Volume 2 Issue 139
October 2, 2003
Rush has Left the Building
Limbaugh has a really bad week, do-not-call decends into chaos, and the Libertarian's are coming!
So the big story this week is turning out to be Rush Limbaugh. For those of you hiding under a rock, on Sunday the conservative talk show host, who for some reason is an analyst on ESPN's Sunday Football Preview show (supposedly representing the fan...um, how many fans make 10 million a year?), Sunday said that struggling Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb was overrated. Nothing bad there. But then he said the reason was that because the media (of which Rush may want to note he's a part of) has hyped up McNabb because the NFL wants to see a black quarterback succeed. Amazingly, none of the other ESPN analyst's took Limbaugh on, and a furor soon erupted.
First, let's just say that McNabb hasn't been playing his best, and many could wonder if he has been overrated. I'd argue he isn't, as Tony Kornheiser said yesterday on his show, it's been his performance the last two years that's set a standard he hasn't met to date this season. However, these questions are reasonable without bringing race into the question. As amplified by his comments today to a group of radio broadcasters (ironically in Philadelphia), and the various anti-McNabb diatribes on his website (http://www.rushlimbaugh.com) Rush seems to think that race is a key factor in expectations for a player, not skill. By Rush's reasoning, had McNabb been white, and been an MVP QB that took his team to two consecutive championship games, he would have not been praised, and not rated well. This makes no sense. McNabb has been praised simply because in the last two seasons, he was so good. This season, he hasn't been, and had he sucked the last 2 years, that wouldn't be news. Limbaugh's assertion that race played some factor is just plain ridiculous.
Making Rush's week worse, the NY Daily News today published a story saying that Limbaugh is a subject in a massive illegal prescription drug ring. While Limbaugh is not likely to face charges, it is clear that the man has a major drug problem, and needs to seek some help. Hopefully he will do so, and not deny common sense like he has in the McNabb matter.
Rush'n out of the arena: Rush Limbaugh has resigned from his ESPN job -
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/football/6910378.htm
The New York Daily News reported this morning that Limbaugh is involved in a prescription drug ring, and is apparently an addict to many drugs. CNN confirmed the report, but noted that Limbaugh is not the target of the investigation, and likely will face no charges -
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/122839p-110349c.html
Do Not Call Madness: So the Do Not Call list went into effect yesterday. For the telemarketers that have it, which isn't everyone. And since the FTC is prohibited from enforcing it, the FCC said it would. If only it could get a hold of the list, which the FTC can't give it. So, what's the FCC to do? That's right, ask the telemarketers for it!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28334-2003Oct1.html
And in one of the biggest cases of hypocrisy recently, most of the executives in the telemarketing field have registered for the list! Said one, "There are so many calls I don't want, they are disturbing my routine." Exactly, Buster!
http://www.ctnow.com/hc-nocall1001.artoct01,1,475730.story?coll=hc-headlines-home
The Judge who has put up one of the blocks to the list is on it too!
http://www.ctnow.com/sns-othernews-do-not-call,1,6243272.story?coll=hc-headlines-home
Weapons of Mass Distraction: The Bush administration now wants another $600 million to look for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Ok, folks give it up -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/politics/02WEAP.html?hp
In fact, the conservative columnist George Will lays out a good argument why the Bush administration should just admit there are no weapons and move on. Sure it's risky, but half of all political scandals could be avoided if people told the truth. Just look at this leak thing too -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30703-2003Oct1.html
Look Who's Running for President: So...is Wesley Clark a Democrat? While the other campaigns may debate this issue, according to the registrar of voters in his home county in Arkansas, no, Clark is not a registered Democrat -
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2003/nf200310 1_0874_db038.htm
That doesn't make the other campaigns happy -
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/7063.htm
Democrat or not, he's now leading in New York, or more accurately, has pulled into a tie for the lead with Dean and Lieberman -
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/7062.htm
Look Who's Running for President 2: While the 3rd Quarter numbers are not in yet, two things can pretty much be taken for granted. First, Howard Dean will raise more money than any other Democratic Candidate, and second, that he will have more individual donors then any other campaign. A look at Dean's "small donor" strategy -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/politics/campaigns/02DONA. html
Ah, Arnold: As if the California recall couldn't get any more screwed up, the LA Times this morning reported on a pattern of incidents where Arnold Schwarzenegger groped, or otherwise humiliated them. No word on why this article suddenly appeared just days before the election -
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/recall/la-me-women2oct02,1,2313555.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Bad John Edwards Photo of the Day:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I finally have gotten a new tie!
Idiotic State Legislatures: In NJ, the state has not yet lowered its DWI limit to .08, despite the fact that as of October 1 they are no longer eligible for federal highway funding. Come on guys, even Louisiana passed the law in time -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jer sey/6910386.htm
Libertarian Invasion: The Libertarian's have decided to move to New Hampshire. All of them -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30555-2003Oct1.html
