It’s Now Rush vs. Steele
Rush Limbaugh, the Conservative icon on loan from God, role model for America’s youth, the man who proudly wears the size XXX-Large mantle of GOP leadership, the de facto voice of Conservatives gave a “brilliant” performance this weekend during his first national address to the nation at the Conservative Political Action Conference — an address that was broadcast live not only by Conservative Fox, but also by C-SPAN and CNN.
Paul Watson put it this way: “CNN, for one, went wide – with the kind of uninterrupted live footage usually reserved for Presidents and Popes, followed by a panel of analysts to weigh and consider the import of the speech to this republic of ours.”
It was so inspiring that even Democratic leaders are now admitting to Limbaugh’s brilliance and leadership of the Republican Party. For example, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel: “He is the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party.”
But strangely enough some of the leaders of the Republican Party don’t seem to agree.
Over the weekend, RNC Chairman Michael Steele appeared on D.L. Hughley’s show on CNN.
When asked by Hughley about claims that Limbaugh is the head of the Republican Party, Steele testily replied: “No he’s not…I’m the de facto leader of the Republican Party!” Steele went one step further and said:
So let’s put it into context here. Let’s put it into context here. Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment… Yes, it’s incendiary. Yes, it’s ugly.
Today, basking in his new glory as head of the Republican Party, Limbaugh did not take kindly to Steele’s remarks.
It is still too early to find transcripts of today’s irascible comments by the new de facto GOP leader (Limbaugh) towards the now defunct de facto leader of the Republican Party (Steele), but, believe me, they are priceless. Be patient, they’ll soon be all over the blogosphere. They are delicious.
The fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party is on.
Democrats, sit back, relax and enjoy it.
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3 Responses to “It’s Now Rush vs. Steele”
Of course Rahm wants Rush as the “leader” of the GOP he doesn't appeal to moderates or indies. Just like it was really easy to paint Moore and Sheehan as the leaders of the Dems after your 2004 defeat. It's just plain good theater.
And like the Dems, they didn't transform instantly. It took time and well massive GOP failures.
Well… Steele is living in an alternate reality. Far more people know Rush than Steele and being an entertainer does not preclude Rush from being a leader, either de facto or otherwise. Entertainers from both parties have gone into politics. And because the entertainers have learned to play to audiences they are pretty good at gathering support…. A true entertainment GOP ticket in 2012 would be Limbaugh/Palin (remember Palni got her start reporting sports).
Not that I think Limbaugh would run, but he would be a huge hit among Republicans who want to go back to core values. And if he does run, stranger things have happened.
For the last week or so, it's been clear that the Administration realized that a small incendiary device thrown into the heart of the simmering Republican Party could set off secondary explosions capable of ripping it apart. Thus, the “Rush Limbaugh is the philosophical leader of the Republican Party” meme they've nudged.
And man, look at the fireworks! Limbaugh is the perfect foil, an extremely controversial and far more widely reviled than loved entertainer, who's big mouth is exceeded only by his bigger ego. And sure enough, Cantor and Steele were forced to dangle the bait, and Limbaugh the orca leaped high out of the water as he snatched it, hook, line and sinker.
Will his weight pull the Republican boat under water? Probably not, but the Party is bailing furiously, instead of say, uniting and opposing Obama's agenda.