Whining Rush

Adam Doster

Can Rush contribute to McCain's downfall? He's sure trying. Mr. Limbaugh, who draws more than 13.5 million listeners a week, considers Mr. McCain to have so betrayed conservative principles by voting against tax cuts and not being as tough as Mr. Limbaugh would like on illegal immigrants that the commentator was openly flirting with the enemy.Fair enough. McCain's a tax and spend liberal who supports amnesty. And like all strong conservatives, he should critique Republicans from the right when he deems it necessary. Hell, I rail on the Dems all the time. But why now? Asked what Mr. McCain might do to change his mind, Mr. Limbaugh said: “I don’t think there’s anything he could do. If he did do it, he would be accused of selling out.” Then, in a familiar baritone as resonant as it is on the air, he added, “If I were to endorse McCain based on the current circumstances, I’d be looked at as a party hack.” Suck it up, Rush. Your candidate(s) isn't going to win. And since McCain isn't feeling the pressure from below to "change," the belated bantering is petty and counter-productive for your movement.

Adam Doster, a contributing editor at In These Times, is a Chicago-based freelance writer and former reporter-blogger for Progress Illinois.
The text is from the poem “QUADRENNIAL” by Golden, reprinted with permission. It was first published in the Poetry Project. Inside front cover photo by Golden.
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