Is there a Message from God?

Glenn Beck on his radio show recently said that Japan's earthquake might be a "message" from God.

"We can't see the connections here. I'm not saying God is causing earthquakes - well I'm not not saying that either! What God does is God's business. I'll tell you this...there's a message being sent. And that is, 'Hey you know that stuff we're doing? Not really working out real well. Maybe we should stop doing some of it.' I'm just saying. The answer is, buckle up! Because it's going to be a bumpy ride."

Glenn also stressed people should follow the biblical Ten Commandments, or what he referred to as "10 rules of thumb." LISTEN:

It is not only Glenn Beck.

Rev. Jerry Falwell with Pat Robertson in agreement, blamed the pagans, the ACLU, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians and the People For the American for bringing on the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on 9/11. WATCH:

Then in April of 2010, Rush Limbaugh suggested President Obama's health care bill had launched the volcanic ash explosion that crippled Europe.

"You know, a couple of days after the health care bill had been signed into law Obama ran around all over the country saying, 'Hey, you know, I'm looking around. The earth hadn't opened up. There's no Armageddon out there. The birds are still chirping,'" Limbaugh said on his show. "I think the earth has opened up. God may have replied."

A few years ago Rush Limbaugh suffered a hearing loss. Last year Glenn Beck announced that he could lose his vision. I think there might be a message there.

Rush to Judgment

I never listen to Rush but this excerpt is fascinating!

Stephen Colbert on the State of Sarah Palin

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Via The Raw Story

Stephen Colbert has fine words for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who defended Rush Limbaugh's use of the word "retard" this weekend after attacking an Obama aide for the same offense.

"Sarah Palin knows that it's okay to call someone a retard if like rush you clearly don't mean it which is why we should all come to her defense and say: Sarah Palin is a fucking retard," Colbert quipped.

Palin's son, Trig, has Down Syndrome. She had criticized Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel for telling liberal activists that a political strategy was "fucking retarded" during a private meeting in the White House.

But when Rush Limbaugh used the same word, Palin declared that his usage was acceptable because it was satire.

On his radio show, Limbaugh said: "Our political correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards. I mean these people, these liberal activists are kooks. They are looney tunes. And I’m not going to apologize for it, I’m just quoting Emanuel. It’s in the news. I think their big news is he’s out there calling Obama’s number one supporters f’ing retards. So now there’s going to be a meeting. There’s going to be a retard summit at the White House."

Rushin' To Bookie Time

The news is filled with the prospect that conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh wants to place a bid to buy the NFL team the St. Louis Rams. Here's an interesting perspective on this story by Gil Ross.

So, Rush Limbaugh is trying to buy into the NFL. The NFL has a "zero tolerance" policy with drug abuse. Rush's policy is....not as strict, at least when it comes to his drug abuse. He tends to be somewhat more strict when it comes to others.

The NFL has a couple of athletes of color...well...maybe a few more than that. Rush has some interesting views on race:

"I mean, let's face it, we didn't have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I'm not saying we should bring it back; I'm just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark".

"You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed."

"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"

"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

"They're 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?"

"Take that bone out of your nose and call me back (to an African American female caller)."

"I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve."

"Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Blood and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it".

Will the NFL approve Rush Limbaugh as an owner? It seems to me that Rush wins either way. If approved he becomes even wealthier. If denied ownership he gets to promote himself as a victim. Actually, he seems to like playing the victim.

So here's the question: What are the odds on Rush crying in public while decrying being a victim?

Carter's Rant on Racism May Be Right

All of the angst. All of the anger. All of the name calling. Now Rush Limbaugh sets the matter straight. It is racism, pure and simple. What else would you call it? Limbaugh says, "We need segregated buses."

Referring to an incident in which a white student was beaten by black students on a bus, an incident which local police have since said was not racially motivated, Limbaugh said:

“I think that’s wrong. I think not only it was racism, it was justifiable racism. I mean, that’s the lesson we’re being taught here today. Kid shouldn’t have been on the bus anyway. We need segregated buses — it was invading space and stuff. This is Obama’s America.”

A full transcript of Limbaugh’s comments on his radio show is available at MediaMatters.org.

There you have it. Rush is the expert on racism. He should know. He's been spouting racist remarks for years. Now he is suggesting that racism is acceptable because it's 'inborn.'

“If homosexuality being inborn is what makes it acceptable, why does racism being inborn not make racism acceptable?” the talk show host asked. “I’m sorry — I mean, this is the way my mind works. But apparently now we don’t choose racism, we just are racists. We are born that way. We don’t choose it. So shouldn’t it be acceptable, excuse — this is according to the way the left thinks about things.”

Limbaugh just proved that former President Jimmy Carter is right when he said personal attacks on Obama are "based on racism."

Who Believes Rush Limbaugh?

Rush Limbaugh has a theory for everything. His latest revelation has to do with Michael Jackson's death. He sees a parallel with Jackson, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. On his show Wednesday, Limbaugh stated:

Michael Jackson's biggest successes, and as it turns out his final successes, real successes took place in the eighties. That was Billie Jean, Thriller and all this. I mean he was as weird as he could be but he was profoundly, because of his weirdness, an individual. He wasn't a group member. He reached a level of success that may never be equaled. He flourished under Reagan; he languished under Clinton-Bush; and died under Obama. Let's hope the parallel does not continue.

Will Bunch sees another connection:

As for the Reagan's administration's role in MJ's musical burst of creativity during the 1980s, there was none. But it is worth noting that Reagan's steep cut in marginal tax rate for the upper bracket meant that Jackson kept a lot more of that surging income -- which he then squandered on a bad real estate investment while racking up millions of dollars in credit card debt before he died from lousy healthcare. So maybe in a perverse way, Limbaugh is right: Michael Jackson was a parable for the Age of Reagan.

It doesn't matter what Rush says, some people will believe anything.

'Moderate' is not a Republican Word

Former VP Dick Cheney was on Face the Nation. When asked whether he would side with Powell over Rush Limbaugh about the future of the GOP (moderation vs. doubling down on core principles) he rejected moderates and chose Gingrich over Powell.

If I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh. My take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican.

Slightly taken aback, host Bob Schieffer asked Cheney whether he truly thought Powell was "not a Republican."

I just noted he endorsed the Democratic candidate for president this time, Barack Obama. I assumed that that is some indication of his loyalty and his interest

While Cheney defined the move as a product of Powell's changing politics; Limbaugh has insisted the endorsement was race-based.

Today on ABC's This Week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also said, "I don't want to moderate either. I think our policies, the principles of our party, are as viable today as they have been in the past."

Rush Limbaugh: Voice of the People

The Republicans say Rush Limbaugh represents 'real America'.
Listen to ordinary people using Rush's words.

What do you think?

The Rush & Newt Show

Via Think Progress

This past Sunday on Meet the Press, former House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich took a shot at Rush Limbaugh, saying that anyone who doesn’t want President Obama to succeed is “irrational.”

Limbaugh responded on his radio show.

“You know, I’m frankly getting tired of talking about Newt,” Limbaugh began. “I mean, it’s a pointless exercise.” He then ripped Gingrich for being a typical “fly-by-night,” finger-in-the-wind politician who can’t be trusted:

They are fly-by-night operators, and most of them stand for nothing until they see a poll about what the American people want, and then they go out and try to say one way or another what the American people want while trying to falsely hold onto an ideology at the same time — and you can’t count on them. You can’t depend on them. They will sell you out; they will throw you overboard to save themselves, faster than anything. And they’ll use you on their way up as often as they can at the same time.

Limbaugh claimed that Gingrich is simply jealous of his influence. “I know that Newt would give his whatever to have what I’ve got,” he said. “So would any of these other critics of mine. … Newt Gingrich wishes they were running TV ads against him. But they’re running TV ads against me. So I love it. I’m up for it.” Listen here:

Gingrich is looking “seriously” at a 2012 run for the presidency. How far can Newt get if the leader of the Republican Party won’t give him his blessing?

Another Example of GOP Hypocrisy

In August 0f 2007, GOP RNC chairman Mike Duncan had sent an email to supporters. He claimed that Democrats wanted Bush to lose the Iraq war.

The Democrats are hoping our troops fail in the War on Terror in the craven desire that it will boost their party's electoral fortunes in 2008.

It is unconscionable that Democrat leaders are hoping for our troops to fail so their party can gain a political advantage.

That's right, the GOP found it repugnant that the Democrats didn't support the President.

It is now 2009 and the tables have turned. Only now the GOP, through their new spokesman, Rush Limbaugh, actually wants President Barack Obama to fail.

Americans United for Change have a new radio ad "Here We Go Again" calling out the legislative representatives who support Limbaugh's position. The ad basically says that opposing Obama’s budget would be tantamount to embracing Rush’s desire for failure.

I'm Sorry Rush!

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has a new website.

Check out I'm Sorry Rush!

Ever wonder how Republicans can tuck their tail between their legs and apologize to Rush Limbaugh so quickly after they've offended their leader?

We've uncovered the secret Republican Apology Machine.

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These guys know how to apologize!

Republicans who've dared to criticize Rush only to beg for his forgiveness:

RNC Chairman Michael Steele:

Rush is not the head of the Republican Party. He's an "entertainer" whose show is "incendiary" and "ugly."

I'm Sorry, Rush
"My intent was not to go after Rush - I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh..."

"I was maybe a little bit inarticulate... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."

"I went back at that tape and I realized words that I said weren’t what I was thinking..."


Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA):

"I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don't have to try to do what's best for your people and your party. "

I'm Sorry, Rush
“I clearly ended up putting my foot in my mouth on some of those comments and I just wanted to tell you, Rush, [...] that I regret those stupid comments.”


Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC):

"Anybody who wants [President Obama] to fail is an idiot, because it means we're all in trouble..."

I'm Sorry, Rush
Sanford’s Communications Director, said that "the governor was not referring to anyone" in particular.

Give it a try!

Jon Stewart on Rush

The Daily Show With Jon Stewartc

A Party in Limbaugh

Americans Won't Take NO for an Answer

Tell Republicans

Americans United for Change

Republicans: The No New Idea Party

The Republicans Have No New Ideas to Fix the Economic Disaster We Face

Via Frank Rich:

Here's a bottom line to keep you up at night: The economy is falling faster than Washington can get moving. President Obama says his stimulus plan will save or create four million jobs in two years. In the last four months of 2008 alone, employment fell by 1.9 million. Do the math.

“The Abyss is Widening.”

But you might think that a loyal opposition would want to pitch in and play a serious role at a time of national peril. Not by singing “Kumbaya” but by collaborating on possible solutions and advancing a policy debate that many Americans’ lives depend on.

What’s Time to a Pig?

The current G.O.P. acts as if it — and we — have all the time in the world.

The problem is not that House Republicans gave the stimulus bill zero votes last week. That’s transitory political symbolism, and it had no effect on the outcome. Some of the naysayers will vote for the revised final bill anyway (and claim, Kerry-style, that they were against it before they were for it). The more disturbing problem is that the party has zero leaders and zero ideas. It is as AWOL in this disaster as the Bush administration was during Katrina.

The Tax Cut Solution…Not.

The Republicans do have one idea, of course, but it’s hardly fresh: more and bigger tax cuts, particularly for business and the well-off. That’s the sum of their “alternative” stimulus plan … The tax-cut stimulus embraced a year ago by the G.O.P. induced next-to-no consumer spending as Americans merely banked the savings or paid down debt.

We also now know conclusively that the larger Bush tax cuts, besides running up record deficits and exacerbating income inequality, were also at best a placebo on our road to ruin.

The Rush to Limbaugh Syndrome.

The Republicans’ other preoccupation remains Rush Limbaugh, who is by default becoming their de facto leader. While most Americans are fearing fear itself, G.O.P. politicians are tripping over themselves in morbid terror of Rush. These pratfalls commenced after Obama casually told some Republican congressmen (correctly) that they won’t “get things done” if they take their orders from Limbaugh.

Though the Republicans’ official, poll-driven line is that they want Obama to succeed, they’d rather abandon that disingenuous nicety than cross Rush.

The Nightmare on Main St.

The nightmare is that we have so irrelevant, clownish and childish an opposition party at a moment when America is in an all-hands-on-deck emergency that’s as trying as war. To paraphrase a dictum that has been variously attributed to two of our most storied leaders in times of great challenge, Thomas Paine and George Patton, the Republicans should either lead, follow or get out of the grown-ups’ way.