Quote of the day
posted at 8:45 pm on March 7, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Notice that Limbaugh did not say: ‘I hope the administration’s liberal plans fail.’ Or (better): ‘I know the administration’s liberal plans will fail.’ Or (best): ‘I fear that this administration’s liberal plans will fail, as liberal plans usually do.’ If it had been phrased that way, nobody could have used Limbaugh’s words to misrepresent conservatives as clueless, indifferent or gleeful in the face of the most painful economic crisis in a generation. But then, if it had been phrased that way, nobody would have quoted his words at all—and as Limbaugh himself said, being ‘headlined’ was the point of the exercise. If it had been phrased that way, Limbaugh’s face would not now be adorning the covers of magazines. He phrased his hope in a way that drew maximum attention to himself, offered maximum benefit to the administration and did maximum harm to the party he claims to support…
In the days since I stumbled into this controversy, I’ve received a great deal of e-mail. (Most of it on days when Levin or Hannity or Hugh Hewitt or Limbaugh himself has had something especially disobliging to say about me.) Most of these e-mails say some version of the same thing: if you don’t agree with Rush, quit calling yourself a conservative and get out of the Republican Party. There’s the perfect culmination of the outlook Rush Limbaugh has taught his fans and followers: we want to transform the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Reagan into a party of unanimous dittoheads—and we don’t care how much the party has to shrink to do it. That’s not the language of politics. It’s the language of a cult.”
Blowback
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Yawn
Bosch Fawstin on March 7, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Levin eviscerated this ass-hat.
Valiant on March 7, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Newsweek makes me sick.
surfer girl on March 7, 2009 at 10:07 PM
I want Obama – O B A M A – to fail.
Clear enough for ya?
Hal-9000 on March 7, 2009 at 10:08 PM
GO RUSH!
I want Obama’s DUMBASS administration to FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone who wants Nancy, Reid, and Obama to succeed HAS NO BUSINESS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JihadKiller1s1k on March 7, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Spring forward, fall back, Obooba fail.
Akzed on March 7, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Frum is a conservative?
Consanescerion on March 7, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Levin ripping him apart was the highlight of my week.
It's Vintage, Duh on March 7, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I hope nobody lights a match with all those straw men standing around.
Immolate on March 7, 2009 at 10:10 PM
In the immortal words of Allah’s boss lady, “Boo freaking hoo.”
Percy_Peabody on March 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM
And Frum’s moderate policies and candidates have been successful when and how ?
Again, Peter Robinson is right. The elites got it wrong, the rubes got it right.
Who are you gonna trust?
tlclark on March 7, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Yes, it was a delisciously righteous beatdown.
Fletch54 on March 7, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Shouldn’t Obama listen to rush for 20 years before he throws him under the bus? Isn’t that how he works?… Why is Rush getting preferential treatment?
Scarbarian on March 7, 2009 at 10:13 PM
If socialism succeeds, it’s a failure. Therefore if Obooba succeeds, it’s a failure. So it’s lose/lose or something.
Akzed on March 7, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Refutation: See the latest Kennedy dust up. Whether or not it was a good idea to say it (I think it was), to think that if it were “phrased” differently- less nuanced- then Rush would have been spared, is a little naive.
Weight of Glory on March 7, 2009 at 10:15 PM
First rule of a cult: The Leader is always right.
Isn’t Rush always right?
Allahpundit on March 7, 2009 at 10:15 PM
It’s not the “language of politics” because some among us seem to want to allow the opposition to dictate what language we can use, and which sound bytes they choose to attack us about.
And some of us want to allow that. Like racism, it’s apparently enough to be offensive if anyone out there somewhere feels that they have been offended by it.
We can’t win by catering to their poor delicate feelings. If you are going to surrender first, then negotiate for the best terms, it’s the way to go, but if you want to win?
FWIW, I’m not a Limbaugh fan by any measure. But neither do I think that he is hurting us. Those who are hurting us are those who seem to have made the mistaken assumption that politics is beanbag.
jefferson101 on March 7, 2009 at 10:16 PM
When is the regular press gonna stop saying that Rush says he hopes obama fails, Hell even my mother called me saying, I know you listen to Rush every day you can. MSNBC was saying how Rush said he hopes obama fails blah blah blah. And I say, no mother he said he want’s obama policies to fail. Why don’t Americans listen to the facts anymore?
Alex Martinez on March 7, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I don’t worship at the feet of Rush. I happen to agree with him. Unlike members of the cult of Obama, I don’t expect anything from Rush except his opinion.
KelliD on March 7, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Its funny how I ALWAYS KNOW when it is David Frum writing. He’s just got such a great sense for how to come off like a jackass in everything he writes.
jimmy the notable on March 7, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Are you sad that Rush mentioned Ed but not you?
jimmy the notable on March 7, 2009 at 10:17 PM
You’re not serious, are you? Cult?
Weight of Glory on March 7, 2009 at 10:18 PM
99.9% of the time. Or something.
jewells45 on March 7, 2009 at 10:18 PM
One Big Ass Mistake America
El_Terrible on March 7, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Some of us disagree sometimes with Rush & we disagree sometimes with Frum. Can we still be Republicans?
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Glad to see you posted tonight’s quote Allahpundit, nobody quite knows how to rile people here like you do.
David Frum can go flip himself, preferably off a painful, but non-fatal, cliff. Why should we listen to or trust somebody who was supportive of Obama during the campaign.
And I haven’t heard one mention of him on Rush’s show. In the world of media, David Frum is like an ant why would he bother?
Kronos on March 7, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Of course he is. He has already branded Palin’s most fervent supporters as a cult, so why not do the same to people who support Rush?
jimmy the notable on March 7, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Allah, you need to consider returning to your old job working in a tollbooth. Of course, once Bambi gets through having his way it might be the only job you can get.
Percy_Peabody on March 7, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Always?
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Typical liberal tactic – censorship is “fairness”, and big government socialism is “conservative”.
He can claim to be a conservative all he wants, but he clearly is not. He’s a Republican, not a conservative. If Republicans like him win the party, the party is over.
peski on March 7, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Wasn’t the quote “I want Obama’s policies to fail”?
Sounds perfectly clear to me. But even so, people everywhere were morphing it into “Rush wants the country to fail.”
Yes, very naive.
YoungAmerican on March 7, 2009 at 10:20 PM
When I hear Rush say that I hear a tongue-in-cheek tone. But maybe that’s just me.
KelliD on March 7, 2009 at 10:20 PM
At this point it’s not a question of what anybody wants…Obama IS failing. Choose your topic: diplomacy, protocol, economics, bipartisanship….
James on March 7, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Uh..no..What was listed were associations, not principles, or philosophy. Mr Frum claims his conservative status because he associates with others who claim to be conservative.
He does not list any conservative belief.
So…he….lied.
Skandia Recluse on March 7, 2009 at 10:21 PM
There’s a difference between “support” of Rush–as I do & I’m sure AP does–& in thinking Rush is next to deity.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:21 PM
ROTFLMAO… Frum’s panties are in such a tight wad they are cutting off all blood to his brain…
doriangrey on March 7, 2009 at 10:21 PM
First rule of a cult: The Leader is always right.
Isn’t Rush always right?
Allahpundit on March 7, 2009 at 10:15 PM
No he isn’t. Now let’s ask the same question of the Ogabe believers.
Speaking of cults.
Bishop on March 7, 2009 at 10:22 PM
And by the way, I only listen to Rush occasionally and often disagree with him or find his statements silly. Frum is an ass.
peski on March 7, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Frum can have the Republican Party if he cares about it so much. Rush and the conservatives are more concerned about America than any political party.
Zolf on March 7, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I kept getting this rag Newsweek in the mail unsolicited and it took 3 phone calls to customer service to get it stopped. I don’t know how high my blood pressure would have gone or what I would’ve said had Rush on the cover by David Frum arrived in my mailbox.
Marcus on March 7, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Agreed – his “I’m the great one” schtick is sometimes amusing.
peski on March 7, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Tell me, which one’s views would Reagan endorse: Limbaugh’s or Frum’s? ‘Nuff said.
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:24 PM
When you are riding on a bus(The Economy) and the driver (Obama)is clearly going off a cliff (socialism)…:
Saying, “Stop” in a whisper, or a calm
tone to get attention isn’t going to work well.
Rush is the only voice that seems to be effective in warning
about the danger this country is going full speed into.
dec5 on March 7, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Obama lied, the economy died.
El_Terrible on March 7, 2009 at 10:24 PM
What is wrong with saying you want Obama to fail? Why such a debate about this? Obama is a left wing radical!!! Did you hear the sermons of his pastor of twenty years??? You can’t say anything that would convince me that Obama does not feel that way about America. Obama is a very serious mistake that threatens the principles our country was founded on.
Worry about the Cult of Rush? Hell No! We need to worry about the Cult of Obama.
74SeventeenSeventySix on March 7, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Der Leader is always wrong. There goes your theory.
fogw on March 7, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Frum was a big 0bama backer…a little projection on his part there? The whole cult thing?
0bama’s the one with the cult, Frumbles…and your dumbass drowned in the Kool Aid.
SuperCool on March 7, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Let me check with Rush. :|
Patrick S on March 7, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Rush isn’t nearly always right. But this argument is approaching Dan Quayle vs. Murphy Brown levels of pointlessness. I won’t defend Limbaugh from much, but this seems a classic combination of deflection and “freeze it, personalize it, polarize it.”
Don’t worry about your 401ks and the utter fecklessness of my Treasury Secretary — look, that fat guy has a microphone!
DrSteve on March 7, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Please,
tell you’re not actually buying the whole Rush = cult leader thing. I’d like to think you’re just trying to stir up discussion or something. I know you hate the whole cult thing which was (one of) your main complaint(s) with Palin.
But Rush himself admits that he makes mistakes and that all humans are flawed. No one thinks he’s perfect or that he’s always right, we just know that he holds a set of the best principles humans have come up with so far that lead to all of his positions. It’s not Rush, it’s the principles, and he just happens to be a very skilled evangelist for them. OK, that did make it sound like a cult.
Kronos on March 7, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Frum has every right to disagree and to voice his disagreement. But to call his listeners “unanimous dittoheads” and “a cult” is insulting. At least for me, I listen and agree with Rush because I agree with his ideas… not because of any psychological manipulation on Rush’s part. Frum and other certain other conservative moderates comes across to me as just plain jealous that Rush’s version of conservatism is getting more attention. They want to discount his “following” as mindless and cultish, but the real fear they have is that it strikes a chord in so many people, not just emotionally, but intellectually.
birdman on March 7, 2009 at 10:27 PM
He certainly isn’t. But what’s tiring is the empty-minded notion from those on the Left that he’s wrong because he was addicted to painkillers and he’s fat. Engage the guy on what he’s said. I dare ya.
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:27 PM
This? This is now the litmus test for devotion. I didn’t agree with him on the Dubai crap. Personally I think he’s a little too given over to the idea of NAFTA above all else. And he downplays Libertarians too much But this? Saying he wants Obama to fail, making, as AP bemoans, republicans “thread the needle;” this is the bane of the Republican party? Freaking A. If our elected officials can’t figure this out then there is no hope, sans Rush even. A cult? For the love.
Weight of Glory on March 7, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Some serious sounding man love here. I hope Barry’s work overload breakdown doesn’t throw David into a depression spiral.
a capella on March 7, 2009 at 10:27 PM
At least the POTUS is keeping much of his attention focused on a radio personality and not the frivolous things such as the economy or foreign policy.
Damnn, I love this new President of ours.
Bishop on March 7, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Rush learned from Coulter that saying things clearly & politely don’t get ratings & book sales. It would have been much better if Rush had said, ‘I fear that this administration’s liberal plans will fail, as liberal plans usually do.’ But Rush said “I hope he fails” to get headlines. Unfortunately, some folks misunderstand him, but it doesn’t seem to matter to him. And this showmanship goes on every day.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:28 PM
(Not you personally, Allahpundit.) LOL
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Obama’s success means an eviscerated, second rate America. Obama’s failure means an eviscerated, second rate America. The American people have nobody to blame but themselves and his policies may be irreversible once the non-taxpaying base of welfare leeches goes over the 50% threshhold of voters.Once that happens, re-election is assured, no matter how badly he screws up.
MaiDee on March 7, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Limbaugh is wrong (and was wrong for a decade) about John McCain. Frum was wrong (and probably continues to be wrong) about Sarah Palin, among other things.
Frum wants the government out of bedrooms and bodies, and Limbaugh wants the government out of wallets.
I want the government out of both, so both men say some things that I can agree with.
No single person is always right or always wrong, and Allahpundit is correct that Limbaugh’s fans are the ones who rabidly support him and try to denounce dissenters and tell them that they shouldn’t be in the GOP/conservative camp.
It’s too bad because somewhere in the continuum from Limbaugh to Frum is a winning formula, and the democrat and Obama overreaches will likely succeed in making Americans open to hearing a platform based upon individual liberty. I hope the GOP can move forward in a less rancorous fashion, but if not, there may be enough of a Blue Dog democrat revolt to save the country from socialism.
funky chicken on March 7, 2009 at 10:29 PM
What a line considering the hype surrounding hope. A little projection there from the author.
INC on March 7, 2009 at 10:29 PM
No, I was only asking the commenter a question, whether she always agrees with Rush. Nothing more.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:30 PM
David Frum Allah? What is with you? This is the self-admitted moron who thought Obama was a moderate, he has forever discredited himself. Rush is a giant compared to him, and you by the way. Enough with your Limbaugh obsession, it is getting really tiresome.
echosyst on March 7, 2009 at 10:30 PM
I don’t see the big friggin’ whoop about “I hope he fails”. That’s what all of the opposite party think about a new president. Give me a break.
Saying things “clearly” and “politely” at the expense of intellectual honesty is what makes the David Brookses and David Frums of the world.
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Bear in mind, I’m an “oddball.”
Allahpundit on March 7, 2009 at 10:32 PM
STFU and STFD…….
doriangrey on March 7, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I think Reagan was clear & polite to fellow Americans.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:32 PM
No, but more often then anyone I know. By far. Come on man!
kahall on March 7, 2009 at 10:32 PM
ROTFLMAO… Indeed you are… ;)
doriangrey on March 7, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Useful Idiot….
sirpatrick on March 7, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Frum should reach out to Rush and discuss his positions on health care, the environment and gay marriage instead of attacking Rush every chance he gets.
This infighting and snipping is just too much now — especially, especially, when Obama has given us so much in so little time to attack him with.
Punchenko on March 7, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Allahpundit on March 7, 2009 at 10:32 PM
That could be a term of endearment, you never know.
FontanaConservative on March 7, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I laughed as soon as I read that. Allah’s chumming the waters.
Guardian on March 7, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Were you around then?
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Second rule of a cult: If The Leader is wrong, see rule one.
Allahpundit on March 7, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I don’t see how any thinking conservative can disagree with the first paragraph AP quoted from Frum. (the second is a little to strong, though…)
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:35 PM
So, that time that you thought yoiu were wrong, you were actually mistaken??? ;p
doriangrey on March 7, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Well, I think part of Rush’s shtick is that he’s right 99.2% of the time or something, so no, he’s not always right.
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:36 PM
First off,thats a really,nicely done,doctored,lets make Rush look,
E E E E E V V V V V I I I I I L L L L L,
and,
SCARY LOOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on March 7, 2009 at 10:36 PM
TREASON.
Allahpundit on March 7, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Yes, I cast my first Presidential vote for Reagan.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Another thread about Rush? I mean, I love listening to Rush; but I’d much rather listen to him than talk about him.
youngTXcon on March 7, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Which cult was Frum referring to? BO’s or someone else?
d1carter on March 7, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Hang em….. ;)
doriangrey on March 7, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Rush has clarified his remarks about 100 times, anyone with a brain knows what he meant. Frum is an asshole.
echosyst on March 7, 2009 at 10:38 PM
The President, his boiler room operation and the Leftist Communists attacking Rush is soooo last week!
TheBigOldDog on March 7, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Hmmm, if I also admit to that, does it make me an old grumpy geezer????
doriangrey on March 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Fixed.
Still hiding from Jeff Goldstein?
Stephen M on March 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Well then why isn’t Frum spending more time telling us in his polite way that Obama’s liberal plans will fail, rather than creating his lib media bona fides by going after Limbaugh? Limbaugh would have been condemned no matter how delicately he phrased his “desire” or “expectation” of Obama’s failure.
ddrintn on March 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country.
: P
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I think this is the original Rush monologue that started all this.
If anyone has a link to an earlier monologue in which this is mentioned, I’d love to see it.
Frum isn’t even quoting Rush correctly in context and is just using this to sell his column. My bold to indicate what Rush says first.
INC on March 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Hey Allah,
I’ll bet a lot of us spend way more time here at HA than we do listening to Rush. Does that make HotAir a cult?
rockmom on March 7, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Who listens to Fravid Dum?
PJ Emeritus on March 7, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Good question. I don’t read Frum except for what’s quoted in HA.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Well that’s saying that Rush should stop being Rush. Like that would somehow be better for everyone. If Rush wasn’t making headlines, does anyone here really believe that the entire news-media would actually spend that energy on thinking critically about Obama’s policies? People say, “Oh the Democrats are using Rush to distract people. Let’s blame Rush for giving them something to use!” If they didn’t use Rush, they would have used something else. Or they simply wouldn’t have talked about Obama’s policies and we would have had a couple of weeks of slow news.
jimmy the notable on March 7, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Our Gracious Host, apparently.
jimmy the notable on March 7, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Same guy that thought Obama would be a moderate?
F*CK HIM and his opinion.
jukin on March 7, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Actually, I think Limbaugh’s original quote came from the Fox interview with Hannity.
jgapinoy on March 7, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Looking objectively at Frum’s ranting about his desire for Republicans to embrace abortion, and ‘compassionate’ big government medical care programs, shows that he would be much happier as a blue dog democrat.
Freddy on March 7, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Come on Allah, Rush isn’t always right, he doesn’t claim to be, and Frum is an idiot.
I think most everyone can agree on those three things. NO ONE (at least not that I’ve seen) has said that Rush is perfect.
Kronos on March 7, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Do these rules mention anything about the cults that only exist in the minds of people who see cults everywhere?
jimmy the notable on March 7, 2009 at 10:42 PM
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