Is it me or does it seem that one of the prerequisites for being a conservative talking head one has to be nasty! Ref: Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity & Combs, Bill O'Reilly and of course the poster boy of the right blowhards Rush Limbaugh? What has happened to civility? Where are the normal Conservative Republicans? There has to be some around. Why have they let their party be hijacked by the lunatic fringe? It's not only the media have you ever watched Mitch McConnell? He is a nasty little man, Tom Delay,Dick Armey, all seemingly cast from the same mold. Everything about the Republican party has been a sham lately, family values, the party of God SEN Craig,SEN Vitter and just on and on.
Just one person's observations!

Rush has this precisely WRONG. McCain has a very conservative record. He is the choice of conservatives, and not the choice of the Republican establishment. Limbaugh is so entrenched in the good ole' boy establishment that he can't see the difference between everyday conservatives and who he has become. The Republican establishment is no longer conservative; it is fiscally irresponsible and socially radical. McCain might be the first Rep. presidential candidate I vote for. He has character and integrity. Rush is a small man by comparison.

the only thing rush has right is that mccain shouldnt be president RON PAUL should! He is the only real conservative in this race. He is the modern day Thomas Jefferson. Wake up people!

Dear Rush:

The "BASE" you are speaking about has brought us to the point where the Canadian dollar is worth more than ours- Our economy is in near ruin, the housing market is trashed, solid corporations have to merge just to stay alive, and the country is being raped by a perverse "global economy" thinking that seems to benefit only other countries.

Federal contracts with major U.S. Corporations are in many ways outsourced to India- lots of good that does Americans.

Ok Rush.. so your "Base" is fractured- good!.. anyway we can finish it off?

Love your show Rush- one thing you may wanna give a try.. consider following the lead of people like Lou Dobbs and try using your show to represent us Americans – we need a voice- and that "base" as you call it..doesnt represent us very well.

If Rush does not develop someone to villify, then he has nothing really to talk about on his show. We may never know really what Rush thinks- it does not matter anway- this is just fodder for something to take up time on the air- he feeds of controversy.

I will begin by saying that Rush represents most of what I dislike in this country..unmasked greed , no compasion for any but the affuent basicaly a "Pig"

With this said I will now ad that he did this country a great service by doing what he could to "shoot down" the Amesty Bill (open borders) and that this was a real service to the American people. He split with his party and the president to do what was right. I always thought he was just a "hand puppet" of the Bush regime
but in this matter he deserves much credit

Rush Limbaugh has the biggest audience in radio history. The guy knows what he's talking about.

How can you say Rush has influence? He doesnt like McCain yet McCain won?

And this is a bad thing… why?

To Steve TX:

Get your head out of your butt. The Traitorous liberals have never, ever, EVER compromised. They have pulled and dragged this country Left as hard as they've been able to for as long as they've been able to.

Stand your ground and act like you have a pair of stones.

Rush needs to get a life. I really can't believe that conservatives actually listen to him. Maybe it is for the humor since I always laugh at the crap that comes out of his mouth.

Russ, I turned off your show ten year ago. Now I am looking for ten more without you! Good luck with doddo heads!

One more Republican war monger is all it will take to start to break the back of this country. Eternal war will bankrupt this country just like it did Russia. After that we can say goodbye to our democracy and hello to out new found autocracy. Heed the warnings of our forefathers before it is too late. The neo-cons have wiped out generations of precedent and moved the country in a complete different directions our forefathers meant it to go in. As Americans we have got to come together and stop this cowardly madness. Is it a brave man that fears attack all the time or is it that same fear that really makes him a coward.

McCain spent a few years in Hanoi Hilton (a very disiplined Hotel) after being shot down in a A4D over North Vietnam –he doesnt go for torture and some of the other perverted things Rush and his bunch go for,so he's not in Rush's in bunch, which I believe is in his favour -,he has a good reason to abhor torture and I believe he had many a hour to ponder good vs evil –in the Hilton Hanoi–he visited Indo China and was a man that did not wish evil on them, Just the reverse-A good
man trying to do right –there is another man in history who paid the supreme penalty for this—GOD bless you John and May GOD forgive you RUSH and bunch
GOD bless Lynn

I am a democrat. I intend on election day to vote in the republican primary in my state for John McCain. IF he wins the nomination, I intend to vote for him for president. If any other republican wins the nomination I will vote for whichever democrat, Hillary, Obama, Bob Smith or Bobo the Clown happens to be on the ballot. I have a lot of respect for McCain. This is because 1. He served our country honorably in Vietnam. 2. He has crossed party lines when he thinks legislation on his side is wrong or on the other side is right so he puts America ahead of party. and 3. He tries to work with both sides of the aisle and build true bipartisan coalitions on legislature. oh and 4. He doesn't seem to be in the pocket of big business quite as badly as most candidates.

Barry wrote on January 30, 2008 7:19 pm ET:

"Perhaps the great unwashed have tired of hate radio and the constant mocking of everything and anything that does not fit that agenda?"

Isn't that the truth? I have always cringed at shows like Limbaugh's because they are so full of hate and bias. He & his buds, Buchanan, O'Reilly, Beck, etc. come off as such smug know-it-all's who think they are above everyone else. Sort of turns my stomach watching or listening to them because they seem so full of hate.

The real reason for the conservative base's losses is after 7 years of conservative rule there has only been disastrous consequences for this country. The bankruptcy of conservative ideas is the root cause of the their problem.

If McCain is elected, "Mexifornia" will become a reality.

This is great news! Rush is saying that the party will lose with McCain as the nominee and he will lose. But not for the reasons that Rush states. People are tired of the holier than thou crowd and McCain himself has turned into a holier than thou Republican. How could a true conservative vote for a man who ha been divorced and remarried…. What a bunch of hyprocrites! McCain is know for his temper and is running around kissing GW's butt and promising to be a good Republican sure will not help win any independents. If you like the last 7years of Bush then vote for McCain. because that is what you will get. If the Democrats can keep a high voter turn out for the general election that has been shown so far in the early staes. the Repubs will not win .. period.. They already will lose McCain's seat should he be lucky to win as Gov.Janet Napolotano of Arizona is a Democrat and would appoint a successor to fill out his term. Either way the Dems win this fall.

How can an intelligent, rational, thinking human being take Limbaugh seriously?

How low are his fan's standards?

Think for yourselves, sheep!!

I think that, in general, the people of the US is tired of the GOP . There are so many blunders done in the past 8 years, so much hyprocresy of seudo religious leaders that the GOP nurtured and so much mismanegement plus pure neglect of the poor of the nation e,g. the federal govt response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina that there is a fatigue that makes a guy like John McCain the most likely candidate for November because there's nobody else available.

You are right Caleb, in 2012 civilization as we know it will end no matter who is president, I guess it was meant to be for a moron to be president the past 8 years. Sad sad…wake up people!!

Rush Limbaugh is a pathetic loser who is trying to make excuses for the plain fact that the vast majority of Americans simply don't subscribe to the conservative right-wing agenda. Give it up, Rush. Nobody take you seriously any more.

These are interesting comments juxtaposed to those about Hillary Clinton on other stories. Those against Hillary attacked her plans and her past decisions.These are filled with personal attacks on Limbaugh: pill popping, fat, blowhard, etc. etc. Very few comments that were not personal attacks on him, his past, or his girth. I guess Liberals are short on policy issues to debate, so they go for the cheap shots. Do you all not have an intelligent argument to offer? I am not a Rush fan, but I know zero-substance arguments when I read them. Do his drug addiction issues even add to the discussion? Even Rush left Gore's son alone after his DUI. Stick to the issues, Liberals.

I teach middle school, so I hear students make the comments all the time, "He sucks. She's a wench," with very little substance behind the comment. They just parrot what they hear others say without any thought.

Come on, CNN moderator, let substance through–not crap.

George W Bush has not had anything close to a conservative administration, and he is chided daily by Rush for excessive spending and expansion of government programs. To say the last eight years is a reason to reject conservatism is moronic. Bush is a liberal, but McCain is a downright socialist and would destroy the country more than Clinton or Obama would.

Rush is a Right-wing extremist, not a Conservative. A Conservative doesn't support deficit budgets, nor a radical interventionist foreign policy.

Why in the world does anybody care about what this indulgent, corpulent, pain-killer junkie, blowhard says about anything? Limbaugh is king of the losers in my estimation.

Conversely, John McCain is a good and courageous man who served our country with honor. Limbaugh didn't serve this country for even one day in the armed services of the United States of America (he was 4-F, I know, but he could have found a way to serve – many people have who are 4-F – Limbaugh didn't).

Please, people – ignore Limbaugh. He's got it all wrong about McCain.

I used to vote republican but NEVER again. They are all big ol war mongerers.

Vote Obama 08

Remind me why we should listen to anything Limbaugh has to say for the conservatives? That's like trying to value Howard Stern for the Liberals. It's a new day in America – lets get new media.

If those like CNN would finally figure out that John & Jane Q Public could care less about what this windbag has to say- on any topic, maybe he would just go away… fading away into the sunset at last.
However, on this one phrase I must (for the very first time) agree with him:
[The GOP] + "uninspiring candidates"… very accurate. And I'm neither Rep or Dem.

Well a while back Limbaugh said he liked Obama….does his opinion really matter that much?

The more Limbaugh talks about and complains about John McCain, the higher his poll numbers go.

Typical, empty, irrelevant, meaningless responses from both the true lefties and from the sheep who don't know any better. How about actually addressing some of the words used in the article? Honestly, most of you didn't even both reading the piece and it shows. How sad.

Was that said before or after he took his meds. Rush is an arrogrant, hypocritical, obnoxious, ingnorant, pill popper.

While CNN feels the need to share Rush's opinion, I recommend the country ignore political commentary from racist, drug addicted liars.

It's hard for me to agree with Rush but he is absolutely right. For the past 7+ years his Party has turned a positive into a negative. This administration is the worst in United States History. So why should this group of candidates be any better. However, since I am a Navy Combat Vietnam Veteran I will give Senator McCain is due. He spent years as a POW in North Vietnam.

I was on the USS Constellation (CV-64) that relieved the Forrestal on Yankee Station after the disasterous fire in 1967. I believe the Forrestal was Senator McCains ship.

Norman (Maryland)

Does anyone really care what Rush thinks? This is yet again another failed attempt by Rush to push himself into the limelight. When you look at this up close, what it comes down to is Rush and the rest of the talking heads attempting to use psychology to persuade people into following what they believe. As usual, Rush and his drug induced rantings are full of half truths and falsehoods. Fracture or not, people are sick of the talking heads and this so called conservative talk radio. It really does not matter what happens, either way, Rush will never be happy.

Anytime Limbaugh is upset about anything, the American public should be happy in response

*** I listened to Hannity today. He did a complete 180 on Mccain. He admitted that he was wrong on several points and that McCain was ahead of the curve. ***

Haha, rats leaving the sinking USS Romney, sounds like. I guess being flexible in your views comes in as handy for Romney supporters as it does for Romney himself.

You hippacritc pill popping clown ENDORSE JOHN MCCAIN You need to wake up and come back out of the clouds

I am amazed at the lack of knowledge and name calling by the response posted. It is truly unfortunate that these people vote.

And—-let's do it Rushs' way. Start a few more wars and lead this country into a deeper recession. Thanks GW!

Why does CNN report what this openly racist and prejudiced radio host has to say? Shame on CNN!

I am a Conservative. I do not look to this pathetic man to tell me who to vote for. If you want to know the measure of a man and determine if someone is "inspiring", then you simply have to look at their personal life. Thrice divorced, drug addiction, etc… Is Rush a conservative?? If you say yes, then based upon what?

Hey, Rush should run as a Third Party candidate….maybe he'll win.

Dave from Oregon,

Dude I lived in Europe for the last 10 years. You don't have a clue what you're talking about. Both Western and Eastern Europe is in serious trouble. There Governments largely run on the brink of bankruptcy. Most of there economies are on a knifes edge too. Do you want 51% taxes (atleast)? The taxes are so high in Germany right now that they have to artifically force wages higher up – an addiction they will pay for eventually. Every major European country of which I'm aware is trying to find a way to dump their social medical programs. Not only can they not afford it but the service SUCKS! I know a Brit who has been waiting for years for an ankle surgery. I could go on and on about the UK and the Continent. America should never ever use Europe as an example. NEVER for ANYTHING!

And believe it or not I can still say I loved living there for as long as I did, but boy did it open my eyes.

People still listen to this blowhard?

Who cares what a drug addict radio host says about anything?

Amen, Paul!

It's time the Republicans returned to being the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, and for that matter, Barry Goldwater. Goldwater warned us to beware the religious right.

Of course, I'm sure many of these neo-cons today would consider Lincoln and TR liberals disguised as Republicans.

Tell the Rush to quit being the second worst enemy of the Republican Party right behind Hillary Clinton. He is out of touch with the basic idea of republicanism and is caught up in his own private party.

I so look forward to wiping the smirks off of Limbaugh, Hannity, and O'Reilly's faces. Whatever the outcome now, at long last it looks like there will be a choice between smart candidates – McCain, Clinton, and Obama are all smart, smart people. Bush was a smart dumb person but John Kerry, sadly, was a dumb smart person. And will someone please smack that ego-maniac Ralph Nader upside his head?!

Fractured base… hmm… very much like the republicans have left our country. If they are truly fractured.. then I say ding dong the witch is dead.

I've voted Republican in every election…I'm 34…Rush's comments are exactly what's WRONG with the party. Too stuck in their waysand like to win outright rather than compromise!! Quit being ULTRA conservative in everything and look at the specific issues 1 by 1. The GOP will lose the younger generation if it sticks to ridiculous far right policy that benefits business while pissing on the environment. Quit being Wall Street Republicans and vote CONSERVATIVE…not FAR RIGHT!!! A true conservative would tell the adolescent WALL STREET whiners that they don't DESERVE a rate cut (like they think they do) and the country does NOT need a stimulous package…it needs to learn CONSERVATISM and controll its SPENDING on CREDIT!!! We do not deserve ANYTHING we want just because we think we do. How much of this rebate money will be spent on foreign goods??? Who does that stimulate…?!?! Lunacy!!

Rush Limbaugh! Haven't heard that name in a long time. Didn't he used to be important? Now he's just an extreme right wing flunkie recovering from whatever he used to smoke or drink or whatever. Go kiss Romney's ring and just lighten up, Rush. You are no longer significant.

Rush

If the ultraconservatives (remark the "ultra") as you want a party following your ideas, this party never would win an election. It seems that you have not thought
at that ???

Neither, given the US biparty system, it would get a meaningful % of the congress.

What you are trying, i.e. trying to impose to the GOP the opinion of a extreme minority, is equivalent what the Ultraleft did for many years to the UK-Labour Party, which was on the best way to become irrelevant. But when TONY Blair told them: "accept the line of the majority of the party, or you can go to vote Conservative", suddenly all changed.

By the way: If Ronald Reagan, a real Conservative without the "ultra". had to
choose between you and Mc Cain, the latter will be the winner without any doubt !!

(TOM "Manny")

McCain a candidate of the establishment? Who does Limbaugh think (or pretend to think) the establishment is?

Why are you giving this puppet validation by bringing him up again. In the future, please don't ever bring his opinions and hateful rubbish back up again.

I'm a proud small government, pro strength, pro life Conservative Republican for McCain. If there is a fracture among conservatives, Rush & pals should look in the mirror. Maybe conservatives would be less divided today if Rush, Sean, etc would engage in rational, intellectually honest debates over issues like immigration, instead of angry tirades and calling good conservatives who disagree with them "liberals."

I do hope the Republican party unites behind whoever wins the nomination. None of the conservative candidates could be as bad as a "redistribute the wealth" socialist Democrat. I vote with two things in mind — the Constitution and my bank account. I'll vote for the candidate that threatens them LEAST.

I'm not rich (about $45K per year), but I worked for my college degree, and I work for my paycheck. My company gives me good health insurance … because I worked for my college degree and I work for my paycheck.

I am not inclined to accept any socialist crap.

Reading these comments makes me want to say that so many know so little about so much. Rush is right. Let McCain or Obama ruin this country in the next four years so we can elect a real conservative in 2012.

I think Rush Limbaugh is doing some major drugs.

Rush who?

John McCain is insane. He lost his mind in that prison camp 35 years ago. Can America elect TWO insane presidents in a row?

You still don't get it, do you Rush? McCain succeeds because he's bipartisan and refuses to participate in the Sunni-Shiite partisan bashing game. Unlike the rest of the right, he doesn't believe that women should be barefoot and pregnant. Speaking of which, anyone who worries that McCain will croak in office should witness his feisty, 95-year old Mom.

I listened to Hannity today. He did a complete 180 on Mccain. He admitted that he was wrong on several points and that McCain was ahead of the curve. He talked about modernizing the Republican party…. I figured he and Limbaugh got the same talking points.. but I guess not. The whole show was very odd..

they all will come over to whom ever is the nomimie

Rush,

Where have you been all these years of the GOP "bombing and killing peoples" around the world and "snooping on its own people" at home, all in your name? Were those completely condusive to your conservative "principles and ideals"?

Just because all the killing and bombing is not translating into dollars in your pocket you so believed it would, you're turning on the party, now…. Boo Hoo Hoo…………….

Limbaugh is ridiculous, entertainment at best, certainly not someone that I pay attention to. Who cares what he thinks.

Rush "to write a prescription" Limbaugh, the biggest bag of wind this country has ever produced!!! Tha really sad thing is that so many people are taken in by this bombastic blowhard!!!!

Rush I hate to say this in public but you and your radical followers
scare the hell out of me .

Wow…glad to see so many of you people are capable of such intelligent thought. Goodness, now I understand why McCain is winning. His supporters are the smartest people around.

Perhaps that's why the majority of people in FL who named the economy as their biggest concern voted for McAmnesty. I mean, hey, that makes sense to me.

Anyone, anyone at all, explain that one to me. They voted for a guy who openly admits (at least until he lied in the debate last week) that he doesn't know much about the economy over a guy who has time and time again demonstrated a great handling on business and economics.

I'd be upset if Rush was on his side. The fact that Rush is against McCain is a huge endorsement in my opinion. People like Rush are exactly what is wrong with this country.

Does anybody really listen to Rush? Does Rush even listen to Rush? What a sad, pathetic man.

If I didn't find rush's remarks about Mr. McCain so offensive, I would most definitely find them laughable. ANYTHING that rush has to say about Mr. McCain has to be tempered by the fact that Mr. McClain fought for his country in a literal sense. Where was rush when it was time for him to serve his country? Take a guess. As far as I can tell the only fighting rush has done in his life is to find where he can purchase his next supply of pain medication. That certainly has to be difficult, doesn't it? rush limbaugh is not worthy of sniffing Mr. McCain's jock-strap much less wearing it. rush is a beacon of everything that is wrong in this country. I understand that wishing he would go away isn't going to work and I surely hope that maybe, just maybe, a "conservative" intervention might grant me (and millions of others) that wish. Go away, rush. Better yet, rush away.

Really – who cares what Limbaugh thinks. He is obviously as delusional off pills as he was on them to think our opinion of him is as high as his opinion of him.

- Idiots!

You guys don't get it do you? Rush, Sean and Glenn have the most to gain by a Democratic victory in November. 4 years (at least) of all 3 branches of Government headed by leftist Democrats or if McCain wins, 2 controlled by leftest-Democrats and an Exectutive Branch run by a Democrat wanna be. Nothing would be better for their ratings than a Democratic victory in Nov. A McCain victory would come a close second. It be like 4 years of Christmas presents for them.

They've staked their livelihoods on bashing the left and its furtile ground to be sure. If Hilary or Obama get the Oval Office in November, by Feburary '09 Rush's show will be getting its highest ratings ever.

The fact that they even bother speaking out against McCain proves that it isn't ALL about business and ratings for them. Sure a large part of it is, but not all.

There is one possible exception. Sean, Carl Cameron and Fox News may actually be McCain supporters.

Rush knows on which side his bread is buttered. A McCain presidency will not offer him nearly as good a target as will either Democrat. Without a Democrat in the White House to bash, his irrelevant fulminations will be listened to by fewer and fewer people.

Oh, and Rush is entertainment. Occasionally very funny entertainment, but not someone that anyone should take seriously. Heck, his personal life is just slightly less of a train wreck than Britney Spears'.

I won't vote for John McCain. He supports the war in iraq.

For what he helped do to this country, he needs to wear a hair shirt and make a long pilgrimage. Oh, and an apology wouldn't hurt. Something on the order of , "Hi, my name is Rush and I'm a recovering neo-con and I'm so sorry for the hurt I've done to the body politic."

. . .can't believe anyone would still listen to this guy.

People can call other people negative names and feel good about themselves. They do this because they don't know how to discuss IDEAS. If you don't like Limbaugh and Hannity and other conservatives, so be it, debate them on the merit of their ideas, don't be intellectually lazy and call them names. If Limbaugh and other conservatives don't like McCain then it shows their ideas lost. McCain means a new direction for the Republican Party, a direction last followed by Eisenhower. I for one am ready to follow in the direction that McCain is leading. As the saying goes , "lead , follow or get the hell out of the way." McCain is leading and the conservatives need to follow or get the hell out of the way.

Rush is right. The GOP has fractured. Maybe compound fractured. The working people of America used to work boring factory jobs for twenty five years so that hey could buy a home, feed a family and retire with a modest pension. Now our politicians have sent all these jobs overseas to chinese slave labor and tell the American workers to re train to flip burgers. Meanwhile the Corporate Billionairs like Romney get richer and richer. And the GOP wants our loyalty?

If anyone deserves to be fractured it is the conservatives.
When I look at the last 7 years of conservative power I cry for my poor country.
We have a never ending war, on the way to a $10 trillion deficit. condoned torture of alledged enemies and the ridicule of the world.
This is the group that sys water boarding is not torture but will not demonstrate it for us.

Rush fractured the Conservatives. His scaremongering and bullying are not what Conservatives stand for, and this is coming from a Liberal. It would be best for everyone if Rush just crawled in a cave and never opened his mouth again.

I guess everyone is entitled to his point of view and has the right to express–unless you are Rush Limbaugh. If you are, then you should be taken off the air, sent to an island, and made to suffer insults and indignities, based upon your opinion.

I am dismayed and distressed at the level of vitriol against a mere radio personality. Very little true discussion on the threads above.

Let Rush run, so we can see the REAL definition of fractured!

Don't worry, no one cares what this white trash hillbilly has to say. Ignore him and he'll go away.

REAGAN CONSERVATIVES KNOW THAT JOHN MCCAIN IS MASQUERADING AS A REPUBLICAN , IN REALITY HE IS A LIBERAL IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

Your right Rush..it's fractured and gladly so…you make me sick by the way Mr. Conservative..family values hypoctite, non vet man…the typical neo-con.
The problem really is that good people took your garbage seriously.
That's how we got people like Bush and his pals from the AEI inside government anyway.
You and your ilk have caused this country great harm.

No matter who wins we are screwed.
There will be another terrorist attack and then what?
Health care, the stock market, social security, etc., will all fall apart.
Hopefully someone will be around in 2012 to fix all this.

You 'conservatives' really need to watch Law & Order tonight.

Rush , What a Moron, and a divider,I had enough of these conservatives with there lies, Free trade is good LIE, the economy is LIE, Wake up USA!

Why does ANYONE pay attention to Rush Limbaugh? He is the type of American who "loves" America and hates 95% of the people in it. Why do conservatives allow him to claim that he "speaks for conservatives?" He is not a model of family values, and he is hypocritical; i.e., witness his drug problem. True conservatives don't hate others as Limbaugh does. How dare he question the moral authority of John McCain, a war hero ? Limbaugh is a "divider," and we should listen to people who try to UNITE Americans.

This primate of a man with his holier than thou talk is an expert on what is fractured in this country as he only adds to it. The divisive talk that he spews does nothing when it comes to helping this country move forward especially when it comes to social issues.
I've come to realize that progress can be slowed but not stopped which over time has caused me less resentment for him along with the likes of Bill Oreilly. After all man hasn't always walked up right, and while the U.S. is no longer the leader of the world that is once was it's good knowing these idiots are mostly legends in their own minds although they sadly do have a following of like minded baffoons.

So rush is right and everyone else in the republican party is wrong

Mr. Limbaugh is wrong to conclude that the Republican candidates are "uninspiring." The excesses of the current Administration have marginalized the Conservative Far Right. Republicans will nominate McCain precisely because he does NOT the type of candidate that inspires Mr. Limbaugh.

I'm a conservative who says who cares what Rush Limbaugh cares or even thinks? He has never spoken for me. Rush attempts to articulate conservative rhetoric but he is merely a radio entertainer who seeks ratings and money.

Rush Limbaugh is out of touch and irrelevant.

Not one Republican truly knows what the word "conservative" means… either fiscally (record spending, more than the "Liberals") and socially becoming more and more invasive to the populus…can you say "Patriot Act"? How about eavesdropping on the citizenry? Waterboarding? American torture on foreign soil? How about holding people at Guantanamo without DUE PROCESS? Exactly what are they trying to sell to the rest of the world? THIS is Conservatism? THIS is DEMOCRACY? THIS is what the REST of the world should do?

Rush, your time has past. You are an irrelevant gas bag. Have another roofie and go lie down, Americans are smarter than that… an YOU.

As always, El Rushbo uses precious oxygen to promote…El Rushbo. Always has, always will.

Also, he's a big, fat idiot.

His party's base may be fractured but, mine will be as well if the democrats nominate the Clintons.
His party is not the only one who would be unhappy with the nominee. So, despite the excitement and large turnouts in the primaries, the general would be very low.
And depressed.
The only difference is that his party had a bunch of dull and silly old men running while the democratic voters simply cannot give up their addiction to the Clintons even though they know it would be very bad for the country.
I am hoping Feb. 5th proves that the democrats are serious about winning and rejects the destructiveness of the Clintons.

Let's hope that Moderates do take back control of the Republican Party. I define "Moderates" as those people who have respect for the U.S. Constitution, who take responsibility to live as Jesus advises, and who have some grasp of economics and geo-politics.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Thad Allen, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant could run for President? Remember those pictures of New Orleans rescues? He certainly has the administrative experience and security clearance necessary.

Not a Rush fan, but I agree whole-heartedly. I will never vote for McCain.

Limbaugh is as demented as ever. The GOP's only hope of winning the Presidency after the mind numbing failure on every front by the Neo-Con Christian presidency, is to bring a triangulating figure like McCain to do to the GOP what Bill Clinton did for the Dems in 92. McCain can win some undecided voters and some disaffected Dems, where Clinton alienates all GOP voters and most independants, and half of her own party. McCain can take the presidency easilly over either Dem candidate, and once that is done, it really matters little what he thinks or does, the GOP will be able to hold power and use it's advisers and staff to make the McCain they want, and even more importantly, present the list of Supreme Court nominees for the next couple of openings.

If the loony tunes fringe right don't like McCain, then I feel a lot more comfortable with him.
I want a candidate that wants what is good for all the citizens and not one so indebted to mind-warped power brokers with a narrow morality agenda that Emperor Bush would be their only candidate.

The Republicans will win the election, no matter how fractured they might be, because the Democrats are even more fractured, as indicated by the disenfranchisement of the democratic voters in Michigan and Florida BY DEMOCRATS!

John McCain has stated that Roe v Wade should not be abolished. He claims to be of Reagan lineage. Read Reagan's Conscience of a Nation about abortion. Did not support the Bush tax cuts. McCain Feingold, now that's some reform. And I think he said anyone that is opposes the illegals in this country are racicts. Oh and don't forget he supported the death tax. I don't think I want to be a modrate.

Rush Limbaugh needs to shut up.

Limbaugh? He should have been banished to a small island in the Pacific long, long ago (although I would hate to inflict that on the Pacific). Get him off the airways at least.

(I'M FOR HILLARY)

If McCain wins the nomination, I see alot of people switching parties.,

Rush Limbaugh is a genius. You small-minded haters on here don't have the mental capacity to realize that he is 99.9% right 99.9% of the time.
Go ahead….vote for Clinton and kiss away your income.

Romney for Pres!

That's right. I am a conservative Republican and I will NEVER support McCain. I am a Romney supporter and I am furious about the lies he's been telling about Romney these past several days and weeks. I thought the economy and securing our borders were issues? Is everyone going to roll over on this? A person has to have convictions and I would be untrue to myself if I voted for McCain. If McCain is our nomination I will be WRITING in another name….Romney!

McCain is three times the man that George W. Bush is. Limbaugh may be right that the conservative base has fractured, but that means absolutely nothing when the alternative is to fracture our entire country.

Rush, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and all the other right-wing nuts have done more to poison the political climate of this country in the past decade than almost anything else. (Only the ones with real power have done worse — as in the Bush/Cheney duo). Anyway, it's about time their vitriolic poison be splashed back on them!

I'm also sure Rupert Murdoch and the folks at Fox News are having an identity crisis right about now!

Rush Limbaugh does NOT speak for all Conservatives, JUST the establishment types, like George Bush (both of them). Rush attacked Pat Buchanan when he opposed NAFTA (Not aA FAIR Trade Agreement), and when he ran against the Public (Bob) Dole. I will be BURNING my copy of his book "The Way Things Outta Be", and I suggest other Conservatives, do the same and TUNE HIM OUT.

The Conservative Base is NOT Fractured, just the COUNTRY CLUB REPUBLICANS that Rush represents.

yeah he is not a conservative because he's not fiscally irresponsible . the bridge to nowhere. go mccain

Guess it's time for more painkillers!

Who cares what a drug addict like Limbaugh thinks?

laughable limbaugh

you people just don't understand that the American people just want a president who understands justice for all and John and the Huck fill the bill not the Masonic bunch that has been or will be—thanks Lynn

Wow, I'm a registered Republican and I did not even realize there was a "Republican Establishment" separate from "conservatives." I thought we were all conservative. Interesting.

This couldn't happen to a nicer party. They were wrong about so many things over the last 8 years and this nation has paid the price.

Conservatism has failed. Look at the economy.

Neo-conservatism has failed. Look at our position in the world.

It is time to move on from these failed philosphies just like eastern Europe has moved on from commmunism.

the party is not fractured. people have finally turned their backs on idiots like Rush Limbaugh.

I can't express the glee I have in seeing Rush froth at the mouth. It's about time someone came along to hopefully make Rush, Hannity, and O'Reilly irrelevant.
But Rush is jumping the gun. Even if the conservatives do not like McCain they will hold their nose and vote for him over Oama or Hillary.
This ain't over yet.

Rush Limbaugh is still relevant?

I mean, relevant outside of his support base of 40-something single, overweight pasty-faced white men with mustaches and goatees, who work in computer-related fields and drive tiny cars plastered with right-wing bumper-stickers.

Can't win the Presidency without that important demographic!

I tuned into Rush Limbaugh once, hoping to hear some interesting conservative discussion and thought.

Boy, was I disappointed! Not only was there lack of any discussion, there was darn little thought.

Just some fat guy selling neckties and calling Hillary names.

OK, well the calling Hillary names part was funny.

But that was about it.

So much for "Excellence in Broadcasting"

When you see Rush, ask him about his Vietnam War experience.

McCain has nothing to worry about. Rush is irrelevant. The conservative base is weak because the conservative message is weak. America is ready to move on.

This blubbering gas bag of a blimp is still relevant….how? The only people I know who still listen to him haven't heard of FM radio yet, much less the internet.

I am very surprised the whole Republican establishment has thrown Republican values out. Shame on Republican voters to merely base their decision on whether someone could beat Clinton based on liberal media polls. If voters had any backbone, they would have voted in a conservative and then fought out for a win. McCain Republcan Presidency is a sign that the party has lost to liberal values, not to Clinton. It is a long term loss for a short term gain.

Rush Limbaugh,

Whenever Cheney or Bush ever needed to make their case for starting the Iraq War, cutting funding for education and health care to children and the elderly, legalize torture, etc.; Limbaugh's show would be on top of their list to help spew their poison.

Limbaugh was for warrantless search and seizure until the FBI raided his home and found illicit prescription drugs. The same guy who said Detroit was more dangerous than Baghdad at the start of the Iraq War and the Abu Graib torture scandal was no big deal until the pictures came out. To call Rush Limbaugh a "Big Fat Idiot" would be a gross understatement. The man is a racist hate monger and the people who listen to him are as dimwitted as he is.

All you posters are laying out some heavy intellectual musings. Sounds like the typical liberal diatribe – all blow, no substance.

One of the drawbacks of freedom of speech is that we're subjected to mindless rants by bloviating idiots like Rush Limbaugh.

This man has to be one of the most divisive and hypocritical individuals to live in this great country, and the sad thing is that there's a percentage of the population who actually believes and supports what he has to say!

I am hopeful that the Dems will take the White House, just to watch people like Rush go insane for the next 4 years. However, if it's McCain, it will be almost as enjoyable.

If Rush Limbaugh is crying in his beer, the country is moving in the RIGHT direction. I may not vote for McCain but I do respect him.

I'm shocked to see that after all of Rush Limbaugh's hypocritical behavior he's still got the chutzpah to come out as a conservative critic of anybody and that a serious news organization would cover it as interesting or newsworthy. This guy is a total joke. And the idea that you would write a story about him is an even bigger one.

Why is Rush Limbaugh pictured in a collared shirt and jacket ? Where are the combat fatigues and helmet ? Didn't he enlist in the Army immediately after our country invaded Iraq, and gladly ship overseas to prove he's not "all talk" ???

Rush, go back to abusing painkillers and leave politics to people who know what they're talking about.

Its obvious that there are moderates in the Republican party who support McCain and ultraconservatives who opposes him. I happen to be a moderate who is overjoyed to see the Republican party move more towards the middle. I would actually love to see the moderate elements of both the Republican and Democratic parties split from their respective fringe elements and form a new "Moderate" political party that takes the middle ground. Leave the Republican party to the Rush Limbaughs and the right wingers, and the Democratic party to the Ted Kennedys and the left wingers. The Moderate party could support things that are good for the country rather than just good for the party, and maybe something other than bickering and infighting could be accomplished in Washington.

Rush (as in man, what a rush) aren't you late for your medication?

You are only attacking McCain because you are a puppit of Mitt, just like that other knucklehead Glen Beck.

Limbaugh used his Pilonidal Cyst (an abscess in the natal cleft – more commonly referred to as your butt crack) to skip wearing the uniform on order to avoid service in Vietnam.

After all these years hopefully the thing, carrying half his brain, will … f i n a l l y … pop.

Borat Obama really shines as the REPUBLICAN FRONT RUNNER!!!

GO HILLARY!!!

GO AMERICA!!!

Who cares what Rush thinks……he is a pill popping idiot. I never did like that guy. He is nothing but a bag full of hot gas….shut up Rush and just go away!!

Perhaps the great unwashed have tired of hate radio and the constant mocking of everything and anything that does not fit that agenda? I pray for the day when we elect a President based on what's best for the United States as a whole, and not what's best for "our" side. And as far as Rush, Hannity, and the rest of the hate mongers, have no fear. They'll continue to peddle their venom regardless of the outcome. They truly could care less what happens to America as long as they make their ratings.

Screw Limbaugh and the rat he rode in on. McCain, "the choice of the Republican establishment?" He's given them a bigger headache in the last decade than all the Democrats thrown together. And where does he get off slinging mud at them? Anyone remember who he was backing in the nineties? You don't get much more "establishment" than Newt Gingrich.

Poor Rush,

He must be off his pain medication….

Tough choices this election cycle…

We may have two Dems/Liberals on the ticket this fall…

Hillary from the far left and John from the not so far left…..

It's time for a moderate to be in the office, whether Democrat or Republican. I think many Americans feel this way. This "unendorsement" will likely get McCain more votes, not less.

I'm probably one of those "conservatives" that Limbaugh speaks about. Oh, I listen to Limbaugh-I listen to him lie on a daily basis-just to make sure I never forget how Limbaugh has misled good people for many years. Bush and the Republicans had 6 years to deliver on their "promises". They delivered a war and a recession. Bush tax cuts? Ain't seen it in my family. A secure border? Where is it? The terror threat, again we have a wide open border so show me the terrorists. Limbaugh is a traitor to the Constitution and Liberty. I doubt any of us will live long enough to ever see a Republican elected president again.

I'm a conservative, and I'd rather vote for Obama than McCain. If liberal policies are going to hurt America, I hope it happens under a Democrat. And if Obama can really unite America, bury racism and inspire our youth, I'm willing to lose the war in Iraq and pay higher taxes for the privilege of seeing that happen.

I remember Rush deriding women for having the temerity to ask for equal pay and rights-"lesbos who were wrecking our country". We are done with hateful, spiteful people Rush, so go back to the lunatic fringe and keep spouting hate. Sad that when you die, that will be your only legacy.

The "Conservative Base" isn't fractured, it's just a lot smaller than Rush thinks it is.

The Republican Party has followed Mr. Limbaugh over several cliffs (military, economic, and constitutional) over the past 8 years. What is fractured is his relevance–to both political parties and a country that has had its fill of narcisstic "personalities" during the past 4 incompetent presidential terms.

Poor big fat sweaty baby!

HAHAHA……..

They had a chance to spread their ideas but they choose to bring down Hillary. Now they have nothing to stand on. I love this. Now they hate their own front running. This tells you they are a party of hate.

They don't care about anyone but themselves. it is business for Rush and Hennedy pure business. As long as they make money. They know McCain will not spend his money on their radio stations….

Go McCain they can't stop you now.

Rush is irrelevant any more. No one respects him except his most rabid fascist fans

Rush Limbaugh and the conservatives are the biggest joke of the 21st century and here is why. The conservatives call moderate republicans RINO’s (Republican in Name Only) and consider RINO’s to be nothing more than liberals, but in every general election for president when a staunch conservative like Gary Bauer, Alan Keys or Patrick Buchanan have ran for the office of president who did the conservatives support the RINO. Then once the RINO get in office the conservatives attempt to twist the RINO’s arm to appoint conservative judges. I would like Rush and the conservative to tell me and the rest of the United States why should anyone support a conservative for president when conservative will not support the conservative candidate.

It was the backlash form Clinton's penal exploits that put George W. Bush in the White House to start with.

Rush doesn't realize his "conservative" Bush is responsible for the destruction of the Republican party by
1. Allowing the religious right to hijack the party.
2. Uncontrolled spending coupled with tax cuts.
3. Foreign misadventures .
4. Disregarding constitutional rights of Americans.
5. Fostering an us vs. them polarity among Americans.
6. Fear mongering.

When a life-long Consitutionalist like Ron Paul is ignored, expect tyranny to be the result regardless of who is elected.

I CAN'T STAND THIS MAN!

It seems to me, if Rush, Hannity and the other blow hard O'Reilly are against him, he must be ok. I love it when neocons begin to eat their own. The entire Republican party is a joke. They're all a bunch of racist, pill-popping, homophobic, hypocritical nit wits. When asked "What would Jesus do? He'd drive the lot of them out of the temple.

I thought the Republican "machine" didn't like McCain because he is a "Maverick"? Color me confused on what story line I should be following.

Rush does not know what he is talking about. McCain has tried to work with both sides of isle to get things done and Rush does not like this approach. Rush would prefer constant grid lock and bickering. Rush is like a kid in a toy store who does not get what he wants and starts to cry. Get over it Rush people do not want another George Bush in office and Ronald Reagan is long gone. McCain is the best choice for President.

So much for "Excellence in Broadcasting."

What part of Limbaugh's statement is incorrect?

The myth of a Republican base that centers on the likes of Rush Limbaugh is finally being broken. That extremist group that hijacked our party after Ronald Regan and stole the soul of our nation is finally being put in its place. The Cheney/Rumsfeld cabal that are its bastard children can never be allowed to reign again.

Yes because the liberals have all of the answers. I agree that change is needed in our government today yet, there isn't anybody that is worth anything. More people will vote in the primaries then come time for election of president. Candidates on both sides are seriously flawed.

At what point did the ultraconservative right wing claim ownership to the title conservative? To state that McCain is not conservative is a poor attempt to label a solid conservative Republican.

independent 08, hey idiot, what is it with "Mitt the mormon" remark! what does his religion have to do anything you athiest moron!

The libs best friend in the republican side of the house is lib insane McCain, he is a liar and lib loving idiot. Romney will recover, Hickupbee is just staying in it to take votes from Romney, Hickupbee the hick will be rewarded the VP nomination if old man insane McCain wins, god forbid if he does. If he wins, then the fools that voted for him deserve what you get!!

Romney 08!

hmmm Did you complain like this when he was BAshing the Hell out of everthing that was said proposed or THOUGHT about that was done by democrats for over a decade??

Russ is old news but it is funny how people turned on hin when he aims his crap at a republican.

Of course they are fractured. The disastrous results of their leadership are laid bare for all to see now, no matter how much the mainstream media tries to gloss it over. Lies can accomplish a lot, we see in in Iraq. But they can only hide the truth for so long.

The "base" that Limbaugh is talking about is the "base" that has divided and ruined this country. I think he's just seeing his influence whither. Makes me like McCain even more, even though I'm a D.

Hey Rush – I feel yer pain!!! But it's nuthin' a handful of someone else's Viagra and a trip to Thailand can't fix! Why dontcha bring Papa Bear O'Reilly and a basket full of loofas with ya! Enloy!

HE'S RIGHT!

Man, this is great. I think we could run an actual donkey against the GOP and still win! After growing up under Ronny Reagan, life couldn't be more sweeter than this!

the republican party has been fractured for a while, i think they will lose this election!

Booo hoooo cry me a river Rush… I kind of feel pity for the lunatic though, they fractured his beloved conservative base now he has a liberal at the forefront of his party!!!! Well the rest of level headed America says take heart Rush, you can still dream about Fred Thompson and Mitt the mormon.

Rush, Hannity and Glen Beck should be all placed on suicide watch immediately, this is a terrible day for talk radio looneys.

A wingnut frothing at the mouth is a beautiful sight.

if rush and hannity want the democrats to win then they can easily help it happen. it is almost as though they would like that so they can say i told you so. shame on them. would they consider the insult to our fallen soldiers?

Claire- No, let him rant and rave, all he will be able to do is destroy McCain with the right wing nuts of the republican party. They deserve each other. One has jumped in the pocket of Bush and the other has always been half way crazy..

Good. We can relax now that we know that Limbaugh and all the other ultraconservative crazies are going to be upset in January 2009 no matter what.

The base isn't fractured, moderate Republicans are simply taking their party back from the extreme right wing.

Rush is a jerk – always has been, always will be

Hey, it's the right-wing neocon that should be shut down and shut up!

CNN seems to forget John McCain won two very Republican states. It does matter he didn't carry the 'conservative' vote- the point is he won among Republicans.

Limbaugh and his 'conservative' buddies will complain and criticize McCain because he will not bow down to their demands. Maybe McCain critics should be nice to him so the Senator will consider tossing them a bone when he's president.

Limbaugh is an Idiot and so are the people that listen to him.

Limbaugh is right – the right is disconnect and discontented!

LIMBAUGH IS A FAT, PILL POPPIN, PIG.

HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT.

I had almost forgot that this guy had any relevance anymore. Who are we talking about again? Oh right … Rush O'Reillly … err … Sean Hannibaugh … err … Rushanne Coluter?

This is hard …

Look who's talking..If anyone has a fracture it's you limbaugh. I remember the mid ninities. How you were instrumental in uniting one of the worst congresses in american history. Your contract with america was a contract for the rich and the lobbyist. You and your republicans stood for electing staunch, greedy, and insensitive crones to power for the goal of achieving individual power. You my friend are a disgrace to america….

Your views are sci-fi, and your an a-1 idiot

Hmmm….We should listen to Rush. After all, if there is one person who is an expert on identifying political "fractures" and "divisions" – its him.

Hopefully, the Democratic and Republican nominees (whoever they turn out to be) will recognize the same painful fractures and divisions that are tearing at America (not just the Republican Party) – and work to mend and heal them – not exploit them for fame and profit like Rush has done.

Who cares what the conservatives and Limbaugh think? Their influence is responsible for destroying our country. Time for them to go away and shut up.

A bashing by Rush is a great compliment to McCain.

Poor Rush. It is kind of interesting to imagine what conservative radio and TV is going to do. I suspect their will be a lot of crying. Lot's of opinion rants but few interviews or real access anymore as their buddies aren't the ones in control.