http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7922236.stm
From behind his desk in the Oval Office, Barack Obama can usually rely on the members of his party to follow his lead.
But the divided nature of the American political system means that the party that does not hold the White House does not have a single figure it can look to for leadership.
This means that the Republicans - who currently hold neither the White House, nor either House of Congress - find themselves without a leader.
A number of high-profile Republicans are attempting to fill this vacuum by promoting their own policy ideas, and the resulting debate about the future direction of the party has been vigorous, verging on rancorous.
Originally posted by mbakuninIm my opinion Rush limbaugh is a fool, who has a very biased ideological agenda, why would any one listen to him is a mystery.
If I was a republican i'd be worried. Seeing Rush Limbaugh being cheered at GPAC was just scary.
The CPAC did have some really strange characters, they had Ann Coulter, Rush, a kid, it looks like they'd have anyone who disagreed with Obama.
Not that I don't disagree with Obama, it just that I thought it was all a waste of time, what did they achieve with the CPAC?
And if you look at examples like, On March 19, 2007 when Limbaugh referred to Barack Obama as a "magic negro," it gives you a clue that he's obviously unbalanced.
Originally posted by generalissimothe same thing struck me. if those are the ideologues they can muster, then the republicans are in deep s#*t.
Im my opinion Rush limbaugh is a fool, who has a very biased ideological agenda, why would any one listen to him is a mystery.
The GPAC did have some really strange characters, they had Ann Coulter, a kid, it looks like they'd have anyone who disagreed with Obama.
Not that I don't disagree with Obama, it just that I thought it was all a waste of time, what did they achieve with the GPAC?
Originally posted by generalissimoI found this from that date in the LA Times.
Im my opinion Rush limbaugh is a fool, who has a very biased ideological agenda, why would any one listen to him is a mystery.
The CPAC did have some really strange characters, they had Ann Coulter, Rush, a kid, it looks like they'd have anyone who disagreed with Obama.
Not that I don't disagree with Obama, it just that I thought it was all a waste ...[text shortened]... red to Barack Obama as a "magic negro," it gives you a clue that he's obviously unbalanced.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story?coll=la-opinion-center
Rush Limbaugh is no fool -- the guy is making a ton of money by appealing to the conservative base that believes that every problem can be solved if only we cut taxes and regulations deeply enough. The free market will create a utopian society if only we let it.
In reality, things are complex - there are no easy answers - no simple formula that will solve everything --- and I'm sure Rush understands this. But he also understands that you don't become a wealthy radio superstar by holding deep wonkish discussions about policy details. He understands that people want those easy answers - that people want scapegoats to blame everything on - that people want an "elite" that they can make fun of.
There are a lot of talk show hosts out there - many of them taking positions similar to Limbaugh's -- but none of them have been nearly as successful as Limbaugh.
Limbaugh is now the de facto "voice of the republican party" and he has politicians groveling at his feet. The pundits can't stop talking about him. He was the Star of the CPAC conference and the media can't stop showing clips of his speech. He's become more important than the economic situation.
The guy is a genius.
Originally posted by MelanerpesHe's not important; he's a laugh line though he'll probably turn into a major scapegoat if and when the Republicans get Landonized in 2012.
Rush Limbaugh is no fool -- the guy is making a ton of money by appealing to the conservative base that believes that every problem can be solved if only we cut taxes and regulations deeply enough. The free market will create a utopian society if only we let it.
In reality, things are complex - there are no easy answers - no simple formula that will so ...[text shortened]... peech. He's become more important than the economic situation.
The guy is a genius.
Originally posted by MelanerpesLimbaugh is no fool but he is certainly no genius. He simply has the common sense to say what the news media wants him to say. If he does that he gets media attention and then more people listen to his show. That is the secret to his success.
Rush Limbaugh is no fool -- the guy is making a ton of money by appealing to the conservative base that believes that every problem can be solved if only we cut taxes and regulations deeply enough. The free market will create a utopian society if only we let it.
In reality, things are complex - there are no easy answers - no simple formula that will so ...[text shortened]... peech. He's become more important than the economic situation.
The guy is a genius.
If he started raving about the national debt and how both parties failed us he would soon become a failure that is ignored by the media. The news media loves to promote partisan bias (divide and conquer) and Limbaugh is a partisan creature. He serves their agenda of making the population fight with each other instead of lashing out at both political parties as they should.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090305/pl_mcclatchy/3182084
Originally posted by MelanerpesWell, I think declaring him the de facto leader of the GOP is an extreme exageration.
Rush Limbaugh is no fool -- the guy is making a ton of money by appealing to the conservative base that believes that every problem can be solved if only we cut taxes and regulations deeply enough. The free market will create a utopian society if only we let it.
In reality, things are complex - there are no easy answers - no simple formula that will so ...[text shortened]... peech. He's become more important than the economic situation.
The guy is a genius.
Originally posted by generalissimowell...it's not like Michael Steele has a legion of followers right now
Well, I think declaring him the de facto leader of the GOP is an extreme exageration.
the main problem for the Republicans is that they've been they've branded themselves as the "No" party --- whatever it is that those "liberals" want, the Republicans are against it. They don't have a lot of ideas beyond - "you've got a problem, we've got a bunch of tax cuts!!" -- except that now under Steele, it's been changed to "you've got a problem, baby, we've got a bunch of really off-the-hook tax cuts - we be da MAN!!"
The Republicans need to look at the issues we currently face -- the economy, education, energy, healthcare, drugs, immigration, deficits etc -- and come up with some well thought out ideas that make economic and logical sense. Surely, there are alternatives to what the Democrats have been proposing -- alternatives that can creatively harnass the energies of the free market and entrepreneurs -- or that won't be as costly or bureaucratic.
And then we can have a real debate between two alternative sets of ideas.
But until this happens, Rush is the de facto leader...