Al Gore (AP Photo/David Karp)
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Rush Limbaugh's first appearance on the Jay Leno Show, Leno's new 10:00pm program, was certainly a memorable one. But it's unlikely that Al Gore will be laughing.
Gore became the unwitting butt of a Limbaugh joke when the radio host ran down a cardboard cutout of the former vice president on the "Green Challenge" road course. Rush was supposed to avoid the obstacle as he drove a new electric Ford Focus.
But Limbaugh really got the laughs when he put the car in reverse to hit Gore again, and then put it back in gear to strike the cardboard likeness a third time.
The hyped meeting between two of America's most recognizable hosts lived up to its billing. In a mere 15 minutes or so, Rush and Leno touched on everything from health care to GM to environmentalism.
Limbaugh, the most listened-to talk radio host in the nation, came out in an untucked, blue shirt and showed off his new, slimmer look. Rush lost a whopping 82 pounds over the summer. Limbaugh chided Leno for only losing 12 pounds in the same time.
True to form, Limbaugh pulled no punches. "Everyone that listens to me agrees with me. I'm not controversial," said Limbaugh to cheers from the studio audience.
Leno's program, which is taped in Malibu, CA, had an audience that appeared to side more with Rush than Leno when it came to current affairs. Limbaugh received the loudest cheers after running down a list of Obama's agenda and stating that his policies were bad for America and have caused greater polarization and divide in the country than ever before.
Comparatively, Leno's remarks regarding the success of Medicare met only a smattering of applause.
The interview was more of a debate, with Limbaugh and Leno trading points on the political issues of the day. Limbaugh effectively outlined some of his key beliefs and was able to give the audience a sampling of what his daily radio program is like.
Limbaugh generally does not have guests on his program, so it is rare that he engages in a back and forth as he did with Leno. But "El Rushbo" was able to still communicate clearly and effectively, reaching millions more people who might not regularly tune into his midday program.
In particular, two of Limbaugh's ideals seemed to be the focus of his points, and both were applauded.
Rush stressed the importance of allowing the marketplace to work out problems and to exclude the government from over regulation. He also scolded Leno for caring about the salaries of CEOs. Limbaugh stated that it was no one's business what anyone else makes.
Leno reportedly makes $16 million a year while Limbaugh rakes in close to $50 million annually.
Secondly, and in the same vein, Limbaugh mentioned that one of his primary fears with the national health care system is that it would give the federal government justification to control the lives of American citizens. Limbaugh explained that under the guise of fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers, the government could dictate what you eat, what you drive, what you drink and the like.
After a commercial break Limbaugh and Leno went outside the studio for Limbaugh to take the "Green Car Challenge." Due to Rush's penalties for hitting Al Gore three times, he wound up with the worst score to date. Limbaugh also struck a cutout of Ed Begly Jr. Rush assured Leno, "It was worth it."
Limbaugh also said that he liked the electric car.
What do you think? Did Leno give Rush another platform that he usually does not have access to? Should the two have stuck to a friendly conversation rather than talk about politics?
Chime in below.
Comments
It took a while after Denise Leary said nuk them all to entertain the idea of watching jay. Why would you invite such a guest on your show if you didn't agree with such a freak. You looked like an idiot, He is an idiot and the two of you put together making love in your electric car, Im sure will spawn a moron.
consider my family and me gone from your viewer list.
I'm not sure how well he articulates his points, but the Al Gore rerun was very funny.
YOU go RUSH !!! tell it brother !!!! the nation of sheep need to hear the truth !!!!
Awe a whiney liberal. Good luck making a logical argument you emotional nutsack.
Rush was excellent. Leno was loosing everytime he brought up something and Rush was kicking rearend.
Very nice to hear some common sense on NBC
Both made good points, but as is typical of Rush, he interupted a fair amount. Jay is a very very patient man. I feel like if Rush would've let Jay talk a little bit more it would've been an interesting conversation. btw, to those who act like this was some ultra-serious debate, keep in mind Jay noted that he believes in Capitolism. All the same, interesting conversation and it was funny how Rush ran into Gore!
Unpatriotic racist Rush Linbaugh on Leno, adios Leno, too bad I waited all summer for this. Poor choice of guests, of all the idiots why the Fat Moron. I will never watch Leno again.
What was so funny about the hit on former Vice President Al Gore, by the idiot, unpatriotic, mouthpiece for the mediocre morons.
Aww that was great. I was we had more pain-medication popping fat bastards like rush limbaugh in the word. Rush I don't care how much weight you lose you'll always be that luvable pill popping addict that I kno and luv. Live on man...well, until you o.d. off ur meds that is. Great job you retarded bastard, we all luv ya.
Rush was a little bit to interupting and that turns alot of people off.
That doesnt discount that he was right on just about all the issues Jay raised with him.
Way to go, Rush!!
pease don't give the idiot air time again
Atta boy Rush! Seeing you hit Al Gore twice made my day!
Forget the liberal drones here who have decided not to watch Leno anymore because of Rush. I think having Rush on as a guest just increased Leno's viewer list.
I enjoyed watching Rush on Leno's show and was pleasantly surprised by the applause he recieved. He's mostly deaf and has trouble communicating one on one -probably why he interrupted so much. He did hit home some very important points that I'm sure resonated with people that don't normally think about such things.
Hey libs:
You know.... aw forget it, you aren't worth the time.
Jay is the man. Having Rush as a guest on his show was magnificent. The Marxist in the White House must be screaming mad that a nationwide audience got a chance to finally hear what the Marxist president is realy doing to this great country. Ford motors will benefit from the driving demo in incresed sales. What true patriot wouldn't enjoy running the moron AL Gore down with a car numerous times? Hail to Jay and Rush, True American Hero's.
Rush is right! Kudos to Jay for having the hutzpah to have him on and attempt to take on a guy like that.
jay said something along the lines of "i'm the type who says 'do you find it cold in here' and you say 'close the da*n window!' I love Rush and think he did an awesome job with the time he had, but that may have been the chance for Rush to say 'so you do agree with me! but refuse to stand up for your country! just wait and see, huh Jay!'
ChickaBOOMer: "Mr. Green" Rush Limbaugh Electrifies Leno
chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/09/mr-green-rush-limbaugh-on-leno.html
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Hats off to Jay,He should have Rush on every week so people can hear the truth as to were this country is heading and how we are loosing our freedom.
I love Jay and I love Rush but I missed it!!!!!!! The truth indeed sets people free, we need more of the truth not this media manipulation we're being fed. THANKS JAY for being an awesome guy! Letterman SUCKS! Pooooooooop. Anyway, looking forward to the video.
to Discussed: Uh, Rush is fat no more! Woo Hoo! Open your mind, you may be delighted.
Where are the libs comments? Oh ya, all they can come up with is prescription drug jabs...
Bravo Jay for having Rush. Bravo to both for the civil tone of their debate. Bravo to audience for recognizing the sense Rush was making of Obama's plan to send America down the sewer.
Shame on you libs who feel justified poking fun at a man's weight or personal demons of the past, but would admonish me if I were to use the words socialist, facist, race-baiting elitist when it clearly applies. Shame on you who are disgusted by Rush running over the hypocrite jet-setting Al Gore in effigy when you probably laughed right along with CBS and Craig Kilborn's "Snipers Wanted" caption during Bush's 2000 nomination acceptance. Shame on you for blindly following another pop-star prez who has broken every campaign promise made in the first year in office.
NBC is losing money left and right and Jay Leno may be their ticket
but that won't change GE bringing "evil" to life. They should have had wind turbines on the track to run over.
I saw it. Rush expressed his views and so did Leno. What's wrong with that? It's called a dialogue...maybe we should encourage more of that. Still don't agree with Rush but hey...isn't that my right in America? Wonder if everyone would agree with Rush if the economy would have crashed and we would have gone into another Great Depression. There's still time to find out though, let's pull the plug on Medicare and Medicaid like Rush suggests. Let's let all of the major US based companies fail too like AIG, GM, etc, and let's see millions more people unemployed. Let's alsos get rid of unemployment benefits and all government based social programs because gov't shouldn't be involved in that. Let's not regulate guns either so that when the unemployed and poor start to voice their "concerns" we can revert to the wild west. Sounds like fun! Let's allow only those with the means to pay for an education to get it, let's increase the gap between the haves and the have nots. Let's do it!
rndmgy,
Feeling sorry for yourself today? Get over it.
Tommy says:
Where are the libs comments? Oh ya, all they can come up with is prescription drug jabs...
-----------------------------------------------
Let's see... Complete sense? Does it make much sense to lay all of the blame for the sub-prime mortgage crisis on Dodd, Frank, and Clinton when the kinds of mortgages that were so problematic weren't even LEGAL until Reagan made them legal? Does it make complete sense to say that Social Security and Medicare are bankrupt when they are not? Does it make complete sense to believe that the market is some kind of magical, mystical, always-good force when we've clearly witnessed major market failures. There are lots of mathematical reasons that markets are good things... IF all the conditions of free markets are met. When those conditions are not met, markets work less well, if at all. But I suppose that type of stuff is too complicated for most Rush listeners to think about. Lastly, Rush actually said that Bush kept us safe. Last
Bravo Jay for having Rush. Bravo to both for the civil tone of their debate. Bravo to audience for recognizing the sense Rush was making of Obama's plan to send America down the sewer.
Shame on you libs who feel justified poking fun at a man's weight or personal demons of the past, but would admonish me if I were to use the words socialist, facist, race-baiting elitist when it clearly applies. Shame on you who are disgusted by Rush running over the hypocrite jet-setting Al Gore in effigy when you probably laughed right along with CBS and Craig Kilborn's "Snipers Wanted" caption during Bush's 2000 nomination acceptance. Shame on you for blindly following another pop-star prez who has broken every campaign promise made in the first year in office.
I'm frankly shocked that Immelt had the intestinal fortitude to allow the interview. Knowing the coverage it would get and
GE/NBC's involvement with the Obama Administration. Bravo for NBC, Leno and Limbaugh for a spirited dialogue without holding back. That's what the political elections should look like, not the moderated "beauty contests" the major networks put up. I want the smart guy, even if he is ugly!
Harold, I feel fine actually. Thanks for asking. Get over what?
That is how I see things working out if Rush has his way. How would it work out according to what you think? Understanding that nobody has a crystal ball and a view into the future, really what would happen? Toss out Medicaid and Medicare, eliminate unemployment relief, scrap the welfare system, end government regulation completely, end gun control, scrap social security, end gov't subsidized college education. Let the strong survive and the weak to die. Is that about right? The ME thinking, isolationism. Ok, but let's adopt this across all platforms and butt out of global matters. Take this thought and be consistent with it, No military or political intervention abroad under the guise of Democracy. It's their countries, let them deal with it. If the private sector ventures abroad, let it be their problem, don't use American troops to further corporate ambitions. If Iran wants to kill its women it's their problem, not mine. If the Taliban want to bomb Israel it's their problem.
limbaugh is a big fat ASS.
Discussed, Civility Lost, bofinn, what? Haven't you guys ever made it off the school yard playground? "Well, yer just stoopid!? I'm taking my ball and going home!" LOL!
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from WASTING the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." -Thomas Jefferson
Was Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, a "moron," an "idiot," a "mediocre," figure? If he was, YOU are enjoying the labors of an idiot and yes, that speaks DIRECTLY to government run health care. Only the uneducated or OVERLY educated could possibly think otherwise.
Nuff said.
I loved seeing Rush on Leno last night! I haven't watched Leno's new show until last night BUT I will everynight from now on!
Jay and Rush were very funny together and hit the serious talking points too. All the while running over Al Gore with an electric car. Good Stuff!!!
rndmgy, I see your vision of a great country is an oppressive and unrelenting heel on your neck for the rest of your and the future generation's lives. You completely miss what Rush stands for, and the basis of this country for that manner.
Racist liar Limbaugh. Why didn't Leno ask him how he (the Hitler-like Limbaugh) could refer to President Obama as a Nazi?
I missed it but have read comments and I am listening to Rush right now. I did DVR it because in addition to working a full time job during the day I spend the night establishing/building my own business. Why? Because I can. I am not asking for handouts, a bailout, or free healthcare, I am working on my own to get what I want. If I fail (that's a big if since I am dedicated) I will not ask for a stimulus package. I am not a GM level business I am a very small business but at least I have the freedom to do what I want. I pay taxes like everyone else but I surely DO NOT WANT the governement determining what's in my business plan or operatiing procedures.
Rush can get a lttile over the top with issues but that is what happens when you have the passion that is backed by facts. I have yet to hear a liberal show that also shares a passion backed up by facts to persuade me that a socialistic type society is the way to go.
Chris,
Can you elaborate? What is it that Rush wants then? I have asked for an explanation and have not gotten it. I have presented what I understand to be his point. If I am out of line why not explain where and how? By the way...I don't care if they take away Medicaid and Medicare..I'm healthy, young, and able bodied. I don't care if they take away Welfare, I don't depend on it. What I'm trying to say is that there will be effects to what Rush is proposing, just like there are effects to what Obama is doing. I have read the opinions of those who do not like where Obama is taking this country. What I do not see is an explanation of the results that can be expected by following Rush's advice. So, your ASSumption that my vision of a great country is an oppressive and unrelenting heel on my neck for the rest of my and my future generation's lives IS WRONG.
I have never stated what my vision of a great nation is.
Message to Luppino-
Loved the article, but feel one thing needs to be clarified...
"Rush lost a whopping 82 pounds over the summer. Limbaugh chided Leno for only losing 12 pounds in the same time."
Rush wasn't chideing Leno; he was chiding the mainstream media for reporting Leno's mere 12 lb. loss as a success and his own whopping 82 lb. loss as unhealthy. Leno didn't allow him to continue on to his point that the media is far slanted to the left, and will report a pop figure's personal (even if modest) success as such, yet a conservative talk show's exponential success as unhealthy. When will the libs realize that Bradbury's vision in 451 has come true: They are a bunch of mindless Mildreds glued to their pop culture.
Rush is a racist moron. I cant for the life of me figure out why any educated person would even listen to any words that come out of his mouth.
I love how you on the left only resort to name calling rather than arguing the FACTS. Who are the morons?
Abby,
If you've truly been listening to Rush and not the brainwashed kool-aid drinking left, you'd know he's not racist. His trusted call-screener is of color, as well as several on his staff. Bush's cabinet was far more diverse than the current prez's, or that truly racist pig Clinton, for that matter. (Ask any Arkansan, they'll tell you about Clinton).
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