Kondracke: Hey, guess who was the real bipartisan?
posted at 11:35 am on February 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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It has to kill Mort Kondracke to admit this, so give him a round of applause for manning up on the (virtual) pages of Real Clear Politics. The executive editor of Roll Call doesn’t usually give Rush Limbaugh credit for much of anything, which readers can note when Kondracke refers to Rush as an “arch-polarizer.” But Kondracke credits Rush with providing more bipartisanship to the debate over the stimulus than the supposed Post-Partisan-in-Chief at the White House:
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but Rush Limbaugh actually has (or had) a good idea on the stimulus. Or, at least the germ of one.
On his radio show Jan. 26 and in the Wall Street Journal Jan. 29, America’s arch-polarizer — amazingly enough — proposed the outlines of a reasonable bipartisan stimulus package of both spending and tax cuts. …
The proposal was couched, of course, in Limbaugh’s customary disdain for government spending (“porkulus”) and disparagement of Democratic Party motives, but it contained a genuinely bipartisan idea. …
But, if Obama truly wanted to establish a post-partisan atmosphere in Washington, he would have not only met and had cocktails with Republicans, but would have given them a real say in drafting the stimulus.
Mort’s a little late — I wrote almost the same thing two weeks ago, when Rush launched his proposal — but he’s starting to come to the right conclusions. Rush actually proposed that Democrats and Republicans work together on a package that would allow them both to try their preferred policies in addressing the recession. Instead of an all-or-nothing bill, the American public could have seen a compromise that would have garnered some support from nearly everyone on portions of the bill, making the final version a lot more palatable, and certainly a lot less controversial.
In an $800 billion package, one might think there would have been room for this approach. But no — Nancy Pelosi insisted on drafting the bill within her tight clique. Barack Obama provided only a showy Bipartisan Tea while telling Republicans that since they lost, they had no say in how the bill would get drafted. Obama went on national TV to demonize the GOP for balking at a bill in which they had no input, which avoided regular order in both chambers of Congress to limit amendments, and which eventually finished in a sleazy, closed-door, back-room meeting, literally.
Kondracke doesn’t quite make it all the way to the right conclusion, though. In this episode, the supposed “arch-polarizer” had the right idea for bipartisanship, as Kondracke admits. What does that say about Obama, Pelosi, and Reid? He speaks about the need for some “humility” on the part of Democratic leaders, but fails to state the obvious: Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are the hyperpartisans in Washington. Rush’s proposal and the Democratic reaction made that crystal clear.
Somewhere, Rush is laughing and enjoying a cigar. Well played.
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Mark Garnett on February 12, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Mort is a class-A idiot. I have written to Fox News repeatedly requesting that they take him off their panel discussions. He can’t utter a complete sentence without interrupting himself, engaging in multiple verbal pauses, and exploring little rabbit trails before returning to the main point he was trying, and failing, to make. And referring to him and Fred as a Beltway “BOY”? Freaking ridiculous.
dhawbake on February 12, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Running rings around Moe, Larry and Curly Josephine isn’t exactly difficult stuff, we’ll see a lot more of it before these clowns are banished by the voters.
NoDonkey on February 12, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Rush = Perry Mason
Liberals = D.A. Hamilton Burger
flyfisher on February 12, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Tru dat, Mort. Tru dat. Welcome to the party. You are only a little late.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 12, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I don’t know what it is going to take for the public to figure out that Pelosi are Reid are wetting their pants over Obama. Not because he is a grand leader. He is a man who only wants to wear the crown and get his feet kissed. Pelosi and Reid couldn’t be happier to have this inexperienced, careless, figure-head in the Oval Office. He doesn’t care about the details, he just needs the adoration. What an easy mark for two of the most diabolical misguided leaders in our history.
sherry on February 12, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Ed Schultz was unavailable for comment.
JammieWearingFool on February 12, 2009 at 11:42 AM
If the roles were reversed and there was bill with tax and spending cuts, would conservatives want to add progressive priorities to bill in the spirit of bipartianship? I for one would not.
I have no problem with the Democrats lack of bipartianship. I just hope we can pay in back in spades. Instead funding Acorn, for example, lets cut those wasteful programs to nothing that feed their voting block.
WashJeff on February 12, 2009 at 11:43 AM
I can’t wait to hear Rush on this today.
L
letget on February 12, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Colins is LAUGHING at the Republican party and all freedom loving Americans everywhere… And she IS going to get away with it because they love her in Maine, a typical radical leftists hate-America State. So she is a lost cause for all the Messiah’s plans of destruction for Conservatisam and America. She needs to be thrown over NOW! Boot her out NOW!
Mark Garnett on February 12, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Somewhere? He’s sitting in his studio about to go on in 15 minutes and lead off with this and thump his chest while doing so. should be awesome
jp on February 12, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Rush Limbaugh earns more money in 1 hour than Mort Kondrake earns in a week. Thus the envy.
SeniorD on February 12, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Kudos to Kondracke for being able to state the obvious.
Rush is Right, as always. Which makes him a dangerous man to the left & moderates, Rush is someone who Obama or Allahpundit tries to marginalize at every opportunity.
Norwegian on February 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM
We should all spend our $13 stimulus checks to subscribe to “Rush 24/7″ and make sure Obamoron, Nazi Pelosi, and Dingy Harry know it.
Fogpig on February 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Uh, Doc, I’m afraid Mort is here at the party on a guest pass and has no intention of becoming a permanent member.
He much prefers to be the Chief Non-Elected Moderate.
Amendment X on February 12, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Late to the party? The BBQ’s been decimated, the dessert table looks like a cyclone hit it, the men are on the patio drinking,smoking,and missing football,the women are discussing chick-flicks in the kitchen, and Mort is sitting on the front stairs, petting the cat.
At least now he can say he was there.
AubieJon on February 12, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Well, there’s always “hope” for “change”……in the right direction.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 12, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Hey Mort. Don’t sound too excited for agreeing with the modern voice of conservatism. You might not get invited to the next Georgetown Cocktail party.
portlandon on February 12, 2009 at 12:06 PM
WashJeff on February 12, 2009 at 11:43 AM
An astute observation. It does seem as though we have got an all or nothing mentality in DC. I do think that Rush’s proposal was very clever.
catlady on February 12, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Mark Garnett on February 12, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Ok dude, this made no sense to me at closer inspection. You said that Collins is a traitor to the Republican party, but she will get away with it because of her liberal base in her home state, but then.. is she a pawn of Barry’s or not??
I would really like to see Harry Reid defeated in 2010. Is there a viable challenger?
catlady on February 12, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Mort’s a typical Washingtonian.
Lost in his little bubble. Busy exploiting the public to become rich.
notagool on February 12, 2009 at 12:18 PM
At least Rush did not act as if the whole thing was part of some conspiracy, he actually tried to come up with something that most Americans and both parties could accept.
I know some people think that Bush is to blame for all of this spending etc by not just letting things collapse back in September, but the truth is Democrats have been in the business of spending money for social programs since the days of the New Deal.
Rush knew this and realized that Republicans could not just ignore the situation and act like ideologues. He tried to come up with a viable alternative. He does deserve credit for that.
The Democrats acted like they own the country and said to say right now they almost do own the country. I hope their over reach will bite them on the a** and work to the advantage of Republicans in the midterms.
Terrye on February 12, 2009 at 12:24 PM
catlady:
I think that Collins is probably doing what she thinks the people of Maine want and expect her to.
Just like Coburn does what he thinks the people of Oklahoma want and expect him to.
Terrye on February 12, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Rush was demonstrating absurdity by being absurd, as per usual. He knows that bipartisanship is a euphemism for Republicans caving to Democrat demands. The converse is called “one-party rule.”
spmat on February 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM
That’s an apt description!
INC on February 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Kondracke deserves nothing but contempt for being the turd that he is. One little, “I screwed up” doesn’t mean jack to me. Now, if he took himself off the air because he is too stupid to give any meaningful debate then I would applaud that. Kondracke hates conservatives with a vengeance and will stop at nothing to try and make our lives the same miserable hell that his is. He is an intellectual slug and a flat-out liar.
progressoverpeace on February 12, 2009 at 12:45 PM
That is an excellent idea! I think I am going to do exactly that, and anything left over from this oh-so-generous rebate is getting funneled to the Cuda’s PAC. I’ll make sure they know about THAT too.
As for these RINOs, I think we should just mark them in the “other” column and be done with it. They are as good as being Democrats AFAIC. The political tide is never going to shift in Maine anyway, so Collins and Snowe are a lost cause. PA is really the only place I think there’s a possibility. Pennsylvanians do tend to have more blue-collar traditional values. I think Specter COULD be unseated by the right candidate with enough money to back him/her.
NoLeftTurn on February 12, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Can’t stand to watch Kondracke or Barnes on Special Report. Not only are they usually utterly vapid on most issues, but it takes them three hours minimum to make a single point. All the uhs, buts, ers, stuttering, trailing off, etc…it’s mind-numbing. They’d be better off putting Alzheimer patients on the panel.
Grayson on February 12, 2009 at 12:47 PM
WashJeff, my thoughts were exactly the same as yours: Let’s say the shoe were on the other foot: Republicans in charge, Franken giving the very same bi-partisan solution Limbaugh proposed. How many here would be saying, “Boehner’s a hyperpartisan; we should go with Franken’s proposal”? Very few. We’d mock him as the clown he appears to us, and our leaders would try to pretend he didn’t exist (or, if they’re like Obama, mention him offhandedly, “inartfully,” and dismissively). It’s not surprising that the praises a Rush-basher are singing are a bit more muted than you’d like.
calbear on February 12, 2009 at 12:56 PM
funny! (and true)
james23 on February 12, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I’ve watched him in agony nights on the panel, with Bret Hume trying to steer his comments into something cogent or…
“Oh look, shiny!”
What was I saying now?
hawkdriver on February 12, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I don’t think anyone has problems with that. We have problems with the Dems LYING and claiming bi-partisanship. And the “patriotism” part is just laughable. The flag-burners are now lecturing about patriotism! That’s rich.
progressoverpeace on February 12, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Exactly. Stop with the platitudes and deception. Democrats, you won. Go for it. When conservatives win things back, do the same. Cut all the programs that fund Democrat causes.
WashJeff on February 12, 2009 at 1:10 PM
I will say one thing, I have heard Kondracke say that most Democrats are disgraceful on the war on Terror.
Republicans need to figure out a better way to make headway on domestic policy. That is the only way they will win in places like New York and Maine.
I know conservatives think it is all about the money, but then again when it is something they care about they do not ask what it will cost. Whether it is the war on Terror or rounding up and deporting illegals, they never question the cost. They just assume that these are national security issues and thus the cost is immaterial. To a lot of people, domestic issues are just as important. So, Republicans need to work harder on the viable alternative angle. The Democrats just tend to run over them on issues like this.
Terrye on February 12, 2009 at 1:11 PM
.
Geez. Talk about a grudging compliment. Mort’s wife and Powell are heads of some foundation. Among other problems, Mort must be having dinner too often with Powell.
Seriously, is Obama finished whining about this bill? Pass whatever the hell you want. With the Three Amigos, you can do whatever you want. Propose it. Pass it. Own it.
Stop running out from behind the skirts of Reid and Pelosi to try to hide behind the trousers of the GOP. It’s unpresidential.
For a guy who won, Obama is the biggest crybaby I’ve ever seen.
BuckeyeSam on February 12, 2009 at 1:11 PM
He lost Americans with I want him to fail.
getalife on February 12, 2009 at 1:14 PM
They’d be better off putting Alzheimer patients on the panel.
Grayson on February 12, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Good point. Whenever I watch Kondracke (only by accident) I feel like I’m watching Austin Powers immediately after he came out of the warm goo.
SKYFOX on February 12, 2009 at 1:19 PM
The only way that the GOP will win in places such as New York and Maine is another 9/11. Even then, it has to be deep enough into Obama’s Administration so that it can’t be blamed on Bush. Yet even then, it will always be blamed on Bush–for countless reasons.
Frankly, if I’m OBL, I’d hit almost immediately. Obama will look bumbling in response, but he’ll have complete cover from the media as the media and the adminstration will mass-produce Bush pinatas, available for sale at amazon.com. Obama will sail through mid-terms and into a second term. And then that’s when OBL unloads. Years of weakness compounding themselves and a weak president locked in office for four years.
One target that OBL will never have is Obama. Obama is his golden goose.
BuckeyeSam on February 12, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Republicans can make headway in the NE and other “blue” states by being conservatives. People are really frustrated with the nanny-statism, tax evasion, corruption, and incompetence, but so far there has been little noise from Republican/Conservative quarters. Republicans need to come out and point to the idiocy of the state regulating what we eat and drink when there’s an economic crisis. They need to show how pro-business policies will stimulate the economy and create jobs.
The Dems/Libs aren’t popular, but right now there’s no one offering an alternative. Its disgusting that no Republican/Conservative is running for Mayor of NYC.
Where are the challengers to Schumer, Gillibrand (sp?), Kennedy, Kerry etc. No Democrat should run unopposed!
Iblis on February 12, 2009 at 1:33 PM
When the final vote goes down a Japanese film maker will release what will become an instant hit: Pigzilla conquers America.
Annar on February 12, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Bwahahaha….Yeah, right.
AubieJon on February 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Mort is too. I give Mort no credit for being mealy mouth. He is a leftist, but he is just too big a gutless little coward to come right out and insist on what he really wants. To occasionally appear impartial, he has to acknowledge basic English word definitions from time to time–unlike the leftist, treasonous leaders of the traitor-crat party.
urbancenturion on February 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Only if the Gambinos become dissatisfied with their little errand boy.
Or he dies.
Strike #2, he died years ago and didn’t know it.
“I see dead people”.
“No you don’t son, that’s the majority leader of the Senate.”
“Then why does he smell like dead people?”
NoDonkey on February 12, 2009 at 2:19 PM
LIAR!!!!!
He want’s his SOCIALIST RADICAL HATE AMERICA POLICIES to FAIL! So do I… God your such an idiot and liar… Quote what Rush said in context if you want anyone to listen, otherwise go back to the MMA web site for your next far left radical talking point… It’s ALL Bush’s fault you know.
Mark Garnett on February 12, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Wait a minute. I thought “America’s arch-polarizer” was the guy who called me unpatriotic a couple of days ago for not trying to help get his stimulus plan passed.
I must not be paying attention.
29Victor on February 12, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Yes, BUT…this is the kind of thinking that led to Jack Abramoff, Trent Lott, and Ted Stevens, et al. The had watched democrats in congress make their friends rich with pork barrel spending and projects for so long that they decided the way to get payback was to do the same thing, only with more pork than even the democrats had dared to distribute.
It was exactly the wrong kind of revenge….and look where the GOP is because of it?
So yes, defund their buddies in ACORN. But do not look for your own corrupt crony group to support in their place…just don’t spend the damn money. sigh
funky chicken on February 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I have to disagree. I love it when libs dribble like he does. Mind you, I would drive past him if I saw him standing outside his car looking hopelessly at his flat tire. Un-Christian? I think not. It may be part of a trap to take more of my earnings away.
ericdijon on February 12, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Rush Limbaugh IS the real bipartisan as anyone who actually listen to his show already knew.
On the Rush Limbaugh Show you will find Rush discussing the views of liberals, but unlike the rest, Rush gives the conservative viewpoint as well. When you watch one of the big 3 you only get the liberal view, but with Rush you get both. Indeed, Rush is such a bipartisan that liberal callers are put ahead of conservative callers. If that isn’t fair and balanced …
Only the uber-liberals deem Rush as unfit to listen to, and only the uninformed lemmings who never listen to the show agree. Real Americans listen, and find out for themselves, and that places Kondracke as a born again American.
Congrats, Mort.
DannoJyd on February 13, 2009 at 7:01 AM
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