Rush Limbaugh says Clinton-Obama race is proceeding precisely according to his plan

Rush Limbaugh, the self-appointed Commander-in-Chief of Operation Chaos, is puffing on his immense cigar and gloating at this very moment in his Florida bunker. And preparing to celebrate two more grand and glorious political victories over Democrats today, no matter who wins the primaries in Indiana and Florida.

Usually as shy and retiring as, say, P.T. Barnum, the influential conservative radio talk-show host is in his bombastic element these past couple of months, ordering many of his 12 million-plus obedient daily listeners to switch their voting registration presumably from the Republican party and go cast a ballot wherever they are for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Not because he suddenly likes her after all these years of anti-Clinton rants. Nor, judging by what he's said on the air, because he's a huge fan of the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, who isn't conservative enough for the broadcaster.

Rushbo says he couldn't care less who wins the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. He just wants the two surviving candidates to beat up on each other as long as possible, hopefully...

into their national convention in Denver in late August.

In fact, the maverick maestro admitted during a Fox News interview Monday that he thinks Sen. Barack Obama will ultimately win the Democratic nomination. But the freshman Illinois senator will be a lot more bruised than he would have been had he floated to easy victories all winter and into the spring as Clinton fell behind in votes, delegates and money.

Nobody really knows, of course, how influential Limbaugh has actually been, although the promotional publicity for him and his program has been absolutely priceless. Anecdotal evidence suggests many thousands of Republicans did, in fact, cross over to vote for Clinton, which, frankly, is fine with her. She'll take anybody's vote these days.

All Rush is saying is that he urged Texas Republicans, without a real contest of their own, to cross over and vote for Clinton and she won the state's popular vote. And he urged Ohio Republicans to cross over. And she also won there big-time, raising disturbing doubts about Obama's ability to win the populous heartland industrial states that Democrats need for a November victory.

And then Rush urged Republicans to cross over in Pennsylvania. Which they did. And Clinton won again by nearly 10 points.

So Rush is just saying.

He's also just saying that Obama hasn't won a primary since Feb. 22, that Clinton has slowed his momentum and landed numerous blows, and Obama and his wife Michelle have stumbled a little on their own with the Rev. Wright business and being proud to be American for the first time and all.

It's all helped to bring the freshman senator down to earth and turn him into a mortal politician instead of the unstoppable evangelical force he was early on in the nominee selection process coming out of Iowa.

"Our definition of success," Rush says, "is that there be chaos. Our original purpose was to bloody up the messianic Obama. We don't care which one gets it as long as neither one gets it in the primaries. We want the fight to proceed into the convention."

On Sunday during her appearance on ABC's "This Week," when Clinton praised a Republican audience member who'd decided to vote Democratic, the host, George Stephanopoulos, noted that Limbaugh was urging the same thing.

"Oh," Clinton said with a wave of her hand, "he's always had a crush on me."

Hardly. Asked about that, Limbaugh told a story instead about ex-President Clinton allegedly "hitting on" Rush's date last year in a New York restaurant.

Rush admits he's worried though about Indiana today. One of his well-informed sources told him that Clinton's internal polls had her losing the Hoosier State, which would be a stiff blow for the New York senator, especially since she's also been trailing in North Carolina polls.

"That's why," Limbaugh explains using the royal we, "we've issued orders to our operatives in Indiana today to get out and vote for Hillary Clinton."

We'll see tonight if enough followed their commander's orders to prolong the Democratic chaos.

-- Andrew Malcolm

                                                       Photo Credit: RushLimbaugh.com

Comments

[Robert Williamson]

"Our definition of success," Rush says, "is that there be chaos."
- - - - - -
Thank you, Mr. Limbaugh, for clarifying the neo-conservative concept of success -- "chaos." By this measure, everything that has occurred in Iraq is an unqualified success. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina also is something that all Americans can be proud of. The nation's economy? That's tetering on the brink of great "success," too.

Heckuva job, Rushie.

[maz hess]

I don't think that the republicans from indiana, north carolina, pennsylvania and the remaining states are so grateful for Rush Limbaughs activities. The current democratic battle force barack and hillary to pump dozens of millions into this states which could weaken the republican parties in those states for a very long term.

[Son of Liberty]

I say there should be a law, if you cross over in the primary, you must vote that way in the general. That would stop this sort of shenanigans.

[NormK]

Rush, Rove, and Bush - Three honest and intelligent men working for the good of our nation. Sleep well, sleep well.

[Jon Fraud Carry]

Pass the popcorn! The DemocRATs are eating each other alive!

[BigBusinessIsTheProblem]

Sounds like Rush is on the 'wacky candy' again. He thinks he's singlehandedly controlling the primaries by telling Republicans what to do? Man, I wish I had some of what his Dr. Feelgood is prescribing...

[Jack]

As a Repub, I'd rather see Hill/Bill as the First Couple than Barack/Michelle, at least I've got them calibrated. So I hope Limbaugh's plan works.

[norman ravitch]

Limbaugh flatters himself in thinking he is so influential. He is an egomaniac.

The real driver of this election is this: do you want Bill Clinton back in the WH? Do you want a black separatist as first lady?

Spouses here are everything.

[steve binder]

Rush Limbaugh is a disgrace to our country and democracy. Why the L.A. Times would even print this garbage is beyond me. A majority of the so-called spokespeople, like Limbaugh, who write editorials for newspapers and appear on Sunday morning television to 'represent' both sides of the political spectrum are chosen for their flamboyant personalities, stupidity and outrageous behavior and comments. Why not open up the field and fill your editorials with a real cross-section of spokespeople and new-faces who could enlighten a dumbed-down population listening to Rush.

[JGH]

Doesn't he have some pills to pop?

[brian peterson]

That's a radio host's brain on drugs--oxycontin and whatever else he injects--it causes him to defile his own country by poisoning the election process. Drug addicts canot control their impulses and whoever follows LimpPaw is an anti-American enabler. Only a drug addict would propose such corrupt, wacko behavior and think it's normal. Is there room in rehab for 12 million more?

[Tom J]

One wonders what the Founding Fathers would have thought of someone like Rush trying to subvert their system of checks and balances..

[Mr. Unite Us]

NOTE That both Limbaugh and the L.A. Times
failed to mention Obama's landslide wins in Wyoming
and Mississippi

Limbaughs Operation Chaos could backfire.
The longer the race continues the more people
join the Democratic party. 3.5 million new Democrats in North Carolina alone. This will bode well for Democratic
candidates in November. The Republicans lost both of the Congressioanl special elections to Democrats this year.

[Deborah]

I have seen no plausible justification yet for the oft-repeated assertion that the contest for the Democratic nomination somehow "divides" the party to the point that Democrats will vote in November for the party that brought us Iran, recession, loss of civil rights, No Child Left Behind, La Entrada (No Truck Left Behind?), etc., etc., etc.

[Does your chewing-gum loose it's flavour on your bedpost overnight ?]

Dullsville is what the dems race would amount too were it not for the à propos interventions of Rush,and a few other
sagacious republican wheels. I mean ,wouldn't you tire
pronto at the gum-beating of the Hanoi Jane,Gov Judas,
Ayers,Rezko and all the like minded bums knee jerking ?
The dems Mickey mouse revolution will implode just the
same.

[Rusty]

Yeah - Rush Limbaugh - the great "american" hero - inciting his listeners to RIOT. That's a good plan - hope he gets his anal cyst invested ass in prison.

[lucybrown]

"And preparing to celebrate two more grand and glorious political victories over Democrats today, no matter who wins the primaries in Indiana and Florida."

That's odd. I thought they were voting in Indiana and North Carolina today.

[Pubbie]

Reading all these hysterical comments makes me say one thing:

O-PE-R-A-T-I-O-N C-H-A-O-S !!!!!!!

[OohLahLah]

12 million people listen to Rush? Really? Wow. This country really does deserve the wonderful presidents we get. Bush Sr. Clinton. Bush Jr. Clinton Jr. If Hillary gets 8 years, we could have 28 years of ONLY Bush and Clinton presidents. 30 year-olds would not be able to remember a time before these two Royal families were in charge of the Whitehouse. Maybe Jenna would be ready for a run in 2016. Or Chelsea. We could start our own quasi monarchy. It's been working out so well for everyone so far.

WAKE UP, LEMMINGS.

[Atlas is my dog]

We need to persuade Dems to send high-priced hookers and bottles of sleeping pills labled as Vicodin. That should shut him up for a while....

[Franky]

Further proof that Republicans are american terrorists.

[Bignumone]

What a bonehead!
I wanted to say something stronger, but this place has a "G-rating".
This is the best way to ensure we get the worst president possible. Can you imagine if all the Democrats voted for the weakest Republican and visa-versa? We will always be picking between the worst candidates in the general election.
I am conservative, but I love my country and hate to see a noble institution like voting rights so abused.

[Randi Rhodes]

WHAT RUSH IS DOING is COVERIING UP THE MASS DEFECTION OF REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC THIS TIME.

His party is DONE and he is trying to create an illusion that people are switching party affiliation because they are NEFARIOUS AND EVIL AMERICA HATERS like HIM.

Nope, Republicans have families, cars, homes and debt thanks to RUSH AND HIS FRIENDS. He can't admit to his audience that RUSH WAS WRONG ALL ALONG.

Wrong on Iraq, WMD, Terry Schiavo, Bin Laden (where IS HE?) on spending, taxes, oil and energy policy, torture, rendition, personal freedom, privacy, and most of all PATRIOTISM.

This is a cover up of A GREAT MIGRATION to THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Thank GOD and GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Randi Rhodes

[Slobodan Kvetch]

Rush is a mild mannered conservative entertainer and many of all political stripes enjoy his show. When you
look at all the slime balls and low-life gravitating around
the junior senator from Illinois...Rush appears like a saint.
Sad to see the multitude of credulous and naïve take their
marching orders from Judas Richardson,Fonda,Ayers etc.
When you add moove on and Soros you get the most lethal threat the USA has ever faced.

[Skullie]

If Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, Obama will still prevail in the general election because true Republicans and Democrats will vote for Obama by "write-in".

That's a fact.

He's the best thing for that's run for President of this sweet country in more than 40 years black or white.
God Bless America. Thank the Lord for Barack!

[Liberals have **it for brains]

You folks sure are funny! But get this: Rush is in his biggest Spring ratings period and his numbers will be huge thanks to all the publicity he's getting for the very successful Operation Chaos. His advertisers will make more profits, he'll be able to raise his advertising rates, and all the radio stations carrying him will benefit. (Meanwhile, at Air America......crickets!)

The name-calling and personal invective thrown at Limbaugh is only what he expects from liberals, who can't admit defeat in the arena of ideas, but I love the call for restrictions on free speech and the right to a secret ballot coming from you dems. Even the preening chattering class, like Mr Malcolm, is forced to listen to him to get a fairly accurate description of the Operation. ROFLMAO!

And don't worry, all the foot soldiers of CINC-USOC will revert back to McCain or some upcoming third party in November balloting.

[doctorfixit]

Operation Chaos has been a brilliant strategic victory for the forces of freedom against the liberal fascist cabal headed by the Clintons, and the radical racist wing led by Obama. The beauty is that our Constitution allows us the freedom to assist the opposition in destroying themselves, and what t is driving the liberals into drooling lunacy is the continuous display of racism and anti-American hatred in which both candidates find themselves wallowing. John McCain is even more stupid than Bush, yet as a result of Operation Chaos he may very well plop right into the Oval Office. America is getting precisely the kind of candidate they deserve, and Operation Chaos is just the beginning. If the Republicans ever learn the ballot-box stuffing skills of the Democrat party, America may just survive Clintonism.

[jjv]

Rush, Rove, and Bush - Three honest and intelligent men working for the good of our nation. Sleep well, sleep well.

LOL, well lookie here, a liberal that actually gets it.

[Ian Thompson]

Note to Steve Binder - you say that Rush Limbaugh is anti-democratic by voicing an opinion as loud as he can. You are anti-democratic by saying someone can't have a voice. It's at times like this that I reflect that most restrictions on civil liberties are instituted by Democrats - why? - for our own good, that's why be cause we obviously cannot be trusted to think properly about what nanny knows best!

[Loyal American]

Rush and his drugged out followers are in another drug induced delusion. I suggest you up your doses for the next 4 years at least.

"Operation Chaos" is about as powerful as my used toilet paper...which is what this "Operation" is - using the american flag as toilet paper.

The time is over for the anti-american Republican terrorists - go back to your extremists cave with your other terrorists friends.

[Franky]

to doctorfixit:

From your post, I assume you are not citizen of the USA. If you are, can you explain how you are making the USA a better place for us and our children?

Or do you just plan to go back to making your wife wear her burka and killing your daughters!?

[Michael Reed]

Has Rush been off drugs long enough to see how things really are, or even make an informed decision? When he talks about 12 Step Programs or Rehab Centers then maybe I’ll listen.

[shirlin]

Rush and Hillary are partnering to kneecap Obama's campaign.In her do anything to win race, Mrs Clinton like Rush manipulates melodrama to lie to us. She uses Hollywood images and now presents the nation a fantasy of herself as a boxer beating her opponent senseless, while we know that she would not last in a ring with somone like, say, Senator Obama, should they really duke it out and IF he would deck an older white woman like his mother. She is counting on the American people to buy her fantasy like her fantasy of sniper fire in Bosnia AND on Obama to stay the gentleman while she parades in fake male genitalia. Obama, in contrast, actually plays basketball and plays it well. Compare the two sports and ask which is a better predictor for a successful president--a boxer whose sole aim is to beat an opponent sensesless before she is beaten senseless? Or a basketball player whose leadership is made up of nimbleness, teamwork, and skills and who must go the length of the game?

[Dennis]

What are you going to prosecute him for? Exercising his right to free speech? You people are morons.I suppose you are all in favor of "free speech zones" also.

[Conservative Comedy]

If we stop paying attention to Limbaugh, maybe he'll slip back into his Oxycontin induced trance, and he'll go away.

Its not like we need his help to make a complete mockery of the political process. We're doing just fine at that.

LMAO at the person who actually used "Limbaugh" and "Mild mannered conservative entertainer" in the same sentance without even the slightest bit of sarcasm. It must be a small scary world for you.

[Flush Rush]

The repugs that vote for Hillary for spite because of Rush Limbaugh are Un-American and should be ashamed of themselves. Go find a fascist state to live in. Oh, wait you are trying to create one here. nevermind.

[Red]

Did he actually say that Bill Clinton hit on his *DATE* last year?? Oh, C'mon Rush....I can believe a lot out of you, but to think that anyone would actually date him??? NO WAY.

And wow...how do those conservative Focus on the Family folks feel about this...I mean, shouldn't he be married with kids and attending services every Sunday with the family each week? I mean, how old is he for God's sake?

I don't care if it isn't decided until the day before election day in Novemeber....all the Democrats in this country are going to vote for whoever it is that wins,

[Dale in NorthCarolina]

I'm so very proud of my fellow Tarheels, in selecting the one candidate that told the truth. The truth about the war. The truth about the gas tax 'holiday'. Barack told us, "America deserves a President that will tell them the truth." We do, and we are 100% behind you Barack. We are sick to our souls of the lies and pandering. We need principled leadership, we are fed up with lies. Barack is our honest Abe, our uniter, our hope that America will be great again. Bring on the general election, Barack is going to win the electoral college in a landslide. Way to go fellow Tarheels! You did it!

[Gil Gamesh]

As reported at The Age, up to 10% of the voters in Indiana were crossover voters encouraged by Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos", a strategy right out of Osama Bin Laden's playbook. What is that if not America-hating?

It's a sobering thought: the outcome in Indiana would have been different had there been no corruption, if thousands of Americans had not been willing participants in the sort of deception the Bush administration practices. "Screw the truth! My cause justifies it, I know I'm right, and I don't have to confirm it!"

http://www.theage.com.au/news/us-election/crossover-voters-hijack-poll/2008/05/07/1209839709184.html

[David]

Republicans hate democracy and hate America. Isn't that obvious to everyone?

[James]

I am a republican who voted for Hillary. Not because Rush told me to, or Jay Severin, or Michael Graham. I did it because I cannot have an American-hating, smooth talking, black seperatist using Politcal correctness and white guilt, as well as the gullibility of naive College Aged Kids to steal the White House. This man cannot be our president, he would make Jimmy Carter look like FDR....

[MH]

Our Founding Fathers are turning in their graves. 200 years ago, Rush and his supporters would have been HUNG for TREASON to the great nation that they fought for and sacrificed their lives to establish. For the great PRIVILEGE of voting in a free democracy! You obviously all hate America and everything it is *supposed* to stand for. What a slap in the face to the people who died...for you to make a mockery of our system. Disgraceful and disgusting. There is a special place in Hell for you Rush. I hope Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Adams and the like are waiting for you when you die...noose in hand.

[Red]

James....I am a left wing, tree hugging California environmentalist liberal, and you could not have expressed my feelings any better. If Obama wins, I will either not vote or vote for McCain. Yep. I just can't, in good conscience, vote for Barrack Obama. I agree with your assessment 1,000%. Arnold in CA thought he'd do the same exact thing...walk in, take over and just *spit spot* make everything perfect again with a wave of his hand and some smarter choices. He quickly learned that our problems are massive and not as easily solved as the college kids and their rock star think they are. When they going gets tough - and considering the disaster we are in now - it WILL - those 20 year olds who put him in office will just put on their iPods, move back in with Mom and Dad when they can't get a job to save their lives, and abandon ship. After voting Bush in TWICE and now Obama...America deserves exactly what it gets.

[BOO-HOO]

COME ON FOLKS, SMARTEN UP & GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
RUSH LIMBAUGH'S PURPOSE IN ASKING HIS LISTENERS TO VOTE FOR HILARY IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT SENATOR McCAIN WILL BEAT HER TO A PULP IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. RUSH IS A REPUBLICAN, ALWAYS HAS BEEN & ALWAYS WILL BE. WHATS AMAZING TO ME IS THAT HIS LISTENERS WILL / HAVE IN-FACT VOTED FOR HILARY...WHAT A BUNCH OF DUMMIES TO LISTEN TO A PERSONALITY AS IF HE WAS THEIR GOD. SHEAR STUPIDITY. I HOPE THAT AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION SOME ONE IN CONGRESS INVESTIGATES IF "EL RUSHBO" BROKE ANY LAWS IN ADVISING HIS REPUBLICAN LISTENERS TO CROSS OVER & VOTE FOR HILARY.

IF SOMEONE OF RUSH LINBAUGHS ELK CAN SWAY PEOPLE TO SUCH AN EXTENT THEN WE HAVE, IN THIS COUNTRY, MORE TO WORRY ABOUT THEN IRAQ, THE ECONOMY, ILLEGAL IMMEGRANTS OR GAS PRICES.

[joy]

IF RUSH LIMBAUGH IS BACKING CLINTON THEN HE FEARS OBAMA. WHY? HE THINKS THIS HALF WHITE/HALF NEGRO COULD REALLY WIN. HE KNOWS HE COULD WIN AND BIG RUSH IS SHAKING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL. CAN YOU BLAME HIM? A MAN THAT IS CLEARLY AN ARROGANT RACIST IS NOW FACED WITH THE PROSPECT THAT THIS BIG BLACK MAN COULD BE THE TOP LEADER IN OUR COUNTRY. OH MY, WHAT HAVE WE DONE. AFTER ALL THE GOP PLAYED OBAMA UP TO GET RID OF HILLARY BUT NOW FACED WITH THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IT HAS SUNK INTO THAT THICK HEAD, "YES IT COULD REALLY HAPPEN". WHAT HAVE WE DONE!!!
THE FACT IS THAT THE WORLD THAT RUSH ONCE THRIVED IN, RACIST REBUPLICAN NATION, IS NO MORE.
THE NEW AMERICA IS NOT AFRAID OF A BLACK OR A HALF BLACK MAN IN BARAK'S CASE.
THE NEW AMERICA IS EMBRACING OF THE FACT THAT THINGS MUST CHANGE IF WE ARE GOING TO CO-EXISTS IN PEACE.

[Robert]

It is likely that Limbaugh initially wanted Hillary to win because he really feels she is the most vulnerable candidate. The so-called dirty underwear that the Republicans gleefully announce they will expose if Obama is the nominee is nothing like the serious ammo they can pull out of the underwear hamper on both Clintons if they get the nomination.

The Republicans know this, and they're holding it in reserve, letting Hillary do their dirty work against Obama. This is much more effective than if it came from them. Now that it is pretty clear that Obama will be the nominee, Limbaugh pretends to have become newly convinced that Obama is the weaker candidate.

Is this not suspiciously right as a tactic for someone who had made a wrong bet on Clinton's getting it? Would it not be surprising if Limbaugh and other like-minded socio-paths had bet on Obama as the winner? That really wouldn’t fit their world view all that well, now, would it? But, his ultimate strategy has to be making whoever wins look as weak as he can make them look.

In fact, he has made Clinton look even weaker than the campaign results would indicate, since if his legions did as he has suggested, she would not have done nearly as well as she has. Now he has to do the same to Obama, so he switches as he realizes his original bigoted bet was off the mark.

Good! Man, is he going to get another BIG surprise during the general campaign. McCain is either a brainwashed dullard or a not-so-bright political pawn of international corporate interests as his thoughtless slip connecting oil and the Iraq war indicates. Alan Greenspan stated in his recent book that it’s a shame that everyone in the know is aware of this connection, but it’s politically incorrect to say it.

Well, McCain was just dumb enough to slip and say what any intelligent observer already knows, but the general public is too easily duped. The modern de facto media definition of a leftist is anyone who attempts to reveal anything the corporate elite don't what the public to know.

One thing we can say about Obama is that he's not having to do the hard job of hiding his actual view of pertinent issues. Liars always have that problem. It's tough being a good liar. McCain messed up, and I'll bet he'll mess up again. Can you imagine McCain trying to match Obama in eloquence, vision, smarts, or just about anything else, not to mention character, dignity, and real statesmanship the likes of which we haven't seen for much too long a time?

The coming sparring match is not going to be a pretty sight for McCain supporters. My only concern is that there are so many out there who are so dimwitted that they can hear Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld...yes, and even Gonzalez contradict their own lies again and again and never notice it. Too many base their allegiances on just about anything but a clear-headed view of reality. But I think enough are waking up so that the old-line political game is not working that well any more. People like the Clintons just haven't quite noticed that yet.

[jesse]

I find it sad that some of us believe that the use of deception to create division will benefit our nation in any way. This 'ends justify the means' tactic is destructive and unpatriotic.

Sometimes the means undermine the ends.

I have a proposal:
Let us counter 'project chaos' with our own mission. Let us take stock of our priorities and recognize the great number of issues we democrats agree upon. We should reach out to one another and find a way to work together. We might even consider reaching out to conservatives. Isn't that what our candidates want? Isn't that what is best for our nation and the world? Isn't that the only way we will truly move forward?

We can name this new mission after the man who ultimately inspired it: We can call it 'PROJECT LIMBAUGH'.

[Igor The Troll]

I do not trust all the three Presidential candidates because of their special interest groups political agenda.

But makr my words, if Obama elected President the whole world is going to pay dearly.

As much as the right wing conservatives like Chaos in the Middle East so they can grease the wheels of their Merchant of Death machine with profits from high oil prices and sales of weapons to the Middle East, under Obama it will be worse.

Obama will denounce Israel, and the whole World will pay!

Obama is the False Prophet not a Messiah!

[Artist]

Rush Limbaugh reminds me of Pinky and the Brain - incredible sense of self-importance while imagining his little world is the whole world. I.D.I.O.T