Media

Rush Limbaugh on Irene: ‘Media Frenzy Without Results, Just Like Obama‘s Presidency’

Rush Limbaugh took the the airwaves today to lambaste the frenzied media coverage of Hurricane Irene. But he didn’t just stop there — he also denounced the desire for disaster he says the media harbors to help excuse Obama’s dismal job performance.

Storefront in Downtown Manhattan

Storefront in Downtown Manhattan

Rush noted that in New York City, winds were projected to be 75-95 mph, but ended up at a mild 16-18mph in Central Park. Storefronts and restaurants across Manhattan’s downtown were boarded up, some with sandbags, in a scene that looked a bit more like preparations for an air raid than a heavy rain storm.

Rush does not believe the hyperventilating coverage — including President Obama’s “Hurricane Commander-in-Chief” photo op — was in any way due to scientific error. On the contrary, Rush made the case on-air that:

“The hysterical reporting on Irene? They couldn’t wait for this storm. Obama- I’ll guarantee you this. I’ll guarantee you that Obama was hoping this was going to be a disaster and another excuse for his failing economy. If he’s out there blaming tsunamis, blaming earthquakes, and whatever other natural disasters there are. This one was made to order but it just didn’t measure up.”

Rush went on to say this overreaction was indicative of the current “media frenzy without results, just like Obama’s presidency,“ and that the ”The real category five [hurricane] is Obama.”

Nothing can convey Rush better than his own words, which you can watch in this video clip:

The media doesn’t appear chastened in the least. Today, there are already reports of the coming bird flu resurgence, which will send people around the globe into a panic. Since 2003, the virus has killed 331 people. The “normal” seasonal flu kills a few thousand people every year.

(H/T mediaite.com)

Comments (79)

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  • atrain
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:20pm

    The whole thing is ridiculous! There is way too much weather drama. Let’s review – heat warnings, heat advisory, thunderstorm warning, tornado warning, high wind advisory, high wind warning, frost warning, freeze warning, winter storm warning, blizzard warning, smog warning, small craft advisory, wind chill warning, heat index warning, high wave warning, and on and on and on. All the hype makes it sound like every major city is being carpet bombed. Defcon 1!

    Report Post »  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:27pm

      The over-abundance of media might of saved a few lives (considering most of the deaths were from fallen tree limbs) but it waters down the seriousness of an actual massive life-or-death emergency. You can only cry wolf so many times, and the people will just stay home.

      Report Post » KickinBack  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:27pm

      now a days they sound tornado warnings for “watches”… ever hear of a great fable named, “The boy who cried wolf”? check it out sometime.

      Report Post »  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:45pm

      This story goes right along with Glenn Beck’s frequent attempts at food pricing frenzy.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • wick716
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 10:10pm

      I don’t know what you guys are talking about but we had 70 MPH winds up here in north eastern NY and vermont is completely devastated. Two of my friends houses got destroyed and you can’t even barely travel in vermont. Ok it didn’t hit NYC all that bad but every single state road in VT is washed out and impassable. Half of Keene, NY is gone along with Brattleboro VT. Just gone.

      Report Post »  
    • Rightsofman
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 11:10pm

      38 dead – Sometimes your head IS up your a– Rush…..and I’m a fan.

      Report Post »  
    • Jackers
      Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:08am

      And I would agree with Rush…

      This whole media frenzy over Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene was way over blown… Hour after hour, day after day, the never-ending weather report to the complete exclusion of any and all other news. I kept thinking… Watch the other hand.

      Of course, the White House told their government-run “lamestream” media to hype up this event simply to show how “strong” of a leader our President was (compared to Bush in 2005) and how much our federal government “cares” about the welfare of the American people…

      Everything from Capitol Hill is politicized… Even natural disasters.

      Report Post » Jackers  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on August 30, 2011 at 3:52pm

      Nothing to see here folks. Just good christians being their true selves. Move along.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
  • affinnity
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:09pm

    In my opinion this was a dry run for future voluntary evacuations of major population groups.

    Report Post » affinnity  
  • TelepromoterNChief
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:07pm

    LoL.
    Obama’s vacation cut short.
    Irene was nothing more than a tease.
    Obama continues to look like a FOOL.
    Chris Matthews wet himself again for Obama.

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:11pm

      My God, the US Military must arrest Obama and the entire US Congress before they kill us all. The US Military has an excellent record for running nations.

      Report Post »  
  • db321
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:03pm

    This is one Disaster Obama can’t benefit by. I still like Bochmann’s comments best – HELLO!

    Report Post » db321  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:09pm

      We now have a mentally retarded President.

      We now know why Obama does not have any college transcripts to show. He never went to college or Harvard, it was all a hoax. The media leaks CIA secrets, State Department Secrets, and Pentagon secrets but not once has it leaked out Obama or Michele’s grades because there are no grades. They really never went to college and the news media knows it.

      Report Post »  
    • AmericanPatriot01
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:38pm

      Oh he went to college. He went to Oxidental College. He went there and now we have the records. thanks to the court order that forced them to release the records. He attended that college as a foriegn student of indonesia and received foriegn student student aid to go there along with contributions from some very evil people out of the middle east. That is why they did not want the records released. They show that his citizenship is fraud!

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot01  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:59pm

    I agree: Obama has been a catagory 5 disaster for the US!

    Report Post »  
  • quiensabe
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:56pm

    And now wait, wait for it the worst flooding in 100 years!

    Report Post »  
  • ChazD3
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:56pm

    Meteorologists and climatologists couldn’t get this storm prediction right only 24 hours ahead of time??? Were they affected by the hype perchance??? What does that tell us about Al Gore’s funding-junkie faux-scientists predicting climate changes up to 80 years into the future for the purpose of redistributing world wealth. not to mention filling his personal coffers for self-enrichment? Hey Al, put this episode in your “WHY ARE THEY ALL AGAINST ME?” file.

    Report Post » ChazD3  
    • wordweaver
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:30pm

      A storm of tropical origins running right up the Atlantic coast into the middle latitudes represents a substantial forecasting challenge. Tropical storms get their energy from the warm ocean water, so a small difference in the track of the storm can allow it to stay strong or to weaken in intensity as it moves north. Irene’s intensity was slightly overforecast, but only a little, so the winds were not quite as strong as expected in many areas. But the major problem with this storm, the copious rainfall, was well forecast, and we see now that the major damage will be attributed to regional flooding in several areas. The forecasts I saw on TV were pretty reasonable.

      Report Post » wordweaver  
  • trooper
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:41pm

    And to think they tried to kill President Reagan, oh ya, it was a left wing nut cake.

    Report Post »  
  • Hisemiester
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:32pm

    Fox is as bad as the other broadcasters. Constant coverage then when the hurrican doesn’t measure up they cover the what it could have been. Are we in this nation too soft to weather anything? I am with Rush in most all things he says. I believe this nation is on the wrong road. Much like those NJ natl guards who tried to make submarines out of their trucks. Keep up the good work Rush, you are the only one still at it since Beck took a 90 turn.

    Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:36pm

      Too soft and too fearful. You see the CYA effect at work here, in the media and government alike.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • trooper
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:32pm

    Your dead wrong Rush, we have had pleanty of results from the obama presidency and they are all bad for America.

    Report Post »  
  • Charbet
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:27pm

    Right on Rush! Just can’t wait to see the hype coming with the storm waiting in the wings. Never, never, ever let a good crisis go to waste!

    Report Post » Charbet  
  • christos
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:20pm

    …….Rush is correct and hilarious as Glenn says lets stop admiring the problem and organize to vote hm out he has & on his side we have +GOD+ and the truth on our side…

    Report Post » christos  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:18pm

    The hyperventilated reporting most certainly saved lives; sadly this is what it takes to get people of a certain mental caliber to get the f~~k out of the way. Take a look at the death toll for the excessive this summer, only a couple of dozen. twenty years ago that was a couple of hundred.

    The politicization of the event… yea over the top.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • tobywil2
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:17pm

    Question of the day! If President Obama’s purpose was to destroy out economic system, how would his agenda differ? President Obama’s objective? See http://commonsense21c.com/images/MIDDLEAGES.jpg

    Report Post » tobywil2  
  • ZAP
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:15pm

    The storm reminds me of obummer,THEY BOTH SUCK

    Report Post » ZAP  
  • Banter
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:13pm

    ”The real category five [hurricane] is Obama.” – the only hurricane to ever make it across the entire country.

    Report Post » Banter  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:12pm

    I agree with Rush!

    Report Post » Tickdog  
  • cykoaudio
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:10pm

    OR…Obama knew it was going to be A LOT less than advertised,helped w/the hype,knowing when it turns out easy to clean up,he could say..”look what a great job we did,thats how a prez organizes Fema/fed/state dept.’s”,and gov. of NY also could pat himself on the back like Obama,& delusionally take credit for such a good job of cleaning this storm up…when they knew the hype was far over reaching..I thought also it was a test run of sorts to see how hast ppl could evacuate L.I./5boroughs,cuz I live near LongBeach,LI,and have never heard the word evacuate before,even in Gloria in 85′…so this storm has had a curious ring to it,in local county officials/police almost demanding ppl leave their house,& throwing the word evacuate around willy nilly,WITHOUT organized evac plan…which,as one meterologist pointed out is MORE DANGEROUS,as in hurr.Rita in Texas,officials threw the evacuate word around w/o a plan & ppl got stuck on the road and died…so be wary and remember of how state officials & the prez handled this,I feel there is more suspicious behavior to come from gov’t officials regarding alleged “calamities”..& although I’ve been saying it since Thurs.,that it was going to be nothing,most ppl who usually act w/pavlovian response,like a dog,to the news saying “storm”,& immediately cleaning the shelves of food,& confirm brand “sheeple”,should feel like in boy who cried wolf story,not to believe gov’t next time they tell us end of the world is coming

    Report Post » cykoaudio  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:09pm

    I agree with Rush but with an important distinction. The media has lost all credibility so the hysteria was part of their usual “team coverage/storm watch” hype. Lots of footage of radar screens, reporters out in the wind and the rain, telling us it’s windy and rainy etc. What I believe took place as time went on was the Obama-perpetual-campaign began feeling this was a good opportunity to be the “anti-Bush” and recall memories of Hurricane Katrina. So the word goes out and the complicit press feature photos of Obama-sleeves rolled up- at the “command center” having interrupted his vacation. His job approvals are sinking, he’s seen as ineffectual. Even the “bin Laden” bounce didn’t last for Obama.
    So much like the “photo-of-the-day“ of Obama at dover ”saluting” our honored fallen as their remains are returned home, this was another Rahm Emanuel-esque “never waste a good crisis” moment to make him look strong and decisive. It ended up backfiring on him.
    I agree with Rush though that Obama was hoping this storm was much bigger than it turned out to be. You could sense it, he was hoping for a disaster.

    Report Post »  
  • momprayn
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:08pm

    Ha! Just read this from an alleged “Insider”: “Even as reports came in that Irene was likely to prove far less damaging than the initial outlook, the Obama team proceeded with photo-op plan. The Plouffe gang believed the photo and the message it would send to be “critical” for the image of the president. During the most extensive of the situation updates, Obama left early. His mood was described as “agitated” and “dismissive” of the situation, and his understanding of emergency response “non-existent”. He repeatedly commented with “We get the picture and we are good, right? You guys can take it from there, right? Yeah, let’s do it then. Let’s go.” When the suggestion of a brief teleconference was proposed, the president again balked, but later complied with the suggestion. Uncertain how he was later convinced. Likely given a script to read from and that lessened his concerns about attempting to pretend knowledge of a subject he knew nothing about. What I do know is that the president was placed in the Hurricane “situation center” and the photographers were ushered in and and instructed what to shoot. The president left soon after the photographers left. ”

    Read more: http://newsflavor.com/politics/us-politics/white-house-insider-obama-rushed-to-hurricane-irene-photo-op/#ixzz1WSDVWIu0

    Report Post »  
  • saranda
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:08pm

    Is Rush back on the meds again? Complaining about overplanning for a hurricane is not only stupid, but it reeks of junior highschool mentality.
    If it had been as bad as the weather officials were predicting, Rush would today be complaining that Obama didn’t do enough.
    No way to win with these paid complainers.

    Report Post »  
    • Steel Awesome
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:22pm

      Hey, that’s how I feel about the Bamster.

      Report Post » Steel Awesome  
    • saranda
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:09pm

      Steel, that made no sense at all. Maybe in travelling from your head to your hands the words somehow changed.

      Report Post »  
    • RushEcho2
      Posted on August 30, 2011 at 7:44pm

      Awesome Steel is right. What Rush is saying is that media cannot be trusted. Why believe them when they are in the tank for Obama and Leftist Democrats?

      Report Post » RushEcho2  
  • trolltrainer
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:07pm

    I think everyone needs to just STOP using every bit of news to promote their agenda.

    This storm was not reported on any more hysterically than any other storm. If it had been worse and people were not as prepared the media would have been at fault for not inciting enough fear. As it is flooding is bad in many places and many people will be without power for a few days.

    But that is all beside the point. Does the media over-react? Sure it does! Every incident that comes up is reported on nonstop until the public grow bored. Look at Casey Anthony, which was really non-news. I remember the days covering the underwear bomber on FNC to the exclusion of everything else. This is just the nature of the 24/7 news cycle.

    To those saying this is a non-story – millions would disagree with you, the storm will cost money and has effected many.

    To those continuing to report on this storm – Get past it already! It is over, it was just another hurricane. We will clean it up and move on. Quit trying to politicize a storm.

    Report Post »  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:26pm

      In case anyone wants to take a trip down memory lane, these were my thoughts on the underwear bomber from Dec. 2009. It is basically a statement on the media’s beating a story to death:

      Merry Christmas! Well, I am a couple days late, but merry Christmas anyway. I have not writen anything in a while, I guess I have not had much to say. I see Fox news is in the same boat.

      I have been watching Fox news for the last few days pretty much round the clock. Well…Not really watching it, I am actually reading Sarah Palin’s book. It is awesome! The news is just on in the background. But I really have to marvel at something, they have ran the SAME story round the clock for three days now!

      Granted the main personalities are all on vacation. Washington is dead, congress is out, our benevolent pres is on vacation in Hawaii, and other than a big snowstorm nothing much has happened. A few children being kidnapped, the Pope got tackled, the Iranian people, God bless them, rising up against their oppressive government again, and AG’s of different states looking into the legality of the slimy, sleazy, backroom vote buying by henchman Harry Reid and associates. Godspeed on that one gentleman, these creeps need to be hung for treason! But other than that the B team in the newsrooms really have nothing to report.

      Report Post »  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:27pm

      Except…The Nigerian who tried to blow up the airliner coming into Detroit. Before I go tongue-in-cheek I want to thank God once again that his bomb fizzled. This could have been a tremendous tragedy on Christmas day; it was nothing short of a miracle that things went as they did. To those who deny God and do not believe in miracles I say they should open their eyes. You may call it fate or whatever, but God intervened here, as He does in countless little stories day after day.

      But I jokingly thank this would-be terrorist for his timing because if not for him I think Fox news would go off the air until the main players get back! I am serious, this is getting ridiculous! I have now listened to DAYS, literally, of the same endless loop on this story. Seriously, how many times can you report the SAME thing over and over? Every once in a while a new, insignificant detail is thrown to us, I guess to keep us on the edge of our seats. What is really funny are the teasers. “Coming up, new information on NorthWest 253…” Oh boy! I’ll be sure I don’t wander off… Every once in a while they get clever and try a new angle. Why did it take Obama 3 hours to respond? Who knows, maybe he was reading My Pet Goat (for those sophisticated enough to have caught it, yes, I do know the correct title!)… Touché… I mean, really, what do you want? Obama should cut his vacation short and come scurrying back to DC for this?

      Report Post »  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:28pm

      Obama should cut his vacation short and come scurrying back to DC for this? For real, the situation is over, it has been handled. Then you have their poor reporter in Hawaii, Steve Centanni. This poor slob has not had more than 40 minutes sleep at a time in three days now because every hour on the hour they go to him live standing on the same beach so he can report the same exact thing. Nothing…
      I should just turn it off. Pull the plug on this dribble. I have now been with Fox as they have analyzed every aspect of this episode with every angle possible. We have talked to every expert of every field even remotely connected to this event, from the Israeli ambassador to the UN’s opinion on airport security to Joe Liberman’s opinion to an Airbus exec. to discuss the structure of the plane itself. But I cannot turn it off. It is so utterly ridiculous that they can keep running with this dead ball. They cannot just lay it to rest until they have something worthy to report on it. I just cant help but to keep it on to see where this will go. Surely SOMETHING bigger will happen eventually so they can finally just bury this thing. I mean, I think we are finally done with Tiger Woods now, all stories end eventually.

      Report Post »  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:29pm

      I know all news channels do this. But it really seems to be the Fox M.O. lately. Harp on a story until it becomes the most important event in the world then drop it cold and leave everyone wondering, “what ever happened with…?” So…I will keep it on. It is background noise anyway, and there is absolutely NOTHING else on television. I simply cannot stomach any more Food Network holiday reruns. Maybe something new will eventually happen. Until then, I have almost finished the book.

      Report Post »  
  • Howshopeychangeyworking4you
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:06pm

    Rush is right

    Report Post »  
    • freeus
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:16pm

      I was so tired of the hype, I turned the TV off.

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:56pm

      Irene turned my TV off. Power came back last night.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • UT1Arnie
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:03pm

    I agree with Rush….alot of hype and extensive news coverage of one event….other worthy news was hardly mentioned. Fox is as guilty as the other major networks in giving an hour by hour play status of a storm moving 15 miles/hr. I turned off the television and went on line to get the “rest of the story”.

    Report Post » UT1Arnie  
  • eagle
    Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:58pm

    The media suffered breathless, pre-mature *********** about the storm.
    0bama was hoping for a hero moment.
    That sums up the linen on this one.

    Report Post » eagle  
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