Can Wanda Sykes Save the GOP?
The stand-up comedian Wanda Sykes took only seconds in her disciplined 15 minutes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner--a naughty performance that mocked both Barack Obama and Rush Limbaugh--to lay out a vision for the Republican Party. Of course, Sykes didn't mean to help the GOP, yet in the manner of a prophet she climbed up on the mountaintop of C-SPAN at the precise moment that the glamorous tribes of Washington, New York, and Hollywood had gathered to worship, and she spoke the words that came to her as if from a special effects Yahweh. Wanda Sykes articulated a simple vision. She pictured a day in the distant future when the Republican Party will be free of its childlike dependence upon burlesque acts like Rush Limbaugh and his acolytes; free of their droning, repetitive excuses that the attack on New York and Washington gives them writ to bait and bully everyone who isn't on the burlesque stage with them....
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Wanda Sykes was disgusting! Her remarks were neither funny or humerous...real comedians don't have to malign others or use 9-11 for their own political purposes....a registered democrat
nor comical neither!
She hopes his kidneys fail, and I hope all his condoms fail.
stop whining!
You've got to be kidding me! After the pure venom that pours out of this obese drug addicted felon on a daily basis, you might want to find another cause to defend. Rush and Cheney have made a career of using 9-11 for their own political purposes. Cheney, the draft dodger, the coward who got 5 deferments during Viet Nam, Cheney who ignored the intelligence that would have prevented 9-11 in order to lie his way into a meaningless war and cost nearly 5,000 Americans their lives so far. Now, you want to get self-righteous about using 9-11 for political purposes?
Perfect, simply perfect.
All the GOP has left are the fundamentalists and the NRA.
They have me and I care for neither. I don't shoot guns and I don't go to church.
Perhaps what susquehannastudio should have said is that all the leadership of the GOP (Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney and Palin) wants are the fundamentalists and the NRA.
I am a fundamentalist - at least in terms of my own life - and I left the GOP sometime ago. Or rather, the GOP changed - I changed - and I stopped believing that the GOP had any sort of exclusivity on issues important to me or in the best interest of the people of the United States.
I am anti-abortion (GOP), but anti-Death Penalty (mostly Democrat), yet in favor of capitalism (GOP), yet in favor of applying firm regulation to the Free Market (neither, really), anti-Iraq War (Democrat), pro-Living Wage (Democrat), pro-Universal Health Coverage (not sure), anti-Single Payer (GOP), anti-anti-gun ownership (GOP), pro-gun registration (mostly Democrat), in favor of mandatory gun training for all owners (not sure), pro-made in USA and keeping jobs in the USA (not the GOP, but not so sure about the Democrats), pro-Union (Democrat), pro-Right to Work (GOP), pro-Greening America (kind of Democrat, Green Party), pro-Energy Independence (not so sure), uncomfortable with the homosexual lifestyle (GOP), neither for or against Gay Marriage, but seeing it as equal treatment under the law, so it's the right thing to do (Democrat, maybe Libertarian), anti-affirmative action (GOP), anti-racist (mostly Democrat), anti-sexist (mostly Democrat), legalizing recreational drugs (kind of Democrat, mostly Libertarian), heavily regulating recreational drug use (not sure), pro-contraception (Democrat), disbeliever in the success of abstinence (Realist), mandatory rehabilitation for out of control recreational drug users - alcoholics - gamblers (kind of Democratic, mostly Fascist), in favor of flogging repeat drunk drivers (Fascist), pro-Free Education K - The Last Breath (not sure).
So there really is no one party that meets my needs or wants per se. So I vote for whoever seems to be the best fit. I don't think I am alone in having a broad range of notions about what is in general best for the people of the United States. I think this is why there are more independents as time goes by.
This is why partisan politics are so sophomoric. It's just plain stupid to pigeonhole people based on one or two issues and expect that they agree with every other issue they're being lumped in with.
Though I agree with some of your viewpoints, disagree with others, and think you've oversimplified the GOP-Dem dichotomy in some cases, I really agree with the spirit of your comment.
This is why I rejoice in the growth of the independent demographic; people will vote on issues, not party lines.
I agree with you that Rush Limbaugh is part of the problem, but I fail to see how fringe-zealots like Sarah Palin are any better. Sarah Palin is too quirky for a part of the electorate that dismisses candidates based on little things or even made up things. (i.e. my very conservative friend, whose family hosts fundraisers for the Republican party, didn't want to vote for her because of the wolf-hunting thing. She was torn though, because while she liked what Obama was saying, Michelle's "first time I've been proud to be an American" comment rubbed her the wrong way.) Sarah Palin preaches abstinence-only education (even though it clearly didn't work out too well for Bristol), lauds abortion-clinic bombers, and spewed a LOT of nonsense into the media (and her nonsense often didn't come in complete or comprehensible sentences).
Rush Limbaugh is an extremist who is leading the party in the wrong direction, and even though Sarah Palin is a politician, so is she. (I think that leaders like Eric Cantor and Meghan McCain, who offer a tempered, more modern version of Republicanism have a more viable vision for the GOP).
Right, that is why McCain lost and even Colin Powell endorsed the other guy...Do facts mean anything to you Obama Kool-aid drinkers??
Is Meghan McCain a leader? If so, she needs to find something Republican to lead with. On present indications, she probably should join the Democratic Party along with Colin Powell. John McCain could have won the presidency if he had promoted Republican ideals including respect for the Rule of Law, instead of pussy-footing around every sensitive issue and playing Me Too to Obama's broad brush socialism and promise not to enforce immigration law.
There was no way John McCain could have won the presidency. This has already been acknowledged by many conservative commentators. He had too many obvious issues he was up against; he is too old, he made the wrong choice for a running mate, the demographics of the electorate have drastically changed, and the list goes on. Why don't Republicans stop droning on about how Obama is supposedly socialist and figure out that their party is becoming increasingly non-relevant. Just please fade off nicely and don't come back...
Very good. The republicans need to look for someone new to lead. But following Colin Powell's advice that the republicans need to change into Moderate Democrats is not the answer either.
I really doubt that a comedienne like Sykes will nor should have an affect on how a political party finds its voice. The present administration will give the Republican plenty of grist for future campaigns. When the middle class finds that their wallets are shrinking by higher taxes and inflation caused by the enormous debt incurred by these collectivist programs, we will see new leadership emerge, whether it's Republican or Democrat.
Pay attention. Bush inherited a surplus of 286 billion, he left office with a deficit of 1.3 trillion. If you know anything about budgeting you know its 2 fold. Revenue and expenses. The revenue projections are weak because of the low tax rate and the projected growth. 2/3rds of your exoenses are entitlements and military spending. Scream all you want but however much you play with 1/3 of your expenses the 2/3rds will kill you if you dont grow. So to fix this you have to attack entitlements for the expense side, and you have to find avenues for growth. The strategy here is new energy, and the most highly educated workforce in the world. Its a heavy lift, but if you dont invest there is no future.
I would argue that not investing in the American people but investing in tanks and planes is what has left us vulnerable.
Right you are. Bush never found his veto pen until it was a day late and a dollar short, but Obama upped the federal debt to 11.2 trillion. This recession was not caused by the Bush tax cut, but by the mismanagement of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac. I know enough about budgeting that when you outspend your income, you create a deficit, which turns into a debt. And you pay back that debt with interest. With 11.2 trillion, and growing, the government could sieze 90% of the wealthy's money, and it still wouldn't be enough. So guess who's next - the middle class.
When the middle class finds that their wallets are shrinking..." When?! The middled class has suffered stagnant wages for almost a decade topped off with a severe recession that's almost halved most retirement funds, not to mention all the unemployed who now have 0 to put in their wallets.
Most of us know exactly who we have to thank for that. And it ain't Obama.
Watching the GOP lick their lips in anticipation of the epic Obama "fail" is the most delusional thing they do. And that's saying something.
stella, i'm with you...there are lots of voters who remember the relative fatness of their wallets during the clinton years..and the relative thinness now...and who's to blame...
not only is obama widely popular, his economic policies are too...all the gop can hope is that 3rd quarter gdp in '010 will have a negative effect on voters...it's a pretty big gamble....if it has a positive effect, the party is toast....
as for carole...if she really thinks freddie and fanny caused the recession, she's off in la-la land...
ps...bush created $5 trillion in new debt...but inflation didn't follow, 'cept for the unrelated oil-price spike....thank china for thank....
I disagree with your article. Rush Limbaugh is NOT the problem. It's political pundits that think they speak for the Republican party who are wolves in sheep clothing, aka RINOs.
Individuals like Meghan McCain do not speak for the majority of the Republican party. She is nothing but another RINO like her dad.
Those that have so far posted comments on this site seem to me speak like MSNBC or CNN. Do us all a favor and leave the party. WE do not need you voice in this fight.
I agree with you. Rush Limbaugh is NOT the problem. Rush is not even a Republican. He is a Conservative. All you people who claim to be "Republicans" but say you won't come back because of Palin and Limbaugh - good riddance to you!! We don't need people like you who are diluting conservative principles. Go become Socialist Democrats like Colin Powell!! You claim to be smarter and better than Palin and Limbaugh when all you are is conceited. You fit right in with the Democrats. GO GET LOST!!!
spoken like a true dittohead.. way to think for yourself.
Right. And then after everyone who doesn't agree with us leaves, we'll have about 120 angry, self-righteous cave men left. And we'll call it the Republican Party! Great idea...
Actually, if you get rid of all the Meghan McCains and keep all the Limbaughs, you won't have to bitch and moan about the Republican party not being what it used to because there won't be a Republican party.
As someone who wants to see a strong, sensible, levelheaded two party system in America, I have to say you and all the people who think like you and don't listen to what anyone else says (this includes Limbaugh) are an idiot.
way to be constructive you turd, it must suck to be so narrow- minded.
"She pictured a day in the distant future when the Democrat Party will be free of its childlike dependence upon burlesque acts like Obama and his acolytes; free of their droning, repetitive excuses that the attack on New York and Washington gives them writ to bait and bully everyone who isn't on the burlesque stage with them."
Roll the clock back 12 months and it's amazing how well that edit works. So, just what is it you'd like to dump Limbaugh from, John? It's not like he's a party leader, Obama, Emanuel, Carville and Begala's protestations notwithstanding.
Given that the current GOP seems to take Mr. Limbaugh's word as gospel (or at least doesn't mind when he's foaming at the mouth), he *is* a leader of the party. The question now is whether or not he should remain so...
Agreed Abelard-
When the head of the RNC has to apologize for comments he made to/about Rush, Limbaugh is a de facto leader. Sorry, that's just the way it is.
Wow, who ever this guy is, (I never heard of him), he certainly is a very emotional man.The idea that political parties are there to merely win elections is a very good description of the Beltway Think.No Mr. B, political parties are established to grow and sustain core values of a nation or other political entity. Mr. B thinks winning is everything a.k.a. power is everything. Some of us actually believe that core values and a way of being human and supporting human freedom and liberty is everything, from a secular perspective anyways. Mr. B is obviously very jealous of Rush and with good reason of course. Rush has an audience and that audience thinks about more than venal and superficial gaining of power. They think about advancing freedom and liberty for humanity. I'm with Rush. Mr. B...go away and crawl back under the rock from which you came. We have enough people lusting for power already
Mr. Batchelor, it seems that you get it. Too bad the leadership of your party does not.
The answer to the Republicans' current dilema is not a drug-abuser radio talk show host or a semi-literate, nonsensical Alaskan Governor or a "waz-up" buffoon who currently chairs the party. When national political figures cow-tow to an "entertainer" as divisive, intemperate and extreme as Rush Limbaugh something is very, very wrong--and none of the party leadership seems to be the least interested in fixing it.
Mr. Batchelor does indeed seem to get it. How long until he's given the RINO tag for making such bold statments?
You guys are totally missing the point and so is the author of this so-called "analysis". She didn't say that the GOP should dump Rush. SHE WISHED DEATH ON HIM!!!! TWICE!!! Do you not see the difference or even care? Plus, if you're a liberal and you think Rush is so bad, why don't you just let him and the Republicans hang themselves. You guys are actin like Obama got more than 52.5% of the vote. You're acting like 60 million people DIDN'T vote against Obama...
Chill out mi amigo. What you're missing is that Wanda Sykes is a comedian. the "I hope his kidneys fail" comment was a punchline to a joke. Wanda doesn't speak for any group of people other than herself. And here's the rub, Limbaugh doesn't "officially" represent anyone's views but his own either. The difference is that Limbaugh, the chubby bastard, has made himself a figurehead. And for what? To promote some peaceful agenda? To leave the world a better place than he found it? No. For ratings.
I agree with Bunx05, you need to first off chill out, you sound like a kindergartener throwing a fit over something you obviously don't understand.
Second off, do you have amnesia? 50.7% of the popular vote was enough for GW Bush to claim he had a MANDATE!?!
52.5% is a pretty substantial lead, bordering on landslide.
Now, let me ask you what's worse, joking about some fat jerk's kidney's failing, or, in all seriousness, wishing failure on the United States?
60 Million people didn't vote against Obama and since the election the GOP has lost 11% of those who were willing to identify themselves as republicans. Republicans ignore the fact that they can no longer spew out lies and not be fact checked. Betrayal of trust is hard to come back from.
Limbaugh speaks up for freedom, and it's wonderful that he is doing this. Few in Washington seems to remember that America's greatness is due to our respect for individual LIBERTY. They're too busy working out whether they should have total control over our lives (Democrats) or semi-total control over our lives (Republicans).
The Republican party is floundering because of the battle between social conservatives (anti-abortion and gay rights types) and fiscal conservatives (pro-choice, pro-gray rights, libertarian-leaning types).
This is not a good time for this battle because the threat to our freedom is so great right now. All conservatives have to come together to protect freedom and work out their differences later. Rush is an important voice, but shouldn't be the only voice speaking up for liberty.
I'd have a lot more respect for the political broadcasters of either stripe if they actually ran for office. It takes nothing to yell and complain; it takes real guts to get elected and actually try to make your views into policy.
The problem with the G.O.P., you can dish it but you cant take it.
Wanada Sykes just said what many think, Limbaugh is a fat, drug addicted lying thug, like it or not he is the most vocal voice of the G.O.P, ( next to Cheney with his 18% approval rating ) and now to say your sick of him??!!. You all rode his coat tails, along with Fox Noise, Coulter, Beck, Savage and the other conservative ilk. Now it's time to pay the piper....
911 is not the proper subject for humor?. WTF over?. When you have creeps like Anne Coulter making fun of the 911 families and the G.O.P. using 911 like a cheap prop, where do you come off lecturing others?. Save your finger pointing for the mirror.
When you have someone like Colin Powell being called a Democrat because he does not follow group think the G.O.P. has some serious issues...
Look, the party was hijacked, by neocons. Unfortunately for them their message - American empire through force (both military and economic) wouldn't sell to American voters - it's not what we believe we are about. So they overtook the Republican party and started to lie about what Republican's were about. The result - after the sunshine exposed the parties leaders for what they were is an unfortunate collapse of the Republican party. What the Republicans need to get back to is their real roots not the neocon philosophy but the one that rings true with American's. Until the leaders figure that out the party will continue to wander around drunkenly looking for a direction.
I believe that a healthy America needs at least 2 healthy political parties to keep each other HONEST. Not throw sh-t at each other like they have been in the past few decades. I think that a healthy Republican party will create a healthy Democratic party and both will make America healthier again.
IMHO, actually not so humble, It's time the Republican leadership figured out what would be best for Americans and made that their goals, popularity will follow then elections and the Democrats will have to improve to be able to compete.
...nothing like taking advice from the enemy on how to improve your defense and who to go with on your offense...
Thanks liberals for your "analysis" of the Republican Party and your wonderful advice...and given from a comedienne no less...
...Go Sarah, Dick, and Rush!!!
No lie. Why are Republicans even listening to liberals and leftists debate the future of the Republican Party and conservative movement? Is this just insane or what??!?! Why don't they let us drive off the cliff? The answer is that they know we're on to something. If we can recraft the party around individual liberty and limited government with fiscal responsibility we'd strip them of their power in 2 years.
just which republican president actually shrunk government and shrunk the deficit. the only answer to anything in the republican party is tax cuts will cure anything while they go on and spend like crazy. this has gone on since and including saint reagon.
it's all talk and no show
but you have no candidates that would actually DO any of the things they preach.. just like the democrats.. the problem with Rush and the Conservative Media, is that they only tell half the truth... Yes, demorats are dirty snake oil salesmen.. but guess what.. so are the republicans.. they are all politicians, and most of them are in it for the money.. NOT to serve people.. If the republicans were really trying to serve the base, why didn't they do anything about the abortion issue when they had the chance?
it's just too hard.
just like the healthcare issue.
and what of fiscal responsibility? When was the last time there was a republican president that was fiscally responsible? these are just things they say to get elected and complain about when they are not in power.
same as the democrats..
you may as well call them the bloods and the crips, they already have the colors as well as the lack of morals, ethics, and sense of right and wrong.
Actually, unlike most neocons, we'd rather try to bring you off the cliff instead of laugh at you as you fall. It's called compassion for your fellow man.
Wow. That sounds religious and spiritual. I thought that was supposed to be you guys.
.." the daily palaver of a disembodied, troubled, ill-educated, powerless performer in his Orson Welles costume babbling alone in a radio studio in Florida."
Funny that Democrats spend so much time and media space trying to get rid of such a loser. If you were not so afraid of Limbaugh you would simply ignore him.
And speaking of troubled and babbling, isn't Howard Dean still important in the Democratic Party?
Yes. Democrats like shining the light on Limbo. But it isn't because we're afraid of him, it's because we believe the only anecdote to darkness is light.
You should be very afraid of what Limbaugh is doing to your party.
As a Democrat I dont Rsuh to go ANYWHERE!!!. Keep him, and Anne Coulter and Glen Beck and Sarah ( I can see Russia from my door step ) Palin, Michael Savage, Fox Noise, Bill-othe-clown, Cheney, GW and all the other nut jobs. This will ensure the demise of the current G.O.P., allow the Dem's to make some progress and hopefully about the time we Dem's overreach there will be a new, human, rational G.O.P. that actually represents a cross section fo the country and they can come back into the fold. Even a 3rd party would not hurt.
I'll take Howard Dean any day over the above mentioned ilk....
Actually, as i understand it John Batchelor identifies himself as republican. So what does it say when Rush's so called base wants him gone?
That Batchelor is one of those infamous "RINOs" that the party needs to purge from its midst?
What happens to the party when there's no "base" left?
Glad to hear more people speaking out against Limbaugh. Instead of this nonsense coming out from him and the base, I want to hear alternatives and constructive solutions and that doesn't mean cutting taxes for the wealthy and corporations.
As a Moderate Republican who has left my party of 30 years I look forward to the day I can return. The day that Limbaugh and Palin along with their uneducated ilk no longer hold the GOP in a vice grip.
When a conservative party can embrace a man who has been married 3 times, been to rehab for drug addiction and shows racist/rape encouragement is a leader? I''m outta there. When they embrace a woman who is a proven liar, a bad Mother and encourages the use of witch doctors in this day and age? I am out of there. They can keep their poster children for the uneducated and unwashed.
I note with awe the number of defecting Republicans posting here; so many in fact that I think that in fact they are life-long Democrats using a transparent ploy to argue the Democratic case.
You see, this is the problem with the current GOP. You are so sure you're right that you actually think democrats have to use a ploy to argue the democratic case. We don't need a ploy, we've got enough honest outrage to last for years.
BTW, hard to stop a leak in the boat when you refuse to acknowledge it.
As a moderate Democrat, I, too, look for a day I can return. When they embrace the House Speaker, who is definitely a proven liar, and a candidate who had no executive experience and a shallow Senate record over a candidates with much better records in service to this country, I will vote for a republic style of government - not a collective style of government.
Say it, John.
I'm so glad to hear you say this because I've been wanting to get it across, as well - that they have found their own False Gods and they have been lead astray.