Did Soldier who Killed 16 in Afghanistan Receive his Diploma from the Rush Limbaugh Show?

[kpete]

SUN MAR 11, 2012 AT 08:11 PM PDT
Did Soldier who Killed 16 in Afghanistan Receive his Diploma from the Rush Limbaugh Show?
byConstance HilliardFollow

......................

I lived in Asia several years ago and the only English-language station on the radio dial was Armed Forces Radio. I was homesick and had to listen to Rush Limbaugh's daily rants out of desperation to hear my beloved English being spoken. What did Rush talk about? He offered the following comment in regard to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib: "It was sort of like hazing a fraternity prank. Sort of like that kind of fun. . .I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of need to blow some steam off?" As for Guantanamo prison, he declared:

"We need to shut down this Gitmo prison? Well, don't shut it down - we just need to start an advertising campaign. We need to call it, 'Gitmo, the Muslim resort.'"

I had returned to the U.S. in time to hear Limbaugh defend Joseph Kony, leader of a roving band of mass murderers called the Lord's Resistance Army, after he learned that President Barack Obama was sending a hundred U.S. troops to Uganda to assist in capturing or killing the warlord. An article appeared in Mother Jones entitled: Limbaugh Thinks Obama wants to Kill Christians. Limbaugh refused to back down even when it became public knowledge that Kony was engaged in mass murder in Central Africa.

The Rush Limbaugh Show is being broadcast to troops on bases all over the world. However, America has too much at stake, to allow this seedy, ugly-spirited man to roll around in the minds of vulnerable young men. These soldiers are thousands of miles from home, getting shot at by an enemy indistinguishable from our Afghan allies, for a war whose rationale nobody even remembers any more. They need something better than an education in anti-Muslim hatred.

.........

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/11/1073471/-Did-Soldier-who-Killed-16-in-Afghanistan-Receive-his-Diploma-from-the-Rush-Limbaugh-Show-?via=siderec

[JSnuffy]

1. Oh Noes!!1!

The sensitive delicate and "vulnerable" Soldiers will hear some mean words! Heavens to Betsy!

The author is using the tragedy to advance his own issues. Disgusting...

[Aerows]

2. Way to miss the point

Hate talk encourages hate. It can encourage those who don't hate to start hating. It can create an environment of peer pressure to actively hate.

Words have consequences.

[JSnuffy]

3. Well then you should start a list...

... of acceptable words, thoughts and ideas that they can listen to.

I would be fascinated to see it.

My point was spot on... Using this awful tragedy to fuel the fading Limbaugh issue is tasteless.

[Aerows]

11. In your mind

it may have been spot on, but it isn't to me and many other people.

I don't want the Limbaugh issue to fade. I want to keep hammering it until his hate speech is off the airwaves.

Apparently a vast number of people agree with me because his advertisers have dropped him like a hot potato.

There is certainly a case for the idea that listening to the constant ridicule and dehumanizing of a group of people can lead to violence against those people. It's called propaganda, and it has been used since man kind has had words.

I suspect you know this, though, and you are sticking up not only for Limbaugh, but for your own ideologies, as well. Your posting history reveals your political leanings clearly, and I'm rather surprised you have lasted here as long as you have.

[HangOnKids]

18. The Fading Limbaugh Issue

Odd. Who thinks it is fading? I mean besides the poster who said it.

[Aerows]

21. No one that is paying attention

He's just supporting Rush Limbaugh because that supports his ideologies and agenda. The right wing desperately wants the issue to go away because it is a horrible reflection on their ideologies and is very bad for Republicans.

We all know Rush is the de facto leader of the Republican party, including Republicans - they just deny it. The minute he seizes on a talking point, it's not ten minutes later before you hear ALL of them saying it. All of them bought into his outright lie that Sandra Fluke was asking for "free birth control" and that it was all about sex. Not one of them pointed out that this was insurance coverage that her friend paid for, and that her friend needed hormonal treatments that just so happened to come in the form of birth control medication to treat a medical condition.

[bongbong]

26. You're talking....

... to one of those conservatives who have been ordered to get a DU screen name, and then fill it with mindless trash.

[Aerows]

30. Oh, I know

I'm surprised this poster has lasted long enough to have 350 posts.

[bongbong]

37. 350 posts

It's that way Liberals always censor anything they don't want to hear.

Liberal censorship must be true, I read it so much on hate-websites (AKA conservative ones) just before I get banned after one post.

[JSnuffy]

50. Check the first page of GD for a hint...

Right afterwards and through that weekend, literally every other thread was Limbaugh related.

I see six now. The news cycle carries on... just like every other issue.

People are talking about other things, like this horrible shooting in Afghanistan. It just seems cheap to try to link the two with no proof.

[EOTE]

52. You don't need proof to have hate speech removed from AFR.

Would you need proof to have David Duke removed from the radio? Just because you agree with Limbaugh so wholeheartedly doesn't mean that his rhetoric isn't hate speech and shouldn't be controlled. You seem to have the idiotic notion that the 1st amendment means you can say whatever the hell you feel like and receive no repercussions for it.

[bongbong]

25. Oh boy!

I love conservatives! They are so brainless! On one hand, they say the "liberal media" affects people's lives. ON the other hand, when one of their heroes ends up causing death (Tiller is another example), they just shrug their shoulders and say "shit happens".

Conservatives are brain dead examples of living breathing hatred.

[Rex]

81. They are not brain dead, just scumbags that lie all the time.

Repukes are scum.

[Kingofalldems]

29. Oh look, Limbaugh's DU pal is here

[freshwest]

70. Expect more Dittoheads. Their Gawd commands this.

[Rex]

78. The FADING Limbaugh issue? WAFFLES!

Gush is going to lose his show... sorry to bring this up, I see you really push hard the RWing talking point.

Gush is going to lose his AFN slot too...try not to cry.

[sudopod]

108. There's a difference between a blacklist and a whitelist. nt

[crazylikafox]

6. Continual hate speech is a little more than "mean words".

Why are you defending Rush?

[Aerows]

12. His posting history will tell you why

His political leanings are pretty clear.

[get the red out]

7. Mean?

Mean isn't the issue. The issue is absolute lies and demonization presented as political commentary.

Propaganda is a very powerful tool, and if the propaganda one receives are lies and hate when a person is under extreme duress it can have a grave psychological impact. We have seen it in non-military people as well, like the man that shot up the Unitarian Church in Tennessee a few years ago. His bookshelf was lined with tomes written by RW hate-talkers.

One can argue whether Limbaugh's spew should be on Armed Forces Radio due to the first ammendment, or whether it should be balanced by opposing views (which is the only neutral thing to do); but it's way different than "mean", it's serious hate-promoting propaganda.

[EOTE]

20. Your reply is beyond idiotic.

If you defend Limbaugh's hate, then you defend the inevitable result of that hate. It's because of Rush's braindead followers and ignorant, apathetic people like you that we have such tragedies. You defend this bloodshed all you want, but know how incredibly disgusting it is.

[JSnuffy]

48. Amazing...

... how you seem to have already jumped to the conclusion that this MUST have been the source.

Try and keep an open mind and you'll do yourself a service.

[EOTE]

51. I don't know if it's the source or not.

But I think it's rather likely. Regardless, that type of hate speech has NO place on AFR. If you kept an open mind, you wouldn't make such an ass out of yourself by making such idiotic comments.

[HangOnKids]

49. THIS^^^^^^^^ n/t

[LanternWaste]

22. Seems to me that consciously and purposeful conflating institutionalize propaganda with "mean words"

"the sensitive delicate and "vulnerable" Soldiers will hear some mean words!

Seems to me that consciously and purposeful conflating institutionalize propaganda with "mean words" implies rather more about you than it does the OP, the author or the responses...

[arely staircase]

43. it is one thing to let soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen to listen to whatever

entertainment they want. it is quite another to take my tax daollars and broadcast on armed forces radio the rants of a person who makes light of war crimes and undermines the commander in chief. they can listen to it online if they chose to all they want, but i shouldn't be asked to pay to broadcast it to them.

[JSnuffy]

47. So...

... when the last president was made fun of regularly or claimed that he was "the worst person in the world" you would have had those programs removed from AFN?

It's ridiculous to think so. The point is that the American Soldier is smart enough to figure out what he believes without a bunch of know-it-alls dictating what is "too much." I could give a crap if he stays or goes but I want the decision to come from the intended audience.

If you remove everything that is inflammatory, you are left with bland and uninformative mush and that doesn't serve anybody, least of all the service-member overseas.

[EOTE]

53. So, you think that Keith Olbermann was on AFR?

Dear god man, do you even think before you post? Don't you think that you should be even mildly informed on an issue before spouting off like a jackass? Really, you should try to learn a tiny bit before making yourself look so stupid.

[hack89]

90. Keith Olbermann's TV show was on in 2010

From AFR in 2010:

That's why AFRTS airs Limbaugh, Ed Shultz, Keith Olbermann, Bill O'Reilly, Jon Stewart Lou Dobbs and similar programs.

http://www.afneurope.net/tabid/649/Default.aspx?aid=7075

Here is part of a Stars and Strips LTTE from 2009 complaining about Olbermann:

By the way, maybe we should switch locations. I have to spend my lunch listening to Keith Olbermann whine about every conservative on the planet!

Marc A. Baldwin
Joint Base Balad, Iraq

http://www.stripes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor-for-tuesday-july-14-2009-1.93649

[arely staircase]

54. they play olberman on afn? actually, if they are giving equl time to both sides

i don't care, limbaugh can stay - as long as there is equal time given to both sides. i thought they were propagandizing one side, thereby giving the impression the pentagon was endorsing one view.

[EOTE]

55. No, they don't.

The post you're responding to was written by an idiot who thought that he was capable of making an intelligent point. He was sorely mistaken.

[arely staircase]

56. i must say i found it surprising

olbermn slamming bush during the bush presidency on afr did seem counterintuitive, and certainly not consistent with how i remember those years. thanks for clarifying.

[hack89]

91. They did until he went off the air in 2011. They now have Rachel Maddow's show. nt

[EOTE]

58. So you don't know a damned thing about the "American Soldier".

You'll gladly make an ass out of yourself, suggesting you know the programming they have available to them when you clearly have no clue. Shultz's show was cancelled on AFR before it even had a chance to air. Olbermann never was on, yet you seem to think they're a bastion of fairness and equality. You're really the Dunning-Kruger effect come to life. You know so incredibly little that your own assessment of your knowledge and abilities has no basis in reality. Very much like Newt Gingrich, you're what conservatives believe smart people sound like. You don't fool educated people, though.

[HangOnKids]

60. Yes!^^^^^^^^^

Have you seen the John Cleese youtube clip about this very thing? Uneducated people say really uneducated things because well they are ...UNEDUCATED! Their sphere of awareness is zilch.

[EOTE]

61. I haven't.

Do you happen to have a link?

[HangOnKids]

62. Here you go! Enjoy!

http://gizmodo.com/5886011/john-cleese-truly-stupid-people-will-never-know-they-are-stupid

[EOTE]

63. Good stuff. Thanks! NT

[JSnuffy]

64. Aww... you big meanie...

As a heads up..

Olbermann was on until his show was discontinued. I know because I watched it... overseas... on active duty...

Rachael Maddow is still on as is the Daily Show which continually mocked Bush and continues to mock Obama.

As far as AFN radio a simple google brings this up as the first hit -

Power Network Schedule

MONDAY - FRIDAY SCHEDULE

0000 Pure Gold Oldies
0300 Country Hits
0500 ESPN Game Night – Live
0600 AFN Morning Newswatch – Live
0900 Power Talk Mornings
Mon. Perspective
Tue. Newsweek on Air
Wed. Car Talk
Thu. Sound Money
Fri. Parents Journal
1000 NPR or AFN OpenLine, when scheduled
Mon. On The Media
Tue. – Fri. Fresh Air
1100 NPR Morning Edition – Live
1300 ESPN "Mike & Mike in the Morning" – Live
1400 AFN Evening Newswatch & Connections – Live
1800 Rush Limbaugh – Live
1900 Dr. Laura Schlessinger
1947 Military News
1948 The Huckabee Report
1953 Gardening Tips
1954 USA Sports
1956 Command Information
1957 Charles Osgood
1959 Command Information
2000 NPR Talk of the Nation – Live
2100 Ed Shultz
2200 NPR All Things Considered – Live

Of course, It'd be silly to try and show you anything with your "education" and everything.

If you'd get past your initial outrage and applied some ethical critical analysis, you'd realize that I could give a shit about Limbaugh. At no point have I said that I agree with what he says or does. I care about who gets to make the decision if he stays and I resent the idea that "educated people" like yourself seem to think they know what's best instead of leaving it to the Soldier.

Have a lovely afternoon...

[arely staircase]

72. that's actualy not a bad line up

i would certainly turn it off when limbaugh, huckabee or dr. lura was on. i didn't even know she still had a show, that's too bad but hell you've got ed and some of my favorite npr shows on there. if limbaugh is removed, i hope it is because his whole stupid little empire goes down. i don't consider keith or ed to be leftwing versions of rush, bt the right looks upon them the way we look upon limbaugh. if they pull him the repubs will scream until ed is gone - and npr too (which they consider to be commie propaganda. as much as i despise limbaugh, my problem with him being on armed forces network was because i thought his view was the only one they are broadcasting. but god, dr. laura? who in the military listens to that crazy woman?

[JSnuffy]

73. It was pretty good...

Usually doing stuff at all hours so you got a good variety depending on when you were listening.

Also, it's amazing how quiet this sub-thread got when some facts were interjected.

[arely staircase]

74. i still can't get past this dr. laura business

i'm trying to imagine who (amongst an overwhelmingly young military listening audience) listens to that bitter loon.

[EOTE]

75. Olbermann still has a show.

And while it's nice that they put Shultz back on, he was cut off from AFN for quite a while. All of this is beside the point, which is that hate speech has no place on something like AFN. Limbaugh is beyond worthless, he's drawing a massive salary by not only dumbing down the public to pathetic levels, but also encouraging the very kind of violence that we've seen recently. Assholes like Limbaugh always have their defenders and they're oddly quiet when it's clear that he drives individuals to commit atrocities. If you don't think psychopaths like Loughner and Scott Roeder aren't inspired by this kind of hate speech, you've got another thing coming. Words DO effect people. There is ZERO room for Limbaugh's hate speech in a civilized society.

[JSnuffy]

76. I'm just weird like that...

... I know that I'm coocoo for freedom of speech and thought.

The idea that speech should be limited because someone might do something crazy if they hear it is childlike naïvety at best and straight fucking evil at worst. It's cowardly and it never works. The world isn't sanitary and clean because no one can agree on what that should even be.

There is no way to legally, ethically or morally determine what is "good speech" and what is "bad speech". Especially through the prism of government. What is hate speech for you is entertaining political commentary on the issues of the day.

"But they're wrong" isn't an acceptable answer either btw...

[EOTE]

77. So you think that the 1st amendment means you can say whatever you want.

It doesn't. Far from it. People are held accountable for what they say, that's a requirement for any functional society to remain so. You have an extremely poor grasp of what the first amendment is.

[Rex]

80. That is how republicans look at things, no accountablility.

Sad ain't it?

[JSnuffy]

87. I'll explain using your own words...

"Just because you agree with Limbaugh so wholeheartedly doesn't mean that his rhetoric isn't hate speech and shouldn't be controlled."

That statement that you made means that the government decides what is acceptable to say and what isn't.

I realize that you can't see past your own tantrum to realize that what is good for the goose is good for the gander and eventually that same legal entity that squashes something you hate will eventually come after something you agree with.

Do you think that people you agree with will always be in power? Do you think that those people are in power now?

Think about some voices that you do agree with...

How would you like them declared as unacceptable and something to be "controlled?"

You were proven 100% wrong about my experience and what is available to overseas Soldiers and you've shown yourself to be someone who wants to control other people because he knows what's best.

Must be that big "education" you referenced earlier that makes you so smart.

[Kingofalldems]

89. Nobody wants to censor your boy, they just want him off AFN

Quit trying to make up shit, like Rush does.

[JSnuffy]

92. It shouldn't be up to you...

That is what started this whole conversation.

That program isn't for you. It's for the American service member and they are the ones who should decide if he stays or goes.

I don't understand what is so difficult to understand about this. The idea that you know what's best for them instead of leaving it to the Soldier is ridiculous.

[EOTE]

93. The government DOES decide what is acceptable speech and what isn't.

Sad that you haven't figured that out as of yet. There are these little things called "laws" which people are held accountable to.

[JSnuffy]

94. Yes...

There are decency laws as regulated through the FCC... Carlin's 7-words and the like...

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/obscenity-indecency-and-profanity

Political opinion is strongly protected however.

I'll bite though. Which law would you create or choose from existing law to bring his speech in accordance with what you think it should be?

[EOTE]

95. Nope, that's not all. You also can't incite someone to commit violence.

There are also slander laws. Limbaugh has skirted around the decency laws, but he's far more guilty of slander and inciting violence. Not that you give a damn about that.

[JSnuffy]

96. So go ahead and send $10 bucks to Allred

.. if you think he slandered.

That doesn't have anything to do with his ability to broadcast.

[EOTE]

97. Uhhh, it has everything to do with whether he's put on AFR.

You have zero sense of decency if you think that slander and dehumanizing talk belongs on any radio whatsoever, much less on AFR.

[JSnuffy]

98. Aaaaand all the way back to the beginning of the conversation...

The decision still should remain with the intended audience and not people with an ax to grind for any particular side.

If you feel so strongly about it, I can direct you to your closest recruiting office and you can put an overseas posting on your wish list.

[EOTE]

100. So you're fine with incitations to violence and slander on public radio

and on AFR. Just so I'm clear, once again you think that there are no limits to the 1st amendment and you believe that the first amendment gives anyone the right to say whatever the hell they please on public radio. Gotcha chief. Really intelligent position you have there. And your bullshit contention that the decision should remain with the intended audience is absolutely laughable. This "intended audience" you're referring to is the "free market". If the "free market" had its say, Limbaugh would have been off the radio years ago. Limbaugh isn't on the air because he makes a profit, he's on the air because he's a very effective propagandist. But then again, I'm sure you'd have absolutely zero issue with Goebbels getting his own show on AFR. Hey, the soldiers should have that choice, right? Pathetic.

[JSnuffy]

102. So..

You think that the majority of American service-members would choose a Nazi? Careful, your slip is showing...


In any case...

I ask again, which laws would you enact install the aforementioned 1st amendment "limits?" If you believe that he has already violated those laws then tell me which ones. IOW, what are those limits that you are talking about?

I do agree that in the US, on privately owned stations, the free market should reign. They are not forced to carry Limbaugh and have made a business decision to do so. That may change with public pressure. I dunno.

However, the intended audience for AFN radio is the service member. Your mish-mash of posts just scream that you are scared that they won't make the decision you would make and so you want to take the choice away from them.

You know best, right?

[EOTE]

103. You have a very difficult time with logic.

Limbaugh has an audience on AFR because HE'S ON AFR. You can bet your ass if Goebbels reincarnated was on AFR, he'd have an audience there. You're acting as if AFR's lineup is democratically selected. What a joke. And to further illustrate the point that you simply don't get it, I wouldn't need to enact any laws, the laws already exist. But you've already shown that you don't really care much for laws. Anyone should be able to say whatever the hell they want with no repercussions, right? That's your point in a nutshell.

[JSnuffy]

104. I know you are having a tough time...

... but once again.

Which laws are you referring to? What repercussions are you talking about? Who is going to enforce them?

If you'd stop talking in vague generalities we could have an adult conversation. Let me know when you've got your notes together and I'll check your work.

Also, I have personally filled out surveys, as a service-member, about what I want to see on AFN TV and Radio. Maybe you think they just take all those surveys and burn them out back behind a GOP convention and just press their fingers together evilly.

[EOTE]

105. Slander laws? Fighting words doctrine?

These were never vague, and I mentioned them before.

I don't give a damn about what surveys you filled out, you act like you vote on what you see/hear on AFN, you certainly don't. And it reflects PISS POORLY on the military that he's listened to at all on AFN, you're damned right. And I'm sure, by and large, it's the Limbaugh listeners who go on to commit these atrocities. The military has more than its fair share of psychopaths, that's not a slam, it's an observable fact, and they're the ones listening to Limbaugh. When the military is so prone to committing these atrocities, they certainly don't need any assistance from Limbaugh.

[EOTE]

107. Well, the atrocities are committed by members of the military.

So they're either the ones listening to Limbaugh or the ones who don't. I'm quite sure the bulk are the Limbaugh listeners, the left tends not to engage in atrocities. But hey, if you want to believe these acts are committed by those who swear off Limbaugh, good on ya'.

And if you think pointing to law is stomping my feet, well, that just further proves that you're not truly interested in a discussion, just defending your boy. I won't call you a liar, I'll just call you not very bright.

You're defending a man who actively DEFENDS WAR CRIMES. Then when further war crimes occur, you suggest he has nothing to do with him. You are, by extension, defending war crimes.

And by the way, I don't hate the military. I hate the sociopaths who commit war crimes. Considering how frequently these war crimes occur, I really don't think the military needs any more encouragement by the likes of Limbaugh.

[Kingofalldems]

82. So calling a young student a slut and a whore is not wrong apparently,

based on the second paragraph. That's a crock and you are not fooling many here.

[Rex]

83. No it is good for the troops to hear such language!!

Good for moral.

Rush's Biggest Fan is thrashing about in a big bowl of failsauce.

[JSnuffy]

88. For me personally?

Freedom of choice is the best thing for my morale...

I know I'm smart enough to decide what to listen to and so is the American Soldier. Maybe you know better than they do?

[hack89]

86. Ed's debut on AFN was delayed for three weeks in 2005 - he has been on continuously since.

http://www.louise.house.gov/index.php?view=article&catid=66%3A2006-press-releases&id=327%3Anov-8-2005-pentagon-reverses-decision-will-carry-ed-schultz-on-american-forces-radio&format=pdf&option=com_content

[hack89]

85. Ed Shultz's radio show is broadcasted daily. So is Rachel Maddow's TV show

http://www.afneurope.net/Radio/AFNPowerNetworkSchedule/tabid/702/Default.aspx

http://www.afneurope.net/TVSchedules/tabid/83/Default.aspx

[Hugabear]

44. Why are you defending Rush?

And more importantly, how did you make it to 350 posts?

[Rex]

79. Because obviously he/she likes hate and RWing talking points.

Why else would anyone defend Gush?

[snooper2]

4. Maybe the soldier got his diploma from a mean older sibling

who used to abuse him/her every day on the walk home from school...

Or a diploma from a lover in the same camp who told him/her that they were a pathetic fuck...

How about a diploma from nowhere and the person is just a crazed fucking asshole that got beat up in too many bars stateside?



Looks like Constance Hilliard works at UNT in Denton, I'll have to tell her about blogging fail next time I see SIL who lives around the corner from there LOL

[lacrew]

5. Loughner 2.0

I'm going to wait until some things are known:

1. Who is this guy, where is he from
2. How long deployed/how many deployments
3. Mental health issues

Only then will I be interested in:

1. Could he pick Limbaugh out of a lineup
2. Has he ever heard his show
3. Does he regularly listen to his show.

After that's all flushed out, I'll make the connection between Limbaugh and this rampage. No Loughneresque jumping the gun.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Typical "Rush" To Judgement...

Pardon the pun...well sorta...

As always the worst news in a developing story is a void...it opens doors for lots of speculation that takes on a life of its own. I also will wait to learn more about who the shooter is and his history. Those attempting to project a political agenda on such a situation do their cause a disservice...

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. We already know he's deployed four times.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. He came from he same base that produced soldiers which

killed the US Forest ranger. Did trophy hunting thrill kill on Afghanis Has the highest rate of suicides .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002414112

[OPOS]

9. That's a reach

Now we're blaming the whale for encouraging murder of Afghans? We don't even know the name of the Soldier who is responsible yet are willing to throw it down as Limpys fault? Ed Schultz is on right after Limpbaugh by the way if you ever get to listen to AFN.

[Brickbat]

17. Edited because the post has changed.

And the self-delete below is because I posted this in the wrong place.

[OKNancy]

23. I think he

is just using a short form of bastard.

[Junkdrawer]

10. Maybe Rush can send them one of these Ts for the brig....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002412586

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. If rush had anything to do with this is minimal

Four tours, breaking point.

The force is indeed broken. This is a symtom of that.

[Aerows]

19. Oh, I suspect you are absolutely right

It's more the fact that our soldiers have been in this environment for far too long, and stretched far too thin.

The reason I agreed up thread that this could contribute to it is that when you have people who are already on a short fuse, it's not a good idea to incite them further.

Is he to blame? No. But it is worth the conversation that we as a nation could examine the way our national discourse sounds, and the image it creates of Americans. If Rush was used as an example, our image looks horrible.

[libtodeath]

16. Pig boy has a ton of blood on his miserable hands.

K&R
It is time we stopped being nice and called out this evil.
If ever there was a reason for that disgusting pile of shit to be taken off the air this should be it.

[OPOS]

27. So Censor Limpbaugh for something he had nothing to do with?

Truly a supporter of civil liberty you must be.....How about we find real substantive reasons to marginalize King Pompous? Blaming him for the killings is a joke and will be looked upon by normal people as such.

[HangOnKids]

31. "How about we find real substantive reasons to marginalize King Pompous? "

Constant hate propaganda isn't enough for you?

[OPOS]

39. So disregard truth or facts for emotion

Could you tell me when he said Soldiers should murder Afghan civilians? I dont listen to him but would have thought such a broadcast would have made the news, no?

Again we can find enough substantive reasons to loathe him, but blaming him for these Murders is a sad joke.

[HangOnKids]

42. Rush Directly calling for the murdering of Afghans was not the point of this article

His blatant, vile, spewing of hate for Muslims is the point, here is the OP again. Please do not reply back to me, I do not engage with defend Rush. Bye now.

I lived in Asia several years ago and the only English-language station on the radio dial was Armed Forces Radio. I was homesick and had to listen to Rush Limbaugh's daily rants out of desperation to hear my beloved English being spoken. What did Rush talk about? He offered the following comment in regard to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib: "It was sort of like hazing a fraternity prank. Sort of like that kind of fun. . .I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of need to blow some steam off?" As for Guantanamo prison, he declared:

"We need to shut down this Gitmo prison? Well, don't shut it down - we just need to start an advertising campaign. We need to call it, 'Gitmo, the Muslim resort.'"

I had returned to the U.S. in time to hear Limbaugh defend Joseph Kony, leader of a roving band of mass murderers called the Lord's Resistance Army, after he learned that President Barack Obama was sending a hundred U.S. troops to Uganda to assist in capturing or killing the warlord. An article appeared in Mother Jones entitled: Limbaugh Thinks Obama wants to Kill Christians. Limbaugh refused to back down even when it became public knowledge that Kony was engaged in mass murder in Central Africa.

The Rush Limbaugh Show is being broadcast to troops on bases all over the world. However, America has too much at stake, to allow this seedy, ugly-spirited man to roll around in the minds of vulnerable young men. These soldiers are thousands of miles from home, getting shot at by an enemy indistinguishable from our Afghan allies, for a war whose rationale nobody even remembers any more. They need something better than an education in anti-Muslim hatred.

[polly7]

46. oh whatever ........

since when does spewing hate-mongering, bigotry and racism NOT incite violence?

Limbaugh is preaching this hate to service members who have already, to some extent, been conditioned towards dehumanizing the 'enemy' ... and I understand that, as it happens in all wars. But, many of these people are suffering from PTSD, depression and other ailments, they may be popping powerful anxiety / depression / anti-psychotic meds. They've seen friends killed .. maybe they're on their fourth deployment and have seen and done more than the mind can handle already. Adding in Limbaugh's constant daily vitriol absolutely would affect those are already in trouble. There is no way it could not.

[Aerows]

33. 2 posts in

And both of them are to support leaving Rush Limbaugh alone. I wonder why? Could it be because he is the de facto leader of the Republican party, and reminding people of his recent hate speech is a very bad reflection on the Republican party and right wingers?

I think I may be on to something!

[OPOS]

40. 2 posts and accused already

I dont believe in censorship or making this dick a martyr for the right. Take him off the air and it goes against everything the 1st amendment stands for. Freedom of speech isnt for just we agree with, but also for those Loathsome voices. Expose him for what he is and he gets marginalized as the bloated buffoon he is. Censor him and you make a hero of him, which is better?

By the way, real nice I stand up for the 1st amendment and get accused of being a troll for it?

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

[Rex]

84. How are you standing up for the 1st amendment?

Rush is getting held accountable (a word you probably don't know) for the words that came out of his mouth...the fact that you don't like that, well too bad. He is getting called out for what he SAID...sadly, you won't understand that since your agenda is to make sure he stays on AFN. Sad.

[RZM]

28. The only reason this article was written was because Rush was already in the news

It's not like this is the first time US soldiers have behaved badly in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's happened many times. Yet now, right on the heels of a week of nonstop Rush news, we're all of a sudden blaming him. It's a lazy argument to make, especially since we don't yet know too many personal details about the soldier in question.

If it turns out the guy was a fanatic dittohead, then this merits further discussion in inquiry. But at this point, it makes no more sense than blaming the rampage on the Beatles' 'White Album.'

[Demonaut]

32. exactly why he needs to be kicked off AFN, he is a morale destroyer

[Taverner]

35. What??? Look, I am no fan of Rush, but don't you think the horrors of war

Could have been a bigger factor than a blowhard without braincells?

[EOTE]

59. Possibly, but hearing Rush's hateful rhetoric nonstop certainly couldn't help.

I think when you combine the horrors of war with the horrors of Limbaugh's hate speech, you've got a perfect storm which could certainly lead to these kinds of tragedies.

[Beacool]

36. I don't think that this soldier's attacks had anything to do with talk radio.

Thousands of service men and women listen to talk radio and they don't start shooting innocent civilians. This soldier snapped, maybe he had mental issues to begin with or the atrocities of war just got to him. Either way, it's a tragedy and it won't help in winning over the Afghans. I cringe to think what some there will do in retaliation.

[Kingofalldems]

38. Kick and Rec

[HangOnKids]

45. Agree This Needs Exposure n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

57. "If it's natural to kill, how come men have to go into training to learn how?" Joan Baez

[JSnuffy]

65. Silly quote...

Everyone can kill with zero training. Rock + head = dead

Training is there to make one more efficient and raise your chances of success.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

66. No doubt, a noble goal and benefit to humanity.

I remember, all too well, how I was trained to blow somebody's brains out at 300 yards, fry them with a flamethrower, or dismember them with a grenade. So, I would be a very "efficient" killer of my fellow humans at the command of the bosses.

[JSnuffy]

69. Umm.. yes?

[The Magistrate]

68. Silly Damn Attitude, Sir

Most people flinch from the act, even in extreme circumstances. Military training's most important elements are aimed at putting a person's mind into a frame in which a certain eagerness to kill is present, or can be readily roused.

[B Calm]

67. K&R

[cherokeeprogressive]

71. Don't know about that, but he DID suffer a traumatic brain injury in Iraq.

[chrisa]

99. So there's no actual evidence that the killer listened to Rush Limbaugh?

I don't really the get the point of the article, then. Rush Limbaugh is creating hate against Muslims? That, we already know. It's silly to try and drag Limbaugh into this - the author is just jumping on the Limbaugh dog-pile.

[Marrah_G]

101. He did 4 tours and had a head injury

I think THAT was the reason behind his snapping.

For all we know he was a liberal who simply broke under the pressure.

There is only so much the human mind can take.