I think Obama making Rushblo the de facto leader of the Rethuglican party is brilliant

[DainBramaged]

First, within a week, you'll have the real leadership of the Rethuglicans clamoring for face time and NO ONE will bother giving it to them, then they'll be telling Rushblo to shut up or at the very least distancing themselves from him. Secondly, by forcing Rushblo to talk about subjects e has NO EXPERTISE in (Rush Limbaugh is an ENTERTAINER folks) you'll see the Obama team start to discredit him in the media through challenges and debates, which of course, Rushblo will refuse. Thirdly, this puts ALL of Rushblo's anal cysts on display again (Three wives, Oxy addiction, sex trips to the Dominican Republic) some one will ask him.


Put the spotlight on the heckler in the audience and see how fast he sits down and shuts up or is thrown out the door.

[scheming daemons]

1. Exactly!

Obama is defining the GOP before they can reorganize and define themselves.

He's stapling them to Rush's big butt.

[CitizenPatriot]

3. That was a good one! nt

[yowzayowzayowza]

9. Yipperz. n/t

[lunatica]

2. Or put the spotlight on the heckler and let him hang himself

While President Obama moves on he leaves behind a tempest in a Rush's teacup and the Republicans looking like dittoheads. Rush is squeeling like the stuck pig he is tryng to fabricate that President Obama is afraid of him. I've noticed President Obama is busy doing the people's business and appears to be totally unaffected by the Screaming Rush.

Squeeling and squawking and and jumping up and down like the spoiled degenerate dirt mouth he is.

[kiranon]

4. Agree. Republicans are so bankrupt their idea of a think tank is Rush.

Particularly like the Congress person seeking to get back in Rush's good graces. The Republicans have no new ideas only anti ideas. And, now the people know it.

[SidneyCarton]

5. There is something to this.

Limbaugh has been the soul of the GOP for years, but he has often been kept at arms length for politness sake. (after all he has verbal dysenterey like none other) Furthermore this is not 1994, Limbaugh is the guy who insulted Michael J. Fox, had a drug conviction and is notorious for his escapades in the Dominican Republic. He's an anchor to be hung around their necks. Let the paranoid, racist pseudo-facist be identified as the soul of their party, and other than ditto heads, we'll see who backs them.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

6. I don't understand why more people don't see this

The SF Chronicle has a front page story about Obama's "tactical mistake" with Limbaugh. It seems fairly clear to me that Obama knows what he's doing and already understood that as President, it's not common to elevate someone by mentioning their name. Even I knew this, and I'm just an IT guy, so I have no doubt that the President understands these things much better than I but chose to call out Limbaugh by name anyway. To what end then? Well, I think his statement serves to radicalize those elements of the GOP that decide to stick with Rush Limbaugh. In so doing, he's dividing and conquering the GOP, making them decide whether to go with the right-wing whackjob or side with the sane adults.

DainBramaged, I had not thought about the angle with Rush being forced to speak on matters with which he has no expertise whatsoever. He's a noisemaker, and when called upon to actually come up with something beyond a one-dimensional talking point, he'd be sunk. That's a great observation you had.

[Dawgs]

8. Bill Press agrees with the SF Chronicle that it was a bad idea.

Which tells me that Obama is doing the right thing.

[Cha]

14. Bill Press has been ragging on

Obama since the Primaries and I almost expect him to take the wrong stance.

[AspenRose]

18. Exactly!

Can't stand Bill Press x(

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

41. Put simply, Limpy is a blowhard. He's made so many stupid statements, the guy has no cred left...

The perfect guy to set up as the face of the extreme-right Rethuglian Party.

[4lbs]

7. It will also drive out all the moderate conservatives in the GOP that don't like Rush either.

This will fracture the GOP and make it smaller.

[Xolodno]

17. Or...

Finally give them them balls to take back the Republican party....or, they could be waiting to make sure they all hang themselves to the point that not one of them can get elected and the ratings drop like Bush's approval rating and they go off the air.

I seriously doubt they will "spin-off" into another party unless they are sure they can siphon of the conservative democrats as well.

[sandnsea]

10. Now if the Green Party would just grow up

a teensy bit, stand up and take their place as the other major party, we'd be in good shape for years to come.

[AtomicKitten]

11. We should send Rush an OxyContin bouquet with our very best wishes. n/t

[mzmolly]

12. Indeed. And, remember his disgusting display against Michael J. Fox?

Because our President has forced Republicans to admit who they have become, they'll need to embrace Limbaugh's vile hypocrisy, or renounce it.

[chat_noir]

21. Rush's attacks on Michael J. Fox helped McCaskill win Missouri in 2006 -

- stem cell issue on the ballot, for those of you who don't remember


And, maybe they'll ask Rush how well his Operation Chaos worked out. :rofl:

[mzmolly]

24. LOL

Who can forget "Operation Chaos?!" :rofl:

[Adelante]

55. How quickly I forget these things

Operation Chaos - that was a good one, too! :rofl:

[NJmaverick]

13. I agree this was a slick move by Barack

[uponit7771]

15. It's a win win, if GOP doesn't distance themselves from him moderates will distance themselves from

...the GOP if they do distance themselves then they distance themselves from their rabid base.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. The dems finally have someone who learned from Repuke tactics the past 30 years

The Repukes have been fantastic at defining liberals, democrats, progressives, environmentalists, and so forth for the last 30 years, and yet the dems never learned to do it back, and never learned to fight back, either.

Now we have someone who is playing the game on their own level, and he's gonna destroy them with it.

[teddie brusci]

19. and look what the New Boss has learned.

and look what the New Boss has learned. More dead innocents than days in office. 17. Without due process. By remote control.

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. Oh, aren't you just a weepy and more-perfectly-liberal one.

:eyes:

He's a human being, sitting in a human being position of power - he can't pull miracles out of his ass instantly.

Fucking hell.

No, really, you're right - the fact that we aren't all millionaires with no war in an economy that's fueled by perpetual motion machines with no pollution within 9 days of inauguration means he's a goddamn utter failure.

:eyes:

[teddie brusci]

25. the people he killed were human beings too

are u blind? are u mad?

have the last 8 years ment nothing to you?

i'm not being overly idealistic. i'm being coldly pragmatic and factual. its murder. death drones killing via television. piloted from thousands of miles away. bombs in the front doors of homes.

go ahead. feel good about yourself and illusion of power. get off on it. and meet the new boss. just don't get on me for the truth.

[Rabrrrrrr]

29. I'm neither blind nor mad. But I am not willing to dismiss someone for not being perfect.

Which you are doing.

Your post was a total non sequitor, irrelevant to the discussion at hand, and disruptive. While you speak factual truth, you speak it in an intentionally untruthful, accusatory, and obfuscating way by speaking it at a completely irrelevant point. Your attempt to hijack a discussion into your agenda-du-jour is a fail.

Also, if you wish to last here, you might want to learn that your computer has SHIFT keys, a comma key, and that "u" is a letter, not a word.

And then you might want to learn about how and when to appropriately offer important information.

[teddie brusci]

33. settle

they won't let me start my own post, but this issue is on my mind and related to the theme of learning from the former Administration.

Attack me all you want. My point is simple: I will not turn a blind eye to these attacks. You are certainly well within your right to ignore the facts or even to try to justify them. But if that's the case, let me ask you a question: do you then have the right to attack others for having done the same? I would say not.

I'm sure you have a reason for saying you do.

Let that be the difference between us.

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. You're missing the point.

As I stated in my post, I agree that you are making statements of fact - important ones.

The issue here is not whether I agree/disagree with awfulness of the facts you presented.

The issue is that you presented them in a disingenuous, dodging, inelegant way at an inappropriate point of discussion, and that you did so in a way that was much more about making accusation against someone than it was actual empathy with the violence about which you spoke, which was, to wit, to say "you might think Obama is good on point A (going after republicans), but since he has failed on Point B (attacking with drones) he's an utter failure and should be written off entirely".

I'm not asking you to turn a blind eye - I'm asking you to be more judicious in how you engage in dialogue.


And let me end with this: if you actually think that any of my posts to you were offering an argument in favor of or justifying the deaths of innocents, then there is no point continuing this conversation with you because you are clearly incapable of the simple act of reading and comprehending what you read. I have never asserted such a position, certainly not in this thread.

[DainBramaged]

45. I'm blind in one eye, and I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles

oh yeah..........:hi:

[Shakespeare]

31. Are you incapable of typing out entire words, of using correct English?

Apparently so.

And while you're at it, kiss my sweet liberal ass.

[uponit7771]

22. Link and quote? Thx

[teddie brusci]

28. here you go

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jm6RQ2npnzc-TgyVRvZumBr8DVaw



quote in pertinent part:

Death toll hits 21 in 'US strikes' on Pakistan
5 days ago

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (AFP) — Six more bodies were recovered
from the rubble of an Al-Qaeda den hit by a suspected US
missile, pushing the death toll in two separate strikes to 21,
security officials said Saturday.

"Six bodies of local tribesmen were found in the rubble
of the house which was destroyed in a US missile strike on
Friday just outside the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan
district," the official said.

On Friday officials said eight people including five
foreigners -- Pakistani officials use the term
"foreigners" to describe Al-Qaeda militants -- died
in the missile strike at the house of a pro-Taliban tribesman
near Mir Ali.

Hours later another suspected US drone fired two missiles into
a house in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, killing
seven people.

The strikes were the first under new US President Barack Obama
and effectively dashed any hopes that Pakistani officials were
nurturing that the new administration in Washington will halt
such strikes.

[bvar22]

30. I'm going to welcome you to DU...

...though I am suspicious of your motives.
People with low post counts so openly critical usually don't do well here.
You are going to be attacked by the cheer leaders without issues(Centrists).

The point you make is valid, which is why I am responding.
Innocents have been killed while the Democrats are in charge.
If Obama does not act quickly, he will OWN this WAR.

If Obama/Democrats continue/escalate the killing in Afghanistan WITHOUT a clear/specific military objective AND a clear/specific/public exit strategy, then we are doomed to another Quagmire/Occupation that we cannot "WIN".....The only difference will be that this quagmire will have a BIG D (Democratic) label on it.

I am as appalled as you about the Sanitary-Remote Controlled killing devices being employed in this area. That's going to win the Hearts & Minds...NOT.
I don't think it matters to the poor souls on the other end being blown to pieces whether the American made bombs come from a robot, or an F-16, but it matters to me.

It reeks of the scenes from The Terminator where the robots were ranging over a population of insurgents fighting in the rubble....
Makes me root for the insurgents.

Good Luck with your stay here.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[teddie brusci]

34. many thanks

what bothers me as much as anything is that this is on Pakastani soil. An independant, democratic nation. But its not Afganistan. Its an independant country with jelosly guarded boarders -- ask India. and an ally of this country.

and no explaination at all. just death. in their homes.


explain to me how this is change we can believe in. that's my issue. i will not countenance it. i won't ignore it. i see folks here will.

[bvar22]

36. "Some" folks here will tolerate and applaude it.

There are many of us who will not.
DU used to be much more Liberal. We have had an influx of Conservative "Centrists" over the last couple of years. They don't seem too concerned about "ISSUES" and "Policy", but are much more oriented toward Following the Bell Cow no matter how much Liberal Policy the Democratic Party abandons .

"Its BAD when Republicans do it,
but its OK when our guys do it."
All the spinning makes me dizzy.
I've always stood on ISSUES.

I am a tireless advocate for PEACE.
I am a tireless advocate for Civil Rights and Equal Protections for ALL....no exceptions.
I am a tireless advocate for Rule of Law, no exceptions for the Elite Class.
I am a tireless advocate for The Constitution.
I am a tireless advocate for The Poor and the Disenfranchised.
I am a tireless advocate for Working Americans.
I am a tireless opponent of the MIC.
I am a tireless opponent to the concentration of Wealth & Power into fewer hands.
I am a tireless opponent to Corporate/Republican Influence INSIDE the Democratic Party.

I was all those things BEFORE Bush.
I will BE those things AFTER Obama.
When we move TOWARD those goals, I will support and applaud.
When we move AWAY from those goals, I will strongly OPPOSE.

I strongly OPPOSE any continued Occupation or Escalation of our military involvement in the Middle East, even if The Democrats vote FOR it.
I strongly OPPOSE any increase in the "Defense" Budget, even if The Democrats vote FOR it.
I strongly OPPOSE any expansion of our Military, even if he Democrats vote FOR it.
I strongly support Single Payer HealthCare,
and strongly OPPOSE any Mandatory Private Health Insurance Scams.(RomneyCare)

There are others here who are willing to STAND on the Issues.

All that being said, I AM a STRONG DEMOCRAT, and an OBama supporter.
NOW is the time to make our voices heard.


"Centrism"...because it is so EASY!
You don't have TO STAND for ANYTHING, and get to insult those who do! :)

[Iggo]

56. Welcome to DU.

Enjoy your stay.

:hi:

[mitchum]

32. You're not fooling anyone

[PretzelWarrior]

50. WTF? Blame the asshole Bush. This is his war.

you need to catch a fucking clue.

[intaglio]

53. Enjoy your Pizza n/t

[ClarkUSA]

23. Good points. Also, it will cause moderate Republicans to be even more disgusted with the GOP...

...which is good news for the 2010 elections if the Republicans continue to be Limbaugh-led obstructionists.

[ismnotwasm]

26. Sure is

And the best part, it's true.

[leftstreet]

27. Wrong. It legitimizes him.

It may surprise many to know that lots of voters out there don't pay attention to entertainers like Limbaugh.

[DainBramaged]

37. If it legitimizes him to them, they must be dumber than stumps.

[Forkboy]

38. I don't think it does in the way Obama has gone about this.

If he had just gone after Rush for being stupid I wouldn't have liked it, and I would have agreed with you. However, Obama has tied Rush into a much larger context than just Rush himself. He's put one of the ugliest people out there as the face of the Republican Party, and that forces them to either align themselves with Rush, which hurts them, or disavow Rush, which helps us.

Obama has set up a win win here, something we Dems haven't been very good at doing. Yes, for a small group of people this will make Rush even more viable, but those are the very people that will be marginalized in the process Obama seems to be setting up.

I could be giving Obama more credit than he deserves. Maybe he never even thought about it like this, but either way it's good for us.

[chieftain]

39. Agreed. I love the fact that with one sentence, Obama has

painted the GOP as a captive of Limbaugh and driven a wedge between the Ditto-Head Caucus and those Republicans who may have enough sense or survival skills to know that a party limited to the fringe right is not a good label to wear.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. The genius of Obama is only beginning to be recognized. The guy grew up . . .

in the rough and tumble world of Chicago politics. He can certainly handle a fat, whiney druggie like Limpballs.

[geiger]

49. I think there is still a bit of under-estimating going on.

Plus, Obama seems to be able to learn from misteps and history.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. No question. But his political background has certainly helped (as well as his high IQ).

[geiger]

54. Yes. Which has been under-estimated.

I know about his intelligence and educational background, and the opposition can continue to under-estimate him for all I care. The machinery they have put in place to discredit Obama has probably been their own un-doing, like when movie stars and politicians starting believing their own publicity. The R's have actually forgotten what they have put out there are lis. The Obama team has stayed on top of the bullshit and responded, not perfectly every time, but they have indeed gone after the lies.

What I love most so far is witnessing Obama's almost childlike exuberance in office. To that effect, he has also been well protected as well. He's got the Dream Team with him.

[struggle4progress]

42. Did you note the Gilgrey affair? Gilgrey tried to distance the Rs from hate-radio and

got slapped down good by Wackoville: he's now out riding the circuit to play kissy-face with the hate-hosts

[Ilsa]

43. It is smart. Rushbo hasn't lived a "moral enough" life to satisfy the

rightwingers in the GOP. Rush can't win in this new position.

[ErinBerin84]

44. I think it's fine.

Honestly, I don't buy the "it legitimizes/gives Rush more publicity" point.....the MSM (at least, MSNBC) talks about Rush literally ALL OF THE TIME. I guarantee that they would still talk about his pseudo "economic plan" even if Obama had not mentioned him this week. It makes it seem to me like Repubs (politicians) are more afraid of Rush. I agree with Norah O Donnel that the "Obama made a HUGE MISTAKE!" with this is dumb...I'm not sensing a Newt revolution anytime soon (could be wrong, but I just don't).

[Peacetrain]

46. Me too....

[geiger]

47. Yep, Rush has been claiming to be "carrying the R's water" for a long time now anyway.

You've got the other R out there, though, too, writing revisionist history. Neither one of these punks has any compunction about lying.

And aren't former House Leader Tom Delay and Ken Blackwell (failed OH SOS and candidate for Governor) organizing some new "think" tank to saturate the airwaves with more R lies.

I'll take any strategy, even if it's just a trial balloon, to fight the lies. Instead of "Top Ten Reppublican Idiots," maybe DU should start putting out a new list "Top Ten Best Democratic Moves." And Obama is right; politics and government are, indeed, inextricably entwined. It's always been that way, and there's nothing inherently wrong with it. The R's always want to call foul when the D's do it, but consistently employ any tactic or strategy they think will help them get power. They justify it in the name of "doing good" and "fighting evil," so they are blind to the evilness in their repetitively greedy, manipulative and dishonest stunts.

[mucifer]

48. It's great for rush's ratings.

I don't know why President Obama wants to help rush's ratings.

[DainBramaged]

51. He's not helping his ratings.........

got proof? Overnights? Last Nielsen I read, his share had dropped to about 11 million people TOTAL a day in all markets at all times. In the grand scheme of things, that's a pretty small number.