I thought the idea behind "America" was to be more than/better than average? Is politics about pandering or improving?
Ask Limbaugh what he thought politics was about when he made the comments! (I think he was trolling for ratings) Was he attempting to "pander" or "improve" when he vilified a woman on air, with millions listening? And what does "the idea behind "America" was to be more than/better than average" have to do with Nolen saying this illustrated how "out of touch the GOP is with the real lives of the average American?" Whether America is average, better than average, super-duper, or any other adjectives wasn't part of his post in the context you are using. He made a simple statement that the GOP is out of touch with average Americans. It is his opinion, one I happen to agree with, particularly on this issue. He didn't comment on America itself as a country. And I've already talked to a couple of female Republicans (one was my sister, a Republican of decades standing), and they are furious with Limbaugh's statements. He screwed up, big time, and frankly, I'm happy to see him do it. Not happy about what he said, but happy that he's damaged the political party he claims as his own. Pay attention! ;-)-
The ambition and responsibility of the Republican Party is not the same as Rush's. I think Rush went over the line and he has admitted so. A lot of entertainers go over the line and most of them are political opposites of Rush: Maher, Chris Rock, Lewis Black et al. My point is that the end-all, be-all of neither party should be to be "in touch" with the average American. Our political process should be about improving and elevating this nation and the people in it. That's like teaching to the average student and letting the bright ones go bored and unchallenged. Another analogy perhaps: targeting the average American is like spoiling your children. We elect people and entrust powers to move us ahead-- whatever side of the aisle you sit on.
I'm not trying to insult you. Just pointing out a simple observation. Feel free to toss it in the trash. But I still think it was interesting, from my perspective (clearly not yours), that you responded to his tirade with a similar tirade and it derailed from the point. I thought it was interesting ...apparently nobody else did. I'm just a nerd like that. Can we kiss and make up? Need me to put on my piggy nose or doggy ears? Maybe that will make you feel more at home. :grin: I kid.
I agree that Rush has done a lot of harm ...this time. More often than not, he hits it. If not him then somebody else on Fox. Is he going after ratings? Sure he is ...but it's a win-win for him. Have you seen this? http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/...-EFFECTIVE-CONSERVATIVE-BLOGGING-By-Karl-Rove Not sure how true it is but it sure rings true. It also sounds A LOT like some of our fellow posters here such as texxx or ol' Trader.
I sort of figured that, while you can kiss your own hand (or ass if you can reach) and congratulate yourself for being so amazing. You can also do it with your piggy nose or doggy ears in the comfort of your own home. You don't have to say one more word to me.
Kirsten Powers Let it be shouted from the rooftops that Rush Limbaugh should not have called Ms. Fluke a slut or, as he added later, a “prostitute” who should post her sex tapes. It’s unlikely that his apology will assuage the people on a warpath for his scalp, and after all, why should it? He spent days attacking a woman as a slut and prostitute and refused to relent. Now because he doesn’t want to lose advertisers, he apologizes. What’s in order is something more like groveling—and of course a phone call to Ms. Fluke—if you ask me. But if Limbaugh’s actions demand a boycott—and they do—then what about the army of swine on the left? During the 2008 election Ed Schultz said on his radio show that Sarah Palin set off a “bimbo alert.” He called Laura Ingraham a “right-wing slut.” (He later apologized.) He once even took to his blog to call yours truly a “bimbo” for the offense of quoting him accurately in a New York Post column. Keith Olbermann has said that conservative commentator S.E. Cupp should have been aborted by her parents, apparently because he finds her having opinions offensive. He called Michelle Malkin a “mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick.” He found it newsworthy to discuss Carrie Prejean’s breasts on his MSNBC show. His solution for dealing with Hillary Clinton, who he thought should drop out of the presidential race, was to find “somebody who can take her into a room and only he comes out.” Olbermann now works for über-leftist and former Democratic vice president Al Gore at Current TV. Left-wing darling Matt Taibbi wrote on his blog in 2009, “When I read [Malkin’s] stuff, I imagine her narrating her text, book-on-tape style, with a big, hairy set of balls in her mouth.” In a Rolling Stone article about Secretary of State Clinton, he referred to her “flabby arms.” When feminist writer Erica Jong criticized him for it, he responded by referring to Jong as an “800-year old sex novelist.” (Jong is almost 70, which apparently makes her an irrelevant human being.) In Taibbi’s profile of Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann he labeled her “bat**** crazy.” (Oh, those “crazy” women with their hormones and all.) Chris Matthews’s sickening misogyny was made famous in 2008, when he obsessively tore down Hillary Clinton for standing between Barack Obama and the presidency, something that Matthews could not abide. . . . But the grand pooh-bah of media misogyny is without a doubt Bill Maher—who also happens to be a favorite of liberals—who has given $1 million to President Obama’s super PAC. Maher has called Palin a “dumb twat” and dropped the C-word in describing the former Alaska governor. He called Palin and Congresswoman Bachmann “boobs” and “two bimbos.” He said of the former vice-presidential candidate, “She is not a mean girl. She is a crazy girl with mean ideas.” He recently made a joke about Rick Santorum’s wife using a vibrator. Imagine now the same joke during the 2008 primary with Michelle Obama’s name in it, and tell me that he would still have a job.
"The ambition and responsibility of the Republican Party is not the same as Rush's." That's correct, Giddy. Limbaugh's ambition is to make money and enjoy fame. He's been successful at it. He's a liar and a b*stard, in my opinion, but he's "lived the American Dream," if the American Dream is money and fame. Whether he represents "The ambition and responsibility of the Republican Party" is not the point, although he certainly reflects a segment of that party. The point, at least my point, is that Limbaugh has damaged the Republican Party in the run-up to the November election, and damaged his own credibility with a significant segment of that party and of independent voters, women. And I like that. Limbaugh is a hypocrite of the first order, a despicable man. That he's damaged the GOP is a plus on my side of the political ledger. "My point is that the end-all, be-all of neither party should be to be "in touch" with the average American. Our political process should be about improving and elevating this nation and the people in it." I disagree. We are a democracy. Our political parties should represent "average Americans." One of the biggest problems in this country is that they don't do that, far to often. "That's like teaching to the average student and letting the bright ones go bored and unchallenged." The leaders of our political parties should lead and inspire. Jack Kennedy is a perfect example of that kind of leader. He also was the leader of a political party that was filled with bigoted Southern conservative Democrats, who fought his agenda on social issues tooth and nail. You are mixing up political leaders and political parties, IMO. I'll give you an example. Olympia Snowe of Maine was a leader of what used to be a significant faction of the Republican Party, moderate Republicans, largely from the Northeast. She just announced that she's not running for reelection, even though she would win in a walk. Why? She is a political leader who was cast aside by her own party, largely stripped of influence, and vilified by members of the right wing of Republican Party, who were looking for someone to run against her. While this was going on, the leaders of that party were largely silent. Ms. Snowe, after decades of effective service in Congress, is walking away. She's sick and tired of what the Republican Party has become. That is a significant act on her part, one which I admire. One might say that it's even inspirational.
Please, you think Democtratic politicians fear Bill Maher the same way Republican ones fear Limbaugh or that Bill Maher is the Democratic equivalent of Limbaugh? And Dem leaning folks, like NOW, did call Maher out. http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/22/n...tack-but-says-we-are-on-to-you-right-wingers/ Facts don't mesh with you people's persecution delusion.
I made a mistake clicking on your link, had a really good laugh this morning. Your fail attempt to show us liberal "fair and balance" is priceless. Ha ha ha!!!
I don't remember any outrage here or for that matter all the past insults hurled at Palin, Bush or Cheney in years past. It's just hypocrisy. The Left is just taking advantage of Limbaugh's poor judgment and is just piling on left and right.
How dare anyone pile on Limbaugh. How dare they keep some deep resentment for his long and truly unparalleled career of making people in the US hate one another for his own personal profit. Hate that is evidenced all around in this thread -- the Sith Lord of talk radio would be pleased. I don't resent him for anything but completely ruining a wonderful song by the Pretenders.
There is a slight difference. Palin, Bush, Cheney and those people are all public figures. This was a law student who Republicans at first prevented from testifying, and then got a chance to testify. She wasn't a politician who voluntarily entered the public eye.
But it is the point when you try and transfer the infection of Limbaugh's faux pas to the entirety of the Republican party. We are a democratic Republic. There is no such thing as an average American. If you think so, define it. Very elusive. This nomenclature is kind of dicey. A registered Democratic or Republican voter who just shows up at the poll is in some way different from members of either party-- the ones who shape policy and covet office either for themselves or for others. It is hard to know where the participants end and the leaders begin.... but we all have the same responsibility. As for Snowe: (HuffPost)-- "Snowe's departure continues a steady exodus of the chamber's moderates. Centrists like Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., are also leaving, following on the heels of the recent departures of Evan Bayh, D-Ind., Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. "People in the center are increasingly vilified by the far left and the far right," said Sen. Susan Collins, Snowe's home-state GOP colleague. "We used to be applauded for bringing people together to solve problems. Now we tend to be criticized by both sides." It's not just a Republican problem.
If you hate Limbaugh, you are to some degree controlled by him whether or not you realize it or admit it. Ask Gandhi.
