Rush, Newt Push Media to the Right

Gates, male liberals are 'the new castrati'

(NEWSER) - In a column for CNN, David Gergen wrote about how "ironic" it is that the advisers who "talked Obama into using force" against Moammar Gadhafi were all women. But Rush Limbaugh was not at all surprised by the fact that "leading male advisers were opposed." Referencing the column on yesterday's show, Limbaugh noted, "We're talking about male liberals! Of course they were opposed. It's the new castrati. Of course the males were opposed—they're sissies! And here's the No. 1, the leader of the club, and he happens to sit in the Oval Orifice." Media Matters has audio. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s birthday is right around the corner—no matter where Lou Dobbs thinks he was born—but what do you get the leader of the free world? Politico asked various Washingtonians their thoughts for Tuesday's big occasion. Some notable responses:

• Joe Biden: “It’s a surprise!”
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah): “The ShamWow, so he can help clean up this financial mess. He may need a couple, but as I recall, you get two for one.”

(NEWSER) - GOP operatives opposed to Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor aren’t happy about the “help” they’re getting from Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh, CQ Politics reports. Limbaugh called the nominee a “bigot” for saying “a wise Latina woman” will often make better decisions than a white man. “We’re going to attack Sotomayor with charges of reverse racism?” a Republican insider sputtered. “That’s nutty old white man talk.” More»

Support ebbs on left as Obama's security plans look uncertain

(NEWSER) - Democrats are having misgivings about the war in Afghanistan and the shuttering of Guantanamo Bay, particularly in the more liberal House, the New York Times reports. Though Congress is sure to approve another $96.7 billion in war funding, the House took out $80 million to close Guantanamo, saying the White House must provide more details. If Afghanistan worsens, President Obama could find himself on a short leash. More»

Federal workforce could expand by 100-250K, experts say

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s ambitious budget and stimulus plans will require the government to hire scores of new workers, the Washington Post reports. Analysts put the number between 100,000 and 250,000 spread among various agencies, the biggest expansion of the federal workforce since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society days. Some agencies are already planning hiring initiatives; Veterans Affairs, for example, expects to add 17,000 to the payroll. More»