Rush: Is It Really a Two-Man Race?

[Rawhide]

Rush:

We've already gone the centrist route. The Republican establishment tries that every cycle. They try to give us a Bob Dole, God bless him, I know him, he's a nice guy, but McCain, same thing. Nothing's changed. The Republican establishment, which is now trying to deny that they exist, by the way. There is no Republican establishment. This is a little Inside Baseball. They're trying to co-opt the word conservative. The Republican establishment wants you to think that they are conservatism today, and of course they're not. The reason these people tout Romney and they follow it up, "Yeah, Romney can win." Why? "Well, you know, centrist, he's not extreme and this sort of thing." And I'm telling you, folks, those are the people that have the greatest likelihood of losing.

I'm telling you, this country does not want from the Republican Party a centrist or a moderate or anybody that is looked upon favorably by that group of people. This is a time and a place that calls for unabashed, unapologetic conservatism. And if such a candidate wins the nomination, this candidate could win the general election in a landslide. The Tea Party is portrayed by both the Republican and Democrat establishments in Washington as kind of fringe right wing. If you wanted to say that there is a centrist position in American politics today, and by that I mean a majority position, the Tea Party is it. Tea Party conservatism is the majority position in America in terms of reflecting not only the way people live their lives, but the way they think.

Official Transcript

 

[haymarket]

Keep on preaching Rush and pass that Kool-aid down the line to your fellow true believers. Shore up their resolve to nominate a right wing whacko and let us all laugh in your fat face while the repeat of Goldwater in 64 is visited upon the land and it forces you back to the loving arms of your willing mistress oxycontin.

 

[rocket88]

HOw do you know when Rush Limbaugh has no idea what he's talking about? Right here:

The Tea Party is portrayed by both the Republican and Democrat establishments in Washington as kind of fringe right wing. If you wanted to say that there is a centrist position in American politics today, and by that I mean a majority position, the Tea Party is it. Tea Party conservatism is the majority position in America in terms of reflecting not only the way people live their lives, but the way they think.

a) The Republican party establishment LOVES the Tea Party. Because the Tea Party can say anything, and the GOP doesn't have to take any responsibility for it. Birtherism for example. They could just let the Tea Party say this ****, and they didn't have to. The fact that Rush is ringing their bell right now just proves it.

b) That the Tea Party represents a majority, or anything resembling centrism, is simply wishful thinking.

Poll: Americans cooling on tea party - Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com

Unless 32% now constitutes a majority...

 

[haymarket]

Unless 32% now constitutes a majority...

In 1932 Hitler took power after finishing second with 36% of the vote. A loud, vocal, hell bent minority does not need a majority if they have explosives strapped to them and will gladly use it to kill the rest of us if they do not get their way. The recent debt ceiling debate in congress showed us that.

 

[cpwill]

Keep on preaching Rush and pass that Kool-aid down the line to your fellow true believers. Shore up their resolve to nominate a right wing whacko and let us all laugh in your fat face while the repeat of Goldwater in 64 is visited upon the land and it forces you back to the loving arms of your willing mistress oxycontin.

yeah. maybe it will go as badly as when we nominated that radical right wing idiot actor, back in 1980 the electorate has changed and moved significantly to the right since '64. one of the silver linings of leftism is that it is ultimately self-defeating .






as for the race - Sept 1 is a hard deadline; after that, you can't get into the primary in alot of states. at that point, my worry becomes a Romney win sparks a third-party-candidate.

 

[cpwill]

In 1932 Hitler took power after finishing second with 36% of the vote. A loud, vocal, hell bent minority does not need a majority if they have explosives strapped to them and will gladly use it to kill the rest of us if they do not get their way. The recent debt ceiling debate in congress showed us that.

wow. that's pretty strong language to use about Democrats refusal to accept any deal that didn't include tax hikes. gosh I hope nobody goes out today and assassinates one of them - you'd have to turn yourself in for contributing to the "atmosphere of anger" or whatever that crap is.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

There is so much wrong here I am not sure where to begin...

 

[haymarket]

I certainly hope you are right about a third party candidate.

Has the nation swung right? In Nov of 08 we swung to the left electing a man who was called by some the most liberal senator in congress. Then just 24 months later back to the right - in some cases the far right. What we are seeing is that the pendulum is swinging faster and farther than it ever did before in modern US history. Where it will be 14 months from now is anybody guess. I think its pretty obvious that a populist fever is taking over much of the land but it remains to be seen who can harness that populism and if it will fall to the left or to the right.

 

[haymarket]

wow. that's pretty strong language to use about Democrats refusal to accept any deal that didn't include tax hikes. gosh I hope nobody goes out today and assassinates one of them - you'd have to turn yourself in for contributing to the "atmosphere of anger" or whatever that crap is.

No. I stand behind every word. The strapped to the teeth outsider nut who is willing to die and destroy always has an advantage in blackmailing the defender of the house and its inhabitants who wants to preserve it at all costs.

 

[What if...?]

yeah. maybe it will go as badly as when we nominated that radical right wing idiot actor, back in 1980 the electorate has changed and moved significantly to the right since '64. one of the silver linings of leftism is that it is ultimately self-defeating .






as for the race - Sept 1 is a hard deadline; after that, you can't get into the primary in alot of states. at that point, my worry becomes a Romney win sparks a third-party-candidate.

1980, isn't that when the economic trajectories of 80% of americans stalled while rocketing ahead for 20%?

That's about the year the "Beaver Cleaver" version of the American dream died, isn't it.

There WAS a fundamental change at that time that tracks straight to where we are today.

SOMETHING abruptly changed right sround that time.

Every graph I see here indicates this. Or begins or ends about this period so doesn't include it.

The founding of many of the most notorious think tanks date from this time or that just before.

Anybody else notice the sharp demarcation around this time of a surprising number of trends and traditions?

And wasn't Reagan the "New Way" for the Republicans, claming it would be a turning point for the nation? Lauded by many on the right as a turning point?

Well as a member of the lower 80% of income earners/wealth owners, I want to go back to before Reagan and see what happens without him and the whole trickle down experiment.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

1980, isn't that when the economic trajectories of 80% of americans stalled while rocketing ahead for 20%?

That's about the year the "Beaver Cleaver" version of the American dream died, isn't it.

There WAS a fundamental change at that time that tracks straight to where we are today.

SOMETHING abruptly changed right sround that time.

Every graph I see here indicates this. Or begins or ends about this period so doesn't include it.

The founding of many of the most notorious think tanks date from this time or that just before.

Anybody else notice the sharp demarcation around this time of a surprising number of trends and traditions?

And wasn't Reagan the "New Way" for the Republicans, claming it would be a turning point for the nation? Lauded by many on the right as a turning point?

Well as a member of the lower 80% of income earners/wealth owners, I want to go back to before Reagan and see what happens without him and the whole trickle down experiment.

Wouldn't we all...

 

[Born Free]

1980, isn't that when the economic trajectories of 80% of americans stalled while rocketing ahead for 20%?

That's about the year the "Beaver Cleaver" version of the American dream died, isn't it.

There WAS a fundamental change at that time that tracks straight to where we are today.

SOMETHING abruptly changed right sround that time.

Every graph I see here indicates this. Or begins or ends about this period so doesn't include it.

The founding of many of the most notorious think tanks date from this time or that just before.

Anybody else notice the sharp demarcation around this time of a surprising number of trends and traditions?

And wasn't Reagan the "New Way" for the Republicans, claming it would be a turning point for the nation? Lauded by many on the right as a turning point?

Well as a member of the lower 80% of income earners/wealth owners, I want to go back to before Reagan and see what happens without him and the whole trickle down experiment.

You're seeing it now, how do you like that "changey thing?"

 

[cpwill]

1980, isn't that when the economic trajectories of 80% of americans stalled while rocketing ahead for 20%?

That's about the year the "Beaver Cleaver" version of the American dream died, isn't it.

There WAS a fundamental change at that time that tracks straight to where we are today.

SOMETHING abruptly changed right sround that time.

Every graph I see here indicates this. Or begins or ends about this period so doesn't include it.

The founding of many of the most notorious think tanks date from this time or that just before.

Anybody else notice the sharp demarcation around this time of a surprising number of trends and traditions?

And wasn't Reagan the "New Way" for the Republicans, claming it would be a turning point for the nation? Lauded by many on the right as a turning point?

Well as a member of the lower 80% of income earners/wealth owners, I want to go back to before Reagan and see what happens without him and the whole trickle down experiment.

you don't have to go back in time and change a thing. See: Western Europe, economic history of.

 

[cpwill]

I certainly hope you are right about a third party candidate.

Has the nation swung right? In Nov of 08 we swung to the left electing a man who was called by some the most liberal senator in congress. Then just 24 months later back to the right - in some cases the far right. What we are seeing is that the pendulum is swinging faster and farther than it ever did before in modern US history. Where it will be 14 months frome now is anybody guess. I think its pretty obvious that a populist fever is taking over much of the land but it remains to be seen who can harness that populism and if it will fall to the left or to the right.

The right has a strong advantage in this: conservatives heavily outnumber liberals in this country. In addition, the left is currently tied to a failed administration. In addition, the 2006/2008 elections weren't so much about the country sweeping left, but about a rejection of the Bush administration. That's why Democrats were so surprised about the strength and the continuity of the opposition to Obamacare, the Stimulus, etc; they thought they had a mandate to take the country left, but they really only had a mandate to Not Be Bush.

BUT, Republicans are going to have to run in 2012 on a full-throated defense of entitlement reform. We shall see if Democrats are able to flip that against them.

 

[lpast]

The right has a strong advantage in this: conservatives heavily outnumber liberals in this country. In addition, the left is currently tied to a failed administration. In addition, the 2006/2008 elections weren't so much about the country sweeping left, but about a rejection of the Bush administration. That's why Democrats were so surprised about the strength and the continuity of the opposition to Obamacare, the Stimulus, etc; they thought they had a mandate to take the country left, but they really only had a mandate to Not Be Bush.

BUT, Republicans are going to have to run in 2012 on a full-throated defense of entitlement reform. We shall see if Democrats are able to flip that against them.

I have to disagree that the right outnumber the left in this country....The right is losing ground and they know it...they are losing numbers from the religious right, their numbers are diminishing and abortion isnt the hot button issue for the GOP that it once was. On many core issues that the republicans NEED and MUST HAVE to pull middleclass and independent votes they so much need to win any election..are just not there with a passion anymore.
CP...Ive seen it happen so many times during Presidential elections...the electorate doesnt snap to it till AFTER primaries..until its down to two and thats when the teaparty and their far right stances and their lets take from the middle and working class and give to the rich is going HURT the gop...not help in the general election....Obama will have so much ammo to pump up the middle class if he knows how to use it....he can use what all the Teaparty elected govs have done...take from the working class and either gave or tried to give to the richest americans....he can hammer them on thier passion to take away entitlements and give tax cuts to the richest and the corporations....this isnt going to be any pushover for the GOP nominee and the real deal hasnt even begun yet....lets not forget latino's...they are almost ALL working class...

 

[Cameron]

The right has a strong advantage in this: conservatives heavily outnumber liberals in this country. In addition, the left is currently tied to a failed administration. In addition, the 2006/2008 elections weren't so much about the country sweeping left, but about a rejection of the Bush administration. That's why Democrats were so surprised about the strength and the continuity of the opposition to Obamacare, the Stimulus, etc; they thought they had a mandate to take the country left, but they really only had a mandate to Not Be Bush.

BUT, Republicans are going to have to run in 2012 on a full-throated defense of entitlement reform. We shall see if Democrats are able to flip that against them.

I don't think this country is as conservative as people think it is. I think this country is largely moderate-left. Because of that, conservatives feel like their beliefs are under attack and thus are the most passionate, loud, and likely to vote. When they are in power, we see the backlash like in 2008 as the country finally rises up from its apathy to say, no this is not our consensus. But then the majority gets complacent or disillusioned and things like 2010 happen. But the current 19% approval rating of the Republican party to me demonstrates that the American public as a whole is far from being a rightish unit. Conservatives are playing with fire when they pander to groups like the Tea Party, because they are risking waking the sleeping giant that is centrist and left voting apathy.

 

[Karl]

The right has a strong advantage in this: conservatives heavily outnumber liberals in this country. [...]

Survey says . . . .

[1-22-2004] [...] based on figures from 30 states compiled by Ballot Access News of San Francisco and extrapolations to others:

An estimated 201.5 million U.S. citizens age 18 or over will be eligible to vote Nov. 2, [2004,] although many are not now registered.

Of these, about 55 million are registered Republicans. About 72 million registered Democrats.

About 42 million are registered as independents, under some other minor party or with a "No Party" designation.

USATODAY.com - Why politics is fun from catbirds' seats

As of 2010, Gallup polling found that 31% of Americans identified as Democrats, 29% as Republicans, and 38% as independents.[12]
A Pew Research Center survey of registered voters released August 2010 stated that 47% identified as Democrats or leaned towards the party, in comparison to 43% of Republicans.[13]

Democratic Party (United States) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And another right wing talking point bites the dust :mrgreen:

 

[Karl]

[...] BUT, Republicans are going to have to run in 2012 on a full-throated defense of entitlement reform.

Talking point translation -- Entitlement reform: the privatization Social Security and Medicare, with the elimination of federal Medicare (dumping it on the states as an unfunded mandate).

The neo-GOP thinks this is a winning election strategy:lamo

 

[cpwill]

I have to disagree that the right outnumber the left in this country....

Gallup begs to disagree:

U.S. Political Ideology Stable With Conservatives Leading

The right is losing ground and they know it...they are losing numbers from the religious right

78% of Americans Identify as Christians

On Darwins' Birthday, only 4 in 10 believe in Evolution

their numbers are diminishing and abortion isnt the hot button issue for the GOP that it once was.

partly because, since the 90's, we've been gaining ground on precisely that issue:

Gallup: majority of Americans support new pro-life laws

...Seventy-one (71) percent favor laws requiring minors under 18 to get parental consent before having an abortion, while 27 percent say they are opposed.

Americans also favor 24-hour waiting period laws, 69 - 28 percent.

Another 64 percent also support laws banning “partial birth abortion” in the last six months of pregnancy, except to save the mother’s life. Just 31 oppose such laws.

Half of those polled (50 percent) said they support laws requiring women to be shown an ultrasound of their unborn child at least 24 hours before an abortion....

however, you are correct to note that abortion will not be a central issue in 2012 (and isn't Obama lucky that it isn't) - like 2008, the economy will be.

On many core issues that the republicans NEED and MUST HAVE to pull middleclass and independent votes they so much need to win any election..

Obama's Job Approval is currently sitting at 39%. 65% disapprove of his handling of economic issues (which we agree with be central). Among those Independents, only 38% think he deserves to be reelected. Not that that means that they will vote for him, mind you - only 28% of Independents "definitely" plan to vote for Obama, whereas 53% "definitely" plan to vote against him.

CP...Ive seen it happen so many times during Presidential elections...the electorate doesnt snap to it till AFTER primaries..until its down to two and thats when the teaparty and their far right stances and their lets take from the middle and working class and give to the rich is going HURT the gop...not help in the general election....Obama will have so much ammo to pump up the middle class if he knows how to use it....he can use what all the Teaparty elected govs have done...take from the working class and either gave or tried to give to the richest americans....he can hammer them on thier passion to take away entitlements and give tax cuts to the richest and the corporations....this isnt going to be any pushover for the GOP nominee and the real deal hasnt even begun yet....lets not forget latino's...they are almost ALL working class...

I realize you're a public sector union guy, and so you kind of have to believe this sort of thing - but it didn't work in Wisconsin, it won't work now. The class warfare stuff just doesn't do it for Americans like it does it for Europeans; sorry (well, I'm not, but you know what I mean)... but that's all Democrats are going to have this go - around. They can't run on their record, and they can't run on their ideas. Hell, some of them are even trying to accuse Herman Cain of racism now. Obama is in deep, deep trouble.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

78% of Americans Identify as Christians

On Darwins' Birthday, only 4 in 10 believe in Evolution

Well that's just cause average Americans are ignorant and, typically, stupid.

 

[cpwill]

Well that's just cause average Americans are ignorant and, typically, stupid.

well, gosh, i wonder if our failed public education system has anything to do with that?

 

[cpwill]

Is that going to be the line in 2013, though? in 2010 voters were "angry", which explained their irrational rejection of the Democratic Party, etc. In 2013, will they be "ignorant and stupid"? I kind of figured it would be hard for the knee-jerkers not to just slide into the sale ole "racist".

 

[cpwill]

Survey says . . . .


And another right wing talking point bites the dust :mrgreen:

:doh

looks like someone doesn't know the difference between "conservative" and "registered Republican voter"

 

[zgoldsmith23]

well, gosh, i wonder if our failed public education system has anything to do with that?

Well, teaching Intelligent Design along side Evolution in schools is a joke.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

Well, teaching Intelligent Design along side Evolution in schools is a joke.

But, that is for another thread. Sorry about that.