Bush to Rush Limbaugh: Happy 20th!

Rush Limbaugh was going along today, doing his radio show as usual, when producers started waving their arms frantically trying to get his attention. It seemed POTUS was on the line from Kennebunkport, Me. He and his father (Bush 41) and his brother Jeb (former governor of Florida) were calling to congratulate the conservative broadcaster on his 20 years on the air.

You can listen to the broadcast in its entirety at KTRH-AM in Texas. Or you can read the whole thing here. We imagine the reason the tape has not yet popped up on YouTube is that is was singularly lacking in the biting, mean-spirited, politically pointed invective for which Limbaugh is known and loved by millions.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: William Thomas Cain / Getty Images

Here's the transcript.

RUSH: What are...? (interruption) Interrupting for what?

THE PRESIDENT: Hello!

RUSH: Oh, jeez. The president?

THE PRESIDENT: Rush Limbaugh?

RUSH: Yes, sir, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: President George W. Bush calling to congratulate you on 20 years of important and excellent broadcasting.

RUSH: Well, thank you, sir. You've stunned me! (laughing) I'm shocked. But thank you so much.

THE PRESIDENT: That's hard to do.

RUSH: (laughing) I know, it is.

THE PRESIDENT: I'm here with a room full of admirers. There are two others that would like to speak to you and congratulate you, people who consider you ...

... friends and really appreciate the contribution you've made.

RUSH: Thank you, sir, very much. Put 'em on.

THE PRESIDENT: How you doing? This is my swan song? If this is all you got for me, I'm moving on.

RUSH: (laughing) No! The show's yours; take as much time as you want.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm just calling along with President 41 and the former governor of Florida. We're fixing to have lunch here, and I said, "Listen, we ought to call our pal and let him know that we care," for you. So this is as much as anything, a nice verbal letter to a guy we really care for.

RUSH: Well, thank you, sir, very much. I'm overwhelmed. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this and how much you've surprised me.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that was the purpose of the phone call.

RUSH: You succeeded.

THE PRESIDENT: Good.

RUSH: They were waving at me trying to tell me you were on the line, and I didn't know what was going on. So you succeeded here in the surprise. How are you doing, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: I am great. We're doing very good, thank you very much, sir. Concerned about our economy, obviously, but know we need to be drilling for some oil and gas in order to take the pressure off the gas prices -- and I'm pleased with the progress in Iraq.

RUSH: Have you heard what Senator Obama wants to do? He wants another stimulus check of a thousand dollars to every American paid for by the oil companies.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Well, what we ought to be doing is encouraging oil companies to find oil, and that's the best way to take the pressure off the gasoline prices. We're on a very strong push to get the Congress to allow for there to be offshore drilling, and most Americans understand now that an increase in oil, particularly here in America, will help take pressure off of price. And I tell people I'd rather, you know, be buying American oil instead of sending our money overseas.

RUSH: You know, Mr. President, it's amazing. In 2004 during your campaign, Senator Kerry was constantly criticizing you for not "jawboning" with the Saudis enough to bring the price of oil down. Now, four years later, they're doing everything they can to keep the price from coming down. They apparently want it to remain high.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, they may want to, but the American people want to see some relief. It would be like a massive tax cut when the gasoline prices decline. So we're in times of economic uncertainty and the more money people have in their pockets the quicker we'll be able to recover, in my judgment. You asked how I'm doing. My spirits are high; I'm going to finish strong. I love my family and I'm spending two days here with mother and dad before I head overseas.

RUSH: Well, that's right. You've got China on your agenda.

THE PRESIDENT: I do. But listen, President 41. You might remember him.

RUSH: I do. (laughing) Yes, I do. We all do.

THE PRESIDENT: You know what? He remembers you.

RUSH: Good.

THE PRESIDENT: Fondly, I might add. Anyway, here he is. Congratulations.

RUSH: Thank you, sir, very much, again.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.

BUSH 41: Hey, Rush?

RUSH: Mr. President, sir.

BUSH 41: How are you doing?

RUSH: I am never better. I'm so glad that you three called me. I'm stunned here. It's great to hear from you.

BUSH 41: I've got some advice for you.

RUSH: Tell me.

BUSH 41: Slow down your backswing.

RUSH: (laughing)

BUSH 41: (laughing) That's what I'm doing is giving advice. I remember playing with you and enjoying it. How are you?

RUSH: I'm great.

BUSH 41: Proud of you, always.

RUSH: Well, thank you. I'm doing great. And you? You're looking well, too.

BUSH 41: Well, yeah. I'm kind of on the sidelines, but I can't do golf and all that stuff anymore. But life is good. It's wonderful, and it's great having the family up here in Maine, and all is well. Do you see our man Ailes at all?

RUSH: Oh, yeah. I saw Roger at Tony Snow's funeral.

BUSH 41: Oh, did you?

RUSH: And a couple of times earlier this summer.

BUSH 41: Are we on the radio, are we?

RUSH: (laughing)

BUSH 41: I didn't know that. I'll clean up my act here. I'm glad they told me.

RUSH: Yeah, we're on the radio.

BUSH 41: It's wonderful talking to you, I'll tell you.

RUSH: Thank you, sir. Same here.

BUSH 41: Wait a minute, Jeb -- Governor Jeb -- wants to speak to you.

RUSH: That's great.

BUSH 41: We've got the whole family lined up.

RUSH: Put him on.

BUSH 41: All Limbaugh fans. Just a sec. Here.

JEB: Hey, Rush, congratulations on your longevity.

RUSH: Thank you, sir, very much. This is a thrill.

JEB: One of the highlights, one of the great things about your show is it's broadcast in the Sunshine State for which a whole lot of Floridians are very grateful, including me.

RUSH: It's a great place to live, governor. It really is, as you well know.

JEB: We've got a few challenges, but it's not a bad place at all.

RUSH: What's your future? What are you going to do?

JEB: I'm staying below the radar. That's what I'm doing. I love policy, and I have an education policy to try to help folks that are running for office be bold on education reform, which I think is a huge challenge and a great opportunity for our country. So my political stuff is really focused on that, which I love.

RUSH: Well, good. Keep at it, because if there's something that needs reform in this country, it's certainly that.

JEB: Absolutely.

RUSH: Particularly public education. Well, thank you guys so much. This is unexpected and a real honor for me to hear from all of you guys at the same time.

JEB: All right. Take care.

RUSH: Thanks, sir, very much.

JEB: Bye-bye.

Comments

[Claudia]

Biting, mean-spirited invective, thy name is Johanna.

[Jason]

20 years, so what? Howard Stern has been on longer than that and has done much more important broadcasting. Baba booey!

[Jay Johnson]

Now I'm glad that I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh.

[iCitizen]

Contribution to what? Balance?

[Justin Emerick]

These guys are not the least concerned with the economy and gas prices. All of Bush's supporters are laughing their way to the bank with record profits. Additionally, drilling will not decrease the price of oil. It's record inflation that is driving up prices.

When will the lies stop?

[Timothy Crocker]

How anyone, let alone the President, could admire such a dishonest, divisive hate monger is beyond me. I wish I could dismiss the obvious here and concentrate on something positive.THIS COUNTRY IS NOW RUN BY SOME VERY IMMORAL, HATEFUL PEOPLE. Talk about an axis of evil.........

[Ev]

A drug-addled gas bag gets a call from two presidents and a governor? Oh, wait it's the worst president ever, the president who was fired after one disastrous term and a lame duck governor. I can't name 4 other people who have done more damage to American than these 3. I'll bet Karl Rove was in the room.

[Nick Smith]

I posted something about this on my blog. Let me know what y'all think. smithonpolitics.blogspot.com

[Jon Becker]

I hope he doesn't forget Michael Savage.

[Karpy]

"Biting, mean-spirited, politically pointed invective for which Limbaugh is known". This quote from the LA Times reveals their bias and illustrates why main stream media and liberal elitists will never get it. We peons of the lesser class found in Rush a voice that articulates our views and opinions of ideology and current events. When I found Rush on the radio in 1989, it was stunning to hear my thoughts and impressions described at all, much less so effectively and accurately. It is a lonely world for those of us labeled "NeoCons" you understand. Stating the obvious under that profile can land one in trouble. Assuming the media anointment of Obama is correct, we can expect Rush and folks like him to be silenced soon after the inauguration. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the girls speak of using a Stalinist method disguised as a (ha) "Fairness Doctrine". Liberal causes and celebrity wither quickly under the light of scrutiny, and they work to extinguish that light as soon as possible. In the meantime, thanks so much to Rush for having the courage, intelligence, and talent to stand tall and be our voice. He has provided us with hope and humor in some of the Nation's darkest moments, and remains a brilliant light holding back the shadows of socialist darkness and ruin that creep toward us.

[Steve]

As reported on Countdown on MSNBC:

Bush 41 didn't realize when he was asking about "our man Ailes." Ailes is the President of Fixed News.

Someone must have nudged Bush 41 because immediately he asks: "Are we on the radio, are we?"

So there you have it. Its not the big hollywood conspiracy, but its just another little ruse being played by the people in power.

The sad thing is that no Fox News watcher will switch affiliation, even in light of this. People who watch Fixed do so because they enjoy being lied to.

[joe d]

well i see all the spineless jerks in our country can critisize people who have worked and done something for our country instead of drinking beer and saying how great they are, Have another beer and smoke then go on welfare ,

[Attack Lap Dogs]

Well said Karpy! Unfornately most liberals are too weak minded to get their news from a reputable source. If they actually took the time to understand the issues from different perspectives they might learn how to form intelligent arguments.

[Fred Zenz]

The 4 biggest blow-hards in the Western Hemisphere. We could run a wind w\farm with the hot air they put out. Such a c\sad thing to have these idiots looked up to.

[reason]

Bush rules. Best president since Reagon and a class act. It's too bad liberals are so clueless and juvenile. They could learn from him and and the late great President Reagon.

BTW McCain is going to win this coming november by 7 to 8 percentage points. Every election we go through the same thing with the polls. The left does their circle jerk routine and builds up their wishful thinking index into believing they have a chance. Then america votes and slaps them back down again. (Clinton only won because Ross Perot split the repub vote). You'd think the libs would have learned by now but apparently they just don't have the mental capacity nor the long term memory..

BUSH 41: [...] Do you see our man Ailes at all?

RUSH: Oh, yeah. I saw Roger at Tony Snow's funeral.
===

"Our man Ailes"

Roger Ailes is the president of Fox News.

This pretty much proves how biased Fox is.

As if there was any doubt before.

[Richard Garcia]

What a honor for Rush to have three good men who have given their life for public service to think about him on this day and take the time to phone and say hello,as a 62 year old American Citizen I would be honored to have these three good men phone me or e mail me thank you Richard Garcia

[Robert G]

Reading the above comments I must ask:
Must all liberals be such hate-filled, foul-mouthed lemmings?

[Don]

I could bet that most if not all negative comments about Rush where from people that have never listened to one of his broadcasts. If you do find it in you to finally listen be aware that Rush an be hard to listen to at first. When I first heard him I had to shut him off because I felt that what he spoke of was not politically correct. I almost felt that I was not ALLOWED to listen such stuff. That maybe the powers-to-be would punish me for listening to such politically incorrect language. However, it was intriguing. Someone with such balls to speak his mind! I guess the old adage is true. "The truth is hard to take to take." So when, or if you can get the nerve to think for yourself and listen to a broadcast instead of being just a follower of some implied rule that you must follow not think for yourself or even listen such individual thought, please keep in mind that we are allowed. That what freedom is all about and our the "freedom of speech" is allowed and so is the freedom to listen to someone who has the nerve to do so! Trust me, the truth will set you free from the bounds of collective thought.

[Dennis Hanna]

Number one yes we all (conservatives) know that Fox News is not liberally biased, that is why we tune in.

Secondly, the posts above exhibit perfect examples of one of the differences between liberals and conservatives. Why do liberals always attempt to put down individuals with vile and disrespect, that they disagree with. Why do conservatives have to constantly contend with ill mannered and ill tempered liberals always trying to prove through intimidation and scare tactics that they are smarter and by far superior to all of us (as stated above) morons, idiots, stooges and jackasses.

Even if you disagree with the individual President George W. why the disrespect for the office of The President of the United States.

You hate filled liberals need to remember one thing. Half, yes I said half, of this country re-elected George Bush in 2004. So obviously he does not stand alone and even though all conservatives do not agree with everything The Bush Administration has done, you all need to remember this

HALF OF AMERICA IS STILL CONSERVATIVE! and we will continue to vote for conservatives.

[Jeff]

Don,
"At first he was hard to listen to" was your instinct that you were listening to a buffoon. What happens is that people who are intelligent listen to Rush and see the difference between his reality and the facts of the world and end up changing the channel. When limp minded people listen to him, they may find it hard to listen to as well, for a while at least, and then their feeble brain is molded into a "dittohead" and they believe anything and everything Rush says and repeat it like a parrot to everyone they know as fact. I wish only good things for people like you. I wish every day for you is one filled with colorful moving objects and mellow sounds to fill your empty head.

[teknoarcanist]

Is it just me, or does the tone of the first part of that conversation sound like a really hammy infomercial?

'Well Tony, I know the Blendomat can slice, and I know it can dice, but can it pueret?'
'Well Adam, you tell me'
'Okay, I will!'

Reading the transcript, it just feels REALLY scripted and almost self-satirizing. Like it was written by the Onion or something.

[Don]

Jeff.....

You never listened, did you.

[don]

You just continue to drink the kool-aid don't you. Locked in with the only thought that they allow you to think....anything different is under the "not allowed way to think" banner. They do your thinking and you will listen and repeat because all your friends think the same and you don't want your friends to think ill of you....we must be correct....the papers even agree with us so...and I wouldn't want to read another that would tell me otherwise....that would go against the crowd....besides, they tell me everything outside of what I believe, my friends believe and what the newspapers confirm is wrong....or was it that I read it in the newspaper and now my friends and I know we are right?

Sound like the process Jeff? It was the same in Germany awhile ago. I had friend that was brought up there at that time and when he didn't join that he was just thought to be naive. He was thought to be stupid (a buffoon?) not to join in....not to join such an organization that was so main stream. It was as main stream as you might consider working for phone company, IBM or some like company/organization. So he was casted aside as naive and not wanting to share the perks that the government would provide by taking the riches of the Jews and sharing them amongst the crowd that believed that was okay and accepted by his friends and the press......

Learn to listen to everybody and learn to discern according to the laws of nature that would concern every individual not just you and the immediate crowd.

Thank you Rush for 20 years of truth, entertainment, and exposing the lies and hypocracies of the liberal left. As you have proven they are just power hungry and they have total disrespect for authority using judges to rewrite laws to change society to their socialistic and unGodly views and turning our founding Fathers and great country from what it was intended to be a land of liberty, freedom, with free enterprise protected by a brave and heroic military that they all despise. They need to know that their words of disrespect will haunt them someday and they need to imagine, if thats even possible for them ,what it is like to go into the beast of the belly of war like at Normandy, Omaha Beach, Battle of the Bulge, Baghdad in Iraq ect. and to experience the holocost at the National Museum in Washington D.C. and to write and visit our military wounded who gave their lives on the line so we can all converse without being rounded up and shot or put in jail or death camps for what we say. I am very proud there are strong families like the Bushes who have served our country with great distinction and honor and the Limbaugh's who also stand for truth and believe in a Biblical way of life. God Bless America and those who made it great despite the hypocrites and Benedict Arnold philosophies of the liberal left.