Rush Gets Played by Rahm
Here is the contest the the DNC is running. You send in a slogan for a "Message to Rush" --the winner will be placed on a billboard in Rush's home town.
How did Limbaugh, a supposedly canny guy, get so played by the White House? Ranting on, last Saturday night at the CPAC Conference, looking like a bad Russian Mafia imitator--proclaiming his deep desire to see Obama fail--was the kiss of death.
I had lunch with a very conservative friend today. We haven't seem eachother since early October of last year, before the Obama victory. The lunch was very civil and we found some common ground when my friend said upfront, he was glad Obama beat McCain and Palin. And then we found some more common ground on Health and Education Reform. So the meal was a lot less tempestuous than I expected. As we were getting in our cars, I asked him "How did Rush allow himself to get played like a stradavarius by Rahm Emanuel?".
It was at this point that my friend went ballistic on me and said "Obama was a chicken" not to debate Limbaugh one on one, like Rush has been asking on the air for weeks.
As I was driving away he was still ranting and I thought, only if Rush is the Republican Presidential candidate in four years, will he actually get a one on one debate with President Obama. Until then, he's just a bystander who helps the Democrats attract the 80% of the country who think El Rushbo is a drug addled loon.
Because he is becoming the Republican Brand, Limbaugh will find out just how small his "base" of white males really is. This is what I call the "Whig" strategy. Make your party's base so small that centrist's (like Abe Lincoln leaving the Whigs) break away and form a new party. Leaving you with just the dittoheads and the crackers.
You always know when you're hitting conservatives close to home because they go ballistic. They laugh at, ignore or counter weak attacks from the left. But when they go through the roof, you know you're hitting home, and they know you're scoring points on them.
March 5, 2009 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
And they always want to debate the guy who's so out of their league they know it will never, ever happen.
"I'm sorry, I have to take the day off to prepare for my debate with a commercial for Viagra, Dexatrim, Oxycodone and breath mints."
It's that cartoon again, where the little puppy is after the big dog, who chivalrously ignores him. But that pup learns a lesson, and decides that he's going to grow up- and THEN I'll show him...
March 6, 2009 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Limbaugh's a coward. He'd never do a debate where he was not in control of the environment and the editing. And that needs to be repeated loud and long.
March 5, 2009 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your friend really thought the President of the United States would debate a radio talk show host? Even if they were both presidential candidates, Rush is not worthy of engaging with a mind like Obama's. Just like it was a disgrace that Biden had to debate Palin.
March 5, 2009 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Who the hell do these people think they are? Or the President is? Or this blowhard jackass is?
I love the way Limbaugh supposedly has this implicit stature, when neocons get indignant because Obama won't "debate" him...but then cave when anybody tries to make push come to shove and get them to acknowledge that Limbaugh is the voice of their party.
Even if he were a candidate it would be a disgrace to the stature of the candidacy (even bigger than Palin was)...has it occurred to any of them that, in the implausible scenario of a debate, Obama would eat this pig alive without breaking a sweat or needing a toothpick?
March 6, 2009 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
SOS
While your prediction of the outcome of such a debate is doubtless on the money, the image your analogy generates really did turn my stomach. I'm not usually sensative to that sort of thing but as they say, EEUWWW!
March 7, 2009 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jon -- Any ideas on whom within the Republican Party can create a viable alternative to the wingnuts that currently rule? The Lincoln of this age seems to be Obama. What can any Republican do?
March 5, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush has alienated, and Obama has seduced enough moderate conservatives that what is left to the Republicans skew so far right that they will complete the process. Republican pols are forced to defend Limbaugh because he now controls what amounts to a mojority of thier dwindling support.
March 5, 2009 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I always likd the way, on his website, Rush had a page where you could 'support the troops' by sending money to a self-admitted drug abuser.
Him.
By buying the troops a 'Rush 24/7' subscription. Nothing like his talent for exploiting, and shucking the 'base'.
March 5, 2009 11:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is just pitiful. Crackers? You're describing a segment of the populace with a racial slur? What is the matter with you?
Of course Obama the Fuhrer wasn't going to debate Limbaugh. he doesn't function well without a teleprompter. But no matter, this is all just a distraction from the earmark express.
Speaking of transparency, is anyone reading the legislation before passing it this time? Yes, no? Oh well.
March 5, 2009 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Talk about tele prompting talking points I saw them mention that on Yahoo. What a crock. You're such a snob.
March 6, 2009 1:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMAO!!!
In your first paragraph you take offense because cracker is a racial slur, but in the next paragraph you call Obama the Fuhrer.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
You are soooooo credible when you do that.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
March 6, 2009 3:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
To be fair, I did a doubletake at the "cracker" bit too. Would TPM allow the use of any other racial slur against any other group of people on its pages? I don't think so.
March 6, 2009 8:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think "cracker" is a racial epithet. Crackers don't differ racially from lots of people who aren't crackers. In that respect, they're not like niggers, spics, kikes, honkies, towel-heads, bog-hoppers, greasers, micks, injuns, etc.
March 7, 2009 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually Fuhrer is Taplin's suggestion.....
And after I protest vociferously....
March 6, 2009 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, let me break it down for you, since you are returning the Taplin to me. Taplin also said of Rush, that Rush was worse then the Fuhrer, he was a demagogue. Taplin later asserts that a demagague is, "one who will preach doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots."
If you wish to be a demagogue, you have to go someplace where there are idiots. We are the intellectual, liberal elite, may I remind you. It's somewhere in the Guide Taplin references of stereotyping liberals. Therefore we will dissect your arguments and refute them intelligently.
The premise that I should accept your proposition Obama is the Fuhrer and be okay with it is beyond absurd. However, I also believe that since you do believe, as opposed to knowing to be untrue, the crap that Rush provides to his dittoheads, an altogether abhorrent term to any intellectual, dittohead that is, I am sure you are no demagogue.
March 6, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
March 6, 2009 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you say so. Heh.
March 6, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Of course Obama the Fuhrer wasn't going to debate Limbaugh. he doesn't function well without a teleprompter."
Anyone who has spent time with Obama will tell you that he is highly articulate and focused, in real time. You may not like him, but he has a world-class intellect and is also a very good listener.
March 6, 2009 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Several signs that the GOP are in deep trouble. 1. Their elected leaders are cowering in terror before the rage of Rush. 2. When asked about their policies, all their candidates can do is compete over who is the most like Reagan, who left office 20 years ago. 3. Even their smart leaders (Jindal) feel they have to talk as if they're stupid (using Katrina against the Democrats!!). 4. They are putting people like Rove and Gerson in the spotlights, when, in view of their record of failure, they'd be well advised to hide them away. All in all, this looks like a party headed for a long stay in the wilderness.
March 6, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
When Rush tried his failed shot at TV he started out with a live audience. It didn't take long for his handlers to figure out that they needed to hand pick his audience if he was going to get a positive response. Only Dittoheads need apply.
On the radio he carfully selects his callers so he doesn't have to deal with any resistance from someone with a brain in his head on air. Just say "Ditto Rush" and everything is cool.
Rush lives in a bubble penetrated by only Dittoheads. It's tough out there in the real world for dimwits like Rush.
March 6, 2009 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Its getting tough out there in the real world for Americans in general, after eight years of Bush and 30 years of Reaganomics.
Megadittoes shooter242.
March 6, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fpie, you have nailed it, the simple truth, always the best.
March 6, 2009 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why in the world would your conservative friend think that Obama would debate Limbaugh? Can anybody cite a precedent of a sitting president debating anybody? Debating a non-elected official?
March 6, 2009 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats have a lot to thank Rush for.
Don't forget, he was the one who foisted Sarah Palin into the veep slot.
March 6, 2009 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Something tells me that all the hubbub over Mr. Limbaugh is bad fodder for Democrats. Something is mighty wrong when he's happy ! Who's playing who for the sucker isn't quite clear.
March 6, 2009 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Rush is happy when people are talking about him and when he is making lots of money. So here we are making him happy.
Maybe we are getting suckered right here. I hate when that happens.
March 7, 2009 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
President Obama should offer Rush a deal. Obama spends 30 minutes on Rush's program when Senate Republicans guarantee straight, up-or-down votes on every subject. No filibusters, no gratuitous quorum calls, no anonymous holds and no other parliamentary stall tactics of any kind. Obama agrees to spend another 30 minutes on Rush's program for every month that Republicans keep their word.
March 6, 2009 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink