RUSH: This is Jeff in Sherwood, Michigan. It’s nice to have you with us, sir.
CALLER: Yes, sir. Mega dittos, Mr. Honorable Rush Limbaugh.
RUSH: I appreciate that. Thank you.
RUSH: Why?
CALLER: I don’t know.
RUSH: What was it about the way I talked?
CALLER: I — I didn’t like the way you were talking.
RUSH: You know what? I know what it is.
CALLER: That was during the Clinton era, and, I guess… You know?
RUSH: Yeah.
CALLER. Uhhh…
RUSH: I know what it was. I know what it was. What you found abrasive was that I was so damn sure of myself. The confidence, that can rub people the wrong way sometimes, ’cause they hear that as arrogance and braggadocio.
CALLER: Yes, sir. That’s what it was.
RUSH: But Babe Ruth said it ain’t bragging if you’re right and you can do it.
CALLER: But in 1997 I took on to being an over-the-road truck driver. One day I came on your program and ever since then, I’m hooked on you. A couple months ago you had that lady that had to take heart pressure medicine. Remember that?
RUSH: Oh, yeah. (laughing) Yes. She needed blood pressure medicine because of this program, and yet she could not stop listening to it.
CALLER: Yes, sir, and I’m the opposite. I need my heart medicine because I can’t find you on a radio station. E’heh.
RUSH: Not because you can’t. It’s when, in those rare moments, you can’t.
CALLER: Right.
RUSH: Over-the-road truck driving, yes.
CALLER: There are a lot of dead spots. But I like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and —
RUSH: Thank you.
CALLER: — a brighter New Year and thank you for making me a Rush Dittohead.
RUSH: I appreciate that, sir, but you did it on your own. Don’t forget to credit yourself here in this homecoming.
CALLER: Yes, sir. Thank you. The reason I called is since I’m a truck driver, ‘Flying J…’ I just printed a thing off the Internet. ‘Flying J Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; Truck Stops Remain Open.’ According to Bloomberg, they made $16 billion in 2007. All these companies that are filing for Chapter 11 are complaining they’re running out of money. Why, all of a sudden, are they broke? This truck stop… You know, you go into a truck stop now, and you’re spending almost $2 for a glass of tea. Why can’t they get their heads together and figure out to lower the prices on what they sell?
RUSH: At some point they may end up doing that. I personally have never filed for bankruptcy, even though it’s becoming a status symbol. I haven’t done so. Now, there’s two kinds. Well, there’s more than two kinds, but the two in question are Chapter 11 — and if that’s what these truck stops you’re talking about are doing, Chapter 11 means you don’t go out of business; you just reorganize. And Chapter 11 means that some of the people you owe are not going to get paid all of what they owe. You do a reorganization, and a priority list of who of your vendors needs to get paid and so forth. It is a reorganization and a restructuring that puts the business back together on a sound footing. Chapter 7 is liquidation. That’s when they shut you down. Chapter 11, you keep operating. The whole point is to stay in business. But all these Chapters Elevens… The line of people with their hands out trying to get their money from the TARP fund is increasing. It’s becoming disheartening. But it’s human nature, and it’s understandable.