Althouse: "After 28 fulfilling years, I seriously considered moving on to something else..."

August 2, 2016

"After 28 fulfilling years, I seriously considered moving on to something else..."

Said Rush Limbaugh, announcing the new deal that means his show will go on.

43 comments:

rhhardin said...: He should more days off so that Mark Steyn can do more shows.

The entertainment factor is much higher.; 8/2/16, 9:17 AM
cubanbob said...: I doubt he needs the money so I suppose he will continue doing the show because he enjoys doing it and frankly will get bored being retired.; 8/2/16, 9:19 AM
David said...: I bet people in St. Louis are sorry he wasn't allowed to be an owner of the Rams. NFL vs. Rush would be a thing to watch.; 8/2/16, 9:22 AM
Wince said...: "That's a significant change from 2008, when Limbaugh signed an eight-year deal worth about $400 million -- huge dollar figures that were trumpeted at the time."

Now there's a word you might have expected to hear more of recently: trumpeted.; 8/2/16, 9:28 AM
Nonapod said...: I'd prefer he just did a podcast, but I know that'll never happen since 90% of his listeners probably don't even know what a podcast is. Yeah, yeah, I know they put up the show as a podcast every day for subscribers, but I really despise the interruption of flow that constant commercial breaks cause, even when they've been excised.; 8/2/16, 9:31 AM
rhhardin said...: Rush is paid out of direct sales marketing, by the way. That's his innovation. Every sponsor gives a phone number or some other mention RUSH thing that identifies the show, and he gets paid for the number of people he sends.

That avoids ad-buy people who will avoid conservative shows.; 8/2/16, 9:33 AM
MadisonMan said...: Rush is your age, Althouse; have you been a law prof for > 28 years? (I'm thinking yes).

Take the plunge!; 8/2/16, 9:46 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "He should more days off so that Mark Steyn can do more shows. The entertainment factor is much higher."

Steyn is better if you don't get too much of him.

He relies on laughing too much. There's only so much laughing to the point of coughing I can take. It's the same approach to doing the news comically that Jon Stewart uses. At some point, you can get tipped into annoyance... and then all is lost.; 8/2/16, 9:54 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "I'd prefer he just did a podcast, but I know that'll never happen since 90% of his listeners probably don't even know what a podcast is. Yeah, yeah, I know they put up the show as a podcast every day for subscribers, but I really despise the interruption of flow that constant commercial breaks cause, even when they've been excised."

Podcasts have commercial interruptions too... unless it's Public Radio....

I subscribe so I can get the Rush Limbaugh show as a podcast. It's worth it to control the time and avoid the commercials.; 8/2/16, 9:56 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Rush is your age, Althouse; have you been a law prof for > 28 years? (I'm thinking yes). Take the plunge!"

I'm seriously considering retiring, but why do you think I should?

I've been doing it since Fall 1984.; 8/2/16, 9:57 AM
Sebastian said...: Rush is the one person in the U.S. who will benefit from the election outcome regardless of who wins.; 8/2/16, 10:00 AM
Ipso Fatso said...: Ann, you should retire if you want to. If you don't and still enjoy what you do,keep doing it. Or maybe you can work part time and use the other time to travel to Zainesville, OH or other God-forsaken places in Ohio as seems to be your want. I have faith that you will work it out.; 8/2/16, 10:17 AM
Nonapod said...: Podcasts have commercial interruptions too...

Sure, but they can pick where they go. For an extemp-savant like Rush, interruption of flow is painful. A time unconstrained podcast is the ideal format for Rush. He could talk until he reached natural conclusion point and then put in a commercial break. He wouldn't run up against mandated station breaks at set points.; 8/2/16, 10:18 AM
Rusty said...: Ann Althouse said...
"He should more days off so that Mark Steyn can do more shows. The entertainment factor is much higher."

"Steyn is better if you don't get too much of him.

He relies on laughing too much. There's only so much laughing to the point of coughing I can take. It's the same approach to doing the news comically that Jon Stewart uses. At some point, you can get tipped into annoyance... and then all is lost."

My take too. Steyn is much better to read than to listen to. That goes for most of his guest hosts.; 8/2/16, 10:23 AM
Humperdink said...: I love Steyn as a guest host, but I agree with the laughter problem. Steyn's humor is truly biting, just like Rush.

I had a boss in the early 90's who said he had just listened to some clown on the radio talking politics, a former DJ no less. Since my boss was the worst boss I experienced in my 20 years of manufacturing, I knew the "clown" had to be good. He was. I have been hooked ever since.

Rush does the Clinton impersonation I have heard. And a Steeler fan (Rush, not Tiger Bill).; 8/2/16, 10:49 AM
TWW said...: "I'm seriously considering retiring, but why do you think I should?"

Why should you retire? You only work ten hours a week for a six figure salary. I mean, you're going to read the case law anyway? "Money for nothing and the chicks are free.." Oh, I forgot, you don't roll that way.; 8/2/16, 11:03 AM
cubanbob said...: Ann Althouse said...
"Rush is your age, Althouse; have you been a law prof for > 28 years? (I'm thinking yes). Take the plunge!"

I'm seriously considering retiring, but why do you think I should?

I've been doing it since Fall 1984.

8/2/16, 9:57 AM"

No matter who wins this election its going to get interesting when it comes to judges and Supreme Court decisions in the next Administration so I suppose as a constitutional law professor you probably have a professional interest in staying on the job for a few more years.; 8/2/16, 11:13 AM
MadisonMan said...: why do you think I should?

My two data points:

My sister, who is your age, well, 4 months younger, has retired and loves it. But she -- with only brothers, male cousins, and sons -- now has three granddaughters is loving that. Novelty!! And she's fought cancer, so there's always the question how much time do I have left.

Dad said he retired too early -- 68 (that was 25 years ago!), which you are not at yet -- and said he ran out of things to do before his health deteriorated to the point of being unable to do things. Proper planning would be you do everything you want, and then your health tapers off.

In general I think Baby Boomers should retire so that younger people can have their jobs -- We'll see if I think the same when I'm retirement age in 10 years. If you're still enjoying teaching though (and I do think dailyish interactions with youngish thinkers postpones aging), keep at it.; 8/2/16, 11:17 AM
traditionalguy said...: Happy days again. El Rushbo has gotten his hope for sanity on his show back now that the Cruz Cult, that had many listeners' minds trapped, was put down by that Mean Man Trump... The one being called a megalomanic now.; 8/2/16, 11:23 AM
Peter said...: "... I seriously considered moving on to something else ..." said Rush Limbaugh, announcing the new deal that means his show will go on.

So? Doesn't basic negotiating strategy include a willingness to walk away if the deal isn't good enough? If you're not willing to walk, what have you got to negotiate with?; 8/2/16, 11:31 AM
Etienne said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/2/16, 11:38 AM
John henry said...: John said...

Blogger cubanbob said...

I doubt he needs the money so I suppose he will continue doing the show because he enjoys doing it and frankly will get bored being retired.

Unlike Rush, I can use the money but even if I didn't, Changeover.com would probably keep cranking along. Unlike some in the previous thread, I have been blessed with finding something that I love doing so much that I'd pay people to let me do it. Even if money was not an issue, I can't think of anything else I would rather do.

Getting paid is the gravy on the cake.

I suspect that Rush feels similar. What else can he possibly do that is so much fun?

I wish I could listen to the El Rushbo more. I like him but I find his show very annoying due to all the commercial breaks. I have the same problem with radio in general and TV in general. I almost never partake of either for the past 10 years or so.

Or maybe he could join Al Franken in the Senate? A Senator Limbaugh would be amazing. Everytime he made a speech he would send CSPANs ratings through the roof.

John Henry; 8/2/16, 11:52 AM
Known Unknown said...: Zainesville, OH

Home of a three-way Y bridge. Perhaps the only true vehicular Y-bridge in the world.

Known for its pottery. Birthplace of former New York Met Jay Payton.

I think Althouse would probably enjoy visiting Yellow Springs, Ohio. Home of Antioch College. A hippy-dippy enclave in the middle of farm country. Birthplace of comedian Dave Chapelle, who still has a home there.; 8/2/16, 12:23 PM
Known Unknown said...: Or maybe he could join Al Franken in the Senate?

There would be nothing Rush would loathe more.; 8/2/16, 12:24 PM
Anonymous said...: Sorry for diverting the convo from El Rushbo, but has anything like this ever happened before?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/us/politics/president-obama-donald-trump.html?_r=0

I am in shock that one party would tell their opposition who can be their candidate. This is literally the most un-American statement I have ever seen.; 8/2/16, 12:24 PM
rhhardin said...: It's more complicated with two people, but don't take SS payments until you're the year you're 70 1/2, on your birthday; unless you're likely to die soon.

They adjust the monthly payment up so that actuarilly you'll receive the same total amount regardless when you start.

But waiting maximizes the insurance function of the payment, in case you live a long time.

Perhaps though working for the state you don't get SS. Well it still applies to Meade.; 8/2/16, 12:36 PM
Kate said...: You had a post a while ago about the artist loving the frame -- very interesting. I suspect Rush loves the frame of radio. The restriction of commercials probably juices him, and a podcast would fall flat.; 8/2/16, 12:46 PM
davis,br said...: I'd like to see you on the Court.; 8/2/16, 12:59 PM
J. Farmer said...: I wonder if this will put Limbaugh ahead of Stern as the most paid radio personality.; 8/2/16, 1:26 PM
Dad said...: Retirement advice: If you are self-motivated and work well without structure, by all means retire. I retired 4 yrs ago from dairy farming. I don't miss working all the time, but it turns out I liked waking up and knowing what I had to do that day.

Just don't retire from blogging please. This is the one place I know I can go where I will find something interesting to read.; 8/2/16, 1:36 PM
walter said...: traditionalguy said...
Happy days again. El Rushbo has gotten his hope for sanity on his show back now that the Cruz Cult, that had many listeners' minds trapped, was put down
--
Wow! Is there nothing Orange Crush can't fix?; 8/2/16, 2:30 PM
Jaq said...: He could have quit. He has done his service, I remember when he started, I couldn't believe that anybody thought the exact same things about Dukakis that I did. It turned out that lots of people thought those things but the press was trying to seal us off from each other.; 8/2/16, 2:43 PM
Jaq said...: Now we have the internet. In those days, there was just the liberal media filtering every piece of news.

Meanwhile, the weather channel is harping about "climate change" because a flood happened. They have no concept of statistics.; 8/2/16, 2:45 PM
dwick said...: "Zainesville, OH"

For the record here, it's Zanesville; 8/2/16, 4:50 PM
dwick said...: RE: Rush's guest hosts...

I go all the way back to I think Rush's first and IMO best guest host, Walter E Williams (http://walterewilliams.com/) He's 80 now and I haven't heard him in for Rush in a number of years, unfortunately. Enjoy Mark Steyn but Walter remains my favorite.
I always remember him telling the story of how he once gave his wife a pair of golf spikes as a romantic holiday gift (even though she didn't play golf) so she wouldn't slip on the ice washing his car out in the driveway during the winter... LOL Great subtle sense of humor.; 8/2/16, 5:06 PM
rcocean said...: I love Limbaugh, but I never listen to him on radio, only his podcasts or on the computer.

I'd rather pay the $$$, then listen to 25 minutes of news and commercials.

Most commercial radio is unbearable. Even if you can find something worth listening too, its so jammed full of noise, its worthless.

I always thought the criticism of Limbaugh's "business model" to be Bullshit, He was an incredibly large audience that has $$$ and buys things. If the "sponsors" don't want to be associated with him, its because they want to lose money.; 8/2/16, 5:22 PM
rcocean said...: I can only echo Althouse. Steyn is good fill-in host. He's like a good character actor, you see him a film and think he should get more screen time and be a star. Then when they give him a leading role & you see that a little of him goes a long ways.

Being able to speak on the radio is a very rare talent, being able to do it, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year is even rarer.; 8/2/16, 5:26 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: So conservatives apparently think too much laughter is a bad thing.

That explains a lot.; 8/2/16, 6:23 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: A most important thing to consider, and make evident its being considered, during contract negotiations.; 8/2/16, 7:56 PM
rcocean said...: "It's more complicated with two people, but don't take SS payments until you're the year you're 70 1/2, on your birthday; unless you're likely to die soon."

Well, that's the gamble isn't it? You'll get more after 70 if you live long enough to collect. But who knows if they'll live long enough?; 8/2/16, 8:17 PM
rcocean said...: Don't retire unless you're going to a BETTER situation than before. I've seen too many oldsters retire just because they wanted to "take it easy" and then found out they were worse off then before.; 8/2/16, 8:20 PM
Humperdink said...: R&B said: "So conservatives apparently think too much laughter is a bad thing. "

You clearly have no clue what the rest of us are talking about.; 8/3/16, 5:12 AM
Dude1394 said...: Rich...politico talking about business models.

Limbaugh is "as influential as ever, but his business model is on shaky ground," Politico Magazine said in May.; 8/3/16, 8:10 AM