RUSH: What if it were Clinton?

Rush Limbaugh show | April 10, 2002 | Rush Limbaugh

[Risky Schemer]

(The following is PARAPHRASED - not exact quotes, from a discussion that covered a couple of segments.)

Rush got a caller during the last part of the first hour of his show, who wanted to complain about Rush's "Bush bashing."

"You're always bashing Bush. Every time I tune in you are bashing Bush," the caller said. Rush protested, "Not every time."

The caller said,"You've criticized him on campaign finance reform, the education bill, taxes, Israel policy . . . I just don't think that now, since we have a conservative in office, that we ought to be giving the left material they can use against him in the nest elections - 'Look, Bush let you down . . .'. You don't believe Bush should compromise, that it's necessary?"

Rush said, "I've said before, I'm all for compromise when it advances the conservative agenda. I am tired of compromise that advances the liberal agenda."

Rush then asked the caller, "What is my job here?" Rush then explained his job was not to act as a mouthpiece for the Republican party, but to advance conservatism and resist liberalism.

"Look," Rush said, "Bush said he was opposed to campaign finance reform, said it was wrong, and then he signed it. During his campaign he said he that Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel and now he has come out for a Palestinian state."

"Let me ask you something, all you people who think I am Bush bashing. What if it were Clinton. What would you people be calling me about now?"

[galt-jw]

Please enlighten us all, as to what a "freeper" is. A kool aid drinking syncophant who puts party above principle? If thats a freeper, it aint me, pal. Personal attacks are the last tactic of the intellectually bankrupt...see "liberal."

[dreadme]

i figured that, but a little baiting was in order since he called me a liberal.

[galt-jw]

do you mean to say that you as well as I dont want to drink the Kool aid? how dare you expect the truth from someone who promised you certain things, and then does the opposite? If you want to get along with the Kool aid gang, like the dems, you must sacrifice principle, the truth, for the party. But then, the party stands for nothing.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

There is only one way and it's Rush's way. Bush gets the NSC and CIA briefings-Rush doesn't, Bush speaks with heads of state- Rush doesn't, Bush gets intel from Rumsfeld-Rush doesn't, Bush gets Justice Dept briefings from Ashcroft- Rush doesn't, etc, etc. I trust Bush to do what is right for the country, with the certainty that he is privy to all facts. The Mid East is about to blow and Bush is trying to keep the lid on.

You're right. Talk is cheap. People shoot off their mouths all day on the radio and right here, when they have not a FRACTION of the information President Bush has. I wish people would have a little faith in the man.

[rintense]

You put a heck of a lot of faith in McCain- the same person who pushed for CFR to be passed. I'm still wondering why McCain has been so silent about the war on terror as well as the Mid East.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Did you see the press conference 3 weeks ago, where Bush stood with Vincente Foxe and affirmed his pro life position? Did you see his speech today, where he spoke of the sanctity of life? His judicial appointees are getting trashed in the Senate Judiciary for one reason only-they are pro life. Did you see the recent survey of Evangelical Christians? They overwhelmingly support Bush and trust him as much as their clergy. Bush has definitely not abandoned his pro life position!

[rintense]

Again, you can say it until you're blue in the face. It still doesn't make it true to some. And I can live with that. The fact is that no one gave a crap about CFR, before Bush was elected or after. It was McCain who kept pushing it on the Sunday morning shows, and he got his Dem buddies to push it as well. With the Dems in control of the Senate, they pick and choose what they want to focus on. There is no way on God's green earth that CFR would have even been discussed in the Senate if the Republicans were in control. So, is it best to continue to let McCain cry about CFR, or, get it off the table (and into the courts) which will ultimately prune the bill to what Bush wanted anyway? You say unprincipled, I say startegy.

[meandog]

You put a heck of a lot of faith in McCain- the same person who pushed for CFR to be passed. I'm still wondering why McCain has been so silent about the war on terror as well as the Mid East.

...say what you want about CFR, but give him his due: he did what he said he was going to do! (unlike Willie Bush). ... and I guess you haven't listened hard enough about the war on terror cause he's said plenty!

[toenail]

"Safe, legal, and rare." Remember those? I don't put much faith in mere words; I pay attention to actions.

[rintense]

And what is it he DID that he said he would do? Get CFR passed? So let me get this straight. McCain is brilliant because he did what he said he would do, which is pass CFR, yet Bush is unprincipled because he refused to veto it??? Um, doesn't that also make McCain unprincipled for wantonly pushing a bill that is unconstitutional?

BTW, Bush also said he'd lower your taxes. He did what he said he would do.

And the only thing I've heard McCain say about the war on terror is that he supported the President and that the prisoners in Cuba were being treated fairly. Hardly seems like a lot, especially now that his pet bill is gone. The again, I don't live in Arizona, nor do I really care for McCain. So, he's said more, please send me an email with links to some statements/articles. I would be happy to read them.

[Dallas]

At 1:57 Dallas time, there was a commercial aired during Rush's show sponsered by "The Alliance for Peace and Justice".

It attacked the (so called) occupation of Palestine by the Israelis....blah...blah.

Anyone else hear this trash ?

[Hildy]

Agreed. The sense of betrayal I feel is overwhelming. But I don't know why I am surprised about Israel. His father was the same way.

[Hildy]

There is no other time in the history of America that I feel this propaganda campaign could work. People are uneducated and desensitized. I fear for our world.

[Charlotte Corday]

because no matter how bad you think he is, he is still a damn sight better than Clinton or Gore

What he's doing is taking us down the road to socialism/statism somewhat more slowly than Gore would.

And if you call that a "damn sight better" I guess it's pointless to argue.

[Charlotte Corday]

Bush has definitely not abandoned his pro life position!

The acid test of this will be pro-life court appointments, followed up by recess appointments when Daschle shuts off Senate confirmation.

[rintense]

What he's doing is taking us down the road to socialism/statism somewhat more slowly than Gore would.

Again, your opinion, which I respect. I just don't agree with it. Let me ask you, do you think things would have been different if Republicans controlled the Senate?

[Charlotte Corday]

The fact that the GOP does not control the Senate is their own fault (failure to challenge the Jean Carnahan election).

And I suspect that with the number of RINO's in the Senate, outside of the probable failure of CFR and success of a couple of court nominees, there wouldn't be much difference.

It'd still be the Kennedy education bill, the tax cut would still be minimal and sunsetted, and the "Patriot Act" would if anything be even more draconian.

Don't let's forget all those last minute Clinton EO's that are still in effect, too. No Senate action required there!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Rush then asked the caller, "What is my job here?" Rush then explained his job was not to act as a mouthpiece for the Republican party, but to advance conservatism and resist liberalism."

"...since you accused me of being a liberal because i disagree with a liar..."

I hate to burst your bubble, but Bush's job is to govern the nation. And Rush's job is to sell commercials.

Looks like Rush may not be telling the truth.