local_yokel's picture

Are these people really...

...giving over their party to that inflammatory, hate-mongering jerk?

That's the best they've got?

MDB's picture

The best they have?

That's the best they've got?

The said thing is Limbaugh is not the best they have. The Republicans have much better spokesmen.

The problem is Limbaugh represents the only base they have left -- angry whites and evangelicals1. They dare not alienate him, because he is such an egotist, he will tell his followers to storm the barricades if he is questioned.

1 Of course, its hilarious the high regard with which evangelicals view Limbaugh. Thrice divorced, drug problem, caught coming back with handfuls of Viagra from a country known for sex tourism, not conventionally religious... not exactly the type they'd normally hold up as a role model.

Voting is like driving. If you want to go backwards, select R. If you want to go forward, select D.

WhitesCreek's picture

It's the Free Market

It's the Free Market conservatives are always yapping about. Rush is paid the most money so he's their leader. I know that because he said so, too.

The free market is right every time, it's just not free. We are getting to see first hand what happens when you apply religious fundamentalism to a political ideology and a nation's economy at the same time.

KC's picture

Lemmings.

Lemmings.

Brian A.'s picture

The Limbaugh

The Limbaugh self-aggrandizement continues. If I understand him correctly today he is challenging President Obama to a debate on his radio show.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

MDB's picture

Oh puh-leeze

Presidents don't go around participating in debates with anyone, except perhaps leaders of other countries, much less private citizens who decide to ask him for one. It is, quite simply, beneath the dignity of the office.

Its a win for Limbaugh, though -- he'll be able to do some kind of count of the "days past since I, Rush Limbaugh, challenged President Barack Obama to a debate" and his followers will lap it up.

Voting is like driving. If you want to go backwards, select R. If you want to go forward, select D.

MDB's picture

Umm.... no

As someone who has struggled with a weight problem my entire life, I would take Limbaugh's side if he Obama responded like that.

Voting is like driving. If you want to go backwards, select R. If you want to go forward, select D.

MDB's picture

Apology Accepted...

... Captain Needa. :-)

Seriously, no need to apologize. I'd object to any use of ad hominems by Obama against anyone; you just picked a sensitive one for me.

Voting is like driving. If you want to go backwards, select R. If you want to go forward, select D.

KC's picture

I do think there is a point

I do think there is a point where Rahm Emmanuel will have to hit back. Right now, these oafs are making his job easy. When the time comes though, they Emmanuel will not hesitate to stripe Limbaugh's legs, hard.

Really? The party is at each others' throats this early in the game, with support solidly behind Obama and completely at odds with the Republicans message, Limbaugh is hoping the Democrats go after him.

Let Limbaugh play out. He's on the Gingrich path, headed towards the exit. Sure, he'll have his loyal followers, but will the Democrats need those votes...ever?

President Obama and the Democrats did what they needed to do in November. If they start playing the Limbaugh radio talk games, they'll be walking into a diversion, set up to waste their time and energy.

Plants are calling into C-Span now spouting the old campaign lies with a slightly new twist "I used to be a Democrat/Independent, but now I'm so upset with Obama and so are a lot of other Americans. He's just like Carter, who was with the Trilateral Commission, and Clinton, who forced the Community Reinvestment Act on bankers...." Need I go on?

No such thing is happening. If anything, more and more moderate Republicans are moving further and further away from the party. Ask Steele. He knows exactly what's going on, but since Republicans have been better at making enemies instead of making alliances within and outside their own party, they don't have a plan to deal with the breakup. Steele has to hold on to the base, because if he loses that, he has absolutely nothing.

local_yokel's picture

Oh yes!

I heard this and then heard him say "Leader to Leader."

That's right. He's putting himself on the same plane with the POTUS.

KC's picture

and his followers will lap

and his followers will lap it up.

That's the problem. Limbaugh realizes that if he becomes more moderate, he'll lose listeners. And money.

And the Republicans realize if they lose those listeners, they'll lose a good chunk of their base.

The Republicans, at least some, also realize that in order to win back moderates and independents, they'll have to become more moderate.

In ordinary times, the Republicans could probably develop a strategy to hold most of the base, while at the same time reaching out.

But these are far from ordinary times, and each day the Republicans seem more disconnected, out of touch with middle class America, and as a result, more and more irrelevant to Americans and the problems and issues they're facing.

R. Neal's picture

Wouldn't it be interesting

Wouldn't it be interesting to be a fly on the wall listening to Rush talk about his listeners off the air and behind closed doors.

lovable liberal's picture

Cate-snark-ical imperative

Yeah, I couldn't resist snarking this, too.

Liberty and justice for all.

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