I do believe that we need Rush to make his point and layeth the smackdown on the MSM home turf. They probably wouldn’t take him up on it though. Also Steele should have counter punched that douche Hugley when he said the RNC looked like Nazi Germany, he could have come back and stated the DNC looked like a combination of the USSR politburo, and the Jim Jones cult.

But alas, he feels that since he is repub, he’s gotta play nice, nice.

So this is my advice to Rush; don’t just preach to the choir. Get out from behind the Golden Microphone.

That’s the point of the debate challenge. Instapundit suggested that Rush have a countdown clock on his site marking off the days that have gone by since Obama wimped out on the challenge. At some point this will bubble up into the MSM and will force them to acknowledge it.

If Obama does agree to a debate (very unlikely) then people who never listen to Rush would be drawn to this heavyweight championship bout.

I agree that he needs to do this from more than just the microphone, Martin. So how about Rush going on a speaking tour? He could do his show from local affiliates and do some public speaking, a skill which is in extremely short supply in the GOP. He’d get his face out there where more people could see him, where the curious might show up who wouldn’t bother to tune in otherwise. I don’t know whether radio logistics would allow him to go on a tour like this, but maybe it might.

Rush is just being Rush. All he did was give a speech at CPAC and the Left Wing Attack Machine has come after him.

Where are the leaders of the GOP? Are they all hiding under the bed? Why aren’t they out challenging Obama? Aside from Boehner and Cornyn, they have all been in hiding. Where’s our leadership? If you want Rush to be marginalized then give us some leadership.

As a new listener to Rush I have to admit that he may overplay his hand, now one of the first things he said when I started, having become unemployed, listening to him was that he was a bisnussman, and thus why wouldn’t he try to get as much of the return on the ‘get’ by doing as much of it on his terms. I do like the idea of Rush calling “up the producers of the various Sunday Morning Talk Shows on the Big Three, CNN, CNBC and MSNBC, live on air, and offer to come unto their shows to debate anyone they want, or whoever the White House sends up”

But Limbaugh appearing on what they consider “respectable” (meaning liberal) media, unfiltered?

There is no chance Rush will get on the air unfiltered. If Rush is to win that kind of debate it has to be PUBLIC or on his own show. Obama would never agree to be on Rush’s show, because Rush controls the Golden Microphone. So public it will have to be.

where’d they move the reco button to? As in, I am in full-throated agreement with Sir Knight here but can’t find the means to express said agreement via a reco?

Help somebody…please?

I think the Dems have calculated exactly as you surmise they have.

What you call upon us to do — which is to make sure we play this in such a way that the conservative message actually leaks out into the mainstream, to the masses of squishy-middle dolts, and moves them rightward, instead of letting the Dems and media frame this — is absolutely the right thing.

But I differ in that you think that we (and Rush) have not considered the echo-chamber thing, and are not responding in a way that gets it out into the mainstream.

I believe the massive exposure generated by this coordinated smear effort will cause 2 crucial things: one, that many, many previously unengaged squishes will tune into Rush to see what all the fuss is about – and when they do, frankly GAME OVER for them, because Rush is an extraordinarily gifted evangelist for conservtism – as in, he generates converts like Billy Graham.

Second, that he is going to enter the media stream in a way that he has avoided like the plague since he lost his hearing. He is going to make personal appearances, he is going to show up on TV in front of hostile hosts and audiences, and he is going to be where the great unwashed can hear his message directly.

Anyway, my 2-cents.

…I hear what you are saying about those who don’t listen to Rush, watch the MSM and only read headlines, that they aren’t getting the whole story. I don’t listen to talk radio, yet consider myself a very well informed voter. In fact, I would call myself a political junky, as you say.

My concern with Rush doing MSM interviews is they will edit him like they did with his interview with Hannity (“I want Obama to fail/I want Obama’s policies to fail”). They took a snippet of what he said and played it all over the airwaves in order to discredit him; totally taking him out of context. That will most certainly happen on the big three networks. How does he say what he wants to say, yet guard it as not to be manipulated by those who hate him?

I did a cut and paste of the link to this article on my blog (http://trainwife1962.blogspot.com). I only have three followers, but LOVE this idea!!!! I just want to help spread it. Now, how do we get to Rush?

Why won’t Obama go on Rush’s show and discuss the current economic situation?

At least Obama would get the attention of 20+ million more persons to listen to him in earnest.

Rush absolutely should not get into debating on the MSM Obama channels. The debate would be filtered, edited, chopped, sliced and diced. Do you remember what was done to Sarah Palin? The Couric interview showed only those portion that would make her look as bad as possiblt. I would love to see Rush on a speaking tour, in as many places as he would do it.

Please remember, Rush never claimed the mantle of the leader of the Republicans, and, in fact said he would not want the job, as it would embarass him in it’s current state. What he has said is that since Obama and Emmanuel have called him the leader, then OK Obama, come on to the EIB and debate me. Martin, I think you are falling into the same trap that they are trying to use against Rush, and, he has been wise and smart enough to not fall for their bait.
As far as the squishes, they are not a deeply principled lot. They still don’t understand that Conservatism (as Rush put it) is not an ideology, it is a philosophy, and once you understand the philosophy, the ideas and policies are the easy part. You cannot buy only one part of the pack, and, you cannot be a little pregnant, that is what the moderates don’t get. Let them go their way.

It seems more are tuning in to Rush, at the gas station to more people at work, I never heard that before on so many radios. Is this the “mushy middle – election deciders – who don’t listen to talk radio” doing something different, I don’t know but it is clear that more radios are tuned in to Rush.

Could this be the “mushy middle – election deciders – who don’t listen to talk radio” doing something different, what do you think?

How and will Rush take advantage of this situation to reach the “mushy middle – election deciders – who don’t listen to talk radio”? “Calling them out” seems to be one step…

Logistically, Olbermann and the Lesbian will not have Rush on their shows, for reasons of lack of intellect on the part of the hosts, they will not allow a disparaging word on their shows. I don’t think Stewart would have him either. When Rush slammed Stewart, Stewart would awkwardly crack-wise on Rush selling ties or the Steelers, etc. Same with Maher. So while the first 2 would never happen, the last 2 are possible, but not likely.

Now, the sunday shows would happen and I don’t think, given her ratings, that Couric would turn down an interview chance either. And, I think fully that Rush would do very well on those programs. Granted, after his appearance, all would have “equal time” to someone who would criticize Rush, and granted, the host would give every indication, short of, and perhaps verbally shouting “I agree!” to the “counter” argument.

But, I do agree with yoru premise and suggestion.

Rush absolutely must get into the media that has not traditionally wanted conservative views. There are very few peiple whom the corrput MSM will not be able to filter or censor and Rush is one of them – he is also big enough that they would accpet an interview on his terms.

We as Conservatives need to expand our avenues of message delivery and this would be an excellent opportunity.

Hey Rush – if you’re listening – take it to’em!

I agree with Bill O’Reilly and Lou Dobbs who both talked about this on their shows last night and both expect this to backfire on the democrats. Supposedly we are in the mist of a economic crisis and yet the WH is spending time engaging a radio talk show host? Who looks weaker the chairman of the RNC for apologizing to Rush or a sitting President who’s publicly rebuffed by the Presidents of Iran and Russia while also being involved in a pissing contest with a radio talk show host? Which matters more to the average American? I remember when Clinton took on Rush complaining that Rush had 3 hours on the radio and a 30 min television show while Clinton was merely President of the US. We know how well that worked.

have never listened to his program. They simply assume that what they have heard or read about him in the main stream media is true. The attack of Team Obama will cause some undecided voters to tune in to see what all the fuss is about. That means that Rush’s approval rate among all voters, especially the under forty crowd, has nowhere to go but up. Emanuel, Carville and Bogala have thrown Rush into the “brier patch.’ As the economy worsens, as it must with these economic illiterates running things, more and more people will tune into Rush and begin to get the message. I first started listening to Rush because some of the “usual suspects” who wrote for the New York Times, the Daily News and, even, the New York Post were bad-mouthing him. So, I tuned in and got turned on.

Thought for this proble. I’ve had it with obama and if this doesn’t belong here, please delete.–
The real problem is Conservatives have set back and let loud mouth liars such as cluckie schummmmmer, and obama define all other parties, all the while raping the American Tax payer while running their little hoard with the purple kool-aid. It don’t matter much to me anymore but it does to my children and great grand children.

Over the last 60 years I’ve watched and liars and cheats utimately pay the price for their crooked ways. Many time the media will look the other way and not report on and they are just as guilty as schummmmmer and obama. This has allowed the dirty little pigs to breed lool-aiders and wallow in the slop. It will continue until 2010 and then all hell will bust loose.

I don’t know if there will be time to save America from all the Marxist polices that have been allowed the last 2 years under a Democrat controlled Senate and Congress. Conservative do have to stand for what they believe in and define the liars, crooks and theives for what they are.

The sky is not going to fall tomorrow. Climate change being man-made is a hoax and only keeps foney tenured professors in theire lofty postions promoting more ilth.

How in the L does a man that don’t pay his freaking taxes and is obama treasurey muck, know a darm thing about normal global warming and cooling. Greed folks Greed is obamas government.

I do not understand why obama Hates the Hard Working America middle class. Obama has had a free ride all his life with free college, etc Rezco but yet obama hate is emerging as the driving force. obama there are professinal people that can help you through your troubles. obama you have been like a bully in the playground with your actions or people actions you have directed such as rambo the vulgar and baghdad bob. Obama you was a major creator of the deficit you didn’t inherit it.

Rush isn’t your problem obama, you are your own problem We have no respect for you, just the office of the President and we will have to clean out the elcrapo after you are gone.

We can hope Pray for obama and make plans to reform all the elcrapo obama and the Democrat have been allowed to heap on our children and grand children.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Suggesting that he needs to go out and do Michael Steele’s job on the Sunday talk show circuit simply underlines Limbaugh’s point that the Conservative wing of the party is on life support and in danger on imminent pulling of the plug by the MSM.

One approach I’ve often used when debating on the subject of Rush Limbaugh in unfriendly territory is to simply urge people to actually listen. Make them think that they’re lacking sufficient information to come to conclusions about Rush. (which is true, of course) Challenge them. They may not admit it, but curiosity likely causes them to check it out. As many of us former liberals who realized we weren’t really liberals after listening to Rush can testify, he can change minds. And he is addictive.

Include a link to one of several streaming hosting sites, like this one:

http://talkstreamlive.com/

I’d like to see members of congress address the “controversy” this way: “You know, I’d just like to urge people to actually listen to Rush in context. He’s got a wonderful powerful positive message that too many are missing out on. People are getting just tiny snippets that in many cases are designed to deliberately distort his mindset and what he’s actually saying. You can listen on your home or car radio by finding out what station he’s on in your area or on the Internet by going to ……”

Not only bring Rush to the people on TV, although I’d like to see that if done correctly, but send people to Rush’s home, where he’s the most persuasive and effective.

Be a RushEvangelist.

This current round of Leftist propaganda and Spin to keep people from comparing the messages (the REAL MESSAGES) coming from the Right (for Obama voters, that’s us Conservatives) and the Left (for Democrats, that’s your fellow Socialists – you’re not a Socialist? oh, then why do you vote for Socialists? but that is a digression…) about the direction and needs of this Country now in order to recover the Economy (that the Left has talked down for 2 years in order to snooker… er… influence… voters last November) is the best evidence yet of the MSM Left bias….

FOX News, always maligned by the Left, is the ONLY Network that is providing the HONEST BALANCE (both sides / the whole truth) by going back to the audio/video tapes of countless (impossible to NOT find some examples from Reid, Pelosi, and the Democrat Presidential Candidates during their Primaries campaigns) Democrats on and on about “failed” this and “failed” that (even about our Troops failing in Iraq and the “War is Lost”). The exact term “Bush … miserable failure” became a purposeful, willful, and IMO with Malice of forethought, invented the “Google bomb” to keep the bias at the forefront.

For you NIAVE LIBERALS (especially those being filled with Leftist propaganda in the Indoctrination Factories these last 8 years) you can (and should finally get some FACTS) find related google-bomb discussion all over the net. See Moe Lane’s for one here (RS) and many more via the RS: Category: miserable failure link. Do a YAHOO Search on phrase “Bush failure google” and see the links there. The converse, however, see how google quickly (no Bias, right) eliminated the links of “miserable failure” to “Obama” Google quickly defuses Obama Googlebomb.

This is one of those perfect opportunities to challenge any Lefty friends, family, and/or whomever over the MSM bias and the OBVIOUS manner they are employing it while handling this story. Ask any Liberal about whether CNN, MSNBC, any other Media outlet, that they choose to look at demonstrates ANY contrast of what is being said now by Limbaugh and EXACT QUOTES of prior Democrat leaders about Bush!?!? It is real easy to point out to them that their media of choice DOES NOT AND WILL NOT present all the facts to them solely because they report based on what best puts forth their Political agenda and not being an honest arbeiter of “Reporting the News!”

When they doubt… Challenge them to watch Fox and see for themselves the FACTS/TRUTH by seeing both sides and ACTUAL VIDEO OF DEMOCRATS going on and on about BUSH FAILURE. Point them here to the discussions at Red State!!!

This is a simple and basic NO BRAINER that even a Liberal can look into and understand what is going on and A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER of Media bias in order to CONTROL them!

I agree with all points made. Also…

In my opinion, the Republicans got a spanking the last election largely because they were unable to express a clear and cohesive philosophy, such as the conservative message expressed by Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh. Instead, we pandered to special interest groups, made nice, watered down, and were left with a mushy, confused, and unappealing message.

Worse, we’ve let the Democrats define our message for us, driving us further into the wildnerness. As an example, how many times have you heard that the Republicans don’t have any “new” ideas? The more “new” ideas we come up with, the more diluted our message. We don’t need new ideas – we need ideas proven to work.

Rush Limbaugh has got it: conservatism is rooted in individual liberty, capitalism and small government. His is a unifying rather than divisive message, and I hope he takes this opportunity, as you suggested, to get out from behind his radio mic and share it with a broader audience.

While its true Rush only answers his attackers on his show he is getting plenty of media attention which will result in new listeners and hopefully some conversions.

and know I am not calling you Shirley. If Republicans get there focus back, we are in for some good times electorally. Americans DO follow the collapse of the stock market and the loss of jobs. Americans do not like a Federal Leviathan telling them where to get healthcare.

You say Rush must go out of his realm and talk to the people, I have a better idea, let’s stop putting all the weight on Rush and take some of this upon ourselves. I am tired of whiners, purity trolls, and naysayers. this is YOUR money we are talking about, this is YOUR family’s future we are talking about. I have an idea, let’s act like men and fight back with all the might we have.

The real question here is, do we have faith that the values Rush articulates are true, correct, and right for the country? If so, then relax. The more people who actually hear Rush speak, the better it is for us. Democrats picking a fight with Rush will only increase the number of curious people who will tune in. Once they’re hooked, they’ll spread the word. This is how Rush got to 22 million listeners in the first place.

I’m not particularly worried about this.

congrats on RCP best of blogs recognition

you deserve it