John McCain, Dittohead
That Rush Limbaugh is loathesome can, I think, be taken for granted. But as we’ve been having occasion to note recently, to a really striking extent conservative politicians everywhere are taking their marching orders on policy and legislative strategy from a boorish and occasionally drug-addled talk radio host. Even John McCain, who a lot of people thought would go back to his maverick schtick of 2001-2003 vintage after losing the election, is standing firmly behind Rush:
I don’t know why he would do that. Mr. Limbaugh is a voice of a significant portion of our conservative movement in America. He has a very wide viewing audience. He is entitled to his views, and he has a lot of people who listen very carefully to him. I don’t know why that the President would take him on. He’s part of the political landscape, and he plays a role.
Needless to say, it’s precisely because Limbaugh is a part of the political landscape that people feel compelled to take him on. Meanwhile, Obama’s point wasn’t that Limbaugh isn’t entitled to his views. His point was that if Republicans want to be constructive partners in dealing with the economic crisis, they need to go beyond their current posture of slavish adherence to Rushism. After all, this is a guy who’s said he’s actively hoping for the administration to fail.
61 Responses to “John McCain, Dittohead”
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January 30th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Just proves what all with an IQ of 40 and above knows already. The GOP and it’s chosen spokesman Limbaugh, has become more Anti-American then any foreign terrorist group. Rush and his followers are no different then our enemies abroad. Beware America has been under attack for numerous years and may be brought down from the inside by our own home grown Anti-American organization the GOP. They will not be satisfied until America is no more.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
My question is, if Limbaugh can condemn those who he claimed were wishing that we’d fail in Iraq, why can we not condemn him for his wishing that Pres. Obama fails? If one act is unpatriotic, why is the other act not unpatriotic?
January 30th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Democrats like the idea that Rush is running the GOP, and so do Republicans. So everyone is running with this meme. Meanwhile, Independents are repulsed by the fat drug-addict hate agenda, which proves that the last elections were very predictable indeed.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Limbaugh isn’t elected, so he has nothing to lose. His presence depends on not being ignored, so one comment from Obama is a gift from God.
This is true. However, Republicans are elected, and the more slavish their devotion to Rush, the more they will appear to be out of step with the electorate. In a perverse set of incentives, which Obama might be giving Rush a gift from God, that’s precisely what does the Republicans so much damage.
Rush has, what? 10-15 million devoted followers? I think if we can reduce the Republicans fanbase to 10-15 million devoted Rush listeners, the Democrats will be in a good position.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I don’t think isolating Rush does the GOP any good. It has relied tremendously on the “Conservative principles” right for its successes in the last several decades; before that the party was a limp joke tugging along at the hemlines of the Democrats.
Conservative populism is a potent force. Reagan and a host of other conservatives rode to victory on the conservative backlash, and conservative backlash against champagne liberalism will always be there as a potent emotion. Instead of rejecting it, the GOP needs to harness it. And Rush has a role to play in that.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
This is the typical lefty tack against Rush, and it fails when Rush responds with the context. Rush has said that he supports President Obama — he just doesn’t want him to succeed in enacting policies that are bad for this country. Rush thinks the current stimulus bill, as written, is bad for the country. He also thought the $700 billion bailout signed by Bush was a bad idea.
As for “boorish and occasionally drug-addled”, the boorish one here is Matt Yglesias, and some of his more tactless commenters. Something tells me that if someone called a liberal recovered drug addict (e.g., Joe Kennedy) “occasionally drug-addled”, Matt and other lefties would get their panties in a bunch.
I know you’re not a Christian Matt, but before the Golden Rule, there was a Jew who said the reverse of it, “Don’t do unto others that which you find abhorrent”. If you don’t it’s cool to stigmatize a recovered, former drug addict, then you shouldn’t take that cheap shot at Rush. If not, then don’t complain when it comes back at you.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
“Conservative populism is a potent force.”
The problem for the GOP is that Rush isn’t a conservative populist. Pat Buchanan, for all his faults, is a conservative populist. Rush is a big money corporatist and pseudo-Randian who talks religious values while living like a pagan.
“This is the typical lefty tack against Rush, and it fails when Rush responds with the context. Rush has said that he supports President Obama — he just doesn’t want him to succeed in enacting policies that are bad for this country.”
That’s not what Rush originally said. That’s what he went back and claimed he meant, but that’s not what he actually said.
Mike
January 30th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
taking out of context: you realize that your argument is completely spurious, don’t you? rush meant exactly what he said: he wants obama to fail. period. case closed.
the words “i don’t like his policies and i hope his policies aren’t passed because they would be bad for america” are completely different than “i hope he fails.”
January 30th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
how many times did we hear that it’s impossible to support the military if you don’t support the mission ?
three or four thousand times? per day? for five years?
January 30th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I encourage Rush to continue shooting his mouth off and for his apologists like “taking out of context” to continue their brave defense. Please, let’s make this the face of the GOP.
January 30th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Invoking the Golden Rule to defend Limbaugh is really stupid.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Neither will wrapping their lips around his flaccid cock, which is why I hope they keep doing it.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Rush was at his funniest during the Clinton years; when he’s angry or frustrated, he’s amusing. He was largely irrelevant during Bush’s terms; so now he’s getting back in his glory again as the dittos need his comfort. Not exactly the loyal opposition……
January 30th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
So let me get this straight…. Rush “supports” Obama, he just doesn’t want him to do anything that Rush doesn’t like? I’m sorry, I mean he doesn’t want him to do anything that is “bad for this country”? Where, exactly, in all that is there support for Obama? Hmm?
Honestly, I would be fine with Rush saying he doesn’t support Obama, cause he doesn’t, but pretending he does for no reason other than to keep up the charade of “not questioning the president” only makes him look like a hypocrite. Well, more than usual at least.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
It must be good to be Rush. Not only do you get paid megabucks to bloviate nonsense daily, you have a lineup of GOP fluffers begging to kiss your flabby ass.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Rush Limbaugh is a racist asshole.
As Obsidian Wings noted:
January 30th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Bush defeated McCain in 2000 so petulant McCain pays him back by being a burr under his saddle until he needed Bush’s help getting the 2008 nomination. Obama defeated McCain in 2008 so the petulant McCain…
January 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Somebody call?
January 30th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Au contraire. One comment from Rush is a gift from God. Rush says, “I hope he fails.” Obama says to Republicans, “Don’t listen to Rush.” Rush and Fox News throw a hissy fit, forcing Republicans to defend Rush. 0 Republicans vote for stimulus. Liberal groups run ads in hard-hit states, “Does your Senator choose Rush Limbaugh over saving the economy?”
January 30th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Al Qaeda wants Obama to fail
+ Limbaugh wants Obama to fail.
—————————-
= Strange, disgusting bedfellows.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Good. Rush is the perfect distraction for Republicans. They can line up to kiss Rush’s drug addicted behind while Democrats go about the business of governing.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Funny stuff. Limbaugh is a blubbery, drug-addicted hypocrite — the perfect face of the Republican Party.
January 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Please remind me …. Who was the last Democrat who took Limbaugh on by name and won that fight? Daschle? Clinton? (Both Mr. and Mrs.) Reid?
Obama has effectively united the Republicans (see unanimous House vote against so-called stimulus). I’m giddy. I didn’t think we would come together as a party until 2011.
Thanks, Barry. Great job and in less than two weeks!
January 30th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
united in defeat, zooboy
January 30th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
McCain is sniveling for Limbaugh. At least he didn’t say “POW”.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
united in defeat, zooboy
Dead-enders love it that way. They feel there is honor in going down with the ship.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Zooman, the Republicans came united behind a right-wing lunatic freak, but that was already the case before the election: Palin instead of Limbaugh.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I forgot the cocaine and pot Obama did when he was younger were obtained legally, unlike Rush. My bad.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Official: Rush Limbo is the de facto leader of the
Republican party. John Boehner and the other elected “leaders” are but figureheads.
The Republicans grab theis ankles and bend over backward, forward, sideways before a piece of dung who says he’s for family values yet has been married 3 times, who can’t get it up without Viagra, who travels to islands which are havens for perverts.
Yep, Yep, You and Rusho are on the same page.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
It is a fascinating development. Now that McCain is coming out for Limbaugh, this shows it IS a GOP strategy to come out for Rush. Recall Obama’s ads during the general election that linked Rush to nativism in the Hispanic community. Recall the importance of the Hispanic vote to Obama’s win. Obama knows that focusing on Rush can help in the effort to make his winning coalition more secure. However, the GOP, too, is not simply spittin’ in the wind. Somehow, somewhere, they have evidence that coming out for Rush might help them. If the help is merely to obfuscate governance — the politics of diversion — then this is short sighted. MAYBE. But it is setting the media narrative. Maybe @DTM here (and other thread) is right and the long term influence is diminishing. But I read somewhere he has 20 million listeners. That’s lots. And sweet, wonderful, generously spirited @Myles is right in regards to “conservative populism” being a real force. However, the problem for the GOP is this has morphed into a southern party. And morphed, unfortunately, into a nativist party. So “conservative populism” is becoming synonymous with racist/sexist. Also, the support for the stimulus package is inching down. I actually think this media narrative of “fiscal prudence” being put out there without pushback has caused real damage to public support. This comes back to Rush because he is pushing that narrative (admittedly no proof for this). The man is incredibly talented. Master propagandist. The effort to link Rush=GOP=extremism will work but not without a lot of effort.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Not to mention, pedophile. There’s only one kind of man who packs Viagra – under a prescription made out in someone else’s name – during a solo trip to the Dominican Republic, which is one of the world’s premier destinations for sex tourism.
I can’t for the life of me imagine why he continues to have any credibility in American politics, aside from the universal fact that It’s OK If You’re A Republican. I didn’t realize that extended as far as traveling overseas to have sex with children, but there you go.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
But I read somewhere he has 20 million listeners. That’s lots.
It is lots. But the things is that you don’t want the left hand of the Republican public message to know what the right hand of whipping up Rush’s listeners is doing. Rush’s fanbase has to maintain its position as, “your irresponsible loudmouthed brother who’s kind of an asshole but you love anyway” to rank-and-file Republican voters. Once the Republicans start saying in public that your loudmouthed asshole of a brother is the one they love the most, moderate and independent voters are going to start to get alienated.
20 million is a lot of people, but the other 40 million voters have to feel that Rush’s fanbase is just along for the ride, rather than the tail wagging the dog. The swing voters, given the choice between the party of Rush and the party of Obama, is going to go for Obama.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:02 am
They’re trying to bring back the glory days of the Clinton years, when Rush’s star was rising and it looked like the Republican Revolution was heading somewhere other than straight into a ditch.
They’re getting the band back together, but they don’t realize they’ve become Spinal Tap.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:45 am
“There’s only one kind of man who packs Viagra – under a prescription made out in someone else’s name – during a solo trip to the Dominican Republic, which is one of the world’s premier destinations for sex tourism.”
Hey, did you know we have adults in DR too? And most of our adults like to have sex? Come down here some time and even you can get laid by a real woman for $20.
January 31st, 2009 at 1:12 am
We have adults who like to have sex here in the US too, which makes you sort of wonder why he had to fly off to your third-world shithole. Something his girlfriend at the time couldn’t have done? Something like be young enough, maybe?
January 31st, 2009 at 1:32 am
“We have adults who like to have sex here in the US too, which makes you sort of wonder why he had to fly off to your third-world shithole.”
My country’s a “shithole” Chet? Why is that, because we’re not white you racist jerk? If it was such a shithole we wouldn’t be mobbed with tourists all the time.
“Something his girlfriend at the time couldn’t have done? Something like be young enough, maybe?”
You’ve obviously never fucked a Dominican woman if you have to ask that question.
January 31st, 2009 at 3:07 am
It is funny seeing all the lefty’s call Rush a drugie when the guy in the white house was shooting up in the past. Most likely sold some blow too. So much for the pot calling the kettle black.
January 31st, 2009 at 8:14 am
I’m a democrat and Rush doesn’t bother me. In fact like Palin he’s a gift horse for the Democrats and you never a look a gift horse in the mouth. Why a serious political party would choose to make this odious, fat, pill popping talk show host into it’s public face is a total mystery to me. His persona is somewhat similar to some sort of comic book villain Greedly Fat Boy but if that’s what the GOP wants its image to be go right ahead and knock yourself out. The grovelling from people like McCain and that ridiculous congressman from Georgia all add up to a party that doesn’t know what it’s about.
January 31st, 2009 at 9:45 am
I am always amazed at how many observers do not get Rush. Most often he demonstrates how absurd the liberal thought process is by being absurd himself. The liberals often said they “support the troops but not the war”. Rush says “he supports the President but not his policies.” demonstrating that neither is or was possible if you were truly sincere or had a brain in your head. I also love to see the true colors of these liberal weanies- that show more anger towards conservatives than towards those that are anxiously waiting to kill them. The recent Presidential election may bring the latter closer than they think.
February 1st, 2009 at 1:38 am
Because you let people from rich countries fly there to fuck children. That’s almost the textbook definition of “shithole.”
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