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You are here: Home / Politics / Media / Rush and them

Rush and them

by DougJ|  January 30, 20093:35 pm| 107 Comments

This post is in: Media

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Via Mark Blumental (via Ben Smith), Democracy Corps has a favorability poll on Rush Limbaugh and other conservative luminaries:

What that means is that even among the troglodytes who like Fox News, only about half like Rush Limabugh. Ouch.

Blumenthal speculates about the new “Rush or Obama” ads:

My guess is that some Democratic sponsored focus group conducted this week confirmed that voters in the middle perceive Rush Limbaugh as the antithesis to the Obama “bipartisanship brand,” and as such, are not unhappy to see Limbaugh’s profile in this fight rise.

Ben expands:

“[B]ipartisanship” is as much a brand as any conceivable Washington reality. These House Republicans, as is traditional when a caucus shrinks, are more conservative, and in safer seats, than their predecessors. The notion that they’d wind up anything other than extremely rare allies of the Democratic President was always unlikely. Obama doesn’t need their votes. But his visible, cable-television-grabbing bipartisan gestures are aimed at cementing his hold on that brand, and ensuring when Republicans and Democrats go their separate ways, Republicans are seen as the partisan ones.

It’s not a particularly novel tactic, but it places the House Republicans in an uncomfortable spot. As Chris Cillizza wrote in a very smart piece today, their party is in danger of being defined as pure, intransigent, Rush-Limbaugh-style opposition, and Obama’s visit to the Hill may give their image a further shove down that road.

I think this is all right on the money.

Mega dittos.

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Reader Interactions

107Comments

  1. 1.

    peach flavored shampoo

    January 30, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    After 8 fucking years, fully 10% have absolutely no opinion on GBush?

  2. 2.

    Martin

    January 30, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    So let me get this straight…

    The wingnuts accuse us of celebrity worship of Obama, yet they’re the ones that rallied behind Fred Thompson, elected Arnold and Reagan before him and Sonny Bono as well, and have made a radio entertainer the policy coordinator of the GOP.

  3. 3.

    TR

    January 30, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    I think this is all right on the money.

    Megadittos, Doug J. Megadittos.

  4. 4.

    robertdsc

    January 30, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Don’t forget Clint Eastwood.

  5. 5.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    The wingnuts accuse us of celebrity worship of Obama, yet they’re the ones that rallied behind Fred Thompson, elected Arnold and Reagan before him and Sonny Bono as well,

    There’s a difference between celebrity worship and electing a celebrity.

  6. 6.

    John S.

    January 30, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    @Martin:

    Haven’t you learned that Republicans are the masters of projection? Take your opponent’s strength (your weakness) and make it their weakness (your strength). That is boilerplate Atwater/Rovian politicking.

  7. 7.

    gwangung

    January 30, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    There’s a difference between celebrity worship and electing a celebrity.

    Hm. Who’s more likely to be competent?

  8. 8.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    @Samuel:

    There’s a difference between celebrity worship and electing a celebrity.

    Qua? Explain.

  9. 9.

    Palooza

    January 30, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    The GOPers apparently don’t quite get it, Obama is purposely elevating Rush within the GOP. Why? Because it further radicalizes the GOP and renders them potentially extinct. The logic is simply, with Rush heading the GOP any of the few moderates left in the GOP will be further alienated (there are barely any now), until all that is left is a bunch of raving Dittoheads running the GOP. These guys love to make a lot of noise amongst themselves, but since they only constitute at most 20% of the U.S. population, they cannot carry an election themselves. So who will help them carry it? Independents, conservative dems and moderate GOPers have nowhere to go within the GOP.

    The funny thing is watching this all happen. SOme GOP congress critter dares to criticize Rush’s "brick throwing" and then he calls them out and they come crawling like a beaten dog the next day. He will be challenged in the primary by a dittohead, probably lose, and then another GOPer who might have some moderation in him is gone. Mitch McConnel says the GOP needs to appeal to a wider segment of the U.S. population — Red State has 10,000 balls sent to him the next day, Rush calls him out, etc. Its like the freakin’ Soviet Union over in the GOP tent.

  10. 10.

    cmorenc

    January 30, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    A note of caution everyone experienced in internet discussion should understand:

    DON’T FEED THE TROLL
    – Limbaugh is the mass media equivalent of an internet troll. If the fact that he has a substantial-sized loyal following seems at first to distinguish him from that category – it doesn’t. Even many trolls perversely often have some supporters. Their object is to grab attention and create disruptive uproar.

    Instead of succeeding just in cementing Limbaugh as the image of a major leader of the GOP with the broader assumedly disapproving public, we could also wind up wrestling in the mud with that pig – and getting filthy with mud and pigshit ourselves in the process, the difference being the pig Limbaugh would be delighted to have that happen.

  11. 11.

    mgordon

    January 30, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    megadittos doug

  12. 12.

    Gold Star for Robot Boy

    January 30, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    A note of caution everyone experienced in internet discussion should understand:

    What about feeding concern trolls?

  13. 13.

    Comrade Tudor

    January 30, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    Did Blumenthal really say "not unhappy"?

    After following the links, yes he did. He uses a double negative, or in other words five extra letters to say that Democratic focus groups are happy that Limbaugh is getting a rise out of this. I can understand why he used it in making his point, but it’s still really sloppy writing. I hate to be a grammar bitch, but really…not unhappy?

  14. 14.

    Punchy

    January 30, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    I call shenanigans on those Rush numbers. How does Clear Channel (or whomever) justify that $400 MILLION dollah contract with Limby if he’s not even pushing Bush favorability values? I’m guessing this poll is an outlier.

    Or, perhaps a lot of peeps listen to him who absolutely hate him, probably hoping and praying to catch live his inevitable fat ass-induced Category 5 heart attack.

  15. 15.

    The Other Steve

    January 30, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    DON’T FEED THE TROLL – Limbaugh is the mass media equivalent of an internet troll. If the fact that he has a substantial-sized loyal following seems at first to distinguish him from that category – it doesn’t. Even many trolls perversely often have some supporters. Their object is to grab attention and create disruptive uproar.

    Yeah, better we attack those dirty fucking hippies. At least then we’ll look bipartisan.

  16. 16.

    Comrade Tudor

    January 30, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    @gwangung:
    I think you know the answer ;)

  17. 17.

    Walker

    January 30, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    DON’T FEED THE TROLL – Limbaugh is the mass media equivalent of an internet troll

    True enough, but Trolls are only a problem if you engage them directly. If you provoke one in a forum you aren’t a fan of, then you can take down that forum mighty effectively. And that is what is going on here. Obama is not engaging the troll, he is provoking it.

  18. 18.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    @gwangung: So therefore Obama is competent? At what?

    The man never produced anything of value in his entire life, yet presumes to tell us how the most productive economic engine in the world is to operate? Criticizing the profits of others, meanwhile his whole life has been spent leeching off the very same profits?

    Great plan there…

  19. 19.

    Michael D.

    January 30, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    For those who aren’t watching the news, Michael Steele has just been elected the first African American leader of the Republican Party.

  20. 20.

    sgwhiteinfla

    January 30, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    Mike Steele is your new RNC chairman.

  21. 21.

    Michael D.

    January 30, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    @sgwhiteinfla: Nya nya!

  22. 22.

    Persia

    January 30, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Don’t forget Clint Eastwood.

    I don’t think they like Clint as much since he started saying nice things about brown people.

  23. 23.

    sgwhiteinfla

    January 30, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Samuel

    And he is your President so what does that say about you?

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  24. 24.

    Polish the Guillotines

    January 30, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Joseph McCarthy was ultimately brought down by television. The more people saw of his shennanigans, the less they liked what they saw.

    The same will hold true for Rush.

    Obama +.

  25. 25.

    sgwhiteinfla

    January 30, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    Michael D

    Its a tie…a tie I tell ya! ! !

  26. 26.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    @Michael D.:

    For those who aren’t watching the news, Michael Steele has just been elected the first African American leader of the Republican Party.

    This is truly historic. Will the GOP call him an affirmative action candidate now, too?

  27. 27.

    amorphous

    January 30, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    @Samuel: I think I found one of those 23%ers! What do I win?

  28. 28.

    sgwhiteinfla

    January 30, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Zifnab

    Well he DID get some votes given to him from Ken Blackwell.

    Sounds like a handout to me!

  29. 29.

    TheWesson

    January 30, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    I believe in bipartisanship – I think "Blue Dog" and "Blue Cat" Democrats should be able to reach a consensus.

  30. 30.

    Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist

    January 30, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    The man never produced anything of value in his entire life, yet presumes to tell us how the most productive economic engine in the world is to operate?

    Gee, I remember saying something like this in 2000.

  31. 31.

    Dave

    January 30, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    @Michael D.:

    For those who aren’t watching the news, Michael Steele has just been elected the first African American leader of the Republican Party.

    And the comparison of Steele’s win to Obama’s by the nuts at NRO should occur in 3…2…1…

  32. 32.

    TheFountainHead

    January 30, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    I call shenanigans on those Rush numbers. How does Clear Channel (or whomever) justify that $400 MILLION dollah contract with Limby if he’s not even pushing Bush favorability values? I’m guessing this poll is an outlier.

    My guess is Clear Channel is run by a not so smart pack of Orangutans.

  33. 33.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    And the comparison of Steele’s win to Obama’s by the nuts at NRO should occur in 3…2…1…

    Michelle Steel for President in 2012! If you don’t vote for him, you are clearly a racist!

  34. 34.

    GSD

    January 30, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    Where was Michael Steele born and do we have a hard copy of his birth certificate with all the kerning clearly legible?

    Also, is Michael Steele Black or half white?

    Is he Black enough?

    Are any of his relatives on welfare?

    How did he make his way through college?

    What has he ever accomplished?

    -GSD

  35. 35.

    MikeJ

    January 30, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    Don’t forget Clint Eastwood.

    And nobody’s mentioned Gopher yet?

  36. 36.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    January 30, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    1. EL Rushbo is our policy coordinator
    2. Picking a black man with no ideas for RNC chair proves we’re not racist
    3. Sarah Palin for Prez in 2012
    4. Win!

  37. 37.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    January 30, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    @Gold Star for Robot Boy:

    Gold star for Gold Star.

  38. 38.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    January 30, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    So where do the racists go now one wonders?

  39. 39.

    Atanarjuat

    January 30, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    Ah, yes…

    Obama tries to tussle with Limbaugh to distract everyone from the pork-laden, liberal boondoggle that’s falsely called a "stimulus package," and the America Last crowd on BJ hopes that the nation falls for the ruse.

    Sorry. Not going to work.

    If Obama doesn’t strike a more conciliatory tone toward the opposition (and eventually apologize personally to Rush himself), he can expect the loyal opposition to VERY loyally oppose him even further, until Obama’s crying uncle and wish he hadn’t started this stupid fight.

    The staggering economic troubles America is facing needs to be addressed with viable solutions, not more grandstanding and political posturing from the Democrat Party and its Chosen Leader.

    -Country First and Always

  40. 40.

    sgwhiteinfla

    January 30, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    This is actually perfect for the Dems. If you don’t think the "southern gentlemen" are going to go after Steele you have another thing coming. This will help further the rift between the wingnuts and the moderately wingnutty. I can’t wait to see the first report of "Steele Bucks" with watermellon and chicken on the bill

  41. 41.

    demkat620

    January 30, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Isn’t Michael Steele the one who talked about the Scarlet "R"?

  42. 42.

    amorphous

    January 30, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    Oh weird, McCain, too.

    LOL WUT

  43. 43.

    Josh Hueco

    January 30, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    @Samuel:

    The man [Obama] never produced anything of value in his entire life

    Which is a vast improvement over our previous president, who has spent his life destroying the value of everything his fingers have been laid upon.

  44. 44.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    The wingnuts accuse us of celebrity worship of Obama, yet they’re the ones that rallied behind Fred Thompson, elected Arnold and Reagan before him and Sonny Bono as well, and have made a radio entertainer the policy coordinator of the GOP.

    Don’t forget Fred "Gopher" Grandy: (R) – "Love Boat"

  45. 45.

    Josh Hueco

    January 30, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    @demkat620:

    No, Steele was the guy who said he was pelted with Oreos by a crowd of hostile liberals, a claim that turned out to be false.

  46. 46.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    the fact that he has a substantial-sized loyal following

    Really, substantial? Able to hold power kind of substantial? Where?

  47. 47.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    @Atanarjuat: Shorter Atanarjuat: Standing in solidarity with Limbaugh. I hope you all fail. Country First.

  48. 48.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    @Polish the Guillotines: Actually, Rush had a television show in the mid-90s. Failed miserably. But his popularity is as strong as ever. Sorry, but your Joe McCarthy analogy doesn’t hold water.

  49. 49.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    The man [Obama] never produced anything of value in his entire life

    When will we elect a butcher? Or a baker? Or a candlestick maker? What did Obama do? Community Organizer? He organized communities? What does that even mean?

    Edited the Harvard Law Review? He didn’t even write for the law review! He just edited other people’s work! That’s not change we can believe in! My friends!

  50. 50.

    Cain

    January 30, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    @Punchy:

    Or, perhaps a lot of peeps listen to him who absolutely hate him, probably hoping and praying to catch live his inevitable fat ass-induced Category 5 heart attack.

    Shit, I wonder what his funeral would be like? I bet it will have even more pomp than Reagans. After that it’ll be 2 wetsuits, and a dildo party at Malkin’s place. The bathrooms in congress will be filled with activity (yuck)

    cain

  51. 51.

    demkat620

    January 30, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    @Samuel:
    That show helped solidify my political beliefs as a liberal.
    Part of me watched that racist gasbag and thought "What ever that bastard is for, I’m against"
    He was even more disgusting on TV.

  52. 52.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    The man never produced anything of value in his entire life, yet presumes to tell us how the most productive economic engine in the world is to operate?

    I think we have a real live one here, where’s the net?

  53. 53.

    Blue Raven

    January 30, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    @Comrade Tudor:

    After following the links, yes he did. He uses a double negative, or in other words five extra letters to say that Democratic focus groups are happy that Limbaugh is getting a rise out of this. I can understand why he used it in making his point, but it’s still really sloppy writing. I hate to be a grammar bitch, but really…not unhappy?

    Aside from how I find the fact that the English language is forced to follow Latinate language rules that make no sense against its Germanic and Celtic roots to be highly annoying, I think "not unhappy" is a perfectly valid expression. I use it to mean "I’m not exactly flying through the clouds on wings of joy, but I will be the first to admit it doesn’t suck." "Happy" can be too strong a statement sometimes, and "I’m okay with it" is too many words. "Pleased" can also seem too perky. So we arrive at "not unhappy." And I ain’t ashamed to use it.

  54. 54.

    Xenos

    January 30, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    @TheFountainHead:

    How does Clear Channel (or whomever) justify that $400 MILLION dollah contract with Limby if he’s not even pushing Bush favorability values?

    Clear Channel is run by Republican Businessmen. They care more about maintaining class status than fulfilling their fiduciary duties to their shareholders.

    Case in point: They write a 400 million contract with Rush, then scramble to make up for a 350 million shortfall.

  55. 55.

    gwangung

    January 30, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    The man never produced anything of value in his entire life, yet presumes to tell us how the most productive economic engine in the world is to operate? Criticizing the profits of others, meanwhile his whole life has been spent leeching off the very same profits?

    He’s certainly better than someone who can’t be bothered to do any research, particularly when it’s in front of his nose.

    And, by the by….your original comparison was TERRIBLE. I can puke a better one than that on frat run Friday nights.

  56. 56.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    @MikeJ:

    I mentioned Gopher, after you. ::bows::

  57. 57.

    sgwhiteinfla

    January 30, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    Atanarjuat says

    Ah, yes…

    Obama tries to tussle with hangs the GOP with Limbaugh to distract show everyone from the pork-laden, liberal boondoggle how well the economic stimulus package that’s falsely called a "stimulus package," liberal boondoggle will work in creating jobs and the America Last crowd on BJ hopes that the nation falls for the ruse of GOP "fiscal responsibility".

    Sorry. Not going to work.

    If Obama doesn’t strike a more conciliatory tone toward keep whupping the opposition (and eventually apologize personally to bitchslap Rush himself), he can expect the loyal opposition to VERY loyally oppose him even further, until Obama’s crying uncle and wish he hadn’t started this stupid fight. cruising to reelection in 2012 with a super majority in both houses

    The staggering economic troubles America is facing needs to be addressed with viable solutions, not more grandstanding and political posturing from the Democrat Republican Party and its Chosen Leader.

    Fixt. Man that took more work than usual.

  58. 58.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    He organized communities?

    I’m thinking that "organizer" part means we’ll be much more organized when his presidency ends. ;)

  59. 59.

    Comrade Darkness

    January 30, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    @peach flavored shampoo,

    "refused to answer" == "no opinion"

    "too apoplectic to be comprehended" also == "no opinion"

  60. 60.

    PaminBB

    January 30, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    Palooza, you said:
    "Red State has 10,000 balls sent to him the next day"
    Really? I’m guessing you’re off by a couple of orders of magnitude. I’d love to know how much silly putty was sent.

  61. 61.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    @sgwhiteinfla:

    Fixt. Man that took more work than usual.

    But it was highly worth it. Good job!

  62. 62.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    @The Silent Fiddle of Nero:

    I’m thinking that "organizer" part means we’ll be much more organized when his presidency ends. ;)

    Yeah, you know who else was organized? The Nazis. Game over. I win. Vote Republican!

  63. 63.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    Which is a vast improvement over our previous president, who has spent his life destroying the value of everything his fingers have been laid upon.

    True that!

  64. 64.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Yeah, you know who else was organized? The Nazis. Game over. I win. Vote Republican!

    Marching around in lock-step and putting things in disarray may have the perception to you of being organized; actually it was anything but.

  65. 65.

    TheFountainHead

    January 30, 2009 at 5:09 pm

    @Atanarjuat: Quality troll. Wish we had more like him.

  66. 66.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    @Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist: Doesn’t really help your argument

  67. 67.

    Delia

    January 30, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    You know, I’m thinking the whole Republican pouty-face "I’m not going to come to your house to play" tantrum could work out rather well for Obama. He bent over backwards to be nice to them. He put some things they wanted in the stim package. He went and cut out some things they said they didn’t want. And then they picked up their balls and went home anyhow. Now Obama gets to be the nice guy and he also gets to say that there’s no point in trying to build broad bipartisan bills to please these guys, since they refuse to be pleased.

    I imagine that he may be not unhappy with the whole result, at least on some level.

  68. 68.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    @demkat620: Fair enough. I’m not saying everyone has to agree with everything he says. God knows I don’t. Personally I understand Rush’s schtick. It’s the Hannity’s I can’t stomach.

  69. 69.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 5:17 pm

    @Samuel:

    It’s the Hannity’s I can’t stomach.

    Why do you hate America?

  70. 70.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    As far as I’m concerned, Hannity is the Right’s answer to Keith Olbermann

  71. 71.

    different church-lady

    January 30, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    You’re interpreting that chart all wrong Doug: Rush is playing to the 22% who think FOX isn’t conservative enough.

  72. 72.

    OniHanzo

    January 30, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    @Delia:

    It’s all in the works.

  73. 73.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    @Samuel:

    You understand "I want Obama (and thus America) to fail"?

    In what way? Please explain yourself?

  74. 74.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 30, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    As far as I’m concerned, Hannity is the Right’s answer to Keith Olbermann

    Please stop posting drunk!

  75. 75.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    January 30, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    As far as I’m concerned, Hannity is the Right’s answer to Keith Olbermann a dumber Bill O’Reilly.

    Fixed.

  76. 76.

    Zifnab

    January 30, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    @Shawn in ShowMe: I was gonna say that Bill O’Reilly is Sean Hannity minus a gym membership and hair plugs.

  77. 77.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    January 30, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Quality troll. Wish we had more like him.

    Oh, we do. We do.

  78. 78.

    David Hunt

    January 30, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    I call shenanigans on those Rush numbers. How does Clear Channel (or whomever) justify that $400 MILLION dollah contract with Limby if he’s not even pushing Bush favorability values?

    Because they don’t care whether people like him. They only care whether people listen to him. The purpose of a commercial radio station (or network) is to sell advertising time to sponsors. To effect this, they put on programming that (they hope) induces people to listen that programming, and thus the advertising as well.

    Or more simply: they don’t give a shit if you’re cursing at your radio every second he’s on, as long as you stay tuned.

  79. 79.

    OniHanzo

    January 30, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    My greatest enjoyment lies in their limited ability to understand they’ve lost the attention of most Americans. What they intend to do with that knowledge, if even they grasp it fully, besides doubling down… is anyone’s guess.

    RUSH: “The culture, we’ve lost the culture Sean. We have lost pop culture. It is unrealistic to expect that people watching MTV, going to see the rot Hollywood’s putting out, listening to the rot music is today, that every four years they’re going to go into a voting booth and vote Republican, vote conservative.”

    Get offa my lawn!!

    Priceless fail.

  80. 80.

    Fencedude

    January 30, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    @demkat620:

    That show helped solidify my political beliefs as a liberal.
    Part of me watched that racist gasbag and thought "What ever that bastard is for, I’m against"
    He was even more disgusting on TV.

    Same here. And I was only like…12 or 13 at the time.

  81. 81.

    Wile E. Quixote

    January 30, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    @Samuel

    The man never produced anything of value in his entire life, yet presumes to tell us how the most productive economic engine in the world is to operate? Criticizing the profits of others, meanwhile his whole life has been spent leeching off the very same profits?

    Great plan there…

    As opposed to whom? John McCain who has never held a job in the private sector and who wrote laws to benefit his wife’s liquor business? Fred Thompson whose only work experience has been either in government, working as a lobbyist or in Hollywood? Mike Huckabee who never held a private sector job producing anything of value. Mitt Romney who was an LBO specialist in the 1980s? George W. Bush who fucked up everything he ever touched and only managed to bail out his baseball team by getting government to raise sales taxes and build him a new stadium? Dick Cheney who traded on his government career for a lucrative career in the private sector working for a company that makes most of its money from government contracts? Sarah Palin, whose only private sector job was as sports reporter for a local TV station in Alaska?

    You’re garbage Sammy, I’ve seen better things than you come out of a dog’s ass after a stiff dose of worming medicine. The fact is that the Republican party is run by a bunch of useless, parasitic cocksuckers most of whom couldn’t hold a job at McDonald’s if they had to. The fact that these shitbags have convinced people that the Republican party is the party of people who do work and produce is one of the biggest cons in history, or perhaps not given the stupidity, laziness and ignorance of most Republicans.

  82. 82.

    terry chay

    January 30, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    @Punchy: Because 23% of 300 million people is still 69 million people. Arbitron has him around 13 million listeners.

    BTW, how come there has been no mention on these threads that Rush is a big big Pittsburgh Steelers fan?

  83. 83.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    @The Silent Fiddle of Nero:

    You understand "I want Obama (and thus America) to fail"?

    Sorry to burst the demagoguery bubble, but please read the transcript. That quote is taken out of context. As a conservative, Limbaugh disagrees with Obama’s (Democrats) solution for our economic problems…expansion of government, entitlements, etc. which are being pawned as "stimulus". Limbaugh said it was these policies he wanted to fail, because he doesn’t want increased government presence in our economy and society. He wants incremental statism to fail…

  84. 84.

    reality-based

    January 30, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    Samuel Says:

    The man never produced anything of value in his entire life, yet presumes to tell us how the most productive economic engine in the world is to operate? Criticizing the profits of others, meanwhile his whole life has been spent leeching off the very same profits?

    Right. Because GW Bush – he of the three failed business, the amiable dope figurehead of a baseball club – HE created so much value in the world.

    And Rush creates so much value – well, in the Oxycontin trade, anyway.

    But teaching constitutional law, and organizing communities to better the lives of kids – THAT’S valueless?

    Hey,speaking of trolls – does it seem to anybody else that there are a lot of them hanging around the BJ comment threads lately?

    What happened – did the RS Stroke Farcers get their widdle feelings hurt by John, decide to come expose their ignorance en masse over here?

  85. 85.

    TruthOfAngels

    January 30, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    If Obama doesn’t strike a more conciliatory tone toward the opposition (and eventually apologize personally to Rush himself), he can expect the loyal opposition to VERY loyally oppose him even further, until Obama’s crying uncle and wish he hadn’t started this stupid fight."

    This is totally going to happen. Right after I marry the Queen of England and magical tax-cutting ponies rain from the sky.

    Srsly. I mean, Indiana’s still a red state, so anything’s poss . . . oh.

  86. 86.

    HyperIon

    January 30, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    @Punchy:

    Or, perhaps a lot of peeps listen to him who absolutely hate him, probably hoping and praying to catch live his inevitable fat ass-induced Category 5 heart attack.

    this reason i don’t listen to him: i hate him so much i might have a heart attack.

  87. 87.

    Fencedude

    January 30, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    @Samuel:

    Good for him.

    Shame that his policies have been shown to be complete and utter failure.

  88. 88.

    Delia

    January 30, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    @Samuel:

    As a conservative, Limbaugh disagrees with Obama’s (Democrats) solution for our economic problems…expansion of government, entitlements, etc.

    OH REALLY??????? After the Cheney Administration????
    lololololol

  89. 89.

    TenguPhule

    January 30, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    Limbaugh said it was these policies he wanted to fail, because he doesn’t want increased government presence in our economy and society.

    You have a promising career ahead of you as a used car salesman.

  90. 90.

    OniHanzo

    January 30, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    Limbaugh said it was these policies he wanted to fail, because he doesn’t want increased government presence in our economy and society. He wants incremental statism to fail…

    And if the patient, i.e. the nation, has to die to prove his myopic agenda, so be it right? We’ll just build a better world from the ashes. Wolverines!

    That’s the goddamn irony in pseudo-patriotic conservatives. You don’t give a tinker’s fuck about this country, about the livelihoods or the lives of the people in it… you just want what’s yours as fast as you can possibly get it, to hell with anyone else.

    It’s impossibly difficult for you to grasp that unchecked, unmitigated greed and selfishness is what put the nail in the coffin of conservatism’s potency. Without some kind of accountability, the perpetual blind eye of anarcho-capitalism would drive this nation to its doom.

    Something that clearly matters not one iota to you. As any checks on corporate greed enforced top-down from the people is synonymous with "statism" in your eyes.

    Requirements like this…just a slippery slope to a Communist state, am I right?

  91. 91.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    It’s impossibly difficult for you to grasp that unchecked, unmitigated greed and selfishness

    In a free society (and assuming, you’d still like to live in one), exactly HOW does the government "check" and "mitigate" greed? Can we "check" fear while we’re at it?

    And I didn’t mention the issue of "corporate greed". Of course executives of these companies who received bailout funds should be kept in check. Return all the bonuses and payouts…and their accomplices as well.

    Let’s start with Chris Dodd–receiving a "VIP" loan from Countrywide. Can we expect him to return the money he saved in his sweetheart deal, while everyone else’s loans kicked in with higher rates after their ARMs expired? Are Jim Johnson and Franklin Raines (both of Democratic affiliation) going to be returning their $90 million in bonus pay from falsifying earnings reports over 6 years in corporate/political fraud which dwarfs the Enron debacle in spades? How’s that for a start?

  92. 92.

    Conservatively Liberal

    January 30, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Samuel, there is so much straw in your shit that I am concerned for your health. Anyone who eats that much straw is putting their health at serious risk. If you are eating any oats then they must have gone bad because you are obviously hallucinating. It is clear from your poor performance that your masters are not taking proper care of you.

    Some advice: Quit grazing on the loco weed and stick to the fine grasses. Oh, and go see a vet. If you are lucky, the foam around your mouth might only be distemper.

  93. 93.

    Xenos

    January 30, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    @Samuel: Whooooosh!

    (That was the point passing 20 feet over your head.)

    The issue is not whether some members of the Democratic Party are enmeshed in the corruption caused by a corrupt corporate culture – like, no shit, dude!

    The point is that while most Democrats are trying to clean up the corruption, most of the GOP is happily swimming in it, perpetuating it, and profiting from it. The fact that there are a few corrupt Democrats and a few honest Republicans does not disprove the generalization.

  94. 94.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    The point is that while most Democrats are trying to clean up the corruption, most of the GOP is happily swimming in it, perpetuating it, and profiting from it.

    Yes, of course. Oh wait! Don’t look now…but our president appointed yet ANOTHER tax-cheat to the Cabinet:

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090131/ap_on_go_pr_wh/daschle_taxes

    Oh…and the administration is banning lobbyists from the Obama administration…unless, of course, when it hires them. (The current count is now 4….not including Tim Geithner’s deputy, who was a registered lobbyist for Goldman Sachs….but we can just laugh that off, too.)

    Now back to those redneck, corrupt Republicans…..

  95. 95.

    Xenos

    January 30, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    @Samuel: You compare four ex-lobbyist to the hundreds under W? Two minor tax snafus with an anti-constitutional criminal syndicate under W? Don’t wast your time on the LSATs, buddy.

  96. 96.

    Samuel

    January 30, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    @Xenos:

    an anti-constitutional criminal syndicate

    Last I checked, a federal court reaffirmed the president’s power to allow security surveillance without court warrants. A power I’m sure president Obama will use to his advantage, having voted for it as senator, after all. But that was BEFORE he campaigned against it during the primaries.

    Sorry to let the air out of the "let’s prosecute Bush/Cheney because they’re older white men" parade, but it is what it is. The rule of law…remember?

    See, with most liberals (and most conservatives), its not a matter of principle, just WHEN you make the statement that counts…

  97. 97.

    PaulB

    January 30, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    Last I checked, a federal court reaffirmed the president’s power to allow security surveillance without court warrants.

    Um, no, it didn’t. You really should read the opinion since it manifestly did *not* say what you claim, nor did it rule on the issue of the imperial presidency. It was, instead, a ruling on *Congress’s* power, not the President’s,

    Sorry to let the air out of the "let’s prosecute Bush/Cheney because they’re older white men" parade, but it is what it is. The rule of law…remember?

    Uh-huh, which is why the Bush administration has been doing everything in its power to prevent the courts from ruling on its shenanigans. They’ve lost more than they’ve won. Sadly for the country, they have managed to successfully stonewall far too often, even so.

    You might want to do your homework before you post again, because you’re just embarrassing yourself now.

  98. 98.

    PaulB

    January 30, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    In a free society (and assuming, you’d still like to live in one), exactly HOW does the government "check" and "mitigate" greed?

    Dear heart, we do not, by any stretch of the imagination, live in a totally "free" society. In fact, nobody does. One checks and mitigates greed the way it has always been done – through regulation, transparency, and taxation. Doing so is good for the entire country, as the historical record has conclusively demonstrated, time and time again. Failing to do led us to the Great Depression and to the fiasco we face today.

  99. 99.

    Mnemosyne

    January 30, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    As far as I’m concerned, Hannity is the Right’s answer to Keith Olbermann.

    Since Hannity was on the air a good five years before Olbermann was anything other than a sportscaster, how is he the "answer" to Olbermann? Did Hannity get in his time machine to find out what Olbermann was going to say so he could counter it five years before Olbermann said it?

  100. 100.

    ThymeZoneThePlumber

    January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    Dear heart, we do not, by any stretch of the imagination, liv

    Thus does another troll reel in his fish, even getting the obnoxious fish to toss a gender lame on the way into the net.

    Well played, D …. er, Samuel!

  101. 101.

    Mnemosyne

    January 30, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    In a free society (and assuming, you’d still like to live in one), exactly HOW does the government "check" and "mitigate" greed?

    You see, in a free society, we have these things called "laws" and if you break one of these "laws," you could go to jail or pay a fine.

    I realize this is all new to you. Perhaps this will help explain this mysterious concept of "laws" to you.

  102. 102.

    PaulB

    January 31, 2009 at 1:50 am

    Thus does another troll reel in his fish, even getting the obnoxious fish to toss a gender lame on the way into the net.

    LOL…. Still smarting from the drubbing I gave you a couple of months ago, are you? Free clue for you, dear heart: I know precisely what I’m doing and what effect it has on trolls, and on others.

  103. 103.

    TenguPhule

    January 31, 2009 at 2:53 am

    The rule of law…remember?

    Yep, that’s why Bush and Cheney have their place on the wall all reserved.

  104. 104.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    January 31, 2009 at 9:26 am

    I know precisely what I’m doing

    Sure, sure you do.

    You da man.

    Say, who do you think is writing the part of Samuel?

  105. 105.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 31, 2009 at 9:38 am

    Free clue for you, dear heart

    Cut the act, we already know that term you are using actually means "you piece of shit".

    By the way, if anyone is going to go around calling TZ "dear heart", it’s me.

  106. 106.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    January 31, 2009 at 10:06 am

    By the way, if anyone is going to go around calling TZ "dear heart", it’s me.

    Can I call you Sweetie?

    Meanwhile, I think it’s time for PaulB to come out of the closet. We don’t discriminate against gays around here. We treat them just like everyone else …. in other words, like crap.

  107. 107.

    The Silent Fiddle of Nero

    January 31, 2009 at 10:28 am

    Can I call you Sweetie?

    Absolutely baby! ;)

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