With Talent on Loan from Rush
This column also appeared in the Orlando Sentinel.
In 1994 when Republicans regained power in the House of Representatives after 40 years of Democratic control, the freshly minted majority knew just who to thank: radio host Rush Limbaugh. With great fanfare they bestowed upon their spokesman the unique title of honorary member of Congress.
Fifteen years later, with Republicans on the ropes following major losses in back-to-back elections, Congressman Limbaugh remains the conservative movement's de facto leader, and he's wasted little time embarking on a mission to take President Obama down and bring the right back to life.
The day before closing the annual Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend in Washington, D.C., with a barn-burning call for obstinance and obstruction, Limbaugh told his radio audience -- "ditto heads" as they refer to themselves -- "the dirty little secret ... is that every Republican in this country wants Obama to fail, but none of them have the guts to say so; I am willing to say it."
It wasn't the first time Limbaugh had declared his hope that the president would fail. Just days before Obama's inauguration, the conservative talker ignited controversy when he matter-of-factly said of the soon-to-be-president, "I hope he fails."
The "ditto heads" in Congress were listening.
Marching in lockstep with Limbaugh, not a single House Republican voted in favor of the president's economic recovery and reinvestment plan despite numerous overtures from a White House avowedly committed to the search for common ground. Congressional Republicans went all in, betting on Obama's failure.
To be fair, not all conservatives have been happy with Limbaugh's line of attack. Some have even spoken out noting their displeasure. Congressman Phil Gingrey, a Georgia Republican, reportedly said, "I mean, it's easy if you're ... Rush Limbaugh ... to stand back and throw bricks. You don't have to try to do what's best for your people and your party."
Hold your applause. It took less than one day for Gingrey to reverse course.
Appearing the next day with his tail between his legs on Limbaugh's radio program, Gingrey apologized, saying, "I want to express to you and all your listeners my very sincere regret for those comments I made yesterday. ... I clearly ended up putting my foot in my mouth on some of those comments."
Not to be outdone, the other night on CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, Michael Steele, the new Republican National Committee chairman, offered his own unpleasant assessment of Limbaugh, telling Hughley, "Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment. Yes, it's incendiary. Yes, it's ugly."
Perhaps the ugliness to which Steele referred was Limbaugh saying of Obama, "We are being told ... that we have to bend over, grab the ankles ... because his father was black." Or maybe it was after Obama's historic Democratic Party presidential nomination when Limbaugh said it "goes back to the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy." It could have been back in the 1990s, when Limbaugh reportedly played "Movin' On Up" -- the theme song from TV's The Jeffersons -- while discussing Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, the only African-American woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate.
It shouldn't have been surprising that Steele, the first African-American chairman of the Republican Party, would seemingly harbor such ill will toward Limbaugh.
True to form, however, the very next day Steele appeared on bended knee ready to kiss Limbaugh's ring, telling Politico, "I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh. ... I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. ... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."
Several recent polls have showed Obama substantially more popular than congressional Republicans. Who on Earth would want to "diminish" Limbaugh's influence when it's paying such tremendous dividends for the right?
I kid, but seriously, it's beginning to look like conservatives are hopelessly addicted to Limbaugh.
At a briefing this week, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs advised those in attendance to "ask individual Republicans whether they agree with what Rush Limbaugh said. Do they want the president's economic agenda to fail?"
Should the press choose to take Gibbs' advice, it would behoove them to take note not only of what conservatives say, but what they do as well. After all, if they stand up against Limbaugh it will only be a matter of time before they end up groveling for forgiveness.
Limbaugh often proclaims that he's broadcasting "with talent on loan from God." It seems more and more that conservatives are attempting to find their way out of the political wilderness with talent on loan from Rush.
Karl Frisch is a senior fellow at Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog, research, and information center in Washington, D.C. Frisch also contributes to County Fair, a media blog featuring links to progressive media criticism from around the web as well as original commentary. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook or sign-up to receive his columns by email.
I'm sorry, Rush.
I'm sorry too, Rush. Sorry you're forced to live in an America that disgusts you so much, a country that insists on advancing while you cling bitterly to some romantic imaginary America built out of bootstraps and Oxycontin.
I saw some of your speech at the CPAC convention, and you were talking about your broken heart. Not just yours, but the broken hearts of all conservatives who can't stand to see poor people exploited through a government that creates total dependency through social programs.If only you were in charge, then working people could just abndon those pie-in-the sky dreams of beach houses and health insurance and retirement.
God Bless you Rush. I'm sorry.
You forgot the "o" in "abandon". You clearly owe Rush an apology for not proofreading your apology.
And Rush? I apologize for the Colonel's clumsy error, and for myself for not catching it before it wasted your valuable time.
I clearly included the "o", but forgot the other "a". Now look what you've done, you've turned my sacred offering to the gelatinous phlegmy one into a ridiculous pedantic typo-nazi-fest.
I am so sorry Rush!
Yeah, well if you hadn't screwed it up the first time, I wouldn't have had to apologize for it. Besides, you took me out of context. You didn't understand what I meant. You libs just don't get humor.
You're a great leader Rush, and if SOME PEOPLE AROUND HERE would just shut up and follow you unquestioningly, we wouldn't have to put up with this kind of nonsense, huh Rush? I'm sorry you had to see this. Dreadfully sorry. Sincerely and most shamefully sorry. If there's any way I may serve you better, don't hesitate to ask.
I think he keeps a pillow close to his feet in his radio booth just for apologetic republicans (makes it easier on the knees).
Nah, he makes them shuffle in from the first floor, to the elevator, down the hall and into his lair on their knees like that church does.
We really need Rush L. Ann C. Bill O. and Hannity to keep the rest of us reasonable and entertain the fringe. We have to hope they keep up their good work in sustaining the center.
none of those names you listed are reasonable people
Rushtothebuffet Limbaugh is such a racist and no one calls him on it! (He is also a misogynist and no one calls him on that either!) Saying, "We are being told ... that we have to bend over, grab the ankles ... because his father was black" (because his father is black! Rush is the only one I hear saying that!), or "goes back to the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy" (Rush has a problem with black!), or in the 1990s, when Limbaugh played "Movin' On Up" -- the theme song from TV's The Jeffersons -- while discussing Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, the only African-American woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate (racist Rush again!). I guess it is okay to be a racist if you are a conservative Republican. Why doesn’t he just wear his Klan grab when he does his radio show?!
With all the derogatory and racist comments, would we all be surprised (not) to hear
Limbaugh refer to Steele as "Uncle Tom".
Thank You Rush: For exemplifying the misguided, racist, and looney ideas of conservative repuglicans. No wonder they lost no;w they should go away.
um alan...
I thik you owe Rush an apology for misspelling the word 'republicans' with the word 'repuglicans'
It seems only fair since all the rest of us are saying heart felt sorry's the El Rushbo as well.
So Rush,
I to am sorry for all the horrible things I have said about you as well in the past. Even though all of it was well placed and proper for what prompted me to say them to begin with. I am so very sorry! How can I ever be forgiven?
I repeat what I said in an earlier post...that IMO Rush Limbaugh will implode under the pressure of his newly found leadership. A few minutes ago I was driving in my car listening to Limbaugh challenge the Prseident Obama to a debate, leader to leader, on his show...all the while taunting liberals whom he said were terrified of the prospect. Why would the President of the United States debate a radio talk show host? The man is delusional...and it makes one wonder whether he is still abusing drugs.
Limbaugh doesn't get the insult implicit in being declared the leader of the Republican Party...that the Republican Party has fallen so low that it is presently being led by a delusional radio talk show host with a history of drug abuse.
He initially said that Obama could send a rep but apparently over a break he thought that perhaps they would so true to form, he changed the offer to Obama only. But he knows full well that Obama is not going to go to his radio shelter and debate him and if there was any doubt Limbaugh removed it by taunting him, much like my 13 year old does with his sister. I think the guy really is to the breaking point and it's quite a show - enjoy.
I don't think Limbaugh looks too healthy either. Did you see his CPAC speech? A sweaty, gelatinous demeanor with jumpy, quirky mannerisms...something ain't quite right there. With his money -and vanity - there is no reason that Limbaugh should be so fat.
I did and I agree. He really is a freak show and the triple cheese-burgers are showing. Maybe he's under a lot of stress. What people should know is that he's captured the loon fringe of the right. Those people are never, ever going to vote for a Democrat no matter what but Republicans running for office need them so its amusing watching them walk this tight rope.
His taunting and baiting today is hilarious and I think he's used the term "butt-boy" a dozen times. This is who Fearless Leader is and conservatives can hold their heads high.
I saw bits of his speech and all I could think was he was on "blow". All jumpy and sweaty.
His bit reminded me of the Shatner - Rocketman clip. Cause that was the 70s and everyone was on coke.
Forgive me, I make the comments above with all due respect to Fearless Leader and I apologize.
Go sacrifice a goat to Rush and pray for forgiveness. ;>)
Do what to a goat? Seriously, I've just found Steele's replacement. I think he'll fit in rather well, don't you think?
no no no no no....you dont sacrifice a goat. The romans sacrificed bulls, they were more acceptable to the Jupiter Optimus Maximus and Mars Stator (the Stayer)
sacrifice bulls not goats.
Yea, but we did bulls last night (check the threads). I thought a goat would be a more fitting daytime, lesser sacrifice. But, oh yea, Rush definitely gets the bull sacrifices... After all he's the Messiah.
just make sure you stay away from the sacred geese/chickens in sacrificing them.
(this reference is about when Rome was occupied by the Gauls (the French) and when the last Romans were under seige on the Capitol (Capitoline Hill) that Marcus Manlius was alerted to an attempted Gaul attack by the sacred birds. and Manlius saved the Capitol, the translations of Livy has produced the animals were either chickens or geese, and my own Latin isnt great.)
oh and make sure when you do the sacrifice you have to be underneath and have the blood fall on you.
and then you must also collect the blood and take it to rush and paint his face with it.
Why would the President of the United States debate a radio talk show host?
Good points and a good question, Irony. Sean Hannity plays a clip of Obama mentioning that there are probably a lot of hardcore Hannity fans who wouldn't want to have a beer with Obama.
This gets a laugh, and Obama's meaning is clear; there is a specific group of conservatives (described in shorthand as the Hannitized here) who have been trained to hate Obama, mostly based on misinformation and helped along by their own fears and prejudices. Obama, correctly, dismisses them as amusing.
Hannity somehow interprets this as a challenge/invitation to him, and regularly offers to have a beer with Obama,(adding that he'll pay for the beer, as he imagines the president would want, in keeping with Hannity's imaginary world of hard-working responsible Republicans and free-loading dems), when in fact, Obama is ridiculing Hannity & his audience.
But the callers to Hannity's radio show are convinced that the simple-minded radio host has made a legitimate challenge that hasn't been accepted by the timid president.
So why would the president debate a wingnut talk show host?No good reason to do it, but the Hannitized don't understand that. Just like the blabbering dittoheads at this site who imagine they've accomplished something when nobody responds to their stuff, Seannie thinks his history of lying in the face of facts, his complete lack of self-respect in parroting GOP talking points, and his documented propaganda-spewing don't matter at all. He thinks he's a journalist.
He's a clown, just like Limbaugh.Only clowns are even less funny when they have influence over a group of voters, even a small and pitiful group, if they're anywhere near enough to influence an election.
i find it ironic that rush complains constantly of kool aid drinking by people who don't follow his marching orders, who have the stones to tell him to knock his crap off and then on top of that about face and kneel before him as if he is the Pope.
this guy who consistantly gives racist, and psudeo-racist remarks, compares chelsea clinton to a dog (even though he claims that someone on his staff placed that picture and not him and) saying he hopes obama fails, and then that it was an accurate thing to say, decries drug addicts, when he himself is an admitted drug addict, and says whatever he wants but doesn't get thrown off the air. don imus makes a racist remark and gets tossed. but rush has been doing it for years. and no one says a word. bill cunningham says president obama is a nazi, and then makes his own racist remaks about the cinncinatti boys basketball team and he doesn't get touched. you have glenn beck who solicitied a girl to come over and get nude photos taken of her and the only thing that happens to him is he leaves headline news for fox news.
and last but not least, who could forget good ol bill o'reilly, and his racisim after a dinner with al sharpton. his remarks on the rape/murder victim saying that she was asking for it. and the kidnap victim, saying that he enjoyed his captivity better than living with his parents. even though he was raped as well.
i guess my point in all of this is where is the outrage in getting these morons to stop this. but then i also realize that these guys bring in money, which they in turn get million dollar contracts and drive up ratings and listeners. it is a sad state of affairs where we have come to the point where anything can be said and no restraint or manners are exercised.
cry 1st amendment but what about being decent people and being responsible for things that are said.
Unfortunately, according to some who post here, limbaugh and the right have yet to say anything as vile, racist and hateful as anything said by the left. I guess it's one of those sliding scale definitions...
Interesting thing about the "koolaid" reference. Rush may have been the one who popularized it, but he originally used differently than it is used today.
When we say that someone "drank the koolaid", it generally means they're a blind follower of one ideology or another... at least that's how I see it used most often.
However, the first time I heard El Blimpo use it was during one of Clinton's Presidential campaigns (I don't remember which one). He was predicting a Republican landslide, and said that the Democrats were ready to "Drink the Koolaid" if they lost. This was obviously a reference to the mass suicide at Jonestown. I remember thinking how funny it would be to send Rush a box of Koolaid after Clinton won, but I never got around to it.
I'm not sure when or how the phrase evolved to its present usage, or why anybody should care. Just something unimportant to ponder.
precisley correct.
but if you think about it the connotation is the same even in its present form. your basically still following blindly even if it means your death.
Pointing a finger back at the other side is not a defense. If you get pulled over for speeding and tell the trooper that others were speeding as well, do you think that'll get you out of the ticket? I think not.
point taken, but where is the fairness in that they are the ones to breech respectible discourse. and the ones who respond are the ones who get in trouble
We are talking hgypocrisy DeminTX, not defense. No one said it's okay to say bad things about people on the left but not on the right.
But that's exactly what some right wing cons are saying. So save your sermons for the hypocrites, not the people pointing out the hypocrisy.
My post was meant to be directed to "POV" and others that "hit and run" on here. Their only defense of Rush is by claiming that Sharpton et al "name call" too. The right-wing cons have no defense for their 'self-proclaimed' leader and simply point the finger the other way with a "look they to do it too!" That's elementary school behavior if you ask me. I'm with you guys on this.
My post was meant to be directed to "POV" and others that "hit and run" on here. Their only defense of Rush is by claiming that Sharpton et al "name call" too. The right-wing cons have no defense for their 'self-proclaimed' leader and simply point the finger the other way with a "look they to do it too!" That's elementary school behavior if you ask me. I'm with you guys on this.
Well, that seems about right. POV and the other hit-and-runners display elementary school intellect here all the time..... :-)
That does not bode well for our elementary schools.
Well, that's what we get with "No Child Left Behind". They all got left behind. In TX, our entire school system shut down for a day for a pathetic standardized test.
No significant part of the Democratic (or liberal or progressive or whatever term you want to use) machinery has ever paid fealty to Sharpton, or Michael Moore, or any of the leftist-boggeymen the trolls cite in the "look, he does it too" puerility.
Such is not the case with Rush. In general terms, a "leader" is the person that the members of the group being led follow, pay attention to, and fear crossing. Congratulations, Rush. You ARE the leader of the 21st Century GOP.
Blimpo is a valuable commodity for the GOP. He is a de facto 15 hour per week infomercial for their wacko agenda. He is not subject to campaign regulations, so they are free to pay him as much as they wish to do carry their water.
They have created a monster that now has power over them, and he's not afraid to use it for his own aggrandizement.
Since Rush is the only part of the Republican machine that still works, they have to bend over backwards and kiss his a$$. Otherwise, he might punish them by telling his drooling minions to stay home next election day.
Although I listen to Rush just about every day (know your enemies kind of thing) I am sick of the drug addict and fat jokes. We do not need to stoop to his level. And before I forget. Sorry Rush
If it were anybody else, I would agree. However, Blimpo has made a career of denigrating other people for their looks, especially women. He deserves no consideration from us.
The remarks about Limbaugh's fattiness are perhaps gratuitous. However, the remarks about Limbaugh's drug addiction are not...they are probative as to Limbaugh's character, his mental competence, as well as his hypocricy.
I agree that Rush Limbaugh looks unhealthy. The man is simply to fat to live a happy, long life. I also hate the way he treated Bill Clinton during the 1990's when everything seemed to being doing great for the country. He can be insensitive, dishonest, and annoying. HOWEVER, I am just as repulsed by the way NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN and MSNBC as well as The New York Time, the LA TIMES, et. Al. treated Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. I see unfair reporting on both sides. Sure, many of you only see the right doing it. I beg to differ.
If you are just as repulsed by the small potatoes that favor the left as you are by the huge smorgasbord of offensive things that the right has done, then your balance is way off.
Sure, there are unfair people on both sides. There are way more unfair people on the right. There's a whole news network that's on the side of those on the right. There are a few right-leaning journalists on all media and a few left-leaning ones too. Of course there's unfair reporting from both sides, but it is not equivalent amounts from both sides. And there are no comparable people on the left like Rush and Ann Coulter and James Dobson and Savage and ....
If you think that by saying that the left is not without sin, you are making some kind of relevant point, you're wrong.
Zamfir:
Please cite an example of this alleged "unfair treatment" of either Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin.
The REAL question is why would Obama show up without a teleprompter??? He also cannot say the word "AND"! Anytime he has the urge for the John Edwards "AAAAAND" that he ripped off, he must say "you know what I'm sayin'" instead. Then the whacked policy that is going to bomb on the democrats face would sound even more articulate! No what I'm sayin????
Rush would CRUSH OBAMA like a 2 piece chicken dinner. This would be an "AND-FEST". "Excuse me Rush, could I refer to my notes of political history" or "Let me turn around behind me to see if one of these puppeteers knows how to refute that Rush!?" Heck. You guys take him out of context. How could Obama debate Rush when you guys cannot even understand what he's saying. You ar on the "Ride to Nowhere" it's all good though! Enjoy.
How could Obama debate Rush when you guys cannot even understand what he's saying.
That's the whole problem, LyingBuster. Obama isn't going to debate some radio clown who is unintelligible /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.5in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> to rational humans.You've sort of beaten yourself here by admitting that Rush makes no sense, except to imbeciles.
Rush would CRUSH OBAMA like a 2 piece chicken dinner
I guess if, in place of a debate, the contest was which man could eat the other, The Oxymoron would come out on top.Fortunately, the part of America that doesn't start phone calls with "Megadittos" has eveolved past this point.
If the human race was, say, some primitive, canniballistic species of fish or insect, Rush would be the favorite.That's why Rush only debates with day-old tapes of his opponents (giving him and his nurses time to come up with responses),and issues challenges to those whom he knows wouldn't lower themselves to debating a drug-addled simpleton.
Consider this: The president of the United States accepts a challenge to debate a radio clown like El Rushbo. Who's next? Opie and the morning Zoo? Snake and Barbie Breakfast Club on WNUT? Sean Hannity?
When the Cons realize that Obama IS the president of the United States, they will finally understand that DA Rush is an entertainer and really hasn't earn the right to debate a President.
My challenge to DA Rush----Would you agree to a debate with Prez Obama anywhere, anytime with the stipulation that every time you lie or distort anything, a light goes on and a fact-checker pops-up on the TV screen. And also, as part of this, since you really don't have anything to lose, when you are caught lying that you will resign from your job, refuse any monies due to you and promise to run for Congress or any other political position where you can be held accountable. The President doesn't have to agree to any terms of this nature because he is the PREZ while you are an entertainer with a radio show paid for by advertisers who pay premium rates because of your popularity. These same advertisers who raise their prices to support shows like yours, who then pass those prices onto the people who buy their products...all people, Cons or Libs. And the dittoheads love their DA Rush. Simple minds breed simple fools.
I would definitely trust Opie, Barbie, and Sean more. I am no big Rush fan, but Rush is less of a girl than Obama. One time seeing Obama's jumper and I wanted to smack that weak crap into the cheap seats. His "J" is as weak as his ability to fool me with his "free stuff". Nothings free unless your gullible enough to believ that one.
um.... Liebuster...
1) Stop doing drugs! They scramble the brain and you end up like Rush.
2) That addled brain of yours is seriously screwed! Do you really think even for a second... that Rush Limbaugh... a college dropout could possibly compete in any kind of a debate with a Harvard Law School Constitutional law professor? And's and all?
3) Next time you call into Rush's puke-fest of a show... why don't you ask him how Jeff Christie is doing?
4) I get the feeling that even Sasha or Malia could wipe the floor intellectually speaking with Rush... debate indeed!
While I see no good reason for President Obama to waste a second doing this... you have to ask yourself this Liebuster:
Are you really so sure you want a self confessed drug addict who goes to the Dominican Republic (with Viagra no less) to be the leader of what's left of the Republican party? Because if you do... you have bigger problems than worrying about what we say in here!
Liebuster.....i am trying my best in not schooling you again....but you seem to be on this kick of saying truly nonsensical things so i have the following to say.
SCHOOL IS IN SESSION
lesson 1. if you have ever tried giving a speech of a length of at least 4 minutes or more, it would be hard to do so without notes, or a teleprompter. in high shcool i had to take such a class and had to give 4 major speeches. now while i tried my best to memorize it, i coudln't do so, especially since the speech was near 8 mins long. so i had practiced nightly numerous times in front of a mirror, and my family. but i stil hadn't memorized the whole thing and needed an outline and a copy of the speech itself to kick my memory. so bashing president obama for using a teleprompter to keep him going is not a sin, especially since every president has used one since they came into use, including W. who with a prompter still screwed up and sounded like he needed remedial grammer lessons.
Lesson 2: "a 2 piece chicken dinner"? -Liebuster
that is dancing awefully close to a racist stereotype, "know what im saying?" now i could be wrong and im misinterpreting it and if so i apologize. but its hard not to think that given the well known racial connotation of chicken and black people.
but let us not forget rush and his well known, and ive listened to his show a few times while on a drive and nothing else being on the radio, where he seems to h ave forgotten his words and just repeats "uh" over and over again.
oh and last but not least my favorite.....Rush being named defender of the Constitution by CPAC and then in his speech, confusing the preamble of the Constitution, with the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. so given the fact that he confused the very document he is supposed to be defending with something else and you say that he would crush president obama. and the president would need help, given that little gem i would bank more that president obama wouldn't have much trouble keeping his documents and facts straight.
schooled again. CLASS DISMISSSED
Lesson 1. (Allow me to capitalize that for ya) This is not high school. This is the Presidency.
Lesson 2 Oops, I forgot libs are very sensitive. Well, let's go with "hotcakes" instead. I did not realize Rush eating chicken was racial. My apology. I would not vote for Obama if he was the first Magenta colored mixed raced President ever. Nothing racial here in all seriousness.
Oh, let's put the J down for a sec and turn aside from the hotcakes. I know they are good munchies. Rush is not a politician. Obama is, and my personal fav to bust on is Biden. Yes, the guy that you had hoped would not get brought up. Biden on the other hand will be the leader of the free world, Lord forbid something happened to Obama. Again, in all seriousness that would be a nightmare, not to mention Pelosi as the Vice President. (She'd have her eyes peeled for trouble though, always! That lady can watch YO back in her sleep.) So many targets, i'm getting off track here. Let's drop this on you to start...
1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY.
2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.
3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, “Drill we must.” But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to “raping” the Outer Continental Shelf.”
4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it’s passage.
5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he’s always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coal plants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.
6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain’s record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.
7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes on people's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offset any tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack is false
8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax.
9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.
10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.
11. IRAQ: When Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was “dead wrong on Iraq”, because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where they John McCain has been proven right.
12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn’t see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.
13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn’t meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of “part of a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20.”
14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama, Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.
I thank God that I am not on your end of the stick and I look at your stance as pure lunacy. Come on back now, ya hear?
If you believe that is the REAl question then we may not have much of a discussion. Personally I don't care and neither should you.
Secondly, do you honestly believe that Limbaugh could win a debate with a wet paper bag, let alone Pres. Obama.
Third, do you think Limbaugh's offer was serious?
This is your opportunity for redemeption, so take your time. Looking forward to your answers.
First, he sounds weak without a prepared speech and canned.
Secondly, yes. I think that he would hotbox Obama down like one of those stoagies.
Third, I get something else out of this challenge. Because of Bush, who was a lefty in my book, Republicans are not speaking up. Libs call racism everytime you question the millions of blacks that showed up to vote for a black man. This caused many to clam up. Not me. I am a God fearing man. I have never had a racist bone in my body. I feel comfortable calling em like I see em.
I am new to this site and I must say that I like a lot of the information that is presented. I am a registered Republican, but do not consider myself a neo-con. The influence that Limbaugh has on leading Republicans is sickening to me. I believe that people like Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove are at least partially responsible for our inability to connect to moderate Americans in the last two elections. While pushing their "religious right" political agenda did win two elections for George Bush, it has created a political mess. Now the party is an a lot of trouble for a couple of reasons. Americans today are more liberal when it comes to social issues (as am I), but Americans as a whole do agree with some of the Republican rhetoric when it comes to the economy. The best plan of action to win elections would be to have a candidate push fiscal conservatism and social liberalism, but pundits like Limbaugh will thrash any candidate that does this because of their social views that would seem anti-christian to him. Doing this would also upset the so-called religious base that these guys like Limbaugh and Rove have worked so dilligently to create. So, Limbaugh is, in essence, a voice for the party, but his rhetoric has put shackles on any free thinking conservative that believes our party needs to get back to its fiscal roots. Barry Goldwater would be ashamed.
welcome to the club, you are the second offical member of being a republican but not like many of those who blog here, i myself am like you. so again welcome to a very lonely club
and i love the goldwater reference because i made a simialr one. pointing out the fac that before he retired he said himelf that he was considered a liberal and not a true republican.
goldwater would be far worse than ashamed, he is rolling over in his gave. and so is TR.
Barry Goldwater would be ashamed and a Democrat.
ill disagree with you on that one, he would be called a democrat but he is a true conservative republican.
I will agree with that statement, the term conservative republican has been changed so dramatically that it does not resemble the same ideals as it used to. The "right wing" has made it a party based on religious values, which is disheartening to me, considering our founding fathers' desire for seperation of church and state. Personally, I am a christian person, but my relationship with God and religion is a private one that does not belong in the government's day to day workings. I guess you could consider me somewhat of a libertarian in that sense, but my economic ideals are what make me a Republican, not my private life.
well said, Goldwater and Teddy are cheering from heaven for us
funny thing is goldwater himself said that his party was being hijaked by the religious right.
very true, but strategically it is hard to move away from that because they fired up that part of the base so much the last 8-12 years. Rove's winning strategy from 2000 and 2004 is now blowing up in their face.
To quote TR "Americans learn only from catstrophe and not from experience." I think that catastrophe is the only thing that can move the Republican fundamentals back to where they belong.
a very true sentiment....look at pearl harbor, watergate, jfk's assassination. (im leaving out 9-11 on purpose because well, the only thing they learned is my way or the highway.)
One thing socialism surely has in common with communism, is the belief that there is no place for religion, or God, anywhere. That is their ultimate goal. Not the separation, but the total destruction of religion in this country.
The cries from the liberal/socialists is that they are great patriots, standing tall with pride, clutching the Constitution to their hearts, protecting it. But President Washington foresaw them as well. He saw the two great strengths of our country as religion and morality. He saw that there would be those who would use their twisted views to subvert these “great pillars of human happiness”. Washington knew they would cry on high in their belief in freedom as they labor to subvert. Just as the terrorists twist and subvert their religious beliefs into an ugly and evil version, suited to their own personal desires, the left's goal is to twist our constitution into something ugly. Hypocrite: a person who pretends to be what he is not, one who pretends to be better than he is, a pretense of virtue. This is today’s liberal/socialists. Hypocrites.
Name these folks, you may have heard of them:
"Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe." --James Madison
"We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come." -- Samuel Adams
"Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint." --Daniel Webster
"Your love of liberty -- your respect for the laws -- your habits of industry -- and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the strongest claims to national and individual happiness." --George Washington
"Reading, reflection and time have convinced me that the interests of society require the observation of those moral precepts ... in which all religions agree." --Thomas Jefferson
"It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe." Washington continued: "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency." --George Washington
Liebuster. I agree with your sentiments. My point was that there is no further need to extend the amount of religion that is already involved in our government. The perfect government in my mind is not there to forward the Christian agenda so to speak, but to provide the necessary protections to its populace. One of those protections includes the freedom to practice your faith. The party's constant pushing of issues like abortion and gay marriage are, in my belief, frivolous efforts. Are these the most important things that our governing body should be worried about? I do believe that religion has its place in society, and also morality in particular, but on the other hand it is not up to a governing body of mostly "ungoverned," unjust individuals to decide what its place is. I do not advocate the banishment of religion in general, but simply our leaders are unjust to push a religious agenda in that sort of platform, I.E. through lawmaking, campaigns, etc.
Is this the best you've got? Rush played the Jeffersons theme???
Mr. Frisch, do you have any idea WHY that theme was funny at the time? From the January 5, 1993 Washington Post, how CMB began her political self-undoing early:
She also began to display more openly what Rose described as a longstanding taste for high living. After the election, Braun sold her condominium in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood and moved into a penthouse in a sleek glass and steel high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan. The rent of about $ 3,000 a month is reportedly less than the normal charge for such accommodations in the building.