Kingmaker Rush . . .

. . . reties the gold foil crown firmly under the chin of Bobby Jindal, who got disappointed reviews at best across the political spectrum for his Republican rejoinder to Obama's address last night.

Is Rush just a jester or does he have real political power?  And does he want it, do you think?  If so, will he have the effect of uniting or dividing, galvanizing or polarizing the Republican party?

It's interesting to watch who's queuing up to lead the party back out of the wilderness, and the different spins each would put on it:  Eric Cantor ("in the Gingrich mold" and also "the only Jewish Republican in the House"), Jindal, Palin (currently having minor public-trough troubles) . . . which of these "minorities" could reunite the Reagan majority?  It's interesting, too, that the front men and women now are of Obama's generation and the war babies and baby boomers, less photogenic but wilier -- Gingrich, Limbaugh, Huckabee, Steele -- have withdrawn into official or unofficial backroom positions.

Obama, however, was his own kingmaker and front man in one.  He's exceptionally wily for his age.  But then, Illinois is some stewpot to be seasoned in.

Comments

[Spud]

Is Rush just a jester or does he have real political power? And does he want it, do you think? If so, will he have the effect of uniting or dividing, galvanizing or polarizing the Republican party?

I would hope for Republican's sake, that they see Limbaugh as dividing and a polarizer. I would like to think that republicans are finally catching up with this loud mouthed blowhard. He has done more than anyone to make liberal and liberalism negative words. Thank God finally, fewer and fewer people are taking him seriously anymore. He should be an embarrassment to open minded conservatives, at least to the ones who should know better, that liberals are not anti-God and anti-country as Limbaugh and many like minded ditto heads continuously promote, which as led them to their downfall.

[Janet]

Stewpot or cesspool?

[karen]

Spud, YOU may not be anti-God or anti-Country. YOU may not believe that abortion is the Sacrament of the Left.

Unfortunately for YOU, many, many of your fellow friends(known or unknown,& branded w/the same iron)DO feel these very emotions when it comes to liberty of self and liberty of Country.

I think it would be wise if you were honest w/yourself and just admitted that there are some(ok- many, many) Liberals who are seriously against the defense of America as we know and love Her(or at least as i know and love Her) and that there are many who think aborting the child in the womb is no more serious than a really good bowl movement, as the creten is little more than human and way less important than relieving oneself of un-necessary waste.

Your mantra of ~Conservatives are bullies and liars because they are calling Liberals anti-God and anti-Country~ is getting tiring.

Are you pleased w/the steps Obama is taking to shore up our markets, jobs and economy? Are you impressed w/his leadership so far? Are you well represented by him and by your fellow Representatives? Are you relieved that the next four yrs are now in the hands of a capable servant of the people?

Lucky you.

[karen]

Please answer this comment(if you even see it- i'm always behind!!!)right here in this thread. I think it only fair that we have our coversation here, where it started.

[Spud]

Karen, in a nutshell, what separates you from me, is I don't equate conservatism with God.

[karen]

Spud,

you don't have to be a Conservative or even any kind of a believer in a Higher Power to have moral values that echo protecting the unborn as a positive or to believe that people have to work for what they get.

I've tried so hard, so often- to explain to you how, as a "traditional" Catholic(the kind that believes scripture should be left as written and not revised to be inclusive or politically correct)(as the kind that leaves the last word to the Vatican or admits to the sin of ignoring Church Teaching)why abortion is wrong. To no avail w/you. You call me a bigot for calling those who support opposite(proChoice, etc)as being unChristian.

There's no middle ground- therefore, there is no real, forward-moving conversation. It's all an argument of the same, tired talking points. I'm sick of it all. You can call me what you think- a bigot and narrow-minded. A Rush-following Rosseauist. I don't care anymore.

If Obama says to all Republicans: "Don't listen to Rush"- you can bet i will be paying way more attention to Rush now than i ever was.

" Are you pleased w/the steps Obama is taking to shore up our markets, jobs and economy? Are you impressed w/his leadership so far? Are you well represented by him and by your fellow Representatives? Are you relieved that the next four yrs are now in the hands of a capable servant of the people?"

Are you?

[Spud]

Spud

I've tried so hard, so often- to explain to you how, as a "traditional" Catholic(the kind that believes scripture should be left as written and not revised to be inclusive or politically correct)(as the kind that leaves the last word to the Vatican or admits to the sin of ignoring Church Teaching)why abortion is wrong. To no avail w/you. You call me a bigot for calling those who support opposite(proChoice, etc)as being unChristian.

And I've tried so hard to explain to you that because I don't agree with your solution to the abortion problem, doesn't make me pro-abortion. Why is it, that somehow I, and anyone who sees it the same way, is pro-abortion. That's dishonest.

Obama says to all Republicans: "Don't listen to Rush"- you can bet i will be paying way more attention to Rush now than i ever was.

Well yeah, he's music to those who see liberals as anti God and country.

are you pleased w/the steps Obama is taking to shore up our markets, jobs and economy? Are you impressed w/his leadership so far? Are you well represented by him and by your fellow Representatives? Are you relieved that the next four yrs are now in the hands of a capable servant of the people?"

Are you?

I am happy that Obama is president and Bush is gone. Will I be happy in four years? I have no idea.

[karen]

"And I've tried so hard to explain to you that because I don't agree with your solution to the abortion problem, doesn't make me pro-abortion. Why is it, that somehow I, and anyone who sees it the same way, is pro-abortion. That's dishonest."

And i've tried so hard to explain to you that the ones you are puting into power to make decisions are not anywhere close to your own solutions to the abortion problem!! The very opposite is true. They vote ways to expand the reach of the scapel-heh- guess that must have been what Obama meant when talking of using a scapel vs using an axe. He couldn't have been talking nuance of that spening spree of a Bill because that was forced through the Legislature w/a freaking post maul.

Lucky you.

[Spud]

And i've tried so hard to explain to you that the ones you are putting into power to make decisions are not anywhere close to your own solutions to the abortion problem!! The very opposite is true. They vote ways to expand the reach of the scapel-heh- guess that must have been what Obama meant when talking of using a scapel vs using an axe.

If the net result is less abortions, is that not good? I've seen no evidence that your solution would be less abortions. Where the dishonesty comes in this debate is the belief conservatives care more for life than liberals do.

He couldn't have been talking nuance of that spening spree of a Bill because that was forced through the Legislature w/a freaking post maul.

I don't know why stuff likes that surprises and bothers you. Isn't that how Bush did it?