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Rush Puts Kibosh on VP Ridge or Lieberman

August 19, 2008 3:09 PM

"Now, the drive-bys, when it comes to (Sen. John) McCain, are all excited that he might choose a pro-choice and/or liberal pro-choice running mate," conservative talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh said today.

“This is crap," he continued. "What is this about picking a liberal Democrat or a liberal Republican? McCain has already seen to it that he can walk across the aisle that he’s the top of the ticket. If anybody is going to attract moderates it’s going to be the top of the ticket guy. He’s not going to help himself any additional way, he’s going to hurt himself by putting a liberal or a liberal Republican on this ticket, particularly pro-choice.  If they do that, if the McCain camp does that, they will have effectively destroyed the Republican party and pushed the conservative movement into the bleachers."

Strong words.

Limbaugh ran a clip of liberal Newsweek commentator Jonathan Alter suggesting that after McCain floated a trial balloon about a pro-choice running mate the blowback from conservatives "wasn't really that big."

"It wasn't really that big?" asked Limbaugh incredulously. "See, the drive-bys are just hoping for this. They are just hoping for it because they know it’s not just a few loudmouths in the base. They know the base will totally turn on McCain if this is the case… It's not that they want someone who's pro-choice on McCain's ticket.  … It's not about them being true to believe, it’s about finding a way to persuade McCain to make a decision that will guarantee his defeat.”

"McCain, if he does this to please the drive-bys or for whatever advice -- I can't imagine the people around McCain are this dumb, but they might be a bunch of yes men," Limbaugh continued. "If he picks a pro-choice running mate, it's not going to be pretty and the drive-bys know it, and they're trying to encourage him to do so. It's amazing, all of these drive-byers, who by the way folks know nothing about us.  They don't know what makes us tick, we're aliens to them.  And they think that we're gonna at the end of the day sit around and vote for McCain regardless.  And this is where the miscalculation is huge."

Limbaugh suggested "someone like Rick Santorum other than Tom Ridge. How about some discussion from the McCain campaign about a conservative who can be counted on across the board, who can help lead the country in the right direction. Who can help rebuild the Republican party — Lieberman can’t do that - and rebuild the conservative movement - neither McCain nor Lieberman nor Ridge can do that.”

- jpt

August 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (56)

User Comments

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This guy Rush sounds like a dope. What is he talking about? What are the drive-bys? Is this some kind of cult or what/

Posted by: Flash Override | Aug 19, 2008 4:45:21 PM

The death of the conservative/ Republican Party would mean we are socialists, Think before you wish.Is that what anyone besides Obama wants?

Posted by: pamela | Aug 19, 2008 4:44:43 PM

Rush is so far removed from reality it's really ridiculous. I know there are many people who sadly listen to the rantings of this hate-monger, but the idea that there are any "liberal" Democrats or Republicans serving in either house of Congress is a real stretch for some of us. Granted if being pro-choice earns one the label "liberal," then I suppose there are a good many. Lieberman and Ridge are both far from anything I would describe as "liberal." Lieberman would not be a good choice for either party. He's just plain horrid and represents my state.

Posted by: mary | Aug 19, 2008 4:43:51 PM

Look I think Obama would be less likely to get us into world war 3 then McCain., But I wish he would slow down on the spending., he has already spent a record amount and he hasnt even gotten in office., slow down mr Obama. We are broke.

I love Huckabee the Macabee It seems the Jews love Huckabee, McCain should pick him as VP or risk losing alot of voters if they dont. Some Huckabee supporters are so disillusioned by the GOP and the McCain camp they actually are asking Huckabee to leave the GOP.

Posted by: Peter | Aug 19, 2008 4:41:14 PM

I'm sure the McCain campaign appreciates the input of Rush and will seriously consider his advice. Limbaugh is as vociferous and hyperkinetic in his speech as ever. I tend to suspect he's still inspired by prescription meds.

Posted by: kat | Aug 19, 2008 4:29:46 PM

I can no longer stomach neocons posing as republicans. They are corporatists. They will increase spending for imperial wars for the benefit of corporate sponsors. These are not the conservative values i support. you can no longer pull the wool over my eyes by being pro-life. i am beginning to see the hypocrisy of claiming pro-life while invading nations in wars of choice. They are no longer standing for defense. they are now standing for offense. Doing the same kinds of military invasions as Russia. why do you think russia said US should support us like we did them in Iraq. Maybe the terrorists see us in Iraq the same as they saw Russia in Afghanistan. maybe under the neocons (wolves in sheep clothing) they are right. i guess i will have to write in Ronald Reagan or Teddy Roosevelt this year and hope for better choices next election

Posted by: d.d. | Aug 19, 2008 4:25:50 PM

What's a "drive-by"?

Posted by: Bob | Aug 19, 2008 4:25:02 PM

This moderate is going to vote for Ron Paul, my way of saying none of the above. We have spent our way into oblivion with no manufacturing base to help us back out.

Posted by: George Chapman | Aug 19, 2008 4:24:46 PM

Rush was 100% correct on Lieberman or Ridge. Lieberman is great but he is a Democrat - old grard and great - but still a Democrat. Tom Ridge could not be a worse choice. He is the ultimate in empty suits. He had a chance to secure our borders and did nothing... he even said he was going to do nothing. Now we have millions and millions of felons stealing identities and filling our jails and jamming our hospitals and schools. And We the people are paying dearly in lost wages and lost environment. Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee are the only sensible choices for McCain.

Posted by: Bill | Aug 19, 2008 4:23:23 PM

Mitt Romney is McCain's best available choice for running mate.
Obama seems to have stalled in the brains department and everyone knows he a windbag, like Wright.

Posted by: Larry | Aug 19, 2008 4:22:42 PM

McCain's only pick left is Pawlenty. Pawlenty is a HUGE social liberal and is 'young and inexperienced'. McCain just lost.

Posted by: Bill | Aug 19, 2008 4:20:09 PM

If mccain picks romney, i'll not just vote for the guy, i'll donate and campaign for him.

Did anyone see Mccain last saturday? he did a great job playing to true americans. And if he picks romney, he will shore up that vote solidly.

Posted by: cameron palm | Aug 19, 2008 4:18:13 PM

Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla! Nothing but rhetoric. Let's have something more concrete. Why do we have to be so damned conservative. Look what has happened during the past 8 years. War we did not need, almost 3,ooo dead service men and women, and a debt of over 3 trillion dollars. Being a senior citizen and Navy veteran I say, "GIVE ME A BREAK."

Posted by: Anthony L. Milano | Aug 19, 2008 4:17:53 PM

Rush Limbaugh has a following. I quit listening to him five or six years ago, but he CAN be entertaining.

However, he would do well to realize that America needs to move to the center for a change... a REAL "change"!

I've heard enough right-wing and left-wing rhetoric (and hatred) to last a lifetime.

Let's try a NEW direction that the REST of us can believe in!

Posted by: Rhys | Aug 19, 2008 4:17:32 PM

David NH - Last I heard Rush still has 20 million listeners and he has signed a > $300 million contract. Not a bad job to do from a cell, eh?

Posted by: Frustrated Voter | Aug 19, 2008 4:13:58 PM

Rush has spoken so commence with your marching orders

Posted by: dan | Aug 19, 2008 4:10:25 PM

"Thinking", I agree, but you didn't go far enough.

Isn't it reasonable to assume that almost everyone already knows who they will vote against? (There isn't anyone worth voting FOR.)

The fatigue you mentioned applies to almost all "election news", simply because there ISN'T any "news"!

Posted by: Rhys | Aug 19, 2008 4:09:44 PM

well if obama did not pick Biden and picked someone like Kaine then I could see Mccain getting cover to pick a Ridge (especially because a McCain Ridge, 2 vets on the ticket would kick Kaine's but in Virginia)

but if Biden's on the ticket Rush may have soem weight.

Posted by: dl | Aug 19, 2008 4:04:43 PM

well whoever if both of these clowns do not name their picks soon no one will care anymore.

Election, and VP fatigue is setting in. Let's get this over with and move on.

Posted by: Thinking | Aug 19, 2008 4:03:49 PM

Hello, Vanessa!

Yes, Bush has taken the Republican Party so far to the right that McCain is having a VERY hard time dragging it back, kicking and screaming all the way.

McCain is caught between a rock and a hard place; does he want the theocrats' votes? Or does he want us moderates to vote for him? He can't have BOTH!

Posted by: Rhys | Aug 19, 2008 3:58:49 PM

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