RUSH: Last night on CNN, during a panel discussion, Anderson Cooper talking with Donna Brazile, said, ‘Donna, how do you assess what Lieberman said? Is this the Joe Lieberman you remember?’
BRAZILE: Uh… (snickers) No. Uh, n-no, not at all. And he wasn’t as feisty eight years ago, and clearly, uh, I — I guess we didn’t give him enough red meat, especially during that vice presidential debate. I thought that tonight he would, uh, talk about his — his personal values and views that he shares with John McCain. I had no idea he was going to do a little attack dog. So I’m surprised.
RUSH: Whoa! See what happens when it gets turned on them? Oh, they just can’t stand it! It’s just so unfair? Attack dog. Joe Lieberman? That’s the last thing he is. Joe Lieberman, an attack dog? (laughing) See, any opposition, any criticism to them is an ‘attack.’ David ‘Rodham’ Gergen up next. Anderson Cooper said, ‘David Gergen, what is the message viewers at home take away from the second night of this convention?’
GERGEN: What was totally surprising was that — that he also went after Barack Obama in such, uh, uh a — a personal way, went after his fellow Democrats, and also, you know, essentially went out of his way to support Sarah Palin, whom he does not know! For those two I think from many — many Democrats will go way over the line, those two aspects of the speech. In fact, I think there are a lot of Democrats tonight who are extremely annoyed! Extremely annoyed with him for that speech. I think it may work with some independents and some Democrats. Not many.
RUSH: Woooo! Went after Barry in a ‘personal’ way? What was personal about it? What? He said Barry didn’t have a record. What in the world is personal about that? As though McCain and Bush have not been personally attacked at the Democrat convention. Also, Gergen was not happy that the president last night in his speech referred to ‘the angry left,’ and Gergen, all these Democrats, said, ‘That was not presidential. I couldn’t believe he sunk to the level to describe his opposition that way.’ Wolf Blitzer said to David ‘Rodham’ Gergen, ‘I’ve never heard President Bush speak about the angry left, if you will. It sort of struck me as extraordinary, but I’m open to your opinion if you have a different assessment.’
GERGEN: I didn’t even know what he was talking about, but I — I — I guess he does. He came away from the evening a little dispirited in one sense and that is, how deep the divisions are in the country right now —
RUSH: Oh, come on!
GERGEN: — reflected in this convention tonight and how much anger there is, hostility and hatred of the two sides. I think whoever wins this presidency is going to have a hard time uniting the country after this campaign.
RUSH: Awww! Let’s cry some tears here. Unity? You think unity is going to come from this? You’re surprised and dispirited at the hostility? Where the hell have you been? Where does this guy work, Harvard or something? Out of touch. Hostility? He doesn’t know what Bush is talking about, and he goes on to describe all the hostility out there! (laughing) Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Carl Bernstein rides in here to save the day. Anderson Cooper says, ‘Tomorrow night we hear from Sarah Palin. How do you think that drama plays out?’
BERNSTEIN: George Bush’s remark about the ‘angry left’ is hugely significant. We listened to Fred Thompson talk about ‘liberalism, liberalism, liberalism,’ as if it were a deadly sin. Then we also heard all of these old shibboleths about patriotism belonging to the Republican Party and them ‘putting the country first,’ as if the Democrats don’t. Back to David’s point about the divisions. I was surprised the Obama campaign tonight in their response didn’t make more of this and say, ‘Wait a minute! These guys don’t have a lock on patriotism, on putting the party first. We’re all putting the country first. We’re all for that.’
RUSH: Mr. Bernstein, this is where a lot of people don’t agree with you. A lot of people (I’m one of them) don’t think the Democrats put the country first. I think you’re putting socialism first, liberalism first, putting your own power first. That’s why the Washington Post had a story in the last ten days, asking: How come every presidential race the patriotism of Democrats gets challenged? Remember that? I’m paraphrasing the headline. It’s like this poor guy at the Washington Post couldn’t figure this out. ‘Why does this happen? Every four years, every presidential race, they question the patriotism of the Democrat candidate!’ Well the last three, 2000, 2004, 2008, the Democrat presidential candidates have sought to turn over our foreign policy decisions to a bunch of people in Europe. They run around — Obama to this day is running around — ripping his own country. ‘It’s not what it once was.’ But he doesn’t tell us when it’s been better. That’s why these questions arise. At least Bernstein is honest. He’s close. He understands what these guys are up against.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: This is kind of like shooting ducks in a barrel here, folks, or fish in a barrel, whatever is in the barrel that you shoot, Sarah Palin would know. Going back and reflecting on what Gergen said, what is Gergen always hoping for? By the way, what has Gergen done? He served in the Navy. What has he done besides be a commentator on government, be in government? He lives in Cambridge, up there at Harvard. But he’s always just wringing his hands, he’s so desirous for unity and for people crossing the aisle and getting along, and Lieberman does it, and Gergen is disappointed. He speaks of reaching across the aisle, Gergen does; he speaks of parties working together; he speaks of moderation. What he really means is that Democrats must not support Republicans or their policies. Only Republicans must bend over, grab the ankles for Democrats. Gergen could never like Sarah Palin. He’s an architect of the Washington sewer of elitism, of the Washington government. And, by the way, he’s all concerned about the hostility and ‘I don’t know how we’re going to put this country back together.’
What kind of brain, intelligence do you have to have to expect that a political campaign is going to feature parties that get along? A campaign features parties that disagree with one another trying to beat the hell out of the other, get more votes than the other party, and govern on that basis. Campaigns are not about getting along. I shake my head here. These are the wizards; these are the wise men, ladies and gentlemen. These are the sophisticates. We are all just rubes. And Carl Bernstein is all upset here that the liberals always have their patriotism challenged. Carl, I’d love to ask Carl, what does it mean to put your country first to you? What does that mean? What does it mean for a liberal to put his country first? Want me to answer it? I’ll tell you what liberals do when they put their country first. They trash the Constitution, and they try to change it. They trash the military. They urge surrender and defeat. They attack capitalism.
The enemies list of today’s elected liberals and Drive-By Media people consists of every successful, major industry except Hollywood and music. What does it mean for liberals to put their country first? Let’s have that discussion. You know, we keep that one buried. People don’t want to go there, don’t want to talk about patriotism. It’s not right to challenge people’s patriotism. No, we’re just going to challenge their judgment. Fine, let’s keep it at judgment, but let’s have the conversation. What does it mean for you liberals to put your country first? Oh, I left something out. Get rid of George Bush. Get rid of conservative talk radio. What does it mean to put your country first? Any liberals out there like to call and tell me? I’ll just listen. I promise. I’ll just listen. I won’t argue with you, I’ll just listen.