Here I was thinking I would turn over a new leaf and find something good to say about everyone, and how quickly one’s intentions can be tossed out the window when provoked.

I have an old friend on the other side of the political spectrum, a fellow I went to college with, who happens to work at WABC Radio in New York, the station that carries Limbaugh the Entertainer, along with another notable little fellow cut from the same cloth, Sean Hannity.  My friend and I trade barbs all the time, and he refers to me as “The Pinko,” although I hardly consider myself that far left – - more semi-left than left.

Anyway, it seems Limbaugh the Entertainer would be willing to sit down with President Obama for a chat.  All I can say is “Wow!”

Lest we forget, and let me refer to a piece appearing in this space in May of this year:

” . . . . Rush Limbaugh is a radio personality and entertainer.  He dropped out of college after two semesters and one summer, and according to his mother, “he flunked everything”, even a modern ballroom dancing class.”

The piece compared the credentials of both Limbaugh and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and to whom between them we should turn for advice and credibility.

He’s a radio personality and entertainer, for crying out loud.  He’s never stood for election, or asked folks for their votes, or served in public office.  He’s never held positions of government responsibility or faced an electorate in public service.  He’s just a radio personality and an entertainer, and the only ones he has to prove himself to are the corporate sponsors who buy air on his show.

Limbaugh denies being the head of the Republican party, a faux self-deprecation, as Republican after Republican bows in obeisance whenever they fear having crossed him.  He decries the suggestion that the media has “made him,” and takes full credit for his own success, thank you very much.  He graciously acknowledges, though, that he’d be pleased to have a chat with the President if he gets an invite.

Semantics being what they are, and the staple of Limbaugh’s on-air diet, it’s true he does not hold by name Michael Steele’s job as head of the Republican National Committee.  But even Chairman Steele has lowered his eyes to Limbaugh on occasion, and that should be a telling sign.

Steele was elected to his position, and Limbaugh merely designated himself to his – - well, he and his corporate sponsors.  No election there, simply self-anointing, prepared not by education, or qualified by vote, just his own fiat.

And now he so graciously and magnanimously acknowledges that if invited he’d have a cup of tea with the President and talk turkey with him.

Now, I don’t know if that invite will come, and it certainly is not my call.  But the gesture on Limbaugh’s part, coupled with the number of Republican officials who make sure to stay in his good graces, belies his assertion he’s not running the Republican party, wink wink.

Politically speaking, though, what would it mean if the President did extend the invitation to meet with Limbaugh?  Wouldn’t it tacitly acknowledge him as the leader of the Republican party?  And isn’t it a good thing for the Democrats that Limbaugh be viewed as the party leader?  Perception becomes reality at that point, the “ditto heads” could be marginalized, and the Republicans would be disadvantaged.

The message that any blowhard who spouts loud and divisive enough can get a seat at the President’s private table, though, might not be such a good one to give.  He is, after all, just a radio personality and entertainer, no different in that regard than a George Clooney or a Barbara Streisand – - just on the other side of the political mountain. Well, now that you say that, they do get invited to the White House, too, so why not another entertainer?

The email I got from my friend at WABC  said  “long live Rush.”  Made me smile, too.  However, I’ll continue turning for insight to folks who’ve actually served before, who’ve been at the center of government and know a bit more about it than the entertainer – even WABC’s own Joe Scarborough.

So, there.  Oh, and I’d certainly accept an invite to the White House, too, and I don’t know a single political junkie who wouldn’t. But I know I’m not getting one, so I won’t presume.