Limbaugh entitled to be wrong again

Published 4:17 am Monday, January 26, 2009

By Staff
Those hoping President Barack Obama fails include, among others, Osama bin Laden and Rush Limbaugh.
The broadcaster took some heat for his unpatriotic remark, which was like rooting for the geese when US Airways Flight 1549 splashed down in the Hudson River in New York City Jan. 15.
After smirking at treason, America's leading conservative voice, who was at least being honest, confided he was kidding.
Limbaugh supposedly supports the president, but not his policies – his way of mocking those who support our American troops, but not the war.
"What I'm actually doing is just throwing the absurdity of their statement back in their pockmarked faces," Limbaugh said. "I illustrate absurdity by being absurd. How can I support the president, but not his policies? That's as silly as saying, 'I support the military but not the mission.' I'm trying to illustrate how empty their support was and how it was not true. So I'm throwing back one of their own techniques right at them."
Republicans will do well to remember when they're ripping apart Obama's stimulus package that this spending approach began under George W. Bush. Elephants sometimes forget.
If we learned anything from eight years of the Bush administration, it's the duty in a democracy of unfettered dissent and criticism of our government.
Some skepticism could have served us well as we invaded Iraq with shock and awe almost six years ago.
We may not agree with those who question our elected officials – especially to the point of hoping they flop – but voices such as Limbaugh's provide a necessary freedom check, just as did those who questioned the Iraq troop surge.
Besides, this is the same Limbaugh who last spring urged Democrats to embrace Obama as their nominee because he couldn't garner support broad enough to win a national election.
In hindsight, we know how insightful that advice proved.