Posted on 11/08/2006 11:54:25 AM PST by Ol' Sparky
'Liberated' Limbaugh flays GOP for lame campaign
Radio host: Conservative values not trumpeted by 'I'm-afraid-of-my-shadow Republican Party'
Posted: November 8, 2006
2:10 p.m. Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh says Republicans are to blame for their own demise at the polls by failing to run a campaign trumpeting conservative values.
"You and I hunger for ideological leadership and we're not getting it from the top. Conservatism, conservative ideology was nowhere to be found in this campaign from the top," Limbaugh said today in his post-election analysis. "The Democrats beat something with nothing. They didn't have to take a stand on anything other than their usual anti-war position. They had no clear agenda and believe me, they didn't dare offer one. Liberalism will still lose every time it's offered."
Democrats took control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 1994, with the fate of the Senate still uncertain.
Limbaugh said Republicans allowed themselves to be defined by Democrats and the media, and says they instead should have gone on the offensive.
"It's silly to blame the media. It is silly to blame the Democrats. It is silly to go out and try to find all these excuses," he said. "We have proven we can beat them. We've proven we can beat Democrats. We've proven we can withstand whatever we get from the drive-by media. Conservatism does that. Conservatism properly applied – proudly, eagerly with vigor and honesty – will triumph that nine times out of 10 in this current political environment and social environment in this country. It just wasn't utilized in this campaign."
Limbaugh, a longtime proponent of conservative ideology, believes the primary reason Republicans didn't campaign on their beliefs is "fear of criticism from those in the so-called establishment; and nobody wants to be criticized and nobody wants to go through their life in fear."
He listed a number of benchmarks which should have been the basis for successful campaigns including no terrorist attacks on the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001, gasoline prices averaging $2.08 per gallon, increased take-home pay, a strong economy and an unemployment rate at a historically low level.
"We all know that there's very positive things happening out there, but it was not trumpeted by the people who should have been shouting it from the rooftops because they were proud of it," Limbaugh said. "They should have been shouting it from the rooftops, 'Look what we've done! Look how America can improve. Look how your future is brighter!' ... instead of allowing the template to be set by its critics. ... You have a defensive, Gee-I'm-afraid-of-my-shadow Republican Party."
In answering questions about how he feels about the election results, Limbaugh said, "I feel liberated. ... I no longer am gonna have to carry the water for people who I think don't deserve having their water carried. ... If those in our party who are going to carry the day in the future both in Congress and the administration are going to choose a different path than what most of us believe, then that's liberating. ...
"There have been a bunch of things going on in Congress. Some of this legislation coming out of there that I have just cringed at. And it has been difficult coming in here trying to make the case for it when the people who supposedly in favor of it can't even make the case themselves."
During the last mid-term congressional election in 2002, Limbaugh proclaimed the Democratic Party to be in total chaos, and advised it to drop failed strategies if members wish to see political gains in the future.
"They're a party in total disarray, total collapse, total chaos," he said at the time.
During the 2004 campaign, Limbaugh said the Democratic Party was completely without a leader in its hunt to regain the White House, and members were desperately trying to invent one.
"They are so absent leadership right now it's a joke," said Limbaugh, "and everybody knows this in the media, and the Democrats are out trying to manufacture one – they're trying to create one. And they've got this list of nine candidates for the Democratic nomination, and nobody can name one of them."
"I really think Rush went on this rant in response to W's very weak, defensive and apologetic news conference. It was pitiful. He sounded like his father whom I'm convinced really didn't want to be re-elected in 1992."
He did look emasculated. Maybe Nancy has borrowed Hillary's testical lock box.
PROVE IT.
The Dems had been in control houses of Congress since 1954.
Yesterday was tiny compared to most mid-term elections and was even modest by "6th year in a presidency" standard.
Reagan had a much more contentious situation and a much more difficult economic situation (thanks to Jimmy) to overcome. Reagan was lucky to have Volker in the FED and Reagan was courageous to support Volker with all of his rate hikes required to end the cycle of inflation -- but that's what real leaders do. Unfortunately, we may never have another Ronald Reagan again, or at least in my life time.
Are you saying that Conservatives will only vote for people if they agree with 100% of what they do??? HOW UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. If someone like Santorum lost, and lost as big as he did, then I'm saying this Country is not a Conservative Country anymore. Have you looked around lately at the faces of the people around you?
Ed Rollins said that the public corruption of the GOP only masked the sense that the Republicans had gotten too comfortable at the trough. As he put it, in 1994 they came to drain the swamp and instad turned it into a hot tub. With all that pork comes more opportunities for corruption.
Corruption of conservatives and their belief in the Republican Party to champion them. That is where they lost. Soliciting pages was just icing.
Hmmm... I wonder... if we really know what GW is all about. But I'll wait a couple of days first :)
A day that DID NOT have to be. Warning shots across the bow for years that were totally dismissed. Such is life. Blackbird.
Just look at the polls of voters. Corruption, iraq.
Not a rejection of conservativism at all.
Do you really think places like wyoming that nearly fell did so because they started drinking the kool aid?
Everything I've seen indicates that he will give the Democrats whatever they want while they are kicking him in the butt.
Yup, and that was wrong, IMO. The party and the President need to stay out of primaries, and be there for the winner. Individuals can support their allies, but the people at the top need to be there for everyone, not dictate who can run and who can't.
It sure was a lame campaign. I was there at the polls. No one stood at the polls and passed out cards , no one talked to anyone at the polls about the risk they were taking voting democratic. They did run a lame campaign and it was horrible.
But, while doing that, it was critical that the minions---Speaker, Maj. Leader, etc.---ACT in dealing with the Dems on a daily basis. Hastert, for ex., not prosecuting Jefferson. Likewise, even though it was was way too late to really affect anything, there should have been demands from ALL Republicans in the Senate that Kerry resign for his remarks. Unanimously.
Go further back: there should have been hearings on "Able Danger" with prosecutions; there should have been indictments on the NY Times leaks; and so on. The significance of these was not just that they were the right thing to do (they were) but also that they KEPT THE REPUBLICAN POSITIONS ON THE FRONT BURNER. By pointing the finger constantly at the Dems, it set them apart. Maybe not much in the case of Ney, Foley, or DeLay, but some. Instead, by rolling over on all these and more, it was only the Republicans who looked "corrupt" and "ineffective." Bah!
But, while doing that, it was critical that the minions---Speaker, Maj. Leader, etc.---ACT in dealing with the Dems on a daily basis. Hastert, for ex., not prosecuting Jefferson. It was way too late, but there should have been demands from ALL Republicans in the Senate that Kerry resign for his remarks. Unanimously.
Go further back: there should have been hearings on "Able Danger" with prosecutions; there should have been indictments on the NY Times leaks; and so on. The significance of these was not just that they were the right thing to do (they were) but also that they KEPT THE REPUBLICAN POSITIONS ON THE FRONT BURNER. By pointing the finger constantly at the Dems, it set them apart. Maybe not much in the case of Ney, Foley, or DeLay, but some. Instead, by rolling over on all these and more, it was only the Republicans who looked "corrupt" and "ineffective." Bah!
NO, no, and No.
:)... I can't belive he is that DUMB!... but we'll see. Just like I said... I will wait two days even though you are tempting me! - LOL.
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