RUSH: Here’s Stacy somewhere in California. It’s nice to have you on the EIB Network.
CALLER: Hey, Rush. It’s Stacy in Georgia.
RUSH: Thank you. Georgia, I’m sorry. We got this stupid computer. I can’t tell you the difference between a C and a G.
CALLER: Oh, it’s okay. But listen —
RUSH: It’s our insurance adjuster. I’m sorry. Welcome.
CALLER: The only way Mr. Boehner is going to get in my good graces is to come out and announce that Pelosi’s next office is gonna be the closet where she stores her broom.
RUSH: (laughs)
CALLER: I am so ticked. And I felt great last night until his speech, and the last 12 hours have been a nightmare.
RUSH: Wait a minute, now. What is it about Boehner’s speech that you didn’t like?
CALLER: When he starts talking about working with the other side. Rush, we won’t last two more years. We are dying. As we speak, we are dying, and if he thinks he’s gonna go over there and work with that bunch of lunatics and save our hides, he is lost out of his mind.
RUSH: Well, let’s see. Are you sure you understood him? Look, yours is the first take on his speech that I’ve had like yours.
CALLER: I was so angry. I mean, I was literally screaming at the computer screen, because… You know, I don’t know if it’s not in the guts of this whole health care thing or what the problem is. But the 85-15 thing I told you about?
RUSH: Yeah.
CALLER: It’s coming. They’re gonna have it, the regs, by the end of this month supposedly.
RUSH: Stacy, look, because I didn’t tell the difference between a C and a G, I didn’t know who I was going to here. Can we call you back at the beginning of next hour? I’d like to spend some more time with you then because I’m outta time now.
CALLER: Sure. I can hold, too.
RUSH: All right, you can hold.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I want to go back now to Stacy somewhere in Georgia. She is from the insurance industry and has been treating us to her take on health care and what it means to the insurance industry for months now. Now, Stacy, you still there?
CALLER: Yeah, hey.
RUSH: All right, now, I’ve got the text of Boehner’s speech here.
CALLER: Uh-huh. I went and looked it up, too, during the break just to make sure that I didn’t have a knee-jerk reaction, and you notice he says about midway through that the president sets the agenda. And that made my ears perk up. What are you talking about? We sent you guys up there to change the agenda.
RUSH: Wait a second. I don’t see that. I’ve got the printout here of his speech.
CALLER: It’s about midway through.
RUSH: Well, I’m looking midway through. I don’t see anything about compromising with the president. I don’t see any — unless he moves in our direction?
CALLER: First he says that the president sets the agenda, you know, and in the course of the whole thing the American people said the agenda stinks, so the president’s changed course, and then he goes into that, and if he changes course then we’ll talk to him, we’ll, quote, unquote, compromise. Well, the problem is if you’re gonna sit there and say that he’s setting the agenda, you’ve just basically said we’re sitting here warming seats until 2012. And that is not what you’re there for.
RUSH: I’m looking for the exact words ‘the president sets the agenda.’ Here it is. ‘While our new majority will serve as your voice in the people’s House, we must remember it’s the president who sets the agenda for our government. The American people have sent an unmistakable message to him tonight. That message is change course. We hope President Obama will now respect the will of the people and change course and commit to making the changes they are demanding. To the extent he’s willing to do this we are ready to work with him, but make no mistake, the president will find in our new majority the voice of the American people as they’ve expressed it tonight, standing on principle, checking Washington’s power, leading the drive for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government.’ So you believe that by acknowledging that Obama sets the agenda, that they’re not going to fight it?
CALLER: I do. That’s exactly what it sounds like to me. If you notice nowhere in there does he mention Obamacare. It wasn’t even brought up. There’s a bunch of things that weren’t brought up, but the reason that I focused on that, like I told you, we’re not gonna make it to 2013 to a new inauguration. We will not make it. So this whole thing about, ‘Oh, well, the president, you know, sets the agenda.’ What happens if he doesn’t —
RUSH: Let me read to you what he says before that. ‘With their voices and their votes the American people are demanding a new way forward in Washington, and I’m here tonight to tell you that our new majority will be prepared to do things differently and to take a new approach that hasn’t been tried before in Washington by either party. It starts with cutting spending instead of increasing it, reducing the size of government instead of expanding it, reforming the way Congress works and giving government back to the people. And for all those families asking, ‘Where are the jobs?’ it means ending the uncertainty in our economy and helping small business get people back to work. The people’s priorities will be our priorities. The people’s agenda will be our agenda. This is our Pledge to America. This is our pledge to you. While our new majority will serve as your voice in the people’s House, we must remember that it’s the president who sets the agenda for our government. The American people have sent an unmistakable message to him tonight, and that message is change course.’ Now, I don’t want to be an apologist here. I happen to disagree with you on the Boehner speech. I nearly broke down and cried. I thought it was pretty good.
CALLER: Well, you know, and I was happy with it until those things were said. And you know what I thought immediately?
RUSH: Let me put this in perspective for you from his standpoint. Now, I don’t know that he would say this to you. Even if there is a Republican president Boehner thinks the president sets the agenda. Look at immigration. The House Republicans wanted no part of immigration, but President Bush did. They had to go along with it for party unity, and it cost them seats. The question was, do we break from our own president, which in Washington politics that’s a no-no. It’s just ingrained in these guys. So in that sense, I think he’s simply talking about the power of the bully pulpit.
CALLER: Okay.
RUSH: I don’t think he’s conceding anything.
CALLER: Well, and I hope not, and I may have a unique perspective on looking at this from. My company is announcing layoffs at the beginning of the year.
RUSH: Which is not too far from now.
CALLER: No. I mean we’re looking down the barrel of a loaded shotgun, and these people that we sent up there, just this morning all this crap about compromise, you know, don’t talk to me about compromise.
RUSH: All right, well let me tell you what he said today in his press conference, John Boehner. ‘Make no mistake. The president will find in our new majority the voice of the American people as they’ve expressed it tonight standing on principle, checking Washington’s power and leading the drive for a smaller, less costly and more accountable government.’ In his press conference he said, ‘I believe that the health care bill that was enacted by the current Congress will kill jobs in America, ruin the best health care system in the world, and bankrupt our country. That means we have to do everything we can to try to repeal the bill.’ He said that this morning.
CALLER: Okay.
RUSH: ‘And replace it with common sense reforms to bring down the cost of health care. I believe that the health care bill that was enacted by the current Congress will kill jobs in America and will bring down the cost –‘ he just repeats the statement here.
CALLER: Okay. Well, granted I was so ticked at him when I got up this morning that I listened to that and it kind of went in one ear and out the other. Like I said, until he tells me that Nancy Pelosi is gonna spend the next two years in her broom’s closet, I’m just ticked. But, Rush, I’m telling you, if they don’t stop with this kowtowing to tradition —
RUSH: Look, I’m not disagreeing with you. We’re talking about two different things here. I don’t want to be misunderstood here. I am not carrying their water. I just don’t think you’re right about what he said.
CALLER: Well, and I hope you’re right, and listening to you today I felt a little bit better.
RUSH: A little bit? You shoulda been happy as hell compared to the way you felt last night. I’m not just a potted plant here. I am at home, but I’m not here.
CALLER: Awe, but, you know, Rush, I love you, and there are so many things I have wanted to call you about —
RUSH: Yeah.
CALLER: — with this health care bill, it’s been building, trust me.
RUSH: I know because it’s affecting you personally.
CALLER: Well, and it’s not only that, Rush, but it’s affecting my family. I mean my elderly parents received notice from one of the biggest health insurers in the country that they’re no longer doing Med Advantage plans after 1-1.
RUSH: I know.
CALLER: They have no choice but to go back to traditional Medicare.
RUSH: Right.
CALLER: Which does not work for them.
RUSH: No. And it’s gonna get worse for everybody. Pretty soon traditional Medicare is gonna be exchanges, single payer. Everybody’s gonna be on Medicare if Obama gets his way.
CALLER: It’s a nightmare. And maybe because I’m so deep in the bowels of it —
RUSH: Where is the AARP on this? Where are the supposed lobbyists representing your parents? They’re in the tank with the Democrats on this.
CALLER: Oh, I know. And my parents have written the AARP and quit paying dues and basically told them where they can go. But the problem right now is the traditional methods that we would use to roll back Obamacare are not going to work because Obama said it’s ticking, and it’s not gonna last another two and a half, three years. They’ve got to do it now.
RUSH: We’re at a crossroads here. Nobody disagrees with you. We all understand the urgency. You’re gonna think I’m carrying their water, and I am not. I am not carrying their water. I’m into Literalville. He did not say what you thought he said last night. He did not say they’re gonna bow down and kiss Obama’s butt.
CALLER: And I hope you’re right.
RUSH: He said this morning their objective is gonna be to repeal it and replace, which I don’t like. I don’t like this replace business. I’m just telling you right now, I don’t like repeal and replace. I think that’s to mollify us. Repeal it. When you replace it, you keep the leviathan, which we don’t want, and you plug in so-called things on the margins. Just get rid of it. However, Stacy, it’s a simple thing called mathematics.
CALLER: I know.
RUSH: They can’t repeal it.
CALLER: I understand.
RUSH: Now, they can send a repeal bill up there every damn week and they’d better. And they can defund parts of it. They had better work as hard as they ever have. There better be action behind what they’re saying. Words aren’t gonna cut it anymore. We know that they can’t repeal it. We know that Obama’s gonna veto it. So make him. You make the Democrats stand up for this debacle. You make ’em stand up and defend it. There is another election two years from now. You make them tell everybody why they want this to stay. You make them defend this rotgut. You make ’em defend this disaster. That’s what they must do, because there’s another election. And there’s an election after that. And in the years between elections there is progress that has to be made. Don’t misunderstand where I’m coming from on any of this. I’m not sitting here with a feeling of euphoria over what I think was a wipeout last night. I’m realistic. I am not gonna start out being depressed. I’m willing to end up there if it’s warranted but I’m not gonna start there.
CALLER: I was absolutely ecstatic until that speech. I mean I was through the roof. I even took the day off because I figured I’d be so drunk celebrating I’d have a hangover today.
RUSH: Everybody in Washington thinks the president sets the agenda.
CALLER: Okay.
RUSH: The people think the president sets the agenda.
CALLER: But the House is where the action is. That’s where the investigative committees are. I’ve not heard anybody talking about investigating how CMS is doing with their —
RUSH: Well, let’s just wait and see. I guarantee you there are a bunch of Obama bureaucrats who are scared bejeezus right now that all of a sudden they’re gonna be up to Capitol Hill and they’re gonna have to explain what the hell they’re doing. They have not had to do that for two years. There will be subpoenas issued. Boehner promised that. Darrell Issa, whatever you think of him, they’re talking about real oversight. We’ll see. You know, they’re saying the right things right now.
CALLER: Okay.
RUSH: The Democrats right now are not sitting comfortably. They are worried sick, some of these bureaucrats, czars and whatever are gonna get called up there and they’re gonna be asked, ‘What the hell have you been doing the past two years? What is your job? What are you doing? Who’s paying you?’
CALLER: Well, as long as Boehner and the other two are going there, and those who are still there, who survived, as long as they recognize their responsibility to us, then I’ll sit quiet. But the minute they start carrying on like they’re going to play the New York Times game, I’m outta here.
RUSH: I understand. You are simply using your intelligence guided by experience.
CALLER: And I’m scared, Rush, I really am.
RUSH: Yeah. Well, look. I’m not trying to talk you out of it. I am simply disagreeing with you that Boehner didn’t throw in the towel last night.
CALLER: Okay. Well, I will definitely —
RUSH: He may throw in the towel next week. He didn’t last night.
CALLER: Well, your opinion holds a lot of weight, and I will factor that in —
RUSH: Good.
CALLER: — and take some more medicine for my hangover which wasn’t from a happy drunk.
RUSH: Don’t doubt me. Oh, no, you’ve got an unhappy hangover?
CALLER: I do.
RUSH: Oh, no.
CALLER: I was so mad last night.
RUSH: Those are the worst kinds of hangovers.
CALLER: I was so upset. I mean I was physically ill last night.
RUSH: Just because of this passage in Boehner’s remarks?
CALLER: Yeah, because, you know, Rush, if you listen to him over time, and I’ve been listening to him for 20 years —
RUSH: Yeah.
CALLER: — when you start hearing that kinda language out of him, it means somebody is trying to make good —
RUSH: What was your reaction when he started out by saying, ‘This is not a time to celebrate, not with one out of every ten Americans out of work, not with this generational theft debt, this is not a time to celebrate.’ What do you think about that?
CALLER: I was torn on that because I understood what he was saying, and I agreed with him in part. I also thought, though, that a little more appreciation for those of us on the ground who have been working our behinds off the last couple years and recognizing that it is time for us to celebrate. Maybe not him, but for us, yeah, absolutely.
RUSH: Well, 2012 is not far down the road.
CALLER: It’s not.
RUSH: And people are gonna start campaigning for the White House very soon, and there will be some Democrats that are gonna be smelling the blood in the water ’cause there is blood in the water.
CALLER: I’ll tell you the only thing that woulda been nicer last night than seeing Nancy Pelosi’s Botox face fall off of her skull would have been a fly on the wall in Barack Obama’s living room.
RUSH: What do you think was going on in Barack Obama’s living room?
CALLER: Oh, he was cussing us. He was giving us the Mayor Daley treatment on steroids last night. He was cussing us for being ignorant and not smart enough to know how wonderful he is. I mean he was probably even burning a copy of Alinsky’s book just to —
RUSH: Let me tell you something. There was a picture of him, the press was in there, maybe it was the White House photographer, but a picture of him calling Boehner. And he looked happy. He wasn’t cussing anybody. He’s got us right where he wants. Don’t doubt me on this guy. Do not doubt me. He’s happy. He was happy as hell at his press conference today. Did you ever ask yourself, the guy has not held a press conference in months, maybe in over a year, and he holds one the day after his party gets wiped out? Who would do that? Most people go into hiding. He calls a press conference. He wants to come out there and talk about it? He got what he wanted. He’s happy. You people don’t understand. If you don’t understand that now, there’s nothing I can say that’s gonna make you understand it. If you don’t understand Barack Obama does not like the way this country was founded, he does not like the way it is, he does not like the fact that there is prosperity here, he does not like the fact this country exists. If you don’t understand that, if you’re not willing to accept that, you’ll never, ever understand this guy.