In a nice stroke of NBC corporate synergy, radical-left MSNBC host Rachel Maddow appeared Tuesday night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and when the topic turned to Rush Limbaugh, Maddow insisted that it’s one thing for Rush to oppose Obama’s socialist agenda before it passes, but once it becomes law, he should salute and get behind it:
"It is one thing to say, ‘I hope that this guy's proposed policies don't pass. I hope those don't become the policies of our country.’ But once they become the policies of the country, and they are designed to save us from this economic collapse, you ought to hope they succeed, unless you are hoping for your country to suffer worse in an economic collapse. I mean, actually rooting for the failure of your own federal government is pretty creepy."
This was not Maddow's approach to the Iraq war. After discussing the Obama recovery plans and the ongoing outrage over Bernard Madoff, Leno turned to Limbaugh:
LENO: Okay. Now, Rush Limbaugh is in the news. This whole thing. And this, publicity, he's got to be loving this.
MADDOW: Oh, yeah.
LENO: Yeah, obviously. I'm watching him and Michael Steele. He says he wants Obama's policies to fail. Does this actually help Obama? Does it make -- does it turn moderates and people who are sort of on the fence?
MADDOW: Well, it's -- it's good news for people who want the Republican Party to fail at its efforts to get back into power. Because now with Rush Limbaugh saying that, every republican politician in the country, you can ask them, "Do you agree with Rush Limbaugh that you want the president to fail, or do you disagree?" Imagine being a Republican right now in that position. [Adopting silly voice] "No, I think Rush is wrong --"
LENO: To be fair, did Rush say he wants Obama to fail, or he doesn't believe in his policy? I mean, it is America, and do you have the right to say, "I don't like his policies, I want them to fail."
MADDOW: He has said that he wants the president to fail. That's the way he put it.
LENO: Okay, all right.
MADDOW: It is one thing to say, "I hope that this guy's proposed policies don't pass. I hope those don't become the policies of our country." But once they become the policies of the country, and they are designed to save us from this economic collapse --
LENO: Right.
MADDOW: You ought to hope they succeed, unless you are hoping for your country to suffer worse in an economic collapse. I mean, actually rooting for the failure of your own federal government is pretty creepy.
LENO: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Especially wearing the black shirt and the whole deal. It looks a little creepy. Have you ever met him?
MADDOW: No, no. I don't think he'd want to meet me. I don't know. No. I mean -- it's great publicity for him. Right now, the Republican Party doesn't have any recognizable leaders, and so they've turned to a radio talk show host. And as a person who comes from the radio talk show world, he's got to be psyched. If I were a Republican, I would not be psyched.
Never root for your government to fail? This is not the approach Maddow took to the Iraq war: that she opposed it, but it became government policy, so she rooted for it to succeed. Take Maddow on Countdown with Keith Olbermann on September 13, 2007. She expects Limbaugh to support Obama, but she wasn’t expected to root for President Bush:
There's almost nothing weirder than hearing George Bush, of all people, warn ominously about people who want to topple Iraq's government. It's like getting a lecture on the evils of prostitution from David Vitter. It was so, such a weird way to start the speech, and I think it was kind of a harbinger of a lot of weird assertions by him.
At the end of the Tonight show interview, as Leno discussed health care, he said a friend of his crashed his motorcycle and broke his arm and it cost $26,000. This inspired Maddow to denounce the American health care system as not just bad, but "stupid and embarrassing":
"It would be one thing if we spent this much money on health care and we all lived to be 300. That in America, yeah, sure, we spend a ridiculous amount of money on health care, but we are the healthiest, fittest longest living people in the world. But instead we're not. 15% of country doesn't have health insurance. We've got -- not great health outcomes. We -- you know, as a sedentary person, I don't want to say it, but we're not in the best shape, and so we pay a lot of money for something that's not very good. Which means it's not just a bad health care system, it's a a stupid and embarrassing health care system. And it ought to work better for what we're paying for it."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
I still don't understand why
March 5, 2009 - 16:54 ET by rwesleyI still don't understand why NBC wants to pimp their own employees on the Tonight Show. For God's sake, Johnny Carson would never have put this show in the toilet like it is right now.
the oldest profession in
March 5, 2009 - 17:09 ET by TruthMongerthe oldest profession in the world - and maddow hit all the fax points like a standard liberal pro..................stitute
NBC
March 5, 2009 - 18:52 ET by blazermaniacJohnny Carson would be spinning in his grave, if he saw this garbage on the Tonight Show. I generally like Jay Leno. He's a million times better than that goof on CBS. But, with guests like Madcow, this show like most of NBC is in the crapper!
If anyone knows creepy, its Maddow
March 5, 2009 - 17:03 ET by SickofLibsI like the new Buddy Holly look.
(He said as his unit retracted fully into his body cavity)
Gotta tell ya...
March 5, 2009 - 17:07 ET by PA ConservativeSOL, I laughed out loud at your last line. Couldn't agree more. What the hell are those glasses? Ick.
PAC
That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends,
it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new government...
Now you're being mean
March 5, 2009 - 17:29 ET by ArminiusAfter all, look how well that style of glasses worked for Sally Jessie Raphael.
SoL... You've got me
March 5, 2009 - 17:13 ET by bigtimerSoL...
You've got me laughing here too!
Same here... very funny
March 5, 2009 - 18:28 ET by jdlybrandThe first person that came to my mind was Zelda on the "Dobie Gillis Show". Then I thought about Jane Hathaway on the "Beverly Hillbillies". Buddy Holly was the best comparison. Kudos!
Hey, at least Ms. Jane was a
March 5, 2009 - 18:35 ET by SickofLibsHey, at least Ms. Jane was a real woman - she had that crush on Jethro. (not Ellie May)
Don't forget...
March 5, 2009 - 20:31 ET by jdlybrandJethreen.
Give up on what you beleive in
March 5, 2009 - 17:13 ET by Franklins_LockeSo, we should just give up our core beliefs of freedom and liberty, if Socialism is instituted. That is completely Un-American. That is completely void on any intellectual honesty. Is she going to stop being gay, because they won’t let her get married or people frown on that lifestyle. Is she going to be pro-war now that we are winning in Iraq. No, of course not.
http://franklinslocke.blogspot.com/
Liberals are pansies
March 5, 2009 - 23:04 ET by JetmoreI take solace in the fact that if this whole mess turns sideways ...while liberals have embraced granola, MSNBC, the Prius and group hugs, conservatives have embraced: God, guns, combat sports, and big off-road vehicles. There is only so long that the nerdy socially inept member of the theatre group can mess with the ROTC guy before he gets punched in the throat.
But once they become the
March 5, 2009 - 17:20 ET by fitzfongBut once they become the policies of the country, and they are designed to save us from this economic collapse
This is one of the most intellectually dishonest premises going these days. Obama's policies are not designed to save us from economic collapse. They are designed to cause economic collapse so that he and the lunatic fringe of his party have an easier time assuming control and enforcing their brand of failure on us all.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Madcow has said it..
March 5, 2009 - 17:31 ET by Delsa"Once SOBama gets his Socialist agenda into place....."
She/He admits openly explains what SOBama's agenda is and she further suggests Rush and the rest of us will just have to become Socialists and get over it!
NOPE! We become the guntoetin opposition.
Yea
March 5, 2009 - 17:24 ET by MES41067Fall in line just like the german people did right?
Or the Soviet citizens
March 5, 2009 - 20:39 ET by CobraManOr the Soviet citizens. You know, the ones who were shot and killed just for trying to leave their Socialist Paradise without government permission. Or the ones who were imprisoned and killed just for speaking out against their socialist government.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
It's like watching the Oscars...
March 5, 2009 - 17:24 ET by SlyrrA network full of liberal celebs and 'news' people appearing on each others shows to congradulate each other and talk on national TV about how they hate anyone who disagrees with them. It's like watching the Oscars - where hollywood celebutards go to pat themselves on the back for doing what they do. As if fame and fortune weren't enough for them....
Time to take these people out into the desert and leave them there, where they can shout to each other all they want without disturbing anyone else....
Boycott NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN and everyone else. Give them nothing - because they're contributing nothing.
Rachel
March 5, 2009 - 17:34 ET by NorthCoasterLimbaugh should support Obama to the same extent as you supported Bush.
Hey, fair is fair. Equality of outcomes right?
Rachel, you fit right in with Rush, in your creepy pseudo-artsy attire!
Lead to gold
March 5, 2009 - 17:34 ET by nkviking75I'm working on a machine that turns lead into gold. I get a lot of opposition from people who claim that it can't possibly work, but a lot of people would like it to work. So once it's finished I'm going to sell it to Obama. Once he adopts it, you all had better buy one. If Barry says it works, you ought to have enough faith to get one of your own.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
nkviking75
March 5, 2009 - 17:41 ET by NorthCoasterSay, when my perpetual energy machine is finished, I'll do the same. Heck once it's up spinnin' and whirrin', we won't need no polutin' oil. When Obama makes you put one in your yard, you'll have all the energy you'll ever want or need. You could even sell the excess to the power company because they'll need a source of energy after the shut down the coal fired boilers.
"I Think We're all Bozos on This Bus"- H/T Firesign Theatre
Madcow is a direct threat
March 5, 2009 - 17:40 ET by R D HelmMadcow is a direct threat to freedom in this country, and she should be treated like it.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
It's Ratchet
March 5, 2009 - 17:40 ET by RousseIt's Ratchet---I knew she'd show up somewhere, though I didn't think Jay Leno would fall for it. Well, he's on the skids anyway, so what does it matter. Poor NBC. Good grief.
So I wonder if Ratchet knows what most socialist countries do with their homesexual population?
"It's Time for Androgeny...It's Pat!"
March 5, 2009 - 18:15 ET by farstar99Admit it.
Maddow looks exactly like Pat from SNL, as embarassed as I am to admit I ever watched that tripe.
She just needs a business shirt, pocket protector and slacks.
fs99... ROFL! ...So
March 5, 2009 - 18:21 ET by bigtimerfs99...
ROFL!
...So right you are..now you have 'it' pegged exactly right!
Maddow less accurate than Leno...
March 5, 2009 - 18:02 ET by Mike SargentI have tracked down, on Rush Limbaugh's website, the transcript of what he originally said. Here are the first two paragraphs, including the offending quote and context:
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I got a request here from a major American print publication. "Dear Rush: For the Obama [Immaculate] Inauguration we are asking a handful of very prominent politicians, statesmen, scholars, businessmen, commentators, and economists to write 400 words on their hope for the Obama presidency. We would love to include you. If you could send us 400 words on your hope for the Obama presidency, we need it by Monday night, that would be ideal." Now, we're caught in this trap again. The premise is, what is your "hope." My hope, and please understand me when I say this. I disagree fervently with the people on our side of the aisle who have caved and who say, "Well, I hope he succeeds. We've got to give him a chance." Why? They didn't give Bush a chance in 2000. Before he was inaugurated the search-and-destroy mission had begun. I'm not talking about search-and-destroy, but I've been listening to Barack Obama for a year-and-a-half. I know what his politics are. I know what his plans are, as he has stated them. I don't want them to succeed.
If I wanted Obama to succeed, I'd be happy the Republicans have laid down. And I would be encouraging Republicans to lay down and support him. Look, what he's talking about is the absorption of as much of the private sector by the US government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care. I do not want the government in charge of all of these things. I don't want this to work. So I'm thinking of replying to the guy, "Okay, I'll send you a response, but I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails." (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here's the point. Everybody thinks it's outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, "Oh, you can't do that." Why not? Why is it any different, what's new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what's gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don't care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: "Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails." Somebody's gotta say it.
So can somebody tell me, from reading the above, why Rachel Maddow is less accurately quoting Rush Limbaugh than a late-night television comedian?! All due respect to Leno, but he's supposed to be the buffoon here, not Maddow et al.
Just wondering.
I was thinking along the lines of
March 5, 2009 - 18:13 ET by OxyCon...a Buddy Holly/Jerry Lewis as the "Nutty Professor" look.
I wonder if Madcow can dance this good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6oigBrD-VI&feature=related
If they ever do a remake of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...
March 5, 2009 - 18:15 ET by R D Helm...Madcow would make a perfect Nurse Ratched.
:-)
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
Of course! Now that Obama
March 5, 2009 - 18:28 ET by zhombreOf course! Now that Obama is POTUS and the Democrats control Congress, conformity replaces dissent as the highest form of patriotism. Maddow's ethics are as pliable as her femininity is repressed.
Glasses
March 5, 2009 - 18:29 ET by JEB StewartWhy does she always wear glasses when she is interviewed, but not when she does her show? The glasses make here look retarded. Stupid ME......I just answered my own question.
By the way Buddy Holly looks better then she does..
Why Pussyfoot Around?
March 5, 2009 - 18:32 ET by Junk Science SkepticEven though anybody with a middle-school education could clearly understand that Limbaugh was specific about wanting O'HopeyDopey's socialist policies to fail, why be so PC and so nice about it by trying to address all the lefty strawmen?
Screw it. Not only do we want O'Dumbo to fail, quickly, decisively, and in no uncertain terms . . . we also absolutely know that he and his socialist policies will fail.
We know his policies will fail because socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried. Even here in this country with the best resources available, the socialist union experiment in the auto industry has brought that industry to death's door. The whole socialist concept is simply unsustainable and unscalable.
We know he will fail because the only things he's ever accomplished in life were winning an unopposed election to state office, winning an unopposed election to the U.S. Senate, and winning an unopposed election to the Presidency. Voting present doesn't count in the top job. He can't even staff his cabinet or his administration without ending up knee-deep in tax cheats and felons.
The idea that the President's policies are the whole country's policies went out the damn door eight years ago. Save for a few brief moments after 9/11, not one single lefty, dhimmicrat, pork-gressive, or other assorted trash would give Bush even a sliver of benefit of a doubt, on even the simplest of details.
We owe O'Bambi nothing. No respect, no consideration, nada. Far less than half of the voting age population voted for this idiot. He has no mandate (except maybe with Chris Matthews). He only "won" because the Republican Party couldn't organize behind a viable candidate, and because too many stupid lazy Conservatives/Republicans/Libertarians fell for the leftist media's wedge issues, letting the left successfully factionalize our majority.
Hopefully everybody is now aware that there are far bigger issues than what goes on in the bedroom and the doctor's office.
I would prefer that you
March 5, 2009 - 19:32 ET by FranksamI would prefer that you didn't use the term 'pussyfoot' when Rachel is involved. I'm just sayin'.
Line!
March 5, 2009 - 20:21 ET by jed58Line! Line! everyone going over the line!...Getting too many mental images.....must shut down....must shut down.......doooooo
"...to support and defend
March 5, 2009 - 19:23 ET by rbosque"...to support and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Nowhere does it say we are to support a commie state.
She and the rest of the left can &%@$# and take a *@#@$ leap into a pile of $#!%!
Message from Hitler
March 5, 2009 - 19:29 ET by jed58"The gassing of Jews is now law, please get behind it"
Exactly
March 5, 2009 - 20:53 ET by UpNorthjust replace the word "jews" with conservatives, or Republicans, or Independents. There are more than enough over on the left to man the watch towers, and gates at the camps, and throw the switch to let the gas go.
And the talking heads will tell us, "it's only for the good of the country".
I guess dissent against the
March 6, 2009 - 05:06 ET by Jack BauerI guess dissent against the President is no longer patriotic!
SCREECH HILLARY --- We're Americans and we have a right ... we have a right to disagree with any President.
It's all about conformity
March 5, 2009 - 20:58 ET by CobraManIt's all about conformity with liberals. Remember how mad a lot of liberals were when Hillary refused to drop out of the primaries? They demonized one of their own for refusing to give up. Maddow was one of those that wanted Hillary to concede before the primaries. She wanted conformity. Now she's pulling the same crap on Rush, anmd all republicans, insisting on conformity.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Murder
March 6, 2009 - 04:36 ET by bknownstIsn't it interesting that if someone kills a pregnant woman they are charged with 2 counts of murder - but if you just kill the unborn child the murder is called "freedom of choice"
I watch Leno on a semi-regular basis
March 5, 2009 - 21:36 ET by Jnoble..and he's now doing "Rush is so fat" jokes in his opening monologe.
Wow Jay, that's really sharp writing. Dusting off 4th grade humor.
I've been watching him for years and while he seems like a really nice guy, he's a liberal useful idiot like the rest of them. OK Jay, we get it...Bush is dumb, Cheney is evil, Rush is fat. GET SOME NEW MATERIAL!!
Leno
March 5, 2009 - 22:28 ET by slickwillie2001I also watch Leno too often. He is not fit to shine Johnny Carson's shoes. Leno gets good ratings largely because there's not much else on weeknights after the local news. I say his 10pm show will crash and burn and be gone in 6 months.
This whole crop, from Leno to Letterman, O'Brien and Ferguson are a pack of flaming liberals that put politics before comedy.
The Audience Was More Interesting Than Maddow
March 6, 2009 - 04:27 ET by BondPlainBondI went over to NBC to watch the clip (tone : smarminess) and believe something very unusual happened...
Very odd. Was expecting to hear whoops and hollers as Maddow denegrated Republicans in general; Steele, and Limbaugh in particular... nothing but crickets in the audience. Not once was there applause for Maddow's smarmy commentary.
Cool. So, since the law
March 6, 2009 - 05:18 ET by ckc1227Cool. So, since the law of the land in most of the country is against gay marriage, does that mean we can count on Maddow to get on board and encourage others to do the same and stop the gay marriage nonsense?
Yeah, I'm betting she'll be into guys before that happens.
Creepy
March 6, 2009 - 07:14 ET by adamsmithCreepier still is blind allegience to a Federal Government that was set up to be limited in power by the people. This massive overreach by the leftists in the Federal Government will not work out for them. This "woman" is one of the creepiest things on television, and I go out of my way not to watch the he-she. Along with this lesbian being handed an inferior batch of genes as far as sexuality goes, there seems to be a mental disconnect as well.
MANCOW...
March 6, 2009 - 08:19 ET by danybhoySo El-Rushbo should get behind socialism? Look Mancow, unlike you, Rush has earned every damn dollar he's made. Unlike you, he is a successful broadcaster who has gotten where he is because he makes money for people. You, on the other hand, do not make money for other people. Typical socialist thought is tear down successful rather then build up the less successful.
I'll also take El-Rushbo's smart-@$$ sense of humor over Mancow's smug attempt at being a funny to prove a point. Rush reads the political landscape better then the rest of the MSM combined, maybe Drudge would be his equal, Maddow does'nt cut it.
"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"
Just like Venezuala should
March 6, 2009 - 10:20 ET by ScadsobeesJust like Venezuala should be all getting behind Hugo and saluting, right?
He's going after the opposition media because they oppose him.
Uh oh.....
My Reaction
March 6, 2009 - 13:50 ET by srhoadesMy reaction was, "Hey, it's Pat!"
Backing Socialism
March 6, 2009 - 15:44 ET by barndoorBy the same logic, Madcow should be an ardent suporter of a federal republic and captalism, since it is (at least loosely) the "law" now.