Rush Limbaugh Launches Brutal Hit On Michael Steele
Whoa. Rush Limbaugh’s bid to cement his own role as head of the Republican Party just took a wild new turn, with Limbaugh launching a brutal hit on RNC chair Michael Steele, mocking the GOP for being in a “sad sack” state and suggesting that until Steele showed “respect” for conservatives, he’ll have “a tough time” rebuilding the party.
Rush was responding to Steele’s criticism of Rush’s show yesterday as “ugly” and “incendiary.”
Just moments ago on the air, Rush uncorked a rant that undoubtedly sent tremors through RNC headquarters.
“I’m not in charge of the Republican Party, and I don’t want to be,” Rush said. “I would be embarrassed to say that I’m in charge of the Republican Party in a sad-sack state that it’s in. If I were chairman of the Republican Party, given the state that it’s in, I would quit.”
Rush then mocked those who have criticized him for saying he wants Obama to fail, and directly challenged them to choose: You either want Obama to succeed or fail at his goal of dismantling conservatism.
“So send those fundraising requests out,” Rush said in a sneering tone, in an apparent reference to Steele, adding: “Make sure you say, `We want Obama to succeed.’ So people understand your compassion.”
“Republicans and conservatives are sick and tired of being talked down to, they’re sick and tired of being lectured to,” Rush continued. “And until you show some understanding and respect for who they are, you’re gonna have a tough time rebuilding your party.”
This is a critical moment in Limbaugh’s effort to become the public face of the GOP: He’s directly targeting its newly-elected African American chief strategist and chief public spokesperson. More soon.
The Dems and the White House have launched a campaign to elevate Rush and to stamp his face on the entire Republican Party, in order to force individual Republicans to choose between endorsing Rush’s desire for failure and criticizing the powerful talk show host. Intriguingly, insofar as Rush wants to force individual Republicans to make precisely the same choice, Rush’s interests dovetail perfectly with those of the Democratic Party and the White House.
***************************************
Update: A fuller transcript of Rush’s broadside is right here. It’s really quite amazing. One other choice tidbit:
Why are you running the Republican Party? Why do you claim you lead the Republican Party when you seem obsessed with seeing to it that President Obama succeeds? I frankly am stunned that the chairman of the Republican National Committee endorses such an agenda…
If we don’t want Obama and Reid and Pelosi to fail, then why does the RNC exist, Mr. Steele? Why are you even raising money?
Ouch, ouch, ouch.
Update II: Steele and the RNC respond.
The homepage of this blog is here. Its RSS feed is here. And its Twitter feed is here.
Pass the popcorn!
Wow – Rush does not know when to shut up. His rhetoric proves that he is much more interested in Rush, than he is in the conservative movement.
Let the internecine wingnut warfare ***RAGE ON***!!! May it consume and render invisible the entire impotent GOOP Party and all of its despicable adherents, leaving in its wake nothing but scorched earth, political blood stains and smoking ashes.
I love this! Incredible that now that Obama’s success is not even considered in light of the country. They don’t give a hoot about that all they care about is their own power.
Monday Snowday Matinee!
Steel slams Rush. Rush slams Steele. Romney operatives are planting rumors that Palin supporters accuse Jindal of being a “secret muslim”. What a mess!
Oh boy this is getting good.
Listen, I just know that somewhere, there are actual ODDS on Michael Steele’s inevitable abject apology to Rush, complete with public emasculation.
As of today, you can add Steele’s possible resignation, as demanded by Der Fuhrer of Falsehood.
Anybody got anything, yet? Please keep us posted, if you do!
OPERATION CHAOS, GOP Style!
the repubs be having real hard time dealing with their epic fail.
limbaugh the racist pillhead junkie is the face of today’s GOP.
manna from heaven.
Faster and louder than I expected. Very interesting.
I doubt Steele will either resign or apologize. Cantor too, last week, took a public “Rush is wrong” position. This looks like pretty serious internecine war. The thing I’ll be watching is to see whether Steele is forced out, which wouldn’t be a public matter of course, more like “want to spend time with family.”
There will be many more Republican voices coming out against Rush after his CPAC speech. Steele and Cantor provide some cover for them now. I think Rush has screwed himself up through a mis-estimation of his sanctity.
Welcome to the fight! In this corner, we have the defending Champion and Class Buffoon, RNC Chairman Michael Steele. In this corner, we have the very heavyweight Challenger and noted Chainsaw Massacre Mouth, the man with the Golden Microphone, Rush Limbaugh.
Now Gentlemen, or Whatever: You know the rules. Kicking, biting, and hair pulling are encouraged. Kicks to the groin will gain you extra points. Now come out sliming!
The Bell(It tolls for thee, GOP)
And the winner: The American People and their President, Barack Obama!
All just good clean fun! That’s what the Republican Party is all about! (That and selfish, self-righteous, hypocritical stupidity!)
And Romney criticized Rush last week too. And there’s this from David Frum… “Update at 2:30 p.m.: So does conservative David Frum. In a tough blog post, he compares President Obama — whom he says appears responsible, disciplined, concerned, never angry — with Limbaugh: “A man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic, who dismisses the concerned citizens in network news focus groups as ‘losers.’ With his private plane and his cigars, his history of drug dependency and his personal bulk, not to mention his tangled marital history, Rush is a walking stereotype of self-indulgence.” He says that Limbaugh “cannot be allowed to be the public face” of the GOP.” http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/03/catching-up-wit.html
Nothing yet at Drudge or Townhall. Red State is rootin’ for Rush
Bernie that frum post is gold, gold, gold.
“Republicans and conservatives are sick and tired of being talked down to, they’re sick and tired of being lectured to
————————————————————————–
If that is the case, then maybe they should think about changing their tactics.
LOL.
If Rush was the Chair of the RNC, most self-respecting Republicans that I know would quit the Party. Even most conservatives from the Buckley wing are embarassed by this nonsense. They know the Republican Party is on the verge of becoming a group of wannabes equal to the Libertarians if they don’t show the intellect to claim some of Middle America. And with this lowest common denominator mouthing off, they’ll continue to lose.
If Rush were a conservative, it might help. But, he’s not. He only understands publicity for Rush. He was the point man for the knee jerk social engineers who wanted to let George & Dickie run up the deficit and do whatever violations of the Constitution could be snuck through by using the “Patriot Act”.
By exposing Rush for the intellectual pygmy that he is, Mr. Steele is merely showing the guts that Eisenhower didn’t show when he failed to deal with the similar big mouth fraudulent statements of that other all show and no go “Tailgunner Joe” McCarthy in the 50’s.
As the son of a very smart bookmaker, I see great promise in a prelim Palin-Jindal bout, followed by the main event of a Limbaugh-Steele slapdown. “DON’T MISS IT! TWO WHITE GUYS BATTLE FOR 2ND PLACE! TRUTH DISTORTED WHILE-U-WAIT…”
Um, about that Palin-Jindal preliminary bout. I forgot to mention that the loser has to spend ten minutes with Ann Coulter’s…well, just with Ann Coulter.
quick! the republic party is on fire! bring more gasoline! hurry!
didn’t rush hear? steele be da man!
re popcorn vendor:
da man steele vs. the anal cyst. looks like a drudge match!
Isn’t it a grand day when the remains of the shattered Republican Party turn on each other. As a Dem, I am watching in sheer delight as the Great White Whale, Rash Lamebrain, is revealed as a comedian (thanks and a tip of the hat to the originator of that comment, Keith Olberman) to the American public by no less than the RNC chair. Then in typical fashion, the Drug Addict, strikes back like the overweight 8th grader that he remains. Of course he will retain the lower intellects who believe he is a “savior”; but many Republicans, who are worried about their personal and party’s survival, may choose to dump the fat *******.
I had never heard Limbaugh, still haven’t but I read the CPAC speech carefully and I liked Limbaugh.
I have read his comments to Steele and I agree with Limbaugh.
I hang up on the RNP fund raisers because they don’t listen and they don’t care ..I was personally begged to vote for McCain and I agreed at the last moment. That Amnesty Bill was a killer and many who called to get it stopped refused to vote for McCain..so Obama won..not by a landslide but by a percentage point that may indicate the base, the voters who sat it out…wouldn’t vote for McCain who is from Arizona, is a known Democrat clone who runs in a State where there are straight party ticket Republicans..and vietnam vets who recognize a Democrat when they see on..Nationally..Republican votes could see right through McCain and most wouldn’t give the RNC a dime…or a vote in the last election
Steele is a sop to the “lets all be Democrats” the same as Palin..and it stinks!
I will say further that the NASCAR crowd, the working man who can afford a trailer after he pays for all the “benefits” and “agendas’ of the politicians..Those guys..are tired of being lectured, tired of being talked down to by the Republican Big Shots like Steele..
How dare Steele insult a VOTER..Limbaugh is a VOTER..and he said “Don’t talk to voters like they are children.” And Steele pops off with trash..
I am with Limbaugh..and I had never heard him before last Saturday.
Rush can be obnoxious, but he realizes the seriousness of the battle we are engaged in. His speech to CPAC was dead on! I am a conservative and I agree with what Rush said in his speech. I am glad Obama is in office because he is inevitably going to fail and I want a foolish democrat to get all the blame for the mess such massive spending is going to create. Unfortunately, my taxes are spent for the next decade or two to pay for democratic, big government idiocy. Steele is a pansy who lives by poll and has no clue what the true conservative movement is about. His days are numbered. The conservative movement is bigger than any one man, including Steele or Obama. Individuals, I say again, Individuals, who love freedom and who work hard for what they have are the back-bone of this country. If we give in to the fatalistic, apathetic mass of democrats who love to see good men fall while they go to the mailbox to collect their check instead of filling out job applications, our country is doomed. What if all the taxpayers did the same? Where would all the gov’t checks come from. Think about it. I continue to be a conservative and love when Rush clearly lays out the truth. Democrats hate it, but what else is new?
Let’s take a step back, simplify and clarify a few things. rush said the remarks more then once, he has repeated them and also clarified what he means. He wants Obama’s plans and ideas to fail. He does no want more taxes on him and his cronies. rush is not worried about our economy, he told Barbra Walters that he chooses not to participate in the Recession. That’s because he a millionaire. he makes more money for sitting behind that “GOLDEN EIB MICROPHONE” than any one man needs. He is eating surf and turf while the people who listen to him eat fish and chips from Long John Silvers. So if Obama fails and the economy worsens, rush still makes his 30+ million a year. Obama Plugs the leaks and repair the sinking ship Rush gets a tax increase. I am really hoping people see why rush wants Obama to fail. Now let’s throw in another curve ball. If rush is the Messiah!!! Then why doesn’t he run for office? Is he afraid of loosing? I think not. Is he worried that people might realize he is blowing hot air? Not that either, rush already knows that we know. Or maybe because he is too worried about HIMSELF and HIS pocket!!! Winner Winner, chicken dinner… rush will tell you himself, he’s said it countless times on his show, “I WONT TAKE THE PAY CUT”. Let that one sink in. The person that so many people are defending is not willing to go to bat for them. He won’t take the pay cut to help out his country. He has so much to say about what’s wrong with OUR country, but no pride to make the changes himself. rush limbaugh is no different from the CEO’s on wall street, in putting themselves before their country.
Thank you for your dedication to the people rush!
briandobis@gmail.com
This is becoming scary!
The Chairman of RNC eating the humble pie and proclaiming Rush Limbaugh as a National Conservativative Leader?
It makes me remember the Biblical story of Esau selling his birthright for a plate of porridge. Its so pathetic.
It reminds of how Hitler, an enlisted Soldier from the back waters of Vienna, through his power of oratory, took over a German Party.
The consequence of good men keeping quiet while evil men make the loudest noise lead to the carnage of the second world war.
We are on the march again!
We talk of Country first. But some evil People would rather the Country becomes a failed State than for them to remain in opposition.
I ma Canadian but the politics of the USA directly affects us, our currency, trade, etc.
I feel Obama is a speaker, a charasmatic figure head. He commands more global respect than the Bush administration did.
He will, lie all politians be revealed for the charlatan he is.
Limbaugh is another breed of cat. A bolsterous lampoon of himself.
Bemoaning Obama’s failures is turning your back on your country.
He fails the US is crushed.
I don;t need to agree with someone if the greater picture benefits the masses. Rush its called necessary casualities.
Be well my friends.
If Rush wants to lead the Republican Party, why doesn’t he get his fat, drug addled *** out from behind a microphone and run for office. Oh yeah…
He’s not an “entertainer” he’s a bigot with a microphone. He is Father Cavanaugh.
isn’t it strange that Rush Limbaugh is the only one who has been able to build a fire under this country. At the very least he is making the U.S. citizen take a stand. Thanks Rush
democrats do not understand what rush represent. he represent the anger at the establishment. the RNC hierachy represent the establishment. rush represent joe the plumber. obama has failed. in our very own eyes, we are seeing another jimmy carter. democrats had better concentrate on the ‘obama bomb’ than on rush. it is definitely going to be a beautiful uear for conservatives…
Has anyone else noticed the similarity to Tommy DeVitto in Good Fellas “You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it’s me, I’m a little fucked up maybe, but I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to ******’ amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?” Rush does not like being called an entertainer.
This is more than about Rush. When the liberal talk show host said that CPAC looked like a bunch of Nazis Michael Steele nodded in agreement.
Some said his nodding wasn’t in agreement with that statement but still at the very least he was quiet and did not speak out against that outrageous statement.
This is more than about Rush the person. This was about the speech he gave and if you listened to the speech and agree with it then it is not only Rush but YOU, that Micheal Steele has rebuked in the harshest of terms.
Well, if that is the way the “leader” of the GOP feels about me then I say no, no, no, not God Bless the GOP, GOD DAMN the GOP. It isn’t the party I thought I knew!
So let’s see if I’ve got this right. In the midst of the 9/11 crisis several years back we were all urged to get behind President Bush regardless of our personal political leanings — nobody would have dreamed of wishing failure on the (then-) President or his policies, because the war on terror involved the security and integrity of the entire nation.
But in the face of an economic crisis of similar proportions, it’s perfectly okay to wish failure on President Obama or his policies, even though 1) those doing so have offered no coherent alternatives, 2) failure of the current policies does not for one moment equal a successful economy, but could in fact produce a global financial meltdown, and 3) the current package incorporates not just some, but most of the original elements championed by Republican legislators.
Okay, then: in the spirit of the times, I hereby wish failure upon Rush Limbaugh. Oops- am I too late?
Please visit my site too, thanks.