# NOW will the Republican Party finally deal with Rush Limbaugh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 21, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736 "2012-11-21T17:24:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/1 "2012-11-21T17:24:27Z")
It looks like in the wake of the election, the uneasy alliance between the conservative base and the moderate GOP leadership is fracturing, and no one person better symbolizes the base than El Rushbo, the conservative blowhard with 20-million conservatives in his radio audience. And now some Republican consultants are call him out specifically as a liability for their electoral chances… [Steve Schmidt](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49778339/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/november-chuck-schumer-tom-coburn-joaquin-castro-steve-schmidt-doris-kearns-goodwin-bob-woodward-andrea-mitchell-chuck-todd-jim-cramer/), chief strategist for the 2008 McCain campaign, commented on problems with Limbaugh on Meet the Press 11/11 and again during a panel discussion at the University of Delaware last Wednesday: > [@](#): > > To too many swing voters in the country, when you hear the word conservative now, they think of loons and wackos. > \<…\> > We would have been much better off running against the real President Obama as opposed to the sinister pretend President Obama. And the total lack of credibility with some of this stuff, I think is just absolutely repellent to the middle of the electorate. And then when you look at the demographics, who is Rush Limbaugh talking to? He is talking to a demographic that’s white, 65 plus, and rural. It’s not what the country looks like anymore. So you have these talk radio hosts making millions and millions and millions of dollars a year driving a message of complete and total ludicrous nonsense into the electorate, a lot of it poisonous. Romney campaign advisor [Mike Murphy](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/republican-strategist-no-more-ideas-right-out-of-rush-limbaughs-dream-journal/) chimed in on Meet the Press this past Sunday: > [@](#): > > “It’s very fashionable now to beat up Romney, and he made an unfortunate comment after the election, but the biggest problem Mitt Romney had was the Republican primary,” Murphy said. “That’s what’s driving the Republican brand right now to a disaster, and we’ve got to get kind of a party view of America that’s not right out of Rush Limbaugh’s dream journal.” Limbaugh, as expected, [went nuts](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/11/19/the_gop_consultant_class_blames_me) in his latest edition of “broadcast excellence”: > [@](#): > > Okay, so you people are all white, 65 and over, and you live in the sticks. And you are screwing up the Republican Party, because you are believing what I say. This is their explanation for having lost. Steve Schmidt was the architect of McCain’s defeat, he was McCain’s guy. Steve Schmidt ran the McCain campaign. Yeah. I don’t know where Schmidt has a victory to hang his hat on. > \<…\> > I don’t know, folks, how long has it been that I’ve been telling you, these Republican consultants’ claim to fame – and they don’t have any – they go to every Republican candidate and they say, “I’m the guy that can get you the independents. I’m the guy who can run your campaign and get you the moderates so that you will win.” And they do not win. They lose. So, which is it? Is there really a “battle for the soul of the Republican party” here, or will they once again kiss and make up once they need each other? In either case, how do you think it will play out? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/2 "2012-11-21T17:40:11Z")
My thinking is, admittedly, mostly wishful. I think that, just like in 2010, he’ll be getting apologies from any Republican bigwig unwise enough to look cross-eyed at him. I admit that this is wishful thinking because I view Limbaugh as the most direct route to the eventual extinction of the Republican Party. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/3 "2012-11-21T17:41:50Z")
How instrumental was Steve Schmidt in the selection of Palin? If it was his doing, then the blame for McCain’s defeat could be put on him, imho. At any rate, his quote above makes him sound reasonably lucid. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/4 "2012-11-21T17:47:43Z")
Oh! So _this_ is why Rush has been bleating about being “only an entertainer” and having no influence in the political ring. He’s just a radio show guy, dontcha know! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/5 "2012-11-21T17:53:44Z")
Was it four years ago that some Republicans challenged Rush and quickly backed down, heading down to his compound to kiss his ass? Let’s see if they have more guts this time. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/6 "2012-11-21T18:06:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Steve Schmidt ran the McCain campaign. Yeah. I don’t know where Schmidt has a victory to hang his hat on. How many successful campaigns has Rush run? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/7 "2012-11-21T18:24:24Z")
World of Warcraft, assembled an adventure/raid with the top players. Got their asses kicked by two twelve year old girls from Petaluma. Oxycontin. Not even once. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/8 "2012-11-21T18:26:49Z")
I thought this had something to do with the National Organization of Women.:(:dubious::o That is the problem though, Rush writes himself off as just a comedian, except we all have to deal with grandma believing every word of it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/9 "2012-11-21T18:33:38Z")
They won’t be successful ostracizing any portion of the coaltion that maintains them. If they weren’t Republicans they might try countering Rush’s arguments with facts and reason in a folksy manner appealing to Rush’s audience, but they are Republicans, so they won’t. Best bet is they’ll pay him to shut up. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/10 "2012-11-21T18:46:17Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Was it four years ago that some Republicans challenged Rush and quickly backed down, heading down to his compound to kiss his ass? Let’s see if they have more guts this time. None of them have more gut than Limbaugh. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/11 "2012-11-21T18:55:18Z")
I don’t think it has anything to do with guts or principles. Rush gets you the demographic that helps ensure the GOP nomination, a strategy that simultaneously ensures you’ll lose the general election. That seems to be the current model. Nobody has yet figured out what the New World Order is, but from what I’m reading and hearing, the shift has begun. Rush will begin to lose his influence, IMO, now that it seems that that way lies defeat. It’s a purely practical issue. When people thought victory was only possible with Rush in their corner, they made sure they didn’t piss him off. Why do so now with a guy that only helps you end up a loser on election day? At least for national elections, that is… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/12 "2012-11-21T19:09:31Z")
Hopefully, when Limbaugh gets the boot, the Republicans will also disavow Grover Norquist. How in the hell does the GOP constituency tolerate their elected officials being beholden to this guy instead of to the people who elected them? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/13 "2012-11-21T19:12:48Z")
Truth be told, given his age and predilections for smoking, drinking, overeating, pain medications abuse, and sex tourism, isn’t it a good bet that Limbaugh will simply die before very long? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/14 "2012-11-21T19:18:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Hopefully, when Limbaugh gets the boot, the Republicans will also disavow Grover Norquist. How in the hell does the GOP constituency tolerate their elected officials being beholden to this guy instead of to the people who elected them? Grover is nearly gone already. He doesn’t have a very big microphone and lots of Republicans are about to okay a tax increase so he’s in no position to make a lot of noise about it. Rush is much less focused on one issue, he’s got plenty to pick from. He’ll just say the Republicans were forced to increase taxes by the Democrats through nefarious means and switch to another issue to harp on. Next election after excoriating the Republican ticket he’ll tell his thralls to step up and vote for the Republicans anyway. ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/15 "2012-11-21T19:26:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Hopefully, when Limbaugh gets the boot, the Republicans will also disavow Grover Norquist. How in the hell does the GOP constituency tolerate their elected officials being beholden to this guy instead of to the people who elected them? I’ve wondered this very thing. Not just the GOP constituency, but the government in general. How is it okay to essentially pledge allegiance to an individual, in a written, signed document? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/16 "2012-11-21T19:27:31Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Truth be told, given his age and predilections for smoking, drinking, overeating, pain medications abuse, and sex tourism, isn’t it a good bet that Limbaugh will simply die before very long? That’s a good point, he’s no spring chicken at age 61. Seems likely he’ll at least retire in the next 3 election cycles, if not actually go and meet the Lord. (Lord Lucifer Of The Netherworld) ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/17 "2012-11-21T20:05:41Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > I’ve wondered this very thing. Not just the GOP constituency, but the government in general. How is it okay to essentially pledge allegiance to an individual, in a written, signed document? Well, if you actually listen to our old pal Grover, he says that the anti-tax pledge isn’t to him, but to the congressperson’s constituents. He was on 60 Minutes a while back, and was asked directly if he’d release legislators from their pledges. That’s when he made the point that he had no power to release anybody from anything, that the lawmakers could only answer to their voters, not him. Not that I buy that, but that’s Grover’s stated position. Of course, as a practical matter, any congressperson who does go back on their Norquist-inspired no-tax pledge will find themselves primaried by an opponent well-funded by Mr. Grover himself. Kind of begs the question that Grover isn’t holding these folks over a griddle while he says, “That wasn’t a pledge to ME. I’m just doing my public duty of informing the voters about your flip-floppery.” If only we had legislators with backbones who didn’t think it a requirement to sign poorly thought-out pledges in the first place … ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/18 "2012-11-21T20:41:31Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Of course, as a practical matter, any congressperson who does go back on their Norquist-inspired no-tax pledge will find themselves primaried by an opponent well-funded by Mr. Grover himself. There is an enormous loophole in the Norquist pledge, however. If the Republicans were suddenly inclined to raise tax rates, all they would have to do to stay in compliance with the pledge is let the Bush tax cuts expire at the end of the year, and top marginal rates go from 35% to 39% without any vote at all. Then when they convene in January, they can vote to reduce taxes to 38% or 37%, and thump their chests as tax cutting conservatives, while simultaneously increasing revenue to cut the deficit. I am betting that is how this plays out. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/19 "2012-11-21T20:43:03Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > I’ve wondered this very thing. Not just the GOP constituency, but the government in general. How is it okay to essentially pledge allegiance to an individual, in a written, signed document? Part of it is probably the fact that WDC is a very closed society. Issues that are huge in DC often never get national play, or even emerge past the beltway. Given that small-town politics atmosphere, I can see where something could spin up into a big deal there for no other reason than ‘everybody else is doing it’. At some point, one would think that ethics might kick in, but one would be mistaken in that assumption. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736/20 "2012-11-21T20:50:28Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How instrumental was Steve Schmidt in the selection of Palin? If it was his doing, then the blame for McCain’s defeat could be put on him, imho. At any rate, his quote above makes him sound reasonably lucid. McCain wasn’t going to win in any case. Schmidt had to swing for the fences, and that was the one and only reason he picked Palin. As sad as it is to say this, Palin probably gained McCain more votes than she lost him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-will-the-republican-party-finally-deal-with-rush-limbaugh/641736.md?page=2)