Missouri born Rush Hudson Limbaugh III
according to Forbes 2012 is worth $350 million. Because his parents' wanted him to
attend college he enrolled in Southeast Missouri State University but he after 2 semesters and one
summer (his mother said "he flunked everything", "he just didn't
seem interested in anything except radio"). Limbaugh began his career in radio as a
teenager in 1967 in his hometown of Cape Girardeau, he was not drafted during
the Vietnam War as he was classified as
"1-Y" and later reclassified "4-F" due to a Pilonidal Cyst at the bottom of
the tailbone (most doctors think its caused by an ingrown hair, another
theory is it’s due to irritation). His talk show
began in Sacramento, California in 1984, in 1988 he began broadcasting nationally
from New York City and he currently broadcasts from Palm Beach, Florida. The Rush Limbaugh Show is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the US and he is among the highest
paid people in US media - signed a contract in 2008 for $38 million a year
through 2016. As far as I’m concerned the only good thing that’s come from this
staunch ultra-conservative Republican was a McDonald’s in Rio Linda, California
that was the result of his bad mouthing the town and President Clinton’s visit
finding there wasn’t one.
Bill Maher according to Forbes 2012 is worth
$23 million. He was born in New York City, raised in New Jersey and received a B.A. in English and history from Cornell
University in 1978. Maher began
his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979, started appearing on TV talk shows
in 1982 and in movies in 1985. Politically
Incorrect with Bill Maher ran from
1993 to 2002 (he made a controversial on-air remark shortly after the September 11 attacks and his contract
wasn’t renewed). In 2003 Maher
became the host, co-producer and co-writer of Real Time with Bill Maher, a
political comedy talk show. In May 2005 Alabama Republican Congressman Spencer Bachus sent a letter to the board of
directors requesting the show be
cancelled after Maher noted the military had missed its recruiting goals by 42%;
in July 2011 the show was renewed for a tenth season. Since May 2005 he has
been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post (he’s also a
frequent commentator on various cable
news networks). Maher has been nominated for 22 Emmys and
hasn’t won one. He shuns political labels, he’s referred to himself as
"practical" and has described himself as a libertarian as well "as a progressive, as a
sane person", taking shots at both parties.
I don’t agree with a lot of Bill Maher’s
comments (sometimes he’s as bad as Rush Limbaugh) but I really want to know
along with him if this generation of American voters is really dumber than
their parents. An August 2 poll showed a tight race between Obama and Romney. As
Maher, I understand why 1% of Americans would support Romney (those like
Limbaugh and Clint Eastwood who’s worth $375 million) but I don’t understand
the rest. On August 8
a Washington Post poll said Romney’s favorability is stalled and Obama is
having a trouble with the male vote. This might help to explain the situation.
On July 16 it was reported that women for the first time in 100 years overtook
men in IQ tests (averaging 5 point higher scores); the study found at 20 months
girls have 131 more words than boys, it’s thought that estrogen makes women better
gamblers, doctors, and more and because they juggle more in their lives it’s
sharpened their brains. Women need to take this opportunity to sway their
husbands, boyfriends and sons as I believe this is probably one of the most
important elections of our time.
On August 5 we heard that in Oak Creek,
Wisconsin a 40 year old Neo-Nazi ex-vet (served stateside 92-98 when he was
demoted and found ineligible for re-enlistment) who had just lost his job and
girlfriend, opened fire in a Sikh (Indian) temple killing 6 and critically
injuring 3 (including a police officer who was shot multiple times while he was
treating a victim) before he shot and killed himself; the shooter had a
semi-automatic handgun; the Neo-Nazi group denounced him saying he was crazy. I
agree with the President’s statement that we have to do some soul searching
when it comes to guns. On July 4 the Islamic Society of Joplin, Missouri's mosque was set on fire and arson was
found to be the cause; on August 6 the mosque was burned to the ground. Dr. Ahmed Asadullah, a member of the Islamic Society,
said “This is what we stand for…Freedom of religion, Freedom of speech."
Have we really gotten so far from our Constitution that we do not believe in
equality and freedom for all?
On August 4, 2012 it was reported that there were over 100 Occupy
protesters in Oakland, California; in the process Obama’s campaign office was
vandalized along with several car windows. Were they angry and taking things
out on anything in their way or was the defacing of property of those
supporting them intentional? Do we truly believe that in attaining liberty that
all workers are NOT to be given at chance at the American dream (in one year
Romney gave more to his church than the average worker will make in a lifetime)?
Do we actually feel it is right that big business continue with practices that
gave us the Great Depression and several recessions? Do we sincerely think that
Social Security and Medicare should be reduced or taken away so the rich can pay
a smaller percentage of their income to taxes? I’m sure I can come up with more
questions to show my confusion with the American voter but this is enough to
support my point. On August 8 a Reuters poll showed 64% of the people thought
the country was going in the wrong direction; perhaps, but don’t take it out on
the wrong people.
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