Limbaugh's Great Speculation

For those who doubt the speculative nature of partisan GOP rhetoric, just check out Rush Limbaugh's latest:

"The Obama recession is in full swing, ladies and gentlemen," Limbaugh told his radio audience of 15 million to 20 million on Thursday. "Stocks are dying, which is a precursor of things to come. This is an Obama recession. Might turn into a depression."

Apparently the tanking of the real estate market, record losses in the auto industry, and massive failures in the banking and investment industry have very little to do with our problems. The economic system is collapsing, Rush wants us to know, because it anticipates the tax increases Obama has pledged on capital gains and for the highest income earners.

But maybe that shouldn't be so surprising, because radio's Biggest Big Man also assures us that the Democrat welcomes "economic chaos" because it gives him "greater opportunity for expanded government." In a time when the nation calls out for cool leadership and rational discussion, Limbaugh stirs the caldron, a tendency he proved in a particularly grotesque way last week when he accused Obama's party of plotting a government takeover of 401(k) retirement plans.

"They're going to take your 401(k), put it in the Social Security trust fund, whatever the hell that is," Limbaugh woofed. "Trust fund, my rear end."

The evidence for all these assertions? Nada, zippo. Rush is simply making shit up. It doesn't matter if you agree with him or not. What matters is that he isn't dealing with data. He's not dealing with reality. He's simply trying to blame Obama for the GOP's sins, and he's being pretty blatant about it. Shame on those who let him get away with it.

And mark my words. In 4 - 8 years, there will be a group in Wingnutland that will revise history and claim the financial meltdown happened BEFORE Obama was elected. And Rush will be egging them on.