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."
Then, let's prove it! If he's right, he's right. I find it hard to grasp the logic of those who would rather he be wrong and we be dead.
BTW, to all: Bush and the GOP should never have given in ONE INCH on WMDs in Iraq. There is enough evidence that at least it's possible they were there, if this were the Dems, there would be no debate. By ceding that point in 2004, we started kicking the props out from under the entire rationale for dealing with any of these tinpot nincompoops.
If only Bush had read Hanson's Carnage and Culture while on vacation last summer instead of The Stranger by that French communist, what's-his-name.
I totally agree with Rush.
That's an easy one -- Santorum. At least, he lost in a blue state in a Democratic year. Plus, conservatives respect him.
Allen ran a lousy race and lost a winnable seat.
I listen to Laura Ingraham today and she played the intervention scene for "Cristifa" on the "Sopranos".
I think this is Rush saying I am not enabling you twits anymore, Lindsey Graham, Collins, Snowe, McCain, Shays get with the program or bye bye.
I get it Rush, good for you, I am tired of holding my nose to vote, give me something to vote for.
WTS, from what I hear we lost independents, commmon sense voters, yet they voted for anti-Kilo at the State level and all the other conservative state ballot initiatives. They were ripe for the taking just like in 94' and Hastert gave them OhGots....
I pray you're wrong about the Dem scenario, yet I fear you're correct. This could be the signal that the terrorists have been waiting for.
I guess time will tell.
Maybe some good will come out of this disaster. The Republican party has left us true conservatives twisting in the wind. October 1st of an election year is a bit late to try to get in touch with your base. Now, maybe we can get it right the next time. We need leadership and statesmanship that is for sure.
Purge the party, squawk, squawk. That is all the ilk know how to do; purge, isolate, divide, disrupt and destroy. You're advice is the worst for advancement of conservatism. Phony advice from phony conservatives ...
And you learned all that from your governor, no doubt.
The next time these phony conservatives predict precisely the outcome of an election without benefit of a high-tech polling operation, we might want to listen.
Sorry, I missed these precise predictions. All the phonies give us is embarrassment.
Either way, it's sad, really really sad the rats won the evening. I've also been hearing that DST played a big part in the lose for the GOP.
That is a fair question. I think the heat has gotten so high in the last couple years that Bush has vacated the kitchen. I see a return to the inept, wayward 9/10 Bush who gave Fats Kennedy the education portfolio.
1) A balanced budget.
We had one under Clinton and then you guys exploded the deficiet. Whats different now?
ANSWER: Clinton never had a balanced budget, all he did was finance the deficit with short term loans that came due when he was out of office. He started the recession because of his recklessness.
2) A line-item veto.
Been declared Unconstitutional. What will be different this time and how will it ultimately effect the usefulness of the line item veto?
ANSWER: Been declared unconstitutional? Then it's about time to get it constitutional. Either way, pork barrel spending by rats is the cause of the deficit, at least it was until last 6 years. Got to admit, Bush's reign has seen the biggest increase in spending in decades.
3) Close the border with Mexico to illegal aliens with a fence.
Standard anti immigrant, bigot, racist, hater questions.
ANSWER: Standard ignorant misinformed answer. Guess it doesn't matter to you that illegal immigrants are LAW BREAKERS AND ARE DRIVING UP MEDICAL COSTS!
4) Break up the media oligopoly.
Do we want to open the doors to bringing back the Fairness Doctrine and instituting legislation that will allow the dismantling of Fox News and other outfits that may lean our way a little like Howard Dean said he would do?
ANSWER: I have to think about who's side you're really on.
5) End the death tax.
We all know what will be accused, and we have good answers on them. Little trouble here.
ANSWER: Then enlighten us.
6) Partial privatization of Social Security. Unfortunately, most Americans do not want the responsibility that comes with freedom. They are content to have 14% of their check confiscated if it means they don't have to lift a finger to prepare for their future. ANSWER: Pretty sad huh? Now who are the "mind-numbed" robots.
7) Increase the manpower strength of the military.
Are you talking about a draft? If not, what policies will be put in place to increase volunteers?
ANSWER: If I was president the military would be at least 3 times the size it is now. What the RATS have done in shrinking the military is wrong and is making us vulnerable to attack. Matter of fact, now tha the terrorists have been emboldened by the rats victory we'll probably be attacked more than ever now. Thank you!
I'll take your word for it. My apologies to NAG Howlin.
We have been so glad not to have to swallow the bilge of a Pres Kerry that we tend to forget this: Bush never claimed to be a thoroughgoing conservative, and by golly, he turned out not to be one. I think his instincts were toward the Right but he was overburdened with his father's upbringing into the countryclub center/left. Nonetheless, he should have had the damn sense to realize what he was doing to those of us who supported him politically.
AS far as Congress goes, I thnk they're all out for themselves, just some of them happen to vote the right way once in awhile.
Now do us all a favor and stick a sock in it, RINO-child.
Yeah...well that's what I thought about Maria Cantwell!
Back about 1998 I advised that if Keyes would start at a reasonable level, like a congressional seat in a safe district with a retiring pubbie incumbent, he would really be able to accomplish something. Instead he tried to go from step 1 to step 67 in one giant leap. If Keyes had run for a seat in the House six or eight years ago, where might he be today?
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