How Rush Chooses Candidates

Rush 24/7 ^ | January 21, 2008 | Rush Hudson Limbaugh III

[seekthetruth]

Rush’s list of principles of a conservative candidate sound like Fred to me!

[sageb1]

I’d have to agree with you. Too many have put concerns for themselves ahead of doing the right thing for conservatism. Or doing it soon enough to make a difference. Same goes for the NRA.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Let's say that long ago I said, 'Folks, I have surveyed the scene, and there's only one guy in this race that's worth supporting, and that man is Fred Thompson.' All right. So I say it, and Fred runs along with his current position in the polls, and then decides to get out. What if Fred decides to endorse McCain, or throw his support to him? It's entirely possible. Where does that leave me? I'm not going to put myself in this position."

Well, at least now I know why he never endorsed Fred.

If he had, though, I don't think he would have had to worry about the "What if?"

Fred would be the nominee by now.

[righttackle44]

Oh. Is that what you tell YOUR 20-million listeners?

[Dixie Yooper]

So far Rush has toyed around playfully with disparaging comments about McCain and Huckabee. If he is not careful and ends up painting himself into a corner, he could end up being at odds with the Republican nominee. If this does happen and Rush ends up gloating (yes, he does gloat) about sitting it out, it could influence millions of voters. Wake up everybody! The primarys are about who you vote for, the election is all about who you are voting against. It always has been this way. Don’t fool yourself into thinking your so special that you should get your way or you don’t play.

[Thermalseeker]

Anne and Rush have devolved from conservative activism to being mere observers.

I don't know about Anne, but I respect Rush and his explanation as to why he won't endorse Fred. Rush can't stand McCain (neither can I). It would be the ultimate insult for Rush to endorse Fred only to have Fred drop out and throw his support to McCain......

One thing is for sure, if Fred drops out before SuperDuper Tuesday, all those reports of lack of "fire in the belly" were true....and we will see without any spin what Fred is really made of. It'll be a sad day for this Tennessean.....I thought Fred had more gumption than that.

[Vaquero]

Yes, I know. Point is, when did we start paying attention to shills? And why should we now believe or consider to be important anything that any of them says?

Credibility is easy to lose.

I agree....your preachin' to the choir...I just mentioned it because you brought up Hannity.

[riverdawg]

“... Mitt [is] ... about the best we can do after Fred eventually drops out ...”

That’s the conclusion I have (reluctantly) come to, as well.

[MainFrame65]

A few weeks ago I announced (as if anybody cared) that I would vote for Hunter in the super-Tuesday Tennessee primary, and then support Fred after he won here.

Now, having wiped the egg off my face, I have decided to support Fred on Feb 5 - period. If he withdraws before then, I will write his name in because I believe that he is philosophically head and shoulders above any of the remaining candidates. He has articulated a full range of policies, woven together with a consistent set of beliefs and principles. And while I am not in complete agreement, he has remained steadfast and consistent, while his remaining (sane) opponents have flapped in the breeze of public opinion.

[Williams]

Folks, Rush Limbaugh is, in this respect, a political coward. He doesn’t want to be wrong, and he doesn’t want to diss the ultimate winner, and he doesn’t want to be blamed for an eventual loss.

Rush is saying that his ego and his on air reputation trumps supporting the only real conservative in the race. So we’re supposed to support Fred, but Rush won’t? That’s a heck of a way for America’s conservative media leader to operate on the most crucial issue of the day.

[nmh]

I also understand the reluctance ... .

[org.whodat]

Did the research....not one of them is qualified.....NOW WHAT????

That is why Rush said he might just set this one out!

[Williams]

Fred had plenty of fire in his belly, he just didn’t get the votes.

[Agent Smith]

Exactly correct.

[org.whodat]

He already does to a certain extent, but he has to keep the suspense up, doesn’t he?

Yes, that is why he said he might set it out, because he supports the rino willard. LOL

[nevergore]

My initial response was a little glib but if I HAD to choose from the current crop I’d lean towards Fred....

[Candor7]

I respect Rush too. He informs us of the cmlexities. But he has not exercised leadership for the conservative cause. If he had done so early for say Duncan Hunter, or Fred, we wouldn't be where we are now.

Its one thing to have influence. Its quite another to refuse or fail to use it.

This was no time for timidity.

Anne and Rush have been uncharacteristically timid for the past 3 months on supporting Fred or Duncan.

As a result the MSM toasted them both with "No traction" action.

[isthisnickcool]

Fred Thompson would be the best bet but he waited too long. You just can't go on TV alone. You cannot get anywhere without an organization and support structure. That takes time and planning and MONEY. Thompson knew what was happening with the early election cycle and the way states were moving things up. He should have been in a long time ago.

He's a nut and at some point his head will explode but Ron Paul has the right contemporary political campaign "business model". Especially at the grass roots. If Thompson had the same thing he'd be way ahead. But unfortunately most of the candidates don't understand this.

[ovrtaxt]

RUSH: Okay, top five right off the top of my head, not in any particular order: limited government. Get government out of people's way. Number two, belief in the system that it's people who make the country work, not government. Number three, don't give me a laundry list of policies without a philosophical underpinning that explains the policies. Number four, don't tell me that government is the agent of change and that you are going to lead the government. My brand of conservatism is based on individual entrepreneurism, rugged self-individualism, telling people that they're the ones who make the country work. I think this is born out by history and people respond to it. And then, fifth, after all of those things that I would define as conservative, which includes the belief that people can triumph over the obstacles in their lives, that they're not incompetent, they're not incapable, and they're not stupid, the fifth thing is, is there any leadership on any of this?

Sounds like Ron Paul to me.

[ovrtaxt]

Rush, Anne Coulter and others also have failed to exude leadership by supporting a conservative candidate early and strongly to make up for the MSM and GOP censorship of Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter.

Excellent post.