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I was cruising along on my way to work today and heard something that made my jaw drop a little. Here's the transcript (http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_062508/content/01125108.guest.html):

Here is McCain lauding his intent to have a green government, and then they point out, he's a hypocrite. I wish somebody would do a study on my cars. I mean, this is nothing. I got in my car the other day and I drove -- there goes Dawn covering her -- I'm not going to tell you which one. It doesn't matter. I got in the car, I had to drive down to Miami for the weekend. I wanted to go to the Kobe Club in Miami. I had been in the one in New York. So I drove down there, checked in the hotel, stayed overnight and got all those doodads on the dashboard that tell me -- your car does, too -- the range you've got based on the gas in the tank and what miles per gallon you're getting and so forth. Twelve on the highway, 12, I think it was 12.8 on the highway. I said, yes!

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: All right, all right. Many of you might think I'm obnoxious, those of you just tuning in who don't know me as the audience knows and loves me, you might think why am I going, "Yes! Yes!" when I see that my hog car is only getting 12 miles per gallon on the highway. Because I just love sticking it to the environmentalists. I am not an conformist. I just love sticking it to these people who want to interrupt my choices and my freedom. If I'm willing to pay for whatever happens and I'm not violating any law, it's none of their business to tell me what I can and can't drive and what I should and shouldn't drive, and I'm not going to allow these kind of left-wing wacko kooks make me feel guilty about enjoying life. So there.

I mean, here's a guy who insists that the high gasoline prices we now face are due to strict economics. Supply and demand. So what does he do? He blathers on about how he's doing his part to mess up the curve, thinking he's "sticking it to the environmentalists" and trying to influence his audience of however many millions of listeners to do their part as well (he does like to talk about how influential he is, in case you don't tune in regularly).

No Rush, you're not sticking it to the environmentalists. According to your supply and demand argument, you're sticking it to all of us. Sure I can't tell you what you can drive and what you can't, but I can tell you that you're a moron.

Since he talked about the trip on his show, he was probably able to write off the whole thing as a business expense on his taxes. So keep working. Millions of corporations on welfare are depending on you.

I'm not surprised he did that. I used to be that way for a while, thinking I'm sticking it to the radical green lefties out there, rubbing it in their face. I still get into arguments against people who subscribe to the Al Gore cult about twice a day, but burning extra gas isn't...a financially possible way to stick it to them.

Control your radio station like you control your fuel use! The only excuses for ever hearing Rush are 1.) situation such as being the passenger while carpooling (ie, forced against your will) or 2.) searching for radio stations while on a trip (this excuse is good for about 10 seconds).

Control your radio station like you control your fuel use! The only excuses for ever hearing Rush are 1.) situation such as being the passenger while carpooling (ie, forced against your will) or 2.) searching for radio stations while on a trip (this excuse is good for about 10 seconds).

I'm sorry to say, I listen to guys like Rush and Hannity every day. For the most part, I do it for the LOL's, but today I must admit that I've ever come to actually calling in and telling him he's a jackass. But instead, I figure I can vent it here.

On a side note, my addiction to talk radio was behind my rationale for removing my ~100lb subwoofer box for weight reduction purposes. I don't really miss it.

BTW- Can anyone guess what he could have been driving that only gets 12.8 on the highway? A friggin dump truck? Good grief.

Well come on guys. This is a free country. I got money in my bank and I can spend it on whatever I want. Some people spend it on strippers, some spend it on drugs, and others spend it on gas.

Not that I support Rush in any way or form but it's his right to drive whatever he wants.

Hopefully at least smart consumer choices lead automakers to find nothing but losses selling guzzlers. Market forces taking guzzlers away from you rather than the government! Take that Rush! He might need to change his affiliations at that point once the forces he touts work against him!

Not that I support Rush in any way or form but it's his right to drive whatever he wants.

Hopefully at least smart consumer choices lead automakers to find nothing but losses selling guzzlers. Market forces taking guzzlers away from you rather than the government! Take that Rush! He might need to change his affiliations at that point once the forces he touts work against him!

You must not listen to Rush alot because he would agree with the market deciding what cars should be sold based on sales to consumers.

As you may have guessed i'm a Rush 24/7 member;)

Although I usually dont agree with him on this subject about sticking it to the enviros.

I get tired of Hannity always bringing up he has a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid...they must be a sponsor he mentions it every show.

Not sure which one Rush drives here is the transcript ( actually I bet the Hummer)

This is in terms of its effect on the environment and global warming. (story) "At the top of the meanest list for 2006 is the Dodge Ram SRT-10." Well, let's just go through the list. The Dodge RAM SRT-10 is the meanest. The Lamborghini Murciélago is the next meanest. The Bentley Arnage, the Dodge Durango, the Dodge Ram 1500 and the Maybach 57-S are all tied in the next position here as the third meanest. The Hummer H2O and the Ferrari F-99 GTB Fiorano and the Ford F-250 Super Duty 5.4 V8 four-wheel drive. The GMC Yukon, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Chevy Suburban all come in tied at the next stop. Now the vehicle I drive, I'm not going to identify it, but is somewhere on that list. (laughing) I love being honored this way: having one of the meanest cars in terms of its environmental impact, knowing full well how that irritates the socialist environmentalist wackos. I just love it


EDIT: Had to do a little digging but finally found it he rides in the Maybach 57-S and he has a driver.
has a V-12 costs around $380k gets a combined EPA of 12

Of course he can drive whatever he wants. The stupid reasoning and the possibility that a few million mindless dittoheads will adopt it is what I'm attacking. In other words, he's not a jerk for driving a gas guzzler, he's a jerk for broadcasting the fact with apparent pride.

Imagine if everyone was like him and drove a vehicle that gets 12.8 hwy. Ask Rush, does he think everyone should do so, and if they did would that increase or decrease the price of fuel?

Sheesh. At least Hannity brags that he drives a hybrid (no doubt paid for by my pals at GM, but still).

I don't usually listen to Rush, although I listen to Hannity on TV while I'm falling asleep at night (it's great for that). My take on Rush is that he deliberately says these things to be "in your face" because he sees his left wing adversaries as having that same persona. The personality is similar to the little kid on the playground with the big mouth who brags that all his toys are the coolest, and then he gets his butt kicked. His style is deliberately inflammatory, and whether you love him or hate him depends on whether or not you agree with what he's saying. He is certainly one of the most polarizing personalites on radio.

Sure, Rush's econo-minder probably said 12.8 in traffic and then went back up to the teens somewhere when back up at speed. And his point is valid - it is not up to the government to dictate what we can and can't drive. But capitalism in action is unfolding before our eyes, as higher gas cost has people making real changes in their transportation. Whether using mass transit, car pooling, driving less or at lower speeds, or parking the FSP and buying an old Corolla for errands, people are doing it on their own, without any prodding by policy.

I highly doubt anyone in radio-land will run out and buy an Escalade so they can get the same 12.8mpg Rush gets. And I doubt they will deliberately change their driving habits to further degrade their FE. Any attempt to use that much fuel will quickly get "old" each time they fill up. So in effect, what Rush says is irrelevant, as none of the listeners can afford to "do as he does". Rush also flaunts his cigar smoking in order to outrage the anti-smoking crowd, but I don't think that too many of the listeners have taken up smoking as a result of his on-air skits.

At the very core, it's just more sensationalized chatter, like the few hypermile-bashing articles we've seen in the media lately. While it's formatted and carefully packaged to perk your ears up, and really nothing more than 2% pie and 98% Cool Whip - Very appetizing in appearance but doesn't fill you up too well.

So while I myself wouldn't nominate Rush as Jerk of the Day, I would nominate that segment as Farce of the Day and nominate Rush as Manufactured Polarizing Personality of the Day.

Hmm...ChenZen We are going to disagree the more this discussion continues toward politics.

I will concede he is a jerk :)

At least i'm not the only one who noticed hannity always bringing up his FSP hybrid.

Hmm...ChenZen We are going to disagree the more this discussion continues toward politics.

I will concede he is a jerk :)

At least i'm not the only one who noticed hannity always bringing up his FSP hybrid.

Yea I have my own blog for discussing politics, but with a subject like gas prices being as hot button as it is right now, there is bound to be some of it that slips in these forums as well.

I must say, however, for a website that promotes clean emmissions and conservation of gasoline, there are a surprising number of commenters defending Rush on this.

Yea I have my own blog for discussing politics, but with a subject like gas prices being as hot button as it is right now, there is bound to be some of it that slips in these forums as well.

I must say, however, for a website that promotes clean emmissions and conservation of gasoline, there are a surprising number of commenters defending Rush on this.

I'm focused on cutting my gasoline consumption because gas prices are burning a hole in my wallet. If I can help cut consumption collectively and lower prices, great.

But I'm not going to force anyone into doing anything: the market will do it at some point. Rush will still drive his Fsp but the dittoheads (like myself) would be priced out of gasoline before long.

Besides, who else on the radio piles it on McCain as much as he does (except Michael Savage?)


But I agree, let's not get too political here. Politics and religion is just one huge downward spiral and it's unlikely anyone will convince the other.


~Aether glider: I'm sick of Hannity mentioning the Chevy Malibu gets better city mileage than the Camry. They're both twice the size they were 10 years ago anyway, getting about 20 miles to the gallon. We need an Insight back, or something, not 20 MPG city. :(

Fuel prices are DIRECTLY linked to politics ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not.
Its the policies of the last 20 years, that has lead to the greatest threat to the United States in years. The massive Debt run up by this administration, has cause directly, DIRECTLY, the massive inflation of fuel prices, and devaluation of the US Dollar. Every trillion that is spend in Iraq, for god even knows why anymore will just take more food off ALL of our tables.

My politics are way left of center, and I enjoy listening to the windbag every now and then. Love hearing him gloat about how hes enjoying so much freedom, while advocating taking it away from all of us.

Let him drive is FSP. Or driven for him. I dont' drive this way becuase I am helping the environment. And most of you on this board will agree... its simply, we cannot afford the bloated overprices decaying prehistoric plant material in our gas tanks anymore!

Enjoy 5 dollar a gallon milk? Enjoy bread (wheat) prices of 4 to 5 dollars A LOAF. Tell me, those who cannot even afford a gallon of gas for their FSP they were lured into, how they afford to buy the rest? Our fossil fuel economy is simply not a viable solution for the future.

I'm sorry, i don't want to keep dumping my savings into gasoline. Thank GOD, I got my car when I did. The law of supply and demand is REALLY hitting the small and midsize "economy" cars now.

I don't agree with many of the ideas and actions of environmentalists but I don't think burning more gas is an effective way to send them a message.

I love his argument, if I can afford it, I should have the right to do it. Why do I love it...look at the insane extension of it..."If I can afford a gun and bullets and enjoy killing, why can't I do it".....Simple, because somebody else gets hurt.
Now we shouldn't ever prevent people from hurting each other...I mean if you just lost your pet the other day and I'm talking to a friend about how cute my new puppy is, and the other person is offended because it reminds them of their loss...too bad. Actually if they explained nicely I would probably change topics, but if they are only overhearing my conversation why should they have any voice in my topics?
On the other hand, many states are banning various forms of public smoking as we know the smoke has 2nd hand issues. They hurt others.
Driving a guzzler almost always produces more bad emmisions that a more fuel efficient vehicle. Not an absolute, but generally true. Since his guzzler produces more bad emmisions which are bad for everyone, we have the right to have him pull that thing off the road. Now we have to do it in a reasonable way, give time for people to upgrade or provide incentives to upgrade, or provide penalties (starting in the far future) for not upgrading....sure he COULD still keep driving it, but slowly its going to be bad econnomics for him...at least up to the point society is taking in enough money that we can do something to offset the damage he is creating.

His logic stinks; He might get a right answer from time to time, but not because he can actually think anything through.

I used to listen to Rush daily. It won't happen, but I'd love for the leaders in the Republican Party to make a statement disowing Rush....if there is any chance I'd vote for Obame this fall, it would be people shouting what Rush does.

If we were talking about a water shortage in a town and some watered their large lawns to be golfable, citing "I have the right and the money" - how would that fly? I guess prohibiting them from those excesseses would be considered socialist? {sigh}

I love his argument, if I can afford it, I should have the right to do it. Why do I love it...look at the insane extension of it..."If I can afford a gun and bullets and enjoy killing, why can't I do it"

That's a pretty amazing stretch Shiba. I'm not a Rush fan, and don't ever listen to him. But you are equating driving with killing? C'mon man. Let's face it, Rush is a guy that's got himself a good paying gig (like many other talk show and celebrity personalities). He probably calculates the effect that the things he says will drum up more publicity. Anyone remember William Hung? That guy is famous. For being an incredibly untalented singer. And probably made millions!

here is the one problem i have with the "i can afford it so i can waste gas" mindset.....it's not like spending it on booze, or strippers, or chocolate or expensive shoes.

we are ALL pulling from the pool of available oil, we don't have our own private stock. if we waste it, we are taking it away from everyone else in the world who can't afford it. there is the problem, the innate selfishness and lack of caring for the rest of us.

here is the one problem i have with the "i can afford it so i can waste gas" mindset.....it's not like spending it on booze, or strippers, or chocolate or expensive shoes.

we are ALL pulling from the pool of available oil, we don't have our own private stock. if we waste it, we are taking it away from everyone else in the world who can't afford it. there is the problem, the innate selfishness and lack of caring for the rest of us.

Bingo.

and if you listen to this guy who day after day repeats the meme that the high prices that are weighing on every ordinary American (regardless of political affiliation or level of environmental concern) are due to lack of supply with high demand, and then comes out and gleefully spouts that he's intentionally wasting it because of some misguided spite for the other side of the political spectrum, you'd probably give him...

...the Jerk Of The Day.

EDIT: Had to do a little digging but finally found it he rides in the Maybach 57-S and he has a driver.

Wow! That's one well protected driver! I mean, what with two airbags up front and one in the back. . . .:D

Like liberals, conservatives come in many stripes. Traditional conservatives live within their means, provide endowments for future generations, and avoid profligacy. More extreme libertarian conservatives are more likely to "believe in the freedom to live however I choose without any interest of the potential consequences."

Rush is the latter. We have a lot of the former here at CleanMPG.

As a demographic, Rush listeners are more likely to be hard working middle class types who are struggling with fuel costs. If I were a listener & ditto head, I'd be pissed at the elitism. "Of course you can do what you want. You're a millionaire. How 'bout some compassion for your listeners?" That's what I'd think.

Boasting fuel inefficiency seems like the wrong angle for him to play. He should just bash OPEC & environmentalists and be done with it. Maybe he just can't afford to acknowledge the solution no matter who he blames. If the solution is fuel efficiency, it's a short hop to "Hollywood Prius liberals". So it's embracing FSPs full stop all in the name of his political radio games! Good luck with that Rush.

That's a pretty amazing stretch Shiba. I'm not a Rush fan, and don't ever listen to him. But you are equating driving with killing?

You should re-read the entire thing carefully understanding the following. I enjoyed studying philosophy and it creates a certain mind set...for a bit of logic to be correct/true, it has to hold up at the extremes.

The gun concept is an example of his logic taken to an extreme, and clearly we see it doens't hold up. There is only one thing that would make the comparision incorrect, if you don't belive that wasteful driving is bad for all of us. If you don't, my counter to his logic isn't correct. If you agree that excess polution is bad, then the doing violent things because you can afford violent things is the natual, extreme extention...its a far reach, but since it doesn't hold up, it invalidates his idea; Which is the whole point.

the problem with Rush'es position is that Gasoline production is so heavily subsidized.

If the FSP's paid the full cost of a price of gas - I'd say more power to 'em

the problem with Rush'es position is that Gasoline production is so heavily subsidized.

If the FSP's paid the full cost of a price of gas - I'd say more power to 'em

Hi Vooch--

I think you may have gasoline and ethanol confused in terms of subsidies? The tax breaks given to the oil companies amount to $17 billion which is less than two percent of their entire operating fund and the prices at the pump.

Ethanol on the other hand is subsidized at the pump to the tune of $1.50 per gallon. :mad:

Hi Vooch--

I think you may have gasoline and ethanol confused in terms of subsidies? The tax breaks given to the oil companies amount to $17 billion which is less than two percent of their entire operating fund and the prices at the pump.

Ethanol on the other hand is subsidized at the pump to the tune of $1.50 per gallon. :mad:

Subsidies are probably only a small part of the costs he's talking about. Be careful with your economics. There are substantial external costs (e.g. pollution) involved in the consumption and production of gasoline that individuals impose on society.
(RIP my old friend/boss Leo Hurwicz)

Frankly, I see the recent Rush comments mainly as a case of "a fool and his money are soon parted," but that Rush already won the jerk lifetime achievement award when he used his show to pick on 13 year old Chelsea Clinton.

Rush is number one in talk radio (http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34)for a reason: he knows what he is doing. To claim that he is an idiot is to play the game in his wheelhouse. He doesn't care if some people can't stand him; he gets the publicity when they utter his name with contempt. He doesn't care about the contempt part, just utter his name.

He has the money to drive a car/truck that gets 12 mpg. That is a legal activity. Shooting somebody is not a legal activity, so linking his act with assault/murder is illogical unless some form of compulsory collectivism is your issue, something I don't like.

I am glad Rush expressed his opinion; it isn't mine, but that's ok. He's not trying to control my life, and I have no business trying to control his.

Last I checked, Rush is making about $25M annually...if I'm off a couple of million I think we can say he is set for life. ;)

There are many things legal that are unwise or immoral. From Rush's electronic soapbox, he has lots of influence.

My background: Voted GOP in every general election from 1976-2004. Also an energy conservative, also a moral conservative, so I'm disappointed with his prescription drug abuse after blasting jocks for doing the same.

I don't agree with Jimmy Carter on many things, but the energy crisis IS "the moral equivalent of war" and he are heading for an energy Pearl Harbor....conservatives like James Woolsey agree.

For Rush to tell 20 million listeners daily energy will always be plentiful is not much different that various Americans that tried to keep us out of WWII until we were alone - endangering our way of life. Sorry I bordered on Godwin's Law. This is anything but patriotic.

Did not mean to get this political.

In my opinion, he has no more influence on people's personal choices than individuals in the music industry. He's on the radio where people can only hear his voice and opinions. Rappers have music videos where they show their "rides" that are usually horrible gas guzzlers even without the nearly 1,000 lbs of extra weight from stereo equipment, rims, LCD monitors, and whatever "pimping" junk they decide to throw in. Their listeners or viewers then go out and try to customize their car to get the right look like their rap idols, things that reduce the mpg even further. Another influencing source is the movie industry (remember "the fast and the furious"?). Sure you see some actors driving a Prius to a movie premier, but what do they actually drive and how often do they take private jets? Remember John Travolta? His house includes parking spaces for his three private jets. He shows them off on celebrity talk shows. Are you going to label him an idiot of the day as well? How about those spoiled rotten little girls on MTV's "My Sweet 16". Their parents give in to their lil angel's demands for high dollar Mercedes or BMW of the V8 or V12 variety and they still get angry because it isn't the right color. Oh, and yes, GM is a sponsor of Hannity's radio show. They give him and Rush GM vehicles to drive and report on their experience with the vehicle on their radio show. They admit that they are a sponsor. The fact isn't kept secret from their listeners. Say what you will about Rush and his 12 mpg remark but at least he isn't a hypocrite in this matter, not like so many Hollywood celebrities who preach saving the enviroment, show up to a movie premier in a Prius, and they jet off in a private jet to one of they many mansions that use more energy than 5 private homes combined. Only Hollywood celebrity that isn't a hypocrit when it comes to saving energy is Ed Begley Jr. He's a nut but at least he practices what he preaches and for that I respect him.

.... Rappers have music videos where they show their "rides" that are usually horrible gas guzzlers even without the nearly 1,000 lbs of extra weight from stereo equipment, rims, LCD monitors, and whatever "pimping" junk they decide to throw in. .........Sure you see some actors driving a Prius to a movie premier, but what do they actually drive and how often do they take private jets? Remember John Travolta? His house includes parking spaces for his three private jets. He shows them off on celebrity talk shows. Are you going to label him an idiot of the day as well? How about those spoiled rotten little girls on MTV's "My Sweet 16". ....

Travolta ...Jerk of the Day...I'll keep that in mind.

One thing you have to keep in mind when you're watching trash TV is that you are supposed to be aghast at how screwed up and unhappy people are in spite of all their advantages. Some people may choose the "My Sweet 16" girls as role models, but I think most people watch them so they can feel superior in about the same way that they feel superior to the shirtless drunks that always appear on "Cops."

In contrast, I don't think most Limbaugh listeners feel superior to him though he does seem to be pretty screwed up (divorces, drug addictions, general bitterness) in spite of all his success.

here is the one problem i have with the "i can afford it so i can waste gas" mindset.....it's not like spending it on booze, or strippers, or chocolate or expensive shoes.

we are ALL pulling from the pool of available oil, we don't have our own private stock. if we waste it, we are taking it away from everyone else in the world who can't afford it. there is the problem, the innate selfishness and lack of caring for the rest of us.

I would argue that the external costs of overindulging in booze and strippers is much higher than wasting fuel.

You should re-read the entire thing carefully understanding the following. I enjoyed studying philosophy and it creates a certain mind set...for a bit of logic to be correct/true, it has to hold up at the extremes.

The gun concept is an example of his logic taken to an extreme, and clearly we see it doens't hold up. There is only one thing that would make the comparision incorrect, if you don't belive that wasteful driving is bad for all of us. If you don't, my counter to his logic isn't correct. If you agree that excess polution is bad, then the doing violent things because you can afford violent things is the natual, extreme extention...its a far reach, but since it doesn't hold up, it invalidates his idea; Which is the whole point.

It has been a while since my logic class, but equating excess consumption and committing murder has to be some sort of fallacy. Perhaps continuum or slippery slope? One is a legal act and the other is illegal. I would consider both to be unethical and arguably immoral, however.

I think you were originally trying to refute Rush's premise that since he is rich he can "waste" fuel. I don't know if you can logically refute it since technically he mostly likely has the legal and financial means to drive whatever vehicle he chooses. The argument then becomes: Is he an unethical or immoral person because of those statements?

I would argue that the external costs of overindulging in booze and strippers is much higher than wasting fuel.Sometimes booze and wasting fuel go together....last night I passe a wrecked vehicle that suggested reckless driving.

I'll agree in all those cases it's not being responsible.