This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by Rush's strident defense of the Tea-Partying "majority"
By Simon Maloy

There were a lot of things we expected when we started this Limbaugh Wire gig -- premature aging, hair loss, Stockholm Syndrome, etc. But one thing we didn't expect was competition. Seriously, what kind of sick, self-loathing, masochistic soul would look at what we do here every day and say to themselves, "Me too"? Well, that question has been answered, as the good people at Jezebel have started live-blogging El Rushbo's daily antics. Their approach is a little different from ours -- they place a premium on brevity, offer an interactive Limbaugh Bingo game, and reserve some of their best mockery for the callers. What they share with us, however, is an appreciation of just how hellish The Rush Limbaugh Show can be for anyone with sense, reason, intelligence, or ears. So, welcome to the fray, Jezebel. If misery loves company, then we can now consider ourselves soul mates.

Anyway, Rush must have been in need of a pick-me-up this morning, because he got today's show going with a feel-good monologue about how radical and evil and awful and liberal the Democratic Party is. Nothing really new or noteworthy here -- the hard-left Democratic leadership is doing the bidding of the trial lawyers, grassroots Democrats aren't that liberal, Democrats are marginalizing themselves, and they have policies in place that are destroying their own voters. Oh, and the media stinks, can't forget that.

Continuing, Rush said he knows that the American people are decent, liberty-loving, creative, and independent, and that's why Obama and Pelosi have to lie about everything. They are using the tactics of Saul Alinsky -- don't speak outside the comfort level of your audience. The Democrats use the language of competitiveness and liberty to fool the people. Rush added: "And at its core, this country rejects Obamaism -- at its core. That's -- Mr. Snerdley, this is so plain as day, I don't know why I didn't come up with it sooner. Why do they lie? Why are they lie -- why can't they be honest about what they're doing. Why can't they say, "Yes, you're going to lose your private insurance"? Why can't they say, "Yeah, we're gonna ration care"? It's not what people want. The American people do not want an all-powerful, socialist government. This is why they have to lie." Obama and the Democrats spend every moment of every day plotting ways to lie to and fool the American people, etc.

And Rush had a "special message" for the Blue Dog Democrats. These Blue Dogs are getting away with a great scam, said Rush. They fancy themselves fiscal conservatives, and they repeat that mantra to their constituents, but they can't maintain this fiction while voting yes on health care. They'll be kicked out of office for being exposed as leftists, said Rush. This vote will determine their political futures. Ask Republicans who lost elections in the past few cycles about campaigning one way and voting another. Rush said you Blue Dogs have seen your last days if you vote for this bill. You will be finished in 2010 if you vote for the most radical expansion of government ever.

After the break, Rush wasn't quite done with the anti-Democrat venom. A community organizer can not complain when communities organize, said Rush, but that's exactly what's happening right now. Back in July 2007, Obama said that being a community organizer is a qualification for the presidency, and now he's attacking organizing communities. Rush said: "This is what Barack Obama said was the best education he ever had was community organizing for ACORN. It was the highest good, a public service. And he's now trying to swat down citizens who have grievances? Of course. Because he's a statist, he's an authoritarian." Rush then played the audio of the DNC ad attacking the "mobs" at the town hall meetings. Rush said he predicted this - this is the President of the United States calling you a mob. "This is the president of the United States, who ran as a unifier. He has now resorted to nothing more than a raw political campaign as president against a majority of the American people who oppose him. The president of the United States is running ads referring to 52 percent of the American people as a mob" Really, Rush? These people represent the "majority"? The majority of Americans hang congressman in effigy, joke about the suicide of a senator newly diagnosed with cancer, and carry protest signs against Obama with Nazi SS lettering?

Rush then aired audio of Rep. Henry Waxman's (D-CA) appearance on The Daily Show last night, during which he said the town hall protests are not spontaneous, they're sponsored by the Republicans and Rush. They're trying to intimidate you, said Rush. The Democrats and the president blame you, they hold you in contempt. Rush then noted that on MSNBC yesterday, Keith Boykin said the protests are being organized by Republicans and Fox News, they're a coalition of cranks. Rush had a challenge for all the Democratic strategists and Robert Gibbs -- give the name of one person who has been hired by a lobbyist for an insurance company who has showed up at a town hall. Rush added: "But remember this, Mr. Boykin, community organizer, who thinks it's the greatest experience he ever had, can't start bitching when communities organize."

Another break and Rush aired the audio of the DNC ad again, and offered a riposte to its claim that the Republicans don't have a plan for the country -- we sure as hell do have a plan for moving the country forward, said Rush, it's called stopping Obama and the Democrats and saving the country. That's some plan. We're afraid it might be a little too narrowly focused though... Anyway, Rush then got on to one of our favorite lies: "The same party that passed a phony stimulus bill, giving ACORN community organizers billions of dollars to organize and protest and agitate -- the same party is complaining when private citizens attend townhall meetings on their own, on their own dime, and question what the government it wanting to do to their healthcare." No, ACORN did not receive billions from the stimulus. Otherwise, it's a good point.

Then Rush aired audio of Obama in Nevada in 2007, telling his supporters to argue with and get in the faces of their neighbors. This coming from the great unifier? Rush indignantly clucked. They have the nerve to call us an unruly mob? Then Rush aired audio of Obama saying in March that he didn't want to quell anger over AIG, he wanted anger channeled in a constructive way. Obama was telling the bankers he was the only one standing between them and the pitch. Rush added: "This man is not who he claims to be. He is not at all similar to the core of the American people. And that is why he has to lie with virtually every statement that he makes about his healthcare plan, or the stimulus, or the state of the economy." And here, folks, we get to the nub of things. Rush let slip the real reason behind all these attacks on Obama -- he's different from you. He's not like you. That's why Rush brings up Obama's birth certificate, that's why Rush jokes about Obama's brother in Kenya, that's why Rush reads fringe screeds about Obama being an African colonial -- it's all about forwarding the ugly notion that Obama is foreign, shady, and dangerous.

Rush then aired audio of Robert Gibbs at the White House press briefing yesterday saying that some of the protests are manufactured, and Conservatives for Patients Rights bragged about it. No, no, no, Rush said. Actually, yes, yes, yes. But anyway, Rush continued to insist that there is no manufactured anger. It is real and it is boiling over. Then Rush aired sound bites of Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) being heckled at an event in New York, specifically a sound bite of a man shouting that Hoyer is a "liar." This is a Democrat meeting, Rush said. Acutally, no, Rush, this guy wasn't a Democrat, he was a Tea Party organizer who crashed the meeting. Meaning it was manufactured outrage.

Coming back from one more break, Rush closed out this absurd hour of falsehoods and bile by reading from a series of blog entries from the Heritage Foundation about health care reform. Rush said that Americans do deserve an honest debate on health care, but these Democrats are lying. It's not us lying about the health care plan, it's the Democrats, because they care more about union bosses than they do the American people. Rush then aired a montage of the "talking point" that's been disseminated to the media, that the town hall protesters akin to the "Brooks Brothers riot" from the 2000 Florida recount. You're not real, folks, Said Rush. You're too well-dressed.

Greg Lewis and Zachary Pleat contributed to this edition of the Limbaugh Wire.

Highlights from Hour 1

Outrageous comments

LIMBAUGH: And at its core, this country rejects Obamaism -- at its core. That's -- Mr. Snerdley, this is so plain as day, I don't know why I didn't come up with it sooner. Why do they lie? Why are they lie -- why can't they be honest about what they're doing. Why can't they say, "Yes, you're going to lose your private insurance"? Why can't they say, "Yeah, we're gonna ration care"? It's not what people want. The American people do not want an all-powerful, socialist government. This is why they have to lie.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: This is what Barack Obama said was the best education he ever had was community organizing for ACORN. It was the highest good, a public service. And he's now trying to swat down citizens who have grievances? Of course -- because he's a statist; he's an authoritarian.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: This is the president of the United States, who ran as a unifier. He has now resorted to nothing more than a raw political campaign as president against a majority of the American people who oppose him. The president of the United States is running ads referring to 52 percent of the American people as a mob.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: But remember this, Mr. Boykin, community organizer, who thinks it's the greatest experience he's ever had, can't start bitching when communities organize.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: This man is not who he claims to be. He is not at all similar to the core of the American people. And that is why he has to lie with virtually every statement that he makes about his health care plan, or the stimulus, or the state of the economy. He has to lie. He has to lie about his plans because the people of this country would reject him by a landslide if he were honest.

America's Truth Rejector

LIMBAUGH: The same party that passed a phony stimulus bill, giving ACORN community organizers billions of dollars to organize and protest and agitate, the same party is complaining when private citizens attend town hall meetings on their own, on their own dime, and question what the government is wanting to do to their health care.

This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by Rush's childish, kneejerk reactions to hearing the words "Bill Clinton"
By Greg Lewis

Hour two began with class.

LIMBAUGH: All right, folks, I am going to say what everyone else is thinking, and I know that you are thinking it because everybody's thinking it. Did Bill Clinton hit on two female journalists on the long flight home from North Korea? I'm -- I'm not -- how can I say it? I'm not saying he did, but given his past, it does cross one's mind.

The only reason we're still here is because the chains keeping us at our desks are incredibly thick.

Anyway, Rush moved on from childish Bill Clinton jokes and dug into his Stack of Stuff. First, he replayed his audio montage of the media comparing the health care protests to the Brooks Brothers brigade from the 2000 Florida recount. Rush declared that given the economic circumstances, we will soon have to get our clothes from Goodwill and the Salvation Army -- only Barack and Michelle Obama will be able to afford Brooks Brothers.

The Rush read a few articles addressing public sector job losses, easing job losses, and the expansion of food stamps and other welfare programs. Rush asked if the recession is over, then why are 6 million more Americans on food stamps than there were last year? They have to lie in order to pass their agenda, Rush said for the nth time this afternoon.

Rush then read about Rep. John Larson (D-CT) undergoing heart valve replacement surgery -- "no pain pills for this guy." Har har [raucous laughter]. Then Rush read from an AP report on Obama administration members travelling to defend their stimulus plan. Rush said this is as bold and brash as he has ever seen politicians lie in his lifetime. We're in the throes of the worst recession in his life, and we're being told it's getting better.

After the break, Rush took his first caller of the day, who expressed her anger over the DNC commercial Rush played earlier (and proceeded to play again after the call). Rush said the caller was exactly right and was an example of the kind of emotion that's all over the country. The President and his party, said Rush, is attacking the people who make this country work. Rush went on to say that Obama is rousing anger and opposition and patriotism that will destroy the Democrats.

The next caller compared Obama's leadership to that of Nelson Mandela and Poland's Lech Walesa, in that they ran as activists, but couldn't govern effectively. When prodded by Rush, however, the caller was unable to come up with any examples to back up his claim because, he admitted, he didn't know a whole lot about Mandela or Walesa. Regardless, Rush went on to state that Obama is an elitist who cannot relate to the average person, and asked if Democrat leaders would return money that was donated to their PACs by health insurance companies.

Then Rush took another caller, this one wondering if Obama's "overreach" on the economy would "wake us up" in the same way the Pearl Harbor attack got us into World War II. Rush delved into this a little, and said the Republicans have made the mistake of "relying on facts" to win the day while the Democrats are lying through their teeth:

LIMBAUGH: They are being awakened because they are finally seeing the real Barack Obama, and it's nothing like the man they thought they elected. This is an utter, cold, mean-spirited, partisan liar. A man who has to lie about his agenda in order to get people to support it. Because he can't be -- this is why the Democrat Party will eventually implode and fail. They cannot be honest about what their intentions are. They cannot be honest about policies at all. They have to lie.

After another commercial break, Rush read from a Washington Times report that the climate bill "spells doom for jobs." Rush wondered if Obama is a liar or an inexperienced fool -- he has never run anything, he just agitates mobs. Rush declared: "Obama is a walking, talking destroyer." He continued: "He said it would create over three and a half to four million jobs within two years. Wrong. He is going to destroy three and a half to four million jobs within two years if this keeps up."

The next caller defended the health care protests as genuine grassroots, which obviously jibed with what Rush has been arguing for the past two hours. Rush said the Democrats know that you are genuine and real, and that "your roots grow grass," whereas theirs grow Astroturf. That's why they're trying to tar and feather you and impugn you, because you are real and they are not.

Rush continued his rant, declaring that Obama won't debate the specifics because he is a "gutless wonder" sending his lackeys like Biden and Sebelius out there to take the arrows. Obama clears the playing field because he doesn't have the courage to debate this with the people. Rush boldly stated that Obama is trying to kill the opposition -- in a "political sense," he was quick to add.

After another break, Rush took a rather animated caller who was really upset that the American people stupidly elected such a far-left president. Rush said it was a "great call," and that the caller's inability to make any sense was made up for by his "passion." From there, Rush lamented the John McCain candidacy, and spoke optimistically about the 2010 election and "taking back" the Republican Party. We must say that it still amazes us that, just about nine months after the fact, Rush & Co. still can't come to terms with the fact that Obama won.

Simon Maloy, Zachary Aronow, and Zachary Pleat contributed to this edition of the Limbaugh Wire.

Highlights from Hour 2

Screw it, we give up

LIMBAUGH: All right, folks, I am going to say what everyone else is thinking, and I know that you are thinking it because everybody's thinking it. Did Bill Clinton hit on two female journalists on the long flight home from North Korea? I'm -- I'm not -- how can I say it? I'm not saying he did, but given his past, it does cross one's mind.

Outrageous comments

LIMBAUGH: They are being awakened because they are finally seeing the real Barack Obama, and it's nothing like the man they thought they elected. This is an utter, cold, mean-spirited, partisan liar. A man who has to lie about his agenda in order to get people to support it. Because he can't be -- this is why the Democrat Party will eventually implode and fail. They cannot be honest about what their intentions are. They cannot be honest about policies at all. They have to lie.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: Barack Obama is a walking, talking destroyer. The American people are losing jobs, Obama has pushed legislation to guarantee more jobs will be lost with this stupid green energy cap and trade bill. His own government now says it's going to cost us jobs. He said it would create over three and a half to four million jobs within two years. Wrong. He is going to destroy three and a half to four million jobs within two years if this keeps up.

This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by -- This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by -- This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by -- This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by --
By Greg Lewis

The third hour picked up where the second left off, as Rush took some time to elaborate on his reaction to the last caller, who said the American people were dumb for electing Obama. Even though Rush said he had gotten a lot of emails saying the caller was "right on," Rush said Obama won not because the American people are dumb, but because conservatism wasn't on the ballot, and "smooth-talking" Obama turned his followers into a "cult." So when Rush says the American people aren't stupid, what he really means is that conservative Americans aren't stupid. But those 53 percent of you who voted for Obama, you're so dumb that you joined a cult. Then it was more complaining about the McCain candidacy, and arguing that Obama may well destroy his own party. And sounding like the broken record that he often is, Rush made his point again that Democrats are lying about what they're doing because the American people do not agree with them and do not want their agenda.

Rush went on to argue that the Democrat [sic] Party is a very narrow bunch of ideological radicals, led by people who spend every waking moment conspiring because that's the only way they can advance their agenda. They attack insurance companies, attendees at town meetings, and they make irresponsible promises about health care.

But really, what would a Limbaugh rant be without some communism thrown in for good measure?

LIMBAUGH: The conservative movement's also going to have to understand one thing in dealing with Barack Obama and the Democrat Party at large -- and you could say this about Clinton too. Vladimir Lenin believed as a totalitarian, as a dictator, as an authoritarian, and as a politician that there was no truth, that words were just tools. So the facts never, ever got in the way. ... The conservative movement has got to understand that the power of fact, the power of truth alone, up against a strategy of deceit and fraud, is not enough by itself to overpower it.

There was more a few moments later:

LIMBAUGH: And even though people say, "Well, Rush, if conservatism's so wonderful, how come the Reagan years didn't teach everybody?" Because every day during the Reagan years and every day since the Reagan years, the Leninists in this country have been lying to you about what happened.

Rush the argued that the media tried to convince you that we were in a recession just two years ago, when we weren't. They were trying to convince you that we never lost more American soldiers in a war than we did in Iraq. Rush went on: "Have you noticed, speaking of that by the way, that there is no discussion in state controlled media about the debacle taking place in Afghanistan?" Then Rush complained that we had to send an ex-president to North Korea "to apologize" in order to get two "Al Gore journalists" back. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is in Kenya "kissing" Obama's grandfather's grave. It's "all just a bunch of B.S. There is no truth."

Rush returned from the break still playing the same downtrodden tune. He read an MSNBC article on Obama's speech today in Elkhart, Indiana. Rush took issue with Obama saying that he promised to "unleash prosperity" for everybody. "If Obama were truthful," stated Rush, "what he would say is, 'My health care plan is going to remove your private insurer. You will have to join the government plan. We are going to have counselors for you after you pass a certain age to counsel you on your end of care, which will lead to your end of life.' " We have to point out, of course, that this would put Obama in the extremely awkward position of telling a bold-faced lie in order to meet Rush's standard for truthfulness.

Rush followed this up with an audio clip from Obama's speech, to which Rush responded by saying that Obama is talking to people in a community that has no hope because he intends to "disallow" RVs down the road, and RV manufacturing is the backbone of Elkhart. We'll point out here that Obama highlighted in his speech today $2.4 billion in government grants to create "next-generation electric cars" and RVs.

After another break, Rush came back with another sound bite from Obama's remarks today, in which Obama said: "There those who are looking to defend the status quo." Rush was rather perturbed by this line. In fact, argued Rush with the maturity of a 5-year-old, it's Obama who is defending the status quo. Obama is defending his shrinking economy, which he is destroying "by design." The only "idiots" defending this mess, said Rush, are Obama, Democrat [sic] leaders, union bosses, tort lawyers, et al.

Then Rush took a caller who explained the key to victory was to outspend Democratic opponents. In a rare moment of levelheadedness, Rush informed the caller that, 2008 aside, Republicans usually out-fundraise Democrats by significant margins.

Rush then took things down a notch and read a Politico article about the voters' fickle loyalty. Rush bragged that his audience is loyal to him because he is loyal to his audience. Rush can be "counted on" even when the Republican Party cannot be. Rush claimed that he is "honest" with his audience and that he doesn't disrespect them.

One more break, and the end of today's program was finally on the horizon. Rush took a caller who complained about a specific Wall Street Journal newsreader who has recently reported on stock market gains in a "rosy" way, which was in contrast to the way she ignored stock market gains under Bush. In response, Rush exclaimed: "CNN beat this babe to it. CNN's been touting the recession is over via the stock market for a couple of weeks now." Rush and the caller had a point, though -- it's really irresponsible for Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal to be so darn liberal all the time.

In keeping with that theme, Rush went on to discuss how the media is acting in concert with the Obama administration, noting that Obama and Axelrod had previously claimed that they don't pay attention to the short-term performance of the stock market. Rush said they've now done a "180" and the state-run media is doing whatever they can to convince you that what you see is not real. Then Rush took a final caller who said Democrats have it "easy" because they just get to propose "stupid" legislation, and all conservatives do is say "no." Rush told the caller he can't be fatalistic, because it can be done.

Seeing as we're being pretty well restrained here at the Limbaugh Wire in our shackles, we'll be back tomorrow. There's always hope, though. And there are always the Limbaugh Wire archives.

Simon Maloy, Zachary Aronow, and Zachary Pleat contributed to this edition of the Limbaugh Wire.

Highlights from Hour 3

Outrageous comments

LIMBAUGH: Have you noticed -- speaking of that, by the way -- that there is no discussion in state-controlled media about the debacle taking place in Afghanistan?

Quote a communist!

LIMBAUGH: The conservative movement's also going to have to understand one thing in dealing with Barack Obama and the Democrat Party at large -- and you could say this about Clinton too. Vladimir Lenin believed as a totalitarian, as a dictator, as an authoritarian, and as a politician that there was no truth, that words were just tools. So the facts never, ever got in the way. Just had to come up with the right words, the right tools to overcome the things that got in your way. The conservative movement has got to understand that the power of fact, the power of truth alone, up against a strategy of deceit and fraud, is not enough by itself to overpower it.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: And even though people say, "Well, Rush, if conservatism's so wonderful, how come the Reagan years didn't teach everybody?" Because every day during the Reagan years and every day since the Reagan years, the Leninists in this country have been lying to you about what happened.

America's Truth Rejector

LIMBAUGH: If Obama were truthful, what he would say is, "My health care plan is going to remove your private insurer. You will have to join the government plan. We are going to have counselors for you after you pass a certain age to counsel you on your end of care, which will lead to your end of life."

Ladies' man

LIMBAUGH: CNN beat this babe to it. CNN's been touting the recession is over via the stock market for a couple of weeks now.