Kaine: Rush Limbaugh Is "He Who Must Be Obeyed" In Republican Party
DNC chairman Tim Kaine just appeared on Fox News, and took the opportunity to dig in against Rush Limbaugh's "leadership role" in the Republican Party, and how this is endangering the country in a time of crisis.
See more at FoxNews.com.
Fox host Jon Scott brought up the recent Limbaugh-Steele flap, and asked Kaine: "Democrats are sort of enjoying this, aren't they?"
"Well you know, yeah -- in a way, yes," said Kaine. "But it's a lot at stake when somebody who is in a leadership role -- as Rush Limbaugh clearly is -- states that he wants for the president to fail, and he is followed in that by members of Congress voting against the Recovery Act. That's pretty dire, given our situation right now."
Kaine then went after Michael Steele's apology for having offended Rush, and Steele's having backed down from what Kaine said was a "courageous" comment. "You know, it left a lot of us wondering, who's really in charge? Kaine said. "It seems like Rush Limbaugh is kind of the He Who Must Be Obeyed these days in the Republican Party."
Finally, Kaine played up the national interest: "Again, we're in a time of national crisis. And the shouters aren't gonna get us through it. It's gonna be problem-solvers who will, and that's what we need from both parties right now."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
That's my Gov!!!
Get 'em K-Dog.
March 3, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats are enjoying this?
That's an understatement.
It's like Christmas in March!
Certainly weatherwise, at least.
March 3, 2009 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Tim, Steele's standing up to The Lump was courageous, his backpedalling was chickenmanure.
Can't say I was surprised or disappointed, though, Steele's just a sad token of the Republicans' utter rudderlessness.
Now there's a new word that quite accurately describes the GOP these days.
March 3, 2009 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sent one of the "Steele caves" articles to my conservative friend who, up until a few days ago, was insisting Rush was on the GOP party fringe. Guess these developments make the GOP a fringe party.
BOO -- YAH!!!
March 3, 2009 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Caves of Steele ... ? Sorry, couldn't resist obscure Isaac Asimov reference :)
March 3, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
What fun. Long may it last.
The Leader will address this issue at length : He will deliver Castro-length orations on Himself, how popular He is, and what it is like to be Him.
The Leader is the issue this week and He will tell everyone what He thinks about Himself.
March 3, 2009 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tim Kaine can deliver a knife to the ribs in such a pleasant, non-confrontational way that you don't even realize you've been shanked until it's too late!
I {heart} Tim Kaine!
March 3, 2009 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was raised in Kansas doncha know. We're pretty good at raising Kaine here.
March 3, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is spot on! He's a smooth one. Lets hope we can get more like Kaine in the party. The best cut downs are best served with a smile.
March 3, 2009 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I seriously think The Lump has been drawn into his own contrived fantasy. After what he said to Steele, he seems more and more inclined to delude himself he might be able to run for office.
Palin/Limbaugh, '12?
Be still my heart.
March 3, 2009 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude. The "Lump" is a dangerous man, make no mistake.
I think he's lining himself up to headline for the 'Pugs in 2012 -- assuming he doesn't agitprop us into a full-scale civil war before that.
March 3, 2009 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
"assuming he doesn't agitprop us into a full-scale civil war before that."
It may have been mostly verbal exchanges, but I would suggest that The Lump helped start that civil war way back in 2000, and it is just now ending.
March 3, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush run for president?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Almost too good to wish for.
March 3, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time for Shepard Fairey to produce a new "OBEY" poster.
March 3, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like I mentioned yesterday. The budget is getting grilled this week. Geithner and Orzag are on the hot plate right now. Republicans are being bombarded with Rush questions right now and can't get in all their idiotic talking points on T.V.
This is great.
I think now would be the time for the press to bring out all the incendiary comments Rush has said in the last few years, starting with how he suggested Colin Powell only supported Obama because he was black. That would be an ideal start. Then ask each Republican if they share this view, especially those caving to and kissing his cyst infested rear. From there, move onto how he considers being a liberal a sickness and ask the same Republicans if they share this view that a large percentage of Americans, from both small towns and large towns, are sick in the head.
March 3, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The email exchange between Greg Sargent and Limbaugh is more than interesting; he defends Cantor and attacks Steph because, I believe, it's a strategic move to elevate Cantor over Steele as de facto leader of the Repubs.
March 3, 2009 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
spot-on; they have been trying to position Cantor as the future of the party for quite some time now.
Politico, alongh with some of the other right-leaning blogs and publications, was actively promoting Cantor as the future Mr. R.
I think it is safe to say that The Lump has literally become the defacto spokesman of the Palin wing of the Republican Party, and the other "wings" just can't find anything louder to counter it.
So, where, oh where, has their little dog gone?
Without the likes of Rick Santorum, George Allen, Dennis Hastert, Tom Delay, Trent Lott, and so many other "disappeared" Republicans, they are left with few dynamic options.
Remember how, not so very long ago, all those names were in the mix?
How long until Cantor joins that list of has-beens and never-wasers?
March 3, 2009 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Steele is pathetic, and if there ever was an incident that showed that he was indeed the token of the Republican Party this is it.
Dear Leader, Rush Limbaugh, is such a pompous idiot that enjoys the fact that people are scared of him. And Republican Congressmen--Congressmen--kisses the ground he walks on.
The Republican Party if it ever has any intention of becoming anything but a regional Party and a purely ideological Party would be wise to stand up to Dear Leader and put him in his place: a radio host.
But then again, I'm a progressive and a Democrat, so sitting back and watching the Party self-destruct can only be described in one word, amazing.
March 3, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems like that'd make him inclined to support universal healthcare.
Over at TPL, Greg Sargent says he's had an actual e-mail exchange with His Blowhardness. Worth checking out.
March 3, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops. This was meant as a reply to Mike's comment up-thread.
March 3, 2009 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your link to the e-mail doesn't work.
March 3, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Double oops. Thanks. Greg Sargent's TPL posts are here and here.
March 3, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you want to see how this will eventually play out, watch Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd" this weekend. It's a classic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Face_In_The_Crowd
March 3, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotta love photoshop:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3325755581_11f389acd9.jpg?v=0
March 3, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
March 4, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Josh just had a deep thought on the front page
I vote for Wormtail!
March 3, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too hilarious that the party that has for so long sold itself as the tough-guy, macho-man Daddy party is revealed to have less than a single testicle or vertebrae among its entire leadership.
March 3, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush has been around a lot longer in the political scene than most out there. So why do people think he doesn't know what he is talking about? He always has great insight and knowledge on the real motive behind the politics of others. Listen to him and you will see.
http://SockPoliticians.com
March 3, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I laugh any harder, I'm going to poot!
March 3, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lameball is now the Rushatollah of the ReTaliban Party, aka Greedy Obese Plutocrats.
March 3, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
wheres is the resolution in the house and senate condeming thesse remarks??
wanting a president to faiL//
put it to a vote you dem wimps!
March 3, 2009 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, this is funny. The republicans were running away from the king because he was soooo unpopular and have been for a long time. They wouldn't even mention his name and didn't mention it at cpac, except in contempt.
Well, who do you think is more unpopular than the king? Lush. Is that funny or what? Lush is more unpopular than the king and yet the republicans are kissing his a**. Talk about stupid. The republicans deserve to cease to exist as a political entity based on stupidity alone. Check out this link:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Rush_Limbaugh_less_popular_than_Bush_0303.html
March 3, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok now THATS FUNNY. From the article:
Are they also grabbing their ankles while they are bowing? hahahahahaha
March 3, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is definitely manna from heaven!
Nicely done, Governor Kaine!
Thank you too wingnutz!
March 3, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am amazed by the sheer stupidity of Republican "leaders." The sky of the world is falling. Worldwide industrial output and trade is falling at a rate that one observer noted "makes the Great Depression appear 'leisurely.'" Who in their right mind could even imagine that a dopehead Nazi who cited Joseph Stalin in his speech to CPAC - look at the transcript from the great Rushian Limbowski - has any qualification to save the world?
In 1932, they could have hired Donald Duck.
March 3, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone needs to get some old clips of Il Duce and side-by-side them with clips of the drug addict Rush Limbaugh.
March 3, 2009 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's a touch of PT Barnum
with a Mussolini twist
a goofy Genghis Khan
March 3, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink