crossposted at BlogHer.com

As a progressive it’s not hard for me to admit I’m enjoying the power struggle in the GOP. It seems it’s not very clear who is in charge. Some days it’s the newly elected chairman, Michale Steele, other days it’s a talk show host.

Over the weekend Steele called Rush Limbaugh’s rhetoric “incendiary” and “ugly” and insisted that he, not Limbaugh, is in charge of the GOP. Now CNN reports Steele is looking to kiss and make-up with the talk show host and has apologized saying “There are those out there who want to look at what he’s saying as incendiary and divisive and ugly. That’s what I was trying to say. It didn’t come out that way.”

It didn’t take Louisiana Governor (and current “chosen one” in the GOP) long to chime in:

Now believe me when I tell you it was not very long ago Democrats were in disarray and the Republicans were taking swipes at their “lack of clear message” and “disorganization.” But I’m not sure a talk show host was ever running the show. Keith Olbermann was not setting the Democratic agenda.

However it now appears Rush is not just setting the GOP agenda, but forcing it’s chairman and it’s biggest names to kiss his ring.

I’d like to just review some Rush Limbaugh classic moments, if you don’t mind.

“Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.”

“This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation…I’m talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of the need to blow some steam off?” –on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal

“We’re not sexists, we’re chauvinists — we’re male chauvinist pigs, and we’re happy to be because we think that’s what men were destined to be. We think that’s what women want.”

“The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.”

“They oughtta change Black History Month to Black Progress Month and start measuring it.”

“Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.”

“Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go. I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.” –on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, while working as a commentator on ESPN

And let’s not forget the very best of his racist remarks:

1. I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.

2. You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed.

3. Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?

4. Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.

5. Take that bone out of your nose and call me back(to an African American female caller).

Yes, GOP…this is your leader. Wow, you must be so very proud. So on top of being sexist and racist, Rush apparently has trouble with the constitution as well- you know, that document I’m fairly sure most conservatives live and die by. Firedoglake points out Rush’s gaffe:

See a pattern here?

Karen Hughes misattributed the phrase “One nation under God,” Sarah Palin didn’t know what the First Amendment is or what the Vice President does, and now this.

“We believe that the preamble to the Constitution contains an inarguable truth that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life. [Applause] Liberty, Freedom. [Applause] And the pursuit of happiness. [Applause] Those of you watching at home may wonder why this is being applauded. We conservatives think all three are under assault. [Applause]”

Zzzzzt!

So sorry, El Rushbo, those words are not from the Preamble. They’re in the Declaration of Independence.

All this love wingnuts claim to have for the Constitution never seems to manifest itself in, like, actual knowledge of the Constitution.

Now Erin, perhaps Rush is just misunderstood, perhaps (you say) I just don’t understand his satire or his parody or his style…Emily Hummel tries to explain via twitter:

“The RNC catering to Rush Limbaugh is why we Republicans have a bad name. Honestly everyone is not that bad!”

I hope she’s right. However just the decorations at the recent CPAC conference makes me leery the party of the “Big Tent” does more than alienate everyone under it’s umbrella.

With that in mind I would like to propose a theory: the GOP is alienating itself from just about every segment of America one-by-one and isolating itself into irrelevance.

The party that started and came into it’s own with an entertainer, will now end with an entertainer.

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News & Politics. Contributing Editor Erin Kotecki Vest also writes at Queen of Spain Blog