Limbaugh is the defacto head of the GOP. He carries more influence than any of the other figure heads (Cantor/McCain/Palin/Joe the Plumber/Steele) and retains the loyalty of the most hardcore and extreme members of the party. He is the epitome of what is wrong with the party, old, white, rich and out of touch, so as long as he maintains this untouchable position the GOP will remain in the wilderness.

The combination of Jindal, Rush, on top of the failure for the past eight years is creating the perfect storm. Since the apocalypse did not arrive in January of 2000, The Right has designed a new end, The Hippocralypse.

Hello Mr. Gergen and Mr. Cooper,
The 'Wants Obama to fail' comment seems to be taken completely out of context. It appears to me that Rush's comment could be properly rephrased as

quote ",I want him to fail, if his agenda is a far- left collectivism, some people say socialism, as a conservative heartfelt, deeply, why would I want socialism to succeed?"

People are taking the "I want him to fail" out of context. Its like someone saying.

"I want everyone to pay more taxes, if they make more than 250k/year."
And then shortening that to "I want everyone to pay more taxes".

Its completely mistating the facts and the media should be ashamed of distributing inaccurate information.

thanks
dale

Ther are 2 concerns I have about Rush L.'s CPAC speech. First is appearance of desperation that GOP suport of his theatrics portray. Second is the amount of media coverage that CNN has granted him (in addiion to that obnoxious Cocervavative Youth of America dude in the panel that Roland Martin interviewed).

I think that the coverage also misses a point. It's not about R.L.'s conservative values, or appealing to the "conservative base". It's about his incindiary behavior and appealing to a Type A, arrogant, combative conservative base that fuels the flames of division. I do not believe that this amount of coverage occurred without undue influence.

While not a republican, I can listen to conservatives speak who do so respectfully. Ron Paul would be one who comes to mind. Also, I agree with Roland Martin that Steele has made himself appear very weak by caving in to Limbaugh.

Rush Limbaugh, is a prejudice men, he just can not accept that we have a black african president running our country. Limbaugh dosen't want obama to succeed because he's black. which reminds me of the KKK or Skin heads that's who RUSH LIMBAUGH is.
It's ashame that the republicans would allow someone like him to have airway on television to even speak like that, sure we all want whoever is president to succeed in our governmet as well for the people. ( This message is for Rush Limbaugh it's people like you as well as the republicans that put this nation into the poor house. by working against the people. since you think know more why didn't you run for office?
Diana Skirianos

I personally can't stand the guy! i've listened to his show many times before (just to see what the "other side" has to say), and it is baffeling the idiocies he talks about and yet people listen to him! He'll play a clip of something the President said, and twist and turn it all around right afterwards! I wonder to myself how he could even come to the conclusions he does, and how people can listen and agree with him! but then i say to myself that it's most likely people that can't think for themselves. He's always saying how "angry" the democratic party is, but he seems to be the only one that is angry.
Hey Rush, if a democrate is angry when he calls into your show, it's only cuz he's angry at you and the lies you tell!

What controversy? CPAC – a "political action committee" for conservative issues or lobbyists if you will – invites Limbaugh to inspire conference attendees with something a shade above the boorish level of their gathering. His gift for making the mundane an issue brought attendees to their feet cheering and screaming for more. The only real issue is whether they will raise enough money to pay his speaking fee.

How big is this CPAC conference? From the videos I've seen, it looks like a very small group.

Rush L. is speaking at a podium flanked by empty chairs! The scenes of the audience looks like it was held in a hotel conference room with about 100 people in attendance – (100 people that all look the same, I might add). It doesn't seem like this was a major event that needed a stadium to accomodate all of the devoted fans.

They should've just held it at a comedy club.

You would think that with the state of the Republican Party, that they would learn to leave the rhetoric behind them. Don't they know with loudmouth idiot like Limbaugh speaking for them, they are losing more ground with the Amercian people?

When Rush makes a comment like he hopes the President fails...he is saying to the American people- the Republican party hopes the Amercian people fail.

These one-sided politically driven comments just solidify the belief in most Americans minds that the Republican party is a party for themselves and not a party for the people.

Wake up Replicans–you want to keep any presence in the national political scene? Remember you work the American people.

My Dear Anderson and David,

My wish to comment on this is great, but my fear must be greater still.
Politics is my biggest challenge ... So forgive me if I fail, and please correct me.

Some Republicans, more reasonable, seem to want distance from Limbaugh, although, sometimes, they need a dog to attack, like him, to stir the base.

If President Obama goes well, success will convert the US in the greatest nation on earth and not necessarily in a socialist country. If President Obama goes well, was once a time, turning past the opposition, right?

Beyond what is absolutely decadent and stupid twist by failure of another.
Why is it so difficult to rejoice with the success of another and why is it so easy to speak ill of the achievements of another?

Am I wrong? Or we can make reference to that maxim that if someone is losing (with the crisis and the fracsso), someone is winning!

Now I dare: this man seemed to me that the personification of the mythological, angry and white man, who is confused by the different socio-cultural and scared with the complexities of life.

Perhaps Rush is "considered"the gop leader only in that he has a daily national radio show and people listen and call in to talk to him every day. Politicians generally only talk publicly when they want to and when they contact the media. If the media ignored Rush there wouldnt be a conversation about this .

correction:

My Dear Anderson and David,

My wish to comment on this is great, but my fear must be greater still.
Politics is my biggest challenge … So forgive me if I fail, and please correct me.

Some Republicans, more reasonable, seem to want distance from Limbaugh, although, sometimes, they need a dog to attack, like him, to stir the base.

If President Obama goes well, success will convert the US in the greatest nation on earth and not necessarily in a socialist country. If President Obama goes well, was once a time, turning past the opposition, right?

Beyond what is absolutely decadent and stupid twist by failure of another.
Why is it so difficult to rejoice with the success of another and why is it so easy to speak ill of the achievements of another?

Am I wrong? Or we can make reference to that maxim that if someone is losing (with the crisis and the failure), someone is winning!

Now I dare: this gentleman seemed to me that the personification of the mythological, angry and white man, who is confused by the different socio-cultural and scared with the complexities of life.

I'm trying to get everyone to look up McCarthism and how it is used to day .They have replaced Communism with Liberlism. Limbaugh,Hannity,Colter us hate to advance thier agenda.

It is truly amazing a vocal racist, terroist, rambling idiot has so much power; Steele needs to accept that he is only a token and step down and join a "real political party" the democrats. If the republicans get back in power (after President Obama's 8 years) we will really go into an unrecoverable depression – Limbaugh needs to charged as a terrorist.

I can't believe the republicans voted as their leader (Steele) someone who is afraid to stand up to Rush Limbaugh. I stopped listening to him years ago as he is a big blowhard and likes the sound of his own voice. I did watch some of the cpac speech and I could not believe my eyes. He is manic and definitely on something...pumping his fists and pounding his chest. In the long and short of it, his negativity and rhetoric is what the people rejected last November. He hopes the policies fail and he ammended that to say he hopes Obama fails. Well Rush, if he does fail so does the country so how American is that? His success makes you look bad after the last few years of bashing him. You have an enormous ego which is bruised now but get over it.

Anderson, I admire your ability to be unbiased and present both sides of an argument. But is it unbiased when you focus on the most controversial part of Rush Limbaugh’s speech and then take one of his statements out of context and ask your panel, “Is it appropriate for Rush Limbaugh to say he hopes the president fails in his efforts?” David Gergin seemed to notice this as he replied, “when you hear the rest of the sentence…” Although many of your bloggers may dislike Rush Limbaugh, some of your viewers may not. When I have disagreed with your live bloggers, I have been hesitant to voice my opinion for fear of being verbally lynched by the angry crowd. Always remember to fairly present both sides of the story even when your bloggers are pushing you towards one end. In your television commercial, you say, “Let’s Go” – remember to take all of us with you on your search for truth, not just those who are the most vocal in their opinions.

The Republican party better hurry up and pass universal healthcare, because their national leader Rush Limbaugh looks like he is 2 bacon cheeseburgers away from a flatline.

I believe Rush Limbaugh is the most Unamerican individuals I have ever heard speak. What comes from him is pure venom. I wonder has anyone else noticed his striking resemblance to Herman Goering. If any Hollywood producer ever want to make a movie about Hitler and his henchmen, Limbaugh would be perfect for the role of Goering in more ways than one.

If Rush Limbaugh is in fact the head of the Republican party, they are in more trouble than they can ever overcome. The dumb remarks that he makes causes me to wonder if his brain and mouth are connected.

As someone has already said "he is a big mouth blowhard who like to hear himself speak. No one in their right mind could believe him.

They let him out of the "home" to soon.

I cannot help but draw this comparison - Rush Limbaugh has become the Elmer Fudd of the Republican Party. He keeps trying but he still cannot catch that "wabbit".