Audio: Limbaugh resigns as head of the Republican Party
posted at 3:05 pm on May 20, 2009 by Allahpundit
Not that this will stop MSNBC from mentioning him every half-hour to help push the Democrats’ “l’etat, c’est Rush” message about the GOP, but his resignation has been duly tendered and the deed is done. What choice did he have, really? Now that there’s a purer, truer conservative on the scene who’s available to replace him, he did the only gallant thing he could and stepped aside. The clip doesn’t capture all his remarks on this subject today but I recommend listening to it before clicking this link. Otherwise you’ll spoil the surprise.
Exit question: Does this mean Darwinism’s back in vogue on the right? Click the image to listen.











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I am out too.
echosyst on May 20, 2009 at 3:07 PM
MSNBC mentioned him today…they couldn’t even make it through one day with mentioning Rush.
ladyingray on May 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Exit question: Does this mean Darwinism’s back in vogue on the right?
LOL!! I guess for your sake Allah, Darwinism is back and stronger than ever. Just ask Colin Powell
youngO on May 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Ball is in your court, Colin.
(Brilliant move, El Rushbo.)
NebCon on May 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
What’s another “quick break” for Limbaugh?
OhEssYouCowboys on May 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
He is still the defacto leader of the GOP
nice343 on May 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
The Big man calls the little man’s bluff.
BigD on May 20, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Of course he is, I mean Rush was out there early telling everyone, “vote for McCain; he needs to be our guy. McCain agrees with everything I do.”
Oh… wait.
Esthier on May 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Pretty sad when Rush Limbaugh and Colin Powell are fighting over the Republican Party – see yah GOP.
dpierson on May 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
He’s still the leader of the conservative movement.
JammieWearingFool on May 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
The only reason I’m keeping my Republican Party registration is to vote for McCain’s opponent next year in the primary. But I haven’t been a Republican, in the party’s current state, for a while now.
jennifernaz on May 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
No , now it’s Colon. The source of emerges.
the_nile on May 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Heh. Once again, someone who has not honed his or her skills in the public entertainment arena chooses to square off against someone who has – and ends up with egg on face.
No surprise, really – Rush is the master of his medium, anyone who truly wishes to take him on had better study up and be prepared….
Mew
acat on May 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
He had difficulty influencing the outcome of the primaries in 2008. He has a big audience but does more harm than good for the GOP if the goal is a political majority.
dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 3:15 PM
+1 Yup.
I tell people I’m a conservative, not a Republican. They aren’t one in the same anymore.
jennifernaz on May 20, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Thank G_d. It is going to be so much easier to win elections now with Colin Powell telling us how to do it.
But what will be the new GOP Leader catch phrase to replace “mega dittoes”? Mega ellipses? Mega brackets? Mega questions marks?
myrenovations on May 20, 2009 at 3:15 PM
You have to get really early to try to out-do Rush. He nails it every time.
L
letget on May 20, 2009 at 3:16 PM
What’s with the Darwinism thing again? Why do you care? Does being wrong make you feel intellectually superior?
ThackerAgency on May 20, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Why do I see this like a game of Hot Potato?
Collin Powel to announce he’s not the head of the GOP in 5…4…3…
Romeo13 on May 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Mega McCain
Vashta.Nerada on May 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Let the CP GOP emerge…tehe
d1carter on May 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Funny. Even when Rush is goofy, he does make me laugh.
AnninCA on May 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Difficulty? Even Operation Chaos was a bust.
And when’s the last time a politician listened to Rush? There is very little about the GOP today that resembles what Rush talks about on a regular basis.
Esthier on May 20, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Well done.
myrenovations on May 20, 2009 at 3:19 PM
What the heck does darwinism have to with anything political? I cannot understand why threads on Darwinism produce sooooo many comments. What does another view on this theory effect my life? Near zero. It would be a total zero if no public schools existed.
Kudos to Rush. I hope Tapper or someong in the MSM ask Powel what he stands for.
WashJeff on May 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Colin Powell, the new leader should get Charlie Crist as his assistant. Then they can change the name of the party to Perpetual Losers.
We are strongly with Rush and so are more and more people. You fools in Washington.
suzyk on May 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM
General Powell…………
………… the floor is yours.
(crickets chirping)
Seven Percent Solution on May 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Mega-colons, of course.
Or turned sideways, mega-umlauts.
JammieWearingFool on May 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM
What harm did he do in 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004?
Erich66 on May 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM
too bad he didn’t endorse anybody in the primary genius
youngO on May 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Why hasn’t Colin Powell made a speech yet? Since he’s the new leader – I want to see him articulate the reasons why HIS Republican Party is superior to Obama and the Democrats.
Since he’s done nothing but damn the GOP and praise the Democrats – as leader of the GOP – he’ll have to change this.
Patiently waiting.
HondaV65 on May 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM
I don’t listen to Limbaugh, or any of the others. 30 minutes of every hour are devoted to commercials. 15 minutes of every hour are devoted to self-serving, delusions of grandeur oratory, and the remaining 15 minutes of every hour are devoted to things that I already know – that Democrats are Socialists. That Republicans are cowards. And that I am a Conservative without a Party.
OhEssYouCowboys on May 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM
I’m not Frank Luntz, but that is not going to poll well.
myrenovations on May 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM
That was Rush at his finest. Total smack down of Powell. Can’t wait to see how the MSM spins this one!
davek70 on May 20, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Yep, I quit calling myself Republican months ago.
Conservatism is where it’s at.
carbon_footprint on May 20, 2009 at 3:24 PM
davek70 on May 20, 2009 at 3:22 PM
I have to agree. That was the ultimate smackdown
youngO on May 20, 2009 at 3:24 PM
I’m not a gambling man but what are the odds that Powell will attempt to rally the Republican party behind Obama? /sarc
FloatingRock on May 20, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Goody!
Can we nominate Glenn Beck as Rush’s successor?
hahahaha
strangelet on May 20, 2009 at 3:25 PM
So…if Rush resigns as the titular head of the GOP and Powell picks up the mantle, does that make Powell a b00b?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
check out the “helen thomas: obama backs away from everything” link over there at RCP, too. priceless…
homesickamerican on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Can we please find a non-Flat Earther that believes in personal responsibility, personal freedom, low taxes, small government and robust national defense. That is all I ask. A titular head that is not an embarrassment.
tommylotto on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/05/19/helen_thomas_obama_backs_away_from_everything.html
homesickamerican on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Allahpundit, if you were anything but an atheist, you would be thanking God for this freebie of a post that is guaranteed to be worth 400+ comments.
BigD on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Kwef, your mom is calling you…
Upstater85 on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Produce the evolutionary missing link between our depression and our prosperity.
Meanwhile, don’t mention Limbaugh.
It’s a challenge.
maverick muse on May 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM
At last, a Republican leader we can finally count on without any hesitation. General Powell. Our guide through the wilderness.
Life will be so much easier and better for us now that General Powell is in charge. We must all listen to General Powell very, very carefully for our instructions.
And everything General Powell recommends, do the exact opposite. You can count on it. Without hesitation.
Loxodonta on May 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Powell beat Obama on voting “Not present.”
It’s really a funny piece by, in idea, by Rush.
His execution?
I give that a D today.
AnninCA on May 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Time for my Al Hague moment of glory!
I`m in charge here, at Hot Air.
ThePrez on May 20, 2009 at 3:28 PM
I think the underlying point here is if you don’t like Rush, step up and speak out. What is your vision? What are your plans? What are your priorities? Where do you disagree with Obama?
What was good about Steele’s speech yesterday was that he made an impersonal case against Obama’s policies. A person who does that at least has a theoretical right to claim the leadership. People who only criticize other Republicans do not.
radiofreevillage on May 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Kinda like the Seinfeld episode, where George resolves to go against his usual inclination – and meets with success.
OhEssYouCowboys on May 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Sorry, OT:
No wonder the GOP gets no traction on anything. Even a conservative blog like Hot Air can’t be bothered with a post, even an headline on its health-care proposal.
Instead, we get the following:
Iran (fine)
Sherlock Holmes trailer (WTF?)
Ingraham on ND (who cares? stale story)
Powell (who really cares?)
Krauthammer (must read)
Rubio (fine)
Biden (who cares?)
Glenn Beck on The View (no comment)
Obama upstaging Cheney (interesting)
Rush (who cares?)
GOP health-care proposal–Crickets and no links.
Ed’s earned a vacation, but I hope he returns soon.
BuckeyeSam on May 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Colin Powell is Barackus Caesaer’s house-boy waiting to emerge.
Otherwise, he’s not a Republican in any way, shape, or form.
SilverStar830 on May 20, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Yet you claim to know eveything about a show you don’t listen to.
Sounds like the libs. They know they hate the guy but have never listened to him.
JammieWearingFool on May 20, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Why is everyone so desperate for leader? Neither Palin, McCain, Limbaugh nor Beck are leaders. It’s a pretty sad indictment of the average voter that we are looking for the one great messiah to fix everything for us. Get of your asses and go down to the local GOP headquarters and get involved. The only way to fix this is from the bottom up.
dpierson on May 20, 2009 at 3:30 PM
BigD on May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM
He supersizes himself. Allah achtgeben.
maverick muse on May 20, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Rush rocked today. He is far more than an “entertainer” – he is a brilliant observer of the American political landscape, and the preeminent voice of conservative principles.
How about “Mega trillions!”? That’s what Colin insists Americans happily want to spend cause they love big government, dontcha know.
Buy Danish on May 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
OhEssYouCowboys on May 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Or the episode where his program show idea was about absolutely nothing.
maverick muse on May 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
I’m with you Rush, titular head of the Republican Party who needs it ;)
Dr Evil on May 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Didn’t say that he did. He avoided it and ended up with a candidate he was highly critical of.
dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Excellence in broadcasting!
maverick muse on May 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Fixed it for ya. Now all we need are emission reductions.
IrishEyes on May 20, 2009 at 3:33 PM
No, you imbecile. I don’t listen to him, or to any of the others, PRECISELY for the reasons that I set forth.
OhEssYouCowboys on May 20, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Nice to know I don’t have to go to the San Diego Zoo to see a crap-throwing monkey.
Patrick S on May 20, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Who cares?
The people who read the site regularly. Was that not clear?
If you’re tapped into the real vein of what could help the GOP regain its footing, make a blog that you know will just rocket them back into power. Make sure to ask Meghan for permission, though.
MadisonConservative on May 20, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democratic Party.
Jim Treacher on May 20, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Ah, so now you’re a Beck stalker…
ladyingray on May 20, 2009 at 3:36 PM
dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Yeah, and that says what? The candidates were crap.
youngO on May 20, 2009 at 3:36 PM
So how do you know what goes on during his show, imbecile?
JammieWearingFool on May 20, 2009 at 3:37 PM
BuckeyeSam on May 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Uhh…if you don’t like it kid, go to another site. I think the folks over here are pretty satisfied, myself included
youngO on May 20, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Times and technology change. He’s becoming an object of ridicule and a cartoon figure for Dems to point at and attract moderates.
dedalus on May 20, 2009 at 3:38 PM
No one can attract Obot Trolls like Limbaugh, he is the Leader LOL!
Dr Evil on May 20, 2009 at 3:39 PM
I’ll tell you what this does…..this now creates a vacuum and Steele has a very touchy subject here. He said he wants them all without drawing a difference.
Rush said, “Fine, take Powell than”. Powell represents what’s wrong with the party and the leaders know this. Now they have to make a decision. Brilliant move El Rushbo!
The Conservative Movement has now Emerged in plain sight! Your either with us or against us!
will sass u on May 20, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Because I USED to listen to him. You really are a “fool,” aren’t you?
Oh well, to thine ownself, be true. JammieWearingFOOL.
OhEssYouCowboys on May 20, 2009 at 3:40 PM
To Cowboy who has issues with the commercials; you can download Rush and others via itunes to an ipod, and with Rush there are no commercials. Hewitt still has commercials, but they are not so many.
This move was smmmmmooooth, and what makes us love Rush. LMAO! Hysterically funny!
Colon, (loved the spelling change made by some here), is now going to see what it is like to lead a million man march as compared to a tea party. Other than the MSLSD and some RINOS, WHO is following Colon? I mean the man has not proposed ANYTHING! Zip, zero, nada! Perhaps that is why he is soooooooooo in luv with Zero!
Rock on El Rushbo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leader til death and beyond of all Conservatives world wide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
freeus on May 20, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Exactly. I don’t want leaders. What I want are employees that do what I tell them to do, from local dogcatcher up to the white house.
Vashta.Nerada on May 20, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Limbaugh and Beck (and Savage) have high entertainment value. They report on the news and give some new insights and spin to things. They often dig up tangential stores that make it possible to get some information even from the MSM when putting it all together.
However, that by now means qualifies them to be a leader of the only other party of consequence in this country. I use this as an indicator of the rot that has permutated the GOP. Where is the party of Reagan?
dpierson on May 20, 2009 at 3:42 PM
That crazy representative democracy thing – I like it.
dpierson on May 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
If Colon Powell is the new head, I’m out, too!
Kensington on May 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Can’t we just say where we agree with him*? It’s a much shorter list. Here, I’ll go first:
I agree with him and Miss California that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
*Recent flip flops to conservative positions don’t count, particularly if he campaigned with the exact opposite view.
Buy Danish on May 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
So you gravitate towards those who ridicule someone who has overcome an addition, and those who are overweight? What an asshat.
Patrick S on May 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
And yes, I do know how Colin is spelled.
Kensington on May 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
ewwwwwwww!
disgustamondo!
I’m AllahP’s stalker.
I don’t stalk guyz with multiple chins.
strangelet on May 20, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Jus’ saying, I think the MSM willnow try to make Beck the face of the GOP.
Don’t forget your clown makeup!
strangelet on May 20, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Mindless followership and celebrity worship is not a good base for reforming a party.
dpierson on May 20, 2009 at 3:46 PM
I heard he’s waiting on orders from Col. Powell.
roux on May 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM
I always love it when a person starts off a critique of a subject by admitting they don’t even watch/listen/read/ said subject. It’s like saying “I don’t watch TV, but here is my review of the the Lost finale.”
Ampersand on May 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM
I guess you have too short an attention span to sit through a few commercials. Perhaps there’s some medication available to help your ADD.
JammieWearingFool on May 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM
1. He made it a matter of policy not to endorse republican candidates in the primaries.
2. He extended the democrat primaries for months, and specifically said selecting for a specific winner in those primaries was NOT a goal – only extending the process.
If the goal is merely political majority, what’s the point of the party? Either a political majority can be created based on capitalist/individualist principles or it’s just a sports game.
ebrawer on May 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Watch out or he’ll start calling you names.
JammieWearingFool on May 20, 2009 at 3:49 PM
What’s interesting to me about CA’s vote, the current Rush/Powell debate, watching Obama in a corner, Pelosi in trouble..
I really think the public wanted true change. Republicans stayed home, unconvinced. Dems voted, convinced.
But I think there’s a lot of agreement, cluttered up of course.
I personally think what we’re ALL AGAINST is inefficiency.
We are just toast on that.
We can’t live that way ourselves anymore.
So we’re toast on ineffectuality in all areas.
AnninCA on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Colin powell is as republican as madison conservative/megs mccain
TTheoLogan on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
For the win. Veddy, veddy witty. :)
hoosiermama on May 20, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Colin Powell is nothing but a figure-head, icon-type, who is retired and frankly, retired, in shame.
He doesn’t even have the courage to stand up for his own convictions.
AnninCA on May 20, 2009 at 3:53 PM
AnninCA on May 20, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I am against Socialism and I don’t care what cute name Janet Napolitano thinks up for it.
Dr Evil on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Don’t use “we”.
You don’t matter.
bluelightbrigade on May 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Funny, you guys still don’t get the difference between being a conservative and a Republican. Anyone can declare themselves to be a Republican. When I registered at the courthouse I did not have to pass a test to do so. The party that is not in power always undergoes this navel-gazing and tries to redefine itself to get back into power.
The problem I have is that, as a conservative, the party has abandoned me. I see no hope in getting that changed until the Republican party returns to sound conservative principles regardless if that wins the next election or not. Once we have forsaken power to stand for what is right we will get back into power.
dpierson on May 20, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Leave the party rush
The de fatso leader gone
I now laugh aloud
/getalife
blatantblue on May 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
From your keyboard, to Gods……errr…….Obama’s ears.
capejasmine on May 20, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Heh. Pretty short list. One item.
a capella on May 20, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Karma can be a bitch,and I’m sure glad I won’t be on the recieving end of your comeuppance.
Amazing, that you can’t debate, without ridiculing. It just reeks of your intelligence, or lack there of.
capejasmine on May 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM
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