AP Photo/Ron Edmonds
Just in case you haven’t heard, Rush Limbaugh is now calling the shots in the Republican Party. It seems that you can’t criticize Rush if you are a Republican, especially if you are in the House of Representatives. Here is an excerpt from Congressman Phil Gingrey’s “apology” to Rush, on Rush’s radio show, for having dared to criticize him. (Select the link to view a video of Rush speaking with Gingrey.)
Rush, thank you so much. I thank you for the opportunity, of course this is not exactly the way to I wanted to come on. … Mainly, I want to express to you and all your listeners my very sincere regret for those comments I made yesterday to Politico. … I clearly ended up putting my foot in my mouth on some of those comments. … I regret those stupid comments. Huffington Post, January 28, 2009.
And who does Rush want to see as the Republican standard bearer? Sarah Palin, of course. And he is not alone.
Coming off a shellacking at the polls in November, the plurality of GOP voters (43%) say their party has been too moderate over the past eight years, and 55% think it should become more like Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in the future, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 24% think failed presidential candidate John McCain is the best future model for the party, and 10% are undecided. Rasumssen Reports, January, 29, 2009.
Now there are many sound arguments for not taking Palin seriously. But let’s not bother with arguments here. Let’s just follow the video
Let me show you something…
A thanks to the (anonymous) person who did this video.
….
UPDATE 3/2/2009 Rush has really got them on a leash. A GOP senator can’t even say the words, Rush is wrong.
UP@NIGHT 
Whenever I see something like this it makes me want to find out more about Palin. It her critics think she’s so dangerous that she must be constantly parodied then there’s something we really need to take a look at.
As I recall, the media portrayed Reagan as a “kook” too. Some kook.
By the way, if you haven’t read Reagan’s diaries you should. They are amazing. All the stuff his critics never wanted you to know.
I am not suggesting Palin is a figure of Reagan’s stature — far from it. I don’t know who she is. But the Dems are afraid of her, that much is certain. So they want all the world to think that Sarah Palin is Tina Fey.
Sometimes there are folks who are worth parodying because they are truly in over their heads. Sometimes there are people worth parodying because they are genuinely bad news. And sometimes we parody to make sure that people take a look if they haven’t taken a hard enough look.
In Palin’s case, I believe that all of the above hold.
And sometimes parody is used merely to avoid dealing with the truth — the truth being a subtle thing that takes time and faith to find. Certainly in the case our fellow human beings, we should be willing to learn who people really are and favor kindness over slander. Cheers.
With all my heart, I wish the Republicans will pick Palin as their standard bearer in 2012. I don’t call that being “afraid of her.”
The great thing is that this parody, and all the rest that are to come, won’t stop the Republicans from stepping off the cliff with her. It may even goad them further.
Maybe we’re all wrong about Palin. But that flies in the face of everything that happened during the months of the campaign AND everything since.
I very much doubt that Palin will be the candidate.
Original Star Trek was a placed 1960’s can-do Americanism into 23rd Century format. This was key to its success.
Is Obama closer to this format, or is his policy more akin to the Borg?
Is Rush closer to the ideals behind Star Trek, the answer is quite obvious. Star Trek: Individualism, morality, freedom, personal responsibility, all characteristics of conservatism.
Today’s liberalism: Collectivism, control of information (fairness doctrine, localism, wanting to shut up those who do not agree). A quasi case of taxation without representation where one sector of society mostly made up of hard workers and small businesses pay 70% of all income tax are outvoted by a large block of voters who pay little or none. Gene wrote several articles that showed he was aware of tyranny works both ways, from above in the form of a despotic dictator, or from below from an ignorant electorate, filled with politics of envy (Obama) aware of their ability to vote themselves benefits from others.
Bravo, Pat. Very logical analysis. ANF
Pat, what world do you live in?
Let’s examine Rush’s
Morality: been married 3 times, admitted drug abuser
Personal responsibility: When confronted with his using fake prescriptions and buying illicit drugs, he wormed his way out of prison. He didn’t believe he should pay the same price he had demanded of other drug-users on his own show.
Freedom: He would take away your freedom as long as it meant he could have his. He cares nothing for anyone except his own over-large hide.
Now- collectivism: who is afraid to speak out against the great & powerful Rush?
Control of Info: which party is the party of unending dogma, that they must speak with one voice (hint, just say no) Besides Liberals could care less about “the Fairness Doctrine”
And before you start spouting “facts” please get an idea about what you’re talking about. Yes probably 80% of all income tax is paid by hard workers and small business. But what you fail to mention is that the people who make up 1% of the population receive 40% of income but only pay 10% of tax. If we go for corporations, they only pay about 7% of tax in this country even though they get a much larger share of income.
oh and I forgot
Rush’s excuse for getting out of the draft in VietNam:
(kids turn your eyes)
anal cyst
So let’s get real dude and have an honest discussion about the real poop-hole this country is in.
I’m sorry but facts have a liberal bias.
joebloe,
do the words ad hominem mean anything to you? Oh, and I wouldn’t be too confident regarding your definition of a “fact” either.
ANF