Posted on 04/03/2008 7:55:15 AM PDT by jdm
Cobb is saying Rush Limbaugh has crossed a line with Operation Chaos, and he even has a cartoon up about it.
My take on “Operation Chaos” is that Rush is doing several things, here - he’s demonstrating his sway, he’s enjoying making mischief (and hoping that when the press talks about “Hillary winning and demonstrating momentum” they’ll mention his “Operation,”) and he’s getting a feel for just how strong may be the desire of conservatives to — not now, but in coming years — jump the GOP ship and form a more demonstrably “conservative” party.
Rush is justifying “Operation Chaos” by suggesting that since Democrats routinely play around with some Republican primaries (I believe the Kos folks did something similar) this is an acceptable thing for conservatives to do. Rush seems to blame the Democrats rather than the conservatives for the GOP nominating John McCain over some never-specified “perfect conservative” candidate, and his line is “since the Democrats selected our nominee, we’ll select theirs.”
I reject the premise that the Democrats “selected” John McCain. Had conservatives managed to find that “Ronald Reagan II” they were demanding, he/she would have been immune to stray Dem hijinks; if the conservatives couldn’t find/groom a preferred candidate when they’ve known they needed one for the past 4 years, they shouldn’t whine about it or blame others. (Please don’t tell me “Mitt was perfect” - you only loved him when you had no other choice but McCain, and you got McCain because no one else was “good enough” and Thompson was never serious. And remember, I’m the girl who still thinks — because things turn on a dime — that McCain may still not be the GOP candidate; health and age are real issues.)
Cobb writes:
This is quite obviously subversive which is bad enough, but when Limbaugh much to the consternation of party bosses on both sides claims to be influencing elections and manipulating democracy with his plotting it demonstrates what I consider unconscionable hubris. He’s gone too far and he needs to be stopped.
Well, it is subversive, and it is hard to justify the subversion on the basis “fighting fire with fire.” One cannot compare the influence of — at most — a couple million KosKidz to Rush’s enormous audience. I keep thinking that if a liberal with Rush’s audience was advocating “Operation Chaos,” lots of conservatives would be decrying the game-playing and mischief-making misuse of our votes, which I believe most conservatives consider “sacred” things.
But I don’t think Rush should be stopped. That would involved trampling on something equally sacred, our right to speak freely and organize and assemble, even if we’re making cakes of ourselves doing it.
This 2008 election - and much of our electoral process - is already a two-ring circus; Rush is simply adding a third ring, and he’s perhaps also demonstrating how absurdly dishonest and vapid has it all become - the endless campaigning, maneuvering, manipulating and lying. And like a good capitalist he is turning a profit on the thing, besides. (If the “Operation Chaos” tee shirts, hats, etc are meant to support a charity, please let me know.)
So, I don’t think Limbaugh should “be stopped.” But I also don’t know that people should be giggling and guffawing over “Operation Chaos” without considering that — if the “operation” is rooted in a spirit of spiteful payback — it is bound to reap negative fruit. Moreover, I am old-fashioned enough to think of our vote is “a sacred trust” even if that is unsophisticated of me, even if others think vote manipulation is timely sport.
I keep thinking about the Russian Immigrant who looked forward to his first chance to vote in America, and told Gerard Vanderleun, “I will vote always for best, always”…and about the people in Iraq who braved so much to hold their purple fingers in the air…and about the Iraqi and American dead who fought to give them that right.
And in thinking about them, I’m a bit ashamed of our three-ring circus and the casual menace which we are bringing to our own sacred process. They all deserve better than we’re giving them, right now.
What is your opinion? Is Limbaugh subverting a sacred trust, or is he - somehow - “saving” it?
Saw McCain on FNS this am - it was pitiful. He couldn’t find words he stumbled around looked every bit the nut. It was so bad Cindy had to take up slack. I think it is the first time I have heard her speak.
No kidding. In their heart of hearts, he is the “perfect” Democrat, because he’ll do pretty much what they want, he won’t pull out of Iraq (which most of them secretly realize can’t happen), and if the economy tanks, they can blame him!
Why does Rush bunch your panties ? Rush does not have Rushbots - he has thinking listeners who agree with him. Hell, Rush is one of the few in media who doesn’t give a rat’s patootie what anybody thinks. If you agree with him great, if you don’t he doesn’t care.
If we can’t prevent Republicans from voting Democrat in a primary, what makes us think we can prevent the dead, the illegal, and the phony from voting in the general election?
NO!! We’re just doing WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS .. EXCEPT THEY KEPT IT SECRET .. like most of the things they do .. so much for transparancy.
The dems are just mad because we have stolen their thunder and exposed their little secret to fixing elections - by distorting the primaries.
Now that would be awesome. Dems crossover and vote for McCain and his running mate is an ultra conservative.
LOL. He doesn't get my knickers in a knot, I just made an observation about the content of his show and said what he has said many times, that his bottom line is to make money.
Can't fault him for that, he wouldn't be on the air if he didn't.
No Rushbots? Anyone that buys his EIB stuff is a Rushbot. Have you ordered your OC t-shirt?
Yesterday, I went to the elections board and VOTED for osamaobama, contrary to the "Orders from Headquarters".
I love Rush, but because we are not "mind numbed robots" I think we need to keep flop ears close in PA.
Never having voted for a demonRAT for President nominee, I had to drink about half a fifth of Johnnie Walker Black {in honor of halfrican hussein} and take three showers, and I still feel a little scummy today.
I don't know how this election will turn out, but the primaries are too much fun.
Death {political} to the bitch {it's against the law to root for actual death of a Presidential candidate, and I'd never want to break the law}.
My take on “Operation Chaos” is that Rush is doing several things, here - he’s demonstrating his sway, he’s enjoying making mischief (and hoping that when the press talks about “Hillary winning and demonstrating momentum” they’ll mention his “Operation,”) and he’s getting a feel for just how strong may be the desire of conservatives to — not now, but in coming years — jump the GOP ship and form a more demonstrably “conservative” party.
Thats pretty much what it will do...
The results of which will be another GOP loss (losing ground) in 2010, but hopefully a re-invigorated conservative movement in the GOP by 2012...
I hope we will have tossed more than a few moderates and country clubber types in the Republican party by then...
I agree. This is just another case of the lefties whining when their own tactics are used back at them. They can’t win without cheating or subverting the process, and they can’t stand it when we play their own game better than they did.
Rush’s Operation Chaos is great! In fact, “anything” that makes the Dems/lefties squirm and whine is A-OK with me. And once again, their antics and stunts just may backfire on them to the benefit of conservatives. (let’s hope)
Correct. Open primaries encourage popularity contests and undermine party principles. I hope Operation Chaos returns us to closed party primaries. Let wishy washy independents form their own party.
For those who are agonizing over the effectiveness of Operation Chaos, tough. This is just a slow motion replay of Dem strategy in Florida, 2000. Count every vote. Keep counting until the desired result is achieved.
Karma.
The very fact that they can't get away from OC says it is working beyond Rush's wildest imagination.
When we first voted in the US people were given rum and barbecue and then loaded up they would go to the polling place and vote. Look at all the corruption and incompetent systems continuing since then.
Here's what's sacred. It's my vote. I can not vote or I can vote for whomever I want. My motivation is none of anybody's business.
You mistake Rush’s audience. They think, unlike Obama’s audience, which just “feels”.
Rush has a higher IQ class of groupies.
I too was a ditto head. I started in the 80’s in Tampa and now live in PA. I registered as a Democrat recently just so I can vote against Hitlery. I would rather see Ted Kennedy as president than ever see another Clinton near the Whitehouse. I’m thinking of putting my vintage rush room mug up for sale on ebay.
And so may who have ________ are ________!
(Interesting conundrum, that. An ________ can have an ________.)
Oh I understand Rush's audience very well. Some years ago he was the voice that switched my lib daughter to a Conservative and I'm grateful to him for that, it was a task that I couldn't do.
The thing I don't understand is the people willing to spend 20.00 for a t-shirt.
It also throws hypocrisy in the media’s faces when they try to run articles on Obamacan Republicans who are crossing over to vote for Obama.
IF they claim to be lifelong Republicans, polling officials are now suspicious of their TRUE loyalty to the Democrat platform.
Your positing an Obama/Clinton ticket. I agree, she’ll stay in the Senate, or run for Governor of New York, then try again before she’ll accept second place.
Notice, I suggested that a Clinton/Obama ticket would be the only ‘failure mode’ for Operation Chaos, before suggesting that even with Obama in the number 2 spot a lot of his supporters would be too angry to support the ticket.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.