Darrell Issa is the latest Republican to apologize to Leader Limbaugh

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa made a very big mistake. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he said the following about what Republicans should do if they're successful in the fall elections:

“It's pretty clear the American people expect us to use the existing gridlock to create compromise and advance their agenda,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.). “They want us to come together [with the administration] after we agree to disagree.”

This is not what Rush Limbaugh wanted to hear. Attacking Issa and other establishment Republicans at the top of today's show, Limbaugh said the idea of compromise would push people away from the GOP and into a third party - and that compromising with the Democrats was akin to compromise with the Taliban.

It appears Limbaugh's audience voiced their concerns to Issa's staff and the congressman was soon a guest of Limbaugh's in order to genuflect.

Issa began by distancing himself from the article, noting his quote was a distillation of a longer conversation, eventually backing away from the “compromise” language and voicing support for Limbaugh's preferred framing of the issue Republican goals for the next Congress as simply “stopping Obama.”

Issa isn't the first Republican official to kneel before Limbaugh in order to curry favor. RNC chairman Michael Steele apologized for calling Limbaugh an “entertainer,” Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) told Limbaugh he was sorry for comments defending the House Republican leadership against criticism from Limbaugh, and Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) backed off criticism of Limbaugh's “I hope he fails” comments.

Even Sarah Palin changed her mind about condemning Limbaugh's use of the word “retards,” giving Limbaugh a “satirical” exception for use of the word.

Whenever a Republican makes even a mild criticism of Limbaugh, you can start the countdown clock right away until they bow in his direction and take it back.