What's Motivating Republicans? February 25, 2015
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RUSH: And here is Sue from New Lebanon, Ohio, as we head back to the phones. Welcome to the EIB Network. Hello.
CALLER: Hi, Mr. Limbaugh. How are you today?
RUSH: I'm great. Thank you very much.
CALLER: One point real quickly. I am wondering why Mitch McConnell has not implemented the same option that Harry Reid did in order to get the health care bill passed. They call it nuclear option, which I understood at the time that the Republicans were so upset because they were only to use that option when it concerned a budget item, and certainly the Homeland Security budget is a budget item, so I don't get why he isn't. I wanted your thoughts on that.
RUSH: Well, I think you're talking probably about budget reconciliation.
CALLER: Yes.
RUSH: People have been asking me, Sue, I hate to -- I'm not diffusing your question. People have been asking me for 27 years, "Why are the Republicans doing X?" I don't know. All I could do is guess, the same as you. Why won't the Republicans use the same techniques on the Democrats that the Democrats use on us. That's what the question is.
CALLER: Correct.
RUSH: I haven't the slightest idea. I can only guess. And my guess would be somewhat informed, but still end up being a guess, and that is they're just afraid of any media criticism they're gonna get for what they do. Consultants have told them they're gonna anger the independents. I think right now what probably is -- and this is just a wild guess, because, frankly, Sue, to tell you the truth, I've gotten to the point where I don't care anymore so now I'm having to fake caring about this, while giving you an answer, 'cause you obviously have an interest in this.
My wild guess, rooted in a lack of passion on this, is that they are so worried about not screwing up 2016, the presidential race, that they are trying to avoid any action they think would be provocative, would upset the Democrats, would upset the media. They're trying to lay low just like they did during the campaign last year. The Republicans didn't campaign for anything, nationally. The Republicans didn't have a message. They didn't have an agenda. Their mission was to shut up, not say anything, and don't get any criticism and don't offend anybody. And I think they're just carrying it forward, thinking the best weapon they have is silence, and no opposition, and not be provocative, so as to not screw up their chance to win the White House in 2016.
CALLER: But at the same time, then, aren't they alienating their very base?
RUSH: They think, based on this last election, the base is gonna show up no matter what. I am convinced they think that. I'm convinced they're not worried about losing the base.
CALLER: I think they're very wrong.
RUSH: And I think even further, I think there's a sizable percentage of the Republican leadership that wouldn't mind losing the base, even if it meant being in the wilderness for two or three elections.
CALLER: Oh, I think perhaps it could be longer than that, forever.
RUSH: A lot of people agree with you. But that's as good a guess as I can give you. I mean, how do you explain the senseless?
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BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: And here is Sue from New Lebanon, Ohio, as we head back to the phones. Welcome to the EIB Network. Hello.
CALLER: Hi, Mr. Limbaugh. How are you today?
RUSH: I'm great. Thank you very much.
CALLER: One point real quickly. I am wondering why Mitch McConnell has not implemented the same option that Harry Reid did in order to get the health care bill passed. They call it nuclear option, which I understood at the time that the Republicans were so upset because they were only to use that option when it concerned a budget item, and certainly the Homeland Security budget is a budget item, so I don't get why he isn't. I wanted your thoughts on that.
RUSH: Well, I think you're talking probably about budget reconciliation.
CALLER: Yes.
RUSH: People have been asking me, Sue, I hate to -- I'm not diffusing your question. People have been asking me for 27 years, "Why are the Republicans doing X?" I don't know. All I could do is guess, the same as you. Why won't the Republicans use the same techniques on the Democrats that the Democrats use on us. That's what the question is.
CALLER: Correct.
My wild guess, rooted in a lack of passion on this, is that they are so worried about not screwing up 2016, the presidential race, that they are trying to avoid any action they think would be provocative, would upset the Democrats, would upset the media. They're trying to lay low just like they did during the campaign last year. The Republicans didn't campaign for anything, nationally. The Republicans didn't have a message. They didn't have an agenda. Their mission was to shut up, not say anything, and don't get any criticism and don't offend anybody. And I think they're just carrying it forward, thinking the best weapon they have is silence, and no opposition, and not be provocative, so as to not screw up their chance to win the White House in 2016.
CALLER: But at the same time, then, aren't they alienating their very base?
RUSH: They think, based on this last election, the base is gonna show up no matter what. I am convinced they think that. I'm convinced they're not worried about losing the base.
CALLER: I think they're very wrong.
RUSH: And I think even further, I think there's a sizable percentage of the Republican leadership that wouldn't mind losing the base, even if it meant being in the wilderness for two or three elections.
CALLER: Oh, I think perhaps it could be longer than that, forever.
RUSH: A lot of people agree with you. But that's as good a guess as I can give you. I mean, how do you explain the senseless?
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