When Rush came out and said, "I want Obama to fail" I knew what he was talking about. While he often speaks for me, he doesn't always say the things the way I would say them.
I wouldn't have been willing to say it Rush's way at the time Rush said it. I would have said, "I hope Obama is a good president." I hoped he'd move rightward, that he'd abandon the far leftists. I even have a tiny little bit of hope left.
So, I also know what Sanford said and what he meant. I believe he meant, "I hope he succeeds--for America."
The reason Rush's statement was so provocative is that it was an inkblot test for the listener. Sometimes a president is a symbol in people's minds for the country itself. "I hope he succeeds" means something very different for someone like me. I mean I hope he brings the American dream of liberty and prosperity forward. I'm not stupid--I don't believe he will--but belief is not the same as hope. He could always turn from the path he's on.
I would really appreciate it if you would not use this as a way to bash a good, fellow Republican, however enthusiastic you might be for Romney. IT IS TOO EARLY TO PLAY DIVISIVE PRIMARY-LEVEL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION POLITICS.
We need to concentrate on the mid-terms. We don't even have a decent, articulate leader in place for the RNC!