Leonard Pitts
Posted on 01/26/2009 1:20:45 PM PST by lewisglad
“I hope he fails.” — Rush Limbaugh
It is, of course, a calculated outrage.
Meaning, it was spewed by a clown in the media circus to kick a familiar sequence into motion: angry denunciation by bloggers, pundits and supporters of President Obama (the “he” whose failure is hoped), followed by Rush Limbaugh refusing to retract a word, a courageous truth teller who will not be moved. And, trailing behind, like the folks with brooms trail the elephants in the circus parade, Limbaugh’s devotees, complaining that their hero has been misquoted, misunderstood or otherwise mistreated. “What Rush meant was ... yadda yadda yadda.”
A calculated outrage.
And knowing this, knowing how adroitly media are manipulated by self-promoting media clowns who defame conservatism by calling themselves conservative, one is tempted to let the statement pass, to make its way unimpeded to the dustbin like so many other manufactured controversies. But occasionally, it’s necessary to intercept one of them and hold it up to the light.
This is one of those times. Not because what Limbaugh said on his radio program a few days before the inauguration was an outrage — outrage is the point, remember? — but rather, because of what the thing he said says about him and his fellow clowns.
“I hope he fails.”
Do you ever say that about your president if you are an American who loves your country? Would you say it about George W. Bush, who was disastrous, about Bill Clinton, who was slimy, about Jimmy Carter, who was inept, about Richard Nixon, who was crooked? You may think he’s going to fail, yes. You may warn he’s going to fail, yes.
But do you ever “hope” he fails? Knowing his failure is the country’s failure? Isn’t that, well ... disloyal?
The irony is that Limbaugh and the other clowns would have you believe they are bedrock defenders of this country, that they love it more than the rest of us, more than anything.
That’s a lie. Limbaugh just told us so, emphatically.
It’s not the country they love. It’s the attention. The ideology, their perversion of conservatism, is but a means toward that end.
Yes, an observer might point out that it’s counterproductive to give them attention while decrying their love of attention. But, as already noted, occasionally the clowns spew something that cannot, and ought not, be ignored.
Ideological division is nothing new to politics. But has ideology ever taken quite the seat of prominence it now enjoys? Have people ever been quite so prone to regard their ideological identity as more important than their national identity? The last 30 years are rare in that regard, if not unique.
“I hope he fails?!”
So that, what? The defamation of conservatism Limbaugh represents will stand vindicated? The Republicans will pick up a few seats in the midterm election? Limbaugh’s “side” — his word — will score points?
Is this only a game, then? No lives at stake, no future on the line, no planet in the balance? Just a game?
I hope he bricks this free throw.
I hope he fumbles that pass.
I hope he fails.
And to hell with the country.
The country doesn’t matter. The “side” does. And Limbaugh’s side seems angry in power and angry out. It’s as if anger is all they really have.
Barack Obama was elected in large part on a promise to carry the nation past anger, past the notion that either party has a monopoly on wisdom, past the belief that ideology is identity. He was elected because people want a sense of mission that makes them feel like Americans again.
If he is successful, Limbaugh and the other clowns will face tough sledding in a radically different world. Small wonder he is so eager to strangle this presidency in its infancy. And need it even be said?
I hope he fails.
I notice he wrote a spirited column about the nuances in Michelle O’s “first time I’m really proud of this country” statement. But I guess a different standard exists for white guys. No nuances allowed.
I view that as a threat. This puke may not like this radical "New World" he seems to want. He should read "A Brave New World".
Fortunately, we don’t have to spend any time or energy hoping Leonard Pitts fails. He already has.
Leftists have been claiming for years that they “support the troops”, but not their mission. Well, Rush supports Obama but not his mission.
LOL!!
But, but, but... this is a (ahem) "historical" presidency, right Leonard? No time for intelligence and common sense. Throw "content of character" out the window, who cares?.... ain't that right, Leonard?
pig.
One name. Dick Gephardt.
I wonder if this guy ever wanted Bush to fail, or spoke out against Bush’s policies?
Looks like a typical Obama Loser.
I hope Obama fails too!! In everything he does!
Leonard,
Submit the attached document under your name. NOW!
Rahm
Pitts is just jealous no one will listen to him on a radio or TV show.
That would be the proper response. No one knows who this person is. Mention Limbaugh and hope Rush acknowledges him and then everyone will know who he is. Someone is looking for attention here...
Here's the exact quote from Rush: "I got a request here from a major American print publication. "Dear Rush: For the Obama [Immaculate] Inauguration we are asking a handful of very prominent politicians, statesmen, scholars, businessmen, commentators, and economists to write 400 words on their hope for the Obama presidency. We would love to include you. If you could send us 400 words on your hope for the Obama presidency, we need it by Monday night, that would be ideal." Now, we're caught in this trap again. The premise is, what is your "hope." My hope, and please understand me when I say this. I disagree fervently with the people on our side of the aisle who have caved and who say, "Well, I hope he succeeds. We've got to give him a chance." Why? They didn't give Bush a chance in 2000. Before he was inaugurated the search-and-destroy mission had begun. I'm not talking about search-and-destroy, but I've been listening to Barack Obama for a year-and-a-half. I know what his politics are. I know what his plans are, as he has stated them. I don't want them to succeed."
Now Leonard, you a$$clown, you figure out what is misquoted, misunderstood, and who was mistreated.
Leonard Pitts: goosestepper...
Hey, Leonard - you moron...
You forgot the first part of his sentence (wink, "forgot"...), which is "If his policies are socialist, I hope he fails."
Way to continue being a horrible liberal columnist.
But we all know that, don't we, and it won't make a hill of beans worth of difference in the MSM, which did the same as Mr. Pitts for the last 8 years, but seems to be suffering from collective amnesia in that regard.
Leonard Pitts
I like to go a step further and explain how their policies on abortion, welfare, education, social security, and estate taxes are designed to keep a high percentage of the city dwelling black population subservient makes them a much larger racist than any of their bile directed towards me or conservatives as a whole... :)
What makes you say that?
Leonard Pitts is no Dave Barry.
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