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[...] takes aim at Limbaugh CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – Ridge takes aim at Limbaugh – Blogs ... __________________ Semper in excretum sum sed alta [...]

[...] is the leader and voice of the Republican Party. They do this in order to pressure Republicans into criticizing and distancing themselves from Limbaugh. The left knows this will lead to internal conflict, within [...]

[...] http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/24/ridge-takes-aim-at-shrill-limbaugh/ [...]

[...] Mr. Ridge claiming Mr. Limbaugh is “too shrill” and uses language that “offends very many” in an interview on CNN’s State of the Union with John [...]

[...] Ridge takes aim at Limbaugh Pennsylvania Republican Tom Ridge is taking direct aim at Rush Limbaugh, telling CNN's John King the conservative talk radio host can be "shrill" and uses language in a way "that offend very many." [...]

We get what we deserve. Any time someone tries to give a measured, nuanced view rather than the screaming, shrill screaming the comments tend to end up being more shrill screaming. Some complaining about brainwashed sheeple, others suggesting Limbaugh should go hunting with Cheney. Intelligent discourse is dead - I guess it just isn't entertaining enough.

Somebody needs to give that fat air bag a good "old fashion butt-kickin'. It's easy to sit on your fat, stinkin' backside and fire up the truly "UNWASHED" it's quite another to be a responsible leader...RUSH LIMBAUGH falls in at the top of the heep in the LUNATIC FRINGE, followed by his zombie-like "ditto heads".

Wanda Sykes said it best! hahahaha (via Media Corespondents Dinner at the White House)
Rush could very well be living on borrowed time. And people in that position care very little about how what they say effects others and who they offend, or even if what they are saying makes any sense at all.
Especially when they know their on their way to hell anyway.

Ridge is an Arlen Specter Republican.

Suddenly CNN is the expert on Republican politics? Somehow, I doubt that. In fact, I find it hilarious.

Still trying to trash the party without trashing the party. Write it anyway you want, me thinks you are going to be in for a BIG SURPRISE during the next election.

So Powell isnt a true Republican because he endorsed Obama? Sounds more to me like he saw what was going on in the WH from an insider's perspective and knew this country couldnt take four more years of failed policy.

Limbaugh's nothing more then a draft dodger with a voice second only in size to his waist line. Its just a shame that this is what the GOP has to offer in terms of voice.

Limbaugh claims an audience of 20 million. Is there any basis in fact for this claim? Radio ratings are notorious for their lack of standardization. There are no Nielson meters attached to radios. I suspect this large number was arrived at by unscientific and highly dubious means, and yet the media parrot this number as if it were fact; shameful, but hardly surprising.

Rush is a flabby and cowardly entertainer. Colin Powell is a patriot and an intelligent professional soldier. Otherwise, there is not much difference.

Happy Canuck May 24th, 2009 11:59 am ET
"...The lies spread in the US about so-called socialized medicine are ridiculous. Why is taking care of everybody a bad thing? Is America built on survival of the fittest?"
~~~~~~~~~
In a word, Yes!

For those of you who think our country is safer because of the prevous administration are not paying attention to what is really going on.
There are more terrorist and terrorist groups than ever before in the history of our world. The Bush administration created more anger, hate, disrespect and turmoil with their actions which Cheney, Ridge, Rove, Gingrich etc are trying to cover up with their lies, constant fear mongering.
You talk about hate and I have admit, yes, I do hate the republican politicians for what they are trying to do to our country. Rather than come up with acceptable, workable plans, they point fingers, lie and support party first regardless of the consequences.
They have become unAmerican and very dangerous for our country and it's survival.
They have lost their way and the American people are their victims.

Ray, learn your history and geography. The prison at gitmo is on a United States Naval base. The base may be on Cuba, but the base is totally American controlled as it has since Castro took over. The US has kept the base to basically be a thorn in the side of Castro, and to have a naval presence in the Caribbean. Castro wishes the base were gone but can do nothing about it. Cuba can not simply close it down, they would need to close down the entire base and that will not happen. Before you make comments, make sure you know what you are talking about.

Here is the rub. To be some what informed or even to find what the news might be, most of us are forced to listen to or watch almost all of the media sources. ABC, CBS, NBC CNN Are for the left FOX goes to the conservative. as does Rush. My suggestion on all of them is to follow the money trail on all of them before you decide.

Rush destroys the liberals and all the Repubs who act like Democrats and liberals. Liberalism is destroying this country and Rush simply exposes it for what it is. COLON POWELL is NOT a Republican if he is supporting Obama. Ridge is a dolt.

Ted Tartaglia May 24th, 2009 12:29 pm ET
Cheney should take Limbaugh hunting.
****
I have a better idea for you Liberal, Cheney should take Obama and Pelosi hunting...

Tony May 24th, 2009 12:31 pm ET

Listen to Rush and "Live by every word"?
I don't see it and most People I know don't. It is capitalism that HALF of us want that made this country the greatest in the world.
NO. Capitalism is not perfect yet I have been all over the world on all continents (except Antarctica) and Socialism is much worse as a whole.
Very stressful to many of the people.

Really Tony?
I don't know where you been, but I think you should read a report by the Boston Globe which says this....

My fellow Americans: Want a health tip? Move to Canada.

An impressive array of comparative data shows that Canadians live longer and healthier lives than we do. Still others think Canadians are healthier because their medical system is tilted more toward primary-care doctors and less toward specialists. And some believe it's something more fundamental - a smaller gap between rich and poor.

I think you need to do some fact checking before you post some of your foolish comments Tony.

Mr. Ridge is right on the money concerning R.L. I switched to the Democratic side this past year due to the hate spew coming from Russ and other radical talking heads. I just got OLD!

So sick of Sheeple! May 24th, 2009 12:13 pm ET
If I hear the word "Sheeple" one more time I think I'm going to scream. If the conservative way of life is so amazing, why not take off to texas and form a utopian society based on all these great gun toating laws, dog-eat-dog conservative values. Don't worry after about 5 years we'll send in a Hazmat team to clean up the mess and start anew…
~~~~~
We're sick of "sheeple" too! And be careful what you ask for. Last I checked Texas is one of the few states that is actually weathering this economic storm very well, thank you. But maybe we should all follow the political/economic lead of liberal California...tax and spend and when that doesn't work, get bailed out by the rest of the country. Brilliant!

Tom Ridge and Colin Powell are right. Rush Limbaugh is a jerk. And what's-his-wuss, the head of the Republican Party, apologizes to Limbaugh????? Notice we haven't heard from Steele lately - that's because his head is stuck back up his ass again.

20,000,000 plus listen to Rush...and it is not because WE disagree.

Don't ya just love it when they eat their own?

This man is the hallmark of arrogance, pride and condescending behavior. But he hardly sees himself so, which is what hypocrites are noted for. He is always attacking and ridiculing people who do not believe in his hateful garbage he spews out into the airwaves for three hours every weekday.
He says he is the champion of democracy but he always disagrees with people of opposing views which is against the tenet of the ideal he is championing. He uses the intellectual materials of other people without giving them credit only to turn around and use the same materials to attack them if the opinions expressed in them are in conflict with his stupid ideology. Pride goes before a fall and this should be a warning sign for his eventual demise from the airwaves .

Limbaugh should take Cheney to the back alleys of Miami for a drug buy.

If 20 million people listen to Rusn and hang on to his every word, there are 20 million people with too much time on their hands. They would better serve themselves and their country if they would spend that time volunteering, or just turning off the radio and getting back to work on the jobs they are being paid to do. I would be ashamed to admit listenting to Rush. On rare occasions in my car, I accidently catch his voice as I search for a good station--it takes an instant to change the station. I do not like to throw up, and certainly not in my car. That is what would happen if is gave Rush 30 seconds of my day. I deserve so much better in my life than listening to the rush's, the dicky's, the coulter's, the hannity's, and not the mouthy gingrich's and other such ilk. My life is so full of love I chose not to pollute my thought processes with such hate filled rhetoric they dish out.

Mr Ridge is right.We are doing a great job fellow Americans.We have Limbaughs sponsors on the run.Many are not renewing their contracts.There is no place for hate mongers and liars.

The reason why liberals HATE republicans and conservativism is because you have RUINED America! I HATE you for RUINING my country.

You have had nealy 30 years since Reagan and his moronic Trickle-down theory has become the maintstay of American economic principle. If we were all living in some wonderful world with nobody on the streeets, no war, with the ability to maintain our parent's standard of living (we are not as most American households now require a 2 wage earners to maintain the same standard of living as a typical one wage earner in the 60s and 70s) I would be a Republican.

This has not happened, it does not work and I HATE you for RUINING my country!

Even though I am a Democrat, I believe that there are intelligent and informed Republicans out there that are worth listening to their opinions. I find it difficult to believe that 20 million people listen to a man who is probably still addicted to drugs. I must be totally missing something. Is it because he doesn't conceal his bigotry? Or because 20 million people don't want to think for themselves thus choosing to be spoon fed an opinion.

Tom Ridge got his candidate in 2008: John McCain. McCain was the most moderate Republican to run for President in 30 years. Meanwhile the Democrats nomicated Obama, the most liberal democrat to be nominated since Jimmy Carter. The result....Conservatives had nothing to vote for and stayed home, liberals got excited and voted for Obama and a Democrat congress. If the Republicans want to be relevant, they have to stand for something and not be Democrat-lite.

Too True For You May 24th, 2009 12:12 pm ET
...." we have 20 million mentally impaired on the loose being indoctrinated by an idiot"
***
Indoctrinated? Are you referring to the Liberals - this is what you Liberals do best, especially in our schools...you Liberals are sad and misguided IDIOTS! RUSH LIMBAUGH ROCKS, take it from a Hispanic woman!

It is rediculous to argue over closing of Guantmo.
This Base exists at the convenience of the Cuban Government.
It can be closed at any time by the Cuban Government.If this happened,we would be rushing to find a spot for all of the prisoners.
Better to do this on our time line,than to wait.

Tom Ridge suggesting Limbaugh should be more respectful?

Right. Like trying to teach table manners to a caveman.

Just wait and see what your reward is going to be, Tom.

SPORTSMANSHIP is defined as:

•Playing fair
•Following the rules of the game
•Respecting the judgment of referees and officials
•Treating opponents with respect.

1. I presume Republicans played fair in 2008 Election.
2. I presume Republicans followed the rules of the Elections.
3. Republicans are not respecting the Judgement of the People. They are not shutting their Mouths. They are still Talking about their Failed Policies.
4. Republicans are not Treating Democrats with Respect.

Listen to Rush and "Live by every word"?
I don't see it and most People I know don't. It is capitalism that HALF of us want that made this country the greatest in the world.
NO. Capitalism is not perfect yet I have been all over the world on all continents (except Antarctica) and Socialism is much worse as a whole.
Very stressful to many of the people.
I do believe in a middle somewhere.

When government has most of the control by either side it does not work. The people running it are not perfect.

Limbaugh and Cheney are the best recruiting tools the Democrats have ever been handed to cull the majority of Americans who happen to sit in the moderate middle.

Will the GOP be the party of Rush and Dick, or Colin and John? The answer to the question will decide the fate of Republicans.

Cheney should take Limbaugh hunting.

To all those who think the last administration kept us safe, I have a revelation. Its pretty hard for a terrorist to strike when your watching. Before Sept 11. everybody was calm and collected, both Democrat and Republican. Republicans had control of the government then. Then Sept 11 happened which opened the eyes of all. Since then nothing has happened. Why? Because our eyes have been opened. We are watching. It doesn't matter who is in charge, it would have been the same result. If nothing else us stirring things back up in Iraq and showing our neglect of international pacts by torturing and such made us less safe as those who attacked us will have a growing audiance who hates us all the more. Please consider this. Oh almost forgot. Which party was in charge when we helped Afganistan the first time and failed to help them rebuild, which is what Bin Laden anger originated from to begin with? Reagan and the Republican Party. So my point is. Your argument is flawed.

Rush never ran for office, too funny they have to keep going after a radio host. Nobody cares about liberal hosts since they have no audience. Wonder how many people actualy listen to him, Limbaugh is right, it's only when they run as true conservatives is when they win.

This is the problem with republican, they don't express their opions and only seem to attack each other. Colin Powell is also in left field right now as he has attacked Rush and never said a single word critizing Obama's ideas or plans for the nation.

Funny Rush said he only met Tom Ridge once and he came up and introduced himself to Rush at a football game and they had a great conversation.

THe Republican party is doomed! Just face the facts

Why does anyone listen to Rush Limbaugh? Who is he to throw stones?

Ridge was played for a fool.

Rush wasn't running in 08. McCain ran on rhetoric that sounds exactly like what Ridge is endorsing. It didn't seem to impress anybody in November. (Not even Colin Powell)

This interview is the perfect example why republicans can't win. They're willing to insult their base to try to win the favor of people who will always hate them.

They probably buttered Ridge up by asking real policy questions for 45 minutes, but the only thing that gets reported is the comment about Rush. What a tool.

I'm sure the millions of Rush-hating CNN republicans will just run out and vote for him now. (Just like they did for McCain)

Rush Limbaugh is a hate monger and a known drug abuser with little knowledge of the real world. Rush's big mouth and small brain got him a radio show for the small brain people and now he thinks he represents most Americans.

Rush, your a loud moth jerk that never worked a day in your life, never defended your country and you don't represent and honest hard working man or woman in America.

At this point of the information age, anyone who actually needs a modern day Tokyo Rose propaganda pushing scumbag like Limbaugh, for any reason other than to laugh at how pathetic & stupid our society has become is as sharp as Paris Hilton. Same morons who think their problems can be solved by a 45 second call to a loser skank like Dr. Laura. Grow up people! Rush is not an insider and doesn't know more than the educated American in the street. Figure things out for yourself and realize he's nothing more than a spineless, weak, sad addict who cant' sustain a relationship or do anything but bark at the moon to gain the attention of idiots.

PT, you seem to think everybody's picking on poor little Limbaugh. Have you ever listened to him? Nothing I've read here is any worse than what comes out of his mouth. Theres that old addage, "If you cant take it, dont dish it out."

Ridge is right and Rush and Cheney are the stale old ones. Who one the election Rush?

Matthew Peacock,

"Obama has undoubtedly helped avert what could have been a much worse situation, but I guess you are too illogical to see this."

Your kidding right? Nothing has changed. You are reaching this "illogical" conclusion based on experts. And what party do these "experts" belong to? I can see you are drinking heavily of your parties Kool-Aid.

PT, free speech is not the issue here, no one wants to take away Limbaugh's rights. We're discussing how disturbing it is that he seems to speak for the GOP now. As for liberals, I'm sure they dont want to shut him up, he's recruiting for them.

Wow – a republican who stands up to Limbaugh? Seriously? I mean – a Republican who thinks he knows more than a TALK SHOW HOST???? None of the others do – including the Chairman of the RNC. This is a surprising, SMART turn of events....

I love how the liberal media always labels any Republican that comes out against the conservatives of the Party as a "Top Republican".

Tom Ridge is nothing but a Bush leftover and will be nothing more than that...ever.

Rush Limbaugh is a disgrace to the human race and should be removed from the airways via FCC action. I'm sure that grounds do exist for his removal.

Jesse in Texas

If I hear the word "Sheeple" one more time I think I'm going to scream. If the conservative way of life is so amazing, why not take off to texas and form a utopian society based on all these great gun toating laws, dog-eat-dog conservative values. Don't worry after about 5 years we'll send in a Hazmat team to clean up the mess and start anew...

Wow. Ridge is right. 20 million listeners sucking Rush's garbage as if it were republican gospel. 20 million following this mendacious pea brain whose main function is NOT to elevate political discourse, NOT to actually solve anything, NOT to make the republican party stronger, but ONLY to make himself more money by spouting the most ridiculous, emotionally appealing crap he can muster to keep the "ditto-heads" riled up and listening. Rush is radios version of a cheap comic book – topically appealing, the only goal to keep the kids buying and turning the page.
So no wonder health care is in a shambles; we have 20 million mentally impaired on the loose being indoctrinated by an idiot.

Attacking the messenger instead of the message means you have lost the debate and probably cannot change people's minds. Limbaugh is a lot of things, but he provides a fact-filled dissenting voice in a sea of echoes. Are those in power afraid of a little dissent?

Lets be honest here folks. Colin Powel has more class in his little pnky than Limbaugh or Cheney have combined.

lucretia – This shows how really dumb you are. The insurance companies are already making your health care decisions, LIKE IT OR NOT. And if you don't have insurance. Then it comes down to what the hospital administrator feels like swallowing, and trust me, they will take the cheep way out. So You never were in control. Get it right.

Limbaugh is the most disgusting and repugnant person in any media, and I am amazed that people even listen!
He is taking down the GOP...

Ah, it must be "Sound-Bite Sunday"....

Who cares, its a free country... Ever heard of the 1st amendmant? True, everyone here has the unrestricted right to rip Limbaugh a new one. But this is only true in a public forum when it serves an artisitc/educational purpose. You libs are, how did Ridge put it, SHRILL!

P.S. WOW, Erick in AL, you HATE someone because you disagree with them? I thought all you libs were loving people without an once of intolerance. You are a pathetic person, but I don't HATE you.

DJ – Let's say you really are that wealthy guy you like to think of yourself as, "Glad you got some of my money. That money you received is out of my pocket and the pocket of others who pay 95% of the taxes in this country." Then you know after the Bush Admin you probably got back 67%. So you are paying less that (as a percentage of income) the guy on minimum wage meeking out an existence about to lose his home because of the deregulation of the Bush Admin and afraid to seek medical care because if he is sick, his insurance company, who pays more for hiring the customer rep who is paid to DENY care, will recommend his health insurance be disapproved because of a, “preexisting medical condition" a catch-all phrase in the Bush Admin deregulation aftermath for the health industry. How do you sleep at night, DJ?

Getting on Limbaugh is like getting on Joe the plummer....Yea that's right WHO CARES ABOUT EITHER ONE.

Well, it looks as though we have the entire 19% of sheep who still support the wreck formerly known as the Republican Party on the blogs this morning. Unfortunately for people like Ridge or McCain (pre-election, before he also bent over for Rush) their voices will not be heard because of all the jabbering nonsense that comes from the right wing. This explains why there is a higher education level in the Democratic party; where else do you formulate a game plan like the one the far right is propagating?? "We got beat by a considerable margin because of our self righteous, far right nonsense and bullying; so lets be more far right and self righteous!" I'm glad to see them slipping further and further from reality. Ridge, McCain, Crist, Huntsman, and everyone else from that "party" who still has sense in their heads, make like Specter and join the party of today, and watch the extremists continue down the toilet.

Say what the Majority need to hear, you have lots who will listen.
The Sheep Farms are full of them..

Obama honors Farrakhan and condemns Limbaugh. Limbaugh is stating his opinion without breaking any laws; Farrakhan does not appear to have any restraints. How's that for truth, justice, and change you can believe in? Why are the Dems so shrill to shut him up? Do they not believe in legal free speech?

Ridge just got major points in my book. Yes, we can debate, but part of a debate is respecting the other side so that they can, in turn, respect you. This is where Rush fails utterly and completely. He has no respect for anyone who disagrees with him, and is, therefore, unworthy of respect in return.

What scares me the most about Rush is that the type of audience he attracts is the type that seems least capable of critical thought. They are the kind of people who willing believe everything he says without checking up on him. I listen to news programs and such, but I NEVER simply believe it. I always go and check up on it and try to learn as much of the real story so that I can form my own, educated, opinion on the matter.

Blind belief is the quickest way for a nation to fall. Seconded only by pandemic lack of respect for the other side of an argument (which leads to many problems).

Rush has no place in my republican party. Hot air gasbags only like to listen to themselves rant and rave. Rush, get a grip and get real or get out of the party. You do great harm to those who attempt to promote a conservative view with conservative tactics. You attempt to promote conservative views with a hell bent outrage that is counterproductive and poorly constructed. If you wish to go the way of the dinosaurs be my guest, I will gladly show you the door. If you wish to progress and be a legit piece of the political dialogue calm down and try the decafe'. You may find that working with people can actually produce dividends without the harsh language and jacked up drama which seem to define you.

Scary people follow Rush like he is Jim Jones church. He is only an actor/radio host for ratings/paycheck. I like the Dailey Show and Colbert Report but I realize its only a show like Snl or a soap opera. Just from reading comments he does put alot of hate in peoples soul. Tune away from him and find your own opinions as humans not dems,reps, or libs. or go drink your Rush Kool Aid. lol If your that dumb send me a check or moneyorder and i will think 4 u.

Limbaugh is the head of the GOP and Ridge will have to bow down to him just like Michael Steele(RNC).

I live in Canada, have MS, and get all the specislists I want and more...for my taxes.

As a business owner, my corporate tax rate is 13%. My personal tax rate is very low (almost none) because I keep most of my income in my business and pay myself in other ways (talk to my accountant).

I choose my doctor, choose when I want to see my doctor, and choose if I want to try a different doctor.

The lies spread in the US about so-called socialized medicine are ridiculous. Why is taking care of everybody a bad thing? Is America built on survival of the fittest?

Personally, I find Rush Limbaugh a sad, hypocritical man. While he was bashing away at the government, the poor "who couldn't, or wouldn't get jobs" because of the "vices of their environment", he was probably so high on his own pills to see he'd actually become one of "them". those he always spoke to negatively about. WHY we continue to give this man ANY attention is beyond me...............he's the one that's part of "the old, the stale....GOP that never won anything".

"A lot of people listen daily to him and live by every word."

It sounds like a lot of people need some serious therapy...

With all the vitriol flowing through Limbaugh's veins, he can only have a few years left in him.

He's so grotesquely obese and orally aggresive, it's a wonder that anyone listens to that talking bag of wind with triple chins.

It is quite amazing to me. This Rush guy failed everything according to his own mom, can have 20 millions listeners. It clearly shows our education system is in trouble.

"But words mean things and how you use words is very important," sorry, I just think thats a funny sentence. But its sad that Tom Ridge has to use such a light touch to mildly chide Limbaugh... that won't reign him in. The GOP needs a intelligent conservative unafraid to confront Limbaugh, like Powell only willing to hit harder. Limaugh is a light-weight when it comes to real debate.

Fan of Common Sense:

You are right. Truman would be very ashamed of what his party has become. The saddist part of all is that the GOP is in the shape or lack of shape, because of Limbaugh, Cheney, you and the few left that think like you. To still beleive in someone as traitorist and corrupt as Cheney and Bush. While putting your faith in the words of greedy druggy is almost beyond belief. But then that shows the intelligence level of the few remaining repugs like yourself.

Ridge is boring. Goooooo Rush! The Sheeple will one day soon see how much they are being conned by Osama bin Bama, and they are going to really start feeling dumb. 500,000+ people still losing their jobs a month – all because this moron in the Whitehouse decides to try to turn this nation socialist in the middle of a recession. All of the analyst had forecasted an early 2009 recovery from this recession until bozo-head took office, and wham… exactly what I predicted… this pea-brain would put us into a depression that will take decades to recover from!
---------------------

I don't think you like facts, do you? You do realize that this country was heading into a recession before Obama took office, and that analysts expected a pretty bad depression. Now that Obama is in office, analysts are forecasting a late 2009-2010 recovery of the economy with lower unemployment rates to follow. Obama has undoubtedly helped avert what could have been a much worse situation, but I guess you are too illogical to see this.

The only people who listen to Rush Limbaugh are those who are no longer able to think or make informed decisions for themselves. His listeners are nothing more than mind numbed robots that he programs on a daily basis. And for those of you who think that Rush is not the head of the party, think again. He owns the Republican Party outright, unlike the right wing nuts who claim that George Soros owns the Democratic Party

It's so very interesting to read entries by "lucretia" and "eva" and others of their ilk. 49 million Americans (and counting) don't have health care. Does it matter that they suffer? Or is it their fault that they can't afford health care? Do you folks get your kicks by seeing people down and out? Or is it that you just dislike, perhaps even hate, Barack Obama? I'm not sure of your educational backgrounds, but you need serious lessons in history. This country is on the path of implosion, and it's not because the government wants to "socialize" medicine, but it's because there are so any stupid people in this country: people with blind loyalty to parties regardless of the issues; people that don't have any opinions at all because they fail to think; people who are filled with so much hatred that they can't think straight... this country needs an awakening!

There must be people who read news for the news rather than flinging back their own opinions. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be many on CNN's ticker. I am tired of the left and right telling me what I should and should not do on any given issue. After getting the information, I can make up my own mind. Thank you very much. Attacking the issues instead of me increases the chances of changing my mind on an issue.
Money talks. If you do not like a speaker, provide him less money by not listening to him nor empowering him by making him into a infamous villian.

The UK bans people like Limbaugh from even entering the country to spread his poison, and we should do the same. He should be prosecuted for hate speech and inciting people to violence. He is a open sore in our society and worthy of disdain, contempt and banishment from western civilization. We struggled 225 years in this country to listen to this filth?

Alvino
Glad you got some of my money. That money you received is out of my pocket and the pocket of others who pay 95% of the taxes in this country. It is called income redistribution and it is one of many steps Obama is taking toward socialism. Rush has a backbone. Powell never was a Republican

I have a plan let's water board Rush if anything else it will shut him up for at least 3 seconds!

I love it.......These GOPs are so smart. The more Rush speaks (Or Hannity/ Beck/ O'Reily/ Coulter) the greater the momentum of the downfall of the GOP is going to be. Like I said earlier, The 20 Million listeners is a Steadfast number (There is nothing you can do about those lemming listeners). Is it really the GOP's plan to attract more voters by spewing non-sense on the air. Their demise is hilarious to watch. Please carry on just the way you are. STATISTICS suggest that the 20 Million number will stay constant but the overall GOP percentage will dwindle as the population rises. There is an overall shift towards the DEMs as the population becomes more diverse. And that's a fact ! Study History with Politics and the influence of diversity as the population increases !

If the Republican leadership had more folks in leadership like Powell and Ridge perhaps I could become a corss-pary line voter again.

Are these the same 20 million people that read the National Enquirer?

I think the Republicans should use a "good bank/bad bank" strategy to solve their problems. Limbaugh obviously would be the bad bank. We'll split off all the Rush clones and call them the "Republican'ts" or maybe the "Nopublicans".

Limbaugh and Coulter are prime examples of why the GOP is going down the drain. There are limits to insulting people's intelligence.

dementedcrats May 24th, 2009 10:34 am ET

eva know nothing about socialist medical care. I have experienced it and it is a nightmare. Cancer deaths skyrocket, old people are left to rot in their beds. Shame on you eva and shame on the democrat party for attempting to hoist this god awful thing on us.

Ypur a liar and an idiot. I do live in a socialist country and I can tell you something. I lived with cancer and was treated for it. I thank God every day that I do live in Canada. I have my life, my career, and I still own my home. Paying a percentage of my taxes for health care sure is a blessing. Living in your country would have me living in the street and broke. Give your head a shake an get an education. Your comments are like you. A joke.

Keeping dividing.

Yha'll Rove, side with OxyMoron and Cheney, 2 of the most despised people in this country.

Cheney's company Hallibutron, has a record of over 90% shotty work in Iraq, yet he's made a literal fortune, plus bonuses for this, our tax dollars.

Soldiers electrocuted taking showers. I recall the Bush administration saying, "if you criticize a war time president, it's treason". Hey, how come the same does not apply to Obama?

HYPOCRITES!

Question for CNN. You came out with a poll saying 39 out of 100 Americans approves of Cheney! I don't know a solitary Republican that approves of him.
That means moderates said he's dandy, what are you talking about!
Who did you call? Somethings fishy

Oh....And I'll bet Mr Ridge is backpedaling and kissing up to Rush before the week is over.

Good to see the ethnic cleansing of the GOP by the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter, & Hannity. There is always room for those who can actually think for themselves in the Democratic Party.

I saw the interview live and Ridge hit the nail on the head. Limbaugh is dividing the Republicans not building them up. It appears that: Limbaugh is only interested in Republicans that are 100% in step with his version of politics.

Limbaugh will also say anything to get ratings. I urge the media to stop repeating what he is saying and take the wind out of his overblown sails. At that point he would be a non entity within the Republican party.

"And eva and regulator – tell us why there is a daily mass flow from your medicare heavens into the U.S. for treatment ? Tell us !"

Yes, the United States has by far the most “expensive” health care but not the BEST. You have it backwards, actually, only the top 1% of the wealthiest in the world would dare come to the States for medical care ‘cause they know our medical system panders to the wealthy. They are treated like royalty. Great system if your filthy rich. I doubt you are that wealthy. Know what the average cost of a simple operation is? I pray you stay healthy and never have to eat your words.
Ever heard of, yes even the rich, seeking Medical Tourism Packages to countries like Germany, Israel and India? It is a new trend, I am afraid. Yes the United States is a leader in medical innovation but that is a result of our liberal laws which your NeoCons hope to do away with. There goes our last great export. Oh, wait, we have Hollywood.

Ok, don't "tell us, don't tell us"

Finally, a republican who think before he speaks. If we continue the direction Limbaugh is taking our party, then we won't be a major political force in this country for long.

Hey...Don't talk bad about Rush! He IS the voice of the new Republican Party. All hail Rush.

j-

I have received a little extra in my paycheck beginning on April 1, from the Obama tax cut thanks to the stimulus. I guess you would have to be employed to get it though, so you must not be aware.

Limbaugh is a blowhard and a reactionary concerned with his ratings. Limbaugh shows me no concern for the people of America, but rather his own agenda of profiteering from devisiveness and right wing paranoia.

If the GOP has any plans to redeem their party then they will face the facts and distance themselves from Limbaugh. It's time Limbaugh's run of "success" came to an end.

Thank God for Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney. They are two of the few republicans remaining who still have backbones. It's because of spineless hand-ringers like Ridge and McCain that the republican party has fallen to the minority and given the democrats free-reign to destroy America. They have turned their backs on the principles and values that made it a great party.

The reason Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the republican party is because there are no actual politicians in the republican party who are willing to stand up and say the things that need to be said–the things that are already on everyone's minds. They are all so scared of the media and so obsessed with their own political correctness and survival, they have actually accepted the media's ridiculous assertion that they must become like democrats if they want to survive.

The greatest leaders in American history have also been the most passionate (or "shrillest," if you want to use Ridge's terminology). If someone had dared to tell Harry Truman to "not be so shrill" in his criticism of the Nazis and the Japs, they probably would have gotten a swift kick in rear as they were fleeing the oval office. Speaking of Truman–he would be ashamed to see what his party has devolved into.......not to mention his country.

Rush is no more the leader of the Republican party than Chris Matthews is leader of the Democrats. He's a radio personality that has the right of free speech to say whatever he wants. Tom Ridge also has that right, but isn't a leader of the party either. I happen to disagree with his statement that was critical of Cheney's evaluation of national security. Colin Powell has the right to say whatever he wants to about the future of the party, but a man that has voted, by his own admission, for more Democrat Presidents, than Republican, won't get much traction with the everyday conservative Republican Voter.

Evelyn May 24th, 2009 11:10 am ET

The only people that listen to Limbaugh seriously have banjo music playing in the background.
~~~~
I don't listen to Rush but still...what's wrong with "banjo music"? This is an example of liberal snobbery. There are many decent people in this country who also happen to listen/play banjos, country music, go to church, go hunting, watch NASCAR, etc. You gotta a problem with that? How much would liberal elitist snobs scream if we were to mock blacks eating watermelon, muslims wearing burkas, and gays acting, um, gay?

Hold on! Obama came in January, right? And he is the cause of everything wrong with America, right? Obama, why why why? You shoulda stayed away and let McCain lead us in the old ways.. Funny thing is that RUSH would still have attacked McCain daily cause they are not on the same page. Its just the audience, ratings and a fat paycheck. If you dont know this, then you are.....UnAmerican,

LOL, I can't wait for the 2012 entertainment where Obama (with my vote again) wins. In your faces..

Rush is a blow-hard. Sad for the sheep that follow him.

Limbaugh Equals Republican. He preaches hatred, and that's what his party is all about. Just look at some of the comments by his defenders right here in this posting. And such people need to wake up to the facts: Limbaugh's ways are the old ways. Racism, hatred, all that is going away, and that's why Republicans are losing the elections.

Tired of hearing about how the Dems are crying fowl over Limbaugh when they could not condemn Farrakhan for his demands of racial genecide, cop killing, etc. Limbaugh is stating his opinion without breaking any laws; Farrakhan does not appear to have any restraints. Obama honors Farrakhan and condemns Limbaugh. How's that for truth, justice, and change you can believe in? Why are the Dems so shrill to shut him up? Do they not believe in legal free speech?

This article is a joke when comparing what my fellow Democrats said about Hillary Clinton in the Primary, and Sarah Palin in the General.

Actually all of the coverage of Rush made me want to listen to him to see what all the hoopla was about. Oddly, I found myself agreeing with many of his points, and disagreeing on a few.

It's about time someone in the GOP stood up to this ruthless Limbaugh. Colin Powell, in every sense of the word, is a true statesman. , If Limbaugh were on the Air here in Canada, he would be long gone. We just don't tolerate his type.. Thank you. C Walker

The right wing nuts have never let facts get in the way of their hate.

limburgs show is funny like saturday night live, anyone to take this guy serious is suffing from stockholme symtom

Lucretia, the fact that you mention "democrats" and "fascist entities" in the same sentence clearly shows your lack of understanding of political principles. Fascism is more towards what you probably support on the far right. Let's try to do some research here before spewing accusations at the democrats and saying it's all their fault.

Last time I checked, the reason why we are in this position of having to seize the banks and auto industries in the FIRST place is because the republicans' laissez-faire attitude and lack of regulation enforcement caused unchecked and unethical business practices, leading to mismanagement and bankruptcy.

Could anyone imagine Eisenhower being selected as a Presidential candidate by the current Republican party, or attracting support from Radio talk hosts?

Hang on to your hat, Tom. As soon as the weekend is over, if not before, 'ol Rush will be flailing at you like a frightened, cornered animal. Your job, should you decide to accept it, is not to go back on your comments and hold fast. He is nothing, no one and irrelevant! Good for you, Tom Ridge!

[...] criticized Dick Cheney for saying America is "less safe" under President Obama, now he's calling Rush Limbaugh "shrill."  Watch for Limbaugh to declare that Ridge has abandoned the party by the end of this [...]

To those who listen to CNN and MSNBC.....just keep waiting....your stimulus check is in the mail!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

clr should look in the mirror when he is talking about "pea brains". Maybe you can see Russia from the trailer park you are living in too! For one thing – this depression wasn't started in the last 4 months! Figure that one out first.

It is no surprise that (alleged?) Republican Tom Ridge is from the same state as John Murtha! Buds of a feather...? Did Ridge really say: "...respect others' opinions and let's not be divisive"? Ridge should listen to his OWN advice before smacking his gums about Limbaugh..

Post always rejected by CNN May 24th, 2009 10:39 am ET

.....Who in the world want to listen to some guy rant on oxycontin…and something you are not allowed to say….just the lemmons in the republican who can't think for them selves.

~~~~~
Yes, those sour puss republican "lemmons" are alway squirtin' off about something. Puckering up to kiss the behinds of Rush and Bush, etc. They all have pulp for brains.

Maybe there is a reason your posts are rejected by CNN (refering to your screen name).

Thanks for the chuckle this morning!

Rush has 20 million listeners huh? wow, really shows how our education system is failing to train people to think. Any idiot can say "ditto", evidently we have 20 million of them.

I see the poster child for the right wing nuts (Osama Bin Laden @ 9:24) is back. I think most sensible Americans are aware of the futile attempts of ethnic cleansing by the followers of Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity and Coulter. The Taliban would be proud of the GOP.

Well...I am college edgeubacated and I think Barry Obama is a clear and present threat to the security of this country. So I suppose Southern Professor will accept my assertion because of my degree ? What flavor kool aid ya drinking professor ?

Ridge is boring. Goooooo Rush! The Sheeple will one day soon see how much they are being conned by Osama bin Bama, and they are going to really start feeling dumb. 500,000+ people still losing their jobs a month – all because this moron in the Whitehouse decides to try to turn this nation socialist in the middle of a recession. All of the analyst had forecasted an early 2009 recovery from this recession until bozo-head took office, and wham... exactly what I predicted... this pea-brain would put us into a depression that will take decades to recover from!

As for me personally, I don't listen to Rush or any talk radio, but then again I can't stand watching Keith Olbermann any more either. They are both extreme personalities and have their defenders and detractors. One has been at it longer I think but they both verge on incendiary commentary at times but both do it for ratings and to appeal to their devoted audiences and their own egos. The only thing that makes one terrible and one people rush to defend is which political party you belong to.

20 million listeners huh? That's exactly 5.71% of the U.S. population. And Obama has what? ... 65% approval rating? That's nearly 228 million listeners. That's nearly 10 to 1.

I guess the difference between Rush and Obama is the difference between big mouths and big deeds. And just so no one gets the two mixed up ... the Rush mouth has done nothing for Americans ... and the Obama deeds are lifting us all out of the mess left by our right-wing fear mongering brethren.

Patroit; you are sick; also the republicans are not the taliban; I never see such hate spewing from the GOP as I do from liberals. Liberals have done nothing but spew hate toward anyone who doesn't share their far left views. Pathetic!!!! NO we do not hate America; we just don't want ot see her attacked on homesoil again and this is not spreading fear it is using COMMON SENSE something the liberals know nothing about.

So wait, let me get this straight. I, Colin Powell, a top general and trusted advisor under (Republican) President Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under (Republican) President George H.W. Bush and top military figure during the extremely successful Operation Desert Storm, and Secretary of State under (Republican) President George W Bush, the first black man to hold that office and largely responsible for building the multi-lateral coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan, I somehow represent the "stale, the old, the worn-out GOP that never won anything"?

You mean, the GOP that won three Presidential elections in a row (1980, 1984, 1988), the GOP that won the Gulf War, the GOP that succeeded in its campaign for Congressional support in Iraq and Afghanistan? The GOP that had the most popular top diplomat in a generation in spite of being a conservative in the notoriously liberal State Department?

Because, you know, that's the GOP you're talking about, Rush.

More dissension in the RNC ranks. Lovin' it.

Jim – I suppose I should accept your false assertions about yourapeeing medical care because you are college edgeubacated ? NO HAS THE RIGHT TO DICTATE TO ME MY MEDICAL CARE CHOICES. And I don't give a rats ass what they do in the Netherlands.

I know what we do after we seize health care. Lets seize all farm production, housing production, auto production (oops, done that already), banks (oops, working on that ). The democrats and other fascist entities should be allowed to dictate every phase and moment of our lives.

And eva and regulator – tell us why there is a daily mass flow from your medicare heavens into the U.S. for treatment ? Tell us !

Eva and regulator have no more right to dictate my medical care than they do what clothes I put on in the morning or the side of my head I part my hair. The poeple pushing obamacare are not interested in my health. They want my MONEY and they want to control ever facet of my lives just as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin did.

Hooray for Ridge. Limbaugh and Cheney are anachronisms, representing the past of the Republican Party. In the last election, the American people said they had had enough of their ways of thinking. If the GOP is to survive, it must find new voices describing a different conservative philosophy that will resonate with mainstream America. Perhaps a kinder, gentler one would be in order.

"Brian, Bush was the most abused president in the history of the United States. That man was tortured for four years by the Democratic party and obsessive left wing extremists..."

Just to qualify, I am a professor of American history: the above statement is not even close to being true. I do find it amusing, really, how often the traditions or facts of 'history' are sought to justify departures from it..... I suppose I would only ask that anyone might question such rhetorical devices before believing or employing them.

I am a centrist, by the way.

The only people that listen to Limbaugh seriously have banjo music playing in the background.

I think it is more than a little hypocritical of Tom Ridge to now be criticizing Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh is now, as he has always been, a hate mongerer. Why haven't the rethuglicans spoken up WAY before now. The man is obviously so full of self hatred and he lives to shed himself of that by putting it off on liberals. Get a clue, rethugs. You should have denounced him years ago.

Rush is a racist. Why is everyone so surprised he hates what the Democratic party stands for right now? He is loudmouthed tool with nothing constructive to say for America.

Whoa..! What a crock! dementedcrats

dementedcrats posted: May 24th, 2009 10:40 am ET
"Dear BJs – Obama has brought us a collapsing country. Financially, morally, in every way. By the way, BJ, you a good friend of Bill Clinton : )?"

You are either, St*pid and don't know it, or just plain St*pid and can't see it. President Obama inherited all these problems from the Republican predecessor. He is fixing what the NeoCons have done to our great country. God bless him. I can't believe Limburger (Rush) said he, "hopes Obama fails". This is treason and he should be... I won't say it here.

We almost lost Limbaughs servers last week.Keep the e-mail and phone calls going to Rush Limbaugh.He wants to hear from all Americans,he just doesnt want talk to those that oppose his views,and screens out all those callers and letters.

Ridge, Powell, McCain, Schwarzeneger – or however it is spelled –, any of the remaining New England GOP and all other GOP pols having the same uninspiring suck-up politics, please just go away or join the Democrats to clear up the ambiguity. I've listened to Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others over the years. Nobody hates anybody (well, Mike Savage comes close) as some of the commentors in this stream would suggest and there is a brutal lack of intellectual honesty in the Limbaugh bashers. You can't reasonably mistake passion for a strict constitutional, states rights honoring, federal government for hate. Voices are raised by Rush and Sean, others, because the GOP leadership won't take a stand against the socialist tending tsunami the current government is engaging in. Rush is the target because he is so effective. Ridge is the latest liberal Republican to condescend to the press so he can get favorable air time for his own political purpose. Pure and simple.

The political talk show hosts are arm chair quarterbacks. They are on the sidelines of the game. Just like the fans in the stands they can say whatever they want about the ebb and flow of the political world without having to actually play the game.

If any of the talking heads had any political talent and wanted to leave behind the bloated paychecks they receive then they would be politicians. Why would Rush Limbaugh leave the comfort of his huge paycheck and actually have to work at doing the things he talks about.

Am so tired of headlines on the hypocritical, lying, irresponsible, fear tactics, party first and win at any cost republicans and their dishonorable spokespeople.
Am so tired of the media pushing these incompetent losers down our throats as "experts".
ANYONE who speaks out against our president and his policies, ideals gets ongoing headlines and support by CNN .
No longer watch their cable network, except for Jack Cafferty, as
they are becoming more like Fox daily.

we don't need ridge. we don't need powell. we don't need any rinos.

we need to support and elect born again christians. that is the only hope for our country.

praise jesus!!!

@ dementedcrats,

Wow, you are pretty ignorant. Do you think the US has the lowest cancer death rates in the world? Not even close. There are a good two dozen countries with "socialist" health care systems that have better rates than the US.

For all the money pumped into the US healthcare system every year the outcomes we get are actually pretty poor compared to the outcomes other countries receive for the money they spend.

Oh, and I have lived in a country with "socialist" medicine, the Netherlands, and the treatment I received was more than acceptable. And I know what I'm talking about since I'm a health economist.

Ever notice that when the republicans don't have the Whitehouse, they spend every waking moment on attacks and witch hunts.. it happened with the Clintons too..would be nice if they actually did the job they are getting paid for, to help the country, not divide and destroy. Talk about the true terrorist....Oh thats right, republican tatics 101..Lie, confuse and scare

[...] Tom Ridge opines on Rush: Pennsylvania Republican Tom Ridge is taking direct aim at Rush Limbaugh, telling CNN's John King the conservative talk radio host can be "shrill" and uses language in a way "that offend very many." [...]

Shill is a better word. Rush is just a hack trying to make money off the self-serving "controversies" that he creates.

dementedcrats, it is people like you intolerant, arrogant, totally lacing in facts, that have put the RNC in the disgusting position it is in today. Your hate filled rhetoric does nothing but drive people away. Why don't you grow up and get a life... get a job and stop living off of your mother might be a good start. Get your high school diploma, would also be a big advancement for you.

This just proves that the only good Republican is a dead Republican. It's time to kill all of them.

Are some of you that ignorant, that shallow, that uninformed that you get your info or world views from a talk show host? You would've made some great Nazi party members, listening to Josef Goebbels.

Does John King ever present views other than Republican ones on his program in a featured interview?

New England P... You hate and you are scared of people because of their names – you are the prime example of what talk-radio does to people and why the hate crime in this country is on the rise....Why do you hate and why are you scared of name Hossein?

CNN needs so new copy writers. Slams, Bashes, lashes out, and Blasts seem to be in every headline.
Limbaugh is nuts and deserves whatever the moderates in the Republican party say about him BUT get real CNN. You are bad at grabbing headlines as Limbaugh is.

rush only has 20 million cult followers out of 300+ million people in the usa. divide 20 million by the number of states in the union, and that isn't a whole lot of people who blindly follow rush. not all republicans buy into rush's rhetoric, beliefs or positions. he is more of a danger in inciting to riot the republican base who followed and supported palin. those people cost mccain the election.

Reggie in LA – you have kool aid stains on your shirt. Blitzer and other Obama sycophants speak from facts ? You sir are either a fool or fascist.

is anyone on this board supporting Rush ... not a paid street teamer ... Rush's real audience is somewhere between 2-3 million a day ... not much ... so the right wing needs to employe paid bloggers to constantly fire up an obsolete ideology ... say good bye to the Republican party ... old white men who cannot come to the realization that diversity and kindness and acceptance of others views and lifestyles are becoming the American Way .... and they no longer control that and are scared of it

"Ridge — Republicans —Clueless…..They got nothing….."

Unless and until this nation of spoiled brats grows up and unites for the good of the country, "We Got Nothing."

LImbaugh is a sunday school teacher compared to the fascist pro-Obama entities of CNN, MSNBC and the Democrat Party. Zeig Heil Barry Obama !!!!!!!!!1

Limbaugh, Cheney, and Rove – they are all "shrill".

To Dementocrats! guess I just happen to live in a country where the health service REAlly works. was not imposing on the capitalistic state of mind you may have No one rots in their hospital beds here !!!and I would think that is ethical discrimination against all european health service workers.

Ridge is a RINO, that's all. He should have the guts to go what Arlen Specter did and change sides. The GOP needs men & women with FRESH IDEAS, not a, "let's just get along-like compassionate people should", philosophy of governing. The latter mindset is what gave us GW, and we all know where that got us.

What planet are you from, dementedcrats? Everyone knows that Europe, Canada and other industrialized Countries who have adopted socialized medical care for all, are ranked above the United States in health care. You are so full of it. Of course you must be referring to your own Third World version of socialized medicine which we won’t have in this industrialized country of ours. Key word: industrialized. Get your facts strait, Street Teamer.

Obama has created this division intentionally. I call on Barack Obama to resign from the presidency immediately.

I hope Rush Limbaugh continues with his shrill attacks on Colin Powell, Tom Ridge, and other moderate Republicans. I hope that Sean Hannity continues to bully all of his non-conservative guests. I hope that Ann Coulter continues to attack all people more liberal than herself as idiots, morons, retarded and traitorous. I hope that Newt Gingrich continues to say terrible things about all Democratic leaders. Why? Beacuse I want the Republican party to implode and be replaced with a centrist-right party. A party that takes more centrist views on the economy, personal responsibility, limiting foreign interventions, rational immigration policy, and more liberty in general.

Rush Limbaugh called our president: Arab, Black, Muslim, non-citizen, ant-Christian, Muslim, terrorist, socialist, communist, fascist..that is not an opposition to the president, that is a pure hate and fear mongering. Rush is not unique in that though as entire GOP and their media wing Fox and talk-radio do the same...

Mark in Atlanta – give my best regards to your lord and savior, Barack Hussien Obama.

Ya and Limbaugh has twenty million listners like I have magical powers, what a load of crap. Limbaugh represents the "OLD" guard of a dying party that is clinging to life on support. With any luck the Republidolts will RIP just like the WHIGS.

Van Broad

"Rush Limbaugh is exactly correct, Powell never won anything......"

No Powell has never won a popularity contest. He was just a Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the Gulf War (which I think we WON), four star general, and decorated Vietnam veteran. And what has your God Rush done with his drug addicted life?

I'm a dem, but to see this disrespect for a great man, especially on Memorial weekend sickens my stomach.

Aparently it is possible to fool 20 Million people ALL of the Time!!!

Ask yourself, What war did Rush serve in, what legislation has he written, what economic plan has he presented on behalf of the American people to help recover our nation from this recession or helped with any previous economic turndown? Where was Rush when Bush needed him the most when the "Public and the Party Candidate's" were bashing Bush in 2007 ad 2008?

Rush should run for President, then we all will know how popular he is. Go, Rush! Go, Rush!

I find this very disturbing. Politicos worried about Hollywood actors. Rush Limbaugh is nothing more than a conservative Howard Stern. Who cares what he thinks? He is an over-paid non-entity. It's fun watching all the political up's and down's. Of course I don't vote, because I don't support organized crime.

yeah... dementedcrats you have no idea what you're talking about. You were probably one of the people always talking about how George Bush was the president so everyone must respect him and follow him, now that there's a Dem in office all of a sudden your message doesn't hold true. You've experienced "socialist medical care?" if you hate what's going on here so much then just go somewhere else and leave the vast majority of the country that elected obama alone.

Alfred E. Neumann
You're right, the world can tune out the airwave transmission and as such we have a choice to listen, or not. However, we also know that Rush becomes a bit of a "minister"...of speaking from the gut and from the dark of his insidious personality. If you notice, KO and Blitzer tend to speak from facts. Keep an eye on that. Rush needs other people to think like him in order to make himself feel complete and relevant. And it works Alfred. They become his congregation and parishioners who often demonstrate hatefulness and discord. Just kinda to difficult to tune that out. Makes everything all messy.

uh Oh Rush is going to get mad and kick Ridge out of the GOP. Rush is fill with hot air.

Ridge - Republicans -Clueless.....They got nothing.....

"Rush Limbaugh , Glen Beck, Hannity and their ilk are like watching professional wrestling. They yell and scream and basically appeal to the same audience. The difference is that wrestlers whip the audience into a frenzy demanding physical violence, whereas political show entertainers whip their audience into a frenzy ….to go vote for politicians that will affect our entire nation."

Are you serious??? Tune in to that Olbermann freak. Try Matthews and Maddow. Those people spit baseless vitriol and don't even have the journalistic standards to counter with the truth.

This hateful division of this country is getting serious, and needs to stop.

Embrace the checks and balances of a two party system, and teach our children to respect differing opinions that are based in Truth, even if you don't have that ability.

Sickening.

Democrats love appreciate and need Rush Limbaugh. He has done more to help bolster the Democratic Party than anyone since President Obama. The more he spills his vile hate the more he drives a wedge between Republicans and Republicans. Democrats love Rush and he works for us for free.

People, lets be complety honest. Rush is an ENTERTAINER. I like him alot and agree with him on most issues but that does not mean i worship at his alter like those on the left. I happen to like his unashamed conservatism and believe we need politicans willing to stand up to the media as he does. If you want to talk about awful/terrible people lets talk about the beloved Nancy Pelosi the bastion of integrity, Barney Frank (Mr. Fannie Mae), Mr. VIP mortgage himself (Chris Dodd) our ELECTED OFFICIALS are the people we should be on here bashing. My bet is that less then half of the people on here bashing Rush have not listened to anything more of his show than the 20 sec. soundbites played on CNN, NBC, etc. My bet is that this comment will not event be displayed but I really hope it does and cannot wait for the personal attacks from all of you "open-minded" liberals.

A common misperception is that Rush Limbaugh has 20 Million individual listeners, therefore there are about 20 Million people who agree with him, are his ideological kin. That is not true. The 20 Million number refers to weekly listeners, an accumulated number over 7 days. Since most people are repeat listeners to Limbaugh that means that the total number of individuals tuning into Limbaugh is closer to 3.5 Million (individuals listening to 5 days a week of fresh content plus weekend repeats.)

There is also a small p;ortion of listeners who are tuning into for the "trainwreck" aspect; people who don't agree with Limbaugh at all, but tune in just to see what kind of "junk" he comes up with next. Put that number at 0.5 Million, and you have at most an actual dittohead followership of 3 Million.

Now, why should Ridge be concerned about offending those 3 Million people? In his mind Limbaugh and his followers are part of the reason a good 30 to 40 Million people, who were previously open to voting for the Republican party, have chalked the GOP off as unelectable, not fit to govern.

You cannot compare Olbermann and Maddow to Rush. Nobody but Rush attacks people solely based on their ethnicity, race, religion...When did Keith or Rachel do that? You cannot compare one who inspires hate towards Hispanics, Muslims, gays, Arabs, Blacks and those who just oppose that aggressive and in my opinion criminal views.

I would believe a guy making millions and living in a Castle in palm Beach over a decorated warhero.Go Rush.

I've listened to Rush for probably 15 years, starting when he was one of the few talk shows on a.m. I agreed with his view on personal responsibility where government is not always the (first) answer. However, I have seen him become more devisive over the years with fewer opposing opinions expressed.

Rush has every right to speak on on any president or political issue. I only wish he was more tolerant (er... liberal?) on his views of differing opinions. There are many gray areas in life, where intelligence, open minds, dissenting opinions and research help Americans make the right decisions to benefit all.

I have found Rush and his audience intelligent but again, his show does not consider that even a liberal can have a good idea.

Rush Limbaugh, along with his lap dog lackey, Newt Gingrich is a fat air bag that should shut his stupid pie hole. If you want to discuss integrity, you should remember that he is the guy that divorced his dying wife (cancer) because "You are to sick for me to deal with right now, I have political ambitions that I need to fulfill (or words to that effect). Only a heaping (morally speaking) would do something so disgusting. I don't know about you but I wouldn't give a jerk like that the respect of spitting in his face.

Dear BJs – Obama has brought us a collapsing country. Financially, morally, in every way. By the way, BJ, you a good friend of Bill Clinton : )?

Words mean something. Exactly: Pelosi, Obama, et al. The reason the GOP lost is because it strayed so far from it's values. The 'Contract with America' was a great thing, but power can be intoxicating and make you stupid; thus overspend and grow government. The GOP doing a great job of losing the publicity battle because the red herring of 'political evolution' is a nagging canker sore. The Democrat party never has to compromise because they've always stuck to their centralized planning, big government, trickle-up poverty game plan. When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you generally have the support of Paul. Thus the Democrat Party creates a dependent class of voters and not self-reliant, freedom loving citizens. We are slowly becoming the government dependent crack-heads we deserve to be if Conservatism fails. I don't care about the GOP, but conservative values breed more prosperity than government dependency does. Read your history books.

He will be on air tomorrow apologising to Rush.Never mind!

The man is exactly right on.
The Republican base has a mob mentality that thrives on emotional rantings to keep them "fired up". They need more thoughtful, deliberative people who can focus on the real issues that Americans face every day, instead of ideological nonsense that has no substance or relevance and contributes nothing to the lives of the very people who are "fired up" to support them.

Rush Limbaugh is making millions by manipulating gullible Republicans into thinking that they are "real Americans" if they support him. He will never have to worry about health care, or credit cards, or trying to eke out a living in an America where jobs are no longer secure and the future is frightening. He is secure and will remain so for the rest if his life. People who support him need to wake up to the fact that he is merely using them to support his lifestyle and ego.

rush is out to make money and the ones that follow him at heart are militant and stubborn....they are the ones that want every body to live by their rules. They don't act very bright. And they tend to blame everything that has happened to them on everyone else, instead of taking blame for their own short comings. They will never change. And yes rush knows that and the more he spews and flames the more he gets of that money he is so in love with. The ones who follow him, can't seem to realize they are in reality the ones filling his pockets.

Who in the world want to listen to some guy rant on oxycontin...and something you are not allowed to say....just the lemmons in the republican who can't think for them selves.

Limbaugh is not "just an entertainer" – he lives of divisions in our society on every level. Way too many people who cannot think themselves now rely on this bully to tell them what to think...He may not even believe in all racist/hateful/divisive things he feeds his audience with, but he created a monster – 20 million Americans who hate because they think Rush told them to, and tomorrow they would kill if they would believe Rush would approve that. Just compare hate crime statistics and talk radio statistics....one goes up – the other does as well. This is not the coincidence.

I don't often listen to CNN, but did again this AM. I recalled why I don't listen to CNN much. The Commentator called Rush L the head of the Republican party. This demonstrates the clear Extreme Left wing bias of the CNN net. I've again tuned CNN out.
Additionally, Ms Boxer was the golden guest to the show was presented by CNN as the hero which is being pursued by evil Republican.

I'm basically a slightly liberal independent at this point. I support Obama, but I do not support the California form of government.

Would it be out of line to suggest that Ms Boxer, Nance P. and California, as well as New York City, form their own country and leave the rest of us alone. My country, southern Indiana and like regions, do not want to support the excessive spending and the radical politics of the people in the large cities who know little of conservation of natural resources, or living life of manual labor, or hard work, or honest living.

SkiDoc, Bob and TMC are the same blogger! Check it out; I tracked their origin to the same stinking neighborhood. Ha, the only reason people think El Rushbo might have 20 million listeners is because he himself repeats this very number every chance he gets. Just like in the lead up to the Iraq war, the "proof" was traced back to the early "Talking Points" that were fed out to those NeoCon media conglomerates by DS Rumsfeld’s propaganda machine buffoons. If I repeatedly say I have 20 million readers on the RedState or HotAir blog sites and if these idiots, SkiDoc, Bob and TMC (or blogpuppi) were to write the same thing, people at the end of THIS blog might start believing it. Remember that feeling when we all realized the Bush Admin had pulled one on us and the shame of knowing they were our supposed leaders? Please don’t forget. Chaney can repeat lies all day long. It can’t change the hard fact that he was part of the worst, failed administration in history! Don't be a victim of the Red Propaganda Machine again. They employ "Street Teamers" that fan out and spread filth 'cause they have no ideas of their own so MUST criticize others who don’t support wealthy interests. They would be content with history in a loop.

Rush Limbaugh , Glen Beck, Hannity and their ilk are like watching professional wrestling. They yell and scream and basically appeal to the same audience. The difference is that wrestlers whip the audience into a frenzy demanding physical violence, whereas political show entertainers whip their audience into a frenzy ....to go vote for politicians that will affect our entire nation.

I'm tired of the immature, hateful diatribes of Limbaugh and Coulter. Having said that, however, they do have a right to their opinions. Limbaugh lost me years ago when he referred to Chelsea Clinton as "the world's ugliest (or was it homliest?) teenager". When I heard that I realized that Limbaugh has an ugly character and how cruel and abusive are his words. Later he shows his blatant hypocrisy by becoming a drug addict, even though other drug addicts should "go to prison", etc. How I WISH that Limbaugh practised what he preached for others! In my opinion, Limbaugh, Coulter, and all the neo-cons have destroyed the GOP.

It says so much about the state of the Republican party that they are trying to tell Rush how to be a radio personality. Can you imagine if the left paid that much attention to Keith Olbermann and told him how to do his job?

The fact is, the right has no one. So, their entertainment gets really loud in the vacuum of silence. And the reason they can't say anything is because their one word "no" is only one syllable. And, the only other platform they developed over the last eight years is how to defend the indefensible - George Bush and Dick Cheney. During the election, they did everything they could to distance themselves from these two, and now that Dick Cheney is the second loudest Republican behind Rush, they feel like they have to get back on the bandwagon headed straight for hell.

Then there's that RNC chairman they elected - apparently, according to Steele, just because he's black, and oh, wouldn't that be cool! They have no hand, but they show their cards at the most inopportune moments.

Imarriedmy sister in TheOleSouth May 24th, 2009 10:25 am ET

I love Rush Limbaugh and believe everything he tells me
___________________________________________________

This the problem with the Republican Party today.

This country is way too divided, and hostile incivility has apparently become the new black, spoon fed by the CNN's, Olbermanns, Maddows, et. al, who make Limbaugh look like a choir boy.

U.S. citizens should be mortified, if 53 million of them weren't so stupidly narcissistic.

and ridge is hoping to get a foot in.

let GOP splinter into pieces!

dementedcrats, grow up. So Obama won. Get over it.

eva know nothing about socialist medical care. I have experienced it and it is a nightmare. Cancer deaths skyrocket, old people are left to rot in their beds. Shame on you eva and shame on the democrat party for attempting to hoist this god awful thing on us.

Who are these people that listen to this clown betwen the hours of 12:00pm and 3:00pm. I would like to listen to Rush during those hours but because i have a real job and do not depend from government handouts i could be number 20,000001 listener.

In time the true "far right wing conservatives" led by Limbaughism in America will be reduced to an underground militia. Probably siding with the Talaban or Islamic extremist conservative movement. Together they will wage their Christian/Islamic jihad against liberalism, socialism and freedom for all – especially women. Their constitution will be the Bible and the Koran. Death to Secularism will be their rallying cry.

If they succeed they will turn on each other.

Dear Dave – "end of conversation" ? You sound like an obamist. Voice an opinion, as long it agrees with your lord and savior, Barack Hussien Obama.

Ridge, Powell '12... now we're getting somewhere with reasonable, intelligent conservatives, who put country first over their ambitions and egos.

And I'm a liberal democrat...

To the purist "conservative" Republicans out there – you don't win elections by simply appealing to your base. That way you will never get 50% plus of the vote. In this respect Ridge is right. And it is also time to grasp the principle of "sound money" again – something which seems to have been forgotten for years.

Tom Ridge decorated Vietnam Veteran/Harvard Alum, Colin Powell decorated Vietnam Vet/Secretary of State, Rush gasbag/druggie/no military service. Voice of GOP=Rush. Makes sense doesn't it?

Dear James Theiler – Cheney is totally relevant to this country. He kept the jihadists and other democrat party joy toys from attacking us again. Rather have patriotic Cheney than a fascist Obama. Go back to your crack pipe demmy boy.

I have never liked Rush Limbaugh, and never will.

His opinions are just that, opinions. The only real difference between Limbaugh and others who express their anger filled opinion, is that Limbaugh gets paid for doing so, and is paid for putting on a show.

Limbaugh is an idiot. End of conversation.

I love Rush Limbaugh and believe everything he tells me.

... where social services work. Where no-one needs to worry about doctor's bills. And 4 which I, as a an employee am willing to pay a % out of my wage. That does not mean that I am a socialist. The best system is the one that works for most at the most difficult of times. No streets of empty houses -<forecolosures here – ask why??

And CNN would be credible in some small fashion if it would remove its nose from the analhole of its lord and savior, Barack Hussien Obama.

@ van broad, who said "The group that claims to know what is best for the Republican Party have not won anything "

And that, perhaps, is entirely the point. Maybe they've learned their lesson, because I can tell you with all sincerity that doing and selling the same thing this time will earn the GOP nothing but scorn.

I would hate to be Tom Ridge's email server. The ditto heads are going to go crazy. Ditto heads don't care much for free speech and they will prove it again today.

wow and people really believe this guy. It's scary the ignorance that exists in the republican party.

To eva,

I think you should go there.

What most don't seem to grasp is that Rush Limbaugh is a political entertainer and a well paid one at that earning over thirty million annually. Why? He tells his audience what they want to hear.

He is no different that Olbermann on MSNBC or Blitzer on CNN except that he does a better job at it and is much better paid.

He holds no elective office. He served in no administration. He is a radio personality expressing his opinions.

Don't like him? Switch to another channel. Maybe you like the the stuff spinning from Olbermann or Blitzer much better. I thought so.

Good on you, Tom! Voices of reason within the GOP need to either be heard there or find a new forum. Limbaugh and Coulter are trying to sell books and themselves through outrageous, shocking and stupid behaviors; the GOP should never have encouraged the notion that either was a spokesperson for the party.

There is another world outside of the US. !!!

"But words mean things "

I'm floored. A GOPer used a fact.

Rush Limbaugh is exactly correct, Powell never won anything. The group that claims to know what is best for the Republican Party have not won anything and the fact that the media darling John McCain lost trying to play to the middle, speaks loud and clear about who really wants the Republican Party to be kinder and gentler, the media. You guys are laughable. To pretend that you have no role in trying to shape public opinion is a joke.

Rushbo lower now.
How low can you go?

"But words mean things ..., said Ridge"

Watch,"The Right: Feeling Wronged"on HBO if you want to see Rush Limbaughs followers. Its sad to watch these people,they dont have a clue.

To George Synan,

Please, conservatism does not moderate to the left. Grow a pair and realize that this is a fight, not a love fest.

Ridge is desparately trying to get back into the politiccal limelight, but he has become irrelevant. The lamest way for a Republican to try to get in the limelight these days is to act like a Democrat and go after Rush Limbaugh. Well Tom, your political career is over; you are irrelevant; so give it a rest. At Least Rush knows something of what he speaks ......

Let's not forget when Candidate Obama gained Republicans, Rush lost some of his base too!

Rush Limbaugh is the Reagan era mouthpiece of the past. As a member of the "Democrat Socialist Party" I LOVE Rush. He's the best thing going for Obama these days. We'll have eight years, for sure, if Rush and Steele, McConnel and Graham continue their " we want only pure conservatives" stupid ways. It's worked so well for them....

Rush is the BEST! .

First "the dove Powell" and now Ridge. Seems there are some that cannot suck up to the left fast enough.

Brian, Bush was the most abused president in the history of the United States. That man was tortured for four years by the Democratic party and obsessive left wing extremists who refused to concede the 2000 election.

And he still gave whining, screeching leftists everything they wanted, whilst protecting their behinds from attack for 8 years.

A little silence for awhile would be refreshing.

I'm sorry, but Tom Ridge is FAR from being the "Top Republican" that this article alleges. Ridge was a governor and one-time head of Homeland Security. That no more makes him a "Top Republican" than Janet Napolitano's jobs have made her a "Top Democrat."

I for one am sick of every liberal Republican In Name Only (RINO) getting elevated to "top" status by the liberal media when he attacks the only REAL Republicans our party has.

Let's see, egomaniacal, rude, drug addict, hate mongering, pig "entertainer" vs. war hero, former Secretary of State, intelligent, caring voice of reason. You have to be an idiot to choose the former. Oh yes, I WISH there were only 20 million idiots in the U.S.

Geez, Limbaugh is a radio commentator who has no desire whatsoever to govern the Republican party.

But the man gives voice to millions who object to the hot and cold running propaganda, lies, and incivility we're being subjected to on a daily basis by the MSM and Washington.

It's Limbaugh's massive audience that's scaring liberal propaganda consultants and their clients, not Rush himself.

Good... we need TRUE conservatism in this country so we can reach the middle ground. With a moderating influences within the GOP, hopefully the neocon movement of enlarged government, tax breaks for the wealthy, erosion of civil liberties and a paralyzing fear will end.

The last 8 years we have swung TOO far right. The natural reaction is to swing too far left. We need moderate views because that is the ideology of most people when they think through the issues for themselves. Extremism of either persuasion is to be avoided.

I hope this recession teaches us the following... fiscal conservatism with a small and HONEST government, individual responsibility, a fair social safety net that helps people out without resorting to dependency, a healthy environment, reduced dependency of foreign sources of energy and fair regulation that allows anyone to participate in capitalism but prevents any one entity from destroying it.

If the Republican party is going to survive they need to flush Rush... his 20 million will be all they have because he alienates the rest of the country.

Rush is right that Powell is weak on substance, conviction and idealology. Rush doesn't pull any punches. His passion for conservatism is huge but if you just put aside his manner of delivery and LISTEN to what he says.. you'd understand what he says is true and that conservatism IS WHATS BEST for the country. Both Repub and Dem parties are very much the same – There is little difference and THAT is what Rush is talking about – Colin Powell has no conviction and is not a true conservative. Tom Ridge can disagree with Rush on HOW his message is delivered but I find it hard that any true conservative would disagree with Rush on WHAT he says.

"Remember Limbaugh ,you get a lot more with honey than vinegar!If you talked like that about Bush and his cohorts" - Pete, Rush and talk radio did complain about Bush on the spending, amnesty for illegals, Harriet Miers, and other Bush policies. In fact, no one was more vocal opposing Bush on domestic policies than conservatives. Stop trying to equate conservatism with the Republican Party, because the two of them are not the same. Conservatives can't stand the GOP because it has moved away from its principles. It's funny how liberals bash Bush, but it was Bush who practically gave liberals everything they wanted except on foreign policy.

Colin Powell is the GOP that actually does stand a chance of winning elections. He stands for military strength, fiscal conservatism and policies that favor the middle class and the working poor. Limbaugh's comments are laughable and prove how far out of touch he is.

It amazes me that there is continuing fighting and bickering between the GOP and the Democrats and they act like bitter enemies! This is unproductive and it's all "talk and no do"!
We are all supposed to be Americans, but are we?

Good to hear some Republicans are standing up and denouncing the dirty, finger-pointing, extremist scare tactics of a few blowhard rednecks.

I give Tom Ridge credit for that, even though I loathe what the Republican party stands for, that party of hypocrites.

I have a friend who is a staunch republican and is proud to say that the GOP runs their party like the mob. Their way or no way, with that kind of thinking, nothing will ever get solved. They are crying that Obama is not working with them, how ofter did they work with democrats when they controlled the congress and presidency. NEVER

Am not a Whiz on US Politics internal politics Just normal and get really worried about the right wing fdiscussions that are going on right now. Sure Obama will not save the world – that`s for the people to decide! his voice is still a pebble in the sand. Since 9/11 the climate has changed for sure. But Vietnam/korea should have taught these generals somehing.ö Freedom is a free spirit.

Limbaugh is making me ill. He will do any and every thing to keep us ill advised. We in this nation should learn in school and highschool, about the rest of the world as it is not as Limbaugh says it is. But so many people here drop out of highschool and are not educated at all. But these people believe his rhetoric and lies and are the same people with no education.

Virginia,

You don't need an accusation, that is censorship.

You are also intolerant and un-American. I suppose you believe that bigotry only goes one way.

Brain, your comments are indicative of what is wrong with republican party, if you do not like it go Back to Europe.

I fail to understand why Rush Limbaugh is being discussed by high ranking and former high ranking politicians. Rush is an entertainer. He's never done anything in politics besides voice his opinion. I imagine the view from the cheap seat is very comfortable and that it's a luxury to sound off on issues without ever having to devise a solution. Of course, he has all the solutions and they will all work...in his mind anyway. His comments on Colin Powell are laughable seeing as how he often sung his praise in the late 90s and earlier this decade. Rush, Colin Powell is 10 times the man, leader, and national figure than you could ever hope to be. Get off the pills and maybe you'll see that.

Some like to say that Rush Limbaugh is the heart and soul of the Republican Party. IT would be more accurate to say that Rush has possessed the soul of the GOP. I think that Rush's audience numbers are inflated. I doubt seriously that 20M people tune in to listen to his blather on a daily basis. He has a ignorant and indoctrinated following, but not too many people take him seriously. The GOP leadership is beginning to understand that Limbaugh and his ilk are destroying the party and are backing away from him. The number of people self-identifying as Republicans is steadily dropping. The party is in such deep trouble that if it doesn't change direction now (really change, not just media hype and propaganda), it will functionally cease to exist after the next eelection.

We have Limbaugh on the run now.His sponsors are telling him to shutup or lose.Good work fellow crushers.Keep those calls and e mails coming at old lardo.

How about our leaders tell Limbaugh and his racist followers: They are not part of the Republican party. For those people who live by what he says, your idiots, limbaugh cares only about himself, ratings so he can make money. he would be on the first plane to live in central America enjoying his money should rating go down, wake up People, we had enough of this bafoon. Listen to men and women of good judgment and character!!

It is also interesting that no one examines Rush's self proclaimed number of 20 million listeners. After his many drug incidents, his attacks on our military as "phony soldiers", his attacks on people with Parkinson's disease as "fakers", his racial slurs, his bigotry, his calls for violence, riots, and his hopes that America will fail; I wonder how low his actual audience numbers are by now.

I sincerely hope that Ridge DOES NOT apologize to Rush. He has no reason to as he stated his view of Rush. What Rush hates is to be viewed as a nobody and the more he spews hateful words, the more people listen to him. My late husband listened to him all the time to the fact that when Clinton was running and Rush came out to say he would vote for Clinton, my husband called me a work to tell me what he had heard. My late husband was more like me, a moderate Republican, but when the evangelicals took over the party, they lost my vote. There was no way I could have voted for McCain, too old, too out of touch, too everything. And before we start complaining about Obama, let us give him something more than just a 100 days to work with – how about a whole term?

Ridge is right and so is Powell, the Republican Party is a "none entity" in the political world as long as Rush "over the cliff" Limbaugh is a major voice in the Republican Party.

Everyone has been trying to tell him and Hanity to shut up. Why isn't he listening?

And Ridge don't apoligize toomorrow to Limbaugh or Hanity, let them continue to make fools of themselves

Rush is part of the same old worn out GOP he has been a part of since he began. I am always amazed he thinks he can recreate himself whenever he wants. That old GOP bought and paid for his success, how dare he think he is not part of them lock,stock and barrel.

we are sinking in greed/ it is impossible to borrow our way out of debt.
yes we are heading to a lot worse time than we have seen. we need to work and we need to help others but we can, not keep giving to those that are nothing but bums that think that the goverment owes them a living. i have worked hard all of my life and i have found out if i needed a helping hand it was at the end of my own arm. i have been blessed with a great family and i have taken care of them and now i am up in years and i look back and see what has happened to this country it makes me sick.. why should those of us that have worked hard to support the ones that dont work.

People like Ridge, and the vitriol comments left here by those who don't understand the issues, just don't get it.

The Republican Party is supposed to stand for conservatism. Fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, and strong national defense. It is supposed to contrast the Democrat's socialist, left-wing agenda, and offer an alternative, not "reach across the aisle" and be the Democrats' friends so the New York Times won't pick on them. Conservatism brought forth huge landslide victories in 1980, 1984, and in 1994. What has being moderate brought Republicans? Decades of minority status and millions of voters staying home in disgust. Ridge – why would I vote for a pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-big government Republican when I can get the same thing from the Democrat? People like Ridge, and Colin Powell, are trying to scurry favor with the media by attacking the Republican Party and splitting it's base. Liberals who are praising Ridge here would never vote for him anyway because he's still a Republican. Do I make myself clear? Are you following me, camera guy?

At the risk of being accused of censorship, I wish all the networks would limit Dick Cheney's appearances on TV. He is nothing but a distraction for the country. He is only appearing now to try to change the country's attitude toward President Obama and what he is doing for us. Where was Cheney for 8 years? Hiding out somewhere plotting torture and sending out his death squads of killers to other countries. This man is evidenly deranged because he has lost control of our country.

TCM, You need to see a shrink in the worst way. you are a very sick person.

SkiDoc - Operation chaos did not work neither will your insignificant made up 20 million. because the other 65 million that back Obama will not allow it.

Well somebody has to speak up for conservatives here. And let me say first, to all you Democrats, we don't want your advice, we don't want to moderate, appease, or, let me be frank, we aren't going to kiss anymore liberal butts to try to make you like us. You never will like the Republican party no matter how much we move to the left.

I didn't realize until this interview that Tom Ridge was one of the wimps that thinks that to win elections we need to be nice Democrats. When are Democrats ever nice to Republicans? Where are the "moderates" in the Democrat party?

To all you liberals who want to tell us who Rush Limbaugh is, GOOD LUCK! Until you actually listen to him, rather than listening to other people who don't listen to him, your comments about him will always be uninformed nonsense, or to put it another way, a fraud.

To Tom Ridge, get with the program, our let us conservatives show you the door.

Poor TCM:

Can't seem to take the time to click through CNN's various navigation buttons to read all of the news and instead has to use the old GOP party-line of media favoritism. Maybe, just maybe have you ever thought that the GOP did this to themselves???

Rush and the far right loves to place fear in Amercan's and some are so stupid that you actually listen to him, Sean Hannity still believes there were WMD in Iraq! Glenn Beck, back peddles his actions and blames everyone else.

Gov. Ridge just do not apologize to that junkie!

When Powell made the statement that Americans are happy to pay taxes for more services and want more government in their lives, he showed his true liberal philosophy. On this one, Tom Ridge is wrong in defending Powell. From the time that Obama was elected the Democrat nominee for President, Powell let race decide his political leanings and has consistantly attacked conservative beliefs. I really don't know any conservative that truly wants the government to have more say and control of their lives. Do you Mr. Ridge? So please stop pretending that Powell is a Republican, or even relevant in his hate speeches towards conservatives that hold different views than his own left-wing ideas.

Bill ~ Down on the Bayou - Rush did say he hopes Obama fails this is why you are so stupid because you rather believe what Rush tells you rather then what your own inbreed ears tell you.

Tom Ridge may have to register as a Democrat after the Limbaugh wing of the GOP attacks him for not being a true Republican.

Audience of 20 million? By who's count, the blowhard himself? It's hard to believe that there that many ignorant sheeple in America.

I dont think it is of any importance to anybody what those arrogant morons from GOP are doing anymore.They are totally insignificant.

once the supreme GOP leader Rush begins to declare his decree that Tom Ridge is irrelevant, Tom Ridge will apologize to him and the rest of the GOP for offending THE ONE.

WHEN people turn to GOD and live like he wants us to then and only then will he heel our land.

try it everything will get worse until we put GOD first in our lives.

It is very clear that those 20 million listeners are probably dumb. I just don't believe it's the intelligent folks in our country that listens to Rush and if they do like me it for entertainment purposes...i listen to Rickey Smiley's show to laugh...and it's why I listen to Rush too...there both funny

Suddenly Ridge is on talk shows? Where did he come from? What's the angle? Is it to get this 'we all work together' hugfest image of Republicans? Please. He's as nasty as the rest of them and has nothing to offer but empty criticism. No ideas, no plans. Obama has ideas, has plans and the Republicans stand with their fingers in their ears, loudly saying 'lah-lah-lah' and then act as if the pres didn't say anything at all.

Many of us will not forget the past 8 years (mostly because we'll be paying for them for the next 40, at least).

Tom Ridge sucks, right along with Colin Powell, Eric Holder, barkey obama, and those posting comments about Rush Limbaugh. Most of them have never listened to him, and if they have they are too stupid to understand his comments. Or they purposely misstate what he has said. Case in point...... "I hope obama fails as president" That is not what he said, But, why waste my time commenting on stuff spewed by scumbags.

To Chris from San Antonio:
Remember, though, Michael Steele states the "era of apology" is over.

Tom Ridge will be groveling and begging for mercy at the Temple of Limbaugh within 48 hours, guaranteed.

....and SkiDoc, Rush IS the reason the GOP is in the toilet. The more he yaps, the more ground the lose.

Here's an idea, Tom, that might work even better. Why not try... bipartisanship... or EVEN: non-partisanship. Partisan politics is so divisive and so rarely serves the people that these senators and representatives claim to serve. I want a person who will serve my interests as a citizen, not one who's trying to further the agenda of certain group of ideas and people.

I cannot believe people actually take Limbaugh's views seriously.

@sensible Cape Coral FL –

Oh, you believe they're nasty? Perhaps they should take professionalism lessons from Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, Rangel...and all the other stooges of the liberal left....

Nastiness...haha...PELOSI wrote the book..she acted as if we work for her...."...I'm not going to discuss it...." what a fool she is...

EVA: Don't you get a tingle down your spine every time Cheney says our home land??? Talk about Nationalistic.........it sounds like Nazi Germany to me!!!

Finally, someone speaks up. Pandering to the "Base" weakens the party and is something Limbaugh and Hannity dont understand. The base is the unappealing part of the party. It represents the scary extreme side of the Republicans. Not evryone out there will be the same religion or race and we republicans need to get over it. I want the right to carry a firearm wherver I want but I dont mind background checks. I think abortion is horrible and hope I never have to deal with the issue as a parent but who am I to tell a women what she can or cannot do. I believe in a higher power but dont trust organized religion. Our party turns off a lot of people because it appears racist (although I lost many so claimed democrat friends when they found out my wife was a different race). We need to become a middle of the road inclusive party that works through our differences.

I am tired of John Kings anti democratic and anti Obama perspectives. Until he is removed from your network I will no longer tune in to CNN.

We no longer need his constant negative points of view. He is always asking questions in a manner that results in negative responses.

hasta la vista CNN

How refreshingly thoughtful are the remarks of Tom Ridge. Although a Democrat, I have always liked the give and take of intelligently formulated and respectfully stated arguments. Tom Ridge joins Colin Powell in the wing of Republicans who don't (in the words of President Obama) demonize their opponents. Rush Limbaugh frightens me when he panders to fear and prejudice.

...And on Tuesday Rush with throw another monumental temper tantrum like he did in reaction to Colin Powells criticism – where he once again resigns as tittular head of the republican party. Nothing says political power like a good old fashioned temper tantrum. Rush plays the vocal tough guy, but when the tables are turned on him, he handles criticism like a spoiled child.

Too bad rush and his followers are beyond listening to reason – Ridges comments make sense the the majority, but not to the ditto heads. They react with the mental maturity of a 7 year old. It's really too bad because they could be a positive influence in rebuilding the party, but as it stands, they're doing more harm than good.

Unfortunately no one is going to stop that blowhard from spewing his hate, but I wish they would. I'm tired of getting nothing but him on my airwaves from 12 to 3. Talk about a monopoly. But then again, as a Democrat, Rush Limbaugh is a guarantee that the Dems will stay in office for a long time to come. As someone said below 20 million people can not win an election and he is disenfranchising the Republicans that have decency so I change my mind: KEEP IT UP RUSH!!!

CNN, he did not "slam" Rush Limbaugh and did not "take aim" either. He was grilled about the issue and gave a fair response. What are you trying to accomplish by wording your articles in this way toward Limbaugh?

@Sam I Am -

Your statement is incorrect; the vast majority of Americans, (True Americans that is) don't long to work with and compromise with the radical liberal congress. The vast majority of Americans are center-right, not center-left. Any statistical poll that's worth its salt (this automatically excludes CNN/Research polls of 1010 democrats sucking on entitlement teets) will reveal that Americans are truly shocked at the depths corruption went to, to elect such a fraud.

Conservatism and the free market are what made this country great; not the socialistic tendencies that OBama's trying to instill. No, everyone doesn't have a "Right," to a piece of the pie; especially someone else's pie. Under OBama we've already seen charitable donations decrease, unemployment increase, taxes increase, crime increase, foreclosures increase, racism increase,

All things bad lead to Obama, all things good will lead to the road to conservatism and the free market...not saying republican; but conservatism. Good example recently, some conservative dems voted for the CC bill which included the gun measure. That will be pivotal for two reasons; they're sick of Obama's lying games and they want Pelosi gone...

That's entertainment!!!!!!!!!!

Cue the apology from Ridge to the Leader of the GOP in three, two, one...

I am really disappointed/ashamed at the statements coming from the former Bush Admin. We had concentration camps/interrogation camps in Europe (still have) my father was an intellectual and went thru water boarding (accepted later as torture) though now seen again as an aceptable way of gaining information. Of course some of these detainees should be there. My Father could not walk 4 3 years or stay in a bathroom with running water for a great deal longer. He was not a communist or such. I get really worried when I hear this nationalistic stuff being broadcast on CNN. Bush i.e. Cheyney etc. -Guantnemo is vital forsecurity. Just sounds very nationalistic to me.US citizens do not und3erstand where Europe/asia et al is at .were not and still are not here in Europe. I applaud B. Obamya for doing everything he can to bridge the knowledge gap.

Ridge means well, but if, like a lot of libs, he thinks 20 million people are insignificant, wait until the next election. This "super base" will be the engine that drives the socialists out. Obama should take an oratorical break and look over his shoulder.......the twittering classes are dropping off.

Remember Limbaugh ,you get a lot more with honey than vinegar!If you talked like that about Bush and his cohorts like now you'd been blackballed by BUSH's FCC buddies!He'd have your mouth washed out with soap

I love how it's only the liberals that leave comments here. And naturally the liberals can only leave comments of themselves of hate and being mean.

WOw, Greg McClain! I feel you on that. Im no GOP, but I love constructive criticism and when you disagree you say more than NO, but offer an alternative solution. Mr. Ridge, Mr. Powell, and a few other GOP get the picture. Its time to stop playing victim-when you had Congress for 12 years nearly and the white house for 8- Frankly, I HATE Limbaugh, and I dont generally hate people. But this man is filled with hate, along with Hannity, and Cantor.

Some of Rush's listeners are dems....just listening to hear what he is saying.....I listen to him because I have many republican friends and relatives and I need to know what he's saying .... then I won't be shocked at what they say and think.....arming myself....so to speak......their talking points are his talkings.....oh yes.....ditto heads....

If the ideas coming out of the Republican Party are anything like their health care bill, which the media has completely ignored and would raise the amount people will pay and does nothing for the uninsured, they need to do more than attack other people's ideas.

They need to actually present ideas that will benefit the middle class taxpayers who are the engine of the economy.

I am a very proud Democrat, nevertheless, I believe very strongly in the two party system. Limbaugh, Rove, Cheney, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham et al are not serving the best interests of the Republican
party by their self righteous nastiness.

Ridge, put on your dress, high heels and makeup.

Nice try CNN, but you can't drive a wedge. Try slapping the "Iran's Michelle Obama..." story on the ticker.....it's amazing how you've propped up the obamkins around the world, and then once other countries actually meet them, and get "dissed," by them (i.e, DVDs, an iPod with his own speeches on it)...they really discover how far the US has sunk...so..go ahead and splash your anti-conservative rhetoric...your popularity is dwlndling just like the dems in congress....I long for the day when the next white house press corp excludes CNN, similar to its treatment of the National Enquirer..

By Wednesday Ridge will be issuing a grovelling apology to the fat pill-popping gasbag.

It's good to hear that more and more people in the Republican Party are beginning to be the voices of reason. Limbaugh may have 20 million listeners, but in a national election 20 million votes won't even get you close to winning. The Republican Party that Limbaugh wants is a party of hate, divisiveness and bigotry, and frankly, appalling stupidity. This country is better than that. Tom Ridge is the kind of Republican we need. He is intelligent, thoughtful, and though he is a conservative, he is willing to work with the Democrats to find common ground. This is truly what the vast majority of Americans want. Let's hope that more and more moderate Republicans begin to drown out the nastiness of buffoons like Limbaugh, and the Republican Party returns to its REAL values of thoughtful conservativism.

Tom Ridge do you not understand Limbaugh is a dopehead. He doesn't even know what he says. Furthermore all the Americans that listen to him are dopeys. I certainly didn't know we had that many people in america stupid enough to tune into an old country outhouse to listen to a bunch of crap.

"Let's attack their ideas," said Ridge."

Well, I guess that's the next best thing to actually having an idea of your own.

Why don't we send the detainees to iraq?

Why are we still listening to Dick Cheney? He is no longer relevant to our Country.

The apology countdown begins NOW.

Careful there Tommy boy, you'll be the next target of that large, mean mouthed fat guy and you'll have to crawl back to beg forgiveness..

So he will be apologizing to Limbaugh tomorrow i take it?

Finally a voice of reason.Not sure how far it's going to go,you have offended the Rush and the Chaney.The brothers in crime,err the good o'l boys club.

Ridge is the second reasonable human being from the GOP to appear on TV. Colin Powell is the other.

It is about time that someone, outside me, holds Rush accountable for his rude, self-centered, self-absorbed comments. Rush Limbwrist needs a good beat down not only by fellow conservatives but needs to be put in his place my patient and middle of the road Americans like me.

twitter.com/gregmcclain

For Limbaugh, of course, this is all about ratings for his radio show. This is the same strategy followed by Ann Coulter to boost her book sales. The more outrageous their statements become, the higher their net income climbs.

Appeals to reason are not likely to outweigh the siren song of cold, sweet cash. A man (or woman) will do pretty much anything for a hundred million dollars.