One of the most frustrating things about Rush Limbaugh is that he doesn't seem to have any beliefs of his own. His positions are strictly reactionary. He's a contrarian, so he just picks people to disagree with, regardless of any kind of internal consistency.

Such is the whiplash engendered by this latest transcript from a recent show. Attentive readers will recall that Rush grouchily advocated against donating money to Haiti after their earthquake. Why? Because we already pay taxes to the U.S. government, that's why.

Rush was pretty bitter about the amount of money and aid our government sent to Haiti. He also used it as a chance to take a stand against Communism (because Haiti wouldn't have been so poverty-stricken if it had been a capitalist state) and Obama (who Rush declared was only helping Haiti in order to boost his credibility with black people in America).

So what position, one wonders, would Rush take on the Japanese earthquake and nuclear disaster? Well, not that one.

See if you can follow along.

First, Rush mocks the Japanese people for recycling. Diane Sawyer visited an emergency shelter, and was impressed that even in a state of emergency, people are still sorting their recyclables. Most people would find this a heartwarming and inspirational tribute to the potential of the human spirit, and to the value of dignity and community spirit - which, for many of these people, is about all they have left.

But Rush Limbaugh seems to think they're idiots. Like I guess if you're staying at an emergency center after your entire town has been destroyed, I guess Rush thinks you should just throw all your trash on the ground. (But mind you, if that was the case, he would be deriding them for being messy. Remember, Rush just reacts.)

Then he pushes it just a little farther, at the urging of his next caller on the subject. Following what must have been his worst instincts, Rush Limbaugh gloats at Japan's misery. What else can you call it? Japan has always been a thorn in Rush's side, because it's not only one of the most economically powerful countries in the world, it's also the greenest and most energy-efficient. This flies in the face of everything Rush Limbaugh wants to believe. And yet it is true.

So given the chance to really go for the gusto, Rush takes it.

"What kinda payback is this? That is an excellent question. They invented the Prius - and, in fact, where Gaia blew up is right where they make these electric cars […] It's like Gaia hit the Prius and Leaf plants […] What is Gaia trying to tell us here? What is the mother of environmentalism trying to say with this hit?"

And in between these two staggering bits of Rush-ery, he sneers at a Reuters reporter who argues against people donating money to Japan, because Japan is a wealthy country. Rush stops short of asking his listeners to donate to charity - the day Rush promotes the idea of donating to charity will be a surprising day indeed - but he also acts like this guy is being churlish.

Seriously, Rush? This is the kind of thing that makes me think he's just trolling us all.

Photo credit: Flickr/urbangarden