The Earth is Flat Award
A celebration of the inane, insipid and asinine...
This is a difficult award for ESR to hand out. In many ways Rush Limbaugh is responsible for the very existence of this web site. It was his short-lived television show, and much longer existing radio program, that was the final conversion experience for this magazine's editor-in-chief from blue dog liberal to conservative.
And yet Limbaugh deserves the Earth is Flat Award for a stunning comment made in the aftermath of last week's disastrous, for the Republican Party at any rate, mid-term elections in the United States. For years Limbaugh has been known as the "tell as it is" guy, the one who is unafraid of anyone. Liberal or conservative, Limbaugh and his talent on loan from God will take them on when they do wrong.
Well, except that wasn't actually the case. According to Limbaugh on the morning of November 8,
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.
Since the election of George W. Bush, Republicans have gone on a spending spree that has rivaled all but the worst in past Democratic spending. While much of the increase in government can be traced to the war against terrorist activity, the Bush administration and its willing allies in Congress have also ramped up domestic spending. They, in effect, became Democrat-lite -- though only compared to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. Heck, Bill Clinton and his Democratic Congress were arguably more financially sensible than today's Republicans.
Which is precisely the sort of thing that Limbaugh should have been arguing the past number of years instead of shilling for the Republicans. He should have been calling on the GOP to fight increased spending but instead only offered tepid criticism. Now we know why. The truth isn't as important to Limbaugh as is the GOP holding onto the levers of power, regardless of the consequences.
Thanks to his admission we can no longer take what Limbaugh says at face value, and that hurts. And we're not even from Rio Linda.
There is an old Serbian proverb that says vinegar in freedom tastes better than honey in slavery. This award is meant for events and people Enter Stage Right considers to be positive.
Check back soon for a new Vinegar in Freedom Award!
Have someone you want considered for the Earth is Flat Award or the Vinegar in Freedom Award? E-mail ESR with your candidates!