July
7Why Limbaugh's Loaded
Journalists are quick to identify CEOs, sports stars or other public figures who seem to be imprisoned by their own egos, but they are loath to point out the professional narcissists in their own ranks.I was pondering this fact the other day as I saw the new documentary on the late Hunter Thompson and, later, read the lengthy piece on Rush Limbaugh in the New York Times Magazine. Neither Thompson nor Limbaugh were ever happy describing a story -- they needed to be part of the story -- hopefully, its star.
Thompson, who shot himself three years ago at the age of 67, turned out some brilliant pieces in his heyday for Rolling Stone on topics ranging from pop culture to politics. He called his style “gonzo journalism,” hence the title of the documentary (directed by Alex Gibney) “Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.”
Thompson brought a truly “original voice” to journalism, in the view of Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair, who produced the doc. The problem was that he so desperately needed to be a star that it distorted his writings.
Hence it was typical Thompson to take the name of the obscure African drug, Ibogaine, then plant rumors that then presidential candidate Edmund S. Muskie was hooked on it -- then report in a story (widely picked up) that Muskie was covering up his addiction.
Thompson was a great character and a gifted writer, but his need to be the center of attention ultimately undermined his career.
And then there’s Limbaugh, who managed in the course of twenty years to rise from a $12,000 a year disc jockey to a $38 million a year (his numbers) political “commentator.”
Limbaugh loves ostentation, personal and political: According to Zev Chafets’ piece in the Times Magazine, he lives in a 24,000 square foot mansion in Palm Beach, drives a $450,000 Maybach and flies in his own $54 million Gulfstream G550.
On the air, he comes across as a professional ideologue, but in the Times piece Limbaugh argues that he’s first and foremost a good businessman and a master of salesmanship. A true radio gypsy, he migrated from one market to another until he found that his audience kept growing when he started spouting politics.
Unfortunately, his politics emerged full-blown from his home town, one of the armpits of our country called Cape Girardeau, on the Mississippi River, where his family were small town lawyers and judges. As a college dropout and an unmotivated student, Limbaugh’s ideas on the world have never evolved beyond his Missouri roots, but, by God, he became a star and shows no desire to deviate from the winning message.
Paradoxically, Limbaugh and Thompson both wrestled with addiction; Limbaugh’s with pain killers, Thompson with dope and anything else he could get his hands on. Limbaugh’s career was threatened by a severe hearing disorder, but neither he nor Thompson were ever much interested in listening to anyone anyway.
Limbaugh and Thompson occupied polar opposite corners of the political spectrum, but they shared one additional trait: They’d say anything to grab the spotlight.Limbaugh still holds it. Thompson was blown away by his own futility.
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"...who managed in the course of twenty years to rise from a $12,000 a year disc jockey to a $38 million a year... he lives in a 24,000 square foot mansion in Palm Beach, drives a $450,000 Maybach and flies in his own $54 million Gulfstream G550."
Methinks I''m detecting some wealth envy...
Posted by: bismarck | 7/11/2008 6:20:38 PM
Missouri is the armpit of America? Someone would have to evolve past their Missouri roots? What the heck?
Posted by: mememe | 7/10/2008 5:29:45 PM
As a proud native of the Wasteland, indeed the heart of the wasteland, a cow town called KC, I enjoyed the creativity of the comparison between HST and Limbaugh. It's an ingenious comparison--two "journalists" who made a name for themselves, by basically making a name for themselves. Their chosen craft, being writing, or radio blathering, didn't matter too much. Sadly, the best of both of their works came very early in their careers--for HST, Hell's Angels, and for Limbaugh, his work running the scoreboard at then Royals stadium.
Posted by: Outlaw | 7/8/2008 3:19:31 PM
Thank God for Cape Girardeau. I was beginning to worry that L.A. was the only armpit in America.
Posted by: dhrobbie | 7/8/2008 3:15:11 PM
He corrected it, but no note of the correction that I see, unless Christian Toto is correcting it for him in the comments.
How sad either way.
Posted by: TRO | 7/8/2008 2:28:05 PM
Wow! The arrogance of this article is amazing. Rush makes a ton of money being a businessman - but this "journalist" can't stand the fact that he still has small town values - self reliance, hard work, freedom.
Mr. Bart, Thank God everyone in America does not have Hollywood values.
Posted by: Hick from the Sticks | 7/8/2008 2:09:48 PM
My sincere thanks, Mister Bart, for reminding those of us who occupy the 80 % of the land in the center of the country that you know (and, indeed, are) better than the rest of us.
Sometimes we forget.
Posted by: Here In Flyover | 7/8/2008 12:48:33 PM
Spoken just like someone having been educated and worked in NYC and LA. But, of course, I'm sure you're smarter than everyone else from having had that background. Staggering amount of hubris
Posted by: Nosebetter | 7/8/2008 12:19:49 PM
Jealous much, Mr. Bart? Those of us in "the armpit" (or flyover country) actually know how to pick up a map and can tell the difference between Missouri and Mississippi. As do many college drop-outs, such as Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman...
Posted by: Rodriguez | 7/8/2008 12:08:38 PM
Lazy, lazy attack.
Posted by: Dirty Harry | 7/8/2008 10:55:05 AM
Actually, if Mr. Bart had bothered to listen to Mr. Limbaugh's show before launching an ad homonym attack on him, the entire state of Mississippi, and presumably Missouri as well, he would know Limbaugh does indeed listen. Callers who disagree with Limbaugh have traditionally received priority on his show over those who agree with him. How often does Mr. Bart listen to people who he disagrees with?
Posted by: InNYC | 7/8/2008 10:35:21 AM
God, what a jerk! I assume that by saying Cape Girardeau is in Mississippi as opposed to Missouri is a strong indication that you have never actually been there. Cape is actually a very nice place with a lot of good people. I don't live there but have actually been there.
It's one thing to not like Rush Limbaugh and what he stands for, that of course is your right. But to attack a town and its inahbitants just because you don't like Rush displays a lack of class and grace on your part.
This is precisely the kind of
elitist and arrogant attitude that we here in the flyover country have come to expect from people like you.
Believe it or not, I'm sure that in Cape Girardeau there are liberals as well as conservatives living there. Are they all a part of the armpit as well?
Posted by: richard | 7/8/2008 10:02:25 AM
"...from his home town, one of the arm pits of our country called Cape Girardeau, Mississippi"
Have you been to Cape Girardeau? Just curious why you call it an arm pit...
Posted by: Christian Toto | 7/8/2008 10:01:00 AM
A small edit: Cape is in Missouri, not Mississippi. It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive south of St. Louis.
Posted by: 62Lincoln | 7/8/2008 7:49:09 AM
Je t'aime, Peter Bart...your writing make me tingly all over
Posted by: Secret admirer | 7/7/2008 9:48:20 PM