Who is responsible for the Republicans’ loss of Congress last week? Some say it was George W. Bush and his negative coattails. The president, of course, blames someone else: his very own turd blossom, Karl Rove.
But a strong case can be made that Rush Limbaugh lost the Senate all by himself:
[My] favorite Election Day moment occurred at the very end of the process, when newly elected Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill slyly thanked Limbaugh for his role in her victory…
In contrast to Limbaugh’s trademark, piercing proclamations, McCaskill made her remark while flashing a big, triumphant smile. But she clearly relished in twisting the knife.
Fair enough. Limbaugh went too far when he blasted actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, on the eve of the midterm elections.
One view is that all’s fair in politics, and Fox had put himself in the public arena by becoming a spokesman for the pro-stem cell research faction. But everyone deserves to be treated with respect and compassion. Whether Limbaugh was guilty of bad manners or bad politics, it didn’t matter. And even when he explained his remarks afterward, his comments had a hollow ring.
In hindsight, it would have been wise for Limbaugh to leave Fox alone, especially after Fox shook violently during television commercials. But Limbaugh couldn’t do that.
Instead, trying to make Fox look as bad as possible, Limbaugh said he suspected that Fox hadn’t taken his medication. He reckoned that Fox had exploited his illness as a slick way to boost the public’s appeal for federally funded embryonic stem cell research. The stem-cell issue had become a pivotal part of McCaskill’s campaign in Missouri (and the initiative ultimately passed).
Here is the irony. If Republican Jim Talent had defeated McCaskill, the Republicans would have held on to control of the U.S. Senate. Not only did Limbaugh hurt Talent, he ended up screwing the whole Republican Party.
The truth is, the Republicans only have themselves to blame. No one forced them to give the Worst President Ever carte blanche to run the government to ruin. They deserved what they got, and whatever else may be coming their way.
Talent spent the Two Years of Mrs. Carnahan’s Term as a no-show hack at Washington University in Saint Louis.
He accomplished nothing for Missouri while he was Senator and will accomplish the same now. As far as the Republican Party is concerned, he is just being sent to the minor league until he is called up for his next worthless accomplishment.
The 109th Congress was a do-nothing session for the voters. The Drug and Oil Industry made out like bandits.
I extend one more hat-tip to the fat addict for his campaign contribution to the Democrats regaining the United States Srnate.