Emanuel: Rush the GOP's "Voice and Intellectual Force" Behind Rethug Party

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_03/017102.php

THE GOP'S 'VOICE AND INTELLECTUAL FORCE'.... We talked yesterday about how anxious Democrats and their allies are to "promote Rush Limbaugh as the public face of the GOP." As Greg Sargent reported, "key leadership staff in the House and Senate, and in all the political committees, have been encouraged by senior Dem operatives to push this message wherever possible."

To help drive the point home, consider what viewers heard on "Face the Nation" this morning.

Not missing any opportunity to make Rush Limbaugh the figurehead of the GOP, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel called the brash talk show host the "voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party" on Sunday.

Appearing on CBS's Face The Nation, Emanuel brought up Limbaugh without being prompted. Applauding the conservative radio personality for being upfront in his desire to see the president fail, Emanuel went to great lengths to make the case that Limbaugh, more than any other contemporary figure, is the leader of the GOP.

Emanuel wasn't subtle. Indeed, he emphasized the fact that "whenever a Republican criticizes him, they have to run back and apologize to him and say they were misunderstood."

The more Limbaugh talks, and the more he actively roots against the United States, the more Democrats like Emanuel will be exploiting this for all it's worth.

In 2008, the top priority for Democrats and their allies was tying George W. Bush around the Republican Party's neck. In 2009, Bush has been replaced by a figure that's arguably far more loathsome: a drug-addled shock-jock who's actively rooting for America's decline.

The key difference? In 2008, Bush hid from public view. In 2009, Limbaugh can't wait to jump in front of the cameras and share his twisted ideology with anyone who'll listen. He is, in other words, making the Democrats' job easier.

-Steve Benen

[drmeow]

1. And the beauty is

the Repukes who see the damage Limpballs can/will do can't reign him.

[brianna69]

2. The White House is going on the offensive bigtime for

the new Budget. Obama in his address on saturday talked about going up against the special interest and lobbyist in Washington to pass a budget for the people. Rahm hit out hard painting Limbaugh as the leader of the GOP who wants Obama to fail. This approach will have the GOP playing defense.

[Pirate Smile]

3. Cantor and Steele are now trying to distance themselves from Rush.

Too late.

[janx]

17. Steele only THINKS he's the leader!

:rofl:

[City Lights]

4. Brilliant idea!

The USS Limbaugh is taking on water as we speak!

:rofl:

[northernlights]

5. it was a blast to watch

Rush the "intellectual force" :rofl::rofl::rofl: over and over again.

[janx]

6. I hope Emanuel does this every chance he gets!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

But I don't know how he kept a straight face!

:rofl::rofl: :party:

[Beetwasher]

7. This Is THE BEST FUCKING THING EVER!!!!

Hahahahahahahahah!!!!

[malaise]

16. Even better was Rush repeating over and over

that he was making his first national and international address.

[janx]

18. YES, because

that's what leaders do! :rofl:

(I hadn't heard Rush say that, by the way, but I'm impressed! Where and when did he say it? I must know!)

[babylonsister]

19. He repeated blessed himself as the new leader at the

conservative convention yesterday; it aired on cnn, so lots of people heard him. :evilgrin:

[janx]

21. Did he actually use the term leader?

Please tell me he did! :rofl:

[babylonsister]

22. Maybe not, I didn't pay that much attention. But he was acting like

he was the chosen one at an rnc convention.

[janx]

23. I want to turn on the radio at work tomorrow and see how long

it takes him to mention this! ;-)

[babylonsister]

24. You kiddin' me? He's going to crow for 4 hours about this

performance. And I hope he spends all week on it! :D

[malaise]

26. He said that in the CPAC speech

I heard it three times - listened to him for the first time ever last night and cannot believe he has an audience, let alone fans. He was thrilled that FOX and CNN were giving him live coverage and even pointed out that people overseas were seeing him because Fox has an international channel. :rofl:

[janx]

28. You'd never heard him before!

Wow, what a treat! ;-) As you can see, he likes to talk about himself.

[malaise]

29. Never ever

and that will be the last time - pompous and arrogant don't describe that lying lunatic. Hey we watched Fox once and we have the channel - after Cheney shot his friend and was doing an interview on Fox.

I have no interest in listening to them - the only loonies I listen to or watch are the hacks on M$Greedia, guests of progressive programs or the Rushican loonies on CSpan's Washington Journal.

[spanone]

20. ru$h has the ego of a senator and the mind of a small town mayor

[janx]

8. Link to video at HuffPost:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/01/rahm-on-rush-hes-the-voic_n_170854.html

I want everyone to see this! :rofl:

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

9. Pigboy just handed the administration a gigantic mallet

which is going to be used to beat the 'pukes like a gong, day after day, week after week.

[Andy823]

10. It is the start

Of the "republican" civil war! Rush will lead the "hate mongers", Newt will try and take charge of those who want a change, and the religious right will jump on the Palin bandwagon. Rush already took a shot at Newt yesterday, and I can't wait till Palin gets into the "battle"! I think these will be the key divisions, but I also think that Mitt will try again to become president as will Huckabee! It is going to be a interesting time between now and 2012!:evilgrin:

[MzNov]

13. Limpballs vs. Newt, this will be more fun than we can imagine!

:popcorn: :popcorn: Who's got the :beer: and hotdogs?

Buh bye PukeliCons.

Rot in hell.

[janx]

11. kick

[KharmaTrain]

12. Rushbo's Track Record...

He all but helped the Democrats retake the House by attacking Michael J. Fox in 2006. In the GOOP primaries he back Thompson and Rudeeeeeee...so much for the endorsement from the "golden microphone". Then his "operation chaos" was a dud and for all his haranguing and theatening, the GOOP gained votes in only 3 states over what they did in 2004...easily allowing President Obama to win the middle and the election. Good work Rushbo!

The GOOP has their political titties in a ringer here. It's not that Rushbo helps them win elections, but he's an influence on the primaries and the pocketbooks. He surely hurt Gramps McCain during the 2008 primaries (not enough to prevent him from winning the nomination), but little reported was how poorly McCain did during the final primaries after he had locked up the nomination...barely drawing in the low 70's. There was the Rushbo effect...but enough in some states and in certain districts that it could mean the difference in a close primary. Also, the GOOP is cash-starved...they can't afford to alienate anyone, especially a gas bag that has friends in high (literally) places. They've invested too much in this monster and now both can't control it nor have the ability to tame it.

[janx]

14. And why should they try to tame it?

:rofl:

He is now the LEADER of the Republican Party!

:rofl:

Ya know, the beauty of this is that Rush's ego just laps this up. It'll be one of the first things he talks about tomorrow morning, and that will only reinforce Emanuel's message!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Emanuel was brilliant

He came across, and had Obama come across, as being willing to get things done--stressing that things need to get done, no matter what path is taken. This is reasonable and sane. He then said that Limpaws wanted Obama to fail, but it was more than that. Obama is goal oriented--so what Rush was saying, and Rahm brought home, was that Limpaws wants America to fail. And Emanuel was brilliant on complimenting Rush on being honest, which really condemned Rush's statement even more.

[Odin2005]

25. BWAHAHAHA!!! Don't fuck with Rahmbo, GOPers!!!

[brazos121200]

27. President Obama has also recently been portraying limbaugh

as a leader of republican ideology if not the republican party. Since limbaugh has such a massive number of stations which carry his drivel on a daily basis, and his rantings are so laughable and at the same time nauseating to all rational listeners, this is a very good strategy. All a person has to do is tune in to one of rushbo's shows and they will see the true face of the republican party. I just wish his illicit activities in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere would be investigated more thoroughly.

[chill_wind]

30. Somebody better be saying this stuff. It sounds like CNN gave Limbaugh

a literally *commercial free* live marathon of air-time yesterday. I didn't catch it, but Digby did.

"At 3:15 PST, CNN had still not broken away for a commercial. He spoke for an hour and half without interruption."

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/fatuous-demagogue-by-digby-im-watching.html

[janx]

32. GOOD! This is good!

The Republican Leader needs a lot of air time. :rofl:

[OhioChick]

31. K&R

:kick: