Actually, my favorite part of the Rush “phony soldiers” broadcast isn’t the part where he agrees with the caller that “real soldiers” want to stay in Iraq forever and only “phony soldiers” could possibly come to the conclusion that maybe it’s time to rethink and redeploy.
It is, rather, the part where he tells a caller that he can’t possibly be a Republican if he thinks the U.S. ought to get out of Iraq.
Because the caller ID’s himself as a former soldier, says the U.S. has accomplished its aims - toppling Saddam - and that now it’s time to let Iraqis run their own country and cut our losses.
LIMBAUGH: Mike, you can’t possibly be a Republican.
CALLER 1: I am.
LIMBAUGH: You are — you are –
CALLER 1: I am definitely a Republican.
LIMBAUGH: You can’t be a Republican. You are –
CALLER 1: Oh, I am definitely a Republican.
LIMBAUGH: You are tarnishing the reputation, ’cause you sound just like a Democrat.
See? You can’t possibly look at the situation in Iraq and come to any other conclusion than the one Rush has - that we need to stay “until the job is done.”
The caller, of course, tries to ask Rush just how long that might be. And like your typical Republican, Rush won’t answer. Forever? Asks the caller. Oh no, says Rush.
But I have to say - I like this. I like that if you, in any way, have come to the conclusion that the war in Iraq is no longer worth the cost - you can’t be a Republican.
Only true believers need apply to the GOP. The rest just want to wave the white flag and surrender and cut and run with their tails between their legs. Because there’s no middle ground, see; it’s either STAY UNTIL THE GLORIOUS VICTORY PARADE or you’re a coward.
There can be no rational reassessment; there can be no weighing of the options, no cutting of the losses. No matter how misguided you might come to believe the war is - if you’re a Republican you have no other option besides sending more people to be killed, spending more money.
So all you Republicans out there who have developed qualms about our excellent Iraq adventure - buck up. You aren’t allowed to doubt the glorious mission. Ever. For the nanosecond you do - you’re one of them.
Funny that even as Rush lays down the law, the Republicans are struggling to an extent we haven’t seen in recent years.
I wonder if he’ll ever see the connection.
