Posted on 03/02/2009 12:03:53 PM PST by Sub-Driver
'Pretty sad' Limbaugh's the lead GOP voice: Ron Paul @ 2:13 pm by Michael O'Brien
It is pretty sad that conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has become the de-facto voice of the Republican Party, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said Monday.
"I think its pretty sad," Paul said during an appearance on CNN Monday morning. "And it means that the Republicans are really starving for some type of leadership."
"He really didnt broaden the base," the former Republican presidential candidate told the network's John Roberts. "I mean, its still very narrow, and that is why some of us would like to see an approach that would emphasize personal liberties and civil liberties."
Limbaugh's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this past weekend has been the subject of much discussion on the left and the right, with a number of Republican leaders (such as Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele) sounding off on Limbaugh's role and influence within the GOP.
"I think a lot of people like to hear what hes saying, but I think its also a little bit polarizing and confrontational, and I think thats why the Democrats are bragging that Limbaugh now speaks for the Republicans," Paul added. "So I guess the Democrats think its to their advantage if hes leading the charge."
The Texas Republican also indicated there was little chance he would rekindle his presidential bid in 2012, opting instead to focus on his "Campaign for Liberty" fund.
Ok, using your strategy, we have a Congress of about 3 people on our side right now. We’ve thrown out the rest for being hypocrites. You sure like doing things the hard way.
I disagree. Most Libertarians I have known favor making legal acts like abortion, assisted suicide, using dope (many kinds), homosexuality and a number of personal activities Conservatives believe are detrimental to society and should not be legal.
ping 81, more quotes from the interview
Well, I just sent an email to the RNC telling them to remove me from their rolls and then called Mr. Steele’s office to let them know why.
I know..I know...I was one of those saying give Mr. Steele a chance a few weeks back..blahblahblah. But I’m done now.
We might as well have this fight now with the ‘socialist enablers’ in our own party. Better to get rid of them now..than wait for crunch time.
I suggest my fellow conservatives send the message now!
http://www.gop.com/Connect/ContactUs.htm
Perhaps they will come to their senses before it is too late.
It’s unfortunate that Paul and Steele decided to play right into the Whitehouse game plan here.
It’s a joke.
Pelosi/Reid/Obama are the main problems facing our country.
So what? All are state issues under a federalist system. Libertarians and conservatives both support federalism. Bury the hatchet while you fight the common enemy of centralized government, and then battle them in your states when you disagree about abortion or drugs, where the battles belong.
yeah we need to open it up to Truthers and white supremacists /sarc
People like Ron Paul, Michael Steele, Joe Scarborough and all the rest who have bad-mouthed Rush would no doubt be tripping over each other to shake his hand at a public function. They’re all hypocrites.
I have a younger friend who is a liberal and now is an admirer of Tom Coburn - mainly because of Coburn's integrity. People are sick of the same-old, same-old and hunger for honest leadership. Most of the members of Congress in BOTH parties are the problem - if we don't clean up the GOP and they get back into power, we'll just get more of their same old nonsense
We can only take back our country by creating a new class of politics with an emphasis on not treating taxpayers as piggy banks for political games. You can never get rid of it entirely, but the Mandarin class has gotten out of hand. The key coalition IMO will be blue dogs and conservatives, with common ground on honesty, integrity in politics, national security and restoration of the BoR - especially the 2nd and 10th Amendments.
Paul fails the integrity and national security tests. He can go make funny noises off on the sidelines, where he has been his entire career, and attract a following of antiwar wingnuts.
Is this really a dump on Rush? I think it’s sad, too, that all we have for leadership is a guy who is not a candidate or one of our official party executives!
Some of the social issues are what separate Libertarians from conservatives but we both believe in limited, constitutional government, low taxes, sound money, free speech, second amendment rights, state rights.
Reagan never considered libertarians the enemy.
I love the way Rush can scare the bloomers off these guys!! But, I give the dems credit for party unity. They may have in-house fighting but they march together when necessary. On the other side, we have the republicans and we have the conservatives and I don’t see us ever getting together. I just happened to flip across the DL Hughly show with Steel. It was disgusting. He’s got a little power and a few invitations, so he’s gone way over the edge. He shouldn’t waste party time going on shows with libs who will back you into a corner and verbally beat on you. There is no logic to the actions of the republican leaders. I don’t think I can take these apologists for eight years. Is there a person who will stand up and say “screw you” and not play to the popularity polls?
I think the problem is that a radio talk show host is the best voice the Republicans have. One would hope such a voice came from a congresscritter or other political figure.
One pubbie you wouldn’t want to be in a foxhole with. Mr. Paul, put a sock in it.
Great minds think alike here. Where is our elected leader that espouses our conservative values in the convincing confident manner presented by Rush? I was hoping Eric Cantor would rise to the occasion but he ended up being a sniveling little pro-bail-out punk. I like Bobby Jindal but he definitely came across like a hall monitor in his GOP response. Rush is the only one on the national scene who really gets it.
I think the key strategy will be to convince a majority of liberals that federalism is the system they want as well. NO ONE argues against local control of schools and money, even the all black barber shop I frequent. They’re federalists and they just don’t know it.
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