Have You Heard the One About The Fat Demon And The Republican?

Michael Steele proved himself to be not the Man of Steel, but in reality the Punk-Ass Chump of Kleenex, today apologizing to Rush Limbaugh after less than 36 hours for comments he made about the corpulent narcissist during Steele's appearance last weekend on CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks The News:

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary.”

“My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,” Steele said in a telephone interview. “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.”

Once again, another Republican has grabbed his ankles and offered up himself to the real leader of the Republican party. And if this fat sexist asshole is the leader of their party, then what does it say about them, and their goals?

John Cole:

In just a few days, Rush has threatened anyone who thought Jindal’s speech was bad, publicly castrated the RNC chairman, repeatedly associated the Republican party with desires for President Obama to fail, stated that ideas don’t matter and then proved it by misquoting the Constitution, and wrestled control of the GOP from any and all of their elected leaders at the annual conservative conference.

The spectacle of leading Republicans loudly proclaiming that they stand for "freedom," then abandoning their principles to cower at Limbaugh's feet (which he himself haven't seen for decades) like frightened children before an abusive parent, is amusing, but it also says something about the state of the Republican party and its members. Rahm Emanuel was absolutely correct when he said on Face the Nation Sunday that Limbaugh is “the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party.” Limbaugh has dominated the far right for years; now, in this period of Republican decline, he has emerged as the absolute master of the wingnut fringe.

Of course, the Repugs have nothing left but wingnuts; all of the rest have retired, been defeated, or incarcerated. The remaining Republicans come from deep-red states and districts, and won't lose anything by pledging allegiance to this fat bastard. However, given Limbaugh's 65% disapproval rating and his documented racist, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic views, the laughable vision of so-called "freedom-loving, patriotic" Republicans aligning themselves with a man who said of President Obama, "I hope he fails!", gives the other two-thirds of the country pause.

The Rude Pundit:

If the face the Republicans want for its future is this, this sweaty self-aggrandizer, this fat fuck, this demonstrable embodiment of the seven deadly sins, he who is everything that we should hate about capitalism and, indeed, the indulgences of this nation, Diamond Jim Brady without the class, this proud rube who spouts lies and hatred, then bring it, bitches. Like so many on the right, Limbaugh is using the same goddamn lines he's been using for years. He has no idea what he's up against this time. The vast majority of the nation has moved on from the sad plump man in his tiny room.

Limbaugh's emergence as the leader of the party shows the Republicans for what they really are: a small and dwindling group of rich, old, white men, frightened by the changes they have seen and foresee in America, afraid of the future, and delusional about the past. Limbaugh's ascension proves that the Repugs have no new ideas, as they fall back on the tried & true positions, methods, and tactics of fifteen years ago, proof positive that the Republican party as presently constituted offers nothing to America.

Rush owes his power and influence in the party as much to ignorance as to fear: he arouses one, and foments the other. Limbaugh speaks to the uneducated, the easily-led, and the stupid in the classic tones of aggrievement and blame. "It's not your fault, it's the (insert the minority of your choice here) fault!", a sound tactic for megalomaniacs and rabblerousers for centuries. He stokes all the old racisms and fears, but takes no responsibility and feels no remorse for the results of his words. He just profits from the havoc he causes, to the detriment of all his fellow citizens.

When I started this piece, I thought that I would end with a call for the removal, by any means necessary, of this fat racist fool. But now, after thinking about it, I believe that leaving Limbaugh in place might be the very best thing for progressives. For as long as Rush is the face of the Republican party, their venality, their cynicism, and their hatred will remain fully exposed for all to see.