I'm not sure it's brilliant strategy by Obama or the Dems. Is a baby following a brilliant strategy when it opens its mouth for the spoon of applesauce? The self destruction is being served up. I'm with the distressed. If we have a two-party system, I want two strong parties, and I'm not sure we even have half of a coherent party between them. And *anything* that give Limbaugh attention, along with his hate-spewing but somehow seductive brand of imbecility, is bad for this country.
LOL. The libertarians have their version of Rush and his name is Neal Boortz. I laugh histerically every time Boortz tries to pose himself off as a libertarian.
I agree... we do need two strong parties. What we have now is a party that's regaining it's footing and a cult. The GOP has to implode completely before there will be a strong enough movement to reform and revitalize it. To that end, I'm happy with the Limbaugh gambit... his was big once, but now neither he nor his listeners understand that they are literally history.
oh DAMN! It is on indeed! This story officially has legs. A sampling of headlines care of Google News: This is the narrative, guys. I want to close with what I find to be the most important story yet, from Politico: Steele to Rush: I'm sorry http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19517.html Excerpts: (click the link for the whole thing) Wow. The chairman of the RNC must kowtow before Rush. Rush verbally destroys him, and in response, he's on his knees. Steele is doing this to try and stop the narrative, but it only feeds it. Rush can disrespect the chairman of the RNC and the chairman will come apologizing to him. Rush is the most powerful republican in the land. This is lovely. Can't wait to see where it goes next.
I don't think Steele would have gone on-air to repudiate Rush's "I want Obama to fail" action if the administration hadn't framed the narrative that Rush speaks for the party. Granted, it was easy to do- one commercial and an appearance by Rahm. But now that it's in motion, it's pretty interesting. Either republican leaders contradict Rush and risk his wrath, or they do not- and allow him to concrete his position as titular republican leader. It's a beautiful trap and I hope it keeps growing. The republican party needs this war within itself to become stronger down the line. They don't know who the f*** they are. Eight years of republican dominance in America has lead us to where we are. And republicans cry that only they can bring us out of this mess, that more of the same is the solution. Gingrich says that the era of Reagan is over, Rush says that sticking to Reagan is the way to go forward.... they don't know who they are. They need to fight it out among themselves (and throw those evangelical leaders into the cage match while you're at it) to purify, and get behind a solid message and set of solutions for how they will help the country. Yelling "socialism!" and "tax breaks!" ain't it.
“I wasn’t trying to offend anybody. So, yeah, if he’s offended, I’d say: Look, I’m not in the business of hurting people’s feelings here. … My job is to try to bring us all together.” --Michael Steele Wow. If the Repubs can't stand up to El Rushbo, how are they going to stand up to terrorists?
Steele: "I am the de facto leader of the GOP" (actual quote.) Rush: "You ain't s***." Steele: "OMG I'm so sorry if I said anything that might offend!!" Rush just made the de facto leader of the GOP his b****.
I think we need no parties. Just people, facts, and issues. George Washington seemed to agree in his farewell address. He discusses as much starting in around the 14th paragraph where he states... "I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.... It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion. Thus the policy and the will ofone country are subjected to the policy and will of another." While I think Obama carries his party's load as well/offensively (which side you're on) as anyone, it's been a while since I thought anyone was trying to breach the norm in regard to trying to appear to be doing what they thought was right, regardless whether they were right, despite normal party lines. Yes, he fights them, they all but encourage him to fail, but I think he at least tries to portray if not embody the ideals of someone trying to accomplish his goals through some sort of diplomacy rather than propaganda and mudslinging. Time will tell if that is his true motive, and if his methods are any more bipartisan than any previous leaders, and if it's even possible in our current state of politics, but at least he seems to understand these things, and what's more, acknowledges that we the people might actually understand it too. That's more than I can say for Rush, or the extreme conservative front these days. All conservatives? no. Notice the word extreme. They would do well to kick him and his Pep Rally politics to the curb, and get back to focusing on the issues they once believed in, and not pandering to propaganda momentum.
There are a party of cowards * Eric Holder tone* This gives a new meaning to the abbreviation G.O.P_ssy.I don't want theses guys controlling my country; if the are all puppets to a radio commentator.
The GOP is a room full pu**ys just like the WNBA draft. I doubt Howard Dean would ever apologize to Keith Obermann or Bill Maher. The GOP is that bully who picked on kids in high school until the kid finally got tired and kicked his ass. Ive never heard nobody from the right blast Rush, what a bunch of punks. I cant wait till 2010 when we stomp your asses in the next election.
Everytime someone from the Right takes on Rush, they almost immediately apologize. If memory serves, Steele is not the first.
that's correct. It all started because Phil Gingrey apologized after taking a stand for saying Rush was wrong when he said he hopes that our President of the United States fails.
The administration and dem leadership is running with this. Press secretary Gibbs calls on the press to ask republican leaders if they agree with Rush: <object width="332" height="249"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailykostv.com/flv/player.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http://www.dailykostv.com/w/000936/vxml.php?332"></param><embed src="http://www.dailykostv.com/flv/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="332" height="249" flashvars="config=http://www.dailykostv.com/w/000936/vxml.php?332"></embed></object> This is a gold mine. The press will run with anything that creates controversy. Republican leaders can hedge themselves into the party of "no" by agreeing with Rush, or they can disagree and be blasted by him and his followers. This is an excellent wedge device to square off the republican moderates against the base. And now Steeles' counterpart, DNC chairman Tim Kaine, jumps in with some more: (bold emphasis mine)
