Rush Limbaugh chats w/me about Ronald Reagan’s legacy
STARK: Hi, Rush. I, um… I’m calling because… Well, first of all, I’m a liberal, and I seriously don’t understand this, uh, Reagan idolatry on behalf of conservatives. I’ll get… I’ll give you my reasons. Instead of privatizing Social Security, he raised taxes. We’re all paying higher taxes today out of our paychecks every single week because he decided to save Social Security. He –
RUSH: Wait, wait. Hold it. I need to go…
RUSH: Wait. Jeez.
STARK: The Greenspan Commission. He signed it into law, and it raised taxes on Social Security.
RUSH: What…? Wait, you’re talking about Reagan or Clinton?
STARK: I’m talking about Reagan. Reagan did that. He raised taxes on Social Security. He negotiated with terrorists, sending — over and over again — arms to Iran in exchange for hostages perform by contrast Jimmy Carter didn’t give an inch to the Iranians.
RUSH: What in the world…?
STARK: Not an inch. Instead Reagan (crosstalk)
RUSH: Testing the true depth of my politeness here on this call, folks.
STARK: Say that again?
RUSH: Let me ask you a question. What do you think, given all this that you believe, when you hear Obama and the Democrats cite Reagan as they have been doing since about a week before the State of the Union?
STARK: It’s funny you ask that. Because as a liberal I think Obama owes his presidency to Reagan. They’re both kinda stuffed suits that say one thing and then do another. Obama hasn’t been anywhere near liberal enough for me. He said he’d close Guantamano (sic), he hasn’t done that.
RUSH: Yeah.
STARK: He said he’d help people out with foreclosures, he hasn’t done that.
RUSH: I feel for you on that.
STARK: But Reagan, I mean, amnesty to people who are breaking the law and living in the country illegally. He said, “Forget about it. Stay here forever.” He cut and ran from Lebanon. How many hundreds of Marines were killed –
RUSH: Yeah.
STARK: — and he just decided, “Well, you know, instead of the fighting the bad guys I’m gonna run away”?
RUSH: Yeah.
STARK: Why is Reagan a hero to conservatives?
RUSH: “Why is Reagan a hero to conservatives?” I don’t think you… Given what you’ve said, and I’m not trying to avoid the question, I don’t think you’d ever understand it.
STARK: Well, he’s a tax raiser, an amnesty giver, a cut-and-runner, and he negotiated with terrorists. Why is he a hero to conservatives? I don’t think you understand it.
RUSH: No, I do. Most assuredly I do. I just don’t think that you would understand it. Where did you get this silly notion that Reagan raised taxes on Social Security? What websites do you read? Where did you pick that up?
STARK: Look up the Greenspan Commission. It’s not too hard to find. I mean, it’s a matter of history.
RUSH: Where did you get it? I mean, you’re asking me questions. I’m just reversing one on you here.
STARK: I’m sorry. It’s just general knowledge. It’s something I’ve known for a long time. I can’t remember where I got it from.
RUSH: You can’t remember? You’ve never heard of a website called Media Matters which highlighted it yesterday?
STARK: (static) Oh, no. I know Media Matters very well but that’s not where I got it.
RUSH: Oh, not where you got it. It’s an amazing coincidence.
STARK: (static) I mean, I’m a liberal. Of course I know Media Matters.
RUSH: Amazing coincidence out there.
STARK: They’re a fantastic website. But why are you dodging the question? I want to know why a tax-raising, amnesty-giving, cut-and-running, negotiating-with-terrorists guy is a hero to the conservative movement.
RUSH: Well, because you understand Reagan in a way that is flawed. You –
Your call is actually kinda interesting because you represent the impossibility of “bridging the gap.” Somebody like you just has to be defeated. There’s no crossing the aisle and finding common ground with you. You’re free to be who you are, don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to insulting. I’m just saying, you are unreachable. You don’t want to be reached. T his picture of Reagan, you’ve just described somebody you should love, and you hate him! You just described somebody you should absolutely love, all these things. He’s an anti-conservative, as you say, but you don’t love him. You’re having trouble understanding why he’s viewed as heroic to a lot of people.
I could talk to you about anti-communism. I could. You want to talk about amnesty? Yeah, that was Simpson-Mazzoli, and that was one-and-a-half, two million illegals; and he was told, “Okay, if we’re gonna do this, this is it, then. We’re gonna secure the borders and that’s it.” It’s the same thing with every tax increase he signed. It was also accompanied by promises to cut spending, and it never happened. Reagan’s not perfect. Nobody is. But I think the proof of Reagan is the fact that when your guys get in trouble, who do they seek to associate themselves with? Remember, Obama and these people are all about getting votes.
The fact that he’s trying to surround himself with Reagan, the fact that he’s trying to position himself with Reagan is the best indication anybody could have of what this country really thinks of Ronaldus Magnus. I think if you want to focus in on hypocrisy, you’ve got far more of it on your side of the aisle to explain and dig through than we do. Reagan was forced to raise payroll taxes by a crisis in Social Security in 1983. He endorsed that rescue plan that was written by Alan Greenspan. It was reluctant. He was not a big supporter of that. Remember, Reagan did not have a congressional majority with him.
Everything he got, the tax cuts, he had Democrats outnumbering him in the House and Senate everywhere. There were certain realities that he faced. But the biggest tax increase on Social Security was authored by none other than Bill Clinton. But did you understand the notion? Ronald Reagan fought for America. He loved America. He feared where the left, based on history, wanted to take the country. Ronald Reagan set the stage for the end of the Cold War. Ronald Reagan defeated Soviet communism without firing a shot. I don’t know… But none of that would matter. So you, sir, a nice individual, I’m sure you’re a fine guy (probably not too much fun at a ball game, unlike Bill Clinton), but still, you illustrate that people like you just have to be defeated, not met halfway and gotten along with. I mean politically.
Good show buddy.
Many many thanks.
jharp
4 Feb 11 at 10:30 pm
That was deeply satisfying, particularly the way you anticipated his attempt to turn the discussion into an attack on your sourcing, plus displaying his Media Matters fixation.
“General knowledge.” Nothing is general knowledge to the determinedly ignorant!
Mrs. Polly
4 Feb 11 at 10:39 pm
Rush doesn’t (didn’t) what the Greensapn Commission.
And he is trying to be insulting because that’s all he knows. In asking where you got the information, it’s about finding out where and then mocking that as being not knowledgeable, incorrect, etc.
Wordsmith
4 Feb 11 at 10:41 pm
Rush doesn’t (didn’t) what the Greenspan Commission.
And he is trying to be insulting because that’s all he knows. In asking where you got the information, it’s about finding out where and then mocking that as being not knowledgeable, incorrect, etc.
Wordsmith
4 Feb 11 at 10:41 pm
Great job, Mike.
One suggestion, if you ever are in this discussion in the future, and you get this question:
RUSH: No, I do. Most assuredly I do. I just don’t think that you would understand it. Where did you get this silly notion that Reagan raised taxes on Social Security? What websites do you read? Where did you pick that up?
The Answer you should give Rush is:
When the Greenspan Commission and Ronald Reagan raised the social security tax it was front page news in every newspaper in the country, it was the lead story on every network news broadcast, and it was printed on every paycheck in the US. I can only guess that you didn’t notice because you were collecting unemployment benefits at the time.
brew
4 Feb 11 at 11:02 pm
Awesome! I flipped on Rush this morning as I was driving (I know, I know, a horrible habit….but I just can’t help myself) and I knew it was you right away Mike. Turned up the radio and enjoyed the ride. What a fantastic job you did of succinctly laying out the facts. There must have been some serious head spinning in Dittohead-land.
And, brew, I love your response! I don’t know what it is with the right wing talking heads that they feel that they can win an arguement with “Where did you get that fact from?…Media Matters!” Bill O’Reilly is the master of this tactic (I know, I know, another horrible habit….which I’ve mostly broken
.
HIJ
4 Feb 11 at 11:59 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kombiz Lavasany, JayAckroyd, Sam Seder, Sam Seder, The Raw Story and others. The Raw Story said: Listen RT @SamSeder: I should add that @mike_stark was the caller who reeled Limbaugh http://bit.ly/gDA1GU [...]
Tweets that mention Rush Limbaugh chats w/me about Ronald Reagan’s legacy at StarkReports.com -- Topsy.com
5 Feb 11 at 12:42 am
Rush FAIL!
Thanks man. That made my day and probably my year.
Cogneclecticism
5 Feb 11 at 12:51 am
Mike,
Brilliant. Just brilliant!
Fahrender
fahrender
5 Feb 11 at 12:54 am
Great work, Mike.
Too bad time didn’t allow you to mention how RR sold arms to Osama bin Laden as well as the very same Moslem religious fanatics in Afghanistan that the US is fighting right now.
Privatize the Profits! Socialize the Costs!
5 Feb 11 at 4:56 am
Well done, sir.
Betty Cracker
5 Feb 11 at 6:37 am
This was cheerful news by way of Digby. It’s good to see the transcript, the point where he brings in love and hate.
Pete C
5 Feb 11 at 8:32 am
Rush: Where do you get this silly notion that Reagan raised social security taxes?
Rush about three minutes later: Reagan was forced to raise SS taxes.
What is it, Rush? A silly notion or did he actually do it? Anybody who takes this guy seriously is nuts. Sure, he’s good for a few laughs sometimes, but he lies right and left and he must know it. Or was somebody feeding him the truth as he squirmed to try to answer Mike?
Betty
5 Feb 11 at 10:21 am
Reagan had a majority in the senate anD I will bet a lot od the deems in the house were southerners who were Dixiecrats. A few years later they showed tHeir true colors and became Republicans. Another nugget about Reagan. When he was governor of California state employment Exploded. He might have hated big government but he was clueless about controlling it.
Robert59
5 Feb 11 at 11:39 am
Mega Kudos to you Sir! I was suffering through hour one waiting, wishing, hoping, that someone like you could make it on the air and take the drugfiend down a peg or two. BRAVO! Any advice on how to pass the screener in the future? And honestly, you could tell that he was seriously off his game due to the endless influx of dittoheads AND what sounded to me like either a three martini or a mega-blunt breakfast. Not to take away from your spanking of course but — the King of All Lies sounded “off.” My favorite: “… people like you cannot be met half-way. People like you must be DEFEATED. Politically.” Obviously his belief in the first amendment only works for the ditto-losers of the world. btw: the static at the end of the call? were they going for a “technical difficulties” gotta hang up now kind of “graceful” exit? Oh, and strap in folks for the “YEAR OF REAGAN” that we will have to endure (as if it wasn’t bad enough surviving him while he was alive).
Chris G
5 Feb 11 at 12:08 pm
Thank you thank you thank you. What a way to start the day!
Alan
5 Feb 11 at 12:48 pm
Thanks for the smile.
Dan B.
5 Feb 11 at 1:45 pm
RUSH: Where did you get this silly notion that Reagan raised taxes on Social Security?
RUSH: Reagan was forced to raise payroll taxes by a crisis in Social Security in 1983.
Rush, you do realize you just admitted, ON AIR, that you’re a liar?
lm945
5 Feb 11 at 1:49 pm
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
Happy Birthday, Ronnie! « Welcome to My World
5 Feb 11 at 2:10 pm
At what point did Limbaugh close your phone line? Could you have talked over him? We liberals are just too damn polite sometimes?
Julie
5 Feb 11 at 2:12 pm
I called from my MagicJack line and I seemed to be having problems with it throughout the day (didn’t know ti then, though). So I think he cut me off when the static ramped up. I don’t blame him for that. His show is the most-listened to in America; static is unprofessional.
Mike Stark
5 Feb 11 at 2:18 pm
Nah, I think that was my line.
Mike Stark
5 Feb 11 at 2:19 pm
Thanks!
Mike Stark
5 Feb 11 at 2:19 pm
Yeah, diefinitly stuck to the low-hanging fruit on this call. Woulda been great to bring up Brady Bill, Assault Weapons Ban…
Mike Stark
5 Feb 11 at 2:20 pm
Funny thing about Rush: he’s not an insulter. He’s a racist, and liar and a lot of other things, but for the most part, he’s really nice and civil to all fo his callers – even those he disagrees with.
Mike Stark
5 Feb 11 at 2:21 pm
I liked the last 4 paragraphs – where limpy finally reveals – out of ego, perhaps – that he really does know the facts (Reagan raised payroll taxes) but his interpretation is way off (he was *forced* to raise payroll taxes). He actually seems to have some knowledge – which is why, I suppose, he is so very dangerous.
BTW, this was linked by ThinkProgress. First time on your site. I like it! And thanks for talking to lumpy for the rest of us, it’s like taking one for the team.
shineOn
5 Feb 11 at 3:04 pm
We’re you on the line the whole time, or did Rush hang up and continue to talk to you? If so, could you please annotate in the transcript to indicate roughly where he cut the line?
I’ve always gotten the impression that when Rush is talking to people he doesn’t agree with, he’ll pretend that the conversation goes on long after he’s hung up and eliminated the possibility of being contradicted.
Peter Christian
5 Feb 11 at 3:06 pm
yes, i was cut off after my last statement. Ruah does do that – continue to ask questions of his caller after they have been cut off.
but that may not be his fault in this case (or others). He doesn’t always know when the caller has hung up or when his production team has ended the call as happened in this case due to the static on my line.
Mike Stark
5 Feb 11 at 3:20 pm
Mike, I remember your original site years ago when you called a lot of talk shows. You are doing such a great job. I just wish we saw you more on tv. I hope to see you subbing for some of the hosts on MSNBC.
Isaac
5 Feb 11 at 3:40 pm
Thank you for posting the complete transcript of your phone conversation with Rush.
It’s amazing that you were able to get pass the call screener. I suppose El-Rushbo thought he could make mincemeat out of anyone when it comes to discussing Reagan.
But you had him speechless on your points, especially about raising taxes on Social Security. You probably know that Reagan signed off on a tax increase in 1982, too.
Of course, there was much more you could have said like Reagan being the candidate who vowed to eliminate the Education and Energy departments, but ended up adding Veterans Affairs to the Cabinet.
I love when someone leaves El-Rushbo flustered and rabbling.
What’s so sad is that many people take what this man says as political gospel.
Vito Danelli
5 Feb 11 at 4:08 pm
[...] example, as reported by think progress, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising taxes so many [...]
Would Ronnie Have Passed Tea Party Litmus Test? « Poplar Street Views
5 Feb 11 at 4:32 pm
I was driving home and heard this live. It was great! ElRushbo was flummoxed! Well done. Made my day. Mega dittos my ass.
Jon Brian
5 Feb 11 at 5:00 pm
Having listened to and called numerous conservative talkers I could tell immediately when your call was ended and Rush had an unchallenged minute to backtrack and remind us that Reagan “defeated Communism” and “fought for America” (unlike the America hating liberals). Good catch lm945 to notice that Rush implied that Reagan did not raise SS taxes but then admitted that he did.
Duane
5 Feb 11 at 5:12 pm
That was a pleasure to hear, Mike; many thanks! It was evident during the first couple of minutes that Limbaugh had no idea of the facts, but you presented them so confidently and coherently that he didn’t dare deny them (which was surely his first impulse). At some point he must have confirmed
that what you were saying was true – via a feed from his producer? – because you could hear him adding point after point, as if he’d known these things all along. However,he lacked the mental agility to turn the argument around and finally resorted to an right-wing standby, the ad hominem: his inability to address your challenge somehow reflected a flaw in your character! I’m not a boxing fan, but if there was ever a rhetorical equivalent to a fighter pinned against the ropes and hanging on for the bell, that was it!
aj hill
5 Feb 11 at 5:21 pm
::Slow clap:: Outstanding. Reductio ad absurdum is the best tactic to push convervatards to the corner.
F. Moya
5 Feb 11 at 5:21 pm
Listening to him squirm was my favorte part.
I didn’t realized that squirming had an auditory component.
ron
5 Feb 11 at 5:47 pm
Great discussion which clearly flummoxed Mr. Limbaugh. I’ll give credit to Rush, however, for taking the call and at least trying to engage in a serious discussion, even though he had to fall back on myths and platitudes.
EJS
5 Feb 11 at 6:19 pm
When did Mike ever say he hated Reagan? He didn’t, but Rush has a liberal straw-man profile that he has to fit everyone into. Once there he can successfully knock him down.
Mark
5 Feb 11 at 7:59 pm
Awesome!!! I bet Mr. Snerdly got spanked pretty good for letting you through!! Every time I’ve tried to get through, even on “Open Line Friday”, I get put on indefinite hold.
Fantastic performance, you were totally unphased when Rush tried to change the topic….
BTW, might want to send a copy of this to Obama, he sadly, seems to be among the misinformed RR fans.
Thanks again.
S Dawson
5 Feb 11 at 8:20 pm
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
Drasties - Dutch on the World - World on the Dutch
5 Feb 11 at 8:21 pm
You asked el drugbo solid, intelligent, and well thought out questions. Instead of answering your questions, limbaugh insulted you, made false comparisons, and blathered out-right lies.
Mr Stark, you showed the world how hypocritical, ignorant, and hate-filled druggy limbaugh and the reich wing truly are.
I thank you for doing such a great job!!
Who Knew
5 Feb 11 at 8:27 pm
So, essential confronted with historical truth in the form of a knowledgeable caller, this is his response – “Your call is actually kinda interesting because you represent the impossibility of “bridging the gap.” Somebody like you just has to be defeated.” Yes Mr. Limbaugh, truth must be defeated. Hail to victory!! Sieg Heil!!!
tzx4
5 Feb 11 at 8:35 pm
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
10 Things Conservatives Don’t Want You To Know About Ronald Reagan | thehitjob.com
5 Feb 11 at 9:23 pm
“people like you just have to be defeated, not met halfway and gotten along with.”
Which is exactly what anyone who had NO good answer to the questions at hand would say, repeatedly. Ronald Reagan was an ACTOR. When I was 12 years old and Reagan was elected, I wondered why people would want to elect a PROFESSIONAL LIAR to be president. Ah, the innocence of youth… Of course, now that I’m older I know that for a lot of people, lies are sought out and held precious to their hearts. Lies sustain them in every way. Politically, financially, spiritually.
peoplelikeyou
5 Feb 11 at 10:07 pm
Good job.
Jim Ostrowski
5 Feb 11 at 11:51 pm
Well done. Awesomely poignent.
brandon
6 Feb 11 at 12:14 am
Quite interesting, and telling, the Mr. Limbaugh cut Mr. Stark’s access so he could give his so-called justifications.
somchy
6 Feb 11 at 1:31 am
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
Ronald Reagan – The Truth Conservatives Don’t Like « The Marin Progressive
6 Feb 11 at 2:42 am
The Snark Report gloats over lame blindside using a 28 year old screw up by Reagan.
It has failed by the way. Now what? Guess Dumbo O will borrow money from the Chinese to fund it.
TheFinkOfSalem
6 Feb 11 at 2:59 am
[...] For your reading pleasure, read this really satisfying takedown of Rush Limbaugh from progressive bl… Stark leaves the usually talkative Limbaugh almost speechless. STARK: Why is Reagan a hero to conservatives? [...]
The Reagan Mythology : Delaware Liberal
6 Feb 11 at 9:01 am
That was a thing of beauty! Thank you Mike.
Frank
6 Feb 11 at 11:05 am
Well played, Mr. Stark. Thanks for making my day.
@TheFinkOfSalem:
Alas, here we see yet another senseless, tragic case of Conservative Personality Disorder, this one unfortunately advanced to the point of complete and total disconnect from reality. As the uninfected can readily observe:
-The Stark Report did not “gloat,” it merely posted a transcript.
-the “blindside” wasn’t lame – it was freaking awesome.
-it is entirely unclear which “28 year old screw up by Reagan” the characteristically muddled and simplistic conservative mind might be referring to in his incoherent comment: would that be raising Social Security taxes, the amnesty to millions of illegal aliens, the cut-and-run from Lebanon, or the negotiation with terrorists?
-it has not “failed by the way.” If it had, why would TheFinkOfSalem bother to post his nonsense here? Not to mention all of the cross-linking from other sites.
If that’s a fail, I’d like to get me some of that.
Iris Vander Pluym
6 Feb 11 at 12:30 pm
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
Ten Reasons Ronald Reagan Ain’t All That | B12 Solipsism
6 Feb 11 at 12:32 pm
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
“10 Things Conservatives Don’t Want You To Know About Ronald Rea gan” | Oxygen in Use! Smoking is OK!
6 Feb 11 at 12:48 pm
“[Rush] doesn’t always know when the caller has hung up or when his production team has ended the call as happened in this case due to the static on my line.”
Rush should know what’s happening assuming he’s paying attention. It’s not like he can’t afford to replace his board if the indicator lights fail.
The call followed the same overall script as lots of talk radio: you asked a question, and after a bit of back and forth, the host disconnected input from you and answered your question. It’s possible that he would have talked to you a bit longer if there were less static on the line, but once you pivoted the discussion away from Media Matters and back to your original question, it’s not clear where else Rush could have gone with you. By that point, he’s probably figured out that he isn’t going to win an argument with you (he admits that when he calls you “unreachable”), so answering your question without giving you a chance to respond is the obvious choice.
Kenneth Almquist
6 Feb 11 at 7:01 pm
thank god he’s back on the oxy. rush is great when he’s high.
rush's empty pill bottle
7 Feb 11 at 9:47 am
Outstanding! I especially love the way you continued to impart important factual information while fatso was stuttering and trying to figure out how to put you down.
Terry
7 Feb 11 at 1:42 pm
is Rush stepping on his thought process or what?
He is going around different topics just to avoid answering the question.
I just heard Rush said that Reagan raise taxes because of a crisis with Social Security. So why can’t Obama raise taxes because of the present crisis? (double-standard).
I’m liking this website a lot.
first time visitor.
Fernando1958
7 Feb 11 at 5:22 pm
Dude, you are my fucking hero. Great job sticking a pin in that blowhard.
Baci302
7 Feb 11 at 8:43 pm
[...] it sometimes appears as if they genuinely don’t know the truth of his legacy. Yesterday, when liberal activist Mike Stark challenged hate radio host Rush Limbaugh on why Reagan remains a conservative hero despite raising [...]
ThinkProgress » 10 Things Conservatives Don’t Want You To Know About Ronald Reagan « WTF Nation :-o
8 Feb 11 at 10:30 pm
Mike, I just heard on a podcast of the Randi Rhodes show that YOU were the caller on the Limbaugh show who asked the Reagan question.
As many have suggested ahead of me, Mike, you are indeed MY hero as well. Great job!
kstreet67
8 Feb 11 at 11:27 pm
[...] Stark Reports [...]
Rush Limbaugh chats with Mike Stark (A blogger) about Ronald Reagan’s legacy « The Fifth Column
9 Feb 11 at 12:09 am
[...] at The Fifth Column tells us about a conversation on The Rush Limbaugh Show when caller blogger Mike Stark succeeded in getting through on the air last week. Stark has done this a few [...]
Serendipity: Mike Stark and Rush Limbaugh and me | Whatever Works
9 Feb 11 at 10:43 am
[...] Gene Lyons looks at the symbolism of Reagan’s 100th birthday, and, in particular, this truly remarkable exchange between Rush Limbaugh and liberal blogger Mike Stark: STARK: I’m calling because… Well, first [...]
Lunchbreak Link-A-Thon explains it all | ACT NOW
11 Feb 11 at 12:32 pm
That was excellent! Limbaugh sounded like Ralph Cramden on the Honeymooners, humma,humma, humma.
Keep is up! Thanks.
Glenn
15 Feb 11 at 6:48 am
I’m curious about something Mike(or whom ever feels like answering).I notice that Rush always seems to get the last(long winded)word in.Does he mute your mic like Bill-O to suppress any further reply at the end?
Anyway I really want to thank you for the work you do.It takes a lot of brass to take guff from these guys who regardless of their inherently idiotic ideology are very good at what they do.Personally I can’t even stomach visiting right wing websites let alone what you do! Keep on hammering away man.
scott matheson
15 Feb 11 at 9:45 pm
Mike, you really should annotate the point where he cut your call, because I’d be willing to bet that it’s right where he goes into that long-winded diatribe about you being one of the kinds of persons that there is no bridging the gap with, a major laugh there (or mordant chuckle?), because the conservatives’ idea of bipartisanship is a whole lot of people doing what they say, both Democrats and Repubs. Way to hoist the Lying, Nazi Whore by his own petard. Keep up the good work.
Stentor
16 Feb 11 at 1:16 pm
Hummuna…hummuna…hummuna…
How do his followers listen to this pig and actually believe his swill? Talk about delusional “believers” and ditto-heads! Are you freaking kidding me?
Meanwhile, the poor working shlump who swings a hammer for a wage keeps listening to this multi-millionaire tell them he is on their side. Idiocracy is on the march!
Sushi
18 Feb 11 at 10:18 pm
[...] is described by conservatives. This is the way the chat began. For the full transcript and tape, just click here: STARK (2/4/11): Hi, Rush. I, um—I’m calling because— Well, first of all, I’m a liberal, [...]
Catching up « The Crawdad Hole
19 Feb 11 at 11:24 am
Um, but you got schooled. I’m not defending Rush, but you um cited something as ‘general knowledge’, but also that is actually false.
Jericho
2 Jun 11 at 11:36 pm
Why do libs intentionally ignore these……
1.
“Reagan enacted lower marginal tax rates in conjunction with simplified income tax codes and continued deregulation.”
2.
“lowered the oil windfall profits tax”
3.
“cleaned up” the tax base by curbing tax loopholes, preferences, and exceptions, thus raising the effective tax on activities previously specially favored by the code.”
==>>> FROM THE ABOVE, THIS HAPPENED…..
4.
“Reagan’s policies are recognized as bringing about one of the longest peacetime expansions in U.S. history.”
5.
“During the Reagan administration, the American economy went from ( CARTER’S ) GDP growth of -0.3% in 1980 to 4.1% in 1988.”
6.
“A ‘NET’ job increase of about 16 million also occurred.”
P.S. Reagan did not and could not raise the gas tax. Democrat majority. What congress do you remember?
A. Non Amos
2 Jun 11 at 11:40 pm
Uhm. Unless you are quibbling over my use of “social security tax” vs. “payroll taxes”, I was correct. And if you are quibbling over that, well… that’s jsut silly and not worth my time.
The fact is that everyone that works and pays payroll taxes saw the gov’t take a bigger chunk of their check, and Reagan sat int eh Rose Garden with a broad smile on his face when he signed the legislation that hiked those taxes.
The sad part is that that tax fix was supposed to keep Social Security sound for as far as the eye can see. And for the most part, it has done that. But now, Republicans, seeing all the money is the Social Security trust fund, want to raid it to keep giving income tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy.
Mike Stark
2 Jun 11 at 11:52 pm