There’s not a Mac user out there who wouldn’t like to bend Steve Jobs’s ear on some issue or another. Appeals to Steve are about as commonplace as awful Michael Bay movies. But the latest direct call to Señor Jobs comes from an unlikely source: conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
Said Limbaugh on yesterday’s show:
You know, I’m a big Mac guy. I love Macs, and I’ve got four Mac Pros. They’re the top-of-the-line Mac Pros, maxed out. And they just had a new system upgrade, went to 10.5 Leopard, and they’ve had two upgrades since October. Yesterday brought 10.5.2, which was loaded. It was a big, big update. I’ve been having two problems since I went to Leopard that I hoped this update would solve, and it didn’t solve them; and it’s frustrating. I’m telling these guys. I’ve worked patiently. I’ve been very patient with my Apple rep, with my developer rep, and they’re working hard on it, but nothing gets done! All use file reports and get lost in the Apple bureaucratic system — and occasionally a good-intentioned, good-hearted Apple rep will get on the phone, try to solve it, and will say, “Yep. It’s the same problem I’m having on my machine.” They’re having the same problem at Apple that I’m having here, but it’s supposed to work.
Of course, Rush and Steve Jobs—based merely on their political views—aren’t necessarily what you’d call simpatico. As Limbaugh’s recording engineer points out:
You don’t understand it. Jobs has you tagged. He’s making sure your computers don’t work. If you put out this appeal to Steve Jobs and ask him to help, his reply is going to be, ‘Mr. Limbaugh. Do us a favor and endorse Windows.’
It’s true: I feel a little dirtier just knowing that I share a computing platform with that blowhard.
Just one question: does that make Al Franken a PC?
I am a Republican and *luv* my Macs.
And I feel downright filthy that "I share a computing platform with" Al Gore.
But enough of the politics. I read this blog for Apple-related info, not political commentary.
Thank you.
Rush is why I got a Mac. I was listening to his show when Tiger came out and he spent half a show talking about how good it was. After that I went to an Apple Store, used one myself and got one.
How about leaving your political
affiliation out of your articles!!!
Hi Macuser.
Henceforth, let's keep our politics and our beloved computer issues separate.
But, for the record, Rush is a great communicator, and has a larger, loyal, more educated, passionate, and more capable following than you, or any other web journalist wannabe political commentator will ever have.
Al Franken is a barely on the edge of reality mental case, who won't even win his party's choice in his current, overwhelmingly liberal state Senate race because THEY (his own party) is afraid of how God-awful he would be for their state and their party reputations.
This, whether you have the intellectual honesty or capacity to acknowledge it, is the truth.
oh darn, now I have to get rid of me
Macs
Joe Bob, you reply to an insult with more insults? Hello pot, this is kettle. Next time try to stay above the fray.
I don't particularly like Rush Limbaugh. In fact, he used to be a pretty good broadcaster, but I feel that his fame and fortune has turned him into a shadow of his former self.
However, there's no denying that he's probably sold a lot of Macs to his audience, given his frequent testimonials. I'm sure my relatives considered the Mac more seriously because of Rush's endorsements.
Rush is also a former resident of a LIBERAL REHAB CLINIC which he ran to to try and escape jail for doctor shopping
There are a great many conservatives that like and use Macs for their personal and business computing needs. I personally love Limbaugh's refreshing commentary and ideals--especially when inundated with the NO NEW IDEAS and SAME OLD TALKING POINTS that are endlessly fed us by the "mind-numbed robots" of the old media cabal. So, take care in who you hurl personal insults at ("blowhard"); you're not helping MacWorld's or Apple's standing amongst conservative like myself. How about leaving your political views out of this and just taking the incident as the humorous one it is.
I might not agree with Rush's politics, but I'll point out that I didn't say anything about his politics in the post-just his personality. And, for what it's worth, I think Howard Stern's a blowhard too. There, now there's something for everybody!
Rush and the Bush-loving types ought to be relegated to Windows FOREVER.
Don't they get it? They are the PC douchebags.
Originality and creative thinking, what Mac users are known for, is not limited to one side of any political spectrum.
To think otherwise betrays a closed and pitiful mind.
I want to state that I am a conservative and I occasionally enjoy listening to Rush. With that said Mr. Moren wrote an opinion article and its just that an opinion. He may not like rush - not that many people do - but everyone should just take this article with a grain of salt regardless of how you feel about rush.
Rush is the reason I got a Mac too!
I almost changed my mind when Apple's web site touted Algore's award ... er .... pack of lies. Talk about a "blowhard".
Does anyone here know what the actual problem is?
Dan,
Give me a break. You "didn't say anything about his politics in the post-just his personality." If you agreed with his politics, you wouldn't have made an ad hominem attack. Turning around and then admitting that you think "Howard Stern's a blowhard too" is just piling on needless personal attacks.
I agree with the others on this board that say politics should be left out of your articles.
I don't read National Review to find out about the latest MacBook Pro, and I don't want to read about politics in my Mac magazine - or blog.
I cancelled my subscription to another Mac magazine because Rik couldn't resist making a political statement in almost every issue. Please don't make MacUser a platform for political digs.
So what are his problems exactly anyhow?
I am a conservative who loves my iMac and PowerBook. We, Republicans, want quality products, too.
Note...Al Franken is a DULL PC!
@kranvh "If you agreed with his politics, you wouldn't have made an ad hominem attack." By that logic, I must personally like everybody whose politics I agree with? Utterly nonsensical.
Again, I point to the content of the post. Anything beyond that is your inference.
No Dan, not utterly nonsensical. Your logic is flawed. I didn't say that you only make negative comments about those with whom you have political disagreements. I said that you made a personal attack on Rush, and my accusation is that you were motivated by your political disagreement with him. I concede that the content of your post has no overt political language, and that it is my inference. However, let's do as you say, look at the content of the post:
You take Rush's words verbatim. He was - jokingly - suggesting that Steve Jobs has Rush tagged because of his political views. A point you obviously understood, as you made reference when you said, "...Rush and Steve Jobs...aren't necessarily what you'd call simpatico."
You then go on and say, "It's true: I feel a little dirtier just knowing that I share a computing platform with that blowhard."
So, are you telling me that the statement above is not related at all to the theme that Rush suggested, that is, Steve Jobs is sabotaging Rush's Macs because of politics? My inference? Hardly.
So why is it inappropriate to make political comments on a tech blog, anyway? Is there something inherently frightening or offensive about it?
Perhaps I should add this to my list of things I don't 'get' about Americans :)
I read this site almost daily. I find your political views stink. Maybe your technical views are also corrupt. If you want to know the truth, Limbaugh is far more accurate than Gore. Gore is and always has been the blowhard. He tells more untruths than anyone I know. For an example, I used the internet when only available to government related functions almost 25 years ago, maybe longer. Gore did not invent it. Climate change is another.
My Mac has a problem -- it's turned me into a drug-addled, xenophobic, thrice-married hypocrite! Help!
Bought 2 Macs last year and should have realized it was designed by a liberal. Promises much but does add any more capability.
@kravnh You're still reading into it. Given that, as you point out, the paragraph I cited was intended humorously, how could you possibly know, for example, that my following sentence was not meant ironically? I'm not saying it was, but what if it had turned out that I agreed with Rush's political beliefs and was making a joke? Would that have been okay? Would you have been offended if I called Bill Gates a blowhard? I mean, hey: we're all Mac users here, right?
At the end of the day, this is an opinion-my opinion-and I welcome you to disagree with it: it's a free country. It's not as if I'm forcing you to submit to, or even listen to, a single political belief that I espouse.
Dan,
I respectfully disagree that I'm reading into it. I also think that your arguments that I am reading into it are willfully obtuse.
I have to agree with the point of your last comment, however. Whether or not I'm offended is not the issue, nor is it even important. The original piece, and your later comments, were about your opinion, and my comments were about my opinion. If peoples' opinions were censored or silenced because someone else who read or heard those opinions were offended, then we would all have much bigger problems than radio hosts who tend to bloviate.
So, while we may disagree about a statement made about Rush, I look forward to reading more - even if it might offend me.
Cheers,
KravNH
So, Dan, Rush is a blowhard, as is Howard Stern. Rush is a conservtive, Stern is a libertarian and Franken is a liberal. Hmmm...
Why don't you just admit that you are a liberal and that your point of views are therefore, going to be liberal?
This is a blog, and sorry to say this, but blogs are not real journalism. Objectivity (or even passable writting skills for that matter, MacUser excluded of course) is hardly a requirement for a blog. People reading MacUser should keep that in mind.
That being said, it'd be nice if MacUser had their token conservative just to keep things in perspective.
Kent: Political opinions aside, let's not perpetuate the urban myth that Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet:
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
What Vint Cerf, "father of the Internet," has said about Gore's role:
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200009/msg00052.html
It saddens me that you had to take this great MacUser RSS feed, that I read religiously, and turn it into your personal political rant RSS. Its so easy to take potshots at Republicans/Conservatives that it shows intellectual laziness. Gotta jump on the Rush bashing band wagon? You miscalculated thinking all Mac users are bleeding liberals who would appreciate your slight. I hope you don't start ruining your otherwise great Mac humor and technological insight column with your political diatribes.
With all due respect, judging a member of the media as a blowhard is hardly a "political diatribe." The media is full of blowhards.
I appreciate that people want to defend Rush Limbaugh and make this a politics-free zone, but isn't this a bit of an overreaction? I mean, isn't this the story of a famous media personality complaining about their own computer problems in hopes that their celebrity will get them special treatment?
Yes, the fact that this personality is a politically charged one muddies the waters. But you can call Rush a blowhard (or Howard Stern, or Larry King, or whomever) without it necessarily meaning you're slashing and burning at the very fabric of our political discourse.
I think the writer just assumed that Mac users were intelligent and compassionate.
I too love Apple's products (so much so that I bought stock in the company last year) but feel uncomfortable at times with its obvious liberal politics (Steve Jobs is entitled to support whomever he wants with his billions, but does it really make sense for a company that is trying to appeal to the masses to align itself with one side of the political spectrum?). I like the fact that Rush is an avid Mac user - It's a credit to the company and its products. His free endorsement is worth 1,000 "I'm a Mac - I'm a PC" commercials.
The headline was a great attention getter. Too bad you wasted it to take a swipe at Rush. It was neither informative nor amusing. Your audience would have been better served if you had explained more about the problem that Rush and the tech were having with Leopard.
@SteveB: Alas, would that Rush himself had explained what problems he was having. Sadly, he did not.
I just hope I can get the same level of Mac news and rumors without the political remarks in the future. My son makes a good point. He told me that arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.
Dan, since you are obviously not a Rush listener, you missed the following on the latest broadcast.
Rush said:
Two things. Back to my Mac, screen sharing, doesn't work. It's intermittent on occasion. Now, I got six computers on the network, maybe it's only meant to go back and forth one computer to the next. And the second thing, and this is the biggie, because I have found a work-around to screen sharing back to my Mac not working, direct access to my IP address I can do it without Back to My Mac, but they've got this great new backup program called Time Machine.
I primarily live in my mail application. I use it for my word processing. The only time I open word processing is when somebody sends me something in a Word document or whatever. I don't use the phone because of my hearing. E-mail is everything, and Time Machine will not restore e-mail mailboxes. Restores everything else but that, and ought to restore either a single message or a whole mailbox, and it won't. On one machine, this one here in New York, I have found a way to restore a single message or a multiple list of messages from wherever the Time Machine archive is, but on none of my other five machines does that work. They're identical. So, Mr. Jobs, there's got to be somebody who can -- this is major. I'm not calling it a bug. They just left it out of the operating system. To not back up -- and, by the way, when you open Time Machine in your mail program, it says, "Click restore" to back up your in-box or to back up the message you had selected. So it was supposed to, it just doesn't do it. And there's a whole thread at the Apple site of people having the same problem. But posting the problem on the website is not going to solve anything. It's like filing a bug report, goes out to the ether, nobody ever sees it, you never hear.
Thanks for the clarification but it sounds like a cop out because the only value from the piece was the satirical narrative provided by the radio show transcript. It's unfortunate you felt compelled to share your disdain for the talk show host in a forum better left to discussing relevant topics. Heck, you may have at least speculated if it's too difficult to find out what actual Leopard OS problems were being alluded to. There were (and still are) a number of ways you could have played this. IOW: No more cheap shots please.
The Neo Cons have outsourced our jobs, and they will be leaving us with the largest debt in history. A 3.1 Trillion-Dollar budget that cuts Medicare.
Please feel free to make fun of them anytime you want.
Jack
No that makes Al Franken a liberal ass but I am redundant.
Im a republican too and love my Mac. Liberals are so funny. They love to divide and conquer everyone so that they can be on top of the ruins while at the same time trumpeting that they are the defenders of the victims they themselves created. The Democratic Way!
I love to use my Mac to defeat these forces of evil.
Now in terms of Leopard, it's buggy and somewhat of a disappointment. I've had hundreds of Mac's in my shop and personally over the last 20 years, and Leopard is basically eye-candy pasted on-top of Tiger, for all intents and purposes, and that eye-candy is in beta form. Even the last update isn't really that awe inspiring.
Now, obviously, the system is getting better, but Apple should be on-top of this. Rush is right to sound-off. You are wrong to attack him because of his political views, which have nothing to do with the fact that Leopard has serious flaws.
Grow up!!!
ronjamin - kudos to you! Nice to see a rational person when it comes to Macs, politics and life. I agree and hope others will sound off too. I'm still hanging on to my working Tigers, happy as can be. I'm waiting for things to "get happy" before I plunge.
last I checked... this was a tech blog... keep your political viewpoints to yourself.
rush would be a great guy...
if not for the incessant lying,
pulling false facts out of his arse daily,
insensitve remarks,
racist inuendo,
hateful warmongering POVs
pandering to evangelical "Christians",
support of greed under the pretense of capitalism,
hypocritical, self-righteous,
representing the masses of rich, white, balding
right-wing curmudgeons nationwide,
good dude.
however, he does have good taste in computers...
no lie there.
Btw.. I'm a proud conservative and own my own creative agency and use only macs. I completely enjoy Rush and my macs.
Plus I'm a Christ Follower. I've lead people to Jesus, Great Design, Apple Computer and Conservatism... Talk about full disclosure today!
Nobody saw that one coming did they.. haha
if i were Dan, I would apologize for deviating from Apple into the sensitive territory of politics. Arguing logic behind your statement is an impossible battle
Dan is absolutely right about freedom of speech, and Dan can speak as he wishes about whatever he wants.
However- Dan: Your job with MacUser is to write articles about Apple and related topics. MacUser is a positive blog. Deviating too much may cause readers to defect to other news and editorial sites.
I just want to add my two cents. As a conservative who actually listens to Rush (something Liberals are afraid to do) I have wondered why Apple hasn't cashed in on his popularity. His is one of if not the most listened to show on the airwaves. I would also like to add that I also feel dirty knowing liberals use a MAC! How are liberals able to use a MAC when they think like Windows 3.0?