Hour 1: Limbaugh declares Geithner has "failed"

This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by Obama's teleprompter's social calendar
By Simon Maloy

We'd like to think that after listening to El Rushbo for so long, we've developed a preternatural ability to predict what the man is going to say -- almost like we could finish each other's sentences, except that we don't end sentences with the term "feminazi." So when we saw this news item concerning a teleprompter snafu during yesterday's meeting between President Obama and the Irish prime minister, we assumed that it would be the first thing Rush would mention on today's show, given his obsession with Obama's teleprompter use.

Sadly, we were wrong... We had to wait 10 minutes.

But in those 10 minutes, Rush accused the Obama administration of using the AIG bonuses to "poison as many minds in this country as possible to capitalism and to corporate America," and attacked Newsweek's Jonathan Alter as a "stenographer" who takes "dictation from Rahm Emanuel." He also reiterated his theory that the outrage over the AIG bonuses is all a feint by Democrats and the White House to distract Americans and "rechannel" anger from government to Wall Street while Obama works to undermine the country.

Then he finally got to the teleprompter "embarrassment," saying it was so bad that the "drive-bys" haven't even released the video.

We were sure he'd stay on that one for a while, but, again, we were proved wrong. He switched over to an Associated Press report on Missouri state police being warned that Ron Paul and North American Union bumper stickers could be an indicator of militia involvement.

After a quick break, Rush took a cue from NewsBusters, noting that the most recent CBS News poll put his approval rating at 19 percent, but that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's approval rating was 18 percent. Rush was quite amused by this, declaring that he was more popular than the leader of the Democrats. Of course, his disapproval rating, 40 percent, was also higher than Pelosi's, 35 percent.

Back from another break, Rush picked up on the emerging Republican talking point that Obama is "demeaning" the office of the president, saying: "a sitting president has never before lowered himself to sit on a late night comedy show, and that's the way to look at this." Then, the siren song of a teleprompter mishap proved to be just too strong, as Rush offered a detailed retelling of the incident, tossing in some praise for the British media's coverage of Obama. Yeah... the British press has been just fantastic in their Obama coverage.

Anyway, this went on for several minutes, Rush criticizing Obama for using a teleprompter, before finally declaring: "This is getting out of hand." Well, we agree with that, in a sense. But then things spiraled downward even further, as Rush prattled off a series of questions addressed to Obama's teleprompter, including: "Are you dating anybody, teleprompter? Mac or PC?" The whole thing ended with Rush going to commercial as the announcer declared The Rush Limbaugh Show "certified teleprompter-free."

You'll recall that Rush was just minutes earlier accusing Obama of distracting Americans from things that matter.

Rounding out the hour, Rush declared that Treasury Secretary Geithner has "failed," and that he didn't care one whit if Geithner were replaced because he would just be replaced by another "goofy, egghead nerd."

Highlights from Hour 1

Outrageous comments

LIMBAUGH: The big point about this AIG business -- as I mentioned to you people yesterday -- the big point here is to poison as many minds in this country as possible to capitalism and to corporate America. This is exactly the kind of thing Barack Obama and his team love: Everybody hating corporate America, hating Wall Street, hating CEOs, hating executives.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: There's a story here today that really now to fix the banks might take another $750 billion -- all this happening under the radar, and everybody focusing on this goon Geithner, who is just a nerd. He's just a dweeb. He's a total dweeb -- everybody in the White House in over their heads in this respect. They're in over their heads in fixing this. They are perfect to destroy this. They are perfect: perfectly timed, perfectly programmed, perfectly educated to destroy capitalism -- and that's their expertise. And they're in the process of doing it.

And while they're doing it, they're making you think it's a good thing because you now hate the CEOs, and you hate the executives, and you hate these bonuses, while all this other rigmarole is going on that is really damaging.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: He's just getting ready to leave for California to appear on Jay Leno. This is historic in itself. Do you know -- a sitting president has never before lowered himself to sit on a late night comedy show, and that's the way to look at this. A president of the United States has never lowered himself like this to sit in on a late night comedy show with "The Chin," not even with Johnny Carson, certainly not Letterman.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: I have -- I have some questions the teleprompter since it engaged in behavior last night that embarrassed both the Irish prime minister and the president of the United States. I mean, when a teleprompter - he has somebody who's as great an orator as the president to thank himself for throwing a party, you've got to love this prompter.

So, teleprompter, do you have a name? Teleprompter, in your opinion, how is President Obama doing so far? Did he convey the level of anger you hoped for regarding what you told him to say about AIG? Teleprompter, is the president ever argumentative with you or is he compliant with your instructions? Teleprompter, have you ever thought about helping Secretary Geithner or do you work for just one person?

Teleprompter, how are you and the first lady getting along? Are you dating anybody, teleprompter? Mac or PC?

There's a rumor, teleprompter, that you send out a small shock to the president when he mispronounces words or mangles phrases you tell him to say or that you can even make him cough. Is that true?

Teleprompter, in private, is Joe Biden as buffoonish as he is in public? Tell us, we want to know. How does it feel, teleprompter, to be the first teleprompter for an American president? You're the first teleprompter -- capital F -- first teleprompter.

Teleprompter, as a consumer of electricity, how do you feel about cap and trade? Are you -- do you feel threatened and endangered?

Teleprompter, do you listen to talk radio? Would you consider yourself a Dittohead?

When did you first meet Barack Obama, teleprompter? And are you paid with taxpayer money, and if so, did you have to fill out Obama's questionnaire before you were hired as first teleprompter?

And teleprompter, what are your plans post presidency? Will you retire to Silicon Valley or will you tell Obama what to say when he's giving speeches at a million dollars per year after his presidency? And finally, teleprompter, are you nervous about President Obama appearing with "The Chin" on the Tonight Show without you?

Enemies list

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter: Rush called him a "stenographer" who "takes dictation from Rahm Emanuel."

Echo chamber

Cited Hot Air's Ed Morrissey on Freddie Mac bonus program.