever throw up your hands in frustration on how surrounded you are by people you think ought to know more and ought to care more about some of these really serious things who don't?
Oh, absolutely.
I just, you know, whenever I go into town or, you know, I strike up a conversation with friends of friends or something like that.
You know, I'm in a group or something like that.
And, you know, there's this big crisis going on or, you know, this big scandal going on.
And all they want to talk about is Katy Perry or Lady Gaga or, you know, whatever, just whatever's on the hot news right now for the American media and the American teenage media.
And I just sit there like, why does that really matter?
Do you like their music?
Okay, that's fine.
That's okay.
It's good music.
But do you not know what's going on here?
And normally about 95 to 85%, I would say, do not know what's going on outside of their own.
Okay, so Riley, what is it like for you dating?
What are the women, your age, like about my age, 19, 18 to 20, to 20, about that age?
Yeah, what is it?
Because do they believe there's a war on women being conducted by the Republicans?
Do they really believe all that?
Are they militant in ways?
Can you treat them as women and they appreciate it?
Well, the nice thing about living in Texas is that we have that because the reason I ask that, I had a story.
I didn't get to this story.
I've been holding it for a week.
It's eight acts of chivalry.
It's an advice piece, how to be chivalrous with a woman.
And when I looked at it, I said, you mean to tell me this is new to some people?
Opening a car door, letting, you know, you take the street side if you're walking on the sidewalk.
The man takes the distance.
Eight common decent manner things were being written about as though nobody knows this.
It was just standard, just genuine decency and politeness.
And I will admit that the feminists of my age did not like anything.
They didn't like you opening the door for them.
They didn't like you complimenting their appearance.
They didn't like it.
They took everything as an insult to their intelligence when you did that.
It's mostly the complete opposite over here.
I mean, they expect you to open the door and to be kind to them and treat them, treat them as adults, treat them as women.
But like country women down here, they do not take any BS from feminists or people who think they're better than other people.
They will not take any BS.
Well, Riley, you keep on.
I'm really flattered, honored that you started out as a rush baby and you're still hanging in there.
And I can hear why.
So thank you very much.
All the best.
Stay in touch.
I got to take a quick time outfit, folks.
And we'll be back here in just a second.
Don't go away.
It's Open Line Friday, Rush Limbaugh and Sue in Jacksonville, Florida.
Great to have you.
Thank you for waiting.
I know you've been holding there for quite a while.
Thank you so much for taking my call.
You bet.
I wanted to thank you and Catherine and Catherine for inspiring and encouraging me to write your books.
Oh, yeah, that's she did that.
I would like her to have my heartfelt thanks because the books are wonderful.
My question to you, Rush, is have you any plans to have these books put into Braille for the blind and visually impaired?
This is a tough answer because my answer is going to be kind of broad-based.
We would love to have these books printed in Spanish.
We would love for these books to be distributed in a wide variety of ways.
We would love for there someday to be animated versions.
We would love for there someday to be perhaps even a feature-length animated video or movie of each of these stories because there are so many different ways that young people consume media.
Reading is one way, of course.
And we would love for everybody to be, yeah, Braille is, I can't lie to you and say, yeah, it's on the front burner here.
But I can tell you that we are looking at any number of ways to bring the Rush Revere series to as many people as possible in as many ways.
I just thought about all of the parents and grandparents who would love to be able to read your books to their children, their wives and grandchildren.
You know, that was one of the hopes.
When the book, first book came out, I made a point of telling people about it.
It's a book for the whole family.
It's for kids to read.
It's written 10, 13 age group.
But it's for parents and grandparents to actually read with young people.
Because we make the assumption that most of what's in the books that properly educated parents and adults already know.
What we have found is, this has been intriguing too, is that a lot of adults are telling me that there are things in these books say about the first Thanksgiving or pilgrims that they weren't taught either when they were in school.
So it's even been a learning thing for some adults.
But we really hope that that's going on.
Grandparents discussing all this with the grandkids.
I know my grandparents discuss this kind of stuff with all of us, all of their grandkids.
It would be great if that's happened.
It would be a wonderful thing because I know there are many people who could benefit, not just the children in the schools, but, you know, the adults with their grandchildren and children.
And it's okay to listen to them, but you need to be able to read.
Reading's a big thing for me.
Well, I know.
There's a different level of comprehension when you're reading it as opposed to hearing it.
Absolutely.
The power of the written word is undeniable.
The power of the printed word is undeniable.
Do you use Braille yourself?
No, no.
But I have known people in the past, and I know they have gotten books and things from the Library of Congress.
And when you were talking about your books, it crossed my mind that perhaps there would be a way for them to access your books through the Library of Congress.
Well, it's a great thought.
Now, one of the things that we're working on that I can assure you of is coordinating in certain ways with kids in their education, such as lesson plans that are going to be on the Rush Revere website, the Adventures of Rush Revere website.
Now we do have plans for there to be those lesson plans in Braille, and they will include excerpts and elements of seminal stories in each book.
So we will have that available as part of the reach out or outreach that we are doing.
We've got a lot of things like that planned, and I don't want to get into detail because it's going to take a while to roll them all out.
But Braille, yes, that is something that's definitely in the hopper, at least for these lesson plans that we want to do.
Here's Dave in Salt Lake, Utah.
Dave, welcome.
Great to have you on the EIB network.
Hello.
Hi, Rush.
Hey, thanks for taking my call.
Yes, sir.
I would like to thank you for your ability to clearly describe what is really going on.
For instance, a few days ago, you had a piece on the air that says the correct definition of crony capitalism, and that it occurs with big government involvement in the free market.
Yes, sir.
And I just want to thank you for accurately verbalizing what crony government is on the air to all your viewers.
Well, I must confess that I had a little assistance that day.
I found a really good piece about it at redstate.com.
And what was great about this piece was that it gave some examples.
I mean, you can, you, me, anybody can define crony capitalism as it exists today, or crony socialism may be a better term, actually.
Well, that's interesting because I think that maybe you're in really such a great position to make new definitions.
You've made definitions in the past that have caught on.
I think that maybe we need to replace some of these definitions, like crony capitalism should be replaced with one of two terms, like crony government or Obama capitalist.
Well, I like crony government, actually.
Capitalism is under assault right now anyway, so I don't think we need to put it in a name that is further stigmatized.
Yeah, when people sit there and they say, oh, that's crony capitalism, we should just turn it around and say, actually, it's crony government.
Right.
Right.
But the real key to it, and here's the thing.
I'm going to take the occasion of your call to explain what I think is the fundamentally most important aspect of it.
Most people labor under what are now false perceptions, misconceptions.
One is that all business people are Republican.
And the second one is that all business people are for an unregulated free market where they're free to rip off and screw any customer they want.
That's what most people think it is.
And it's not anymore.
And they used to think that capitalism was just brutal competition with all kinds of tricks and unfair practices as companies tried to destroy each other and so forth and then outbuild or out invent or out innovate.
There are some companies that still practice business.
Apple is one, for example.
But the way it's working today, if you have a willing president who is very happy for government to take over or join business, then it's much easier for a CEO to establish a relationship with the president, with the administration, and let that relationship serve as the primary competitive advantage he has over his competitors.
For example, well, this piece used Walmart.
Walmart, most people would think that Walmart, unfettered capitalists, Republicans through and through, great competitors, and yet there they are supporting Obamacare, helping Obamacare become reality piece.
Why?
The answer is they are so big they can afford it.
They know their competitors can't.
So aligning themselves, crony government, with the regime, Walmart does not have to lower their prices anymore.
They don't have to have more products, better any of that.
Their association with government alone can help them beat their competitors.
General Electric, the same way with Green Energy, Costco supports the minimum wage.
There's no business that supports a minimum wage increase.
What the hell is that?
Costco did because they know their competitors can't afford it.
They associate with Obama, get some breaks.
That's crony government.
And that this is not how Republicans operate.
It's not how conservatives operate.
But the big problem with it is that products are not getting better.
Services aren't getting any better.
But companies are winning simply because of their crony relationship with Washington rather than standard business practices, better product, better service, what have you.
Earlier today, you used another word, like you said Bridgegate.
And I sat there and I thought, you know, that really, that word gate should be replaced with a better term that describes a cover-up, such as Ghazi.
Like, instead of Bridgegate, it should be Bridge Ghazi.
Ah, Ghazi, Gazi, as in Benghazi.
Because Watergate's tied to Republicans and Benghazi.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, I like your thinking on this is very solid.
It really is.
But I, well, I'm glad that that piece had impact with you.
Because it's, I guarantee you that once again, it seems more and more that our focus, sadly, is on the low-information crowd.
And the problem with that is that most low-information people don't know that they are low-information people.
The ignorant, by definition, don't know what they don't know.
Therefore, they don't know that they're ignorant.
So they never think you're talking to them.
And it seems like more and more, that seems to be the target what we have to do because they're the ones that are having the wool pulled over their eyes by slick packaging and marketing.
That's really nothing new.
It just seems to be more successfully exploited today than I remember it being.
But I could be wrong about that.
It could be common parlance, could be nothing new.
Always strive to make sure that I don't think something that's happening today is worse than ever.
But man, the reason I did, I've never been in my life a country this precariously balanced.
I've never, in my life, the country's never been this threatened.
The basics, fundamentals, foundation, it's never been under assault like this.
Always been leftists, always been anti-American, blame America first people.
They've never been this numerous in leadership positions before.
That's different too.
And we're back!
El Rushbo, having more fun than a human being should be.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I saw that.
I did.
Why The reason he's not me is that he failed when he tried to be.
That's why.
You know, you're just Mr. Excrement Stirrer in there.
You know, if you don't get the right, we don't get open line Friday questions snardly once.
He sneaks them in, interrupts me when I'm in the big intro of each segment here.
Rinaldus Magnus, ladies and gentlemen, 1975 interview on 60 Minutes.
It's always been.
How do we call a liberal?
You know, someone very profoundly once said many years ago that if fascism ever comes to America, it will come in the name of liberalism.
And then Reagan said, what is fascism?
Fascism is private ownership, private enterprise, but total government control and regulation.
And isn't that the liberal philosophy?
The conservative, so-called, is the one that says, less government, get off my back, get out of my pocket, and let me have more control over my destiny.
Reagan back in 1975.
And I think most people today, you know who the low information crowd today is?
Among them is the New York Times readers.
New York Times readers today are the essence of low-information voters.
That Scott Walker story, classic example.
The readers of the New Republic are low-information readers.
They don't know it.
They think they know the gospel.
They're being lied to, and they just eagerly swallow every syllable of it.
Do we have time?
I had a couple soundbites here by Jacob Tapper that I wanted to get to.
Jacob Tapper is a CNN.
He was fit to be tied.
I mean, he was really mad yesterday after he learned that the Republicans named Steve Scalise as the House whip.
See, Steve Scalise is not pro-Amnesty.
And Jake Tapper was wringing his hand.
Oh, my God, this is going to make amnesty even harder.
And I wanted you to hear the bites because I wanted to hear the frustration in a newsman's voice.
But sadly, my friends, we didn't have the time.
Thank you for a great day today, folks, and a great week.
It's always satisfying, fulfilling, and a lot of fun.
And I hope it is for you, too.
I happen to know that it is.
You have a great weekend, and we'll be right back.
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