On his show before the State of the Union on Tuesday, Rush Limbaugh used his direct line to Congressional Republicans to send a clear message:
"The election in November was not about Republicans and Democrats getting along with each other."
He must have read in Christina Bellantoni's piece in Roll Call Monday that "Several Republicans privately admitted [that] Members carefully monitor what's being said on conservative airwaves to make sure they aren't contradicting it or enraging talkers."
Also from Bellantoni's article:
With Members taking cues from the echo chamber as well as their party leadership, it's changed the way business gets done. Limbaugh and Fox News hosts Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity can mobilize more voters than any press release or floor speech, so Members find themselves needing to be responsive or face their wrath.
A Republican strategist and former top Republican National Committee aide told Roll Call that Members have one of two reactions when constituents start a message with "I just heard on Rush today ..." -- "joy and panic."
Limbaugh has more than 20 million listeners, and most Members couldn't dream of their message being so widely spread back home, the GOP strategist said.
"You've got to break eggs to make an omelette, and if you've never been mentioned on these shows in either a favorable or less than favorable context, one has to wonder, are you actually making an impact?" the strategist said.
If Limbaugh or Beck pushes an issue, his audience picks up the phone and taps out e-mails, asking lawmakers to take action. "These Members understand that their constituents are listening to this, and the consequence will elicit action that will place pressure on them," the strategist said.
[...]
The liberal watchdog group Media Matters has compiled examples of Limbaugh and Fox themes that made it from the airwaves to the floors of the House and Senate.
After Fox replayed "sting" videos showing alleged fraud at the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, then-Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) introduced a measure to cut ACORN's government funding. Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) wrote a resolution honoring James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles for producing the ACORN videos, and 31 of his GOP colleagues signed on. It never received a vote.
When Beck suggested on his show in June that an Obama administration drilling decision helped liberal billionaire George Soros, two Republican Members repeated the claim using similar language on the House floor. Limbaugh called the BP oil spill fund set up last year a "slush fund," a term repeated by Members in television appearances and during floor debates.
What squirrels these people are...
Squirrels are charming to a point, these are not squirrels. They are vermin.
Posted by: Coiler | January 27, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Squirrels carry rabies. Fact.
Limbaugh didn't need to read the Roll Call article, however. He's well aware of his impact. So are the various Fox personalities. And as much as the right likes to point at (the late) Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, or Daily Kos, nobody - noboby - on the left has remotely that kind of media power.
Posted by: Pete | January 27, 2011 at 09:16 AM
Jon Stewart nails Fox News on Nazi hypocrisy
Posted by: Coiler | January 27, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Fuck you and your Nazi hypocrisy you Nazi hypocrit.
You cock suckers have been calling people on the right Nazi's and racists for years just to be ass holes. Good at being assholes you are, but being first rate fucking losers is where you excel.
Posted by: Right Leaning and Right | January 27, 2011 at 11:15 AM
I see violence runs in the family
Posted by: Coiler | January 27, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Good post, coiler. I saw that and wondered about posting it but decided against. Still, it nails their hypocrisy. It's nice that the left can always supply evidence, isn't it?
Posted by: The Anti-Dori | January 27, 2011 at 12:42 PM
They compromise principle in favor of appeasing a bigoted drug addict.
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 27, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Rhino, nice play. Coiler, watch your back. looks like someone is bucking for your position on the totem pole.
Sgt. York
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 27, 2011 at 04:43 PM
Ohhh boy, I think the banana wagon has lost a load.
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 27, 2011 at 04:57 PM
To use one of Joanie's lines. Isnt that response from Rhino something you would hear on the playground at school.
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 27, 2011 at 05:33 PM
PB&J
Sure it is, but it’s a fine quip in response to your ‘silly’. You have become deranged in your new persona. Ranting and frantic, I’m distraught to have caused you so much consternation.
By the way, did you read the thread?
Rush needs the democrats and the republicans at one another’s throat. It’s good for his bottom line, and he has an enormous and stinky bottom…line. He has a penchant for oxycotin candy and a new honey biscuit both of which require the moola.
His lifestyle demands he keep his fighting dogs in a bitter battle. He makes his call, and the republicans snap to duty. Damn the country and our obligation to the constituents’ the republicans cry.
As Bill O’Luffa would inquire, What think you?
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 27, 2011 at 05:50 PM
I think BlackRhino is damm funny. You cons must wet your knickers everytime he or she shows up.
Posted by: me.yahoo.com/a/aE8uIxV9iu153tnAq0o_qEQnDtmUL.vw12k- | January 27, 2011 at 06:40 PM
I think Sgt York needs a talk with Private Similac and Major Ricketts
Posted by: Coiler | January 27, 2011 at 07:06 PM
"Leland Yee receives racist death threat from Rush Limbaugh fan"
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 27, 2011 at 08:05 PM
I was just going to post that Rhino. I assume that tomorrow Rush will be quick to disavow any connection with any of it.
Posted by: sparky | January 27, 2011 at 08:15 PM
You know, Sparky I wanted to say something funny, but I don’t think this is humorous. Rush won’t stop as long as he’s making money. This silliness is bought and paid for by the ignorance of the right.
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 27, 2011 at 08:24 PM
"Ranting and Frantic", "deranged". You got that all out of a compliment? Wonder what i would have gotten if i would've spanked your little butt.
Sgt York
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 27, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Well, like most junkies, probably high.
Posted by: joanie | January 27, 2011 at 10:43 PM
GOP senator says lowering violent rhetoric means ‘the shooter wins
Posted by: Coiler | January 28, 2011 at 09:52 AM
PB&J said;
“if i would've spanked your little butt.”
Sgt York
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 27, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Come now, for a professional Blogger with a PHD in online psychology, you are becoming a disgrace. Or is it psychiatry, I could never keep them straight.
The baggers have gone hi-tec on us, gang. Soon, they won’t need the pill popper for their opinions. They will get them from the hive mind through this sexy avatar. And while you’re there, take a look at the Guess Book.
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 28, 2011 at 01:15 PM
Sgt. York - that reminds me of F Troop. Now that was funny. Sort of. but not as funny as Ferris Bueller's Day Off. But that was not as good as War Games also with Matthew Broderick. Which brings us back to the State of the Union, politics and Limbaugh, leader of the war-mongering Republican Party.
My that was fun.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Joanie;
Win!1!111
But I’m sad to say, the humor will be lost on some.
The moneyed interest of Rush, leading the decisions of the republicans on the hill. Can that really be the change they believe in?
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 28, 2011 at 04:26 PM
goldMAN is talking about something I've brought up several times: that the problem with social security isn't that there's not enough money in it on paper but that the paper is worthless. They don't want to pay back the trillions paid into it by hard-working Americans because they don't have it.
They gave my savings account to the rich when they gave out those tax breaks and invaded Iraq. They stole my money once and now they want me to give them more.
And apparently callers are saying that Obama has opened up the Mexican trucking industry (a Bush proposal) to haul across borders to Canada thus making even weaker the unions who supported him and endangering citizens with trucks that are poorly maintained.
What a mess.
And the most violent industrialized country in the world is going to "shape peace in the world."
Unbelievable.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Plus 30 years of declining wages, have taken their toll on how much is paid in. The GOP has always hated their parents generation
Posted by: Coiler | January 28, 2011 at 07:02 PM
As someone with over 40 years over the road truck time, I think the best thing that can come of mexican trucks comming into U.S. is they will run over a lot of dumb ass Texas republicans before they can get our real people.
Posted by: saintrudy | January 28, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Intelligent Design"" Is that where Mexican truckers come from?
Posted by: saintrudy | January 28, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Saintrudy
Win!
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 28, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Rhino, are you following the events in Egypt at all? This could be the best news we've had in a very, very long time. The people are speaking up.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Yes I am. I have a side bet on Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan to become the new president.
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 28, 2011 at 08:53 PM
you might be interested in this Obama Administration Cut Funding To Promote Democracy In Egypt, Disappointing Human Rights Activists
You know I'm disappointed. He cut funds the Bush administration left in place to support human rights. Sometimes I don't know who is on which side.
BTW, Sarge, this is a Huffington Post link.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 09:02 PM
Personally, I don’t mind cutting funds to a government which doesn’t meet the demands of the agreement.
I do think Obama has his hands full with a war raging, the other spinning down and the Koreans spinning up in the bull pin. And if we didn’t need more fun the Mujahedin-e Khalq are making a bid to cripple the power structure in Iran.
Posted by: BlackRhino | January 28, 2011 at 09:12 PM
The Net is the only place where you can hear multiple sides of the argument.. we are fed just a few pieces of the puzzle in the mainstream news,.I don't even know how long we will have unfettered access to the Net..Thom Hartmann was talking today about how the government of Egypt shut down the Internet and cell phone service today...temporarily, but who knows how long next time. Comcast has a plan to control what we have access to, but they have to wait 7 years before they can implement it. Will people protest losing their freedom of information?
Posted by: sparky | January 28, 2011 at 09:15 PM
did you hear about this bird Paulson, who earned 5 billion dolars in 2010 for his services as manager of a huge hedge fund? He has been met with disgust and despisement from many of the Joanies of the country because he has made a lot if not most of his money by shorting- cleaning up with cash as he rubs his hands with greed and glee over the ashheap of once solvent companies and coprorations. My pledge to America is that i will never shiort. there are several double and triple short funds (a triple short fund will give you a 15% positive gain when the overall market index you're investing in is down 5% for the day) but ive decided not to invest in them . I wil make my obscene profits and millions , indeed googobs of money from betting on companies to succeed , not fail.
Posted by: Tommy008 | January 28, 2011 at 09:16 PM
rhino, too many holes to fill and a matter of priorities? Makes sense. I don't think the funds went to the government but to NGOs - non-government agencies and programs. $32 million to $7 million. But what's happening now is faster and probably much more effective.
Sparky, I have so much concern about that merger. I don't think people realize the damage it will do in the long run. We may be becoming an Egypt while they may be joining finally the European world where internet is not only freer (less money) but provides more choices. Americans are becoming more and more limited in access to information Just like the Egyptians. But the Egyptians are trying to do something about it.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 09:23 PM
Anybody notice Tommy hasn't been posting lately? I wonder what that's all about? You think he might have run off and joined the Army?
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 09:26 PM
Tommy, you snuck in on me!
Tommy, Paulson should be in jail. Under his watch as Treasury Sec'y, Goldman Sachs made billions. One big transfer of taxpayor money from your pocket and mine to Goldman Sacks. Aren't you keeping up? They got paid by AIG and by the tax payor.
And will those companies succeed in China or America? Which ones are you betting on? BTW, welcome back you old muckraker and joanie-hater.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 09:32 PM
im only two posts above you. nipping the Sangria after 9p.m. again?
Posted by: Tommy008 | January 28, 2011 at 09:33 PM
HAHA different Paulson
Posted by: Tommy008 | January 28, 2011 at 09:41 PM
And it tastes yummy. I love colorful drinks. But I prefer black russians.
Posted by: joanie | January 28, 2011 at 09:42 PM
The Paulson i'm talking about is John Paulson of the Paulson Hedge Fund, not Hank Paulson , former Bush treasury secretary. This Paulson story of how he personally made personal investment profits and fees fo rmanaging other people's money totalling 5 billion dollars in 2010 setting a new world record for most money earned within a 12 month period had nothing to do with Goldman Sachs, although they are true slimebags. I don't know enough about Paulson to call him names but i do note that he made most or probably at least half of his profits in 2010 from betting against companies and mortgages, in other words- shorting.
Posted by: Tommy008 | January 29, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Obama's new slogan:
Winning
The
Future
Lively discussion about this slogan over at He's trying to bring OPTIMISM and HOPE back to the American people."
Hmmmmm.....
Posted by: joanie Winning The Future? | January 30, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Maybe nobody but me cares but I've got another one:
Fox News misplaces Egypt on the map
Fixed News watchers must think the whole middle east lies in Iraq. Or do they think?
Posted by: joanie Winning The Future? | January 30, 2011 at 12:53 PM
New polls show that Americans don’t even buy the principles behind these specifics. To hear the G.O.P. wail about it, you’d think the entire country was obsessed with the federal debt — cited 12 times in Ryan’s under-11-minute speech. But only 18 percent of Americans chose the deficit as a top priority for Washington in the most recent NBC/Journal survey and only 14 percent did in the New York Times/CBS News poll. Job creation was by far the top choice — at 43 percent (Times/CBS) and 34 percent (NBC/Journal).
Health care was a low-ranked priority too in those polls. And for all the right’s apocalyptic rants about the national horror of “Obamacare,” most polls continue to show that Americans are evenly divided about the law and that only a small minority favors its complete repeal (only one in four Americans in the latest Associated Press/GfK survey). The surest indicator that voters are not as inflamed about either the deficit or “Obamacare” as the right keeps claiming can be found in Karl Rove’s Wall Street Journal musings. To argue that Americans share his two obsessions, Rove now is reduced to citing polls from either Fox or a Brand X called Resurgent Republic, which he helpfully identifies as “a group I helped form.”
People voted in a party whose issues they really don't support. I don't get it.
Posted by: joanie's Sunday Round-Up | January 30, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Fox misplaces Egypt on the map and the other networks continue to spread misinformation. That's why.
Posted by: sparky | January 30, 2011 at 03:05 PM
Did you know that 79% of the stimulus money in the wind/solar energy field has gone overseas? That's a fact that doesn't reflect well on our President.
Posted by: The Anti-Dori | January 30, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Yeah, to China, I believe. It stinks.
Posted by: sparky | January 30, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Little behind the times there Joanie. If i recall that was first posted back in July 09'. I used to respect the Huffpo but now they are just a political rag site thats clearly has an agenda against FOX News.
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 30, 2011 at 11:09 PM
You dont get it Joaine. People were tired of being un-employed. Thats why i voted all "R's" last election. First time in my life that i ever voted for anyone with and "R". Not that any of them would have won, but with the way things were going with Liberals in control and being un-employed at the time i figured it couldnt hurt. 4 days after the election, i got a call from here in Seattle to come for an interview. They flew me in, put me up at the Cedarbrook lodge in SeaTac and the next day, not 5 seconds after walking in the office, the HR lady looked at me and said "The job is yours if you want it". I said when do i start. The only way to explain it was that night i dropped my ballot off. Something just changed. Karma? Maybe. But whatever it was i am making the best of it now and atoning for all the bad things i did for the Progressive movement.
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 30, 2011 at 11:26 PM
That "Winning the Future" slogan is kind of catchy. I like it. But dont you think it implies we are losing already.
Posted by: Progressive Blog Junkie | January 30, 2011 at 11:39 PM
So you got a job because the Republican Job Fairy miraculously appeared Nov. 3.
Posted by: sparky | January 31, 2011 at 09:44 AM