Today marks one year since Robin Williams left us, leaving the planet a much more dull and unfunny place. It’s hard to believe it has been one whole year without that prolific funnyman, thoughtful analyst, and feverish mind. As a comedian who also suffers from major depression, the loss of Robin felt all too real and hit close to home. I’m sure many creative people could attest to feeling that way about Robin taking his own life in August of last year.
But if there’s anyone so vile and completely unencumbered by emotion and thought (and it’s the Donald this time), it’s Rush Limbaugh-America’s Most Impotent Man.
Never missing an opportunity to politicize everything to fatten his wallet-and waistband-the blob of buffoonery made a discursive speech in which he had the gall to connect Williams’ suicide to having a leftist point of view.
“He had it all but he had nothing. Made everybody else laugh but was miserable inside,” Limbaugh said. “I mean, it fits a certain picture or a certain image that the left has. Talk about low expectations and general unhappiness and so forth. “He could never get over the guilt that they died [Christopher Reeve, John Belushi, and Andy Kaufman] and he didn’t,” Limbaugh said. “Well, that is a constant measurement that is made by political leftists when judging the country.” (Samuel-Warde.com)
-Enter Lewis Black
Ever since the loss of comedy giant and philosopher George Carlin, high-brow and aggressive comedy has been looking for someone to carry the torch. Lewis Black comes as close as it gets to George Carlin and carrying his silly but contemptuous disdain of human nature. Lewis is the nicest guy in the world, however, and his anger is justly used when it needs to be. In this case, Limbaugh was on the receiving end of a full-blown Lewis Black apoplectic smack down. Once you get into one those, there’s not getting out.
Naturally the bloated drug addict walked back his earlier comments after getting so thoroughly spanked by Lewis Black. stating that he doesn’t know the reasons for Williams’ suicide and accused the media of misconstruing his words.
Featured image via Modernfix
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I looked it up and believe it fits.
While he sometimes displays apoplectic moments in his act, I don’t think “so filled with rage, they can barely communicate” (as per the link I supplied) fits Lewis Black’s schtick on the whole, do you? Certainly not for the example this writer was speaking of. That so many have used the term incorrectly over the years some dictionaries list the alternate meaning is meaningless; some dictionaries have now included ‘figuratively’ as a meaning for ‘literally’.
Oh, wow…the dictionary police are here. Black makes his living, if you watch him, by seeming apoplectic while actually articulating quite a bit. It comes out in his body language, as I believe he wants. Of course, he might have to change his act, as he’s doing it wrong, apparently.
Sorry if I think that people who are actually paid (presumably) to write should use language properly. Just a quirk of mine, I suppose. And yes, I am absolutely familiar with Lewis’ schtick. I clearly said he uses moments of apoplexy in his act - as when he shakes his head and makes hand gestures and is momentarily speechless save for sound effects. HOWEVER, the example this entire article is based around is NOT one of those moments. He very clearly and emphatically articulated his disgust and anger with Rush Limbaugh. Hence, not apoplectic.
Vanessa… DO! NOT! BREED!!!! EVER!
Thank you so much for your dynamic and insightful contribution to this discussion. It has helped enormously to clarify the meaning of the word in question, and I’m sure many are grateful for the edification. Have a super day.
Then perhaps you shouldn’t split infinitives. Ever heard that one about people in glass houses?
The rule against split infinitives isn’t actually a rule. Besides, I’m not “paid to write”.
That’s why we expect everyone who is paid to do a thing to be perfect at it.
So NFL quarterbacks never throw interceptions. Professional baseball players never drop an easy fly ball. CEOs never run a company into the ground.
I guess that since William Faulkner dispensed with apostrophes in his contractions and often left out commas where they clearly belonged — by the Holy Rules of English — that he was an awful writer.
Ya know, all I did was point out an incorrect usage of a word - even throwing in a fun little Princess Bride reference - along with a link to its correct meaning, and some of you guys are acting as if I killed the dude’s firstborn. Good grief. LOL
I know the backlash is bizarre. good thing you have good humour. some of these people are right arseholes.
whatever the term, the meaning is clear,,,,-
“rush, STFU”,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Lewis dropped one f-bomb. His tweet wasn’t epic. This story is a year old. Why are you giving Rush more press?
no, this story is not a year old, it is a year since Robin Williams died. Read.
The tweet is a year old. Resurrected for a new story, I guess.
Not a big fan of Limbaugh but and I did not hear his original message but it does bring up a solid point.
We have all have heard the phrase misery loves company and most liberals fit that scenario that’s not opinion it’s based on actually data.
Leftists are always angry.
They always want to ban something from Johnny playing dodge ball to pc control of everyone’s thoughts.
Just read some of the threads here and I vet you won’t find a happy person.
And even when their plan fails miserly
they just get wound up and start accusing the opposition.
Funny how your description of “them” (the liberal, thinking portion of the society) fits, to a “T” the subject of Black’s remark, the poster boy of the measured conservative upstanding portion of the society. Oh, and apropos “always want to ban something”, please Google “abortion” and “gay marriage” and find out just who is “always” trying to control the private lives of others.
Andy Lyke
While I can`t disagree with your analysis about the right on the issue of abortion and gay rights I do think the labeling you put on them is bias and not factual.
You should realize that both parties have extreme sides to them.
and to take what those extremist said as the whole demonization of the right is ludicrous.
The vast majority on the right did not oppose equal rights for gays
they just wanted marriage defined as a man and a woman.
The compromise should have been call it a gay or lesbian marriage as a definition of the difference and that would be the only difference. only the extremist wanted to not give them equal rights and they only represent 10 to 15 % of the right just like extremist on your side but you put that label on all of them from the extremist point of view.
The same thing goes for abortion the majority realize banning abortion would not work for the simple fact that woman would get one anyway in a lot more unsafe manner.
The extremist wants to ban abortion for all even in the case of rape or health issues.
The extremist on the left want abortion on demand without any restrictions or time limits.
most on the left oppose that point of view also.
The point I`m trying to make is putting a label on the whole party for just a small fraction of them is not only unfair it`s dishonest.
When you look at the ideology of both the right and left these two topics are a contradiction to the fundamental beliefs of each party
The right wants to have less government more freedom of individuals rights less government control of our lives i.e. Less taxes more personal responsibility etc.
The left wants more government control on our lives I.E.
So the Left is always complaining because they’re always angry but the right only sometimes complains about what Andy Lyke mentions like abortion and gay marriage butthat’s okay because their complaints are right, then you complain about a bunch of things like government control but your complaining isn’t really complaining because you agree that its the right thing to complain about but the Left complains about the opposite which is the wrong thing to complain about and then you finish by claiming that all your complaining proves that the left is always complaining because the two sides complain about different things. For f*ck sake, quit your complaining.
Ok Limbaugh Junior. You are bring up one of his blabbing points. Your dad has the un canny ability to tie everything to the left. Even his own drug addiction. The narrative that you and your dad are trying to spread is silly. Try not to drink the extreme right kool aid.
Sorry not impressed with your condescending narritive that has zero merit to it.
You bring no argument to the table to debate just jibberish talking points.
The left are the one’s pointing fingers all the time but never look at themselves as part of the problem.
seriously, hypocrite much?
I’m a very happy, content progressive. Except when I read educationally-challenged comments like yours, and despair of our country’s public school systems. “Based on actually [sic] data”? From whom, the Heritage Foundation? Talk about a group that’s always angry…
ALM
Educationally challenged?
Wow so if someone actually uses common sense and logic and disagree with you there challenged right?
Because I’m not driven by a ideology and actually research data from independent sources makes me stupid?
My original thread is factual the problem liberals have is they are so busy demonizing and labeling that the don’t spend any time looking for solutions.
We are in a major decline because of liberal policies and they will bankrupt our nation if we don’t fix it.
We all know that or should.
I am willing to admit the current GOP is just as bad and has been for a decade.
If your under 45 you have not had the privilege to see what a true conservative can bring to the table.
Most conservative policies are teaching responsibility and being fiscally responsible.
The conservatives have not had a voice in the GOP since Reagan.
That’s why we are seeing the protest voters getting behind the non politician because they are feed up with both sides of the establishment.
You made a blanket, generalized, ignorant (educationally-challenged was a euphemism) statement about a huge group of people. I am having difficulty seeing your “common sense and logic”, and although you claim to have sources, you failed to provide any.
Your original thread demonized and labeled those you claim demonize and label. Where I come from, that’s called hypocrisy.
ALM
Where I come from it`s called sticking up for yourself.
Have you ever taken the time to just read the headlines to this site?
I wonder how many here would say they are very hateful very condescending very subjective and demonstrative?
And you expect to get a civil debate when the authors spew that kind of poison?
It`s meant to incite the base with opinion that is passed off as factual
You get more with honey than with vinegar.
And then you get the I`m smarter than you tactic which just proves what kind of character you have.
Smart people don`t need to tell people they are smart their actions prove it
IN simplistic words your not as smart as you think you are just because you can write words without any substance or merit.
In simplistic words, I’m still waiting for you to provide some substance or merit to your original post. And if you have such an issue with this site, why are you here? There’s an internet term for posters who frequent sites they disagree with, merely to stir the pot.
Are you including yourself in the factually correct data group of unhappy people?
Acw
Nope I am not because I’m not unhappy with my life.
However I am worried about what we are doing to our children as we continue to kick the can down the road and make them pay for our stupidity.
How can we say we love our children and put that burden on them?
That’s why I’m fighting here to try and make people look at what they are voting for.
I’m glad you are happy with your life, as am I (in spite of being a liberal-guess I’m part of the minority?). As for the others in this thread, I wouldn’t try to assume how happy they are; I have absolutely no idea.
I completely agree about what we’re doing to our children, and I feel that I am a product of that as well (one example: my federal graduate school loans, which I’m now starting to pay back, are 8% interest; a result of policies people my parents’ age chose for various economic reasons).
I think all sides are equally angry when it comes to politics. So maybe in your statement of “misery loves company,” it’s right to include everyone who is not apathetic to politics. I too have fought to try and make people look at what they’re voting for, though I am starting to become almost apathetic to trying, simply because I’m not sure it will make too much of a difference given the way Congress works.
Ultimately, I think one of the most difficult problems to overcome for us normal folks is that when given the opportunity to make a difference, we do not believe in the same means to the end. Of course we all want freedom, health, safety, financial security, ecological safety, etc. But there obviously are different opinions on how to do that, who deserves what and why, and so on. Yes, there are issues I’d blame the right wing for, but for the most part I think they mean well, just as the left wing does overall.
Frustrating, huh? But it doesn’t mean we can’t still be happy people
isn’t it funny how high profile people make derogatory comments publicly, get called out for what they say and then back track using “it is the media’s fault, they misconstrued my statement” ? It isn’t the media’s fault, it is yours.
Richard Russo
Let’s decipher what you said
Banned medicare?
Wrong the G.O.P.want to fix it so it don’t go bankrupt by 2022 that is the C.B.O.s estimate the way it’s currently structured.
Social security?
Yes it’s a ponzi scheme
I would much rater have a mandatory savings account that when I die my kids can get that money not the government.
When this was started by F.D.R. it was supposed to be a trust fund which means nothing could touch it.
L.B.J. changed that and robbed that money to pay for the war.
It also was designed that the vast majority of people would not get a dime of it as the expected life span was 65 and you could not touch it until then.
There was no disabilities attached to it also no survivors death benifits .
That makes it a ponzi scheme by all definitions.
It also is not sustainable under its current structure.
So ignoring it and kicking the can down the road just prove how irresponsible the government is don’t it ?
Planned parenthood is very controversial at best.
It does some good for woman’s health no dispute there.but was it not promised that obamacare would cover that cost?
So why are they needed?
As far as money for schools go that should be a local problem .
Some unions are more concerned about getting there’s and don’t care about the kids at all.
Chicago is a perfect example of that. 78.000 a year average in pay alone plus about the same when they retire.yet they have one of the worst graduation rate in the country and illegal children are using up more tax dollars then households can afford to pay in property taxes.
The answer is not more money in most cases in some yes.
Oh, but I was thanking YOU for your wonderful, calm, and reflective response to this thread. Kudos to you and your advanced handle on rational discourse.
Aw, shucks. And here I thought we were making friends.
Chuck Barts
I agree with your last statement that we all need to stop pointing fingers.
And I agree that the right can be just as guilty .
However if we continue to let our ideology drive our thoughts we can never understood the merits of the opposition.
I find lots of faults in the current G.O.P.and have openly said so.
The vast majority of Americans think obamacare made our health care system worst.
It is no matter how much you try and deny it nothing more that redistribution of funds for the poor to get something from the working class middle class.
Yes I does have some good points like pre existing issues but it did not fix the problem that’s the results of it and all that should be considered.
The problem I have with the current G.O.P is they have not offered a viable solution.
As for shutting down the government that talking point is false.
They are both as guilty when you use logic.
The Congress has the power of the purse that is a fact.
The only way to control one form of government is to be able to counter someone grabbing too much oower.
Congress has the right to defund anything they fell is detrimental to the people.
They failed to use that leverage to at least get a compromise from the president.
Both sides need to give a little to make it work.
Both Clinton and Reagan found a way to get that compromise Obama has not.
So putting all the blame on the GOP is not only unfair its being dishonest with the truth.
You do bring a valid argument that I agree with but blame just don’t solve problems so we all need to quit doing it including myself if I don’t want to be a hypocrite.
ap·o·plec·tic
/ˌapəˈplektik/
adjective
overcome with anger; extremely indignant. So what dictionary are you ineptly using?
Do you know the etymology of the word, James? i.e. what it ‘actually’ means outside of being an adjective for rage? A very specific type of rage. Did you even bother clicking on the link in my very first post? If any of the people who replied to this thread had bothered clicking on that link, all of these ridiculous arguments over the past couple of days could have been avoided. The point remains that an “apoplectic smack down” is a complete and utter oxymoron.
Just because its the etymology of the word doesn’t mean it holds the same meaning in the present.
Well, I guess you didn’t bother clicking on the link either - to discover either the correct adjectival usage or its etymology - so here it is:
“Someone who is apoplectic is not just mad — they’re so filled with rage, they can barely communicate. If your mother is apoplectic, you better hope it isn’t over something you did.
Apoplectic comes from a Greek word that means to “disable by a stroke.” What is a stroke? The sudden loss of consciousness or control caused when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or becomes blocked. When this happens, a person becomes apoplectic. This word also applies to someone who acts so upset, it is like he or she is having a stroke.”
Dear Vanessa, people like you who think they know everything are extremely annoying to those of us who do.
LOL
Hey I didn’t know the gun was loaded but hey Limbaugh is dead! That can’t be a bad thing! Can it? I will to see the media’s consternation of the event!