It appears that until about this time in the afternoon Wednesday, Rush Limbaugh had never heard of a weblog* called Instapundit (even his transcriber thinks the name of the site is “Insta-Pundit”). This was news to me, but it wasn’t necessarily a surprise.
To start, here a rambling Rush reproves Glenn Reynolds:
Now, I got a couple of e-mails I was checking here during the break from people who say, “Oh, no, Rush! Don’t get in a war with conservative bloggers. If the media rips you guys apart, it’s all over.” I am not at war with conservative bloggers. I quote countless posts from many blogs on this program. I use them as resources. I’m referring to one blog post, and I don’t even know who it is. This all got started when I cringed when I saw the use of the term “premortem” on a blog site called Insta-Pundit. … Whoever Insta-Pundit is, is letting somebody else reply to whatever it was I’m saying on the program, and it’s a little one-page post that I responded to this morning in the first hour.
I’m going to tell you the blog postings that I regularly read in my RSS reader. I’ve communicated with many of the people who run them. They’re fabulous people, starting with National Review Online, then Hugh Hewitt and his Townhall blog, Captain Ed, Ed Morrissey at Captain’s Quarters. The three lawyers at Power Line. These are resources that I have added to everything else that I use for show prep which makes show prep an ongoing, never ending thing. Red State is another site.(I hope I don’t forget anybody.) Little Green Footballs. I don’t want to leave any out. A.J. Strata, Strata-Sphere. I don’t want to leave anybody out here. The American Spectator. You here me talking about these. I’m referring to two days’ worth of posts on this one site.
So Rush is on speaking terms with RSS and knows what blogs he likes — mostly well-established members of the right-blogosphere — and yet he has no apparent knowledge of just who this “Insta-Pundit” fellow is supposed to be? A little unusual, no? But the fact of the matter is, though their Democratic and left-leaning critics might be slow to realize it, Reynolds and Limbaugh are actually, in the parlance of our times, on different Internets.
I’m willing to bet dollars to puppy shakes that Limbaugh doesn’t know who he is because Reynolds really isn’t kidding when he says he’s not a Republican. I’d wager Pajamas Media’s endowment that Reynolds has never sent so much as an e-mail to the EIB Network, whereas Strata, Morrissey and the NROniks all have him saved in their Outlook.
Limbaugh’s favorite bloggers are always on message, always hitting the day’s big news or arguing with the left. In contrast, consider the podcast Reynolds hosts with his wife — sure, they’ve hosted Bill Frist more than once, but then Frist is clearly enamored with blogging; Reynolds just happens to be a friendly, a big dog, and Frist’s constituent to boot. Yet the Insta-Pundit and the (arguably more conservative) Insta-Wife have also turned over considerable airtime to Democrat Harold Ford and John McCain — who is no friend of Limbaugh’s, to say the least.
Is Reynolds anti-left? No doubt he’s wingnut enough for the moonbats to write him off. (The project of exposing him as a stealth reactionary certainly has its adherents, but that’s old news.) Yet he’s also not pro-right enough for serious GOP activists in the blogosphere to rely on him to push their agenda (nor their candidates). To the extent that Reynolds is a political activist at all, he seems to prefer policy and procedural reforms to party-building (c.f. PorkBusters).
Reynolds’ preferred reforms tend to be government-limiting and market-oriented, and the Limbaugh-sphere is certainly amenable to that. But whereas their online efforts are intended to elect Republicans, Reynolds spends less time bashing Democrats and more time evaluating digital cameras.
- According to a commenter, not quite. But it’s still clear he didn’t know a “heh” from an “indeed.”
Actually, the day before, Rush called Reynolds’ site “Instant Pundit”.
Mr. Reynolds is basically a member of the “militant middle”, although even the word “militant” is misleading in this context, because the man is generally so mild-mannered. The people who most frequent his blog probably would form the core of a new party that fills the huge gap between Democrats and Republicans that Libertarians wish they filled.
Glenn is basically a Christian basher.He is vehemently against the Christian Right(something to do with their attack against his wife) and is using the “Schiavo is the main reason why the republicans will lose the election” meme to try and put a wedge in the republican party.It is becoming apparent that he is not a Republican either.
They certainly are not on different Internets because they can send email to each other and read each others public content. What they are on is different social networks. But social networks can morph and merge and break apart and do every day. I look forward to the interaction between the two.
Great post.
I said “in the parlance of our times,” Lutas!
But you’re correct, they do have different social networks — though I’d avoid the construction because they’re not using MySpace or Friendster. They’re both on the wider Interwebs, where words like “Internets” have an ironic connotation.
Gee, I’m an evangelical Christian but I’ve read Glenn’s posts since September 2001 and haven’t found him to be a “Christian basher”. Puppies in blenders, sure, but we all have flaws. What have I missed?
Rush is truly a huge force for almost everything I believe.
Glenn Reynolds is a smart guy. When you understand where he is coming from, you can filter his ideas. If you are not reading Instapundit everyday, after you read Rush, you are missing out on a lot of deep analysis. You won’t agree with everything but Glenn is an important stop everyday for me.
Hugh Hewitt is about in the middle of Rush and Glenn. Hugh is twice a day.
Powerline, CaptainsQuarters and LittleGreenFootballs
Michelle Malkin and HotAir
RealClearPolitics and ElectionProjection for polls.
The LATimes threw a free copy of their wasted trees on my driveway this morning. I threw it in the recycling. The Internet has replaced those ignorant buffoons. Oh Yeah! read Patterico.com He RIPS the LostAngeles Times everyday.
Turn out and VOTE!! even if Glenn thinks we aren’t going to…
JoeS: Seems you’re on the same page(s) I am. You missed a couple, though; Opinion Journal, Ace of Spades, Belmont Club, and the inimitable Rodger Schultz.
I’ve been checking in at Instapundit for a while now, and I heard of the site FROM the Rush Limbaugh show. I had never heard of the weblog until Rush spoke about it one afternoon a couple of years ago.
Glenn is a libertarian. That makes him “right wing” on non-cultural issues but somewhat left on social issues.
But I think the real problem Rush has is that he’s come to confuse conservative with Republican. The two aren’t the same. When it hits the fan, Rush is a Republican first, a conservative second.
As long as the blogger is towing the party line, Rush is fine. If they stray off course in his mind, it’s open season.
I had written a brief response to the initial Rush littany (I’m “Draginol” on JoeUser.com) and I, like others, are simply making what we thought was a pretty straight forward observation — the Republicans have ignored the conservative base for the past several years and that has created enough apathy that many conservatives who don’t think a narrow Democratic-controlled congress would be the “end of the world” are likely to stay home.
You saw Rush’s reaction. Now we’re “cut and run conservatives” (as opposed to the alternative — sheep).
Your blog really drives home an excellent point — Rush has become encrusted with the REPUBLICAN blogsphere that he’s completely unaware of sites like Instapundit (which is incidentally the most popular blog site on the net according to Alexa).
When Rush said it was some web site he never heard of, he was talking about the web site Instapundit was linking to.
I know who Glenn Reynolds is, but please explain a little more about this Russ Linbaugh fellow. I gather that he’s a radio announcer, but no one has said what station he works for or what kind of music he plays on his show.
Limbaugh probably doesn’t use the web that much personally. He has staff check the RNC cheerleader blogs so he can praise them and check the DNC cheerleader blogs so he can make fun of them.
The only reason he’s aware of the “insta-pundit” now is that someone on his staff mistook Reynolds for one of the above.
I’m a conservative but not a fan of Rush. I’ve only listened to him a few times because I didn’t like his style. It seemed to me that he makes his points with emphatic ranting rather than facts and rigorous logic and I think this instapundit kerfuffel is an example of exactly that. Being anti-liberal isn’t enough to please me. I don’t respect cheap shots, mud slinging, and contrived arguments. Radio personalities need to dramatize everthing in order to pay the bills. I’m not impressed by melodrama in journalism whether it’s from the MSM or talk radio.
If you think I’m not impressed by much of conservative talk radio you’re right, and for these same reasons.
Rush vs. Reynolds
It is what it is. Glenn is libertarian and Rush is a conservative. (and no Mr. Brad Wardell, Rush clearly makes the distinction between conservatism and Republicanism. Any person who is a conservative ALWAYS makes the distinction because the two are not fungible, I do not accept you premise as being true, nor does anyone else, but back to my point). All this ruckus about Rush and Glenn is utter ridiculousness and frankly misses the point entirely. What exactly put Rush in his tizzy? I believe it was the “pre-mortem” term to describe the potential losses that the GOP will suffer by lackluster showings at the polls on election day.
The logic behind this premortem is flawed at best. I do not think (and we know it to be true since Glenn has further clarified on his blog) that he was hoping for a GOP loss, however what purpose does it serve? No, I’m not talking cheerleading, but more the “I told you so attitude.” I read Insta a lot, I like Insta a lot, but Glenn does have a bit of this uber-intellectual quality (some of it is good but some is also bad). Rush was saying, ok we know the GOP had major gaffes this past few years but what’s the other party offering. Answer: NOTHING.
If you don’t understand this point then either one if these two is true about you: you shouldn’t vote or dailykos.com is in you required daily reading.
Remember: the good of the country comes before the good of the party, even if we have to hold our noses whilst we vote.
My guess is that Rush knows exactly who InstaPundit is. He is saying that he thinks Glenn is a nobody to him. (Sheesh. Didn’t any of you learn anything in junior high?)
After a couple of years of not hearing Rush regularly, I happened across the show the day all this erupted. The thing that occurred to me was how much the blogs (the ones listed above) have replaced Rush as my main source of political commentary. By the time the show came on, I had already read all the pieces that Rush was quoting. Kind of made me think that Rush is moving down the “new media scale”.
Additionally, let me just say (as others have mentioned) that Instapundit is essentially a libertarian, so he should not be expected to follow in lock step with the Republicans. More power to him.
And finally (again as was said above), Rush was not criticizing Glenn, he was actually reading from another blog. So this whole thing is really a non-issue. And neither of the principles have bad feelings for the other, so let’s just enjoy them both and move on.
And of course, GOTV!
Reynolds represents one faction within the GOP coalition — small “l” libertarians who like small government and low taxes and markets, but who are repelled by the values issues which are the strongest motivators for many others in the GOP coalition. He is pro-gay marriage, pro-abortion rights, even pro-pornography, though this last may be a bit of a joke on his part, but it is certainly within the scope of a libertarian view of very broad “free speech”. Like many small “l” libertarians who sometimes vote Republican, he finds it an uncomfortable place to be in, since on cultural issues, he does not like or respect most GOP voters or elected personnel. Reynolds has indicated in recent posts that he thinks that the GOP losing the House might be a good thing. The key rationale he has offered is that the GOP has failed to live up to its commitment to smaller government due to its uncontrolled spending. Since the Democrats will absolutely be worse on this score, it is not a very compelling reason to actually favor a GOP defeat. What I think it comes down to is that for Reynolds and many like him to associate with religious people, people who are opposed to gay marriage, etc. is very unpleasant. The trade-off for them therefore has to be a very strong commitment to deregulation, small government, cuts in spending, etc. If the GOP is not A LOT better on these issues, he seems to be saying, the cultural issues would tip him the other way. So, to him, a GOP defeat in the House holds out the hope — a forlorn one, I believe, and gladly — of a reformed GOP that abandons things like opposition to abortion and gay marriage and focuses on economic issues.
That is how I assess his recent writing.
I am familiar with both Rush and Instapundit. Like them both. Glenn is definitely libertarian leaning (as am I), Rush conservative. However, to call Rush a shill for the Repubs is a little shallow. I have heard him rag on the repubs (Senate mostly - McCain/Feingold anyone) repeatedly. As well as Pres Bush, when necessary. However, his point on the current election is that if you are upset w/repubs, how does not voting or voting for dems promote your cause?? Yes, many of us are disappointed with the repub performance. But, remember,there is a Repub majority, not an conservative majority,big difference. And most of the conservative legislation comes from the House (spending notwithstanding, and when the “base” pushes, they are more receptive (can you say the same about the dems). So, Rush’s big point is that if you are upset with the Repubs overall, how is voting Dem going to move your agenda!!!
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if Rush starts picking on Glenn, he (Rush) is going to make a fool of himself…for just about every reason imaginable.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have never emailed Rush and do no listen to him unless I catch him in the car going to meetings. He has mentioned my blog twice this week and it is the first time I knew he read it. I missed both times. I have talked a couple of times with Ed Morrissey, Michelle Malkin, the Powerline guys and RCP folks. But it was on one or two posts or topics and that was it. Brief, cordial encounters via email mostly.
We don’t coordinate our messages. We simply all see the same problems with the left. They are that obvious.
Cheers, AJStrata
Rush does his thing, and Glenn does his thing. Rush’s list of favorite bloggers is pretty standard, no surprises there, high quality info by a bunch of folks with sharp minds. As for possibly mispronouncing InstaPundit… if you only see the word in print, and never hear it or speak it, it would be easy. OTOH, when you really need to be able to pronounce “Ahmadinejad” properly, you practice over and over before showtime.
Glen is not particularly political or cultural. When big things happen in the blogosphere, whether on the left or right, Glenn reports it. But he doesn’t have a real agenda, and doesn’t do show-prep.
The idea that Reynolds is a libertarian needs to stop. How many libertarians do you know who draw a government paycheck and love the government space program? He’s a social liberal who tacks right on non-social issues. The “libertarian” thing is a too-cool-for-school, I’m-above-the-fray pose.
What I’d like to know is how on earth Rush missed Reynolds’ militant homophobia, to say nothing of his documented Mussolini connections.
This is such a tempest in a teapot. I read Instapundit, sometimes catch Rush, and find stuff from both that I like and dislike.
Yeah, Rush is cheerleading for the Republicans. Why? Because warts and all they’re the party more likely to advance conservative ideas. I agree with that concept completely. I don’t think voting for an individual Republican is a guarantee of conservatism; that’s stupid. But, by and large, a Republican majority in Congress will be more likey to vote the way I want them to vote.
AJ, it was of course just a guess; I knew it was possible one or more of you had never before been in contact with Rush or his producers.
And I certainly don’t mean to imply a Townhouse-style back room collusion, if that’s what you’re driving at. Indeed, it’s that Reynolds may share plenty of those problems with the left, but is nevertheless more hobbyist than activist.