Limbaugh avoids Sykes catfight

Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh took the high road Monday following Wanda Sykes saying he is a terrorist and making other acerbic comments about him during a comedic routine at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner over the weekend.

Talk-radio fans and political junkies buzzed in anticipation about what Mr. Limbaugh might say on his national, three-hour radio show.

Instead of retaliating against Ms. Sykes, Mr. Limbaugh spent much of the show praising former Vice President Dick Cheney, who on Sunday was much kinder.

“What motivates Dick Cheney,” Mr. Limbaugh asked rhetorically numerous times during his show. “He has all the millions he needs. He doesn’t want to run for election. He’s not hot for interns. He is not a torture freak.”

Mr. Limbaugh eventually said Mr. Cheney continues to open himself to attacks by the liberal “drive-by media” because he is an American who speaks from his heart.

Mr. Cheney said Sunday on “Face the Nation” that Limbaugh is more representative of the Republican Party than former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whom he presumed left the party when supporting Barack Obama in the presidential race.

Ms. Sykes’ comments about Mr. Limbaugh while hosting the annual Washington event Saturday night drew a mix of laughter and boos.

“Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails,” Ms. Sykes said. “He just wants the country to fail. To me, that’s treason. He’s not saying anything different than what Osama bin Laden is saying. You might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin, he missed his flight. … Rush Limbaugh, ‘I hope the country fails,’ I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that’s what he needs.”

She also made jabs at President Obama and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose daughter Bristol recently became an unwed teenage mother.

“I know Governor Palin. … She’s not here tonight,” Ms. Sykes said. “She pulled out at the last minute. Somebody should tell her that’s not really how you practice abstinence.”