Rush's Ramblings at CPAC

by Taylor Marsh

I moved to the D.C. area just in time for CPAC. Saturday didn't disappoint, in that watching the circus go by sort of way. (Tweets here)

I got there in time for Ann Coulter who delivered a performance of one liners with little in between. That's not my review, but what I heard around me: "No substance, but she's comical." But she delivers it effortlessly. Talking about the names Lincoln was called back in his day, Ann brought it up to date: "If only Al Sharpton was around (Lincoln) would have known he was a victim of racism." When talking about President Johnson, Coulter stopped in mid-sentence, remembering the youth of the crowd, telling the "whippersnappers" they'd have to look him up, but it was a doozy. Stating that most in the crowd don't even remember Bill Clinton. Then it was back to Obama: They keep comparing him to Reagan. Evidently they don't have a Democratic president to compare.

Coulter was followed by David Horowitz and company ranting about Hollywood, including Robert Davi, who was introduced as an actor whose career was in jeopardy because he's a right-wing conservative. No one told the CPAC crowd that Davi's career ended a long time ago. But who knows, maybe he can do for himself what turning full wingnut did for Dennis Miller.

The hilarity began early, especially when David Bosse paid insulting tribute to Michael Moore, then credited Moore with giving him a career. That's when the "recovering European" duo of Ann McElhinny and Phelim McAleer went into a diatribe against Al Gore trying to hawk the film they'd completed, which amounted to showing clips of pure fiction where global warming is concerned. I thought their segment would never end, especially once they started using English school children to sell their celluloid.

But it was when Niger Innes took the stage that the big ring circus lights came on. Not only was he prepared with lots of juicy Dem hating red meat, but he paved the way for the main attraction, Rush Limbaugh.

If anyone was wondering who is the Republican beacon of the Republicans, watching the CPAC crowd react put all doubts to rest.

For the first ten minutes Rush was on fire. He posted the script, but it hardly gives the atmospherics, which tilted towards the bizarre almost immediately. Whatever polish Ann Coulter provided, Rush delivered none of it. Maybe she can give him some pointers if he does this again, which he seemed to hint at at one point in the speech. But it sure helps when the crowd adores you so that whatever faults you have are ignored.

Like almost immediately something manifested that looked horribly wrong. Rush was sweating profusely and fidgeting like he was about to come out of his skin. The room was very cold, with people around me shivering, putting on their coats, while Rush proclaimed how hot it was. It's doubtful the lights on Rush made the difference. It had to be nerves. Well, why not? He sits in his EIB studio bubble every day. Now he's in front of everyone, including being televised on cable, as he mentioned continually until not even his audience was laughing at the joke anymore. He was actually face to face with real, live people. But whatever he delivered it wasn't a speech. More like a steam of conscious babble, just like he does on radio, though there were no commercials to mercifully break the blather. Honestly, I expected much more.

But one moment was utterly stunning. It was when Rush and the entire CPAC audience took the time and effort to malign John Kerry's service to this country, even laughing at the mention of Vietnam. Rush's disrespect for the military dripped off the very mention of Kerry's name. It was disgraceful. For a crew who professes to respect the military, at every turn Republicans reveal their disdain for our troops, especially if they're Democrats. It's the same with Republican military policy, which has strung our forces out and depleted our reserves.

But I'm really at a loss of what to make of Rush's performance on the whole. It was a rambling, sometimes incoherent, self-indulgent mess. There was something pathetically insecure about the lack of structure to the speech, but also Rush's herky jerky, sweat wiping, water drinking, fist bumping, awkward pauses, note looking, never ending regurgitation of what Rush thought everyone had to hear. Because he was addressing the nation, you know, which he repeated so many times he even got sick of it.

Still, make no mistake about it. Being on the outs fires people up and the CPAC crowd, most of them college students, were definitely fired up.

But who's going to lead them? Rush, who won the media straw poll? Mitt Romney, who won the candidate poll?

The only loser was Sean Hannity. Glenn Beck beat him out for media favorite, placing behind Rush. Glenn Beck. Ouch.

Comments

[indy girl]

There were about a hundred sponsors of the CPAC meeting, most of them the far right-wing organizations you'd expect. However, I was surprised about AT&T and Google. There also were black, hispanic and non-Christian groups in the sponsor list. (I think we can assume these people have never listened to Rush rail about them on the radio!) The full list of sponsors of the CPAC: http://www.cpac.org/sponsors.html

If you would like to complain about these two companies sponsoring an event with Rush Limbaugh as keynote speaker:

Google: 1-650-253-0000
Corporate Office: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 CEO: Eric Schmidt

Google's diversity and inclusion statement can be found here:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/diversity/community.html

*******

AT&T: customerse­rvice@att.­com
Corporate Offices: 208 S Akard St, Dallas, TX 75202 CEO: Randall Stephenson

Read this page about AT&T's diversity, outreach and multicultural programs, which reads in part: "At AT&T, diversity encompasses respect for all individuals......"
http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=7738

Their corporate policy is an odd contrast to Mr. Limbaugh's hateful messages.

[Jaid]

I find it odd and curious that most people who complain about nationalized health insurance are typically folk without any health insurance except that which is tied to their employment and those who are yiping about the market are typically those who have no investment whatsoever in said markets. Just an observation.

[joeinvt]

Sounds like the Joneses to me.

[parunach]

I have a question for Rush. If he is so sure of himself, why does he not come to be interviewed by others. After all, George Will has no problem with it. Rush insists on coming to all places where he is adored and people are didiots. Why is he scared of that? Is it that he is not good at defending himself. As all armies go, the ones who are the best are those that stand up to an enemy.

[exhale09]

This was nothing more then a display of the VULGARITY that has become the Republican Circus of horrors.

[VJ2008]

One more thing. The way R. Limpbaugh had his shirt un-buttoned (more than is professional), along with his shimering spray on tan--pathetic and immature to say the least. Someone must have told him he was handsome once. Cracks me up.

[VJ2008]

Bottom line is, all the democrats have to do in the next election campaign is to show clips of some of what was said at this conference, and who said it, depending on the seat they are after. They appear as nothing more than a cult anymore. I am sure their hope is that people will get sick of hearing their rhetoric and stop watching, so they can make thir next move. I intend to keep watching, and I'll bet the majority of Americans are thinking like I am.

[Taiyo]

I, too, thought Limbaugh's rant about john Kerry was over the top. He's got a lot of gall sneering at Kerry's appearance; I believe anyone would agree that Rush is not exactly matinee Idol material.

[footfoot]

So when Rush says that Obama's spending is speculation that we'll be able to pay it back with wealth that hasn't been created yet, yet the policies do little to sustain wealth in the private sector, you don't find that to be a valid point?

Obama's agenda isn't to broaden the base of tax payers, but to create mass dependency. Pass it on.

[Nardwilly]

No it is not a valid point. The spending is not speculation it is investment in health care, education and energy security. The policies do a lot to employ folks in the short term and build capability in the long term.

Some wealth creation in the private sector will come from cheaper health care and a healthier population. It will create opportunity by removing the fear of losing health insurance from career decisions.

Additional wealth will come in a similar way from greater education and increased energy security.

Obama's objectives are not evil, creating mass dependency. You weaken your argument when you say others have evil motives. Try to base your arguments on the effect and more people may listen to you. Explain to us how universal health insurance will create mass dependency and why that is bad.

[nationalist757]

Just what I want a beaurocrat telling me where and when I can get my health care at least the private sector gives you a CHOICE of your doctor and treatment, and if you dont think that can happen then look at europe I saw it first hand in a hospital in london. Second, education? When has throwing money at education ever worked is there a new program to expand the information retained by students? and why are private schools having such better success in teaching? It's not the lack of funding its the lack of parental over sight that is keeping public schools from working. And finally energy security solar and wind are only good investments if the resources we have now go through the roof in price. Why not drill oil here and put americans to work and bring billions into the market.

[Russycle]

And where were you when Bush took our budget surplus and made it a deficit?

[Ppossom]

Pass on it. Investment creates wealth, and investment in education, alternative energy, and people will create more wealth that Limbaugh, Gramm, and Bush have destroyed.

[mtdem4ever]

None of this negativity and divisiveness is new. I'd like to share something that I witnessed when W. was running for his second term. During a rally of W. supporters, I, a police officer, was assigned to the protesters across the street. All the big republicans were present and there were a few thousand attendees. The protesters were mostly college students and they had signs supporting Kerry. They were polite and having fun.

When the rally ended, we had set up walkways to keep the W. supporters and the protesters separate. The protesters stayed behind their line and did what protesters do - held up their signs and chanted slogans. The W. supporters began bullying their way out of the walkways, pushing past security and police, to get right up into the faces of the protesters. The W. supporters alternately yelled insults, cussed, and dismissively shouted "get a job".

I'm not going into too great of detail, but the W. supporters were awful. Their shouts and cussing, even with their children in their arms, sickened me. One told an officer to get out of his way. The officer kept trying to hold the crowd back and the man said, "You work for us, get out of my f-ing way."

My point is that, for at least the last decade, the conservative movement has grown more and more vulgar, rude, condescending and disgusting. I have witnessed it personally and, at that moment, I swore I would never vote republican.

[IndianaJoyce]

The Bush supporters were probably yelling and swearing because they had no rational response to the Democrats--very much like what's going on now.

[mtdem4ever]

None of this negativity and divisiveness is new. I'd like to share something that I witnessed when W. was running for his second term. During a rally of W. supporters, I, a police officer, was assigned to the protesters across the street. All the big republicans were present and there were a few thousand attendees. The protesters were mostly college students and they had signs supporting Kerry. They were polite and having fun.

When the rally ended, we had set up walkways to keep the W. supporters and the protesters separate. The protesters stayed behing their line and did what protesters do - held up their signs and chanted slogans. The W. supporters began bullying their way out of the walkways, pushing past security and police, to get right up into the faces of the protesters. The W. supporters alternately yelled insults, cussed, and dismissively shouted "get a job".

I'm not going into too great of detail, but the W. supporters were awful. Their shouts and cussing, even with their children in their arms, sickened me. One told an officer to get out of his way. The officer kept trying to hold the crowd back and the man said, "You work for us, get out of my f-ing way."

My point is that, for at least the last decade, the conservative movement has grown more and more vulgar, rude, condescending and disgusting. I have witnessed it personally and, at that moment, I swore I would never vote republican.

[trisha08]

Thanks for sharing that story. It sounds like some of the scenes I watched at Palin rallies. Really scary. Those hate filled repubs. must the God lovin' Christians, right?

[Kojerk]

I didn't like Rush comparing me to Josef Stalin. Is that the lost "promise of bipartisanship" these clowns were whining about?

[nationalist757]

That was nancy pelousy who claimed the most ethical and bipartisan congress and you shouldnt hold socialistic views if you dont want to called stalin, stalinist!

[denholt]

Dittoheads don't care whether RL makes sense or not. He just fulfills their need for an authoritarian figure to tell them what to do and how to think - kind of like their preacher.

[VJ2008]

Cult leader is more like it. When I watch their behavior, I could swear they are about to walk over a cliff while shouting out their rhetoric.

[Horus45]

This is the definition of what Limbaugh is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misanthrope

[Dark Sphere]

The Founding Fathers would be speaking similar words if they were alive today.

They would not go for this "Stimulus", or should I say, socialist spending program to prop up Government and to make people more dumb and dependent.

Does anyone on the left realize that the Constitution and the Founding Fathers were against direct taxation, i.e. an Income Tax?

The income tax, which was put forth by democrats in the 16th Amendment, is the basis of many of our woes today.

We need to repeal the 16th Amendment and get back to the founding principles that made this country great!!

We need people like this on the right to keep the out of control left in check. As a reminder, the left runs 90% of the MSM, most of the Universities and Colleges in this country, the NEA, and the State Department.

[flexo]

Ladies and gentlemen, Grover Norquist! Thanks for stopping by, Grove.

[VSamuels]

Look, I have no issue with your opinion of the Stimulus Bill---afterall the money more than likely will impact you and yours just like it will me and mine. I do however have some qualms with your insistence to ignore why we as a nation are at this point and the inference here that this is being done without some prior factual reasons. You can obvious argue all day and night about the legitimacy of the Stimulus using any amendment you choose, but the disingeneous thing is to ignore that when the republicans were in charge of the government they failed. Now, if the republicans want to be a part of the solution---which will mean it stop making stupid and silly charges of socialism, and join in and provide some constructive analysis.

If the republicans were firstly so scared of socialism and big government spending- one would think they would have went about demonstrating the type of responsible leadership, necessary to avoid socialism. Yet again, it is nothing more than sophomoric tactics where mature reasoning is desired, Obama's program might not work, but thus far it is something better than what the republicans are offering: which thus far is nothing more than bluster and theatrics.

[nationalist757]

By they failed do you mean the DOW rose to its highest point ever and it did that under a republican congress and administration until the lending mess which we all know who had their hands in that, i recall Bush on c-span asking for more regulation. The left loves to ignore things they dont want to acknowledge. The bluster and theatrics you speak of is the democratic process you see those republicans won their elections and they represent the views of their constituents so spending to reverse the recession because we spent too much doesnt work.

Since government is a business shouldnt the president have some business experience?

[3dtrix]

Thanks for the heads up. It's good to know the way forward is really the way backward - to the 18th century. Keep us posted...

[trisha08]

So, who would pay for Bush's war if you were not taxed? Why was the right so quiet as Bush spent, spent, spent for 8 years?

[Mannock]

This is simple.

First, use private, low pay or no pay contractors like Blackwater. Let them do the job without paying them and let them have an interest in their endeavours. When they take some land or strategic for the US, allow them the privilege of plundering and that pays for their work. And it works. Great Britain took over India with the privately owned East India Company, and England accumulated wealth with pirates, er, privateers. That is how it can be done.

The logic is chilling. Watch as these pigs try to sell this to America. Unlike me, they won't be sarcastic.

[Russycle]

90% of the MSM is owned by huge corporations. Do you really believe GE, Disney, and their ilk are run by leftists?