Rush Limbaugh - The GOP Hides Behind Him Because He Is Unelected and Unaccountable

[Median Democrat]

The GOP has this weird co-dependent relationship with him where he connects better to the Republican base then elected officials who are actually accountable to the people. Rush can do drugs, make racist and sexist remarks, and make statements that border upon treasonous, yet he gets to hide behind the fact that he is a mere talkshow host.

The Democrats have no media personality who is the equlivalent of Rush, and that's a good thing. Instead, the folks who actually have a lot of influence over the Democratic Party, like the President, Pelosi, or Reid, are elected. If you don't like them, you don't have to vote for them or support them.

The problem with the GOP and Rush is that Rush allows the GOP to avoid accountability because he gives voice to their base policies and goals, but allows the Republican leadership some plausible deniability as he engages in such talk. Rush is the Nixonian Southern Strategy incarnate without the necessity of actually running for office. Thus, he is unaccountable.

Rush Limbaugh wants to debate Obama. Fine. Run for elected office first. Of course, Rush would never run for office, because he is scared of actually being accountable, and having to deal with real people with real issues. Instead, he would rather live in this right wing fantasy land where Bush's policies are a success, and the recession began during Obama's Presidency, not back in December 2007.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Unelected and unelectable.

[Median Democrat]

9. Delete

*

[whosinpower]

2. Agreed

His rantings deflect accountability for the GOP - accountability of trillions of dollars wasted for wars that were unnecessary.....accountability for the recession/depression/collapse.

And that is why the GOP loves him so.

[Mz Pip]

3. That would be so funny

if Obama suggested to Rush that he should run for president and win the GOP primary if he wants the opportunity to debate Obama.

Rush isn't important enough for Obama to waste his time over. Presidents don't debate entertainers. Obama takes his job seriously and doesn't need to stoop to Rush's level.

[opihimoimoi]

4. He is not part of the SOLUTION....he is an Obstructionist and a Blowhard

We need Solutions....not partisan sniping....

[maxsolomon]

5. he couldn't take the stress of running for office

his heart would give out.

[NC_Nurse]

6. What heart?

[maxsolomon]

11. the artificial one that leo strauss & rupert murdock bought

it runs on the tears of dominican child prostitutes.

[lame54]

7. The sun can hide behind him

[salguine]

8. Also 'cause you could hide anything behind him.

[cherish44]

10. Bottom line is the desperate GOP is looking for a repeat of '94

And I'm sure it's just a matter of time before they cook up some BS impeachable charges against Obama. Maybe they're determined to get it right this time who knows since their attempt to take down Clinton failed.

[struggle4progress]

12. Somewhere around 1980, the GOP decided that they needed to be represented by

an empty suit who would spout garbage to distract attention from everything else the party wanted to do. Thus, we got Reagan, who kept the left fuming loudly but pointlessly about "We start bombing in five minutes" and other such distractions. Twenty years later, they came up with Bush II, who kept the left fuming loudly but pointlessly about his complete inability to utter a coherent sentence and similar distractions. Of course they're supporting Rush: he's another distraction.

[Liberal Gramma]

13. He represents a large constituency

the stupid wing of the Republican party.

[Median Democrat]

15. Think of Dr. Jeckle (GOP Moderates) and Mr. Hyde (Rush Limbaugh)

For folks who have read the story of the Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde, consider this parallel to the modern day Republican party. First, here is a short synopsis of the story:

/snip

The second letter constitutes a testament by Jekyll. It explains how Jekyll, seeking to separate his good side from his darker impulses, discovered a way to transform himself periodically into a deformed monster free of conscience—Mr. Hyde. At first, Jekyll reports, he delighted in becoming Hyde and rejoiced in the moral freedom that the creature possessed. Eventually, however, he found that he was turning into Hyde involuntarily in his sleep, even without taking the potion. At this point, Jekyll resolved to cease becoming Hyde. One night, however, the urge gripped him too strongly, and after the transformation he immediately rushed out and violently killed Sir Danvers Carew. Horrified, Jekyll tried more adamantly to stop the transformations, and for a time he proved successful; one day, however, while sitting in a park, he suddenly turned into Hyde, the first time that an involuntary metamorphosis had happened while he was awake

/snip

Rush Limbaugh Is Mr. Hyde and GOP Moderates Are Dr. Jeckle. We are now at the point where the metamorphosis is irreversible, and the GOP can no longer distance itself from Rush Limbaugh.

Originally, Rush Limbaugh would spew hate, and the GOP rejoiced in the moral freedom that the creature possessed. Rush helped the GOP mobilize right wing extremists and young college brown shirts. The GOP benefited from this activism, but did not get the moral blame for Rush's racist and sexist rantings. The GOP got to remain the respectable Dr. Jeckle. The problem is that the GOP has now become Rush. They are now co-dependent, and the GOP is a captive of the extremists such that any "moderates" are forced to kowtow to idealogues like Limbaugh. Worse, since Rush does not have to run for election, he never has to be held accountable for his lies. He continues to revel in his lack of morality like Mr. Hyde.

[bdamomma]

14. repigs= cowards.

[old mark]

16. Also, if things really get worse for them, they can blame it all on

the Rushster and just moved on - he doesen't seem to understand that the GOPs are using him as much as he is using them.....


mark

[Median Democrat]

17. They Can't Do That Unless They Want To Move To The Center

Rush Limbaugh could be used by the GOP has an extreme right wing version of Sista Soulja. I agree that the GOP could make a move to the center by distancing itself from Rush Limbaugh. However, at this time, Limbaugh is the most credible voice to the GOP's lunatic constituency that still believes in trickle down economics. It is a tremendous risk to denounce Rush in an effort to appeal to the middle.

[old mark]

18. Just wait - it ain't hardly started yet. nt