The Party of Rush Limbaugh: Limbaugh, Powell and the State of the GOP

[Better Believe It]

Weekend Edition
May 8-10, 2009

Limbaugh, Powell and the State of the GOP
Party of Rush
By ROBERT FANTINA

That great sage of Republican wisdom and virtue, Rush Limbaugh, has once again weighed in with his mighty opinion. This time it is former Secretary of State Colin Powell who is the target of Mr. Limbaugh’s righteous, right-wing spleen. As members of the ‘unofficial’ Republican Party – those people who were elected by their constituents – strive to drag their party back from the margins into which the Sarah Palins of the world have so ingloriously shoved it, the ‘official’ spokesman – Mr. Limbaugh – suggests that Mr. Powell leave the embrace of its white, conservative arms. “What Colin Powell needs to do is close the loop and become a Democrat instead of claiming to be a Republican interested in reforming the Republican Party,” proclaimed Mr. Limbaugh.

What, one wonders, did Mr. Powell say or do to cause the GOP ‘leader’ to all but fire him from the party? What inflammatory, inappropriate, leftist remark did the former Secretary of State make that caused Mr. Limbaugh to react as he did? Here are the offending words: “The Republican Party is in deep trouble,” said Mr. Powell. Further: “I think what Rush (Limbaugh) does as an entertainer diminishes the Party and intrudes or inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without”.

And to add insult to injury, Mr. Powell referred to Mr. Limbaugh as an entertainer. Surely, a statesman such as Mr. Limbaugh is justified in taking great umbrage at such an affront. When one has a highly rated television program on which one castigates everyone and everything that in any way disagrees with one’s own opinions and statements, is this not statesmanship? It is certainly a stretch to call it entertainment.

For those who look with skepticism at the GOP’s current attempt at reform, they receive no comfort when the party faithful bow and scrap to the likes of Mr. Limbaugh. No amount of reform is going to solve the problem when those in charge cannot stand up to television entertainers, and when Governor Palin’s efforts to position herself as the 2012 standard-bearer are seen as anything more than fodder for Tina Fey. Unless and until those in real leadership roles within the Republican Party are willing to face the realities of twenty-first century America and the world, the GOP will continue to lose both elections and influence.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.counterpunch.org/fantina05082009.html

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Rush really is a boil on their collective (R) butts, isn't he?

If the Republicans hope for a political future, they will have to divorce themselves from the hateful ideology Rush/Hannity/Savage foment.

Who should fire whom?

Rush has his 31%. It's all good (or not).

[opihimoimoi]

2. Powell should teach the GOP something.....he should join the Dems after quiting the GOP

We have the Big Tent

The GOP got no tent...they got a Pizza Parlor

[butterfly77]

3. I would love to see..

a showdown between these two.

[justgamma]

4. Can someone please find

Rush's interview on Meet the Press with Tim Russert? This was years ago. Russert questioned him on some lies he was telling. Limbaugh said " I'm an entertainer. I tell people what they want to hear."

I would dearly love to see that clip played on Countdown. It would be a money clip.

[davidpdx]

5. I'm sure Keith O can come up with it if you email him and ask him to play it

Since he's on NBC, but I can't find it online.

[galaxy21]

6. I have no issues with Limbaugh being the new leader

Considering his huge dissaproval ratings, amongst anyone who is not a crazed right winger.