Poll: Limbaugh Could Galvanize Dems, Alienate Independents
A new Gallup poll explains why Democrats are now so eager to connect the anti-stimulus bill Republicans to Rush Limbaugh, and to set up Rush as the new Leader of the Opposition: Independents hate him, he can galvanize Democrats...and Republican voters actually do like him.
Limbaugh's favorable-unfavorable numbers among Republicans stand at 60%-23%. Among independents, though, he's at just 25%-45%. And Democrats definitely have it in for him at 6%-63%. Multiplying out the partisan subsets in this poll, we get an overall top-line result of 28% favorability for Limbaugh across the country, compared to 45% unfavorable.
So if Limbaugh does become a national issue, the data shows he could be a net plus for the Dems -- though the obvious caveat exists that swing voters could have more important things to worry about than some radio loudmouth.
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I actually think it is not a good idea to play up the lush. It just gives him more press and notoriety and possibly more converts. The best thing to do is ignore the buffoon. Let him rant to his small share of the lunatic fringe. Someday he will become irrelevant.
February 6, 2009 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
This seems like a good idea until you realize that if the lunatic fringe feels even more marginalized and powerless some lone nut is going to try to do something to Obama. So we need to watch them to make sure that doesn't happen. We don't want any harm to come to the president.
February 6, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
The notion that we should allow any part of public policy to be held hostage to would-be traitors is not worthy of even being entertained. If there's some underground army ready to do Rush's bidding, the sooner we smoke them out and sent them to whatever replaces Gitmo, the better.
February 6, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
MnPundit,
It's not like the wingnuts don't force people to ostracize them and then blame the ostracizers anyway. Nor is it likely they will ever be nice to those of us they fervently oppose.
So why should be modify OUR behavior because THEY WANT to feel isolated? Nothing we do is going to change how they feel or act.
February 6, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
no no no no no. you can't ignore Limbaugh and hope he goes away, any more than you can end a rat infestation by doing nothing. you've got to counter the hate and misinformation from that windbag.
in addition, based on that poll, "his small share of the lunatic fringe" amounts to 60% of the Republican party. there is no way he becomes irrelevant unless he is exposed to the world as extremist anti-American nutjob.
February 6, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
That equals 15% of the population and I wager most of those people really don't pay attention to lush. The republican party has shrunk dramatically. Big deal.
The more air time that you give a fool, the more perceived power that they get. See cooter by way of example. Ignore them and they will blow away in the wind.
February 6, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd contribute to keeping that buffoon on the air. He's the Dems' best friend. The more the R's are forced to defend him, the farther they're driven into the wilderness inhabited only by the truly nuts.
February 6, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ain't nuthin' goofy about that idea!!!
Rush has mouthed off unopposed for too long. Thank God Air America rose up with the Daily Show and Colbert close behind. I'm not optimisitic DS and CR are going to stay fervent supporters, after all their comedy needs a target, but keep Rush out there as long as we can as that target. He's too big to miss.
Because Rush rails with the right's talking points, addressing him without addressing the Republicans allows those Republicans in the pews to question him as well without forfeiting their party loyalties and there is no stronger force on the Republican side then loyalty. Blind loyalty is how we got here. Bush was President. Bush is Republican. Anything he says is gospel.
One of the sparkley, shiny things that attacts people to Rush is his being a bully. It has emboldened many to echo his being a bully. Cheney, Bush, Rumnsfeld, Gonzo, Ashcroft, Delay, all of them were bullies. Whenever we take them down a notch, they lose their shine. We have to keep after them and never let up. Our losses are a direct result of our not taking Rush to task for being an idiot when he first arrived on the scene.
February 7, 2009 3:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rush is the head mouthpiece of the Sarah Palin wing of the Republican party. A wing, I might add, which makes up the overwhelming majority of the party. It's probably the reason for the kind of rhetoric we have been hearing from the leadership of the Republican minority of Congress.
February 7, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, there has to be a push back against the Rush and it's message.
My thougths are that we should be aware of what Rush is saying and whenever we hear someone regurgitating it, we will be better prepared to counter it with reality. I know that with some people this will not work, my uncle is such a ditto head I am amazed. But once I realized the source of some of the insane ideas he had, I had a better handle on how to stop him in his tracks. It is easier to guide the conversation after that.
(I tell my uncle that he has strongly held opinions for someone who doesn't read a paper. So he calls them the 'drive by media.' I ask him for an example to show me what he means. That stops him, he doesn't read the paper.)
It is useless to call the show and confront him directly. Contradicting Rush directly becomes part of his show. His audience and he both love the idea that people don't like him, it is part of his persona: 'The Liberal hate me, so I must be doing something right!'
This conversation has to be reclaimed by people interested in the truth. I think an important part of this will be accomplished on a one to one basis.
February 6, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry to be blunt, but I think that's a symptom of what I'd term a sort of misinformed enlightened idealism becoming dogmatic and missing the goal. There's nothing enlightened about avoiding honesty or failing to set examples, both good and bad. The following needs to be said in a gentler way than I'm about to, but for brevity sake:
Symbols do matter.
Obama is a good symbol for Democrats and America to follow, and where independents want to go. Inclusive; meritocracy and oppurtunity; intelligent and well educated; pragmatic idealism; kindness and community; internationally competitive and respected as a leader not a bully; generally listening to our better angels for a more prosperous, proud, and healthy America.
Limbaugh is a fitting symbol for what the Republican party has largely become and what the Bush administration was: ignorant and hateful; loud mouths; covering for their many insecurities and closeted secrets; espousing patriotism while running the country into the ground; no sense how to achieve their goals; flabby, both physically and intellectually; predatory; incompetent failures.
February 6, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I absolutely agree that symbols matter. I would also submit that people perceive symbols in completely different ways. For instance, I submit that your perception of lush, which is the same as mine by the way, is not the way many people perceive him. He is very slick and subtle in many ways concerning his hate and racism and can flip it in a second to play the victim. My point is why give him the opportunity and give him more notoriety as allegedly speaking truth to power or some other bullshit spin nonsense.
I still say marginalize him as opposed to giving him more notoriety. It's a risk vs. reward type of analysis. Lush, for being a load mouth biggot etc., etc., etc. is certainly no fool no matter what your opinion of him is and you have to accept that not everyone shares your opinion, because if they did he would not have the radio audience that he has.
February 6, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
The best way to marginalize him is to NOT try to get him off the air, but rather to find ways to make it clear what Rush stands for.
He's not a conservative, he's not a loyal Republican, he doesn't stand for the little guy and personal responsibility.
Rush stands for Rush. No more, no less.
He is in it for the money, the fame, and what little poontang he can actually get.
He's got 300 million reasons to continue doing what he's been doing, on top of the 150 million or so he had before his new contract.
He would have been happy to lambaste conservatives on Air America if it was the lucrative option when he started on the air. His on-air persona has crystallized, and the money is still pouring in, so he's got neither the need nor desire to change anything.
He is a principled mercenary.
That principle being "look out for number one."
I for one hope that InterPol has some evidence on him that they've been holding in case a US administration came into power that wouldn't protect him as its first response to any allegations.
February 6, 2009 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I second that thought. Look at what those stupid GOP Govs said (Barbour and the others). You can't have it both ways.
February 6, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since the RNC(ReagaNaziParty) is now the Limbaugh Party, can we call them the LimP? Limbaugh And Many Elelphants seemed, well, LAME.
February 7, 2009 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously? 60% of Republicans view Limbaugh favorably? 3 out of every 5 Republicans think he's a good guy who speaks for them? I mean really...what the hell? I used to think Limbaugh just represented a fringe element in the Republican party, but now I find out that's entirely not true. He's the Republican mainstream.
I guess maybe I'm just too naive and optimistic, but I never realized just how far gone the Republican party was until now.
February 6, 2009 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remember self identified republicans have shrunk dramatically. Their down to what 25 or 27% of the electorate now or something like that. It's still only a small percentage and it's probably inclusive of alot of uninformed republicans. His audience isn't that big.
February 6, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually the gallup poll had them pegged at 28%.
February 6, 2009 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's still too many.
February 6, 2009 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
These are the same people who thought GWB was doing a good job. Heaven only knows what's going on between their ears.
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."
- A. Lincoln
I guess we now know the percentage of that first group.
February 6, 2009 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I don't get is that they only represent about a 1/4 of the electorate? How can you be a national party when you are so small? It defies logic. After the next election, they may only have 25 senators and 100 congress persons at this rate. We really maybe witnessing the demise of the party.
February 6, 2009 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
While that's down from what it used to be, it was never more than about 40%. At the same time, self-identifying Democrats are also not more than about 40%. The battle has always been over those in the middle. Remember, McCain got 46% of the votes.
The problem the R's face is avoiding a death spiral. The more moderates flee, the more the message is dominated by the nuts, which drives even more people away, and on and on. Once they become the Limbaugh Party (and they're not that far from it), they're toast.
February 6, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I see the death spiral in action in the northeast. The suburbs, which used to be red in most cities are starting to turn royal blue. The republican messaging is scaring the moderates away in droves, especially in these dire economic times. Even ruby red republicans that I know voted for obama and dems for congress. The party is scaring the sh*t out of people.
February 6, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even the R's who sometimes show a glimmer of understanding of what's going on can't seem to help themselves. They just keep playing to their base. It's truly amazing to watch. Sarah Palin??? Joe the Plumber?? Are they f'ing NUTS?
As if that wasn't bad enough, their really big problem is that people's politics tend to be persistent. They've completely turned off a whole generation of people who will never, ever, come back.
February 6, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
It isn't "Joe the Plumber" any more, as he's shown how a worn-out retread can have multiples of 15 minutes of fame.
First 15: Joe the Plumber.
Second 15: Joe the Journalist.
Third 15: Joe the Economic Advisor.
February 6, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is all in the map. I saw an election map showing that the Mississippi Valley was getting more Red. It conforms to where Rush and the Right are the only voices on the air. It also is a line in the middle of the Bible Belt. Uneducated, isolated cities that hear only the Right's version of things, so they do not hear there is anywhere else to go.
It's truly a beautiful thing to watch the Party lean more heavily on these voters because the rational minds on the Right want nothing to do with them. The Bible Thumpers are dragging down the party. It's a case of having to beware of what you ask for, you might get it. The Right tool over the South, and now it is all they have left. It's not enough to win the White House or Congress. I hope they never leave there.
February 7, 2009 3:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
One result of Limbaugh's shrinking audience is that he remains strong in the conservative states and districts where the Republicans in Congress got thier votes. The currently elected know they are only in office because the Rush lovers like them. If they buck Rush, they'll get a primary challenge from the right, who'll claim they're "too liberal".
Not a single one of them worries about bucking Obama, because they come from the parts of America that don't like him anyway. Rush waves red meat at his fans to keep them angry and keep them listening. And the rest of the party seems afraid to ever disagree with him. Its governance based on what will get Rush the most listeners. Same stuff that sold America the war in Iraq, tax cuts and Bush's 2nd term.
February 7, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, where is that poster that constantly raves about ratsmussen. I say they always have a 5% conservative bump in their numbers, whoever or whatever is involved. Well, here is another example, on party ID, the rat has republicans at 32%, dems 40% and indies 28%. Now, gallup has republicans at 28% and pew has them at 27%. See, 5% conservative swing. Ratsmussen is a totally right-wing, "conservative," shitty polling organization. They are always 5% off the wrong way vs. any other polls on virtually anything.
February 6, 2009 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good comment. We project rationality, then find out to our astonishment that, nope, they really are that crazy.
February 6, 2009 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican't party is a small sliver of what it was 30 years ago, when there was a sizeable moderate and even liberal contingent (I'm looking at you, John Lindsay).
When they started to court the racists and the deluded religious, they became less and less rational and more and more emotional, and the end result is that they are followers now of an emotional racist blowhard.
It's pretty easy to follow the steps downhill one by one. Unfortunately, the Senate make up of two Senators per state has given the less urban (and therefore less educated) parts of our country a bigger say than the urban parts. Our government will be held in check by these jerks until the Senate actually DOES go nuclear and scrap the stupid, stupid supermajority rule (aka "cloture" aka "filibuster").
February 6, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't mind using him against the GOP, but it's got to be a muted campaign, if it's too overt it will likely backfire, or lose it's power. I think the Dem politicians should stay away from the idea, and dem groups should pick their spots.
February 6, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps.
Another thought though, is to pursue a strategy of Limbaughization of the Republican party, as a sub-strategy of "rumpification of the rumpified Republican Party.
Goes something like this: The Republican party is a rump. Obama's strategy could be observed to be a rumpification of the rump: meaning making the rump smaller by accentuating the extremes, thus chasing more and more moderates out and away from the rumpified Republican party making it ever more so a rump.
Limbaughization could be an important tool in achieving this strategy's ends.
Towards that, not much has to be done. Rush has, and will continue to do most of the work. Like any blow hard egomaniac, he likes to grow and project his own sense of power. All you have to do is, every so often, put Limbaugh's name and actions in play. The Rush and the Right Wing media gets catalized by the comment and they do the rest. Rush will do what he can to make himself a stronger presence in that party, and as he does, he will shrink the party down into a further rump.
Meanwhile Dems can make advances in red states by accentuating economic populism - it seems that that should be brutally easy now.
Come 2010, the Dems will have a sizable majority in all houses. This will cause the rump to only squeele and howl more, rumpifying them even more. After 2010 we'll be looking at universal health care and rules making it easier for Unions to organize. At that point, if we haven't totally collapsed under the weight of the Depression, things will start to get much better. By 2012, moderates will be organizing in Iowa to form an entirely new party. That should fracture the right wing vote even more.
Maybe by 2014 we'll be looking at high speed rail between major cities and light rail running down the middle of every major street - with stops every mile and free fair. Americans will be using less oil, burning less fossil fuels, walking more and much happier and healthier.
February 6, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's basically my thoughts as well. Co-sign. I just wouldn't give lush any free air time. That will only cause the process to drag out longer. We don't have the time to waste anymore. The situation is too incredibly dire due to the wacked out republican policies of the last 28 years.
February 6, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree Michael. Their numbers have gotten smaller as they courted the evangelicals. Remember it was the grand idea of republians themselves to invite them in. They even made up the abortion conflab followed by the gay issue to bring them in. They think Palin is great! Gotta love it. They have Joe the Plumber giving them economic advise! Gotta love it. I say all we have to do is sit back and watch. Limpbaugh will drive a stake in the heart of the party before it is over. He can't help himself. The smaller the numbers the louder he gets. Limpbaugh's personality leaves no room for moderation or correction. He will screech the same message until the end. And honestly, if he loses his numbers and has to leave the air, he is an extremly wealthy man and he knows it no loss to him.
February 6, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican party is a rump.
_____
Oh, pshaw. The Republican't party is an ASS.
And it's a great idea to give the Republican't party Rash Limburger's face. Things are at a point now that anyone sane who hears anything from him knows it's lunatic and not to be believed.
Then word of mouth takes over.
February 6, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
As soon as Limbaugh opened up his big fat mouth about having to bend over because Obama was black, he was being labeled as the voice of the Republican party.
Many conservatives and Republicans shot back, saying Dems feared Rush and that's why Democrats were targeting him. It was exactly the opposite. Dems were thrilled to bring him into the spotlight and paint a big fat R on his forehead.
Rush is the gift that keeps on giving.
February 6, 2009 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, please, for the love of God, don't take his clothes off, PLEASE!!!
I'm begging, anything but that!
February 6, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what all three of his ex wives said.
February 6, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lots of things come to mind ... but I favor going upside his fat head with a baseball bat. Ash, please, not aluminum - stick to tradition when possible.
Another option : stocks. Put him in stocks and pelt him with mudballs thrown by hired gangs of lowbrows.
Also : bullwhip him down the main street. A fine old tradition, from nineteenth century America, formerly applied to newspaper editors.
Any of the Abu Ghraib torments would also be acceptable : strip him naked, make him crawl around on all fours, barking like a dog.
Hey ! I am not inciting crimes - just a little fun ...
February 6, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
strip naked, crawl around on all fours, bark like a dog.....Heck, just throw in some pharmaceuticals and you have a normal evening at Casa El Rushbo.
February 6, 2009 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh sure - I would bet money he is a sex pervert. Why cannot some enterprising private dick bust him in the act ?
We could all chip in and pay a professional to follow him around.
Panties-on-the-head : it's a Republican thing.
February 6, 2009 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
What we need is an black-ops to follow him around. Film him during his weekend junkets to luxury uber-brothels in the Dominican Republic. Build up considerable damning footage, and then release it at the right time. Say September 2010.
It would be really helpful if one of the hookers were a democrat and was willing to go black-ops on him too.
February 6, 2009 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe by being confronted with the sad truth that their party leaders are Limbaugh and Palin, sane Republicans can be brought back to some reality-based policy. I don't think they yet see a problem however, not when they make a celebrity out of Joe the Plumber. He's a toy for them and not a leader, but they are actually looking to Limbaugh and Palin as leaders.
February 6, 2009 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those numbers look remarkably like Bush/Cheney numbers (big effing surprise, eh, given what happened in Nov.?)
February 6, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush Limbaugh is perfect as the leader of the GOP. I seem to recall that his entry into broadcast radio was through small markets where his program was offered free to any station that would allow his company to sell x amount of national ads. What that meant was midday dj's and onair personalities were put out of work throughout the land. The local stations could sell x amount of local spots, but the big national advertisers that put Rush on the map were Snapple and AOL. That's why I have never purchased either.
And as a note, both Snapple and AOL did the same for Howard Stern.
Interesting media selections, both catering to the adolescent and/or insecure male audience. And so it remains today. Dittoheads all around.
February 6, 2009 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Gingrichicization of Limbaugh (or, Limpballs, as I like to think of him). I love it.
February 6, 2009 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Politics, schmolitics.
These are NOT anything approaching "normal" times. Those are gone forever, as the tide of history goes thundering on. What anyone thinks about Limbaugh or anything else is fun but irrelevant. Keeping warm, dry, and well-fed would seem to be, but even they pale in comparison to full-blown self-awareness.
Hang on, but expect good things. The Garden of Eden is all around: we never left, just closed our eyes.
February 6, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The man feeds on publicity, so it's best to stop feeding him. (That's why I have doubts about Campbell Brown's invitation to have Rush come on her show.) But it's deeply troubling to find how large is the number of people who prefer self-satisfied ignorance to opening their minds to reason and understanding the real state of the nation. If it's "only" one in four, it may be politically manageable, but it's still unhealthy for our democracy.
February 6, 2009 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I would like to know is, just who in the blue hell makes up that 6% that approves of Limbaugh among Democrats? I'd like to meet these people and take them to a shrink.
February 6, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chubby chasers
February 6, 2009 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yessssssss!! Love it.
February 6, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
LMAO! That's perfect!
It has been my experience that these 6% are either not wired correctly, or so totally invested in defending Chubby that he can do n worng and whateve I may say against his arguments, it is as if they cannot hear it. I might as well be using a dog whistle because when I get to explaining why Chubby is an imbecile, the dogs understand and get annoyed, but the Chubby Chaser looks at me like I'm not even talking.
February 7, 2009 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
PUMAs maybe? I suspect there are people who still call themselves Dems for traditional or familial reasons but haven't voted for a national Dem candidate since George Wallace ran for president as one.
February 6, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
That would be here in West Virginia, Land of the DINOS. Some of them are still my friends, warts and all. I am still trying to convert them. So far, President Obama is helping this cause.
February 6, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bless you, wvbiker. I have the same struggle here in Kentucky. If you have any tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them.
February 6, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
So far, President Obama is helping this cause
Your conversion cause? Or Limbaugh?
February 6, 2009 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
The 6% are probably Dems who approve of Rush being a big fat idiot. Count me in.
February 6, 2009 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
BrianSkuse's suggestions should be taken seriously.
I would add only a good tarring and feathering.
But the most effective thing would be to set up a sex sting next time El Rushbo head down the Dominican way.
February 6, 2009 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or maybe newtification........not as cumbersome (and it sort of suggests emasculation, which is a nice touch)
February 6, 2009 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I LOVE newtification!
The newtification of the Republican Party.
For some reason, the image of Lindsay Graham pops into mind...
February 6, 2009 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought you meant Newt as in Gingrich! A
s in salamander. That gives it an added oomph!
Great term you've coined. :)
February 6, 2009 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
well, I guess it works both ways--I confess that I hadn't thought of the other vertebrate connection (I almost wrote "lower" in front of that but I think Gingrich qualifies for that modifier in evolutionary terms).
February 6, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
:-)
February 6, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
In considering whether to ignore or draw attention to Limbaugh, lessons from the civil rights movement are instructive (if somewhat overstated). MLK and other leaders tactically chose to engage the most brutish and hateful examples of southern racism (Bull Connor, racist mobs, club-wielding police, church bombers etc.) to shock the consciences and sensibilities of everyday Americans. It worked. Aside from Limbaugh's followers and detractors, I'm not sure if most people are really aware of just HOW vile his ideas and words are. But if people were consistently exposed and reminded of them, and then realize that he now appears to truly speak for mainstream conservatism and the Repub party, it could be the gift that keeps on giving...
February 6, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
You misuse the term "mainstream". "Mainstream" refers to the middle of the total electorate, not the middle of the far-right lunatic fringe.
February 6, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush Limbaugh is the herald of no compromise politics. An artifact of the last two decades of Republican dominance, he is The conservative spokesman, outweighing every member of Congress in audience draw.
Dialog with Limbaugh is not his strong suit; they filter all of his callers; on the radio you get his endless parade of declarations every broadcast day.
When he's outside his element, not in his radio booth but on stage with others as equals, he's different. He has to put up with dialog. He can't control when other people can speak and what they say, and when he says something profound they often reply immediately with something considerably more profound.
I think that if Rush is going to be such a superior spokesman for the GOP, he needs to be brought in to take part in the national dialog, on equal terms.
I don't think Rush is the only talk show host that needs this. There's a few of them out there. O'Reilly, Hannity come to mind immediately. They gain an edge by wrapping the power of broadcast media around them. Take away their control over their guest's microphone, put them in a room with several peers, and see how they fare with a "no compromise" stance in free and open conversation.
February 6, 2009 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't that tub of goo overdue for a sex/drug scandal? I mean there has to be a whore out there that wants her fifteen minutes, pictures of the diapered mound of lard handcuffed to a crib or something...
February 6, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a tough call, ignore and hope he goes away, or honk the horn and try to show the word what a dangerous pig the man is. I debated whether or not to write a post about Limbaugh, but in the end decided that it's better to inform than to ignore. The hope is that the more people see of the grotesqueness and hear his hate, the more they will turn him off.
February 6, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
This man makes 38 million per year and he has 5 houses on his estate. His house is over 24,000 square feet.
So tell me please, where does priorities lie with this stimulus bill?
Tax Cuts.
You and I need jobs and Rush wants/demands to keep more of his money.
February 6, 2009 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush, Cheney, the Republican Base and Osama bin Laden all hope the President of the United States fails, they are peas from the same rotten pod.
February 6, 2009 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush Limbaugh bears a striking resemblance, physically and attitudinally, to Francis in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" (go to You Tube and type in "I Know You Are But What Am I?")
Look, he needs to be marginalized this way........but, Dems need to promote WHAT they are FOR while they are doing this. They can't cede the focus of the press to the Republicans' message.
Obama's cronies need to get their internet strategy together....mobilize supporters of his agenda to do their part calling in to legislators as well as to the press and to also get out there and volunteer.
The country's in a mess. We need people who are PRO the country succeeding right now. Limbaugh's overriding message is more about wanting America to fail b/c it will mean Obama failed...this is a retro-sports team mentality. We need to beat this. Rush =Francis........a bloated, red faced, whiny rich brat who is pissed that he isn't getting his bicycle.
February 6, 2009 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since the new President has made a practice of reaching out across the aisle for assistants, I had hoped he might choose a man of Limbaugh's caliber for some high-profile post, possibly in the field of drug abuse, child abuse, or human trafficking, subjects on which I understand this illustrious gentleman is deeply knowledgeable. For some reason, Mr. Limbaugh and his employers have not chosen to publicize these fields of expertise, and neither have the other media.
February 7, 2009 7:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Only guessing but couldn't everyone have had this same conversation 15 years ago?
There seems to be a gene that attracts duller thinkers or non-thinkers to shocking although misleading or even ultra false information.
Maybe that is the only way they remember something to talk about.
The strangest part is these non-????ers don't get up enough forward momentum to bother questioning the noise.
It's like that would be too......too
So they settle for whatever spills out and lick it up.
Must be lately more people than before have got sick and figured out what caused the disease.
February 7, 2009 8:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Deannie has a great article on bullies. I believe these people suffered from a battered wife's syndrome where they want to assuage the bully so they are not the victim of his wrath. There's a thrill for them to feel part of the aggressive posturing he does all day. It makes them feel safe, I think. The irony is that there is nothing on the agenda that will do them any good, but they feel his is their benefactor just the same. Since it is not a rational idea, it has to be emotional and we can all agree Chubby evokes a lot of emotions.
February 7, 2009 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
SSSSHHHHH!!!
February 7, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Might have missed it, but has anyone thought to ask RNC chair Steele if Rush has sent him his copy of the 'Magic Negro" CD yet? Wonder what Michael thinks of the song.
February 7, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Rush stays out there for awhile. I think he's good for pulling the Republican Party into the powerless, utterly disenfranchised fringe.
Unfortunately, I suspect that between his obesity, alcohol-abuse, Oxycontin, and cigars he's due for a career-ending heart attack any day now.
Hmmm...maybe I'll mail him a cheeseburger and some Cubans.
February 9, 2009 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink