CNN reports on Rush Limbaugh’s speech to CPAC (Rush Limbaugh calls on conservatives to take back nation) wherein he stated:
“What is so strange about being honest and saying, I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation? Why would I want that to succeed?” he said, bringing the crowd once again to its feet.
First off, this is a rather strained formulation, to put it mildly. Neither capitalism nor individual liberty are about to be taken away. Indeed, the Bush administration’s policies in regards to the power of the executive during the war on terror was much more likely to threaten individual liberty than anything that has been proposed by the Obama administration in the last month-plus. And while it is clear that the federal government is a more active player at the moment in the economy than is normally the case, capitalism is hardly about to become extinct.
Look, Limbaugh is primarily an entertainer who wants as much attention as he can possibly get, because attention means listeners, listeners means ratings and ratings means increased advertising revenues. One can point out all one likes that Limbaugh is being hypocritical by calling for a president to fail during a time of war, but the bottom like is that he is, to strain a phrase, hypocritical like a fox. He is getting as much attention as he has in some time, if ever, through he positioning himself as a major voice of opposition at the moment.
It is this later point that is, however, a problem for the Republican Party, as they need real leadership, not simply a talk radio host who is free to say whatever he likes without actually having to do the heavy lifting like winning elections and governing. Rush will appeal to a specific segment of the GOP base, who will applaud what he says, but he does not represent a serious solution to the problems facing the Republican Party at this point in time. Indeed, he is going to come across as simply an angry blow-hard to all but the faithful and the degree to which the GOP is seen as the party of Limbaugh (and Joe the Plumber, for that matter), the more difficult it will be for the party to rebuild itself.
John Derbyshire, writing for The American Conservative hits the nail on the head when he called conservative talk radio “Happy Meal conservatism: cheap, childish, familiar.” While a trip to McDonald’s may be OK occasion when one needs some comfort food, but if one makes one’s entire diet, problems ensue. If the conservative movement convinces itself that Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly and the like are serious intellectuals, then the party is in for a bought of long-term minority status.
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March 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pm
[...] Steven Taylor makes this excellent point about Limbaugh and his influence in the Republican Party: Limbaugh is primarily an entertainer who wants as much attention as he can possibly get, because [...]
March 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Interesting! I can remember when all the educated class believed Reagan to be a dunce. Me included. Reagan instilled pride in Americans, right, center and left. Rush is doing something similar. And he will be vindicated to a degree when Obama’s socialist experiment fails causing people to re-evaluate who was trumpeting the truth. The Republicans are in serious need of passionate conservative leaders; not RINO’s. I believe conservatives, energized by Rush, will find those leaders.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I didn’t call Limbaugh a dunce, quite the contrary. The issue is, however, is whether a radio talk show host’s purposes are the same as a political party’s–and they aren’t. Limbaugh isn’t ultimately about governing, he is about ratings.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
limbaugh and the rest of the idiots hannity,coulter etc are the very first to want to blow someone or something to hell although they never made the commitment to serve our nation.while ripping people like senator Mcain. The republican party wonders why they have lost the house and senate look no further than the spokesperson for there party,Rush Limbaugh.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Stephen, do you or mark houston listen to Rush on a regular basis? If not, I suggest you do. Your opinion might change.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I have a lengthy experience with Rush, dating back to his premiere on KFI in Los Angeles back in 1988. I even have read his books, such as they are. However, I did grow extremely tired of his schtick several years ago.
At any rate: I am quite familiar with Rush and his views.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Is Rush limbaugh on drugs again. It seems he was have some sort of hallucination. I know he had a problem, is he still under doctors care. I am surprised he can say what he says with no embarrassment.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:17 pm
I have always disliked Rush Limbaugh because his talk is always with a racial tones and he acts like a racist and he speaks like a racist, so in my mind anyone who listens to Rush Limbaugh has to be racist. The reason Rush Limbaugh wants the President to fail is because Rush Limbaugh can not stand that an African American aka a black man is in the White House running the show in the United States of America; so of course he wants President Obama to fail. It is so obvious it is not funny.
But I have faith in our African American President. Everyone who is not a Rush Limbaught fan should understand that ” you must spend money to make money”. President Obama will spent what he needs to get this economy moving and then he will cut spending to put the buget on track. President Obama is a very smart and intelligent man unlike Rush Limbaugh who has the IQ of a 2 watt light bulb.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:51 am
Good job, Kev. Blow apart any possibility of a discussion by throwing around claims of racism! No need to ask if (1) the impending nationalization of banking will bring the country closer to socialism, or (2) if Obama’s budget and required tax hikes in the future will bring the country closer to socialism, or (3) if the 90% of the “stimulus bill” that has no connection to stimulating the economy — including 2/3 of the text setting up a new agency to double check why doctors choose the treatments they do — will bring the country closer to socialism, and above all, don’t ask whether this is a good thing.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:01 am
First of all, anyone listening to the response of Governor Bobby Jindal last week is reminded of Hillary’s Bosnia trip, except her trip wasn’t as outrageous as his story about getting permits for rescuers to go out in boats. I don’t know why the media hasn’t been more forceful in calling him on his lie.
Rush Limbaugh accused Obama of wanting people to be in fear instead of motivating the country. He has the wrong president at the wrong time. THAT was George W. Bush in 2004. There is nothing wrong with President Obama telling the American people the truth but assuring us that “we will get through it if we work together”. The Republicans don’t want to work together- a clear sign that they want the country to fail.
And, radio talk show hosts like Limbaugh is the reason we need to bring back the Fairness Doctrine to our airwaves. We, the American people own the airwaves and I feel there should be equal access given to everyone on them. Besides, a little less Limbaugh wouldn’t hurt anyone.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:56 am
Gorgegirl, there is equal access to the airwaves. Ed Schultz is doing just fine. It seems liberal talk radio just doesn’t draw much of a crowd. And nobody owns the airwaves; that is a favorite straw man used by politicians to control information dissemination. Stalin did the same thing.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:50 am
If the goal of the Republican Party is to once again control politics in this country, the model already exists; take control of congress. A tried and true strategy for any party is to look for members of the opposing party who hold similar opinions. By doing so, they will divide the opposing party, mitigate its power, and thus take control of the institution. It’s an old Machiavellian principle “Divide and Conquer”. I would not be surprised if this is already on the Republican’s agenda.
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 am
I think it is fabulous that RUSH / COULTER / Joe (the almost plumber) are the new Republican Party. We need a 2 party system, but it isn’t as if “Republican” is even an option, anymore. Being from TN, I see these folks everyday. The KKK was created in TN, they probably were, and still are all “Rushies”. I am sure that Coulter was their hero, but not for books. Joe, well, he is the one, with the torch. I was an independent voter, now I am simply, NEVER REPUBLICAN. They don’t say anything worth listening to, and they seem to like HATE a lot.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 am
When you look at what those radio hosts say, and then follow up with high-ranking congressional republicans, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, so yes, the party is in serious trouble. Even electing Steele was a desperate measure, even more so goven his bufoonish behavior and childish ‘urban’ slange coming from his horrible cakehole…a token leader put in place by a token gesture.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
ugh - too early to type…
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 am
March 2nd, 2009 10:27 am ET
One more thing Rush Limbough is a low life,..cnn described him as popular. He is a severe racist who once called Native Americans scavengers on his live show. His popularity with republicans is a reflection on the GOP’s racism and they are wondering how to get support from non-whites. As long as the GOP flaunts such a racist they will never have support. I listen to him just to be reminded how evil this country really is. This man is a white supremist, pervert, and drug addict. And the Repuplicans adore him. Sean Henitty is another. When they refer to Americans they mean “white”. I am Native American, I am American. That war brought the economy down,.. republicans blame fellow americans who could not pay thier bills. How blind and ignorant. This country did their best while the republicans where bragging the surge is working when we should have never been there.
Sean Henitty said kill the geese that brought down the jet in the hudson. He is very bright. “Kill the geese” Common amongst his kind, if in the way kill them. He is a big cry baby who if you call in and disagree he will get mouthy, cry, and hang-up on you. All of the FOX channel celebrities have one thing in common. Being racist. Fake a pat on the back of blacks to camofluage their racism.
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 am
Just watched the report on Limboughs speech wishing obama to fail,..all the white audience jumped up and clapped,.. GOP representatives are scared to dissagree with him and loose their white support. If you are scared of loosing this racist support you are racist,..and do not care about the rest of us,..who hate racism. Like Bush said “you are either with them or with us”,..this applies to racism. “You are with us or with them.” If you clap for Rush you are a pure racist.
Keep flaunting this man and you have no support from us, “Real Americans.”
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Because, unlike Hillary, the sheriff Jindal referred to has confirmed that it happened.
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS SCARED THE LIBITARIAN PARTY AND ALL AMERICANS SHOULD AND PROBABLY WILL VOTE RUSH LIMBAUGH FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Rush Limbaugh speaks for the average joe! A True American!
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I’d take a more serious look at Ron Paul, but the Republican Party doesn’t want to give him a chance.
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
It looks as though the average Joe is a racist, Rush Limbo is a Bimbo and he doesn’t speak for us,.
he is a foreigner the blood of an illegal immigrant. He will never be a true American unless he whips out some tribal enrollment proof. No matter how long ago it was 1800, 1492,..still immigrants to us real Americans
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I once heard of a plan to stop Americanizing the children of illegal immigrants,..this should have been done long ago,..and Rush would still be in Ireland, Germany or wherever but not here in America.
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
Didn’t the Democrats just elect a radio commentator to the Senate?