Rush, in the 90s I was a loyal listener. Really I was. I watched almost every episode of your short lived tv show. read your two books, thought about buying my husband one of your ties (well in truth, I only liked one, the one that really looked like a stained glass window, but no matter). I'd like to help you and it came to me today that you may not know how to make an apology. Which is why you suck at it.
Let me help you
First when making an apology just say:
I am sorry and I apologize
no qualifications, no weasel words, just straight out "I'm sorry"
next tell us to whom that apology is directed to
I apologize to Sandra Fluke and to all women every where
Why must you apologize to all women everywhere. Because Rush we all know that your words weren't directed at her, just as you stated in your nonpology.
Your words were directed at all women. An actual apology must be directed at all women.
But why then should you apologize again to Sandra Fluke. Because even 2 apologies to your 53 smears of her is not enough. But that's another issue.
Next we come to what you have learned part of the apology.
It is never appropriate to degrade, disrepect and insult women, no matter how much you disagree with them.
While I think there should be much more to this in this section of the apology, I think if you can sincerely get this far, it will be a big step. Plus you take away permission form other men (your listeners) to degrade, disrepect and insult women, no matter how much they disagree with them.
Who knows, their wives and girl friends may even thank you. Mothers would certainly be proud of the stand up example you set for their sons.
Here, here is an example of how to do it from Ed Shultz. He called a woman, a right wing woman, whom he disagreed with a "slut". (note to George Will, your comment on how we on the left "unfailingly fail" to police ourselves? I think you've just had a fail)
See it's not so hard, and others have done it before you.
Come on Rush, you can do it.
It may not be enough, but it should slow down the hemorrhaging. (and your show is hemorrhaging right now)
I'm not even asking you to take what you often malign, that ole liburl "sensitivity training."
Just a real apology Rush. When you think about it, you called your own wife and your mother a slut too (unless she were never concerned about women's reproductive health care, not even her own).
You'd not apologize for calling your own mother a slut?
Even John Wayne and Ronald Reagan wouldn't call or cease to apologize for calling their mothers that. Come on Rush, your as good as John Wayne and Ronald Reagan.