Rush: 'My impact will increase'

[DesertFox]

Conservatives are despondent, liberals are as enthused about a presidential candidate as they’ve been in 40 years, and the candidate he has long loathed won the Republican nomination.

But never mind the pervasive sense of GOP malaise: Entering his 20th year on the national airwaves, Rush Limbaugh is having a dandy 2008 cycle.

http://images.politico.com/global/080510_limbaugh.jpg

Guess who?

Regardless of how many votes Limbaugh actually pushed into Hillary Rodham Clinton’s column with his mischief-making “Operation Chaos” plan to encourage his listeners to keep the Democratic primary going, the endeavor was a success in another important way. It reminded the mainstream media and others outside the conservative orbit of the following he commands.

And that the “drive-by media” he so delights in tweaking would recognize his influence enough to put his stunt on the front page, as The Washington Post did last week, underscored another essential fact about the right-wing talk show host: Limbaugh is one heck of a showman.

Even as the Internet supersedes radio, Limbaugh’s skills as a political provocateur, as much P.T. Barnum as conservative ideologue, are such that he can fuel buzz in the political-media world like few others.

More (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10253.html)

[DoctorDoom]

He's a phenomenon. He almost single-handedly created talk radio, and no one has ever equalled him for impact and influence. It's a hoot to watch liberals try and without exception fail to approach, let alone equal, him. He has that undefinable "it" that makes him the best at what he does.

It speaks volumes about his power when the US Senate tries to censure him based on a lie, and he turns it around and rubs their noses in their own dung. And does anyone think that the obsession with resurrecting the "Fairness Doctrine" has any other purpose than to silence Rush?

The harmless, lovable little fuzzball has liberal nads in his iron grip. Squeeze them HARD, El Rushbo!

[Maggie_T]

I love Rush. I love his "pomposity" schtick. You know. When he says " ... with half my brain tied behind my back just to make it fair ..." :evilgrin: I love it all because I know how much it irritates liberals. I especially RELISH the way he goes after fat, ugly, hairy feminazis.

GO RUSH! You lovable little fuzzball, you. :hugs:




The downside of this is that the more successful Operation Chaos is, the more determined liberals will become to shut down conservative radio talk shows.

[Suzie]

It's a shame he didn't want to "impact" until now. Maybe we wouldn't be stuck with McCain.

[Maggie_T]

Aw, give the guy a break, Suze. He can't do it all. ;)

[Naturalized-Texan]

It's a shame he didn't want to "impact" until now. Maybe we wouldn't be stuck with McCain.
He was just sticking to his principles of not endorsing a candidate during the primaries. He deserves your praise for not violating his principles.

[DeclinetoState]

My guess is that Rush has actually "done" very little, and very few people have cast votes for Hillary at his instigation. It's the belief/fear that he has been able to do so that has so many on the left up in arms. Even if what he is accused of doing were illegal (and it probably isn't, so long as he didn't promise those who voted for Hillary—or any other candidate—anything in return), it would be extremely hard to pin anything on him.

And that is his genius.

[DesertFox]

What DtS said. There's no way to know, but it's hilarious that the Left so fears Rush that they attribute literally unknowable things to him.

God's name? RUSH :rotflmbo:

[Suzie]

He was just sticking to his principles of not endorsing a candidate during the primaries. He deserves your praise for not violating his principles.

When we ended up with McCain??? Can't praise that ... sorry. He seems to not be too worried about doing it now that we're screwed. He seems fine with telling people to vote for Hillary.

[Naturalized-Texan]

When we ended up with McCain??? Can't praise that ... sorry. He seems to not be too worried about doing it now that we're screwed. He seems fine with telling people to vote for Hillary.
I guess I should have been more clear:

He was just sticking to his principles of not endorsing a candidate during the Republican primaries. He deserves your praise for not violating his principles.

I guess I thought that the above was obvious since he would never endorse anyone in the Democrat primaries.

BTW, the main reason and probably the only reason we are stuck with McCain as the Republican nominee is that large numbers of Democrats crossed over to vote for him in the early Republican primaries because they believed correctly that McCain would be the easiest Republican to beat in the general election.

However, Rush's Operation Chaos has so damaged both Hillary and Obama that it's highly likely that neither one of them is electable.

[Suzie]

If it's true that his personal impact is so great then he should do all he can to insure a conservative candidate is the nominee. He's the one telling us he can do it. I say it's too little too late. Him and all the conservative media and book writers did nothing when there was still a chance to organize and rally behind someone. If he's as good at leading a charge as he professes himself to be now, then he could have done it when it would have mattered.

[Naturalized-Texan]

So, Suzie, you would have him violate the principles that have guided him for 20 years. If he had done that he would have lost a whole lot of the credibility that has made him so successful. If he loses that credibility, he may as well hang it up.

[DoctorDoom]

When we ended up with McCain??? Can't praise that ... sorry.McCain is the choice in large part because the RATs did in NH (and probably in IA) exactly what they're wailing that Operation Chaos is doing: cross party lines to vote for the RAT choiice for the GOP nominee. They know that the results of the primaries in the first states have a powerful effect on subsequent votes. On primary day in NH, busloads of RATs from MA, VT, etc. went to NH, stated to the election officials that they intended to move to NH one day (all that's required there), and voted for McCain.

IAC, Op Chaos exists to continue the "uncivil war" between B. HUSSEIN Obama and the Bitch Queen for as long as possible, and preferably into the RAT convention. Make them expose their evil to the world to the bitter end.

[Suzie]

So who organized that for them? I find that hard to believe if it's only being done reluctantly by a few on the GOP side, the Democrats aren't capable of looking at the big picture and how things play out down the road. That's part of their standard MO. I can't see them on their own thinking if they do it a bunch of other people will too unless there were some sort of organized effort being launched to do so.

[DesertFox]

It's a self-imposed "principle" that Rush is obeying. He can alter it at will and not lose any credibility. This is politics. Everybody is legitimately expected to have thoughts on who should be prez, including Rush Limbaugh. "Violating" his self-imposed principle in favor of a more-encompassing one, such as pushing strongly for the most conservative candidate to win the GOP nomination, would betray nothing and no one would hold it against him.

[Suzie]

It's a self-imposed "principle" that Rush is obeying. He can alter it at will and not lose any credibility. This is politics. Everybody is legitimately expected to have thoughts on who should be prez, including Rush Limbaugh. "Violating" his self-imposed principle in favor of a more-encompassing one, such as pushing strongly for the most conservative candidate to win the GOP nomination, would betray nothing and no one would hold it against him.
:yeahthat:

[DoctorDoom]

If a man can violate a long-accepted and widely-known "self-imposed principle" at the drop of a hat, what does it say about his consistency or any of his principles?

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
-- W. Shakespeare, Hamlet, act I, scene iii, lines 78–80

[DesertFox]

20 years is "the drop of a hat"?

A more-encompassing principle that extends the earlier principle is inconsistent how?

[Suzie]

I usually go with there are some things greater than ones self, that's why I am willing to let what's most dear to me be far away when my country calls.

[Maggie_T]

Sorry, hon. If you were truly convinced of that, you would not be so willing to vote for a turncoat like McCain.

On one occasion, you said very clearly that the only reason you would vote for McCain was his "pro-military" stance.

Oh, you don't remember? Never mind. I do.

[Maggie_T]

never mind

[Suzie]

Sorry, hon. If you were truly convinced of that, you would not be so willing to vote for a turncoat like McCain.

On one occasion, you said very clearly that the only reason you would vote for McCain was his "pro-military" stance.

Oh, you don't remember? Never mind. I do.


I have never said that. I think he will do more for the military than Hillary or Obama would. They are 100% pro abortion and wanting to saddle us with more social programs.

How many people have you sent off to war? When you have, then you won't question what I value and how much I care. I don't want Hillary or Obama in control for that reason ... I still face that he could go again. You have no idea and need to buy a clue.

[DoctorDoom]

20 years is "the drop of a hat"?If he has maintained that principle for 20 years, and then this year decided to throw it away based on his preference for a political candidate, it would be at the drop of a hat. The idiom may not be the ideal one for the matter, but it serves the purpose in describing what would amount to a sudden, unexpected change of a principle or policy that had been adhered to for two decades.

IAC, if he is as ineffective and irrelevant as his critics say, why would it matter whom he chose to support? And inasmuch as his base of listeners is of above average intelligence and political savvy, one can make a strong argument that his choice would not result in a change of mind and heart in his audience.

Despite the charges that "Dittoheads" are "mind-numbed robots" who tune in for their marching orders, the vast majority of us listen because he says what we think. And he says it boldly and widely. I'm not a Rushophile because I need direction, but rather because I like to hear him express my own views in a way that I don't have the resources to use.

Ergo, it's unlikely that I would have changed my choice for POTUS based on Rush's selection, whoever it would have been.

It's arguable that McCain (the DBM-described "maverick Republican") got the nod because the overwhelming majority of those who voted for him got their "marching orders" from the RATs via their cat's-paws in the DBM.

[DesertFox]

Welp, I think Rush's "principle" is misguided when there are no conservatives around. He is conservative and is known as the voice thereof. He did note early on that Thompson was the only conservative in the then-race.

My own thinking is that Rush just doesn't want to alienate a lot of people. As you note, and strongly contrary to what the idiot Left wants to think, we on the Right make up our own minds. We on this board agree on the broad range of issues that define conservatism, but we don't seem to agree at all on individuals. :lol:

It's the Left who robotically follow a leader.

[Maggie_T]

I have never said that.

You did, too. And I'm not holding it against you, so I don't know why you're so "sensitive" about it. If my husband was in the army, I too, would vote for the candidate I thought would do most for the military.

You have no idea and need to buy a clue.

I'll decide where I spend my money, thank you, dear. And I don't need to buy any "clues." Certainly not from you.

You're too much on the defensive, Suze, for reasons best known to you. I never meant to "offend" you (:rolleyes:) by my comment. You do protest too much, dear.

[DoctorDoom]

... but we don't seem to agree at all on individuals.McCain was my last choice of the roster that we started with prior to NH. Fred! was Numero Uno. However, I suspect that his heart wasn't in it, and that his announcement was due more to pressure than to commitment.

I've watched Romney as the gov of Massholechusetts, and he didn't impress me, especially the way he kissed up to certain unnamed activist groups. And IAC, the only way a Republican can be elected in this shithole state is by out-liberalling the RAT.

Mike Huckabee said good things, but his record in Arkansas raised flags.

Ron Paul --- well, what can one say? His positions on many issues are likeable, but his stances on certain crucial matters scare me, and I don't like that in a candidate. And his followers had the same glassy-eyed, quasireligious fervor as Obama's. I don't vote for messiahs of any party.

McCain isn't my first choice, but given him or the RAT on 4 Nov, there's no long period of decision-making involved. America might very well survive four years of the "maverick", but four years of either RAT will destroy her. I love this country far too much to turn it over to Satan's minions just to "show" the GOP.

[Suzie]

McCain isn't my first choice, but given him or the RAT on 4 Nov, there's no long period of decision-making involved. America might very well survive four years of the "maverick", but four years of either RAT will destroy her. I love this country far too much to turn it over to Satan's minions just to "show" the GOP.

Sounds like you are a convinced turncoat supporter who's commitment to our country should be questioned too. Hopefully we will survive together because I agree.

[DoctorDoom]

To show just how forgettable the majority of GOP candidates are, I didn't remember most of these when penning post #26:

I probably should have Googled before writing it. Oh well.

United States Republican presidential candidates, 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Republican_presidential_candidates,_ 2008)

[The_Elucidator]

I'm sorry, but WE ALL KNEW that at some point, since '92 HRC would be running for POTUS. WE also knew what a Marxist she and her cronies are/were. What we didn't know was that she would have someone even more dangerous running along side her for the same spot. We can only "assume" that Rush, and his "moral" compass of guiding principals also knew/knows this! Wouldn't you think that he would have "called" in a mulligan and endorsed a candidate and tried to energize a GOP base still stinging from the '06 elections? Tancredo, Hunter, Thompson anyone? Last time I checked, O'Reilly is the #1 guy on cable TV with roughly 3.5 M viewers per night. Doesn't Rush have 20M listeners? Quite an impact for one person who DOES carry a lot of weight!

We all saw this coming for YEARS, and so did Rush! Problem that I see is that we treated the '00 and '04 elections with the enthusiasm that we should be giving THIS election, and are suffering burnout. Ya'll can think what you want about Rush, I think he blew an opportunity to champion what he has been spouting for 20 years.

[PrezLeefun]

It's a shame he didn't want to "impact" until now. Maybe we wouldn't be stuck with McCain.

Yeah I'm with you Suz...a little criticism doesn't hurt.

[Lazarus]

To blame the nomination of McCain on one man, especially Rush Limbaugh, is pure childishness... And Im damned suprised there are adults here who are doing so... Its the kind of projection bullshit I would expect from the Left, not the Right...

Rush did the right thing by not choosing and promiting a candidate - He showed respect for the American people to freely choose their candidate... He's continually being accused of being the leader of 20 million "mind-numbed-robots", and we are those people who are being accused of being those robots...

Are we robots or not? Can conservatives think without being given our marching orders everday by Rush?

And just how many Conservative voters, how many of those 20 million Rush listeners do you believe voted for McCain in the primaries? Anyone who DID vote for McCain in the primaries, I submit, is not a Conservative voter but blind, ignorant Republican party sheep who voted for McCain because he is foolish enough to believe McCain's Bullshit...

Rush has preached Conservative principles for 20 years on the air... Anyone who listens to him KNOWS this... Is he to now take us by the hand like a bunch of retards and lead us to the voting booth and mark our ballots for us?

Or is it at all possible that Conservatives are enlightened and intelligent enough to be responsible for their own decisions and actions?

[DoctorDoom]

Just so.

[Suzie]

Isn't the article about Rush's impact? He seems to think he is able to move the masses. Why should we question that? If Rush says it then it must be true. No one said he could do it alone. But he could have helped ... none of the talking heads did anything though. It's too late for "impact" once something has already blown up.

[Lazarus]

You missed the whole point, Sooz... The "masses" that Rush influences are Conservative masses... So I will restate the question without all the preliminary fluff to simplify it...

How many Conservative voters, Rush's audience, do you think were foolish enough to vote for McCain because Rush didn't guide their steps?

The answer should be glaringly apparent... Conservatives, ie Rush's audience, did NOT vote for McCain... Those who DID vote for McCain were either foolish, gullible, non-thinking Republicans (not Conservatives), or Democrats who purposefully crossed over in the early primaries for the sole purpose of taking over our nomination process (which the MSM conveniently ignores)...

Neither of which are Rush's audience nor are influenced by Rush...

So just exactly what is being suggested that Rush could have done - should have done?

In essence you're suggesting that Rush could have influenced and guided the votes of RINOs and Democrat Saboteurs... :brow: Ya see the point?

[Suzie]

Yes, you don't see my point. If there were one person he had taken the effort to put forward and show Conservatives facts about that person so they would know this guy is the best choice because of _______________. Then a front runner could have stepped forward. Instead, he supports no one, Sean Hannity supports RUDY of all people and Ann Coulter was jumping in front of any camera she could find to run down Fred instead of playing up who she thought would be a good candidate and why.

They all dropped the ball, all they needed to do is highlight the best candidate so we didn't have Conservatives all over the place splitting up the vote 5 or 6 different ways because they didn't know enough about the candidates to see a front runner. You know very well they aren't going to get this information in the MSM. Not everyone is as internet focused as the folks here are and listening to people like him is the only way they can get info on candidates they have heard very little about.

[Naturalized-Texan]

So who organized that for them?
In 2000 the DNC and Big Labor organized a campaign to get Dem voters in several of the early primaries - e.g., NH, MI - to cross over to vote for McCain in the Republican primaries in those states. It would have worked then if McCain hadn't smeared conservative Christians in SC where GW Bush won and went on the get the nomination. In 2000, the Dems were very open about that strategy.

It's a sure bet that the DNC and Big Labor also organized a similar campaign in 2008, but kept quiet about it. Remember, everyone believed that early in the Dem primary campaign the primaries amounted to nothing more than a coronation of Hillary's presidency and they thought that getting Dems to cross over to vote for McCain would not hurt her chances for getting the nomination and that ensuring the nomination of McCain would only enhance the sure thing of a Hillary White House.

[Naturalized-Texan]

To blame the nomination of McCain on one man, especially Rush Limbaugh, is pure childishness... And Im damned suprised there are adults here who are doing so... Its the kind of projection bullshit I would expect from the Left, not the Right...
When listening to Rush throughout the Republican primary campaign it was abundantly clear that he favored Fred Thompson and he was frustrated that Fred didn't seem to have the fire in his belly to do what he needed to do to get the nomination.

After Fred dropped out, Rush made it abundantly clear that he favored Mitt Romney for the nomination.

I don't see how he could have done any more without violating his principles of 20 years. In fact, it could be said that he came within a whisker of violating his principles by doing what he did.

[Lazarus]

Tex is right - We have to look at this in the context of the period when the crossover occurred... The Dems thought they had wrapped up the nomination early for Hilary, and they were hedging their bets by sending their saboreurs to make sure the Pubs did NOT have a Conservative candidate...

And of course the MSM, being the Leftist enablers that they are, have conveniently NOT made the Democrat crossover vote the same news item that they have Rush's Operation Chaos...

When Republicans crossover, its a crime, a sin, and an attack on our age old democratic process... When Democrats do it, its a non-story...

[Lazarus]

When listening to Rush throughout the Republican primary campaign it was abundantly clear that he favored Fred Thompson and he was frustrated that Fred didn't seem to have the fire in his belly to do what he needed to do to get the nomination.

After Fred dropped out, Rush made it abundantly clear that he favored Mitt Romney for the nomination.

I don't see how he could have done any more without violating his principles of 20 years. In fact, it could be said that he came within a whisker of violating his principles by doing what he did.I remember all that, Tex... I remember it clearly... I can't explain why others here do NOT remember it... Its baffling...:confused:

The bottom line, the actual bottom line fact is, the Left, by means of a concerted effort on the part of the DNC, the Unions, the MSM - all major Leftist organizations in this country, succeded in hijacking the Republican nomination and removed the "Conservative Choice" so that there will ONLY be Leftists to choose from in this election...

In essence, we have had a Communist Revolution by subtrafuge...

[Suzie]

It still doesn't change the fact that if conservatives knew the candidates better they could have rallied behind someone better then McCain wouldn't have enough even with a cross over. Many male conservatives get all their news from the radio because their work requires them to travel and lots of people can't sit and surf the internet all day at work, it's easy to take a look every so often here at home. My husband is one of those people. He has a full time job, he's gone with the military a lot and he has enough stuff to learn and retain in that head of his, he doesn't really get to study obscure candidates only known to the state they came from. I was telling him the other day I thought Pawlenty or Jindel would be a good VP choice for McCain and he had never heard of either of them. He watches the news on TV but you don't get any substantial info there you know that. There is a gold mine in radio's value to get the word out... clearly it didn't happen in this election.

[The_Elucidator]

To blame the nomination of McCain on one man, especially Rush Limbaugh, is pure childishness... And I'm damned surprised there are adults here who are doing so... Its the kind of projection bullshit I would expect from the Left, not the Right...

Are you denying that Rush has any impact whatsoever?

We all knew that Hitlery was going to run for POTUS since 3 days into Slicks first term. We can only "assume" that Rush knows this also. The problem is that we approached the '00 and '04 election with the same enthusiasm that we should have approached this election with. Al Gore and John F'n Kerry were child's play compared to the two full blown Marxist's we have running today. Looking back in hind sight we probably would have been better off with a JF'nK win in '04 allowing us to get on track for '08. However that didn't happen and now we are all so burned out from Dubya that we are willing to let Obama or Hitlery waltz into the WH and finish us off.

I have always liked Rush because, like many, he says what I am thinking. With that being said, I do believe he had an opportunity to help do what the RNC has failed so miserably in doing, organize the conservative base behind one of our 3 viable conservative candidates! He blew it. Right or wrong, I believe he missed an opportunity to help "organize" a very unorganized base. I believe one's opinion only counts when one practices what they preach.

Are we robots or not? Can conservatives think without being given our marching orders everyday by Rush?

Evidently we are robots! Because time and time again those of us who do "incrementally" support McCain, because we believe that he IS better than the two Marxists we have opposing him, are indirectly and sometimes directly accused of being dupes, naive, etc. Ironically it appears that those who do want to stand on the Christian principal of anti-abortion or those who stand pro-military, pro-gun are not the robots. We are the ones going AGAINST Rush and those who would rather chop off their nose to spite their face.

And just how many Conservative voters, how many of those 20 million Rush listeners do you believe voted for McCain in the primaries?

None of us did here, at least that I know of... No we were "smart" enough to divide our vote between 6 people, to include the normally GOP voting bloc that went for Ron Paul even more dividing up the conservative vote.

Anyone who DID vote for McCain in the primaries, I submit, is not a Conservative voter but blind, ignorant Republican party sheep who voted for McCain because he is foolish enough to believe McCain's Bullshit...

Pretty bold statement... however; again, I don't believe that anyone here supported him during the primary. Are you going to stand by that statement for those of us who are unwilling to allow the twin Marxist's Hillary or Obama the keys to the Whitehouse?

Rush has preached Conservative principles for 20 years on the air... Anyone who listens to him KNOWS this... Is he to now take us by the hand like a bunch of retards and lead us to the voting booth and mark our ballots for us?

Evidently he does, because many conservatives split their votes between Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, Tancredo, Hunter and Paul. I have seen monkey crap fights at a zoo more organized than grassroots conservatives. The only thing we have managed to organize is a complete disaster in '06 House and Senate races, a pending disaster in '08 House and Senate races, electing John McCain as our nominee, and probably Obama as our POTUS. An impressive resume indeed!! :smirky:

Or is it at all possible that Conservatives are enlightened and intelligent enough to be responsible for their own decisions and actions?

Again, see comment above...

Conservatives are "enthusiastically" getting behind Operation Chaos because we can stick it to the 'Rats. I am just disappointed that somehow we missed Operation Organization so we might have avoided this disaster.

Brother Laz, this is just my opinion/observation and extreme frustration being vented, so please, don't take this personally. :thumb:

[Suzie]

Spot on Luc. :clap:

[Lubbock]

It still doesn't change the fact that if conservatives knew the candidates better they could have rallied behind someone better then McCain wouldn't have enough even with a cross over.

Why is is incumbent upon a Talk Show Host --an Entertainer, to make Conservatives better acquainted with the candidates?

Isn't that the job of the candidate?

[Suzie]

Once again ... he's the one claiming such powers. He says it's his impact effecting things now. I ask why not sooner when we still had good candidates?

[Maggie_T]

You hate Ann Coulter, you sniff in contempt at Rush. Is there any conservative pundit you approve of, Suzie? Anyone at all?

And I'm just curious, so please don't take this personally and go off on a tantrum, do me the last favor.

[Lazarus]

...Brother Laz, this is just my opinion/observation and extreme frustration being vented, so please, don't take this personally. :thumb:Oh I'm not taking it personally at all... But in fact you are making my argument for me...

Rush's influence is with Conservatives, and Conservatives were NOT the ones who voted for McCain and gave him the nomination... You and I both know that Rush has no influence on those forces who DID hand the nomination to McCain... So exactly how is Rush culpable in McCain's elevation to the nomination? Just what do you expect of the man?

Are you actually suggesting that he should have TOLD US WHO to vote for? Herd us all in line like cattle and issue our marching orders to us? Are we to turn to Rush every two years to get our homework assignments?

And when an accident or ill health or some other disaster deprives us of our Ayatolla, are we to run around like ants who's queen has suddenly died, with no direction, no one to tell us how to think, how to act, who to vote for this year? Come on, Luc.......:brow:

[The_Elucidator]

Are you actually suggesting that he should have TOLD US WHO to vote for? Herd us all in line like cattle and issue our marching orders to us? Are we to turn to Rush every two years to get our homework assignments?



That's a negative Ghost Rider.... What I am saying is that on one hand he is claming success for operation Chaos and on the other wringing his hands over the McCain nomination.

I am tired of hearing that the DBM and 'Rats are responsible for McCain being our nominee. On one hand we are seeing hundreds of thousands and possible millions of new registered Rats for the upcoming election. We are seeing millions more votes for the 'Rat primary process than the GOP primary process. With that much enthusiasm for the two 'Rat candidates, why would SO many switch over and vote for McCain. I don't buy it.

What I do think is that many of our Independent brethren that normally don't vote during primaries but do during the general election are coming out to vote because they ACTUALLY LIKE McCain. Meanwhile back at the ranch, we the brilliant conservatives, couldn't decide who to vote for and BINGO we get McCain.

We have the Libertarian wing vs the Christian Right wing vs the Independent wing vs the win at any cost wing. Stir all that crap together and you get a McCain nomination instead of a Thompson, Tancredo or Hunter nomination.

Again, I'm not blaming Rush. I just think it's completely off the chart that some claim that operation Chaos is working yet scoff at the idea of trying to organize behind a conservative candidate to thwart a Marxist takeover of the WH.

Bottom line; is he or isn't he one of the most powerful conservative voices in America? If the answer to this is yes, he blew it. If the answer is no, then he is full of crap!

[Rhino]

It still doesn't change the fact that if conservatives knew the candidates better they could have rallied behind someone better then McCain wouldn't have enough even with a cross over.Rush said all along that McCain was no conservative. I was reading that in his newsletters long ago. It's not his fault if not enough people listened.

[Suzie]

Again, I'm not blaming Rush. I just think it's completely off the chart that some claim that operation Chaos is working yet scoff at the idea of trying to organize behind a conservative candidate to thwart a Marxist takeover of the WH.

Bottom line; is he or isn't he one of the most powerful conservative voices in America? If the answer to this is yes, he blew it. If the answer is no, then he is full of crap!

Agreed.

[DoctorDoom]

That's a negative Ghost Rider.... What I am saying is that on one hand he is claming success for operation Chaos ...Those of us who actually listen to his program, rather than blindly judging it by what Media Matters and the DBM say about it, know that OC has nothing to do with conservatism. Its purpose is to keep the RAT primaries going for as long as possible, preferably into the RAT Con in Denver, by preventing either one of those traitors from gaining enough delegates to get a lock on the nomination. A RAT Con floor fight is hoped for, to show the country what those loathsome bastards are really like, aired on prime-time TV.

One thing is certain: the streets of Denver will NOT be peaceful. No matter which one of the traitors is chosen, the other one's activists will be raising hell.

... and on the other wringing his hands over the McCain nomination.One wonders how many times it must be repeated until the Rushophobes grasp the concept that the vast majority of his audience did NOT vote for McCain, and therefore excoriating him for not swinging the vote away from McCain is meaningless.

Question: how much influence do Freecers have on the DUh gang? A lot? A little? None? A: none. And why is that? A: because they don't come here to read our posts. Shall we then assail Freecers for not influencing the opinions of the RATs in that sewer?

Rush's primary goal is exposing the evils of liberalism and the RAT party. "Dittoheads" don't tune in each day to be told what and how to think, but to hear what we think expressed by a potent media figure who speaks for us.

I don't log in to 24/7 to listen to the streaming feed in order to be taught how great conservatism is. I already know that. And Rush knows that I and the vast majority of his audience already know that. He's our nation-wide mouthpiece, saying to 20 million people each week what we of FC say to our fellow Freecers and to the lurkers who "read the mail" here. It's great to hear it and know that the libeRATs are going to be pissed off again.

Repeating our top story, Rush Limbaugh is not the programmer for the mind-numbed robots. We who listen do so with our entire brains in full operation (not with half of them tied behind our backs to be fair to the libs).

Had Rush LImbaugh said, "I support Mr. X for the GOP candidate," so what? We knew very well who we'd be voting for in the primaries (as pre-primary threads indicated). We didn't need instructions from on high. And those who did vote for the Maverick are almost certainly not regular Rushites. Therefore, his announcement would have made little to no difference, except perhaps to the DBM, who would then have obsessed on destroying his choice.

[DesertFox]

Well said, Doc.

[DesertFox]

Had Limbaugh spoken up strongly in favor of Fred Thompson at the outset, chances are we would now be contemplating the election with satisfaction. Instead we're not voting at all, or holding our noses and voting for a dude we can hardly abide.

I'm not at all sure Rush's endorsement would've made any difference, but at this juncture I'm sure it wouldn't have hurt.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Had Limbaugh spoken up strongly in favor of Fred Thompson at the outset, chances are we would now be contemplating the election with satisfaction. Instead we're not voting at all, or holding our noses and voting for a dude we can hardly abide.

I'm not at all sure Rush's endorsement would've made any difference, but at this juncture I'm sure it wouldn't have hurt.

:yeahthat: :claps:

[Timberwolf]

OK!! That's enough...I've had it up to here!!

I'm officially calling for a "do-over"!!!!!

For BOTH sides. :evilgrin:

[Lubbock]

Bottom line: There is no one to blame for the mess we're in in this election cycle other than the weak kneed, lily livered, pink panty wearing, squat to pee, not a pair of danglies among them, Republican "Leadership."

The Newt Gingrigh types.

Sit on the sofa and French kiss Nancy.

Co-Author legislation with Teddy the Swimmer.

Make nice with rattlesnakes for a favorable smile from the New York Times.

No way can anyone, anywhere, anyhow blame this mess on a Talk Show Personality.

That man has absolutely NO role and NO position in the Republican "Leadership."

The sooner everyone here owns up to that, the less bickering and backbiting will go on here.

We have been sold out, and a Talk Show Host didn't do it.

[The_Elucidator]

Those of us who actually listen to his program, rather than blindly judging it by what Media Matters and the DBM say about it, know that OC has nothing to do with conservatism.


I do listen Doc! And I do know that it has nothing to do with conservatism. At the end of my first post I labeled it as a rant because I am frustrated at the whole way this nomination has transpired.

One wonders how many times it must be repeated until the Rushophobes grasp the concept that the vast majority of his audience did NOT vote for McCain, and therefore excoriating him for not swinging the vote away from McCain is meaningless.

Not a Rushophobe Doc, I listen to him for 3 hours a day!!

Had Limbaugh spoken up strongly in favor of Fred Thompson at the outset, chances are we would now be contemplating the election with satisfaction. Instead we're not voting at all, or holding our noses and voting for a dude we can hardly abide.

I'm not at all sure Rush's endorsement would've made any difference, but at this juncture I'm sure it wouldn't have hurt.

:thumb: Holy Cow; that is exactly what I'm saying...with a lot of venting involved. The RNC is/was pushing for the most RINO of the group so I was hoping that Rush could get behind a CONSERVATIVE candidate and at least give it the old kollage try. Conservatives were voting, only they were splitting their vote while Independents were coming out strong for McCain.

We have been sold out, and a Talk Show Host didn't do it.

No he didn't. But I do wish he would have gotten behind a Conservative candidate earlier like Fox said, to rally the base. If nobody in a leadership position will do it, someone with a conservative voice has to!!<!-- / message -->

[The_Elucidator]

OK!! That's enough...I've had it up to here!!

I'm officially calling for a "do-over"!!!!!

For BOTH sides. :evilgrin:

About Rush or can we nominate FDT? :thumb:

[DoctorDoom]

Had Limbaugh spoken up strongly in favor of Fred Thompson at the outset, chances are we would now be contemplating the election with satisfaction. Instead we're not voting at all, or holding our noses and voting for a dude we can hardly abide.Fred didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about the whole business. There was no passion or zeal in his campaigning, and he dropped out very quickly (Jan 22, two weeks before Super Tuesday).

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who attracted more attention as a potential presidential candidate than as a real one, quit the race for the White House on Tuesday after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states.

"Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort," the former Tennessee senator said in a brief statement.

Thompson's fate was sealed last Saturday in the South Carolina primary, when he finished third in a state that he had said he needed to win.

[snip]

Thompson, best known as the gruff district attorney on NBC's "Law & Order," placed third in Iowa and South Carolina, two states seemingly in line with his right-leaning pitch and laid-back style, and fared even worse in the four other states that have held contests thus far. Money already tight, he ran out of it altogether as the losses piled up.Fred Thompson Quits Presidential Race (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8UB4MVG0&show_article=1)

Question: who would Rush have been addressing "at the outset"? It's arguable that the overwhelming majority of his regular audience would have crawled blindfolded and naked throgh a cactus garden to vote for Fred, so who would he be convincing?

The choice of the vast majority of Fredheads was denied to them by the RINOs and the RAT crossovers (who do not listen to Rush), who gave McCain the lead early in the primaries. Rush has 20 million in his audience, but of those, how many are there in IA, WY, NH, MI, NV and SC?

[DoctorDoom]

I do listen Doc! ... Not a Rushophobe Doc, I listen to him for 3 hours a day!!I cited no one in particular, brer Luc. And the comments extended far beyond the confines of FC. Rush had many callers asking him why he doesn't endorse this or that candidate.

If a high-profile talk-radio icon could make a difference with those who don't listen, Sean Hannity would have canonized Fred. Not a week when by when he wasn't on Sean's program, and he made no secret of his preference for Fred.

The question remains: how will ANY conservative radio megavoices influence those who never hear them?

[DeclinetoState]

The question remains: how will ANY conservative radio megavoices influence those who never hear them?
As large as Rush's audience is, it's less than 10% of the American population (about 20 million out of 300 million people). It might be a much larger percentage of voters, but still well short of a majority. Most people don't listen to any talk radio, and even of those who do, most listen to someone other than Rush when he's on (though they might listen to other conservatives).

His perceived influence is much greater than the reality. Still, it makes "Operation Chaos" quite successful.

[Rhino]

OK!! That's enough...I've had it up to here!!

I'm officially calling for a "do-over"!!!!!

For BOTH sides. :evilgrin:Al???? Is that you???

How did you get TW's login???? :rotflmbo:

[The_Elucidator]

Al???? Is that you???

How did you get TW's login???? :rotflmbo:

He is very sneaky... Did you forget who "invented" the internet? :rotflmbo:

[Lazarus]

Fred didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about the whole business. There was no passion or zeal in his campaigning, and he dropped out very quickly (Jan 22, two weeks before Super Tuesday).Which is something that I just can't explain... He dropped out 2 weeks before the primary date when the biggest slug of Fredheads were prepared to take to the polls for him... I couldn't find anyone in Alabama who wasn't 100% behind Fred... And yet he denied us the chance to support him...

Im not usually interested in conspiracies but I have to admit, I'll always wonder what was really behind that unexplainable and untimely withdrawal...

Question: who would Rush have been addressing "at the outset"? It's arguable that the overwhelming majority of his regular audience would have crawled blindfolded and naked throgh a cactus garden to vote for Fred, so who would he be convincing?

The choice of the vast majority of Fredheads was denied to them by the RINOs and the RAT crossovers (who do not listen to Rush), who gave McCain the lead early in the primaries. Rush has 20 million in his audience, but of those, how many are there in IA, WY, NH, MI, NV and SC?Doc hits the nail on the head... Let's clear the table and look at the facts that really count...

How many Conservative voters were lining up behind Tancredo or Hunter or Brownback versus Thompson... Looking back, in all objectivity, those total voters who backed those other men were a mere drop in the bucket compared to Fred's support among Conservatives... Conservatives were NOT supporting McCain or Giuliani or the Arkansas Snakeoil Salesman... So in essence I saw no chaos or disorganization among Conservatives - Prior to Fred's withdrawal he HAD the Conservative vote...

Conservatives didnt even begin to move toward Romney until Fred had abandoned us... And by that time, when it was obvious that Fred was out of the race, as Tex pointed out earlier in this thread, Rush did in fact begin to try to guide his audience toward Romney - He didnt do it before because he didnt have to - We were already on board with Fred... It wasn't until after Fred dropped out that we found ourselves in chaos...

In hindsight I guess we could all say that Rush MIGHT have influenced the direction earlier, but as Doc points out, I really don't know WHO he would be influencing... One wonders why there isn't more animosity directed toward William F. Buckley because he certainly has far more influence with the pointy-headed Country Club Republican crowd than Rush does, who seems to embarrass them in their snotty elitism... Buckley ALSO didn't wade in and try to guide the election...

I think some here are demanding more of Rush than he is capable of - and certainly more than he's responsible for... The fact is that the Left owns this election process and they have from the beginning - Not just the Dems but also we are seeing the rise of the RINOs again... They WANT to erase the memory of Reagan (except for the bits they want to use to draw us in and give them our votes)...

The RINOs have taken over the Republican party with the help of their willing accomplices from the Democrats who crossed over voted for McCain early on when the Dems were all certain that Hilary was going to be coronated... And let's never forget the concerted efforts of the Leftist media who denied Fred and Tancredo and Hunter any face time during the debates... All Together, they froze out Reagan's Children... That was their intent...

What we are seeing, in fact, is a nation that is devoid of the norms and standards that guided this nation thru its growth to greatness - A nation that has ababdoned the norms and standards that many of us remember from our childhood... We are seeing the rise of a spoiled generation that never had to fight for freedom and who were never taught about the sacrifice that our grandparents made...

The old guard who fought WW2 are dying off and are being replaced by Generation X... Even Rush, with talent on loan from God, can't stop this tidal wave of irresponsibility and stupidity...

[Suzie]

Okay I get what you all are saying. Rush doesn't have the impact with his listeners that he thinks he does. I guess I was wrong in assuming that if he can motivate his base to work against Hillary he could have also motivated them with the information on who the most conservative choice would have been. I never assumed he had influence on the people who don't listen to him, I just had hoped that if he knew there was some crossover on the democrat side we all were supposed to know about, then he would have told his listeners they can't be splitting their votes between Tancredo, Hunter and Thompson. I had thought if he let them know why ... KNOWING this was about to transpire he would have worked as hard to counter that as he is to counter Hillary.

I guess this Operation Chaos the best way of trying to do something now that we are where we are. But if his listeners really aren't willing to organize for a conservative movement as you guys say then this will not be successful either. :(

[DeclinetoState]

Originally Posted by DoctorDoom
Fred didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about the whole business. There was no passion or zeal in his campaigning, and he dropped out very quickly (Jan 22, two weeks before Super Tuesday).
Which is something that I just can't explain... He dropped out 2 weeks before the primary date when the biggest slug of Fredheads were prepared to take to the polls for him... I couldn't find anyone in Alabama who wasn't 100% behind Fred... And yet he denied us the chance to support him...

Im not usually interested in conspiracies but I have to admit, I'll always wonder what was really behind that unexplainable and untimely withdrawal...
No fire in the belly . . . or the victim of blackmail?

[The_Elucidator]

In hindsight I guess we could all say that Rush MIGHT have influenced the direction earlier, but as Doc points out, I really don't know WHO he would be influencing... One wonders why there isn't more animosity directed toward William F. Buckley because he certainly has far more influence with the pointy-headed Country Club Republican crowd than Rush does, who seems to embarrass them in their snotty elitism... Buckley ALSO didn't wade in and try to guide the election...


Much of my anger is also directed right square in the direction of Dr. Dobson!

Not saying that he has all that much influence over the Christian Right, but had he come out strongly in favor of FDT early on it might have swayed some of the eggheads that supported Huck the Schmuck early on.

Let's just agree to disagree on how much power some of these "influential" folks carry and follow TM's lead in supporting those conservatives in the House and Senate.

[Lazarus]

No fire in the belly . . . or the victim of blackmail?I'm not ready to publicly declare my conspiracy theory... Mainly because its strictly a theory with no facts to back it other than my observations... Its irrelevant anyway so maybe we should let it go...:biggrin:

[Rhino]

Okay I get what you all are saying. Rush doesn't have the impact with his listeners that he thinks he does.I consider it far more likely that, as many listeners as Rush has, there are far fewer listeners than there are voters. Even if every single listener had voted a cetain way, it probably wouldn't have changed anything, because there are far more voters than listeners to Rush's show. Besides, I'd bet that most of his listeners did actually vote the way his statements suggested, i.e. for someone other than McCain.

[Lazarus]

Much of my anger is also directed right square in the direction of Dr. Dobson!

Not saying that he has all that much influence over the Christian Right, but had he come out strongly in favor of FDT early on it might have swayed some of the eggheads that supported Huck the Schmuck early on.

Let's just agree to disagree on how much power some of these "influential" folks carry and follow TM's lead in supporting those conservatives in the House and Senate.Yeah well, don't get me started on Dobson and his ilk...

I have been preaching for months (probably not very loud so I guess it can't be called preaching, huh?) that our only stand now is in the COngressional races... And to be honest, I don't want anyone to get their hopes up - from all the indicators the Pubs have thrown away so much of the capital we gave them, the Dems are going to expand their hold on both houses... That doesn't mean we shouldn't fight where we can...

But I'm not kidding when I say that the Left has won this election already - And with the damage they have in store for us, we are doomed to lose a great deal of our national prosperity and worse, our precious freedoms... And the Pubs don't have the courage to retake those when they have been given the Whitehouse and both houses of Congress...

I don't see a bright future... Prepare yourselves...

[Suzie]

I consider it far more likely that, as many listeners as Rush has, there are far fewer listeners than there are voters. Even if every single listener had voted a cetain way, it probably wouldn't have changed anything, because there are far more voters than listeners to Rush's show. Besides, I'd bet that most of his listeners did actually vote the way his statements suggested, i.e. for someone other than McCain.

I am sure all conservatives did vote for someone other than McCain 3 different someones, Hunter, Tancredo and Thompson that's the problem and it's why McCain won. If Thompson is on the ballot when I walk down there in a minute I am going to vote for him. Doesn't matter anyway the caucus voted for me. But as I said, I had assumed he would have told his listeners there was an effort by the unions to cross over and vote for McCain and if their vote splits three ways he is insured a victory. Which is exactly what happened. If there was an organized effort to stop that like there is with this Chaos thing maybe that could have been countered. That's what I was hoping he would do ... you guys say he could have never pulled it off. So okay I accept I was wrong to believe his impact is as great as he says it is.

[DoctorDoom]

Okay I get what you all are saying. Rush doesn't have the impact with his listeners that he thinks he does.That is NOT what I'm saying. My repeatedly made point is that those who voted for McCain

ARE
NOT
HIS
LISTENERS!

[The_Elucidator]

I have been preaching for months (probably not very loud so I guess it can't be called preaching, huh?) that our only stand now is in the COngressional races... And to be honest, I don't want anyone to get their hopes up - from all the indicators the Pubs have thrown away so much of the capital we gave them, the Dems are going to expand their hold on both houses... That doesn't mean we shouldn't fight where we can...

But I'm not kidding when I say that the Left has won this election already - And with the damage they have in store for us, we are doomed to lose a great deal of our national prosperity and worse, our precious freedoms... And the Pubs don't have the courage to retake those when they have been given the Whitehouse and both houses of Congress...

I don't see a bright future... Prepare yourselves...

This election is going to be a blood bath! After the November carnage, we will find ourselves with at least 60 liberals, GOP/RAT in the Senate. Translated; If McCain wins the POTUS, hold on to your wallets and get ready to speak Spanish! If Obama wins the POTUS, hold on to your guns because you are gonna need them!! Liberty will be a word our Grandfathers and Fathers lived under, a word we watched slip away and a word our kids will only talk about!!

[Suzie]

That is NOT what I'm saying. My repeatedly made point is that those who voted for McCain

ARE
NOT
HIS
LISTENERS!

I realize that, his listeners voted for 3 different people and the unions focused on McCain. If they had united behind one in some organized effort to counter that maybe it would have made a difference maybe not. His whole deal with the Hillary thing now is to COUNTER those who did vote for McCain. I am wishing we could have countered those people before it was too late.

[Rhino]

So okay I accept I was wrong to believe his impact is as great as he says it is.No, you're just wrong in believing that's what he said. Rush does have great impact, and as the article states, that will likely increase. But Rush never claimed he could decide who would win the primaries, nor did he even attempt to influence that. Quite the contrary. He put out the pertinent information he could, and left it up to his listeners who to vote for, which is as it should be. The part you don't seem to get is that you are equating his claim of 'great impact', with deciding or influencing the primaries. He has never made such a claim. So you weren't wrong to believe him. You just believed something other than what he said.

[Suzie]

Fair enough.

So he's not doing operation chaos to influence the primary vote?

[TeenageRepublican]

I wish I could listen to Rush Limbaugh a lot more than I do. I'm sick today so I'm listening to him right now. I just wish that he was on later in the afternoon because I love listening to him (Rush Baby), especially since he's starting to talk to Colorado listeners.

[Rhino]

Fair enough.

So he's not doing operation chaos to influence the primary vote?Not ours, no. He's doing that to continue the divisiveness amongst the dems long enough for it to have a negative impact in the general election. He doesn't really care much who wins their primary either. He just wants the squabbling to go on long enough that it will negatively affect the general election for the dems, no matter who gets the nomination.

[Lazarus]

Fair enough.

So he's not doing operation chaos to influence the primary vote?Actually THAT is pretty close to the truth... He isn't doing this to influence the primary vote - He's doing it DURING the primary vote but his target is to keep the two Dems alive and fighting so they will bloody each other up so that the survivor will not be able to stand up to McCain in the General election...

He has stated repeatedly that Operation Chaos is intended to beat up Obama because McCain "magnanimously" refused to do it, so Rush has decided to utilize the only person capable of beating Obama up: The Co-Candidate, Billy/Hilary - ie, the Clintons...

he has also stated that id Hilary begins to pull ahead and threatens to drive Obama from the primary race, he intends to reverse the emphasis of Operation Chaos and instruct his soldiers to vote for Obama...

The end result is to keep both Dems in the race right thru the Convention, so there will be a bloody fight on the convention floor - So America will see the Democrats in all their glory...

[DeclinetoState]

Chaos means confusion and disorder. So long as there as confusion and disorder in the Democrats' party (hey, that's what Jimmy Carter called it), it doesn't matter who is the nominee or front-runner.

[Lazarus]

If Rush can pull this off, we're going to get a riot in Denver - Something I don't personally wish on the city of Denver - I have loved ones there - But Denver wanted to host the frothing, radical, lunatics' convention and frothing radical is what they are going to get... I just hope the cops don't get caught in the middle...

But destruction of city infratructure is the kind of image that we want the media to record and report - its the image of the Dems we want America to see... And maybe, just maybe, some Republican Congressional candidates will find their manhood and make use of that image in the Fall...

[Suzie]

So he isn't encouraging people to vote for Hillary?

[Lazarus]

Only in the sense that he wants her to stay in the race right thru the convention... He doesn't care which one of them wins - He wants Obama and Hilary to kill and eat each other... If Hilary pulls ahead, he will switch his orders to direct Pubs to crossover and vote for Obama - He wants them both in the primary race, fighting and clawing right thru the convention... This is why Howard Dean is so desperate to get the Superdelegates to choose a candidate long before the convention...

Rush is in fact running Operation Chaos in order to put McCain in the Whitehouse... Which is the comic irony of this whole debate because some of McCain's biggest advocates on this board have also been the ones who have been so hard on Rush... That part of it is actually pretty funny when you think of it... :rotflmbo:

[Suzie]

Rush is in fact running Operation Chaos in order to put McCain in the Whitehouse...


WOW!! That's really interesting. I never thought he would do anything to help McCain. Why do you think he's doing it?

[DoctorDoom]

It's the negative consequence of keeping B. HUSSEIN Obama and Hillary "Queen Bitch" Clinton OUT of the White House. When ya gotta walk through a sewer to get where you're going, you pick the one with the least sewage.

[Suzie]

It's the negative consequence of keeping B. HUSSEIN Obama and Hillary "Queen Bitch" Clinton OUT of the White House. When ya gotta walk through a sewer to get where you're going, you pick the one with the least sewage.

That sounds familiar ... I think I have heard that other places too. :biggrin:

[Lazarus]

WOW!! That's really interesting. I never thought he would do anything to help McCain. Why do you think he's doing it?That I can't explain factually... I can only speculate... But I know by the time the general election campaign begins he will explain his position...

I know he has no respect for McCain and considers him to be a huge threat to the nation - he validated that position just today at lunch in reference to McCain's recent Global Warming speech...

I really don't want to speculate as to why Rush is working to keep put McCain in over the Dems - He'll reveal his reasons eventually...

[DoctorDoom]

I know he has no respect for McCain ...24/7 members who get the live feed of the program are familiar with the parodies that are sent out while your local stations are selling cars and furniture and airing liberal news. A large number of them are blasts at McCain. There is no love lost there.

[Lazarus]

And at lunch today, Rush's analysis of McCain's "Me too, Im a Global Warming Nut too" speech was just plain scarey... We have hard times coming, and the heart-breaking part of it all is that the destruction of this nation wont come under a Democrat executive... It will come as the ultimate betrayal from a Republican... :sad: