While the title might sound odd, Limbaugh's insatiable ego will not allow him to resist tarnishing Hillary Clinton's presidential ambitions with a strong dose of reality -- as well as his confession to his personal involvement in corrupting the presidential election.
The backstory is riveting. In March, Limbaugh launched his infamous, "Operation Chaos," a devious anti-democratic plan devised to undermine the Democratic presidential nominee whom he believes will be: Senator Barack Obama. In several of his broadcasts, Limbaugh implored his legions of devout right-wing followers to cast aside their Republican inhibitions and vote in the Democratic primaries for Obama's rival: Senator Hillary Clinton.
Limbaugh's rationale? Obama's momentum had morphed into a genuine grassroots movement, and it had to be stopped at all costs - even unto the gross hypocrisy of asking die-hard Republicans to change their party registrations and cast their malicious votes for Hillary Clinton to poison Obama's candidacy.
Is Limbaugh's plot to defeat the first African-American candidate for the presidency: (A) insidious or (B) nefarious? Probably, both.
Come to think of it, is Operation Chaos really Limbaugh's plan at all - or was it designed by somebody else? Who knows - other than Limbaugh and his co-conspirators?
That said, James Carville and Mary Matalin are worthy suspects. Carville is a close and long-serving factotum for the Clinton family. Carville's wife, Matalin, is a top-ranking Republican operative who works in the Bush White House. It is well documented that Matalin is a longstanding ally and admirer of Rush Limbaugh. Matalin has appeared on his show to tout her appalling books. The two are frequently photographed at right-wing cocktail parties. They appear to be on warm and friendly terms.
QED. Republican operatives working with Hillary Clinton's campaign have introduced a new mechanism into the presidential nomination process: flooding the polls with Republican crossovers.
Of the final primaries, Indiana and Montana are both "open" elections - where members of any party can vote for any candidate. In Indiana and Montana, Limbaugh's Republican crossovers will be out in force to sabotage Obama by voting for Clinton.
Since Limbaugh is claiming that thousands of Republicans are capable of changing their party affiliation to corrupt the presidential election process, none of the other closed primaries are above suspicion.
The entire 'democratic' system in the United States of America is broken. From Republican crossovers to Diebold, Sequoia, ES&S, Katherine Harris who dealt the death blow to democracy in Florida and J. Kenneth Blackwell who sabotaged the election of 2004, America is staggering toward its new status as a Mugabesque nightmare ruled by invisible Leviathans, audible Limbaughs and desperate, presidential campaigns embroiled in vendettas that would make Michael Corleone cringe.
Follow Michael Carmichael on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alchemistoxford
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
THANK YOU.... THANK YOU.... THANK YOU
This needs to be exposed. It needs to be discussed.
Rush would like to believe he has that much influence, it is just a joke. The Republicans I know who crossed the line to vote for Hillary or Obama did so because they are fed up with the Republicans.
McCain won the nomination by default, none of the Republican candidates had anything besides the same old tired policies to offer, tax cuts and more military adventures, same old mantra.
Can anyone picture the creepy old man McCain as president?
The Democrats are cursed with two good candidates, one to many.
The country will get the government it deserves.
When Obama wins anyway, Rush will be put back in his place.
It's not 1994 anymore. Rush Limbaugh doesn't matter.
Dems took back the House and Senate. McCain has the nom. Bush has the lowest approval rating for a POTUS ever.
Really. Talk radio has no effect anymore. It's good for a chuckle, and that's it. The internet killed it.
Agreed. I never hear anyone talk about him (Limbaugh) anymore. I highly doubt if he could change an election. I have some well-to-do Repub in-laws that live in a Houston burb. They wouldn't dream of listening to Rush or trying vote Dem. In fact, they took no notice of the Texas Prim/Cauc. whatsoever. Most people have busy lives & no time to do Rush Limbaughs moronic deeds for him.
You're right. Most people have no time to do Limpball's moronic deeds for him but your state of Texas proves that it happened. Hillary wins (barely) the popular vote in Texas, but when it came time for these Hillary voters to actually spend hours at the caucus, it didn't happen. Now, Barack has a well-honed get out the vote ground game and was probably going to do better at the caucus anyway, but the reduction in the number of Hillary caucus goers compared to the number of Hillary voters implies that there was indeed some hanky panky going on.
I wish I could agree that he doesn't matter, but unfortunately it seems as if he does. I worked on the Obama campaign here in PA and we did a lot of phone banking and door knocking. Several people.... I mean a lot more than you would think told us they switched because he told them to and were going to vote for Hillary. He is personally corrupting the democratic ways of this country. It's funny how all of these hardcore, god fearing, liberal bashing republicans are willing to follow a drug addict threw the fires of hell.
Rush does know how to stir up hate. Regardless who the democratic nominee will be, Hillary because she is a Clinton and a woman or Obama because he is black. He tried and failed to stop McCain and has changed gear already and his ditto heads will be happy to follow wherever the trail of hate takes them. That is the only excitement in their lives and the only way for him to make money and feed his ego and his drug habit.
What you must do Michael, is firm up your analysis with some real numbers and come up with an estimate of how much of an influence has been there of these votes. If it is a significant impact, then circulate your analysis among the super-delegates.
I believe that one purpose of having super-delegates is to counter just the kind of trickery you described.
As an Operation Chaos operative, (I voted and caucused for Hillary in TX) I must correct the author on a couple of points.
1. The purpose of Operation Chaos is NOT to defeat Obama. We don't care who wins the primary.
2. The purpose of Operation Chaos is to cause chaos within the Democratic party by forcing the primary process to continue.
3. Part of the chaos seeked by our commander, El Rushbo, is to bloody up Obama. We know that McCain won't do it, but Hillary will.
4. The desired end result of Operation Chaos is the defeat of the Democrat party in November.
Operation Chaos has worked so well that the leaders of the Democratic party may need to seriously look at a 3rd candidate to run for president. It is obvious that Hillary has too many negatives to beat McCain and Obama can't get past this groundswell of his radical associations.
And before you guys cry foul, remember that it was Democrats and Independents that chose McCain, not conservatives. We're simply returning the favor.
Carry on.
One question: why should we believe a single word of what you posted?
Rush Limbaugh is a loudmouth not a movement.
He and the rest of the right wing punditsphere couldn't prevent the ascent of McCain to frontrunner. He doesn't move the Republican party to actually DO much of anything,other that what they intended to do in the first place. Notice he offers not one bit of proof that any of his claims are actually true. How can he? Face facts Limbaugh just entertainment not a power player, but he's trying to make himself look like one.
Democrats and Independents chose McCain?!?!?!?
They were too busy voting in the primary that will decide the next President, not giving any thought to the D-List hacks that your party put forth.
You know you guys hate Hillary and would hate it if she won. Guess what? Your gambit might work by allowing her to claim victory from Obama. Not likely, but it could happen. Then she would likely beat McCain. Then you and your cohorts can accept responsibility for her election. You could then call her: President Hillary Clinton. Won't that feel good?
You know what else? I am not a Clinton supporter and thought I'd have a hard time voting for her if she somehow wrested the nomination from Obama. But, now that I think of it, maybe I could even campaign for her. That way the Republican Hacks would have to live with Madame President Hillary Rodham Clinton. I mean if Limbaugh voters have such low regard for the selection of our President that they would seek to undermine the process, then why should the rest of us care about the process right? Lowest common denominator, you bring us all down. You bring our country down. You wrap yourselves in the flag while you diss the process that could elevate this country and everything it represents.
Reading the hysterical comments by the Obamites ... Operation Chaos is indeed effective.
When Dems crossed over to vote for McCain.... the media applauded.
These were "Independents" not party droids.
Obama has indeed been crippled by the more time Hillary has to expose his weakness.
Can we all say ...PENNSYLVANIA!
The Democrats invented the Byzantine rules of their Primary.
Do you really want them to run the US?
Operation Chaos.... let's keep it going.
Democrats and Chaos … Perfect Together.
Princeton Junction
'The entire 'democratic' system in the United States of America is broken'. Yes, sad to say,I agree with your sentiments.
Rush Limbaugh should either be lynched or sent to Guantanamo along with Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter. These people are dangerous clowns, but more importantly they're enemies of American democracy.
Ahhh, I love it when the true tolerance of the Left is brought to the surface. Conservatives are constantly called bigots, racists, etc., based on the foolishness of a few. Liberals, on the other hand, can't help themselves. You happily tar anyone you dislike, blithely ignoring the beam in your own eye! Thank you!
Semper fi
Long Live Club GITMO!
GOP shepherds set to go after strayed lambs
By BEN HACKMAN - Lebanon (PA) Daily News
The primary election may be over, but that doesn’t mean there’s much down time for the Republican Party in Pennsylvania.
Its mission: To get former GOP voters who switched over to the Democrats to vote in their primary to return to the Republican fold. Obviously, the big attraction was the opportunity to vote in the marquee race, the Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama presidential battle.
Statewide, 160,752 voters changed their registration to Democrat between Jan. 1 and April 1, according to Michael Barley, communications director for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. ...
http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_9039863
-----------
That's out of 2,300,000 Demo votes, or about 7%. Enough to make a dent, but a fairly small one.
The mystery is, as long as there's a Demo to run against, why is Rush Limbo worried
about which one it is? Unless they have to remain Democrats forever? Mwahahaha!
The mystery is, as long as there's a Demo to run against, why is Rush Limbo worried
about which one it is?
------------
Simple: One of them is Black. Worse, he is not a pro-NeoCon like Hillary.
As long as Limbo is successful at raising a ruckus, and
his people pay attention to him, then the money will still
pour in, and that's presumably what he's all about. He IS
a 'pro' after all. He will certainly have no trouble taking
shots, so to speak, regardless of the Demo candidate.
Just remember that it took a Repo man to get US out
of Vietnam, so it will take another one to get US out of
Iraq.
Now, THAT is some Strategery, no? 'Peace With Honor!'
Maybe they are sick of being Republicans. God knows there's plenty reason!
Well done, Rush!
Semper fi
"corrupting the presidential election"
I don't agree with what Rush's message is but it is no different then what the Daily Kos was promoting in Michigan when they tried to get Dems to vote for Romney to keep him in the race longer.
Can someone explain how this is any different from what the far left Daily Kos did just a couple months back?
limbaughs thang is going on a lot longer and affecting many contests. Just because a dem person did something wrong doesn't make limbaugh right. Cmon
I am bothered by what Limbaugh did but there is nothing "wrong" with it. It's perfectly within the rules. I think Dems should counter what Limbaugh has done by having super-delegates take it into account. If they do that, Limbaugh can go back to sucking his thumb, or swallowing pills, or whatever else he does.
It's because DKos' plan was to do it in an open primary. Anyone can come and vote. Pennsylvania and Ohio were closed primaries. You had to swear allegiance to the democratic party. That is illegal. Proving that you were disingenuous in pledging allegiance, on the other hand, is very difficult.
There is no illegal about what Limbaugh is doing. You can switch your party registration to vote in closed primaries, and then vote for either party in a general election.
You have to give Rush credit for understanding just how polarizing Hillary Clinton's personality is to a great number of Americans.
This is something most of the mainstream media is afraid to address directly.
Why are there so many Americans who can't stand this woman?
Obama was being kind when he said to her "you are likeable enough."
I don't see it myself, never have.
Hallmark probably has a nice card she can send Mr. Limbaugh though.
The entire Republican cabal was sliming the Clintons for years and very successfully too. Asking Clinton haters why such irrational hate, they have no answer. They simply were brainwashed on a steady daily basis to hate them. It worked.
"There is no illegal about what Limbaugh is doing...."
Except in Ohio you mean? Or are you not aware it's a felony there?
Research matters friend.
~M~
The Ohio State AG (a Dim) did not think so.
To me Limbaugh and his fellow radical right wing radio thugs want Hillary as President so they have someone they can beat up on and help their radio ratings and make more money. Bush sure hasn't been a boon for them.
Naw, they just want to see her get the nomination and then see her lose.
Conservatives will have a harder road attacking the guy who is part black. They don't want to appear racist.
Hillary is easy.
The idea is to keep the fight going as long, hard and nasty as possible. This will cost both Clinton and Obama a small fortune in cash. It will force Clinton and Obama to continue to dig up issues and attack each other. It will physically and mentally wear down both Clinton and Obama, their staffs and supporters. And tired politicians frequently make unforced errors. Some Democratic staff and supporters may fall subject to the same malady as many NFL teams who think making it to the Super Bowl is the big achievement and then back off and lose. And all this goes on while McCain takes it easy, spends little, raises cash and polishes his image. What a country!
Make more money? Rush's contract is for like $40 million per year, I think he is satisfied with his pay.
Surely Limbo gets some sort of bounty for every new Demo
voter he generates, right from Howard Dean & Nancy Pelosi.
But, of course he will never admit this in public, as he would
seem to be some sort of foul, evil turncoat to the Repo faithful.
And yet, Obama is winning.
The reason Rush started this goofy thing was because Obama was winning in the first place and wanted to keep Hillary in it so whe would tear Obama down . . . which has worked well in the past 3 months.
Really, Obama's popularity numbers are essentially unchanged, it's Hillary that's taken the damage. The common wisdom among the punditocracy that 'bittergate' or Wright actually had any effect isn't particularly supportable.
Running like a Republican turns off Democrats imagine that.
Limbaugh probably takes credit for the sun rising every morning but...
since the republican candidate is already set wouldn't it make sense to change parties and vote for the candidate you think is the weakest? Isn't that how it works on Survivor and those other reality shows?
Really, Obama and Clinton's positions are very similar. I can understand how a supporter of one of them might stay home (or vote for Nader) if the other wins but I can't see how that same person would vote for McCain.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with