GOP Apologizes to Rush

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: dbk
Why is Steele apologizing to Rush? Who cares?

That's a sign of weakness and pretty sad that he went out of his way to apologize to him.
Does Rush ever apologize for himself?
How many Republicans have gone on his show to apologize now? Didn't Mike Pence do the same earlier? :laugh:

Grow a pair, GOP. Rush is nothing. This only gives credit to the Dem's accusation that Rush is the face of the GOP (ridiculous, btw).

The true face of the Republican Party

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

Originally posted by: Genx87
I see two threads about this. Life must be rough as a liberal with all the Obama bashing around here if they have to jump on this trivial story.

The left must be awefully afraid of Rush.. otherwise, like you said, they wouldn't bring it up.

Then if Rush does represent the GOP, then why cry when he's called on it?

Because he is the leader of the free world and perhaps he has something better to do than have a pissing contest with a radio talk show host??

You actually think that Rush is the leader of the free world?

He must have shared half of his stash with you and scarred your brain forever.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Time out from a busy schedule? It probably didn't take a minute to figure out that a single comment from the WH could make Rush a bigger albatross for the Republicans than he already was.

Afraid of Rush? lol They remarked because it it was like a free chance to push a button and win a prize, guaranteed. So little effort, so much reward.

Using buffoons like Rush, Palin, and Joe-the-plumber make the Republicans more like clown act than a serious political party. And some of you just can't see it.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: Genx87
I see two threads about this. Life must be rough as a liberal with all the Obama bashing around here if they have to jump on this trivial story.

Would it be fair to ask you if you feel Rush is a representative of the current day GOP, or it is overblown by the left?

Overblown. He is an entertainer. Remember he was leading a crusade against John McCain. How did that work out? Failed miserably. People like to tune in to hear him roast liberals. But obviously given the last election cycle and lets say the 96 election cycle. His ability to lead the GOP fails miserably.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: fallout man
I'm sure that Fatbaugh would be nicer to Uncle Steele if Uncle Steele were a nubile Thai prostitute. Unfortunately, there is only so much diversity and entertainment that can fit into a stiff GOP suit.

Certainly, gift-mailing a month's-worth of Viagra prescription would warm Rush's heart to the "new GOP."

Why dont you just cut to the chase and call him Uncle Tom? That is what you are implying with calling him Uncle Steele.

 

[Dari]

Fat, bald, obscene, ugly, drug addict, pedophile, and immature. What more can the Republican Party ask for in a leader?

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: TheRedUnderURBed
Leader of a party that hates minority's, run by a minority, who is nothing in reality but a fat rich white guys slave.
Yep, they may be down, but the GOP is still kickin.

Only at the coffin lid closing over them...

LMFAO! The beast is dying but ever so slowly....

-Robert

 

[HomerJS]

It's not that the left is afraid of Limbaugh or take him seriously.

The problem the GOP takes him seriously. There are way too many people that believe his bullshit. Politicians are afraid of him because too many voters take him seriously.

You have to be short a few brain cells to forget that this guy is just a radio entertainer. His only job is to get ratings not get productive things done for the country.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: Genx87
I see two threads about this. Life must be rough as a liberal with all the Obama bashing around here if they have to jump on this trivial story.

Would it be fair to ask you if you feel Rush is a representative of the current day GOP, or it is overblown by the left?

Overblown. He is an entertainer. Remember he was leading a crusade against John McCain. How did that work out? Failed miserably. People like to tune in to hear him roast liberals. But obviously given the last election cycle and lets say the 96 election cycle. His ability to lead the GOP fails miserably.

Well it didn't turn out so great for McCain. I think you'd be hard pressed to claim that McCain wasn't at least hurt somewhat by Rush bashing him.

He just wants to elevate himself even further, he could care less about conservative values or the Republican party, it's all about him, always have been and always will be.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: ayabe

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: Genx87
I see two threads about this. Life must be rough as a liberal with all the Obama bashing around here if they have to jump on this trivial story.

Would it be fair to ask you if you feel Rush is a representative of the current day GOP, or it is overblown by the left?

Overblown. He is an entertainer. Remember he was leading a crusade against John McCain. How did that work out? Failed miserably. People like to tune in to hear him roast liberals. But obviously given the last election cycle and lets say the 96 election cycle. His ability to lead the GOP fails miserably.

Well it didn't turn out so great for McCain. I think you'd be hard pressed to claim that McCain wasn't at least hurt somewhat by Rush bashing him.

He just wants to elevate himself even further, he could care less about conservative values or the Republican party, it's all about him, always have been and always will be.

I dont think he had much effect at all. He openly tried to get other candidates through the primary and all that happened was McCain gained more ground. The republicans had little chance in 08. The bottom line is the people wanted a change. They got that change now we move on.

 

[BoberFett]

The Republican party is useless. Let it die and let a true small government party take their place.

 

[BMW540I6speed]

The Limbaugh-Steele spat only confirms it ; the GOP is in a terrible state. You would think they would use this opportunity to take a deep breath and figure out where they have gone wrong but they seem intent on becoming even more of a joke.

To recover they need to pick leaders who project competence and achievement but also genuine empathy for the well-being of average voters and back that up with specific policy proposals. There are leaders who do bits and pieces of this: Romney certainly projects competence and Huckabee is quite good at speaking about economic concerns; the GOP needs leaders who can do both and some sensible policies which appeal to the independent voter. What it doesn't need are populist gimmicks like Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Above all it needs less of Rush Limbaugh. The Democrats are trying to make Limbaugh the face of the Republican party and the Republicans, unbelievably, are playing into their hands.

It's certainly not the Democrats who give Limbaugh his power. They don't force Republican politicians to apologize to him. They don't circulate his rhetoric through the right wing infrastructure and up to Fox. The right has to take responsibility for their own mistakes and make their own corrections without blaming the Democrats for everything.

A move by a losing party in a change-of-party election to the wing is not unusual. Goldwater in '64, McGovern in '72, Mondale in '84 are all examples. When you lose the confidence of the center of the political spectrum, you naturally try to shore yourself up with pandering to the strongest part of your political base.

The real problem with the Republicans right now is that they are unable to adequately meld the two main themes they have: lower taxes and spending with "family" values. The squawking about cutting taxes has begun finally to lose some credit with the general public, as they see that it doesn't equate to increased economic productivity, and makes it very hard to provide proper social services and infrastructure. And it isn't like the Republicans were eager to reduce government spending when they had control of the trough in Washington, D.C. Many of the people in the central part of the political spectrum who are eager to see the conservative base social message adopted find all the emphasis on "cut taxes" to be distracting from a more important goal: getting government to support policies that encourage "traditional" values.

Be careful in attributing too much to Limbaugh. Some of this meme just may be due to Emanuel, and others, trying to spread it in order to discredit the party. In just the same way, GOP mouthpieces have traditionally tried to play up Al Sharpton's influence with the Dems. The GOP should be careful with "the mouth". Limbaugh could do for the Republican Party in 2012 what Barry Goldwater did for it in 1964.

The issue for the GOP isn't necessarily its getting its leadership from an entertainer, it's that they are seriously espousing the same attitudes that the entertainer espouses for entertainment purposes.

 

[fisheerman]

I have some thoughts about all of this "Rush is the leader of the Repub party" stuff.

It seems it is in concert that all the Dems are planning off of the same scripted handbook

If in fact they (Dems) can convince Americans that Rush ( a talk radio personality) is in fact the leader of the Republican party they will have little to no resistance other than talk radio and its listeners of ramming through the Fairness Doctrine.


this is the end game for Conservatives and free voice in America and they are going to use the ego of one of its loudest proponents to do it.


Merged

Red Dawn
Anandtech Senior moderator

 

[alchemize]

They need a new boogeyman now that Bush is gone.

 

[ayabe]

This doesn't have anything to do with Democrats, this is in-fighting between the foaming radicals and the moderate Republicans.

They're the ones who are trying to figure out who they are and what they really want to represent, it has nothing to do with D's or anyone else.

Now the Democrats will attempt to capitalize on this as they should.

 

[OrByte]

The GOP is doing a good thing by doing some soul searching.

The Dems are just taking advantage of the situation.

Politics as usual.

 

[Genx87]

I think it is far more powerful than that. If they can successfully paint Rush as the leader then Republicans will be put in a corner to defend Rush instead of attacking democrats on their unbelievable expansion of govt under Obama in under 45 days.

They painted republicans with the Bush brush the last two election cycles. They understand in 2010 that brush will run dry as the public wakes up to this revolution. They need a new donkey to pin the tail on. Setting up Rush is a win win for them. The Republican leadership needs to let the Dems put the noose around their own neck and when the time is right kick the chair out from under them and let them choke on their own rhetoric. The way Steele acted the last couple of days I dont have much faith they can figure it out.

 

[0marTheZealot]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Isn't the thread title a little offensive and trollish? (It's rather childish too)

Of course it does reenforce the fact that it is the left that attaches labels to everyone.

"Tax and Spend Liberal"
"Cut and Run Liberal"

Both sides apply labels to each other. Take off the blinders, drop the Kool-Aid and think critically for once in your goddamn life.

They painted republicans with the Bush brush the last two election cycles. They understand in 2010 that brush will run dry as the public wakes up to this revolution. They need a new donkey to pin the tail on. Setting up Rush is a win win for them. The Republican leadership needs to let the Dems put the noose around their own neck and when the time is right kick the chair out from under them and let them choke on their own rhetoric. The way Steele acted the last couple of days I dont have much faith they can figure it out.

They didn't paint the GOP as being Bush. The GOP practically slobbered on Bush's balls for the first 6 years.

Truth be told, the GOP is better off dead. I like a lot of their positions, especially on smaller government and fiscal responsibilities, but they are a snake oil salesman. Very few in the GOP actually believe the party line and the social conservatism is simply anachronistic. With regards to social conservatism, they are simply yesterday's liberals. In 15 years, the liberals of today will be the social conservatives of tomorrow. It's as simple as that. Where are the true social conservatives that put coloreds, women and disableds in their place. Where are they when it comes to issues of the non-landed gentry having a say in government? Obviously, none of those positions are viable in the least. However, that's what social conservatism looked like 40 years ago and 150 years ago. In another 15 years, gay marriage will seem as right as inter-racial marriage does today. You can't stop social progression unless you implement something like the Shari'a or Talmudic Law.

 

[yllus]

The trouble with Rush Limbaugh's sweet nothings

As the Republican tent shrinks, Rush Limbaugh, arguably the most successful and influential radio host in American history, has emerged as its most prominent voice. No elected Republican--not John McCain, not Arnold Schwarzenegger, not Bobby Jindal--commands the loyalty of as many grassroots conservatives.

Rather than sit idly by as conservatives find their bearings in the Age of Obama, Limbaugh, who played a crucial role in the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, has decided to use this moment of Republican weakness and disarray to remake the Party of Lincoln as the Party of Limbaugh.

What Limbaugh fails to understand is that any successful political movement is built of both true believers and evangelizers. True believers, like Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, fire up the troops. They tell their followers exactly what they want to hear, and they instinctively resist any compromise of their hallowed principles.

As a general rule, true believers live and work and worship among other true believers, and they like it that way. To the extent they engage the other side, the engagement takes the form of friendly but chilly mutual incomprehension or, more often, a shouting match.

There is something admirable about conviction that runs this deep. But it limits the size of your audience. Every week Rush Limbaugh reaches an audience of over 13 million listeners--a staggering sum by any standard. Yet 13 million listeners plus their spouses, plus the family dog, plus a few dead aunts and uncles thrown in here or there, still doesn't add up to an electoral majority.

Be wary, American conservatives. I don't think a policy of exclusion is going to bring you many gains.

 

[Moonbeam]

I don't want Rush silenced. I want his right to monopolize public spectrum taken. Opposing views should air along with his. He should not be allowed a monologue.

He is a disease and a contagion. The antidote is sunshine and reason.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: yllus
The trouble with Rush Limbaugh's sweet nothings

As the Republican tent shrinks, Rush Limbaugh, arguably the most successful and influential radio host in American history, has emerged as its most prominent voice. No elected Republican--not John McCain, not Arnold Schwarzenegger, not Bobby Jindal--commands the loyalty of as many grassroots conservatives.

Rather than sit idly by as conservatives find their bearings in the Age of Obama, Limbaugh, who played a crucial role in the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, has decided to use this moment of Republican weakness and disarray to remake the Party of Lincoln as the Party of Limbaugh.

What Limbaugh fails to understand is that any successful political movement is built of both true believers and evangelizers. True believers, like Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, fire up the troops. They tell their followers exactly what they want to hear, and they instinctively resist any compromise of their hallowed principles.

As a general rule, true believers live and work and worship among other true believers, and they like it that way. To the extent they engage the other side, the engagement takes the form of friendly but chilly mutual incomprehension or, more often, a shouting match.

There is something admirable about conviction that runs this deep. But it limits the size of your audience. Every week Rush Limbaugh reaches an audience of over 13 million listeners--a staggering sum by any standard. Yet 13 million listeners plus their spouses, plus the family dog, plus a few dead aunts and uncles thrown in here or there, still doesn't add up to an electoral majority.

Be wary, American conservatives. I don't think a policy of exclusion is going to bring you many gains.

Last I checked Rush isn't so popular with women and minorities, in fact he has a terrible track record with both groups.

Thankfully for the rest of us, the ill-informed middle age white man is rapidly becoming a super-minority in the US.

 

[HomerJS]

Originally posted by: ayabe

Originally posted by: yllus
The trouble with Rush Limbaugh's sweet nothings

As the Republican tent shrinks, Rush Limbaugh, arguably the most successful and influential radio host in American history, has emerged as its most prominent voice. No elected Republican--not John McCain, not Arnold Schwarzenegger, not Bobby Jindal--commands the loyalty of as many grassroots conservatives.

Rather than sit idly by as conservatives find their bearings in the Age of Obama, Limbaugh, who played a crucial role in the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, has decided to use this moment of Republican weakness and disarray to remake the Party of Lincoln as the Party of Limbaugh.

What Limbaugh fails to understand is that any successful political movement is built of both true believers and evangelizers. True believers, like Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, fire up the troops. They tell their followers exactly what they want to hear, and they instinctively resist any compromise of their hallowed principles.

As a general rule, true believers live and work and worship among other true believers, and they like it that way. To the extent they engage the other side, the engagement takes the form of friendly but chilly mutual incomprehension or, more often, a shouting match.

There is something admirable about conviction that runs this deep. But it limits the size of your audience. Every week Rush Limbaugh reaches an audience of over 13 million listeners--a staggering sum by any standard. Yet 13 million listeners plus their spouses, plus the family dog, plus a few dead aunts and uncles thrown in here or there, still doesn't add up to an electoral majority.

Be wary, American conservatives. I don't think a policy of exclusion is going to bring you many gains.

Last I checked Rush isn't so popular with women and minorities, in fact he has a terrible track record with both groups.

Thankfully for the rest of us, the ill-informed middle age white man is rapidly becoming a super-minority in the US.

Yeah, just ask the 3 ex-wives.

 

[Genx87]

They didn't paint the GOP as being Bush. The GOP practically slobbered on Bush's balls for the first 6 years.

Truth be told, the GOP is better off dead. I like a lot of their positions, especially on smaller government and fiscal responsibilities, but they are a snake oil salesman. Very few in the GOP actually believe the party line and the social conservatism is simply anachronistic. With regards to social conservatism, they are simply yesterday's liberals. In 15 years, the liberals of today will be the social conservatives of tomorrow. It's as simple as that. Where are the true social conservatives that put coloreds, women and disableds in their place. Where are they when it comes to issues of the non-landed gentry having a say in government? Obviously, none of those positions are viable in the least. However, that's what social conservatism looked like 40 years ago and 150 years ago. In another 15 years, gay marriage will seem as right as inter-racial marriage does today. You can't stop social progression unless you implement something like the Shari'a or Talmudic Law.

Right, that is why Bush got is partial privatization of SS through with the strongest Republican majority of his term in 2005 right? There were many republicans who didnt lock step with Bush but you wouldnt know that as every republican equaled Bush.

The rest of your rant is simple mechanics of an evolving political world. Nothing you said is anything we already dont know and one of the reasons you can expect a republican party to never go away. Conservatism evolves as much as liberals do.

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I don't want Rush silenced. I want his right to monopolize public spectrum taken. Opposing views should air along with his. He should not be allowed a monologue.

He is a disease and a contagion. The antidote is sunshine and reason.

Is there a barrier to entry to the market of talk radio?

No.

The fact that liberal-talk radio doesn't sell doesn't indicate a monopoly on the part of the competition. It simply means you're not marketing a valuable product.

 

[dphantom]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I don't want Rush silenced. I want his right to monopolize public spectrum taken. Opposing views should air along with his. He should not be allowed a monologue.

He is a disease and a contagion. The antidote is sunshine and reason.

Opposing views do. Franken and Air America for one.

"He should not be allowed..." Interesting, that is a direct violation of the 1st amendment. Oh wait, it is a "public" airwave so you can stifle free speech you do not agree with. That demonstrates the bankruptcy of your position, your philosophy. It cannot withstand the attacks of those who oppose your ideas so instead of being able to counter with better ideas, you simply shut down the voice of the opposition.