Is Limbaugh’s Operation Chaos Working?

I thought Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" would have no significant effect on yesterday's primary elections, essentially because of the diminished impact of his opinions in the post-Bush era of American politics. However, since the Indiana primary was so close, it is worth studying the impact of this Republican dirty trick on the outcome. It may be that Hillary Clinton owes her slim margin of 'victory' to a political hack by McCain supporters, who want her to continue to damage Democrats in November. If Republican sabotage were, in fact, the deciding factor in her slim win in Indiana, it should make Senator Clinton's final decision painfully clear.

I say, keep up the good work! Thanks to the extended primary season, we are seeing record registration of new, overwhelmingly young voters...WHO VOTE FOR OBAMA! We've already seen hundreds of thousand new voters in Pennsylvania who have turned it into a Democratic state...thanks Rush! In every state primary, voting turnout is smashing records...well not on the GOP side, because no one cares. Did you know that they held a GOP primary in Ind. and NC yesterday? It's true!

These new, young voters are energized and many will become volunteers for the general election when Obama is nominated. Not to mention all the downticket Democratic votes that will pour in...that Louisiana congressional seat was just the tip of the iceburg.

Thanks again, Rush! Operation Chaos works!

I'm suprised that not more is made out of this...

I agree with Chris Matthews when he said it was disgusting that Limbaugh is cheapening the right to vote, which is a foundation of our democracry and something that people have fought and died to protect. Limbaugh is anything BUT a patriot. He is an ego obsessed, drug addict who could care less about the country, its institutions, or the people who love it. He only cares about his fame.

It's truly shameful that this is all the Republican know to do - Create Chaos!!! This is why are still in a quagmire in IRAQ.

Remember that During the Rwandan genocide of 1994, radio broadcasts called for direct acts of violence to be committed by one faction of the Rwandan public against another. These broadcasts drew considerable attention because (1) radio was the major source of information for the listeners in question, (2) the audience was largely non-literate, and (3) there was an ongoing nationalist struggle into which the broadcasts fed....

Now for weeks, Rush Limbaugh has been trying to incite political violence by giving on-air military-sounding orders, effectively 'commanding' his listeners to wage war against the U.S. Democratic electoral system. This is just pathetic and shameful -

@Stephen Gianelli,

Operation chaos does work and Clinton carried Indiana by approximately 22,000 votes. I think Rush Limbaugh should be stopped. This idea of inciting violence in Denver and asking Republicans to frustrate the country's democratic electoral system is not what true democracy is all about. We say we are taking democracy to other nations - Is this the type of democracy we hope to take to the middle east - Pathetic...

Limbaugh was not the only one to make this suggestion. Our conservative radio host in Portland (Oregon) did same thing. At that time, I thought they assumed Clinton was more beatable than Obama so she would be their placeholder, as in the conservative areas of the midwestern states. It seemed a wretched fate for the first viable woman candidate, to be a placeholder. But things have clearly gotten more complex since then.

I would ask what sort of percentage of voters you think would use the process in so cynical a way? When winning is everything no matter the rules or the ethics, of course there are people who play that way. They have survival needs driving or feel as if they do. So that's understandable. Then there could be Republicans who want to decide who wll be president if McCain loses. They might be prejudiced in some way that makes the democratic race important. I guess the Ron Paul campaign can pay them all back since it is another case of integrity that won't go away.

Yes, HRC! Hang in there. We'll vote for you now, and then JM in the fall. Go Operation Chaos!!!

Obviously, the Limbaugh “operation” is not working too well--if at all. If it were working, Clinton would have carried Indiana by more than 17,000 votes.

Even (most) die-hard Clinton supporters (such as the undersigned) acknowledge that it is time for Hillary Clinton to decide precisely when and under what negotiated terms (if any) that she will gracefully withdraw from the race.

The super-delegates should have enough grace to refrain from public pressure in this regard, and allow Clinton to withdraw with dignity.

Wonkette captured the feeling with this headline: “Obama's Joyless Math Beats Hillary's Magical Maps”.

As to McGovern jumping into the fray this morning, Wonkette also nailed it with: “Famous 1972 Democrat Loser George McGovern Throws Hillary Under The Bus.”

The (publicly) uncommitted super-delegates do themselves no favors with us 50% of the Democratic electorate who supported HRC by kicking Hillary when she is down now. And it’s too late for those who have not previously endorsed Obama to suck up now anyway.

Be gracious. Seat Florida and Michigan (it will not make any difference anyway). Let Clinton withdraw on her own terms.

In addition, I would seriously think about offering HRC the veep spot—unless the DNC wants 30% to 40% of Hillary’s supporters to vote for McCain (the undersigned included).

"Obama has always had significant centrist and cross over vote.

His straight talk message of personal responsibility and asking people to achieve their potential resonates with many old time conservatives. He's in no way perfect for him but they don't despise him like they do Hillary."

Are you kidding? Obama is rated as most liberal of the three. One thing is for sure, and that is he is NOT centrist. His image of centrist not because of policy, but because he wants to offer a new form of politics. That inspiration is the image of his centrist appeal.

Unfortunately, in political terms Obama is definitely not centrist. Of the three candidates that term would probably fall on McCain for his high profile bi-partisan legislative history. Feingold, Kennedy, and Lieberman can testify to that.

Rush had nothing to do with the INDIANA election; despite claims by wussy Kerry: sorry Kerry you will always be a effete loser that allowed yourself to be swift-boated to death. You couldn't even deliver your state to Obama with all the institutional support of the state backing him. Why do you think Lake county came in late? Hmmm wouldn't have anything to do with the corrupt area trying to steal the election from the winner Hillary! All of the mayors in Lake county including the mayor of Hammond said they backed Hillary and she won most cities and areas and had their tallies by 7:30pm but alas the Gary Mayor an Obama supporter was stalling and after heated requests by the press suddenly it came in 6 hours later after prime time. Hmmm Obama as new politician: I don't think so. More of a Daley seems to me.

If these so called conservatives that listen to Mr. Limbaugh truly wanted to do something that that would follow on what they call their core values, they could have something like "Operation Pay Troops a Living Wage and Provide Better Care to Wounded Vets" or "Operation Protect The Constitution By No Longer Allowing The White House To Subvert It" or maybe even "Operation Help The Working Man By Investigating Why Oil Companies and The War Profiteers Are Destroying the Economy".

But that wouldn't be about what these Neo-Cons that listen to the subversive Mr. Limbaugh are about...they aren't trying to protect what they call American Values, they're content to let Rush tell them what to think and allow the blame for the country's problems to be laid at the feet of those "America-Hating Liberal Elitists"...which by they way is the most ignorant phrase that could ever be uttered.

As it was stated by someone else earlier, I want my leaders to be the most elite of our country. Elite is good. Elite means the best. The smartest, the most learned, the person who will use cool intellect in response to any emergencies.

And from reading some of these comments, I can truly see that some folks need to continue their struggle with their racial biases.

It's laughable to think that the Rushies could so deeply influence the Democratic Primaries, while quite obviously being unable to influence their own.

They must be dizzy from their own spinning...

I love the outrage expressed here about Rush and what he may or may not be accomplishing and the perceived nefarious actions of Republicans past and present. Especially from Joey Tranchina. I am always surprised by how some people insist on displaying their own ignorance and stupidity. Joey wins prizes but he also has a lot of company here. Oh well, if the Democrats win in November it will be these stupid people who will suffer the most. The really funny thing is that most of them will never realize that they are being bent over the railing.

Fact is, almost no one believes repuplicans would naturally vote for Hillary in large numbers.

Obama has always had significant centrist and cross over vote.

His straight talk message of personal responsibility and asking people to achieve their potential resonates with many old time conservatives. He's in no way perfect for him but they don't despise him like they do Hillary.

Obama 08

I phoned and canvassed for Hillary in Indiana, and I can tell you without a doubt that for every Republican vote for Hillary there was one for Obama, thus they effectively cancelled each other out.

Some Reps voted Hillary either because of Rush or because they preferred her to Obama should the worst happen for Reps in November, others voted Obama because they think he'll be easier to beat.

On Rush's show on Monday, May 5th, a woman for upset with him for pushing Hillary; he assured her that OC was about keeping the Dems competing rather than nominating Hillary and AGREED with her that Hillary would win against McCain.

Chris Matthews remarked last night that American Men and Women have DIED for our right to vote. It was what our country was founded. The ONLY purpose of a vote is for a citizen to participate in selected the best people to lead.

You who have participated in this have the scorn of Americans right and left who appreciate the sacrifice that went into the right to vote. If I ever meet one of you, best not mention your participation. Of all the stupid things the right has done in the last 20 years, this is one of the must unAmerican things I ever witnessed. There are no words strong enough to express how despicable Rush and his "ditto heads" (do you idiots even comprehend what "ditto head" implies? that you all think exactly the same...)

And the benefit of such a low and cynical act? You tainted the elections so Hillary's claim to victory is weak (esp. in TX, OH, and IN). Nothing changed in the end. You've invited the left to EFF-UP your primaries next time. And you've toughened up Obama and improved his prospects in the fall (thank you). Unfortunately you will all probably never realize how deeply the rest of the country - Dems and Repubs alike - despise you. Your politics-is-war attitude is part of the reason your pathetic party is about to go on another 40 year run of being the party out of power. No principles, no courage, and no scruples.

Chaos or not, it didn't work did it? I bet Sean Hannity had to change his pants last night! HA! I love it. The dems will come together in November and the Republicans will be out!!!!!

Even with the Republican party and her husband propping her up, Senator Clinton is losing. 'Nuff said.

Operation Chaos has worked. The numbers do not lie. If it were not for OC, BHO would have won TX and IN. PA and OH would have been a much smaller victory for HRC. HRC would have been out of the race by now if it were not for OC.

No matter what you think of Rush, he has probably organized the best hit job on the Dem party by making them fight it out and show their true colors. Adversity will bring out the best of some and the worst of others.

The only one who can be blamed for the position of the Dem party is HRC. She only organized her campaign through Super Tuesday. BHO organized for all 50 states. Blame her chairs all you want, but the decision was hers.

Weighing in on FL and MI...how can you have a revote when 15-20% of Dem voters in these states voted for McCain? MI and FL did not have the Dem turnout like the other states. In contrast, why was the Rep turnout much higher in FL and MI when compared to other Rep primaries? Kind of hard to have a revote when people voted for McCain and now they want a chance to vote for the Dem nominee. FL and MI were the Dem version of Operation Chaos.