Reaction Rush, with Hannity the Big Loser
01 March 2009 8:00 pm by Taylor Marsh
–updated below–
edited version cross-posted at Huffington Post
I moved to the D.C. area just in time to cover CPAC. Saturday didn’t disappoint, in that watching the circus go by sort of way. A lot of people had the same impression.
Let’s start off with Rahm Emanuel, who reminded the Sunday audience that Rush is the Republican Party. Just ask the ones in Congress who have to pay respect or lose their power.
But it was Republican Mike Murphy on “Meet the Press” who put the deepest dagger into the dittohead crowd. Suffice it to say Mr. Murphy shouldn’t be looking for his CPAC invite any time soon:
MR. MURPHY: All these guys. It’s the nature of it. And they’re going to, they’re going to go out and–and it’s all right, it’s a constructive discussion. But in the–at the end of the day here’s the one statistic we all got to remember: the country’s changing. Ronald Reagan won in 1980 with 51 percent of the vote. We all worship Ronald Reagan. But if that election had been held with the current demographics of America today, Ronald Reagan would’ve gotten 47 percent of the vote. The math is changing. Anglo vote’s 74 percent now, not 89. And if we don’t modernize conservatism, we’re going to have a party of 25 percent of the vote going to Limbaugh rallies, enjoying every, every applause line, ripping the furniture up. We’re going to be in permanent minority status.
From the looks of CPAC yesterday, conservatives seem happy to head in that direction.
I got to CPAC in time for Ann Coulter (full video here) who delivered a performance of one liners with little in between. That’s not my review, but what I heard around me: “No substance, but she’s comical.” But she delivers it effortlessly. Talking about the names Lincoln was called back in his day, Ann brought it up to date: “If only Al Sharpton was around (Lincoln) would have known he was a victim of racism.” When talking about President Johnson, Coulter stopped in mid-sentence, remembering the youth of the crowd, telling the “whippersnappers” they’d have to look him up, but it was a doozy. Stating that most in the crowd don’t even remember Bill Clinton. Then it was back to Obama: They keep comparing him to Reagan. Evidently they don’t have a Democratic president to compare.
Coulter was followed by David Horowitz and company ranting about Hollywood, including Robert Davi, who was introduced as an actor whose career was in jeopardy because he’s a right-wing conservative. No one told the CPAC crowd that Davi’s career ended a long time ago. But who knows, maybe he can do for himself what turning full wingnut did for Dennis Miller.
The hilarity began early, especially when David Bosse paid insulting tribute to Michael Moore, then credited Moore with giving him a career. That’s when the “recovering European” duo of Ann McElhinny and Phelim McAleer went into a diatribe against Al Gore trying to hawk the film they’d completed, which amounted to showing clips of pure fiction where global warming is concerned. I thought their segment would never end, especially once they started using English school children to sell their celluloid.
But it was when Niger Innes took the stage that the big ring circus lights came on. Not only was he prepared with lots of juicy Dem hating red meat, but he paved the way for the main attraction, Rush Limbaugh.
If anyone was wondering who is the Republican beacon of the Republicans, watching the CPAC crowd react put all doubts to rest.
For the first ten minutes Rush was on fire. He posted the script, but it hardly gives the atmospherics, which tilted towards the bizarre almost immediately. Whatever polish Ann Coulter provided, Rush delivered none of it. Maybe she can give him some pointers if he does this again, which he seemed to hint at at one point in the speech. But it sure helps when the crowd adores you so that whatever faults you have are ignored.
Like almost immediately something manifested that looked horribly wrong. Rush was sweating profusely and fidgeting like he was about to come out of his skin. The room was very cold, with people around me shivering, putting on their coats, while Rush proclaimed how hot it was. It’s doubtful the lights on Rush made the difference. It had to be nerves. Well, why not? He sits in his EIB studio bubble every day. Now he’s in front of everyone, including being televised on cable, as he mentioned continually until not even his audience was laughing at the joke anymore. He was actually face to face with real, live people. But whatever he delivered it wasn’t a speech. More like a steam of conscious babble, just like he does on radio, though there were no commercials to mercifully break the blather. Honestly, I expected much more.
But one moment was utterly stunning. It was when Rush and the entire CPAC audience took the time and effort to malign John Kerry’s service to this country, even laughing at the mention of Vietnam. Rush’s disrespect for the military dripped off the very mention of Kerry’s name. It was disgraceful. For a crew who professes to respect the military, at every turn Republicans reveal their disdain for our troops, especially if they’re Democrats. It’s the same with Republican military policy, which has strung our forces out and depleted our reserves.
But I’m really at a loss of what to make of Rush’s performance on the whole. It was a rambling, sometimes incoherent, self-indulgent mess. There was something pathetically insecure about the lack of structure to the speech, but also Rush’s herky jerky, sweat wiping, water drinking, fist bumping, awkward pauses, note looking, never ending regurgitation of what Rush thought everyone had to hear. Because he was addressing the nation, you know, which he repeated so many times he even got sick of it.
Still, make no mistake about it. Being on the outs fires people up and the CPAC crowd, most of them college students, were definitely fired up.
But who’s going to lead them? Rush, who won the media straw poll? Mitt Romney, who won the candidate poll?
The only loser was Sean Hannity. Glenn Beck beat him out for media favorite, placing just behind Rush, with Sean coming in third. Losing to Glenn Beck? Ouch. O’Reilly was only one point behind Sean. The Fox water cooler chatter is sure to be buzzing tomorrow.
UPDATE: The Constitution Accountability Center has a terrific post up today that’s a must read. It’s particularly fitting since Rush was awarded the “defender of the Constitution award” by CPAC.
From your description of his performance, sounds like Rush is still suffering from his Oxycontin problems…among other things.
To me that’s one of the truly astounding things about the repugnantklan and conSEEEERvative media types. ESPECIALLY the rightwingnut media types. They are just not funny. Dennis Miller. Once he left SNL was this clown EVER funny?
Limpwithnoballs only works when HE controls the mic. EVERY time I’ve seen this HUGE mound of feces have to interact with real live people he was sweating like a firehydrant with the sprinkler attachment. When confronted he folds up…EVERY TIME!!! He is a physical and a moral coward.
And YES it sure sounds like a junkey on display to me also Audiegrl.
Is this drug addict still on probation? Has he taken a piss test lately?
All of the above being said PUUUUUHLEAZE keep him front and center as the poster pig for the repugs!!! PUUUUUHLEAZE!!!!
Uh…..can we remind the Repugs and their fat, junkie leader about the following?:
Katrina
No WMDs
Economy
Deficits
Global Warming
Bank Failures
Subprime Mortgages
Bad Education System
Bridge Collapse in Minnesota
Outsourcing Jobs to India
Can’t find Bin Laden
FEMA Director Michael Brown
Secretary Rumsfeld
Medicaid
Energy
Human Rights -Torture
Immigration-border wall
Divider not Uniter
Dick Cheney
Walter Reed Hospital
US Attorney Firings
Libby/Plame CIA Exposed
North Korea
Civilian Contractors in Iraq ($750 Billion for nothing!)
Wire Tapping
Tax Cuts for the Rich
Reductions on Domestic Spending
Alberto Gonzalez
FDA (less money= more food recalls)
Abuse of Executive Powers
Karl Rove
Social Security
Harriet Miers
Selling National Forest Areas for logging
False Military Reporting (Pat Tillman/Jessica Lynch)
Enron
Darfur
Limiting Congressional Oversight
Oil Leases on protected forest land
FBI Spying
Opening U.S. Mail
Deregulation of Oil Companies
Palestinian Civil War
Invaded Iraq and kept changing reasons
Hedge Funds
Cut Children’s Health Care
No bid contracts for Iraq contractors
reduced mining oversight (three mine explosions)
reduced $$$ Army Corp of Engineers to improve levies in New Orleans
Blackwater
State Department gave grant to taliban just prior to 911 (look it up)
Stolen data from Bases
Substandard military equipment in Iraq
punishing whistleblowers
Removal of many endangered species from the list
restrict information released to public
reduced USDA pesticide oversight
Defense Dept cannot account for $$$
KBR defense contractor exposed soldiers to carcinogens
tax favors to foreign corporations
———————
I’m sure I missed a few.
I watched about 5 minutes of Rush Limbaugh, his sweating was something else and to me he looks like he is just a few fork fulls from a major coronary. Then I couldn’t take it and closed down media center before I had a very nasty mess to clean up off my keyboard– the man affects me like syrup of ipecac.
“But who knows, maybe he can do for himself what turning full wingnut did for Dennis Miller.”
Miller has a radio show and regular slot on O’Reilly, not really a career boost from the days when he was a. actually funny and b. not a fanatic.
Rush is developing a severe case of agoraphobia and will soon have to give interviews from behind the EIB golden curtain. That was flop sweat Taylor, the man is going mental.
GOP: R.I.P.
The Republican Party, America’s second oldest political party and a force in American politics and government since the time of Abraham Lincoln, died on March 1. It was 155 years old.
It was quite a sight, AG.
I’m with you, secularh! Up front and center, the poster boy.
Wow, icemama, go for it.
Hey SusanElizabeth1949, yeah, who can’t understand that reaction?!
You’re incorrect, GeoT, a three-hour slot on radio is huge for someone in Miller’s position, after HBO canceled his show. He’s very fortunate to have Bill O. helping him out.
I hope for Robert Davi’s sake his career doesn’t go in the direction Dennis Miller’s did. I hate seeing people humiliate themselves.
Agree with GeoT about Limbaugh – he seems to be losing it. That Mike Murphy seems to be one of the few Republicans who realize the position they’re in.
Early morning thoughts:
I don’t know if, in my entire life, I have seen a group of people who are so obscene, perverse and morally bankrupt as Rush, et al. These are the people who spout less government intervention in our lives but want government to control a woman’s womb. Maybe Rush should stop hitting the Viagra; he’s starting to look like the eunuch he really is.
Taylor, I just tried that “the deepest dagger” link (the one about Mike Murphy), and it’s empty.
OT topic, but everyone should contact, IT HAPPENED TO ALEXA FOUNDATION. and express their outrage that they are inviting Bill O’Reilly to speak on March 19th at their forum about rape. This is an outrage to have such a person, who always has faulted the victim in every rape case speak about rape. Pass the word and flood their e-mail.
The despicable thing about Rush and some of these others is that they are not ignorant or stupid. But they are willing to lie, mislead, and put forth proposals that do not serve this country in order to line their pockets. Grotesque.
Weird, but the link is back now, Cujo359.
Taylor – I admire your courage! Being around all those self righteous hate mongers had to be a little scary. Any audience that tolerates let alone applauds the likes of Rush, Hannity and Coulter is frightening. I saw Rush’s “performance” on CNN and agree that he seemed even more off balance than usual. These CPAC people (I use the term loosely) really do live in their own world. A world where the Bible is twisted and distorted to fit their narrow self serving views. The roster of speakers looked like the Clinton Haters Hall of Fame. I am so glad to see these people pushed to the political margins where they belong. Let’s hope Obama serves two terms and that Republicans never get their hands on the White House or Congress again!
All in a long day’s journey into wingnut land, c chicago.
Michael Steele seems to be apart from the CPAC folks:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090302/pl_politico/19498
Steele is telling the truth, but this points out more of the fractious current in the GOP.
I admire you Taylor for hanging out amongst the squalor the other night. I think I would have been tempted to call out Ann Coulter for her bile.
Because of your post on a different blog, I actually watched Rush’s speech. (yes, you do contribute to him, Taylor).
I think I made it to the 3rd video.
I concluded I agreed with you. It was a wild and poorly organized bunch of his radio bits, tossed together.
I did not “hang.”
Now, beyond that agreement, I’m sure we would disagree on what parts were warped.
But, in any case, credit due where credit is due.
I agree.
It was discombulating.
AnninCA,
For perspective on Rush, just go the internet and read some of the poison that emanates from Rush.
One of his really funny bits was making fun of the homeless. I assume since he finds homeless men so funny, homeless children must be hilarious.
As a Jew and a supporter of equal rights, I must say I always got a chuckle from his term “feminazi”. After all comparing those who support women’s rights and Nazis, the WORST PEPLE WHO EVER EXISTED is dead on.
How about his amusing obersvation about soldiers who supported withdrawal from Iraq:
“The phony soldiers.” –on U.S. service members who support withdrawal from Iraq (Source)
This coming from a guy who was 4-F due to a cyst on his butt.
Or maybe his greatest of all:
“He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He’s moving all around and shaking and it’s purely an act. … This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn’t take his medication or he’s acting.” –on an ad by Michael J. Fox endorsing Claire McCaskill for Senate for supporting embryonic stem cell research
But Rush has the pulse of America.
Hey, Taylor et al. I was just over at HuffPo reading about the cock fight between Steele and Limbaugh. So, now this Rumsfeldian party, the Cheney GFY party, the party of “How dare you? Do you know who I am?” is in full dog-eat-fellow-dog mode. What a shock …
Oh, and no one could be more surprised than Rush! He didn’t have a thing in the world to do with the fact that the Republican party is … how did he put it? “in a sad-sack state.”
To quote Bugs Bunny: What a maroon.