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Eminentoes
The Titanic of Talk Radio?
Has an iceberg named Limbaugh already started to sink the Huckabee show?
(Page 3 of 4)
What brought all this to mind was the New York Times Magazine story this past Sunday on Governor Huckabee. The Times doing the predictable if always odd version of the kind of backhanded puff piece a liberal outlet always reserves for moderate Republicans.
The fact that this was the Huckabee story du jour — not a rash of stories everywhere on the success of the challenge to Rush — only drew attention to the Sherlock Holmes-nature of the story. In the Silver Blaze, Holmes has this conversation with a Colonel Ross:
Ross: “Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?”
Holmes: “To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
Ross: “The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
Holmes: “That was the curious incident,” remarked Sherlock Holmes.
The “curious incident” in the Times interview with Huckabee? The solitary reference to his radio show was this exchange with Times reporter Andrew Goldman:
Goldman: When I heard you were starting a syndicated radio show in April that would go head to head with Rush Limbaugh, I wondered if you were going after him because he hadn’t been kind to your candidacy in ‘08.
Huckabee: He’s been very critical of me and very wrong. It’s one thing to have an opinion, but the opinion needs to be based on fact. Even a few months ago, he said that I had endorsed Mitt Romney, when in fact I had not. I did not endorse anyone in the primary. But all of that had nothing to do with my decision to do a radio show.
Can you spot the Holmes-like “curious incident” — the dog that didn’t bark?
Sure you can. There was not a word about how stunningly successful the Huckabee show is. Not a solitary peep.
Does anyone seriously believe that if this RINO Radio venture were overflowing with success in challenging Rush — that Mike Huckabee wouldn’t be bursting his buttons with joy, and not just in pages of the New York Times? That the Dickey brothers and Cumulus would not be everywhere with this story?
That front pages of websites and newsprint alike from the Times to Politico to Mediaite to Bloomberg and on and on endlessly would not be humming with “Huckabee Overtakes Rush” stories?
Of course not.
Instead, we have President Obama out there on the stump attacking Mitt Romney on health care for “abandoning a principle that you fought for, for six years simply because you’re getting pressure for two days from Rush Limbaugh…”
About the Author
Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (139) | Leave a comment
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Kitty | 7.12.12 @ 6:30AM
What's amazing is that the braintrust at Cumulus Media actually thought they could sink Rush with a RINO. Maybe they don't realize that a lot of us dittoheads have been listening to Rush for many, many years. Personally, I've been listening since April of 1992. Did Cumulus Media honestly think we'd tune Rush out for Huckabee?
DTOM| 7.12.12 @ 8:20AM
And they did not know the ratings numbers that Limbaugh had! Incompetent, morons, those. Sorta like Mike Huckabee...
IX-XI| 7.12.12 @ 8:42PM
Rush has those ratings because he's the conservative talk equivalent of rock and roll. Glenn Beck is alternative. Hannity is pop. Mark Levin is heavy metal baby.
Mike Huckabee is muzak.
Poppakap| 7.13.12 @ 11:16AM
I like the music metaphor. Not only is it funny, it rings all-too-true.
independentgirl | 7.16.12 @ 1:50AM
That is clever..Huck is muzak! That he is.
IX-XI| 7.17.12 @ 10:11AM
Oh yeah: Dennis Prager is classical.
C. Vernon Crisler | 7.12.12 @ 10:16AM
Yeah, I don't really see anyone out there who can compete with Rush. Smart radio hosts recognize talent and success, and that's why they prefer to be on just before Rush or right after Rush. Only someone who wants to be ratings-less will go up against Rush.
Occam's Tool| 7.12.12 @ 7:04PM
Rush is simply extremely good at what he does. Very funny and deadly precise.
On the other hand, Huck is a political has been reject from the Talk Show Equivalent of American Idol (let's go with the terrible Korean singer), going up against Roy Orbison. It's as ugly to watch as a Mack truck hitting a sleeping puppy.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 7.12.12 @ 9:34PM
Ah, the visuals (or in this case, the audios): William Hung doing "She Bangs" vs. the Big O singing "Only the Lonely". OT, I think you've captured the contrast.
AhiaBoy| 7.15.12 @ 10:50AM
Roy Orbison's awful. If a whiny nasal falsetto voice is what you're looking for, he's your man---or was.
The better comparison might be the Four Tops vs. Snoop Dog.
Appleby| 7.12.12 @ 6:50AM
Mike Huckabee had a radio show?
John Navratil| 7.12.12 @ 9:23AM
Mike who?
Kilgore Trout| 7.15.12 @ 1:19PM
HuckaHOO?
loulou| 7.12.12 @ 11:37AM
He has a TV show too but it's unwatchable.
Borefest.
KyMouse| 7.12.12 @ 11:44AM
I thought Huckabee's was a restaurant chain.
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 1:45PM
Yeah, that was my thought, too. I had no idea.
paintbrush| 7.12.12 @ 7:59AM
Rino radio, you mean a thinly-veiled narcissistic loathing of the great unwashed without reiterating the litany of his class’s claim to authority....
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 8:39AM
He's the Safe, Non-Dangerous Alternative to Rush?
Who wants to play Safe? And, do we still have that Luxurey, as the Entire Country goes Bankrupt, one City ate time?
I don't like Huckabee. Never have. I couldn't change the channel fast enough, when Goober and the Boys, got out their Git Tars, and started Picking and Grinning, like a buncha inbreds.
As Alexander told Darius' Men, after they had Killed their Cowardly King - "Only a King, may Kill a King". Whereby, they were summarily IMPALED, and left for the Buzzards.
Which, by the way, is pretty much what happened to Goober, and his Goober Show.
An alternative to Rush.
As if there is such a thing.
Long live The King!
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 1:20PM
I agree with 85% of what Rush has to say. Too bad he is virtually the most obnoxious personality in the public eye. And he loves being obnoxious. I am convinced he holds regular focus groups to identify new avenues through which to express his adolescent sense of humor and myriad annoying qualities.
Sometimes, I find him unlistenable and turn him off. Too many deliberate quirks and ticks and self-aggrandizement (not to mention that the timber of his voice is the audio equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard).
Which is unfortunate, because, when he tones down the shtick and just talks, he's quite good. He's also an excellent articulator of conservative values, a great analyst of political machinations and he has the ability to cut through the fog on many issues.
Huckabee is simply an utter non-entity, a feckless, spineless, go-along-to-get-along putz.
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 1:50PM
I don't agree with everything he says, either, but he articulates more of my values and beliefs than anyone else out there.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 2:17PM
The truth is, I agree with practically everything he says. It's his personality that I find grating. I've noticed that his brother, also an excellent conservative, bears no trace of that puerile obnoxiousness.
I liked Rush better when he had more Paul Shanklin comedy bits - those are hilarious. But Rush reminds me of the fat kid on the playground who can only get attention by annoying people or by picking one topic and becoming an expert on it. I believe he remains that playground misfit.
I give him credit - he's parlayed that trait into a great career. But, for me, trying to like Rush is like trying to hug a cactus.
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 3:06PM
C'mon.
He's Obnoxious?
He's a Braggart?
In the words of the Great Reggie Jackson.
"It ain't Bragging, if you can do it."
Rush is a National Treasure, who FINALLY gave VOICE to what we've always been thinking.
I can't even imagine, where we'd be, today, if he had never hit the scene.
Can you?
MK48| 7.12.12 @ 3:16PM
Can't forget...............Mark Levin
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 3:52PM
Actually, even if you can do it, it is bragging. As Rush himself always says, words mean things. Look up "brag" in the dictionary.
Yes, OBNOXIOUS. As I've said, it's not the content that I find objectionable. Please note that I listen to him as much as I can stand him, which is about 80% of the time he's on. I just wish it weren't such a chore. I simply think his shtick is obnoxious, and deliberately so. It's how he differentiates himself, I guess.
I don't know where we'd be without Rush - he came on the national scene in 1988. Since then we've had two GOP presidents, both RINOS, and two Democrat presidents; Clinton is the first two-term Democrat since FDR, and Obama is a communist.
I think Rush is great at preaching to the choir. Yes, he's converted a small percentage, but how great has his influence been? I'm not sure. And please, content and style are two different things. Just because he's right, and just because he's a great voice for conservatism - which I've already said - and just because he's even courageous, doesn't mean I have to like his personality. I do NOT like his personality.
gazinya | 7.15.12 @ 10:15AM
"Rush has converted a small percentage but how great has his influence been?" Well, let us put a price tag on that influence, shall we? He started with 145 stations and today has over 800. He started with a salary of a few thousand and today his 'small slice of the profits' is in the hundreds of millions of $$. When attacked he gets bigger in populatity because he is proven to be 99.6% correct and 'He has talent on loan from GOD!'
If you find him obnoxious then please.....oh forget it.
TNcracker | 7.13.12 @ 1:29PM
You obviously don't get it. Or maybe you're just a troll.
independentgirl | 7.16.12 @ 1:53AM
I second that.
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 3:11PM
Remember what Ed Koch used to say.
"If you believe 100% of what I say? See a Psychiatrist."
Who cares HOW he says it?
Be glad that he IS saying it.
Get a grip, buddy.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 3:59PM
I think your affection for Rush borders on worship. Remember what the bible says about false idols.
Who cares how he says it? I do. Everyone on this planet is a mixed bag. I do not worship at the altar of anybody.
I have a right to find him obnoxious. You do not find him obnoxious. Bully for you. Obviously many people agree with you. I'm sorry, but your powers of persuasion are not going to change my visceral response to him.
Jade12| 7.15.12 @ 2:49PM
Oh give me a break on the idol worship crap.
I see more idol worship from church attenders for their Pastors!
Anthony| 7.12.12 @ 3:25PM
Grzmlyk, Welcome home!! It's been a long time, good to see that you're back.
Your observations about Rush are spot on. While I agree with Rush's politics, his personality, ego, and his shameless constant self- aggrandizement have taken their toll on me, after 20+ years of daily listening
I firmly believe that Rush's daily massive ego massage has grown proportionally to the demise of his show, which I attribute to when he lost his hearing. The show has never been the same and the drop off was instantly recognizable, despite his attempts to the contrary. He now brags daily about his greatness, complete with soundbites, yet his show has become a shell of its former greatness.
In addition, it has been clear to me for some years now that laziness and lack of preparation have become his daily schtick.
He appears to do his show on autopilot,and despite his claim to the contrary of preperation, he misses so much good material that he would have nailed years ago.
Oh well, he's all we got, other than Levin, so like Romney, I'll stick with Rush because I have no other place to go.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 4:05PM
Anthony, thank you. I don't get on Amspec much anymore because, well, my opinion of the future of this country isn't good, and, when I point out that our fate has already been sealed, most people say, "well what are you going to do?" or "so you just want to give up?" No, I'll fight on, as they did at the Alamo. But reality is reality, and I don't really want to continue repeating myself even as people think that this next election, somehow, some way, will yield a different result from every election in the last 40 years.
Thanks for the support on Rush. Frankly, I don't understand why more people aren't turned off by him. Sometimes, when he gets truly passionate, he drops the act and actually can make very good points. But he does repeat himself endlessly, and he is in love with the sound of his own voice. And, as you say, he's a shadow of his former self.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 1:21PM
One other point:
One area where Limbaugh is wrong: Along with other conservative whistlers past the graveyard, he is convinced that America is a center-right country.
We are not. We are a classic liberal socio-political entity modeled after the neo-socialism of Western Europe's old "social democracies."
Or, as I like to put it, if we're such a center-right country, how is it we have a far-left culture? Because it's been hijacked by liberals and progressives? Well, there are only two ways that could have happened: Either the culture accurately reflects a socialist mindset among the majority (my hypothesis), or the conservatives have silently acquiesced to the hijacking of culture by the far left. And if that's the case, do we even deserve to prevail?
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 1:53PM
I think you are wrong. I believe that the majority of Americans are center-right and the country, not necessarily the culture, has been hijacked by lying, hypocritical, sleazy, scumbag, disingenuous democrats who lie, cheat and steal to win elections. I've seen it time and time again. They say and promise one thing during the campaign, then they do the complete opposite when they're in office. Then when it's time for re-election, they apologize, admit they screwed up and ask for another chance and, for some insane reason, their constituents give it to them. So, do we deserve to prevail? Yes. And more importantly, we MUST prevail if America as we know it is to survive.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 2:30PM
Wow - I don't see that at all. Yes, they lie, but what democrat in modern memory has apologized for his actions? Clinton tacked to the right because the country had temporarily lurched that way; but he has never renounced any of his policies that I can recall. Jimmy Carter? What did he apologize for? Obama sure ain't apologizing.
No, what Democrats do is play Santa Claus - more freebies and more power for supposed victim groups and flattering those who aren't direct recipients of government $$ that they "CARE" more than the evil people who actually make this country work. And, of course, back-door bribes and lucre for the real movers and shakers in the party. That is the sum total of the Democrat playbook.
Yes, they promise to balance the budget and be fiscally responsible, but when it doesn't happen, they simply blame Republicans for not raising more taxes.
And, as I say, if the majority of Americans are conservative, and have allowed Democrats to call the tune that we dance to time after time, playing Charlie Brown to their Lucy holding the football, then most Americans are terminally stupid and don't deserve what our founders created.
No, I believe that we are a liberal country. I've lived in many major cities in my life, and everybody I know is a liberal. I am quite literally the only conservative I know. Again, I ask: if we are a center-right country, why are we a far-left country?
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 3:16PM
We borrow almost $200 million every hour of every day. And still the government is growing. And this is with the Republican's assent, mind you. I ask you: Is this country prepared to face reality? No. Look at what's happened in Greece. But we don't have Eurozone partners with deep pockets (e.g., a Germany) waiting in the wings to bail us out.
My plan is to survive the collapse. Remember, all things eventually fall to decay. All empires fall. Human nature is immutable.
Yes, I'll vote for Romney. But I'll bet you dollars to donuts he won't have the political courage to do what needs to be done. And even if he does, he'll be out on his ear in 2016 and a socialist will be elected - that's what happened in France.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 2:39PM
One other point is that 75% of republicans we elect become collaborators when they get to Washington. Think Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are fighting for us? HAH! They HATE the Tea Party.
The reason the GOP all become RINOS (look at both Bushes!) is that the worst thing in this country is to be called a bigot or insensitive or greedy. We will do anything, including plunder the national treasury, tear down all of our institutions and acquiesce to crony capitalism (more accurately called "fascism") in order to be perceived as "NICE." John Roberts is only the latest poster child for this compulsion.
And the BEST republicans can do is cluck-cluck over Obama's fiscal insanity and then rubber stamp 95% of it. I'm not convinced that they'll fight against Obamacare; as some of the freebies come online - and it was designed to seduce the people with freebies before the costs fully impact us - I fear we'll slouch toward acceptance of Obamacare.
It breaks my heart to say this, but human nature has proven sturdier than the now-defunct Constitution. We are over the cliff, and we will collapse. The dollar is already debauched. We are OUT OF MONEY and still GOP and Dems alike talk as if we can continue the nanny state in perpetuity.
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 3:07PM
And, you're Plan is what, exactly?
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 3:16PM
Go down with the ship.
I don't see that creating a false narrative, as Emmett Tryell does, simply declaring liberalism dead, does anything productive beyond selling books.
It's like this: You see a film of a raw egg being dropped from 100 feet onto a concrete slab. You stop the film when the egg is six inches above the ground and you ask the viewer what he thinks will happen next.
When he says, "well, the egg is going to shatter on the concrete," are you really justified in calling him a pessimist or a naysayer?
My point is that the collapse of America is a fait accompli - it is in the PAST. There are only two things keeping this reality from hitting us: One is that the dollar is still the world's reserve currency. The other is that the government plans to inflate the currency for as long as they can in order to prolong the illusion that we're not in collapse.
Grzmlyk| 7.12.12 @ 3:17PM
Oops - meant to put this here:
We borrow almost $200 million every hour of every day. And still the government is growing. And this is with the Republican's assent, mind you. I ask you: Is this country prepared to face reality? No. Look at what's happened in Greece. But we don't have Eurozone partners with deep pockets (e.g., a Germany) waiting in the wings to bail us out.
My plan is to survive the collapse. Remember, all things eventually fall to decay. All empires fall. Human nature is immutable.
Yes, I'll vote for Romney. But I'll bet you dollars to donuts he won't have the political courage to do what needs to be done. And even if he does, he'll be out on his ear in 2016 and a socialist will be elected - that's what happened in France.
Dai Alanye | 7.12.12 @ 4:00PM
Disagree with Grzmlyk on Rush, agree on Mitt.
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 5:30PM
Go down with the ship.
Nice plan.
Quartermaster| 7.12.12 @ 6:15PM
Your going down with too buddy. You may rave and engage in Hitlerian accusations of defeatism, but the fall of this country was determined long before I was even born. Learn something of human nature and quit raving at the realists.
I'm still going to fight, but I know what the result will be in the end. You are deluded that you can do something about it.
BackToBasics| 7.12.12 @ 11:08PM
Grzmlyk - from your post - "is that the worst thing in this country is to be called a bigot or insensitive or greedy"
I agree. It is truly amazing almost beyond belief that our country is going down fast MOSTLY because those who are elected to represent the right are so afraid of being called junior-high level names that they are willing to let the country be destroyed. I cannot think of any similar large power falling for name-calling that amounts to less than damage than a pea-shooter.
I've thought about this and I've come to think that a lot of this fear started in the 1964-1967 timeframe when white leaders were so petrified about the riots and destruction in black ghettos in many cities that they ceased to speak their minds out of fear of further destruction. To me it seems that leaders of both parties have been making weak decisions ever since and both have used government handouts instead of firm resolve as a way to stop further rioting.
In my opinion all they have done is postpone the riots for decades. Through government largesse they have created a broken-family-underclass in huge numbers that will quickly take to the streets for any reason.
As for Huckabee, I hope it is soon to be good riddance of him. I never liked him or trusted him.
Anthony| 7.12.12 @ 3:57PM
I share your pessimism that America is indeed in sunset mode. I believe fly over America still clings to the basic conservative values that made us great, yet our culture is clearly defined by progressive dogma.
Reagan's precient words of how quickly liberty is lost, plays daily in my head as I witness America's suicide at the hands of leftists.
Leftism, as I have said for years, is a pernicious, dibilitating rot, that plays to people's baser instincts. The Democrat Party has risen to power playing to these instincts, as opposed to the grander, more noble vision, classic liberalism held out for the individual. Edmund Burke has been replaced by Saul Alinsky.
I don't know if we will survive as a Constitutional Republic, but I do agree that if we do, it will only be as a result that will come after a collapse of massive proportion.
Human nature, being what it is, rarely is capable of stopping a decline as it is happening in real time, which is precisely what we are experiencing now.
Our leaders seem resigned to our fate and totally unable or unwilling to stop and say, NO MORE OF THIS!! It will require a massive upheavel to shed these 7 decades of creeping leftism. Unfortunately, bad things happen when massive upheavels take place.
Quartermaster| 7.12.12 @ 6:17PM
It has been published many times over at Jerry Pournelle's place, and it is quite accurate:
"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation while the US commits suicide."
The suicide began with the presidential election of 1860.
Alan| 7.12.12 @ 8:10AM
RINO radio, gotta be just a blast to listen too!
1. Don't stand for anything
2. Don't say anything that the MSM will come after you about
3. Don't offend any of the leftists.
4. Don't call leftists Socialists, Marxists, Communists or any of the other "ists"
5. Don't withdraw the "reach accross the isle" compromise hand of cooperation that might make you look like some kind of "rigid" idealist with principals.
6. Don't cater to those "religionist" types who believe in right and wrong.
7. Don't do or say anything that might jeopardize the "game" in DC.
8. Don't take any position that might force you into taking a position.
9. Don't ever miss any opportunity to kiss the @sses of "moderates" or "independents"
Yeah, gotta be real stimulating and riveting to listen to!
DTOM| 7.12.12 @ 8:20AM
Definition for ya'
RINO - the useful idiot's useful idiot.
TW in SC| 7.12.12 @ 10:08AM
There was another fella some time ago...said..."Can't we all just get along?"....name escapes me. Wonder how that turned out for him. Well, off to the pool...it's a scorcher today. Might smoke a doobie and drink a bit before I go swimming, too. It's ok, my girlfriend is right there.
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 1:55PM
Too funny!
Quartermaster| 7.12.12 @ 6:18PM
Just like Air America.
Suzyqpie| 7.14.12 @ 8:26AM
Hi Alan, #7 is the prize winner. #7 requires all Rs to refer to 0bama as a nice guy.
SCMike| 7.12.12 @ 8:14AM
Limbuagh’s a force of nature, Huckabee’s a farce and a phony. Rush can focus like a laser at the heart of an issue while the Huckster is still wondering if it’s polite and proper to even mention that there’s an issue.
There is no comparison between the two in terms of wit, principle, and ability to do battle with the dark forces. Heck, Huckabee joins those dark forces on occasion, so muddled is his ability to maintain some semblance of coherence.
And if the Huckster sold tea, it would smell and taste like vinegar.
Ryan| 7.12.12 @ 8:20AM
The leftist media moguls may need to realize that success in conservative talk radio is ground-up, not top-down. All the big names, other than maybe Bennett (and even he did, to a point), started small and worked their way to larger audiences. Beck, Hannity, Rush, and likely Boortz will be relatively unchallenged. Everyone else is playing for fifth.
Pecos Pete| 7.12.12 @ 10:01AM
And Mark Levin started from nothing.
loulou| 7.12.12 @ 11:39AM
Mark Levin is smart and is no RINO.
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 1:55PM
I like Bennett, but I can't stand his radio show. He is so boring!
BackToBasics| 7.12.12 @ 11:20PM
Savage is the third right now. Bennett is totally an open-border RINO; just like Hugh Hewitt. I've heard both on several occasions ridicule callers who express concern about the open borders. On other occasions they quickly change the subject or cut the caller off. Interesting that they have this attitude about illegal aliens when both are considered evangelical Christians.
Reality1| 7.12.12 @ 8:24AM
And one other thing: what happened to all the web/twitter chatter about stopping Rush? In much of March-April, you would have thought the world was destroying Rush Limbaugh! Yet, he is not only still around--he is thriving, as always. The "Stop Rush" crowd was an insignificant flash-in-the-pan. Go El Rushbo!!!
Kitty | 7.12.12 @ 9:24AM
http://legalinsurrection.com/2.....e-know-it/
The tawdry inner-workings of “StopRush” are being exposed day by day, after an “infiltrator” released recordings and other evidence via The Trenches website.
Among the revelations are alleged use of fake Twitter accounts, employment of an investigator allegedly linked to Brett Kimberlin, and a variety of other tools which, if exposed at the time the Rush secondary boycott was at its height, would have revealed the movement to be even more astroturfed than originally believed.
And there's more.
C'mon Man!| 7.12.12 @ 11:17AM
But Keith Olberman is gone, wasn't he leading the stop Rush chorus?
Cobalt| 7.12.12 @ 11:39AM
"Fairness Doctrine" "localism"
Rush Limbaugh and conservative radio have other things to be wary of.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.....asp?id=557
Derek Leaberry| 7.12.12 @ 8:51AM
Perhaps Huckabee would be helped out if David Frum, David Brooks, Meghan McCain, Alan Simpson, JP Bush and Mary Cheney could be added to the line-up.
George Collins| 7.12.12 @ 8:56AM
Mr. Lord,
The "curious incident" in your article is that you cite no numbers. Developing a brand, in this case, Huckabee radio, would take many months if not years. (In the case of Huckabee, it will probably never happen, but my point is, how do you know?)
How can you dismiss this launch without knowing ratings and revenues?
I agree that Huckabee is a buffoon, but your article is a complete waste of time without presenting the facts, to wit, performance in ratings and margins, which would be available as Cumulus is a publicly-traded company.
Kitty | 7.12.12 @ 9:26AM
http://radioequalizer.blogspot.....ff-to.html
With mainstream media expectations so high, Mike Huckabee's new radio talk show was probably bound to disappoint. But newly-available hard data reveals a gaping donut hole where the audience should be.
George Collins| 7.12.12 @ 9:45AM
Kitty, you're a better source of information than Mr. Lord. Thank you for presenting the facts.
loulou| 7.12.12 @ 11:40AM
Couldn't you have looked it up yourself?
IMO Mr Lord is the Rush Limbaugh of AmSpec.
Jeff| 7.12.12 @ 9:31AM
GeorgeCollins
That is precisely the point.
There are "no numbers" because Cumulus isn't saying. If the numbers were just spiffy, based on all the PR they sought, those numbers would be out there. One suspects they aren't out there because they aren't good. But that they aren't available is a Cumulus decision.
Moe Blotz| 7.12.12 @ 11:16AM
Did Arbitron post any numbers for RINO Radio? Mike Huckabee may have scored almost almost as high as Phluffya's own squish, The Smerc, whose audience numbers were so low that he never ranked in Arbitron's book.
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 1:58PM
The "curious incident" is that no one that I know of even knew Huckabee had a radio show. Mr. Lord's article stands on its own.
Suzyqpie| 7.14.12 @ 8:37AM
Exactly. When I saw this article,I thought, during the Rush/Fluke non-event, I remember hearing an ad for Huck Radio. I forgot the ad and until this article never heard a thing about it.
Joellen| 7.12.12 @ 9:20AM
Mike Huckabee "more conservative, less confrontational". Which means NO GUTS to call it as it is. Rush Limbaugh never had to worry (probably never even gave it a thought). PS - Peggy Noonan gave rave reviews for the insane Chris Matthews on his latest fawning of JFK. Noonan & Huckabee - made for each other.
J Baustian| 7.12.12 @ 12:13PM
Peggy Noonan is a nice person who sells a lot of her own books and has a lot of readers for her weekly WSJ columns. She knows her niche.
If she offered polite praise for Chris Matthews' book, it does not necessarily mean that she bothered to read it.
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 3:14PM
She also VOTED FOR OBAMA.
She's Dead to me, forevermore.
Joellen| 7.12.12 @ 6:31PM
If she didnt read it and yet gave it a thumbs up, she's a fraud. As TLP stated, she supported Obama, and never said anything good about Governor Palin, so again, I reiterate, she's a fraud. She needs to stop portraying herself as a conservative - she isnt. Go join the other team - we wont miss her.
Jack of Spades| 7.12.12 @ 9:28AM
Rush Limbaugh has the top-rated talk radio show. Ann Coulter writes a best-seller with each book. Yet the geniuses in the media say that the public wants "more conversation, less confrontation." If their real motivation weren't so obvious, they might have a point. And if having a civilized conversation with a liberal like, say, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, they might have a point.
TNcracker | 7.15.12 @ 11:56AM
And the irony is, where's the confrontation? With callers? He's a lot more polite and patient with liberal drones than most of us could be. Confrontational to describe Rush could only be used by someone who doesn't listen to him, and has just heard snippets. It CAN be used about Mark Levin! And we Levin devotees LOVE it!
AhiaBoy| 7.12.12 @ 9:35AM
Air America, RINO radio, the same flawed business model: "Hey! The reason people listen to Rush & not us is that we're just not on the air! C'mon kids! Let's put on a radio show!"
Fact is, Rush has millions of listeners every week because people LIKE what he says and people DON'T like listening to the other side of the spectrum. Well, duh.
Reggie Love| 7.12.12 @ 9:41AM
I usually listen to Dennis Prager instead of Rush. Only because I really like Prager's show and his viewpoints. Dennis Miller also has a good show. Both on at the same time as Rush. Neither pretends to be "taking on"Rush. Can't be done. Only a fool would think Huckabee could do it.
As for Frum Bum,he should worry about his own career. Not exactly on the upswing.
loulou| 7.12.12 @ 11:42AM
True. Rush is to talk radio as Jascha Heifetz was to the violin. They set the bar.
The Big E| 7.12.12 @ 9:55AM
'More conversation, less confrontation'
Really?
This isn't hard to figure. Conservatives don't want a conversation with Barack Obama. We want to kick his ass out of office.
We want "More confrontation, less conversation," i.e. - the exact opposite of what Huckabee and his ilk are offering.
Crassus| 7.12.12 @ 10:55AM
Cumulus would have been smarter if they had kept Doug Urbanski on the air instead of canceling his show and bringing on Hucklebuck. Doug had a good show. He just needed time to build an audience.
Kwan| 7.12.12 @ 10:58AM
Rush listeners are those nogoodniks that are on DHS Commissar Janet Napolitano's "Domestic Terrorist Watchlist". You know the kind those reprobates that believe in the Constitution, smaller government, less government interference in our lives, and are anti-communists.
To determine if you are a "Domestic Terrorist" take this quick DHS Domestic Terrorist Test:
Do you not believe everything the government tells you? You're a terrorist.
Do you advocate second amendment rights or are you an NRA member? You're a terrorist.
Are you a practicing Christian who lives by your faith? You're a terrorist.
Are you a conspiracy theorist? You're a terrorist.
Are you a peaceful protestor? You're a terrorist.
Are you anti-abortion? You're a terrorist.
If this test reveals that you are a Domestic Terrorist you should immediately go to the nearest DHS field office and confess your sins. You will then be transported to a government re-education camp where you will be reprogrammed to think correctly.
Maxwell| 7.12.12 @ 11:23AM
Not only a member of the NRA but a LIFE member. That said, in New Jersey I see very few NRA stickers on cars and Jersey is NOT gun friendly either.
Kwan| 7.12.12 @ 1:47PM
From the left's point of view gun ownership indicates a possible inclination to participate in counter-revolutionary activity. This violates the left's precept that the citizens must accept the fact that "Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated".
TLP| 7.12.12 @ 3:27PM
According to Janet Napolitano, If you GO TO CHURCH every Sunday?
You're a Suspect.
If you drive a Pickup Truck?
You're a Suspect?
If you have a Gun Rack, in your Pickup Truck?
You're a Suspect.
If you have Patriotic Bumper Stickers on your Car?
You're a Suspect.
And, if you just got back from Serving in the Military, protecting your Country, in Iraq, or Afghanistan?
Expect a Wire Tap.
Unbelievable.
Kwan| 7.13.12 @ 12:34AM
These people are becoming ultra-paranoid. They are evidently seeing anti-communists everywhere they look and they are becoming unhinged. The people on this Domestic Terrorist Watchlist pose no threat to anyone other than communist traitors who want to convert our country to a Totalitarian Socialist State.
TNcracker | 7.15.12 @ 11:59AM
One more: If you "revere freedom", you are a terrorist. WHAT??
Alej| 7.12.12 @ 11:03AM
The Titanic went down by the bow.
(It didn't back into the iceberg!)
About as germane as the article. : )
Moe Blotz| 7.12.12 @ 11:24AM
Maybe Mr. Lord should have used the Lusitania for an analogy. (_!_)
C'mon Man!| 7.12.12 @ 11:52AM
Me thinks there wasn't a picture of the Titanic going down. Think before you speak.
Alej| 7.12.12 @ 12:59PM
Slow day... offsubject (mediocre) attempt at humor.
On the other hand, assuming someone tried to correlate the article with a graphic, maybe you should think before you post. And then don't.
Jeff| 7.13.12 @ 9:03AM
Alej...
Not true. The Titanic didn't hit the iceberg head on....the iceberg was seen but too late to avoid...but with enough time to avoid a head-on. So as it slid by the iceberg slit open the Titanic along the side of the ship, under the waterline, like a can opener. The survivors say the ship eventually went up in the air by the stern, split in half, with the stern sinking and the bow splashing back down on top of the water. There it sat, now cut across the entire boat horizontally, with no back end and water pouring in. At the end, the bow went up in the air a second time and slid straight down. Where it rests today...with plenty of recent underwater footage showing the bow untouched.
Skippy| 7.13.12 @ 2:40PM
The photo is from the film "Raise the Titanic" from 1980 or so.
A silly movie.
Who Knows?| 7.12.12 @ 11:14AM
Jeffrey Lord = logorrhea: excessive talkativeness, especially when incoherent and uncontrollable.
Thanks, Jeff.
I’ve wanted to use that word about you for some time, but this typically overly long piece fits the bill. It’s not incoherent, I’ll grant you, but in my view, it seems a bit uncontrollable.
How to uncontrollably make a mountain out of a molehill—that’s the ticket.
By the other way---haven’t you wondered what kind of name “Rush” is?
Hey, why not name your kid “Hurry”, or “Speedy”?
I hope no one takes this as racially insensitive, but while watching the Olympics trials, the first names of the swimmers were so very different than those of the sprinters.
The almost all white swimmers had names right out of the most popular names of 1990, and the all black runners?
Gotta love black mothers (and fathers) who eschew using stale old white names, and seem to vie with their dark skinned tribe to invent the most different and “cool” name.
Like, let’s patent the name “Trayvon”?
Drunken Sailor| 7.12.12 @ 11:32AM
"logorrhea: excessive talkativeness, especially when incoherent and uncontrollable."
Does that definition also pertain to commenters? If so, you might want to take a closer look at your own post. Especially for the incoherent and uncontrollable symptoms.
You do have a tendency to wander off subject.
loulou| 7.12.12 @ 11:44AM
That loser is smoking something. Gibberish.
Who Knows?| 7.12.12 @ 6:21PM
Be nice.
Who Knows?| 7.12.12 @ 6:24PM
I enjoy myself, wandering.
Tough luck, you don't seem to like it.
But, you are reading what I "wander" with?
TNcracker | 5.3.13 @ 6:58PM
My parents called it "vocarrhea". And it's you, [Who knows?] that has the problem
Albertus Magnus| 7.12.12 @ 11:34AM
"Rush" is an English family name. (Example: English actor Geoffrey Rush, aka "Captain Barbossa.") Many families use a relative family name as either a first or middle name. (Example: Richard Milhous Nixon, "Milhous" was his mother's maiden name.) Rush's full name is Rush Hudson Limbaugh, III, and obviously he was named for his father and grandfather. Note: Rush's grandfather lived to over 100 years, so it is likely that Rush will be around to annoy leftists for quite some time.
C'mon Man!| 7.12.12 @ 11:59AM
Use Trayvon if you want your kid to be a useless thug.
Poppakap| 7.13.12 @ 11:38AM
Hello pot, this is kettle. You're black.
goddess7240| 7.12.12 @ 11:36AM
I would comment that the Huckabee train was all about wishful thinking. There is hardly a person who can derail Rush Limbaugh or consider Huckabee in his place.
Now I do believe that Huckabee has his own following and that may increase the longer he would be on the air but to extract someone or a sponsor from the Limbaugh setup is again, wishful thinking. I know I wouldn't change.....I would alternate and give Huckabee a listen but not to permanently replace Rush. Not a chance!
Bob S| 7.12.12 @ 11:40AM
It's telling that all the hype and buzz came from liberals. If you're a liberal, then the liberal echo chamber told you that no-threat Huckabee was great, was perfect for taking away listeners from that evil Rush. If you're not a liberal, Huckabee was someone you would try because he was a nice face you saw in the '08 election, but you would get bored with him because you immediately saw that he didn't represent conservatism well. The liberals saw that Huckabee wasn't gaining traction, and they're not going to leave their NPR to listen to Huckabee, so they dumped Huckabee like a dead weight.
J Baustian| 7.12.12 @ 12:07PM
Quote: ": Governor Huckabee has now been on the air for three months."
Are you sure? How can you tell?
Alan| 7.12.12 @ 12:11PM
Is a radio show thats stands for nothing and heard by none any different than static?
hrh| 7.12.12 @ 12:56PM
Great documentation, Mr. Lord.
Just one quibble with one point regarding Obama's calling out Romney re Limbaugh pressure and not Huckabee pressure:
My quibble is that Huckabee wouldn't be pressuring Romney about Obamacare.
Which is why his show is unheard of and unheard.
topcat52| 7.12.12 @ 1:15PM
Mr. Limbaugh often has very intelligent things to say, but just as often is a mannerless lout. A conservative (who cares whether the conservative is a Republican or not?) with softer edges might be able to do very well, but not going up against Mr. Limbaugh whose audience obviously likes him both when he is intelligent as well as when he is a lout. If he started against someone else, perhaps Mr. Hannity, who is not terribly intelligent (although I'm sure he's a wonderful fellow), he might have done better. Better still, there are time slots where there is essentially no one to go up against. Once he built up a following, the possibility of going against one of the conservative icons might have made some sense. This was simply a very bad business plan.
Conservative Bob| 7.12.12 @ 1:21PM
In context of the time that all the Huck promotion was taking place Media Matters was still pushing hard to get Rush and I think most of the press jumped on because he was handy, wasn't Rush, could maybe fit the role downstream that McCain has filled as their favorite conservative house pet. They saw it as aid and ammunition in their effort to take out Rush.
Huck doesn't have a prayer. Rush is extremely talented and to my thinking very insightful, but the reason for the bulk of his popularity is in the 20+ years I have listened to him, he is the only voice that speaks to the once silent majority. I remember the first time I heard him, it was like a lightening flash it was so unusual to hear someone expound from a conservative point of view, rather than attempt to deny or demean it. Add to that his extraordinary talent and you have the history making phenomenon that is Rush. The fact that he drives the left crazy is just icing on the cake...
Huck may get a few listeners but he will never challenge Rush because he lacks both the extraordinary talent of Rush and his insight into politics and conservative.
Peter Lyden| 7.12.12 @ 1:40PM
Perhaps the fact that Cumulus Broadcasting (an arm of Cumulus Media) chose not to replace Rush with Huckabee on its flagship station, WABC New York, has something to do with the latter's DOA start.
Reggie Love| 7.12.12 @ 1:41PM
Whenever I see Huckabee I can't help but think of those dead cops in Washinton state. The result of his pardoning a killer.
Kingofthenet| 7.12.12 @ 1:57PM
Only way to settle it is a Steel Cage Match, Hell in a cell, two enter and only one leaves...my money is on Huck whipping Fatboy Limburger
Riff Raff| 7.12.12 @ 2:09PM
I'm surprised you have money.
Nick| 7.12.12 @ 6:54PM
KooK of the Net has gub'ment money, i.e., O'BamaMoney, Mr. Raff. In other words, OUR MONEY!
This explains why he is so free with it, huh?
Albert Constantine Jr.| 7.12.12 @ 9:44PM
Isn't Detroit where it was first revealed that "Obama Money" came from his "stash"?
Nick| 7.12.12 @ 11:46PM
Yes! You are correct, sir! Hiyo!
MTB| 7.12.12 @ 2:10PM
More conversation? To defeat liberalism, we need more Rush Limbaughs, both on the air and in office, not more Mike Huckabees. Liberals don't want conversation, they want control. To quote Nancy Pelosi: "There was an election, and we won." And Obama said, "If they bring a knife, you bring a gun." That's how much conversation THEY want.
Suzyqpie| 7.14.12 @ 9:04AM
The "we bring a gun" comment has annoyed me since I first heard it. What do you think of this for a Romney campaign slogan, "They bring a gun, we bring a rocket launcher." The right tone?
capatolistmom| 7.12.12 @ 2:17PM
Mr. Lord I always look forward to your columns!!!I am a die hard dito head. And I believe most of Rush's listeners are!!! We follow what I call the "trifecta" of radio - Limbaugh, Hannity and end the day with Levin!!! They should auction off a dinner with all three - they would make thousnads for the conservative cause!!!
canuckistani| 7.12.12 @ 2:26PM
and for themselves.
Suzyqpie| 7.14.12 @ 9:06AM
Great idea with the dinner.
Leeonious Marvonious| 7.12.12 @ 2:17PM
Paging my fantasy date ANN COULTER,,,WE LOVE YA SWEET PEA. Its just too good!! I hope HUC-Up-chuck's moe-ron corp crony capitalist sponsor looses his brown-hair shirt. INDEED , if not quite undoubtedly the expected CONCLUSION to typical, in fact PATHOLOGICALLY CLINICAL BLUE BLOOD GOP,,,,,, CRONY BUCKS available value system? CHERUBIC HERBERT WALKER BUSH
stmichrick| 7.12.12 @ 2:34PM
It is a fools errand to try and 'take on' Limbaugh at his own game. To quote another Bondian musical line..."no one does it better."
The best that hope of gathering non-Rush listeners (ratings) in his time slot would be top 40 music, straight news and traffic or a liberal kook talk show, in that order.
Gr0w1er601| 7.12.12 @ 2:55PM
Strange... I thought RMS Titanic went down bow first...
Tom Kyba| 7.12.12 @ 6:22PM
The prepubescent kingofhisownego strikes again. "Duh, that Limbow guy just wants, like money, and everything.
As for Huckaberry hound....nah, not worth the minute it would take to sneer at his desperate attempt to subvert Limbaugh by going Air America on him. "Listen to me instead. I'm better, honest. Please? Pretty please?"
obadiah| 7.12.12 @ 7:23PM
No one can dethrone Lord Limbaugh. He is the Dittohead Divinity who forms indissoluble bonds with his dittohead disciples. Obama must fail. Dittos. Climate change is a hoax. Dittos. Low wages and long hours working for plootocrats is freedom. Dittos, dittos, dittos. Dittoheads will never touch that dial.
IX-XI| 7.12.12 @ 8:38PM
Rush already has a complement of hosts, in all the time slots. Glenn Beck in the morning, Hannity at afternoon drive, Mark Levin during Prime Time.
It's Conservative Murderers' Row. Huckabee thinks anybody wants to listen to his talk equivalent of elevator music? Bring on the rock and roll, baby!
bluecollarbytes| 7.12.12 @ 9:26PM
In some ways, 'Huckabees' have been with us for decades. It's one reason the public has been so conditioned to accept just about anything till it's to late.
Huckabee did what others have done, attach "Rush Limbaugh" to your book, song, show, in order to reap financial rewards.
MollyPitcher| 7.12.12 @ 9:29PM
RINO's are RINO's for the same delusional, utopian, fact and reality denying reasons that the leftist loons are. They BOTH despise conservatives and since Rush is MR. Conservative, the voice of some 24 million fanatical fans, the idea of 'sinking Rush' is as absurd as 'sinking' Mt. Rushmore (where Rush should be the next guy on it).
PCPSmokerII| 7.12.12 @ 9:47PM
Imagine the radio consultants who truly believed that at a time that Obama is going solo on various initiatives, at the time where GOP opposition is very weak, at the time where some asshole in the SC stated Obamacare is fine because it's a tax or whatever you want to call it, that anyone would want "less confrontation and more conversation."
Fuck Huckabee. Fuck David Frum. Fuck Aaron Goldstein and Quin Hyller, fuck NRO, and fuck the RINOs. Oh, and fuck Obama too.
Poppakap| 7.13.12 @ 11:43AM
Seminar troll alert.
threeleafclover| 7.12.12 @ 11:00PM
Grmylzk - rearrange the letters if you like -
Good Lord , Man, you are saying you cannot abide Limbaugh's voice and his ticks - by which I assume you mean, "tics". His thrumming his fingers is annoying, but if you are that easily distracted, try counting the number of times Sean Hannity says, "Yuh know" and "In other words" in a half hour. Sean also says, "Ah'm" for "I'm" His impersonation of Bill Clinton is painful to hear.
As you may recall, Rush went stone deaf because of some nerve damage. He continued on radio and his voice, during that time sounded like he had been sucking helium, tinny and high. He could not communicate with his call screener. He had to go by written cards, saying what the caller was calling about.If you cannot hear yourself speak - - well, have you ever heard a deaf person try to form words? They just kind of wallow around in the mouth. After he got his cochlear implant he recovered his speech very well. If you don't like him, there is probably a little knob on your radio that scans a slew of stations. It is a sad state of affairs when you can't just write him an e-mail and tell him the things about him that need tweaking. I am sure he would welcome constructive criticism.
How about the soothing tones of Mark Levin? Or (if you have the misfortune to hear him) Chris Matthews trying to manage speaking through a mouthful of spit.
You want careful enunciation, buy yourself some old tapes of Mr. Rogers speaking to 4 year olds.
Jade12| 7.15.12 @ 3:03PM
Amen. And he is so worried about Rush's ego. What about dear leaders ego? Obie's ego is damaging the country!
TNcracker | 7.13.12 @ 1:38PM
Huckabee should have checked with Bill O'Reilly before deciding to go against Rush Limbaugh. It didn't work for Bill, it won't for Huckabee. These two have massive egos, and their "centrist" ideas are more irritating to me than those of a proud leftist.
independentgirl | 7.16.12 @ 1:48AM
Frankly I have found Huckabee to be quite boring? Let's just say, 'spunk' is not part of his persona. Rush, while I don't listen all the time, is immovable! He's got it right 95% of the time and has such passion. I like that. RINOs are just cold spaghetti.
fdcampbell| 7.16.12 @ 7:15AM
I wished Mike success, but not at the expense of Rush and his solid conservative message.
Indeed, I had hoped for a kinder, gentler version of Rush, one who could convey the message of conservatism and America's greatness without bombast. I guess I was naive.
Yes, I love Mike for his gentle, home-spun style and humor. I wished him success because, as a believing Christian, he brought credit to the cause of Christ.
But, to the extent that he was groomed as a Don Quixote to tilt at the conservative icon, Rush, he must inevitably fail.
Personally, I despise Rush's bombast. I hope that someone else will eventually come along to carry our message with love, sophistication and elan. I suspect that this is a naive hope in that Rush's success is, in part at least, based on his "in your face" style.
Alas.
jimpeel| 7.16.12 @ 11:55AM
I blame Huckabee for what is currently sitting in the White House. He went after Romney's Mormonism as though there is a religious test to be president.
Romney, the only qualified candidate in the entire race, dropped out and McCain won the nomination because it was "his turn".
McCain was a horrible candidate but he chose a good running mate. I voted for Palin, not McCain.
Romney is not a Keynesian and he would have taken us out of this fiscal and monetary mess by now. Instead, Keynesian policies have greased the slope for the destruction of this country and Huckabee is the primary reason.