The only way to "punish" Rush is to boycott his show.  He is just getting richer and richer because his tactic is to be outrageous.  I wonder if there are any laws regarding interfering with an election?

I couldn't agree more!  I heard Mr. Matthews say this live, and it certainly was heartfelt and had a spur-of-the-moment feel to it.  
Whether Dem. or Rep., our vote is a sacred trust and should be used in honor of all who have come before us.  It is a right that we need to cherish.  To use this right for "mischief" isn't patriotic or heroic.  It's juvenile.  

If I was a Republican and I wanted McCain to win the Presidency and I thought Obama was the stronger Democratic candidate, it would be the perfect strategy to vote for Clinton. I call that intelligent voting. The problem is not with the voters. It is the system. Why let Republicans vote in a Democratic primary? For the record I am an independent and like both McCain & Obama. I do not like Clinton.

Your right Chris, Young men are dying for freedom, and Limbaugh is using it as a tool for his own personal gain. HE MUST BE ON DRUGS again. His thinking is distorted.

Rush is a terrible person. The issues of today are too important for this type of mischief. This is mean-spirited! There have been lives lost by many so others would have the right to vote. We are all God's children. Let's stop all of this fighting and bickering amougst each other. God bless America!

Thanks, Chris. I teach in a college, and I usually put an important quote on the board each day of class. I certainly plan to use this next fall.

Hang in there!

The comment he made is exactly right. How does a person like Limbaugh arrive at the conclusion that they can work to muck up the political process at any whim? Undoubtedly he's ranted for weeks to rave ratings about the various problems that the electoral system has been having in the last few years. He's making plenty of money criticizing those who are making mistakes on the front line. Yet here he is working against the very system that, as Matthews points out, many of our ancestors fought and died for. Undoubtedly Limbaugh would point out that he did so in jest...but it seems to me that makes it even worse. And we wonder why other countries take America's politics as more and more of a joke. It's getting hard for even the most patriotic of us to keep a straight face, with people like Limbaugh working against national solidarity just to foul things up and have a laugh. If only we had as serious consequences for talk show hosts causing purposeful anarchy as we do for a fellow who lives on 10 acres having 'too many' cars on his property.

Operation Chaos is a failure.  While Hillary keeps winning the important states, Obama is winning the delegates.  Operation Chaos is a failure!

Chris Matthews is a voice of reason in this crazy world. That is why I watch Hardball every night. I love Chris and Keith Oberman. They do a great job.

Chris - my old boss, a federal judge, started every Monday morning jury selection by reminding prospective jurors that besides the right to vote serving on a jury is the most important responsibility we as American citizens have.  Thank you for reminding all of us that voting is a precious right we must cherish.  How about getting John McCain, the chairman of the RNC or some "high profile" Republican to come on your show and renounce and reject "Operation Chaos" and the man promoting this sham.  

I agree with your comments Chris.  I put in my 20 years in the military and saw several friends pay the ultimate price for our freedoms.  Our VOTE is a freedom many have died for.  Rush Limbaugh's attempt to degrade that "freedom" (the vote) should only be compared to the crud that accumulates on the bottom of an uncleaned boat; and should  be accorded the same treatment - scrape it off and let it settle to the bottom of the lake.

I've been boycotting Rush's show since 1993.  Conservative though I am, I have to agree with Al Franken that Rush is indeed a "big fat idiot."  He ought to be intelligent enough to know that a vote for a Clinton is a vote for a Clinton!  It would serve him and his stupid Kool-Aid-drinking hangers-on right if she actually got the nomination and beat McCain.  Of course, that would keep him on the air at least another 4 years.  I'd like to see Limbaugh and the Clintons just dry up and blow away.  And take McCain with them!  Thanks so much, Chris.  I watch you daily, disagree with you about 50% of the time, but you're right on this one!

It's bad if Rush prompts people to switch parties in the  primary, but it's not bad if the Democrats do?

The Democrats decided prior to the primary not to seat delegates from Florida.  This resulted directly in many independents and democrats being disenfranchised, something that Floridians are all too familiar with.  Many of them voted on the Republican ballot as a result, with most of them breaking for McCain.  This big win in Florida very quickly made the situation for  Romney untenable and forced him out of the race.

Rush stood in the public square and encouraged people to participate in the process according to their own personal freedom to vote how they wish.

The Democrats decided in a smoke-filled back room to cynically deny States and the people of those states the ability to decided how, when and who they can vote for.

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