Rush Limbaugh’s Approval at 19 Percent

CBS’ Brian Montopoli reports on a new poll by his network that has Rush Limbaugh’s favorability ratings at 19 percent:

No talk show host in history has been re-elected with numbers that low.  Oh, wait . . .

FILED UNDER: Media, Popular Culture, Public Opinion Polls, ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Dantheman says:

    And moreover, having 19% of the audience listen would win nearly all timeslots in nearly all radio markets.

    On the other hand, it does suggest something about the electoral consequences of being perceived to kowtow to Rush.

  2. Pete Burgess says:

    What a bogus claim. Go to the question (#57) in the poll. Who made up the sample? Undecideds and haven’t heard enoughs make up a large %. Bet those don’t listen to him. CBS, being an unapologetic supporter of conservatism (not), asking people what they think of Rush? What tripe! C’mon James, I can’t believe you gave this any legs.

  3. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    Once again poll questions are important. Who was polled and what questions were asked. I would be interested in his approval/disapproval ratings of those who actually listen to his radio broadcasts. I didn’t like sour cream until I tried it. I a person with even the slightest open mind listens to Limbaugh and disagrees with him fundamentally, I would be surprised. Rush did not get where he is without being both right and convincing.

  4. Derrick says:

    Once again poll questions are important. Who was polled and what questions were asked. I would be interested in his approval/disapproval ratings of those who actually listen to his radio broadcasts. I didn’t like sour cream until I tried it. I a person with even the slightest open mind listens to Limbaugh and disagrees with him fundamentally, I would be surprised. Rush did not get where he is without being both right and convincing.

    I bet that the approval/disapproval ratings of those who regularly watch “El Gordo y Flaca” is also high as well. But that’s not the point Z-man. The point is that if Rush is one of your leaders, he ain’t leadin’ many Americans, just a small subset. Just like Ceaser Milano leads dogs, but I’m sure the average poodle would probably just pee on his leg.

  5. Floyd says:

    Polls are for people who don’t know what they think, or for politicians who seek to deceive the public. Rush is certainly neither!

  6. Pete Burgess says:

    Hey Derrick, Rush is not one of our leaders. He is an entertaining (to some) conservative talk show host. Only envious libs paint him as a leader of conservatives.

  7. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    Derrick, do you know the difference between a radio commentator and a leader? What office does Rush hold? Just because Millions of Americans (far more than anyone else) listen to Limbaugh daily is not a reason to elevate him to leader. But then some (maybe even you) limited intellect intellectuals who through indoctrination at the hallowed halls of academia believe theirs is the only way and further believe they know what is best for me, find Rush to be a threat because he contradicts the lies they spew forth. Well, let the fight begin.

  8. odograph says:

    Heh, but within the Bithead segment is its 100%, and that’s the rub.

  9. William d'Inger says:

    I find it amusing that CBS has fallen so far that it has had to turn to reporting on Rush Limbaugh in its desperate attempt to retain any relevance in today’s market.

  10. sam says:

    Only envious libs paint him as a leader of conservatives.

    Jeepers, I guess all those Republican pols who think they’ve wronged El Gordo and fall all over themselves kissing his ass and begging forgiveness didn’t get the memo, huh?

  11. Michael says:

    Who made up the sample? Undecideds and haven’t heard enoughs make up a large %.

    That’s because a large percentage of Americans don’t listen to Rush. The sample is supposed to be representative of the general population.

    Rush is not one of our leaders.

    Then why does he own Michael Steele’s testicles?

  12. William d'Inger says:

    Can I buy stock in Rush Limbaugh Enterprise? The wave of free advertising in the liberal media has got to be pushing the value up.

  13. Pete Burgess says:

    Sam, the republicans of which you speak are more interested in their perks than their principles.

  14. markm says:

    Rush is not one of our leaders.

    Then why does he own Michael Steele’s testicles?

    Because Rush has better polling numbers 🙂

  15. sam says:

    Sam, the republicans of which you speak are more interested in their perks than their principles.

    And is there any reason whatsoever to think that all the other nonasskissing, forgivenessbegging Republican pols didn’t get the memo?

    In the deep of the night, in his office alone, Rep. Foghorn (R. East Overshoe) falls on his knees and moans, “Thank you Jesus, thank you, for stopping me from blurting out that Rush is off his goddamned meds again. Sorry about the ‘goddamned’.”

  16. Moonage says:

    I really figured you’d point out that Rush’s popularity index is so low that if it dropped one more point, he’d be tied with Nancy Pelosi.

  17. Michael says:

    Because Rush has better polling numbers 🙂

    heh, can’t argue with that.

  18. Bithead says:

    Then why does he own Michael Steele’s testicles?

    That comes down to who is seen as more conservative.

    Which, interestingly, is also why Rush ends up being such a lightning rod for the left.

  19. Wayne says:

    What a B.S. slanted poll. They are claiming that Republicans make up only 23% of the population and Democrats outnumber Republicans almost 2 to 1. Independents outnumber Republicans almost 2 to 1. No wonder the results are so lopsided. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Republicans polled were from very liberal areas. What a joke.

    Total Respondents 1142
    Total Republicans Weighted 265
    Total Democrats Weighted 442
    Total Independents Weighted 435

  20. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    Bit, the left does not like Limbaugh because what he says is true. True about them and their agenda. What I do not understand is why they insist on changing this country when they could just migrate to the communist nation of their choice. Cuba is a workers paradise. And Hugo Chavez land has plenty of hollywood admirers. Why not go live there? You try to take away my liberty, you will be snake bit.

  21. Michael says:

    You try to take away my liberty, you will be snake bit.

    There’s more to liberty than low taxes.

  22. Pete Burgess says:

    Michael, taxes are the silent killer of liberty when imposed through threat of punishment.

    Portion of comment in violation of site policies deleted. If you wish to buy advertising for your pet agenda, contact me for rates.

  23. sam says:

    Michael, taxes are the silent killer of liberty when imposed through threat of punishment.

    Uh, name me a tax that was ever imposed that did not carry a threat of punishment for noncompliance, and that includes your fair tax.

  24. Pete Burgess says:

    Michael, I’ll name one: THE FAIR TAX. You pay it when you decide to consume, not when the IRS knocks on your door. The compliance requirement falls on the collector, not the tax payer. The collector acts under the threat of punishment. Read up on it. I’m sure you’ll like the idea

  25. Dantheman says:

    Pete,

    “The collector acts under the threat of punishment.”

    So in other words, Michael was absolutely correct when he said the so-called Fair Tax has a penalty for non-compliance. Nice to know that I have no further need to read what you write.

  26. anjin-san says:

    Bit, the left does not like Limbaugh because what he says is true.

    I am sure Party Leader limbaugh appreciates your support.

  27. Dantheman says:

    Sorry — I should have referred to sam’s comment, not Michael’s.

  28. Pete Burgess says:

    Dantheman, I’m sure you understand the distinction I made, but I don’t know why you chose to get snarky. If you like the current tax system, you are not a serious thinker.

  29. Drew says:

    What a mess. Two of the biggest names/issues in political discourse today are Rush Limbaugh and Jon Stewart.

    Its as if our political arena is run by the Keystone Cops.

    I mean, Obama, Reid and Pelosi are……….uh, wait……

  30. Grewgills says:

    Pete Burgess,

    Is there no topic that will not prompt you to mention the “Fair Tax”?

  31. tom p says:

    Michael, I’ll name one: THE FAIR TAX. You pay it when you decide to consume, not when the IRS knocks on your door.

    I’m sorry Pete, but I could not pass this up… Your “fair tax” would turn every small bussiness into the Gestapo of tax collection (THEY are responsible for the collection of taxes)

    Not to mention the fact that under your “fair tax” I would pay a much higher percentage of my income in taxes, than say Bill Gates…

    What is “fair” about that?

  32. tom p says:

    What a mess. Two of the biggest names/issues in political discourse today are Rush Limbaugh and Jon Stewart.

    Its as if our political arena is run by the Keystone Cops.

    Drew, on this I can agree with you. One is a comedian, the other is an “entertainer”… which for some reason or other every conservative in America feels the need to kow-tow to.

    We are f*cked.

  33. Pete Burgess says:

    tom p, in 45 states sales taxes are collected and submitted already. Do you consider them “Gestapo?” The IRS must monitor over 250 million tax filers to ensure compliance. The number of tax filers falls to around 20 million under the Fair Tax. Much easier to monitor compliance. The retail seller just applies the Fair Tax and collects it from the buyer. What’s so Gestapo like about that?

    Don’t equate income to wealth. Gates and Buffett aren’t paid in wages, which are subject to FICA taxes, therefore they pay nothing into FICA. They will pay into FICA under the Fair Tax, when they buy new goods and services. If your wealth is measured in income, then the percentage of income you pay in taxes will be determined by your personal spending habits, not your income level, as it is now mandated by IRS tax code. Of course that will be a higher percentage than Buffett or Gates because their wealth is much greater than your wealth. But their absolute amount of taxes will dwarf yours as they pay 23% of their purchases, which will also dwarf yours.

    Please study the Fair Tax so you will better understand it. I’m confident you will find the idea liberating.