This book is set up in the following manner: He address is a problem, he gives a few examples, suggest ways in which we might fix said problem, then goes on a rant about it. Although there is a lot of ranting/complaining going on, there is also some very constructive conversation. Some very good problems being addressed in this book. I would definitely recommend this book. ( )

This book was written during President Clinton's first term. It is propaganda for sheep, for bored "ditto-head" men who want to be told that "liberal" is the only evil on the planet of America. It is hard to find any "message" here other than to despise those he declares to be not "normal". Although, this evil does appear to be everyone except his own self, the all-knowing "Rush!". His enemy list -- women, liberals, animal-lovers and those who enjoy public resources -- is filled with "straw man" descriptors. I am a liberal, but I know of no liberal who wants to raise taxes and increase government in the absence of extreme need.

Curiously, the book contains a very helpful and accurate Index. You can look up "trickle down economics" and find out that it is a term used by liberals as part of the class war against the wealthy. [53, 60] In fact, however, there is no evidence of a war against the downtrodden rich. Those of us with memories can recall that the phrase was part of President Reagan's effort to explain why he was cutting tax rates to the most wealthy while at the same time raising tax rates on the middle class. [The assumption is that only the wealthy are the "entrepreneurs" who should be relieved of the burdens of paying taxes 117-119]. The only revenue increase which appeared was due to the heavier burden laid upon the middle class.

I did find one reference to a professional historian, Walter Karp. 75] Limbaugh fails to mention that Karp is a very Progressive liberal who is highly critical of the power of private oligarchs and monopolists who have wreaked havoc on middle class prosperity.

Limbaugh also cites data from a libertarian economist who has since become openly Keynesian, Milton Friedman. Friedman is cited for well-known data: "in 1950, total government spending, federal, state, and local, amounted to less than 30 percent of national income; in 1992, to nearly 45 [percent]." [267] However, Mr. Limbaugh offers no explanation for the fact that most of the expansion of Government before 1992 occurred during Republican administrations. He completely omits the fact that President Reagan's policies dramatically expanded Government while at the same time dramatically expanding its Debt, converting this country from the world's biggest Creditor to the world's biggest Debtor in just 8 years. Yet, here is Limbaugh blaming Clinton, who had just begun an administration, which as we all know, ended with reduced Government growth and a budget surplus used to pay down the Debt. Limbaugh takes this type of fact and announces that "liberals never really get around to fixing problems". [268] The conclusions are disconnected from the facts.

The world, as it always has, faces many challenges. Limbaugh tirelessly recites the dangers we face -- often accurately, such as when he quotes Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan's "illuminating statistics" on the welfare, crime and illegitimacy trends in New York City. Where Limbaugh errs is in failing to offer any solutions -- his only remedy is to somehow expurgate all -- all -- the Democrats. Where Limbaugh errs to the point of criminality is in failing to note that Senator Moynihan had offered serious proposals and programs for addressing the issues, all of which were sabotaged and neutered by the wealthy oligarchs controlling private monopolies of power in New York City. The late Senator Moynihan was a liberal Democrat -- and Limbaugh cannot point to a single great Republican leader who offered a plan to remedy the serious challenges.

The book is not just a slam against the middle class, it is an over the top apology for "the rich -- the latest scapegoats for every evil in our society". [280] In the 1990's there were no rabid communist agitators organizing the masses against imagined capitalist overlords. Not happening. Yet, Limbaugh finds, without a single citation, that wealthy people have been wrongfully accused and are "scapegoats for every evil"? Really. There is no indication that the rich are endangered, or that they alone are blamed for all evil in the world. During the Carter and the Clinton administrations, the wealthy made historically unprecedented profits. Of course, it is true that under Bush II, the inequality of wealth grew wider and large corporations made unprecedented profits while the middle class, and the Government (all levels), was thrust deeper into massive Debt. In light of the massive economic collapse in the summer of 2008 as a result of 8 years of conservative policies, Limbaugh's ideological rant does not hold up.

Limbaugh describes David Brock's "The Real Anita Hill" as "One of the most important books written in 1992" [236]. Since that publication, Mr. Brock has described the book as a political hit piece, admitted it was not based upon facts, and has publicly and repeatedly apologized to Ms. Hills for his role. Brock ultimately showed integrity and prescience when he escaped in the late 90's from the ideology preached by Limbaugh.

The Limbaugh book is pure idolatry. Limbaugh has started a monotheistic religion -- one god, one worshiper, one hymn, one holy script. Each chapter demonizes a straw man opponent that does not really exist anywhere, but he calls it "liberal". Like extremists are wont, Limbaugh then announces the end of discussion; he cuts off all debate -- using identical language drawn from Der Sturm, he refuses to take part in any discussions with anyone. "We are no longer engaged in the Great Debate". He blames his fabricated opponent for the fact that discussion is impossible, although the entire book is devoted to creating that impossibility. [287].

Repeatedly, Limbaugh positions himself on the throne of greatness. The self-promotion would be amusing except that it is never very clever. The self-adulation would almost be understandable except that it is not based upon any actual accomplishment. Mr. Limbaugh goes directly from pompous claims of his own brilliance and sanctity down to the recesses of the sand-box for his one all-purpose tool and tactic indulged in this naked assault on liberalism. He does not rise above his own title -- which reveals his infantilism -- "I told you so!" . You can hear the "Not listening! Nyah! Nyah!" as a subtitle.

The basic tactic is name-calling. This is hardly brilliant. It is not even adult.

At the end of the diatribes, Limbaugh is unable to articulate the effectiveness of true conservativism. Conservative principles are as endangered in his hands as liberalism. Although he is financially supported by a few wealthy oligarchs, it is not clear from this openly fascist diatribe that he has even helped them -- the wealthy "scapegoats of all evil". In making all solutions impossible, he helps no one. ( )

Foundation of my early conservative training. Thanks Rush ( )

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