Posts Tagged ‘obama’

Nordlinger on Rush

Posted: March 5, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
Tags: , , ,

Jay Nordlinger does what he almost always does. Has the best commentary on the issue of the day. That issue being Rush. He starts with Colin Powell:

After November’s election, Colin Powell said that Republicans have to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh. Since when have they ever listened to Rush? For president, the Republicans nominated probably Rush’s least favorite politician (in the GOP, that is). And I’m sure most Rush fans voted for him, because they thought he was a lot better than the alternative, which he was.

Whom did Powell support, by the way? Barack Obama, the Democrat, and the most left-wing president we have ever elected, possibly. I’m not sure that Powell Republicanism is the Republicanism the GOP should want.

And let me say a further word about John McCain — whom I admire, and whom I voted for enthusiastically. He was almost perfect for the GOP moderate types, you would have thought. He was anti-Christian Right. He was Mr. Campaign Finance Reform. He was Mr. Amnesty. He was Mr. Global Warming. He was Mr. Reach Across the Aisle.

Except for being against abortion and for free trade, he was well-nigh perfect.

And if McCain isn’t good enough for the Powell brigades — who ever would be?

He gets to the bottom line in a hurry:

For eight years, we heard nothing but “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Those who did the most to block or undermine President Bush were exalted as the Great Americans, and People. But dare oppose The One (i.e., our 44th president) — and you’re one of the lowest life forms.

Well, nuts to that.

There are many things wrong with the Republican party today, and Rush Limbaugh, in my opinion, is not one of them. Donald Rumsfeld (another pet bogey) used to say, “America is not what’s wrong with the world.” That is true. And Rush Limbaugh is not what is wrong with the Republican party.

Frankly, Secretary Powell is more like what’s wrong: If he can’t discern the superiority of John McCain to Barack Obama, where the presidency is concerned, who needs him?

The whole column should be required reading for Republicans. If republicans aren’t willing to figure this out then we deserve all that we get.

Now we find out if the Morning Joe team that has been so happy to make fun of republicans for not standing up to Rush will challenge the president to do the same.

5:50 a.m. It is 10 min before the show. I’m predicting that they will pooh pooh the idea of the debate and only Pat will be there to ask why it is incumbent on Republicans to challenge Rush but it is not incumbent for the White House that attacked him to do so. Will I be right?

6:00 a.m. Ok lets see….They lead with the counterproductive quote.

6:02 a.m. Oh they’ve spent very little time on Rush says Barnicle, only what 4-5 news cycles now?

6:04 a.m. Apparently it’s mission accomplished for the White House, no comment on the challenge by Rush yet. Apparently the only thing that Rush has ever said is the 60 seconds of his 80 minute speech that they played over and over and the 30 seconds of his rebuttal to Michael Steele. Nothing else exists.

6:05 a.m. I’ve got to admit that is amazing that fellow lived.

6:07 a.m. They now show the debate challenge, they all dismiss it.

6:10 a.m. Barnicle brings up Tip, I loved Tip he was awsome and an honest opponent.

6:12 a.m. Apparently everyone who meets Rush likes him, he’s funny and not a hater, but I disagree with him.

6:13 a.m. They are still hitting Steele but they have still dismissed the challenge to President Obama

6:14 a.m. “Sometimes being black isn’t enough” says Joe. They are talking about Michael Steele, I wonder who else this could apply to?

6:18 a.m. Funny Rush Joke. Good point the late nights won’t attack Obama, but will now attack Rush.

6:30 a.m. They point out the distraction factor on the Rush story.

6:40 a.m. I did miss this, they hit Geithner on hypocrisy. Good!

6:45 a.m. Apparently Patterson doesn’t enjoy the president’s immunity. That was funny. Note the joke had nothing to do with race.

7:00 a.m. Hey the 7 figure offer for the birth tape is better than the 7 figures for the sex.

7:06 a.m. They play Rush’s challenge again followed by the counterproductive quote from Gibbs. That is interesting.

7:08 a.m. Carlos says there is only so much time you can distract from the issues.

7:10 a.m. Watson says Steele can recover by organizing actual alternatives.

7:11 a.m. Again we see the Steele is a coward and looks weak, but apparently the president isn’t cowardly or looking weak not answering Rush’s Challenge.

7:12 a.m. They are right about the grass roots stuff.

7:13 a.m. Now lets attack Palin as a token and bring back the Being Black is not enough line, Mika tried to head it off. They still don’t get the irony of all of this.

7:15 a.m. This has the potential to be an Imus moment for Morning Joe, it will not be because Mr. Steele is a conservative Republican.

7:17 a.m. “Why does Rush Limbaugh hate children?”

7:20 a.m. Lets make something clear. If Michael Steele was the DNC chairman instead of the RNC chairman this would be Morning Joe’s Imus moment.

7:30 a.m. Now the topic is Iran. Actually a good question from O’Donnell does the worldwide downturn give us leverage against Iran. Haass says yes and praises diplomacy. The problem that these guys have is that they forget dictators don’t care what the standard of living is for their people.

7:32 a.m. Cuba is doing ok according to Hass, but apparently retreats in Syria, Russia etc are all positive things.

7:39 a.m. Is there anything in the advice that Smiley and Scarborough said about Steele that could not be said about the president?

7:41 a.m. Limbaugh challenges the president to a debate and is the lead story so the topic of discussion is the fecklessness of Michael Steele, amazing! Is there an actual conservative that they are willing to talk to or have on for more than 60 seconds.

7:43 a.m. Smiley is asked the “black enough” question in different words. He says symbolism is important but substance matters more. This is what is called “projection”.

7:44 a.m. OMG Smiley says that Obama has to be held accountable to deliver! This is a seminal moment!

7:45 a.m. Annoying doctor: “Leaders don’t grovel.”

7:53 a.m. They are talking healthcare, they are now asking about costs.

7:55 a.m. The Doc is talking about a dark underside on this stuff dealing with coverage.

7:56 a.m. Did you hear anything out of their mouth?

8:01 a.m. Now they are laughing at Gibbs, Good!

8:05 a.m. Obama is just like any other pol looking for advantage says Ari Fleischer as a guest.

8:07 a.m. Barnicle says they aren’t really worrying about Rush in the Whitehouse is he. I say look at the news cycle.

8:07 a.m. Would you have gone after Michael Moore? Would you go after Moore.

8:09 a.m. “Are you going after Democratic candidates for not denouncing Keith Olberman?” Zing! Fleischer is cleaning their clocks.

8:14 a.m. Defensive medicine, they are really talking solid sense now. This is the best non-Rush topic they have done today.

8:16 a.m. 50k is what this doc pays for insurance. This is a solid topic, I’m sure they would LOVE to talk about this instead of Rush on the radio today.

8:20 a.m. I think Tavis Smilley might have saved the day for Morning Joe.

8:29 a.m. How can this argument concerning a “fundamental change” be true when gay marriage wasn’t legal in California until the last year or so. Correct me if I’m wrong but hasn’t California been a state before the civil war?

8:50 a.m. Breaking Bad interesting show.

8:57 a.m. What did I learn today. Being Black isn’t enough if you are a black Republican who won’t oppose Rush. That’s being a grovelling leader. Being Black IS enough if you are a liberal first term senator who wants to be president and doesn’t want to engage Rush in debate. At least that is the case on Morning Joe.

The great Rush debate offer Bumped to top

Posted: March 4, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
Tags: , , ,

Today on his show Rush Limbaugh, the man who Rahm Emanuel considers The leader of the Republican Party has made an offer to the administration:

If these guys are so impressed with themselves, and if they are so sure of their correctness, why doesn’t President Obama come on my show? We will do a one-on-one debate of ideas and policies. Now, his people in this Politico story, it’s on the record. They’re claiming they wanted me all along. They wanted me to be the focus of attention. So let’s have the debate! I am offering President Obama to come on this program — without staffers, without a TelePrompTer, without note cards — to debate me on the issues. Let’s talk about free markets versus government control. Let’s talk about nationalizing health care and raising taxes on small business.

Let’s talk about the New Deal versus Reaganomics. Let’s talk about closing Guantanamo Bay, and let’s talk about sending $900 million to Hamas. Let’s talk about illegal immigration and the lawlessness on the borders. Let’s talk about massive deficits and the destroying of opportunities of future generations. Let’s talk about ACORN, community agitators, and the unions that represent the government employees which pour millions of dollars into your campaign, President Obama. Let’s talk about your elimination of school choice for minority students in the District of Columbia. Let’s talk about your efforts to further reduce domestic drilling and refining of oil. Let’s talk about your stock market. By the way, Mr. President, I want to help. Yesterday you said you looked at the stock market as no different than a tracking poll that goes up and down.

The administration has decided to elevate Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the 46-47% of Americans who voted against him. Now the administration can decide if they are serious or not. Most likely they will poo poo the offer saying how busy the president is.

When they do the question needs to be asked? Why is he too busy to deal with the leader of the opposition? Why is he afraid of debate? Why is FDR, JFK and Lincoln all rolled into one with a Harvard pedigree unable to compete intellectually with a man who never graduated college? Are the same people who are so anxious to anoint Rush the leader of the opposition convinced that their messiah can’t hold his own against him? Here is the chance to confront the leader of the opposition in front of his audience. A bold leader wouldn’t hesitate.

If he does then we can begin the Obama in hiding countdown.

Update: Hey even the Washington Post believes it is the case as they refer to him as Minority Leader Limbaugh.

Update 2: Ed Driscoll refers to it as an offer the president can’t accept. Lets quote one of his dissenting commentators:

1. Jumbo:

Limbaugh, the drug addicted, thrice divorced sex tourist would get his head handed to him on a plate. Just because you folks walk behind Ruch and marvel at his uninformed drivel does not mean he has anything to say. What he says, he says to YOU; not your country. He targets YOU to spew his lies, and you all lap it up like a junior high sock hop. Limbaugh is your party leader now. You support him, you own him. Mark these words: in ten years time, your children will look to you for an explanation why you would cheerlead for Limbaugh. They will deserve answers, you will offer none. Hang your heads in shame, that’s all you can do.
Mar 4, 2009 – 11:45 am

This being the case Jumbo you will likely contact the administration that suddenly thinks attacking Rush is not productive and urge president Obama to accept this challenge to break the Republican “lies” once and for all. How about it?

Update 3: The Anchoress is impressed:

And he seems utterly, supremely confident. He suggests that if President Obama can debate “without notes or teleprompter” and defeat Limbaugh in the eyes of the audience, (I’m paraphrasing) “you will own America. You will have no opposition standing. Santelli is being silenced, Cramer will be gone soon, though not without a fight. You have the press, you have Hollywood. The only thing standing between you and complete ownership of the United States is me and my little radio show.”

Audacious? It’s audacious as hell. It’s Rush going “all in,” and calling a bluff. He frankly knows he has nothing to lose because Limbaugh understands what so few in America seem to: there has been a coup – a bloodless, painless coup. The new presidency is what, 44 days old, and America may never be the same.

President Obama can’t do it because he is frankly, in my opinion outclassed.

Update 4: The Spectator agrees

With an ineptness that leaves one breathless, the Obama team has now effectively labeled Obama himself as “paralyzed with fear” if in fact the President doesn’t have the guts to accept Limbaugh’s challenge. After all, if they claim that GOP chair Michael Steele and “Republicans” are cowards for not taking on Rush, Obama himself will surely have the guts to do what they claim Steele and Republicans do not: take on Rush Limbaugh one-on-one.

Their conclusion is the world is watching:

Learning nothing from history, the Obama crowd has now set up a breathtakingly stupid proposition: either Obama debates Rush one-on-one or he is, in the words of his own staff, paralyzed with fear. Now there’s a message to send to al Qaeda. The President of the United States has no guts.

Morning Joe has spent the last three days talking about republicans afraid to disagree with Limbaugh, it will be interesting to see how they handle the president’s fear to debate him.

Update 5 Gay Patriot:

It’s almost been amusing these past few days watching the Emanuel/Carville/Begala White House/MSM axis go overboard to potray Rush as the head of the GOP because the talk show host’s unpopularity “with many Americans, especially younger voters.“ Tying him to the GOP will help sink the GOP.

Their strategy may have some short-term success, turning attention from his eloquent criticism of the Administration’s agenda to his middling popularity outside consevative circles. But, over time, people will start wondering about a White House mounting an offense more akin to attacking its adversaries through a series of personal vendettas than to promoting legislative proposals through articulation of its policy goals.

Update 6 In their first hour Morning Joe Pooh Poohed Rush’s challenge but played another clip of Steele on Hannity and Joe said when picking the chairman of the RNC: “Being Black isn’t enough.”. An MSNBC host is saying that concerning the RNC chairman after their coverage of president Obama over the last year. They have lost the capacity for shame.

Quiz time: Which right wing pundit…

Posted: March 4, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
Tags: , ,

…said the following about the president today:

Team Obama sounds hollow, chanting that “the status quo is not acceptable,” even while conceding that the president is accepting the status quo by signing a budget festooned with pork.

National Review has the answer. Here is the actual article.